I SLOWLY OPENED my eyes and the radiance of the LED lights hit my eyes. I tried to stand up, but I could not move my hands and legs. I felt my hands and feet tied firmly as I lay on the small wooden bed.
I kept my gaze fixed forward and swallowed hard because of the never-ending nervousness. I did not feel earlier that my head was inserted into a small hole, so I could not move it to see what was behind me. I couldn’t raise my head to catch a glimpse of what was above me, but I know what it is because my heart almost stopped pounding earlier at the sight of a gigantic, sharp blade on top of this wooden machine.
That long and pointy blade will surely cut my head.
I immediately averted my attention and dropped my eyes off beneath me. I noticed an enormous basket underneath me and I am certain that if my neck was cut off, my head would fall here.
I took a deep breath.
Someone
ADRASTOS sat in his swivel chair, placing his expensive phone to his left ear. “Come to my office, Xeros. You already know what you’re going to do,” he commands after answering the phone.Xeros nods his head before responding, “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Diabolos summoned me to his office. I think he has something important to discuss with me.”Adrastos heard him knocking on the door of Diabolos’ office and figured he was already there. “Alright,” he said, “just come here later after you finished.”He heard the door open before he replied to him, “Okay.”The person in front of him spoke in a deep voice before Xeros could turn off his phone. “Are you talking to Adrastos?” he questioned.“Yes, Diabolos,” Xeros said, looking at the man in front of him. He was dolled up formally,
“SON, you must study diligently, so you can get a decent job and pull us out of poverty. You know you’re our last hope, right? Your sister and brother already have their own families, so they can’t help us because they, too, are financially unstable,” mom stated after I graduated from senior high school.“Yes, mother. I will study hard for our family and will not let you down,” I responded to her while clutching my diploma. “After I finish college, I’ll look for a good job.”Dad smiled heartily as he turned to face me. “That’s right, son. You should plan your future when you are still young so that you don’t end up like your mother and me; who don’t have our own house, impoverished, and rely solely on street food sales for a living.”Mom nods her head, agreeing. “Derrick, don’t be like your brothers and sisters either! Even th
“I’M SORRY. I didn’t mean to break my promise. I assure you I won’t do it again.” I frequently hear people say that when they breach their promise, they made to someone.And then that someone will just keep patiently waiting for you to do your promise because they instilled trust in you. But It is still up to the person who made the promise whether they will fulfill it or just keep making new promises each day even though they cannot fulfill them because of some reason.But what about people who just make a commitment but have no intention of following through? “I just made a promise to you for certainty, so why would I keep it?” As he talked to her girlfriend, I overheard the man next to me say that.She slapped the guy in the face. “You said you’d marry me when we finished college, but what did I suddenly discover? Why did you give me up for the lady you met a
“SIR, can I ask for a second chance? I pledge to work hard in class. I am begging you, sir! I just really need this scholarship,” I said to Sir Alan as I battled to earn another chance at University.He let out a sigh. “Please accept my apologies, Mr. Villanueva. But you failed, miserably. You not only have a failing grade in one subject but nearly all of them.”“Sir, I’m sorry. I’m just having a hard time with architecture at the moment,” I said to him as I lowered my face in shame.I thought I could do well in this subject’s courses, but it did my brain cells done for architecture. Studying this is extremely hard and challenging.I’m not only attending college, but I also work hard to support my family. In my spare time, I manage the library in the institute, work as a server at a fast-food restaurant after my class, and after my shift end
TODAY IS SUNDAY, so I found an excuse with my parents for not going to school. I still haven’t told them I won’t be able to continue my education as a second-year college student because I failed and lost my scholarship.I was hesitant to tell them because I knew they would be disappointed. They worked so hard to make sure I could go to college because they expected me to help them get out of poverty. My younger siblings are still young, so they do not put any expectations on them. My youngest sibling was still in elementary school, and mom and dad were 43 and 45 years old, respectively.I had an idea to tell my mother about my studies when we were sitting on the narrow and old sofa. “I’m having a lot of trouble at school, Mom. Architecture is not something I am capable of. Hahaha,” I said to my mother, who was still preoccupied with folding our garments.Mom smiled at me after a brief exami
THE car came to a stop in the middle of a vast ocean. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. How many times have we almost been in an accident on the road because of Dabria’s driving speed? Cops have also chased us down for over-speeding! We were fortunate that we departed around morning and that the route was spacious. I thought I was going to die. I rotated my eyes all over the place and spotted a gigantic ship on the edge of the ocean. We must be in a private ocean because I didn’t see anyone else but the three of us. The surroundings were dark, but it didn’t stop me from noticing the broad trees around us, abandoned huts, dilapidated boats, and life jackets on the floor. I was out of the car while Dabria and Azrail departed for a bit because they stated they needed to take care of things here, so I was the only one in my area now. The wind was howling, and sand was flying into my eyes. “Ouch! The sand had gotten into my eye!” I yelled that I
“CONFESS your sin!” the man said in front of me as he looked at my eyes empathetically. Sin? Is committing suicide for the sake of money a sin? Was it my fault that I took this filthy job for money? Is sacrificing myself for money a sin? The answer is, yes. Suicide is a dreadful sin, but what can I do? I’m powerless to intervene. I was just a regular person who was coerced into doing something for money. Money is the world’s source of all evil. Can you see your parents putting in extra effort for you because they expect you to help them out of poverty? Because I can’t. I couldn’t stand seeing my parents working all hours of the day and night for me because they were confident that I could do everything they wanted. I was also sick to death of hearing from their mouths that I was our family’s hope. How can I help my entire family if I can’t even help myself?
UPRIGHT JERKER, what’s that? According to Adrastos, Mr. Duke Dalton selected the method of the upright jerker to kill me. I’m not familiar with that, but based on his comment, he said it’s easy.I shook my head. Is there a simple way to kill yourself? Nothing, of course. Why would he spend so much money if he was just going to kill me with the simplest method he knew? I’m also baffled by his statement that he sees himself in me, but we’re not the same person. What does he mean by that?Does he also plan to trade himself in exchange for money?Adrastos went over in front of me after saying goodbye to the audience and promising to return later. “Follow me to my office,” he said after he reached my place.“So, what are we going to do over there?” I moved closer to him. What are our plans? I expected to be killed as soon as I arrived, but there was st
AFTER hearing what he said, a sour grin grew over my lips, and the sins I had committed in the past several years raced through my head. "Who am I to label them as a demon? Who am I to condemn them simply because they do something wrong? What exactly am I? I reminded myself that I was Zacheus, a renowned demon. As a demon, I'm here in the hornet's nest. They are like me. I am just like them. We are all demons disguised as humans. The only difference is that the demons here intend to murder me in order to lessen the number of demons around the globe.At least they have a valid excuse to murder me... That is sufficient for me because I also have a compelling motive to kill myself. We only shared the same desire to get rid of the devil, who is causing evil to proliferate throughout the world."Please forgive me for what I said earlier. I was only overcome with fear and said those words," I murmured, looking tensely at the ground that was covered with gold and diamonds. "And you're corr
IN THE aftermath of Adrastos's statement, four guys came up to me and tied my hand. My eyes widened, and my pulse began to race. "Why do you have to bind my hand?" I questioned them and winced as a guy abruptly tightened the shackles on the hand when I dared to speak."Perhaps you're preparing to flee because your brain has suddenly changed and you don't want to die anymore," the guy in front of me said.My brow furrowed. Why would I even attempt to flee if I knew I couldn't? I'm curious now that I'm nearing the end of my life. I am not that frightened to death. I am stick to my plans that I would commit suicide even before I signed up to be a participant here. I am fortunate in that I will continue to earn money even after I die.I shall not squander this chance to atone for my faults in the world. This is the only opportunity I have to help my family and other people. And this the one and only time I will have the oppo
MY GLANCE fell on his, and my eyes widened in surprise. "What? Are you sure you meant what you said? Is it permissible for me to send a letter to my parents?" The fact that I continued asking him questions indicated that my brain was still having difficulty digesting what he was saying.If I had the ability to write a genuine letter, I would write a real letter because I have a lot to say to them that I didn't get to say since I left without informing them of my departure. They were also unaware that I had left home with the intent of committing myself. And at the very least, in the letter, I am able to convey all the things that I was unable to tell them in person. They are entitled to an explanation.I didn't want my parents to anticipate my return to our home. I don't want them to wait for an event that will never occur again."If you want to leave a message, you may do so. Do you like it or not?" he inquired of me.
"HAVE A pleasant evening, live viewers! I want to inform you that I spotted the individual who paid a large sum of money to assassinate our Suicider tonight! Are you ready to learn who he is and what manner of murdering he used to assassinate our Suicidal Individual?" Adrastos asked all people who were watching and waiting for me to perish immediately.After he stated that, the notification bell sounded numerous times, suggesting that they could no longer wait to find out what happened next.A smirk crept on my face. 'They're salivating at the prospect of seeing a victim die in front of them,' I said to myself.I know they want me to die tonight because they can no longer bear that I am still alive and breathing in the world as a result of the crimes I have done. I'm curious whether it's a passion for them to watch someone die in front of them, or if they just have a brain malfunction that allows them to accomplish
DO YOU want to be someone else's meal when you die? What if, instead of having your body buried six feet into the earth or cremated, you were used as food for others who were starving? When you're in the kitchen to be a food to others, what would you you feel? Would you be furious with them if you knew what they were doing was for the greater welfare of others?Will you become a part of other people's bodies if they devour your body in various ways? Can individuals sleep easily if they know that the food they ate was made from a dead human being? There are a lot of questions in my thoughts about cannibalism right now since it seems that I will be used as a dish later on by other people if I commit myself here in this world.It's a little frightening to consider that some of the meat we consume on a daily basis is derived from people rather than animals. And it's terrifying to consider that your body has devolved into food for other people. I
ADRASTOS' gaze was drawn to me all of a sudden. "Tonight, Live Suice has another immoral guy for us to punish! I'm aware that you already know his name and are aware of the offense he committed, but I feel compelled to mention him again for those who did not know his name or committed the fault done by our Suicider tonight. Zacheus Vincenzo is his name, and the evil he did was stealing people's taxes! He coerced his father into stealing from the treasury, despite his opposition. He is a self-centered youngster," he said.I shook my head as he introduced me to the crowd a second time. The Live Suicide notification bell rung repeatedly, indicating that a large number of individuals left a remark in the comment box.There seem to be an infinite number of negatives I shall get from them.As my thoughts moved to another realm, Adrastos spoke in front of me, and I returned to reality and focused on him. "I understand how enrag
WE CAME to a halt in front of a massive door, and they shoved me inside. I shifted my eyes throughout and there are many lights and cameras that encompassed the whole room. "What exactly is this? Are they about to assassinate me here? This room does not seem to be a murder scene, but rather a film set," I thought to myself."You go on the stage," the guy behind me ordered, pointing to the little platform crammed with cameras. There is also a mic stand placed there. Is this a concert that I attended? Is there singing contest so there is a mic placed there?Even though my mind was racing with questions, I obliged the guy's order and proceed towards the stage. As I ascended the platform, the light, microphone, and camera in front of me all went flash. I also seen the new face that was staring me in the face intently. Who is he? Is he the Adrastos to whom the guys who pursued me earlier referred? What is his function in this instance?&nb
"I AM going to enter the entrance, farewell," I informed them as I began walking towards the abandoned building's entrance, bypassing Azrail and Dabria.When I reached the door, I rolled my eyes and realized that this structure was rather ancient, judging by the damaged walls and filthy inside. Despite its unsightly and aged look, you can see that it is still capable of fighting till the next generation, as long as it is not struck by an earthquake, which would completely destroy it.I glanced around and saw that its construction was similar to that of a hotel, as I noticed an elevator that was broken and several rooms below. I'm curious as to whether this structure is livable at this point. Perhaps when it is repaired, it will regain its previous splendor and the building will be reinforced to accommodate the influx of people.While I was glancing around, someone spoke close to me, which caused me to jump in fear and my
THE THUMPING sounds in my chest made me feel as if I was about to hyperventilate. My mind and heart were debating whether I should be full of joy that I was about to die or panicked and terrified that this would be my last day on earth.I closed my eyes with a resounding sigh. “Zacheus, all you have to do is to be delightful. No one compelled you to commit yourself to Live Suicide; you chose to do it on your own. Take a stand for it. Imagine that you will sacrifice your life for the sake of your parents and others.” I pondered this for a moment.My mind is playing tricks on me, and I’m not sure whether I’m deceiving myself into making the choices I’m about to make. Maybe dying in Live Suicide is a better option than dying from my sickness, which would surely take my life if I don’t die here.And at the very least, if I die by Live Suicide, I will get a substantial sum of money that I c