Quelled by Pain: Chapter 1 - The Final Lap (Text Only)

Chapter 1 – The Final Lap

I’ve walked for another month, chasing after my older brother, Mikheil, and the false god of this world called the Light. My time of wandering has cooled my anger and despair over everything that’s happened over the one-hundred and sixteen years of my life. The first stretch of it seems like nothing more than a far-off dream while the past few months have felt like an entire lifetime.

The life I worked to build for so many years was thrown away in no time at all, the friends and family I had for those years are damned, and the new friends I made are all dead, well, except for one, the Sufferer who has been hanging around my neck in the form of a snake ever since one of the last statues of His was completely destroyed.

“It is all in the past,” the Sufferer says. “The future is ahead as well as your redemption and the of the world. Your brother is attacking your new group of friends who will be your key in defeating him. Do not worry about their lives because they will survive your battles with him if you lead and treat them correctly.”

I kiss the head of the Sufferer and then say, “Lead me to do so in everything I do, say, and think, Lord.” My ability to sense souls has heightened over this past month, so I need minimum straight direction from the Sufferer to find my new friends. It also helps that I hear gunfire in the distance as I get closer to their location.

When I arrive at the location of the action, I find a small run-down church with broken metal barriers for windows being fired upon by at least thirty guards with my brother behind them. “Hey! Pick on someone who can actually fight you!”

As Mikheil turns around, I see that most of his body has been combined with the Light, and the only part of him that remains his own is half his face. “Ah, little brother. I thought I’d eventually see you again since it took you a month last time to track me down. I took inspiration from the last time I saw you and combined myself with the Light to embrace his power and wisdom fully. I also see that your hair has grown way long and is becoming white at its end. I’m ashamed to say that my hair suffers much similarly.”

“I don’t need my powers to see that the Light has almost completely overtaken and corrupted you.” Even as I talk, I use my powers to look into my brother’s soul to see if there’s anything in him that’s worth saving, and sure enough, a small light of the Sufferer’s original design still shining within him.

“It’s funny how you talk about corruption when it’s you and your friends who worship the Sufferer that brought death, suffering, and conflict back to the world. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be getting older at a rapid rate, and at this rate, who knows how much longer people our age have to live. The world may have only children under one hundred to rule it and they’ll have no idea what they’re doing and destroy each other and the world.”

I start to transform, already knowing that all this talking and arguing will do nothing. “I trust the Sufferer will save us.”

“Ha! As if that will do you any good. The world is already divided between those on my side, yours, and other miscellaneous groups who are more on my side than yours. Here’s some ancient information that the Sufferer probably hasn’t told you. When he was on earth, he befriended a man who would betray him and lead to his death. In fact, pretty much everyone under him betrays him, even those he trusts to do the most important jobs like raising families and leading his Church. His Church was even the first to fall to the Light. I don’t even need to know you to know that you’ve betrayed him more than once. Both of these facts are why I know that I’ll win in the end, and not just because of your Church’s extensive and recent history of trying to take the world from the Light. Give up and I may give you a swift death or maybe even rethink the death warrant I have out for you.”

Fully transformed, I say, “The Sufferer already killed the sinful man I once was. You can’t do anything to me that He doesn’t will or allow, and because of that, I am at peace with whatever happens and know that He will win in the end.” A black mist that feels like shards of glass flowing through my skin comes out of my hands and envelops Mikheil and his guards. In the mist, the Sufferer talks to everyone within their soul and tries to get them to repent. To my surprise, more people than I expect repent and fewer than usual are damned. There seem to be more doubts about the Light’s ability to retake the world among his soldiers than I thought, which is always a relief and one of, if not the greatest joys for the Sufferer.

All of Mikheil’s forces fall or turn to my side while the Sufferer turns His attention to him and tries to get him to repent as well. Even though I can’t exactly tell what is happening, I see my brother desperately trying to hold the confident smile that he always tries to have as his face twitches. “You win this round, little brother, but don’t you worry. I’ll be back before you know it.” Mikheil disappears in a flash of light that shoots toward a nearby suburban town. With the threat gone, I transform back to my normal self, tell those who repented to come with me and enter the church.

The place seems empty as if the people here left through a secret exit, and yet, I still feel their presence. “Hello! I know you’re here and I’m here to help. Look, the Sufferer even sits on my shoulders as a snake.” Four people slowly peek out their heads and then look at me. “My name is Adler, a fellow worshipper of the Sufferer like you and these people are the same.”

A man with red and white eyes, a dark pink hoodie, black pants, and black boots. Steps forward to me first while spinning his knife in one hand and keeping his other hand in his hoodie’s pocket. “Fellow worshipper, huh? You got rid of all those guards and the king of the world by yourself? How did you do it?”

“With the blessing of the Sufferer, of course. My blessing is that of Necessary Suffering, see?” I say while praying and allowing my stigmata to show.

A man who is well-dressed in a gold and purple dress shirt, pants, tie, and shoes steps up to me next. “Ah, a man who is blessed by stigmata and Necessary Suffering, a rare sight indeed. That makes you the defacto leader of our little group then since you’re both spiritually and physically close to the Sufferer, doesn’t it? My name is Bryce by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Adler. Thank you so much for your help.”

“A pleasure it is. I’m Osiris and the brother of Johnny. I’m sorry he didn’t say his name earlier.” Osiris is a big muscular guy with a simple brown shirt, dark brown pants, and boots with what looks like body armor underneath it all.

“He would’ve heard it sooner or later.”

“And I’m Kami, the now ex-leader of the group. You can all relax in the church now that the threat is gone. Make yourselves at home, especially you, Adler. Come sit with us.” I sit with Kami and the three others while the repentants walk around the church and talk among themselves. Kami deeply stares into my eyes with her black eyes that seem to have recently run with tears. The strange feeling she gives off isn’t helped by the long black dress she wears with leather long boots and red belts that she wears all over her body. “Yes, I can see you are truly loyal to the Sufferer while also having a soft spot for your brother who is not only your last remaining family member but also the king of the world with the Light.”

“Does that make him a liability?”

“No, not at all. As I said, he’s truly loyal to the Sufferer. His connection to his brother just makes him a more interesting person.”

“I’m relieved to hear confirmation that my heart totally belongs to the Suffer. Would you mind telling or showing me what your Necessary form is and what you are blessed with?”

“Sure thing, boss. I am blessed with Necessary Sacrifice and can allow myself to embrace the pain others feel to heal them and help answer prayers such as turning the tide of a battle or finding answers we seek.”

“I am blessed with Necessary Destruction. I turn into a knight and I think it’s obvious what I can do.”

“Unlike my brother, I am not so basic and straightforward. My blessing is that of Necessary Hatred and I can make people love what they cherish even more, resulting in them hating anything that opposes it to the same higher degree. That is the nature of hatred, after all.”

“Now, now. Don’t demean your brother, Johnny. A basic, tried and true knight is more useful than you think. Also, you can put your weapons away. It’s rude to have them out like this in the company of a new friend.”

Johnny puts the knife in its holster on his chest, pulls a gun out from his hoodie pocket, and puts it in its holster on his side. “Fine. I’ve also looked into Adler’s heart and confirmed that his heart belongs to the Sufferer.”

“Always the man to double-check everything. Anyways, my blessing is that of Necessary Submission. I can see what truth, falsehoods, and people your heart and mind are dedicated to and can sway that dedication in any direction I like. So, what do you think, Adler? Are we good enough for you?”

“I don’t see why you wouldn’t be.”

“That’s good because I see an old loyalty in your heart for the other groups of friends you’ve made including a place for your first love. You’re judging us based on your bond to them.”

“I’m trying not to think of them anymore other than our good times. I tragically lost them but know that they’re all in Heaven at least.”

“The love within you for them is still a fire that pushes you forward. I apologize for not immediately seeing it sooner since you’re keeping it deep within you. You shouldn’t be burying such a love and should allow that fire for them to blossom into action against the king of the world.”

“Johnny, you know that’s not a good idea. Just look outside to see the results of you doing that.”

“Those people got what they deserved. Some innocents were harmed along the way, but that is the nature of the war we fight.”

“I know what it’s like to have your anger and hatred get the best of you. It’s why my last group of friends died. I was responsible for their deaths because I allowed myself to lose control.”

“Johnny, your hatred for evil and injustice is virtuous, but you need to keep it under control so you don’t unnecessarily hurt the people you love. Osiris, our mission does bring necessary ruin to the world so it can be renewed. As a man blessed with Necessary Destruction, I’m sure you know that better than anyone else here.”

“You’re right. I’m sorry, leader.”

“Don’t worry about it. I understand your love for your brother and want to save him from his destruction at his own hands. We both share that goal. Speaking about helping each other, we should help the new converts understand the Sufferer before deciding what we should do next. Agreed?” The group agrees, especially Johnny who wants to make sure there is hardly any trace of love for the Light in the hearts of the repentants. Bryce and Osiris go with him to make sure he treats them fairly and doesn’t act too harshly.

Kami stops by me, puts her hand on my shoulder, and then says, “You’re a natural-born leader, it seems.”

“Thank you, but I’m better at following orders and allowing people to make the most of their strengths than commanding and inspiring people.”

“Don’t undersell yourself. The Sufferer chose you to be blessed with Necessary Suffering for a reason. Don’t Him down.”

“I won’t. I promise” Looking around at the friends around me and the newly repentant gives me hope that our final victory is within reach. Lord, please make it happen for your glory and yours alone, and let me be your instrument in obtaining it.