Children of Gehenna

As the boat finally anchored, the walkway was lowered slowly. One by one, the guards and crew disembarked in a quiet, organized fashion—the prisoners right beside them. Tristan was helped off the boat, his legs unsteady after the long journey, 

Stepping onto the rocky shore the dreadful chains were finally removed, his wrists, thanking the guards for this little bit of mercy. Tristan paused to take in his new surroundings. The beach was a narrow strip of dark sand bordered by dense, pitch-black forest. The air was heavy with moisture and an indefinable scent that reminded him of the fragrance after rain. The sound of crashing waves mingled with the whisper of wind through the trees, a natural symphony that underscored the place's isolation.

'This is it.' he thought silently. 'No more safe harbor, no more familiarity. Now, I must face whatever Gehenna has in store.' 

Even as he was led away, Tristan's mind wandered back to the details of the voyage. The strange behavior of the waves, the hush among the crew, and the almost palpable tension that still filled the air—all of it had left an impression. It was as if the sea itself had whispered secrets, hints of dangers to come in a language he could not yet understand.

There was a camp. Just a few tarps and wooden crates were hastily arranged on the beach. Other prisoners were led in silence, their faces etched with a mixture of resignation and quiet terror. Tristan took a moment to observe them, knowing that each person here might have a story of their own. But for now, his focus remained solely on his survival. Then, a guard roughly pointed him toward an area sleep in.

Shortly after, under a sky flecked with cold, distant stars, Tristan lay awake on the gritty sand. The sound of the ocean danced with the rustling of leaves and the soft murmurs of fellow prisoners settling in for the remainder of the night. Though the camp was dimly lit by a few scattered lanterns, the darkness seemed complete enough to hide anything beyond their light.

In the stillness, his mind once again wandered back to the voyage. 

"The sea was not like any I have known before…" he recalled to himself. "It held such an air of warning…"

Sleep eventually claimed him. Tristan's final thoughts were of the island's mysterious dark forest looming beyond the beach, and the strange, shifting sea that had brought him here. Once dawn broke, he would begin to learn the secrets of Gehenna—step by cautious step.

But, suddenly…Tristan was awake.

He was standing without fatigue, without energy…emotionless. He looked down the shore, left and right—but to no avail. 

There was nothing… Just him and the sands.

The sea breeze, previously present, made no appearance at this moment. The calm song of the leaves that belonged to the trees behind him lulled him to sleep just seconds ago. Yet, these sounds no longer existed.

"W-what?" he said out loud. His voice echoed in his mind.

The waves which lightly crashed against the sand were silent. They were still. Tristan as if attracted to something turned around in a slow blur and viewed the trees in front of him. They stood just as tall as they did before. But they were oh-so eerily quiet. No thoughts went through Tristan's head as if this scene change was normal.

Suddenly the faint sound of fire behind him rang in his ears, causing him to turn in a blur yet again. 

Then…Tristan's heart dropped. His legs gave out, not feeling their numbness, and fell backward toward the trees. His breath getting faster and faster. 

"Wh-what the…fuck" he uttered, once again ringing in both of his ears. The sight before him pierced his heart like a dagger.

The ship in which he was transported was consumed by flame. All guards, all crew, all prisoners…the captain, all stood—staring at him, eyes wide—flesh melting off, all with a horrifying smile. The faces behind the helms of the guards were finally readable. Grim malice. All expressions of those that Tristan had been around for the past hours were exuding pure darkness and evil. In fact, these faces were not "all", but one. Everyone shared the same damned horrifying smile. 

Tristan's mouth went completely dry, no desert could compare. His heart, beating faster than ever. Then suddenly the petrifying crowd of half melted… beings, all in unison sang. 

"Welcome home, Tristan."