(Page 1 of 2) Only for the weak by Federico PatanéSUMMARY: Entry for the may flash fiction contest "the Hole"The room was dark, almost pitch black. I was standing and pressed by people standing all around me. I tried not to be crushed by attempting to make room in front of me with my arms, but couldn't. I was in the middle of a crowd that seemed to exceed the number of people that could be in that space. My breathing was heavy, but so was the one of the people around me. I was wearing my uniform, jeans and a black t-shirt. Everyone was. The only distinction was what was printed on them. In mine, like in most, was a flame. A symbol of why I was here.
I felt part of this. Like a religion or a sect. Thirteen hundred people coming to pray. It didn't matter what color you skin was, or if you were man or woman, or even where you were born. Here we were all brothers and sisters. We were all the same.
A melody in a keyboard began sounding through the loudspeakers. Soon the people begun humming it. Humming that became screaming. And soon I realized that my voice was part of the unison of souls.
The people around me started jumping and I found myself jumping with them. The temperature rising significantly. I felt my shirt becoming wet, soon soaked with sweat. The music became louder, I could hear guitars and the drums pounding heavily in my ears.
Then, the preacher stepped out and lights went on to follow him. His name was Anders Friden. He was also wearing the uniform, the jean and the black shirt. He had Rastafarian hair and beard. I could see his eyes were filled with emotion. He raised his hands and we jumped even higher. Then he began to preach the sermon we all knew too well.
"I can tolerate your sadness, because it's me you are drowning. I won't allow any happiness, because every time you laugh, I feel so... Guilty."
The crowd heard and replied with a strength that overcame the music.
" I FEEL SO G U I L T Y !!!!"
Anders continued to preach with much intensity, like the words came directly from his heart. People were going mad. They jumped even higher and with a strength that I didn't know they, or I for that matter, had. I felt my thighs and my calves burn. My veins were pumping acid instead of blood, but it didn't matter. I needed to go on.
The pack of people moved right and I stumbled, I lost balance and began to fall. Hands grabbed my left arm and pulled me up. As I turned my head I saw a face. He was smiling at me. This man that I had never seen before and that I didn't see after that. I smiled back and turned my attention to the preacher. It was our turn to respond to his preaching. I inhaled the air that was very hot and burned through my lungs, but I didn't care. The words came out of my mouth and joined the voices of the others:
"IT IS ONLY FOR THE WEAK!!!!"
The music wind down a bit after that and the preacher stepped forward again. I could see he was also sweated. The sermon was also taking it's toll on him.
"I lost the ability to paint the clouds, Cause it's me you're draining. I'm stuck in this slow-motion dark tale. Because every time you run, I fall... behind"
Once more I joined the answer:
"I FALL BEHIND!!!"
I felt the people around me began jumping again and so I jumped.
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