Planet Mars
Lord Cesar took me to a peculiar field surrounded by giant rock walls. Then he threw me a gadget and asked me to wear it on my forearm. It was molded as a shin guard that footballers wear to protect their shins. The only difference was the size. It was a bit heavy and I was supposed to wear it on my forearm. It was somehow related to the tech gadget that some of the Martian guards were wearing. Alongside us, Lord Cesar called 2 guards and asked them to gear up. Standing right in front of me a cluster of holographic strings surrounded their heads forming a helmet and just like that a helmet appeared on their heads and the same cluster of holographic strings made a spear in their hands making them look like a bunch of Spartans. Afterward, lord Cesar asked me to think of the spear, dig deep into my imagination, and develop the shape, size, and power of the spear. I tried but it was not as easy as it seemed. All I was able to withdraw was a singular line of a whole holographic image. Lord Cesar said to me, you are too weak and you lack focus specifically. Your mind is too entangled and occupied by other thoughts and worries.
For demonstration, he took a deep breath made a warrior stance, and in an instant, a gold spear with enormous power and a spark of light appeared in his hand. He asked the other guards to come at him and he specifically instructed them not to hold back. The way Lord Cesar handled both of them was completely jaw-dropping. By that time, I had realized that Martians were way stronger than an average human being in terms of speed, strength, and size. Continuing the quest of conquering oneself, I started to show progress. All I had to do was just build a focus on something I wanted at that particular moment. The body weight exercises though helped me a lot as it turned up, they had built some endurance within me. Every evening, I was asked to sit in a thoughtful stance, to learn and control my mind. So that, I cannot be distracted by the past or future outcomes, the only thing which will concern me would be the very present moment. 14 days have passed since my training began, and now I find myself quite calm, more focused, and specifically strong. It felt like I was the one owning my mind, not my circumstances. Even though I was having trouble sleeping as well because of the lower gravity and everything still I was eager to progress. Every night I would just sit and think about Jane as she was my only motive. She made me believe in the saying, “If you are going through hell, keep going”.
Days went by and my progress became significant. It made me more prominent in the eyes of Lord Cesar because I could see a lot behind that strictness of his. I started to adhere to the lower gravity but only for a minimal time span as I would have to rest to catch my breath. Other than that, I was in phenomenal shape both mind and body. The Martians would see me practicing with the guards like some sort of celebrity interacting with people. Shortly afterward, I discovered that my ship was all gone, torn to pieces so how was I supposed to return to Earth, I could not even send a message. I presented my query to the King and he said, “Do you think you are ready to go back”? Always talking in riddles, he threw me in a muddled mind state. One day, a Martian woman stopped by the field and brought us all some food and beverages. During the small breaks to catch our breaths, I always preferred to sit alone to grasp the clarity of mind. It was the same just one day, after serving the eatables she came to me and said, “I hope you will achieve what you are looking for and will be able to return to your home safe and sound”. Saying that lowering the gaze of admiration, she went back. To my surprise, she started to come there regularly and would observe us from a safe distance.
Devoun
From the very beginning, like every other Martian I always admired lord Cesar and pursued to be a better version of myself. Since my teen days, I have been fighting under his command. Even the king appreciated my efforts and honored my fighting skills. In light of those cherishing moments, I made up my mind to become a personal apprentice of Lord Cesar and take command of the internal affairs side by side with him. But no matter how hard I try, my senses cannot seem to comprehend, what is it, I lack.
It feels like a decade that I have been trying to meet the desired standards of Lord Cesar but he simply is not willing to promote me to a higher rank. Lord Cesar even contradicted the King about me, as he does not find my heart pure, instead, there is a certain darkness inside he says. Just like that, I don’t know when that self-doubt grew into actual darkness, and hatred was born inside me bringing out the worst. Since, the King’s illness I have been overwhelmed by my impulses and just want to put lord Cesar out of the picture for good. There has been nothing else on my mind. That is the only reason I willingly volunteered to help Cesar in training Brad, the earthling. Aside from all his preaching towards glory and being just, he claims to be perfect and I can prove he is not. No one is perfect. Cesar is nothing but a deceitful general who puts forth his interests as always. Yet, he claims that I am an immoral man with an illusionary cause, and because of that, I am not suited for a higher rank. But now I am eager to turn the tables, having close access to Cesar’s casual whereabouts I can plan ahead of him. This in turn will significantly raise the success rate of the mayhem I am planning to cause.
Although I do admit that I had a dreadful reputation of being a womanizer along with some homicidal tendencies, it is not the same as it was, I persuaded myself towards a better path which has been labeled as a trivial cause by Cesar. I tried to control my temptations but still, I am losing the battle with my impulses, as I cannot seem to take my eyes off Rose. This has been happening since she started coming to the battlefield with food and supplies. However, I have noticed the same stare towards her in the eyes of Cesar as well, which confirmed my suspicion about him that he is not some perfect saint that people claim him to be. I know I might overthink the facts but I had a strong intuition about it.
Rose
Sacrificing their lives on the battlefield, my parents served the Martian nation. Me and my brother started to live with our abusive aunt. My brother embarked on his journey to follow in the footsteps of our father and like every young man he also admired and idolized Lord Cesar. Throughout the day, I will be bound to do chores and anything possible even after my body is intensively fatigued. For even the very slightest error I would be aggressively punished by my aunt. Who always ended up beating me or strangling me to death from hunger. Any innocuous gesture will be enough to turn her into an unholy spirit and I will be completely helpless as there lies no refuge from her torments.
Later on, my brother got promoted in the army but that joy of accomplishment could not last long as he was killed by Devoun during his duty. Even though there is no proof of that, whenever I used to go and visit him during his practice sessions, casual sparring would transform into a battle of titans between them. If it was not for the presence of other guards, they both would rip each other apart. One day, when Lord Cesar stepped in and stopped the dog fight, I asked him why both of you are so overwhelmed in hatred towards each other, and my brother replied, “I know something he does not want anyone to know”. He is planning something terrible; my gut sense says he wants to assassinate Lord Cesar as I have caught him red-handed a few times. The underestimating and calm behavior of Lord Cesar towards him further fuels my fury and concern. Just like that, one day, my brother could not return home as he lost his life to Devoun when both of them were guarding the first gate, Devoun backstabbed him while fighting with some intruders making it look like a completely different matter.
In that course of days, I lost everything. To honor his services Lord Cesar helped me and availed me my residence inside the king’s kingdom and he was kind enough to provide me with the occupation of being a specific attendee to the King’s caretaking needs. That is one mysterious way, how the universe works, after profound moments of agony and despair you are rewarded with arrays of hopes that again build the shattered “will to live” inside you. Soon afterward, Brad arrived and everyone was absorbed in their gossip about the arrival of Earthling. Being the attendee to King’s needs I was able to avail myself some in-depth insight regarding their point of view about Brad. Lord Cesar and the Martian King had a very strong intuition about Brad as in fulfilling the Martian Legend. He who will conquer himself and will unlock the myths behind hidden quests and mysteries. At his first glimpse, I saw nothing but a man with a fire inside him, a fire to burn everything causing harm to his loved ones. A fire of sheer will and determination having the courage to surpass any hindrance. Furthermore, he strongly resembled my late brother which further intrigued me towards him.
As it came to my knowledge that Bard had been training with Devoun and another guard alongside Lord Cesar, my anxiousness knew no bounds. I made up my mind to somehow make them aware of the evilness of Devoun. I started to visit them regularly and would take some eatables alongside. Shortly, after a few days I was feeling a strange thickness in the air as I could sense the evil boiling up inside the filthy existence of Devoun. Those sick stares full of resentment and lust had grown to a drastic extent. One day as I was just getting ready to leave, Devoun called me from behind and offered to walk me off the field. Resisting him I replied “I can go by myself” with a voice full of discontent to turn him away. But he persistently kept on walking alongside me. As soon as we were away from the sight of others, he slayed me against the wall with a harsh thrust. After getting banged into the stone wall I was threatened to kill. I will send you to your family once and for all if I saw you here again, he said. I could not hear him clearly as my head was spinning around all over the place. He aggressively placed his hands on my bosom pressing me against the wall as I struggled to move. Fortunately, Brad came up in that very instant and he at once pushed that unstable maniac to the ground. Brad helped me while standing on my feet and at once turned towards Devoun with an infuriating voice, why would you do that? With a momentary lapse, Devound stooped up on his feet with a smirk of arrogance on his face and said, you stay out of it earthling or I will shut your mouth for good along with her.
I knew what chaos awaited me as Brad stepped up and replied, why don’t you make me? After strangling each other into a physical altercation and exchanging heavy blows Devoun started to overpower Brad, a strange sensation descended there like everything in that exact moment stopped. Brad yelled in anguish and a sudden golden aura appeared around him in a circular shape. It seemed like Brad’s manifestation of something, something dark and disdained. As he released it with a shout Devoun went flying and the aura molded itself into the shape of a portal as it seemed. For a few seconds, all of us remained stunned, and as it dispersed into the air I at once realized that Brad was the man of prophecy, who will unravel the Martian mysteries. Drained in fear, Devaoun backed up and was completely overwhelmed with what he had just witnessed and started to run backward. Brad was completely shocked and had no idea what just happened, we sat down and I enlightened him that he was about to fulfill the prophecy of Martian legend by opening a powerful portal in time and space. As overwhelming as it was, he did not really believe me, but I knew what was waiting for him ahead.
Brad
My very existence was shocked to the ground. How was I able to do that, was it particularly because of the Martian climate or is there something else to this matter? Although Rose tried her best to make me realize the enormous power within me, hidden deep inside. General Cesar and other guards came rushing towards the field like they had felt what just took place between me and Devoun. By the very particular facial expressions, I assessed that it was not a casual matter anymore. Devoun was also standing along their side, still frightened and mesmerized. I do not know what conspiracies Devoun just governed in their minds as they jumped at me and handcuffed me with a tool that gave you electric shocks even for the slightest flinch of trying to get free. They took all of my gadgets as I asked why are you doing this? What did I do? Lord Cesar replied with a ravishing voice calm down and do as I say. They took me to the King and after finding him in more of a chatty mood I was quite curious about the explanation they were about to provide me for such behavior. After a momentary silence, the King finally spoke up, do you realize you just opened a portal in space a few moments ago? I could easily sense all that energy ravishing through your heart into your veins. You are the man of prophesy earthling, he said. You have to unravel the secret behind this and teach the Martians what they can do, the superior powers they have inherited from the universe but were not able to comprehend for decades. Respecting his old age, I did not want to shatter his high hopes but I was not left with any choice. I told him that it just happened in a snap, I don’t know how, from where I channeled it, from where it was driven, and from whom, I just don’t know.
On hearing this Devoun shouted he is a threat which should be eliminated at this very instant. But Lord Cesar asked him to keep his cool and not to interrupt the King again. To calm the situation, the King addressed me and said, in that case, young man I am afraid we cannot allow you to go back because if you turned on us and used this power against us among your fellow earthlings then God knows what Chaos will descend upon my people. The risk here is too high I am afraid you would have to stay here. Hearing this notion made me completely lose my mind as the first person who popped in front of me was Jane. I eagerly and anxiously continued my explanation but it was nothing but a desperate mere struggle to convince them, all in vain. They banished me to solitary confinement and they planned to have it this way as long as it takes. As fear started to hinder my brain from thinking clearly, I started to feel helpless. Devoun took me to this dark dungeon located in the middle of the colony. The purpose behind this was to keep everyone aware of the consequences they may face for opposing the Martian law. Devoun strangled me like some animal and dragged me into the pits of solitude. After throwing me inside he said, this is where you belong. As I turned around, it was nothing but a house of horrors. The fear started to overwhelm me and I at once sat on the ground with my head down trying to figure out something even though it was just a vague effort of neglecting the pain of current realities.
Lost in those dark and horrid despairs
I sought the sighs of relief everywhere
I, myself can’t comprehend these affairs
When life turned out to be so uncertain
And unfair
Sitting down there helplessly, I could do nothing but hope for a miracle, and guess what something did happen. Into the night suddenly at the door, I heard Rose calling my name. Whispering it in the least possible audible voice. I readily tended towards the door and just could not express the relief I felt from her presence. In a crumbling voice, I asked her to help me and get me out of there. She asked me to step back from the door while disabling the alarm and laser traps with a spear and when the door cracked open the rays of light felt like light coming from the end of a dark tunnel which is the only thing that keeps you driven as you pierce your way through the darkness. My eyes were watering and could not see properly as I covered them with my hand. Rose asked me to stay low and follow her. Following her back to the kingdom, we reached a door engraved with Martian art and crafts again related to portals of time and space. She calmed me down, helped me catch my breath, and told me that this is the chamber where I can learn to control the power hidden inside me. This is where I could discover the testaments of my will, the place from where I can acquire the means to return to earth. She asked me to go inside and just follow my intuition, she asked me to look deep inside me by placing her hand on my heart, she asked me not to run from my fears and insecurities but instead make peace with the broken pieces. I nodded in affirmation and after taking a deep breath I entered the chamber and Rose wished me good luck while closing the door.
The Chamber of Solitude and Nothingness
Pitch-black darkness with rays of light coming from one corner and scattering out into the whole chamber. There was pin-drop-dead silence. All I could hear was the tapping sound of water droplets hitting the surface of the ceiling one by one in a calm and spiritual sensation. Remembering the guidelines Rose provided me, I tried my best to stay calm and strived to achieve a state called “emotional stability”. In the center, there was a rock resembling the edge of a broken cliff. I supposedly sat down there in a meditating state and just started to look for something within me in the very depth of my mere existence. In a short time span, I was able to locate a lot affiliated with traumatized events, pain, and suffering alongside the fear of darkness.
At that exact moment, I buckled up myself to adhere to those fears, breathing them in from my nose, starting them at their faces instead of running from them or avoiding them. I keenly sensed a strange energy triggered by these negative forces around me, inside me, surrounding and following me everywhere I went. But eventually, I gave in. I believed that running from the reminders of torments and current realities was far more tranquil and painless as compared to facing them frequently. Yet again I manned up and sat still, digging deep inside me in the pursuit of encountering the deepest darkest fears. After a short while, I figured out a way to achieve a state of calmness even though my utter focus remained on those negative forces. I pursued my mind not to forget the brighter side as there is always light at the end of the tunnel. The element of “hope” triggered and fulfilled the necessary void lying inside my hollow existence and as it occurred to my senses, I felt the negative aura gathering around me in a circular form comprising of something like golden dust. The wind started to rustle into the whole chamber and rocks started to lift in the air. I tried to focus that negative aura to a certain point in front of me in a manifestation of only “light defeating the darkness”. Just in that instant, the aura formed a portal in front of me and I could see the Earth right in front of me, the laymans bakery, and Jane sitting there serving customers and not giving up hope. In a snap Rose realized and opened the door of the chamber exclaiming with delight I knew you would be able to do it. Just go back before anyone comes just go, having tears in her eyes. I hugged her, thanked her, held her hand, and said goodbye. Turning around I at once focused on the same manifestation of the storm inside me and walked right into the portal.
Jane
Regardless of the wretched facts, putting aside everything indicating and emphasizing that Bard is not going to return, fighting my way through all the wrath of Roger and life, I never stopped believing in Brad for even a millisecond. I knew he was going to keep his word; he will return to me against the odds and he did. Late in the night after closing down, I was just sitting momentarily outside because of panting out of exertion. In an instant, everything stopped followed by a dreadful wind rustling past everything and I witnessed a portal opening in front of me and Brad walked right through it. At first, it clearly seemed like I was trapped in a weird dream but I guess it was the reality and as he walked up to me and said my name, I fainted. He carried me inside and after laying me down on the couch sprinkled some water on my face. Readily after getting up, I pulled him towards me, bursting into tears, and sought refuge in his arms from the dreadful aspects of hopelessness.
As I managed to relax, he enlightened me with everything. Strange, weird, unbelievable I could not find the right words to describe that sensation. So, I just managed to be focused on the relief that Brad was finally back. We spent the night together and the next morning Roger was shocked to the ground by seeing Bard there in the bakery. He could not believe his eyes and just like that Brad held my hand and approached him looking him in the eye staring down at his soulless existence, he said go ahead Roger leave and never come back.
Ensuing his departure, I felt Brad was starting to get uneasy and distressed as he called me and said I don’t feel good. Something is wrong, something chaotic is about to happen. In that very instant the Earth started to shake violently as we heard people hustling here and there running for their lives. In a panic, we came out of the bakery and we saw huge spaceships covering the sky raging down the fire blasts everywhere. In that brief horrified moment, Brad exclaimed, they are here, the Martians are here.
The Martian Calamity
It was a complete disaster out there. The Martians were firing laser canons blindly regardless of the target. It seemed their sole purpose was to cause destruction and engrave fear into the roots of Earth. I asked Jane to stay inside and let me see what I can do. As she insisted on coming along with me, I heard a voice calling my name, come out Brad, come out before we tear everything apart. There will be nothing left for you here but ashes and remains. Where are you hiding? Lord Cesar alongside Devoun and other soldiers invaded the white house tearing down the whole building. After doing so they built a small refuge there as they sat down and waited for me. As I was on my way to face death’s incarnation, I could not take my eyes off the mayhem they caused. Women, children everyone running for their lives, hiding away hoping that they would survive this disastrous nightmare. As my veins started to get infused with rage all I could think about was how much pain I wanted to inflict upon them after hurting so many innocents.
I realized I needed to hurry and put an end to this once and for all. I felt a strange yet powerful feeling building up inside me as a voice came from the inside, I can conquer them, all I have to do is look for solace in the midst of this chaos, I have to find an anchor to get a complete hold on my powers, I have to find the balance between light and darkness. Focusing on that I readily opened a portal in front of me on the other side I saw Martians anxious and frightened having a vengeful element in their eyes. I appeared before them from a dark dense portal emitting a gold and red aura, I could precisely feel the fear traveling down their spines. I opened my arms in a confident stance and said, well, here I am. Now stop this at once. Lord Cesar, all that talk of justice and purity, and this is what you have come to? Really. Do not expect me to believe any crap you are about to say. Just look around you I said, none of them deserved it then why would you put them through such pain and suffering? Devoun at once jumped and threw his spear at me aiming for my face, I stood there calmly and grabbed the spear with my bare hand right in between my eyes. Devoun wobbled after witnessing that as I stared him in his eyes. Full of anguish and hatred he fired a canon of laser beams at a group of school kids nearby. I asked him to stop but it was too late as one of them got hit it immediately started a chain reaction hitting every one of them and they were turned to ashes evaporating in the middle of nowhere.
Cesar gestured to another guard and he at once tapped his wrist gadget out of which appeared something more like a gear having pointed or sharp ends. He threw it above the ground to a certain height and while spinning it emitted laser beams scattering in all directions further adding to the devastation. Everyone was dying out there, buildings were on fire, and torn down, and people were seeking refuge, running for their lives. Turning to Cesar, I made the warrior stance and quenched my right fist with all my might getting on one knee and I smashed it into the ground. In that moment of wrath, I burst and released my power but suddenly Cesar interrupted saying I would not do that if I were you. Out of surprise, I looked up and saw Rose there Devoun holding her in front of him with a Spear placed at the back of her ribcage, right behind the heart. We know how you escaped and we know she is the one who took you to the chamber. As helpless Rose was in the arms of that demon Devoun, I emphasized to make Cesar realize that Devoun is the one who wants to kill you, his heart is full of hatred towards you. Cesar went in a momentary pause and just as he turned towards Devoun, that demon with a harsh abrasive thrust entered the spear in Rose’s body piercing her Heart and rib cage wide open and it took Cesar as well right into the stomach as he was standing right in front of Rose. I yelled and screamed in agony as I watched Cesar dropping to his knees and Devoun ruthlessly kicking Rose and taking his spear out of their bodies. Lord Cesar fell to the ground and all the Martian soldiers started to tend to him. Out of pure detest, anguish, indignation, and all the hatred I could find, I channeled a powerful portal releasing high strands of energy shaking Devoun to the very depths of Earth and soon I released, it started to suck Devoun within itself. I realized there was a black hole on the other side of the portal. As that merciless lunatic desperately strived to hang on to something, I immediately took the gadget off Lord Cesar’s wrist and generated a spear in my hand. Using all my might I threw the spear aiming for his heart and it was a bull’s eye. Drilling through his body from one side to the other. Finally, he was taken in by the portal and it closed. Then I readily opened another portal for the Martians through which they could see the land of Mars ahead. I asked them to take Lord Cesar back there and at once treat his wounds without wasting any time. They nodded in confirmation and started walking into the portal. I yelled; I don’t seek any revengeful war so as long as you stay away you all will be fine. Take this mercy as a nobility gesture.
After the portal closed and the adrenaline started to wear off, I fell on my knees as consecutively opening the portals at full power was too much for my body. Out there, I saw Jane running towards me through the fumes of destruction. Bursting out in tears she grabbed me and held my head into her lap. On that heavenly moment sinking into a peaceful sleep I asked, tell me Jane am I worthy now? Is it enough? Just as I muttered those last words in the name of love, I saw myself, my very tragic existence coming to an end and sinking into the hands of the reaper putting an end to the atrocious realities of life once and for all.
End
Hassan Toor
Hassan Toor is a proficient graduate, who holds insight in Marketing, Programming and Fiction. He has worked as an Assistant Manager for an e-business organization and is currently completing his Master’s in Business Studies from Lahore. In Addition, a Pioneer who rejoices in Character Nourishment, raptures Productivity and contemplates Journaling. In excess of that, he also shares some interests with Soccer and Music.