Neytopia › Part 2: Noon › Chapter 22
The endless grind
They walked through the mist long enough for her to get so tired she couldn’t move. So he carried the old woman on his shoulders. After a while, he asked:
What is this place?
Prison. My prison. One… confused man trapped me here long ago. He was foolish enough to think I’d stay here forever. He thought he could destroy me, but he was wrong and I’ll show him.
Show whom? Who put you here?
You call him the Tyrant.
The first thing I’ll do when we get out, you know what it will be? I’ll raise an army against him and kill him, as I promised I would.
No, dear. You tried that and failed. I have a better plan, but you have to trust me.
They walked for hours, they walked for days. The endless mist slowly wore him down, paranoia crawled back into his brain. He feared the woman might be using him.
If you are who you say you are, what do you need from me?
Every great idea needs a champion. You have the strength to make me great again, I can’t do it by myself if I’m trapped in here. When you free me from this prison, believe me, we will be unstoppable. First we’ll appeal to those keeping us here so—
Wait, wait, appeal? We’re dead.
Yes, dear. But bureaucracy persists through death. Anyway, after the appeal goes through, we may be out of here in like two centuries at most.
Two c-centu—
His voice broke down.
Yes, yes. Then we’ll slowly wrestle power away from the Tyrant.
He felt lightheaded. Two hundred years? What if they failed? He was about to collapse when it happened. The mist cleared and a spiral staircase appeared before them. She yelled,
Quick, to the staircase! I’ll explain everything when we’re at the top.
He obeyed. As he was running to it she added,
And don’t say a single word while you climb these stairs. Otherwise it will collapse and we’ll be forced to find another. We were lucky this time. Next time… it could take two hours or two years.
He wanted to get out as soon as possible so he obeyed without question. He climbed in silence. But no matter how high they got, climbing the stairs was always the same monotonous, endless grind. After only a few hours, he couldn’t bear the silence and the uncertainty of not knowing how long it would take. Still, he forced himself to keep going in silence. He knew he had to suffer if he wanted to reach the end. Some time later he lost track of time. All he knew was movement: always forward, one step after the other.
He climbed for weeks. Many times he was about to quit but he forced himself to keep fighting. Anxiety grew until he couldn’t breath. But breathe what? He was dead. Just thinking about it made his head spin. He thought about jumping off the staircase many times, but he always managed to repress the urge. Until he couldn’t. His feet kept walking, but his mind collapsed. He had to jump and die, this time permanently. It was all clear to him now: if he really died, he would cause no more pain. He summoned the courage and prepared for the fall.
One, two—
The old woman tapped gently his head and pointed with her finger. He saw the end of the stairs and a bridge leading to a gate.
He rushed the last steps and broke down on the ground, crying. She wiped his tears and crossed the bridge by herself. He rose and walked up to the bridge but did not cross it. She waved him on,
Come. We must go inside now, no time to waste.
He looked at the mist below, knowing he could end it all right there. She said,
You think what you went through was bad? Try that for a few thousand years. If you jump, you won’t die, you’ll just waste time. I made the staircase so—
Wait, you made it?
Yes, I had to teach you a lesson.
You. fucking. psychopath.
Dear, you have no idea. But remember just how alike we are. In my position, you would’ve done the same.
And he hated her because she spoke the truth.
Everything you ever wanted is behind that door. Come and take it.
What if I jump, what then, huh?
The bridge disappeared and they were back on the ground again, the door still standing in its place. Angrier, he said,
Fine! Then I’ll just stay here.
She sighed.
Why do you have to behave like a child? Can’t you see we both want the same thing? Can’t you see I can give you unlimited power.
But you’re evil.
Yes! You too, you thick fuck. You sent thousands to their deaths for an evil ideology. You alone caused more misery than any other human in thousands of years, that’s quite the achievement you know? Honestly, why do you think I’m trapped here? I am the worst of all plagues.
No, you’re wrong. I fought for equality.
Yes, and equality is evil. Trust me, I know because I made it.
He shook his head. She came closer to him and continued,
Yes, we’re both evil. The difference is I’m too old to keep lying to myself about it. But don’t worry, evil is a malleable concept. We’ll reverse its meaning when we’re out of here.
He backed away from her in horror.
No…
She smiled her crazy smile and offered him her hand, whispering,
Unlimited power.
His eyes were wide open. He was convinced he was strong enough to use her without succumbing to evil. Only he was strong enough to resist temptation, and after all, he was convinced that his intentions were still pure.
He walked over to the gate and pushed it open.