Pain or Damnation: Chapter 3 – Blessed are the Forsaken

Chapter 3 – Blessed are the Forsaken

No one stays mutated for long around the City of the Seven Hills. Some say it’s because of the city's holiness or because the poor and weak are more visible to those who still pray and do penance. Those who live for conspiracy and intrigue even guess it's because the mutated are hidden away in the depths of the hills out of sight of the general public. Regardless of the case, few people see those mutated and blessed with pain and thus don’t worry about the suffering of others as much and just assume that it’s a problem far removed from them, which should stay that way. Today, that is about to change as Otello and Dante arrive and have their goal in sight.

From a distance, Dante sees the entire beauty of the holy city as the hills appear to lead to Heaven. Even from here, he can see the beautiful white buildings and make out bits of their gothic architecture that reach out to the sky as if they are reaching out to God. This appreciation for the city’s beauty grows as they get closer and make out more of the buildings’ features and the statues that decorate them.

“It’s been so long since I’ve last been here. I’m glad that the city hasn’t lost any of her beauty,” Otello says.

“It’s my home,” Dante says, “My fiancée and I would come out here and look at the entire city from afar on starry nights.”

“Would you like to visit her and your parents?”

“No, I’d rather not have them see me this way.”

“I understand, but you’ll have to see them again after completing your God-given task.”

“No, I won’t. I was told that I’ll die after completing it.”

“Oh. Perhaps that is a blessing then because I dread showing my loved ones my current appearance.”

“If you say so. I had so many plans for my life such as marrying my fiancée and having a family with her on my family’s farm…forget it. Talking about a closed-off future tempts me to hate God for my current condition and makes me regret it.”

“That’s right. Keep your eyes forward. We’ll get through this together, and soon after, Heaven will be yours. Think about that instead.”

“I will.”

While approaching the city, the ground beneath them begins to shake. After which, a swarm of bug men emerges from the ground clothed in white and gold armor, wings of light, and halos above their heads. They stop the two in their tracks with their praying mantis-like claws out in front of them ready to attack.

One of them says, “We know who you are and we cannot allow you to pass.”

“How do you know us and why not? Can’t you tell that we are blessed?” Dante asks.

“We have been told to be an obstacle to you by God. You will reintroduce unneeded suffering and pain to the Church and her faithful. Is that not reason enough to stop you?”

“No, it’s not because we are commissioned by God to do this. A Church built on the blood of God needs to remember the value of pain,” Otello says.

“Then you leave us no choice, but to silence you for your false piety.”

The swarm of insect men begins to swarm and attack the two all at once. To counter them, Dante’s arms of blood change into long blade-like whips that he uses to disperse the swarm and finish them off in mere seconds.

“Good work. If you had the same abilities that you do now during our first fight, I probably would’ve lost,” Otello says.

“It’s only because of these abilities that I can do these things. Like I said before, I don’t have full control over these arms. I can’t choose what they change into nor do I put much effort into what I can do with them, but never mind that. Those people said that God made them to be an obstacle to us. What do you think it means?”

“A misunderstanding or, as they said, they were an obstacle put by God. Perhaps as a test of faith.”

“Test is right. When I heard them mention reintroducing unneeded suffering and pain and them being an obstacle set in front of us by God, it made me reflect on what we’re doing. Were we actually commissioned by God or a devil pretending to be Him?”

“It was God. I’m sure of it.”

“Are you just sure of it because what we’re doing fits with what you want to do?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it and I’m not blinded by my own view of reality. In fact, my eyes have never been more open. Remember that the devil wants us to have an easy life whereas God allows us to be tested and forges us like weapons in the fires of tribulations to become what we’re supposed to be. As I said, perhaps this was a misunderstanding and they thought they were supposed to protect the Church from what they perceived as evil, or maybe it was they who were tricked by a devil. One thing is now clear to me and that they were more of an obstacle to you than me because of what they said and not by their strength.”

“Yeah, you’re right. You’re right in everything that you said. Let’s continue on so I can keep the tempting thoughts out of my head.”

“I will. Stay strong, Dante. Our goal is in sight.”

Dante nods and keeps his eyes on the top of the City of the Seven Hills where the head of the Church resides. During his journey, his pain has been manageable, but now that he’s near its end, the pain has inexplicably been intensified. The wind feels like small blades that cut his skin, every breath hurts his chest, and the floating red crown around his head feels as if it’s putting a heavy weight on his head while the golden half of his face burns. All this pain he offers up for his previous sins and the sins of others, which comforts him a bit, but not enough for him to completely bear it. With no other option, he prays for help and wisdom, and before he knows it, he can feel Otello pick up speed as they near the walls of the city.

“Hold on tight!” Otello says.

To protect him, Dante’s arms turn into a giant red shield that protects him as Otello breaks through the walls of the city. The citizens who witness this are startled and confused as to why this is happening while the guards mobilize to kill these two intruders. They get on their horses and try shooting at them. Dante’s arms switch form again and change into tiny threads that deflect and crush the arrows they catch. Before he knows it, they have the next wall in sight, so Dante’s arms change back into a shield, however, when Otello breaks through the wall, both he and Dante find themselves in a grassy field.

“What happened? Where are we?” Dante asks while not expecting an answer.

“I don’t know,” Otello says, “Perhaps this is a trick, an illusion.”

Otello continues to run but finds that he’s going nowhere as if the grassy field goes on forever. It’s then that they hear a voice in the distance. When they get closer to it, they see a preacher made of son and clothed in black searing chains.

“Blessed are the forsaken for they shall realize the pleasures of this life are nothing and vain, and that only a life focused on God is worth living even if it is devoid of happiness and conventional joy,” the preacher of stone says.

“You’re a penitent who understands the value and use of pain and suffering. Who are you?” Otello says.

“Who I am doesn’t matter. I am only an obstacle to you given by the Lord. I am among other penitents called the Forsaken who do penance in secret for the sake of the faithful and lost members of the Church so that all who are close to salvation will be saved by God at their deaths. You have met some of these penitents and fought through them outside of the walls.”

“They too said they were obstacles given to us by God. Are there more of you as we approach the walls?”

“Yes, but not all the Forsaken are. They do penance in seemingly unreachable parts of the city, the world, and, in my case, my own place in Purgatory. As for the obstacle I present, it is not trapping you in this dimension, but a series of questions and concerns.”

“Then all I need to do to overcome it is not listen.”

Otello begins to run away from the preacher, however, he keeps encountering him in the fields as if teleporting in this infinite plane of existence, so he stops running and instead, fortifies his mind while Dante does much the same.

“You should know the value of pain better than most, Otello,” the preacher says, “Your example of using it has converted many heathens and heretics alike. Each of us has our own cross. Parents must attend to their children and community while kings, queens, and priests must shepherd hundreds if not millions of people. Your cross was to convert the lost and searching and to defend the Church from her attackers. Are you sure that it is now to make others share in that pain?”

“Tch,” Otello says while trying not to listen.

“As for you, Dante. Your young life is cut short through this quest already nearing its end. Are you satisfied with the life you have lived? Have you gained wisdom beyond your years to know that this is the right choice or have you figured out that wisdom in itself is useless unless it can used to glorify God, who is truth itself? Is the blessed pain that you carry too much to bear or are you able to carry it to your Golgotha?”

Dante can’t help but listen to the preacher as if his voice is resonating in his mind. In the blink of an eye, the scene and preacher disappear and the two find themselves on the other side of a wall that hasn’t been damaged. On the other side of the wall, they can hear the guards on their horses come to the wall and be confused at what happened as if they had disappeared for only a moment. Not wanting to waste any time, Otello continues to run up the hill and to the next wall. While heading upwards, Dante sees bits of red on Otello’s fur and even feels blood seeping out of his armor.

“Are you okay?” Dante asks.

“Yes, I am,” Otello says in a slightly pained voice.

“But you’re bleeding!”

“Am I now? I’ve silently prayed to God so that I could share in your pain and help you bear your cross. I’m ashamed to admit that it never occurred to me to do so despite priding myself on bearing the pains of others.”

“Don’t be and thank you for helping me.”

At this moment, Dante can feel his pain lessen and become bearable. He lifts his head higher with renewed strength and to ready himself for the next challenge ahead. Word from the guards on the other side of the wall where they once were is too slow to reach the guards on the side they are on now, which allows them to reach the next wall without any resistance, however, the ground falls out from under them this time. They slide down a hole that leads them to a tunnel decorated with hundreds of faces and skulls on the side of it.

“Is this some sort of crypt?” Dante asks.

“I don’t know. If it is a crypt, then it’s a crypt for the Forsaken,” Otello says.

One of the faces suddenly springs to life with wide eyes and then says, “If only it were a crypt and we dead, but oh, what a curse and blessing of pain that would bring on our people.”

“We have helped carry the crosses and endured the punishment of many in the Church ever since it abandoned suffering for the sake of others outside of it,” another says.

“We have helped others in their suffering during the early days of the Church,” yet another chimes in.

“When you accomplish your goal, hardly anything will change.”

“We present to you the obstacle of inevitability. Of the reality that humanity wants to avoid as much suffering as possible even if it is their God-given duty.”

“Even if they know souls will be lost because of it.”

“Even if they know they will not merit a higher place in Heaven. They think to themselves, ‘What is the difference between being at the lowest or highest point in Heaven anyway’? It’s still Heaven after all.”

“There’s some virtue in their way of living, and some danger of corruption at the same time.”

“They will not go beyond their duties for the sake of their enemies in contrast to what the Lord does.”

“Who can blame their thinking when they fulfill their duties as far as they are concerned?”

“Even if you convince most of the Church to change, they may be corrupted in a different age or become self-centered at another time.”

“Do you wish to continue despite this reality?”

Dante and Otello look at each other before nodding and saying that they will.

“We can see the honesty in your hearts. You may continue.”

Part of the tunnel collapses and the dirt that has fallen turns into a set of stairs that Otello uses to climb and get out of the tunnel. The two now find themselves on the other side of the wall and even closer to the summit of the city. Their goal feels as if it is now in arms reach as they can see that only two walls remain in their path.

“We’re almost there, friend,” Otello says before shuttering in pain.

“Are you okay? This is a result of the pain you are sharing with me, isn’t it? I can feel it too. You don’t have to bear this cross with me any longer,” Dante says.

“What are you talking about? We’re on this journey together so your burdens are mine to share.”

After gritting his teeth and taking a deep breath in, Otello continues to charge forward towards the top. Here, the guards were given an advanced warning about their arrival and have archers ready to fire at them and men on horses at the ready to give chase. Once the trap is sprung, they waste little time in attacking the two, however, Dante’s shields and Otello’s speed are too much for them to handle leading to some of the Church’s best defenses being ruined and run through as if they were done by amateurs, which in turn humbles the guards and causes them to argue among themselves and debate whether or not Dante and Otello were sent by God for a greater purpose that they are powerless to stop from happening. Their arguing and infighting allow Dante and Otello to continue through the district without much resistance. They reach the next wall ready for the next obstacle, but their readiness is swept out from under them as they are instantly transported to a battleground between soldiers with wings on their backs.

At first, Otello and Dante think they are demons and angels, but they recognize some of the faces as famous saints or people who were notable for their faith and works during their lifetime. The two then look at each other and Dante is surprised to see that he’s off Otello and that the man is no longer a bull.

“Otello! You’re back to normal!” Dante points out.

After looking at himself and feeling his hands, face, and chest, Otello says, “I am! I wonder why…”

One of the saints armored in black and gold descends upon the two. She says, “Good day to you, honorable penitents.”

“What is this?” Otello asks.

“You are witnessing the never-ending invisible battle between angels and demons for the souls of men, which will only end when the Lord comes again at the end of time. What does it look like to you?”

“Angels, saints, and demons in the form of men fighting each other. The demons have blinding gold and white armor and wings while the angels and saints have black and gold armor and wings,” Dante says.

“I see. Your mortal minds might not be able to comprehend this if it was shown bluntly to you so what you’re seeing is an approximation of it.”

“Are you another of the Forsaken? Are you going to present another obstacle to us?” Otello asks.

“Obstacle? No, not at all. Instead, I present a goal for you in particular Otello.”

“What do you mean? Dante and I are supposed to be correcting the Church together.”

“You have done your part. You were only meant to be his key to get in.”

“But one more wall remains.”

“He’ll make it through that on his own with the help of another and the wisdom you have given him so far. Your place is to now here on the battlefield with us.”

“With the living dead?”

“Yes, with us. You are the same after all.”

“…what? I’m dead?”

“Yes and no. You will be like the saints and angels if you choose to fight with us, but you will be with the demons if you refuse.”

“What about me? Am I alive and dead?” Dante asks.

“You are in a similar state, but not yet. Not until you accomplish your goal. So, Otello, will you be joining us? God needs your efforts here.”

“I…I need a moment. It’s all so sudden.”

“What happened to that man who bullishly jumped at the opportunity to do God’s will at a moment’s notice?”

“Got me there. Alright, alright. I’ll join you.”

“Otello!” Dante says as his friend leaves his side.

“It’s okay, Dante. If my place is meant to be here, then there’s nothing I can do about it. I’m sure that you’ll accomplish your task. You have God with you after all.”

“Wait!”

Dante tries to reach out to Otello, but he is suddenly transported back into reality and on the other side of the previous wall. Looking behind him, he sees the final wall and the meeting place of the Church’s leaders sitting at the summit of the highest hill. He notices that his pain hasn’t increased much as if Otello is still bearing part of his burden with him.

“I’ll succeed. For once in my life, I’ll succeed at something, and this will be it,” Dante says to himself before walking to the next wall.