Victor
The only bright spot on their first trip to the underworld was the dog. It was hard to miss: huge and bright orange, the dog glowed against the unforgiving landscape of dust and ash. Everything else was a bluish wispy shadow so they couldn’t even be certain they were actually seeing anything, let alone anyone.
They named the dog “Victor” and petted him behind the ears. His fur crackled and caught fire under their touch but the dog did not seem to be bothered by this. For days (or was it years? It was so hard to tell time in this unmoving space) they wandered ankle-deep in thick black sand, looking for their exit.
Later, they would learn that each grain of sand contained the beginning and the end of being who had crossed over. They were annoyed at the effort it took to lift their feet, at the relentless chaffing of sand against skin, at the grittiness, the texture of it all.
Eventually, the dog led them to a well in the center of circle of stones. They were relieved to be on firm ground again. When the dog leapt into the well, they followed without a thought. This wasn’t the time for doubt.
“Victor”, is the 35th installment of Project 105: 105 flash fiction stories, each illustrated with textile art. To learn more about Project 105 and sign up for Project 105 weekly alert, visit www.pmneist.com/project-105
