Chapter 288
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Two brothers, torn apart by civil war. One chose to fight for his own state, his home. The other chose to fight to end slavery. Neither survived. Now they were in Hell together, awaiting the inevitable.
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Two young girls, friends once. Neither had much hope for the future, ended up joining different gangs. One ended up killing the other, and sent to Death Row. Now they were in Hell together, awaiting the inevitable.
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Everyone knew what was coming, either they would cease to remember anything of their old lives and be reborn, or Evil would return and make them suffer for refusing to fight. Maybe those who had fought for Evil would do at least nominally better, for a little while at least. All these people could do now was wait. Some looted the treasuries of the old tyrants, and planned to be far away when they returned. But really they were just putting off the inevitable, an eternity of suffering and fighting. An eternity of trying to get what your neighbor had, and then always being terrified that someone would take this away from you.
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Some were trying to make the best of their last days of pleasure. They were eating at the Double R Diner, Norma and Ed were dancing perhaps their last dance. Others were helping themselves to the suprisingly good coffee and cherry pie. Jerry Seinfeld was telling jokes, trying to entertain the damned with some gallows humor. Nadine and the two gladiator sisters were amongst those laughing at Jerry's jokes. This seemed like as good a way as any to spend these days. But then, they got a message from the fuhrer.
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Everyone on Earth knew these were the final hours. Some were not particularly experienced with war and fighting, but they were trying to learn. Like many still trapped in Hell, they were also making the most of their final days. Moments of joy with loved ones, reconciling with former enemies. They might be guaranteed a spot in Heaven, but they still wanted to help people and save them from damnation. All the old differences were forgotten, they had to work together one last time. Suppossedly Superman had a plan to defeat Evil, everyone hoped it would work. The basic plan was to fight and try to survive until the evil ones retreated, if that was even possible. All things considered, much of the Earth was in relatively good spirits, until they got a message from the fuhrer.
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Both Earth and Hell saw this mysterious broadcast. It seemed that Evil had indeed bonded with a particular human and taken his form. It was no suprise to many that Evil was taking the form of Adolf Hitler. Most were hard pressed to think of anyone who represented Evil better than Hitler. He addressed both worlds now.
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Hitler: People of the Earth. These are your final hours of joy. You will all be wiped out, not one of you will survive this day. I regret only that you will scend into Heaven, safe from me. But go to Heaven knowing that you failed to save your loved ones. I will make them all suffer in your place. Those of you in Hell, if you think that you have suffered before, think again. I shall enjoy tormenting you for all eternity. Not one of you will ever be able to do any good, noone shall ever escape my torment ever again. Every single creature shall know nothing but suffering forever. Whatever comfort you find in these final hours, let your joy be tempered with the knowledge that it will be the last joy you ever experience.