The Department of Hate - A Love Story by Anthony O'connor Page B

mostly of children. Abaddon explained, with some enthusiasm
    “Children’s Section.” Jarrod was already dreading what they might be about to see. He said out loud
    “Oh No.” Cassandra also was clearly very concerned. She knew this wasn’t going to be good. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t look happy.
     
    They joined the closest group of demons clustered around one of the live views, watching a scene unfold. It was a playground at a kindergarten. Four young children – two boys and two girls – were picking on another child, surrounding him and taunting him. Their victim was a young boy. He was already quite pudgy and overweight and he wore thick ungainly looking glasses. They screamed abuse at him.
    “Fatty four eyes. Fatty four eyes.” They closed in on him. The nearest of the girls gave him a push which almost knocked him over.  One of the demons seemed to be putting thoughts in her head.
    “He’s disgusting. You hate his guts. You’re going to hit him.” She seemed to be thinking these words as the demon said them out loud. Jarrod could see her face tightening up into an ugly sneer.  She pushed forward and then punched him in the side of the head with a quick right hook. He fell to the ground. They closed in on him screaming more abuse.
    “Fatty four eyes. Fatty four eyes. Disgusting pig. Disgusting pig .” The boy was crying, trying to cover his face. The demon intoned
    “Kick him. Kick him.” The little girl, her face twisted in self righteous rage, repeated out loud what she was hearing in her head
    “Kick him. Kick him.” The children moved in on him clearly intending to do so. A teacher ran over and started pushing them away, another teacher ran to help. The watching demons were practically falling over themselves laughing. One of them managed to say
    “Ah, it’s just too easy.”
     
    Similar scenes were unfolding throughout the room – hundreds of them. Abaddon turned to Jarrod
    “As you always said, my Lord. Get them while they’re young. Make sure they don’t learn to restrain their impulses. Instant rage builds into deeper and more enduring hatreds.” Cassandra spoke to Jarrod
    “Do you remember saying that then?” Jarrod replied quietly
    “No. No I don’t.” She looked at him steadily, her expression unreadable. One of the other demons spoke up
    “Doesn’t matter much now anyway. We’re just having some fun.” Jarrod responded to this quickly
    “What do you mean?” The demon seemed confused
    “What? But, you know, my Lord? The end of the world.” Abaddon intervened. He motioned to the demon to let it go and be silent. The demon complied instantly. Then he spoke to Jarrod
    “I’ll explain later, my Lord .” Jarrod replied carefully
    “All right, later.” He certainly didn’t want to discuss it here. But he knew by now what all this talk of the plan was about. He could see that Cassandra also understood.
     
    They came into the next room with an increasing sense of anticipation. Jarrod asked Abaddon
    “How much further?” Abaddon replied
    “The next room is the main control room, my Lord.” Jarrod looked around and asked
    “What’s this one then?” Abaddon replied, again with evident enthusiasm
    “Armed robberies and home invasions, my Lord .” Jarrod shook his head, incredulous
    “That’s just great.” Cassandra echoed his reaction
    “ Oh yes, just wonderful.”
     
    Their attention was drawn to one of the live views floating in the air nearby where a home invasion was taking place. As usual a group of demons surrounded the view waiting for the right moment to stir and provoke – looking for the outcome they desired. This one didn’t seem to need much input from them. Three large men, one armed with a rifle the other two with shotguns, had taken over a suburban house in Chicago. A middle aged couple, husband and wife, along with their two boys aged seven and nine were spread out along the floor face down with their hands tied behind their