Reawakening

[Yoshiru Long]

R E A W A K E N I N G

Darkness. Complete darkness. The gentle whispers of wind echo, their soft cries hollow as they pierce through the shadows. Small torches suddenly ignite, resting upon cracked, cavern walls. A circle of druids in dark cloaks stand at the center of the cavern, each holding an unlit torch abovehead, toward the center of the circle. The druids pull back their torches, spiking them into the ground. The torches all ignite, bursting with flame as the druids hold them higher into the air. Another druid rests, knelt down within the circle, his covered head lowered. In front of him rests a cauldron. The druids part as another walks in, entering the circle. The man wears a dark cloak like the others, but has red banners draping from the shoulders. He is an older man, his hair grayed and his skin shriveled, slightly limping with every step. He stops in front of the cauldron, looking down to the druid in the center of the circle. The surrounding druids begin to chant, their voices echoing throughout the cavern.

AGED MAN
You understand the consequences of this?

INDIVIDUAL DRUID
I do not care about consequences.

AGED MAN
So be it.

The druids continue to chant as they form a tent with their torches over the lone druid and aged man. The aged man lifts his hand, a sheathed blade within its grips. He gently removes the blade, dropping the sheath to the ground. The aged man leans down to grab a small dish from next to the cauldron. As the druids continue to chant, the aged man approaches the lone druid, crouching down next to him. He grabs the arm of the druid, lifting it as the druid keeps his head lowered. He turns the druid's arm over, opening his hand. The aged man lays the blade against the druid's open hand. The surrounding druids abruptly stop their chanting as the aged man holds the dish under the druid's hand. He yanks the blade, slicing the druid's hand open, the crimson blood dripping down onto the plate.

AGED MAN
He shall taketh His blood, spread it among the believers so that they may once again show him praise.

The chanting resumes as the aged man returns to the cauldron with the dish and blade, letting the blood from the dish trickle down into the cauldron. After the last few drops trickle down, the aged man sets the plate off to the side. He places his open hand over the cauldron, resting the blade against the skin of his palm.

AGED MAN
We, as man, shall pay tribute to His greatness through sacrifice. May our blood be His.

The aged man slides the blade across his palm. Blood pools in his hand as he closes his fingers, squeezing into a fist. He watches as his blood drains out from between his fingers and into the cauldron.

AGED MAN
May his return bring glory to us all...

The aged man takes the dish, scooping some of the liquid from the cauldron into it. He brings it to the lone druid, head still lowered, but holding his hands out to receive his bounty. The aged man places the dish into the druid's hands. The druids chants become louder, their echoes ringing throughout the cavern as the lone druid places the dish under his hood, slightly tilting his head back to drink the liquid, but keeping within the shadows. He hands the dish back to the aged man.

AGED MAN
From the shadows, my son, you shall rise once more.

The aged man returns to the cauldron, placing the dish down next to it. He reaches into the cauldron, covering his hand with the thick, red liquid that fills it. The old man returns to the lone druid. The druids brings his hands up to his hood, pulling it back to finally reveal himself. He tilts his head back as the old man wipes a streak of the liquid across the druid's face.

AGED MAN
Rise up from the shadows, my son. Rise... Rise...

The druids begin to chant 'Rise' along with the aged man, their desperate cries ringing throughout the shadows of the cavern. Their chants grow louder as they await the lone druid. The lone druid eyes spring open, bringing an abrupt end to the chanting. The druid slowly rises to his feet.

BLOOD
Yes...

Blood clinches his fists.

BLOOD
YES!

The aged man and the druids all drop down to a knee, lowering their heads to Blood.

AGED MAN
We are but a few of your many disciples, my savior.

Blood glances around at the men with their heads lowered, their torches still burning bright, encircling Blood with a wall of flame.

BLOOD
I have no need for disciples or believers, old man.

AGED MAN
But we are pledged to serve you.

BLOOD
Servitude is beneath me. I am a destroyer, a devourer! Others are not needed.

AGED MAN
But, remember the consequences, my...

Blood walks over to the aged man and crouches down, reaching his hand out. He lifts the head of the aged man up to look at him.

BLOOD
I am fine with the consequences, old man. Let the shadows consume me once again!

Blood bellows out a war cry as all of the torches quickly extinguish, leaving way for total darkness.

BLOOD
Can you feel it? Can you feel that chill in the air? That tingle running up your spine? For years, I have tried to wear this mask, to hide my true self from everything that surrounds me. Afraid. Afraid of my past. Afraid of what lies beyond the darkness which I had created. Afraid of the monsters that lurked within the distant shadows. I could hear their resonating howls. I could feel their claws digging deep into my flesh, ripping and tearing, their teeth gnawing on my bones. I was so fearful of the ghosts that haunted me that I buried the darkest parts of my soul, letting the worms feed on the decay. I allowed my fear to destroy a part of me, a portion that gave me strength, that gave me guidance. And for what? Infamy? Fortune? Opportunity? But at what cost? I am of darkness, and always have been. A darkness that no matter how buried, no matter how forgotten, would never truly die.

A flame flickers up from a candle revealing a silhouette in the background.

BLOOD
It took time, but I eventually realized that the only true way for me to be whole, to be myself was to let that darkness seep back into my heart, let it take over once more.

Another flame flickers up from a second candle, revealing more of the outline in the background.

BLOOD
Yoshiru had his time. He left me buried for years, letting the chains of humanity tear him to pieces as he tried to surpress me. And for what? What did it give him? A couple of accolades? The Elite? I could have accomplished so much more.

A third flame flickers into existence, revealing that Blood is seated on a stone throne, but still hiding his face.

BLOOD
I watched from the darkness as HE continued on. Making himself into a joke, a laughing stalk that the world just couldn't get enough of. He was such a pathetic being. And you, Curtis Wilkes...

Another candle ignites, revealing more of Blood. He leans forward in the throne, smearing the streak of blood down his face.

BLOOD
You were a follower.

Blood leans back into the throne once more.

BLOOD
He used you, Curtis. You were his crutch. All of the jokes, all of the antics. In the end, you were just a hired thug to him. You were the guard dog, there to save him from any danger; and like a dog, he left you the scraps to feast on in order to keep you content. It's the one thing that I actually appreciated about Yoshiru, manipulation was his greatest strength. The only thing that Yoshiru cared about was the World Heavyweight Championship. If it had come down to you or that accolade, he would have stabbed you in the back in a heartbeat. Loyalty was never one of his strong suits, not unless he was receiving something of value in return.

Another candle flickers, finally revealing all of Blood sitting in the throne, blood smeared down his face.

BLOOD
Had it been me, Curtis, you would have been extinguished long ago. Disappointing that it wasn't meant to be...

Blood stands from the throne and steps forward, lowering down to a knee. On the ground in front of him is the 'Elite' wolf symbol outlined in the dirt. Blood looks down upon the symbol.

BLOOD
But, alas, I have a chance to correct that missed opportunity. A chance to redeem myself from this retched existence that the sniveling swine left for me. Every time that I had to watch you defeat Yoshiru, it was nauseating. I longed for him to release me, to let me dispose of you as he rightfully should have. I could feel it, Curtis. I could. That first night. He tried to hit you with a chair. He was going to destroy you in order to hold that World Heavyweight Championship. I could feel the energy surging through his body.

Blood leans back as he takes in a deep breath. He slowly exhales before lowering his head once more, closing his eyes.

BLOOD
But it wasn't meant to be. He wasn't ready, Curtis. He wasn't ready to destroy you... because you hadn't ran out of usefulness. You still could assist his ascension back to the top of the throne, and he knew it. He didn't choose you because you were the strongest ally, or the smartest. He chose you because you were the easiest for him to manipulate. You were his puppet.

Blood holds his open hand above the wolf symbol, moving his fingers like the strings of a marionette. Blood turns his head, looking over.

BLOOD
He pulled the strings and you obeyed...

Blood stops his fingers. He lowers his hand, turning his head to look at the wolf symbol once more. He takes in an easy breath, letting it seep into his lungs before releasing it.

BLOOD
And then there's you, Mr. Rollins. A man who Yoshiru knew very well. I believe he once claimed you to be 'the next' me. He was mistaken. There was never a 'next' me...

Blood turns his head again to reveal his face.

BLOOD
There is only ME!

He returns his gaze to the wolf symbol.

BLOOD
I've seen them over the years, Mr. Rollins. I've seen them come and go. The ones who think themselves to be Kings... only to have their kingdoms fall. The ones who think that they're going to change the world. That they're going to do something great, something that gives them the gratification they deserve... only to have the world show them its true colors, destroying the little false sense of hope in humanity that they have left. I've seen men that thought they could control the darkness become consumed, broken in the grips of the shadows. I've seen Hell, Mr. Rollins.

Blood takes in a relaxing breath.

BLOOD
It's what awaits you. It should have taken you long ago, but... the 'opportunity' was always missed. Another thing that I shall be correcting very soon. You see, Mr. Rollins... I've been DREAMING of this moment. I had to see the imitator for myself, you know, flesh and blood. Yoshiru held you in such high praise, but I never could understand why. What in the world was so special about the ripoff? I am the ORIGINAL!

Blood places a finger down on the wolf symbol, marking x's through the wolf's eyes.

BLOOD
He put so much faith in such undeserving maggots. Good riddance.

Blood turns his head to reveal his face once more, his finger continually marking the x's deeper and deeper into the wolf's eyes.

BLOOD
Mr. Rollins. Mr. Wilkes. The time draws near and Hell awaits the both of you. Yoshiru can watch for once while I destroy those that he praises. It is going to be a brutal encounter, my friends. Curtis, there will be no hesitation to hit you with a chair. This is not about The Elite or that insignificant Yoshiru. This is about destruction. It is about tearing down the 'prestige' that was built into The Elite. This is about superiority; making an imitator kneel before the one and ONLY. I salivate at the thought of what's to come. There will be nowhere to run, no escape.

Blood returns his eyes to the wolf symbol. He slowly rubs his hand over the symbol, brushing it away.

BLOOD
And I will take my time, my friends. I will enjoy it. The breaking of bones. The gasping for air. No allies, just victims. For having to tolerate 'The Elite' and having to hear that joke of a man praise Mr. Rollins, I will take great pleasure in taking each of you apart, limb by limb. It will give me great comfort listening to the two of you plead for mercy. Toronto, Ontario... One Last Dance... Your time runs out.

Blood glances over to reveal his face.

BLOOD
Tick-tock...

The flames on the candles disappear, leaving only darkness.