Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Eternity (03/10/11)
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TITLE: The Final Choice | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sara Harricharan
03/17/11 -
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Fear, outrage, uncertainty.
He’d traded those for something better.
Love. Hope. Eternity.
He felt the stones before they actually hit him. The physical blow was nothing like the emotionally-charged aftershock that settled in as he felt his life draining away. Primitive human nature demanded that he protest, to scream and fight against it, but he didn’t.
Peace surged up and he smiled. His loyalty would never change.
I love you, my Lord.
*****
Bound to a fat stake, splinters tearing at exposed arms, blood streaming down a fuel-soaked face, the errant knight didn’t flinch as a torch was lit. The jeering, mocking and screaming mob drew closer as the torchbearer was thrust forward. Their fears were increased, their thoughts ill-formulated—but their reaction was expected.
He’d traded such beliefs for something better.
Love. Hope. Eternity.
He felt the flames before they actually reached him. The sensation was nothing like the emotional kickback that settled in as the pain exploded throughout his body. His wounded pride demanded justice, but his loyal spirit whispered otherwise.
Peace surged up and he smiled. His loyalty would never change.
I love you, my Lord.
******
They cornered her at the edge of the village, in a bit of harmless fun. A weekly occurrence morphed into a dangerous game. A diversion from their everyday lives, they thought it was good sport to make fun of an elderly widow, clad in tatters, clutching a book to her chest. A book with writings that none could read and a smile on her withered face that spoke of something they could not understand. Their fears were captured, their thoughts confused—but their reaction was cruel.
Witch. Monster. Devil.
They screamed at her, but she still smiled.
She’d traded such thinking for something better.
Love. Hope. Eternity.
When they forced her beneath the water, she saw the light fade. The darkness seemed to surround her before death came. Her dignity begged for a more fitting end, but there was naught but peace stored within.
Her loyalty would never change.
I love you, my Lord.
*****
A painful game of push-and-shove in the backstreet of a muddy city canal. A teenage girl with glasses is trapped beneath hot and sweaty hands that shouldn’t be anywhere near her. For new beliefs she has explored, they now endeavor to punish her. The things that happen and the words that are said, force her screams away. It is their brand of justice to keep control over the less enlightened. Their fears were forced, their thoughts flickering—but their reaction was futile.
She can taste death before it claims her, a weighted body flung to the dirty water. In the last minutes when they craved her fear, peace possessed her in the form of a strange smile.
Her loyalty would never change.
I love you, my Lord.
*****
Their hands are twined together as the masked man leaps from the alleyway, demanding all precious earthly possessions. He hears none of their reasoning and sees nothing but a rich suit and a fancy dress accented with heirloom jewelry.
When the gang surrounds them, evil permeates the air even as the couple joins hands, reciting prayers to each other. They are no longer satisfied with pearls and gold watches. Something darker clamors for blood. The prayers grow louder amidst the swearing shouts. Their fears were multiplied, their thoughts muddled—but their reaction was mechanical.
Husband and wife share the pain before it comes. Metal pipes and chains meant to kill.
Smiles remain on their faces. Their loyalty would never change.
We love you, Lord.
*****
In the darkness, something hisses and growls.
There is an agonized, anguished scream that rents through the fabric of reality, but history is still spread before it.
Their loyalty to Him has not wavered, even in the face of death. In the final moments of human life, their thoughts reached upwards to higher planes. The peace that fills them is beyond comprehension, renewed courage and strength to smile in the very face of death itself.
For He is Lord of all eternity.
A bond stronger than blood is forged between an earthly child and a heavenly Father. It will last. It will endure. It will remain as their final choice for all of eternity.
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And may I offer belated congrats on entering Masters? YAY Sara! :-)
tied into one repeating sweet theme.
Great writing!
I really liked the sets of three one-word sentences, and actually would have included one in each story.
Loved this, none the less, though. Very, very good!
Perfect title, perfect story for the topic ... and may I just say that I expect this to rank very, very high? I'll add my voice to those who said this is one of their favorites. :)