Fictional stories by John Saccone

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is preferable for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.

The darkened night moves in Gehenna, as ghosts dance in the darkness.

I am the flame that lights up their world.

A world where all hope comes to die.

What are their cries but mournful echoes that will resound throughout eternity unanswered.

I was Created in Darkness by the Almighty. Hidden from prying eyes.

Created in the night of darkness… A sight so awful to behold.

I was created to torment and torture those that are evil for all eternity.

I was known by demons before mankind knew of my existence. They feared me.

I am a burning fire. But I do not consume.

I am a burning fire. But I do not destroy.

My fire can never be quenched or extinguished.

I cannot be bought or bargained with.

I am not impressed with money or fancy titles.

What are worldly trinkets to me?

Many will be turned away and thrown into outer darkness.

And it is there that they will meet me.

In a world that rains fire and brimstone.

A fiery graveyard of the damned.

Ghosts will plead for death.

But it will never come.

What are their tears but worldly stains of disobedience and rebellion.

Those who spread out their couches in Darkness, will wind up in my nether world. They will find me.

They have lived a life that can only lead to my door.

They have spurned the advances of a Holy God for another suitor.

Though I burn… I do not consume.

Though I burn… I do not destroy.

The smoke of the fire that torments them will rise forever and ever.

They will be like dry twigs that kindle a fire, wood in a fireplace. But they will not be consumed.

An unending night awaits them, and only my flame breaks through the darkness that surrounds them. I will be the only light that they ever get to see.

I am a light of pain. A light of torment.

A light so horrible that I was hidden in Darkness.

I was born in Hell. Created by the Almighty. An Avenger for those that have been wronged.

There are many appellations for where I reside.

Some call it Hades; others call it Gehenna; some call it Sheol. Others… Niflheim, Diyu, Xibalba, Naraka, Jigoku.

There are so many names.

Many people live out their days in prosperity and tranquilly go down to my nether world.

They have spent their lives pursuing and acquiring trinkets and fool’s gold.

What is of real value to God they disdain.

They have spent their lives paving a road that can only lead to one place.

Immorality, impurity, murder of the innocent, evil desire… an unending number of affronts to a Holy God.

That long winding road leads to my door.

They should have paved a narrow road to God’s Kingdom.

They should have entered through the narrow gate.

I am an engulfing flame that never dies and my fire is never quenched.

An everlasting flame.

I was born in the womb of Darkness for just one purpose: to fulfill Scripture. People will reap what they sow.

Mt. 8: 11-12 “Many, I tell you, will come from the east and the west to sit with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob at the banquet in the kingdom of heaven. But the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Mt. 25: 46 “And they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous will enter eternal life.”

Mt. 25: 30 “As for this worthless servant, cast him outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Mk. 9: 43-44 “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is preferable for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go into the unquenchable fire of Gehenna where the devouring worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.”

Lk. 16: 22-24 “Now the poor man died, and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In the netherworld, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham, far off, and Lazarus by his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.”’

Rev. 20: 14-15 “Then Death and Hades were hurled into the fiery lake. This fiery lake is the second death. Anyone who was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the fiery lake.”

St. Augustine – City of God – chapter 16

“He therefore that will escape hell fire, must be both baptized and justified in Christ, and this is his only way to pass from the devil unto Him. And let him assuredly believe that there is no purgatory pains except before that great and terrible judgment. Indeed, it is true that the fire of hell shall be more forcible against some than against others, according to the diversity of their deserts, whether it be adapted in nature to the quality of their merits, or remain one fire unto all, and yet be not felt alike of all.”

Mt. 7: 21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Mt. 7: 13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few in number.”

The story will be continued in The Flame 6

Photo by Jr Korpa on Unsplash