The Bible feels cold in my hand, but it grounds me. I open it slowly, turning to a passage that has become my guiding light in these troubled times:“And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”(Matthew 5:30).
Eric’s eyes widen, a flicker of fear crossing his features. “What are you doing?”
I stand, moving toward him with a calm, determined stride. The alcohol has done its work, loosening his inhibitions.
“You see, Eric,” I say, my tone a dark melody of vengeance and faith, “sometimes the only way to cleanse the soul is to remove the source of corruption entirely.”
Eric sneers, his bravado returning. “You think you’re so noble, Roman? You’re just another puppet in the Devil’s game, trying to play savior.”
The insult strikes a nerve. My grip tightens around my glass, the pressure of his words cracking through the veneer of mycontrol. I shatter the glass in my hand, the shards cutting into my skin as I stare at him with fury ignited.
“You have no fucking clue who I am,” I hiss, my voice trembling with righteous wrath.
Eric’s laughter is cut short as I snatch a shard of glass from the broken pieces on the floor. His eyes widen in shock and fear as I approach, the edges of the glass catching the dim light.
“This is your final judgment,” I declare, the words dripping with a grim sense of purpose.
With a swift motion, I press the glass shard into his neck, the blade slicing through flesh and muscle. Eric’s eyes bulge, his mouth opening in a silent scream as he struggles against the inevitable. Blood pours from the wound, staining his clothes and the carpet beneath him.
As the life drains from him, I offer a silent prayer, my heart heavy with the gravity of my actions. “Forgive me, Lord, for I have acted as Your instrument. May this act purify the sin that sought to spread its darkness.”
Eric’s body falls limp. I step back, breathing heavily, the weight of divine retribution heavy on my shoulders.
The room is silent now, save for the faint whisper of prayers on my lips and the soft rustle of the Bible as I close it.
I stare at Eric’s lifeless body, the remains of the shattered glass and blood painting a grim testament to my divine duty. The room still echoes with the weight of what’s been done—Eric’s challenge was met with the justice that only the righteous could deliver. I take a deep breath, feeling the fire of righteous anger cooling into cold resolve.
The phone rings, cutting through the silence. I pick it up, my fingers brushing over the edges of the device as though it’s an instrument of fate.
“Seth,” I say, my voice smooth but carrying the weight of an unspoken threat.
“Roman,” Seth replies, his tone guarded.
“I trust everything’s running smoothly on your end?”
“Pretty much. What’s up?”
I let out a measured breath, keeping my tone even. “I’ve got a situation here. A bit of a mess that needs... handling.”
Seth’s pause is telling. “A mess? What kind of mess?”
“You know,” I say, leaning against the wall, staring at Eric’s body. “The kind that requires a certain level of discretion.”
Seth’s tone grows cautious. “You talking about something serious here?”
“Oh, it’s serious alright,” I reply, feeling a cold smile touch my lips. “But it’s nothing you can’t handle. And believe me, it’s in your best interest to handle it well.”
A moment of silence hangs between us, heavy with implications. “What’s in it for me?” Seth asks, his voice wary but tinged with hope.
“I’ve been thinking,” I say, pacing slowly around the room. “You’ve had some... complications with your name recently. You know, regarding certain church vehicles and their... activities.”
Seth’s breathing quickens, a mix of fear and relief. “Yeah?”
“I have a way to clear up those complications. It’s a delicate matter, but with your cooperation, we can make sure your name is in the clear,” I murmur, letting the words hang in the air.
Seth swallows hard. “What do you need me to do?”
“Just handle the situation here with the professionalism I know you’re capable of,” I reply smoothly. “In return, I’ll make sure everything that’s been tainting your name gets put right. We all have our roles to play, don’t we?”
