- The Ultimate Countdown -


August 19th, 2003.

I'm sitting in a bus, soon to arrive at the terminal. My back is drenched with
sweat and I have cramps in my abdomen. I lick my dry lips and stare in front
of me. An old bearded man looks at me without emotion. His eyes are innocent
and empty of sin like those of a newborn. I smile at him, but his expression
remains neutral.
I look at my watch, 09:08:04.

Having to leave my comrades was a depressing experience, but the vow of my
superior soothed the sadness.

"Young warrior,
don't ponder.

We'll be reunited,
as the Victorious."

I've made my decision now and ponder no more. As I look out my window to
enjoy the scenery, I'm alarmed by a deep voice. Its dialect is beyond my
comprehension. I turn my head and look at the bearded man, but, although
he's still looking at me emotionlessly, his mouth is shut. I could swear it
was his voice. My eyes wander to his left, to a beautiful lady in the prime
of her life. Her lustrous black hair curls down to a young child sitting on
her lap. Her hazel brown eyes, looking down at the floor, are in harmony with
her face.
I look at my watch, 08:35:32.

Life can be very beautiful, but all things must come to an end. The time is
ripe for my final departure. All eyes fearfully direct towards me while I stand
up and cry out my last prayer. A violent explosion takes me to the flip side
of existence. Once again, clouds of death and destruction roam the streets
of the Holy City. Motionless bodies, mutilated by shrapnel, are scattered
throughout the neighbourhood. Yet, I feel no remorse. I have become the saviour
of my kindred trapped inside the jaws of this silent war. My salvation is near.
I look at my watch, 07:51:46.

My surroundings have become void. Millennia pass by quickly, until the Day
of Judgment. I will arise to the Gardens of Eden to meet my comrades, as
predicted in the vow. The beautiful lady is nearby, hand in hand with the
child that once sat on her lap. She's being driven the opposite way. I try
to warn her not to take the path to eternal torture, but suddenly my view gets
blocked by a divine light. Everywhere I look, I feel eyes of innocence glare
at me, penetrating my soul. A deep voice is heard between my ears. Now that
I'm beyond mortality, I can comprehend.

"One second,
eternal suffer.
One person,
eternal wicked.

Suffered minds,
redeemed.
Wicked mind,
condemned."

The light diminishes and I sense before me the old bearded man. His emotionless
expression is no more. I beg for redemption, but He takes no notice and
disappears into the lightless void.
I look at my watch, 07:00:00.

As my path changes into a sinister shadow, I start to doubt the successfulness
of my mission. Yonder is the beautiful lady growing sublime as the distance
between us enlarges. The sinless gaze in her angelic eyes makes me shiver.
She covers the eyes of the child holding her hand while a blanket of pain
brings me to the Hounds of Hell. Boiling tears from Heaven cry upon me,
rotting me away into Satan's Hollow. We have lost the war.
I look at my watch, 06:06:06.