I stumble through a blinding darkness, my arms out-stretched in hopes of locating an end to this nightmare. After a few more steps, my fingertips brush against a rough wooden surface. Pausing, I press my palm flat upon the surface as excitement swells inside me. Slowly, I run my hand down until it hits something smooth and cool. My heart leaps into my throat as I grasp the door knob and twist.

The knob moves smoothly.

With a light shove, the door flies open. My arms fly to my face as a blinding white light shines from within the room. Squinting, I cautiously step into the light.

The smooth floor that I was accustom to vanishes and is replaced by something softer. Blinking rapidly, my vision clears as the light begins to fade and a endless prairie stretches out before me. A gentle breeze hits my face as I slowly turn, soaking in the lush, rolling green hills. Tilting my head back, a small smile tugs on my lips as I stare up at the candy blue sky.

Dragging in the first calming breath that I have felt in an eternity, I lower my gaze back down to the prairie when something catches my eye. Something sparkles and dances just pass the hills, as if beckoning me closer. My feet move automatically through the knee-high waves of green.

Each step feels slower than the last as I approach the source of the dancing sparkles. Reaching the top of a hill, I stare out across the never-ending prairie for a moment, marveling at the natural beauty of it all. After a beat, my eyes drift down to the base of the hill, spotting the source of the sparkling.

Floating above a crystal clear pond is a large rotating crystal heart. Different blues mix into swirls of green, throwing the sun’s rays everywhere as it spins lazily.

My mind jolts back into reality when the tips of my shoes just barely touch the edge of the pond.

When did I move?

Confused, I glance up at the crystal heart, studying how the colors appear to blend together even though the large structure rotates so slowly. Another light flashes up through the see-through walls of the heart and a sudden urge to tough the heart hits me.

Cautiously, I lift my hand and lean out as far as I dare without actually stepping into the clear pond water. My fingers graze the surface and my breath hitches.

The surface is cool and feels as though my fingers are gliding over water without actually getting wet. Like if I was wearing a plastic bag over my hand and dunked it into a buck of water.

Biting my lip, I stretch my arm out further until my entire palm is resting against the heart’s surface. The sensation remains and I can’t help but giggle quietly to myself.

My body suddenly jolts as the sand under my feet shifts and I press harder against the heart, desperate to keep my balance. Except, the surface of the heart slowly starts to give way under my palm.

Gasping, I watch as my hand slowly sinks into the heart. My mouth dries as the heart starts to pulse a soft greenish-blue light. Desperately, I try to regain my footing so I can pull my arm back but the angle is too awkward and only results in me slipping a little more. My arm slides inside the heart right up to my elbow and I am forced to step into the pond.

A soft whimper escapes me as I feel the heart pulsing around my arm in time with its pulsing lights. It truly feels like water is surrounding my arm and yet, I can’t flex my hand or fingers and no water is running down my arm. I pull on my arm.

Let go! Let go!

My body tenses as the pulsing light quickens in tempo. Frantic now, I pull harder at my arm. A frustrated grunt escapes me as more of my arm sinks right up to my shouler into the heart. The heart glows brighter before the heart gives one last pulse and the light flashes.

The air is knocked from my lungs as an unseen force smashes into me and throws me backwards. My head bounces off the sandy bank and I dazedly stare up at the sky for a moment, gasping for air.

What on Earth was that?

Heart still racing but my lungs finally work again, I tentatively sit up and stare at the crystal heart. Except, the heart and the pond are no longer there.

In the heart’s place is a large iridescent door with a single golden handle in the center.

Well, that’s different.

Intrigued, I shuffle back to my feet and approach the door. I circle it slowly, studying it. The back side is iridescent and I can see the hills and grass through the door’s surface, however, the golden handle is no where to be seen. I peek around to the front.

The door handle is there.

Interesting.

Chewing my bottom lip, I return to the front of the door, shifting uneasily. Should I try opening it? The last door led me here, so it’s pretty safe to assume that this door will lead me somewhere else, right? Scrunching my nose, I peek over my shoulder, half expecting someone to pop over the hill and tell me what I should do. No one does, sadly, and I heave a sigh.

I guess there is only one way to find out.

Squaring my shoulders, I walk toward the door and grasp the cold metal handle. My fingers flex around the smooth handle as I focus on the scenery through the door. Holding my breath, I twist the handle and yank it open.

My jaw drops.

On the other side of the door is something straight out of a war movie. The landscape is the same as the prairie around me except, instead of lush greenery and blue skies, there are flames and soot everywhere. The sky is an angry red with a heavy haze from all the ash floating around. My eyes water from the heat and my face is already starting to burn the longer I stare into the horrific scenery.

Swallowing thickly, I close the door, blinking dumbly as my mind tries to process what I just witnessed. My eyes land on the untouched rolling hills that I can see perfectly through the door and I even shuffle to the side, just so I can make sure that the prairie really isn’t on fire.

Nothing but swaying grass and lazy cotton ball clouds.

Thoughts racing, my hand twitches on the door handle as I debate whether or not I should reopen this door. Heart pounding, I twist the door handle one more time and timidly open the door.

Flames and ash greet me and this time, I actually stick my head inside. Instantly, I gag as a vile, rotting smell hits my nose. Pulling my head back, I cough and shake my head. That smell was certainly not there a few seconds ago. What’s going on? And what is that awful smell?

A sick pit hits the bottom of my stomach as a single word floats through my mind.

Death.

That is the smell of the prairie dying and being burned alive in an ocean of orange and red.

Swallowing the urge to be sick, I close my eyes against the horrors, wishing that I never opened this door in the first place. Even that endless darkness I was trapped in would be better than witnessing the destruction of something so beautiful and peaceful.

My moment of mourning is cut short when a low rumble shakes the ground from within the hellish landscape. Opening my eyes, I stare back into chaos, scanning for the source of the noise.

Then, through the haze, I spot him.

Emerging from the smoke and flames, a tall bulky figure walks with an air of confidence, as if the chaos around him doesn’t phase him at all. As he grows closer, my stomach sinks as I can fully take in his horrifying attire.

A large black horns stick out of heavy helmet. Long, gritty grey hair frames an pitch black face with mocking silver eyes. Large, blacken skulls rest upon his shoulders and in his left hand is a broad flaming sword.

Air catches in my throat as the two of us make eye-contact. The bulky figure grins sharply at me, him close enough for me to see his razor blade like teeth. My body freezes as he suddenly laughs, twirling his sword above his head. His long strides allow him to cross the prairie quickly.

Close the door!

Fear paralyzes my body as I watch the figure approach, my eyes unable to look away from the being that I know is the cause of the fire and death raging around this other prairie. My chest stutters when I realize that the figure is 15 yards away from me and the door. I am just about to slam the door shut when the figure extends a smoking hand toward me. An unseen force suddenly wraps around my chest, squeezing until my breathing comes out in gasps and attempts to tug me through the door.

I barely manage to tighten my hold on the door but my muscles refuse to cooperate as I will myself to shut the door. To lock this scary bringer of death on the other side. My hand aches from the tight grip on the handle. My body trembles as all I can do is watch the figure approach.

He chuckles darkly, a strange gleam in his silver eyes as he stares me down. The smell of death permeates so strongly that my waters and my stomach rolls unpleasantly. My eyes flicker to the twirling sword, the flaming blade forming a ring from the speed the figure moves it.

Suddenly, the figure swings the sword down, shooting a large flaming ball directly for me.

As if some spell is broken, my body reacts on instinct and I slam the door just before the flaming ball reached me. I jump back from the door as shatters and dissolves back into the crystal clear pond. The cool liquid surrounds my ankles, the gentle lapping contrasting harshly with the hammering of my heart. I stare down at my reflection, wide, fearful eyes staring back, half expecting that strange figure will come jumping through the pond’s reflection and drag me into the that hellscape.

On shaking legs, I wade through the water, clutching at the front of my shirt as I will my heart rate to return to normal. I stumble slightly, pausing to allow my body to calm down as I continue to stare at my reflection. Something moves out of the corner of my eye and I snap my attention to it, scanning the surrounding area. When nothing appears out of the ordinary, I shake my head.

That door scared me more than I think I’m letting on.

Chuckling weakly, I return my focus to my rippling reflection. When it happened again. I glance up, nerves going haywire as I look around. Besides that scary figure through the door, I haven’t seen a single person here besides myself.

Movement below me catches my attention and I glance down toward the water, half expecting a small fish or maybe a frog to be swimming by. Nothing but my reflection smiling back at me is in the water.

Wait, smiling?

Ice courses through my veins as I gawk at my reflection. I tilt my head to the left and my reflection does the same. Tilt my head to the right, my reflection mimics my movements. The only thing out of place is the smile that is upon my reflection’s lips. A smile that doesn’t reach his (my?) eyes.

A cry erupts from me when my reflection’s arm shoots out of the water and grasps the front of my shirt with an iron grip. His fingers tighten in the fabric as I grasp his wrist, his skin feeling exactly like the crystal heart. I frantically fight against my doppelgänger as he pulls me closer and closer to water’s surface. I barely have enough time to gulp one last mouthful of air when I am dragged under.

What was once a shallow pond morphs into a deep, endless mass of darkening water. The light from the prairie starts to fade as my doppelgänger drags me further through the water. I struggle in his hold as a familiar darkness stares up at me.

No! I don’t want to go back! Please!

My doppelgänger tugs me toward him until we are face to face. His eyes (my eyes?) flicker around my face before reaching out with his free hand. He brushes my hair back and a strange sense of calm slowly washes over me. My fingers loosen their hold on his wrist and he brings his other hand up to my cheek. He leans in until our noses are touching.

It’s time to return to the darkness now. You have many more doors to explore.

I stare at him, dazed and before I can respond or even react, my doppelgänger releases his hold on me and I drift down toward the darkness once more. The last thing I see is my doppelgänger floating above me, watching with that same serene smile before my world is engulfed by darkness once more.