Five Second Story - Part 13

So, here I am, in a world alien to me, with no one but an incredibly hot escort to trust, and suddenly, my best friend appears with an escort of his own. Things were looking up as soon as I saw the place, but now they were looking vertical.

The lights around the arena dimmed, as if we were in a movie theater. Suddenly, the wind picked up, and swirled leaves around the center of the arena in a big whirlwind. 'Wait a sec, leaves? Where did they come from?' I thought, 'Hold on, I think I've - !' Before my thoughts could continue, a man, giant, as if enlarged so we could all see him well, appeared in the center and the whirlwind dissipated.

'Okay,' I thought, 'either whoever that is watches too much anime, or has a not-so-secret passion for Naruto.' The man had the same clothes and posture as that of a character by the name of Kakashi Hatake, if you know of him. If you don't know of him, he wears a dark blue shirt, long dark-blue pants, and a darkish-green vest with multiple pockets and a red insignia on the back. His face, on the other hand, was not Kakashi's. The eyes and hair were covered with a blue bandana, with a metal plate with an insignia. His face from the mouth down (including the neck) was wrapped in somewhat dirty white rags, not unlike the material of my robes (if you've forgotten). He had a big-ish nose. The insignia on his forehead was the Star of David. If you are not familiar with the Magen David (Star of David, Jewish Star), it is a six-pointed star made of two triangles.

As the last of the leaves hit the ground, he spoke: "Greetings, mortals, and welcome to Heaven!" His voice resounded throughout the arena. I could not tell whether his voice was masculine or feminine. In fact, it sounded like both, or many voices, combined or spoken at the same time. Strange and eerie, yet it had a feeling of the highest of high authorities.

"I am God, Adonai, Ruler of this part of the Universe! Rock and Redeemer of all of Humanity! But, you don't care about my numerous titles, though I am sure those Jews out there – Judaism is the original faith by the way, and the one I take the most pride in creating – the Jews know what I am talking about, being that they say them all in their prayers to me. But I digress.

"You have been called here during this second in time for a task of the utmost of importance. You have been chosen from high schools (and their equivalents) around the world because it is at those ages that I feel your human minds are open to the most ideas, suggestions, and change. You have been chosen from among your fellow classmates because you have best fit the criteria for the role you are about to play. Or at least you think you do." He paused, looked around (how could he see through that bandana?), took a breath and continued. "I am going to send you on an adventure, a series of challenges meant to test your physical, mental, and creative skills, needed for your possible job. Ah, yes, I forgot to mention: it is a competition! Not all of you will get this job! This is a competition to become part -" He put His arms up and seemed to yell to the heavens (or outer space, since we're in Heaven), "- of the Hand of God!"

I expected to hear some sort of dramatic music start playing, but all I got was a stunned silence. I don't blame 'em! How would you react if you were just told you were to fight for God Almighty Himself?

"I will give you twenty minutes to take all this in. Please, converse with you fellow classmates. Think about what I have said." He did a single hand sign and shrunk to human size. He walked to a chair and sat down.

I turned to Chris, "Did you just see, what I just saw?" My voice was shaky. I didn't try to stop it – I have to admit, I was scared, amazed, awed, and any other word you can think of that fits this situation.

"That depends," he said, his voice shakier than mine. "What did you see?"

"I just saw God appear in the form of a giant ninja, like from Naruto."

He looked at me, confused. "Then I didn't see what you saw. I saw God appear in the form of a giant white Spartan soldier from Halo 2, with a halo."

"Hmm . . . ," I thought for a second. What if He comes as . . . yeah, that makes sense. "Chris," I said, "what if He appears to us in the form of something that can relate to us well? Or, maybe He appears in the form of," –pause for breath- "of, our inner selves?" It was an ominous question, and it had that effect. Sort of.

"Dude," said Chris, bewildered at the thought, "that is awesome. Let's hope that no one else thought of that. Do you realize that if we find out what other people saw of Him, we can find out what they are like? Thus able to more easily choose friend and foe?" He smiled, like he had just solved a Rubik's cube, or beat some videogame on hard mode.

"Chris," I said, "you know it's not going to be that easy to find who your enemies are." –Pause for effect- "But it's worth a shot. Either way, it was your idea. Might as well meet some new people, anyway. C'mon." We stood up and I looked around at the big arena. "Should we stick together, or split up?"

He looked around at all the white-robed people and escorts. "We should stick together; it looks easy to get lost in this place. And you're the only person here I know."

"Don't worry," Chris's redheaded escort spoke for the first time, "all you have to do is think of your spot and your eyes will be drawn to us."

"Thanks," I said, "I never got your name."

"Ginger," she said.

"Oh, cool, nice to meet you." I tried my hardest not to laugh. I had a redheaded friend back home who was called 'Ginger' as an unwanted nick name. I thought it was funny then, but now it's hilarious. "C'mon, Chris, let's go."