Verse/Luka/Answer correctly
From Create Your Own Story
Somehow, against all odds, you know this. Or rather, against someone's somewhere wishes, because you do this. Though you spend your time escaping your problems via drugs, you're actually quite capable and intelligent. Which is why you've stayed away from the harder stuff. And also why you haven't done anything stupid enough to get yourself killed.
But I digress, you reach the page and read the question: Was Hadar figuratively or literally killed?"
Easy enough, you think. Considering you actually care about this class--mostly because you have a fondness for Mr. Thoring--you've actually kept up with the reading. The question was in reference to a short novel by one of the nation's more famous contemporary novelists. Specifically, a scene in which the main character, having lead a crowd into the capital to overthrow the local--malevolent government--declares "Hadar is dead!"
"Figuratively," you answer a moment later, once the laughter died down, "because you can't kill a god."
Mr. Thoring raised an eyebrow. "Then why declare it?" he question.
"Because of the monstrosity He allowed to manifest." you answer.
"Being?" your teacher demanded.
"He allowed the government to reach the point where it was killing it's own people with neither cause nor mercy, wiping out children and elderly alike." You seem to frown slightly and stare into the distance, though the moment quickly vanishes and your eyes return to a promising indifference. You weren't particularly religious yourself, but a good portion of your society was--painfully so. Still, your nation's politics managed to be ruled by reason... more often than not.
"Excellent," Mr. Thoring answered. "But I'd also like to remind the class that it could also be in reference to the atrocity that he--Hans--immediately caused: the massacre of everyone in the government building. Being surrounded by mindless murder and destruction tends to kill one's spirit." The class giggled again. "Regardless," Mr. Thoring continued a moment later, "we can likely agree that it was murder and destitute behind the declaration of Hadar's death."
He goes on to write notes on the front board, which you proceed to copy into your notebook. That's one of Mr. Thoring's less attractive points; he takes notes the "old-fashion way".
"Now then," Mr. Thoring began, later in the lesson, "one of the key driving forces that pushed Hans into leading the rebellion was his younger brother, Gilbert--or Gil, as he was commonly referred as throughout the book. Does anyone remember what Gil did?"
Several girls' hands race up, and Mr. Thoring looks amused as he overlooks them. As he passes by you, he scowls at your decision to not participate, though he continues to scan the room. He chooses one a few seats away from you who answers, "Gil sold his body." At first, you're barely present; but as the conversation continues, you slowly come to awareness.
"To?" asks Mr. Thoring.
"Government members," the girl answers.
"And why?" continues the teacher.
"Because he thought that that would help his family survive. He thought that if he didn't, there wouldn't be enough food at home."
"And what went wrong?"
"The government guys took advantage of him, barely paying him anything, and the whole family slowly got worse. At one point, Gil couldn't take the abuse and died."
Mr. Thoring nodded, satisfied, "Good," and turned to the class, "and that was the, final nail in the coffin, in a sense, that drove Hans to overthrowing the government." He wrote on the board, before turning back to the class, "Gil was your about your age during the story. Though he thought that selling himself would make everything better," his eyes scanned the room, and hesitated on yours, "it obliviously didn't." He moved on. "However"--they returned to yours--"it's important to realize that, were it not for the food that he did manage to bring in, his death would've likely come a lot faster, and may not have motivated Hans into action.
"Now," he went on, as he turned to write on the board...
The last twenty minutes of the class pass relatively uneventful, leaving you with a decision. It was obvious that, on some level, Mr. Thoring was speaking directly to you. Asking you to sell yourself, you guess. The thought turned you on, though, you aren't quite sure it's what you want.
The money--and pleasure--would help make your life better, and you doubt that it would lead to your death--after all, you're still well fed. As the bell rings, you remember that Mr. Thoring doesn't have a third period and...
