by Bob Williams
“Hey, hey! What the hell, jackass!” I said.
“Shut up, meat!” he grunted. “I’ll need a toothpick to get your guts out of my teeth in a couple hours.”
“Well, that’s unpleasant. You should really take the course on prisoner treatment. You see, you’re not allowed to hurt my feelings while I’m in your custody. Even if you do plan on executing me. Why don’t you go get the manual and I’ll show you the pertinent paragraph.” The Freak rushed over to me and drove a knee into my solar plexus. I’m fairly certain my pancreas hit my uvula. And, of course, I dropped straight to the ground with the taste of blood in my mouth.
Jesus, that really hurt.
You deserved it.
“Unbelievable,” the prisoner said. “Not only are you a wiseass, you got caught. Malcolm seemed to think much higher of your abilities and importance.”
“Don’t be fooled by it…” I gestured towards him.
“...David. Haberman.”
“...David. I’m terrified. It’s how I cope.
David was about to say something when a devastating bit of feedback came out of several large speakers. It was Ortiz. “EVERYBODY LISTEN UP! YOUR ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED IN THE YARD IN TEN MINUTES. IF YOU ARE NOT HERE, HE WILL KNOW. THAT IS ALL!”
“I guess it’s getting real,” said Haberman, as he was escorted towards the steps to the stage.
“Yes, sir. It’s about to get very real. Right now.”
GOOD VERSUS EVIL
The door of the Hard Rock flew open and out came Kade. He was dressed to the nines in black cowboy boots, black jeans, a crimson button down shirt, and a black leather vest. His long black hair was pulled back tight in a ponytail, and his and his mustache was screaming to the ladies. Not right now though, because he had work to do. Chaos had instructed him to kill Prescott, then the crazy bastard walks right up to the front door. Oooh, the master will be sooooo pleased. Kade couldn’t deny as he took the stage that he had never felt so blessed by the greatness of the Chaos and The Eighty-Eight. Tonight’s ceremony would be his greatest achievement since The Descent. How did he know? Kade had been personally told by Chaos that Prescott’s death would be a great victory against the Regulars, and the first offensive of a new war. This was the message Kade would deliver to his army tonight. The battle cry of a new offensive. He could barely contain his excitement.
He strode happily onto the stage to an unbelievable reception. He really would never tire of this.
“KADE! KADE! KADE!”
They loved him. And truthfully he loved them, too. He had this little talk with himself whenever he took the stage. No, they weren’t perfect, but they worshipped him, so that gave them some leeway when they messed up. Right now though, he was going to give them what they came for. What they lived for. What they strove for. What was in their nature. Blood. Pain. Carnage. He took the microphone off the stand and it began.
Malcolm.
No!
Dammit, you coward. You can’t stand on the sidelines for this. You have to STAND for something!
I can not interfere.
Riiiiight. What’s four more dead Regulars? You already watched two hundred get slaughtered. Some protectorate you got there.
“Welcome! Tonight is going to be very special. I know it’s only been a couple of days since our last gathering, but we have with us tonight a few very important guests. One in particular who claims he came here to kill me.” The crowd hissed and booed. “You worthless bastards! I said one of these intruders came here to KILL ME!” The Freaks roared with rage.
Doesn’t take them long to get frothy.
“His name is Prescott! I know, I know. The name doesn’t really make me shiver, either.”
“Hey!” I said.
“Shut the fuck up! You will not speak unless you are spoken to. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Great. Do you recall, just mere minutes ago, that you struck me in the face, Mr. Prescott?”
“I feel like I’ve asked you politely not to call me that now multiple times. Why won’t you respect my needs? What is it with you people?”
“Do you recall striking me Mr. Prescott?” he asked much more pointedly.
I took a deep breath, “Yes, I hit you.”
“Thank you.” He walked over to the group standing off to the side and drew his gun and shot David Haberman dead. The action was so sudden that the bullet was through his eye and out the back of his skull before anyone close could shield themselves from the dressing of skull, blood and brain matter that hit them.
“NO!” I screamed. Cole and Shields cried out in unison and were wrestled to the stage floor by their captors when they attempted to go to their friend. “Dammit Kade! What is wrong with you? I’m here. Why not me?”
“In due time. We’re just getting started. Ortiz, dispose of Mr. Haberman.” Ortiz motioned to a couple of Freaks and the two of them picked up the body and threw it off the stage into the Freak infested sea of insanity and violence. The body was torn apart in seconds and vanished into the night.
Malcolm...
I was reeling. I was in so far over my head. Now that we’d arrived at the moment of truth, maybe my arrogance had done me in. This isn’t how I thought this was going to go down. I mean, shit! How was I supposed to know Haberman was even still alive? I never had those guys around in any scenario I planned out for this moment. OK, I need to get my head back above water. Think!
“Thank you, Ortiz.” Kade turned back to his audience. “How about that for a teaser?” The crowd exploded with glee. They wanted more blood.
“WE WANT MORE! WE WANT MORE!”
Malcolm!
“All right! Let’s move on. Who do we have next? Ortiz?”
Ortiz calmly strode over and stood in front of Michael Cole.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“No,” said Cole. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Ortiz viciously punched him in the face. I could’ve sworn I hear something break. His nose maybe. But he took it. He stumbled back but he stayed. Good man, Cole. Ooorah. Blood flowed from his nose and from a cut opened up by the punch, but Cole was a Ranger. Regardless of what he’d been going through since The Descent, the man was a Ranger. He was trained for torture.
“I can do this all night, pretty boy,” said Cole. “Seems like your boss is on a schedule though, so can you skip to the real shit?”
“Sure thing pal, right away!” Ortiz brought a knee straight up into Cole’s groin and he doubled over. Ortiz then removed his knife from its sheath and sliced Cole’s left ear off with quick and easy precision. My friend screamed with a horror I’d never heard before, but would spend the rest of my life trying to forget.
I don’t know exactly why I’d never had this thought before. THIS WAS WAR! My mental scope had basically been a kaleidoscope of emotions over the last few days. At first it was just about surviving, then it was deciding that just surviving wasn’t enough, and now, right now, it was taking the first step to victory. Not just fighting back, but winning. The Regulars who were out there fighting needed to hear about a WIN! Yeah, a big WIN!
The cylinder had been spun a couple times already and the trigger pulled, but I was still playing. I was still in the game. Now I think it’s time I change the rules. Forget roulette, I’m just going to shove the whole gun up his ass!
I need you Malcolm. Step out of the shadows. There is a WAR going on here, man. Your Points of Light are getting snuffed out while the Protectorate fucks around with the rules. Man, throw the damn rules out and get with it. We have work to do.
Ortiz had the ear in his hand and simply shoved Cole to ground. “Here you go, boss. Tell him what he needs to hear.” He tossed the ear to Kade, who caught it and immediately erupted into uproarious laughter. He was so predictable.
“Mr. Cole! Can you heeear me!”
Enough of this crap.
“Hey, Dipshit!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. Both Kade and Ortiz turned to look at me. “Ha! You b
oth looked. What a couple of turds! Hey, would it be OK with you if we skipped the other nine songs and just played the number one hit? I’m bored over here. Here! Rhymes with ear! Hey Cole! Did you hear that?”
Ortiz practically ran to get to me before Kade and proceeded to wrap his hands around my neck and squeeze. I could feel my eyes bulging out when both of his thumbs pushed down on my Adam’s apple.
“LET HIM GO!” Boomed over the speakers. “Ortiz, NOW!” Ortiz locked eyes with me for a couple of more seconds before he released his grip on my life. I’m pretty sure his ring size will be forever on my neck for future reference. I coughed, wheezed, and heaved giant breaths, trying to get draw the life force back into my lungs. It seems I struck a nerve.
All right then, here we are. Get your ass here!
I will not.
“Bring him to me,” crooned Kade. Ortiz gripped my arm about as tightly as he had my throat and ushered me to the front of the stage. I was standing on a stage, under the lights, in Nashville, TN. That used to mean something. Another time, another place. I vow that it will again, someday. Soon. Not just here, but everywhere. Take it back! We have to. There’s no other way. I can hear Kade talking, but it sounds more like an echo, to be honest. I can’t hear, I can’t think! I’m so completely fraught with emotion, it’s like I can’t take the first step.
Come on Prescott! Think!
I was literally shocked out my stupor when Kade slipped his arm around my shoulder and embraced me. We resembled a married couple standing together waving from the stage a political rally. What the hell had he been talking about?
“Well, Mr. Prescott? Cat got your tongue? I thought it was your friend Cole who was hard of hearing,” Kade laughed hysterically at almost everything he said. I wondered if he was always like this. “You acted so cocky a minute ago. What happened? Oh come on, You don’t think we’re all that different, do you? You don’t,” he made these giant air quotes, “‘CARE’ about these people you’re with. You’re a user just like me! You don’t make it to the top without stepping on a few souls along the way. Isn’t that right Mr. Prescott?”
Yes. Isn’t that right MISTER PRESCOTT?
Maybe.
“No! I’m nothing like you. Take off these restraints, and I’ll stand toe to toe with you and kick your ass right here under these lights for all your asshat Freak friends out there to see! Maybe finally you’d shut your damn mouth because OH. MY. GOD. I am sooo tired of your bullshit! How’d you like them apples, Ken?”
“HRAHH!” was, I think, the sound that came gurgling out of his mouth before he whipped me around to face him and proceeded to punch me so many times, so fast, I couldn’t see or count what was happened. My vision blurred, my stomach felt desecrated, and my legs turned to mush. I felt damp with blood and I pissed myself. The exclamation point on that was being picked up while still bound, and thrown several feet across the stage. When I landed, I broke my collarbone and dislocated my shoulder. I couldn’t see it or touch it but there was a compound fracture in one of my legs.
Please. Help me,. Malcolm.
“Do you see what becomes of those who would come into OUR HOUSE with the intent to harm us? THIS MAN! He and his friends drove right up to OUR FRONT DOOR! And announced that they were going to KILL ME! Who do they think they are? WHAT SAY YOU, CHILDREN?”
“KILL THEM! KILL THEM!”
“You’re damn right I’m going to kill them! And I’m going to enjoy this! VERY MUCH! Do you know why we do what we do? Why we kill? Why we pillage? Why we bring death and destruction everywhere we go? Can any of you worthless bags of guts tell me why it is that we perpetrate our extremes upon the Regulars of this land?”
“CHAOS! CHAOS! CHAOS!” they screamed.
“YES! For our Lord and Master, Chaos. The Black Hand Serves! SAY IT!”
“THE BLACK HAND SERVES!”
“AGAIN!” boomed Kade.
“THE BLACK HAND SERVES!”
“This one...Prescott. He thinks he hurts now. He believes he understands...hurt...but he doesn’t even know the beginning of the pain he will endure here tonight. His death will be our gift to Chaos, and the end of his miserable life.”
“Malcolm...please,” Is all I can muster.
“Shut up, Regular! My children! Our master, the divine Chaos, came to me from his realm and foretold that this man, Prescott would bring our rule to an end. He told me I must find him and kill him! Little did I know he would deliver himself, TO ME! ” He was standing over me talking, then kicked me for good measure.
I summed all the strength I could muster and pushed myself up to a sitting position. I could barely see through two swollen eyes, but I found Shields and Cole. Cole was on the ground, still smarting from having his ear cut off and, surprisingly, Shields was at his side. The guards had completely forgotten about them and had fallen under the spell of Kade. I reached for them with my good, well, decent arm. I met Shields’ eyes and we saw defeat in each other’s faces. She began to weep. I already was.
“Get up! Get. Up!” Kade was already angry, furious even, but he had just tripped the NOS on his rage and he was making himself break. “You cannot be allowed to come into my house and threaten me! I am the one true disciple of the demon Chaos. Chaos, born of the Neverrealm, demon warrior of The Eighty-Eight! The true Minister of death and destruction. The one whose essence makes us all part of his plan. For he is the most worthy of our actions. He...is..Agh...Ruz…Ha....”
No, No, No, No.
Kade’s eyes turned the same glowing red that I saw in The 88 three days ago, his demeanor became much less animated, which was more unsettling than anything. He brought his hand up to his face and looked at it, front and back. IT turned and looked around the stage area, taking in the scene. IT looked out into the crowd of ravenous Freaks. It smiled. It needed no microphone. IT spoke. IT’s voice...it’s voice was a horrifying low bass.
Chaos.
“MY CHILDREN! IT IS I, YOUR LORD COMMANDER, CHAOS! I HAVE COME TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON THIS GLORIOUS DAY. THIS MAN IS NO REGULAR HUMAN, HE WOULD DESTROY US ALL. HOWEVER, MY FAITHFUL DISCIPLE KENDRICK KADE HAS LED YOU TO VICTORY. GLORY TO THE EIGHTY-EIGHT! THE NEVERREALM COMES CLOSER TO THIS WORLD EACH DAY. THERE IS NO NEED FOR DELAY. PRESCOTT, WHOSE OWN FAMILY BLOOD STARTED THE DESCENT, BREATHE DEEP NOW, FOR IT WILL BE YOUR LAST BREATH.”
I realize, now. I did gamble with other people’s lives, and I lost. We all lost. I’m sorry Em. I’m so sorry.
I have my orders…
Chaos walked confidently across the stage towards me. I don’t know why, but as he came closer my vision got clearer. Almost crystal clear. And the fog was lifting from my head. Which meant I could feel the pain exponentially more. It felt like the shock of the trauma was wearing off and I was feeling the truth of the matter. Chaos bent over and grabbed me by my shirt and tie and lifted me easily into the air. He turned again and faced the crowd. With my thought process extremely clear now, I was beginning think about how much more pain I was about to be in, and of course, dying. Then I saw it.
Ortiz, along with about three hundred Freaks, had dropped to their knees in reverence for Chaos. Chaos himself was only paying attention to Chaos. So none of them saw a tiny light about the size of a pinhead happen to waft in on the evening breeze. Granted, Cole and Shields didn’t initially see it either. But it was there all the same.
You son of a bitch. If I could kiss you, I would.
We’ll talk later. There’s work to be done.
Fair enough.
Chaos, still holding me up in the air for the Freak brigade, let his opposite hand fall to his side. As he spoke each fingernail grew about a foot in length.
“IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I…”
“Excuse me! Excuse Me! Hey, dipshit. Do you have any idea what a tie like this costs? Neither did your boyfriend. Frankly I’m starting to think none of you Freaks have any kind of fashion sense. Chaos, seriously, couldn’t you pick a Lieutenant that looked a little better? Kade came out to kill me tonight
all in black with a red shirt. Lame! He would probably call it crimson or some shit, but really, I know. It was red. And who does a ponytail and Fu Manchu? Remember Commander USA? Yeah, yeah, you know. He did Kung Fu Theatre, Saturday mornings on the USA Network. When it was first getting…”
“SILENCE! YOU WILL BE SILENT. YOU ARE A FOOL, PRESCOTT. YOU THINK I DON’T KNOW YOUR GAMES. I HAVE KNOWN YOU YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. YOU ARE STALLING. ATTEMPTING TO DELAY YOUR INEVITABLE FATE. YOU ARE NOTHING. YOU WERE ALWAYS NOTHING. A STORY. A MYTH. BUT YOU WILL BE NO MORE.”
My stall tactic worked for just as long as I needed it to, but something happened I never would’ve expected in a lifetime of this scenario. As Chaos raised his hand for the death stroke, that little bit of light I mentioned, Malcolm, my friend the angel, went right into my mouth, down my throat, and straight to my heart.
I’ve never been struck by lightning, nor I have ever met anyone who’s been struck to ask them, but I imagine it felt a lot like this. But purely good. I mean, I was filled with goodness from the tips of my toes all the way to my brain. Malcolm grew within me in a spiritual form, which planted like a seed in my heart and grew throughout my body exponentially fast. I felt his fingers race down my arms and slide into my hands as if they were gloves. And his feet stepped into my feet, healing my fracture and making that leg better than it ever was. Finally, his sight locked in behind my eyes, and my body took on a very subtle illumination. My body was healed. Completely. All of this happened in seconds and I—we, were ready to fight.
I caught the blade fist of Chaos in my left hand and rocked him with an uppercut with my right. He stumbled backward several steps and fell to the ground.
Yeah!
Stay focused. I have my orders.
What orders?
We left Chaos for the moment, and ran to the aid of Cole and Shields. We helped them both to stand. The Freak guards, who had been so enamored with Kade/Chaos, now cowered or scattered in our presence. I instinctively knew to place my hand over the open ear canal and simply desired a new ear to grow. And it did. Cole looked at me and asked, “Where do you need me?”
