Catharsis II: An Army of Words (AUDITIONS)

Applicant #26: Human Choice

There is something in human choices, so selfish and irresponsible, that make them not worth saving.

Several minutes ago, the world was on fire. Russia bombed the United States. Japan annihilated the Chinese forces. Venezuela and Colombia had their war flags turned against each other. Millions and millions of bullets and bombs dropped on several parts of the world, inflicting mass chaos almost on every corner of earth. Cries and agony filled the air almost instantly. Piles of bodies came falling down on every pavement, almost destroyed to different grotesque forms.

There was chaos, and chaos conquers the human mind.

Three hours ago, a single button meant the release of a nuke from the United States. It was one of those remaining bombs that the United States kept to use against the USSR when the Cold War was still notorious. If released, it would directly be unleashed toward Moscow, Russia's capital. Nobody meant to push it. Nobody wanted to release it. It had been long since the Cold War came to an end.

But not anymore.

Winston was there. Somebody sent him the nuke's button and below it was a timer. It was a black wireless plastic box and in the middle of it was the red push button, as if screaming on his face 'push me' several times until his ears bled. At the back of it was a picture.

He didn't know why or how did it get to his house. He was tired. After all of today's work, he wanted to have a rest, a very simple thing that every human being on Earth looks forward to everyday. What had gone wrong? Winston didn't know. He never could. He never would. Of all the choices he needs to choose, this was the most difficult.

He felt his sweat falling from his forehead down to his lips. He could taste the salty liquid. His heart was pumping loud and hard.

Dub

Dub

Dub

was all that he could hear.

The minutes were gone from five minutes to one minute until it hit the 50-second mark. Winston could feel the tears as well as his sweat coursing down his face.

30 seconds

29...

28...

27...

Winston started weeping. He didn't know what to do. If it hadn't been Linda then he would not push the red button. But it was Linda. It is Linda! He kept on thinking about all the memories they had, all the sweet things they did together. When they walk on the park. When they eat together. Winston couldn't help but to feel pain and agony knowing that the future of the world lay on his hands.

But the seconds were gradually ticking. He couldn't lose her.

Four...

Three...

Winston pushed the button and knelt on the ground, crying helplessly while hugging the picture and uttering 'I'm sorry' several times.

At the back of the picture there was a written note that Winston kept on reading:

Push this button or I'll kill your favorite dog.