How Evil Dies: Chapter 2 – Happiness and Pleasures

Chapter 2 – Happiness and Pleasures

“Hurry up!” I whisper as loud as I can.

The teenage girl tries her best to keep up with me as I escort her out of the slave auction.

“I’m trying my best,” the girl says.

“You’re going to need to try better if you want to get out of here, now come on!”

I sneak the girl passed her enslavers, guards, and people who would buy her. We go through cracks in the wall that we can hardly fit through and keep to the shadows as we make our way through the Sense district.

“Are you going to tell me why you’re helping me yet?” the girl whispers.

“Because I rescue girls like you and bring them to a better place. Why do you think we’re able to sneak around so well? I’ve done this dozens of times,” I say.

It also helps that the people here are wrapped up in their pleasures, drugs, and alcohol. We make it to a dumbwaiter in a dark corner of the district where no one else is.

“Get in here and I’ll send you down. From there, keep going straight until you see a tall woman. She’s my associate who will lead you the rest of the way out to somewhere better,” I instruct.

The girl does as I say and then says, “I don’t know how to thank you enough.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After pressing the button and sending the girl down, I could swear that I hear her screams. There’s the possibility it could be the screams of someone in the distance or my imagination because I know that I’ve lied to her and sent her to a life of slavery. The girl was a virgin who came from the Business district and in the Sense district, virgins are highly sought after and those who can provide a virgin to the Sense are highly rewarded. I’ve been itching to get an overdose of pleasures and drink for a while now. Thankfully, I was able to get this virgin to the Sense before any of my competitors could.

This girl who came from the Business district did so out of desperation and to escape the chaos happening there because a fool destroyed the main generator powering the district. Speaking of him, he still hangs as a living example to others. In the first couple of days of the chaos, he was pelted with thrown objects, but now, he’s left alone though he can’t be happy. I’ve even heard that he’s soiled himself. Even though what he did was stupid, I should thank him one day because his actions have brought more people to the Sense district not only because this district doesn’t rely on the generators powering the complex, but because there’s plenty of work and pleasures, most of all.

To feel and be happy and experience pleasures is the point of life. There’s no other reason to keep on going if there’s no reward that makes you feel alive. Everyone in the Complex works to obtain a happy life full of what they desire. I’m no different as I work day and night so that I can live forever in a life of pleasures. As I pass by a boutique where body modifications are done, I look at myself in one of the many mirrors. The description under the mirror reads, “Your perfection can become even more perfect!”. That marketing line may work on others, but it won’t on me. I know that I’m already perfect.

Every part of my body, every modification I’ve made is perfect. There’s not a single flaw in it. Not in the mouths that I have nor the curves of my body. Nothing needs to be changed. I am perfect the way I am. Every part is perfect, except for the collar around my neck. I wear it as a symbol of being a worker for the Sense who rules over this district.

The Sense is whoever is the most respected, powerful, and has access to the most pleasures and is named after the district because of it since everything goes through them. This current Sense is a woman or at least was until she mutated her body by combining her body with her slaves. Looking at her again as I report back still unnerves me. All her arms, extra fingers, her connected red eyes, and griotique phallic mouths are a few of the things to stick out, but the bodies writhing in her own as if they are still alive are the most disturbing things. I can even still make out the heads and faces of the previous people she’s fused with her still barely showing. My eyes could be playing tricks on me if I’m really seeing these people move slightly every now and then.

“You did well in getting me the virgin girl, Fallacia. Would you like to have a taste of her after I have my fill?” the Sense asks with her multiple mouths.

Looking over at the girl, I see that she’s wrapped up in red veins, which are root-like living tendrils. The girl struggles as the red veins overwhelm her senses with pleasure. She pathetically cries for help along with spurts of laughing here and there as lust takes over her mind. These red veins courses throughout the Sense district and are an attraction and reason to be here for many. Despite how good it may make you feel, I’d rather not lose my mind while experiencing pleasures. The hangover is worse than the hangovers I get from even the most potent drugs and strongest drinks.

“No, thanks. I’d rather enjoy the pleasures that come from my reward instead,” I say.

“Very well then. I can respect that. I wouldn’t want someone’s leftovers and would like to experience the pleasures I want in my own way too. You may have your due reward.”

After snapping her many fingers, the Sense’s slaves present themselves to me with crates of drugs and alcohol on their backs. They follow my command and bring themselves to my house where we have a week-long party filled with orgies, overdosing on drugs, and drinking more than our fair share of the finest wines. This is what I want the rest of my life to be. This is my Heaven. By the end of the week, the slaves who haven’t died as a result of overdosing, drinking, or having violent sex walk out or are carried out of my house.

“Wait,” I say while struggling to stand up and keep the slaves in my house, “The party isn’t over yet. We can have so much more fun together…”

I pass out and am barely able to do anything, so I rest for the day. This is the kind of hangover I expected to have and don’t mind since the short but sweet week that gave me was so good. Later after taking some medication and getting some rest, I head out to one of my coworkers to find more work and am surprised at what I hear.

“All the good fish from the Business district are caught. Everyone of interest was caught within a week. Everything else is small fry, as usual, Fallacia,” my coworker says.

“What? Already?” I say.

“Yes, already. I told you not to get too wrapped up in your reward when the iron was hot.”

“But my reward was everything that I could’ve ever wanted! I had to enjoy every second of it for the week that I had access to all of it.”

“I’ve also told you that’s how the Sense gets you to be lazy and desperate to work for more rewards. I suggest that you take odd jobs and keep an ear out.”

“Wait a second. You gave her more virgins and people of interest, haven’t you?”

“I have and that has rewarded me with enough to last me a month. You could join my party if you’d like.”

“I’d rather not. The last time I was the lifeless plaything of the party and had to spend two weeks in the hospital afterward.”

“That’s because you were a lightweight. Still are in some regards.”

“Tch, whatever. Go enjoy your just rewards. I have my own to earn.”

For the next couple of weeks, I prostitute myself to whoever will accept me for pay and to listen in for possible targets. During this time, I hardly get any enjoyment out of my clients since what they desire to do to me is too weak for me who is used to rougher things and harder drinks. Regardless, I have to feint that I’m enjoying myself to get paid. By the middle of the third week, I quit doing odd jobs and ask the Sense if there’s anyone she desires that I can bring to her.

“My pool of interest is rather shallow at the moment. I appreciate you coming here to ask me, Fallacia. You know if you’re desperate, you can work here in my den of debauchery for two weeks,” the Sense suggests.

When she suggests something, you have to do it, so I do. In contrast to my odds jobs, I’m hardly able to stand what the Sense and her clients do to me, especially since the red veins are involved that overload my senses with feelings of pleasure and happiness. During this time, I see the girl who I previously brought here. She has completely changed from when I last saw her. The innocent look she once had is gone. Now, her face is a mouth and her body has multiple orifices to be used by the clients and is dressed with red veins in a pervasive pseudo-dress. She’s lost herself and is nothing more than a puppet of pleasure just as I am at the moment. Instead of being used and abused for two weeks, I’m used for a month as expected. By the end, I have to rest at my house for half a week to recover. At least I get paid a month’s wage rather than two weeks.

That’s it! I’m not going to be used by anyone anymore. I’m the one who’s going to be on top rather than someone’s play toy. From all the odd jobs I’ve been doing, I can afford the basic necessities for at least two months, which means I have to do more for a while. I concentrate on finding valuable assets for the Sense for the next month during which, my craving for pleasures grows. It doesn’t help when I see people indulging in their own, so I try my best to keep my eyes away from it, ignore the sounds, and not think about it. This is easier said than done as I start to feel withdrawn and sick and have to take medicine to stop my shakes and headaches.

A month passes and I come up with nothing at all. I’ve gone so long without my fix in what makes me feel good and happy that I’ve gone numb. In my mostly quiet house, I consider what I should do, which is dangerous. The Quiet could get to me and make me do something stupid like it does with other people that it influences. Even the sounds of moaning and screaming aren’t enough to stop the silence from beginning to overtake me. My resistance is futile as a stillness takes hold of my mind and calms it and my heart into a calm dreamlike state. Soon after a quick nap, I feel rejuvenated in a way that I haven’t in a while.

In an instant, crazy thoughts begin to fill my head and hit me like a brick wall. Thoughts of no longer indulging in what gives me happiness and taking it away from others are a couple of the thoughts that come to me. The one about leaving my addictions behind me is the most absurd. What’s somehow less absurd to me is the idea of getting rid of the red veins. It’s what most pleasure-addicted people come here for. If I can get rid of the red veins, then more people will have to rely on people like me for their pleasures.

One crazy man’s actions brought valuable prey to this district so why can’t an insane skank like me do the same? I’ll never yearn again for attention or lack of desperate losers looking for their fix of lust. No longer will I have to rely on the Sense to give me what I want and her main source of income will be completely lost. She’ll have nothing left when I burn the red veins that she tends to as if they were her children. My Heaven will be a day-in-and-out reality rather than something I live in on occasion.

First, use the various empty bottles I have to put flammable oil into. Next, I put them into a bag and keep a lighter in a separate pocket of the bag. Wouldn’t want the chance of me setting myself on fire. Lastly, there’s getting to the root of the red veins, which is the easiest. All the veins lead to the main root and get bigger the closer you get. Those who can afford it are given an easy way to access them since the bigger the veins, the more overwhelmed your senses will be. Some have even died from the overdose they got when they got next to the main root. In addition, I’ll have to watch out for the Sense who may be tending to the red veins at the moment. I’ll have to be careful and endure the sensations if I want to make it out of this with my life and mind intact.

Going to where the veins are the largest, I find an orgy of mind-broken slaves, prostitutes, and their customers pleasuring each other and themselves while wrapped in the red veins.  The sight invokes some disgust in me for some reason. Maybe it’s because I’ve been trying to ignore it for a while or because what they’re doing is too extreme even for me. Further in, the red veins cover more of the ground, wall, and ceilings. While avoiding the touch of the veins, I have to step over the dead bodies of those who overdosed too much on pleasure and those whose bodies are overwhelmed by the pleasures they’ve been experiencing.

The red veins become harder and harder to avoid until I have no choice but to step close to them and even walk on them. I do my best to ignore my senses, but it’s almost impossible to do so, especially with all the red veins I’ve been touching and seeing the orgy around me. It gets to a point where I unintentionally touch the veins and then intentionally do so before completely losing my mind and self-control. The thought comes to my mind that I should resist these sensations and silence them, but why should I when this is all that I’ve wanted? My entire life’s goal is to feel nothing but happy and constant ecstasy and I’ve found it here!

I take place in the orgies around me until I’m more than satisfied. When I’m done, the red veins strike my nerves again and make me go in again for me again and again. After about the fifth time, I remember why I’m here, but I still want to indulge in the seemingly endless pleasures around me. At this point, I struggle to even stand in place as I keep having to pull myself back from going back into the orgies. What can I even do at this point? There’s nothing I can do to resist my desires. Maybe…maybe I do need silence.

It's in this moment where I give control over myself to the silence that I begin to regain control of myself weirdly enough. Continuing to do so clears my mind and allows me to reach the main root of the red veins that looks like a beating heart. I then pour out the bottles of oil on the veins and light it up without a second thought. Soon after, the red veins shrivel up, and the structures around me that the veins supported crumble. I do my best to escape but end up under the rubble and knocked out.

When I come to, I think I’m still under the rubble, however, I see that I’m trapped in a small, cramped hole with my arms, legs, and body impaled with spikes. I can hardly move with my knees up to my face and when I make the slightest movement, I feel immense pain. Someone must’ve put me in here after what I did. My answer as to who it could’ve been is answered quickly as the door to the hole is opened and it’s no surprise that’s revealed to be the Sense.

“Hello, Fallacia,” she says as if she ran to get here and has the worst intentions for me in her head as if this isn’t bad enough.

“What is this?! Why am I like in this hole?!” I ask.

“Because you burned all the red veins, my main money maker is gone besides my slaves. That has earned you this particular punishment but also my respect. In a way, you interest me more than anyone else I’ve ever met. No one has ever made it to the heart of the red veins and come out with their sanity intact. Not even me. I want to do things to you beyond your wildest imagination for as long as I live. We’ll become one in the same body and enjoy the joys of pleasure together forever.”

“I know your sick tastes and I refuse to take part in them.”

“You didn’t let me finish. You’ll also have a say in what we do. I’ll even let you have control over our body as long as you let me have my way when I want it. If we come to a disagreement, then we can dispute it in the most tantalizing of ways. Think about it. You’ll be in ecstasy for the rest of your life.”

“My answer is still no. I don’t want to share a body and my pleasures with anyone but myself.”

“Suit yourself then. I’ll keep you here and keep coming back from time to time to ask again. You’ll subside on stale bread and dirty water and be kept alive whether you like it or not. I promise you that one day you’ll break and be mine so we can enjoy the pleasures of life forever and ever. Goodbye for now.”

As soon as the Sense closes the door to my cramped hole, I immediately begin feeling regret. What was I thinking when I chose this kind of existence for who knows how long? It’s the Quiet’s fault I’m like this right now. I know you can hear me think about you. You did this to me and made me do the things I did. It’s deafeningly quiet now, so you might as well explain yourself to me. That’s right. I can hear you now. Tell me why it was worth doing what I did. Tell me more about yourself. Tell me…if there’s any hope for me.

How Evil Dies: Chapter 1 – Influence

Chapter 1 – Influence

I look at the results of my handiwork, the dead bodies of my parents. They had to die so my siblings and I could rise in the company and make the changes we want. Back in the day, they were known for being ruthless, uncompromising, and successful, but something happened and they lost their edge over the years. In their old age, they had mercy on their competitors and gave help to those in need without asking or expecting anything in return. It is said that they were affected by the Quiet, which is an entity said to restrict people’s minds to its will. It’s a mystery as to how anyone can hear it despite how noisy the world is and every moving nature of it that keeps you thinking and busy.

Whatever the case is, I gave my parents the kind of death they wanted. They died around pictures of family and memorable moments. Their machines that helped them move their crippled bodies are stuck in the middle of all these pictures. From their appearance, they died of starvation or thirst, possibly from heart problems, or they could’ve died from defecating themselves and shame because of the mess they made. I sabotaged their machines the last time I was here while they were sleeping and left them here because I’m such a good son. Now, nothing will stop my siblings and me from making the changes we want in the company they’ve left us.

Right now, their bodies are being tested to see if they were poisoned and their machines are looked over to see how they could’ve malfunctioned, but this is all for show and for them to write a sham report for the public. These people are in my pocket and will be rewarded for their share in their part in my ascension to power. I have many plans and grander ideas than my siblings. In time, I’ll be head of the most influential and powerful company in the Complex and rule over every aspect of it. As I look outside the window, I can imagine it now.

All these buildings within a singular building is the Complex, which is the world we live in. The buildings are connected by open areas, hallways, vents, and elevators that can be claustrophobic at times, but it’s efficient. It’s a machine run by those who influence the public the most and those influencers are treated as if they were gods. An influencer is given gifts, appealed to for advice and alliance, has hundreds of thousands, if not millions who work for them, and most of all, is the one that defines what is right and wrong. My goal is to reach that point where everyone listens to what I have to say and doesn’t question if it’s right or wrong. Morality is nothing more than a set of rules that the influencers use to keep their underlings in their cages. One day, I’ll be the master instead of an underling.

My siblings have lesser goals such as being in a comfortable place of power where they don’t have a target on their back while still being respected here in the Business district, spending the rest of their lives in the Sense district, or being able to watch as many blood sports as possible without the possibility of being attacked in the Fighter’s district. None of their goals are as grand as mine and none of them have done as much work to get us to where we are now. Who even has done as much as I have? Who deserves more power and influence than I do?

Looking into the reflection of the glass, I see nothing but a king in it. The mouths on my face, stomach, and hand are thirsty for power and my rightful position, especially since I’m so close to obtaining them.

“I’m sorry for your loss, Capio,” the Board says from behind me.

The Board is a man comprised of three heads, many arms, eyes, and a single gaping mouth in the center where the three heads meet. He is dressed in his usual grey dress shirt and black pants, which is the same kind of outfit I wear except there’s no mouth where his stomach is. This man is my greatest obstacle to my goals besides my siblings since everyone in the Business district answers to him. If he wasn’t with his guards, I would personally kill him with the help of my men, but then again, his skin is stronger than steel so the guns of my workers wouldn’t have much of an impact on him either. Guns are hardly even used nowadays besides by those who don’t have expensive modifications like the Board and I since most people are modified for their jobs and it would take half a magazine to put someone down anyways.

“Thank you for your concern and coming here, but you don’t need to worry about me. My parents taught me never to slow down for anything, not even the loss of loved ones,” I say while turning to him.

“Your siblings and you are the same in that regard. Your parents raised proper children, an honorable legacy for a couple who lost their way at the end of their life.”

“I promise you that I won’t be the same. In fact, let’s get to business right away. I trust that I’ll be seeing you at tonight’s promotional party?”

“Of course. I thought I’d just come here to pay my respects, to you, that is. Not your parents.”

“I’m honored that you went out of your way to do that before the promotional party.”

“I think there might be a misunderstanding. I am paying my respects to your work.”

“Excuse me? What misunderstanding is there?”

“I know how your parents died. I don’t need an investigation to figure it out because I know what you did.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hahaha! You’re following my example and the example of your parents to the letter. Keep it up and you may have a bright future ahead of you. Just remember who is in charge.”

The Board leaves the room with his guards behind him. Once I know he’s far away, I punch a hole in the wall. He knows, but at least he respects my work. I’ll have to try to be less obvious if I want to take his position. Looking up to the lights outside on the ceiling that hangs above the buildings in the Complex, I think of my next plan, put on my poker face, and leave for the party. While on the way, I pass through the busy streets of the Business district. As soon as I reported my parents’ deaths, the news of my promotion came up. Because of that, I have the eyes of many on me.

Those who have many eyes have all of them focused on me while those with many mouths seem to be drooling as if they are trying to intimidate me or are restraining themselves from killing me and taking the power I now inherit. They’ll all have to keep their delusions of being more influential and powerful than me to themselves, especially with their modifications that are nowhere as functionally good or as good-looking as mine. Still, some are power-hungry here and three people decide to attack me head-on. To counter them, I attack by slicing the throat of one of them with the sharp finger teeth on my left hand and using its mouth to eat the person’s face off. I then use my left hand’s finger teeth to stab the next person in the head and then punch their head off with my right hand. The last person throws swing after swing at me with their multiple legs and arms, but I cut at each one until they’re down on their knees.

“Anyone else who wants to stand against me will end up like these worthless maggots!” I say to the observing crowd.

With my stomach mouth, I decapitate the last person and spit their head back into their chest where it is firmly stuck. Looking around, I see that no one else dares raise their hand against me. Not even the law enforcement officers do anything because of my strength, position of power, and right to defend myself. Of course, if I didn’t have the privileges I have now, it’d be a different story. I walk past the crowd and continue on my way.

The fight has actually renewed my strength in a way as I have been proven strong and untouchable through it. Again looking up, I imagine my inevitable future. Above me I see my family’s company advertising their products of clothes, modifications, and jewelry alongside other advertisements from other companies. Soon, they’ll all be showing what I want in the way that I want it. The Board’s face won’t be everywhere and feared by anyone. Instead, it’ll be me who is feared, respected, and looked up to. This future is so close that I can almost taste it.

When I make it to the party, I make myself comfortable at the table set for me, my siblings, and the heads of our company. As the guests come in, I make note of everyone who comes in and their modifications. Eventually, the room is filled with everyone I expect including the Board that sits with my siblings and me. I make small talk with the guests, my family, and the Board until my oldest brother clinks his glass to give a welcoming speech.

“We’re sorry for the late start. It’s with a heavy heart that we have to announce the deaths of several key members of this organization and friends to my parents,” my older brother says.

My brother starts listing off names and with each name said, I feel a sense of pride because I am responsible for all their deaths. I didn’t want any of them getting in my way, so I had them poisoned or killed by their loved ones or assassins from the Fighter’s district before I went to see my dead parents.

“Despite this, we must keep moving forward. The Complex is a world that never sleeps after all and just as it never stops operating, we must never stop to not only keep up but also get ahead of our competitors. For that reason, it has been decided that my siblings and I take assume the roles that our parents raised us for. One of these roles will also be taken up by the Board who has been guiding us and our inspiration for our entire life,” my brother continues.

Turning to my little sister, I ask, “The Board has a role in our company? Since when was this decided?”

“When you were absent,” my sister answers.

“And you were there?”

“Everyone else besides you was.”

“Was anything else decided without my knowing?”

“Other than you staying in your given position, there’s nothing else you need to know.”

“What?!” I say loud enough to stop my brother’s speech. “I’m sorry. Don’t mind us. Continue on.”

“We’ll talk about this after the party.”

“No, we’ll talk about this now! It’s urgent!”

“I’ll explain this to him,” the Board says before switching seats with my sister. “Capio, you must understand that this is for the better of your company. Your parents put in hot water when they strayed from their ways and this is the best way to get it back on track.”

“But why was I the one that was chosen to not receive any kind of promotion?”

“Because you weren’t there. It’s as simple as that. Your siblings came to me, we talked, and this is what happened.”

“This is ridiculous…” I don’t mean to say it aloud but do anyway.

“Think about it in this way then. You don’t want a target on your back. If you moved up in the company, then you would’ve had people watching your every move and waiting for you to slip up, but since you didn’t move up, no one takes note of you, so you can do whatever you want.”

“…you’re right.”

In a way he’s right. He’s definitely making logical excuses and benefits for my situation though I’m not sure if absolutely everyone will not pay attention to me since I’m the only one who hasn’t moved up. The Board then puts his hand on my shoulder before coming closer to whisper to me.

“Take pride in the fact that you’ve done the most to save your family’s company even if it was in a stereotypical way. Good work in getting rid of all those other puppets of your parents as well.”

I have nothing more to say to the Board or my siblings. I don’t even stay for the remainder of the party and just walk out before the prostitutes arrive. Knaves from the Fighter’s district were also supposed to show up and fight for us for our entertainment, but I leave before that happens as well not even wishing to stay and watch it and imagine myself beating my siblings and the Board in the fight. Neither lust nor violence has my interest, I only want influence and power. Now, I’m back to square one with little to no influence on how my family’s company is handled.

I’ve made my way back to my house and am now sitting in my room thinking about what to do. The Board was right in saying that I did the most stereotypical thing possible in killing my parents and their allies. Doing so is pretty much a rite of passage in the Complex unless the parents are strong and respectable. Going after my siblings would be even more of a predictable move and even if I managed to kill them, I’d still have to worry about the Board. The man is a mystery and may as well be a god because of all the power and people he has under his control. No one knows what his real name is or how exactly he became so powerful. It’s only known that he’s older than most people here and everyone who goes against him ends up dead.

As far as I know, there’s no way out of my situation. Many in my company alone are in similar situations and they’ve been in it for years no matter how they try to get out of it. This is idiotic. This is absurd. I’ve trapped myself with no way out because I was too focused on getting the threat in front of me that I failed to think about the possible schemes of my siblings. What to do…what can I do?

At this point, I’m lost without a single thought in my head for a while, which is bad because the Quiet could influence me. To counter it, I could get up and leave my mostly quiet room to go outside and fill my ears with the constant noise of the Complex, but I’m too tired to do move. I’ve never spent this long in relative silence in my life and I frankly care less and less about it as what I assume to be the Quiet calms my heart and mind. Is this the effect of this mysterious entity or my own delusions? Whatever it is, it’s getting me to think more.

What’s the point of me obtaining power and influence if all my work can vanish in an instant? The Board may seem untouchable, but everyone dies and no one’s legacy lasts forever, especially in these times when people are trying to be better than everyone else. I think I should knock everyone down from their thrones. Part of me feels like it’s the right thing to do, whatever that means. If I can’t be in power, then I’m going to make it difficult for everyone else to. I’m going to punish them for every crime and evil thing they’ve done. Sure, it’s ironic that a wicked person such as myself should want some kind of real justice to happen in the Complex where the concept is completely foreign, but I feel that this is my chance to change and make an actual difference.

Huh. So, is this what the Quiet does to a person. It’s no wonder my parents changed in the way that they did. Maybe they were on to something. Maybe I should’ve talked to them about it. Maybe…it was wrong to kill them. Um, there’s no reason to dwell on that now. I have a new grand plan that I want to enact.

Looking over maps of the Complex that show the areas under it, I formulate a route to get to the giant generator room that supplies most of the power for the Business district. There are other generators underground, however, if I manage to destroy this one room, then the influencers of this district will face irreparable damages as they won’t be able to communicate with their devices, use the internet, and most importantly of all access their funds. The main generator powers the banks and with it out, they’ll have to break open the nearly unbreakable doors by hand, which will take a while and leave them all strapped for cash. After looking over it again and considering what I have to do to get into the primary generator, I think about going after the smaller ones first. This is a more realistic goal since they aren’t as well-guarded and are relatively easier to get to.

I calculate that over the course of a minimum of a few years, I’ll be able to completely disrupt the district as a whole. Even though I feel set on going after the smaller generators, I can’t help but feel I should go after the main one first. It’ll definitely be more heavily guarded as the other generators shut down, but that’s just a future problem I’ll have to deal with. Once I collect the necessary explosives from my cache of sabotage tools, I head out and use one of the sewer grates to enter the underside of the Complex. Here, those who are worse than the degenerates above hide along with those who are not as degenerate and are unwilling to deal with the evil on the surface. This place is also a good dumpster to hide bodies and evidence of crimes, which I should know best since I’ve used it as a dumping ground for years.

“Up to no good again, Capio?” a partner of mine, Surripio, says from the dark.

“Yes, I am, and try scaring me in a different way next time,” I say.

Surripio does still unnerve me not only because I can’t guarantee his loyalty to me, but also because I’ve never seen his full body. The only parts I have seen are eyes and mouths on tentacles protruding from the dark and a body comprised of multiple writhing bodies in it.

“Oh, but speaking from the darkness is such a classic that hardly fails me. Tell me, what trouble you are getting into now and can it involve me? I’ve heard about what happened to you.”

“I’m not going after my siblings if that’s what you’re thinking and no I don’t need your help. This is something I feel that I have to do on my own.”

“Aren’t you a grown-up? Well, let me know when you need me. I would really like to have more company.”

I know he would. I just hope that I don’t end up like his victims after doing what I plan. While following the map to one of the first generators, I see that the way ahead is blocked by a wall of trash. Since that way is blocked, I go a different route only to find a large fight taking place that blocks another one of my paths. After which, the next couple of routes I try to take are blocked by either rubble, bodies, trash, shady characters, or fights. Now, it feels like I’m being set up as if someone is intentionally leading me to their desired destination. What’s even stranger is the rubble and cracks in the foundation of the Complex that I see in small parts of the ceiling and walls.

The foundation of the Complex is supposed to be strong and under constant improvement and repair. All this rubble, cracks, and damage I see suggest otherwise. At this point, I shouldn’t be surprised that it was a lie since more lies and exaggerations are said than the blunt truth. Parts of the rubble have tunnels that go through them and because I don’t really have a way forward, I go through them and find myself in a part of the underground where there’s a hole in the ceiling. When I reference the map, I see that I’m directly under the main generator. Isn’t this a golden opportunity?

How did the hole under the generator even form? Judging from the damage, it’s hard to tell. Was it an outside or inside job? It couldn’t be because the foundation fell out from under it, could it? I’m in such disbelief seeing this that I remember hearing the rumor from Surripio that this exact thing happened to the main generator’s floor. The only reason I can think of as to why it isn’t repaired yet is because Surripio and the others down here have been taking whoever tries to repair it.

“Do you believe me now?” Surripio says from behind me in the dark.

“I do,” I say while not trying to sound startled.

“It’s curious to me as to why you’re here. What’s your plan? What’s your purpose for being here? Surely, you’re not here for the dead end and are going up to the main generator.”

“You got me figured out, but my business is not your concern.”

“Ah, but it is. Are you here to destroy the generator? Maybe you are here to sabotage it and direct funds to your own bank? Perhaps you want to make some changes in the system for your benefit and the detriment of another. Whatever the case is, I’ll help you.”

“Help me? Why?”

“Because if you do any of these things or any of these things I haven’t guessed, then people will come to me for help.”

“Oh, so it’s not a favor for all our years of friendship.”

“No one in the world does anything for anyone unless they can benefit from it.”

“Okay, then I accept your help.”

“I wasn’t asking if you’d accept my help. I’ll distract and get rid of the guards for you. Then, you can do whatever it is you wish. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be making some friends.”

What Surripio says about doing things for other people seems wrong to me despite my knowing it to be the truth. I hardly even take note of him as he passes by me in an instant. Is this the influence of the Quiet on me? Has it influenced how I see good and evil? Well, it isn’t the reason why I’m doing what I am because I’m doing this for myself. I will be the one to take all the glory of being the Business district and its gods to its knees and laugh as they suffer. If I can’t rule over them, then no one can.

After climbing up the rubble and making it into the building, I find that it’s eerily quiet as if no one is guarding the generators nor doing routine maintenance on it. In the distance, I can hear the sound of fighting and screaming, which is surely Surripio doing his work. I try my best to ignore the sounds of horror while I plant the explosives in the cooling tanks that keep the generators from overheating. Once I finish, I turn around ready to leave until I’m suddenly confronted by a group of guards led by the Board.

“Why am I not surprised you’re here?” I wonder aloud.

“Because you should know that nothing happens in the Complex without me knowing about it. I’ve had my people monitoring your progress ever since you left the party,” the Board says.

“And? What do I owe the pleasure of your personal appearance?”

“You’ll get a promotion in your company from me if you step away and let the bomb defusal squad disarm the explosives you’ve planted.”

“A promotion? You’re offering me a promotion in my own company?”

“It’s not just that. You’ll rule at my side over your siblings and everyone I rule over. Nothing will happen or be said without you knowing about it. People will fear, listen, and respect you.”

“Why are you giving me such a generous offer?”

“Because you’ve done something that I can respect. I see myself in you and the potential that you have because you’ve gone out of your way and put yourself in danger in such a way that few do, which is the mark of someone with real strength and determination. So, what do you say? You only have one good choice.”

“One good choice? Heh, I don’t think so.”

“Do you have another that I don’t know about? Is there someone you’re working for? What they’re giving you to do this is not as worth it as what am offering.”

“This must be the Quiet’s influence on me, but I don’t have any desire for power at the moment. What I want is a concept foreign to me even now. I want true justice.”

What happens next is a blur as I press the button to detonate the explosives and try my best to escape it. The way I came in is covered by rubble and everything and everyone in the building is in a panic. I don’t know what happens after other than me aimlessly running through the chaos and being knocked unconscious. By the time I wake up, people are digging me out of the rubble and I’m not able to say anything or move because of the pain I’m in and the damage done to my body. My “rescuers” bring me out of the building as I pass out and wake up on and off. My mind is mostly awake for the brief moments that I’m outside and back in the Business district to see that it’s in chaos, a sight that fills me with happiness and peace. Eventually, I’m brought to a hospital room where doctors and the Board is.

“I’m surprised that we were able to find you and even more surprised that you’re still alive,” the Board says. “The Quiet is something else to have moved you to do it. I’ll be sure to keep a closer eye on its followers since I’ve vastly underestimated what it can get people to do. As for you, you’ll be kept alive and hung for your crime and as an example to all who think of doing the same as you or following the Quiet’s advice. You won’t be allowed to die and will hang there until I say so. I hope you enjoy your just reward and take pride that I respect you for being so bold and stupid in the fate you have chosen.”

The doctors then perform some kind of operation on me before I’m taken outside and hung by the neck in the center of the Business district. People throw things at me and yell insults and curses. My neck feels like it’s been crushed, but I’m still able to breathe, and yet, I can’t move or speak still. At this point, I don’t care if this is my fate for the rest of my life. My life was miserable before, so this is hardly any different. If anything, I’m glad that I got to do something meaningful and right for once in my life.

Even in the nosiness, I can hear silence. In it, I hear the Quiet whispering to me. Well, I might as well listen to what it has to say. It’s not like I have anything better to do. Tell me your secrets. Let me know more about you.

My latest book is out today!

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Angels of the Shadows, otherwise known as death squads, keep the peace and protect the innocent by executing criminals and revolutionaries on sight when deployed. Novus is a private new to this life and struggles as he tries to get used to it while doing what he thinks is his vocation.

No Need for Heroes: Chapter 5 – Another Day of Duty

Chapter 5 – Another Day of Duty

Sometime passes since the last riot. The Sorrows have been passing their time by attending funerals and guarding church services. Meanwhile, the intelligence divisions are keeping a close eye on both government and civilians so something like the riot doesn’t happen again. Even still, it doesn’t stop tragedy from striking as a Sorrow officer shoots an influential priest during mass. Other Sorrows and police officers turn on their fellow officers before Novus can retaliate. The civilians quickly exit the building as a gunfight ensues between the two groups of officers with the ones who were attacking retreating.

“Don’t let those traitors escape!” Lt. Sterner says before radioing the station to tell them what’s happening.

Chasing after the traitors, the Sorrows and police find themselves in trap after trap as they go from the back alleys and to the sewers where the traitors are constantly reinforced by their criminal allies. Several officers are injured during these traps, but reinforcements from different Sorrow stations make up for this as the traitors are continuously pushed back. To counter the increasing number of Sorrow officers, parts of the sewer are blown up to separate the officers from one another. Novus finds himself all alone and it doesn’t help that the communications are jammed. He can hardly hear Lt. Sterner at the other end telling him to be careful and find a way to regroup with the rest of the Sorrows.

“God, give me the strength to make it through this day,” Novus says.

Somewhat unnerved by being alone in this dire situation, Novus continues forward. Further into the sewers, he finds traitors and criminals going a certain way, so he assumes they’re heading to an exit and follows them as silently as possible. The path that he follows leads Novus to an abandoned building in the center of the city. It’s a place where these traitors and criminals are regrouping, arming themselves, and deciding what to do next. This is also the place where the communications are being jammed from as mentioned by one of the traitorous Sorrows. At first, Novus wants to go back through the sewers to lead his allies and friends to this location, but the way through the sewers becomes blocked off by a sewer grate. Because of this, he changes his plan to get rid of the communications jam and then calls for help.

“God, I am really going to need strength in this challenge,” Novus says before heading off further into the building.

He manages to sneak his way through the abandoned building until he makes it to the communications room where he is discovered. In his panic, Novus shoots up the room destroying machinery and killing its users. Thankfully, he is able to communicate with the other Sorrows and tells them where he is and what’s happening.

“I hear you, rookie! We have your location on our trackers. Hold out until then! Don’t you die on me!” Lt. Sterner says.

Unfortunately, Novus is shot in the side soon after and finds himself with his back against the wall. He bunkers himself in the communications room where he throws flashbangs and grenades out of. When he runs out of flashbangs, he throws smoke and tries to use this to cover his escape but finds it difficult to because of the traitors who use the same heat vision that he has in their helmets. In addition, they wield guns that can pierce through his armor, which makes them priority targets. He also prioritizes them because of their betrayal but tries to temper himself from hating them. After killing twenty of his enemies, they stop coming after him. Novus finds himself in one of the rooms they are keeping their weapons in and uses this break in the fighting to barricade the room and rearm himself with more explosives and ammo for his gun.

“You don’t have to keep fighting us. Let’s talk,” one of the traitors says on an isolated radio communication between her and Novus.

“Why should I? You shot first and betrayed God and the kingdom. The blood of the faithful is on your hands,” Novus says.

“Because the kingdom doesn’t care about its subjects. It keeps people poor and in harsh working conditions simply because its leaders don’t think their families have done enough to make more.”

“Then you should’ve entered politics or the clergy rather than murder the innocent.”

“As if we’re to speak about murder. It’s our entire job. We even both think we’re doing the right thing.”

“The difference is that I actually am.”

“Are you so sure about that?”

“I am sure. Unlike you, I don’t step outside of my God-given vocation to do what I think is right.”

“Then I have nothing more to say to you other than I hope you like dying like the cornered dog you are.”

“I prefer to think of myself as a wolf or rather an angel of death.”

Novus then exchanges fire with the traitors and criminals while throwing grenades and whatever else he can to get the slightest advantage to tip the balance. During the gunfight, he is shot in the arm, leg, and several bullets manage to destroy his helmet but only graze his face in the process. Eventually, he runs out of ammo and the gunfire stops. The other guns in this armory are further away from him where his enemies already are, so there’s no safe way to get to them.

“I can give you a quick and easy death if you step out and surrender peacefully,” the traitorous officer says.

Taking out his combat knife, Novus leaps over his makeshift barrier and recites part of the Sorrow’s oath, “For God and country, I offer my life, my sacrifice of love!”

He then proceeds to cut through everyone he sees by slashing their throats, impaling their heads, and stabbing their chest while being shot at, and doesn’t stop cutting and stabbing until his body gives. Standing over him, the traitorous officer shakes his head and is about to finish Novus off until the traitor is shot along with his allies by Lt. Sterner, Sensus, and the other Sorrows. In his pained state, Novus can’t hear what anyone is saying. The officers quickly patch him up as best as they can before taking him to the helicopter they came in and flying him to the nearest hospital. Lt. Sterner screams at the doctors to treat Novus immediately and watches as he is operated on and eventually stabilized before he leaves and has to attend to the other injured Sorrow officers.

While he is dreaming, Novus sees himself in a light that feels welcoming. Ahead of him is a strange darkness that is both bright and shadow at the same time that calls to him as if it were an old friend. He is tempted to stay in the light, but he feels an obligation to go to the dark.

“I am an Angel of the Shadows. That is my vocation. God has called me to work in the dark to serve His light and that is what I will do,” Novus says.

Moving to the dark, he feels uncomfortable but also alive. Behind him, the light that once had him has disappeared. A new light then appears ahead of him that is brighter than any light he’s seen. It’s far in the distance and calls to him like the promise of a bright future. For now, he rests in the dark as it carries him forward to this future and strengthens him to continue on. Some days later, Lt. Sterner gives a speech on what has happened.

As the speech goes on, he mentions Novus and says, “Pvt. Novus cleared our communications that day in the secret base of the traitors and held out long enough for us to save him from dying at their hands. He’ll be okay and back in service next month. Even now, he’s itching to get back to work. People say that he acted like a hero and that we need heroes during these times, but I say that we have no need for them. What we do need is people who accomplish the vocation God gives them. That’s what Novus did.

There’s more honor and bravery to be found in that than going out of your way to be a hero. The traitors and criminals that turned on their own thought they were heroes and you know what happened as a result. It’s what happens all the time when we try to be more than what God made us to be. St. Opus, patron of the True Servants, exemplifies what it means to be more than a hero in our daily lives. He did nothing noteworthy in his life other than being a faithful officer and today he is a saint and example to all, so I pray that we all can fulfill our vocations and do whatever it is God wills of us.”

The End

No Need for Heroes: Chapter 4 – Lifelong Service

Chapter 4 – Lifelong Service

“Wake up! We got an emergency, rookie!” Lt. Sterner yells.

Novus falls out of bed and gets his uniform and armor on quickly and efficiently just as he was trained to in an emergency. He then gets his guns and runs downstairs with the rest of the Sorrows as the alarm blares loud enough to wake up a person from blocks away. Every single office in this station stands at attention outside behind Lt. Sterner who stands at attention in front of three True Servants, veteran Angel of the Shadows officers. These veteran officers are heavily armored in a suit that’s a mixture of a juggernaut and a medieval knight while their weapons are double-barreled light-machine guns with two separate boxes for each barrel.

“We’re all here as you asked, chief officers. What are your orders?” Lt. Sterner says.

The True Servants look at each other as if confused.

“We don’t have any orders for you. We just told you that we’d be coming to visit,” one of the chief officers says.

“What are you talking about? A visit from the True Servants is always an honor and for a special reason or have you not yet grown up, chief officer Murus?”

Murus takes off his helmet to reveal his old yet glowing face. He has very few grey hairs in his black hair and minor wrinkles on his smiling face.

“I’ve told you that growing up is for the proud and that only those who have the pure heart and mind of a child will inherit the kingdom of Heaven,” Murus says.

“Have you lost your mind? Put your helmet back on! You’re leaving yourself exposed to assassination!”

“The Lord is my protector. You know that if my time was up, no amount of armor could protect me from my destined death. Take off your helmet. I want to see your face.”

“Chief officer-”

“If you keep wanting to be so formal, then I’ll command it. Do as I say, Lt. Sterner. Or do you lack faith in God and are unwilling to obey your superiors?”

“…yes, sir. I’ll do as you command.”

Taking off his helmet, Lt. Sterner reveals his aging face that appears to be stuck in a permanent scowl. His black hair and brown eyes seem to be darker than most as if colored by his past.

“Ah. Still aging faster than most I see. You’ll look older than me before you turn forty. If you don’t lighten up, you’ll die tired and miserable as well.”

“…yes, sir…”

Lt. Sterner keeps his head down as if completely ashamed of his superior’s judgment of him.

“Sensus, I trust you’ve been watching over him?”

“Yes, sir. I’ve been doing my best,” Sensus says.

“Let me see your face as well.” Sensus takes off his helmet which reveals a youthful face with shining brown hair and brown eyes. “Ah! I see that you look still as if you just graduated from high school. It wouldn’t surprise me if you still look the same in fifty years.”

“I hope so, sir. My wife would sure like it.”

“I’m sure she would. Tell your family I said hi or better yet, we should arrange another get-together and have our families cook together.”

“Will do. I’ll get to it later today.”

“I remember you said that you had an aspiring private on your team, Sterner. Let me see him.”

“Rookie Novus!”

“Are you still calling privates rookies? Did I calling you that really affect you that much?”

Ignoring what he said, Lt. Sterner presents Novus as he says, “This private, who is a transfer from the police, was a bit slow at first but has overcome his flaws and has the potential to be an outstanding Angel of the Shadows. I can transfer you the reports that he was a part of if you want a detailed history.”

“Noted. Let me see your face, boy.”

“Yes, sir,” Novus says as he does what he is commanded.

Novus’ face is much like Sensus’ in that it is youthful. His light blue eyes and shiny black hair seem to have a glimmer to them that makes Murus squint a bit.

“I see potential in you, private. Keep that light shining and you’ll accomplish great things.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Sir, sir, sir. Enough with the formalities! Sterner, have your cooks make us a fine lunch. I want to know everything you and your station have been up to for the past year and a half that I haven’t seen you and I don’t mean that you should tell me mostly about work.”

“Yes, si-Yes, right this way,” Lt. Sterner says before leading all the officers into the building.

A large lunch is made for every officer in the station and the visiting chief officers. Murus tells the Sorrows stories of the past and includes embarrassing ones of Lt. Sterner that everyone laughs at while Lt. Sterner hangs his head down in embarrassment.

While eating, Novus asks Sensus, “What’s Lt. Sterner’s history with Chief Officer Murus?”

“He was our teacher and lieutenant when Sterner was a private like you. Murus usually stops by every year, but because of the recently high crime rates and the True Servants like him having to be deployed in different places in this sector, he hasn’t been able to make it as much,” Sensus says.

“Are the crime rates really worse than they were years ago? I haven’t noticed a difference from the crime rates of recent years.”

“Years ago probably when you were too young to remember, we used to be deployed maybe once a month or once every two months. Now, it’s pretty much every other day, which is sad despite the action giving us raises.”

“Helping the Dominion had to at least help. We haven’t been deployed in a month.”

“It probably did, but quietness is never good.” An alarm bell rings for the Sorrows to deploy. “Speak of the devil.”

The officers in communications tell the officers that a city-wide fight has broken up between several revolutionary groups both known and unknown, The True Servants decide to help the Sorrows and deploy themselves with them. Murus dictates that he and his fellow chief officers will be joining Lt. Sterner, Sensus, and Novus while the other Sorrow officers will be deployed in groups of five.

“I’m sure you don’t mind us joining you,” Murus says.

“It’s your orders, sir. I can’t object to them,” Lt. Sterner says.

“You can complain as you have before.”

“Chief officer, I think it’s time we move. Innocent lives are at stake here.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Murus says with a chuckle.

The officers travel to a mall where one of the fights is happening in an armored truck. When they get to the scene, they see both civilians and revolutionaries dead on the ground. Civilians armed with guns of their own attempt to fight back in stores with owners who are also fighting back. As soon as they see the Angels of the Shadows appear, they cheer them on and loudly thank God.

“Let’s get to work, boys and girls,” Murus says before taking out his bulletproof phone and playing his music.

Both he and the other True Servants play the same song and awkwardly dance while ripping into the revolutionaries with their light-machine guns like a group of newbies to a dance club that wants to appear confident but still dance stiffly.

“What are you doing, chief officer?!” Lt. Sterner says.

“Just enjoying my job. Come on, sing with me, Sterner! Another one bites the dust!” Murus sings.

“You only got sillier, haven’t you Murus…”

Novus is astounded by how the True Servants walk into the hail of gunfire and treat it like nothing. He and the other Sorrows hardly have to cover them since they’re killing most of their targets. After five minutes, the revolutionaries lie in pieces and the civilians and shop owners come out to give the officers their thanks and praise.

“Thank you for your help, citizens. You are all brave and will be rewarded. Come to Sorrow station Raziel and mention that Chief Officer Murus sent you for your reward, but for now, get to safety while we bring safety back to our city,” Murus says.

“You’re going to have them all come to my station for a reward?” Lt. Sterner asks in a confused and shocked tone.

“It’ll be on me.”

While back in the armored truck on their way to the next fight, Novus says, “That was some impressive shooting, Chief Officer Murus. I’m surprised that you could dance and shoot so accurately at the same time.”

“It’s all a result of practice and asking God to pull the trigger,” Murus says.

Lt. Sterner rolls his head and tries not to listen to the conversation.

“Why do you listen to music while you shoot anyway?”

“To help me work.”

“It’s stupid,” Lt. Sterner comments.

“To be honest, you’re right in a way,” Murus admits, “All of the killing I’ve done since I was sixteen has numbed me to it a bit. I try to not be completely numb to it by still practicing my penances for sinners and will do so more for the ones who have recently passed by helping with the cleanup and attending the next funeral.”

“It’s going to be a big one at this rate,” Sensus points out.

“The world never runs out of tragedies,” Lt. Sterner says.

“Such is life and why we should always remember to hope beyond hope by placing our eyes on the Lord,” Murus says.

“Amen,” the other two chief officers say.

Novus and Sensus also say amen while Lt. Sterner says it much softly as if reluctant to do so. The officers go from place to place clearing out revolutionaries and protecting civilians during which Novus can relate to Murus in that he was growing numb to killing. By the end of the day, he doesn’t know how many people he’s killed. The cleanup takes three days during which the mayor, chief of police, and other figureheads give speeches about unifying against crime for the good of humanity and God.

“It’s an obvious speech to make, but they’re right to remind us of it,” Lt. Sterner says. “The revolutionaries fought each other because they worshipped different gods, masters of their morality, and goals whereas everyone loyal to the kingdom has the same goal of serving and loving God and their neighbors. Common sense is now common rather than a delusion as it was back then. This can’t be overstated enough.”

On the next day, the funeral for the revolutionaries and the innocents who died during the riot is held at the largest cathedral in the city. Even now, some of the caskets must be kept outside due to the high number of bodies. The True Servants attend the funeral and the service itself lasts the entire day. Afterward, Murus and the other chief officers join the Sorrows for dinner during which he talks to Novus.

“You’ve been doing great. I see that you have the potential to be a great officer, Pvt. Novus,” he says.

“Thank you, sir. It’s an honor getting a compliment from a True Servant such as yourself,” Novus says.

“So, what are your plans when you hit your ten-year mark? Are you thinking about transferring into a government job or continuing as an officer?”

“I pray to God that I know when I reach that point. How long does it take to become a True Servant anyway?”

“Roughly the same time it takes to become king, so roughly fifty or sixty years depending on how distinguished you become.”

“I can’t imagine myself becoming king in the future.”

“I couldn’t see myself entering into politics either. It’s why I am where I am now. I was and still am inspired by our patron’s humble simplicity and I try to enjoy and appreciate what I have because of it. There’s honor in every role in life, you know? A humble factory worker can earn a high if not a higher place than the king or most distinguished clergyman in Heaven through a faithful life.”

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Later in the night when Novus is in bed, he reflects on recent events and feels renewed in the same way a person does when they enter a cool building on a hot summer’s day and feels ready for whatever comes next in his life.

“I’ll appreciate-no. I appreciate everything that I have now and make this promise again to do so until the day I die. Amen,” Novus silently prays before falling asleep.