It was the day when all people…died.
But it is also the day when the game
of after-life started..
This is nothing but a personal dream.
This is no Pilgrim’s Progress.
This is just my subconscious creating
a story.
It was the day when all people…died.
The moment I opened my eyes,
I was inside an elevator, with Jayson,
my Girlfriend’s brother, and some
unknown people–a Crowd.
Some worried
Some afraid
Some curious.
Will hell’s fire devour us as it opens?
Will heaven’s white clouds welcome us?
I am all worried, afraid and curious.
But I have to face judgment.
I have no choice.
6th floor
7th floor
8th floor
DING! The elevator opened.
It was an amusement center.
No fire.
No clouds.
No demons.
No angels.
But this is definitely heaven.
Computer games.
Basketball booths.
Karaoke booths.
Cotton Candies.
Children Running.
I was speechless. Jayson was all smile.
We did a great job on earth.
This is our reward.
He tried some games.
I explored the place.
On one corner, there was a weird door.
I walked towards it for a closer view.
There was a sign on top.
“THIS WAY TO HELL”
It is an open door.
No guards.
No demons with tails and pitchforks.
But people started entering it.
I asked myself why.
Amusement centers are way better
than a pool of molten lava.
Then I realized that hell is a choice.
I tried some games.
I nailed every level.
Combos.
Streaks.
I am invincible.
Oh yeah, because I am in heaven.
And my price is a pack of food.
I placed it inside my handcrafted Vietnamese bag
if in case I get hungry.
But this is heaven. I don’t get hungry here.
My job here is to play.
After a couple of hours, I got bored.
When I get bored, I get great ideas.
I saw the same elevator which took us here.
I looked for Jayson and when I found him
I told him about my plan.
Go back to the elevator.
Try new floors.
Try new heavens.
“That’s a great idea”, he said
as we walked back to the elevator.
I pushed the 12 button.
9th floor.
10th floor.
11th floor.
12th floor.
DING! The door opened.
And a blast of cold air welcomed us.
It’s still an amusement center.
This time it was cooler.
Lesser people.
5D arcade games.
Advanced computer gadgets.
No children running.
No cotton candies but only plated food.
This is a very rich place.
This seems like a place for rich people.
This is the heaven of the 8th floor amusement.
Jayson left me and entered a game room.
I peeked in.
It’s LASER TAG.
Not the usual laser tag.
It is Star-Wars themed.
You have a lightsaber.
It is tempting to play, but I started exploring this heaven.
On one corner, there was a weird door.
I walked towards it for a closer view.
There was a sign on top.
“THIS WAY TO HELL”
Again, it is an open door.
No guards.
No demons with tails and pitchforks.
But people are still entering it.
I asked myself again why.
This amusement center is posh and cool.
I sighed..
“Hell is nothing but a choice.”
After a couple of hours, I got bored.
When I get bored, I get great ideas.
I saw the same elevator which took us here.
I looked for Jayson and when I found him
I told him about my plan.
“Go back to the elevator.
Try new floors.
Try new heavens.”
“That’s a great idea”, he said
as we walked back to the elevator.
I pushed the 24 button.
13th floor..
14th floor…
then something weird happened.
the elevator stopped and it rotated 180 degrees.
then it went down.
13th floor…
12..
11..
10..
9…
8…
7…
6…
5…
4…
3…
DING! The door opened.
Warm air welcomed us..
Red light dominated the place.
But this is still heaven.
No fire..
No demons,,
It is still an amusement center…
with no games..
with no arcades..
no laser tags..
no fancy food…
not even cotton candies..
Just benches, chairs and tables.
Plus the incredible number of books
scattered everywhere..
It’s a bit scary.
This is hell for the 8th and 12th floor amusement center.
Jayson was shocked.
I wanted to leave the place.
But the elevator stopped working.
We can’t push other floors.
I guess this is our punishment for discontentment.
We have to face this.
Jayson explored the left side of the area.
I explored the right.
On one corner, there was a weird door.
I walked towards it for a closer view.
There was a sign on top.
“THIS WAY TO HELL”
Again, it is an open door.
No guards.
No demons with tails and pitchforks.
But people are still entering it.
I asked myself again why.
This amusement center is neither posh nor cool.
But this is way better than a pool of molten lava.
I sighed..
“Hell is nothing but a choice.”
After a couple of hours, I got bored.
When I get bored, I get great ideas.
I saw the same elevator which took us here.
I looked for Jayson and when I found him
I told him about my plan.
“The elevator won’t work.
I think it has a spirit of it’s own.
We had a shot on the 8th floor.
We tasted the pleasures of the 12th floor.
Let us bring heaven on this floor”
Jayson agreed.
We separated.
We both looked for an opportunity
to bring heaven here.
While walking, I saw a little girl.
She was fragile, sad and sitting on a bench.
I talked to her.
I asked what’s her problem.
I asked her how to make her happy?
“I am hungry, Sir. I need food. ”
Then I remembered something…
I have some packed food in my bag!
I opened my bag.
Took out the food and gave to the girl.
She smiled.
Jayson on the other hand made a small library
out of the books, benches and tables.
This place felt more like Earth,
when all people were alive.
This is neither heaven nor hell.
This floor is an opportunity to do good.
Then I woke up.
I looked at my room.
I looked out the window.
I smirked.
I said out loud,
“The Third Floor.”
Not Your Average Stranger 