Like Glass in the Skin: Chapter 2 – One Desire Replaced by Another

Chapter 2 – One Desire Replaced by Another

As I walk the streets of the city, I notice how quickly my body heals. When I survived the explosion at the factory, most of my body had deep cracks in it, but after some time, the gaps healed. I know my body is supposed to be durable enough to withstand the intense depravity of superhuman perverts, but I didn’t know my body had to be this durable to do so. I’m already having second thoughts about my plan, and yet, what am I going to do with my life now? I have no family to return to, and my new body and abilities make me overqualified for my old jobs.

If I joined a hero association like the Dominion, they’d dig into my past, uncover the crimes I’ve committed, and either lock me up forever or execute me. Honestly, I’d rather die than do anything else right now. I walk into an alley and start pounding my head against the wall, initially softly, then more forcefully, until much of the wall is broken and I see the other side. I realize I’ve attracted attention from passersby. Idiot. If an explosion didn’t kill me, why would this? I’m an idiot, even more so for trying to take the easy way out, as I already did when I prostituted myself. Regaining my composure, I head back toward one of the hidden strip clubs I’ve been in, hoping that destroying them might save others from the life I’ve led and somehow make amends.

Going through the ruins of a condemned, windowless building that’s under construction, I walk down the stairs and begin hearing the pounding music of the club.  The smells of desperation and depravity that disgusted and then excited me become apparent the deeper I head down, and make me regret not taking it as another red flag that I should’ve listened to. I walk the dark halls, lit up by small neon lights, and see the superhuman guards outside the door of the club. They look at me strangely, and yet, they don’t attack or say anything to me at first.

One of them says, “Briar? Looks like they finally upgraded your body to something better, not that your body wasn’t hot before. Now, we can actually get to know each other a bit better.”

I stick my sharp hands through the chests of both guards and then say, “No. You don’t want to know me better.”

Both guards are stunned at first, and not dead yet, until I cut their heads off with another swipe of my hands. I can’t imagine doing anything perverted again with anything, and don’t want to imagine the further depths of depravity that these people would’ve put me through. Kicking open the doors of the club, its loud music and wretched smells become overwhelming as the never-ending party in it continues. I see in the men and women here, my old self, the one who was desperate for money, and the ones who intentionally give their bodies and souls for pleasure. I see my face on all of them, and I become so disgusted that I start indiscriminately killing everyone, starting with those who are enjoying themselves the most, and then shifting over to the people who I know run the club.

The man who interviewed me begs for his life after I cut off his limbs, but I show him no mercy, with a final swipe at his neck so he chokes to death on his own blood. More superhumans start coming after, all of which I have to stab multiple times in the chest, throat, and face before they die. I’m outnumbered, and these people are better at fighting than I am, leading to me getting beaten up more than I’m able to kill. One of the superhumans uses her strength to punch me so hard that I go through the wall and into a storage area. Much of the stuff is used for sex and medical supplies involving sex. Knowing that some of it has regenerative properties, I break the bottles and spray them all over me, which heals me up and strengthens my body.

By the time the guards reach me, their attacks do nothing and hurt themselves when they attack me, allowing me to easily kill them. The chaos I’ve caused in the club has cleared it out. With no one else here, I start cutting wires, spilling alcohol over the floors, and light a match to make the entire place go up in flames. Next, I make my way toward the brothel and immediately start feeling weird from the regenerating chemicals I poured on myself. I knew the damned things were experimental and made by inexperienced, perverted scientists, but I expected their products not to wear off so easily.

The all too familiar feeling of a hangover starts to make me collapse on the streets and throw up, and after several minutes of doing so, I realize that some people have stopped to ask me if I’m okay. I ignore them and continue forward, as my new body’s unnatural healing kicks back in, and I feel fine enough to walk. Not one part of me wants anyone’s help. I’ve already harmed too many innocent people with my life’s choices, and I refuse to get anyone else hurt because of me. Heading down a series of alleyways, I go into one building that looks to be a part of a larger apartment, but is actually an entirely separate building, only known to those who have connections to its owners.

Again, I am recognized by the guards outside, and again, I am hit on, and I kill them in a similar way to the others I’ve been killing. Despite all the destruction I’ve caused, no one in this building probably knows what I’ve done. Word gets around slowly in seedy circles like these because of the grip the Dominion has over the world, so the only way they would know is if anyone was alive to tell of what I did or saw the aftermath. As far as I know, I left no survivors who would run back to snitch on me, and no one has discovered the damage I’ve done, perhaps, beyond the authorities who must be investigating it. I have to get this done today before the Dominion arrests or kills me. I must have my revenge and stop and prevent others from living the life I lived.

Immediately breaking down the metal door, I rush in and start on the first floor, where new employees are “interviewed” and start killing every pervert who has a fetish for virgins, the desperate, and scare away those who were about to be taken advantage of. The first floor is now cleared, so I leap up through the ceiling and start clearing out the second, where the more dedicated and experienced prostitutes and clients are. No one is shown mercy here; neither the clients nor the employees are spared from me crushing their heads with my foot, cutting their throats, and stabbing them through their chests. It’s at a time like this that the inhabitants of each room probably regret that the walls of these rooms are soundproof for the sake of the secrecy of the perversion done in them. After making sure there’s no one alive here, I make my way to the third floor, which is guarded by superhumans.

Yet again, I am recognized, and the guards think this is my first day on the third floor. Frustrated by them, I plunge my hands into both of their heads and repeatedly punch their heads until their heads are crushed into bits. I go up to the third floor and instantly see a storage room that people are walking in and out of. Half of me wants to be safe and use the regenerative chemicals on me, while the other doesn’t want the feeling of a hangover again.

“Screw it,” I say as I make my decision, go into the storage room, kill everyone in it, and use the chemicals on me.

It’s then that I’m thankful that most things in places like this are flammable and have things to start fires with, so I use them to destroy everything else in the room and start a fire. After that’s done, I start clearing out the rooms, and in one of them, I find a face I recognize, a normal woman who was more perverted than I was, now dead after trying to prostitute herself to superhumans. She was told the low survival rate for doing so, but she didn’t listen. Idiotic whore. This is what they all are. I hardly know the woman, and yet, I’m angered by the sight of her somewhat recent death.

As I go from room to room, I begin to revel in the slaughter more than I should. I break limbs and use the bodies of the whores and clients alike as weapons against one another, and find it more fun when the superhumans survive several fatal blows, so I can hit and stab them more until they die. That’s right. Cry and beg for mercy, but don’t die so easily. I want to make sure you all suffer for what you’ve done! Each of these perverts deserves to die a painful and slow death. They’ve enjoyed themselves enough and have to pay the price!

The chemicals I’ve used on myself begin to make me feel similar to being drunk, but I don’t mind right now. It enhances the pleasure of all this killing I’m doing, especially on those who have particularly changed their bodies for this line of work. These are women with broken jaws, multiple breasts, and holes, and there are men with multiple orifices, tongues, and even tentacles, so they can feel an increased sense of pleasure. I know that not all of them are here willingly. Some people have been mutated and tied or chained to beds and walls against their wills. Given their condition, I kill them to end their suffering, since freeing them wouldn’t do much to free the Hell they’re living in. Just like all pleasures, the killing of everyone on this floor is over when I want more, so I finish spilling chemicals and alcohol all over the building to ensure its destruction, and watch it burn from a nearby outside rooftop.

Watching the building burn fills my head with fantasies of how I killed so many people to the point where I feel like touching myself. Uncontrollably, I do, until I remember that these people were just like me. My desire to pleasure myself turns to disgust and a desire to kill myself. The hangover from the chemicals makes me throw up, and again, I remember my family and my regrets. I want it to end. I just want my life to end. Please make it all end! After the effects of the hangover are negated by my body’s healing, my state of mind is cleared.

I remember there’s one last place to burn to ensure the last hideout of perversion I know of is erased from the city. It’s almost over. After that, I’ll find a way to end it all. I know I won’t see my family after I die, but I deserve to die as much as every other pervert I killed. It’s the right thing to do.

Like Glass in the Skin: Chapter 1 – When the High Wears off

Chapter 1 – When the High Wears off

People joke about life not being fair, but when your life is at a dead end, the joke no longer becomes funny. I worked two jobs, one at an office and another at a supermarket, to help my family pay the bills and put food on the table. My husband was disabled because of a workplace accident, so he could only collect disability checks, but at least he could stay home and take care of our child, which we could only have one of, no matter how many times we tried to have more. Even with the hero association of the Dominion’s recent takeover of the world and their balancing wages for all normal humans and superhumans, we continued to struggle because of the many debts we owe. There didn’t seem to be any hope that our lives would get better, no matter how much we prayed, until a woman with dark skin approached me at the supermarket.

“Are you okay? What’s your name?” she asked.

“Briar. I’m fine, thank you for asking,” I said.

“You don’t look fine, girl. You seem like you’re going to die from exhaustion any second now, Briar.”

“It wouldn’t surprise me if I did,” I said.

“I know that feeling, sister. I was like you, too, until a friend approached me with the same offer I’m going to give you.” The woman gave me a card with roses on it. “Call that number and set up an interview with my employer. We’ll get you a better job than this. It’ll make you happier and free you from all your stress.”

The woman walked away without saying another word. It was obvious she was a stripper or sex worker, given her somewhat scantily clad choice of clothes. Still, for some reason, I didn’t think it’d hurt to call for an interview and see what the job was. When I called, I got an interview the next day at a strip club. The man who interviewed me checked me out, looked at my background, and said he’d give me the job within an hour. I was so taken aback by it all that I hesitated to accept at first.

“I’m sure you’re concerned about your family, but you don’t have to worry about them. We’ll give you about the same hours as your supermarket job, but you’ll be paid more, you can change into your normal clothes, and they don’t need to know a thing,” he said.

I’ve been a woman dedicated to my faith; however, it’s been degrading over the years because of the suffering I’ve been through. The thought of my family continuing to suffer forced me to shake hands with the man, and before I knew it, I danced with the woman I met for money in embarrassing clothes, or lack thereof. After my first day, I brought my concerns to the woman, who consoled me. She shared the same faith but rationalized taking this job as necessary to care for our families. She then offered me a pill and some alcohol to wash it down, and without thinking too much, I took it and felt better.

Days later, our family finally became financially stable. My job gave me time off to spend with my family. I got used to it after a week and actually started to enjoy it. One day, I was offered extra money to perform an especially erotic dance with the woman, and I accepted, despite not knowing what to do. The woman told me to follow her lead, so I did. She kissed me, and we danced in a way that looked like we were having sex. After that, I received more requests to do similar dances and was then asked to do even more explicit things for more money. Because of how good it all made me feel and the money involved, I agreed.

The extra work involved being in a sex club and giving my body to others for their pleasure. In my heart, I knew it was degrading, but I didn’t care. I was happy for the first time in years, had enough money to make this kind of work my primary job, and, at my new friends’ suggestion, I did. A couple of months passed, and my husband and child finally realized something in me had changed. My husband confronted me about it, and I blew him off. It was at this time that I cared more about sex work than my family because of how much better and freer it made me feel. We argued from day to day so much so that I’d leave my home so I could sleep over my new friends’ house and relate my grievances with them.

It got to the point where the woman who initially recruited asked me, “Your family is more of a burden now than the reason why you work, haven’t they?”

“They have. This place and these people feel more like my family now than they do,” I said.

“We have a way of taking care of that. We use the AI-driven care you bought, so your husband could get around, arrange an accident to get rid of them permanently, if you want.”

I thought about it, weighed my happiness and freedom in my new life against the pains and restrictions of my family, and decided to okay the plan. The next day, the AI-driven car my husband used got into an accident, and both he and my child died, along with a few other pedestrians. My conscience hardly felt a thing at the time. In fact, I felt freer than I ever had before. For the next month, I enjoyed a life of constant pleasure and happiness without the constraints and stresses of a family.

These new people were my family. They made me happier than my family ever has. Being a wife was a mistake, and being a mother, doubly so. They kept me from being truly free and happy. I can’t imagine my life getting any better than this, and yet, the woman who first recruited me had a new way to make more money and feel an even deeper level of pleasure and happiness. Because I’m a normal human, I wasn’t able to handle the rougher superhuman clients, but with the new modifications, I would be able to experience pleasure on a whole new level.

It was strange. I was excited for the day, got up early, and headed out to the factory on the outskirts of the city, where I would be changed, but when I got there, my excitement quickly went away. People were screaming in pain, not out of pleasure, but out of fear for their lives. Many were there against their will to be taken advantage of and turned into living sex objects. Of course, I’d seen it before; however, seeing a person being painfully turned is another thing entirely. The pangs of my dead conscience started to bother me again for the first time in months.

I wanted to leave and never look back, and yet, I kept moving. I told myself it wouldn’t be bad for me. That it would be quick and painless for me, that I’d leave as quickly as I’d arrive, and I’d experience a whole new way to live happily. All that positive thinking vanished as soon as I saw the huge boiling pot below me that I was supposed to dive into. It was grey, sludgy, sinking, and so hot that I started to sweat from just being near it. Before I could turn away to ask if I could leave, the woman I knew pushed me into the pot, and I burned.

It was my wake-up call, as I felt every inch of me burn in agonizing pain. My skin and bones felt as if they were melting off, and the sensations of the drugs in my system were erased. Suddenly, I began to feel used to the pain, and then crawled out of the pot and lay on the floor. The woman I knew told me that I looked beautiful in my new form, and I was brought a full-body mirror to look at myself. My pink hair looked completely gray, along with the rest of my body. My eyes were entirely silver, and my clothes combined with my body, and yet, I felt completely naked and as if I were made of a metallic glass.

I was congratulated by the people surrounding me since people they bring here sometimes don’t survive the transformation process and simply become one with the sludge in the pot. I felt as if my mind and conscience saw everything clearly for the first time in a while, and I began to remember everything with a heavy sense of regret, remorse, and anger, most importantly. My anger began boiling like the sludge, and as soon as I got up, I put my hand straight through the throat of the woman I knew. In those seconds, I realized I really never knew her name. Seeing that she wasn’t instantly dead, or rather, not caring that she wasn’t, I stuck my other hand through her chest and then through her head, killing her for certain.

It was then that security was called and descended on me. I used my new body to beat them down, cut their eyes and throats with my sharp fingers, and plunged my hands into their throats, heads, and chests. No matter what gun or superpower they used against me, I hardly felt a thing, but I also didn’t care if I did. I wanted to kill every single person in this factory for what they did to me and the others in it. I also wanted them to kill me for my mistakes and end this rotten life I’ve lived, and yet, I managed to live until the last bit of security was killed by my hand. Since I was alive, I freed everyone I could, then started destroying the electrical systems and knocking over the boiling pots to destroy the factory. Despite being in it when it exploded and being thrown several miles away by the blast, I survived.

Why did I survive? Why am I still living? I’ve been going over the events of my life as I’m lying on the rooftop, looking at the night sky, and thinking about what I should do with my life now. All I can think about is revenge and killing the perverts who made me into one of them, so that’s what I’ll do. I know where their few hideouts are, so I’ll kill every one of them. They won’t hurt or corrupt anyone else by the end of this night.

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The world can only belong to one truth, one ruler of the world. 

The Dominion and its heroes have been keeping the world safe from evil of all kinds, from the criminal underworld to the powers that be. Now, after years of fighting, the Dominion sees that it should not only protect the world, but rule it, and once it has it, it will establish the Catholic faith in its rightful place as the one true faith of the world and give the world back to its Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

The time has come for a new dawn, one where righteousness reigns supreme above sin. 

This collection includes: Scourge of Angels, Peace Through Force, A Gentle Hand's Influence, and How the Just Dominated the World, along with some Behind the Story trivia for each story.

My 345th book and ending of Timeo Severe and John Elio's journey is out today!

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After over thirty years of being superheroes, leading their own hero association, and protecting the world, John Elio and Timeo Severe realize that the world would be better in their hands. Their enemies don't stand a chance, and the world is theirs to take, so that the Catholic faith will reign supreme as the only one true faith of the world, and so that the God of truth and love, our Lord Jesus Christ, can rightfully reclaim what is His.

How the Just Dominated the World: Chapter 3 – To Virtuously Conquer

Chapter 3 – To Virtuously Conquer

Timeo and John Elio sit with other world leaders in the courthouse where the Declaration of Independence for the Columbian Union was written. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people surround the building, with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, watching everything online and on their TVs or listening to it on their computers and phones. The crowds have finally quieted down, and Timeo and John quietly pray for the wisdom and strength to do what needs to be done, which I grant them.

Standing up, Timeo says, “I assume the floor is ours to begin what we demand from the world.”

“You took the world. I don’t see why the floor here wouldn’t be yours,” the president of the Columbian Union jokes.

“Thank you, Mr. President,” Timeo says and bows his head before facing the world leaders and crowd. “Ladies and gentlemen of the world. We, of the Dominion, are your new leaders, but we aren’t tyrants. As proven by our years of service, we put our lives on the line for everyone of every belief and country. We have even spared our enemies if they are honestly repentant and have proven they want to make amends. Therefore, we only have a short list of banned beliefs, all of which are focused on using violence, deception, intimidation, and false compassion to obtain power and followers. We will only use violence against those who are violent to us or who pose a serious threat against the innocent and peace in any given country in the world.”

Timeo motions to John, who stands up and says, “It has been said we will force you to follow the Catholic faith, but a dishonest conversion is no conversion at all and will not save your soul. Our schools and Dominion centers are open to all who wish to learn the truth of our faith. Still, we will outlaw abortions, gay marriages, pedophilia, gathering of demonic cults, prostitution, pornography, and the like, all of which will be listed on our website. We care about personal freedom, but we will not allow you to kill your souls with blatantly sinful and suicidal behavior. Additionally, even though I am a deacon of the Church, they will not get any special treatment or funds from us, nor will they influence us if their wants conflict with the teachings that they themselves are supposed to embody.”

John bows to Timeo, who continues, “That is all we ask and demand. Such is the simple truth of Catholicism, the one true faith, founded by Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, and God of us all. We pray that those who do not believe will repent and believe, and pray even harder for our enemies, who still plot against us in the dark. I promise you a bright future ahead of us. Every member of the Dominion will put their lives on the line for you to ensure your safety and to show the fruits of our faith.”

Together, John and Timeo look at each other, nod, and then say, “May God be glorified forever!”

Enthused by their faith, many people inside the courthouse and outside watching it all over the world also say, “May God be glorified forever!”

Excitement for the future thrills the crowds as many celebrate the signing of the document created by the world’s leaders, transferring authority to Timeo and John. Afterward, the document is brought to a Catholic Church, where the founders of the Columbian Union pray and place it in a secure, guarded container at the altar for all to see, and it is given to me as a symbol of Timeo and John transferring the world to me. All of Heaven rejoices at the reclaiming of the world to its rightful owners and is even more overjoyed at those who begin to genuinely repent thanks to the Dominion. Everything I have set in motion has come to fruition, and a new golden age of real truth and true love begins.

The End

How the Just Dominated the World: Chapter 2 – Gentle Storm

Chapter 2 – Gentle Storm

Before accepting the challenge from world leaders, Timeo and I command our forces to extinguish smaller fires so they don’t spread. With help from our forces worldwide, Kane’s Castigators suppress violent riots against us with force in the East, while Polina’s Compassionate negotiates with our more rational enemies in the West. It almost looks like a world war if it weren’t for the talks happening on one side of the globe, considering how many fronts our forces are guarding to stop uprisings and ease tensions. We have already made clear that our actions are for the betterment of the world and everyone in it. All that remains is to take control and dedicate it to God.

Additionally, we’ve let the Council of Punishment loose to do their duty and cause manageable chaos, as guided by their guardian angels, and to take time off their jail sentence. The public’s opinion of us is divided unevenly. Some say it’s a good thing for the Dominion to take over the world, others are indifferent and don’t see us as any different than the world’s current leaders, and few are indifferent.

We’ve heard people on the news and across social media say things like, “The extremist Catholics are taking over, and people will be forced to give money to their Church and convert.”

“They’ll kill or jail you if you don’t believe what they tell you.”

“This is a new Crusade, and when they take over, they’ll purge the world in a new Inquisition.”

“Their faith is a front. All they want is power and riches.”

There was a time I might’ve agreed with some of their views; however, after years of prayer, seeing the world, protecting people across it, Timeo and I have come to the decision that the Dominion should take it over, both guiding and protecting it, and after this next battle, our hold over it will be secure. We’ve called our loved ones to say we’ll see them soon once the battle is done, and told our allies we don’t need their help, even though they keep complaining they want to help us. When we head out to the area of the final battle, we see hundreds, if not thousands, of soldiers, armored vehicles, robots of all sizes, and superhumans of all kinds. The enemy sees us and starts making a fuss. Their leaders shout threats and insults at us, but we don’t pay attention.

“What do you think, John?” Timeo asks in his L’Obscurité form.

“It’ll be an easy fight,” I say.

“Obviously, but how should we approach it? You take one half, and I’ll take the other? I take them from one end, while you hit them from the other.”

“Sure, whatever will get this over sooner. I don’t want to keep our loved ones worried that this could end badly.”

“You’re right. Let’s do this.”

I make the sign of the cross, blessing our enemies, and say a quick prayer for them with Timeo before we go to separate ends of the army. Again, the enemy yells and mocks us for taking the entire army on by ourselves. They think we’re in over our heads and underestimate their strength. They’re so focused on me that most of them don’t notice the other half of their army disappearing because of Timeo’s power. To get the fear of God into them, I begin to activate a special power of my own by allowing God to act through me. My body and clothes turn completely white and gray in an instant, and the army in front of me starts to get serious and finally shuts up.

Before they can do anything, I generate a ball of white light and throw it into the sky. The sun is immediately blotted out, replaced by the white light that blinds many of my enemies, turning the sky white, and sucking the color out of everything, turning everything white and gray. From the white light, flames descend upon the army, burning them and their mechanical weapons of war to ash. From the thousands, there are hardly a hundred enemies left standing, so I get to work running faster than they can react to finish them off by punching their heads off, punching their bodies so hard that their entire body crumbles into pieces, and crushing heads with the heel of my foot. Among the few, there are some that are able to move. My senses tell me it is because of the devils they worship, trying to escape judgment and being sent back to Hell, but they don’t escape or get a single hit on me.

With the army destroyed and in pieces and ashes, the white light in the sky gives way to the natural colors of the world, and my body’s natural color returns to normal. At the other end of the area, I see Timeo and the few survivors of his power, who have repented in fear and sincerity. Even fewer people have repented on my side, and those who did are cowering on the ground. Timeo and I have already accounted for this and have help on standby who will come in and bring these survivors to one of our nearby rehabilitation facilities to help them recover. I call them over and look upward at the sky.

“Do you think Polina will get the same power you have? She already has something resembling it,” Timeo asks me.

“Maybe, if God wills it. So, this is it for now.”

“The major fighting is done. Now, we finalize our rightful control over the world with our meeting with the world leaders and set the general laws for the world’s countries.”

“I think I’d just rather fight another battle.”

“Haha, me too, but this is something we have to do. I’ll do most of the talking, as always.”

How the Just Dominated the World: Chapter 1 – Virtuous Domination

Chapter 1 – Virtuous Domination

“We have no other choice, we have to use the endgame option,” one of the conspiracy leaders says.

The barely lit room is quiet, as the many people in it realize the consequences of their plan fill their minds. This place is in one of the city’s most public buildings, and yet, the basement is the most secretive and secure in the world. Everyone in this room is of a different ideology, country, and profession, and yet, they are all influential and unified by their hatred of the Dominion. The conspirators continue to talk about what they should do and the current situation.

“The meeting has just begun, and we’re already going with that option?”

“What do you suggest then? Years ago, Nexum tried and succeeded in delegitimizing them, only for L’Obscurité and John Elio to attack them, and with the help of their allies, they exposed them for their crimes and became the first worldwide hero association.”

“Whenever they get knocked down, they keep getting back up, stronger than ever.”

“They should’ve been dealt with when they were just starting, as I’ve said before.”

“Talking about what we should’ve done before will get us nowhere. We need to talk about what we’re going to do now. Their subsidiaries, the Castigators and Compassionate, have already taken over countries, and their offices are in many countries worldwide.”

“That’s not to mention the roots they have in every country through the work they’ve done in them, and their deep roots in their country of origin, the Columbian Union.”

“We can’t root them out one by one in the shadows. I’ve tried that and got nowhere.”

“They’re everywhere, including the shadows. Who's to say that one of them isn’t with us now? What if L’Obscurité is here?”

“Don’t believe that rumor.”

“But what do we know about that shadowy man, other than he’s invincible, and a protector and friend of Timeo Severe and John Elio?”

“Let’s focus back on our plan of attack. We know as much as we’ll ever know. There’s no reason to speculate about anything. There’s only committing ourselves to the plan.”

“What is there to do besides keep our heads down while the world burns in chaos? The endgame option involves detonating our hidden nukes across the world and pushing our gods to scorch the earth with our wrath?”

“Our gods agree, along with the devils of the cultists. They will act when we finish the sacrifices.”

“We have no choice but to use them. Do you know how much harder it’s been to sacrifice children, priests, nuns, and other people of the sort ever since the Dominion’s reach extended worldwide?”

“Our chambers are filled with hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of desecrated bodies. The devils are ready to drag down souls to Hell with them.”

“Then…then we really have no choice.”

“There is only one way forward after all we’ve done. We have to make it worth it; otherwise, all these years of gathering strength and killing will be erased, and those damned Catholics will have our world, our power, and our possessions.”

“Hey.”

“Catholics like the ones in and supporting the Dominion, not like you.”

“It’s…it’s decided then. All in favor?”

The room says, “I.”

“Nay.”

Looking around the room, confused, the conspirators ask who disagrees and to state the reason for doing so.

To humor them, I chuckle and say, “Because I like the direction the world is taking. I also wouldn’t sanction an attack against myself and my own.”

People are a little confused at first, but are then quick to realize who is talking.

“L’Obscurité is in the room!” a woman says as she jumps up from her seat.

The woman runs from one corner of the dark room to the door, but I transport her to the opposite end. Confused, she keeps running and being teleported everywhere, until I get bored and give her what she deserves in the darkness. Peering into her soul, I see she’s guilty of human trafficking of many innocent people, especially children. I tear her into pieces and throw her still living body onto the table, where the conspirators are gathered around. She twitches as she lets out gasps of screams as her soul slowly descends into Hell. Everyone is visibly shaking now, if not outright sweating, and beginning to lose their trust in their false gods.

I heartily laugh and then say, “So much for being a terrifying group that pulls the strings of the world from the shadows. Do you truly think you’re better than the others who do the same as you?”

One of them says, “If you came after us, it means we’re a true threat to you. Heh, it’s a compliment.”

“You’re an annoyance.”

“Whatever you think, you’ve just activated our failsafe. We have spiritualists who are always aware of our state, and knowing that we are in distress and one is dead, they will activate our endgame. The world you know will be different by the time you leave here.”

“Yes, yes, yes, and I know the other details of your plan, such as false nuclear attack readings in every country, forcing them into World War III, and the cultists that you have on standby with plenty of supplies for those willing to give themselves to Hell for temporary survival. John and I did our homework. Speaking of the good deacon, he’s currently destroying all your nuclear facilities, cleansing your cult bunkers, and destroying your blasphemous hideouts of rape and sacrifice.”

“You…you’re lying!”

“Hehe, I’m an agent of the truth. I can’t lie.”

“John Elio won’t be able to destroy everything in time! People will still die. You’ve still lost.”

“John Elio wouldn’t be the best hero in the world if he weren’t good at his job. I trust that he can do everything so well that he could do it two times over.”

“You…you don’t think you’re the only one familiar with the shadows, are you? Our demons and gods have inhabited them since the dawn of creation!”

From the darkness, I see hundreds of black hands reach out and grab me.

“This isn’t the first fight I’ve had with demons. They torment me daily,” I say.

“Oh, so you’re a man then. I guess that dispels the myths of you being a god, angel, or devil.”

The darkness blinds my sight. In the void, I see my dark hero appearance, the long hat I wear, the cloak of darkness, and the barely discernible face with a toothy grin and a bullet hole in the center of my forehead. That appearance of mine is stripped away by the black hands to reveal my normal appearance, my dark hair, pale skin, dark brown eyes, and the expensive suit I usually wear. The doppelganger tries to remind me of my past sins, but they don’t bother me. I haven’t sinned in a while and was at confession and mass recently.

“Ah, so that’s your true identity.”

“And? Your demons knew it this whole time, but kept it from you.”

“Regardless of that, they will end you.”

“I don’t think they will. Not with my new powers.”

A bright darkness emerges from me, dispelling the demons and consuming the conspirators in front of me. They’re really afraid now since their last hope has been erased.

I say, “You may think your gods and demons are terrifying, but you don’t know how scary angels can be.”

Angels with eyes all over their bodies, distorted faces, and weapons and shields for arms step out of the darkness as if it were a veil. They tear at the conspirators, while keeping them alive, no matter how many pieces they’re torn into. They’re forced to tell everyone their sins, and from what they’re saying, they see themselves haunted by their temptations, who are pulling their souls to Hell. More souls are pulled into my bright darkness from around the hidden facility and the above city, and given the same treatment, a few of whom repent and are saved by the angel from their demons. Once the area is clear, the bright darkness recedes into me, and the bodies of those who died as a result of my powers have disappeared. Those who repented are found in the facility on their knees, repenting with bloody tears streaming from their eyes.

As I exit the facility, I turn back into my normal form and breathe a sigh of relief. John Elio speeds his way to me with his usual bright smile on his face. That smile and shining blue eyes of his are an extra relieving reminder that he fulfilled his role and saved the world, as if there was any hint of doubt. There’s not a single spec of dust, blood, or ash on his blonde hair, red deacon shirt, gold cape, blue jeans, and brown boots, another sign that the task was easy for him to achieve.

“How’d it go?” he asks.

“It went according to plan as always,” I say.

“We do it, Timeo!” he says as he hugs me.

John and I walk the streets of the city, with the civilians beginning to notice us. They admire or fear us from a distance, though a few approach us, ask for autographs, and tell us how much they appreciate us for what we’ve done for their country and the world. Knowing a nice place to eat and talk in peace, John and I go to it, and are given a nice seat, overlooking the city’s beauty.

“This is only the beginning, isn’t it?” John asks, somewhat seriously.

“It is, but we’re also in the middle,” I say. “World leaders and members of other mercenary and hero associations will be after us now that we’ve openly attacked the secretive group that they’ve kept under wraps. Kane and his Castigators have also done the same to expose their evil deeds in their typical shoot first, ask questions later way.”

“This is such an upside-down world for us to be punished for exposing criminals.”

“What’s a crime for the people of one belief is a virtue for another. You know it’s always been God and the Church versus the other false beliefs of the world.”

“I do. It still bothers me. All the good work we’ve done across the world over these thirty-something years has only inflamed tensions between our Dominion and other countries and groups, not allied with us.”

“Things will be different when it’s over. There’s only one solution to it, so we’re not constantly running around the world, punishing criminals in legitimate and illegal institutions and countries. We control and enforce mercy and justice all over it by ourselves.”

“You’ve been saying that for years, and it feels like a dream that we’re on the cusp of achieving it. It feels like yesterday that I was in Solis, enjoying my favorite egg breakfast and helping my neighbors in Poca Bellezza.”

“It feels like yesterday that I was helping to clean up Meridian’s reputation, so I understand. With Dominion hero association offices in most major countries and areas, we’re going to become the world’s leaders and protectors.”

“It feels like a responsibility I don’t deserve or want. Part of me just wants to go back home to my normal life as an average hero, living with my family.”

“Me too, but this is what God has given us. After we’re done, we’ll take an extra-long break to spend time with family. Speaking of them, has your sister, Idelle, had another child with Kane yet?”

“They have. Idelle just told me, while we were working.”

John takes out his phone and shows me a picture of Idelle and Kane holding their new child, with their first, which brings a smile to my face.

He then asks me about Polina and Raziel’s new child, and I tell him, “Polina is still pregnant, but the child should be born soon.”

“I’m glad to hear.”

On a nearby TV in the restaurant, we hear about a force of our enemies worldwide gathering and challenging us to a fight, some of whom are from the country we’re in. Because of the good we’ve done across the world, people in the cities we’ve helped won’t give us up to their country’s leaders or even fight against them with help from our Dominion.

Looking at the breadth of hundreds of armed forces and superhumans gathered against us, I ask John, “Think we can take them on with just the two of us?”

“Heh, that’d be an unfair fight,” he says.

“But it’s a fight we need to end. After, we’ll gather the world’s leaders together and make our claim.”

“Let’s get it over with then. I can’t wait for the world to finally be at peace.”

“Me too, brother.”

John and I clink our glasses, finish our meal, and head out to our final fight to take the world for not only the Dominion, but for the Church and, most importantly, our Lord and our God.