7.4) Idealism Ω ~ Going the Distance

Mary followed Abigail up the stairway to the rooftop. Mary had been told further details of what was to come: everyone would burn to death. That was the final verdict of humanity. Earth would quite literally become hell itself. Even Abigail seemed nervous–the fearless Leviathan was unable to look her in the eye.

Death was one thing–suffering was another. Especially the unbearable kind.

Mary looked down at the steps that passed by her feet, going through her options. In the end, it seemed that the only way to prevent that pain was to cut their lives short; despite how horrifying the thought was, it was preferable to being roasted alive.

But if everyone made that same decision, the streets would soon be filled with corpses. There was no triumph in either choice.

As Mary continued thinking about the most painless way she could die, Abigail opened the door to the rooftop, bringing her to where Atlas and Victor were.

Atlas and Victor were in the middle of a conversation, but both of them stopped talking as soon as they walked onto the scene. Atlas turned to Mary with a serious expression.

“Mary. Did you decide on which one of you will escape? What did Julian say?”

She fidgeted nervously. She had initially decided on not leaving everyone behind, but with the new information on how the world would end, it made it harder for her to be confident in her decision. But with the little amount of courage she had remaining, she spoke.

“... Neither one of us is going to run away. That’s the decision we had come to… together.”

Atlas closed his eyes. “I see.”

Abigail rubbed her chin. “Then I guess we still need to figure out who we could give it to. I’m sure there’s someone out there who would gladly escape from the upcoming disaster.”

Atlas raised his hand, interrupting her thought. “No. Sorry, but I’m going to reclaim the power for myself. I’m not giving it up for anyone else’s escape.”

Mary raised an eyebrow, questioning his unexpected change of heart. She turned her head to see that even Abigail’s eyes had momentarily widened.

Abigail cleared her throat, trying to hide her surprise. “Well, that’s… fine. That’s the best choice we have. Saving one person from the hell that will ensue. And we wouldn’t be able to find anyone who deserved it more than you.”

There was a deafening silence. The choice had been made. No one else would escape from this universe. Everyone else would die together.

Victor had his hand over his mouth with a frown. “I don’t think they understood what you meant, Atlas.”

“... Really? I thought I was pretty clear,” Atlas responded.

“No. Admittedly, it was a bit vague. Maybe you should say it in a way that they’ll understand.”

“Hm.”

Atlas got up from the plastic chair, looking and pointing up to the sky. Mary and Abigail followed his gaze, trying to understand what he was trying to say.

Then, the future changed.

“... I’m going to hold up the sky.”

“What?” The two women said in sync.

Mary spoke, pointing at Victor. “But he said it was pointless. That the ‘god’ will crush the universe and everyone will die. We–you can’t win.”

Atlas shook his head. “It’s not about winning, Mary. It’s not about keeping everyone alive. It’s not about circumventing death, either. It’s about buying time. It’s about sparing everyone from a brutal end.”

Victor leaned forward and clasped his hands, explaining Atlas's reasoning further. “What he can do is survive under the weight until enough force builds onto the stationary ‘sky’. Earth won't be engulfed in flames and its gravity won't shift. Earth will remain as it is now. Then after a few days or so when his strength is no longer enough, he can let go and let everything be destroyed in an instant. It will be painless. No one will suffer.”

Abigail crossed her arms and looked at Victor. “And you’re onboard with this?”

Victor shrugged. “Who am I to stop him? And besides…”

He fidgeted his hands. “It’s like we’re defying the gods themselves. Defying fate, destiny. It’s crazy enough to make me curious about what will happen. This will be humanity’s last act of rebellion.”

Mary objected. “You’re saying ‘we’ and ‘humanity’ like we’re all in this together. Atlas is going to be the one who is going to be in excruciating pain for us.”

Atlas shook his head. “We are in this together. I’m not the only person here who has things left to be done.”

He spread his arms, talking to their ragtag group as a whole. “We can’t avoid death–but we can all fight. We can decide how we will meet our ends. Maybe you have duties and promises to fulfill. Maybe you have to reconcile with a loved one. Maybe you need to do something else entirely.”

He placed his hand on his chest. “As for me, this is what I’ve decided to do. I’m going out like I came in. I want to buy more time for everyone. I want to go out doing what I believe I must…”

“... And I ask you all to do the same: go do what you believe you must. Then face the end with dignity.”

Abigail crossed her arms, Victor rubbed his chin. Mary simply watched, unsure what she could say or do in response.

After a long silence, Abigail sighed. “I’ve always wondered what kind of sick person would be willing to hold the weight of the world for thirty-two years. I suppose I never truly understood your insanity until now.”

“I’m flattered,” Atlas responded with a hint of amusement.

Abigail clenched her fists with renewed determination. “Well, if this is what’s happening, then none of us have time to waste. Let’s get moving.”

Mary watched as Victor reluctantly dragged himself off the chair and followed Abigail down out of the rooftop. It seemed that they were getting ready to leave the apartment.

Mary walked up to Atlas, speaking in a concerned tone. “Are you sure about this? You’re going to be alone for the rest of everything…”

Atlas weakly smiled for her. “I won’t be alone. Not really.”

He looked across the city skyline. “Eight billion, Mary. That's the number of human lives in our world. I’m sure all of them have things they want to do before everything ends. So…”

“... We’ll all be fighting together. Even if I will be alone in death, I know that people will try their best to make it to their own finish lines...”

“... And that’s enough for me.”