The Nightmare of "Self-Improvement"

Written by: Leo Fickling, Jr., April 28, 2000

This is a short story about a young man by the name, Igothis.. Now he was born on

Junember 35, 2050. He was raised in a family of three(3) i.e. His parents plus himself.

His parents were good people, who tried the best way they knew how to raise Igothis the

right way. Also his parents were old-fashioned, as they say, because they believed in

Jesus Christ. Though the majority of society, at this time, believed that that way of

belief was out-dated, null and void.

As a matter of fact they arrested and convicted anyone who openly confessed God through

Christ. Society now believed that as long as you didn't do any wrong to your fellowman

and lived basically right, that you would be okay. So, you see, Igothis' parents had

to keep their belief a secret.

As a child, Igothis lived a fairly normal life. He participated in many activities

in school, growing up, from 1st school to 2nd school, as It was called during this time

of age. At the age of sixteen or so, he noticed certain urges occurring in his person.

The normal things which the body and mind desires or are curious about, such as; girls,

drinking, smoking, dirty movies & books, lying, stealing, wanting to stay out late with

his friends, fast cars, wanting to be like everybody else, designer clothes & shoes,

etc, etc.

We must remember, however, that his parents being Christians, noticed these things

coming about and tried to intercept them with "The Word of God". You see, they had a

copy of the Bible hidden away, of which was used to maintain their spiritual strength,

while in Satan's domain.

Yet it seemed no matter what they tried, including prayer & fasting, nothing worked

at all. Finally when Igothis was twenty-one, and still living at home with his parents,

somehow the Anti-Spiritual Police Force, found out about his parents Bible and they were

arrested. During their trial, refusing to renounce their faith, they both were sentenced

to life until de-conversion is accomplished.

This left Igothis on his own, for it just so happened that he was hanging out with

his buddies when his parents were arrested. Thus when he found out what happened, he

even breathed a sigh of relief. All he could think about was how much his parents had

been on his back about Jesus and seeking God's salvation.

Needless to say, from this point on, Igothis proceeded to live up to his name. He

began to throw wild parties, which lasted for days on end. See, he was doing a lot of

these things because they made him feel good about himself, it made him feel important.

Unknowingly, Igothis was headed towards his reward.

As time went on, Gothic began to prosper, you see, his parents were executed because

they were converting others to God through Christ, while in prison, and refused the de-

conversion treatment and medication. So, Gothic was awarded a substantial amount of

money from their insurance and he began to invest in any and all illicit and illegal

activities he could. This went on for eighteen years....

Nearing the end of the eighteen years, even though he was filthy rich, Igothis wanted

even more. So, he invested a great deal of money into a new drug, which was invented

by this guy named Slufoot.

Once taken, this drug was phenomenal, its effects lasted for eighteen hours. The

process of taking was by wearing these special sunglasses, and the reason for that was

so that any light would be blocked out. The drug was taken in through the pupil of the

eye, which produced an out-of-body experience.

Since this drug was being manufactured on a large scale for the first time, someone

was needed to test it before it could be put on the market. So, Igothis, wanting to

be first, proclaimed no one would try that before he would.

Sure enough he did. Thus when his excursion began, he was in control ...so he thought.

It seemed like he was traveling for days non-stop, but it was only a matter of hours.

At first, Igothis was in the stars and clouds, looking all over the earth, then he

traveled the seas underwater, experiencing the unknown. Then, all of a sudden, he felt

a tremendous power, such as he had never felt before, something which grabbed the very

core of his life. It began to pull him into a tornado-like spiral that seemed to have

no end. And all the while this pulling occurred, he began to hear this ear piercing

laughter that even shook his bones, and then it happened, ...He saw the most hideous face

that anyone could imagine, as a matter of fact, you couldn't imagine anyone or anything

to be this ugly and foul-smelling. Thus as these things were bringing tears to his eyes,

he could only focus long enough to recognize the face briefly, as he strained to see,

he saw that is was Slufoot.

When the realization settled in his mind just what was happening, he was beginning

to feel a burning sensation, starting at his feet and ever so slowing working its way

up. Continuing, it moved to his knees and then his thighs, Igothis was starting to remember

all of the things his parents had taught him. Yet still the burning continued, and

he was seeing, on the screen of his mind, his life, as it passed before him,

To his astonishment, the deal he had made with the devil became a reality to his eyes.

One day, Igothis was partying with some of his so-called friends, you know drinking,

drugging, and everything else that goes along. Next thing he knew, this beautiful,

outrageous, knock-out gorgeous woman approached him, and successfully seduced him, first

physically, then spiritually. She told him how strong he was, how handsome he was, how

viral he was, and all of the things that strokes a mans ego. It was at this time that

Igothis thought to himself; I would give anything to live this life forever.

“Oh my God”, Thought Igothis, as the fire is now waist high, “what am I going to do?”

All the while, he could hear Slufoot saying, "Come on to your just reward, which has

been prepared for you".

With the pain and anguish becoming increasingly greater, at the pass of each second,

it was all that Igothis could do but call on Jesus. He had not forgotten what his mother

had told him about Christ, when he was just a toddler on her knee. Thus when he called

Jesus, the brightest bolt of lightening broke into the darkness, or at least it appeared

to be such as its brightness was so brilliant, that Igothis found himself completely

absorbed in it.

He saw in the brightness the most beautiful face ever, perfect serenity, absolute

calm, perfect peace. It was then he heard the words, "Fear not, I am Michael who was

sent to rescue you from death", instantly, Igothis was standing before, what looked

to be a royal throne, but it was different somehow, a difference he couldn't seem to

explain. But that really didn't matter because what he heard next instantly brought

tears to his eyes, as he began to cry uncontrollably, shaking with every wave of emotion.

For his ears were hearing the voice of God, and His Majesty, power, and omnipotence were

intolerable to the spirit of Igothis. At this point, Igothis realized his insignificance

as a mere man, before his Creator Almighty.

In order for Igothis to receive eternal life, there was something he had to do.

When Igothis came to, he found himself in his private party room, all alone. At

first he thought that what had happened was a mere dream, and that his drugs were

responsible for what happened, he had the bomb!! Yes! Yes! He thought.

But then word came that Slufoot was found dead in Igothis' penthouse and a copy of

the Bible was found near his remains. Cause of death, internal combustion!! Hmmmm.

Well, I guess you can figure out what happens next? Yep, Igothis was arrested, not

for murder, but for possession of spiritual contaminants, according to the carnal law

of the age. So, when he went to court and had to enlist council for whatever defense

he was going to present, he found that somehow, all his money was gone. Verdict, guilty,

sentenced to life until de-conversion occurs.

Igothis, was granted a second chance by God, and even though he never admitted to

being a Christian, he was convicted on material evidence. Therefore de-conversion was

Impossible, because he was never converted.

Yet during the next seven years he was, at last converted by the power of the Holy

Spirit. This came about by a prison guard who was secretly converted by Igothis' parents

years before. Upon hearing of that secret and in-depth study of the truth, Igothis began

preaching and teaching Christ in prison, and eventually executed for. The

Word of God.