EXcellent
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| Joined: 22 Feb 2009 |
| Total Posts: 93272 |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:35 AM |
"Sometimes I wonder..."
He stopped to cough up some of the blood filling his lungs. Then, he turned to me. His countenance could have struck fear into anyone. The empty smile, the pained eyes, the deep crags in his face marked by years of anguish, all composed into one, piercing expression.
"...Sometimes I wonder if those same faceless souls that command us to kill, to lead others to kill, to take the life of another man...sometimes I wonder if they fear us, the people. They know that we have the power to destroy everything they have created. We have the power to dismantle their corrupt system. All we have to do is wake up."
Another bloodied cough. The rain continued to fall.
"...So this is how they control us, to keep us from waking up. They tell us that working in their system is the way to glory. They convince us that adopting their system will lead to prosperity for all. They hypnotize us with promises of being able to change the system for the good of the people. In essence, they persuade us that their system is the best system."
He had been steadying himself on one hand. Now, he was forced to use two. His now-exposed wound seeped blood, painting the wet ground a diluted red.
"...And it's working. They slowly erode our personal freedoms, yet tell us they're keeping us safer. They portray different races, different religions, different social classes as the enemy, to keep us occupied with infighting that distracts us from the real enemy. They dangle the newest technological inventions in front of us to keep us complacent. They sign promising bills with one hand, holding crossed fingers with the other."
His head suddenly dropped to face the ground, though I could still see the same, pained expression that would make the devil himself shed a tear.
"...We are now nothing more than gullible pawns for the king. We're meant to be sacrificed for the greater good that none of us will experience in the endgame. We are tricked into believing we're making a difference when we were irrelevant to the plan all along."
Another bloodied coughing fit. His voice was growing fainter every sentence. I desperately wanted to help, but knew I could not. All I could do was absorb the dying words of a man who had lost everything.
"...Sometimes, when I have these thoughts, I think back to a certain book I once read: Machiavelli's The Prince. I did not understand at the time it was meant to be satire, mocking the autocratic attitude of Europe during the early Renaissance. However, now I realize that is the beauty of the book. It is portrayed so convincingly as a pro-monarchy work, that you can forget it isn't meant to be taken seriously as all. Have you read it, John?"
Slightly taken aback by his acknowledgement of my presence, I had to steady myself. "No, unfortunately."
"Ah, alright. Then you may hear the line that has stuck with me most, the one that may have provoked these thoughts in the first place and allowed me to see."
I had edged closer to the tortured soul, as his raspy voice was barely a whisper. His head, now a mere inch off the ground, suddenly turned towards me, still holding his everlasting expression that will never be replicated again by any mortal man.
"'The end justifies the means'...but for whom?"
He closed his eyes and sunk to the ground. One final breath - and he lay forever still.
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:37 AM |
I haven't done this in a while, but...
to long, didn't read |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:38 AM |
| just like your name says, excellent |
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EXcellent
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| Joined: 22 Feb 2009 |
| Total Posts: 93272 |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:42 AM |
"to long, didn't read" Nerd.
"just like your name says, excellent" Danke schön. |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:43 AM |
"Nerd."
I'm too busy playing Garry's Mod at 1:43 AM |
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DrForce
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| Joined: 29 Sep 2013 |
| Total Posts: 35008 |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:43 AM |
nice at first i still read the title wrong read it as Mongolian
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:44 AM |
| dude the prince was totally not a satire he gives good advice and he backs it up with examples in history like nothing he says is really outlandish either . .... smh fam |
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Bladeor
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2013 |
| Total Posts: 1924 |
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| 28 Feb 2016 01:49 AM |
| One of the best examples of writing that I have ever seen on the forums. Excellent work, it truly deserves commendation. |
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