There came a knocking on my door, barely audible over the blaring propaganda speakers. I recognized the voice of my neighbor, crying for help, but I refused to let him in, fearing for my own sake instead. I couldn’t stop thinking about the dangers of opening the door now, what if he was leading the guards to arrest me for a crime I didn’t do? Sitting in my living room, the knocking persists, the tone gets increasingly angrier, but still I remain seated. Suddenly, I hear boots clomping up the stairs to my apartment. The screaming fades away as I hear the boots go downstairs.

That was a normal day in my life now that Curtis Zimbabwe rules Congo. His iron fist had crushed rebellion after rebellion and none of my friends were alive then. He stopped the Red Cross from helping us survive; he was the cause of my misery. I decided that he won’t continue to ruin my life. I would stop him.

The following day I decide I won’t stay under his cruelty any longer. I will rise up and free my great nation from his tyranny. I am Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The following day I had to go get food. The moment I opened my door a guard seized me. “What did I do,” I asked “conspiracy against the glorious leader, Curtis Zimbabwe.” I knew I did no such thing, I also knew that there was nothing I could do to change his mind. Then I got the idea that if I was accused of a crime I might as well do it first, so I broke his grasp and, even as he drew his gun, slapped it from his hand. As quickly as I could, I fled down the stairs. I knew now that I couldn’t return; I had made my choice.

After walking the streets that night I was lucky enough to find a place to take me in. I slept a long, deep sleep. When I awoke someone was standing over me, it took me a moment to recognize the face from the posters, and it was the leader of the rebellion, Hansen Chad. He was the most wanted man in Congo, his wanted posters were everywhere. “Staying here is a danger, but I feel that you are already on the run.” He said. “Yes I am, for a crime I didn’t commit,” I replied, “I understand, a cruel government knows nothing of its citizens,” he said, “I decided that if they thought I did it then I might as well make them right,” I said. “I have never heard of something like that but I suppose your reason is as good as any, would you care to join me on my battle for freedom,” he said, “I’d be honored.”

As we caused chaos within the government I raised the ranks to become second in command. I also learned more of Hansen. “When I am leader,” he once told me, “I shall lead fairly and let nothing plague my people.” I always accepted that to be true, I knew him to be a good person.
With Zimbabwe’s regime falling, Hansen began to finalize his plans with me, “I shall rule with an iron fist, nothing shall plague me,” it was then that I realized that the power and leadership had corrupted him and his judgment. He could not be allowed to bring this country back on its knees.
I decided that I would overthrow him by using his enemies against him; the enemy of my enemy is my friend. I contacted the government to set up a deal so that I would be helping the cause in two ways; getting rid of our corrupted leader and getting something for it in return. While many didn’t agree with my judgment they followed me because I knew him best. I told Hansen to go to a specific alley in part of the downtown district; it was still controlled by the government, and meet a contact who would give him information. When he asked why I couldn’t do it I simply said, “The contact is expecting you, not me,” he accepted this without any further argument.
A few hours later I turned on the radio and learned that Hansen was captured by the government. The next day the shipment of supplies I was promised came to a place a few miles from our safe house, I honestly didn’t expect that they would actually give us them. I took charge of our group, and we were more successful than ever.
It was time for the final battle, we had surrounded Curtis’ palace. I sprinted up to the door not caring who noticed. My boot connected with the door’s center and it exploded inward, but when the dust cleared, I saw nobody except for Curtis. He had been abandoned by his own people. I was as shocked to see him alone as he was. A once great leader left behind. I took a seat at the cheap card table that he was sitting at. He told me that he could change, made petty pleas for forgiveness, and when those didn’t work he bribed me. All I said in response was, “I’ll be back.” With that I emerged into the light of day, my brothers in freedom cheering me on.
As I had promised I promptly returned, this time with a pair of handcuffs. I slapped them onto him and lead him out the door. I gave him a slight shove and decided that the people that he had wronged should decide his fate. I turned away and walked back to the safe house.
That night there was a knocking on my door, and screaming, not the scared screaming I had become accustomed to, this one was more of a chant of happiness. This time I answered the door. In an election that the people of Congo had run themselves, I was the elected leader of Congo.
That is the story of how I, Arnold Schwarzenegger, got to be where I am today, the leader of a liberated people and a national hero.