Free Underworld (Dark Passage) by M.L. Woolley Page A

dripping down the outside. A dirt trail leads into
the mountain and I step closer to the portal to see
what is there. The trail winds back and forth down
the mountain. At the bottom of the mountain is an
expanse of barren land. I see plants dotting the
landscape unlike any I have ever seen. I take a step
closer and strain my eyes to see what they are. They
are not plants at all but bodies. Bodies and limbs of
people are strewn all over. As I try and make sense
out of what I am seeing the sky darkens. There is a
man walking up the trail. As he gets closer it is
apparent to me that this is not a human.
    I am paralyzed by what I see from that dimension. It
seems to be pulling me toward the trail. I am fighting
the magnetic pull of the portal and trying to loosen
the hold on me. The creature is almost to the top of
the mountain and is dragging something behind it. I
can’t see what it is but the form is not moving.
    Tom’s v
oice probes gentlyinto my mind. “Turn
away from what you see. Look at the light Ivy. It
will lead you back here”. I drag my eyes away from
the horror of the dark dimension and attempt to reach
for the light. My body is paralyzed and movement is
impossible.
    My mind closes the door to this dimension and I am
in total darkness. I try and move forward but feel as
though I am behind something large. It is blocking
my path and the weight of it keeps me from moving.
I push with my mind and inch by inch the weight
holding me captive lifts. I can hear the barking of a
dog and move in that direction. There is a wall in
front of me and I feel along it trying to find a way out.
    I walk to the left feeling up and down the wall as I
move. My legs are aching as I move up and down
frantically feeling for a way out. I can hear the sound
of something being dragged across a floor behind me.
    My mind is racing and the back of my neck is ice cold
with sweat. There are eyes in the darkness coming
toward me. I turn to face it and back into the wall. I
can see fire in the eyes and the blackness is drawing
me deeper. I keep moving and then I feel the
coolness of metal. There is a doorknob and I pull
open the door and close it quickly behind me. I see a
flashlight far in the distance and make my way in that
direction. The barking is growing more intense and
then I hear the door behind me open. The dragging
sound starts again and I don’t dare look back into the
eyes I know are there. The shuffling behind me
grows louder and I began to run. My body feels like
it weighs a thousand pounds and running is almost
impossible. Determination keeps me moving and the
flashlight is growing larger.
    I try and pick up speed and nearly fall down. I am
bent half over and using my arms to help propel me
forward. Then there is a beam of light and it grows in
intensity. There is an open door before me and light
on the other side. The heaviness of my body is lifting
and now I am able to run through the darkness. The
light seems to be pulling me through the void and
then I am at a threshold.
    A wariness comes over me and I take a tentative step
forward. Fearing that I may have come to the wrong
dimension, I am cautious as I look around, but then I
see Tom. I can feel the warmth of the fire and hear
the gentle popping of burning firewood
There is a gentle glow, as the light from the portal
closes. I can see Tom smiling with approval and I am
    glad to be back in the library with him. I am cold
with sweat and my hair is stuck to my neck. I have
never been so scared in all my life. I decide not to tell
Tom what I had seen.
    “See.
I told you it would come to you when you were
ready. It’s not so difficult once you learn to focus on
where the light wants to take you.”
    I shudder thinking about the horror I experienced in
the dark. I should have never stopped to look into the
dark dimension. I knew it was evil and yet went
closer anyway. I need to learn more but don’t want to
press Tom for answers. I don’t