He Comes in the Twilight

by welhouar

When I first wrote this story, my friends and I joked that I found a way to incorporate the word “twilight” into my book and pick up some of the popular books’ fans.

Kidding aside, this story has nothing to do with vampires, but it does have to do with death and consequences. Part of it was inspired by A Christmas Carol, and the other part by my own fascination with different religions and their interpretations of hell. I learned a bit here and there while writing this story, and incorporated elements of Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism into it.

The ending isn’t for everyone, but it’s definitely interesting to discuss with people of different beliefs. Let me know what you think in the comments.

This is “He Comes in the Twilight.” Please read, enjoy, and share.

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Robin woke up in the early morning gasping for air.

Itchy, he felt very itchy, and sweaty too. It wasn’t just some cold perspiration from the heat of the night; it felt like his bed had been dropped into an ocean of sweat. His breaths were shortening, and there was the smell of something absolutely morbid in the air. He felt nauseous as his stomach devoured itself, convoluting and distorting into something unbearably painful. There was an eerie sensation snaking up his throat, like he was going to vomit, and his teeth tingled, giving way to numbness.

Through the spasms and sputters, he could feel something else forming inside, though this feeling was different; it was euphoric, soothing, and it started to travel his body, starting at his nostrils, to his fingertips, and to his legs. He exhaled slowly, not taking any chances of a relapse, and lay still in his bed for a moment, closing his eyes. He let one last breath out, and looked at the clock. It was 4:11 in the morning. Robin’s day was originally going to start a few hours later. He would have woken up around eight, eaten a light breakfast, and gone out for a jog. A shower would follow the jog, and afterwards he would be off to discuss potential afterschool programs with members of the local school board. The day would end with a visit to his father’s grave before sundown.

Robin was born into a small family. His father was a librarian, while his mother stayed at home to tend to the children. It was through his father Robin received his education. More often than not, the man would take his son to work, and the boy would wander about the many shelves of books. His favorite reads were biographies, especially those about people who had dedicated their lives to bettering the human condition. Inspired by this, Robin graduated high school and went on to attend Georgia State University, where he double-majored in social work and philosophy. College gave way to the Peace Corps, and he found himself following his heroes’ footsteps. Experiences in Kenya and Bangladesh cultured him, expanding his knowledge of the world beyond the limited parameters of his eyesight. He returned to the United States ambitious, and over the next few years, he worked in multiple communities across his home state, helping to provide for the needy and raise awareness for HIV/AIDS. He then set his focus on education and literacy.

Which brings him to today. At the age of 44, he had already lived a more fulfilling life than others around him. And I still have a long way to go, he thought to himself.

Robin looked at the clock again. It was 4:11 in the morning. Well that wasn’t right, he thought. Maybe the clock was broken. He reached over and hit it a couple of times. Nothing changed. Strange. He tried to unplug it, but pulling the cord out didn’t do much either. Now he wondered whether he was dreaming. A cold breeze passing through the room suggested otherwise, though this too puzzled him; the window was shut, and he wasn’t near a vent. As he sat up to find out what was going on, that nasty, sulfurous, morbid odor sprang back to life. He nearly choked at its greeting, and at that very moment, he felt the presence of someone else in his home. He could not hear any footsteps, but a certain wave of jittery paranoia slithered down his spine. The intruder was coming for him. Robin suddenly found himself longing for a shotgun, his chest feeling heavy, the corners of his mouth curling downwards.

This won’t end well, he thought.

Petrified, he rushed to come up with some sort of plan. If they wanted money, they could take it. If they wanted him, he would put up a fight. Robin tried to entertain the idea of the intruder being a drunken idiot that wandered into the wrong house, but the sense of danger overwhelmed any hope he had. Thinking of nothing else he could do, he closed his eyes, and began to count.

One.

It’s around the corner.

Two.

At the doorway.

Three.

It’s coming in.

Four.

He kept his eyes shut. The smell was stronger than ever, and he was now shivering, his teeth clattering. For as fearful as the man was, there was also a hint of confusion in him. What is this person waiting for? The suspense chipped away at him, and though he was curious to see who was in his room, he kept his eyes shut, and waited.

“SIR!”

A voice bellowed at him, gnarled and deep. Robin kept his eyes closed.

“SIR!”

Robin could not hold out any longer. He was on the verge of rendering himself blind. He slowly opened his eyes.

The shock of what stood in front of him left him muted.

It was not human. It was not an animal. It was some strange combination of both. It stood about eight feet tall, with the body of a man, the face of an elk, and the fangs of a lion. The antlers on its head were broken. Its eyes were a shade of light blue. The beast did not blink, nor did it breathe. Whatever it was, it stared directly at him. Robin, mustering whatever strength was left of him, managed to eke out a few words.

“Who are you?”

The beast, at first slightly hunched in its posture, straightened itself and spoke.

“In the name of your Creator,

the Giver of Life,

the Protector,

the Judge, the Just, and the Reckoner,

the Glorious, and most Majestic,

Elohim.

At approximately 4:11 this morning, you passed away. I have come to retrieve you, and take you to a deserved place in the afterlife.”

Robin’s initial reaction was to feel devastated, or angry, but instead, he felt confused. Death so soon? There were so many things left unfinished, he thought. There must be some sort of mistake, or maybe he was still dreaming. He looked at the monster.

“Can you prove I’ve passed away?” he asked.

“Put your hand to your breast, and tell me what you feel,” replied the beast.

Robin placed his hand over the center of his chest.

“Do you feel a heartbeat?” asked the beast.

There was none. Robin’s unease worsened.

“You also have not been breathing,” said the beast, “since my arrival.”

He was right. Robin had been so stricken with fear, he hadn’t even noticed.

“So you’ve come to take me to heaven?” asked Robin.

The beast, having not moved in the slightest since its arrival, began to speak again. “In your short time on Earth, you have demonstrated qualities of excellence and perseverance. Your constant desire to learn and improve the lives of the less fortunate is something truly admirable. You have helped people fight disease, poverty, and ignorance. Through your leadership, your compassion, and your goodwill, you have undoubtedly become the keeper of your brothers and sisters, a shepherd for the weak and the wretched.”

As the beast recited Robin’s achievements, a sense of pride overcame the man. He had lived a good life, and though he appreciated the praise and honor that his work had brought him, nothing compared to what awaited him: entrance into Shangri-La. Robin smiled as the beast continued to talk.

“Despite your good intentions, you are only human, after all, and no man is able to resist the temptation of sin.”

Robin’s smile wavered a bit. He braced himself for what the beast may reveal next, and tried to stay confident. You are a good man, he reminded himself.

“You could not resist the temptation to lie. Though you are intelligent, from time-to-time you would find yourself in a situation that demanded too much of you, and, under a false guise of cleverness, you would deceieve others around you to advance your own interests. Not only were you dishonest, but selfishness took rein as well. You convinced yourself the end is all that matters, and it is here we find irony. He who is deceitful will only come to deceive himself. You are no exception.”

Robin started to feel a little uneasy, but kept his head up.

“You could not resist the temptation of hubris. Though you have accomplished a great deal, you often thought of yourself as higher than those surrounding you, whether they were family, colleagues, or the very people you sought to help. You demanded to be treated as someone who transcended his existence as a mortal. This is foolish; you are but a man! The Lord created you of the dust of the Earth! He has no son, no equal!”

The beast, sensing tension in the room, paused for a moment. Robin was feeling even more nervous.

“Yet Elohim, the Mighty and the Equitable, is also the Pardoner. He will forgive you for these sins.”

Robin felt relieved. The beast, it seemed, was not yet finished speaking.

“But there is one sin you will not be forgiven for. It is among the gravest, and it is this act alone that has earned you a place in hell.”

“Hell? Hell?! How could I be going to hell! I’ve given my life to helping people! I’ve made some mistakes, but you just said I’ll be forgiven! What could I have done to deserve a spot in hell?!”

Robin’s outburst had a small effect on the beast; whereas its eyes were once cold and lifeless, they were now sharp and pointed. Robin felt some sort of anger radiating towards him.

“Your mother held you in her womb for nine months,” the beast began. “During those days, you posed a great burden on her, physically and mentally. She endured, and gave birth to you. For many years of your life, she nurtured and provided for you. When you cried, she held you. When you hurt, she protected you. She was the source of your life and well-being; without her love and care, you surely would have been nothing! And how did you repay her? During your teenage years, you consistently defied her! If she gave you rules, you laughed at her! When she cried out of frustration of dealing with you, you turned away and ignored her! Your mother, always patient, always hopeful, prayed for the day you would realize the error of your ways, but the day never came.”

“As you set out to start your career, you did not keep in contact with her. When your father left this world, she was alone. Man and woman become frightened and timid in old age. Their suffering increases as their health fails. Who else do the elderly have to turn to than their own family? And yet, you did not help her. ‘I am too busy’ became words as familiar your own name. While your mother withered away quietly, you were giving your life to helping people whose significance meant nothing compared to her.”

The beast paused to observe Robin’s reaction. The man was silent; guilt had overtaken his body.

“The Kingdom of Heaven lies beneath the soles of a mother’s feet. Your mother passed away without having mercy on you. You will spend eternity in damnnation. Upon your arrival, you will find it to be a dark, frozen land. Blizzards and sharp winds constantly sweep across the plains. You will be naked, alone, and without shelter. The cold will cause your skin to blister; these sores will burst open, covering you in your own blood and puss, leaving your flesh open to the stinging winds. In your hunger, you will find trees of fruit, and a river of water. The fruit is thorned, and though it tears your organs apart, it satiates your hunger, and you will keep eating. You will find the water to be warm, and as you drink more to heat your body, it will set you aflame. You will be reborn, restored to full health, and you will continue this cycle of suffering.”

Robin had no words. He had no feeling, except for regret. He hung his head down, ashamed, as the beast spoke its final words.

“In the name of your Creator, the Mighty and the Benevolent Elohim, I have come to retrieve you, and take you to your deserved place in the afterlife. We shan’t waste time; Hell awaits.”