The Shepherd

I woke up lying in what seemed to be the desert in some sort, the thing I could tell you honestly is that I had no idea where I was. I was no longer in my torn clothes and everything that I had while I was still alive wasn't here where I am... I was wearing what seemed to be a grey-ish long dress it must be a robe, the handcuffs were gone, the burn pain on my back gone and as for my dislocated shoulder all healed like nothing happened.

I walked around to tell you this place had familiarity of the desert, yet it was in noir color it was black that's right. I could feel the sun blind my eyes but when I look at it, I saw a dark sun like the eclipse... I was kinda lost to be honest there was no one out there but me, the place was so quiet even the sand didn't make any sound when it moved with the wind.

I must be dreaming I said to myself I mean I'm in a no sound movie like the era of Chaplin, while I was walking.

"Hey!" Someone called.

I looked to see who it was there he is, though at first I didn't see quite clear who that person was.

"Can you help see free my sheep!" He said pointing at the sheep stuck on a tree branch.

I helped the man's sheep and I decided to get it back to him.

"I think he is going to be okay" I said.

"Thank you Arthur" the man shares a smile.

When I took a close look I had this strange feeling that I know this man from somewhere, which was strange because I was certain I never set foot in the desert. But when it came to this guy I couldn't help but have that feeling.

The man was a shepherd he was leading a cattle of sheep and goats, when he got his sheep back he checked on it to make sure it washed hurt or anything. Then he made it join the rest of the cattle.

"Wait, how do you know my name sir?" I asked.

"I've been told to wait here for you so I followed my instructions" the man said.

"Wait? What?" confused.

The man chuckled and led his sheep and goats to the pond to drink water, he awaits by the rock... I join him.

I looked at him again so that I can get a clear picture of where I saw him and the man looked so young maybe early 30s to 40s he was tall and he had a well groomed beard, long hair and he carried a stick.

You know the crazy thing was like the rest of this place the man was also colorless, but he was kinda looking like a space galaxy because though he was nothing but blackness he was filled with quite a number of stars.

"What do you think about this place isn't it beautiful?" The man asked.

"Define beautiful in a place without color" I said.

"Color is irrelevant it's just there to brighten what's already colored" he said.

"But this place seems so shallow and so lifeless" I said.

"Where do you think we are Arthur? If you don't mind me asking" the man asked.

"Hell if I'm not mistaken" I answered.

"Uh and what makes you think this is hell, is it because of the lifeless color" the man asked.

"Yes" I replied.

"If so what makes you think that you deserve to be here in hell, I mean?" He asked.

"Because I never believed in the existence of God, I don't believe that one mighty being can be so powerful that he can do anything with just a snap of his finger. Yet the world is full of suffering and pain" I said.

"Mhmm those are valid points and I hear you" the man said.

The man stood up and went to his cattle of sheep and goats and he drank the same water those animals drank from.

"Ah refreshing" he said.

He called me to join him but I declined his offer, sorry I know I'm dead but I won't drink dark water from hell.

"Just come and let's take a walk" he said.

Hey if I was bound to spend my eternity in this hell it was the best choice to get familiar with the place just in case.

"Arthur you are mistaken this isn't hell it isn't heaven also this place is called the holy state, a place where the dead but undead find themselves in right before making a decision where they decide their faith" he explained.

We were walking a nice beautiful long walk then we arrived at the river and we stopped.

"Why did we stop?" I asked out of curiosity.

The shepherd tapped the ground three times with his stick and in the fourth time the water opened wide in between, making a way to pass through.