Gone Too Far

Long time ago in a land far away, there lived a walking time bomb.

He wasn't born a time bomb; he was specifically modified by powerful people to become their deadly political tool.

Not only was he equipped with heightened sensitivity to the environment, he was also dangerously smart and designed to be absolutely relentless when presented with a target.

However, for some unknown reason, instead of assigning the time bomb to a mission so that he can fulfill his destiny, he was simply unleashed on to a unsuspecting public to fend for himself.

He was lost and confused, but yet acutely aware of his lethal potential and his inability to control the explosive power within.

To avoid hurting innocents, he attempted to hide away from the crowds.

But society, unaware that he was not really human, constantly tested his patience.

Like a live grenade that is thrown about by unknowing children, he was subjected to one hard knock after another.

In response, he appeared to be meek and quiet, and the people around him mistook that behaviour of incredible restraint as a sign of weakness.

Then one day, a brash young man, high from his recent career success and wealth, decided to provoke him.

The time bomb tried to defend himself, but the young man was neither interested in fair play, nor the truth. He just wanted to attack the bomb to show off to his friends, and for kicks and giggles.

He continued hurling accusations at the bomb.

The bomb immediately signalled his retreat.

But the young man was not satisfied yet.

To cut off his escape route, the young man got his friends to gang up against the bomb, surrounding him completely and keeping up a constant barrage of abuse.

The young man believed that superior numbers would guarantee his safety.

Human beings tend to think this way.

But his opponent was not human.

The thin thread of control that was holding back the detonator pin finally snapped.

A ticking sound started.

Pale with fear, the bomb tried to warn his attackers to run away from imminent doom, but of course they simply laughed as they continued beating up their victim.

Even if they did listen, it was already too late.

From a distant vantage point, an observer watched as a brilliant flash of light engulfed the entire city.

When the fireball finally subsided, not even a fleck of dust remained.

Nodding approvingly, the observer wrote something into his notebook and left the scene.