Eternal Flame & Gluttony

I think I miss the Eternal Winter, the scorching heat is worse than the bone piercing cold. The fringe of my drees is covered in grime and ash. I'm so thirsty if I could have one drop of water, I would be eternally grateful.

Flames dance all around me some burning brighter than others. Mounds of ash line the scorching earth. The light is blinding at times yet there is no sun. It's so hot I want to sleep yet at the same time I can't bring myself to close my eyes.What is this place? My skin is dry yet somehow sticky and my feet feel like they've been cut then covered in salt.

"Well aren't you lovely," a voice says just as a gust of wind blows ash everywhere, "tell me lovely where did you come from."

"The Eternal Winter," my voice sounds horse I'm surprised I can make out words. Another gust of wind blows and then I'm standing before a massive Scorpion, "now why would that old fool let go of something so lovely?" The Scorpion's voice sounds female one instant male the next.

"I want to go home," I say, more to myself then the Scorpion, "where am I?"

The Scorpion lets out a feminine laugh, "this is the Second Level of the Underworld," it lifts one of its claw's, "Eternal Flame, isn't it lovely."

"No," I say, whiling myself to keep going, "I want, what do I want?"

"Since you don't know what you want, why not stay here with us," the Scorpion says voice syrupy, "you can be my new toy," this time the voice is male and full of malice. Before I can answer a gust of icy wind propels me forward, "she fell from above," that winters voice says, "hurry and send her back."

"Ji," the Scorpion clicks her claws, "what brings you to my humble abode?"

"Poison I don't have time for your games," Ji so that's his name.

"You're not an owl," I say, taking in the beautiful male with snowy hair and glowing honey eyes.

"Who says I'm not?" Ji gives me a little smile sending another wave of icy wind with the flick of his hand. The ice doesn't get to coat my skin it just melts but the small act is enough to hydrate me."I need to go home," I say, looking around the fiery prison, "I need to go home."

"Yes, you said that already," Poison says, "go back to your level Ji."

"Don't say I didn't warn you when Wrath or Hollow come looking for her," Ji sends one last wave of winters touch as he banishes within the blink of an eye.

"What was he talking about?" a third voice asks. I look around but it's still only the Scorpion called Poison.

"I fell from above," I say earning a flick from the Scorpion.

"You should have said so," Poison's voice resonates all around me as I collide with a mound of ash.

Poison rushes towards me stinging my belly as I'm thrown towards the red sky. It catches me in its claws, "you'll only bring me trouble," the male voice says just as a black hole opens up in the red sky. I'm lifted upward once more and this time when I hurdled towards the sky, I'm sucked into the black hole.

###

I think the Scorpion's venoms made me delirious. My senses are overpowered by the smell of roast meats and sweet cakes.Something wet nuzzles my ankle then I hear a squeal, "who are you?" I roll to my side and catch the sight of pinkish hooves and a curly tail, "are you a pig?" I ask.

The smell of chocolate hazelnut cake calling to me."Well aren't you rude," the hoofed figure says, "what are you?"

"I don't know," I manage to sit up the wound in my abdomen oozing black, "you are a piggy."

The pig snorts and tries to bite my toes I pull my feet under me just in time."Why don't you eat?" he says pointing towards the rows of food.

Blobby looking creatures stuff their faces while others eat then throw up. Some of the blobby creatures scoop up the vomit making me want to gag when they eat it. They eat everything before them, the food never-ending. One of the blobs even bites into one of the bony looking things. This isn't right.

"Where am I?" I ask earning a huff from the pig.

"Why the Third Level of the Underworld," the Pig says, "tell me, you don't seem to overindulge nor do you waste food, why are you here?"

"Poison kicked me out," I say, my head spinning from the blood loss.

"This you must tell me," the Pig says, "She loves pretty things."

"I just want to go home," I contemplate eating the food but something keeps me in place.

"You can only be reborn if you make it to the Seventh or Eighth Level," Pig starts nibbling on an apple cord.

"How do I get there?"

"How should I know," the Pig leaves to inspect the tables of food.

Everything hurts and my wound won't stop bleeding. I crawl away from the banquet tucking myself under an empty table I let sleep claim me.

"There you are," someone proves my side, "get up, get up, how dare you sleep in my banquet." A Pig looks down at me clearly insulted, for what I don't know.

Why does my abdomen hurt? Where am I?

"You dare sleep for a whole week," Pig squeals, "get up, get up, go and never return. You clearly don't know how to appreciate good food."

"Who are you?" I ask, taking in my surroundings, it seems I wasn't dreaming, people are eating past the point of no return. While others look like they haven't had a meal in ages. All adorned in an excessive amount of jewelry.

"Just go," Pig says nudging me towards a shimmering portal with a final nudge from Pig I stumble in.