Ashen One - (anonymous)

Caldwell December 20, 2022 at 02:17 575 views 6 comments
I've always hated evil. The clasping of hands in prayer that alleviated the burdens of both rich and poor, my only reprieve. I grew troubled.

Until I met her.

A living goddess adorned in black. From different "backgrounds" we'll say. My strengths and weaknesses and those of hers, rather the gains and losses created as result were not relevant to one another and in such we became close..Like brother and sister.

One night as we drunk intensely, I asked, "isn't it high time we do something about it?" From then, those whose names I've scribbled in my notes as "evil" began to perish, one by one. Only a pile of ash found. We met after each occurrence, laughing, almost wickedly as we knew. It was control I despised.

That which was wicked was now good, those who suffered now rejoiced. Those that once restricted me now seemed to execute my every desire.

"Only one left" she said as she removed her black gloves and clasped her hands in the familiar manner as I realized her role, "No!" I shouted fiercely.

Too late. I have many names here now. This world's prophets, dictators, messiahs, I'm forbidden to continue. Simply, Me.

Comments (6)

0 thru 9 December 23, 2022 at 16:24 #766077
Fascinating. The fact that I’m still trying to completely grasp the ending is probably because of my frozen brain. Will try again after soaking my brain in hot cocoa lol.

Good stuff! :smile: :up:
Caldwell December 25, 2022 at 18:52 #766470
Reply to 0 thru 9 The narrator, too, was on the list destined to be destroyed. "I'm forbidden to continue."
0 thru 9 December 26, 2022 at 13:20 #766571
Reply to Caldwell Ok, thanks! :pray: (might need even more hot cocoa). :nerd:
god must be atheist December 26, 2022 at 13:58 #766575
Quoting Caldwell
The narrator, too, was on the list destined to be destroyed. "I'm forbidden to continue."


But nobody got destroyed. People were changed from bad to good, and good to good. I don't understand the ending either.Quoting Caldwell
From then, those whose names I've scribbled in my notes as "evil" began to perish, one by one. Only a pile of ash found. We met after each occurrence, laughing, almost wickedly as we knew. It was control I despised.

That which was wicked was now good, those who suffered now rejoiced. Those that once restricted me now seemed to execute my every desire.


It is at best ambiguous. Evil people perished, turned into ashes, or else they were now turned to good? Or would only their evil quality perish?

Or did people realize the pattern and started to suck up to the Narrator?

I am sorry, I can't set this story straight in my mind.

Quoting Caldwell
It was control I despised.


Was it control as such, as a general activity that the narrator despised, or was it this particular control the narrator despised? "This control I despised" would have erased the ambiguity.

If it were this control that the narrator despised, why did s/he continue to exercise it?

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Above this line can be ambiguous, or maybe it works. But the following has a serious continuity error:

Quoting Caldwell
The narrator, too, was on the list destined to be destroyed.


Hoppla. It was the Narrator who had compiled the list.

Quoting Caldwell
From then, those whose names I've scribbled in my notes as "evil" began to perish, one by one.


Was the Narrator self-loathing? No. Then why on earth would s/he put himself or herself on the list of people s/he thought of as evil? There is no human being who thinks of himself or herself as evil. Only the insane do. If we do have a reason to think that, we employ the rationalization process on the cognitive dissonance, and "explain our report card" to ourselves.

Caldwell December 26, 2022 at 19:17 #766670
Quoting god must be atheist
But nobody got destroyed. People were changed from bad to good, and good to good.

Metaphorically, they were "destroyed" -- a new self emerged.
Nils Loc December 26, 2022 at 19:42 #766686
Ambiguous. Maybe she (goddess in black/the ashen one) is the one on the list since the last line "Simply, Me" (is left). The agent that does the disappearing is gone, as the exercise in judgement/execution of what is evil is itself morally questionable or the list has been temporarily exhausted. "It was control I despised." As he despises evil and his control over it, his means of obliterating evil is taken away.

Maybe the author will offer clarification.