Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: INDEFATIGABLE (02/11/16)
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TITLE: Hell Bent | Previous Challenge Entry
By Vince Martella
02/18/16 -
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In the halls of hell, Moldor’s voice boomed. “What you see here, gentledemons, is the culmination of years of brilliant planning at the executive level and flawless execution by the rank and file.”
Several demons howled and whistled as Moldor continued.
“Let’s recap, shall we? Lewdnum, excellent use of that cute secretary of his, Pam. He always had a secret crush on her. Of course, you can’t take all the credit. Her husband’s pornography addiction made your work with Stanley easy.”
“Syren, nicely done on the enticement side. He was almost out of church already, but that last promotion really nailed it. Once he got it, he bought that new houseboat we’d been pushing, and that’s the last the church saw of him.”
“Pam sure saw plenty of him, though…” The demons roared with laughter.
“You see, boys, the strategy is simple. Just keep up the assault, but keep it discreet. Be relentless, but be subdued. We must never tip our hand as to what we’re planning. By the time they realize the game we’re playing, it’s over.”
“Fortunately, the game is so much easier to play than it used to be. Sexual immorality is rampant on television and we’ve worked gay and lesbian characters into almost every show now.”
Moldor continued. “Thank hell that society has become as jaded as it is. We used to strategize for years to come in through the back door, and now we can come in the front in a fraction of the time. What progress! We can destroy families so much faster than we ever could before. And the family that doesn’t stay together, doesn’t pray together!”
“Your commitment to stay the course, to persevere in the face of hardship, has produced the results you see here,” he said, facing the screen, “and countless others like him.”
On the street, a hulking figure turned the corner and headed down the alley.
“But we cannot rest on our laurels – there is still a lot of work to be done. The wretched Church still stands, and so we must continue to press on.”
The man spied Stanley ahead.
“With determination, and guidance from below, we have made tremendous strides even there. Secular humanists are pastoring in many churches throughout the world. Motivational dribble and politically correct thinking are flooding the pulpits. Many pastors are lovers of money rather than lovers of …”
Moldor pointed up with a disgusted look.
“And most importantly, the Church today truly has a form of godliness, but has denied the power thereof.”
Just a few feet away now, the man reached for his knife.
Below, the cavern was awash with howls, jeers and screams of triumph. Demon eyes glowed with devilish glee.
On the street above, the figure reached Stanley. He grabbed a crate leaning against the fence, and sat across from him, the knife hugging his right leg.
“Nice outfit, pal,” the figure said. “Where’d ya’ get it?”
Behind a dumpster, two enormous demons salivated, their eyes gleaming.
“I used to be a banker,” Stanley slurred, his eyes half closed.
“Oh yeah… tell me about it.”
Stanley did. He told him everything. He weaved a tale of success and power, that was slowly replaced by cheating, lust and corruption – until one day he woke up to find his family, his job and his willpower gone. His addictions finally took over.
The stranger leaned forward, moving the knife very slowly, and locked eyes with Stanley.
“Well, you don’t want to live like that anymore, do ya?”
The demons crept forward, baring their sharp fangs, to savor the kill.
Stanley lowered his head, his voice almost imperceptible. “No….”
The stranger’s eyes danced. “Good,” he smiled widely. “Then let me tell you about Jesus…”
The crouching demons howled, but their sound was cut off. In one indiscernible move, the angel whipped around, the knife becoming a gleaming sword, and cut them in two. Finishing his 360 degree spin, he faced Stanley again.
Stanley blinked. In the stranger’s hand was a Bible.
In the dungeons below, there was utter chaos, as the demons realized that the Father’s love was absolutely relentless too.
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I agree that there's a touch of CS Lewis here, but you've also outlined the deceptive path of addiction - in which flimsy, easily-broken cobwebs of distraction that look harmless (or even quite okay) gradually become cables that begin to control and subsume any other natural drive or appetite.
Great work, young V (a nom de plume to preserve anonymity - but who wants to know about that anyway???)