Purgatorio, part III.

Anton Borisov, Richard, Petter Red, Ashley Purple, Caroline Potts, Ingrid Berg, Catherynne, and Fidelio Di Garza are all walking together.

the fog becomes denser. it starts to change colors. it takes a green-blue neon color as it becomes almost impossible to see. they don't even become aware of how the fog creates distances between them as it becomes thick and hard to breath.

Ashley Purple, Petter Red, and Richard end up in front of a big jade gate. it opens by itself allowing for some stairs on the other side to guide them somewhere and nowhere. aside from the stairs made of white stones. there is nothing else. there is a huge void.

"I don't think I ever mentioned my name. I am Richard Walker." mentions Richard as he stares directly at the void feeling melancholic.

"My name is Astrid Clinton, and that is my man. Petter Barry. let's go darling. for better or for worse not even death will do us apart." said Ashley Purple giving up on her alias and revealing her real name to the man she loves.

Richard walks through the door first. he is followed by Astrid and Petter. the gate closes by itself behind them. the fog dies down revealing those who had been pushed to the side. Anton and Caroline are walking on one direction. Ingrid, Catherynne, and Fidelio are on the opposite side trying to find the way out.

Anton is conflicted. as he finds himself lost following a yellow road. the bright neon yellow stones work as an arrow guiding him to the right direction. there are some floating antique oil lamps guiding them towards a single direction.

Anton walks around the bright road. he feels terrified as he knows so well what is expecting him on the opposite side of the road. every step is colder and harder to take. every moment he breathes there is a terror taking over his body. Anton turns around to face Caroline who seems to be ignorant of horrors waiting for them.

Anton has never talked about the things hidden on his heart. he has never spoken of the sin that eats him alive in every waken moment. he sweats cold, and colder. the vision becomes blurry as facing your own demons becomes hard, and harder with time.

Caroline is ignorant of the truth lying in front of her. with every step Caroline tries to keep herself guarded as she doesn't trust in believers. religion is a trap that she refuses. Caroline loos away for a moment and observes something on the distance.

there seems to be a church far from them. it seems to be livid. it is almost as if it was a living and breathing being. the church seems to be sinister and menacing. it has a dark aura around of itself keeping you glued to it. it makes you feel fear and rage.

"We can return now, right?" asks Caroline nervously.

Anton trembles as he stares at the church. he swallows saliva. Anton looks around. there is nothing around of them. there is nothing else but an endless cornfield. the road behind them has been erased. it only leads to a brick wall. the choice that has been forced to them is the church standing in front of them.

the moment of truth has come for them to face their demons. Anton wipes the sweat from his forehead as he walks forward.

the church appears to be empty. then there is a puppet show taking place in front of them. the strings moving the puppets disappears into the ceiling. the play is called, "the Life, and Times of a Coward Preacher." then it starts.

a puppet that represents Anton is witness and listens to the malice and wicked things happening in the church. he doesn't act. he didn't speak out. the corrupted ones use the confession as a way to keep the innocent Anton silent. he already knew of their malice. but by the confession he was forced into staying silent. then guilt started to eat him away. he tried to run away from all at his breaking point. and then guilt attacked him harder.

along the way he learned about a father who ended his life and that of his family. if he had spoken out at the time. they would be alive. he started to blame himself for those deaths. he lost his way and liquor became his only way out. Anton lost a part of his soul and heart. Anton feels shame now that he faces the malicious past.

on the other side Caroline is forced to see a different kind of puppet show. it is called, "The Papa Wolf and his herd." it is about Caroline's father. a man who used to be a preacher who appeared innocent and noble in the eyes of others. a cult leader who lost himself and started to see himself as a Human-God. a man who became evil.

Caroline's dad envisioned himself as a God. he led others to commit atrocities. and finally, at some point he orchestrated a mass-suicide believing that was the way for salvation. Caroline was the sole survivor of that incident.

Anton and Caroline are face to face against their past. 

"Now is the time for you to give up. find solace on thy tomb. just give up. render thy soul to the abstract truth of thy worthless nature." mentions Mayor Fisherman hidden in the shadows becoming one with the shades of the darkness.

Anton is on his knees. he feels sick as he observes the never-ending puppet show. he didn't notice the moment the shackles appeared tied to his arms. Anton cries begging for mercy. Anton asks to be forgiven. there is a great amount of pain in the heart.

Caroline cries her soul out. Caroline cries endlessly as the forbidden memories of the past keep haunting the deepest side of her soul. Caroline is about to break. she looks down on the ground as the past consumes the present and erases the future.

then a jade gate presents itself ready to take one single person. it is either Anton Borisov or Caroline Potts. only one gets to escape.