Kurt braced for impact as the snow-covered car in which he sat disappeared and he began to fall.
Grass prickled his neck and humidity pressed against him. He swatted a mosquito as he gazed into the night. A growing band of brightness began to devour the stars.
When the last of the twinkling lights disappeared and the crickets’ drone ceased, a crimson sun, perched on the horizon like a cherry on a sundae, sprang heavenward and raced across the sky. No sooner had it reached its zenith than the orb plunged toward the opposite horizon. The sky darkened in less than a minute, and the crickets resumed their conversation; night settled in once more.
This night-day cycle repeated.
As the tenth night neared its end, Kurt pushed himself up from the grass. He was accomplishing nothing, just sitting. Where was he?
Daytime arrived. This time the sun remained tethered, bobbing like a playful balloon. The light fondled Kurt’s eyes as it squiggled inside. Warmth glided to his toes and gathered around his heart. When his watery legs trembled, Kurt sprawled on the ground. The sun began to sing. Such peace, so intoxicating. Kurt’s eyelids fluttered.
Trapped. The sunlight’s tranquility—his forever.
“Is that what you really want, Sonny Boy?”
Kurt opened his eyes. How dare anyone intrude . . . .
A man, who looked like an older version of Kurt, glared down at him. “Come on, boy,” the intruder said, “how’re you going to make things right if you give in?”
The sun sang louder.
“Not now. This is heaven. Leave me alone.”
“That’s rich—heaven.” The old man cackled. “You’re such a sucker.” The man sneered at Kurt. “Why is it so hard to resist this rendering of hell?”
“Hell?”
The sun’s song diminished and the burning sting of tears filled Kurt’s eyes.
“Hell, schmell, Sonny Boy. Who cares what it’s called?” The old doppelganger spat and worked the wetness with the tip of his boot.
“I don’t understand.”
“Of course you don’t. You’re an idiot.” The look-alike frowned. “I give you this,” he said, pointing at the sun, which was descending again, “and you allow yourself to be taken in. Time to get back to basics, I suppose.”
The air quivered and the place where night had just arrived morphed into a cavern that smelled of sulfur, complete with wall shadows of flickering flames.
“Know where you are, Sonny Boy?” The old man’s screech echoed against the stone. “Do try to learn quickly. I don’t have forever, you know.” He started walking away.
“Wait!” Kurt scrambled to his feet and ran after his ancient twin, who seemed to be moving with miraculous speed.
“Where’d you go? Don’t leave me.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, Sonny Boy. In fact, I’m always with you.” The man’s laugh seemed to come from far away.
A spotlight popped on. Within a circle of illumination, the old man straddled a woman tied to a bed. Mouth covered with tape, she struggled against him while he rammed inside her. “Welcome home, Sonny Boy.” The man grinned.
Before Kurt could say anything, the man sank his teeth into his victim’s chest. Seconds later he spit a bloody nipple at Kurt.
The nipple vanished and the woman somehow became whole again.
“You don’t know what to do with me, do you, Kurt? You never do.” He plunged into the woman with monstrous force.
Kurt sighed. “We’ve done this before, haven’t we?”
“Yeah,” the older Kurt said between theatrical grunts.
“How long?”
“Seems like forever, Sonny Boy. Same shit, different day.” The man again ripped into the woman’s unspoiled chest. When he spit the nipple this time, it landed on Kurt’s shoe. “You are so damned . . . easy to tempt. You never learn.”
“I’m stronger now. I’m not afraid of you.”
The man laughed. “That’s what you always say.”
Kurt lunged at him.
As he fell into a space that reminded him of an enormous, gaping wound, Kurt braced for impact.
