Short story | Fiction | Fantasy

Descensus Ad Infernos

Descent Into Hell — A short fiction story

Flames engulf the narrow passage, burning with fierce intensity. A smoldered armor ascends from in between the pillars of fire. Heavy footsteps break the silence, slowly making their way through the intense heat. Every step feels like a burden. The knight pants heavily. Hollow cries occasionally echo through the depths. These are the cries of damned souls, forever suffering for deeds done in lives that long since have passed.

“Purgatory.”

The path seems to continue endlessly, only a light blue glare in the distance appears to mark a possible end. The sword weighs heavy in the knight’s hand, its tip scruffing along the ground at times, before he fixes his posture and lifts the sword back up again.

Careful not to stride from the path and risking a fall into the abyss of flames and fury, the knight puts one foot after the other. His beaten armor glows red with heat in spots, burning right through to his skin. But his composure stays unbroken. He passes pillars of lava that are spitting vicious heat through the blazing air.

“Just a little further.”, he pants.

Debris keeps falling from a dark pit above, though no ceiling can be seen. It crumbles onto the path before him. After a few more steps, a loud rumble echoes from above. A huge rock, followed by smaller debris, comes flinging down onto the path. The knight, though visibly exhausted, leaps forward, escaping a crushing death by an Elle.

After taking a quick look back at the boulder, the knight turns his head into the darkness above.

“Stop your foul play, demon! You won’t hinder my journey.”

“You dare calling me a mere demon, mortal?”, a deep voice echoes back from above, “Show some respect while tainting my realm with your presence.”

Flames start streaming from the pillars, creating a deep, twisting vortex of white glowing fire in front of the knight’s path. A humanoid figure steps out from the blaze, untouched by its fury.

“You have no right to be here. Your heart still pulses with vigor.”, the figure speaks, revealing the same voice that echoed from above mere moments ago. Its flesh is charred, the head barely resembling that of a human. Its cheekbones are extruding, unhindered as no skin is left where it should be. Burning embers sit in its eye sockets. Yet the figure has long, thin hair, shimmering like silver strains of silk. It is unharmed by the all-surrounding heat. “What is it you seek in my realm? The guardian should have burned your fragile body to a crisp at the gate.”

“Your three-headed hound has met its fate with me. I will not bow to your rules. Cerberus is no more!”

“Silence! How dare you, a mere mortal, meddling in affairs you have no hand in? Speak now, ‘fore I shall end this insurrection! What is it you seek?”

The knight lifts his sword, pointing the tip at the creature. His empty hand reaches for his visor, folding it upward. His now revealed eyes are stern, burning with a determination that outweighs the blaze around him.

“I’ve come for my beloved. Her name is Leah.”

The demon musters the knight curiously. Bloodstains on the armor, dents of blows suffered, and a ragged, bloody cowl.

“So you must be Lorent,” the demon asks, “You’re enjoying a reputation as bloody as your attire. I saw your little flower. But she’s not arrived in purgatory yet. She has been brought to Aeacus, who will judge her for her deeds — ”

“She did nothing!”, the knight interrupts agitated. “She was defiled and murdered! Her soul is pure!”

“That, dear Lorent, is not for us to decide. Aeacus will bring her first judgment before Minos will speak the final verdict.”, the demon smirks, “And you have neither right nor reason to be here. Until your last breath leaves this vessel of yours, you shall return to your realm.” The demon stares right into Lorent’s heart. “But I see your sins, Lorent. They weigh heavily on you. Once your time has come, we’ll surely meet again.”

Lorent takes a step towards the demon, his sword still raised.

“You must have misheard. I’m not here to negotiate. I am here to retrieve my Leah. I will return with her, or not at all. Stand in my way, and I will cut you down like that lapdog of yours.”

The demon’s ember-eyes start to glow with rage, its hair starts to float, defying gravity.

“Enough! I have given you a last chance to return. But if you insist, I shall reap your soul myself. I will feed off of your sins, and you shall be bound to the eternal fire.”

The demon lunges at Lorent, grasping his cowl with its boney fingers before lifting him into the air. Flames emerge from its arm, slowly engulfing Lorent in excruciating pain. “These flames are nourished by every sin you’ve ever committed. They will burn your very soul. You shall perish.”

Heavily moaning, Lorent gathers his strength, lifting the sword up to the demon’s chest.

“Your sword won’t protect you from my rage, mortal.”, the demon hisses, increasing the intensity of its flames.

Fighting against the raging fire, Lorent drives his sword through the demon’s chest.

“I told you, mortal. I am above the pain.”

Lorent pants heavily, the flames summoning visions of his every sin. Agony embraces him like a lost child. His mind slowly breaking under the tense pressure of his past, he exclaims under heavy breathing:

“Ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis!” (“I absolve you from your sins!”)

A blinding light emanates from the demon’s chest and it loosens its grasp enough for Lorent to free himself. The flames vanquish in the blink of an eye and the creature’s hair turns pitch black.

“How?! It can’t b — !”

With an explosion of light, the demon vanishes into nothingness. Lorent falls onto his knee, supporting himself with the help of his sword under heavy breath.

“I — I need to find Aeacus and Minos. They shall not lay a hand on my Leah.”

After regaining his breath, Lorent comes back onto his feet. But he’s suffered greatly under the manifestations of his sins. The flames have left deep marks on his soul. Picking up the pace, he continues to follow the narrow path through the blazing air.

The faint blue glare in the distance slowly draws near following each step.

This was a little “don’t think, just write” attempt at creating a fiction short story, breaking away from my usual writing of non-fiction articles and poetry. Let me know in the comments whether you are interested in accompanying Lorent on his journey to save his beloved, and the story will unfold.

Please also feel free to leave constructive criticism. Especially if you’re an experienced fiction writer. Thank you.

Kevin is an editor and writer for the ILLUMINATION publication. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.