Book of Genesis Issue 9

Issue 9

Scene 1

The battlefield on Mount Nebo. Only Joshua and Michael remain.

Joshua
“What did he want with the body of Moses?”

Michael
“I don’t know.”

Joshua
“Well, it’s of no consequence now.”

Michael
“So what next?”

Joshua
“I will take this rabble and start a war with the Canaanites. Now that Moses is gone I’ve become their leader.”

Michael
“We could just kill them ourselves.”

Joshua
“It wouldn’t be efficient. We need them to reproduce and kill each other in the billions. To grow them and destroy them ourselves would take much more energy than we would collect. Let them do the work for us.”

Michael
“That will take a long time.”

Joshua
“If they continue to breed and destroy themselves at the current rate, I estimate it will only take a few thousand years to achieve our goal. That’s no time at all for us.”

Scene 2

Wolfgang and Judas square off.

Wolfgang
“We finish this today.”

Judas
“It’s already been settled once, but I’ll teach you another lesson.”

Wolfgang
“Today, I’m the teacher.”

Judas
“No, you’re still the dog.”

Wolfgang
“I’ve learned some new tricks.”

Wolfgang thinks back.

“I was born Hans Wolfgang Jakobsen in the year 1612 on a small farm in Voka, Estonia.

It was a peaceful time after the Polish Swedish War and we were now under Swedish rule.

My Father and Mother fled Germany years before and worked a small farm.
My sister Astrid was born first and I followed two years later. My Mother died while giving birth to me and my Father blamed me for her death.

After her death, my Father took to drinking. He was always angry and he took it out on me.

My sister Astrid was beautiful and kind. 

My Father always treated her better because she reminded him of my mother.
Unfortunately, I also was a constant reminder of my mother. Every time my Father looked at me, it made him think of his loss. I would pay for it with constant beatings as I grew older.

Over the years, Astrid and I would take care of all of the chores and the upkeep of the farm. 

My father just drank.  

When I was about ten, a boy about my sister’s age just showed up at our farm.

He told us his name was Endrik and he was an orphan from the war. He was sickly looking and it appeared that he had been abused.

My Father didn’t mind Endrik staying with us as long as he earned his keep. 

It was a wonderful time. I still received my beatings, but Endrik added some excitement to our otherwise boring lives.

When Astrid turned fourteen my Father told us that he had arranged her marriage to a local land baron’s son by the name of Mantas Kaarmann. 

My Father owed money to his Father and the marriage was arranged to pay off his debt.

My sister quietly accepted her fate.
She would agree to the wedding on one condition. She wanted to wait until she graduated from school at the age of sixteen.

Mantas accepted the terms and from what I could tell he seemed like a decent fellow.  

So for two years everything continued as it was. We worked the farm. We went to school and it was just the four of us. My father was still drunk all of the time, but he seemed to lose interest in beating me as much.

Over those two years I could see Endrik and Astrid becoming more than just friends.

I even caught them kissing one day in the barn. Even though she was my sister I didn’t care because I just wanted her to be happy and Endrik was my friend.

As the date of the wedding drew closer, both Astrid and Endrik were secretive and distant from me.

I took it to mean that they were coming to the realization that their secret affair would soon be over.

However, I was surprised one morning to wake up to my Father beating me.

Father
“Where is she?”

Wolfgang
“Who? What are you talking about?”

Father
“Astrid. She’s not here.”

Wolfgang
“What do you mean not here?”

Father
“Boy stop answering a question with a question.”

He strikes Wolfgang.

Wolfgang
“I don’t know where she is, and I wouldn’t tell you if I did know.”

Father
“They will be here in a few minutes. What am I going to do?”

Wolfgang’s father walks back downstairs.

Wolfgang gets dressed and heads downstairs. His father is sitting at the table drinking alcohol.

Wolfgang
“Where is Astrid and Endrik?”

Father
“They must have run off.”

Wolfgang
“No way. They wouldn’t just leave me.”

Father
“Maybe you’re not as important to them as you think you are. Boy, sit down.”

Wolfgang sits and his father pours him a glass of alcohol.

Father
“Drink.”

He says as he takes a drink from his glass.

Wolfgang drinks from the glass and nearly chokes as it goes down.

Father
“It won’t be long now.”

Just then I could hear a carriage coming up towards the house. It was a spectacular rig being pulled by the two biggest horses I had ever seen.

Father
“Well, we got to pay up. One way or another.”

Wolfgang’s father gets up from the table and walks out to greet the carriage.

An older chubby man, a tall menacing man, and young boy exit the coach.

Mr. Kaarmann
“Mr. Jakobsen, We have come to call on your daughter, sir. You remember my son, Mantas.”

Father
“Yes sir. Pleased to see you again. Umm… sir we have a problem.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“You must be mistaken. I never have problems.”

Father
“Well my daughter, Astrid…she seems to have run off.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“Well, she was part of the deal for what you owe me.”
Father
“I will try and find her.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“And give you a chance to run away from your debt? I don’t think so.”

Father
“No sir, I wouldn’t do that. I have a son.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“You offer your son’s hand in marriage? Preposterous. You insult me.”

Father
“No sir. I will try and find my daughter. If I fail you can have my son as an indentured servant.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“I will agree to your proposal. Your son will come with me. You will have two weeks to find your daughter. If you don’t bring her back then your son will be mine.”

Father
“I can live with that.”

Wolfgang runs out of the house.

Wolfgang
“You can, but I can’t. I’m not a slave.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“Oskar, detain the boy.”

The menacing man walks over and grabs Wolfgang. Wolfgang tries to fight and then the menacing man punches him and knocks him out.

Wolfgang wakes up chained up in a castle dungeon.

Mantas
“I’m happy to see that you’re awake. I’m sorry that you were treated so badly.”

Wolfgang
“Do you think I’m a fool?”

Mantas
“No. I am being sincere.”

Wolfgang
“You’re not angry that my sister ran off?”

Mantas
“On the contrary. I’m actually quite relieved.”

Wolfgang
“Why is that?”

Mantas
“Your sister is beautiful. The most beautiful girl I have ever seen, but I don’t want to marry her.”

Wolfgang
“Yeah right?”

Mantas
“I mean it. I don’t want to marry someone I don’t love or force them to marry me. It was all my father’s idea.”

Wolfgang
“Well it doesn’t matter now.”

Mantas
“Your father might find her.”

Wolfgang
“He won’t even try to look.”

Wolfgang says laughing.

Mantas
“You never do know.”

Wolfgang
“No. I know.

“So how long do I have to be your servant?”

Mantas
“No you misunderstand. The arrangement doesn’t concern me.”

Wolfgang
“How long?”

Mantas
“Seven years.”

Wolfgang
“I must be cursed.”

Scene 3

“I was an indentured servant for the next seven years. It was hard labor and Oskar was my overseer.

Everyday was a living hell. I was given just enough food to survive. I was beaten on a daily basis. I worked from dawn until dusk everyday for seven years.

It reminded me of home. Except, I didn’t have Astrid.

I thought about her everyday. Why did she leave me? Why didn’t she take me with her?
After seven years, I was released from my servitude and I was given a proper farewell by Oskar. He beat me for most of the entire day before I was released. 

The next morning I was kicked out of the castle with nothing but the clothes on my back.”
I looked back at Oskar and Mr. Kaarmann.

Wolfgang
“I will return one day.”

Mr. Kaarmann
“Is that a threat?”

Wolfgang
“It’s a promise.

I walked away and swore to myself that one day I would get my revenge.

There was only one place for me to go. So, I headed back to the farm to try and get some answers.

When I got to the farm, I was taken back by its poor state.  I could see that the land had not been worked for years and the house was in disrepair.

I didn’t bother knocking and just walked in. My Father was sitting at the table and drinking from a bottle. He didn’t even look up at me.

He was a shell of the man that I had last seen seven years ago.”

Father
“Has it been that long?”

Wolfgang
“Yes.”

Father
“Son, I tried to find your sister but…”

Wolfgang
“Save it. I just wanted to know if you had ever heard from her.”

Father
“I received a letter a year after you left.”

Wolfgang
“You mean taken.”

Father
“Alright, taken. It was addressed to you. Let me try and find it.”

Wolfgang’s father is looking around the house and after a few minutes, he brings back an envelope. He hands it to Wolfgang.

The letter is unopened and addressed to Wolfgang.

Wolfgang
“You never opened it?”

Father
“That wouldn’t be right.”

Wolfgang
“Ha-ha. That’s funny coming from you.”

Father
“I know I failed you.”

Wolfgang
“Failed me? You failed everyone. Me, Astrid, and my Mother.”

Father
“Don’t you talk about your mother.”

Wolfgang’s father stands up and attempts to punch Wolfgang.

Wolfgang catches his father’s hand in mid air and punches his father with the other hand. Wolfgang’s father is knocked to the floor.

Wolfgang
“I’m not a little boy anymore.”

Wolfgang then turns around and walks out the door.

He opens the letter and it says one word: Tallinn. The largest city in Estonia.

Scene 4


“I started to walk to Tallinn. I worked odd jobs for food and shelter as I traveled.
While I was walking a man pulled up next to me in a horse drawn carriage.

He was dressed all in black and was very suspicious looking.”

Natas
“Would you care to join me?”

Wolfgang
“No, I’m fine. Thank you.”

Natas
“It’s a long way to the next town.”

Wolfgang
“I don’t make friends with strange older men.”

Natas
“I believe you have the wrong impression of me.”

Wolfgang
“Is that so?”

Natas
“Yes., but I do not wish to offend you.”

Wolfgang
“I’m not offended.”

Natas
“You will find a village not far from here to the west. If you wish to walk then I will take my leave.”

Wolfgang
“That’s a good idea, fancy man.”

Natas carriage drives away.

“I walked down that country road for miles. I was chased by a pack of wolves and they tore my clothes and bit my leg
I walked some more and eventually came upon the village of Idavere.

The townsfolk shuttered their stores as I walked down the street.

Every time I attempted to engage in conversation with a villager, they would ignore me and walk off.  

They seemed to fear me, but I couldn’t understand why. I had never been to this village or ever engaged with any of its residents.

I just assumed they didn’t like strangers.
When I walked towards the other edge of town, I found myself surrounded by a group of men.

They were armed with arquebuses, a hook type firearm and they didn’t seem all too friendly.”

Villager 1
“Boy, where do you think you’re off to?”

Wolfgang
“I’m just passing through. Looking to work for a meal and shelter.”

Villager 1
“We don’t take kindly to vagabonds in our village.”

Wolfgang
“I assure you,  I’m no vagabond.”

Villager 1
“Have you seen anything unusual on the road?”

Wolfgang
“Just the man in black.”

All of the villagers look at each other.

Villager 1
“You saw the man in black?”

Wolfgang
“That’s what I said.”

Villager 1
“And what happened to your clothes?”

Wolfgang
“I was attacked by wolves.”

Villager 1
“By wolves you say?”

Wolfgang
“Yes. Are you going to just keep repeating what I say?”

The villagers all look at each other.

Villager 1
“Well you’re going to need to come with us.”

Wolfgang
“Actually, I think I’m just going to be on my way.”

Wolfgang starts running. The villagers give chase.

Eventually Wolfgang is caught and they knock him unconscious.

We see him in shackles in an old barn. Next to him is a beautiful young woman.

Woman
“It’s about time you woke up.”

Wolfgang
“Where am I?”

Woman
“About to see the judge.”

Wolfgang
“Judge? I haven’t done anything wrong.”

Woman
“Did you talk to the man in black?”

Wolfgang
“For just a brief moment, but we quickly parted ways.”

Woman
“Well, you conversed with Satan himself.”

Wolfgang
“What? There is no way that was Satan. It was just some rich guy that fancied young boys.”

Woman
“And did he have his way with you?”

Wolfgang
“What? Of course not. What kind of question is that?”

Woman
“I’m just asking.”

Wolfgang
“Well don’t ask.”

Woman
“Are you sure you didn’t lay with him?”

Wolfgang
“Yes, I’m positive. Can we drop the subject?”

Right then two men enter and grab the woman and Wolfgang up off of the floor.

They escort Wolfgang and the woman out of the barn and down the street.

They come upon a large building in the center of town and enter it. Inside it is full of villagers all seated and facing the judge.

Judge
“All rise.”

They escort Wolfgang and the woman to a bench in front of the judge.

Judge
“Please be seated.

There is no need for formalities. You have both been found guilty of witchcraft and practicing the occult.”


Wolfgang
“Wait. I’m not a witch.”

Judge
“No sir. You are a werewolf and you have been found guilty by this court.”

Wolfgang
“I’m not a werewolf.”

Judge
“Witnesses have stated that you have admitted to talking to the man in black as well as having a bite on your leg from when you transformed into a werewolf.”

Wolfgang
“I’m not a werewolf.”

Judge
“It will be entered into the record that you both have pled guilty and seek atonement for your crimes.”

Wolfgang
“I never said I was guilty.”

Judge
“Furthermore, you will both be immediately sentenced to death. You are both to be burned alive at the stake and may God have mercy on your souls.”
Wolfgang starts freaking out and tries to fight his way out of the building.

Judge
“Order! Order!”

Villagers grab both the woman and Wolfgang and take them outside. They start to build two funeral pyres out of large pieces of wood.

The villagers tie them both up to a tall piece of wood standing upright in the center of the pyre.

Wolfgang
“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Woman
“There was nothing to say.”

Wolfgang
“I’m not a werewolf.”

Woman
“I’m not a witch, but they don’t care about the truth.”

The villagers start to light the pyres on fire.

Wolfgang starts to scream.

Wolfgang
“Wait. Wait. You’ve got it all wrong. I’m not a werewolf.”

The villagers stand around the pyres and start to pray.

Wolfgang
“Damn you all. You’ll  pay for this.  All of you.”

The fire gets bigger and starts to envelop Wolfgang and the woman.

Wolfgang
“You think I’m the Devil.

You wait and see. I’m going to kill you all.”

Wolfgang starts to scream in pain. His body is engulfed in flames.

The woman next to Wolfgang is also burned alive, but never says a word or makes a sound.


Scene 5

Wolfgang wakes up. It’s night time and there’s a full moon. He and the woman are waking up in a ditch.

They look up and see the man in black.

Natas
“Welcome back to the living.”

Wolfgang
“You. You’re the reason this happened.”

Natas
“Me? How am I to blame for your misfortunes?”

Wolfgang
“How are we alive? You are the Devil.”

Natas
“I’m not the Devil, but I’m not just an ordinary man either.

Wolfgang
“But how?”

Natas
“I have seen humans resurrected because they have spent long periods of time with others like myself.

However, in this instance I also possess the power to bring any person back to life.

Tell me, what is it that you want?”

Wolfgang
“Revenge.”

Natas
“I can give you what you require to accomplish that task, but you will have to give me something in return.”

Wolfgang
“Anything.”

Natas
“You will swear loyalty to me. You will become one of  my soldiers. We are at war with beings not of this world. I require…”

Wolfgang
“Alright already. I told you I would do anything.”

Natas
“You don’t want to hear about who we will be fighting or about the world being in danger?”

Wolfgang
“No. I could care less. My entire life I have been beaten and treated unfairly. I don’t care about the bigger picture. I just want to kill the people who have wronged me.”

Natas
“That’s all?”

Wolfgang
“Is there anything else?”

Natas
“I think not.”

Natas walks up to Wolfgang and touches his shoulder.

Wolfgang glows brightly and then the light fades.

Natas
“You were called a werewolf and now you have become one. Take your revenge and then meet me in Paris in one year.
Do not cross me.”

Wolfgang
“And if I do?”

Natas transforms into his Devil form.

Wolfgang
“Nice trick. Don’t worry I’ll be there. Any particular address.”

Natas
“No. I will find you.”

Natas then transforms into a ball of light and flies off.

Wolfgang turns to talk to the woman who was burned with him, but she is gone.