The Hidden Face by M.I. Verras

Author:M.I. Verras
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nextone Inc
Published: 2023-07-07T00:00:00+00:00

9

THE BURNING ABYSS

In front of us unfolds a gigantic Abyss. I cannot think of any better name. Its vertical depth is relatively small, but it seems so extensive that it probably reaches miles ahead, up to the subsoil of the Central Hearth and the subsoil of all the other Hearths. At various points it ramifies and extends even further than anyone can see. It looks like a huge underground fiery cave that extends to all directions. The walls of the Abyss are rough and consist of light red rock, a material that produces unbearable heat.

Far away, almost in the middle of the Abyss partition where my sight can reach, there is a tall earthen islet floating on fire from which a cypress tree is fed. I can’t see clearly because of the distance but it looks like the tree's upper part reaches the earthy top of the Abyss. The earthen islet on which the tree is fed is a lot higher than the fire level, so the Abyss fire cannot reach the tree's trunk.

“That tree looks like the cypress tree of the Central Hearth,” I say.

“That should be it. The Central Hearth is located there,” Fran says. His voice is still trembling.

“It seems that within the Abyss, space-time is shrinking. When I saw the cypress tree in the middle of the hallway in the Central Hearth, I immediately thought it was strange for a tree to be rooted on the cement floor.”

“Everything has an explanation. I do remember this cypress tree when I was still in the Central Hearth,” I hear Emmanuel saying.

“Look down there!” Fran shouts.

The ground of the Abyss is all covered in fire, which flows like lava. Flat earthen islets, consisting of the same red rock, are scattered around various spots on the lava's surface, resembling icebergs in a dark sea. Screams of pain and anguish come from the lava. Countless bodies are burned in this martyrdom. Their skin bleeds where it comes into contact with the fire, then heals and the same happens again and again.

To the left of us where the lava meets the wall, there is a wide earthen islet. On this islet I see nine figures chained next to each other in the same way Emmanuel is chained. The only difference is that the ends of their chains are fixed to the wall.

I am shocked to see that the first one chained is Damian and the third one in the same row is Carl. All these figures are the Ministers of the Hearths, those who were present in the oblong room at noon and also in the Assembly Hall, those who sacrificed all these lives. I really wonder how they could be immobilized in such a short time.

Some of them are shouting angrily, others are moving nervously and one is crying. Only Damian has fallen to his knees, bowed his head and doesn’t speak at all. His black hair is sweaty and falls on his forehead. His blue suit is dusty from the red rock, and he constantly spits a yellowish liquid out of his mouth.

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