It is sheer nothingness. As I look around, I realise I am trying to inspect darkness, for I see nothing but black eerie air, swirling around as if trying to grasp me tight. This has to be a dream- not escapable or fathomable. The blackness knows no level, and stretches beyond my vision.
As I try to handle this farrago of emotions, I feel a jolt-the hardest jolt I have ever felt. The darkness with no end, was just the beginning. I can sense no God, as I have been taken away from Him and served to the demon, the closest I have ever felt to him. It is Hell, where no mercy or goodwill prevails. I continue to float in air, with no human soul around. What did I do to land up here?
I feel an invisible force trying to pull me down, as I helplessly motion my hands and feet through thin black air. My body falls numb and all my efforts to open my eyes go in vain. The nothingness only deepens, and I surrender to it. Not a soul comes to my rescue, as I muster all my strength to shout for help. No loved one comes for help, not one that I know of. I am crying, but no tear rolls down my cheeks. I lose all my strength, as death befalls.
I find myself in the court of the Grim Reaper himself. Realisation hits me, as I look at the flashback of my own journey of life. I look at the countless sins I committed, the mistakes I made, the lives I shattered. I suddenly recall being in jail , breathing my last, apologising to all those souls I murdered with my own hands. A seriel killer like me deserves hell, if not worse. The experience begins to make sense now, and I am finally at peace. I received what I deserved.
As I am put to the pyre in front of Satan, I figure out that life is just a collection of acts. One will harvest what one sows, and karma will spare none, irrespective of life or death.
Karma is in everyone’s destiny but good karma or bad karma is a choice we make.
“Slumber” is a short story by Gurleen Kaur which embodies a serial killer’s journey to hell. With vivid description, it builds a mood of terror and evokes guilt in the minds of sinners. The storyline sparked my interest. The mystery made me want to keep reading until I could unfold the whole story. Yet, the ending left me with many questions, which meant it was an impacting story. Who did this serial killer kill? Why did they do this? What comes next? The writing is almost lyrical in a sense. “One will harvest what one sows, and karma will spare none, irrespective of life or death,” such a great ending. Skilfully written with sharp contrasts between the beautiful imagery created and the realisations of the main character, this story is raw and evocative. I was left spellbound but also proud of the character who decided to accept the punishments of their actions peacefully. It had something special about it, the story itself was so meticulously constructed that you felt a haunting sense of doom as each paragraph ended. The story could have indeed been further elaborated with more detail to reason rather than just descriptions. Despite its mistakes, it still turns out to be an exceptional piece of writing.
Hey author! I just read your story “Slumber” and I have to say, it gave me chills! The way you described the darkness and the feeling of being trapped was really intense. The twist of the main character being a serial killer and facing their sins in Hell was unexpected and gripping. The ending left me with lingering questions, which added to the impact of the story. Overall, your writing style was captivating, and the contrast between the beautiful imagery and the character’s realizations was well-executed. It’s a haunting and thought-provoking piece. Great job!