Sixth Circle. Protest: Heresy of the mass media

Several shadows burst into the nasty square, they ran without looking back, and the dogs chased after them. When they managed to catch up, hook or stun one of the shadows, 3 or 4 dogs immediately rushed at it, grabbed and lifted. And then they dragged them into animal transport wagons. These hellish machines could hold a lot of shadows, especially if you tried to condense. I sat limply, thinking about my next steps. How can I get out of my Hell and how can I help others get out of their Hell? The dogs were already running around the park and next to it, soon they should have noticed me too, and then there was a prison and even more pain. That’s all I’m waiting for if I stayed here and didn’t do anything.

"Is this ... is it really you?"

I first heard someone's question, and when I came to my senses, I saw the face too. A male young shadow stood over me. He had a piece of paper in his hands. He peered at him for a long time, and then at me, then again at the sheet, and then again at me.

"Surely you!"

"Who are you and what are you talking about? I don't understand you."

"Are you okay? You look bad. Did these HellGuardians treat you like that? Freaks. But nothing, we can handle it. Come on, we need to get out of here before it's too late! "

"Run somewhere again? I'm so tired. Go without me. "

"No, look. "

He showed me a piece of paper with a photo and text on it. At first, I didn't want to perceive, but something caught me, I looked closer and realized that I was in the photo.

"What is my photo doing with you?"

"So, it's you guys! snatched HellGuardians' focus on you. What did you do to them? Or are you just from the coordinated protest center? They grab everyone from there, even ordinary and accredited journalists! "

"Yes, it looks like me. But nothing like at most, he accidentally ran away from a couple, they demanded documents, and then they grabbed them without waiting. "

"It is unlikely that only because of this. You have to run anyway; it won't end well if you get caug-"

The talking shadow's face slid to the side along with his torso. I raised my head and saw a couple of dogs, one of which hit the shadow, suspecting nothing at that moment.

"Well, it was you, woof, laid him down."

"Yeah, but we need to finish the job."

"And what to do with this, he was just sitting here?"

"Well, this one was talking to him, and we'll take him at the same time!"

"So, what kind of paper is this?"

I clenched my fist and gathered as much force in it as I could and hit the bending dog right on the visor of my helmet. The blow was stronger than I expected, and he flew back a meter. The other two were frightened for a moment, which was enough for me to knock them out with a wave of my leg. And I didn't defend myself, they just pissed me off.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-, yes. You can't tell you're that strong. Let's get out of here?"

"Okay."

We walked carefully through the square, looking around.

"My name is Ruslan, by the way."

"... Mikhail."

"Nice to meet you, Mikhail. So, you don't know why they are looking for you? Although it doesn't matter, everyone is being caught now. peaceful protest, but such an aggressive reaction!"

"Yes, a very cruel response. Even a criminal one."

"Exactly. Do you know why?"

"Protect the current government. By any means."

"Right, but why exactly do you know?"

"...?"

" Failure - it's all about him! The only worthy opposition politician in Hell dared to object to Satan himself! then simple and abstract, but quite concrete and for the sick person! Satan got so angry that he committed another sin. How much does he already have in his piggy bank? And he himself built a castle on the edge of Hell near Paradise."

"Extremely hypocritical."

"And sinful."

"Can't the people of the shadows do anything?"

Ruslan thought for a moment

"Maybe, but there are still too few of us."

"And when there are many, what can the people do with weapons and the rest?"

"Can change the government for the better, we will overwhelm them with their number. There are more of us."

"It will be a massacre."

"No, everything will be different..."

"And when will this happen?"

"When the people wake up and will begin to understand what is happening around. Now the majority are drugged with propaganda. Hmm, come with me, want to show you something? "

I was still thinking about what to do next. Ruslan seemed like a good person, albeit a little naive.

"Okay, is that far?"

"No, we're just really close. From there today some shadows started their march."

All this time we walked in a straight line, bypassing buildings and streets, approaching end of the island. There was a small courtyard with several high-rise buildings. Entering the courtyard from the embankment, I noticed the name of the bar "Dictatura Æstetica Bar".

"Very symbolic, also noticed?"

I nodded my head. We entered one of the buildings. Judging by the premises and the equipment located there, it was some kind of unusual cinema.

"And why are we here?"

"Now you will see everything."

Ruslan did something for remotes, and projectors with eyes instead of lenses started working. There were a large number of them, several on all the walls. The image was everywhere, in places even on the ceiling and floor. I remembered the mirror maze, so I was scared at first. But everything seemed to be calm.

"Get ready, I'll turn it on now."

"What exactly?"

I was worried, so I wanted to know in advance. But Ruslan did not answer and simply turned on the recording.

"Provalny"

"Provalny"

"Provalny"

Sounds came from every wall and the image went. These were snippets of federal news. I have already seen some of them.

"Failed. Was he really poisoned? Probably not. In our version, this was a pre-planned operation. The secret services from Paradise are trying to destabilize the situation in Hell and discredit Satan."

"Satan doesn't need luxury, it's not cool for him."

The last phrase is followed by a cutscene of Satan speaking to the public in richly decorated halls, driving expensive cars and yachts, and flying on airplanes almost for nothing.And during the outbreak of the pandemic, he constantly moved between expensive hotels. And all these are budgetary expenses. Very expedient and not at all a luxury, yes.

"He is being tried not for political reasons, but for a criminal offense."

Which the local Paradise has declared invalid and fabricated. Not to mention the rest of the nonsense associated with this.

"From Paradise constantly pouring in threats against Hell. Is it bad for them in their Paradise that they have completely confused the borders?"

It was an endless stream of lies, hypocrisy and information manipulation. I felt sick again, as if I had returned to the third circle. My head was splitting from so much injustice. All federal channels were engaged in only one thing - propaganda and protection by any means of the power of Satan. Complete censorship prohibited by the constitution. But few people were embarrassed by this for some reason. Many even believed and believe. At some point, all of their deception schemes became so monotonous and repetitive that I could not tell them apart. For me, the perception has accelerated. When I watched this whole nightmare, broadcasting to all the shadows who listen to all the shadows, perception slowed down again.

"The weather is clear, but precipitation is possible in the late afternoon. And now for the news from Hellish Moscow. Today the mayor of Hades visited a local the sidewalk where the tiles were so wonderfully repositioned. "

And this news instead of news about peaceful protests and violence against fellow citizens by law enforcement officers? The feeling that it was just hellish distortions in my brain did not leave. But having lived all my life in that reality, and not this one, I understood that it was not so.

"Also, in Moscow today, there were unauthorized rallies with the hellish administration. But do not worry, our brave law enforcement agencies are already dispersing these scoundrels. But, of course, they try to be tougher with them. "

It was already a mockery from my brain susceptible to distortion, but they are not far from the truth, if they were not at all.

" You see, right? Ours? the country has one of the lowest ratings on freedom of speech by international legal organizations, and propaganda is brainwashing all the inhabitants of Hell. This is the main protection of the authorities; they invest huge resources in maintaining the media under their control. Through which they broadcast their will, desire and fears. But not the truth for which they were supposedly created. This is our main battlefield. The most real battle for our rights and resources. Even fresh: literally across the river on the other side of one of these thieves, we recently discovered a house worth almost $ 4 million! What do you think he did so useful that he deserved them? Nothing! He stole other citizens from you and me. And what he could not steal, he gave to his family. "

"Even if one day it will be possible to convey the truth to the majority, will it help? How exactly? "

"Together we can definitely win. Peaceful. "

"Ridiculous! History clearly shows how the dictatorship is shifting. But this time we will definitely not be helped from the outside. Nobody wants to poke their nose into hell anymore. "

"You might be right. But now... I don't want to live life in a cage ... "

"We are already in it. How are you going to defeat this propaganda machine? Via the Internet? "

"Yes! The Internet is much more flexible and, most importantly, it is open to free and independent information. "

"A generation will pass before the Internet audience in Hell surpasses the television audience. By that time, they will also subdue the Internet. History knows something like that. "

"We ... will be faster. "

"As far as I remember, the largest TV broadcasting tower is located here in Ostankino, right? "

"Right, but what?"

"I have to go. Thanks for the introduction."

"Stop, where are you going?"

"I really need to go. It was nice to talk to, Ruslan."

"Well, mutual. I hope I helped you with something, and we someday see you. "

I left the theater. The next round was supposed to be the sixth - the sin of heresy. There is no escape from fate. My anger did not dry out, and I found where to direct it - against heretic propagandists. As if everything that happened inside me had blown the fuse from such radical actions. Or was it a self-preservation fuse? I have nothing to lose? Perhaps because I'm in double Hell. And let God protect the soul, if he exists.

But how can I get to Ostankino, because I lost my phone.

"Are you still here?"

Ruslan also managed to get out and turned to me.

"Yes, I remembered I lost my phone when the dogs ... Can you borrow it for a while? "

" Yes, of course, take it. "

I found the TV tower on the map; it was far from my location. I remembered its position near the metro, it was the easiest way to get and navigate. But I realized that on the subway I could be easily tracked down. As I thought, my eyelids blinked. I noticed something and closed my eyes. The map was in front of my eyes. I've always had a good memory, almost eidetic, but not so much.

"Thanks, now definitely goodbye."

"Good luck."

"Mutually."

I went in the right direction to get closer to the goal. But walking would be too long, and public transport was dangerous to use. Maybe then it was worth taking a taxi? I don't know if paranoia or cold-blooded caution spoke in me, but they could have figured out me by paying with a bank card. After all, banks are also subordinate to the government. Then I remembered how unnaturally fast I had run and jumped recently during the battle with Phlegius. Yes, but then I returned back to the pedestal, as if nothing had happened. It was pointless to understand this phantasmagoria, it was already possible to understand. I ran and tried to speed up, but no such miracles happened.

"Again, some conditions have not been met?"

I tensed more and more, which did not increase my speed, but anger.

"Maybe this time the music will help?"

I put on my headphones after two dives. It's good that they had their own memory, albeit without an Internet connection. I picked the right track and tried to tune in. The music was from the genre of blackened deathcore: dark, heavy, but at the same time dynamic and harsh. It was what we needed! I noticed how it becomes easier and easier for me to move with each step. My speed increased and I accelerated.

"Wow."

It's strange to say that, but I've never felt so free before! In Hell and in such circumstances, but, but ... The air, though hot and with a hellish stench, beat me in the face, but its quick contact made me feel good. Then I accelerated more and more, a crazy thought occurred to me, but not crazier than my head. I approached the end of the embankment and jumped so hard that I was able to cross the river through the air and land on the other side. Some shadows noticed this, but I continued to run and immediately disappeared from them.

"The Eyes of Minos."

They were all over the earth to keep an eye on reptiles in front of power. Then I jumped onto the building. I wanted to stop there and look around, but my body did not obey and immediately jumped onto the neighboring building, continuing to approach the goal - the Ostankino TV tower. I was moving forward very quickly, jumping from one building to another. In doing so, I easily avoided Minos' eyes, looking down mainly from the pillars. I don’t know if the shadows had time to notice me, I didn’t pay attention to it.

Buildings rushed before my eyes with incredible speed, I felt like a free beast in the stone jungle. But even so, doubt crept in me that I was doing the right thing. I wanted to release my anger at my abuser and ...

"Free people or shadows from the tyranny of lies. It is unlikely that shutting down one TV tower, although the largest, would do this, but it will definitely help in achieving this goal."

The tower itself was already visible, its height was about 500 meters and is the tallest structure in Europe. Nearby was a cemetery, a grove, a large pond, a couple of roads, and several buildings. I was assessing the situation as I was serious about it. Approaching the place, I slowed down and disappeared into an oak grove.

"Do you have any idea what you are going to do, puppy!?"

Suddenly, mouths and eyes spoke to me, which again appeared on the bark of the trees.

"You are going against the King of Hell himself! The ruler of all sins is Satan!" Satan is a puppy too. The cowardly dog ​​is sitting somewhere in a bunker and can't stick his nose out. "

I wanted to silence those voices, but I didn't want to harm the trees. I understood that this is what the doubt says in me, but I did not let it spread. The trees tried to attack me with leaves and needles, but I felt nothing. I left the grove; the tower was right in front of me. I stood there for a while, thinking how best to get there. Was it worth it to try quietly first and then break through or go straight into the open? While I was there, from somewhere in my head, information appeared on which floor the TV and radio broadcasting room was located. I decided not to dwell on this, although I was wondering where I got this knowledge from. Maybe I was interested in the TV tower before?

In Hell, the tower looked very menacing: sticking out a sharp peak, like the very finger of Satan pointing up. A powerful wind raged around. The only thing missing was the gargoyles to complete the picture. I decided not to delay, as I felt distantly growing fatigue. I switched the music track to something more punk and inspiring, concentrated and jumped up the tower. There were some shadows downstairs, some of them noticed me. I began to climb the tower to the desired floor, examining the city and the surrounding areas along the way. My vision also sharpened; from such a great height I could even distinguish shadows.

Having examined everything thoroughly, I outlined a further plan and immediately began to put it into action. I was already at the right height and with the help of force made my way inside. The shadows did not expect this at all and were very frightened that they just froze in surprise.

"Nobody move, this is liberation!"

I turned my hand into a blade and demanded everyone to move to one corner of the room. I was looking at the complex equipment, distorted by Hell, and did not understand what I was going to do next? I knew about computer technology, but it was more difficult here. I walked over to one of the shadows and grabbed it.

"How ..."

Something happened, and I already knew everything I needed.

"Doesn't matter."

I went to the equipment and began to intercept TV and radio broadcasts. After figuring out how to switch streaming from all multiplexes, I hooked up my camera and got ready to send a message to everyone watching. But at that moment the guards burst into the room, and other shadows took advantage of the situation and hid behind them. However, they haven't run away yet, they were wondering what would happen next or what I wanted to do.

"Immediately put your cameras and hands behind your head! On the floor, quickly!"

They pointed their pistols at me. They did not look as ferocious as the others, but they were also quite formidable. I put my free hand forward, it was normal, since I was using the equipment.

"Just leave and I won't harm you. A lie is being created here, pouring into the minds of your fellow citizens. I'm going to stop it."

"Are you deaf? If you don't fulfill our demands, we We'll shoot to kill. "

After all, my self-preservation fuse was blown or there was something else.

"I won't repeat it either, I don't have much time."

Their patience quickly dwindled and one of them shot me in the leg. I felt very hot at the point of contact with the bullet, but at the same moment the bullet just bounced off the skin and bounced to the floor.

"What the hell? I hit like. I will still shoot, understand!?"

I put my camera down and walked slowly towards the guards. Two more fired several shots in the legs, but the bullets bounced off. Perhaps they thought they couldn't hit, so they started aiming at the torso, but the bullets just bounced back, losing all their kinetic energy. This amount of heat was already much more noticeable, so I stopped, but then continued walking.

"What kind of monster are you?"

"Just walk away, this is not your war."

But could it be called a war - the naturally legitimate right to the restoration of justice? Yes, even the restoration of human laws and rights! This performance scared them greatly, but a couple of them were so stubborn that they tried to go hand-to-hand. One had to be knocked out, and the other was immobilized and threatened. Then they agreed to leave, taking the shadows with them.

"Do not try to return. Immediately evacuate the entire TV tower, it will literally fall soon. And warn everyone below within a kilometer."

I barricaded the door and returned to the cell. I had very little time before they did something.

"Most likely, in the very near future, they will just turn off the power supply."

I took the camera, intercepted the television and radio broadcasting of all the channels of the multiplex - federal brainwashing. I was on the air.

"Hello, people of Hell! I am one of you! The most ordinary sufferer of hellish life. And I am tired of the lies broadcast into your consciousness from these frequencies. Wake up and you! The government of Hell is basically liars, thieves and murderers! How can you not notice this for so long? Stop being forgotten! Get up and take your lives back into your own hands!"

run away and inspire, but the guards worked quickly. The power supply was cut off and the broadcast was suspended. Although it was more than enough for me, I was satisfied. As if a large weight had fallen from his shoulders. But there was still much more to be dropped.

"So, what's next on the plan?"

I stretched my hands and looked out. The panoramic view of hellish Moscow was beautiful, how prettier it was under the mayor of Aida! I also wanted to use the tower's warning systems, but the power has already been turned off. But this was not required, everyone below had already been evacuated. Hell's special servants - HRS - Hell Riot Squad were seen approaching here. They didn't want to hurt them either, even though they and their comrades were doing to the peacefully protesting shadows. Therefore, I hastened with my plan, having examined the Ostankino pond and the area next to it for the last time. Then he jumped down. I didn't even think that I was jumping from a half-kilometer height! But I was sure that everything would be all right with me. Just a few seconds and I'm on the ground. An exciting fall, but I headed straight for the base of the tower. Turning my hand into a blade, I began to cut the support of the tower, and with my free hand I smash what I could not cut right away.

"I wonder what happens to my body? Probably nothing, and this is just an illusion. But why exactly?"

When the base was destroyed, I once again examined the area next to the pond. Then he jumped high on the tower and pushed it away. She began to fall towards the pond, and on her way, there was only a neighboring deserted square, a blocked road, behind which there was a pond. It crashed with a big dull sound, its top plunged into the water. None of the shadows were hurt. Meanwhile, the HRS were approaching, so I hurried out of here.

I hurried back to Bolotnaya, hoping to help the protesters if there was someone else left. The way back was harder, as fatigue finally overtook me, but I continued to move forward. But after a couple of moments, the light in front of me somewhere began to suck in my consciousness along with it.

I seemed to be asleep for a very long time and saw a terrible nightmare, from which I finally woke up. And I got into another, another one.

"R-, reality? I really am back, is this another illusion? Or is it temporary, like then?"

I just silently looked around, some residual distortion still remained, but overall, everything looked normal. But I was in some strange place, as if in a grotesque cave. I realized that I was sitting under the arch of a small stone bridge, outside of which there is an ordinary forest.

"Fuh."

I sighed with incredible relief, since reality did not disappear anywhere, but on the contrary continued to be and calm me. But ...

"Huh? What is it? No, no, no! "

Another nightmare was the left hand. It was partially transformed, as if in an intermediate state between the normal hand and the blade, so its shape was terrible and chaotic, as if a large stone had fallen on it. I felt a strong aching pain on her part. I don't know if Hell affected me that way, but I managed to ignore the pain, otherwise I would have gone crazy with her.

"What the hell, why should it go on forever!? God, can you hear?"

It is not clear who I was talking to, I was very emaciated and in a panic. There was pain in my stomach too, I looked at him, he was pulled in and made unpleasant sounds.

"Only now I realized that I probably haven't eaten for a long time. What to do with this hand? Go to the hospital? What if the events from Hell happened in reality? Then... "

Even getting up was hard.

"Damn, I haven't slept. I have no strength at all. But it’s great that I’m back. Although it seems I am about to die, how ironic. Am I going to real hell? Hehe. Right, today ... most likely yesterday was a big day. Why is that? Oh, yes, I remember... Lily. I wonder how she is and what she is doing? It’s a pity we didn’t manage to meet her. I wish I could see her... "

"Lastly ... did you mean to say? "

"Yes, now I can even hear her voice. So soft and cuddly. Reminds me ... "

"... something, right? "

"Yeah."

I turned my head and actually saw Lily. That white short hair that curls at the ends and yellow eyes have always captivated me. Still the same serious, but at the same time kind face. Everything as I remember.

"Visions of death? Thank you for at least the end..."

I got tired of holding my head and it started to fall to my chest.

"It's too early for you to die! Do you hear! Michael?"

Something caught my head. Feel so soft and tender.

"Are these the palms of an angel?"

"Nice, of course, but you need to collect your thoughts. I understand that you are very tired and generally confused, but try, please! I brought food."

The words about food gave me a little strength. And I began to bite what appeared in front of my mouth.

"Are yo rel?"

“Eat before you speak.”

She put her other hand behind my back. Did you want to hug me to calm or warm me?

"There is very little left, and you can climb the steps of evolution to the very top."

Darkness.