“What will it look like?”

The driver shrugs, left blinker tinking. “I’ve heard whatever you want, like your best memory.”

“What about your passengers? What do they say?”

He shrugs again, meaty shoulders pulling in his uniform. “Wouldn’t know. I only drive the first leg of the trip. Someone else brings them back.”

I nod though I don’t know if he notices, his head facing the road, eyes scanning the slopes.

I dig my fingers into my palms, watching the dense green trees swirl by. The bus lumbers up the hill, riding the curves, clambering it’s way to the top.

The shuttle bus squeals its way to a stop, engine groaning as the doors sputter open.

“Good luck, kid,” the driver tosses out. I scramble to my feet, shoes sliding and make my way down.

The doors clatter shut and a plume of dust surrounds me as the shuttle rumbles its way back down the mountain. The welcome center stands large and white, etched marble columns rising two stories. There no one there but the whisper of the wind.

I walk up the steps, white stone arching overhead and enter the vestibule. In the center, the floor dips down, the facing the four open sides.

There are no directions but I know enough of what I need to do.

I stand in the middle and wait, skirts gathered by my feet.

I glance around but it’s quiet, just my heartbeat echoing in my ears.

After two minutes, the tingles start, wrapping up my leg, like a vine climbing skyward. The sensation creeps up my leg and through my body until I’m stuck still, a human statue on the platform. My eyes shut themselves and all I see is black.

My hearts hammering, threatening to jump out and leave me behind. I’m frozen as the darkness of my mind presses up against me.

The visit starts with a pinprick, a tiny swirl of light, swooshes of red and green. The goddess has chosen to appear in swirls. It reminds me of the pictures of Christmas, the deep reds and Kelly greens, a season of joy from the old times, now only known in history books.

Whispers of a touch sweep through my brain as my thoughts and memories are search. It’s a gentle intrusion, but an intrusion none the less. My brain lies naked and my soul empty at the invasion.

The colors swirl closer until a woman’s face emerges. Her lovely face draws close, all soft slopes and graceful arches. Her luminous eyes hold mine, peering into me, to my very soul. “I see you and judge thee.”

I’m still frozen in place as the swirls of her face dance inside my eyes.

“I find you . . . wanting.”

With that she clicks off and my body is released. I tremble and open my eyes. I’m still alone though the light is dimmer.

The floor shakes at my feet.

Before I can run, the earth opens and I tumble down, fully enclosed in the darkness.