I surveyed the room in the darkness...lighter and darker shadows but nothing to the normal naked eye. My eyes had become accustomed to the darkness...I could see more than most in this shadowy graveyard.
The cold stone floors I sat upon were unyielding and cold. The stone wall I pressed my back against and wondered if anyone knew I was here...for so long I had assumed I was long forgotten.
For so long...silence and darkness...darkness and silence...which came first? I was swallowed whole by both and drowning in the hopelessness of the darkness. Almost cruelly I was persevering breath by breath to keep myself gasping from drowning and going down forever.
How long has it been this way? I wasn't certain. Did it hurt? I didn't even think about that anymore...it was immaterial...I was a survivor only in being alive.
I heard footsteps...something I hadn't heard in years...another person? A tormentor?
The door slowly creaked open and a crack of light pierced the darkness and shown like a beam...the pureness of a blinding beacon...it was terrifying and yet the surprise was welcomed to my routine of hopelessness and solitude.
There was a silhouette...a silhouette of two strangers...the one low to the ground leading the way...almost growling with deep breaths and courageous intensive purpose. The one behind him was strangely familiar and yet foreign all at the same time. I felt a bead of sweat begin to run down my forehead and then trickle down my cheek.
This was a feeling I hadn't felt in a long time...a memory of anticipation from the depths of my memory.
"Do you want to be free?" said the deep voice of the one in front. Free from what? I thought to myself....Do I answer? What if I answer wrong?
Out of fear of my own waiting reply...I began to shake and quiver with fear...
I suddenly awoke--full of fear and wonder...
...it was all a dream...but what did it mean? That blinding but beckoning light...the growling creature leading courageously and the other strange but seemingly familiar figure.
Shaking off the stupor of being asleep while awake...I began to get to my knees...I pushed myself and summoned all of the strength I had to command myself to rise. Slowly and unsteadily my legs began to support my weight and rise. Hunched over yet now standing I suddenly realized there was a slight hint of light around the doorway to my cell...through the bars the light had me wondering..."this is new"....
I reached my hand out shaking...trying to steady myself and my arm. I grabbed the doorknob. I suddenly heard a voice "that won't work--it has never worked before--remember." But I didn't remember...I began to agree with the voice.
Again--out of the darkness...the heavy breathing...almost like a wild animal stalking me...and then a snarling wild sound like a deep growl...It caused me to forget the other voice...my arm gained strength....and yet I was afraid. I took my hand off the door.
From within my room I heard a voice..."what are you doing" it asked me. Strange...when did this person arrive...how long had they been there? Who are you? I thought but I didn't have the courage to squeak out the words.
Again he spoke..."It's about Hope" with deep conviction and a convincing tone. I almost felt inspired merely from his presence. "what's about Hope" I asked...suddenly realizing I could speak. I haven't heard anything --not even the groans of suffering for so long...I had only disconnected resignation.
"Life--it's all about HOPE" he stated. I wondered...hope for what? hope in what? Where was this going?
"Your journey...and your return" he stated. With exhilaration rising within I could feel energy surging to my muscles and coursing into my veins... What journey and a return to what? What could this all mean? A journey---leaving this place? What will it be like? Will it be a place of suffering and even darker? Dare I try to listen and make a journey?
"Come on --we have to try" he stated...his voice encouraging and booming out into the darkness urging me to open the door. I reached out again...quivering... "It's time for your return" he thundered out...his voice again--authoritative and sure of his words...sure of his mission. Gaining confidence from his words and encouragement I again reached for the knob...frightened but my adrenaline now flowing...I gave it a turn.
To my utter surprise it opened. Some light from the corridor began to pour into the darkness of the room...it was blinding to my eyes which had not seen anything but darkness for so long. Suddenly a voice again... "there's nothing for you out there...only death awaits you."
So frightened by the words...I pulled the door closed quickly and cowered in the corner by my usual stone wall. It all felt hopeless and pointless...what was I trying to prove anyways?
Exhausted by all of it...I started to doze off again...then I heard the loud breathing of that wild animal...snorting and growling and not to be run off...he seemed to have an intentional purpose in his presence. "I will go before you" he snarled... The shadow across the room raised his voice as well..."They await your return" he stated...confident and steady. "It's all about the journey"....gaining strength from the voice and the creature--I decided to again open the door and follow the creature. I turned to ask the shadow with the voice if he were coming too. The place where the voice came from was empty...he was gone...yet I didn't feel sad...I wondered where the voice had gone to....
My eyes had begun to grow accustomed to the low glow of some shadowy light as I followed the creature into the hallway and down past many other doors. Each door had a small window with bars at the top. I wondered..what are all these doors and rooms? I stopped and peeked in...to my shock there was a hulk of a creature in this room...he was a Wild man. Better he be behind that door than out here with me is what I thought to myself. "What is his fate" I asked the shadowy creature. "This is not yet his time for his journey" stated the creature. "His time will come soon enough."
In the next door on the opposite side of the hall...a golden light was emanating from within. Strange...and yet drawing me to it...I peered deep inside wondering what I would see next on this journey. To my surprise I saw only the back of very large and outstretched wings. The wings were so bright and golden and light seemed to reflect everywhere from them. A bit blinding...I thought..yet useful and comforting to have a creature so bright in such a dark world..."Can he come on the journey" I asked the creature...expecting to be turned down again. "Sure enough" snarled the creature breathing deeply -- almost growling. "He will follow to guard you from behind." I opened the door and this amazing golden thunder bird began to hop behind me ...when he outstretched his wings there was no room behind me for anything else that I could see...it was a safety I hadn't known before and also there was no turning back at this point.
We continued down the hallway and I stopped at each door to ask about the occupants...behind one door an un-aged beautiful falcon the creature announced "New Falcon"...another the creature announced was "Justice." Each door the creature would announce the name--for some--- the doors would open and the occupants would assemble and fall into line behind us...for others it was not yet their time and they sat motionless in their cells of despair...seemingly unknowing that each cell door remained unlocked...just like mine had been.
The corridor was growing brighter and brighter...but the journey was becoming so long...I began to have doubts...what if this creature intends to devour me himself? How do I dare to trust him?
At long last....We arrived at the end of the corridor and to a doorway that sunlight streamed in from around every crack and side.
"Do you want to be free?" thundered the creature....
He pushed the door a crack... and more light streamed in...Turning to look at me full in the face I suddenly realized the creature was a Lion--frightening and powerful with a huge golden mane glistening in the sunlight. "I will always go before you" he roared... and he was gone...he disappeared.
Was he just a dream...is this all a trap? The fear was creeping back in ...yet the light was before me and the golden winged creature was behind me....and the others were walking with me on this journey.
Suddenly the light was gone...I heard a voice...a familiar voice--"It's all about the journey...a journey of Hope"...it was the silhouette's familiar voice...but it was coming from within me. I stumbled into the room and fell on a carpet with the others all around me seemingly from every side. There was a man I fell into. It was the second man that had come to my prison...the one who was familiar yet very distant from a memory of some kind....as I looked at his face I realized I hadn't seen him for many, many years. The last time I had seen him he was a much younger man--perhaps even just a boy.
Suddenly feelings came rushing into me...the blood began pumping...joy, fear, sadness and empathy all at once rushed into the chambers and I remembered my name "Heart" I said.
I looked again but the stranger who was in front of me was now gone.
From within I heard the silhouette's voice "The journey continues...Voice and Heart have returned."
Suddenly a trumpet piercing the room as if announcing our arrival...a dramatic fanfare. The lion was there suddenly and spoke "Heart has returned after years of solitary banishment...Voice has now joined as well...all is as it was intended...I will renew and restore this creature..."
I suddenly realized that the golden creature was not behind me. I caught a glimpse in the mirror of the shining walls of the room--and caught a glimpse of my reflection..I was that golden creature...the Voice and Heart had found their place once again...within the Golden Raven.
"The journey continues" stated Golden Raven and he spread his golden wings and set a course towards the horizon...seemingly straight into the rising sunlight. Hope was rising with his flight as the light streamed across the sky.
