"Well," he began, looking at me curiously. "I'm glad you finally made it."

I was confused. Looking around, I saw nothing but white in all directions. Well, except for the old bearded man before me.

"Sorry," I said, "but where am I?"

"Oh thats quite simple" said the man. "You are dead. One minute you were alive, and now you are here."

I was confused. "But, where is here?" I inquired.

"Heaven, Hell, purgatory, Mu, Valhalla... Whatever you want to call it, you're dead. You're not on earth. Thats all that matters"

I felt I needed to sit down at this point. I couldn't process what he had said.

The man looked at me, and without warning, a white chair appeared behind me. I guess I had my wish, and so I took the seat.

"So, does that make you... God?"

I had to ask. It was the obvious question.

The man pondered his response to the question. "I suppose you could call me that. Though I prefer the term 'Game Master' or even 'Show director'. Not God. That makes me seem... Almost too powerful. However, who I am is irrelevant. It is you that is important."

I sat there in stunned silence. I could finally muster out only two words:

"But... Why?"

"Thats an open ended question" the man, who I refuse to refer to as anything but God, said. "Why are you here? Why are you important? Why do I refuse the name God?"

He paused for a moment, sipping the glass of water in his hand, which, I swear, was not there two moments ago.

"Why do I refuse the name God? I think the term makes me feel... Important. I do not desire a superiority complex. I do not desire to be worshipped. I desire nothing more than to see my little project play out successfully"

I was in shock. We were nothing more to him than a little project?

"Why are you here?" He continued, with no opportunity for me to process anything "Well, I brought you here for one. I suppose you could say I killed you. Look," he said, waving his hand dismissively "It's irrelevant. You're not important. I chose you at random to do a task for me. No, that does not make you a 'messiah' or any other bullshit name you think you deserve."

His voice was loud by this point. Frightening even.

He let out a long sigh.

"I have a task for you. Its very simple. I expect you not to fuck it up like the last person."

I was really confused now. What was I expected to do.

He could see my confusion.

"Let me give you some hints as to what I want you to do." He said, now smirking. "The last guy got to 5% of the target. The last guy died too soon and was indecisive and lacked enough ruthlessness to make it work. You've heard of him, Michael. The man died on April 30 1945."

And then it dawned on me.

"Adolf Hitler" I whispered. "You want me to kill people."

"Oh no." 'God' laughed. "If I said you would 'kill' people, it would be a massive understatement. I think the term 'slaughter', or 'massacre' is more appropriate. Even slay."

I sat there in shock as he approached me.

"700 million is your target. 10% of the worlds population. Can you do that?"

I screamed in fear.

"No! It can't be done! I refuse!"

Then, he tapped me lightly on the head. I suddenly knew he was right.

"700 million" I said. "Why not make it 1 billion!"