Eternal Damnation
   -----------------

       The two boys ran on.  Rounding a corner, they headed for the dark
cave up ahead.  Swords gripped tightly, they entered the ancient tunnel
slowly. "We're safe now," one called to his friend. "I dunno... It doesn't
feel right," the other whispered. "I think we lost them..I don't see any
torches out there," the boy whispered back.  As their eyes became accustomed
to their surroundings, they noticed the walls were carved in very detailed
plates.  As the boys examined them closely, one said, "These are all
carvings of a lunatic!  Murder, blood, rape, execution.. what IS this
place?" .... "I dunno.. Lets leave.." Just as the boys were heading for
the cave mouth, a glint caught one of the boy's eyes.  He grabbed his friend
and pulled him deeper into the tunnel. "They're coming after us!!" he
yelled, barely controlling himself, "Look! They're running toward us!"
The boys ran on down the cave, oblivious to the warning signs on the
walls.. not heeding the advice of the madman who so painstakingly
carved them centuries ago....
       They continued on, the tunnel winding deeper and deeper into the
earth. Soon, the light from the entrance began to fade away, and they had
to feel their way around.  Finally, they reached the bottom.  Solid earth
was beneath their feet.  The sound of dripping water was all that broke the
silence of the desolate cave.  One of the boys struck some flint, and for a
brief moment, saw that they were in a large passageway.  Wary now of what
may be living down in a place like this, they continued on without making a
sound. After about a league of walking, one of the boys noticed a light up
ahead. "Look!  Maybe its a way out!"  As they crept closer to the crevice,
they heard a scraping noise.. *CHINK* CHINK* .. Peering through the
opening, their eyes caught the attention of a scrawny man chained to the
rough cavern wall.  He was struggling furiously at his bonds.  Seconds
later, a figure in black robes strode over to the helpless man, pulled
out a dagger from his robe, and cut a hole in the mans chest.  As the
man screamed with pain, he removed the heart, which was still beating,
and promptly crushed it.  As the remaining blood trickled down the
mysteriously robed figures arm, the heart exploded in a searing light which
blinded the boys momentarily.  When their vision returned, the robed man
was gone.  So was the dead body.  After the two boys recovered from shock,
they turned to escape. They didn't get very far, as the robed man blocked
their way. He stood a full head taller than the boys, robes covering him
head to foot. A reddish glow eminated where eyes should be.  The boys
screamed, turned, and ran through the crevice, into the madmans chamber.
Trapped, the boys stood back to back, hoping to find a way out before the
man reached them.  Suddenly, two more robed figures appeared out of the
dark. Drawing their swords, they stood ready to defend themselves.
"Submit to us," one figure said "Your weapons are useless."  One of
the robed men raised his arms, and another blinding flash came and went.
Vision returned, the boys found they, like the scrawny man, were chained
to the wall.  They struggled for what seemed like hours, when one of the
robed glided toward them. He looked from one to the other, pulled out a
wickedly curved dagger, and whispered.. "Be at ease..  it will only
take a moment... "  He began a stroke of hysterical laughter, then
screamed..

... "WELCOME TO ETERNAL DAMNATION!"
    
                                  MiNDRiOT [CHAOS CT] - 7.21.93