The World Beyond
by Mel Lees © 2008
His head ached much too much to even try to open his eyes so he kept them closed for a few more minutes. Slowly, one lid then the other uncovered his brown eyes. Recognition didn't enter with the dim light. Where was he, and how did he get there?
He lay stretched out on a army-type cot with no bedding and no covers. The tiny room had no windows, no fixtures. Only a door. Harlan sat upright and in the dim light saw he was wearing clothes he sort of remembered as his. The cloudiness in his head began to clear, but he had no idea where he was or how he got there.
Harlan pulled at the door. It swung wide. On the other side was nothing but haze. No lights. No sounds. No people. No cars. Nothing but haze. He slammed the door shut and stumbled back to the bed. His whole body shook from cold and fright. He lay there with a spinning head, unable to concentrate enough to lift his hands to his face.
It must be a nightmare, except the bed felt too solid beneath him. He tried to remember the last thing before he awoke. He was in a hotel room on a convention. He watched a teleconference about business ethics and techniques. No one was with him after, so he had a scotch and water and went to bed. Nothing unusual until this. What did this nightmare mean? Why only haze outside? Oh yes. The meeting yesterday had been about our inner selves, but none of it could possibly apply to him.
The door was opening. Breathing stopped. Hands stopped clenching. His head froze while he peered straight ahead at the creaking door. It opened and a rush of mist entered the room. A figure materialized within the fog, and a hideous humanoid stood before him. The figure was about seven feet tall. It had a face that was squashed to one side. Its arms reached to the floor and two bulging eyes followed Harlan's every movement.
The creature stood still, staring at Him. No word was spoken, but Harlan could get what the thing was saying. Thoughts came directly from the misshapen form in front of him. “It said, “This is how you will end up. You're business dealings have been less than honorable. Much of your success has come from cheating and lying. For that, you have had worldly goods and respect from your colleagues. Little do they know what's behind your façade. It's too late, far too late, to repent. You will soon become as I; shunned by the world and unable to look at yourself in the mirror.”
The door opened again and the apparition wafted out with the pea soup.
Harlan sat on the bed petrified. Then, he looked around the room for more scotch but the place was devoid of any comforts.
Nah! This is just a bad dream. My business dealings are no different than any one else's. The only way to the top is my way. I'll wake up soon and everything will be fine.
Harlan lay back on the bed trembling and unable to close his eyes.
The door creaked again and slammed open. In came the usual haze and within that cloud was another figure. This creature was the size of a gnome. Its shoulders were hunched up and its tiny head almost hidden between those shoulders. Normal size arms ended in large hands bearing seven fingers each. A nose divided two enormous eyes that bore into Harlan's. No voice, but again communication occurred directly from those eyes to Harlan's brain.
“This is how you are shriveled inside. Every time you cheated on your wife, the inner you developed like me. Your external body is beautiful, but inside exists this grotesque monster. I lived the life you are following and had all the trappings of success but my time came and here I am, as you see me. Continue to be Mr. Big and expect to join me in the future.”
The phantom opened the door and left with the thick air.
Harlan began to cry. He was a prisoner in a dungeon with no hope of rescue. Could it be possible that what he was seeing was really he?
Once more the door opened. Vapor and then a figure. This time it was a beautiful woman who appeared from the cloud. “My God! It's my wife.”
“Yes Harlan. For years you have been busy earning us a great life, but you had no time to enjoy us. Day after day, I raised our children and kept a nice house for you to enjoy, but you were too busy. You left me to get old, unable to receive the wonderful facets of life until I shriveled like a prune while you never noticed.
“Look at yourself and see what you really have become. Your friends will melt away. Who would associate with such a monster? Even your children will shun you.”
The haze and his wife disappeared.
Harlan fell to his knees weeping and crying out for help. No help came. Finally, he arose and went to the door and opened it. The usual creaking was much louder than before and the mist was thicker. He took a step from the security of the room into the murky blackness. All was deathly silent. Nothing changed. At the fourth step, an unearthly shriek filled his head.
He disappeared.