Night 21

The consequence of every one of my actions stare me in the face. I'm becoming overwhelmed with all of the horrible results. Has everything I've done been out of self-interest? Am I irredeemable? Is it…even worth trying to do "what is best for others"?

The young woman walked slowly through the hall. Her steps were weary but steady. A rumbling noise throughout the corridors caused her to stop. There were a handful of sources, from different directions. All the while, the voices of men cheerily sang, "Do you know~ Who I am~" in a way that made it seem like an echo.

"Judgment!" shouted Judgment Boy, as he dropped from the darkness above and behind her. However, on his shirt was the white number 4.

"Judgment!" shouted another Judgment Boy, who had the number 3 on his shirt, also dropped down, but more to the left of the first Judgment Boy. This blocked the path behind her.

"Judgment!" came the proclamation as a Judgment Boy with the number 2 on him dropped a few strides in front of her, followed by a similar entrance by a Judgment Boy with the number 1 taking up his shirt. Suddenly, a deep and slow, singing voice filled every space in the corridor, hardly leaving room for much else.

"Do you know~

Who I am~

They call me Judgment Boy~"

"GOLD!" finished the four Judgment Boys.

In that moment, a golden behemoth plummeted right in front of her. The second of massive, gold and round weights that hung under its body broke through the ground, sending pieces of wooden floorboards flying. When the dust settled, the young woman was faced with a fifth Judgment Boy, who was golden and notably bigger than the rest. The other difference between him and them also included his red eyes and his weights being labeled as "10t".

His deep voice boomed as he stated, looking down upon her, "You are out in an open field. A comrade you know personally has just lost his horse and his equipment has fallen off, out of his reach. There is no one else around. You're aware that he has the capability to uncover each of your heinous crimes, if he hasn't done so already. Killing him now will secure your cover."

In the midst of his statement, the young woman took a step back in shock.

"What will you do?" piped up Judgment Boy #3.

"What're you gonna do?" asked Judgment Boy #2.

"What'll you do?" Judgment Boy #1 wondered.

"What are you going do?" inquired Judgment Boy #4.

Judgment Boy Gold, with the candle-light gleaming off of his glittering grin, evenly asked, "So, what are you going to do?"

Without looking away, the young woman immediately and decisively answered, "I won't kill him."

Judgment Boy Gold continued to grin and slowly began to turn. The young woman instinctively ducked down and covered her head. It was a fortunate move, as the massive Judgment Boy sped up his spinning, his cages just barely grazing the walls, as his immense voice boomed through the building like roar. The walls rattled and all the other Judgment Boys shook, while the young woman was knocked back by the turbulence.

"JUUUUUDGMEEEEENT!"

Finally, Judgment Boy Gold came to an abrupt stop. He stated, "Judgment now," and the bottom of the large cage holding the gold money sign came open. The huge money sign slowly fell and, when it struck the ground, created an explosive and satisfying shatter. Chunks of once glowing pieces flew about and tumbled across the floor. The young woman slowly glanced around, seeing a couple of small and black-veiled figures with red-eyes appear from the shadows, and they started to clean up the pieces. One prompted her to look back up at Judgment Boy Gold when he continued to talk, "You choose to spare him. Instead of killing him, you run off, and it is likely that he survived to tell the tale." and there was something assuring in his words as he said, "You successfully managed to follow your heart.

"However," Judgment Boy Gold continued, with a doubting edge in his voice, "This one action may not be enough."

All the while he spoke, a handful of more darkly-dressed figures, with very human hands poking out of their sleeves, carried a large and normal scale in front of Judgment Boy Gold. The golden creature went on, "You've battled your own comrades," and Judgment Boy #3 let his caged heart fall and shatter, then he let go of the remaining money sign, which was caught by one of the veiled figures. "You've murdered your fellows and superiors." Judgment Boy #2 dropped his heart and let go of his money sign, which was also caught by another veiled figure. "You've betrayed humanity." Judgment Boy #4's heart shattered and his money sign was caught. "You've avoided the consequences as best you could." Judgment Boy #1 broke the fourth heart and released his money sign. "But you spared one of your comrades," Judgment Boy Gold stated in an almost sympathetic tone, releasing his pink heart, which had to be caught by three of the veiled figures at once. He continued with harshness stabbing back into his tone, "but at what expense?"

One by one, the veiled figures placed the normal-sized and intact money signs on one side of the scale, tipping it to the right, as Judgment Boy Gold explained, "Up until now, your actions benefited you the most." The three veiled figures slowly made their way over to the other side of the scale, struggling to carry the heart. "Your selfless decision will be key to your downfall, by not only tipping the scale, but also breaking it down." As he said this, the veiled figures managed to toss the heart onto the left side of the scale. When the massive heart landed, the scale tipped and swayed, going side to side until it wavered dangerously. Finally, it broke into pieces, money signs and the heart alike scattering about. The numbered Judgment Boys shuddered and, one by one, retreated into the dark. The veiled figures took the scale pieces, the money signs and the enormous heart away, also disappearing in the shadows.

"What are you going to do?" repeated Judgment Boy Gold as he ascended back into the dark ceiling, taking his golden light with him.

Nothing was left behind, save for the hole in the floor. Soon, the young woman was alone.

Moon's Meow: There always something about Judgment Boy Gold's appearance that gives a sense of finality, like things are coming to a close. There's something hopeless yet ambiguously hopeful about this chapter that I like. In all honesty, this is my favorite chapter.

I hope you have fun reading and I will see you next chapter!