The Dead Shall Walk Again--chapter 2

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January 12,2012
The camera cues in on where we were left last time as the group of teenagers have just snapped the chain that was barring the door. One of the boys pulls the chain on through the loops until nothing is barring the door. Each of them share hesitant glances, and then one boy turns the handle on the doorknob.
A loud and long creak rings out as the door opens. This echoes throughout the death tunnel, and on through this newly discovered sewer tunnel.
At first, the group just stands there sharing glances before actually stepping into the sewer tunnel.
They flip on their flashlights and continue on.
Girl 2: I really don’t think this is a good idea, guys. I mean, the guide warned us. I’m sure they’ve got cameras in this building, if they catch us we’ll probably go to jail.

Girl 1: Quit being a puss. Live, show your sense of adventure.

They go on bickering back and forth, their banter is not important. What is important is that they are venturing closer and closer to the realm of Crimson Skull. Just a few more turns down the tunnel and they’ll be just upon his door.
The camera switches views to Crimson Skull standing on the other side of the wooden door at the end of the tunnel. It seems as if he is patiently waiting for something.
**
Cue back to the teenagers wandering through the tunnel. The giggle of one of the little girls that were singing in the last installment is heard.
This time, the entire group hears this and begins sharing fearful looks. Bound by determination, or stupidity, they continue on down the hall. Just in the distance we can see the old wooden door at the end of the tunnel. Yet again, the group shares glances with each other questioning themselves whether they should continue on or not. They show signs of hesitation for continuing on, but they feel pulled to this ominous door.
Now, they are within mere feet of the door.
**
Skull’s head cocks to the side in that curious pose. Still silent after his reanimation.
**
The girls stay behind the boys, standing as close to each other as they possibly can.
One of the boys slowly reaches towards the door, reaching for the handle.
**
Skull suddenly jerks back and blasts a big boot against the door.
**
The door flies open and catches the first boy in the face, sending him reeling backwards into the other. The girls let out a frantic scream of shock at the door coming open so quickly. Their scream of shock soon molds into a scream of pure terror in seeing Crimson Skull’s massive frame inside the door.
He viciously reaches out and grabs the girls, pulling them into the room with him. He shoves them onto the floor in front of him. Turning his attention back to the door he tugs at it with force and slams it shut once more.
Breathing heavily, menacingly he stares at the girls upon the floor. Their sobs of terror and fear for their lives are ear-splitting to Skull.

Skull: Stop screaming.

The girls either ignore Skull or are incapable of doing as he commands.

Skull: Stop screaming, now!

The anger in his voice rises, but the girls continue on.

Skull: STOP CRYING AND YOU SHALL LIVE, CONTINUE THIS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!!

The girls’ frantic shrills become soft sobs and whimpers.

Skull: Why have you done this?

The girls can only muster more sobs and whimpers, neither attempt to answer his question.

WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS? WHY HAVE I BEEN REAWAKENED?!

Girl 2: They-they-they….they wanted to s-s-s-s-s-see ghosts. We d-d-d-d-didn’t mean anything by it.

She can barely stammer out a response. Skull stands unmoving, just giving a blank, unemotional stare to the girl that has spoken.

Skull: Ghosts? You wanted to see….ghosts?

Both girls nervously nod their heads in agreement.
Skull snaps towards them quickly, stopping inches from their faces.

Skull: IS THIS WHAT YOU MEANT TO HAVE SEEN?! IS THIS THE GHOST YOU WERE LOOKING FOR?! THE GHOST OF THE FIELDS, THE SCARECROW?!

Their loud whimpering and crying returns at his outburst. He raises a hand towards them and they fall silent once more.

Skull: Forgive me…forgive me for that. You foolish children have no idea what you have wrought. Deliver to me the knowledge I seek and no harm shall come to you. Understood?

The girls nod their heads in agreement.
Skull walks over to a corner of the room and slowly drags a chair to the center of the room. The scratches it makes on the floor make the girls feel uneasy, the hairs on the backs of their necks stand.
Skull sits in the chair and takes a deep breath, exhaling slowly.

Skull: What is the date?

The girls exchange glances perplexedly, unsure what Skull means.

Skull: Today’s date? Year, month? Understand?

Girl 2: January 12th, 2012.

Skull leans back in astonishment. He looks away from the girls, studying while staring into the empty space. Slowly, he rubs his massive hand over his face from forehead to chin.

Skull: Nearly five years….

Girl 1: W-w-w-what do you mean?

Skull turns a sharp gaze at the first girl, almost forgetting that they were there. She jumps backwards. He waves his hand, in a gesture to show her he means no harm.

Skull: It has been five years since I last walked the mortal plane.

The girls share another uneasy glance at each other.

Skull: Yes, I mean that I was dead. Your little idiotic ritual resurrected me.

The girls start to visibly shake before Skull the further they go on with this conversation.

Skull: For the first time in my long life, I had found peace. That peace had come in death. Death that was not handed to me by any opponent. Death that had come to me by my wishes. Tell me my friends, do you know who I am.

The girls look at one another, then try to focus on Skull in the dimly lit room.
He chuckles softly and rises from the chair.

Skull: Either of you smoke per chance?

The first girl rummages through her backpack with shaky hands and pulls out a package of cigarettes. She opens the lid and hands one to Skull.
He stares blankly at her.

Skull: I do not wish to smoke your cigarettes, I simply wanted a lighter.

The girl’s face darkens in embarrassment. She rummages again to find the lighter and hands it to Skull. He walks away, flicking the lighter a few times before it finally catches flame and light illuminates the entire room.
He walks back towards the girls, and they are taken aghast at the vivid details they can see in the light of Crimson Skull.

Skull: I ask again, do you know who I am?

The first girl nods very slowly.

Girl1: You’re that wrestler from TV…The Crimson Monster!

Skull chuckles heartily this time in amusement. His first time showing a real human emotion.

Skull: Very good. But close enough. Crimson Skull is the correct name.

The girls both sigh in relief. The first begins to gather herself enough to stand up.

Girl1: Ok, then this is all a bunch of bull shit. You really had us going, we thought you were the Scarecrow that everyone talks about here.

Skull’s warm emotion disappears. A darkness appears to emanate from him and pierce the girl.

Skull: Sit.

The girl unwillingly commands, almost as if her body was forced to.

Skull: I am the Scarecrow that everyone speaks of. If needed, I can prove this to you. But I would hope that you don’t force me to do that…you might not like what the results may be.

The girls’ uneasiness returns. They both nod in agreement.

Skull: Good, now that we are understood I can move on. But first, have you any questions that will help ease your mind?


Almost instantly the second girl bursts out:

Girl2: What do you want from us?

Skull’s shoulders heave with a silent, smug laugh.

Skull: Answers. I want Answers.

The second girl is confused, the first is almost absorbed by her own curiosity

Girl1: If you’re really the Scarecrow, then how were you able to be a wrestler? Cause if this scary stuff that they say you can do is real, then there’s no way you could have been a wrestler!

Skull laughs out loud this time, making the girls feel at ease again.

Skull: And why is that?
Girl1: Cause wrestling is fake.
Skull: Oh, but quite the contrary my dear. Wrestling is very real. That is why I could be who I truly am on the television and the rest of the media. The public believes it to be fake, so no one would suspect it to all be true about me. Those that I faced off against know it to be true about me, so the marks of fear upon their faces were truly fearful for their lives. Does that satisfy you for an answer?

Girl1: Yeah…I mean, I guess. It’s just a lot to take in at one time.

Skull nods in agreement.

Skull: It usually takes a while to absorb the knowledge. Now, its my turn. How much do you truly know about me, besides that I am a wrestler, and besides the childhood rhymes?

A moment passes and neither girl answers him.

Skull: Do either of you know the story of my career as a wrestler?

Girl2: Why? Why does it matter? I mean, not to sound disrespectful, but what would it matter if we knew or not?

Skull: Because I want you to know exactly what you have done and exactly what you have caused by resurrecting me.

The camera fades as Skull repositions himself in his chair, and he begins to tell the story of his career.
The camera cuts to black, then a line runs across the screen.
*********************
“Three months later—Present Day”

The camera cues in on Skull sitting in the same dark room as the flashback, but this time he is alone, and there is no lamp to illuminate the surroundings. Just the faint light pouring in from the hole in the ceiling above.

Skull: At the end of it all, this will all make sense on why I do the things that I do. Everything I do has a greater purpose, a higher calling if you will. But much like those young girls from months ago, Tom Sykes, you know little to nothing about me, besides that like you, I am a wrestler.
Unlike you however, my extracurricular life isn’t that much different from the way I am inside those ropes.
You found fame prior to this business as an action sports personality.
I gained fame as the face of the Reaper himself.
Perhaps you are mistaken, but this is no place for action sports personalities. This is a habitat for true athletes.
See, I’ve read what you have said before in prior weeks. I read how you claim Australia has brought you luck.
Your luck has run out boy. No matter how much luck one small continent may give you in your deluded mind, my evil is worldwide.
I have beaten opponents worldwide.
I have more title reigns in my career than you have even had matches in this career.
I have ended careers of people that are ten times the caliber that you are.
I ended the career of your Hall of Famer here in the IWF, Johnny Styles, years ago. I am back to do it again.
While this federation is on a tour performing for the Australian people, I am starting my path of destruction.

A shimmer of light is seen across Skull’s lap. The camera zooms in and sees that it is a title belt, but the origins of what belt it is cannot be seen at this time.

Skull: I could sit here and go on about my past accomplishments and achievements to you, but given that the majority of action sports personalities suffer from some sort of cranial injury, you will most likely forget that I said anything in the next five seconds. Either that or your education is far below the caliber that it should be.
So I shall put it to you in the most simplest of terms that I know how, and since you love Australia so much that it’s given you a lucky break, I am going to put it into terms a simpleton could understand.
Consider me the crocodile, lurking in the murky waters. The ancient evil with countless years of experience just lying in wait for you, the young water buffalo that is still has the scent of a new and fresh prey easy for the pickings. Just like that crocodile, I am going to unleash upon you fury of which you have never seen and never experienced in your short career. When all is said and done, and the smoke has cleared; you will be left lying in a pool of your own blood in the center of that ring. You will have danced with the Devil himself and felt the icy cold hands of Death around your beating heart. In the end, there will be nothing left for you to do, than to Fear...the...Reaper.

The last few words spoken by Skull produce a mist in the air from his mouth as if the temperature in the air dropped drastically. The camera fades upon Skull looking down at the title belt in his lap.