Et le monde les regarde sans parler...

The world is not ready. Chances are, it never will be. Even when this land is covered in ash, the ground scorched and blackened, and the sky filled with the tattered remnants of unknown works; even then They will demand more time. But this time is not Theirs to request, and surely it is not mine to give. They have had their chance, and They have squandered it.

I did not come here to punish Them -- that was never my intention. Indeed, I still do not see it as punishment, though I know They do not understand. To Them, I am the one who will ruin everything, and They believe that I do so because They are "unworthy" or "lazy". But this is not retribution. This was always going to happen, no matter what They did. They perceive things as They are able, and I feel no need to correct Them. Let Them comfort themselves in whatever ways They can.

The one request made of Them was that They prepare themselves for this moment. They were told what They must do, and They were told what would happen. Most if not all of Them made efforts at first, but as time wore on each One lost sight of His own purpose, and without purpose motivation dies. Thus we find ourselves at this point: Them unprepared and frightened, and me with my job to do. I can't help but feel sorry for Them, but soon enough it will all be over.

And so I begin my work, with these thoughts troubling my soul. This is the way it is -- nothing can change that -- but I am not an unfeeling being. I suppose that is why I was chosen. To do what must be done without feeling would be to dishonor Them. And They are worthy of honor, let no one doubt it. Great deeds have been done by Them, great works created. They should not be scorned or hated, despite Their failures. So I honor Them even as I take away that which They value most. I have hope that perhaps this time, finally, They will learn...

It's been a frustrating day.

Out of an inconceivable blackness comes the slobbering documentation demon! Its eyes burn with an unnatural fire that was stoked before the beginning of time, and that thrives not on oxygen but on the endless supply of blood which the demon drinks from its victims. I turn and attempt to run, but it is too late! The documentation demon has already wrapped its barbed and acid-drenched tentacles around me -- each sucker lined with tiny teeth that tear haphazardly at my flesh. But the worst is yet to come.

As I scream and writhe in pain, several white hot needles are strategically inserted along the length of my spine. I cry out, "But it was written to your specifications! Why do you blame your unstable opinions on me?!?", but the documentation demon just opens what I assume is its mouth, fiendishly pausing to allow its sub-zero saliva to drip into my eyes. The documentation demon pulls out a cute little hammer (you know, like with little floral designs on the handle) which it uses to shatter each of my eyeballs. Fortunately by this time my brain is focused more on the lava being pumped into my body (is it considered magma if it is inside of you?), and so I am currently unaware of having lost my ability to see.

I should be dead. If there was any kindness or mercy in this world I WOULD BE DEAD! But I'm not. Somehow, the documentation demon is keeping me alive, ensuring that I feel each and every pain it is capable of causing -- and I have reason to doubt that there is any pain it cannot inflict. By this time I have become aware of my blindness, and this depresses me. "I never saw true beauty!" I scream silently as I begin to cry -- well, "cry".

The documentation demon laughs -- at least I think it's a laugh. It is clear that the beast is beyond content. Perhaps it is even happy, if this creature is even capable of feeling such emotions. Suddenly it loosens its grip. The needles are removed, and with one last bit of contempt the documentation demon slowly drags its barbed tentacles off of my body. I can sense its departure...

...it seems like I've been lying here forever. I am weighed down by the igneous rocks that have formed inside of me, I am incapable of seeing, and my flesh is a pulpy mess. Regardless, I know that I need to feel my way back to the keyboard and make those revisions to the document I was working on. It's going to be a lot more difficult since that stupid documentation demon blinded me, but if I don't do it I... well... I don't really want to think too much about that.

Money is everything.