Puritanical Addict: Chapter 2 – Help from a Fellow Sinner

Chapter 2 – Help from a Fellow Sinner

The city, if you could call it that, that I’m in is called Exquista Caro, by its inhabitants. It was once a normal city in the Columbian Union, but after a series of superhuman fights in it, it sits in ruins. The government has long since abandoned trying to help it, and those with any sense in their heads have long since left it, and the only ones dumb enough to try to save it are scouts from the Dominion of Mercy and Justice, who are trying to rescue the innocent people who get taken here. Exquista Caro is a lawless city, known for its human trafficking, weapons dealing, and superhuman experimentation. The sickest criminals, villains, and corrupt members of legitimate society come here to fulfill their sickest desires and obtain riches, people, pleasures, and weapons they can’t get anywhere else in the country, and I helped build it up, and now, I’m going to tear it all down.

“You know the city best, better than I’d ever want to. You can start anywhere you’d like,” my guardian angel says.

Not wanting to waste time, so I can be free of my sins, I choose the nearest hive of degenerates I know of. During the walk there, I can feel my temptations begin to rise again, like something is squeezing my head from within and scratching at my nerves. I burn myself with the cold, blue flame to keep my temptations silent and prepare to use it. The place I find myself in is where they keep many of the kidnapped people for those with rape fetishes and tastes for certain people. At first, the people here are surprised to see my new appearance, but are then completely caught off guard when they see me using my blue flames to turn most people here and things to ice.

Some people are frozen in place, while others fall over and shatter into pieces. Meanwhile, the rape slaves aren’t touched or affected by the cold in the slightest, and yet, they are horrified by me. This probably isn’t their first time being forcibly moved, so I don’t bother saying much to them. Instead, I break their frozen cages, take a pair of truck keys from their dead captors, and throw the keys to them.

“Get out of here while you still can,” I say.

They look confused as I leave them without another word. Turning back to look at them, I see them talking to one another, running towards the parked trucks, and starting them up. I’m thankful that they’re taking the offer because if they stall any longer, the other perverts from the rest of Exquista Caro will soon hear of the noise and come here to take those who remain.

“Why let such prized meat get away?” the demon with my face says from my shoulder. “Many of them have yet to have their virginity taken away from them. Did you see that young woman? What about that older man? Both of them are to your tastes, are they not?”

I burn myself with my icy flames and move on. Can I move on with these desires holding me back? Yes, I can. My walking away from it proves it. If I were my normal self, I would have taken advantage of those people while they were still in their cages. Heading to the next holding area I’m aware of, I find animals and those lower than animals having their way with them. Keeping my mind off images of myself in their place, I allow the icy flames from my left arm to turn them all to ice, save the animals whom I free and let loose. That’s right. I was just like them.

“And you’ll always be like that,” the demon says.

Burning myself again, I don’t feel the icy, hot feel as much this time, so I instead ask my guardian angel for help.

“You asked your guardian angel before for help. Remember where it got you, or you can simply look around you.”

“Nor God, nor I have forgotten your prayers, Tanith. Even though I was invisible to you up until now, I have never left your side or stopped praying for you,” my guardian angel says.

“And it is only now that you actually help her, whereas I have been giving her everything her perverted heart has desired. Will she have to wait more years for your help?”

My guardian angel burns and stabs the demon.

“It is all in God’s providence.”

The demon falls to the ground. It twitches as it laughs, so I run away to get the least bit of comfort and distance from the demon, even though I know it will eventually catch up and bother me again. In a rush, I sprint to a sex club where they are corrupting newcomers, and immediately start burning and turning all of them to ice. Not one of them survives or is spared from the ice, and most shatter in seconds. My eyes zero in on their faces as I’m leaving the club. I know some of these people.

“Yes. You corrupted them to do as you said, and you brought women like you to be corrupted. You made both of them follow the same road to damnation, but instead of trying to save them, you sent them all to Hell. You’ll never be a good person, Tanith, and this proves it,” the demon says.

I burn myself yet again with my blue flames, as I run away from the club. Seeing an incoming convoy of trucks and fancy cars carrying new slaves or degenerate visitors, I immediately run out into traffic with my flames at the ready, hoping to stop them or die in the process, but I get neither. Instead, an explosion from a flying object blows me away from the incoming traffic. Getting up, I see a flaming man with red swords for arms cutting people apart, burning them to ash. Some of his flames are on me, and yet, they don’t burn me and feel like paper tissue when I brush them off. When everyone in the convoy is dead, the flaming man approaches me, and his appearance disappears to reveal a surprisingly familiar face.

“Thaddeus?” I say surprised and guessing at the man’s name, as if struggling to believe my own eyes.

“Tanith? So, it’s you who my guardian angel wanted me to save,” he says.

Thaddeus is dressed in his usual black jacket, red shirt, dark jeans, and red sneakers, but for some reason, his eyes are red, orange, and yellow. I ask him about them, along with how he got his powers and why he’s here.

“It’s because God told my guardian angel to be here to help you,” Thaddeus simply says.

“When did you care about God or the supernatural? Last time we saw each other, you streamed a dare living here for a week, and wanted to come back to satiate your desires for younger women and men who dressed like women,” I say.

“That’s the past me. Recently, my guardian angel helped show me the error of my ways and repent. Did you hear about the destruction of the Jewel city?”

“That was you?”

“Indeed, and now I hear that the destruction of this sinful city is your test.”

“I’ll…take all the help I can get, I guess.”

As I should’ve expected, the superhumans and filth of this city come to see what all the noise is about and to see if they can pick the bones for anything to pleasure themselves with. Thaddeus’s body goes back to its flaming appearance as he goes to fight them, and not wanting him to be alone in it, I use my icy flames to help him from a distance. Interestingly, his flames don’t burn away my ice, and instead, work together with one another, burning people to ash and turning those trapped in the ice into bloody puddles. Every superhuman and criminal who tries to attack me is met with Thaddeus, who blocks their attacks, but I do get hit by stray bullets and physical hits from superhumans.

After taking care of the threats, Thaddeus asks me, “Are you okay, Tanith?”

“Yeah. My body was modified to deal with worse, so I’m fine,” I say as I pick out the bullets and shake off the pain dealt to me.

“When did you get those blue flames? Didn’t you have a drill in that left hand?”

“My guardian angel made this modification to me, along with the change in my body, hair, and eye color.”

“I was meaning to ask about that too, and was going to ask why someone would need a drill in your circumstance, but that’s probably best left unanswered. Can you see and hear my guardian angel?”

“Yours? I can’t. Can you see mine?”

“Not at all. Just wondering since we both seem to share the same hero’s power origin.”

“I’m not a hero. I’m not even a decent person.”

“You think that because of your past, don’t you? Well, don’t let that keep you down. Remember that the difference between a saint and a sinner is that a saint repents from their sins and makes amends, while a sinner is obstinate in their self-destruction.”

“My parents told me something similar to that.”

“Sounds like you had better parents than I did. Let’s make them proud, eh?”

“…right. Follow me. I know more places to hit to bring down this city.”

With Thaddeus behind me, I feel a sudden sense of comfort, like he’s an answer to my prayers. Is he?

“He is. He will be a valuable ally and invaluable friend for the rest of your life,” my guardian angel says.

I can’t say that the answer to my prayers surprises me anymore. They’re being answered in the strangest of ways as of late, so I hope that they continue to be and carry me through the challenge in front of me. What I’ve done has only destroyed a small portion of Exquista Caro. Much more needs to be done to make it fall completely, but at least I have another angel by my side with a fellow degenerate, who has seemingly overcome his sins.

Puritanical Addict: Chapter 1 – An Addict’s Recovery

Chapter 1 – An Addict’s Recovery

When they first arrived, I thought they were a superhero, an answer to my prayers to be saved, but instead, they were just another person who wanted to use me, another punishment sent to make me regret my decisions. The bodies of the people who bought and sold people like me and protected their transactions lay in pieces around me, and my false savior simply stared at me, expecting a prize as if there wasn’t a slaughter around us. This person spoke in a mixed female, male voice, looked more male than female, had stubby horns on their head, and wore torn clothing.

“Clean up. I don’t want to touch used goods,” they said.

They had a strange way of using people with their words, which is why they were able to single-handedly kill so many people. Because of my fear and their power over me, I did as they said. They led me to the showers, where they sprayed me with scorching hot water, gave me a new pair of lewd lingerie, threw me on a nearby bed, and had their way with me. My body has been modified to handle the strength and fetishes of superhumans and the worst kinds of people, but it could hardly handle what happened to me at the time. Reliving the memory of the event in my nightmares is enough to wake me up in a cold sweat.

Everything and everyone around me is cold and frozen in ice. The people stuck in the ice are also burning from a light blue flame within it. I can hear their muffled screams, and can’t do anything to help them. Touching the ice they’re in gives me a burning, freezing feeling, and whatever I try to use to free them melts or breaks upon impact. The cold in the air becomes too much to bear, so I take off my lingerie and put on a long black and grey shirt, skirt, and boots. Looking at myself in the mirror, I see my brown skin, red hair, and green eyes begin to turn grey, white, and dull, and it’s then that I remember why this is all happening. This is all because of my guardian angel.

“I prayed for help, and it finally came,” I say aloud.

In the mirror, I see him, my guardian angel. He’s a figure, robbed in a black cloak with a hood over his head, grey spikey shoulders, one black eye, and one light blue eye. He has no legs, but is somehow levitating without wings, and has a spear-like right arm and light blue flames coming out of his left arm. Turning around, I see him silently looking down at me. Is he going to say something?

“Yes. I will speak to you directly, Tanith,” he says to me.

Can you hear my thoughts?

“I can hear every thought you have, and know the inner workings of your heart and desires.”

You can, can you? Then why haven’t you heard my other prayers? Why did you abandon me to live a torturous life? Oh, that’s right, it’s because it’s what I wanted to do. I wanted this for myself. I didn’t want a life of pain and monotony. I wanted a life of constant pleasure and happiness.

Huh? What’s this voice in my head that sounds like me? Turning my head to where my guardian angel is pointing, I see a floating being who has my face, except it has green and red eyes, a veil covering half its face, a red cloak covering half its body, and is wearing leather straps and fetish wear, like how I used to.

“It is nothing more than a demon that infested you after you gave yourself to the degenerate lifestyle,” my guardian angel says.

“Degenerate?” the demon says in my voice. “How can something that I’ve wanted that’s given me nothing but wealth and endless pleasure be degenerate? Besides, it’s too late to go back now. Remember the price you paid to get further into this life. Your parents wanted you to live a prosperous, faithful, and arduous life that was going to be nothing but pain, suffering, and boring nine-to-five work. You did the right thing in abandoning it and getting involved in those strip clubs and prostituting yourself.”

“It’s never too late to change.”

“Hush. I didn’t get to the best part yet. When your new friends promised you more wealth, pleasure, and freedom, you took their offer, no questions asked. You lured your parents to a place where they were kidnapped, and your friends recorded a video of you defiling them as they cried and prayed for you to stop. I wonder where they are now. Maybe dead. Maybe still being used and sold. Maybe damned and in Hell.”

I don’t know why I did that anymore. It’s like another person was inside me, while I was asleep. It was the drugs they gave me and the addiction I had to the pleasure and high of it all. That was it!

“That’s just an excuse. You wanted that life, and now, you have to get yourself out.”

“Get out of here, slave angel of God. Your ice is ruining everything Tanith has dedicated her life to.”

“Use the power you’ve accepted as part of our deal, Tanith. Use the icy blue flames to resist your temptations.”

“Don’t do it. Why would you want to feel pain and deny yourself? You, and only you, know what’s best for yourself.”

“This is your opportunity to break the chains of sin and lust that have bound you for years. Break the chains and don’t leave one remaining.”

“Let’s not forget what you did to get here and the power you deserve.”

My mind feels like it’s living in a daydream. I see that I’m running away from the abnormal superhuman who was just using me in the dream. I remember this. I had enough of them using me, and wanted my freedom. I ran around the whorehouse, picking up weapons, shooting that freak’s face, bludgeoning it, and killing whoever got in my way. Thanks to them being drugged up and tired from our sessions together, they were weaker than usual, so I was able to get the better of them.

Still, everything I threw at them wasn’t enough to put them down for good, so I took out their legs, took out the drill where my left hand was, and drilled down their throat until they died. By the end of it, I was covered in blood and looked so psychotic that everyone who followed the freak was afraid of me instead, and did everything I was told. I had my way with every one of them, especially the ones who abused me the most. It was the most freeing experience of my life. Because of what I did, I was able to profit from all the drug and sex operations of our group and take as many of our products as I wanted. I was on top of the world, but…still unhappy. Still hungry for more. It’s ruining me! But I still want more!

“Get out of my head!” I say aloud to the demon, who’s influencing my thoughts with its voice.

“Those are your desires speaking to you. Nothing more,” the demon says. “You want more drugs and sex, and there’s nothing that can change that. You’ve already done all sorts of beyond hardcore, degenerate things. Remember those animals? What about those children? How about those snuff films and rape movies you’ve made and profited from? There’s no coming back from that.”

“Shut up!”

Using the blue flame that has replaced the drill in my left hand, I burn myself with its icy touch. The demon screams out, and its appearance disintegrates, making it look like a decayed corpse version of me. Still, it refuses to go away.

“What? Did you want to make me disappear or kill yourself? I know that both are true,” the demon says before laughing. “You won’t get rid of me that easily. I’ll be with you until the day you die.”

I turn to my guardian angel, who says, “It’s true. It’s your burden, punishment, and your penance.”

“How am I supposed to be a better person if I have this demon and these temptations always with me?”

“Let your failures and the temptations remind you of the evils of sin, and the constant reminder of your reliance on God, who you can do no good without.”

“This is the same thing your parents said, Tanith. You remember what good it did to them. Remember how you failed your college classes, wasting your time and money, and despite your family’s support, you knew that you’d never be able to pay off your debts or get a job you really wanted.”

Again, I burn myself with the blue, icy flames. This time, the demon hangs its head and doesn’t say anything else.

“There is a way to suppress the demon and make up for what you’ve done. Through our deal, you will become a better person, and who your parents thought you could be,” my guardian angel says.

I’ll do whatever you want. I just want out of this life, and I don’t care what I have to. I’ve already done so much that nothing will phase me.

“I know. That is why you will use your powers to expunge the corpse of the city you’re in of demons and deviants. I will help you along the way, especially with the demonic.”

Come on, let’s get it done before that demon wearing my face wakes up. My guardian angel agrees. As I leave the room, I see the demon fidget, so I run out of the icy house. Looking back, I see the demon staring at me with a smile on its face. I can hear it laughing in my mind. There’s no real escape from it, but I will break the chains it has over me. Knowing what I’ve done, I know I deserve to live with the consequences of my actions until I die. Still, my parents believed that as long as someone is alive, there’s a chance they can be saved, and I hope to prove them right. Your prayers are being answered, Mom and Dad. I hope I can make you proud for once in my life.

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Thaddeus is an influencer, scammer, and degenerate who lives only for thrills, pleasure, and riches, that is, until his guardian angel makes him crash on the side of the road and burn in supernatural fire. In the fire, Thaddeus sees the vanity of his life, promises to change, and is given the role of a hero as penance, but he isn't fighting to become famous or fight typical criminals and villains. His role is punish sinners of all kinds in the Jewel, a city where people go to become famous, and expunge the demonic from its darkest depths to its legal and sinful institutions.

Guardian Dear: Chapter 4 – The Usual True Enemy

Chapter 4 – The Usual True Enemy

Flying into the air, I watch as the demons attack people in the streets of the city of Jewel and crawl out of people’s bodies. The heroes and law enforcement are being overrun and are hardly able to kill the demons since they simply come back to life unless blown to bits or all their limbs and head are cut off. I think we should save them now.

“We are. Just remember not rely on yourself. God will be your strength, and I will be by your side,” my guardian angel says.

It’s what I’ve been trying to do. My wings disappear as I fall from the sky upon a horde of demons who all look at me. For some reason, they all have my face, and everything around me becomes darker than it was before. What’s happening? Why can’t I move? Why has my body gone back to normal?

“Ah, our favorite influencer,” the demons say in my voice. “To what do we owe the honor?”

“I’m going to send you all to Hell,” I say.

“What for? Haven’t we given you everything that you’ve ever wanted? Why throw away twenty years of good times so you can live the rest of your life in pain and penance?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do, and I’m sure there’ll be good times to come.”

The demons point and laugh at me.

“No-hahaha-no there won’t! You’re already a villain in the eyes of the public. The idea that you’re doing the right thing will hold you over for so long, until you’ll start to hate it.”

“No, it won’t! I’m just starting to enjoy these powers and see the value in my new role as a hero.”

“Do you? I’m sure you’re craving sex with younger women and men who dress up as in the skin or clothes of women. We know that for sure because we help you feed your addictions, your true hunger, and desires that God refuses you to indulge in.”

My body starts to shake and crave sex. The demons’ whispering starts to come out from my mind and out of my ears as if they were in my head. I can’t say anything without their words coming out of my mouth, and unable to think a thought without thinking about my cravings. Guardian angel, I need your help! My body catches fire again, but this time, it’s just as painful as it was the first time my guardian angel talked to me. Why?

“You’re an enemy of God and your guardian angel. Haven’t you realized that yet? You’ve been killing people who’ve been just as sinful as you’ve been. What makes you think you weren’t going to die and go to Hell after you’ve served your purpose?”

This is my penance! This is how my soul is going to be saved!

“This is just another of God’s so-called mercies. These flames are giving you a taste of Hell, so you’re more ready for it when you eventually go there.”

These cleanse me from my sins!

“Let us take it from you. We’re more used to it than you are, and can give you the pleasure you crave, in return.”

N-no! I need it! The demons reach out to me, and I can’t help but reach out to them and take their hand. The flames go from me to them, relieving me of my pain and giving me the sensation of thrills and pleasures I’m used to, but the happiness of it all goes away like the day after a night of partying, and all that’s left is the feeling of disappointment and embarrassment. Still, the demons cheer for me, saying that I did the right thing and I should be proud of myself as they cheer my name. No…I have nothing to be proud of. Give it back!

The demons cut off my arm that I reach out to them. A feeling of icy fear chills my body, leaving me on my knees in excruciating pain.

“You don’t want this,” the demons say in my voice. “All you want is pleasure, wealth, and happiness. You couldn't care less about doing God’s will. You were just puffing yourself up because you thought you were doing the right thing as a rogue hero, and now that the high of it is gone, you want things to go back to how they once were, don’t you?”

I can’t argue with them. The words that come out of my mouth agree with them and curse the name of God and all that my guardian angel has made me do.

“That’s right. Despite what you’ve done, you’re still the same Thaddeus you were before, and nothing is going to change that.”

Nothing I can do can make me disagree or fight the influence of the demons. Guardian angel, I don’t mean the words I say, even though I feel them to be true. I don’t want to be the way I was before. What you’ve shown me is the reason why I want to change! Please, God, I beg you to help me! Pity my miserable soul, still addicted to sin. I give you my soul, so that they can’t take it. I know I’ve been digging myself a grave all my life, so I promise to never sin again and do everything you want of me in everything I do, say, and think.

The demons are screaming at me again and are now tearing at my flesh, ripping me to shreds. If this death is what God wants, then so be it. Let it be so. As I lose consciousness, I feel a fire begin burning inside of me that explodes, blowing away all the demons from me, and repairing my body until it is back to normal. What is this?

“You asked for help, so I answered. Like I said, I was by your side and have always been here for you, ever since you were born,” my guardian angel says.

Thank you, guardian angel. I blink and see a mess of demon bodies around me. My arms raise into the air as my swords spew flames up into the sky and rain down fire upon the demons. Flying up into the sky, I cut down the stray demons and continue the rain of fire so that none remain. By the end of it, the city of the Jewel is saved, and yet, it is destroyed and on fire. I land back on the ground, a fair distance away from the city, go back to my normal self, and observe the destruction I’ve caused as the sun starts to rise.

“It is purified by the demons and corrupt men and women who controlled it, and took advantage of the few innocents within it. Our job here is done,” my guardian angel says.

Is this it? Are you going to take the powers back now?

“Not at all. We’re done here, but God has much more for you to do.”

That’s good to hear. I embrace my guardian angel, who also embraces me and whose flames feel like they hug me back and feel like the covering of a warm, comforting blanket. Thank you for everything.

“You’re welcome. Even though what we’ve done is a reward in itself, since that is what service to God is, I have something for you.”

My guardian angel raises one of his arms, and a motorcycle made of flames is formed out of the ashes that blows our way. The motorcycle then turns into a normal one, revealing itself to be the one I originally crashed on. Despite you being the one to ruin it, I’ll accept it as a reward. Thanks, and what, we can’t fly everywhere?

“No. You’ll need to appear normal and blend in for some circumstances.”

Understood. Lead the way, my friend. My guardian angel flies ahead of me, away from the Jewel and to our next destination. With the sun on my back and a new reason to live, I feel reborn. I thank God for freeing me from my sins, and pray for my enemies. They’re going to need it for the coming wrath of God that I’m bringing to them, which I now embody as His living, flaming weapon.

 

The End

Guardian Dear: Chapter 3 – Every Sinner, a Potential Target

Chapter 3 – Every Sinner, a Potential Target

As I stand in the chaos I’ve caused, I’m speechless as to why and how this is the right thing to do. How is this a good God’s will?

“These people are guilty of all manner of corruption that has lead themselves and others to Hell, Thaddeus,” my guardian angel says. “Everyone is guilty of sin and deserving of death. Some receive it while being surrounded by family. Others, like the ones at your feet, receive it in this horrid fashion.”

What about the people in that news helicopter? They’re escaping!

“They’re carrying news of your deeds to the masses. You have gotten your fame, and God’s will is being done through you obtaining your infamy.”

I’m getting really sick of this. I accept your penance, and I end up killing normal people and friends. I want fame, and now, I have a target on my back. How am I still not a horrible sinner? Are you making me do evil things to punish me? Are you even an angel?

“Yes, I am an angel, and though you are still a sinner, you are a redeemed one. I know these may not seem like the actions of a hero, but you only need to be seen as a hero in the eyes of those in Heaven. The judgment of yourself, those in Hell, and on Earth don’t matter at all in comparison.”

I shudder as I fall to my knees and pray for guidance and wisdom to make this all make sense.

“This is good progress. First, you asked for more time for your friends. Secondly, you’re asking for help from God. You will get it now, though not in its entirety, all at once. Come. There are more sinners to punish.”

With no better path forward, I do as my guardian angel says. This time, I’m able to move my body more on my own, and yet, I don’t feel satisfied in having more control. It feels like an empty prize, now that my entire life is ruined. I don’t even care about the fact that I’m going to a dance studio where my sisters work. Blowing open the doors, I scorch and cut through the many adults and guards there, all the while, leaving the children to flee in terror.

“I know you’re curious as to why we attacked here, but don’t want to ask. I will answer anyway. Your sister and the women here trained women of all ages to dance provocatively and sleep their way to riches as they did. That is why their lives had to be brought to an end tonight.”

I understand. If prostitutes were a target, strippers, belly dancers, and risqué dancers were a given. What’s next?

“A bank that your brothers own.”

They were always snobbish and cheap, despite the money they had. When I arrive at the bank, I feel even less pity for them and their employees than I do for my sisters. In fact, I feel satisfied in doing this, especially when I cut into their vaults and burn all their gold, silver, and cash to ash.

“Usury is a horrible sin that takes advantage of those in need by profiting off their poverty. It is the vice of gluttonous wealth, while being poor in spirit, and your brothers thrived off the many gamblers and dreamers who needed a loan for their goals. Few were able to pay back their loans, but most still owed them money, even those who died or killed themselves trying to obtain their dreams. Now, those poor souls and their families can rest easy.”

I’ve stuck the end of one of my swords through the throat of one of my brothers. It’s strange. Minutes ago, I would’ve been horrified by this, but now, I find it both bitter and right at the same time. Taking the sword out of my brother’s throat, I let him bleed to death as he scrambles to save what he can in the fire. I pity the fool, and hope that others don’t become stupid like he is, and if they are, I hope they change their ways.

“There it is, Thaddeus. The virtue in your soul is growing, and you are beginning to pray for those you would otherwise hate or be disgusted by. I’m proud of you.”

My guardian angel’s words fill me with a sense of brotherhood and comfort amid what is happening around me. Not wanting to witness the pathetic sight of bankers and loan sharks failing to scavenge their wealth, I fly away to where I’m guided next. In my flight, I see heroes, vigilantes, and law enforcement on my tail, but I ignore them for now. The next place I find myself is the city’s outer areas, where much of the electrical grid is. Instead of targeting the people here, I cut apart and burn the equipment, machinery, and generators. Once they’re dealt with, I blow apart more areas that power the city until the gleaming Jewel of the desert is dark for the first time in years, with the only light coming from the fires I’ve started. I’ve lost the law enforcers who were on my tail, probably because they couldn’t keep up and are now focusing on saving people from the mess I’ve made.

I feel that my job here is done, until my guardian angel says, “We are close to completion, but not yet.”

Already having a feeling of where we’re going next, I allow myself to be flown there, and sure enough, I find myself in a church that my family owns and profits from. There’s not a shred of real faith here or the true God, only people who worship money and praise God when He does what they say and believe as they believe. Huh. Where did this thought in my head come from?

“Your awakening conscience. What else is telling you in the silence of your heart?”

To…pray for these people.

“Yes, pray for them, despite their heresy, what you’re going to do, and what they’ve done to you and others, by leading souls to Hell through their false Christ.”

“Thaddeus?” my mom asks. “Is that really you?”

“You saw it on the news and social media! It is him,” my dad says. “He’s possessed by some kind of devil!”

The flames on my face disappear to reveal it as I say, “I’m not possessed by a devil. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever done as much good as I’ve done in these past few hours. If you think God is on your side, you’d better start praying to him, because I think there are more devils in you than me.”

The crowds call out to Jesus Christ in such a way that makes me disgusted. They use His name like it has no weight, and there’s no true apology or call for mercy for their souls. Instead, I see in them a familiar pride that I know all too well. They think they’re justified in their sins and beliefs, and have a thousand and one excuses for their deeds. That’s a pity. None will see Heaven today.

Flames flow out from my body like water, flooding the mega church with fire and burning everyone to ash along with pictures of their false Christ, who hasn’t come to save them. For some reason, I start to feel a cold presence in the flames, and I don’t know why until I see the inner flesh of the people I’ve burned cut themselves out of the people and come to life. These same beings of flesh come out of the statues and images of the false Christ. They have horns on their heads and hollow faces. Together, they scream so loud that they blow out the windows and break all the screens. Their screams sound like nails on a chalkboard that scratch at my inner ear and cause me to freeze in place, unsure of what I should do.

They all leap away from the flames before they can consume them and go into the city. Were those demons? Why didn’t I do anything to stop them from escaping?

“The public must see them to recognize the demons they’ve been keeping in their walls. Now that the true threat has been smoked out, we must eliminate them and send them back to Hell.”

Guardian Dear: Chapter 2 – A Saint in Training

Chapter 2 – A Saint in Training

My guardian angel flies me to the city I was heading to. It is called the Jewel of the Desert, or just Jewel, a city in the Columbian Union known for making people rich. Originally, it was because of mining, gambling, prostitution, and its criminal dealings, and now, it’s not famous for mining. In the present day, it is additionally famous for its concerts, chefs, game shows, comedy shows, and more. It’s a stage where people come to make money and become famous or leave more broke than they were before. It shines brightly in the night and even brighter in the day because of its lights that never shut off or grow dim.

“The glitz and glamor hardly hide the crime and evil below its surface. We will smoke it out and punish them all,” my guardian angel says.

Show me to them, and let’s kick some bad guy ass! My guardian angel dive bombs us into the ground. I think we’re about to crash, but we instead phase through the ground as if we were immaterial ghosts, and head into an underground casino and marketplace where drugs, weapons, and people are being sold. Because of my appearance, I immediately attract everyone’s attention, and my mind goes blank. I’ve fought in celebrity boxing matches for show, but I’ve never fought for my life before, especially like this. Uh, can I get a little help here?

“Allow me to do most of the work,” my guardian angel says as my move moves on its own.

My legs and arms move at blazing speeds, decapitating heads from their necks, cutting people in two, and slicing multiple limbs off of people, while setting them on fire. The flames from my body leap out from me to engulf the guards and superhumans that surround me. I then fly up into the air, and the tip of my swords spreads apart to spew flames like flamethrowers to burn the area and block off the exits. I feel sorry for these people since they are killed or burned to ash, unlike me, who was burned until I repent. The only people unharmed are those who were being sold. The slaves can run through the fire, unharmed, while the living flame targets their captors.

“These people got their second chances. The reward of sin is death, and every second they breathed was another chance they had to listen to their conscience and repent,” my guardian angel explains.

Looking down, my eyes are drawn to familiar faces. One is a young girl I remember seeing on that secret island, who is now dead on the floor. What was she guilty of?

“She was a tortured soul who hated the life she was forced to live. When she encountered you, you told her to enjoy the life she had since it was nothing but never-ending pleasure, and she did it. She’s been long dead before your arrival and in Hell.”

Is she in Hell? A young girl like her?

“She’s past the age of reason, and knew what she was doing was wrong, but because of the torture she went through, and what you said, she gave in to the evils of sin, and will eternally pay for it.”

I force myself to look away from the girl and turn my eyes to the body of a man I used to collaborate with.

“He used the money both of you made to buy slaves for his personal clubs and parties.”

If I knew he was doing that, I wouldn’t have collaborated with him.

“Would you? You’re no stranger to making a thousand excuses to justify making money and getting what gives you pleasure.”

Okay, I get it. I was a horrible person, so let’s get back to my penance. Thankfully, I fly up through the ground and to the next location, a series of alleyways I recognize that’s filled with cars of people discreetly dealing in pleasure. I stand on a rooftop above them and let a single flame from one of my swords fall to the ground to make the entire place go up in flames. I’m unable to move as I stand motionless, hearing the screams of people below and watching them writhe in agony. My vision zeroes in on one of the men down there, a familiar face despite the horrible burns all around him. Why am I focusing on him?

“He was a prostitute you frequented. You liked frequenting him because of the way he dressed like a woman and made you feel,” my guardian angel says.

What was wrong with that?

“Pleasure is not a good in itself, and sex is only for child-making between husband and wife. Nothing more. Everything else is vain and suicide of the soul.”

Everything in my life was vain, like you said, right? I might as well have not lived during those years, and just started here.

“God has allowed you to live in sin and regret it to become a better witness against it.”

Can we allow more of my friends, family, and associates more time to repent? I beg you to give them more time.

“Your prayer is sent to God. They will have more time.”

You got an answer from Him that fast?

“There’s no real distance from Him and us. He’s closer to us than we are to ourselves.”

That doesn’t make much sense to me, but I’m glad they have more time. I’m lifted into the air again and head into the city this time. Of course. A city built on crime should have criminals operating in plain sight, and I head to one of the most legal criminal businesses in the world, a casino; however, I’m surprised that I don’t head to the backrooms or corporate offices. Instead, my body focuses on targeting the seemingly normal people on the casino floor, both the workers, guards, and gamblers. Why them? They aren’t doing anything illegal.

“Not all sin is illegal, but all sin is evil, and must be punished sooner or later.”

What sin are they guilty of? What about what we just talked about? I thought you said that you were going to give the people I knew time? I see people here who I’ve worked with and did innocent collabs with for charity, who never got involved with the shadier things I’ve done.

“All sin is death to the soul. That father is a prominent evangelist for a false religion, that mother over there is spending all her retirement money on gambling, so her children won’t have it when she passes, that young man is an alcoholic, that young woman cheats in her gambling addiction to earn her living, and that couple are horrible examples to their children, leading them to Hell with them by their example and beliefs.”

But they’re keeping to themselves and their circles, aren’t they? Why am I brutally cutting them up and burning them like the criminals who were involved in human trafficking?

“Everyone’s sins hurt not only themselves, but others by failing to love themselves and others properly. The parents who don’t raise their children properly make the world a worse place because their children will follow their example and be just as bad as their parents, usually worse.”

How am I supposed to be a hero like this? Everyone is going to hate me like how they hate the Dominion for pushing their beliefs onto others.

“Your only goal is to do God’s will and your penance. Nothing more.”

As expected, superhuman heroes come in and try fighting me, and just like everyone else who fights me, their attacks have little to no effect on me. The bullets from guns slow down to a halt as soon as they land on me, and all physical attacks end in the fire on me spreading to my attacker and burning them to ash.

“They’re sellouts and heroes in name only. You’re doing a service to the city by killing them. Speaking of false protectors.”

I suddenly fly outside of the casino as it explodes and falls over into the neighboring hotel. My body then heads headfirst into a group of cops. An explosion that comes from within me engulfs everyone around me. Walking out of the firestorm, I see a crowd of people who gasp and take pictures. Why is my appearance changing back to normal? Almost everyone here recognizes me now and is throwing a hundred different questions at me.

“Talk to the crowds. It’s what you’ve wanted,” my guardian angel says.

Putting on my best smile and face, I say, “Hello, everyone! Yes! That being who looked like an angel made of fire was me! Thaddeus! I’ve been rooting out criminals and punishing corrupt cops and heroes all night, and promise to do so until every last villain gets what they deserve.”

Some of the questions I hear ask me about, “When did you get these powers? How did you know those cops and heroes were corrupt? Were you responsible for all the explosions going on tonight? When did you get red, orange, and yellow eyes?”

To answer as many questions as I can, I say, “My guardian angel gave me these powers. He’s the reason why I know they were corrupt, but if we were to be honest with ourselves, we’d say that we all already knew that. Yes. I am responsible for all the trouble going on tonight. When am I not? I don’t have a hero name, yet, but I’m willing to take suggestions.”

News helicopters show up, police backup, and other heroes. This might get a little messy, so I’ll probably need you to activate my powers again, guardian angel.

“I’m going to activate them now. I was waiting for this moment.”

What do you mean?

“You wanted to become famous, right? Well, here’s your moment to shine.”

My body starts to catch on fire again and transform back into the form that looks like my guardian angel. Energy builds up in my body until I explode and start spewing flames like some sort of human volcano, killing many instantly, setting others on fire, and leaving few unscathed. What is this?!

“Your ticket to fame, or rather, infamy. The country, if not the entire world, will know about you now. Isn’t this what you wanted?”

Guardian Dear: Chapter 1 – From Degenerate to Decent

Chapter 1 – From Degenerate to Decent

I’ve never regretted a single decision in my life. I tell my followers that it’s how you should live your life so that you can live in the present without worrying about the past, but burning here on the side of the road is making me regret everything I’ve ever done. I was traveling back to my hotel from jumping buses on my motorcycle.

I then heard a man’s voice say, “Fall and burn.”

My motorcycle suddenly spun out of control and blew up, engulfing me in flames. I’ve been trying to roll around to put out the fires, but they only grow more intense. Screaming out for help is useless since I’m miles away from any civilization in this desert, and yet, I scream for help in the vain hope that someone will hear me.

“Only God and I will hear you, Thaddeus,” the voice says.

Who are you? How can you hear my thoughts?

“I am your guardian angel.”

From the flames around me, a winged being made of fire emerges. It had a hood with horns on it, three connected red eyes, a cloak covering its flaming armor, and two arms with red swords on them. He doesn’t look like any angel I’ve read about or depicted.

“You know little of the faith. You must repent.”

What kind of guardian angel would make me crash and burn like this? What kind of fire even is this? It feels like it’s tearing away at my skin more than a burning fire.

“These are the fires of God, tearing at your sins to free you from them.”

Sins? The only sin I’ve committed is having too much of a good life.

“That is true, in a sense. I will show you more of what you’ve done, so that you may see the true depravity of the life you’ve lived.”

The flames grow more around me until there is nothing around me but a burning hellscape. In the fire, I see myself, my good-looking brown hair, brown eyes, and the usual black jacket, black jeans, red shirt, and red shoes that I like to wear as my signature outfit. I watch as I take on thrilling dares, drinking and eating challenges, death-defying stunts, and much more that my guardian angel shows.

“All was done in vain.”

Not all of it was! What about the one where I had to be caught in midair after diving out of a plane or surviving in the wilderness for a week, only on what I could find? Those were just a couple I did to raise money for charity.

“Even charitable acts done for selfish and wrong reasons are vain. Only those done for God and the sake of others are remembered forever. Let’s not forget how you scammed people by promoting a digital currency you rug-pulled them on and products that were unhealthy for them and cheaply made.”

They’ll forget the bad things I did because my deeds are legendary. They’ll remember me forever.

“Will they? What about your competitors or the one-hit wonders of the world? I’m sure you can’t remember last month’s viral song or last week’s joke, which everyone shared. The world moves on and easily forgets, and the memory of you will be like the passing of the wind. Everything you’ve done and are is short-lived, especially your relationships or lack thereof.”

I have parents and a circle of friends and contacts, who text and call all the time!

“They only do so because you give them things. I must also point out the people that you take advantage of, such as your fans, especially your female ones. The younger ones fell for your charms, and what happened to them?”

They consented to it and came out with my signature and money.

“What of the ones on that exclusive secret island you went on with others as famous as you?”

They’re fine there. If I lived every day feeling unending pleasure, I wouldn’t want anything else. What are you going to do next? Criticize me for sleeping with the men who dressed up and acted like girls and transpeople? That was part of another dare for my paying members-only site.

“Enough. Your degenerate acts ruined lives and souls. That is why you are burning now.”

If you were really my guardian angel, then you’d save me from this fire!

“This is the best for you, to burn in this supernatural fire, until it turns you to ash or burns your sins away. Since you ignored the voice of your God-given conscience, this is the only course of action. I suggest repenting so that you don’t die and be condemned to Hell.”

How do I do it?! How do I repent when I don’t feel guilty for anything I’ve done?! These flames are becoming too much to bear! They feel like they’re ripping the skin off my body and face!

“I will show you the results of your actions.”

The scenes around the fire shift from moments in my life to moments in the lives of others. I see people I’ve had sex with kill themselves, people I’ve given money to use it for weapons or favors to hurt or kill others, and I watch my family and friends mock me when I’m not in the room, saying how much of a useful idiot I am. I’m given a vision of Hell and see some of the people I’ve known, whom I thought did no wrong, burn in its fires and curse my name for approving of their lifestyle and adding to their sins. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I didn’t want any of them to suffer or become worse people because of me! I just wanted to enjoy life to the fullest!

“It doesn’t matter what your intentions are or what you think about how the results of your actions turn out. Sinful actions will always bear bitter fruit and be a witness against you, further damning you to lower levels of Hell.”

Okay, okay! I’ll do it. I’ll repent! I’m sorry for everything that I’ve done. Stop showing me all of this! I don’t want to see it anymore.

“These scenes will burn in your mind until the end of your life to remind you never to sin again. The only thing I can help you with is to burn away the sins of your present life and the results of your past, so that your future can be brighter.”

Help me then! I’ll do anything!

“Embrace your penance, the pain, and all that comes with it.”

I try doing whatever it is, and give myself to the flames. In doing it, the clawing sensation of the flames feels like it tears away my skin, but it isn’t painful. The sensation is like ripping off a band-aid and allowing a wound to breathe. My body feels like it’s breathing for the first time in a while, and feels things more vividly. Still, the pain of the fires doesn’t leave me, and yet, it feels more like a comfort than a burden. Looking at myself in the flames now, I see that I’m wearing the flames like armor and look like my guardian angel. I have orange armor on my body, a helmet with horns on top and bottom, red eyes, and two crimson swords on my arms. What is this? Why do I look like a superhero?

“That is what you are to become. It is what you’ve always wanted and were supposed to be, but your sins and choices perverted that God-given goal, and now, you are going to make up for lost time.”

Is my penance also a benefit? If you had told me this earlier, I would have taken it earlier. Point me to the first bad guy I have to bring to justice.

“It won’t be that easy. Sin, and your power will be greatly lessened. Sin mortally, and they go away completely.”

Understood. My guardian angel flies up into the air, and my body springs wings of fire on my back as I fly up. He flies in the direction of the city I was heading into, and I feel a sudden surge of excitement. It looks like I’m a superhero now, a repentant sinner who punishes other sinners. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me next.