Chapter 1
The faintest glow began to spark anew. Five crows observed Trish from her cold, stone castle bedroom. Their beady, black eyes calculated her every motion as they observed her from their tree perch. The smallest of the five crows outstretched its wings and flapped towards Trish, a knowing grin on its face, as human words parted its beak. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 2
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The crow rested on Trish’s desk as it waved its wing a quill, ink, and a contract materialized. Without any words spoken, Trish hurriedly signed the pact with the crow. Flames wrapped around Trish as the flame became a wisp before vanishing with her entirely. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 3
The faintest glow began to spark anew. I emerged in the underworld in a petit fiery hurricane. My new companion Kaw introduced himself as a creation of a nameless prolific puppetmaster although he would not elaborate on himself beyond that. It was unclear to me how I would return from the underworld but I needed the break to clear my head if I had any hope of plotting my revenge as a monarch on those who had murdered my now late husband. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 4
The faintest glow began to spark anew. As I descended the rocks cliff, souls descended to the earth. Further downward, smooth stone sheep grazed upon the souls of the departed for nourishment. The stone sheep ignored the more healthy souls which Kaw explained would sink into the soft mountain soil and become other sheep formed from rock themselves over time. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 5
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The grass goats were carefully trimmed, meticulously so. They grazed on each other as they rhythmically moved in a circle, their bodies reforming back as they trotted with their soft hooves clacking against the loose mountain dirt. Immersed in the surrealist spectacle, I could not help but gawk in disbelief at the bizarre journey I had only just begun to undertake. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 6
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The pitch black oil skunk leaked a trail of murky ink down to the bottom of the mountain. Caw whispered in my ear comments of no importance as the robust gravel speckled the path. The oil skunk’s black beady eyes observed me with cold calculations as I descended the slopes past him. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 7
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The bright yellow banana lizards hung from the tropical trees as they swayed in the gentle afternoon tropical breeze. The banana lizards would open their peels to peer out at me with passive curiosity as I quietly passed the thatched, lazily constructed village huts. The stone shoreline contrasted the dewy blue ocean waters as the cliff had given way to a bright, lush ocean. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 8
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The warm, green, plump grape mice trickled juice from their soft shells. They scurried around me as they sniffed me with their ticklish whiskers which brushed against my ankle docily. The village had begun to give way to a sprawling metropolis teeming with demons of all assortments. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 9
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The charcoal caterpillars crackled as sparks rose from them underfoot. The demons avoided the sluggish critters as they moved around them which caw explained to me warded off tragedies which could befall them. The bright red buildings formed from carefully sculpted bone and stone towered deep into the sky. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 10
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The pear pandas maneuvered their grotesque green and red bodies which bulged with blue vessels as they dispensed food to eager customers at their stalls. They twisted and swerved their soft peel hands about as the other demons gawked in disbelief at their incredible handiwork. It was as impressive as it was baffling to view in person while I hungrily gnawed on one of their finest creations for free out of their pity. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 11
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The lime green giraffe businessmen with pale brown spots twisted their towered thin bodies around me as I briefly passed through the demon city’s red light district. The giraffe businessmen’s spider-like legs measured twice that of my own body. A chill surged down my spine when a malformed giraffe with black ink coated limbs, possibly from a questionable encounter with a nearby oil skunk maid with body long eye-lashes my site wandered for the briefest moment, brushed against me. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 12
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The potato penguin unravelled away in a lily petal shape as small dandelion puffs which rose into the intense blue sky. The contrast between the small fragments dancing in the breeze contrasted with the brilliant blue of the starless day time sky stuck in my mind. I had finally reached the other edge of the sprawling metropolis as I carried onwards in the forbidden desert sands. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 13
The faintest glow began to spark anew again. The tulip turtles hobbled across the desert’s edge the flowers which blossomed from their well worn, emerald green shells. The sweet, nostalgic scents flooded over my senses and filled me with glee. The turtles marched deeper and deeper into the desert sands. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 14
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The souls of those who had sinned began to faintly glow beneath the evening desert skies. Their crimes had been immeasurable and caused significant losses of life. The furry miniature bus hogs swallowed the humans for fuel as soon as their souls took shape. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 15
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The dazzlingly white desert sands spread like salt in the earth beneath me. Tiny sugar salamanders returned to their nests as they meshed together with the landscape. The sugar salamander orange and yellow eggs sizzled before erupting into new life before their parents eyes. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 16
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The yolk bears gobbled berries with hearty smiles plastered upon their faces. I had reached the forest’s edge, elaborately decorated pine trees with finely tuned musical ornaments which bounced light across their finely crafted outer layer. The yolk bears would gobble up the ornaments near the bottom of the tree impartial to what they consumed. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 17
The faintest glow began to spark anew. Neon light swallowtails cheerfully fluttered their tiny wings from one tree to the next as they charted course for the farthest reaches of hell. Their bodies formed from pure light illuminated, with a faint glow, the starless night time sky. Deeper and deeper into the woods the dazzling specks stretched out. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 18
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The brilliant green vine cows firmly attached to the earth littered the wheat fields. Without need for mobility, they produced sour milk for the farmers to dispense to the other demons while feeding off of sunlight and rain. Gradually as the months and years would elapse the cows’ vines would stretch outward into the fields which they bloomed. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 19
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The plump, round, shiny, red apple cats trotted their tiny feet through the empty, cobblestone city streets.The vacant buildings occupied only by spirits of the departed welcomed the newcomer that was Caw and I into its thick, foggy paths. Tiny blue feet skittered beneath me as bright eyes stared up at me. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 20
The faintest glow began to spark anew. I fed Kaw one-eyed candy pigeon eyeballs as we ascended the slope towards the mountain top. The clay colored pigeon demons formed from sugar fluttered in the warm afternoon breeze, eyes would grow from in their head before falling to the earth it was Kaw’s favorite texture. At the mountain top the view as the sun had begun to fall in the sky was truly magnificent as it warmed my heart. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 21
The faintest glow began to spark anew. Lava flowed forth from cracks in the earth. It sizzled and became pitch black as it hardened like a cocoon. Rain fell causing steam to rise around the fire rabbits with bright red eyes.
The fire rabbits with their orange fur coats and yellow tipped ears would tower a meter above an adult human. Their snouts would sniff out any souls fallen as fresh snow near the volcano as flecks of dust. Their bright pink tongues would lap up the souls like salt. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 22
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The rain descended with smiles upon its droplets . The dew glistened on the plump meadow grasses. The sun rose cascading a rainbow into the morning sky.
The brilliant colors dazzled and sparkled as smiling faces began to form in the puddles. The curious creatures’ bright beady eyes observed me from below as I wandered down the mountain path. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 23
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The blue, fluffy yeti whose long fur coat stretched outwards warmed me with his cold, icy claws that freezing winter night. His fur heated me up at the sturdy, rocky cave entrance to, I had wandered the frozen wastelands for many days with Kaw before settling in. The freezing winds howled outside and echoed through the deep, pitch black caves. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 24
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The elephant made from flames lived in the mirages of the desert. It’s fiery body swallowed up the heat and swelled in size over time. The heard of fiery elephants would travel in the tricks of the human eyes. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 25
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The elves, dissuaded by the demon’s trickery, set out for the capital of the underworld. The spirits of the departed hovered around the elves who trembled their pointed ears downward in fear. Trish vacantly stared at the elves while she sat at the side of the trail as she recalled her departed husband. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 26
The dragon descended upon Trish with a heated blaze. She transformed her talking feathery companion into a parasol that doubled as a sword. It required some tweaking but with nimble footwork, Trish managed to dodge the fireballs the green, scaly monster belched in her direction. The heat illuminated the dragon’s chest before it bellowed it out.
Dragons were fearsome servants who devoured the souls of those who sinned. The dragon’s bloodshot eyes and snake like tongue glowered at Trish as she kicked off the earth and dust scattered in every direction. The monster’s claws took a swipe at the toppled queen as she swiveled around mid-air to avoid them. With some tricky maneuvering with the help of the parasol, Trish hovered into position and slit the dragon’s throat. Blood splattered the earth as Trish descended to the ground again and continued on her aimless journey.
Chapter 27
The moon ascended deep into the night sky the stars towered over the moon. The night sky’s immenseness truly dazzled me in it brilliant hues. The moon held low in the skies of hell. The starlight dazzled my feather companion. The mountains emanated brilliant deep red glows as the flames spread outwards into the sifting sands.
The flames sparked and stretched outward swallowing themselves. As the flames lapped themselves up they grew in brilliant oranges and reds the heat filled me with warmth so deep and intense it filled through my heart. The sea of flames ascended towards the moon rising and rising higher and higher. The flames shone as they swallowed the false moon itself to a crisp summoning day for hell. The heat shone through the skies of the afterlife and blinded my vision the spires towered higher until sparks shot outwards deeper and deeper through the skies.
The starlit night quickly sent cinders downward to the earth as the black flecks rained down on the demon village. The wooden huts on stilts with spiral staircases appeared flimsy but remained firm as the soot washed away in a river beneath them. As I stood and watched from atop a hill, the moon floated elegantly in-between the pristine white fluffy cotton clouds.
The clouds cushioned the moon. The stars were stitched together with a thin silk thread spun from silk worms. The thread was specked with dew which descended downward, washing away the soot from the sands. I marvelled at the moon’s beauty as it glowed its eminence and I recalled my home on earth. The kingdom which had become forgotten by all but its own people.
Chapter 28
His pale skin glistened in the sun with sweat. His flowing blond hair with curly locks wafted in the evening breeze. Hid rippling biceps with bulgy veins caught the attention of the many demons from beneath his shirt. His thin blue eyes gazed at the demons with fear as I trembled. These creatures had somehow manifested around me. A petit eyeball with a fur coat wrapped around it sat in front of me.
The creature had manifested me in the underworld. There was a queen he had need of locating here. Deep down, he yearned for her. The woman was rumored to be with a black feathered crow. His chest rose and fell as his thick muscles layered upon each other. His pale white porcelain skin reflected light off of it. The demons wandered the city streets in hordes. A red ogre approached him its bright red large build towered over him. It’s yellow eye with bright red veins glowered at him with anger. Steam rose from the vendor’s stalls in the city streets as they dispensed souls of the departed. The woman I yearned for was elsewhere to be seen.
She had aged likefine wine and was a beauty in her younger years. He recalls the friendship they shared the days they chatted when he was a lad. She had blessed me with knighthood as a princess. He abandoned the kingdom and wandered for a time until the king of a neighboring kingdom took him in as an adopted son. He felt a deep yearning for her well into my adult years even middle age. He chatted those warm summer afternoons beneath the apple tree as a warm breeze had washed over them. He still remembers that gentle breeze from that afternoon as she smiled fondly at him. His mind returned to the present moment of the bustling underworld streets as he wandered onward with his eyeball companion.
Chapter 29
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The sun cascaded off his pale smooth skin the starlit sky dazzled his eyeball companion and him. The moon rose and fell with most bitter pain in its heart which filled his chest. The man’s pale androgynous looks could not be compared to the dazzling red desert sands. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 30
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The heavy rains pelted over me against the blank black canvas landscape. Blue chalk dust washed over me while Kaw and I bickered as we always did indifferent. In my heart I sensed it, my journey along this path was close to its end. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 31
The faintest glow began to spark anew. The ogre’s piercing gaze haunted the pale beauty as he twitched in madness. Veins like worms crawled beneath his skin. His body had begun to move like a puppet as his love had been twisted by the landscape of hell as he caught sight of his old flame in the distance. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 32
The faintest glow began to spark anew. A glowing red orb pierced the pathway, at last I had reached the sun of hell.
“From here you may resurrect yourself, kaw.”
I sensed him from behind when now I finally had use for this flaming club. My old flame warped by the afterlife stood before me. A pathway of smoke lead to the nightmare’s end.
Chapter 33
From memories of my travels I concentrated as sparks flew when I drew my club against my foe. He towered over me as we struggled for power. I finally managed to slip from his grasp. The brilliant pink and orange flames glowed against the setting sun. Time was running thin.
I closed my eyes and struck him with my club we both sobbed in sorrow as our brief memory together faded. His soul became a grain of sand.
Kaw hollered, “The final sun of your hell will set soon. It is time, Trish!”
I sighed through the tears when next I awoke I stood in my chambers. The dazzling lace felt fresh somehow although I had no memory of what had happened. I let out a gasp of relief, now in my home once again. It was my first day as leader of the country now as I straightened my crown on my head and left the room. Outside my window a crow caught my eye for a brief moment in time. We stared both knowingly and unknowingly. The crow flew ascended into the daytime star as my red heels clacked against the cobblestone floor while I shut the door behind me.
Comicedy 