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Post by slither on Oct 26, 2006 15:39:47 GMT -5
BOTTOM, I DON'T LIKE TOP BUNKS. I ONCE FELL OFF OF MINE AS A KID AND LANDED ON THE SHARP CORNER OF A DESK AND GOT A HUGE BRUISE ON MY BUTT.
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Post by Akbar Le Grey on Oct 28, 2006 13:02:19 GMT -5
Yet another amazing chapter, dear. Sorry I didn't comment earlier, but I've been busy with eid and relatives and bleh. ):
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Post by thistledown on Oct 28, 2006 15:02:13 GMT -5
OMG beautiful!
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Post by s on Oct 28, 2006 18:49:16 GMT -5
*love*
"Jesus was betrayed, launching the religious turmoil I mentioned in the previous chapter." - I adore how your characters feel compelled to bring up the story they're in at the strangest times.
...I'm crying?
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Post by Alice Wilde on Oct 29, 2006 13:59:18 GMT -5
More out of frustration than anything else, but yeah. Sorry. It's just, well, sorry. You'll be happier in and with the next chapter, Shruti.
Many thanks to everyone and all. Um. I suppose I'd better get to writing. But thanks again.
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Post by slither on Oct 29, 2006 14:03:29 GMT -5
How long until the next chapter, dear? Now that I've read it, I'll never be able to stop pestering you until the story's finished.
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Post by slither on Nov 16, 2006 11:41:22 GMT -5
ALICE!!!! *cry*
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Post by BSam on Nov 16, 2006 15:47:40 GMT -5
wow, how could i not read tyhis til now, fantastic i also liked my breif appearence back on page one what happened to me? did i drink too much, pass out and miss most of the action? (ie, hey remember me being in this? )
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Post by Alice Wilde on Nov 19, 2006 18:03:10 GMT -5
I have the ending plotted. Seriously, I do. I'm just trying to get it all down to one chapter and not be too long and annoying. Should be up before/on Tuesday, provided that my parents don't catch me online with whatever BS router thing they've got now.
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Post by idiotj on Nov 19, 2006 18:16:34 GMT -5
Your parents hate America more than Abraham Lincoln did.
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Post by Sora on Nov 20, 2006 2:24:36 GMT -5
You only have one chapter left? Aww....this should just keep going.
But at least your giving us a new chapter. WOOT!
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Post by Alice Wilde on Nov 20, 2006 14:42:23 GMT -5
The End
From For It Is My Blood: The Betrayal of Jesus Christ, Celia Snikmopht, pg. 42:
It was midnight and a man crept toward three wooden crucifixes.
Jesus hung from the middle cross, spent. The Roman guards had fallen asleep, having spent the day laughing in his face and throwing things. Tomorrow would probably be passed the same way and then...well, he’d be back.
Soon.
“Christ!” The man cried.
“Judas, is that you?” Jesus asked.
“Yeah,” He held his foot. “Sorry about the blasphemy. Thorn in my...” Judas’s eyes lingered on Jesus’s crown of thorns and winced. “..uh...sorry.”
Jesus shrugged. “I’m no stranger to pain. Why are you here? I thought you would be gone...You know that my followers will come after you.”
“I just wanted to see if you...” Judas touched his Lord’s side. “I feel terrible.”
“My son, someone had to betray me. It was written in the Scriptures.”
One of the guards snorted. Judas shrank back and began to whisper. “But...you will die.”
“I will rise again.”
“It’s my fault. Your death is on my head.” Judas wrung his hands. “How will you ever forgive me?”
“You’re already forgiven. I told you to do it.” Jesus glanced at the guards and attempted to kick one in the head. “It’s these bastards I’m going to find hard to forgive. Judas, someone had to do this. If not you, someone else. I’m afraid that history always need a bad guy.”
“Yes...but why me?”
Jesus looked up. “That’s the same question I ask every day.” - - - - -
Pandora stepped into the ballroom, radiant with power and good lighting. The crowd shifted their attention to her and Shruti slowly put the weapon down. Sora and J tilted their heads, noting a difference in their former administratette. She looked proud, happy...like she was in love. PJ entered after her, scaling the walls until he was next to Jon.
Tragedy ground his teeth and shoved Stephen into the locked door. He walked the length of the room, locking every door until there was no way out. Pandora watched him, as though waiting for her cue.
Finally, he locked the door behind her.
“Hello, dear.” He said.
“Tragedy...” Pandora started.
He raised his hand toward the crowd. “Go on. We’re all waiting to hear what you have to say. Tell them everything, my sweet. Everything about tonight. Everything you think you know.”
“Tragedy, you can’t do this.” She murmured. “Don’t do this.”
“Go on!” Tragedy demanded. “None of us are going anywhere. I don’t plan on leaving yet. Tell us what you know.”
Shruti threw Sora’s handkerchief to the ground. “Please.”
Stephen looked at the wadded cloth on the ground, the night flashing in his mind. Dancing with Shruti, Shruti allowing him those moments with Jon, Shruti watching as he danced with the woman...or rather, the transvestite...whom he was to kill...Shruti.
She’d been there for him along.
So now he’d be there for her.
Stephen left the door and extended his arms to Shruti. She blinked, unsure what he wanted her to do. He beckoned with his hands and, smiling for the second time (only the second time) that evening, she was embraced by the man she loved. She rested her head on his shoulder.
Stephen stroked her hair, gently, lovingly. “Please, Pandora.” He begged, looking at the former wife of the former administrator. “Tell us everything.”
Pandora closed her eyes, breathed. Akbar and Linda reached out, nervously, for each other. Jon and J hovered near Stephen and Shruti, still locked in their hug, probably never to let go. Tragedy folded his arms. Sora picked up his handkerchief, stuffed it back in his pocket, and looked at Pandora.
It was then she began. “Tragedy was going to kill us tonight.”
The room gasped and began to chatter.
“Shut up!” J cried.
The room obeyed.
She turned to Pandora. “Why?”
“Because I loved you all,” She nodded at the room. “more than I loved him.”
“Oh, please!” Tragedy rolled his eyes. “Though I will take particular delight in watching you die, it has nothing to do with you. The reason I wish for you all to die, the real reason: You’re all sinners. Each and every one of you. Married to each other. Like some never-ending daycare center.” He glared at his ex-wife. “Loving more than the one for which you were meant.”
“The Bible says that marriage is between a man and a woman.” He continued. “Not between many men and many women. If God were to look down upon this room, he would want us to all burn in Hell.”
“God doesn’t want anyone to burn in Hell.” Jon said. Everyone looked at him. “He...he’s merciful.”
“But I am not. You all deserve to die.” Tragedy said. “And, thanks to the large insurance policy I’ve put on a select few of you,” He lifted his chin to Linda, Sora, J, and then to Pandora. “I’ll get my reward for executing His Will.”
“Or you would have gotten your reward,” Pandora said. “had I not called the man who thinks you deserve to die...Stephen Colbert.”
Jon shouted at Pandora, grasping the epiphany. “You’re Beatrice!”
Shruti pulled Stephen away. “You want Tragedy to die?”
Stephen nodded. “He’s the reason for every war in history. He’s the last descendant of Judas Iscariot. And when he is dead, there will be peace.”
“Wait!” Akbar bellowed. “He’s not the last--”
Linda put her hand over his mouth. “There’s no scientific reason to believe that, Mr...Dr. Colbert.”
“But he wants to kill us.” J said.
“More than want to, babe.” Tragedy said. “I have called my three lovely assistants, Dante, Antenora, and Snicket who are currently in the room above me. In a few minutes, they will pull me up and drop thirteen canisters of tear gas on this room...killing you all.”
The room filled with hysterical chatter once more. Sora ran over to Shruti and took from her the gun. He shot it in the air.
“Silence!” The physician screamed. “That won’t kill us.” He said to Tragedy.
“It wouldn’t kill you in an open area.” Tragedy said. “But the ballroom is locked. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” He grabbed Pandora by the arm. “My wife and I have a few things to discuss. Sam!”
The drunk, looking shaken and inebriated, stood in front of the former administrator. “Cinderella?”
Tragedy laughed. “Oh, I’m going to miss that. Why don’t you tell a few jokes? I’d hate for you to die without laughing.”
Sam nodded and climbed up on stage. The people watched him for a moment, afraid, then turned back to Tragedy.
“A blonde, a priest, and my grandmother walk into a bar...” BSam mumbled.
Tragedy dragged his ex-wife to the center of the room. PJ made a bee-line for them. Realizing, that time was short, Stephen rounded up the seven people whom he had been closest with that night, while the crowd half-listened to BSam and watched PJ snatch his girlfriend back.
“We’re going to have to kill him.” Stephen said. It was group therapy all over again.
“We don’t have to kill anyone!” Akbar said. Linda stepped on his foot.
Sora handed Stephen the gun.
“Wait.” Jon licked his lips. “I’m supposed to kill him.”
Stephen passed the gun to Jon. Their eyes met.
“Whatever happens...” Stephen trailed off, taking off his glasses and hand collapsing around the gun in Jon’s hand.
“...we’ll have each other.” Jon finished.
“Stephen,” Shruti muttered. “Is this really for the best?”
J looked incredulous. “Who cares? If he’s dead, we’ll live.”
“Right.” Linda looked at Akbar. “That’s the point.”
“Jon,” Akbar said. “Tragedy’s not--”
Linda stomped her foot again. “Please do not make me hurt you again!”
The room gasped. The group turned.
A rope hung from the trap door on the ceiling.
Tragedy smirked and grasped it, just as a canister fell from the door.
Everything erupted in chaos. Akbar’s mouth dropped. Linda screamed a few profane words. PJ punched Tragedy in the arm. The administrator kicked him in the face and PJ fell to the floor. Pandora dropped to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. J and Sora dashed to the doors and tried to open them. Tear gas slowly filled the room, knocking people to the ground.
Tragedy raised his shirt collar over his mouth and tugged on the rope three times. He began to ascend, like an angel to heaven.
Jon also raised his collar and took aim.
“No!” Akbar cried and slapping the gun away. He was coughing terribly, but over the rest of the room, sounded healthy.
“What the hell?” Stephen asked through his shirt. Beside him, Shruti took a scarf from her purse and put it over her mouth. Across the room, the remaining people did the same.
Jon ignored them and ran to the rope. Tragedy was only a few feet above him yet in high school Jon had been top high jumper. He often joked that because he was constantly high. His hands clenched around Tragedy’s shoes.
“I knew I’d have one of you under me by the end of the evening.” Tragedy said. Yet, the rope slowed.
“I have to go after Jon!” Stephen screamed.
Another canister fell.
“What?” Shruti asked, muffled.
And another. The room was filled with sounds of coughing and screams.
“I have to go after him, Shruti!”
“Wait.” Shruti unwrapped her scarf and lowered Stephen’s collar. He looked at her as though she were insane.
Hurriedly, her lips locked on his.
Stephen breathed and returned the kiss.
For that moment, there was only perfection.
Then another canister landed next to them.
The rope grew shorter and shorter as Tragedy and Jon reached the trap door. Stephen sprinted to them, leaping up and grabbing Jon’s shoes. The rope slowed to a crawl.
A door in the ballroom opened. J and Sora ran out and began unlocking others. Slowly, hysterically, people exited the room.
“salsa.” Tragedy said. “Snicket, pull harder!”
With one hand, Jon reached into his blazer and pulled out the revolver.
Tragedy’s last words were “dammit, I thought this could work.”
- - - - - -
“So I said to him,” BSam finished his joke several hours later, outside of the hotel. “that’s not a St. Bernard, that’s my grandmother.”
Paramedics and firefighters had gone in and evacuated the place. The 667ers, all of them except for their former admin and his lackey, shaking and scared, laughed. Sora stood outside an ambulance, giving people oxygen tanks. J, Shruti, and Linda sat in a circle and for a few moments, soaked up the fresh air.
Dante and Antenora walked over to them, smiling and holding hands.
“Thanks for letting us out back there.” J said. “And for calling the police.”
“Felt nice to save someone.” Antenora shrugged and moved on.
On the other side of the ambulance, Akbar was telling Jon and Stephen about Dante’s past.
“Wait...so I killed the wrong guy?” Jon asked.
“Yeah.” Akbar said. “But you can’t kill Dante. You see, there will never be world peace. Even if St. Peter predicted there would be, Peter was human. Not infallible. God has never intended for the world to be without wars, much to my dismay.”
“But...” Stephen started.
Jon walked away, head in hands, muttering. “Oh my God, I’m a murderer...”
Dante heard this and parted with Antenora. He went to the fake newsman. “Hi. I don’t believe we’ve met, but we have gone through a lot of the same things.”
“Like what?” Jon asked, hoarsely.
“Well, killing religious fanatics for one...” Dante put his arm around Jon and began naming off a few choice therapists. Stephen started to go after them, but was stopped by Shruti.
“Hey,” She said, looking down. “Um...about...back there...”
Stephen ran his hand down her face and pressed his lips to hers.
“...so that’s a yes?” Shruti asked.
“Completely.” Stephen said.
Antenora looked at Pandora, who was giving PJ mouth-to-mouth. Sora had said he was going to be fine, yet she should keep an eye on her boyfriend just in case.
“Wish it could have ended better.” Antenora said.
“Yeah.” Pandora sighed.
“Do you think we’ll get over Tragedy?” The hired Beatrice asked. The sun was rising behind her, rays shining down on the yellow of the world’s most religious city. Soon the heat would set in and the days would continue as though nothing had happened.
Pandora looked up. “That’s the same question I ask every day.”
- - - -
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Oh my sweet Jesus, it’s done.
So, um...sorry for the religious/moral overtones of this last chapter. And for the fast-pacedness. And the overabundance of dialogue. And for not explaining what Tragedy told Pandora before the rope was lowered. I guess you can make up your mind about that. -- - - -
Fin
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Post by slither on Nov 20, 2006 18:46:11 GMT -5
AHHHHHHHH!!! I love you complete and totally. I give my entire being to you.
but I still hate you because I was no where in it. not even i nthe epilogue.
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Post by Charles Vane on Nov 20, 2006 18:49:10 GMT -5
Its not fair that you get Jon Stewart and I get PJ. But I love you.
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Post by Sora on Nov 20, 2006 20:33:20 GMT -5
Well done Alice, well done. A magnificent ending. I enjoyed your religious undertones as well.
Write something else soon. Please.
Yeah my character shot air. I wish I had ended up with someone though. Or was I with someone? Tragedy went on about us all being married....
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