The Star Of Depravity - Chapter 4

Ervin didn’t know what it was, or what it’s for, but he recognized its vibrant color was identical to barcode scanners in groceries, light sirens in police mobiles, and a regular car’s headlight.

Then, from above him, he heard inaudible shouts coming from all directions.

That made him crane his head upward—he can’t precisely trace where the sound came. He swiftly waved his hands like how a blind man would when he lost his stick. It hadn’t landed into something substantial yet.

His gaze landed on his fingers—

My hands…I can clearly see them…? 

Indeed, he can see it as visibly as when the sun’s light hits his skin. It was as if his entire body was exempted from the dark.

Gradually, candles began appearing behind him, the fire revealing the place he was in.

Ervin’s heart pounded in his chest as he jumped away from it. He’d had to lie to himself if he thinks the candle didn’t make him freak out. He thinks he’s lame for doing so, especially when his knees trembled involuntarily.

The floating candles aligned itself in a straight line on each of Ervin’s sides. Then, he heard fast-paced footsteps from above.

Ervin had the urge to know where he was. He’d guess he’s in a building, probably with one that has several floors.

Suddenly, another scream echoed, and he noted that it was nearer this time.

Ervin still didn’t understand what the person was saying or pinpoint where it was coming from.

With the help of the candle’s light, when Ervin turned his gaze to the side, he saw a wall and quickly realized that he’s in a small room.

His mouth opened in awe as he took the view in front of him.

Rotting vines crawled all the way up the ceiling in swirls. The interior decoration on the wall were wine-colored patterns he’d seen in goth-themed movies. The dim glow ahead to what seemed like parted, plum-colored curtains caught his attention.

Ervin pondered if he’d take the leap and head straight toward it. However, he couldn’t deny the fact that he was getting curious as to what lies beyond it.

Just a peak, he thought, even though he’s knees quivered in fear.

When he finally stood near the parted curtains, he stopped himself from screaming.

Before him were intricate, carved railings fenced in a half-circle.

“A balcony?” he said out loud.

Curiosity winning over him, Ervin continued walking until he could grip onto the railings’ handle.

When he half turned his head, he saw the balcony was supported by two, thick, sturdy golden chains. The same structure applied to the terraces beside the room he was in.

Without any warning, a white streak of light descended from the sky, and it illuminated an open-air venue with tiers of chair surrounding it. Ervin caught the view as the light dropped on the tip of a prism made of crystal. It was located at the center of what looked to be an ancient temple in Greece.

Ervin staggered backward, mainly because the light spread like a shadow crawling on the floor. He was startled when it plummeted like how lightning strikes on solid ground.

When he recovered from what he’d seen, Ervin pulled himself upward.

“A colosseum?” he said in disbelief.

Ervin lingered his gaze to the temple with ivory-colored columns tracing its square flooring. Plants invaded the spaces between the said posts, and he swore he saw a colossal tree behind the prism.

Wait… that looks familiar. I think I’ve seen that before…?

Recognition surfaced on his face.

“Ah!” he couldn’t stop the yell that came out of his lips. “That’s the tree I saw earlier…”

His mind seemed fogged, but he remembers dreaming about it prior to what was happening right now. Besides that, Ervin also recalled dreaming about a memory from his childhood he long buried in the black box in his mind.

The box rattled, shards of recollection Ervin didn’t want to acknowledge dwelling back.

He definitely won’t give anyone the key to his past.

Shaking the thought away, he glanced back at the overlooking view of the humongous tree behind the crystal prism.

Unlike in his dream, the enormous tree’s leaves were a white clump of blazing fire.

When he looked further below, his face paled, and his knees involuntarily trembled.

He withdraws his grip from the railings, and took another step backward—

Ervin didn’t notice the balcony he was standing at was attached to a floating wall!

To the far right and left were boxes that he assumed were also floating balconies because of the protruding railings.

Meanwhile, the balconies beside him were quiet like the late night. Sure, there were shuffling above him, but that was it. It never occurred again.

Then, a silhouette of what he assumed to look like a human’s emerged from the detached balcony to his upper left.

Ervin squinted his eyes, but he couldn’t see who it was.

But why were they separated from the floating wall?  Such questions bombarded his mind.

What if I’m just in a purgatory? 

Based on what he had seen, he’s most likely in a place where he’d cross over to the other side. And just like the old fabled stories everyone knew about this place, there’s probably going to be judgments happening around whether who gets to go peacefully in heaven or get tormented in hell.

It’s either that or he’s going to be stuck here forever, wrecking his mind on how he’d be able to escape.

There was too much that he wanted to know, and there are too many questions running around his mind that no logical explanation can satisfy his curiosity.

A loud bell resonated in the entire arena.

Ervin bolted from the room and out toward the balcony. The lurid sound of the alarm made him anxious as his hand clutched hard at the railing’s handle.

One by one, the elevated chairs began filling in, shadows emerging, and speedily occupying the spaces.

Ervin narrowed his eyes. Their forms had the same effect when he saw his hands.

The figures that sat around the arena began materializing as if they were glowing against the darkness.

He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. His grip tightened on the handle.

Several creatures Ervin only knew as fictitious sat on the stone chairs, and they’re instead looking reasonably nervous.

He noticed some had huge, pointy ears and pale, translucent skin. One looked too human, except that it had wings like that of a bird’s. The other one’s like a butterfly’s and the same applied to the half-horse, half-man that sat beside it.

Ervin’s chest pounded once more.

Am I dreaming again? 

As stupid as it may sound, he slapped his palm on his cheeks.

The skin reddened, and a stinging pain lingered for a while.

I’m definitely not dreaming; he thought inwardly as he took in the peculiar crowd below.

The light kept descending on the same spot, flowing as if it were like waterfalls. Then, Ervin felt a great surge of wind coming from above.

When he craned his neck upward, his eyes stuck out from their sockets.

A creature wearing a full, silver-plated armor began plunging down before the crystal prism. The red hood it wore over its head concealed the features of its face. Behind him were enormous, feathered blade wings that rivaled the sun. With one stroke of its shoulder, the wind around plummeted strongly below the open space, the trees’ fire swaying with the breeze it created.