Eighty Seconds Until Midnight

“It takes a lot to murder a man” Kali appears behind me as I stare at the corpse of Zyair.

“That’s a funny thing to say for someone who murders for a living.” I say, trying to justify my actions.

“I can’t murder a person. I mean I can, but I would be exiled from the realm of gods. It’s strongly frowned upon for a god to kill a human.” She says as she smiles and grabs my left hand. Well the two pieces my hand is in.

“ But, you can severely injure a human?” I ask, recounting what happened in the woods earlier.

“As long as they don’t die I can do anything I want to a human. I try to avoid being violent though. Humans are very fragile beings. I hurt them just a little bit and they end up dying.”

“ You try to avoid violence. Yeah it really seems like it.” I say sarcastically.

“I’m glad you got rid of Zyair. Despite your encounter with him earlier today, he’s a very unstable person. He thinks the gods are out to get him just because he’s a demigod.” I look down to see a bright light that covers my left hand. A few seconds later, Kali lets go of my hand and it’s back to normal. She healed my left hand.

“He must have loved ancient greek stories a little bit too much.” I say, holding back a sadistic laugh. I know it’s wrong to laugh at the dead, but I feel the urge to, just due to how pathetic Zyair is. “We have to go. We have a big day tomorrow so I have to get some sleep.”

“It is getting late and since you’re a pathetic human, you have to waste time on sleep.” I turn around to face Kali as she talks. Once she’s done, I slap her across the face.

“I’m not a pathetic human. This power you gave me makes me more than just a ‘pathetic’ human. I could take over the world with this. I don’t even need you.” I let loose my laughter.

“If you weren’t so attractive I would’ve just killed you for that.” Kali gets on her tiptoes and kisses me. Great. Now I have a death goddess that loves me. “Remember I can read your thoughts. Just follow through with the saving the world plan and I might treat you to something. But first.” Kali backs up and slaps me back. “Never slap a death goddess. I can end your existence in a second.”

We leave Zyair’s house in a complete mess. It’s kind of sad thinking about how long it will take someone to find Zyair’s body. I mean he lives with no one. He’ll only be found when his terrible stench gets a neighbor to investigate. It proves that no one will miss him. What a pathetic creature.

I drove back home alone. Kali disappeared as soon as I got back into the car. I looked at the dash and read the numbers on it. It’s already past midnight. I wonder where Kaylyn thinks I went. She could think I got eaten by a bear.

“Are you sure you want to face your sister after what she did to you?” Kali appears out of nowhere once again.

“It was just a misunderstanding..Plus, there’s more important things to worry about.” I try to reassure myself more than anything.

“ I guess you’re right.” Kali says with a mischievous smile. She disappears again before I can question her.

I get out of the car I stole and walk up to the front door of the house my sister and I share. I open the door to find Kaylyn sitting at the kitchen table.

“I’ve been waiting for you, brother,” Kaylyn says. “ Come, sit down.”

“I’m too tired to talk tonight. I’ll be heading to my room.” I say as I start to walk past her.

“Stop!” my body stops moving. Despite my best efforts, I physically can’t move. The only thing I can move is my eyes. I look over to see Kaylyn’s left hand glowing. A picture of a human heart is engraved into her left hand. “Sit down.” Yet again, my body moves without me in control. I go over to sit down. Resistance is useless for whatever she is doing to me.

“What are you doing to me?” I ask. My voice sounds shaky.

“No talking please. Just listening.” Kaylyn says.

I open my mouth, but words fail to come out. She has complete control over me. Even if I were to pause time, I can’t physically move. So, it would be useless.

“A lovely woman named Peitho came to visit me, while you were gone. She gave me this.” Kaylyn lifts up her left hand to show off the engraving I already mentioned. “It gives me the absolute power to make anyone do what I say. Do you know what that means, brother? I can make you love me.”

“Peitho? The goddess of persuasion? What is she doing on Earth? Why is she trying to ruin my plans?” I hear Kali’s voice in my head again. Can you help me, Kali? I can’t do anything against Kaylyn. Stopping time won’t change the fact that I can’t move. “I thought you said you weren’t a pathetic human. You said that you didn’t need me and that you could conquer the world with the power I gave you. So, this is all up to you. Figure it out yourself.” I said all that because I didn’t think there would be anyone else with super powers, especially my own sister. Her power is so much stronger than mine. She could actually conquer the world. “Fine, I’ll tell you one bit of information that might help you. Remember how your power has consequences. Like if you use it too much it will start to injure you. Her power is not perfect either. It has to have some kind of weakness. Use that information to your advantage. Other than that I can’t help you.” Thanks, Kali. I’ll prove to you how smart I can be. I will find the weakness in my sister’s power.

“I was told that I can’t change someone’s emotions with this power, but over time I’ll make you love me.” Kaylyn says as she stands up from where she’s sitting. She’s only wearing a pink bra and panties. She starts to walk towards me. “Kyle, love me” she says as she sits on my lap. “The only other downside is that I can only have you do three things at a time. So, I’ll allow you to speak. But, in exchange. Remove my bra.” She says as her left hand glows once more.

“I don’t love you,” I say as my hands move up her back and unclip her bra. I can’t stop myself. Her breasts press against my chest. “I don’t want to do this. I hate you” I say.

“Now that’s not what I want to hear. Now be quiet again.” The heart on her hand glows again. I try to force myself to say something but nothing comes out.

“Now why would she tell you her weaknesses?” I hear Kali in my head. Maybe she thinks it won’t help me.

“Love me.” Kaylyn says again. She kisses me. “Love me” She backs up a little bit to show me her breasts. I close my eyes before I can see anything. “Open your eyes.” My eyes are forced open by her power. I’m forced to see my sister’s nude body in front of me.

“You’re being mind controlled. The goddess of Lust, Peitho, is controlling you.” I say as I attempt to look away, but her power keeps pulling my eyes back to her chest.

“That’s where you’re wrong brother. You don’t understand how long I’ve waited for this moment. I’ve loved you all these years. We were supposed to get married. But, you don’t see me in the same way. So, I will force you to love me.” She says as she takes my shirt off. She gets off of me to take my pants off. I can’t do anything, but watch her as she rapes me. Kali, I might need your help.

“Oh now you need my help. Of course you do. Don’t worry, your favorite death goddess won’t let this vile woman have her way with you. Well I might let her do a little, but I’ll help eventually.” I hear Kali say in my head. I swear to god Kali if you don’t help me I won’t help you save the world. “You really think I need you to save the world? I could pick anyone. Losing you would be the least of my worries.” Kali please, I’m begging you. I AM BEGGING YOU!!!

“Love me, Love me, Love me, Love me, Love me” Kaylyn keeps on repeating as she gets on top of me again. This time the only thing separating us is her pink panties. KALI!!

“Holy shit Kyle, I’ll fucking help you if you stop complaining. Next time she kisses you, bite her. You can still move your mouth so it will cause her to say ‘no biting’. If she does that it will either let you close your eyes again or let you move. If you are so unfortunate that she lets you close your eyes again, then we move to plan B.” I hear Kali say. Wait, what's plan B?

“Love me!” she kisses me as she says this. Following Kali’s orders, I bite her. “Ow, no biting.” Kaylyn says as she recoils. I’m now able to close my eyes. But, that doesn’t fix my problems.

“Umm shit, wait, that's actually a good idea. Piss and shit yourself. She hasn’t stopped you from doing that” I’m not going to piss myself. “Do you want to be saved or not?” Why can’t you just appear and save me. “Because this is more interesting.” I fucking hate you.

“Love me.” Kaylyn says again. Tears start to roll down my face as I accept defeat. “I command you to stop crying.” That’s the worst thing you could’ve said. I clench my left hand and time pauses. I throw Kaylyn off of me. But, I still can’t talk. Her three commands still take control of me. So, as of right now, I can’t talk, bite, or cry.

“Do you want to have complete control over yourself once again?” Kali appears next to me. “If so, then kill her.” I can’t do that Kali. She’s my sister. I can’t kill her. “But she will only be an obstacle. It will only get harder to save the world with her in the way.” You provide a good point, Kali. But, I still can’t kill her. “You’re running out of time. You can’t stay frozen in time forever. Kill her now before she controls you again.” I feel a sharp pain in my chest before I realize that I need to resume time. I clench my fist once again, but before I do I step on Kaylyn’s left hand pinning it to the floor.

“How did you do that? You were so fast. I didn’t even realize you did anything.” Before Kaylyn can say anything else, I take a deep breath and stomp on her left arm. She cries out in pain, as I snap her left arm in half. Now she can’t clench her left fist, saving me from any more of her commands.

“Oh I love bullying humans.” I hear Kali’s voice behind me. I watch as Kali picks up a chair using telekinesis and smashes it into Kaylyn’s right arm, snapping it in half. Kaylyn screams out in pain.

“I love you! Why don’t you love me? Why can’t you love me?” my sister turns her head to me, her eyes flooding with tears.

“Kyle has already decided what to do with you.” Kali says as she pins down Kaylyn with her telekinesis. I decided? I can’t kill her. “Oh but you will. She won’t release her commands on you until she gets what she wants. So the new plan is to set the house on fire. She will die, but you won’t have to see it personally. Since you are so very sensitive about this stuff.”

I’m sorry, Kaylyn. The girl that has always been there for me. Ever since my mom took you in. You stayed even after mom died. You stayed with me through all my aunt’s abuse. The torture we went through together ended with this. You could’ve avoided this. Only if you could’ve pretended to be my sister for a little longer. Maybe you would survive. But, you are selfish. You are the most selfish person on this planet. Wanting me for your own perverted wishes. I’m sad to leave you like this. Due to your commands, I can’t even say goodbye. But, maybe this is how it was supposed to end for you. I walk over to the kitchen and grab the matches out of a cabinet. I walked back and put on the clothes that I was wearing.

“Are you ready, Kyle?” Kali says, still having her telekinesis pinning Kaylyn to the ground.

“Don’t you love me? Love me. We can be happy forever. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me…” Kaylyn keeps repeating. I nod my head to Kali to let go of her telekinesis. I see a sparkle of hope in Kaylyn’s eyes before I kick her in the side of the head, knocking her unconscious. I light a match and throw it into the kitchen. I wait a few moments for the flames to grow enough to ensure it won’t be put out. I walk out the front door.

When I reach the car, I’m not sure what to feel. I just killed my own sister. I killed the single most important person to me. Yet, I don’t feel sadness. Kali continually tells me that it’s for the world. That a few sacrifices will save billions. She says that I will become a hero. The world’s savior. A god in most people's eyes. But, I’m not sure I want to become a hero. I’ve lost my purpose in life. I remember the day my mom and I found Kaylyn. We didn’t have a car, so we had to walk from the store to the little apartment we had. My mom had a day job as a cleaner for rich people’s homes and at night she would sell her body for a little bit more money. My mom didn’t get a car until I was 11. She died in that same car when I was 12. When I was 8, we found Kaylyn on the walk from the store back to the apartment.

“Mom, all this stuff is heavy” I say, with 3 bags on both of my arms.

“You should be happy that we get this much food. I’ve been making more money recently so I thought I should get some extra stuff. We are going to have ham for supper! I know we don’t get much meat due to it being so expensive, so you better enjoy it” My mom says as she carries two bags and her purse.

“I will mom! I love you!” I say right before getting knocked to the ground. Standing in front of me was a girl, only a year older than me, with a large knife in her hand.

“Give me all your stuff or I’ll kill you!” She was shaking. She was most definitely forced into stealing.

“Why would you kill us?” My mom asks.

“I need to eat too. I’ve never had a family, but I need to survive.” The girl points the knife at my mother, but my mother doesn’t back up.

“We can share. I got extra food. Life is hard around here, especially for a girl too young to work. If you want, you can come with us and we would happily share.” My mom gets closer to the girl. The girl stands her ground, still having the knife pointing at my mom.

“The last man that said that.. He he-” The girl drops to her knees and starts crying.

“We don’t have much, but I’ll make you a deal.” My mom kneels down next to the girl. Mom grabs the girl's knife and tosses it away. “It isn’t the best, but we can take you in. We live in a small apartment, so you’ll have to sleep on the floor. But, I’ll keep you fed. There’s only one condition for this deal to work.”

“And what’s that?” The girl stops crying and looks my mom in the eye.

“Do you see the boy I’m with?”

“Yes.”

“He’s my son, Kyle. If you want a home, then promise me that you will protect him no matter the cost.” My mom sticks out her pinky finger.

“That’s a deal.” The girl sticks out her pinky finger and they make a pinky promise.

That girl, Kaylyn, changed my life. If she didn’t take that deal that day, then I would’ve killed myself when mom died. I was so lost at the time. Kaylyn is the only reason I have for living. But, I just had to kill her.

“If you want to take a more positive point of view. A lot of people share that feeling of yours. A lot of humans have a very important person in their life. A person who gives them purpose. Once you save the world, you will be saving thousands of those important people. Your one sacrifice will save billions of lives.” I hear Kali say. Is my happiness worth sacrificing the world? No, that’s selfish. But, I’m a selfish person. Standing outside the car, I turn around to face the house that’s now in flames. I need to save Kaylyn. “No, you don’t.” Kali appears in front of me, blocking my path back into the house. “Make saving the world your purpose. If that isn’t good enough, then make me your purpose.” Kali walks up to me and kisses me. If it wasn’t for my sister’s commands, I would’ve bit her.

I drove for an hour or so until I found an abandoned car lot somewhere in Pittsburgh. I got out of the car and hopped up onto the roof of it. I lay down on top of the car and stare at the moon. It’s almost a full moon.

“How are you feeling?” I hear Kali ask. Now you appear. I sat up to see her standing on the ground a few feet away from the car. She looks like a normal girl. If it wasn’t for her outfit, a black robe with a hood. At the bottom of the robe it’s all torn up. If she were to put the hood up and hide her green hair in it, then she would look like the grim reaper. “Remember I can read your thoughts. I’m happy that you pay attention to how I look.” She smiles and does a little twirl. “But, comparing the most beautiful death goddess to the grim reaper is a little harsh.” I feel myself smile a little bit. “You should get some sleep.” After what I’ve seen, it will be a little hard going to sleep. “Get down from there and get your butt in the back seat.”

I hop down from the roof and open the back door. Kali teleports inside and motions for me to put my head down on her lap. I comply. I would say happily, but I’m not sure any of these events make me particularly happy.

“Sleep, Kyle. You have a big day ahead of you.” Kali runs her fingers through my hair and suddenly I feel awfully tired.

Before I know it I’m already asleep.

Not that much later, I have a dream. Well, I’m not sure if it was a dream because it seems so damn real.

I’m standing on top of clouds that stretch to the horizon every way I look. Ahead of me is a woman. A heavily distorted woman, but I could tell it was a woman.

“My name is Peitho, It’s nice to meet you Kyle.” the distorted image of a woman moves a little bit as it speaks.

I try to speak, but when I open my mouth to say something nothing comes out.

“It’s so nice to see that you want to save this world, but I need to warn you. Kali is no good. She only seeks to gain control of the world. For what reason, I’m not completely sure myself. The world is ending, but it is only natural. War, politics, famine, disease, hatred, lust. It’s all leading this world to its end. But, it needs to be this way. The world needs to die to be reborn. Reborn as a gentler and sinless place. Humans once realized how to communicate with each other. They helped each other build skyscrapers and machines that could fly the world in a matter of hours. They also learned how to become greedy and corrupt. It should only be natural that this world ends. I will warn you once and only once. If you stick by Kali’s side then you will be walking the road of catastrophe. You will become the enemy of the gods and will be punished for your prevention of natural events. It’s up to you to decide who you want to be.” The distorted woman fades away. Everything turns black.