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Chapter 1- Subjection
Drums rolled in the distance. The rolling of the drums meant death. There is nothing worse than knowing his loved ones were going to die, and there was nothing he could do about it. It was time to go to the Colosseum. Mark Manson threw the wood for the chair his father planned to craft on the stone wall, grabbed his dark blue cloak, and left the house. Edward emerged from the house, ducking under the door frame in his faded blue cloak, leather shirt, and leather boots. Edward’s blue eyes met Mark’s.
“It’s time for glory and honor.”
Mark’s head turned to where he threw the wood. “It’s time for death.”
Edward firmly grabbed Mark’s shoulder and met his gaze again with his deep eyes. “Death isn’t the end for us; it is the end for lies.”
Mark shrugged his shoulders and sighed. “Only if you believe.” Mark put his hood up and walked next to his father. He had to take extra-long steps to keep up with his father’s pace. It was a hundred yards to the city, and every step had to be made with haste. The demonstration was mandatory, and they had to be at the colosseum before the drumming stopped.
The whole town poured through the cobblestone streets. Millers, bankers, tailors, merchants, miners, and butchers stopped what they were doing and put on their blue cloaks. No one made a sound. It was time to show loyalty and support to Subjugation. Every step mattered; everyone must show loyalty and be on the same page. It was the will of the people that was at stake, not the will of God.
Soldiers in blue, red, and black uniforms, wearing full-plated armor and corrupted spiritual swords, guarded the streets, entrances, and exits. Their blue-and-black helmets covered their faces, revealing only their red eyes. The breastplates were black, engraved with a red six-headed dragon. Their blood-red belts donned jet-black hilts that, when activated, produced a shadowy green blade capable of burning, corrupting, confusing, cutting, and poisoning flesh. The feet were equipped with black-and-blue-flamed boots, spiked at the ends to help them keep their footing and inflict further harm on their enemies. They were the Demonai, heartless, ruthless, and loyal to the government of Subjugation. Mark knew they were not to be messed with, so he kept his head down as he passed by.
This ceremony was mandatory; there was no way out. For the government of the city of Subjugation, it was a time for unity, power, and vengeance on their enemies. Those who embraced intolerance of the fluidity of ideas were not tolerated. The government taught that they must be destroyed.
Mark and Edward entered the stadium. Mark looked up to his father, who was nodding to the Demonai guard, and wished him peace. Then Mark wrinkled his face, frowned, and kicked the ground, whipping dust in the air, while he stepped into the building.
The scene before the hushed crowd revealed four enemies of the state: a nine-year-old boy with blond hair, a freckled red-headed girl, a man hunched over with one eye, and an elderly woman no younger than eighty. None of these victims looked like they could do anyone serious harm. They were nobodies to most of the people, except Mark and Edward, who looked at them with tears in their eyes.
The boy’s name was Samuel. He was orphaned by the State’s negligence. His parents were assigned to the salt mines and died in a collapsed tunnel. Edward found him on one of his “nightly errands” after delivering a skillfully made navy blue and black fabric chair to the mayor’s mansion. Samuel was starved, begging for food, and was useless to the government of subjugation. After Edward and Mark nursed him back to health, Samuel was taken to the Ecclesia to be raised in secret under the teachings of Christ. Mark would help him memorize the Scriptures and taught him to write by copying the scrolls of the Holy Bible.
The young lady’s name was Lydia. She gathered purple shells by the sea and crushed them to make purple dye. Edward often used her dyes to color the upholstery of his furniture and his clothing. He was another member of the Ecclesia, the underground gathering of believers who were the last remnants of the realm of Christ. Mark would often talk to her under the moonlight in the cool of the woods after their secret services. Her voice during the hymn sing would cause Mark’s eyes to light up and his smile to widen. She was one of the few young ladies his age he could talk to who knew the LORD.
The one-eyed man was a deacon, a servant-leader in the church. His name was Phillip. There was not much he could do physically; therefore, he was left to die by the state. There is no state protection for people who cannot help themselves. The government depended on efficient, loyal citizens, who were rewarded at the cost of those deemed unfit for society. However, the Ecclesia found him such an encouragement to the called of God and provided for his needs. Philip, in turn, scouted out places for the Ecclesia to meet and distributed money, food, and other resources to the even-poorer members of the church. He and the other deacons distributed the elements of the Lord’s Supper during the service. Philip had a special heart for entertaining children and telling them stories about Christ.
The elderly woman’s name was Hannah. She was a leader among the women in the Ecclesia. Her husband died during the Great War of Subjugation, and she taught women not to be gossips or busybodies and how to submit to their husbands in a godly way. She was like a grandmother to Mark and would tell him stories about what life was like before the war, when the land was under the Realm of Christ and was called Freedom.
Each victim was chained to the base of their own personal cross. At the base of each cross were piles of wood. Mark could smell the rancid oil from the edge of the Colosseum. Officially, this was going to be either a trial by fire, execution by torture, or a last chance for them to claim loyalty to the Realm of Tolerance and renounce the Realm of Christ. Mark knew who they were, and that the latter option was not what his spiritual family would choose.
At the edge of the Colosseum stood a tall tower. At the top of it was a platform that housed the mayor, Oliver Hamartian; the Governor, Lukan Fang; and sometimes the Lord of the Land, Vald Von Therion. Lord Therion was away at the capital city of Unity, keeping the government of Tolerance under control and defending against the other realms that sought to take over. However, today was a special day, the anniversary of when everything changed.
Mayor Hamartian walked to the edge of the platform and waved at the city. Governor Fang sat on his black and blue throne, overlooking the crowd. The drums stopped.
“Citizens of Subjugation, today we celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Great Correction, when the city cast off the false name of Freedom and embraced the true identity of Subjugation. On that day, we chose unity over chaos. We chose reason over superstition. We chose progress over the divisive influence of the supposed Realm of Christ.”
“But progress is fragile, and we must protect it. Today, four individuals stand accused of threatening the harmony we have worked hard to build. They have spread dangerous ideas — ideas that fracture families, weaken minds, and turn hearts away from the State. They are intolerant of free thinking and reason. Their hatred and bigotry against what the heart of the people wants oppresses our victimhood and bondage.”
“However, these people are confused. We do not wish to harm them. In fact, Subjugation does not wish to harm anyone. Our goal is restoration, rehabilitation, and alignment. If these poor wretches embrace our way of life, not only will they get to live, but they will have privileged places among us.”
“So, we offer them a final opportunity. Renounce the false Realm of Christ. Reject the lies that enslave the mind. Embrace the truth that the Subjugation provides. Let all citizens watch, and remember unity requires sacrifice. We must follow our hearts and reason, not superstitious fairytales.”
Mayor Hamartian raised his arm and snapped his fingers. Four Demonai stood by the victims. In front of the victims were paraded bars of gold, silver, ruby, and sapphire jewelry worn by suggestive dancing women. Next to pass by were jewel-encrusted scrolls, books, goblets, and other items of worldly knowledge and power. Finally, all the elaborate delicacies of boar, fish, pig, and choice meats, fruits, and vegetables passed by before them. Such treasures and food were brought and passed by the prisoners till it was just the four soldiers and their victims on the stage.
“All these and more, including a life of ease, can be yours if you renounce these vain fairytales of a Christ in the sky mountains, forgiving fake sins, and making useless people fit for a fake heaven. Will you stop spreading your nonsense?”
Samuel looked up with tears in His eyes. “I do not want to die! But I will not deny JESUS!! I am going to be with my mother and father. Please Don’t Kill me, but I cannot deny Him who died and rose from the Dead for ME!!”
Lydia sang a hymn, “I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back; no turning back!”
Phillip straightened up the best he could, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. Philippians one verses nineteen through twenty.”
Hannah raised her hands as high as she could under the chains.
“I have served the LORD Jesus for eighty-five years. He lived a perfect, sinless life, was betrayed by His people, died on a cross to pay the penalty for the sins of his people, and rose from the dead to prove He is the Son of God and that our sins are forgiven. I cannot renounce Him. He has never done me any wrong; why would I renounce Him now?” She took a deep breath.
“I was there before the war, during the times of peace. People were free to worship God, earn a living without it being stolen and given to people who contribute nothing on purpose. We had the freedom to express our thoughts, even when they differed from others’. Things were not perfect because we still live in a broken world. However, we are waiting for King Jesus’ return. In these last times, God has given spiritual …”
“ENOUGH!!!” Mayor Hamartian shook violently tapping his skull staff. “These traitors have chosen to further spread lies about our government, their make-believe god, and false hope. We must now use force to stop their lies! Kill them and light the Fire!!”
The Demonai faced their victims and drew the hilts of their swords. They lifted their arms and recited the oath of the land.
“Truth is a lie. There is only power. Through this power we gain peace. Peace comes from our passions. We will use this peace for the good of the many. There is no God, and we hate Him.”
At once, their pale green blades ignited from the end of the black hints enveloped with noxious black smoke. The confusion of the corrupted soul swords made those closest in the stands grab their heads and writhe on the ground. Mark could hear the sounds of coughing and wheezing from the smoke.
The four victims bowed their heads and grabbed their crosses behind them. They chanted in unison,
“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”
As the green blades descended upon their victims, they were suddenly stopped by red and golden barriers of light surrounding God’s chosen. The corrupted soul swords hissed and sparked as they glanced off the barriers. All four Demonai stumbled forward, struggling to keep their feet.
The chains fastening the prisoners melted, and the crosses they held shrank to manageable hilts, which produced reddish-gold light blades. The barriers condensed into red light shields which surrounded the believers’ left sides. Their heads were donned with golden helmets, chests protected by golden light armor with blood-red crosses covering their hearts, waists fastened with red belts with gold jewels of light, and their feet were covered with gold spiked boots designed for speed.
Before the Demonai in front of him could get his footing, Samuel lifted his shield above his head and swung his golden blade at the feet of the soldier in front of him while sliding off to the side. The Demonai’s boots exploded, exposing his burnt feet, and landed on his face.
“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
Samuel stabbed his sword down through the back of the prone soldier’s black armor, dissolving it completely into a black melted mess. This caused the soldier to shriek, go limp, and breathe raggedly. Samuel looked to the crowd, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Lydia, shield in front, swung her sword in a circular figure-eight motion, knocking out her opponent’s soul sword and shattering his helmet in pieces. The Demonai’s head was burned, but otherwise unharmed, as believers’ soul swords do not kill unless misused or corrupted. They only naturally kill purely demonic things and beings. Lydia lifted her head to the crowd. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!” The Demonai crumpled to the ground like used rags.
Philip leaped over the Demonai in front of him, turned around, and cut him through the back. The black soldier of darkness fell to his knees and then fell on his face. Philip shouted Romans 10:9, “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved!” Then he raised his sword above his head and shouted again. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved!” His blade glowed brighter and grew another foot’s length.
Hannah punched her opponent in the face with her shield, knocking him on his butt. She looked directly into the lost soldier’s eyes. “Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Her sword’s warm glow intensified.
Instead of attacking, this soldier sat there trembling. “Will … will you attack a defenseless opponent?”
“You and your friends would attack a small child, a young woman, a crippled man, and an elderly woman. But no, we are not like you. You are not defenseless against me, but against God. I am nothing; God is the only one who can save you from Himself. Just repent and believe in Jesus.”
Before the soldier could answer, Mayor Hamartian tore at his hair and shouted from the platform. “HOW DARE THEY DEFILE OUR PROCEEDINGS AND SPREAD THEIR FALSE HOPE!” He turned to the crowd. “What say you? What do these traitors to our love and tolerance deserve?!”
The crowd responded in unison, raising their fists above their heads. “DEATH!”
Hamartian turned to Governor Fang. “How shall they die?!”
The governor stood from his seat and ordered. “Release the bears!”
The remaining Demonai stripped his armor, ran off the stage, swam across the moat, and disappeared through the soldier’s gates. There was no escape from the bears when they were released.
Mayor Hamartian shouted, “Find that weak traitor and torture that coward! Peace requires sacrifice, and power requires violence.”
The banging of the drums resumed. This was accompanied by a massive wooden gate rising from the inner wall behind the stage. Roaring and screams echoed from within the chamber.
The mayor smiled, “Looks like the bears are extra hungry today.” His laugh echoed through the colosseum. “Let’s see your false hopes and bigotry endure the beasts.”
Twelve fifteen-foot brown bears emerged from the gates, roaring and snarling. Their fur was blackened with blood from previous victims. Usually, one was enough to wipe out a squad of Demonai. These tortured beasts, plagued by some unseen force, had the strength to bite through iron in a single bite.
Mark shook his head, and tears flowed from his face. He whispered. “There is no way.”
The warriors of Christ gathered together and faced each other in a circle. “We have fought the good fight and have finished the race. We commit our bodies and souls to the Lord Jesus Christ, true owner of the realm.”
Within seconds, which seemed like hours to Mark, the bears descended upon their prey. In a moment, from the middle of the huddle of bears, an explosion of golden light knocked them on their backs and caused the entire crowd to fall back as well. All that was left of the martyrs were four piles of golden dust that began to drift on the wind.
Edward placed his hand on Mark’s shoulder. “They were faithful unto death. Their reward will be great.”
Mark choked and looked at his father. “Yes, but to death.”
