What defines an act as being good?

Is it a choice you make that benefits the people around you?

Or is it based on a sense of morality,

If so, what defines morality?

BONG!

The bell gongs heavily as it crashes to the ground, the tower it hung from crumples as well,

Some people pray for God to save them as the very house they live in crush them to death,

Beams of light erupts from the shaking earth up into the late night’s sky, symbolising the collision of two cities.

At the cause of all the carnage, in the now rubble of the fallen cathedral, a single tree grows

What kind of tree is it?

Does it matter?

The tree steadily grows in the midst of an earthquake,

In the midst of people dying,

Atop the grave of the destroyed cathedral, gracefully it grows.

****

……

(It’s so dark,

Am I still wrapped in Zinnia’s vines?

It feels warm in here,

Peaceful)

…….

Cut!

Tear!

“Aghh!” I raise my hands blocking the ray of sunlight beaming on my face,

My eyes water adjusting to light,

“Found him!” Apollo calls

He grabs my hand helping me up from the small enclosure

(Wow)

I gaze in awe at the destruction around us, the cathedral now a broken mess giant roots protrude from the ground spreading itself across the entire area supporting a beautiful tree.

………

“I can’t believe we stayed in those roots for an entire night,” Pinoki comments approaching,

“Do you guys think Murdoc is dead?” Lyra asks

“He can be anyone he wants, as long as they’ve dedicated themselves to him,” Karina shakes her head

“Unless the main body is destroyed,” Pinoki inputs,

“And I do recall it being in a diamond, so chances are he is alive-”

“-Zinnia did you create this?” I interrupt gazing up at towering tree,

“I didn’t mean to,

I was trying to cover us.”

“No,

It’s beautiful,

In a poetic kinds of way,

Life sprouted around death,

What kind of tree is it?”

“I don’t know,” she answers modestly,

“We’ll have time to figure out names after we’ve confirmed Murdoc’s death” Lyra says tartly

“This might be the best opportunity we have to end this for good,” Karina agrees,

“Even I concede that he must die,” Apollo says clenching Darius’ sword tightly,

“That’s all well and good,” Pinoki pipes up,

“But,

How do you suppose we find him in this wreckage?”

****

“Wrong way again, this is where the right tower was,” Apollo says

“How can one person be this wrong!” Lyra chides

“Pardon me for not knowing the layout of a building that was reduced to pebbles!” he snaps

“You literally grew up here as a child!”

“I basically grew up in the library and that was ten years ago!”

“Then you could have at least read the floor plans!” Lyra argues

“You make a good a point Lyra,” Apollo says sarcastically,

“Why wouldn’t seven-year-old me be interested in reading floor plans for castles!”

“Don’t give me that tone!”

“It’s not that serious you two,” Karina interjects,

“We can keep looking……...”

………..

“Finally, these towers came down” Pinoki remarks looking at debris

“Never had any good memories associated with them”

“Was it because of what happened with Darius and Omari?” I ponder out loud,

“How do you know about that?” Pinoki asks surprisedly

“I’m a good guesser,”

…….

Pinoki eyes me suspiciously but says nothing,

Grrrr!

I hear a familiar humming sound from beneath the rocks,

(That motor-like device managed to survive?)

“What are you doing?” Pinoki watches, as I begin clawing away at the rubble,

“Looking for something,

Are you helping me or not?”

Pinoki and claw away at stones eventually uncovering the machine,

……

“What do you suppose that is?” Pinoki awes as I lift the motor and the small device connected to it out of the rubble,

“I wish knew,”

Setting it down again, it begins to hum gently, the smaller device starts to glow projecting a ‘blue flame,’

As the light flashes on my face, I hear:

‘This is a pre-recorded message from: Anonymous’

“This might be my final message, I am currently staying in the Kingdom of Soterra, they have treated me with gracious hospitality, I have also learned a lot about magic stones from them and its applicability, I plan to incorporate it into ‘the prototype bow’ but they lack the knowledge I need on absorption magic, which can only be taught in a kingdom called Asad, I do not know if I may survive the trip.

Also, before I end this recording, because I am placing this ‘audio projector’ in an area where someone may encounter it accidently, I have to warn you,

These messages can only be heard by one person, only after that person has died the device will reset then someone else will be able to hear it again.”

‘Message End.’

……..

“Kage?” Pinoki looks at me earnestly,

“You’ve been staring at that for a minute now,

What is it?”

“Pinoki,

Would you believe me if I told you I heard it speak?”

……

“Would you two stop looting and come on!” Lyra yells bossily

Pinoki gives me a quizzing look and walks over to the rest of the group

“The sooner we get this over with, the newer adventures we can commence,” he smiles,

****

“Where am I!

Where am I!”

A girl digs desperately over a pile of shattered glass, concrete and roofing,

Her hands bleeding profusely but it does not bother her,

“Where am I!

Where am I!

I have been digging all night!

Those blasted unholy scum!

I should have just killed them,

Or started the enlightenment sooner

I would at least have more power,

Furlheim City has stronger people anyway,

I can take all my ‘followers’ there,

Yes,

Rebuild, even stronger

I can’t die!

I am GOD!”

……

“Tori!?” Karina queries as we approach a girl frantically digging while monologing to herself,

“You survive-”

Zap!

The girl sends a shockwave at Karina,

“My, my, how fortunate for me

Every single one of you is still alive,

Now I can personally punish you as I see fit!

This travesty you caused shall not with go without reprimand I promise you that!”

“Murdoc!” Zinnia identifies the foe,

“He is in Tori’s body now!”

Lightning strike!

“Wrong!” Murdoc alliterates

“I am not in her body,

I am her!

That is the power of dedication,

Of GO-”

Ooof!

Apollo tackles Murdoc to ground restraining him,

“He is only as strong as the body he uses,” Apollo assures, “Zinnia, Lyra keep him tied,

We’ll dig up his main body,”

“YOU PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!

DO NOT PUT YOUR HANDS ON GOD!”

“Hiyah!”

Apollo smashes Darius’ sword onto the rubble loosening it,

Pinoki, Karina and I begin clearing through it.

…….

……

“Leave that alone!

Keep your hands off it!”

Murdoc fights and struggles watching as Zinnia’s vines pull the diamond form the earth,

Pinoki warned us against physical contact as he might absorb our magic,

“Sooo,”

Apollo looks at it hesitantly

“Do we really commit murder?

I mean he looks like a baby in there,”

“PUT ME DOWN!”

“Don’t go changing you mind in the last minute!” Lyra jeers

“He has lived long enough!”

“Do it for Darius,” Zinnia coerces

“End it with his sword,”

…..

Apollo breathes heavily

“Ok,”

“Stop!

I’ll make you an angel

My right hand man!” Murdoc now begins to plea,

But its already too late, with one powerful swing of Darius’ blade,

Apollo hits the diamond,

Crack!

It doesn’t break but cracks slightly,

“Again,” Lyra orders

Crack!

“Again”

Crack!

“Again”

Crack!

“Again”

Crack!

All the while Murdoc screeches, begs and pleads for Apollo to stop,

His squeals ear grating,

(This is uncomfortable,)

CUT!

Finally, it splits in two,

Tori slumps unconscious as the connection between her and Murdoc breaks,

We all stand in silence watching the blood pour out,

(The blood of ‘God’)

……..

Further off in the distance, the fallen bell of the cathedral lay,

Who knows if by chance or sheer coincidence,

The moment Murdoc’s body slices in two,

The bell rolls forward just a little,

Giving one final,

BONG!