A Reason to Burn Heaven

It was all in his head–those ideas that this colosseum was even a little humane. What did Leo expect? It was made by demons. Firosah was right about those crawling, talking flies. He was standing in an arena built to satisfy the sickly whims of some gross beings with a lust for inflicting suffering. After all this time, Prim had done him a kindness and held back the truth just so he could win their match. Why? Why didn't she forfeit? Didn't she know it was allowed? Leo didn't know, so it made sense. Unless she wanted to go. Unless the truth about the arena was too much for her. Someone who seemed strong-willed like Prim would probably rather go in a fight. She did seem to lose to him a little too easily after how strong she appeared from the start.

Leo's head wasn't right anymore. It was like someone had twisted it into a demented shape and the whole crowd above was cheering and laughing at him. Was he funny to them? He managed to look up to the crowd, and spotted all those happy and twisted cheers. Look at them all. Then he saw them–angels. They were cheering, too. That's right–the demons may have crafted this arena of the damned, but the angels supported it. Even God–omniscient and omnipotent–let it slide. So, he needed to burn Heaven, too.

What was going on with this place? Who were these people? This person at the end of whatever the weapon was called in his hand–why were they there? Who was that big man standing over him? Why were both these people looking at him like he was some sort of something? He threw the stick in his hand aside.

This guy… the guy he was… who was he? Never mind–it didn't matter.

'He's shaking so much, is that bad?'

Who said that?

'Crap, we need to sedate him and move things along.'

Again, was it the big guy? Or the pretty person who was now also standing over him instead of below him?

This person that he was–whoever they were–didn't want to go to sleep, but it took them so quickly.

'Leo,' said a feminine voice.

Hazel.

'Leo,' said a gruffer voice. That's right–he was Leo. Like watching a film on a screen, Leo sat in the backseat of his own body. The memory from Earth returned, but this time it was choppier–like trying to put a million pieces of shattered glass back together.

'Hazel, you look stunning.'

'It's a shame I can't watch you.'

'Hazel, don't let them get to you.'

Then, it was clear. The ravens watched him with eyes containing the fires of Hell itself. They smiled. But Leo didn't know they were smiling, back then. On that day, he walked back into his home without a second thought.

Stupid decision.

'Now, should I give the cat a second tail to give it more of a fantasy vibe?' he asked himself as he found his fridge and plucked a drink from the door. 'Nah.' He waltzed back to his desk and slumped into his chair. He really didn't have a lot of work left, so maybe it was a good time to just watch a show. Leo swivelled to his monitor, and gazed into the black screen of its sleep mode. His own face looked back, a little tired compared to how he was going to look in the colosseum. It was a bit sad, really. Something moved on the screen's reflection behind him–a figure. Leo turned quickly to see a man in a tailored vest and silver cuffed dress shirt beneath. The man's hair was combed back and he peered through thin black glasses. Not only that, but he was tall–basically a giant.

'How did you get in here?' Leo asked with a squeak.

Run, he's bad news.

'You left the front door open, and I needed to meet with you–urgently–Mr. Cadmus.' The man adjusted his already perfectly fine gloves.

'Did you know you can knock? Better yet–I have an intercom.'

'Well it's too late now, isn't it?'

'Sir, you need to leave. Besides, the 1800s, 1900s or whatever are calling.'

Oh, yeah, try to piss the guy off. Nice work.

'Mr. Cadmus, you are not helping this situation.'

'What situation? You in my house?'

'No, Mr. Cadmus–the cataclysm.'

'Sir, I don't even know your name. What are you talking about and how do you know me?'

Run, Leo. The point of no return is coming.

'My apologies, Mr. Cadmus. I am Michael.'

'What, like the angel?' Leo cackled like a little goblin.

The man stared for a moment, unamused. 'Exactly. Mr. Cadmus, I know only your surname due to the fact that we have been watching the efforts of your wife.'

Leo stood upright and grabbed a black foam sword that he kept beside his desk. Usually, it helped stave off his ADHD, but today it was all he could think of to defend himself.

Should have grabbed the lamp, Leo. Should have broken it over his head.

For once, Michael backed away. 'Mr. Cadmus, I am sure you know what your wife has been creating. I am here to inform you that the very thing she is being praised for tonight is going to kill you.'

'Shut up,' Leo growled, his insides feeling like foam. 'Her invention is perfectly safe. She told me that she made sure, herself.'

'Mr. Cadmus, you need to understand that she is human. She is a genius indeed, but her ideas cannot fathom the possibilities of random chance. Tonight, the black hole she created will be on display, but a child will cause it to destabilize. It will be a perfect mishap and few will know that this child was the cause. Earth is about to become a broken planet millennia before it is destined to die.'

'What? How do you know that? Can you time travel or something?'

Michael smiled like he was watching a child play in sand.

'Oh, come on.' Leo aimed his foam blade at Michael's throat. He'd obviously missed the point. 'You need to leave. I don't have time for your men in… silver unif–suits… thing.'

'You make a good point.' Michael drew a stopwatch from his pocket with 3 hours and 6 minutes left on the clock. 'I don't have time for this. If you won't come willingly, then I'll have my associate bring you with us. I have millions of people to take to the other side.' He snapped the watch into his hand and swivelled to leave.

As Leo was readying to lower his sword, another man strode past Michael. He was admittedly quite a pretty person, with a nice tailored suit of a similar look to Michael's. He bowed like some outdated gentleman, hair falling over his forlorn face.

'Apologies for the intrusion, Mr. Cadmus. I need to bring you with me. Before that, I should introduce myself. I am your guide to a new life–Raphael.'