Fire Walk

Copyright © 2021 by Dan Harrington
 
All rights reserved.
 
No part of this publication may be produced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.
 
ISBN
(eBook) 9780463745670
 
Fire Walk
 
I open my eyes and all I see are flames everywhere. I look around and everything appears to be on fire. I stand upon a road with pockets of flames. The landscape is barren and charred. The road, no matter what direction I look, seems to lead to nowhere. I choose a direction and start my ever-long journey.
Wisps of ash flit about the air, smells of sulphur and brimstone, everywhere, it clung to everything. Some of the sparse trees around were partly charred and burnt, fire clung to branches consuming the left-over leaves. I watched a single flame slowly spread on a healthy branch like a snail. It devoured the green and made it black. All was quiet. Only the odd snap of the flames could be heard. Sparks fluttered about like fairies in an enchanted forest, but this was not it that is for sure.
I continued my way down the curvy path. Strange how even stone was aflame, scorched in spots, slowly being eaten away. The landscape was dismal with patches of charcoal and ash. So grey and bland. A reddish-orange haze blanketed the horizon in every direction for as far as the eye could see. How depressing it was.
Soon I happened upon a group of people standing around drinking what appeared to be coffee and tea. This was beyond odd, even maddening. It was so unreal just being here as it was. I could tell these people were here for some time. Some even longer than others. Some people looked rather normal being all sweaty while always trying to wipe it away. Others, their skin was a bright red like they had a bad case of sunburn. There were more extreme cases like blistering and what not. Now this is where it is hard to comprehend. The people that seemed to be here for an awfully long time were far worse by far. They were burnt, as in charcoal, blackened. Some even had flames burning away at them sizzling and the smell was unbearable. It was a grotesque site to behold. Groans of pain and begs for mercy were chanted. Incessant complaints were non-stop. It was truly a horrible sight to witness, and I really did not want to stay here any longer. It was time to move on further down the fiery road of doom as it was. There were times I began a chocking cough. No wonder with the bellows of dusty ash and smoke that blew in with the scorching hot wind. My eyes stung from the heat and soot. My skin began to turn hot and red. It itched to no end. I went from a discomfort to a blistering pain. I was afraid that soon I would be a walking charcoal man, whose parts would just burn right off. Thus far the flames had not touched me, but it may be just a matter of time until they did. I then came to a fork in the road. I stood a moment as to which path to choose. It did not really matter to me both were the same in my eyes. Take the one on the left or the one the right. So, right I went. I walked for what seemed like forever. It was so much harder to breathe now. The agony I was beginning to feel was unbearable. Panic filled me. My flesh had started to blacken. I watched the flames erupt on my skin and begin their work of searing. My hair had been burnt away. I wept tears that evaporated. I could not take this anymore.
Suddenly a man appeared and walked right up to me. He smiled a full grin with teeth. He was dressed in fine clothes and did not seem affected by this environment. He looked me straight in the eye.
“Did you know that all you have to do is think and believe that you can be in a better place and poof… you will be somewhere else?” He said this with such certainty. Then he went about his way down the road and was gone before I could ask him any questions. I stood there for an exceptionally long time; I am sure. I thought about what the man had told me. I closed my eyes and took a deep searing breath. I wanted to be anywhere but here. I imagined a better place to be.
I opened my eyes and to my surprise I sat upon a green hill-top under a cypress tree, overlooking all things green. The sky was blue, and the air felt fresh and clean with every breath I took. I was… free? I was elated. I looked at my body and nothing. No flames or blisters or even chard parts. I was in perfect health. Then I realized a beautiful woman held a grape for me to eat. I accepted this offer and let her put it into my mouth. I thanked her. The grape was the most tastefully delicious grape that I have ever had. Another lady offered me a drink. I thanked her also and took a sip. It was a fine tasty, sweet wine. This was a great thing. I experienced grand pleasures indeed. This was so relaxing. All my worries washed away, gone.
I then noticed a figure walking up the hill in my direction. I stood and walked down to greet them. The man seemed familiar. We stood before one another.
“Do you remember me?” He asked.
“Yes, I do!” I replied.
“Do you remember what I told you from before?” He asked again.
“Yes, I remember. Thank you so much,” I said happily. He smiled his toothy grin.
“Well, I lied,” He spoke. My heart skipped a beat, and my blood ran cold. This could not be happening right, now? I looked around and screamed. I had returned to the point where I had first started this horrible journey. (02/11/19)
 
Author’s Note
 
I first wrote this story for my Dad way back in 1990. He had sat me down one morning before I had to go to school. “I have a story to tell you before I forget so, I will give you a ride to school,” he said to me. It was the first time that I didn’t mind being late. When he told me about his dream I was blown away. I thought to myself that there was no way that I could possibly have come up with such a cool idea. Thanks Pops. This one is for you!