“The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever” (Revelation 19:3)
Thinking again about the need to escape made Allen feel a little wobbly inside. His voice quivered as he asked, “What's the plan you have to get us out of here?”
“I have the perfect plan.” Legion glanced down at his claws. “We're going to trick Vulpine into thinking we are ready to transit to earth. He never lets us travel alone. There always has to be at least two or more leaving at the same time. He’s afraid if one of us went alone we might try to escape.”
Allen studied every word. “Do you think you could really hide from him?”
“There’s a whole universe out there to vanish in, but when you have a companion traveling with you the possibility of not being discovered is very small.” Legion’s answer came easily. “Vulpine figures one of his imps would rat on the other because they fear his brutal punishment. Then he would immediately dispatch his controlling goons of darkness that inflict swift and severe consequences on any that disobey him. That is not a pretty sight to behold. No one has succeeded in escaping yet!”
Discouragement flooded Allen’s face. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
Legion’s expression grew more serious. “We have a bigger problem than that.”
“What's that?" Allen felt his heart sink.
“You have no wings!”
“Oh my gosh!" exclaimed Allen.
“Shush!” Legion pressed his claw to his lips. “We're dead in the water if they hear us.”
“Sorry.” Allen’s shoulders slumped forward. “What are we going to do?”
“I’ve made a pair of wings for you. Of course, they’re fake and you won’t be able to flap them to fly. I'll have to hold on to you and together we will try to make our way off the ramp.”
Legion didn’t look a bit worried as he continued, “Vulpine often instructs us and tells us where to go, but he doesn't watch us leave. He’s too busy barking orders to the next group. We’ll have to time our climb up the steps just right, so that when we come down others are getting their instructions.”
At first, Allen’s response was slow, but after a few moments his words tumbled out, “Boy, this whole plan sounds risky to say the least.”
“You’re right. There is a risk, but after considering the countless alternatives, I can’t see any other way.” Legion shifted from one foot to the other. “You must not say anything, but be very careful to do everything I tell you. We can take all the time necessary for you to get the hang of what needs to happen. Watch closely and let’s rehearse the actions carefully.”
Allen looked over his shoulder. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
“We're quite safe for the time being.”
Along with Legion, Allen watched and studied Vulpine’s briefing sessions with one group after another. He noticed the creatures approached their leader in a particular way and addressed him as “Prince Vulpine.” That was new for Allen. He had always just heard him called Vulpine. Legion told him Vulpine had taken the title after he was expelled to the Dark Region. They watched carefully as certain bows, salutes, and other rituals were performed.
Allen whispered softly to Legion, “I noticed nobody gets very close to Vulpine when they approach him.”
“He won’t let anyone come near him. I wonder if there’s a sliver of fear that someone might try to harm him. There isn’t any love lost between him and any dweller of this confinement. Only fear.”
Legion and Allen continued to study every aspect of the briefing session. They realized when their turn came, they only had one chance—and it had to be perfect. An intense period of time had elapsed as they concentrated on every move the “destroyers” performed before taking their flight. Then came the moment of decision. “I believe we’re ready,” Legion whispered.
Allen nodded slowly and turned his eyes to Legion.
Legion crept over to a cleft in one of the rocks and motioned for Allen to follow. “Here are your wings.”
The feathery wings looked quite real to Allen, at least from what he could tell with his night vision glasses. He wished he could take a peek without the glasses, but he couldn't chance being discovered. Legion had made a harness to hold the wings securely to Allen’s body. He tightened them carefully and then cut two slots in the back of Allen's robe so the wings could protrude. Legion winked at Allen, “They look quite real if you ask me.”
“I sure hope so.” Allen clutched the harness tightly. “Let’s roll!”
Legion motioned with one claw in front of Allen’s face and cautioned, “When we get to the top, just before we approach Vulpine, take off your glasses and hold on to me. If he should see them on you, he would know immediately that something was wrong. I’ll guide us through the whole process; follow my lead and keep your head down. Are you ready?”
“Go.” Allen took a deep breath, they were on their way.
They climbed down from their secure rock hideaway and crossed over a flat area to the bottom of the stairs leading up to Vulpine’s throne. Allen didn’t say a word but complained in his mind. “Man, it sure is a long way up. I bet there are at least a hundred steps.”
The stairs were carved out of solid rock and displayed signs of heavy wear from the countless feet ascending and descending over the eons. As Allen climbed higher, the vista became more breathtaking with every step. At one point he could see down into the huge abyss that Vulpine’s throne overlooked. The walls were vertical, and it resembled a huge boiling pit. Dark clouds of vapor rose from its surface, and a strange odor filled the air. A sick feeling filled Allen’s gut. The higher they climbed the more he struggled to breathe.
“How can this endless number of creatures ascending and descending on those narrow ladders bear this suffocating heat?” As Allen looked around, he realized this dark world had existed for countless centuries and was locked into endless repetitive acts, playing out over and over again. These inhabitants are living in agonizing slavery. “What would it be like to be ensnared here?” A loud noise jolted Allen back to his senses.
“Oh, oh,” Legion’s red eyes flickered. “It’s Helop,” he whispered. He’s the commander of the demons. He’s charged with the security of this kingdom.”
Allen gulped when he spied an enormous being emerging from the edge of the huge pit. “He looks like something out of a nightmare; a full blown Halloween winner,” Allen thought.
Helop had some human characteristics: arms, legs, and an oversized head. The nightmare emerged from inside the great caldron. Allen watched with wonder as it glided toward the runway that allowed the creatures to come and go, bellowing commands. As a group was preparing to depart, he suddenly charged into the middle of them and began to hurl them back, away from the exit. The fighting was fierce, loud shouts and groans filled the great chasm. Courageously they struggled but were no match for this enforcer of their doom.
“Those aren’t Duns!” Allen’s eyes grew wide and he gasped. They resembled human forms, but because of the darkness Allen couldn’t be certain. A question captured his mind. “Are there others trapped here like I am?”
The conflict continued with fierce intensity. The end was inevitable. Those trying to escape were no match for Helop. With one great show of strength, the demon commander forcibly swept away those trying to leave and forced them to the edge of the great crater. Instead of hurling them down into the pit, he barked the order “Open the Doors of Darkness!”
Allen winced as he watched them forced through the door. “Oh no!” The door was slammed tight. Allen could hear them screaming in terror as they were plunging into its depths of loneliness and blackness. The sounds made Allen stop breathing. He stood motionless and became further terrified because the demon commander had turned and looked up toward him. “Has he spotted me?”
Then, with a sigh of relief, he realized that the fiend was looking past him and up to where Vulpine was seated.
“No one escapes from here, master!” Helop shrieked.
Vulpine gave a nod of approval. “Well done, my faithful one.”
The monster turned and headed back to the edge of the abyss and slowly slithered down a ladder to its abode.
“No one escapes from here!” The words seared Allen’s thoughts and he felt his heart skip a beat. “Here we are about to attempt to escape and this happens!”
“It’s too late to turn back now.” Legion narrowed his eyes, squinting against the glare from the pit that just erupted with its choking gas and was bellowing upward.
Allen felt sure they were about to experience the same fate as those whose escape attempt had just failed.