Splunker’s The Cat Productions

Richard and Daren still sat at Cold Ones, having moved from the bar to a corner table for a bit more privacy. Daren was explaining the way life worked in the Gate.

“For example see that bloke over there?: He asked, pointing at a dark skinned gentleman wearing a strange robe.

“Yeah.” Richard studied the man for a moment. He looked like some middle eastern priest. He had brown skin, his robe was a pale yellow color and he wore a turban. He was sitting at a table talking fervently with a woman who looked like she had walked out of an old gangster flick.

“His name is Cala Inbol. What he does here is manifest different types of food. He specializes in grains and fruit. He has a booth down the street from here.” He explained, then he pointed at a woman sitting at the bar chatting with Coulierre the  bartender.

“See her? That’s Kallie, she can do clothes and other apparel. She’s the one, what did up my coat here.” He tugged on his lapel to emphasize his point. “So we’ve got folks who do for those who can’t do for themselves, and those who can’t do, do things for them.”

Richard nodded. It was beginning to sink in exactly how this little society worked. He wondered how he would fit in. Daren had explained that he was a courier of sorts. He mostly just transported goods from one place to another, but he pretty much would do whatever needed to be done.

He also explained that Coulierre was one of the most well known and as such powerful residents of the Gate. Everyone loved his little bar, and almost everyone could be found here after the work day was over.
Interesting though it all was, Richard found it all very sad. He felt bad for the poor people trapped in this place unable to move on to the great beyond or whatever awaited them through the Gate itself. He worried he would be trapped here like they were.

Daren had explained that you only stayed here as long as you weren’t at rest, or felt you had some sort of ties to the mortal world. He also speculated that after spending a certain amount of time in the Gate you eventually make ties here and that’s what makes you unable to move on.

Richard shook his head. To think a place like this existed his whole life and he never even suspected. He stood up from the table.

“Where ya goin’ mate?” Daren asked, rising along with him.

“I think I need some fresh air. This is all to strange for me.” Explained Richard. Richard then wove his way past the crowded tables towards the swinging doors, Daren close at his heels pleading for him to wait up.
Once outside Richard was reminded of how alien this place was with the dark sky and surreal landscape.

“Why are all the buildings made out of this same stone? Why can’t someone conjure up some other materials?” Richard wondered aloud.
“It has to do with the atmosphere or something. You leave anything out of doors to long and it ends up like everything else. Here look closer at this post.” He led Richard over to a sign post in the middle of the square. Upon closer inspection, and with a light touch Richard could tell the sign was once made out of wood. It still bore the texture and detail of rough wood. It just look like someone had carved that detail into the dark blue stone.

“We call it reaper rock. It’s more or less worthless.” Daren reached into his coat and pulled a new cigarette out. He lit it and began to blow white smoke into the dark air.

“Here’s a question for you Daren, is there any way back to the human world?” Asked Richard. Though he was still new to Reaper’s Gate he had a pretty good idea what the answer would be. He also knew what it was that was keeping him from moving on.

“It is possible, but it’s not easy by any means.” Daren explained as he puffed on his cigarette. “One has to be pretty bloody strong in the spirit department to even attempt it. All the gents what I’ve talked to say it’s hard to maintain for more than a few days.

“Y’see, we exist here because it’s where we’re allowed to be. If we go some place we’re not allowed it becomes taxing on our spirits. Imagine if you were still alive and you tried to live in the ocean. You couldn’t do it for long because your body isn’t built to stay in that environment.’
Richard nodded, he understood exactly what Daren was saying. If he was even capable of revisiting the realm of the living he would have to make his peace before he was to weak to continue.

Richard was putting the words together to ask his next question when they heard the sound of a man screaming off in the distance. Daren’s cigarette fell from his mouth and he stared off into the dark town.
“Sounded like it came from ghoul town.”  Daren said, his voice cold with fright.

“Ghoul town?” Richard asked. Before Daren could explain the yell came forth again. Richard wasn’t frightened by the screaming. In fact he was more so intrigued by it. In a town where the dead live what could someone do to cause that kind of fright or pain? Without thinking he rushed off into the night to pursue the screams.

“Oy! Wait! You don’t know what you’re doing!” Daren called out as he chased after Richard.

This entry was posted on January 15, 2010 at 11:51 pm and is filed under Uncategorized with tags afterlife, death, Fiction, gate, Horror, merchant, reaper. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.