Journal of a Deadman: Gluttony & Avarice

By Alexander Collas

Keith and Usis have already discovered their journey through Hell is more than they had bargained for. On the way to the next Plane, they and their guide Calmet are attacked by an unknown force. When finally they make it to the Plane of Gluttony they meet the innkeeper Bell, a fellow Earthling. They are introduced to the Overlord of Gluttony, a horrific creature, where they learn of his collection of souls. In that collection, Keith finds another person from earth, the epidemy of Greed and Avarice, a TV personality who later became President and helped set in motion the ruin of his homeworld. On the fourth Plane Keith meets a very unlikely looking overlord who controls all the resources The Host and Hell filters back into the many Creations from their torture and harvest of suffering from. He learns how these minerals are the very thing that continues to fuel all of Creation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Alexander Collas
• Release date: Oct 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9781370173075

Alexander Collas

Alexander Collas is an American author. His two series, Journal of a Deadman and The Family Morningstar have received both adulation and infamy for addressing the myths of God, Lucifer, and Eternity from a different point of view. He examines and brings into question the accepted paradigms handed down over the last two thousand years. His books are graphic, and present the teachings of religion as they are presented and not from the edited dreamy eyed perspective their believers like to tell themselves. Ask yourself, how would an eternal being feel about a creature like the living, who dies before eternity even knows they exist. Why would such powerful beings really care what these temporary beings felt and what would they even need with such sad talking monkeys?

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Journal of a Deadman

Glutton & Avarice

Alexander Collas

Journal of a Deadman – Glutton & Avarice

Volume 3

by Alexander Collas

These journals have been a journey into depths I had never thought I would be required to travel. I thank all those who have stood beside, behind and sometimes in front, clearing the way, for their incredible support.

All rights reserved.

Copyright ©2017 Alexander Collas

This is a work of Fiction. Characters, entities, institutions, and organizations in this novel are the product of the author’s imagination, or, if real, are used fictitiously without any intent to describe their actual conduct.

All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Death Nail Media at  http://www.DeathNailMedia.com/.

Entry 94

Dear readers, this is me, Keith. Well, I guess you know that already. Before I continue, I want you to know that the next few entries are written in retrospect or, in some cases, completely by others. I won’t explain why because that would negate the need to tell the story, so suffice it to say, until otherwise told, you will be reading what is in my past. In many ways, this will serve the story since I can add things I didn't know at the time. So, all I will say is welcome to the Third and Fourth Planes of Hell, and the events leading up to it.

In case you didn’t read the previous entries, our guide Calmet was leading us down a tunnel to the Third Plane when he rounded a curve and was blown apart. It’s there we start.

Entry 95

In a damp tunnel between the Second and Third Planes, we watched in surprise as our guide since the First Plane was blown apart. Usis, being the first to recover from the shock, grabbed me and pulled me back behind a large rock. It was then I, too, heard footsteps coming down the path from around the corner.

What appeared at that turn stood some twenty feet tall, almost as tall as the cave itself. It was emaciated in many places, the stark white skin pulled so tight as to outline the shape of the bones barely sheathed beneath it. Its arms and legs were too long for its body and reminded me a lot of what I had always imagined an alien to look like. Across the full width of its chest were a myriad of tattoos, well not tattoos but carvings. I think it’s called scarification. Its emaciated torso hung from broad shoulders and tapered down to its thin, skin-stretched pelvic bones from which hung large, misshapen genitals. This creature was male.

It sniffed the air and looked around as if searching for something, like a predator. I thought maybe it was blind, but no, in hollow cavities on its face were two orbs darting about, scanning the tunnel. Finally, it found its prey, us, hidden there behind the boulder. Lifting its too long fingers, it pointed at us as lightning rocketed behind our eyes. Both Usis and I cried out in pain. The last thing I heard before dropping into unconsciousness was, Turn around. I want to see.

Entry 96

I’m not sure, even now, when I awoke. How much time had passed? It wasn’t a natural awakening but a jolt of the pain as it coursed through my limbs and head. My eyes were blurry and caked with gunk making it impossible to see anything of my surroundings. I knew I was hanging. I could feel my arms screaming in agony. I had no strength, so for the longest time, I hung there, biting my lip, trying to stay quiet. I couldn’t remember where I was, all I knew or hoped I knew, was that I was still in Hell. I chuckled to myself when I realized I was now to the point of wishing I was still amongst the damned of all places. It had become my home in many ways. It was when I heard movement and talking that the memory of the creature flooded again into my thoughts. I didn’t want it to know I was conscious, so I stared at the ground, blinking, trying to get my vision to focus.

As my eyes began to clear, I could see my feet, spread apart and tied to posts. There were bits of bone, skin and drizzled blood littering the sandy ground below me. How much of it was mine I wasn’t sure. As the world came into focus, I could see things closer and more clearly. My body came into view. I was nude, and now unquestionably hanging from a cross like the one back in the theater on the Second Plane. Only this time, I wasn’t face down, and it wasn’t voluntary. My feet and, I assumed, my hands since I couldn’t see them, were both secured with ropes which were entirely too tight.

Everything from my chest down was pale, thin and covered in blood. I realized the bones that littered the floor weren’t mine, but the splashes of blood that covered them were. None of the wounds I could see appeared to be still flowing. They had all dried, leading me to conclude the damage wasn’t recent. They might have been old, but they were still bad. In places, the damage was so extensive that large chunks of skin were hanging limply with bits of internal organs poking out. With my vision being what it was, moving in and out of focus, it made it hard for the reality that this was my body I was looking at to sink in. I hung there blinking, closing my eyes at times to stop my head from spinning, hoping it would help keep me from being sick. Finally, trying to relieve some of my aches, I shifted on the cross which did nothing but cause lightning bolts of pain to shoot through my body. I screamed as the blackness took me.

Entry 97

When I awoke the next time, I was again immediately greeted by pain. It hit me like a massive wave, drowning me in its immensity. Gritting my teeth, I forced my eyes open, wide enough to see what was around me. I was in a cave. It was large, between me and the entrance maybe thirty feet. How much was behind me I didn’t know; I refused to risk turning my head for fear of the pain. Looking around what immediately caught my attention were the twinkles, the little blips of light sparkling everywhere.

I moved carefully this time to get a better look. The flashes of lights were causing me to question whether my vision had indeed cleared. I kept looking back down at my broken body and then up to the cave walls. Getting overconfident, I turned too quickly, and the pain and dizziness caused me to vomit all down the front of my bare chest and onto the floor. I hung there for what felt like an eternity lost in my pain. Eventually, I was able to force my stomach to stop protesting and my eyes to again focus. I lifted my head and with great care started to appraise my surroundings.

I closed and reopened my eyes several times until I was sure what I was seeing. It seemed the source of the flickering were mirrors. There were hundreds, no thousands of them, some large, some small, some hanging from thin ropes while others were tacked directly to the rock face. They were clustered in little groups, most broken with sharp, jagged edges. These kaleidoscopes of light covering every inch of the cavern surface.

The pain coursing through my temples again became unbearable. I allowed my head to fall against my chest. I hung there for a while until I felt like I could lift it again. I moved slowly, so slowly as to almost to not be moving, trying to fool my mind. Then there beside me I saw him and screamed. On a cross, much like my own, hung Usis, his body battered and beaten. His hands and feet tied to the bars. A tear rolled down my cheek as I examined how badly he was injured. It was then I discovered both his legs were broken. His body had many of the wounds mine had, large cuts and gouges. Most of his chest bore extensive burns like a torch had been held against the skin. He was slumped down like a discarded rag doll tied to a cross. Fear raced through my body... then…he breathed, and I passed out.

Entry 98

I awoke to a conversation. Keeping my head down, I tested my eyes. They were still blurry. I heard walking around the edge of the cave. As my eyes began to clear, I looked up and saw it was the creature from the tunnel. Wait, no this wasn’t the same one. Well, I mean it almost looked like the first creature; it had a similar size, arms and leg length. But the last one was male, and this one was decidedly not. This thing had great sagging breasts that hung like old sacks down her chest. The folds of her distended vagina swayed as she walked. I was forced to close my eyes, the image too foul for my weakened mind to grasp.

I continued to keep my head down in hopes they wouldn’t discover I was awake. She...it…no, she was muttering, talking to herself. Then she got an answer. It wasn’t the same voice. That’s when I lifted my head. I looked around, but there was no one else. I could hear the other person; it was clearly a different voice.

As she turned, I dropped my head, closing my eyes. I would take peeks as the two voices continued their conversation. Maybe it was the cave? I looked around trying to find the source of the other voice. But both sounded as if they were coming from the same location. Was this creature just crazy, playing both sides of her discussion? I looked up again, and now I could see her more clearly. She had clawed feet…four of them…as she walked, two moved forward while the other two moved back. 

There was silence. I felt weak. I could feel the fingers of unconsciousness clawing at my resolve, singing me back into the abyss of nothingness. Then my mind put together what they were discussing. The two voices were trying to decide what to do with us or, more accurately, Usis. I heard them say he wasn't needed.

Finally, I decided I couldn’t hang there and allow anything to happen to my love, my friend, the only person I had left on my side here in Hell. They had all but decided that Usis was expendable and could be destroyed. As I started to say something, I noticed a strange reflection in one of the mirrors on the far wall. Any voice I had was ripped from my throat in shock. Behind the female, standing there was also the other one, the male, the first one.

I squeezed my eyes shut, then opened them hoping to decode the jigsaw puzzle of an image my mind was giving me. As she again came into focus, she turned. My mouth dropped open in horror. There were attached, back to back. They continued to turn as one, bringing me face to face with the male.

I was now starting, no longer hiding that I was awake, into the face of one of our attackers. He looked directly at me then waved dismissively as they moved around the edges of the cave. They were still talking, deep in discussion. What were they going to do with us? How much time did they have? When was The Dark Lord going to realize the trouble they were in? I strained to listen – What did they want?

Too many things tugged at my still confused mind. Who were they? Why were they joined as they were? Why did they have us captured? Why were they torturing us? Why torture Usis more? Strangely what kept drawing my attention was how they always stayed along the edges of the cave, rarely venturing into the center. As I watched, I noticed something strange about the way they were moving. I mean ignore the fact that they had four legs and were back to back. It was the way they moved. When the male walked forward, the female seemed to instantly, without hesitation, shift and start walking backward so as not to slow them down. It was the same when she moved forward as well; they worked in perfect unison.

I struggled to figure out what kept picking at my mind. Then I realized it was the way they turned their heads when talking. I forced myself to focus, to study them, to see what it was I was missing, it was right there. Momentarily my pain forgotten, I watched these strange creatures as the moved and conversed. I was surprised when I felt a small smile cross my lips; I finally figured it out. The mirrors. They were using the mirrors to see each other, to talk to each other. They had found a way to see what they couldn’t otherwise see. I fought my body. I again felt myself being dragged down. I was starting to wonder why I couldn’t stay awake. Whatever the reason, I slowly passed again into unconsciousness still with the slight smile on my lips.

Entry 99

This time a slap awoke me, a hard slap to the side of my face. My eyes sprung open. I was met with screams of pain from my arms which were still hanging from the cross. As my vision cleared, I looked over to find that Usis was no longer hanging beside me. I scanned the room in panic, finally finding him a crumpled mass discarded in the corner of the cave. I couldn’t tell if he still lived. Well, he was dead already, this was Hell after all. But did he still reside in that shattered shell in the corner of this cave on the dusty floor?

Turning back, I looked again into this creature's eyes, only, this time, he was inches from my face. It was the male that had slapped me. It’s time for you to wake up. We have questions and wish to see how cooperative you are going to be, little monkey.

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing Usis must still be alive. Looking defiantly at him, I asked, Do you know who I am? What have you done? Do you understand the seriousness of the suffering you will soon endure?

Of course, you ignorant little beast, you are The Dark Lord’s minion, barked the female from behind his back.

So, you do know who I am and yet here I hang, so you are idiots? As for being ‘The Dark Lord’s minion’, I can’t say if I merit such an honor to be honest. I’m just doing the duty I’ve been assigned.

He stared as if studying me. I casually glanced toward the wall and wasn’t surprised to see the female also watching in one of the mirrors. I winked at her. Turning to face the male again, remembering what I’d heard earlier when they didn’t know I was awake, I said, You do realize he will send someone for me? Or better yet, come himself. He has visited several times. Glancing over at Usis, I added, If you’ve damaged my friend, I promise you I’ll personally drag you down into the lowest bowels of this infernal place. I will see that you spend an eternity suffering tortures that even The Dark Lord would deem extreme. I couldn't believe I was acting so brave; I guess my time in Hell had paid off.

Fury raced across his face as he again slapped me, this time so hard it rattled my teeth. How dare you speak to us in that manner? Do you have any idea to whom you speak, you little slug? he barked.

The anger inside me masked my pain. I shot back, Not a clue! Based upon the pathetic state you two are in, I would guess some trash one of the overlords stitched back together in their labs? My eyes narrowing, I continued, And having seen a Master at work on the Second Plane I can only assume your bits were given to a beginner since you are little more than a disfigured mess. He hit me again, but this time it wasn’t a slap. Blood filled my mouth, and I spit it in the male’s face as I continued, And from the look of that bitch you are carrying around on your back, I think those tits could feed half the souls on the judgment plain. Pausing and raising my eyebrows as if I’d made a discovery, I went on. That’s it, I know who you are. You’re the transport for the whore who suckles the new born souls in the Hatchery, is that it?

The creatures were now shaking with fury. A voice inside my head said I should be afraid and careful but I didn’t listen. After seeing what they had done to Usis, something inside of me had snapped and I no longer cared what happened. I had to, at some point, start trusting that The Dark Lord had my back. This was a good of a time as any.

Turn me around, the female ordered in a cold tone. The male reacted without question. When she was fully turned to face me she, like the male had done before, studied me. In her face, I could see the rage dripping from her countenance like a weeping wound. That didn’t matter. What I saw in her eyes is what caught my attention; it was hurt, a wounded ego. My comments had hit their mark.

Seeing my plan had worked I stilled