Hell

By Dyanna M. Beech

This story takes place in Hell, but its not what you might think. Yes there is the good vs. the evil. However, the savior of this story might surprise you. Ill give you a hint, its not one of the Angels.

Jack Cambridge is sent to Hell for killing a young boy, there he must come face to face with himself. In life he was a loser, but in death he could be a hero or he might be the antichrist. Either way, he becomes a very important man. Read this book to see which path Jack takes, and see if he can win the heart back of the woman he once loved for centuries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Oct 30, 2013
• ISBN: 9781491822357

Dyanna M. Beech

Dyanna is the oldest of four children, she has two sisters and one brother, she is very close to all of them. Dyanna grew up outside a small village called Burketon, there she lived until she was finished high school. After high school Dyanna moved around a lot, going from Toronto to Oakville then to Waterdown. In 2008 she moved back to Toronto, where she wrote the majority of Hell. In 2009 Dyanna moved to Hamilton to be closer to her sisters. Dyanna took Journalism at Sheridan Art Institute where she graduated in 2008. She currently works full time at The Hamilton Spectator, which is the major newspaper of that city.

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2013 by Dyanna M. Beech. All rights reserved.

Editing—Cynthia Green & Victoria Forrest

Cover Art Design Concept—Cynthia Green

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 10/04/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4918-2236-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-2234-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-2235-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013918020

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Epilogue

About the Author

Thank you to my entire family whom I love more than anything. Thank you to my best friend!!

Chapter One

WELCOME

T o some, feeling the fiery heat of hell on the back of their neck might intrigue them, however, Jack Cambridge was not intrigued. In fact, he was downright terrified.

When earlier that day Jack had pulled a gun on a Seventy-Five year old woman he had no idea that just moments later he would be waiting outside the gates of Hell.

Next! Jack shuffled forward as the person in front of him moved through the gates following the voice that had yelled. Jack was uncontrollably trembling from head to toe.

As Jack moved forward he was able to see more into what lied behind the gates. He looked from left to right seeing flames erupt every which way and when he looked up he saw in place of a bright blue sky with white puffy clouds; there was a deep red sky with thin grey smoke clouds. There were also mountains all around that climbed higher than Jack could see.

One of the first things Jack took notice to, or rather the lack of noticing grabbed his attention. There were no visible demons walking around with any pitchforks of any kind, only normal men and woman moving around. Jack even tried to strain his ears to hear any sign of a painful scream or a crack of a whip but he could hear nothing of the sort. It was not what Jack would have expected Hell to look like at all.

Hurry up over here! Jack immediately stopped scouting the area and began to move forward again (He hadn’t noticed that he’d stopped walking to stare around at his surroundings). Once Jack got found himself at the front of the line, he began studying the man before him. He was a tall man but not very thick, he also had blue eyes and a very square face.

Name? The man asked.

Oh… um… Jack, Jack Cambridge. The man just grunted as he scanned down the list he held in front of him on a very chipped clipboard.

Kay… found you. The man said in a very bored drawn out voice.

Jack waited anxiously as the man continued to turn through the pages obviously looking for more information on Jack.

Alright you’re only eligible to work in the delivery department or the cleaning department… which one will it be?

Sorry? Asked Jack clearly confused with the choices he was just given.

Delivery or cleaning? It’s not that hard of a choice! The man shouted.

Okay, delivery. At Jacks choice the man just grunted again and gave a nod indicating he was done. He took a small step to the side and threw his head to the side signaling Jack to proceed inside and called the next person in line forward.

Jack still trembling crossed through the gates, as he did he felt a tingling sensation rush through his entire body.

Upon entering the gates Jack could see what the man had been pointing him towards. There was a large group of people huddled nervously around a short spindly young man with glasses and messy light red hair.

Hi There! Said the red headed young man with much enthusiasm and a very high-pitched squeaky voice. I’m Jim I’m going to be your beginners guide to Hell for the next little while. He looked around at the crowd for them to laugh—apparently assuming he’d made a joke. Jack tried to force a laugh but knew Jim sensed his non-sincerity because his face fell in a disheartened fashion. We’ll just be waiting here a few more moments until everyone is through the gates than I’ll show you to your quarters. And maybe if you’re lucky I’ll answer a few of your questions.

Jack looked from one person to the next and sure enough all of them looked a little more reassured that soon they would be able to know what had happened to them and what was going to happen in the near/long term future.

After only a few more moments of waiting (Jack had been really far back in the line) they were all out and standing around Jim. There had to be about twenty or thirty of them give or take.

Now if you will just all follow me I will take you to where you will be staying for the rest of eternity and along the way I will answer as many questions as I can—but first let me just start by saying (Jim had cut across at least ten people that had tried and failed to speak) yes you are all dead He took a brief moments pause to look down and mournful. But Jack couldn’t help feeling this was more a routine for him than actual sadness for their deaths. And secondly yes you are all in Hell.

But I didn’t do anything wrong! Squeaked an abrasive woman walking in the back.

Yeah me either! Shouted more than a few people in the crowd.

Unfortunately your souls cannot lie, and where there is sin there is penance and where there is penance there is us—which leads me into one of my points I must discuss with you. As I’m sure you can all tell there are no lakes of lava or rivers of fire, or people being tormented. No, no, no, here at Hell we are here only to make sure you all have the chance to repent for your sins.

So eventually we’ll get to go to heaven? Asked a sandy haired well-put together man walking beside Jim that Jack would have bet everything he once owned that he had been a lawyer while he was alive.

Well… no. No I’m sorry that will never happen, but the good news is if you do your time with respect and dedication than you will not have any problems here and in fact on most days things are in pretty good spirits and it can be a lot of fun if you let it.

Jim paused and turned to look into a very large bolder with a hole in the front leading off into an unknown passageway. Okay… Said Jim as he pulled out a clipboard he had of his own. Nancy, Peter, Mac and Delaram, this will be where you guys will be staying. Nancy you’re in room 304, Peter you’re in 492 and Mac and Delaram you guys are both in… looking, ah ha! Here you are… you are both in 265!

But I still have more questions! Protested Nancy who Jack noticed was the abrasive girl that had spoken up from the back earlier.

Now, now all questions will be answered at your orientation.

Bu-

Mmm mmm I cannot stress enough that we do not tolerate disobedience here and I pray Jim gave a slight pause to see if anyone would laugh at the irony in that, no one did and Jack didn’t bother trying to be polite. That you will not be the example to the thick line we draw here.

It appeared that none of them felt like tipping the iceberg on their first day here so they all said nothing. However the looks on their faces suggested that they now wanted more than to have just a few questions answered they now looked like they wanted to rip Jim apart. The girl named Nancy in particular looked like she would have done him in, in more ways than one had he actually been alive and it was possible to kill him.

Jack still wasn’t even sure if it was possible to hurt him. He pinched himself at that thought to see if he himself could feel pain. And to his disappointment he could.

As they continued on down the path leaving four of their members behind Jack rubbed his arm, which was now feeling tenderer than it had just a moment ago.

Everyone walked in silence as they continued to move along dropping people off along the way at their places. Jack was feeling extremely exhausted and couldn’t wait to get to where he was staying. However he was also extremely nervous to think whom he would be living with.

He kept imagining that he would get to his room and Jack the ripper and Charles Manson would be waiting for him… or better yet Hitler would be sitting on the couch watching some T.V (if they had T.V here) when Jack came strolling in.

Every time they stopped to drop people off Jack’s heart would ‘metaphorically’ stop as he waited to see where he would be staying. Because Jack was hoping however pathetic it seemed, that they would get to the end of the road and realize that they made a mistake and that Jack wasn’t supposed to be here, that he was supposed to be sent to heaven or better yet he was still supposed to be alive.

But as they made their way up a large mountain with a steep but gradual slope they reached the end of the line and Jack was the only one left along with a small squarely looking guy named Ju-long.

Jack, Ju-long this is where I leave you both. Jacks metaphorical heart sank to the bottom of his metaphorical stomach. Jim must of notice the definite sink in his face because he said Oh buck up Jack look at Ju-long he’s taking all this very well, you should have his attitude about things. Jack paused to looked over at Ju-long and shuddered as he noticed the evil menacing smile on his face that looked like it was there because he just burnt down a school full of young children.

Jim gave Jack one more pat on the back before telling him he was in room 87 well thankfully Ju-long was all the way in room 2006.

Jack made his way into a deep dark cave that Jim had said was the entrance to their building. Ju-long was in the lead while Jack followed not far behind.

As Jack walked he looked around his surroundings, the place where he was, was like the dungeon of a very old castle. The hallway they were currently walking down was made of cold grey stone and every five feet on both sides there were wooden doors, which had both a number and letters on them.

The first floor ended at number 55 so both Jack and Ju-long made their way up a narrow stone staircase that went around in a circle, at the first exit off the stairs there was an arrow which pointed down the hallway leading off and below the arrow it said 56-93.

I guess that’s me. Said Jack, making it sound like he was saying it to himself, but also to let Ju-long know he was leaving him without actually talking to him. Ju-long merely huffed at Jacks words and continued up the stairs himself. Jack smiled as he thought of how far Ju-long would have to climb the stairs before he got to room 2006.

Jacks room was almost at the end of the hallway, this hallway looked identical to the last stone. Jack was beginning to feel claustrophobic from the lack of windows and air and hoped with all his might that his room would have at least one window, though he very much doubted it would.

When Jack got to his door he noticed the letters C, A and T on it were all very warn looking, some more warn than others. But there was also the letter J on it, which was not warn out at all in the least. Jack now understood what the letters were for. They were the first letters of the people’s names Jack could only assume.

At first Jack paused at the door not knowing if he should just go in or knock, clearly this was not a room to himself seeing that there were three other letters on the door.

The longer he stayed out there the more anxious he began to feel about the people he would be meeting inside. Clearly these people were not going to be great people seeing as they were all here in hell. But Jack gave a hopeful thought at the fact that he was in Hell and he considered himself very easy to get along with if you could get past his lack of conversational skills and general shyness.

After what felt like an eternity Jack finally opted to knock on the door, not wanting to start his own eternity off on the wrong foot.

Jack had just barely touched the door with his hand to knock when someone flew the door open, obviously expecting his arrival. The man that answered the door looked to be in his early 30’s with a mean looking face and a scruffy beard. He looked Jack up and down before calling out.

Hey guys the newbs arrived!

Right away the door was filled with two more men, one was tall like the first man just not as thick and the other was much smaller. The smaller one looked about Jack’s age, except for his eyes. His eyes looked like the eyes of an elderly person, they were all grey and glazed over.

The other tall man looked to be about 30 they both had brown hair and no beards. The smaller one had brown eyes as well and had a slightly famine look to him that made him stand out in a handsome way like Jared Letto. The bigger one had blue eyes and a sharp cut face, almost unattractive face.

Jack couldn’t even make out the colour of the first mans eyes because they were hidden behind a large mass of thick black hair, but his face seemed good looking underneath it.

They were all looking at Jack with unreadable smiles on their faces and motioning for him to come inside.

The place was very small and dull looking, along the wall to Jacks left were four beds, each one with a name on it. The first one read Chris then Ted then Alex and lastly came Jack. And just like the outside of the door Jack’s name was much newer and shinier than the others. To Jacks right there wasn’t much only space that held coats and shoes; to the left at the end of the beds were trunks.

At the far side of the last bed the entire place went up a step. On the left side of the up-step there was the kitchen area, the counter ran along beside Jack’s bed there seemed to be a stove in the counter as well, and on the far left side was the sink. To the far right side of the up-rise was a small kitchen table with four chairs around it. And in the far back wall was a door in the middle, which Jack assumed led to the washroom.

Hi I’m Ted. Said the bearded man who had answered the door, in a deep echoing voice. And this here is Alex He continued pointing to the smallest one. And this here is Chris He said pointing to the last one.

I’m Jack Jack replied. The other three guys gave a chuckle and Jack immediately mentally kicked himself for being stupid. Clearly these boys knew his name it was right there on his bed. But you guys clearly already know that. Said Jack giving an un-humorous ha ha at himself.

Jack didn’t know what to say after that, he had never been good at starting conversation, he could feel his chest seize up with anxiety trying desperately to think of something to say so he didn’t look even more dense than he already did.

Before Jack had time to think of something to say, Ted took a step closer to Jack and bent almost to Jacks level (he was much taller than Jack was) and said We have all lived here for many years as just the three of us, and we have liked it just fine like that. He paused to look at the boys behind him, both of which nodded in agreement.

So I think as our unwanted fourth member it is only fair that you… deal the cards! All three of them laughed at Jack who must have had a horrified look on his face up until the word cards was spoken.

Jack’s three roommates all turned together and made their way up the step at the back of the room to the little table where Jack now noticed was a deck of cards all dealt out to three players. They must have been playing cards before Jack got there, which wasn’t a surprise seeing as there was no T.V or other form of entertainment in the room.

They ended up playing poker for almost the entire night, it wasn’t until Alex let his head bob painfully off the table that they all decided to go to bed.

Jack felt so peculiar; he had such a mix of emotions about the place. He knew it was Hell, he knew he should be terrified of what was to come. But yet, he couldn’t help feeling the excitement like it was his first day of summer camp.

The next morning when Jack awoke he was surprised to smell the familiar aroma of pancakes and maple syrup in the air. Sure enough when he arose from bed he looked over into the kitchen to find Ted making breakfast.

Hey good morning sleepy head! Called Alex from the kitchen table in a fun mocking tone. Chris was also at the table he was reading the newspaper and didn’t even acknowledge that Jack was there. Jack didn’t mind, after their game last night Jack could already tell Chris was the least exciting of the group.

About an hour later while Ted was in the washroom and Chris was reading a book and making notes on his bed, and Alex and Jack were washing the dishes, (normally Jack would not have been helping he would rather be laying in his bed getting some more sleep but he wanted to make a good impression to start with) there erupted a loud screaming siren from nowhere. Immediately Alex and Chris dropped what they were doing and ran out the front door. And about two seconds later Ted burst out of the bathroom still trying to fight his pants up his legs and do them up at the same time. Ted was heading straight for the front door just like the other two but had to stop for Jack who was still standing dumbstruck in front of the kitchen sink.

Get your ass in gear man! We CAN NOT be late! Growled Ted. Jack instantly jumped into obedience and followed Ted out the room and down the mountain.

It didn’t take them long before they caught up with Alex and Chris, then together they walked in silence up the dirt path that Jack had arrived on the day before. They all walked at an extremely brisk pace until they reached a fork in the road, which they turned right at taking Jack in a direction he had not yet gone in. All of it looked the same as the rest of Hell. With stone buildings alone the sides of the road and dirt pathways that led off into new directions. There was the odd car every now and then but there wasn’t many, and all of them were covered and dust making it very difficult to tell their make or model let alone their colours.

So what’s going on? Jack finally asked. Simultaneously they all looked over at Jack like he was some kind of leper.

You don’t know about the meeting!? Asked Alex in complete shock.

No. Said Jack puzzled.

Oh my god, Jim should be shot, he knows he’s supposed to tell you about the meeting! Harped Chris.

Calm down don’t sweat it man. Said Ted interjecting smoothly. Listen, it happens once a month in the morning, it’s where Lucifer comes and speaks to us personally, it’s really the only time most of us get to see him in person. Just keep your head down and your mouth shut and listen to everything that Lucifer has to say. Even though Jack also hadn’t been told who Lucifer was he didn’t need bother asking because it was entirely obvious who he was; the ruler of Hell.

They had to walk under a great big stone arch to enter into a rounded auditorium willed with hundreds of people. Around the people there were tall stonewalls. The floors here were also made of dirt but the dirt felt a lot firmer under Jacks feet making it feel more like a floor than the roads outside the circle. Up on the walls is where Jack saw for the first time the big red demands that looked just like the ones out of a cartoon. From the pointed black go-tee’s to the pitchforks; they even had tails with a triangle black end on them. They were all standing up on the walls looking down at the people they’re faces were almost impossible to make out because they were so high up but Jack could almost swear they were smiling maliciously though.

Everybody seemed to be chatting amongst themselves about this and that, not really paying attention to any of that things that were putting Jacks mind into a spin.

It wasn’t until trumpets sounded and fire broke lose all around them blocking the only exit and trapping them in that the people began to fall silent. Jack took a deep gulp of extreme nervousness.