These are a series of mini-stories I publish based on the lyrics and meanings of Iron Maiden songs.

Iron Maiden Mini-Stories #1 | Hallowed Be Thy Name
My name is Bruce. I was once a free man, but I committed many crimes in my life that I now regret. However, regretting your sins doesn't save you from execution, at least where I'm from, because at 5:00, they take me to the gallow's pole. And there's the bell! It's 5, and the I'm about to die.

A hierophant walks in begins to read the last rites I will ever hear from the Bible, and meanwhile I take a look through the bars. I take one last look at a world, one which has gone very, very wrong for me. I feel terror inside me, a feeling I haven't felt in a long time. I always a confident one, never afraid to take risks. Then, one day, I took one too many risks: I ran right past the cops in hopes I could outrun them after murdering a man who had once wronged me, something I now regret. I couldn't outrun the authorities, and they tackled me, arrested me, and locked me in the very cell I am sitting in right now. That was 3 months ago. Now, my time has come, just like the clairvoyant by the wicker man said I would. Now, I begin to wonder if this is all just a crazy dream. Somebody please tell me that's what it is. Please. I'm begging you. It's not easy to stop myself from screaming. I just want to scream loud enough that someone will save me from this grim fate.

A tear begins to fall from my face as I see two guards arrive. The hierophant is walking out, and the guards are walking in. Why am I crying, though? I'm not afraid of dying. I've always been a strong believer in life after death, in the idea that there never is an end. Well, I guess we'll find out today. As the guards march me out to the courtyard, I hear an old man in a cell yell to me, "God be with you!" If there's a god, why has he let me go so quickly? As I walk, my life drifts before me. Even though my end is near, one part of me is not sorry for the crimes I've done. I've tried to get rid of that part of me for a long time. I wish I could atone for my sins, but I must face my fate. The guards hand me to the executioner, Edward "Eddie the Head" Bayley, known for his many decapitations that he has done for executions. He is wearing is normal attire, a black sleeveless cloak, black gloves, brown pants, black boots, a leather belt, his long white hair covered by his hood. His axe is on his back. It's massive, and as Eddie drags me towards the gallow's pole, I stare at his face, a face I have never seen, and I wish I never had seen. His eyes were red, his skin pale brown. The look on his face was pure malice.

As he hangs me, I feel my windpipe close, and soon I breath my last breath. As I die, I ask someone to catch my spirit, as it's willing to fly away. I know they can't hear me, but I wanted to say it in the event someone did. As my spirit is dragged into Hell, I begin to say a prayer. "Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in---" I arrive in Hell, and stand before Satan himself, who sentences me to eternal slavery.

Mark my words, believe my soul lives on. Don't worry now that I've gone, for I have gone beyond to seek the truth, to see what punishment those who have committed sins in their life have been given. When you know your time is close at hand, maybe you'll begin to understand that life down here is just a strange illusion.





Written between Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 and Wednesday, January 4th, 2023.

Coming Soon:
Lightning Strikes Twice
Sign of the Cross
Phantom of the Opera (possibly)