The Netherworld Diaries, Pt.1

I woke up in a parking lot, and it was wet everywhere. It had been raining for weeks now, it looked like, and yet, I didn't know where I was.1

There were a few beaten up cars nearby, and a few buildings strewn about here and there, all of which were reduced to shambles, some having gaping holes in the brickwork. 2

Where the hell was I? I asked myself, over and over.3

I continued to look around the area. It was getting darker, and I'd found no sign of human life anywhere..not even the occasional bird chirping happily, as I was used to back home. I was sure of one thing, this was definetly NOT home..4

The pavement was completely torn from the ground in several spots, revealing gravel and dirt underneath. I looked over toward the building I assumed the parking lot lead to. It had a flickering light in the main window, and the door was wide open.5

Looking inside, I saw a quick shadow move by the door, and it startled me..the shadow of whatever creature I had encountered sat there in the corner behind the register, whimpering and groaning some unearthly sounds. It wasn't human.6

The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. It had crimson red eyes, and stood about 3 feet tall, with the build similiar to a monkey or an ape. It's eyes flashed toward me as it scanned me, and then a shreik ensued. I panicked and ran outside..and it followed me, with a faster pace than I could run.7

I was soon underneath this thing, and it began to rip and tear at my back, shreiking with delight.8

Suddenly, I heard a boom and the creature was thrown backward into the wall of the building I'd just came out of. It was definetly dead now. A stocky man, armed with a shotgun, wearing a black trenchcoat and thick utility boots and a black hat stood before me. He helped me up and told me..9

"Be careful, this place isn't what it seems..the name's Nate. I help the newcomers around here. I'm assuming you're new too?"10

I was a little confused. "New to what?" I replied.11

"Heh. So you don't know? This place is the netherworld. You've died before your time, friend."12

"B-but..how..I don't remember.."13

"Most people that wind up here don't. If you find out how you died, then you're free to go."14

And then he turned to leave. "W-wait! What if there's more of those things!?"15

He turned to me and chuckled "More of them? Kid, as long as you don't have any nightmares, you'll be fine."16

And then he vanished into thin air..17

I was alone now, it was pitch black, and bad thoughts began to swarm my mind.18

"Kid, as long as you don't have any nightmares, you'll be fine."19

What did he mean? I didn't understand..20

I had a thought of some huge hulking creature with mouth full of razor-sharp teeth all over was chasing me, and suddenly I heard something crash into one of the ramshackled buildings nearby. I snapped to reality. Oh dear God! It had come to life! The creature I had just thought of was now in search of me!21

I turned to face it, and it looked down. It had to be about 30 feet tall, and it's roving eyes had spotted me. I almost pissed myself in horror..I tried to run but my feet were somehow frozen in place. I was terrified.22

"Kid, as long as you don't have any nightmares, you'll be fine."23

The phrase kept playing over and over in my head. I still didn't get it.24

I turned and ran, but it was too late. The creature had ahold of my shoe and was slowly lifting me upward toward one of it's numerous mouths.25

This was it..game over..26

While I hung there, upside-down, I could feel the blood rushing to my face, and this thing began to lower me into it's mouth. I felt the teeth dig into my skin like a razor sharp dagger, and then I felt a sharp intense pain and everything went black.27

I woke up in the parking lot screaming out in pain..and then I realized I wasn't dead, but I was slightly confused.."I should be dead" I thought to myself.28

Nate then appeared and spoke to me, in a smug voice29

"Heh. You can't die by your own hands. Not here, anyway."30

And then he vanished again. Why the hell did he keep speaking in riddles? I wanted to smack him across the face for not being straight-forward with me, but then I'd be biting the hand that fed me..no sense doing that.31

I got up and walked around some more..I could see a fairly large building, which stood out from the rest of the buildings, as it was completely in-tact. I walked toward it, and the air began to get all foggy and the building suddenly collapsed and a million screams were heard. It terrified me. I closed my eyes tightly and opened them again. The building was there again, perfectly fine.32

Nate was leaning on the wall of this building.33

"Buildings often have tragic stories behind them. In the real world, this building was built with a foundation on a fault line. That line shook every so often, weakening the foundation until it collapsed. 273 people died that day..you'll find more places like this, so be cautious."34

And then he vanished once more.35

None of this made sense to me. I thought I was going insane, or that this was all a bad dream that would just go away eventually..36