The Night Gods- A Study In Evil: A Reader's Guide (IMPORTANT)

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For anyone that's been following this story (both NG and NG II) this is perhaps the most important part of the puzzle- it examines evil for what it is and how it affects us in our everyday lives. It also explores varying degrees of evil... Most stories involving evil are framed as Good vs Evil- the Good Guys vs the Bad Guys. But what if there are really no good guys or bad guys- only guys doing good or evil things. The "Good Guys" in this story (NG II), Dick and Przybysz are both killers- Dick, a former sniper and mercenary; Przybysz, a CIA op turned mercenary, then a hitman for the shadowy "Council."

We typically associate evil with ugly- but bizarre is not necessarily evil, even though that image is usually reinforced by Hollywood. In horror movies the evildoers are most often hideous villain types, easily recognized by their terrifying features. In real life, this is not always the case. Perhaps the Hollywood version of evil is done purposely to mask the real life atrocities performed by "the beautiful people." On the one hand, we have Denning, tall, handsome, personable with a winning smile- a popular governor, well liked by all... Except those close to him. Evil is not a simple thing to analyze... Is a little evil desirable, or even necessary to produce a greater good?

Przybysz' conundrum is Denning, a sadistic child molesting murderer who rapes and tortures pre-teenage girls. If he kills Denning- he's replaced by Beck (the VP), the representative of a radical splinter group within the Council that advocates total annihilation. What's a hitman to do?

Although works of fiction, both Night Gods stories represent reality in its most despicable forms. In part one, Eddie represents the worst of humanity- a serial killer. In part two, Denning represents something even worse. Does Denning, a fictitious character, represent the current or any real president? Of course not! But we all know that corruption and decadence go on in the highest echelons of society... In Hollywood- people who pretend to be someone else for a living, and are not who the pretend to be in real life... And in government, where people pretend to be someone else in order to get elected.

This is evil in its most profound manifestation... Phony foundations, cutout companies owned by the CIA and other governmental entities that participate in human trafficking, drug smuggling, organ harvesting- the list goes on and on. Wherever there there's a buck to be made (legally or otherwise) you can rest assured that these criminals will profit- all covered up by the mainstream media who produce a neverending stream of drivel to avert the unsuspecting public's attention. This is NOT fiction, but it IS evil.

The first Night Gods addressed the evil of an individual- the Night Gods II takes the story to it's logical conclusion- evil at a global level. What can be the outcome when evil becomes institutionalized... a world run by the evil entities- a world controlled by the Night Gods?

Eddie understood the Night Gods better than anyone, he was after all, the only one they had communicated with. At the end of part one, Eddie tries desperately to explain their nefarious purposes- his final entreaty to redeem himself. Yet his ramblings are passed off as the ravings of a lunatic- or at best an attempt to cop an insanity plea. His frenzied attempt to warn of an antichrist-like figure that would come to power and cause ultimate destruction went unheeded... But who is it: Denning, Beck, someone else... or is it Eddie himself?

Thanks for reading... I sincerely hope these stories have been as much fun for you to read as they have been for me to write. God Bless... and don't forget to lock your doors and windows tonight!

GIF by @papa-pepper