I was drowning in a deluge of sorrow, but I couldn't feel anything but my stomach twist into a knot.
I'd killed my husband, and knew heaven would redeem me. As I admired the bits of his gore strewn on our bedroom floor, I felt the weight of sin lifted off my shoulders. I'd done well. I was one step closer to being worthy to face my Creator again.
I'll finally beat the devil in me.
Trial 1
I was disoriented. My ears were filled with incomprehensible noise. The smell of sand went through my nose and flooded my brain. I had fallen flat on my back. It was surprising that I didn't shatter. I rubbed the grains of sand out of my eyes and checked my surroundings. It appeared that I was in a sort of cave. It was completely dark, with only a small fire in the corner to the right to illuminate my path. Being immersed by the ominous hum of the cave made me feel as if I was sinking. I can't believe this would happen to me. It was as if the ground was consuming me. Swallowing me and my misery whole so I wouldn't be able to disappoint anyone again.
I was sinking.
The ground was caving in. I struggled out of its grasp, but it was no use. I had fallen into some sort of quicksand. The more I struggled, the faster the sand covered my face, leaving only my nose out for air. This was it. I was banished here. I was just another damned soul who dared to commit any trespasses. I exhaled as the sand finally covered the tip of my nose.
"HE'S SINKING!"
I heard a voice from the surface, causing my eyes to snap open. Someone's hand suddenly reached into the sand and pulled on my arm. The pulling only caused me to sink faster. I yanked my wrist away from their grasp, and struggled as some of the sand started entering my lungs.
There was a brief silence. All I heard were descending footsteps. Maybe they'd given up on me. It was no use trying to pull me out. Soon, I was in so deep, I wasn't able to hear anything anymore. My soul was being consumed by the sand, as if Samael was executing me with his own two hands. Everything grew dark as I began to destabilize.
"Are you okay?" I heard a woman say, a hint of concern in her voice. Her rough hands swept the sand off of my face, her thumbs brushing over my eyelids.
I'd live to see another day.