“They told you that monsters were not real. They made you believe in a God but not in a devil. That everything was sunshines and rainbows. Your parents never lied to you? See you…You believe in your heroes. You’ve become addicted to the illusion of being saved by these people who couldn’t care less that you existed, even if they were real. Preachers sit atop the mountain carved by the hammer and sickle of the Heavens, and they feel this power. They believe themselves to be Gods. What do you believe in? Who do you believe in? Who am I? What am I, you ask? Hahahahahaha…I’m the answer to your prayers. The thing that keeps you up at night. That voice whispering in the wind of your own thoughts. You don’t have long before they come. They are watching you. The plan has already been initiated. Hahahaha... they’ve been lying to you. I didn’t make the world this way…you did…The greatest thing the devil ever did was make you people believe he didn’t exist. Do you want to correct it? Follow me.”


2009. February. 


“Man, I swear these people get weirder and weirder,” Tony said to his friend JD. They were at the bar to watch a football game and have a few beers.


“What are you on about?” JD asked. 


“I was just looking at this guy on this social media crap all the kids are on,” Tony showed JD the video on his phone.


“Is this dude trying to be some sort of cultist? In plain sight? Damn, I remember when they tried to disguise themselves at least a little,” JD said.


“Another conspiracy theorist psycho,” Tony claimed as he put his phone away.


“Hey, man! My dad was one of those people, and honestly, I’ve been looking into some of what he had been saying, and it’s starting to make more sense. Crazy ass times we are in,” JD said. 


“Your dad wasn’t a cultist. He just didn’t believe all the bullshit they feed us nowadays. I’m right there with you,” Tony said.


The TVs in the bar all went blank, followed by static. 


The patrons complained, as it was mid-fourth quarter. The bar owner tried turning the TVs back on. Suddenly, the TVs were back on, but it wasn’t the football game. Two men appeared on the screen. One wore a donkey mask, and the other wore an elephant mask.


“We’re so sorry to spoil your game, my dear deluded demimondes. We shall let you continue shortly, but first, you must know the who, the what, and the why,” the man in the donkey mask said. 


Everyone looked at each other, puzzled. 


“You see, beloveds, it is time for you to wake up. Now, you are a very special group. No one else is getting this broadcast interruption. Just you. Why? Ask not why. But ask yourselves, what took so long? To be liberated and given a wealth of knowledge that most could never comprehend. It is time that you rise and be amongst the ones who shall fight back against all of the injustices in this world,” he continued. 


The man with the elephant mask spoke, “You see, it is simple. If you are not for us, then you are clearly against us. Decide, and do it quickly.”


“Follow the leader,” they both said in unison as the TV feed immediately returned to football. 


Everyone in the bar just started watching the game like nothing had happened. 


“Are they serious?” JD asked Tony.


“Yeah, that was weird. Why’d they interrupt just our football game?” Tony asked, sarcastically. 


“No, that's not what I meant. I meant these people. How can you not take that seriously? These people are acting as though nothing happened.” JD stood up. “So, are we just going to ignore what we just saw?”


“Yes!” a random guy yelled.


Everyone laughed. They did not take JD seriously or the men that hacked the television seriously. 


“My dad said this would happen. It’s up to me,” JD said out loud to himself. 


“You aren’t a superhero, JD. What are you going to do?” Tony asked. 


“I don’t know yet,” JD stood up and patted Tony on the shoulder. 


After getting in his car, JD heard a loud explosion. He looked towards the bar and saw that it was on fire. 


“Tony!” JD got out of his car and ran towards the bar. It had turned into a blazing fire. He could not get in. He called 9-1-1. 


The fire department, along with the police and an ambulance, arrived no later than 10 minutes.