Monotheism: Then there was one

Christians believe that their religion is the most accurate theory of life, but it was those who followed Greek Mythology who were more accurate at one point.
In the heavens, the pantheon of deities lived, overlooking the Universe and arguing over how things should be run.
Many wars were had, over many petty things, such as the noise of a cat, or the colour of sunset. (Incidentally, the cat became a compromise).
Eventually, one group of deities banded together, deciding that humans should be left alone and studied from afar.

This did not go down well with the other deities, opposition grew thick and fierce.
But even that didn’t take long to divide into smaller groups, each with their own ideas of what should be done with humanity.
Their war was long, and bloody, spanning centuries. Meanwhile, the humans, forgotten from the conflict, in turn forgot about their supreme beings.
Temples became abandoned and ruined, and prayers became nothing more than whispers.

The struggle ended in one final battle, on a battlefield never seen by man.
Sides banded together until there were just two, who charged into the brawl. After that, it was a free-for-all.
Enemies would team up on a foe, only to stab each other in the back.

At long last, one outlasted the rest.
He was a minor deity, one not mentioned among the many stories.
Like the others, he was arrogant, prideful, and spiteful.
He would return from the battlefield, to Earth, and smile as he gazed upon his prize.
His trophy, for him alone.

One Good Deed

Aside

Thursday.
Another hazy Thursday.
I hate Thursdays. Just feels like it’s filler, like it’s only there to space Friday from Wednesday.
As I leave my apartment, I look down at my phone, hoping she’ll ring.
She won’t, hasn’t all week. I screwed up and she doesn’t want to speak to me.
I sigh as I wander the streets, hoping to get lost in the crowd.
But it seems even the crowds are avoiding me. No-one walks within arms distance as I wait at the kerb, lazily looking for traffic before I continue.
One step.
Two steps.
A horn.
Screeching Tyres.
I am lifted from my feet.
A hand heaves me from the road before the car can touch me.
It takes me a few seconds to process what happened as I sit on the pavement.
I search around for my saviour, but they’ve already gone, disappeared into the unfazed crowd.
My brush with death has left me disoriented, I need to sit down.
There’s a park nearby.

How have I never noticed that before?
As I watch the various people go about their lives, I see something you wouldn’t expect to see.
A number. Well, it more looks like a broken clock.
All of them, maxed out.
I muse over the numbers before I spot something more curious.
A jogger passes me. Her number is not a nine, instead 00:05:32.
Interest piqued, I follow her.

The numbers are a counter. Counting down to what, I don’t know.
Lost in her own world, she doesn’t notice me a few paces behind.
We pass a tall office block in her workout. The counter is almost empty.
I wonder what happens, I guess I’ll find out in…
3
2
1
THUD!
A bucket smashes into her head and she drops to the floor.
The blood splatter causes someone to shriek.
In a panic, I pull out my phone.
It takes too long for the ambulance to get here, people are freaking out.
The window cleaner who dropped the bucket even came down before he broke down on his knees.
The paramedics came with police who disperse the lookers.
I take the opportunity to ask about the counters.
All they say is that I’m in shock and should go and lie down.
Maybe they’re right. My near death experience might’ve messed with my head.
I start to head home.

The man turns red as I reach the crossing. I watch the crowds cross.
A man drops out of the mass to pick up some dropped papers.
His counter turns me white.
He has 7 seconds.
Checking my lane of traffic, I can hear a car going too fast.
It’s now or never, I charge.
He doesn’t even lift his head as he stands back up.
3
I hear the car skidding
2
I tackle him, hard. My momentum knocks us clean onto the pavement.
The car whizzes past, his fate averted.
He hugs me tight, thanking me.
His hug doesn’t last long, when he realises that his papers are strewn all over the road.
As he despairs, I vanish into the crowd, not wanting to cause any more of a commotion.
I thank my luck for getting away with just a few bruises when I stop.
The numbers have gone. Vanished. Not one person has them any more.
As I register this, the sun peeks through the clouds and my phone rings.
It’s my girl.
Maybe I should believe in karma after all…

Inspired by:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JQiEs32SqQ