Behind the Waterfall by Oscar Crawford

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

10

Magi, the Protector

When the boards began to slow, I looked at Ailith. She
nodded we had arrived at the gates of hell. We all
looked at each other. I saw the place no different from
entering into the darkness behind a waterfall. I do not
know what fear is except for the first moments in the
darkness reaching for my MuGud’s hand. Whatever it is,
I am sure its intention soon reveals itself.

This all feels very much like a tale on my Earth of four on
a mission to see a magician. Magi strolls before us
fearless. His blades are all unsheathed with their energy
eyes ready to fly to chosen targets.

He looks to all of us and says, “Follow me.”

I ask him, “Where exactly do you believe you might be

Behind the Waterfall

leading us? Is it clear to you the Priest Masters must
know that we are here?

“Their reception must soon begin. Do you play games
on Second Earth? Do you know Chess?”

Emahn said, “We have heard of your Chess. We call it
what it is. We call it war. Just like your pawns, you
probably expect our jacks will go first.

“Because you are regarded the most powerful Empress
in both worlds, they would be a waste because you
would likely try to find a way to be nice to them.”

“What we will soon learn is whether or not it is more
strategic for them to attack you first or pick us off one by
one,” Ailith contributed.

I looked at Magi again and smiled as I asked, “Where
exactly do you believe you might be leading us?”

“My words were not chosen well. I have never been
here. I seek to be your cover and your protection,” he
said with sternly solemn serious face.

“Does the size of my unidentified features have anything

Oscar Crawford

to do with your desire to protect me?” I asked.

Immediately Magi responded with a full-face smile
saying, “Indeed, it does.”

“And you shall tell me of these features when the
mission is complete?” I asked.

“Indeed, I will,” he said.

Ailith laughs saying to Emahn, “She won’t give it up, will
she?”

I said, “No, I will not.”

Loud noises began to surround us to get our attention.
Rattles, wind, loud booms and shaking floors followed. I
do not even find this amusing.

I yelled, “Is this the best the Priest Masters of Hell, the
Lords of Fear and Torture can do?”

Out of the darkness, hands covered my mouth and arms
held me securely. I could hear Emahn yelling, “I told
you we should have run.”

Behind the Waterfall

If I had not known before whom everyone was in the
tale from my world, I knew now. Emahn’s hair made it
even clearer. I do not know how I did not see it before.

What we have waited for has begun. The Priest Masters
are yet to come.

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

11

Frightening Laughter

Dost thou dare enter into my universe? In the end, if
you are not ready for this experience, you will find
yourself running with a voice behind you loudly
laughing. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
~Grave Danger

Captured is a new experience. I do not know it. I do
know what my MuGud taught me. I need no one hold
my hand because I cannot see. I do not fear what
comes. I have been to the darkness before.

I am hearing screams of people enduring pain. I did not
know if they are real or to provoke me to respond.

I yelled into the darkness, “We have words for the likes

Behind the Waterfall

of you on the real Earth. Master is not one of them.
We call you weak, coward, bully and zombie.

“You have neither person nor power of your own, so you
vampires seek to feed on the lives of others. I have
known since I discovered what you did to Roumah and I
know what you have done to Ailith.

“You are pitiful, like children without families growing
up in the dark knowing nothing but your own fear. I call
you weak, coward, bully, and living dead. I do not fear
you. I pity you.

“Stop wasting time, get on with it. You know what I am
going to do. You brought me here. Where is your fear
now, Priest Masters of Hell? Your end is imminent.

“I laughed loud at them. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!”

“Ossana Mil, you are not yet MuGud,” said an old
gravelly coarse voice.

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

12

Out in the Cold

The silence came and I fell asleep. Like my MuGud, who
could sleep through storms, parades or games, I sleep in
hell. Dreams came like the onslaught of an avalanche of
from many snow-covered mountains.

I woke in a place that was to seem familiar. It was not.
In that place where clouds meet the horizon, I could see
something forming. It was becoming a map with forty –
eight sections joined together; 12 portals to the east, 12
portals to the west, 12 portals to the north and 12
portals to the south.

I asked others if they could see it. They could.

I determined I would go to see it closer. The closer I got,
I found myself climbing up the side of a mountain to

Behind the Waterfall

discover something entirely different from what I saw. I
had discovered a giant pirate ship suspended in a clear
substance as if simply a gigantic painting like we put on
the walls of our homes.

I came down to see if others knew about this. Could it
be that I was the only one to know?

I went about asking people if they knew anything about
the ship suspended in glass just beyond the horizon at
the mountain. No one knew anything. Keepers of the
law came to detain me. I would not allow them and left.

Next, I sensed I was in my home preparing food for my
family. I was setting table for my mother and father
when people began just walking in multiple doors. I did
not know them. They did not seem aware of me.

I walked by a room where a beautiful woman with light
brown hair lay on the bed. She was without clothing.

Was she waiting there for me? Why would she be
waiting for me? When I demonstrated no interest, she
rose up with anger in her face and turned into the body
of a man with very wild hair.

Oscar Crawford

I close the door to the room and left to find many
seeking to capture me. All around me changed in the
blink of an eye from one instant to the next. Like the
strange quickening that I felt with Magi, now I feel
another quickening. Is this fear? Are these feelings
connected? I hear voices behind me loudly laughing.

When I believe I am free, I am sitting in a sleigh with a
well-dressed man perhaps wealthy man. His hair,
moustache, and beard are neater than I have ever seen
on any man.

I feel the need to threaten him with harm. I told him if
he sought to harm me, I would throw him down from
this mountain. He took me to a high place where I could
see much of the land below.

We did not speak. I noticed he took on the appearance
of extreme cold forming on his face. When it became
clear that I had no interests in anything I was seeing we
began to move directly very fast toward the mountain. I
remember yelling No! No! No!

I woke up and for the first time in my life since going
into the mouth of the dark cave for the first time with

Behind the Waterfall

my MuGud, I have felt fear. I woke up very afraid
because none of what I had seen was in my control.

When I calmed and got my bearings in the darkness, I
realized I had made a mistake. To comfort myself and
avoid fears I did not know I had, I realized I woke up to
soon. I needed to go back inside the dream to see
where it wanted to take me.

When I returned to sleigh and saw the well-groomed
man, he asked what made me come back. I asked him
what he wanted. He told me that he wanted to live and
added to that live free.

I wanted to know what he meant by live free. He shared
with me that none of his people were free to live lives of
their own choosing. The darkness I know as hell holds
power of them.

I asked how many there were, he told me there were
millions of them bound and powerless to the darkness
and tormented fear isolated in hell. Deeper and deeper
into hell we went. We went lower and lower and lower.
There was no end. The deeper one finds himself or
herself confined in hell, the more intense the level of

Oscar Crawford

fear.

I ask how long we had to talk. He told me our time grew
short.

I asked his name. He wondered why I asked. Did I not
know?

He told me his name was Ossana Mil. My face could not
hide this surprise. He went on to tell me that all in hell
bear the name of the one prophesied to free them. We
are all Ossana Mil. Our eternal hopes lie in Ossana Mil
and here you are.

Meeting you honors us all. Now wake up and do what
you must. You are to become MuGud. The fate of the
people in hell is in your hands.

Behind the Waterfall

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

13

Torture of Hell

I felt drained. The experience of being out of control
had introduced me to the spirit of fear. I was ashamed.
I felt the disappointment of my MuGud. I know she
wants so much more from me for all she invested in me
of herself.

In all this, I have realized they are not aware fear cannot
indefinitely threaten me. I have a power play they do
not know that will cause more fear in them than they
have imagined possible. It is the one power all that
would be free can choose.

Now, I wait until the Priest Masters make their next play.
These devils are nothing if not patient. It seemed I must
have waited for weeks before the next challenge.

Behind the Waterfall

Servants of the Masters brought me into a torture
chamber. Pools of blood were all over the floors and
bloodstains on the wall. The air was thick with smoke
and injury. I demanded the Priest Masters come to me.
A servant struck my face with his hand. He told me not
to speak unless ordered to speak. Blood trickled at the
right corner of my mouth. I am experiencing many firsts
on Second Earth that hold little appeal.

One by one children, women and men appear in the
chamber of torture and beaten severely. When I asked
why the beatings were taking place, my face took
another hit. This is hell and no reason is required.
Suffering is the order.

Why I was not to be tortured, I do not know. It seems I
was but to witness the suffering and torture of others.
What was taking place was for no reason other than the
masters wished it. Yelling cries and painful moans
continued around me until a new group arrived. It was
my new friends and Roumah was with them.
Shackles and chains restrained and bound them as they
entered the chamber of torture. Bruises covered their
faces from beatings. Whatever was to happen next, I
would see it all.

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

14

End of the Priest Masters

When the Priest Masters arrived, the sound of silence
commanded the intended fearful moment. They have
no idea how this ends. I do not know what happens to
me. What I do know is that hell and all its illusion of
fear will end. All will be free to live.

I hope they are as prepared to live free as they have
been to dream of being free. It never seems to work out
quite that easy. Many former slaves once freed find a
way back to bondage because it is simply all they know.
Some may even discover the cost of living free means
not always knowing what to do next. Some will look
back and consider hell may not have been so bad after
all.

Behind the Waterfall

All will be free to live as they choose. It will be tough at
first. Survival will be their first order of business. Living
free is a personal and privileged responsibility.

There will be no more Priest Masters. Their time ends
now. They will cease to exist. My MuGud has prepared
me for this moment. I will not fail her nor the people of
First and Second Earth.

“Ossana Mil,” the Priest Masters spoke in one loud evil
voice.

“Welcome to hell and the rest of your miserable life.
We shall feed on every ounce of your soul until there is
none of you left. We will do with you what we want.
We will use you and torture you and there will be
nothing you can do to stop it,” they said.

When I spoke, I saw shock on their faces. I told them
and all who could witness, today you die and I laughed
at them.

They said, “Laugh at this.”

Guards brought my friends in with orders to kill them

Oscar Crawford

while I watched. I looked at them all. My heart swells
with thankfulness for their being with me.

The Priest Masters spoke to me saying, “Have you any
last words for your friends, Ossana Mil?”

I looked at my friends and asked them, “Do you follow
the MuGud?”

In unison they said, “We follow the MuGud.”

“Then choose to lay your lives down. They are not
worthy to take them. Bulge your necks and turn to the
right and left quickly. I shall join you as soon as all are
freed and the Priest Masters cease to exist,” I said.

They followed my instructions, all four of them.
Roumah and Ailith reunite in death. Emahn will be free
to fly his trains anywhere his mind desires and Magi;
well I have a surprise for him. Dying can be so freeing.

I now look at the Priest Masters and ask, “Are you ready
to die? Have you any last words? Who among you will
apologize to all the people in hell for all you have done
to them? This is your last chance.”

Behind the Waterfall

Now, they laugh. They scoff at me saying, “You have
saved us the trouble of killing your friends. Spilling their
blood is of no consequence to us.”

“Will you say that of the spilled blood of the MuGud? I
asked.

“You are not yet MuGud. We do not fear you,” they
said.

“Then prepare to be cast into the outer darkness of your
own hell, alive forever in your own torment, now!” I
said.

With those words spoken, my neck, wrists, and ankles
bulged. My blood began to spill and I could hear their
cries of horror as their reign of evil over millions was
ending.

As I lost consciousness into my own death, I heard the
rejoicing of all now free. I also heard the Priest Masters
say, “One of us must survive. Find a way to First Earth.
Evil shall live there if only in one of us. Lord Satan, you
must find a way.”

With that, I closed my eyes and yielded to the oneness
of all that is.

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

15

As It Was in the Beginning

Darkness surrounded my consciousness. Where am I? I
could not hear anything. I could not see anything. I
could only feel.

I was still in my body even if I could not see it. I listened.
I smelled the air around me and got nothing. I can only
feel myself.

When I began to hear voices, they were faint. It seemed
the voices were coming from a distance away from me.
The more intensely I listened, the closer I seemed to be.

My eyes began to clear. I was beginning to see again. I
could make out five forms. I could see Magi, Emahn,
Ailith and Roumah. How is this possible? I saw them all

Behind the Waterfall

die before I experienced my own end.

There was one more person with their back to me. I
could not see who they were. I tried yelling to them.
They could not hear me.

I waited patiently until I seemed to be upon them and
hearing every word, they spoke. Finally, they sensed my
presence. As the one with their back to me began to
turn around, I am alone again in the cave where it all
started. Had it all just been a dream?

I sat lingering to think wondering what it all meant.
Finally, I rose up to make my way back to my village. I
learned I had been gone for months. All I met on my
way home looked at me as if I looked different. Had I
changed in such a short time? I found my answer when I
saw my reflection in a ship window. There was more of
me down to the size of my, oh my goodness. I was
making the sound my MuGud made when she chirped
like small birds.

The way of the MuGud saves the world. Nobody ever
knows what has happened.

Oscar Crawford

Days later, I receive a package at home from a giant
ebony man. He is familiar. I thank Magi for delivering
the package to me personally. He steps closer and
stares at me as he had on Second Earth.

When I say thank you, Magi, he looks at me strangely.
He is embarrassed I have called him by a name not his.
He tells me he is the keeper and protector of special
deliveries until delivery is made. He asks me to sign for
the package. I do and ask him his name.

“I am called Peter, Miss?”

“My name is Ossana Mil. Peter, I believe I once saw you
in a dream and you were fascinated with me. You said
you liked the size of my, but you never let me know
exactly what it was about my form you liked,” I told him.

He is now clearly embarrassed and I am enjoying it.
Love’s light is in his eyes.

“Peter, I should like you to escort me to the Harvest Ball
in two weeks. I think we might enjoy each other’s
company and you can tell me if I have any features you
appreciate,” I said.

Behind the Waterfall

He smiled. His eyes lit brighter and became wider as he
leaned in towards me to ask, “Are you sure? We have
just met.”

I said, “I am very sure. If we get on half as well as I am
sure we will we might start picking out children’s names
and working on building our first home. Do I scare you,
Peter?”

“Ossana Mil, you do not frighten me. I also have dreams.
I felt you were familiar to me the first moment I looked
at you. I will come for you on the night of the Harvest
Ball or our Harvest Ball could begin this evening if you
will allow me to make you dinner. While we eat and
drink I shall be pleased to share with you my
appreciation of your features,” he said.

Oscar Crawford

CHAPTER

Epilogue

When alone, I opened the package Peter had
delivered. Inside laid a book, a ring and a note. The
note shared my MuGud’s last words to me.

You have done well my child. You live secure and
trusting in everything I taught you.

It seems you are ready to take on the privilege of a
full-grown woman. Enjoy every moment. To him you
give your love to, he will treasure your love and you.
Blessed will be all you touch together.

I leave these things for you and my eternal love and
respect. The ring is your personal circle of protection.
It is the official ring and seal of the MuGud. You
became MuGud the moment you knew giving your of

Behind the Waterfall

blood to free others gave your victory over fear through
faith.

Wear it at all times. Nothing can harm you or any you
protect while you wear it. Study the Book I have left for
you. The Book passes from MuGud to MuGud. It has
for countless generations.

Your heart has freed second Earth from the tyranny of
fear. In doing so, one Priest Master escaped to come
here to First Earth. You will know where he is. It will be
where fear levels are highest.

Love the people. Teach others to teach others how to
achieve their own victories over fear through their faith.
Finally, my child, feast on the love that awaits you. He
deserves you. You deserve him. There is no better love
than love of MuGud.

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BEHIND THE WATERFALL OSCAR CRAWFORD
A production of is a writer and content creator
living in Chandler, Arizona with
Oscar Crawford Media his wife and writer, Bonnie. With
eBook Edition $4.99 Masters Degrees in Divinity and
Justice, he has written tens of
short stories, novels, and
hundreds of articles on Human
Relations and relationship
development.

Contact the author directly
[email protected]