Shake and Bake
Star
- Joined
- Nov 29, 2011
- Location
- Iowa
The sound of gunfire could be heard all in the sandy dunes of Iraq, zipping by and whistled past Williams head to make soft noises of impact in the dune behind him. It wasn't supposed to be like this. They had surrounded the small team of marine infantry on a mission to gather intelligence and get eyes on the small band of ISIS that were said to be out here. Well they had found them all right but there were many more than they had bargained for. Hundreds. And they swarmed around them like an angry hive of bees. Radioing in for help was not an option after the green gear took a bullet in the side of its housing. They were durable but not bulletproof.
William raised his gun over the dunes peak again and killed two more that tried to circle around but it was futile and retreat was not an option. Then out of nowhere a mortar blast hit the left side of the unit and blood and sand flew everywhere. High pitched screams and cries for help were now flooding his ears as stood up to rush to aid his fallen brothers without second thought. He hadn't taken two steps when he felt a sharp sting in his shoulder and then another in his neck and he fell down gasping for air. What did i do wrong? He thought to himself and laid down on the blood soaked sand. He drew his pistol and killed another enemy rounding the edge of the dune and his eyes started to see black spots. He fought for breath and he thought about home. About his mother who told him not to get hurt over here. About his little sister who cried worse than his mother when he had left. About his father who always expected more out of hi no matter how good he had done. About his girlfriend who had been his first, and his only love he had known. He had failed them all. Choking on his own blood darkness took him.
Then the light came, brilliant and pure it cut through the darkness like a knife and William was drawn to it. As he drew closer he heard a choir of voices and these became so loud that it seemed he was listening to one hundred train whistles roared at him. Trumpets blared and the light overtook each of his senses. Then abruptly all of the noise stopped and only one voice remained.
“WILLIAM! YOU STAND AT JUDGEMENT BEFORE ME. ALL AND ONE. YOU ARE A GOOD SOUL YET YOU HAVE SINNED! DO YOU REPENT FOR YOUR SINS?” The images of all of his past sins filled his head. He had no say and watched them all in his head one by one and by the end he was crying. “Yes lord I repent!”
“YOUR WORDS DO NOT SPEAK YOUR ANSWER! YOUR HEART WILL TELL ME FOR SURE.” There was silence for how long, William did not know. Then “MY SON. YOU ARE PURE. LET THE LIGHT OF MY HEAVEN FILL YOUR SOUL.”
He stood on white marble looking at the gates of heaven when he opened his eyes and outside the gate stood St. Peter whose dark hair was long enough to just touch the white tunic he wore. “Welcome William” was all he said as the gates opened and William stepped inside.
***
Some time had passed since he had come into heaven and William had gotten into the swing of things quite quickly. He had to learn a few things but adjustments were easy; it was heaven after all. He enjoyed meeting old friends and family and seeing new faces as well. It was perfect.
Then the day came however, when saint Michael approached him he sat in the park eating grapes. He was gleaming in white armor and had a rather fancy sword on his hip. His eyes showed wisdom despite his young looks of an early thirties man. “William. My name is Saint Michael leader of heaven's army.” He extended his hand and William got to his feet shook it firmly and gave his wings a flap.
“Nice to meet you Sir,” answered William “what seems to be the problem?”
“Well as you may already know the end of times is fast approaching. War with the devil will come faster than we may have planned. He has an army larger than ever in hell and many of the mortals on earth forget where they came from and bend to Lucifer’s will without repent.” William knew where this was going. He had heard it in his mortal life when he had enlisted. The call to duty speech he knew all too well. And he was a sucker for it.
“You need me to join the fight.” William didn't say it as a question but more like a statement.
“Brother, I know that you are just new from death but it was a warrior's death no less and I would be honored to have you in my ranks.” beamed Micheal with a white smile. “No training will be required for you already have all you need. Come and join and be a Saint and win the war for the lord.”
William thought about it for only a moment before nodding in approval. “Yes. it does sound like my kind of work.” He looked around and saw the utopian environment around him “and this is boring anyways. When can i sign up?”
Michael let out a hearty laugh and in a blink they were in a briefing room. A table for seven was filling up by saints blinking in. “take a seat.” Michael gestured towards an empty seat and moved to the front of the room. When the table was full he saw six other faces he knew had seen battle. “You are the seven that have been chosen to escort an emissary diplomat down to hell. Some of you are new to this job” he looked at William sitting in the back “and others more seasoned” he made eye contact with a man seated closest to the front “your mission is to see her back alive. No matter the cost.” He paced some more pausing for a moment and then continued “you will leave in a few hours. Things will move fast but sleep is for mortals. This is the first time Lucifer has agreed to let one of us into his realm so be watchful for any tricks. You are all brave righteous men and heaven and the lord has faith this mission will succeed. Captain Henry will be in charge of the mission from here on out. Good luck” he smiled and blinked out before William could ask any questions.
Captain Henry, the Saint that Michael had suggested was a veteran stood up and looked at the six of the men he had to lead. “Welcome to Sainthood men. Be at the Gates in an hour donned in armor and your swords. Wings will be hidden for this mission so keep them folded. Fall out.”
So that was it huh? Just a brief and he was a soldier now on a mission? Things were certainly done strange here but he had no objection. Surprisingly he didn't feel nervous or afraid. He felt calm and collected and felt the presence of god filling him. He felt like he was off to a new start in a life he knew was suited for him. Hell couldn't be that bad could it?
William raised his gun over the dunes peak again and killed two more that tried to circle around but it was futile and retreat was not an option. Then out of nowhere a mortar blast hit the left side of the unit and blood and sand flew everywhere. High pitched screams and cries for help were now flooding his ears as stood up to rush to aid his fallen brothers without second thought. He hadn't taken two steps when he felt a sharp sting in his shoulder and then another in his neck and he fell down gasping for air. What did i do wrong? He thought to himself and laid down on the blood soaked sand. He drew his pistol and killed another enemy rounding the edge of the dune and his eyes started to see black spots. He fought for breath and he thought about home. About his mother who told him not to get hurt over here. About his little sister who cried worse than his mother when he had left. About his father who always expected more out of hi no matter how good he had done. About his girlfriend who had been his first, and his only love he had known. He had failed them all. Choking on his own blood darkness took him.
Then the light came, brilliant and pure it cut through the darkness like a knife and William was drawn to it. As he drew closer he heard a choir of voices and these became so loud that it seemed he was listening to one hundred train whistles roared at him. Trumpets blared and the light overtook each of his senses. Then abruptly all of the noise stopped and only one voice remained.
“WILLIAM! YOU STAND AT JUDGEMENT BEFORE ME. ALL AND ONE. YOU ARE A GOOD SOUL YET YOU HAVE SINNED! DO YOU REPENT FOR YOUR SINS?” The images of all of his past sins filled his head. He had no say and watched them all in his head one by one and by the end he was crying. “Yes lord I repent!”
“YOUR WORDS DO NOT SPEAK YOUR ANSWER! YOUR HEART WILL TELL ME FOR SURE.” There was silence for how long, William did not know. Then “MY SON. YOU ARE PURE. LET THE LIGHT OF MY HEAVEN FILL YOUR SOUL.”
He stood on white marble looking at the gates of heaven when he opened his eyes and outside the gate stood St. Peter whose dark hair was long enough to just touch the white tunic he wore. “Welcome William” was all he said as the gates opened and William stepped inside.
***
Some time had passed since he had come into heaven and William had gotten into the swing of things quite quickly. He had to learn a few things but adjustments were easy; it was heaven after all. He enjoyed meeting old friends and family and seeing new faces as well. It was perfect.
Then the day came however, when saint Michael approached him he sat in the park eating grapes. He was gleaming in white armor and had a rather fancy sword on his hip. His eyes showed wisdom despite his young looks of an early thirties man. “William. My name is Saint Michael leader of heaven's army.” He extended his hand and William got to his feet shook it firmly and gave his wings a flap.
“Nice to meet you Sir,” answered William “what seems to be the problem?”
“Well as you may already know the end of times is fast approaching. War with the devil will come faster than we may have planned. He has an army larger than ever in hell and many of the mortals on earth forget where they came from and bend to Lucifer’s will without repent.” William knew where this was going. He had heard it in his mortal life when he had enlisted. The call to duty speech he knew all too well. And he was a sucker for it.
“You need me to join the fight.” William didn't say it as a question but more like a statement.
“Brother, I know that you are just new from death but it was a warrior's death no less and I would be honored to have you in my ranks.” beamed Micheal with a white smile. “No training will be required for you already have all you need. Come and join and be a Saint and win the war for the lord.”
William thought about it for only a moment before nodding in approval. “Yes. it does sound like my kind of work.” He looked around and saw the utopian environment around him “and this is boring anyways. When can i sign up?”
Michael let out a hearty laugh and in a blink they were in a briefing room. A table for seven was filling up by saints blinking in. “take a seat.” Michael gestured towards an empty seat and moved to the front of the room. When the table was full he saw six other faces he knew had seen battle. “You are the seven that have been chosen to escort an emissary diplomat down to hell. Some of you are new to this job” he looked at William sitting in the back “and others more seasoned” he made eye contact with a man seated closest to the front “your mission is to see her back alive. No matter the cost.” He paced some more pausing for a moment and then continued “you will leave in a few hours. Things will move fast but sleep is for mortals. This is the first time Lucifer has agreed to let one of us into his realm so be watchful for any tricks. You are all brave righteous men and heaven and the lord has faith this mission will succeed. Captain Henry will be in charge of the mission from here on out. Good luck” he smiled and blinked out before William could ask any questions.
Captain Henry, the Saint that Michael had suggested was a veteran stood up and looked at the six of the men he had to lead. “Welcome to Sainthood men. Be at the Gates in an hour donned in armor and your swords. Wings will be hidden for this mission so keep them folded. Fall out.”
So that was it huh? Just a brief and he was a soldier now on a mission? Things were certainly done strange here but he had no objection. Surprisingly he didn't feel nervous or afraid. He felt calm and collected and felt the presence of god filling him. He felt like he was off to a new start in a life he knew was suited for him. Hell couldn't be that bad could it?