Chapter 8- The Play
Asu walked into the auditorium, rows upon rows of chairs formed a semi-circle around the stage. In the middle of the stage was Bruce; he wore a tunic of pure white with a line of purple around the edge. He also wore a mask; the left side was beautiful, everything about it was perfect, the ear, the eye, the nose. This was shown too in his hair, which was neatly slicked back and had a shine to it. The right side was a different matter entirely. It was hideous, from the pointed teeth in the mouth to the small horn growing out of the fore head. This was also shown in the hair, as on this side it was ragged, unkempt, and greasy. He was speaking out to the audience, his voice loud and holding a strong conviction behind it.
"…Did I not burn the arsonist? His punishment was not enough, nay; I say that had he survived he would have been burned once for every house. And the murderer? Did he not get what he deserved? To have been killed by starvation was too kind a death, much kinder then he deserved. Where ever I went, I made sure justice followed, as swift as the sun itself, and much swifter then any mortal man could dream of. Surely, I am here, near the peak of Mount Olympus, to be rewarded by almighty Zeus. Surely they have prepared a spot for me. Hush now, they come.
Three men, wearing tunics of pure white came down, lifted by a machine just above them. The one on the left held a Helmet that gleamed in the light. The one on the right held a golden spear with three points at its end. The last held a bolt of lighting, and his head was ringed by an olive branch.
"All powerful sons of Kronos and Rheia, how may I serve you?
The middle one spoke. "Penthor, you are here to be punished."
"Punished? What do you mean mighty Zeus?"
"You preformed great evil during your time among mortals," said the left one.
"Hades, lord of the dead, what evil do you speak of? Did I not punish those who preformed crime most heinous?"
"That was not your crime Penthor," said the right one. "Your crime was more villainous then any crime you punished."
"You punished the Guilty, but you neglected the innocent."
"That crime carries more weight then a dozen murders. You have no place in any realm we can find. Therefore, you shall be sent back into the mortal realm as little more then a shadow. You shall see the innocent that you failed to protect, and be powerless to help them"
Bruce started shaking, "Merciful Zeus, please, any other punishment. Let me share in Tantalus's torture, anything but that."
"I have been merciful, in that this punishment is not forever, but when it is up, you shall not be rewarded in anyway."
The three rose, as the lights dimmed and centered around twelve men in tunics of gray.
"The one who punishes the guilty is himself guilty. The one who took lives, but saved none will no longer have any power. And when he does come among the dead, it shall be as little more then nothing." At this all the lights turned off as the stage disappeared in the darkness.