Jesus in Hell: Day 1, Part 12: Bears!

 

 

Start at the Beginning

Previous Chapter: Day 1 Part 11

As you walk through the woods, there's a side road that splits off from the road you're on.  Next to it is a sign: "PRIVATE ROAD".  

Sam points down that way.  "Up there.  That's where the prophet lives.  But this is where I stop.  I'm not going anywhere near there.  He's a bad man.  All the kids are scared of him."

Gestas pipes up.  "Kid's got a point, Dismas. What are we even doing here?  This isn't any of our business."

"If we have a chance to save Jesus, we have to take it."

"I'm sorry," says Sam.

"That's okay," you reply.  "Thanks for your help." 

You and Gestas carry Jesus up the path.  Pretty soon you come to another sign: "NO VISITORS"

Right in front of the sign is a great big bear!  It seems young.  It's munching happily on some berries.  The two of you try to sneak past it without bothering it, but it's not use.  It turns towards you and you see part of its skull protruding through the skin on its face: a horrifying vision.  Suddenly, it sees you, runs out and attacks Gestas.  It starts to drag him away.  He's screaming, "Dismas!  Help!"

You gently set Jesus down among some shrubbery near the edge of the forest and run at the bear, punching it and then putting it into a headlock.  You gradually pry the bear off Gestas, at which point it lets him go and concentrates on you, swiping at you with its huge sharp claws.  You dodge, and land another punch.  This hits him right above the eye, at which point the bear whimpers and then runs away.

You walk forward a bit and see another sign: "This means you."

Another bear jumps out.  Must be the mama.  Immediately, you begin to wrestle.  Eventually you subdue it, and it too runs away.

More signs: Go back! Stay away! Danger!

An even bigger bear arrives.  You and Gestas start to fight him, but he's too powerful.  Now it's your turn to run away.  But the bear comes bounding after you.  And he's too fast: he pounces on Gestas, mauls you with his claw - a huge, pulsing gash, from your chest through your stomach, bites you, and finally picks you up and throws you against a tree... and you die.

*     *     * 

"Dismas," says Gestas, "Wake up!"

You shoot up, scrambling your arms and legs in a panic.  "What?" is all you can manage.  The forest looks different now.  There's no bear.    

"It's okay, it's okay," says Gestas, gently.  "You were just snoring."  You gradually allow yourself to relax.

"Snoring?  But... I'm dead."

"Yes, yes, you are." says Gestas.  You look to your right and you see that you're lying next to Jesus.

You look down at your own chest and see that the gash has completely healed.  "There isn't even a scar," you say, in awe. 

"Jesus..." you reverently whisper, "You healed me.  Thank you."

Jesus lies there, unmoving, his face frozen in pain. 

"Hey, what about me?  I'm the one who carried you back here," pipes up Gestas.  "And I was injured, too!"

"We're not strong enough to fight that bear.  We're going to have find another way to the prophet," you say, springing into action.


Stay tuned for the next chapter: Day 1 Part 13

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