Executioners of Justice, Fire and Nightmares: Chapter 2 – Flames Born from Darkness

Chapter 2 – Flames Born from Darkness

Kane, Raziel, and I have been dispensing justice to all that Raziel’s invisible angel has led us to. During this time, my powers haven’t had a problem punishing those we come across, nor does Kane say that they aren’t marked for death. I keep asking him if they deserve mercy, and he keeps saying no, and I keep praying to lessen the punishment for those we go after and for mercy, only for them to die horrible deaths. Now, the police, hero, and vigilante associations are out in full force, hunting us down. Some villains and criminals are out there as well to distract them, but Kane and Raziel aren’t exactly strong enough to take them on.

I could, but at the same time, I need Raziel to guide me to our targets, so he’ll be visible to them going to and from their locations. I’ve tried taking him into the light and dark like I do with Kane, and yet, it doesn’t work, and Raziel told me that even if it did, his guardian angel wants him to fight and prove himself to me, which I can agree with to some degree. Right now, we’re waiting for the action to die down in a vacant house in the middle-class area of the city as heroes and villains fight one another among a burning city so that we can head out again. I transform into my normal self as I sit on the floor, pray, and consider our next actions.

“You’re…Timeo Severe?” Raziel asks.

“Huh? Of course. You didn’t know that?” I ask.

“I would’ve never guessed that the dark hero of Meridian was also one of its richest and influential men and head of one of the four most powerful families, but then again, I didn’t really care to know your real identity. You’re still L’Obscurité, the dark hero, for the most part.”

“That is true, but what’s truer is that every part of my life is mine, both the dark hero part and the rich influencer. Do you always dress this well?”

“I do. Gotta keep up appearances after all, and use my extensive collection of suits. I’m usually in this suit jacket, dress shirt, dress pants, and suede shoes.”

“He’s a show off, is what he is,” Kane comments.

“What of your L’Obscurité appearance? I remember it being different.”

“The change in cloak, scarf, change in face, and new hat all came with my increase in power. As for the bullet hole in my head, well, my brother gave me that as I tried to thwart his plans.”

“Speaking of appearances, do you always dress like a soldier from the medieval era?” Kane asks Raziel.

“I do. There’s no real reason for me to wear anything considered normal. Besides, people see vigilantes and heroes in Meridian all day, so I don’t stick out that much. What about you? Do you always dress like a gunslinger with your hood and guns?”

“Touché. I do. Now, what really surprises me more than your powers and appearance is the fact that you didn’t know Timeo was L’Obscurité. Discovering his identity is typically what people do when they become his ally or enemy. It’s what I did when I wanted to be his sidekick.”

“I think lighting the city on fire as I did was a better way to bring him to me.”

“Tch. Again, touché. Speaking of identity, I wonder if Raymond is going to expose yours to draw you out or ruin you now that you’ve turned on him.”

“I don’t think he will. His primary target is Raziel, so he’s probably focusing all his effort on finding him,” I say.

“I can see that,” Kane says while looking out the window. “Maybe we can use this chaos to slip by the cops and heroes to find Raziel’s remaining targets.”

“It’s a bit too hot out there, pun intended. Let’s wait a bit longer.”

“Yes, L’Obscurité is right. My angel tells me we’re right where we should be, so there’s no need to attract unwanted attention. I’ve always had a distaste for the city streets. Part of me is glad to see it burn in this manner.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I was born in the suburbs of this city and lived a peaceful life until an accident destroyed it all and killed my family. From there, I was taken to a Catholic orphanage where I grew up in the faith of my family. I hated going outside of the orphanage because of the crime and constant fighting between heroes and villains, criminals and law enforcement. It was nicer to stay inside, read books, play with friends, and pray, but sure enough, the scum of the city forced itself in. They took away my teachers and friends, and somehow, the cops showed up just in time before the criminals took me.”

“My wife, Darcy, told me much of this. You spent the rest of your teenage years wanting to get them back, but never could, not as a cop or vigilante.”

“Everything in my life gets constantly taken away from me. That’s why I was inspired to do such extreme acts as a vigilante like you. After being humbled by you, my guardian angel visited me in jail, enlightened my mind, and gave me these powers, which I unleashed after serving my penance in jail. Now, I am at peace with owning nothing, not even the course of my life.”

“Interesting story. Let me tell you mine,” Kane says.

The two talk about their pasts and relate to one another while I try calling Darcy. I can’t get through to her or get on the internet. Nothing seems to work.

Suddenly stopping his conversation with Kane, Raziel says, “The flames will not reach your family, nor will they harm those close to you, L’Obscurité. That is what my angel tells me.”

“They won’t reach Lancetto or Klinge?”

“No.”

“What about Raymond or the mayor?”

“I…don’t think so.”

I look outside the window to see that the fighting has died down a bit, or at least has moved to another location.

“We should get moving then to ensure that they don’t. Where does your angel tell us to go now?”

“Just a couple of blocks up the street.”

“Let’s hurry then.”

I transform back into L’Obscurité and follow Raziel. We go where he leads us, however, he brings us into contact with a squad of police officers who are aided by heroes, vigilantes, and led by Raymond and his Chief Assistant, Ralph.

“Raziel!” I say.

“Do not worry. We’re exactly where we need to be, and it is those people who need to face judgment,” Raziel says while pointing his scythe at the police, heroes, and vigilantes who are pointing their guns and weapons at us as they ready themselves for a fight. “You will all pay for your sins!”

“I told you not to trust this maniac, L’Obscurité!” Raymond says. “It’s either him or the city that you swore to protect!”

At this crossroads, I allow my powers to decide for me as I manifest and hold out a hand with a hole through the center of it. The flames around us are extinguished as they fly into the air and create a dark being cloaked in flames that has my dark hero’s face. It looks at everyone before pointing at them. It’s then that Raymond is crushed to bits by some unknown force. The rest of the police, including Ralph and some of the heroes and vigilantes, are killed in much the same instantaneous and terrifying way that confuses everyone and causes them to go on the attack, only for them to be met with sudden death either by being crushed or blown up from the inside.

“Why, God? Why did you let my powers kill more people who were close to me?” I say out loud and on my knees.

Raziel flies down to me and says in a voice that sounds like the Divine, “Again, they refuse to listen to you and me when they should’ve. I made sure they didn’t suffer a painful death. You’ve done nothing wrong, and they were blinded by their emotions. They’ll all be in Heaven, soon.”

Kane puts a hand on my shoulder and says, “I’m sorry.”

Again, I find myself lost at a time like this. First, it was when my parents were killed by my powers, and again, I find myself unable to decide what to do next, despite all my years of experience. I didn’t see many sins in those good men, and yet, God wanted them dead. Why? I don’t have much time to collect myself as the ground begins to open up.

“Are you doing this?” Kane asks.

I shake my head, and Raziel denies it too. It’s then that we see people crawling out of the crater, most of whom look evil and light the flames of wrath within me as I see their wretched souls and the evil things they’ve done with their lives. A group of the underdressed, demonic-looking men and women approach us, led by a man with horns all over his body.

“Thank you for all the chaos you’ve caused today. With all those heroes and cops gone, we can take the city for ourselves,” the horned man says in a deep, squeaking, and grating voice. “Since you did most of the heavy lifting, you can have a large chunk of it. How about we go claim it now? What do you say, partner?”

The horned man smiles with horned teeth as he holds out his hand to me. Behind me, the being of dark and flames reaches down, takes the man, and crushes him until nothing is left but bits of flesh and blood. It then attacks the rest of the villains that came out of the hole, aided by Kane and Raziel, who shoot and burn all they can, respectively. I watch my two apprentices fight together and see that they work well together as Kane fires his guns from a distance, while Raziel attracts most of the attention and attacks those who go after Kane. I collect myself as I look into the memories of those around me and see the bigger picture.

By the end of the fight, the vile sinners retreat into the hole where they came from, and the being of dark and flames dissipate into nothing. Kane and Raziel ask me if we should pursue them, telling me the same thing that I just realized.

“God is sometimes merciful in giving us the answers we want sooner rather than later. All this chaos and deaths of good people was to draw out the scum from beneath the city,” I explain.

“Truly, He is good. My angel wants us to pursue them. In their future, I see that their time ends now,” Raziel says.

“I don’t know why, but my eyes tell me that these people deserve death more than most,” Kane says.

“Yes. With their blood, the rest of the flames of Meridian will be satiated. L’Obscurité, my angel, will now let you take me into the light and dark and travel as you do. He trusts that you know what to do from here.”

“Yes, and you have my complete trust from now on, my new apprentice.”

“Thank you,” Raziel says with a head bow.

“He’s made your apprentice in hours, but it took me days. What is this?” Kane complains. “Nevertheless, I like your style, even if it is a bit bland and extensive at the same time. It’s good to know another man who has a good taste of color, of crimson red, and not worrying about whether your actions are legal or not.”

“It’s good to be part of a group of friends again.”

“We can enjoy pleasantries later. Come. Let us end this night of judgment and destruction,” I say as I take Razeil and Kane into the light and dark and travel at the speed of light towards our prey.