ANGELS AND DEMONS

Rain fell with the setting sun, drumming against the rusted iron sheets above the tiny rental room Vincent called home. Water seeped through the countless holes in the roof, dripping onto the floor, the beds, the few belongings they owned. It was the worst place imaginable, yet somehow he always managed to find happiness hidden inside the hardship... if only to make his younger brothers smile.

"Oh, gosh! All my clothes are wet!" Nathan groaned, lifting his soaked shirt in frustration.

The words pierced Vincent's heart, but he refused to let his pain show. "Then I guess both of you are getting a proper shower today," he said with a grin. Within seconds, the room was filled with laughter. The children splashed through the puddles forming on the floor, squealing as the rain continued to pour through the broken roof. For a little while, the leaking ceiling became their playground instead of their curse. Vincent watched them, smiling.

Later that evening, after making sure there was food for them to eat, he prepared to leave for another night of work. It was only one of the four jobs he juggled every day to keep his siblings alive. Before stepping outside, he paused at the cracked window. His siblings were still laughing. The smile on his face slowly faded as tears welled in his eyes and slipped silently down his cheeks. He wiped them away before either of them could turn around. "Everything will be okay," he told himself and then walked away.

The narrow alleys of the Kampala slum were crowded with weary faces, people worn down by a life that never seemed to offer mercy. The air was thick with the smell of rotting garbage, cigarette smoke, and marijuana drifting through the damp evening. Vincent kept his head down as he made his way toward the main road. Suddenly, his foot struck something and he stopped. Frowning, he slipped his hands from his pockets and bent down.

It was a small black purse.

Before he could even process what he was holding, frantic voices erupted behind him. "There he is. "He is the thief." "Catch him!"

Vincent spun around, a crowd of men and women was rushing toward him. At the center of the chaos stood a woman, sobbing as she pointed in his direction. His heart froze. They thought he had stolen the purse and panic took over and without thinking, Vincent turned and sprinted. The crowd thundered after him, their footsteps echoing through the narrow streets. He did not look back and he did not see the speeding car racing toward the intersection.

The impact came without warning and the car slammed into him with such force that his body was hurled into the air. For a brief, impossible moment, it felt as though he had grown wings. Then gravity reclaimed him, his head crashed violently onto the hard pavement.

Silence.

His body lay motionless as blood spread across the road beneath him. His heart fought desperately to keep beating and his lungs searched for one final breath. Then... everything stopped.

People slowly gathered around Vincent's lifeless body as the shouting faded into an uneasy silence. Then... darkness, not the darkness of night, but an endless, empty void where even sound seemed to have died. There was no wind, no voice, no heartbeat... only a silence so complete it could unsettle the dead.

Minutes passed. A warm drop of water landed on Vincent's face. His eyelids felt impossibly heavy, but they slowly opened, his vision blurred as dizziness washed over him. Beneath him, his back rested against soft, towering grass that swayed gently in the breeze. He blinked several times, struggling to focus.

"Where am I?" With a groan, he lifted his head from the grass and slowly pushed himself upright. His mind searched desperately for answers, the last thing he remembered was the blinding headlights... the car. His brows knitted together in confusion as he stared across the endless grassland stretching in every direction.

"Can you get your filthy hands off of me, you nasty old rug!" The sharp voice startled him. Vincent turned his aching neck toward the sound. A thin woman in her mid forties glared at the elderly man beside her, her narrow face and piercing eyes gave her the appearance of someone constantly searching for a fight. "And what are you staring at?" She snapped when she noticed Vincent looking. "What is this place? Does anybody know what's going on?"

Only then did Vincent realize he was not alone. Hundreds of people were scattered across the vast field, each wearing the same expression of fear and bewilderment. "What... is this place?" He whispered, barely recognizing his own trembling voice.

Suddenly, a terrified scream tore through the grass. "Faith! Abby! Solomon! Oh, my God... where are my children?" A large, broad shouldered woman burst into tears as she stumbled through the tall grass, desperately searching for her family.

"What the hell is going on?" A stocky man with a round belly muttered, his thick beard barely hiding the panic on his face. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

"I'd like to know the same thing," the sharp faced woman scoffed. "This whole thing is getting on my nerves."

Vincent remained frozen. His hands trembled uncontrollably.

"Mama!" A small voice echoed across the field. A boy, no older than seven, came running through the grass, tears streaming down his face.

"Solomon!" The broad shouldered woman spun toward his voice. She ran toward him as fast as she could.

Before mother and son could reunite... a deafening bell echoed across the heavens. The sound crashed through every person's skull like a hammer. People screamed and many collapsed instantly, clutching their heads as blood poured from their noses. Vincent dropped to his knees, both hands pressed against his ears, then one thought pierced through the agony. Nathan... Raymond... his brothers. "Oh no!" Ignoring the pain, Vincent forced himself to his feet and began running without knowing where he was going. His leg slammed into a woman crouched in the grass searching desperately for something and the collision sent him tumbling. A sickening pop echoed through his arm, "Ahhhh!" Pain exploded through his shoulder.

A young woman hurried toward him. "Are you okay?" Vincent could not answer. He could only cry out in pain.

She quickly examined his arm. "Do not move," she said calmly. "Your shoulder is dislocated. I'm going to put it back into place."

"O... okay..." Vincent gasped. "Please hurry."

The woman he had collided with rushed over. "How can I help?"

"Hold him still." She nodded immediately.

The young woman took a firm grip on Vincent's arm. "Ready?"

Before he could answer.

CRACK.

"AHHHHH!" His scream echoed across the grassland.

"I'm sorry," she said gently as she released his arm. "But it should be back where it belongs now."

Vincent took a shaky breath. "... thank you."

"My name is Hannah," the young woman said with a reassuring smile.

"And I'm Grace," the other woman added.

Vincent managed a weak smile. "I'm... Vincent."

"It's nice to meet you." Hannah replied before looking around uneasily. "But where are we? Do either of you know anything?"

Grace slowly shook her head. " The last thing I remember..." she whispered, "... I was in the car with my husband." She looked across the endless field. "Then I woke up here."

In the distance, Solomon finally reached his mother. She dropped to her knees and pulled him into her arms, both of them crying as they clung to each other. "Thank God..." she sobbed. "Now we have to find your sisters." Before they could take another step...

The bell rang again, this time it caused no pain. Instead, the sound rolled peacefully across the endless field. Everyone looked toward the sky. A colossal figure slowly appeared high above them. It did not descend, it simply floated in the heavens, as though gravity itself had no authority over it.

Silence spread through the crowd. "What kind of circus is this?" The sharp faced woman shouted.

The giant figure looked down upon them. "Welcome... Erisers."

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" The bearded man shouted. "Enough of this nonsense! Let us go home! Some of us have families to feed!"

"Yes!"

"What's going on?"

Voices erupted throughout the crowd. Vincent, Hannah and Grace remained silent.

"I welcome you," the giant figure repeated, "to Erisbend."

"Eris... what?" Someone shouted. "Somebody should call the police!"

The giant figure smiled. "You have traveled far from the world of the living, you now stand in Erisbend... the world between life and death."

Silence. Then panic.

"Oh my God..."

"We're dead... we are all dead..." A woman collapsed into tears.

"Oh, shut up before I come over there, you silly goat!" the sharp faced woman barked.

Grace's voice trembled"Vincent is it true?" He stared at the endless field. "I... I don't know."

The giant figure raised a hand. "You will all travel through the valley ahead. Beyond, you will find a building where everyone must gather." Without another word, the colossal figures slowly rose higher into the sky... and vanished.

The field fell into a heavy silence. No one spoke and no one moved. The giant figure's words lingered in the air long after it had disappeared, pressing down on every soul like an unbearable weight.

Then silence shattered. "Oh, my God..." the elderly woman cried, collapsing onto her knees. "We're dead... I did not even get to see my granddaughter one last time." Tears streamed down her wrinkled cheeks.

The sharp faced woman rolled her eyes in irritation. "Keep saying that nonsense," she snapped, pointing a finger at the old woman, "and I'll strangle you to death myself." The old woman shrank back without another word.

The bearded man rubbed the back of his neck before looking toward the valley ahead. "Where's this building the monster was talking about?" He asked loudly.

The sharp faced woman scoffed. "So you're actually thinking of going?" She folded her arms. "What if that thing is luring us somewhere just to finish us off?"

The bearded man frowned. "... you might be right."

Fear spread through the crowd once again. Grace looked from one frightened face to another. "What do we do now?" She whispered.

Vincent stood quietly for a moment before answering. "I... I don't know." His voice trembled. "But I think we should go." Both Hannah and Grace turned to him. "If there's even the smallest chance of getting back home..." His thoughts drifted to Nathan and Raymond. "...I have to take it." His eyes filled with worry. "I don't know what they are going through right now."

Another silence settled over the field. Nobody wanted to move, nobody wanted to stay. Then... two terrified screams pierced the air. Young girls. The cries echoed from the direction of the valley.

The broad shouldered woman gasped. "Faith! Abby!" Her eyes widened. "That's them!" She grabbed Solomon's hand. "Come on! We have to find your sisters!" Without any other thought, she sprinted through the tall grass.

"Come on," Vincent called Hannah and Grace and they began running after her.

One by one, the rest of the crowd followed and within seconds, panic replaced hesitation. People pushed past one another, desperate to reach the valley. Someone stumbled, then another.

A young man fell beneath the rushing crowd. "Help!" He cried.

Vincent looked over his shoulder. For a brief moment, he hesitated. "Hannah... Grace..." He pointed ahead. "You keep going, I'll catch up." Without waiting for an answer, he fought his way back through the stampede. People shoved against him from every direction and by the time he reached the young man, several feet had already trampled over him. Vincent dropped to his knees. "Come on." He slipped an arm beneath the stranger's shoulder. "You've got to get up." The young man groaned. With all the strength he had left, Vincent pulled him to his feet.The two of them staggered away from the crowd before breaking into a run. Behind them.

The bearded man shook his head uneasily. "I don't like this..." he looked toward the valley. "I've got a bad feeling." He sighed and then started running as well.

"Hey!" The sharp faced woman hurried after him. "Old fuzz... face! Wait for me."

Several minutes later... the broad shouldered woman finally spotted two small figures standing among the swaying grass. The girls were clinging to one another, crying uncontrollably.

"Abby! Faith!" The woman burst into tears. "Oh, my babies..." "I'm here, Mama is here!"

The girls looked up. "Mama!" They ran toward her as fast as their little legs could carry them. The moment they reached her, she dropped to her knees and wrapped both daughters tightly in her arms. The three of them cried together.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered between sobs. "I'm sorry... I left you alone." "But I'm here now. I'm here." "You don't have to be afraid anymore." She kissed each of their foreheads. "Mama's here." Solomon threw himself into the embrace, and the family remained locked together, weeping as though afraid they would disappear if they let go.

By the time the sun stood high above the endless grassland... the crowd finally reached the building. Everyone stopped. It towered over them like a forgotten palace, its magnificent architecture stretched high into the sky, carved from dark stone unlike anything they had ever seen. Strange symbols shimmered across it's walls, glowing faintly beneath the sunlight.

No one dared to move. No one dared enter.

"What are all of you waiting for?" The sharp faced woman's voice echoed from the back of the crowd. "You ran all this way looking for answers." She pushed people aside. "And now you are standing here like a bunch of statues." She snorted. "Move. You useless goats." Shoving her way through the crowd, she climbed the stone steps and reached the enormous crimson doors. The doors stretched several stories high with ancient markings covering every inch of them. Without hesitation... she grabbed the handles. The doors groaned, slowly... they swung open.

Silence. Everyone waited. No one breathed, then...

"HAAAAA!" A loud laugh echoed from somewhere inside. The crowd jumped and moments later, the sharp faced woman's voice rang through the entrance. "The place is magnificent!"

Vincent exchanged a glance with Hannah and Grace. Without another word... he stepped inside and the others followed. The moment they crossed the threshold... they found themselves standing inside a breathtaking hall. It seemed endless with marble pillars stretching upward until they vanished into the darkness. Four enormous black doors stood at the far ends of the hall, each facing a different direction. Magnificent statues, carved with impossible precision, stood beside every doorway.

No one spoke. Every face reflected the same mixture of wonder... and fear.

Abby looked up at her mother. "Mama... is this our new home?" The woman's expression softened. She gently stroked her daughter's hair. "I don't know, my dear." "But... we'll find out soon."

Suddenly, brilliant flashes of light burst from each of the four black doors. The crowd gasped, people instinctively stepped backward. The lights grew brighter and brighter. Then shapes began emerging from within it, towering, beautiful, human... yet not human. One after another, majestic beings stepped into the hall until they surrounded the crowd in a great circle.

No one dared move.

A calm feminine voice echoed through the chamber. "Welcome... Erisers." From the brightest light emerged a woman unlike anything they had ever seen. She wore flowing white silk adorned with countless pearls. Golden flames danced gently around her body without burning the fabric, her face carried neither sorrow nor joy, only serenity. She stopped before the crowd. "I am Kasula." Her voice was quiet yet every syllable reached every corner of the hall. "I am the Faktnat of Erisbend."

The sharp faced woman sighed dramatically. "All right... Kasuma or whatever your name is." She waved dismissively. "Can you stop this and tell us how to get home?"

Kasula smiled gently. Not offended, not amused, simply patient. "My name..." she paused "...is Kasula." another pause. "I am the Faktnat." She slowly looked across the frightened faces before her. "I keep the knowledge of this world." "My duty... is to welcome those who arrive." "And to reveal only what they are prepared to understand."

The hall became silent once more. Vincent stepped forward, his voice was barely above a whisper. "Please... "what is happening to us?"

Kasula's eyes rested on him and for a long time... she said nothing. Then she spoke. "You remember your final moments." The crowd exchanged nervous glances. "You remember pain." Another pause. "You remember fear." Silence. "And now... you remember nothing beyond it. "Because your lives have ended."

Gasps spread across the hall as several people burst into tears. Others simply stared in disbelief.

Kasula continued. "You have crossed the world of the living. "Yet you have not reached your final destination." She slowly turned. "This place... is Erisbend." She let the name settle into the silence. "It is the world between life... and eternity." No one spoke, evening the sharp faced woman remained silent. "In Erisbend... every soul is measured. "Not by wealth... not by power... not by reputation." She looked directly into Vincent's eyes. "But by the truth hidden within you."

She began walking slowly across the hall. "There are trials. "There are choices... and there are games." Each sentence echoed like the tolling of a distant bell. "Those games... will decide your fate. Fear rippled through the crowd. Kasula stopped once more. "There is one final truth you must understand." She raised her eyey. "Every soul carries two reflections. "The first..." "is born from the deepest love your heart has ever known. "It is your angel." She allowed another long silence. "The second... is born from your greatest hatred... or your deepest fear. "It is your demon."

The room became deadly still. "They have always lived within you. "You simply never saw them." Her gaze swept across the hall. "And soon... each of you will." She turned toward one of the black doors. "The first game..." she paused. "Is against your angel."

Without another word... Kasula walked toward the brightness beyond the door and the other towering beings followed her in perfect silence.

"Where the hell do you think you're going?" The sharp faced woman's voice echoed across the hall. "Hey!" She pointed toward Kasula's reflecting figure. "I'm talking to you!"

Kasula never looked back. Her white robes disappeared into the brightness beyond the black door. Silence swallowed the hall as no one moved or dared to speak.

Vincent stared at the place where Kasula had vanished, his heart pounding against his ribs. Her words echoed inside his mind. Your angel. Your demon. The first game is against your angel, none of it made sense.

Beside him, Abby clung tightly to her mother's arm. "Mama..." her voice trembled. "I'm really scared." Solomon wrapped both hands around his mother's waist. "Me too, Mama." The broad shouldered woman pulled the three children into her embrace. "It's all right." She kissed the tops of their heads. "I'm here and I won't let anything happen to you." Though her voice remained steady, terror filled her own eyes.

Grace folded her arms around herself. "I don't understand any of this." Neither did Vincent. His thoughts drifted back to his little brothers. "Please be all right... please."

Then... a deep rumble shook the floor. The marble beneath their feet vibrated, everyone looked toward the four black doors and a strange light seeped through the cracks. Not bright, not dark, but something between the two. The doors slowly cracked open, a cold wind swept through the endless hall and out of the brightness... figures emerged. They walked slowly, gracefully, silently. One after another.

Each possessed the appearance of extraordinary beauty. Their faces were flawless, soft light surrounded them, illuminating the hall with an almost heavenly glow.

For a brief moment... the fear inside the crowd began to fade. "They're beautiful." Someone whispered. "They must really be angels."

The beings continued walking until they spread throughout the hall. None of them spoke. None of them blinked. They simply smiled, warm, peaceful and perfect.

The bearded man let out a nervous laugh. "Well..." he stretched his beard. "So these are the angels." He smiled broadly. "They don't look dangerous." He glanced around everyone. "You people were terrified for nothing." No one answered. The angels remained perfectly still and the bearded man chuckled again. "You know..." he slowly stepped forward toward the nearest angel. "...if we're supposed to fight these beauties..." he laughed. "...then maybe this won't be so bad after all."

The angel continued smiling. It didn't move, didn't speak or react. The bearded man stopped only a few steps away and he looked at the being up and down. "You're even more beautiful up close." He reached out cautiously. "I've never seen anything like..." his fingers touched the angel's shoulder

For one heartbeat... nothing happened. The smile remained, as the hall remained silent. Then... the angel's smile vanished. Its head tilted unnaturally.

"W... WHAT the..."

CRACK!

The angel's hand flashed through the air. The slap exploded across the hall like thunder and the force launched the man through the air. His body smashed into the far wall before crashing onto the marble floor.

The hall fell silent. No one breathed.

The man groaned. He pushed himself onto his hands and knees, blood dripped from the corner of his mouth... he spat on the floor and then glared across the hall. "You piece of trash." He staggered to his feet. "Do you know who I..." He stopped. Something felt wrong, his hand slowly rose to his cheek. It was wet, he pulled it away. Blood. The skin beneath his fingers shifted and a small strip peeled away from his face.

The man frowned. "What..." Another piece slid free, then another. Pain shot through his body and he screamed. "AHHHHHHHHH!" His fingernails clawed desperately at his face. It only made things worse, more skin tore away and his cheeks peeled from the flesh beneath them. His head split open, the flesh around his neck loosened as though invisible hands were stripping it away.

He collapsed onto the floor, writhing. His screams filled the endless hall but nobody moved, nobody could. The horror unfolding before them rooted every soul to the spot. His skin continued peeling away, slowly, mercilessly, layer after layer. Blood flooded the polished marble as his cries became weaker, then weaker still, until... his body lay motionless. Bare flesh and bone remained where a living man had stood only moments before. The smell of blood spread through the hall.

A woman screamed. Then another and panic erupted. "Oh, my God!" "He is dead... they killed him!"

"RUN!"

People scattered in every direction, some stumbled over one another.

The sharp faced woman, whose fearless mouth had never stopped moving since arriving in Erisbend, stood frozen. For the first time... she had nothing to say.

The angels smiled again, the monstrous faces melted away, returning to their perfect beauty and then... every angel chose a direction. They moved, not walking, but charging.

The hall exploded into chaos, screams echoed against the towering walls. Angels descended upon the terrified crowd with terrifying speed. Some victims were hurled through the air as though they weighed nothing. Others were struck before they could even take a step.

Blood splashed across the marble floor. Parents desperately searched for their children and friends reached for one another only to be torn apart by the stampede.

Vincent grabbed Hannah's wrist. "Hannah... this way!"

Grace reached them, trembling uncontrollably. "What do we do?"

Before Vincent could answer... another scream echoed behind them.

THE FIRST GAME... HAD BEGUN