The Barrier

The Intermudium

It was a normal day as I stood at the barrier in the intermudium. One way led to Caeli the other to Terra or Earth. I had spent the last few hours in Caeli and was ready to return home, Earth was calling my name.

I touched the barrier imagining the supermarket near my house. I was sure my refrigerator on Earth was running low and that meant I needed to get some groceries. While I contemplating what exactly I would need, the barrier changed from showing the cloudy never-ending space to the supermarket I had in my head. I peered in and my eye caught on a poster pinned to the bullet board.

It was my picture with the words 'missing' above it.

'I wasn't missing,' I thought alarmed. 'I must have been in Caeli to long, it was always hard to tell since hours there could translate to days on Earth. Knowing this, I knew I needed to get back on Earth as soon as possible, especially to make sure that my family and friends knew I wasn't missing.'

Pushing my hand to the barrier I closed my eyes, but I did not feel the familiar freezingness of walking through. My eyes flashed open, 'What was going on?' Why couldn't I make it through the barrier?' This had never happened before.

That's when I heard it a moaning voice coming from my left. I spun around to see them, the people of Caeli.

They were people you never wanted to meet in your life. Not only were they more creatures then people but they were dangerous. Us travelers knew that when you went to Caeli you never allowed yourself to be spotted by the people. Unfortunately, it was too late for me. I had broken the most important rule of being a traveler, never let them know you are there.

They were creeping up to me, covered in red, with empty eye sockets and no flesh or bones. They called out to me coming closer and closer. Desperate I slammed my hands once again to the barrier.

'Please open, please.'

It didn't open.

They were right next to me now, there was no hope left. I crashed to the ground as voices surrounded me. Blood dripping all around me, leaking from their uncovered bodies.

I cried out, but I was not heard.

I reached up a hand covered in blood.

"Please help me," I whispered to the wind.

That's when I felt it, the bloody hands grabbed at me pulling me deeper and deeper down.

"Help," I screamed at the barrier, hoping someone beyond would hear me.

"Please help me."

I was so close, so close. I clenched at the barrier not wanting to let it go, but the hands were resilient. Kicking and screaming I was dragged down, the world fading away to darkness.