A/N: I've noticed that for the past two chapters, 219/222 and 220/223, has been really screwy with them. For some bizarre reason, the website sometimes just…doesn't acknowledge their existence, and the chapters (along with the Favs/Follows and Review numbers associated with them) just…temporarily disappear. The disappearing act doesn't seem to be permanent; the chapters do eventually return…only to disappear and reappear again later. I have no idea what's going on, and deleting and reuploading the chapters didn't seem to help. I think the site is just borked for whatever reason, and I wish I knew what the problem was so I could try to fix it or at least get some closure on the situation. I apologize to those of you who have had difficulties accessing the chapters, the best advice I can offer is to fiddle around with the site or try to catch a time when the chapters are up properly.
Anyways, you guys seemed to really enjoy the philosophical chapter last time. This is great news, because I've got MORE philosophy for you…although it's focused on a very different topic. This time, this chapter is focused more on the afterlife, and more specifically discusses the nature of damnation and Hell. It also addresses some concerns and criticism some readers on AOx3 had about the concept of eternal damnation and torture. The challenge I have is to address those concerns without contradicting my own words from earlier chapters.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this chapter should NOT be considered a legitimate description of the Christian afterlife, and while I certainly draw upon Christian themes again, it is not perfectly aligned with Christian doctrine and may not necessarily reflect my views. I certainly don't want to pretend otherwise and commit heresy in the process.
Trigger Warning: There is a VERY brief mention of a certain "R*" word that is one of the absolute worst crimes you could commit against another person. It is only a miniscule mention, and I certainly have NOT included anything in the chapter that even remotely resembles the actual atrocity in question. But the word does technically exist in this chapter, which is why I am putting this warning here and now.
Daffa731: The chances of that happening are actually incredibly rare, as the ghost kids only got stuck on Earth to begin with because of Remnant, and when they finally moved on, God explicitly sent them back from Heaven so that they could live out their ghostly lives on Earth both for their own benefit and so they could properly atone. So the chances of them encountering another ghost family on Earth are miniscule and borderline nonexistent – although if they DID come across one hypothetically, they would certainly approach a second ghost family with both caution and curiosity. They'd certainly want to get to know this new family…but also want to make sure that the other family isn't secretly evil or something.
Chapter 224 – The Nature of Damnation
Mike's conversation on ethics and philosophy with Charlie would occupy his thoughts for the next several days. Although he had originally intended for it to be a private conversation between the two of them, Mike ended up discussing the lessons and teachings from that conversation with the rest of the kids in pairs, whenever they weren't out performing guard duty over the Mega Pizzaplex. Charlie had not only been okay with this decision, but had outright approved of it, believing that it was important for all of her siblings to understand this perspective and keep themselves grounded and humble in light of their own shortcomings.
To Mike's relief, all of them had understood and ultimately accepted his teachings, although some more willingly than others. "Aww, man!" Fritz had loudly exclaimed when it had been his turn. "I really thought we were doing good with everything we've been doing so far!"
"You ARE doing good, Fritz," Mike had quickly reassured him. "You and the others have done plenty of good. But doing good and being a good person are two very different things. And you know full well that you don't have the right to call yourself a good person when you've literally killed innocent people before."
"Yeah, I know," Fritz had answered with a sigh. "And I know you're right, Dad."
"Just keep trying to be better and do better," Mike had replied with a smile. "I really do think that's what God would want for us."
As Mike had engaged in ethical and philosophical discourse with his kids, he had been listening to the reports they were giving about the Pizzaplex. So far, the results had been both relieving and disappointing. Activity in the Mega Pizzaplex had been, for the most part, completely routine. There had been no major shake-ups or disasters, and while this was very much a good thing for the continued safety and health of the children going to the Pizzaplex, it also left them completely in the dark for any schemes that Glitchtrap and his possession victim might be planning.
"It's been a whole bunch of NOTHING so far!" Susie complained one day. "Everything is just so…so…normal over there!"
"Yeah, I'm kinda with Susie on this one," Gabe agreed. "None of us have seen anything that looks like a scheme from Glitchtrap or whoever he's possessing."
"Nobody's been acting suspicious or even weird over there," Liz acknowledged. "And I'm talking about both the humans working there AND the Glamrocks."
"Glitchtrap is being really careful this time around," Jeremy reluctantly had to give credit where credit was due. "Whatever he's plotting, he's not revealing himself until everything's ready on his end. I hate to admit it, but Glitchtrap's a lot smarter than the OG William Afton, who just bumrushed straight into Dad's head as Nightmare Springtrap without even thinking and thoroughly got his ass kicked because of it."
"If I was more optimistic or naïve, I'd almost wonder if Glitchtrap either gave up on his plans or wasn't planning anything at all," Mike replied dryly. "But we're definitely not that stupid. Glitchtrap's absolutely planning something for the Pizzaplex, we've more or less got that confirmed at this point. It's only a matter of time, and we can't get sloppy in our vigilance until all Hell breaks loose."
"Do you think there's anything we can do to make things easier for ourselves?" Cassidy asked. "Maybe we're not looking in the right places."
"That's possible," Charlie answered with a frown. "The problem is that if we stumble upon Glitchtrap's possession victim carelessly, we could end up alerting Glitchtrap and his possession victim to our presence before we're ready. Finding Glitchtrap and being ready to stop him are two very different things, and like Dad keeps saying, it's a terrible idea to let your enemy know you exist before you're ready to stop him."
"I can think of one thing we can do, and it kind of relates to all those discussions we had over the past few days," Mike answered, chuckling dryly. "Pray, and I don't mean that as a joke. Unlike most people, we have conclusive proof that God and Heaven exist. I doubt that He'll just solve all our problems for us with a snap of our fingers, but we actually have the option of praying to Him for some help. Who knows? Maybe He'll happily give us some extra help or even just some advice, and the only reason He hasn't given it to us is because we never actually asked for it yet." He shrugged. "I mean, it's worth a shot, right? If it doesn't work, it's not like we lose anything major for it."
His ghost kids blinked. "I…can't believe we didn't think of that before," Fritz mumbled, suddenly feeling very silly.
"Don't beat yourselves over it," Mike advised dryly. "It's not really an obvious solution for the 99.99999% of humanity who don't know for a fact that God actually exists."
He earned a few giggles from his kids, but they took his words seriously. That night, both Mike and his ghost kids prayed to God for help in finding Glitchtrap…
…and those prayers would be answered the very next night, although not in a way that Mike had expected.
The man had gone to bed that night and opened his eyes…only to find himself in the middle of a very familiar red-tinged forest. "What the heck?" Mike blinked as he adjusted himself to his surroundings. "Wait a minute…I know this place. This is the Crimson Lake, isn't it? Which means that Old Man Consequences should be nearby. Is this because we all started praying to God for help? Or was he always going to call me here sooner or later?" he wondered.
He stood up and started walking. Although he didn't remember the location of the actual lake itself or OMC's fishing spot, it was like his body instinctively knew how to navigate through the forest to get there. After just a few seconds, the Crimson Lake came into view, and the crocodile-headed entity was sitting serenely on its edge like always.
OMC looked up as Mike approached and smiled. "AH, MIKE SCHMIDT," he greeted him cordially. "ALLOW ME TO ONCE AGAIN WELCOME YOU TO THE CRIMSON LAKE."
"Nice to meet you again too, Old Man Consequences," Mike replied with a respectful nod of his head.
OMC gestured to a spot next to him. "PLEASE, JOIN ME AT THE EDGE OF THIS LAKE. I HAVE RESERVED A SEAT FOR YOU."
Mike accepted the invitation, walking closer to the Lake until he was next to the entity and sat down. "I have to admit, I'm a bit curious as to why I'm here," he commented. "Getting this out of the way, I didn't die in my sleep, did I?"
OMC shook his head. "NO, MY FRIEND, YOU ARE STILL VERY MUCH AMONG THE LIVING," the entity reassured him. "FOR YOU, THIS LAKE REMAINS NOTHING MORE THAN A LAKE."
"Okay, good to know," Mike replied with a wry smile. "In that case, am I here because God is answering my family's prayers? Or were you always going to reach out to me anyway?"
OMC chuckled. "ONE DOES NOT NECESSARILY EXCLUDE THE OTHER," he answered mysteriously, although Mike could hear the amusement in his voice.
Mike let out a small laugh and shrugged. "Well, if you called me here to help me, I'm not gonna complain," he replied. He glanced out at the Lake, remembering how the last time he had been here, OMC had showed him its nature both as a portal to Heaven and a portal to Hell.
"I DO INDEED HAVE SOME WORDS OF ADVICE FOR YOU REGARDING THE TRIAL THAT IS TO COME, MY FRIEND, BUT WE ARE IN NO HURRY AT THE MOMENT," Old Man Consequences remarked. "I SENSE THERE IS SOMETHING ON YOUR MIND, AND WE CAN SPEND A FEW MOMENTS TALKING ABOUT THAT FIRST."
"…you know, now that you mention it, I actually do have something I've been thinking about," Mike admitted. "I had a conversation with my kids over the past few days about Christian thought, and it got me thinking about Heaven and Hell. I know they exist, I know God is real, and I've encountered demons from Hell on a semi-regular basis. But thinking about it, I barely know anything about Heaven and Hell themselves."
"THAT IS BY DESIGN," OMC explained. "THE DETAILS OF HEAVEN AND HELL ARE KEPT TO A BARE MINIMUM FOR A REASON. GOD KNOWS ALL TOO WELL THAT EXCESSIVE KNOWLEDGE, OR AN UNCONTROLLED THIRST FOR KNOWLEDGE, CAN BE DANGEROUS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT. YOU NEED NOT LOOK ANY FURTHER THAN THE HORRORS THAT WILLIAM AFTON HAS WROUGHT WITH REMNANT FOR PROOF."
Mike shuddered at the reminder. William Afton had done committed horribly atrocious deeds with Remnant, and that had been one man. He didn't know what the worst of humanity like the Nazis would do with full knowledge of Heaven and Hell, but he doubted the consequences would be pleasant. "Most of my kids told me that they've been to Heaven and seen God, but they're not allowed to tell me the details," he replied instead. "Heck, I get the impression that it's more than just them simply not being allowed to tell me what Heaven's like. It almost feels like they genuinely don't remember most of the details from their brief visit to Heaven."
"YOU HAVE KEEN INSTINCTS," Old Man Consequences complimented. "YOUR ASSESSMENT IS CORRECT, MIKE. WHILE GOD ALLOWED YOUR CHILDREN TO RETAIN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF THEIR VISIT TO HEAVEN, HE DELIBERATELY OBSCURED THE DETAILS OF HEAVEN FROM THEIR MINDS. WHILE SOME MAY SEE THIS AS CRUEL, THE ALMIGHTY FATHER ACTUALLY CHOSE TO DO THIS FOR YOUR CHILDREN'S BENEFIT. FOR IT IS MUCH EASIER TO OBEY A DECREE WHEN YOU DO NOT POSSESS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WOULD ENABLE YOU TO VIOLATE THAT DECREE TO BEGIN WITH."
Mike blinked. "That's, uh…that's…that's…yeah, can't argue with that logic, I guess," he conceded. "I suppose you won't be spilling any details on what Heaven's like to me either?" he asked dryly.
OMC shook his head. "MY APOLOGIES, BUT I WILL NOT," he apologized. "WHILE I OCCUPY A UNIQUE BUT POWERFUL POSITION IN THE AFTERLIFE, I AM SUBJECT TO THE LORD GOD'S DECREES JUST AS MUCH AS ANY ANGEL OR EVEN DEMON, NO MATTER HOW MUCH THE LATTER MAY TRY TO RESIST THIS TRUTH. IF YOU SEEK A MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF HEAVEN, THE BEST THAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET IS WHAT IS WRITTEN IN THAT SCRIPTURE YOU MORTALS CALL THE BIBLE. THAT BOOK IS CORRECT IN THE FUNDAMENTALS, ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT REVEAL EVERYTHING."
"I'll keep that in mind," Mike replied with a nod. "Does that mean you won't talk to me about Hell and damnation, either?"
OMC chuckled. "THAT IS A DIFFERENT MATTER, MIKE SCHMIDT. I CAN ACTUALLY TALK TO YOU MORE ABOUT HELL AND DAMNATION, SINCE THAT IS A FATE THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN ARE AT THIS POINT MOST LIKELY TO AVOID." The good humor disappeared from the crocodile-headed entity's face and voice. "ALTHOUGH," he added warningly, "THERE WAS ONE POINT IN TIME WHEN YOU RISKED FALLING INTO DAMNATION. A MOMENT WHEN YOUR RAGE AND HATRED THREATENED TO CONSUME YOU AND DRAG YOU DOWN INTO THE DARKNESS."
Mike winced. He knew exactly what OMC was talking about. "I know," he admitted with a sigh. "I let my rage get the better of me more than once…and when I accidentally hurt Charlie…that was when I'd crossed the line."
"THE MOMENT WHEN YOU REALIZED THAT YOU COULD NO LONGER MAKE EXCUSES AND HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO FACE THE TRUTH," OMC agreed. Then, he smiled. "BUT YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN LEARNED THE LESSONS YOU NEEDED TO LEARN, AND THAT MOMENT OF DANGER HAS PASSED. I DO NOT FORESEE YOU OR YOUR FAMILY RISKING DAMNATION ANY TIME SOON, SO LONG AS YOU CONTINUE TO TAKE THE LESSONS YOU HAVE LEARNED TO HEART," he reassured the visiting mortal.
"Damnation…" Mike repeated the word, letting it roll off his tongue. He frowned. "I've never really thought about that concept before, even though I know it exists. Being permanently rejected by God, and being thrown into Hell for all eternity. I know some people absolutely deserve eternal punishment like Adolf Hitler and William Afton, but…the idea of people being thrown into a fiery pit to suffer for all eternity…is that really necessary in some cases?" he wondered. "I know some people could argue that being tortured by demons for all eternity is way too harsh for crimes that have a finite impact in life, no matter how bad those crimes might be." Mike sighed. "And I have to admit, I kinda see their point."
"SO YOU WISH TO DISCUSS THE CONCEPT OF DAMNATION, THEN? VERY WELL," Old Man Consequences nodded. "YOU MUST UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF DAMNATION AND HELL THAT YOU HAVE GAINED FROM YOUR INTERACTIONS WITH NIGHTMARE IS QUITE LIMITED. CERTAINLY, THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH A COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT OF DAMNATION."
"Please enlighten me, then," Mike requested, making sure to keep his tone polite. One didn't ask to learn about one of the hidden secrets of the universe by being an asshole about it, at least not if they expected to get anywhere.
"DAMNATION IS A MORE COMPLEX TOPIC THAN WHAT YOU MORTALS BELIEVE, THOUGH I WILL FREELY ADMIT IT IS CERTAINLY AN UNPLEASANT ONE," OMC began. "TELL ME, MIKE SCHMIDT, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE DAMNATION?"
Mike blinked. "Uhhh…God sending people to Hell?" he replied uncertainly, although he already knew that this description wasn't going to cut it.
OMC shook his head. "A DRAMATIC OVERSIMPLIFICATION, ALTHOUGH I SUSPECT THAT YOU ARE ALREADY AWARE OF THIS. FOR YOU SEE, WHILE DAMNATION MAY BE A PART OF GOD'S JUDGMENT, IT IS A STATE THAT IS, ABOVE ALL ELSE, SELF-INFLICTED."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Self-inflicted?" he asked. "What do you mean by that?"
"EVERY MAN IS GIVEN FREE WILL," OMC explained solemnly. "THE FREE WILL TO CHOOSE TO DO GOOD OR TO DO EVIL. GOD ALLOWS ALL OF HUMANITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS; UNFORTUNATELY, THIS INCLUDES THE CHOICE TO COMMIT WICKED AND SINFUL DEEDS. BUT MERELY CARRYING OUT AN EVIL ACT DOES NOT SEAL ONE'S ETERNITY, FOR ONE CAN CHOOSE TO REPENT AND TURN AWAY FROM EVIL. YOU'VE HAD THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOUR CHILDREN QUITE RECENTLY, AND THIS STATEMENT VERY MUCH APPLIES. YOU QUITE RIGHTLY POINTED OUT THAT THEY COMMITTED ACTS OF MURDER AND VIOLENCE IN THE PAST. BUT THEY CHOSE TO TURN AWAY FROM THAT PATH OF HATRED AND DARKNESS, AND CHANGED THEIR HEARTS TO FOCUS ON SELF-IMPROVEMENT AND ATONEMENT. THAT IS WHY THE PATH TO HEAVEN AND ETERNAL PEACE REMAINS OPEN TO THEM DESPITE THEIR BLOOD-STAINED PASTS."
"I understand that," Mike acknowledged, choosing not to comment on the fact that OMC was somehow aware of the details of his very private conversation with his kids. "So…damnation is the result of people who commit evil acts AND don't show any regret for them?"
"DAMNATION FALLS UPON ALL WHO COMMIT ACTS OF EVIL KNOWINGLY AND WILLINGLY, AND REFUSE TO REPENT FOR THEM," OMC declared. "THEY KNOW FULL WELL THEIR SINS, YET REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR OWN WRONGDOINGS AND REPENT FOR THEIR CRIMES. SOME ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY THEIR SINS, CLAIMING THAT THEY ARE ACTS OF GOOD OR NECESSITY. OTHERS DENY THEIR SINS COMPLETELY, OR HIDE BEHIND THE SHIELD OF IGNORANCE. STILL OTHERS KNOW THAT THEY ARE COMMITTING SINS AND SIMPLY DO NOT CARE TO REPENT, WHILE THE MOST DEPRAVED OF SOULS REVEL IN THEIR OWN WICKEDNESS. DOES THAT SOUND FAMILIAR TO YOU?"
"It does," Mike answered solemnly, "and in more ways than one." He had seen Nightmare and William Afton delight in their own wickedness, even if the former had way more redeeming qualities than the latter. And he himself had reveled in torturing William Afton's soul multiple times, with a hideous joy that was disturbing to think about now that he looked back on those moments with a clear mind.
"THESE WICKED SOULS ARE OFFERED THE PATH OF FORGIVENESS, REDEMPTION, AND SELF-IMPROVEMENT, MIKE," OMC continued. "NOT JUST ONCE, BUT MULTIPLE TIMES. IN FACT, THE OFFER REMAINS OPEN THROUGHOUT ONE'S ENTIRE LIFESPAN. BUT THE WICKED CHOOSE TO CONTINUE THEIR WICKED WAYS WITHOUT REMORSE OR REPENTANCE UNTIL THE VERY END, ACTIVELY REJECTING REDEMPTION THROUGHOUT THEIR ENTIRE LIVES. AND ONCE DEATH COMES, IT IS TOO LATE, AND THEIR FATE IS SEALED. GOD DOES NOT SIMPLY SEND PEOPLE TO HELL, MIKE. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, THE DAMNED CHOOSE THEIR OWN PATH WITH THEIR EVIL DEEDS AND THEIR LACK OF REMORSE IN LIFE. IF YOU WERE GOD, MIKE, WOULD YOU ACCEPT AN UNREPENTANT MURDERER, BETRAYER, OR RAPIST INTO HEAVEN? WOULD YOU ACCEPT WILLIAM AFTON INTO HEAVEN?"
Mike snorted. "Hell no!" He retorted. "I fully get that some people are evil bastards who don't deserve Heaven by any reasonable standard. But I don't think every damned soul is as evil as William Afton. It just feels like chucking their souls into Hell to be tortured by demons like Nightmare for all eternity seems…kinda harsh."
"AND THAT IS WHERE YOU HUMANS' DEFINITION OF DAMNATION FALLS SHORT," OMC countered. "AS I STATED EARLIER, DAMNATION IS A FAR MORE COMPLEX TOPIC THAN WHAT YOU HUMANS BELIEVE. THE PERMANENT AND TRUE ASPECT OF DAMNATION AND ETERNAL PUNISHMENT IS NOT BEING THROWN INTO A FIERY PIT TO BE TORTURED BY DEMONS FOR ALL ETERNITY. IT IS ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD AND HEAVEN."
"Eternal separation?" Mike repeated in a confused but thoughtful tone.
"THINK ABOUT IT, MR. SCHMIDT," OMC explained grimly. "THERE IS AN AFTERLIFE THAT IS FILLED WITH ETERNAL PEACE, LIFE, JOY, HAPPINESS…EVERY GOOD THING HUMANS CAN IMAGINE WITH NONE OF THE BAD. AN AFTERLIFE OF PERFECT LOVE AND HAPPINESS. NOW IMAGINE BEING SEPARATED FROM THAT PERFECT AFTERLIFE FOR ALL ETERNITY. IMAGINE BEING FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE REALITY THAT YOU WILL NEVER, EVER EXPERIENCE THE JOYS AND WONDERS OF HEAVEN. AND YOU HAVE NO ONE BUT YOURSELF TO BLAME, FOR YOU COULD HAVE JOINED THE SAVED IN HEAVEN IF YOU HAD ONLY TURNED AWAY FROM YOUR SINS. INSTEAD, YOU REFUSED TO REPENT, AND LOST YOUR CHANCE TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD FOREVER. THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH, MR. SCHMIDT. THAT WEEPING AND GNASHING COMES FROM THOSE WHO REALIZED THAT THEY HAVE, AS YOU MORTALS WOULD PUT IT…SCREWED THEMSELVES OVER FOR ALL ETERNITY. THESE DAMNED MUST LIVE WITH THAT SHAME, SADNESS, AND LOSS FOREVER. THAT IS THE TRUEST ESSENCE OF DAMNATION, AND THE PERMANENT ASPECT THAT CAN NEVER BE UNDONE."
Mike shuddered as he took in the full implications of the entity's words. Sure, Old Man Consequences wasn't describing being burned alive or tortured by demons for all eternity, so it wasn't physical torment. But the ramifications of being eternally separated from Heaven and God were arguably just as terrifying in their own right. Especially the psychological consequences…he knew full well just how devastating loss, regret, and shame could be on the mind…and it was clear that the damned would have to live with at least some of those emotions forever.
But there was something else that gnawed at Mike about OMC's description. "Wait a minute," he realized. "You said that eternal separation was the permanent aspect of damnation. That implies that there is a temporary aspect. Is that where the actual punishments of Hell come in?"
"THAT IS CORRECT, MIKE SCHMIDT," Old Man Consequences confirmed. "WHILE THE BANISHMENT FROM HEAVEN AND ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD IS BOTH ETERNAL AND UNIFORM AMONGST THE DAMNED, THE INDIVIDUAL PUNISHMENTS SUFFERED BY EACH DAMNED SOUL CAN VARY DRAMATICALLY. GOD'S INFLUENCE IS STILL PRESENT EVEN IN HELL, AND THERE IS BOTH JUSTICE AND MERCY EVEN IN THE REALM OF THE DAMNED."
"Is it like Dante's Inferno, where there are several Circles of Hell with worse punishments the lower you go down the Circles?" Mike wondered.
"THE BASIC PREMISE OF LOWER DEPTHS OF HELL PUNISHING WORSE SINS IS THERE, ALTHOUGH THE REALITY IS NOT QUITE THE SAME AS WHAT DANTE ALIGHIERI DESCRIBED IN HIS STORY," OMC answered. "YOU SEE, WHILE GOD WILL ABSOLUTELY PUNISH THE DAMNED FOR THE SINS THEY COMMITTED IN LIFE, THE HEAVENLY FATHER WILL ALSO ENSURE THAT THE DAMNED ARE NOT DISPROPORTIONALLY PUNISHED FOR SINS THAT ARE WORSE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE ACTUALLY COMMITTED. I CANNOT REVEAL SPECIFIC DETAILS, BUT THE DEMONS OF HELL ARE ONLY PERMITTED BY THE HEAVENLY FATHER TO PUNISH SPECIFIC CRIMES IN A SPECIFIC WAY. THEY ARE NOT PERMITTED TO INFLICT WORSE TORMENTS THAN WHAT IS ALLOTTED TO A DAMNED SOUL IN QUESTION."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "And the demons just…run with it?" he asked skeptically. "They're evil bastards. Nightmare's proved that point VERY thoroughly, and from what I've heard he's one of the more honorable ones. What's stopping the demons of Hell or Satan from telling God to piss off and doing whatever the Hell they want to with the damned, no pun intended?"
OMC chuckled again, but this time the laughter was completely humorless, if not downright sinister. "AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE, EVEN THE DEMONS OF HELL MUST OBEY A DIRECT DECREE FROM THE ALMIGHTY FATHER. A FEW ESPECIALLY STUPID ONES HAVE ATTEMPTED TO GO AGAINST HIS DECREE DESPITE THAT. THEY REGRETTED THAT DECISION VERY PAINFULLY AND IN VERY SHORT ORDER."
"Yeaaaaahhhhh…trying to flip God off probably isn't a good idea, to put it mildly," Mike deadpanned, before changing the topic. "I remember Nightmare saying something about how William Afton made a wager against him to try and break my family apart, when I met him for the very first time. What's that about?"
"EVERY DAMNED SOUL IS ALLOWED TO MAKE A SINGLE WAGER WITH THEIR DEMONIC TORMENTORS WHILE IN HELL," OMC explained. "IF THE DAMNED SOUL WINS THIS WAGER, THEY ARE ALLOWED A THOUSAND YEARS FREE OF ETERNAL TORTURE. IF THEY LOSE, THEN THE DEMONS ARE ALLOWED TO INCREASE THE TORMENTS FOR A THOUSAND YEARS INSTEAD. AS THIS IS ONLY A SINGLE WAGER OFFERED THROUGHOUT AN ETERNITY, CHEATING AND REFUSING TO HONOR THE WAGER ARE STRICTLY FORBIDDEN BY BOTH GOD AND LUCIFER, ONE OF THE VERY FEW THINGS THAT THE TWO AGREE ON."
"Really?" Mike asked, not even bothering to hide his surprise. "I get God not allowing cheating, but Lucifer actually has that as a rule in Hell too?"
"INDEED, ALTHOUGH HIS REASONS ARE UNSURPRISINGLY LESS NOBLE THAN GOD'S," OMC replied with a humorous tone. "IF THE DEMONS CHEATED THE WAGER OR REFUSED TO HONOR IT, THEN NO DAMNED SOUL WOULD EVER ATTEMPT IT. GRANTED, THERE IS STILL QUITE A DEGREE OF RISK, AS THE DEMONS ARE STILL ALLOWED TO MANIPULATE THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO GIVE THEMSELVES AN ADVANTAGE. BUT OUTRIGHT CHEATING OR FAILING TO HONOR THE WAGER WILL INCUR THE WRATH OF BOTH GOD AND THE DEVIL ON THE FOOLISH DEMON'S HEAD…AND THERE IS NO WORD IN ANY LANGUAGE TO DESCRIBE HOW UTTERLY DOOMED THEY WOULD BE."
Mike shuddered again. It sounded like a fate even worse than the already horrifyingly impressive standard set by eternal damnation. He couldn't imagine anyone committing that kind of extreme stupidity, if only for reasons of self-preservation. And speaking of fates worse than basic damnation. "And what happened to William Afton?" he wondered. "Nightmare told me that he's lost whatever protections Heaven normally gives to the damned, forever."
"INDEED, FOR A MULTITUDE OF REASONS," Old Man Consequences affirmed. "DARING TO BREAK OUT OF HELL TO UNLEASH HAVOC ON THE LIVING, COLLUDING WITH A TRAITOR TO LUCIFER, SHOWING A COMPLETE LACK OF REMORSE EVEN AFTER YEARS OF DAMNATION. HIS TORMENTS WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT ALREADY FOR FAILING IN HIS WAGER, BUT THAT PERIOD OF TIME WOULD HAVE STILL LASTED FOR ONLY A THOUSAND YEARS. NOW, WILLIAM AFTON WILL NEVER BE GRANTED A REPRIEVE EVER AGAIN. WILLIAM AFTON HAS DISGUSTED AND ENRAGED THE HIGHEST AUTHORITIES OF HEAVEN AND HELL SO THOROUGHLY THAT HE WILL REMAIN AN ETERNAL EXAMPLE FOR HELL TO DEMONSTRATE THAT THERE ARE INDEED HIGHER MAGNITUDES OF PUNISHMENT BEYOND WHAT MOST ALREADY SUFFER IN HELL."
"I'm not gonna shed a tear for the bastard, even if I don't want my hatred of him to spiral out of control anymore like it did before," Mike acknowledged. "But you still haven't really answered my one major question from earlier, Old Man Consequences."
"AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE, MIKE SCHMIDT?" the crocodile-headed entity asked.
"That for the most part, being tortured by demons for eternity seems kinda harsh for sins committed on Earth," Mike reiterated his earlier point. "God banishes the unrepentant and the wicked from Heaven? Fine, I understand that. I wouldn't want someone like William Afton or Adolf Hitler around my house either. But letting demons do whatever the Hell they want to them in Hell for all eternity just seems kinda harsh."
"AND THAT, MIKE, IS WHERE THE SYSTEM OF JUDGMENT AND PUNISHMENT COMES INTO PLAY," Old Man Consequences explained. "YOU SEE, BOTH THE SEVERITY AND FREQUENCY OF DEMONIC PUNISHMENTS IN HELL VARIES DRAMATICALLY AMONGST THE MYRIAD DAMNED. THOSE WHO HAVE COMMITTED WORSE SINS LIKE RAPE, MASS MURDER AND TREACHERY WILL BE TORTURED MORE HARSHLY AND FOR FAR LONGER STRETCHES OF TIME. BY CONTRAST, THOSE WHO COMMITTED LESS SEVERE AND LESS DAMAGING SINS WILL BE TORTURED LESS HARSHLY, AND WILL BE GIVEN MORE REPRIEVES IN BETWEEN TORTURE SESSIONS. SOME OF THESE DAMNED, SHOULD THEY FINALLY CONFESS THEIR WRONGDOINGS AND EXPRESS GENUINE REMORSE FROM THEIR ACTIONS, MAY EVEN BE FREED FROM ACTIVE TORMENT BY THESE DEMONS…ALTHOUGH THEY MAY STILL RESIDE IN HELL, THESE LIBERATED DAMNED WILL NOT HAVE A DEMON LIKE NIGHTMARE ACTIVELY MAKING THEM SUFFER."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "Wait, really?" he asked in disbelief. "So there's damned souls that aren't actively being tormented by demons in Hell? They're just…living there? Because Nightmare sounded like most of the damned in general are getting tortured by demons like him."
"NIGHTMARE RULES OVER ONE OF THE LOWEST DOMAINS IN HELL, AND THOSE PITS ARE WHERE MOST OF THE DAMNED SOULS WHO ARE TORTURED FOR ETERNITY RESIDE," OMC explained. "HE DID NOT TELL YOU A COMPLETE LIE, BUT HE DID NOT PRESENT YOU WITH THE FULL TRUTH EITHER. YES, SOME DAMNED SOULS DO LIVE FREE OF ACTIVE TORMENT, BUT THOSE DAMNED ARE VERY MUCH IN THE MINORITY," Old Man Consequences cautioned. "FOR ONE, THE CONSEQUENCES OF UNREPENTANT SIN CAN LAST FOR HUNDREDS, THOUSANDS, AND IN A FEW CASES EVEN MILLIONS OF YEARS. THERE IS NO HOPE FOR FREEDOM FROM DEMONIC TORMENT, OUTSIDE OF THE SINGULAR WAGER, BEFORE THAT SENTENCE IS COMPLETED. AND EVEN AFTER THAT MINIMUM SENTENCE IS COMPLETE, A DAMNED MUST BE GENUINELY REPENTANT OF THEIR SINS BEFORE HEAVEN FINALLY ALLOWS THEM TO BE FREED FROM THEIR DEMONIC TORMENTORS. AND IT MUST BE GENUINE REMORSE. APOLOGIZING SIMPLY TO BE FREED FROM TORMENT ACCOMPLISHES NOTHING FOR THE DAMNED, AND BOTH THE DIVINE AND DEMONIC ALIKE CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE."
"I guess if you think about it, it's the same fundamental thing that lets people get into Heaven in the first place," Mike mused. "Acknowledging your sins and faults, showing remorse for them, and trying to be better. Except that realization doesn't let you in Heaven once you're already damned, it just saves you from the worst part of Hell."
"YOU ARE CORRECT, SCHMIDT," Old Man Consequences affirmed. "AND TO BE CLEAR, FREEDOM FROM THE TORTURES OF DEMONS IS ONLY POSSIBLE FOR THE GENUINELY REPENTANT IN HELL. YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED JUST HOW MANY DAMNED SOULS REFUSE TO GIVE UP THEIR SINS OR ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR FAULTS, EVEN AFTER THOUSANDS OF YEARS OF TORMENT. WITHOUT REMORSE, THERE CAN BE NO RELEASE. AND AS YOU YOURSELF POINTED OUT, THESE DAMNED ARE STILL IN HELL. THEY MUST CONTINUE TO LIVE WITH THE KNOWLEDGE AND BURDEN THAT THEY WILL REMAIN FOREVER SEPARATED FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THEY ARE SIMPLY FREED AND SHIELDED FROM HELL'S WORST ASPECTS, SHOULD THEY COMPLETE THEIR SENTENCES AND FIND REMORSE."
"I can't imagine that living in Hell is pleasant for anyone, even without being tortured by demons," Mike commented dryly, before sighing, "but at least there's some mercy even for the damned. It's better than having them stuck as a demon's chew toy for all eternity."
"SOME MERCY IS BETTER THAN NONE," OMC agreed. "BUT IN HELL, THAT MERCY HAS ITS LIMITS. I SHOULD ALSO MENTION THAT THE MOST DEPRAVED OF HUMANS, THE VILEST OF THE DAMNED, WILL NEVER BE GRANTED FREEDOM FROM DEMONIC PUNISHMENT, FOR SUCH IS THE GRAVITY OF THEIR CRIMES AND THE DEVASTATION THEY UNLEASHED UPON THEIR FELLOW MAN."
"Wow," Mike breathed. "How evil do you have to be to get eternal demonic punishment?"
"THE LOWEST OF HUMANITY CAN SINK TO LEVELS OF DEPRAVITY THAT WOULD GIVE EVEN DEMONS PAUSE," OMC answered ominously. "KNOWLEDGE THAT WOULD DROWN YOUR MIND IN NIGHTMARES IF I WERE TO GIVE FULL ACCOUNT OF THEM HERE. THERE IS NO POSSIBLE REPRIEVE FOR THEM, BUT EVEN IF THERE WAS, IT WOULD NOT MATTER MORE OFTEN THAN NOT."
"Let me guess," Mike replied dryly. "They wouldn't repent of their crimes anyway?"
OMC laughed with bitter amusement. "THAT IS CORRECT. WHILE IT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE, THE MORE WICKED DEEDS A DAMNED SOUL COMMITS IN LIFE, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO REPENT, EVEN AFTER DEATH. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THESE SOULS, A LIMIT ON THEIR DEMONIC PUNISHMENT WOULD BE MEANINGLESS SINCE THEY WOULD NOT SHOW REMORSE NECESSARY TO FREE THEM FROM THEIR TORMENTS ANYWAY."
Mike sighed. "Some people are just stubborn bastards to the very end, huh?" he asked rhetorically.
"DETERMINATION IS A TRAIT THAT CAN BE ADMIRABLE, BUT IT CAN LEAD ONE TO THEIR UNDOING AS WELL," OMC replied sagely. "BEWARE OF FALLING INTO THAT VERY TRAP, MIKE SCHMIDT. YOU WALKED DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TO THAT PITFALL ONCE BEFORE."
"I know," Mike acknowledged. "It took me more time than I'd like to admit to realize that torturing William Afton over and over again every time I got the chance was wrong, no matter how much his very existence pisses me off."
OMC nodded with approval. "GOOD. AND WITH THAT, I HAVE SHARED MORE SECRETS ABOUT HELL AND DAMNATION THAN MOST HUMANS WILL EVER HAVE THE RIGHT TO. NEEDLESS TO SAY," he added in warning, "YOU SHOULD NOT SHARE ANY OF THIS INFORMATION WITH ANOTHER LIVING BEING, AND I WOULD ADVISE AGAINST SHARING THEM WITH YOUR CHILDREN EITHER. YOU HAVE BEEN TRUSTED WITH SECRETS OF THE AFTERLIFE, AND I DO NOT WISH FOR YOU TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING THAT TRUST."
"I understand. I won't share a single secret with another person," Mike promised solemnly.
"A WISE DECISION," OMC praised. "NOW THEN, LET US MOVE ON TO WHY YOU ARE TRULY HERE. YOU PRAYED TO GOD FOR HELP WITH DEALING WITH GLITCHTRAP, AND I WILL RELAY HIS MESSAGE TO YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN." The entity's tone became more businesslike and heavier with authority. "YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE DONE WELL AND AVERTED MANY OF THE DISASTERS CAUSED BY FAZBEAR ENTERTAINMENT'S GREED AND INCOMPETENCE. BUT DO NOT ASSUME THAT YOU EITHER KNOW OR SOLVED EVERY PROBLEM, FOR GLITCHTRAP STILL HAS HIS OWN TRICKS TO THROW YOU OFF GUARD. GLITCHTRAP WILL BE UNLEASHING HIS PLANS WITHIN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, SO WARN YOUR CHILDREN TO MAINTAIN THEIR VIGIL UNTIL THE DAY COMES. YOU WILL KNOW WHEN IT DOES."
"Thank you and thank God for that advice," Mike answered respectfully. Before today, he'd genuinely had no actual timeframe for when Glitchtrap was going to unleash his plans, so he was grateful for the knowledge that the moment of reckoning would come very soon.
"AND THERE IS ONE MORE THING I SHOULD SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT," OMC added, almost as an afterthought. "COLM DUESSEL GAVE YOU A LOCKPICK WHEN HE WAS SERVING AS YOUR BODYGUARD. THAT LOCKPICK WILL ALLOW YOU TO GAIN ENTRY INTO THE MEGA PIZZAPLEX THROUGH ONE OF THE FIRE EXITS, BUT NOT WITHOUT MAJOR DISADVANTAGES. IF YOU ATTEMPT TO BREAK INTO THE PIZZAPLEX WITH THE LOCKPICK, YOU WILL TRIGGER AN ALARM THAT WILL NOT ONLY ALERT GLITCHTRAP AND HIS POSSESSION VICTIM TO AN INTRUDER'S PRESENCE, BUT ALSO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AS WELL. THAT LOCKPICK SHOULD ONLY BE USED AS A LAST RESORT, AND ONLY IF YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT YOUR CHILDREN WILL FAIL IN THEIR MISSION WITHOUT YOUR DIRECT INTERVENTION. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THAT LOCKPICK OTHERWISE, FOR YOU MAY VERY EASILY WORSEN THE SITUATION IF YOU USE IT UNWISELY."
"I won't," Mike vowed. "I trust my kids, and I have faith in them and their abilities. This is their redemption quest, and I'm confident they'll get the job done without me getting directly involved."
OMC smiled as the world around Mike started to dissolve into mist. A sign that his dream was about to end, and he was going to be waking up in the real world very soon. "THEN I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THE BEST OF LUCK GOING FORWARD," he gave one last farewell. "TOGETHER, YOU HAVE ALL COME FAR SINCE YOU FIRST CROSSED PATHS. MAY YOUR CHILDREN SUCCEED IN THEIR REDEMPTION, AND DESTROY WILLIAM AFTON'S LEGACY OF HORROR ONCE AND FOR ALL."
/
A/N: And there you have it, everyone. I actually wasn't going to write a chapter like this at first, but there were enough comments talking about people's concerns about the concept of eternal damnation that I felt I had to address the nature of Hell and damnation, at least as far as the afterlife of "Mike's New Ghostly Family" is concerned. Ironic how a chapter that talks about damnation or Hell doesn't feature Nightmare in it, but sometimes that's how the chips fall.
I hope this chapter worked to address some of the concerns that readers had about Hell in this fic. Eternal damnation and separation from God is very much permanent, as is true to Christianity. But not every damned soul spends eternity getting tortured by demons indiscriminately. There are restrictions and limitations that Heaven places upon the demonic punishments to ensure that justice and mercy exist even in Hell. This was actually something I alluded to in the past. And there's even an "out" given to the damned souls here, so long as they show the genuine repentance that they lacked in life and "served their time" so to speak. They're still in Hell even after this (which isn't exactly a pleasant environment even in the best of times), but at least the demons are forced to leave them alone afterwards. But not every damned soul will show the remorse needed to free themselves from torment, and the evilest souls don't even get the chance. And the demons of Hell will happily take any excuse to torment damned souls forever if they're allowed to.
Again, this is not meant to be a completely faithful depiction to what Hell in Christianity is ACTUALLY like, and I don't want to deceive people into believing otherwise. I also hope I didn't blatantly and irreconcilably contradict my own words from earlier chapters.
And finally, we now have a timeframe for when Glitchtrap will start carrying out his plans in earnest! Which means that the events of "Security Breach" will begin in the next few days…or in the next chapter, by fic standards.
I hope this chapter satisfies those of you who were discussing Hell in AOx3, and I hope you guys enjoyed!