Standards

Author's Note: I wrote this to vent my spleen about something in real life. Sloth, don't read this. Just don't.

I call myself The Lord.

Perhaps some of you know me. Some probably don't. Those that do know me would likely call me a monster.

By their viewpoint, it's a deserved title. I've caused the death of over a million people. I've killed men, women, children. I killed a father in front of his daughter, and told her it was her fault. Had circumstances gone differently, I would have killed far more. I haven't changed my plans to do so.

I do this because I believe this is what the world needs. The argument on my righteousness is endless, and quite frankly even I have gotten a little tired of it. It is what is needed, and that is that. If you wish to oppose me, the line starts over there. If you're lucky, I may regret your inevitable death as a waste.

So perhaps you ask, what am I talking about? What does it have to do with my erstwhile enemies, whose stories you usually peruse? Well…nothing, this time. You will have to look elsewhere for those tales.

This is just…something I felt needed to be done.

It's why I'm in this New York correctional facility, after all.

It needn't concern itself. I won't be here long.

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The coldness was the first alert that something was wrong. When she opened her eyes, the darkness was another.

"Hello miss."

The bed she'd been sleeping on was gone. The cell she had been in was also gone, as she found herself tumbling and thrashing through the air. She hit what seemed to be a floor.

"WHAT THE FU-!"

"No talking please."

And just like that, her voice was gone. The girl spoke, and then screamed silently, no sound coming out of her mouth. She turned wide eyes up to the figure. Even in the darkness around her, he somehow stood out.

"Hello miss." The Lord repeated, as he produced a sheath of papers from somewhere and began rifling through them. "I have some good news and some bad news. The good news is, you won't be serving the year in prison you were just sentenced to. The bad…"

She whirled, trying to run, seconds before slamming into an invisible wall.

"…right then. I'm not really interested in your life." The Lord said, tossing the paper aside. "More interested in why you're here."

Turning and running towards the Lord only resulted in impact with another invisible wall.

"Now, if I recall correctly…you were playing a 'prank' on your ex-roommate." The Lord said. "There were some details about stolen noodles and bleach on walls…nothing special. Then you decided to take your ex-roommate's kitten and…well, you know what you did."

Her eyes widened.

"You know the worst part, for me? I understand why. Well, in one sense. I've indulged in inflicting pain on others myself. I know the appeal." The Lord said. "But those were people, who have a very strong tendency to be worthless and deserve everything they get, one way or another. Animals are another matter. But even considering that, you've really managed to set the bar high, young lady. You not only put the cat in the oven, and you not only bragged about it when you were convicted to try and spit in the face of all the people who reviled you for your action, but after you turned on the oven, you left. Didn't want to watch what you did. Didn't want to see it cry and fight to get free. It's that part…that's what drew my attention. I watch your species commit new atrocities every day. Do you know what is required to get something to resonate with me?"

It wasn't cold any more. It was hot.

"You know, the bitterest irony is, by the standards of your society, my crimes outweigh yours a thousandfold." The Lord said, approaching the woman as she began to bang on her new prison. "Yet people form cults to worship me and make websites proclaiming my greatness. Idiots like that will die anyway, I don't need such small-minded vermin in my world. But I suspect that no one in this world will do anything but hate you. Until they forget. People forget you see. It's just the way it is."

The Lord's eyes glittered.

"I don't forget. And I, as the old saw goes, never forgive."

So hot…getting hotter.

"You know, I can't use this. Can't hold you up to show why this world needs to be purged. You're an exceptional aberration, even by my standards. It's why we're here, when I should be working on my plans, after all. And yes, if anyone ever knew why I was about to do, they'd probably claim I was worse than you. After all, you're just a heartless, banal piece of excrement. I claim to be better, and I do this…like I said. You have to do something truly special to get me to act like this. But this counts for me." The Lord said. "So I'm no better than you. Except I am. In one way, at least. I will stay to watch my handiwork. And I'm very good with my hands."

The Lord raised one.

"You can start screaming now."

She did. For a very, very long time.

I wonder if anyone will really care what I did to her.

I wonder how many more worthy people I'll have to kill before I can make a world where her kind will never exist.

I wonder how long I spent in that crack of reality I command doing what some wish they could have done. It was weeks, at least, I suspect.

I wonder, and am about to find out, how far I just set my timetable back to show my displeasure at her deeds.

I don't wonder if it was worth it.