Chapter 277

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Ever since she'd rebuilt the Double R Diner in Hell, Norma had learned to give free food to certain powerful individuals. Many of these individuals were powerful for only a brief period. But guys like Ares, they seemed to stay powerful. Norma welcomed him and his two minions with as much sincerity as she could fake. These two minions were Strife and Discord.

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Norma: Ares, what can I get for you and your friends?

Ares: I'm good, but Strife and Discord probably want something.

Norma: Ofcourse, whatever you want is on the house.

Ares: I appreciate that. I'm here with an offer, for you and all of your friends.

Norma: What kind of offer?

Ares: Employment. You all may have noticed certain people dissapearing. I can tell you exactly where they are, Earth. It seems that those souls were judged to be worthy of Heaven. But first, they will fight for Good in the final battle. Some of you might have dissapeared from Earth, and wound up here. What does this tell you. It tells me that none of us are worthy of Heaven. We are stuck here, for all eternity.

Lucci: Not for eternity.

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Ares and the others were suprised by this interruption. Some recognized this man as father Lucci, the man who struc Christ and was condemned by the God of his universe to live forever. Lucci had done some bad things over the millenia, it wasn't a complete shock that he wound up back in Hell. What was suprising was that he seemed to be fading away.

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Ares: What is happnning to you?

Lucci: I am only able to stay here for a brief period. Just long enough to give each of you a final warning. Unfortunately all of you have been condemned to Hell. But rest assured it is not for all eternity. Soon this world will be gone. Every last one of you will be free to be reborn.

Ares: Only if Good wins the final battle. If Evil wins, they're all stuck here. I know that the agreement means that they'll "eventually" get into Heaven. But "eventually" can be a very long time. You think you know eternity, what you or I know is nothing compared to how long Evil can make them suffer.

Lucci: Towards what end? Does Evil really want to wipe out any traces of Good?

Ares: Yes.

Lucci: Is that really the army any of you want to fight for?

Ares: Those who are willing to fight for Evil, they will live in luxury. They will get to take vengeance on the heads of their enemies.

Lucci: For how long? It seems to me, that Evil does not wish for anyone to be happy. Evil wants everyone to make war and give in to your hate. It wants to make it impossible for anyone to do enough good to make it into Heaven. Is that what anyone here truley wants, to be miserable for all eternity?

Ares: You are just trying to keep them from fighting in the final battle.

Lucci: You are not wrong about that. Yes, I would prefer that Good have less to fight in the final battle. I would also prefer that these souls not damn themselves more than they already have.

Ares: Even if Good wins, we'll all get another chance.

Lucci: True, but those who actively fought for Evil will be at the back of the line. Those who refuse to take sides, they will be at the front of the line. One way or another, I should be fine. I die, I go to Heaven, regardless of which side wins. We win and I survive, I get to see the beginning of the new world and live out my final days. Perhaps you've all heard of my past. Over the course of two thousand years I did much good, and much bad. I was so desperate to end my life I was willing to let the whole world die, even help bring about the end. If any of you think it's too late for yourselves, look at me. If I can redeem myself, any of you can. Even Ares. I cannot stay, just remember my words, and know it's not too late.

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These people all listened to father Lucci's words. He wasn't wrong, but the thought of luxury, of being able to take vengeance against those who had wronged them, it was too good an offer for some to pass up. Yvette agreed to fight for Evil, as did a few others. But Sharon, Emily, Hope, they refused to fight for Evil. They could only watch as Ares led the damned souls away, to officially pledge their allegiance to the darkside.