Post by Teo Blaze on Mar 26, 2017 11:13:59 GMT -5
The sun.
That great big ball of fire.
That all consuming, all encompassing life giver.
Life taker.
There was a time, long ago, when the world had nothing left to give me.
When I stood upon the precipice of oblivion.
When I looked down into that dark void.
The sun was there.
The sun was always there.
The scene opens on a windswept and dusty desert floor. The white sand reflects the sun like a beacon across the barren landscape, the heat permeating like an oppressive giant. Though the viewer may not be present, the overwhelming heat is apparent simply from a glance, radiating off in thick waves, distorting the very light itself as though it were a pool of water.
No animals dare go so far into such a place. There is no oasis, no bit of food, no reward offered to any traveler.
This was a place of death.
The camera pans slowly around the desert floor, but no matter how far off one looks, from every angle, there is only sand.
Only emptiness and heat to greet him.
It is upon this scene that the van arrives. It is a rather small vehicle, all things considered, a black 2-door jeep outfitted for desert travel, grooves carved into the thick rubber wheels and a powerful air conditioner blowing even as the engine grinds to a sputtering halt. A few moments of silence pass- in any other part of the desert a vulture would be following the car.
But even the carrion eaters knew there would be nothing in this part of the desert.
A few moments pass as the camera lingers on the van, but finally the doors open, and out from the van steps a man in a red jacket and bright red glasses. He silently surveys the landscape as he wordlessly walks from the vehicle, his expression hidden behind the dark red lenses.
He walks forward wordlessly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead after only minutes in the desert, and removes his jacket, tossing it onto the sand. He removes the white T-shirt from underneath, and slowly begins to rip it, the sound of tearing cloth resounding throughout the otherwise silent scene.
As he works, the opposite door on the van opens, and after a few moments, the familiar face of The Antidote Spencer Adams walks slowly towards his former friend.
As Blaze works, tying the strips of cloth together into a bandana to tie around his head, Spencer calmly stares out among the sands, a toothpick in his mouth.
Spencer Adams: Are you sure about this, Ted?
Blaze continues tearing the shirt and tying the strips of cloth around his arms and head. He seems to be about to answer his companion, but ultimately remains silent.
Spencer Adams: Cause you know, according to the plan that you made, once I get in that van, you’re not going to see me again.
Blaze pauses his work, his friend’s words echoing in his ears, he seems to consider them- though only for a moment before he resumes his labor.
Spencer Adams: I know you’re not the most orthodox guy in terms of training, but even this seems a bit excessive.
Blaze finally finishes, now wearing only his jeans with the remains of his shirt tied about his head and arms, makeshift bandages should the situation call for it. The long red line of a scar is traced across his abdomen and now in full view.
He stares out about the desert floor, his body already practically covered in sweat from the oppressive heat.
Spencer shakes his head and returns to the vehicle, reaching into the trunk to retrieve a pair of beaten-up canteens. He walks back to his partner and Blaze takes them, strapping one over each shoulder, the water inside being the only respite he will have.
Spencer seems ready to turn back towards the car…but momentarily pauses, reaching out to his friend and placing a hand on his shoulder.
Spencer Adams: Look…Ted, I know that you feel that you’re trying to go through some kind of…penance. That you owe me or something, but listen. It’s….it’s not worth dying out here. I know you said on the car ride over that it would be hard, but…this isn’t hard man.
This is suicide.
Blaze calmly turns towards his friend and smiles, removing his glasses with his left hand. He hands them to Spencer with uncovered eyes. Eyes filled with an inhuman determination, eyes that carry with them a lifetime’s worth of pain, of struggle.
Teddy Blaze: I know.
With that…there is nothing more to be said. Spencer looks as though he wants to say something else, to say anything that could stop Blaze…but the look also shows that he knows it won’t do any good. Spencer silently tucks the glasses into his shirt pocket and turns towards the van.
Blaze watches as Spencer gets in the vehicle, and with a dry, sputtering clamor it turns and begins its journey back across the desert sands.
And so, left alone in a realm of death, Teddy Blaze turns towards the white sands to begin his journey.
Long ago, he had been in a dark place.
It had all fallen apart
The sun had been there for him before.
It had destroyed what it was before.
He had been reborn under its harsh light.
Perhaps, if fate was willing.
If miracles could still happen.
It would again.
This would not be the end.
But for now...
It's a conclusion.