After hearing that man's rambling,my mind drifted back to the past.
Thoughts about the existence of God.
God… I've always questioned You.All those religions call Your name differently,yet none could answer why You created life.
Why did You create humans?Was it just so they could worship You and sing Your name?If so… then why did You create that virus?
The virus that destroyed half of civilization—that turned humans into monsters.
Was it merely a test, like people said?Did You send that plague to erase half the world,and then grant the survivors power to stay alive?
But You already knew what humans were like, didn't You?Why give them trials and blessingsthat only make them forget You even more?
Was that part of Your grand plan,or just some game we could never understand?
"Pull the lever."
THUD!
"Ughhhh—aaaghhh!"
The pain was unbearable.I couldn't breathe. My head spun.My throat burned. My vision blurred.
The sound of the executioner, the screaming crowd—it all faded into one,blurring into silence.
Ahh… is this the end?
I closed my eyes.I didn't care anymore if God truly existed or not.But after so long…for the first time, I prayed again.
If this is the end…then let it end.
I don't care about Heaven or Hell.Just please—let it end.Only this once.
The voices disappeared,replaced by faint whispers.
"…Max…""…Max…"
Slowly, the sound became clearer.A woman's voice.
"Hey! Max! Maaax!"
I opened my eyes, slowly.My vision still blurry,but I could see a silhouette.
Pink hair, tied back.She kept calling my name in a frustrated tone.
"Max! Wake up!"
Her voice echoed in my head—and suddenly—
I woke up.
"…Hey?"
The voice changed.No longer a woman's.Now… a man's.
I jerked up, gasping for air,as if waking from a nightmare.
In front of me stood a man—brown eyes, a face full of scars.The same man as before.
"Hehhh, how long are you planning to sleep, huh?"His tone was half annoyed, half amused.
I stared at him for a long time.Damn… I could only bite my lip.
"AGHHHHHHHH!"
I screamed—like someone who had truly lost hope.
The man folded his arms, sighing deeply.
"Heh… are you that pissed just because I woke you up?"
"Hahahahahahaha!"He burst into laughter, his eyes gleaming like a lunatic's.
"Looks like God gave you one hell of a blessing, Max…"His tone dripped with sarcasm—mocking even God Himself.
"Look at you, Max. Seems like you've truly been chosen by God."
He stepped closer, scanning me from head to toe.
"My eyes can't even look away from the miracle He granted you."
I looked down—and he was right.All the wounds on my body… gone.The burn marks, the cuts, the bullet holes—gone.My breathing steady again.
"Honestly, Max," he said with a crooked grin,"I woke you up just to see your reaction. And damn, what a beautiful sight."
He leaned in, his face inches from mine.
"Five executions—burned, beheaded, hanged, torn apart, shot—and you're still breathing. Back to normal. Every single time."
"Uhuk… uhuk…"I coughed hard.
Clang—clang—The sound of chains.
I looked down.
"Shit… shit… shit!"
My hands were chained again.
He laughed even harder."Hahahaha! What the hell did you do to earn God's little miracle, huh?"He clutched his stomach, laughing like it hurt."Damn, this is priceless!"
I stayed silent, staring at the cracked floor.Cold sweat ran down my temples.I didn't know which hurt more—the chains on my wrists,or his words.
"I never thought prison could be this entertaining," he sneered."Who would've guessed? I'm cellmates with the so-called chosen one."
He paced around the small, damp cell,his voice echoing off the stone walls.
"Honestly, I was disappointed when you came back from the trial, Max.Your eyes, your face—they all screamed one thing: you gave up.You chose death."
He laughed bitterly."Hehh… turns out you're just like every other bastard rotting in here."
He looked at me sharply, lowering his voice."They all chose death after everything they'd done."
Then he laughed again—a laugh full of venom.
"Hahahahaha! Everyone's a hypocrite! Even you, Max Tharion!No different from the rest!They all choose to die with the same rotten reasons—regret, pain, the belief they don't deserve to live!"
He stopped, face inches from mine.His breath was warm on my skin.
"To be honest…" he whispered, his tone cutting deep,"before I got thrown in this shithole, I admired you."
I stayed silent.
"I saw your face on billboards, in the news, everywhere."His voice lowered, bitter now.
"You were called the symbol of resistance.A beacon for the oppressed.One of the core members of The Veil…"
He paused, emphasizing the name.
"…the rebel group that tried to expose the government's lies."
He stared straight into my eyes,a mocking smile curling on his lips.
"Max Tharion.The traitor who devoured his own comrades."
He chuckled softly—like a devil whispering at my ear.
"Hahaha… I thought you were different. Turns out…"He patted my cheek lightly."…you're just the same.A coward running from your sins."
He sighed and sat down across from me again.
"Well… I can't fully blame you," he muttered."After everything you've been through,anyone would lose hope."
He leaned back against the wall.
"Do you feel guilty, Max? Hurt? Hmm?"
"Hei, are you even listening to me?"
I said nothing.Only the sound of chains echoed softly.
"Why don't you ever answer, huh?"He stood up, stepping closer.
"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"
His gaze sharpened."Why do you always look down?Why never look up, huh?"
He tapped his head, then pointed at my chest.
"I know, Max.I know what's inside your head."His voice dropped low, rough.
"From those dead eyes of yours… I can see it."
A faint grin crept across his face.
"There's still something inside you.A filthy little hope."
He leaned closer, voice almost demonic.
"The hope to die."
I stayed silent, breathing slow.
He patted my cheek again—softly, mockingly.
"Hahaha… I'm right, aren't I?"
He locked eyes with me.No mockery this time—only curiosity.
"So tell me, Max…"he whispered like a curse."Did God ever answer your prayers?"
"Stop talking like you know me, you insane bastard!" I snapped.
He blinked, then smirked.
"Hooo… look at that.Twelve days in prison, and that's the first thing you've said?"
He grinned wide, as if reading my thoughts.
"I don't need to know you to read you, Max.Do you know how many people like you I've seen in here?"
I shot back with a smirk."Heh, and how many of them went deaf listening to your crap?"
"Hey—my crap's the truth!" he barked, laughing."I've been here long enough to see the pattern.Every prisoner who begs for death is the same—same look, same face, same excuse."
I exhaled softly."Heh, if it's that boring, why not become a showpiece in the arena?Or are you just another coward afraid to die?"
He froze.His expression stiffened.
"Hey! Everyone's afraid to die, you know that!"
I chuckled, lowering my head slightly.
"Hahahah… I figured some of your brain cells snapped the moment you started ranting about God,but turns out… all of them did."
He frowned, eyes narrowing.
"Don't act high and mighty just because you're not afraid of death.You don't believe in God either.Or Heaven. Or Hell."
I looked up, a faint smile on my lips.
"Heh, looks like you guessed wrong.I'd say you're not very good at gambling."
I took a deep breath.
"I believe in Hell," I said calmly."But not in Heaven."
He gave a small smile, completely ignoring the jab.He fell silent for a moment, leaning forward.
"Hoo… and what makes our hero, Max, believe in Hell?"
I exhaled slowly. My voice came out low but heavy.
"Because to me, this world is Hell itself."
Silence filled the room.
Then—
He burst out laughing.
"Hahahahahahahahaha! Hell, he says!Are you a moody teenager or what?!"He slapped his knee, laughing until tears rolled down his face.
"Hahahaha! The world is Hell! Oh my God, my stomach hurts!"
I looked away, embarrassed.I didn't even know why I said that.Maybe everything that happened lately had driven me insane.
And him… who the hell was this guy, really?
Since the day I was thrown into this cell, he's been here.But one thing I never understood—why am I the only one chained?
Damn it.
And what the hell is this conversation, anyway?He was screaming about God like a lunatic when I woke up,and now he's chatting with me like an old friend?
He's all over the place.Too unpredictable.
Damn… as much as I hate to admit it,I feel a bit calmer.
For some reason, hearing his nonsenseand replying to itmakes my head hurt a little less.
I thought he'd stop if I mocked him—but no.
Damn it… maybe I really have forgotten how to socialize.
"Hahahahah! You're something else!" he laughed."I can't believe those words came out of a guy in his mid-twenties!"
I looked down, ashamed.That sentence kept echoing in my head.
Damn it… why did I even say that?
Hahhh… it feels like I'm back in this small cell again.But…why am I still the only one chained?
I could've sworn he used to be, too.
I took a deep breath.Damn, I'm going to lose my mind if this keeps up.
Listening to him is torture enough—now he's pacing around like a caged beast.
He chuckled softly.
"Hahahaha… so, what will you do now, Max?" he asked, calm as ever."You've been executed five times, and still not dead."
His smile turned thin."You think the government will just let that slide?"
He walked closer, his steps heavy but controlled.
"They'll force you into the Arena. You know that.They won't let someone like you rot away peacefully in a cell."
His tone went cold.
"With all the chaos you've caused, a life sentence is too kind.Even if the court said you could choose three punishments,that was just a pathetic show for the public."
He stopped in front of the bars, eyes glinting with a twisted mix of pity and satisfaction.
"Honestly, I didn't expect the judge to actually let you choose death."
That sinister smile returned.
"Even if they put you on display before the public,that's still too merciful."
He leaned closer, his gaze drilling into me.
"I can guarantee the decision's been made.Right now, a guard is on his way here…"
He paused, smiling cruelly.
"…to take you to that special place."
His grin widened.
"The place everyone prays never to be sent to."
He lowered his voice.
"The Arena."
His words were true.That rotten government would never let me die with dignity.
Honestly, I was just as shocked as he was.I never thought they'd approve my choice—instant death by execution.
Hahhh… I should've known from the start.Nothing ends that easily.
Instant death? Too luxurious for me.
Even if I'm depressed, resigned,and have faced countless executions—they were nothing but new forms of torture.
Even when I entered the arena and stood still,letting those monstrous creatures tear my flesh,rip my muscles, sever my head…I couldn't die.
I just became their punching bag.
Hahahah…
I laughed in my mind.
Maybe my face looked strange,because he was staring at me with a stunned expression.
After all the prayers I'd ever said…after all the things I'd done in this world…
God finally decided to act, huh?
God, huh?So… You really exist?
How ironic.I cursed You in my final moments—and that's the only thing You responded to.
Seems like it's true, then.
Hahahahahah!I've been blessed at last—a blessing that makes me unable to die.
As shameful as it is to admit…this world truly is my Hell.