Well, the day has arrived.

The day of freedom.

For the first time in months, I’m gonna be let out of this terrible enclosure. For the first time, I’m gonna see the sun. I’m gonna be in an open space and breathe normal air after so long.

And when it’s all said and done, I’ll be walking out those gates as a free man.

Finally!

My time is almost due, and I couldn’t be more excited. I can finally go back into the real world. I’ll be free from this cursed cell.

And yeah, my girls will be free too.

Free from this world and all its troubles and aches. They’ll be chilling with our King in a bit.

They deserve it, when you really think about it. They’ve had pretty tough lives for seventeen year olds. Living in the poorest of conditions, barely having enough to afford two square meals a day, much less three. Losing both parents to a bad case of dysentery. Yeah, Lawrie and Celes have really been through a lot of sorrow in this short time on earth. It’s unfortunate.

But at least I brought them one high point: giving them the gospel. Now I get to give them another high point: exit from this world into the arms of Jesus.

Yeah, I’m fully convinced this is the best thing to do…

Hold on, I hear footsteps.

Oh my goodness, freedom beckons!

I turn to the gate in anticipation, eagerly awaiting the appearance of the guards to come and take me out of here.

A few seconds pass, and they appear in front of my gate.

One of them holds a key. He nods emotionlessly at me.

“It is time.”

Oh, praise the Lord! My redemption is here!

***

“Arrghh!”

It’s been months since I had the brightness of day in my eyes, so it hurt quite a bit when we stepped out into the open.

I bet you were thinking I was getting some unexpected pummeling, right? Well, no, I wasn’t.

As I’m led by the guards across the yard, glee fills my heart. Yes! It truly is happening!

I’m getting my freedom…

At the gate, there about five heavily-armed soldiers. The guards pull me in that direction, and we find ourselves before them.

“Is he the one to do the killing and be freed?” one of the soldiers asks.

“Yes sir,” one of the guards responds.

The group of soldiers nod. The guards then take a step back, and one of the soldiers grabs me rather roughly by the arm, and they begin to move.

I won’t lie, the brash way that soldier grabbed me didn’t make me very happy. But then, these are soldiers. A rough bunch. And I might as well put up with it for now, since I’ll be done with them all once I’m freed.

The path we take a long, winding one at the top of a hill. From the top, you can see that it leads to a shooting range.

A very grim looking shooting range. This is clearly the place where a lot of believers had their lives cut short by these cruel men. Even as we get closer, I can see blood marks on the big red and white targets set up.

Depressing.

But yeah, I know what the assignment is, so we keep moving. Besides, it might be depressing to look at, but I know the Christians who killed here are anything but depressed where they are now.

And that’s gonna be the same fate for my dear girls…

Oh, wait, that’s them, right? I can see two young ladies, being held by some soldiers down there… yes, that’s them! That’s Celestina and Lawrencia over there!

They’ve already prepared them for execution. Man.

We finally arrive at the site of the shooting range. The soldiers holding the girls drag them to the front of the target. They look at me, their eyes quivering. Lips trembling. Disbelief on their faces. It’s safe to say they look shocked. Very shocked.

“They know what you’re about to do,” one of the soldiers confirms.

Yeah, I guessed it. The way they stare at me, it’s definitely not one of worry that I look lean and emaciated or anything like that. They must have been informed that I would be the one to pull the trigger on them, and they didn’t believe it until they just saw me.

Well, they won’t understand me now. They’ll understand when they’re in heaven. They’ll know I did what was best for them and for me. There’s a world I still need to preach the gospel to, and they have a Saviour who’s waiting to take them to the mansions He’s gotten prepared for them.

Yeah, they’ll not understand me in this flesh. Outside this earth, though, they’ll thank me and keep thanking me for eons more.

One of the soldiers then hands me a pistol. “Finish them!” the burly man orders me.

I duly take the gun and move toward the girls, a cold, hard look in my eyes. I need to look as callous as possible, you know.

As I move closer, the girls whisper to each other. After about a minute of doing so, they turn to face me. With tears running down her face, Celestina steps forward a bit and speaks.

“Pastor Esdras, before you kill us, we just want to let you know that we are eternally grateful to you for leading us to the narrow gate. You baptized us, taught us the Word of God and helped mould us into the girls we are. Please, as you kill us, please remember that you once told us that Christians aren’t perfect; they’re always liable to fall into sin, but the key is not to fall into despair like Judas, but repent like Peter. As you do this, we pray you follow Peter’s example afterwards.

“Worry not, Pastor Esdras. As we depart to be with our Beautiful Saviour, we hold absolutely nothing against you. No feeling of anger against this slight blip. Lawrie and I will forever remember you for telling us of Jesus Christ the Messiah and His undying love for us. God bless you.”

With all that said, she steps back and embraces her sister tightly, waiting for death to come upon them and whisk them away to paradise.

The sight of those two locked in a tight hug is almost heart-rending, to be honest. Two beautiful young girls with an otherworldly radiance about them, holding each other tightly, just preparing for death to envelop them in his grasp.

I can’t lie, it’s such an angelic view that would bring anyone to tears.

Except the soldiers around us, though. They’re dead to these things.

I keep my composure and raise the pistol, pointing it straight at them while I try my best to be as unmoved as possible by that aura around them.

They’re still holding each other, both sets of eyes tightly shut.

Do it, Esdras, do it! Your freedom is on the other side of this! Just take out the girls, and you’re free to go!

Really, Esdras? Really? You think this is worth it–

Silence, you foul voice of cynicism! This is worth it. For the three of us! Now get it done!

My finger touches the trigger…

… I tremble a bit…

“WHAT ARE-“

POW! POW! POW! POW!

The soldier about yelling is silenced, as four bullets fly out of the pistol in my hand.

A second later, and Celestina and Lawrencia drop to the ground.

Dead.

I did it.

I’m done with the task.

Hmmm. He did it. So how’s this gonna end?