PHOTO PROMPT © Alicia Jamtaas
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“Oh now, it’s not all that bad,” said the Dark Prince.
I reacted in appropriate horror. “Are you kidding? It’s hideous. Could we just go with the traditional lake of fire with demons wielding pitchforks?” I knew I was whining, but what more could he do to me?
“This isn’t on me. I wasn’t the one who spent decades swilling booze, snorting coke, and who ended up committing suicide after bankrupting his family.”
He had me there. I was a louse. There were reasons but they didn’t matter.
“It’s not forever,” he said smiling. “Just until you redeem your soul.”
It’s once again time to participate in Rochelle Wisoff-Fields’ 11 August 2023 edition of Friday Fictioneers. The idea is to use the provided image as a prompt for crafting a poem or short story no more than 100 words long. My word count is exactly 100.
Yes, this “man cave from hell” is hideous. Reminds me of late 1960s/early 1970s popular home décor. I hate it.
In Christianity, if you don’t accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are automatically condemned to eternal suffering. No redemption. I’m oversimplifying this, but it’s a common interpretation.
In religious Judaism, there is condemnation in the afterlife, but for most people who end up there, it’s not eternal. Souls do go through suffering but as a matter of refinement and that eventually, the people involved learn from their experiences and can ascend. That’s what I’m borrowing from, more or less. Keep in mind, my knowledge here is limited.
To read other stories based on the prompt, visit inlinkz.
To read more of my work, try the SciFi/Fantasy novelette ICE.
At the end of time, the world is hot and men travel the vast oceans in merchant sailing ships. Captain Ki-Moon Yong of the Star of Jindo has discovered a new horror at the bottom of the world. Can he and the Star escape disaster long enough to warn a disbelieving world?
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I wouldn’t choose it for my own house, but as a vision of Hell, I could imagine a lot worse. He may just have lucked out 🙂
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Well, sort of. You never know what the moose will be up to.
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Good to kown damnation may not be forever
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Some years back a pastor named Rob Bell wrote a book called “Love Wins” based on the Jewish concept of Hell. The Christian world raked him over the proverbial coals for suggesting that Hell wasn’t forever for everyone who lands there.
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Excellent story, James. I can see this place being a room in hell.
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Thanks. Me too.
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You’re very welcome.
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There’s hell and then there’s hell.
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Hell begins when the fireplace is turned on. 😀
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Eating in that room was a bit like purgatory. I couldn’t help but snap the photo because it was so odd.
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LOL. Thanks.
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I don’t know if I’d go so far as to call it hell, but yeah—-it would be pretty hard living with that moose head watching every move one makes 🙂
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I guess Hell can mean different things to different pepple.
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I think any chance of his recovery is doomed, after all he messed up big time.
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According to the philosophy I was referencing, almost everyone is expected to be redeemed eventually, though it might take centuries. Only very evil people like Hitler and Stalin will never get out.
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Great take and your last line was a hoot!
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Thanks. I appreciate it.
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Look on the bright side – he gets to tend his own fire.
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Maybe (sinister chuckle).
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This is definitely could be room in hell 🙌
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First thing I thought of. Thanks.
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All those years of avoiding the work. He’s lucky he still gets a choice.
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“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance.” -2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)
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