Almost immediately upon entry, my head began to hurt from the change in air pressure. Not the kind of pain im used to from a minor headache, more of a dizziness, perhaps i wasnt sure of my surroundings and out of touch with my senses. There was a vacuum around us as the large door behind us from which we had entered began to close. With a thud we were separated from the desert outside and at least momentarily we were captive to the unseen forces of the dark void in which we were faced.
We began to feel lightheaded, hot, and nauseated. My head was spinning as i fell to my knees. I began to strip off as much of my gear as possible; helmet, gas mask, flak vest, etc. I went to drink water from my canteen but threw up before i could get the lid off. I had the sensation that we were tumbling end over end into some giant bottomless void. I called out for help to my squad member and he responded in kind, but i could not see him and i could no longer feel his presence or hear his breathing next to me. This was it, my last thoughts confronted me, we were dying. And then it was all over.
I woke up out of breath and gasping for air, desperately clutching at my chest with each involuntary heave. The other hand was clawing at the ground, or surface, of whatever this place was that i was in. Still drawing deep breaths, i was able to see somewhat, and noticed my fellow squad member laying near me motionless, undressed from the waist up. I was able to drag myself over to him and tried to rouse him, but nothing doing. Then i noticed some cuts on his upper body and blood, i yelled his name and shook him but there was no response.
Something was calling out to me from the distance, not in sound but in a strange frequency of which i was not usually accustomed to or aware of. As i focused i could see several of the tall robed figures standing in what appeared to be a doorway. Their eyes were almost piercing me from the dark hooded robes in which they wore, almost fluorescent eyes one moment, and completely dark the next. I was summoned towards them and i crawled to the direction of the dim lighted opening.
They turned and ushered me into the narrow corridor, lit midway by candles on the walls. I was able to get somewhat on my feet and follow them, with all of the might i could muster, it felt as though we were climbing upwards. Several times along the way i stumbled or fell down, they might wait on me to catch back up, momentarily, as we continued up the stony path.
This journey went on for minutes and turned into hours after hours, when i looked back in the direction in which we had came i couldn't see much of anything that made sense. That was the only way i know how to describe it, in one direction we were ascending a pathway of sorts, the other, absolutely nothing. Finally we came to the top of the climb and the tall robed figures abruptly stopped and parted way on each side of the path, leaving an opening in front of them. One of the them extended a thin pale hand towards me and gestured me to enter the opening, alone.
Once inside of the odd shaped opening, i felt as though i had entered an ancient palace, artifacts and treasure abound. I cautiously and nervously put one foot in front of the other until i had lost myself in the mysterious place. The tall robed figures standing guard behind me, i realized that the walkway under my feet was paved with precious metals, gloriously leading towards something of a centerpiece to this giant room which sat high and was surrounded on each side by four spires. As i approached the pyramid shaped center of the room, each of the four spires light up instantly with a giant flame, and a voice unlike anything i have ever heard or felt before commanded me to stop.
I knelt down in front of this pyramid and looked up to see to whom or what i was paying my respects. A large skinless and bloody head sat atop the stone pyramid, its eyes were staring down directly into mine, with much intensity and i could almost feel the gaze cooking my soul. It spoke with a thunderous command, echoing throughout the palace, from chamber to chamber, treasure to holy treasure.
A small trickle of blood ran from the top of the pyramid down to the steps to where i knelt in front of it. I dipped my finger into the blood at first, and then i knelt down even further and began to drink the stream of blood, as i had been commanded to by the thunderous voice. As i drank of this blood i was electrified, peaceful, powerful, and i had gained a new level of understanding, the depths and levels of which i could not fully comprehend or explain in human form. But for a moment at least, i was all powerful and knowledgeable. The greatest drug in this world was clearly not of this world, but often spoke of by people who wanted out of it.
The deity spoke to me as i looked into its divine eyes and i understood the message very clear. It reminded me that of my actions there would be great consequences, yet of my inaction there would be even greater consequences of catastrophic proportions, of which there would be great sorrow and suffering. As commanded i drank some more of the holy blood that ran in a thin stream off of the golden bricks below, and then i slipped off into a deep dark sleep.