Journey to the Other World

My name is Sam, and I’m dead. Or rather, I crossed over, as it turned out later. The story of a guy from a poor neighborhood is simple and banal. I’m an ordinary working man, my life a struggle with poverty and the search for ways to provide for my family. I was born, studied, got married, worked, just like everyone else. Did I think I’d die? Yes... of course, all sorts of things happened: I got sick, got into unpleasant situations, got hit by a car, fell from great heights. Once, I got into a serious fight. All these events could have led to my current state much earlier, but it happened one fine summer day.

Early one morning, my beloved wife and I woke up in our bedroom. The phone was playing its usual tune, and the clock said seven o’clock. My wife, Linda, a restless woman, jumped up as always and ran to wake the children. My daughter and son were getting ready for school, bacon sizzled in the pan, the coffee maker hummed. A typical morning idyll. My beloved, sipping a hot cup of tea, gazed out the window at our garden: “It promises to be a hot day, you’re free today, if the garden isn’t watered before I get back, you’ll have yourself to blame!” A goodbye kiss, the engine of the old minivan started, and I was alone. How I loved these moments, the peace and quiet. The whirlwind of children’s voices, flying objects and dishes disappeared, everything froze. I closed the door, ran to my favorite sofa, and sank into it. Amid the monotonous sounds of the TV and the chirping of birds outside, I didn’t even notice how my eyes closed and I went to finish my night’s dreams. I don’t know how much longer I would have slept if not for the neighbor’s dog, who simply started barking at yet another cat that had wandered into his domain. Realizing I’d been idle for quite some time and that my wife would soon be back, I rushed to put on some lounge clothes. I searched for a long time for my sock, which, as usual, had vanished.

Finally, I found it under the sofa and, putting it on, discovered that the hole in my big toe had grown even larger. I had no desire to go to the closet for a new pair. Pulling my hat down low, I ran out into the garden. My wife is a fair woman, but over the years of our marriage, I’ve learned one thing. There’s no point in testing her patience; if you can avoid her wrath, it’s better to make every effort to do so. I’d long wanted to install an automatic watering system, but I couldn’t find the time, and more importantly, the energy. I put it off every way possible, always finding excuses or more pressing matters. One day, I even went to a nearby hardware store and bought everything I needed. I brought it, unloaded the materials in the garage, and successfully put the matter aside for a better time. So today I had to grab an extension cord, a pump, a hose and head out to our garden. I was in a hurry, feeling even the cucumbers and tomatoes scolding me. It hadn’t rained for a long time; the ground had truly turned to stone. I dropped the pump into the pool, connected it to the reel of wire, and began spraying water onto the beds, now dry from the heat. Moisture was seeping through the soil, and suddenly I felt a shock. It was as if a thousand lightning bolts had pierced my heart and head. Like an old tube television, the image before my eyes flickered and concentrated into a single point. I simply passed out and fell to the ground. I don’t know how much time passed, but it seemed like a moment. Sounds returned, then light, and a minute later, vision. Someone was lying face down in front of me. I tried to get closer, sincerely not realizing that this wet, dirty body, curled up in an unnatural position, was me. Panic and wild terror gripped me; I wanted to run, but I couldn’t move more than a meter. At the same time, by the power of my mind alone, I rose upward, like a cardboard kite, and moved in all directions. This continued until I saw a figure before me.

It appeared out of nowhere, as if the air had turned to ether. Someone or something floated out of a shimmering cloud. A man in some kind of awkward robe approached me. His eyes were an inexplicably black color, insanely deep, I felt like I could completely dissolve in them. His face was very thin, ash-colored, his hands were veined, his thin knuckles with pointed nails. He stroked my head without saying a word, then waved his right hand. Something flashed before my eyes. I felt an instant lightness, my legs became flexible, nothing hindered my movements. As unexpected as his appearance had been, so was his disappearance. Left alone, I looked myself over; I was wearing the same clothes as the body lying before me. Even the sock with the hole in the big toe was still there. Everything was the same except for the texture and color. The fabric itself was different, as if woven from the finest airy fibers, a turquoise hue. The skin looked like never before, smooth and translucent. I pinched my wrist and felt nothing, absolutely nothing. I walked over to myself, or rather, to the one lying before me. And suddenly I realized I felt nothing; for me, it was like a spacesuit for an astronaut. A useless shell that had fulfilled its mission. Deprived of its owner, it lay motionless and lifeless on the ground. What had happened? Who struck me with such fury? Turning around, I saw a sparkling pool. The spool of wires hung, half submerged in the water. Apparently, in my haste, I hadn’t secured it properly. With a tug on the hose, it tore loose and plunged into the water. The current instantly burst forth and pierced my body. How banal, flashed through my mind. Now I’m different, the world around me has changed. In life, my vision was poor; even in early childhood, doctors prescribed special exercises and glasses. They were a part of me, an essential attribute. Now everything was transformed, becoming crisp and clear, the colors seemed magical. Every shade was rich and beautiful. Sounds everywhere were bright, distinct, and concentrated. The ease with which I could move was mesmerizing. Like in superhero movies, I suddenly gained a new, unreal strength and complete freedom. The first thing that struck me was my garden; it turned out to be bustling with life, until now intangible. Here were birds, mice, moles, insects, living and not quite, as I knew them. These creatures had habits and forms exactly as we are all accustomed to seeing them. Yet they were ethereal, without a physical shell. Two gray, translucent rats played on a rock, frolicking and jumping over each other. Hundreds, if not thousands, of creatures unknown to me swarmed among the flowers and grass, so tiny and unusual, they resembled magical fairies from fairy tales. They came in various sizes and shapes, the largest the size of a grain of rice. They carried something in their tiny hands, something like “Prana,” a lush, weightless substance. Everyone was busy with their work and diligently at work. Many stopped to drink the water that trickled between the roots of the plants. Having quenched their thirst, they returned to their difficult work. I looked up at the tree that had been growing in my garden for many years, an old, spreading oak. My wife had told me a thousand times to get rid of it. Dry leaves and acorns were a constant nuisance to her. They filled every space, and she cleared them away every day, tidying up the yard. I was surprised to find it completely inhabited, just as teeming with invisible life. Among the various birds, squirrels, and unfamiliar rodents, I noticed a very beautiful bird. It perched at the very top, its plumage ablaze with fiery plumage. A long, curly tail, huge, sweeping wings, and a head reminiscent of an eagle’s. It seemed as if the branches this creature touched would instantly burst into flame, but this did not happen. No one paid any attention to me; I posed no threat to them. Suddenly, the entire space was filled with an inexplicable tremor. Classical music poured from the window of the house across the street; a piano was playing. I had heard this melody many times before. The girl next door, a conservatory student, was preparing for another exam. Each note was alive; as it flew free, it acquired its own unique form and gamut of colors. The stream, like a magical rainbow, passed easily through me. Some particles lingered and wandered throughout my body. The movement in the garden paused for a moment and rushed toward the multicolored waves. As if splashing in a river, all the inhabitants were saturated with the sounds, changing their colors as they did so. What a shame my wife can’t see such beauty! I was barely thinking about it when I found myself in her office. I settled myself under the ceiling. Linda was sitting in front of her computer monitor, peering over her notes. She was fingering the keyboard, making notes with a ballpoint pen in a journal. I immediately rushed to her and wanted to hug her tightly. But all my attempts were futile; my hands simply slipped through her wavy red locks. My words fell on deaf ears, and my wife didn’t even notice my presence. I was overcome with anger, not knowing what to do to be noticed. A moment later, a man in a black business suit entered the office. It was Frank, the manager, the department head, holding a thick folder tightly stuffed with documents. He casually tossed it onto the table. His face flushed crimson, and he began pointing with furious rage at a certain line. A black face emerged from his left shoulder blade, then a torso, and paws with enormous claws. The creature crawled out, and a long, forked tongue extended from its mouth. It sank into my wife’s heart. For a second, I froze in horror, but then I gathered my courage and pounced on the monster. To my surprise, I managed to grab it. I could feel every hair on its neck; it was real animal fur.

I squeezed with all my strength and began to strangle the creature. A piercing roar and the gnashing of its teeth rang out, and over time, my grip weakened. The black essence, like water, seeped through my fingers and disappeared into the body of Linda’s boss. I looked closer and saw on his back, right under his heart, a veritable double door through which the monster had entered again. Frank turned pale, suddenly went silent, clutched his chest, and sat down in a chair. His eyes were filled with a complete lack of understanding of what was happening. He began to greedily gulp air. His hand reached into his pocket for the spray canister. He applied a few sprays, inhaled the medication, then jumped up and ran out, slamming the door loudly. I followed him and immediately found myself in the hallway of a long room. The vast space was clearly divided by partitions. Each section contained employees, all going about their daily business. It was a bustling, seemingly ordinary office life, but with the addition of new characters. I climbed higher and peered into the surrounding space. All the cubicles where people worked were swarming with various unsightly inhabitants. They were everywhere: on the walls, on the tables, under them, on the shoulders, on the backs, on the heads of the employees. It was complete chaos. It was obvious that these freaks were long-standing and full-fledged residents. They felt so free and at ease. I fully realized that devils and demons are not a figment of fairy tales, but a real reality that surrounds us all. The diversity of these species was astounding. It was as if a competition were being held to create the most vile monster, and all the participants had gathered here to compete for the grand prize. In one corner, a fat, flabby young woman sat at a computer. Her mouth was caked in crumbs, constantly reaching for a bag, pulling something out, and chewing incessantly. A very similar entity lay on her lap, clinging to her stomach and purring with pleasure. Directly below me was another section.

A middle-aged man peered hungrily at a laptop, the screen of which kept flashing pornographic images. Atop the womanizer’s bald head sat something with an enormous penis. It penetrated his ear as soon as an image appeared on the monitor. The entire place was a scene of complete chaos, invisible to the naked eye. Only a few rooms were empty. I wondered why they were uninhabited. I moved closer to examine these places in more detail. An unusual, white, slightly yellowish glow shone on one of the tables. A small icon of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus peeked out from behind a pile of papers. In another office, a bookcase emanated a turquoise-green stream. It emanated from a thick, worn Bible. As a non-religious person, I was surprised that all the ugly creatures that filled every inch of the building avoided only these two small spaces. Suddenly, fear gripped me; I felt a piercing gaze behind me. It was Fred’s friend, standing surrounded by similar creatures. They growled angrily, and this encounter clearly boded ill. Everything inside me trembled and shook. I had never experienced anything like it in my life. A tremor throughout my body, a feeling of being unable to control my will and mind. It was as if hundreds of arrows had simultaneously pierced my chest. The space contracted, and I mentally imagined my garden. A moment later, somehow, I found myself in the courtyard, the scent of flowers bringing me back to full consciousness. This was our house, everything around seemed familiar and instilled calm. Birds were chirping, a familiar serenity reigned. Thoughts swarmed in my head. My consciousness was racing from what I had seen, experienced, and new, unknown sensations. I headed to the kitchen, unbearably thirsty. I really wanted a cold beer. My hand reached for the refrigerator. And in that moment, I realized I couldn’t even touch everything that had recently seemed ordinary. The familiar desires and needs hadn’t disappeared. They still tormented my soul.

Only one thing was forever lost: the possibility of their fulfillment. I constantly imagined a cold can of my favorite drink sitting on the shelf, and me taking a greedy sip. Panic, indignation, anger boiled within me, and I was powerless to control it all. He began thrashing around like a wild animal, trying to smash furniture and dishes to smithereens. But every action and movement was useless, meaningless, and futile. It seemed as if the entire space around him had become red-hot. Suddenly, black, winged insects began appearing out of thin air from the center of the kitchen. Clusters of vile, tiny creatures swarmed across the entire surrounding space. Not a single surface remained without something crawling and hopping. It felt as if the tables, chairs, and all the kitchen furniture had come alive and were moving. Their flow didn’t stop; on the contrary, it grew steadily. At some point, a wave of thousands of parasites swarmed into the other rooms. I didn’t understand what was happening or how to stop this madness. Fleeing the invasion, I ran to the second floor. Helplessly watched as the living wave rushed up the stairs. It wouldn’t be long before the house would be completely engulfed. Suddenly, the sofa in front of the television in the center of the large room lifted. A vile green head appeared, then a thick, snake-like body. Entities of various sizes and species crawled out of every corner. Their eyes burned with a fierce fire and a thirst to get to me. At some point, I realized I knew practically every one of them. I knew these vile creatures personally. They were all my friends. I used to sit at the bar with that green, fat man over a pint of beer. With that furry cuckold, we stole spare parts from a container at the factory. The painted, smug shorty with crooked legs and a long mouth would cause scandals for my wife when I came home from friends’ parties. Throughout my life, this entire army had accompanied and aided me in my most unpleasant moments.

And now the hour of our long-awaited meeting had arrived. Retreating from the advancing wall of terrifying faces, paws, and claws, I continued to climb the stairs. There was no escape; my will and consciousness were completely paralyzed. Suddenly, green eyes gleamed in the distance down the second-floor corridor. I heard a purr, then a fluffy tail and a round, red face. A cat was approaching me, and I immediately recognized him as Leo. He had lived with us for over ten years, since he was a baby. I remember giving him to my daughter for her birthday. That evening, I was returning from the bar in a heavy rain. The little kitten appeared out of nowhere. He followed me for a long time; I quickened my pace, tried to turn into an alley, but he didn’t leave me alone, pursuing me. Finally, my heart gave out. I tucked him into my bosom and brought the wet bundle into the house. The whole family rejoiced, and my daughter was over the moon. He grew up with my children, playing, bringing warmth and love into the house. Then he disappeared, and all attempts to find him were fruitless. We plastered every corner of our neighborhood with wanted posters, but it was as if he had vanished into thin air. Now Leo stood before me, and I understood without words that he was calling me. We walked down the hallway deeper into the house, reaching a blank wall. Suddenly, the obstacle vanished. I saw a long, steep staircase before me. It led upward, and the cat calmly and casually leaped up the steps and ran, his paws moving with ease. We began a long, drawn-out climb. My furry savior would run away from me, as if scouting the way, then stop and wait for me to approach him. All around was darkness, only the path beneath my feet shimmered with a faint, bluish glow. I kept glancing back, peering into the void, as if all those monsters were still pursuing me. But fortunately, everything was quiet and unusually calm.

Finally, the exit appeared; a bright spot of sunlight began to approach. Leo leaped and disappeared from view. My path ended, and before my eyes appeared enormous, wrought-iron gates, adorned with variously shaped precious stones. They shimmered with a ruby ​​hue. It seemed as if a bright, warm light was emanating from all directions. It enveloped the entire space without a primary source of illumination. The shutters opened before me, and I stepped inside. As soon as I crossed the threshold, a wave of love enveloped me. My soul fluttered with happiness, a feeling washed over me as if I’d been here before. Everything felt familiar, close, and dear. Incredible peace, serenity, and complete safety. The almost snow-white cobblestones beneath my feet. A wide alley led to a majestic building with columns. My Leo sat on the stone porch, carefully washing himself with his paw. I picked him up and hugged him, thanking him for saving me. Massive wooden doors with wide metal brackets swung open before me. A huge round hall, in the center of which rose a small pedestal, lined all the walls of the building, filled with bookshelves. They stretched skyward, so high it was impossible to see the edge; they seemed endless. I approached the pedestal, and as soon as I touched it, a thick, ancient book emerged from its depths. The cover was blank, but a moment later it came to life. Writing began to appear, like flaming letters. My name and date of birth appeared in the center. Opening the first page, I saw the entry about my birth. Neatly written in black ink and calligraphy were the place where I took my first breath, my parents’ names, and the date I stepped out on my own. What followed was an impartial account of every event in my life. Everything flashed before my eyes! Just looking at the entry was like a video file playing in my head. Here I am, tormenting the neighbor’s cat with the boys, here I am, hitting a teacher, stealing a box of candy from a classmate’s locker, and so on.

My entire existence, every minute, hour, and day, down to the smallest, long-forgotten and simply erased moments. My soul exploded from within, and a sudden, clear sense of my own worthless and utterly horrific essence came upon me. I became disgusted and vile with myself. I smelled a foul odor emanating from me. Dirt and rot seeped from every pore of my body. A sticky, viscous liquid appeared on my hands. Even my feet seemed to leave stinking marks. Some invisible weight, weighing a thousand tons, settled on my shoulders, and I could barely stand. A feeling of irreversibility, hopelessness, utter disappointment. Indescribable shame, and most importantly, the absence of any chance to change anything. The book stopped almost at the very end, on the words “Gluttony, Drunkenness, Alcoholism,” and the fiery cursor froze, blinking incessantly. Lowering my head, I took a step back, my head spinning, and felt myself starting to lose my balance. I almost collapsed to the floor, but suddenly someone’s hands caught me. Opening my eyes, I saw an old man standing before me. An elongated, slightly wrinkled face, a gray, slightly elongated beard. A sharp, piercing, yet kind and bright gaze. He was dressed in a long, green caftan, with snow-white armlets and a cape over his shoulders. On his head was a domed, woven cap. He smiled broadly, radiating a magical warmth and light. “My name is Spiridon,” he introduced himself. “What are you doing here and how did you get here? It’s too early for you to be here, nothing is ready for you, your time has not come, your hour has not struck.” As soon as he finished, a terrible, unbearable pain pierced me, and the light went out before my eyes.

A moment later, a shudder set in, then a chill and the sensation of wet cloth. My son’s voice: “Dad, what happened? Why are you lying on the ground, you’re all wet? There’s no power in the house. I came home from school, wanted some tea. I tried to turn on the switch several times, but it won’t hold.”

I’m not a religious person, but what happened to me changed me and my world completely. I died and was born again; it’s still Sam, but now this is a different version of him, the best possible one, I would say!