Chapter 17 – Attack the Heart
The expected brawl between Drake and Wilfre had abruptly ended before it had a chance to kick off as a new challenger arrived. The one and only, Chaos Man. The one person who they hated more than each other. Neither one of them was sure if they should ignore him and pick up where they left off or turn their blades to the multi-coloured hero instead.
Wilfre’s dark blood boiled as he gazed upon the man he deluded himself into believing ruined his life standing before him. He had waited for this moment for so long, to confront and kill him with his bare hands. Until now it sounded like a dream. But with the Umbra Ruby’s power, he could finally make it a reality!
Wilfre: Chaos Man! We meet at last! I’ve always wanted to say that.
Chaos Man turns and greets what he felt was his first official supervillain. Had it been anyone else, someone he didn’t know, part of him would secretly be excited about this. But he knew that the creature standing a few feet away from him was Jason. The scepter in his hand was a dead giveaway. It also made sense why Zack, Liam and James of all people were suddenly murdered. Nobody would revel in their deaths but the boy who’d been bullied by them for years. He was stunned by his shadow, demonic appearance.
Chaos Man: Jason, what have you done?
Deep down he was feeling utter despair and heartache seeing his best friend transformed into this monster. He needed to keep his composure. Any signs of grief might give away his secret identity. If Jason found out that it was Alex behind the mask all this time, it would destroy whatever parts of Jason were still there.
Drake: What the hell are you doing here?!
Chaos Man: I saw the smoke from above and suspected there was trouble. I saw your friends getting pummelled and thought you needed help… Get your friends and yourself outta here. I’ll handle this guy.
Drake: You stay outta this! I was here first! This brat has to pay for humiliating us over and over again… I also hadn’t forgotten how you humiliated me!
Chaos Man: Prideful as ever I see. I admire your bravery, but I can’t let you do that. If your Elemental friend couldn’t stop him, how will you? Your best chance of survival is to leave before he gets another chance to kill you.
Drake was about to object again but Chaos Man presses his finger against his lips, shutting him up.
Chaos Man: There’s no point in arguing. My mind is made up.
Drake: I don’t believe this guy. Talk about pushy… Fine, you win this time, CM. But don’t think just because we’re leaving that means you’ve won! This is a time-out, ya hear me. A time-out!
Chaos Man: Whatever you say, weed for brains. I look forward to our next spat meeting.
Drake grunts in annoyance as he helps move Scarlet and Lukas into the back of the van before climbing in himself and shutting the doors behind him. Due to the damage it received from the crash earlier, he struggled to turn the engine back on with the first couple turns of the key. Eventually the van springs to life and he was quick to step on the gas pedal and drive as far away from the scene as possible.
Wilfre: I didn’t give you permission to leave!
Wilfre unleashes another dark energy blast from the scepter at the van, attempting to blow them up. But Chaos Man quickly interrupted the attack and slices it in half with his chaos blade, surprising Wilfre a little.
Chaos Man: And I didn’t give you permission to try and stop them.
A frustrated sigh escaped from between Wilfre’s gritted teeth as he watched the van drive away until it was no longer in sight. It was just him and Chaos Man now. But them getting away was an inconvenience. He’ll have another chance to deliver their punishment another day. For now, he’ll direct all that frustration towards the man in shiny tights.
Wilfre: I’ve heard many things about you, Chaos Man. You’re all people talk about nowadays. Chaos Man this! Hero that! Every! Damn Day! It’s so annoying! I have been dreaming of this meeting for so long. Rehearsed all that I wanted to say to you. To let you know how much I loathe you and want you dead!
Chaos Man: That a fact? Well, as far as haters go, you’re the first one I’ve encountered who can actually back up his threat with action. You’ve made that abundantly clear when you killed those innocent teenagers… Jason Dark.
Wilfre’s blank white eyes widen, not expecting Chaos Man to know his real name.
Wilfre: What?! H-how did you-
Chaos Man: I heard Drake call you by your first name…
He continues to exceed Wilfre’s expectations by changing his sword back into its emerald form and putting it back in its designated slot in his belt and puts his hands up to show that he he has no intention of fighting him.
Chaos Man: Listen up, I’m not gonna fight you, Jason. You may call yourself a monster, but deep down you’re still just a confused kid. A kid whose known nothing but pain his entire life. You’re not alone. There are countless other people in the world who have been through just as much as you have. More even. I didn’t earn the right to become a hero so I could do harm to humans… It’s not too late to do the right thing. Just put the scepter down and turn yourself in. Your friends will see this as an act of hope that you can still be saved. Saving people is what I do. So, what do you say?
This was taking quite an unexpected turn. By now they should be exchanging lethal blows just like how Captain Cosmic and his villains fought in the cartoon. Yet instead of using his fists, Chaos Man is trying to sweet talk him out of giving up the path of becoming the villain. He should be blasting him with lightning for even thinking he can appeal to him, so why was he hesitant to attack?
Then suddenly, Wilfre stopped. His grip on the scepter was growing weak, and he allows it to slip out of his fingers and drop to the ground by his feet. Chaos Man smiles. He wasn’t sure it he’d listen to him. Maybe there was a chance that Jason could be saved after all.
Wilfre: … Yeah, you’re right. I-I’m sorry for all the trouble I caused. Can you… forgive me?
Chaos Man: I already have… Come with me. I’ll bring you home. Let you say your apologies to your friends.
Wilfre: Sounds good. Thanks, Chaos Man… I’ll try my best to do better.
As Chaos Man gently approaches Wilfre in hopes of grabbing the scepter, he was shocked to see him disappear from his field of vision instantaneously and then reappear just as fast behind him.
Wilfre: Like hell! I’m not gonna give up the best thing that’s ever happened to me! I won’t rest until I’ve slaughtered every last one of you!
Chaos Man barely had enough time to quick turn himself around and throw a punch in retaliation but Wilfre manages to catch his flying fist, stopping the momentum so abruptly it sent out a shockwave that ruptured the road and knocked over all the bins, signposts and street lamps in its path. Chaos Man was beyond shocked. He’d never encountered anyone who was strong enough to catch his fist and actually hold back his super strength. Even the monsters he fought so far weren’t this strong.
Wilfre’s ferocious grin only grew wider as he revelled in the disparity in their strength. His claws pierce the fabric of his suit and penetrate his skin, drawing blood as he forcibly pulls his hand to the side.
Wilfre: Pathetic!
He then kicked him in the stomach so hard that it sends Chaos Man flying backwards towards the burning building, crashing through the revolving doors.
Wilfre: Did you really think I’d agree to go back to who I used to be? Jason the weakling? The boy who’d been mistreated by everyone? Never! Jason is dead! I am the shadow in the night. A nightmare that’ll plague this city in eternal darkness. I. Am. Wilfre! Remember it, hero, for I aim to become the greatest monster the world has ever seen!
Chaos Man recovers from the impact and is quick to get back on his feet to confront his friend turned foe again. Chaos Energy starts building up around his fists, responding to his emotions. He may have no choice but to take this seriously and start using his fists now, as much as he didn’t want to.
Chaos Man: Think very carefully on what you’re saying. Do you really want to do this? You really want to become a monster?
Wilfre: The creatures you call “monsters” are the real victims here! Humanity are the true monsters. What I’ve always wanted since I was a kid was to be noticed, to be respected… When I’m done, the world will learn to respect me!
Chaos Man: N-no! They’ll only learn to fear you.
Wilfre: … Good. Now shut up and come at me already!
Now provoked, Chaos Man channels the chaos energy into his palms before expelling them as two Chaos Spear shots, firing them at Wilfre. He assumed he’d try to dodge them like any sane person would. But Wilfre just stood there with his arms stretched out to the sides, tanking the shots. Unlike the sniper rounds Scarlet fired at him, the Chaos Spears actually managed to hurt him, causing him to let out a pain-induced groan that unexpectedly changed into a psychotic laugh.
Wilfre: Gahhhahahahahah! So, this is what it feels to take damage like this?! Beautiful!
Chaos Man: You- You’re insane.
Wilfre: I’m not crazy, just curious to know how it felt to be struck by your energy. Now I know how all those poor creatures felt when you massacred them! Here, have some of my power!
Another burst of dark lightning, one more powerful than the last, was discharged from his fingertips, striking the hero in the chest. The purple electricity curls around his body like a swarm of electric eels. He was then levitated off of the ground by Wilfre and then flung to the far left, tossing him like a rag doll and laughing at his dilemma. This was the most fun he’s ever had since he was born. He never felt so alive as Jason. But as Wilfre, he was having the time of his life.
But all good things inevitably must come to an end. His ears picked up the faint sounds of sirens in the distance that sounded like they were closing in on his current location. Just what he needed, the authorities coming down and ruining his fun. It was frustrating enough allowing the Crimson Nightshades to escape, but now he’s forced to flee before having the chance to have a real battle against Chaos Man.
Wilfre: Grrr, I thought I had more time… Looks like we’re gonna have to cut this fight short. No matter, I have other places to be. More people to cross off my list. Oh, but don’t worry. We’ll meet again soon, Chaos Man. See ya!
He summons the scepter back to his hand and gives it a little wave, opening another black portal behind it. Chaos Man catches one last glimpse of him before he backs into it and disappears. He stretches his hand out in vain, trying to reach out to him both physically and spiritually.
Chaos Man: Jason… no.
A dozen Aegis transport trucks and another fire engine arrive on the scene to help deal with the still growing fire. Soldiers and MT police robots mobilise, checking the perimeter for any potential monsters in the area. Two robots find Chaos Man emerging from the rubble after his first encounter with Wilfre. Unfortunately, they still carried the programming that registered him as enemy and thus point their rifles at him.
MT Robot: Target, Chaos Man, identified. Cease and desist.
Chaos Man: Ugh. We seriously doing this again? I’m not the bad guy here! The actual culprit just got away.
Michael: Let him go.
The robots turn their torsos around 180 degrees in order to address the new voice that was defending Chaos Man, who he was not expecting to be Michael Mercer.
Michael: I’ll deal with him. Go investigate if there’s anyone near the building… That’s an order.
He says sternly as he presented his Aegis badge. The robots perform a quick scan and verify that he is indeed a representative of Aegis and obey his command. As soon as they’ve left, Michael walks over to Chaos Man and offers him a hand up, which he graciously accepts.
Michael: I was hoping I’d run into you again… You don’t remember me, do you?
Chaos Man: You’re the soldier from Cheswick, I remember. We fought a giant monster together. Even though I did most of the fighting, but that’s besides the point. Thanks for the help there.
Michael: Us protectors gotta stick together. And for the record, I’m not with Aegis anymore. I left a while ago, but that doesn’t matter right now. What happened here?
Chaos Man: I heard a police report about the chief in Stratford being murdered in his own home by a shadowy creature. That same creature caused this building fire and attempted to kill the Crimson Nightshades. He would’ve succeeded too if I didn’t show up when I did.
Michael: This “shadowy being” you speak of… he wouldn’t be happening to be carrying a golden scepter with a ruby in it, would he?
Chaos Man slowly nodded in response. He knew that Michael would be able to figure out that it was Jason who was behind everything that’s happened thus far. Michael clenches his fists and lowers his head as the despair of knowing that Jason was using the very scepter that killed his mother to do the same to others.
Chaos Man: Everything alright?
Michael: No, it’s not fucking alright! … Sorry for the language. I just can’t believe Jason would do this. That scepter has caused a lot of pain and suffering. It’s what caused the Monster War. If he keeps this up, we may have a second one on our hands.
Chaos Man: I fear that you may be right, Mercer. I have to stop Wilfre before that happens.
Michael: Wilfre?
Chaos Man: That’s what he calls himself now. He thinks that he’s no longer the Jason Dark you used to know. But I don’t believe that. That scepter is corrupting him.
Michael: Whether that’s true or not, he still has to be stopped! And I want to help you defeat him.
Chaos Man shakes his head at him in refusal.
Chaos Man: I saw first hand what he can do. Wilfre is not like the monsters Aegis have studied and fought for years. He is an immensely powerful being with strength and capabilities equal to mine. Which means that I alone have the means to stop him. You’ll only get yourself killed.
Michael: You don’t know Jason! I do! I grew up with him at the orphanage. And I vowed to avenge my mother by destroying the thing that took her from me. The monster queen may be gone, but her scepter’s still here. I owe it to her by ensuring its destruction!
Chaos Man: I admire the determination, but you are – and I say this with all due respect – a regular, powerless human armed with only two pistols. The Crimson Nightshades had more advanced weaponry and an Elemental on their side. If Wilfre can easily take them down, he can wipe the floor with you before you even announce your presence. I’m sorry, but you’re staying out of this and that’s final!
His argument angered Michael, but he suspected it was fruitless to try and convince him any further. His mind was made up. He hated admitting it aloud, but he knew he was right. What can an ordinary person like him do to stop a powerful being like Wilfre? He’d only get himself killed and break his father’s heart even more than the first time.
Letting out a sigh of defeat, Michael agrees to stay out of his way and let Chaos Man handle things from here. However, behind his back he had his fingers crossed on his right hand, implying that he planned to face Jason again regardless of what the hero thinks. Between Alex and him, he’s the only one with the training and means to confront him, as well as the willpower to do what needs to be done.
Michael: Fine, you win. At least let me give you my number so you can contact me whenever he shows up again. I want to at least see him before you take him down. Please give me this.
Chaos Man: Okay that’s reasonable. Give me your phone.
Michael gives him his phone without any hesitation or fear that he may steal or accidentally break it with his super strength. He trusted him, he’s not sure why but he does. There’s just something about Chaos Man that was telling his instincts that there was nothing to be worried about.
A small pocket slit forms on his right hip as Chaos Man hovers his hand hand over it before reaching in and pulling out his own phone. Michael blinked confusedly at what he’d just seen.
Michael: Wha- d-does your suit have magic pockets or something?
Chaos Man: Uh, yeah, sort of. It’s made entirely of chaos energy.
Michael: That explains why its glowing so brightly.
He commented as Chaos Man was pretending to add Michael’s number to his phone. Since Michael already had his number in his contact list, he simply copied and pasted it again but removed his real name and put CM as the contact's name. Hopefully Michael wasn’t one of those kinds of guys who can remember a phone number from memory and recognise it as Alex’s number. It would be embarrassing for him if Michael found out that way.
Michael: Thanks, I’m gonna call my dad and let him know what happened here and what we’re up against.
Chaos Man: Are you sure that’s a good idea? Last time I saw Aegis they tried to capture me. Why should I trust them?
Michael: I’m not asking you to trust anyone but me. Whether you like them or not, Aegis still needs to be informed about Wilfre. You may need backup if the moment calls from it.
Chaos Man: Whatever you say. Hopefully, if all goes well, I won’t need their help. See ya round, Mercer.
Chaos Man gives him a little wave before blasting off into the sky. Michael watches him fly away until he was out of sight. Out the corner of his eye he can see the firefighters successfully putting out the fire engulfing Will Craft’s tower. Thankfully nobody else was in the building before the fire broke out. As far as anyone knows a couple guards, his butler and Will Craft himself was the only casualty reported.
Something seemed off with how his conversation went with the famed hero. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but he can’t help but think there’s something he’s keeping hidden from him about Wilfre. He acted as if he already knew who he really was even though he hadn’t told him. But now wasn’t the time to question it with bigger things at stake. He scrolls through his contacts until he lands on his father’s number and dials it. Chase answers almost immediately.
Chase: Michael, is everything alright?
Michael: Afraid not, Dad. You were right. Those deaths in the forest weren’t caused by a monster. They were murdered by the one who stole the scepter from the museum.
Chase: …You don’t mean the one that-
Michael: I’m afraid so… It’s the same scepter the monster queen used to kill Mum, and now it’s corrupting someone who I thought was supposed to be my friend.
Chase: Y-you know who it is?! Tell me!
Michael: You actually met him once at the orphanage the day you took me home. He is – or rather used to be – an old friend. Jason Dark… That scepter’s turned him into something far worse than any monster we’ve seen. And whether you like it or not, we’re gonna need Chaos Man’s help to stop him.
Driving down the busy motorway, the Crimson Nightshades were driving their damaged van away from Stratford and all the action going down back there. They barely got themselves out of that scrap with their lives still intact. Lukas and Scarlet were laying against the the wall in the back while Drake, the only one capable of driving, was focused on getting his teammates to a safe location where they can tend to their wounds and repair the damage to their battle van.
Going back to their base was not an option either. Wilfre knows where they live. He’s been there as Jason when they foolishly invited him in and offered him a job. How could any of them have predicted that things would turn out this way? Drake felt the most responsible for letting this happen. As team leader, he should’ve known better than to take in some random kid off the street. Maybe in his moment of weakness he saw part of himself in Jason when he was abandoned by his own parents. He thought he could take him under his wing and show him the ropes just as his mentor, Jett, once did for him when he first formed his generation of Crimson Nightshades.
Scarlet: (coughs) Where are we going, Drake?
Drake: Not home for starters. Knowing Jason, he won’t rest until he’s finished us off. He knows where we live and could be waiting for us there right now. I’m taking us to our safe house in Wales. He won’t be able to track us there.
Lukas: What about Jason? We can’t allow him to run free and kill more people.
Drake: Maybe that lightning fried your brain back there. You tried to stop him and almost got yourselves killed! Both of you! It’s out of our hands, Lukas! Will Craft is dead, and with him our money has gone up in smoke.
Lukas: The money means nothing compared to the lives of the innocent. We must go back and help Chaos Man stop him.
Scarlet: Lukas does have a point.
Drake: Okay, let's say we do go back and help. What happens then, huh? We’ll still be unemployed. We’ll lose all the money we’ve earned over the years working for the guild! And finally, Aegis will lock us up at the Labyrinth, breaking our team apart forever! … I made a vow to become a great leader like my father before me. To make our Crimson Nightshades the best mercenary team of all time. I won’t let some insane shadow kid ruin it all! Try to understand, Scarlet, I’m putting ourselves first because I have to.
Scarlet: But what about New London?
Drake: Chaos Man will save it. He can handle Wilfre – or whatever he’s called now – on his own. It’s not our problem anymore.
It may sound cold to say out loud, but it was the harsh truth of their situation. Drake needed to think about himself and his friends. All he can do now is keep the legacy he’s upholding alive by ensuring they live to pursue their next adventure another day. Maybe one day they’ll return and go back to doing small jobs for other people like they used to before they were hired by the Miners Guild.
Later that evening in the northern outskirts of New London, a place that had less crime and potential monster attacks, things were quieter compared to the rest of the city. It was also served as a large chunk of the old London left standing after the war concluded. For the people who lived there, life was much easier compared to the hardships of the residents in the city centre.
But for one particular resident in the north, she felt her life here in the UK had ended. May Li Leland had been building this new life there when she married her wife, Andrea. They met when she visited Japan for a holiday. She was just an employee in her grandmother's fish market back then. It was love at first sight, something that doesn’t often happen in the modern world, even less so for people who love the same sex. But when she came out to her mother about being gay, she of course, cut her out of her life, being a woman of tradition.
May Li left with Andrea and got married in the UK, becoming an official citizen, believing she’d be happier there, and for a time she was. She had a great job looking after lost children, even became close friends with her boss. While her wife was helping people through the traumas they’ve faced during the war, she was helping children who lost their families find new homes or at least help them develop and grow.
All of that had been destroyed by the actions of one particular orphan boy. One whom she had bad feelings for since she first saw him. But she never dreamed of all the tragedies that would occur in the span of a few months. Her wife died and she can’t help but feel she’s to blame as well as Jason. It was she who bought him the peanut butter chocolate that killed her. If she’d refused his request Andrea would still be alive. Jason may’ve thrown a tantrum, but that was easily more manageable than dealing with the death of a loved one.
There was nothing left for her there now. The life she built for herself, and Andrea, is gone. There is but only one path she can take from here. Return to her home, Okinawa, and move back in with her mother and grandmother. Maybe time has healed their relationship and she’s open to welcoming her back home. If not, she has nowhere else to go.
Right now, she was just finishing up the final checks in her apartment, making sure she’s completely cleaned out all of her and Andrea’s stuff. After quitting her job, she was busy making arrangements for the stuff she wanted to ship to Okinawa as well as throw away anything she didn’t want or need anymore. Earlier today she made one last phone call to Jackson to thank him for everything he’s done for her over the years and for being a great friend. She’s truly going to miss him. All that remained was her packing her suitcases, getting ready to catch a uber to the airport and close the book on the story of her life in the United Kingdom.
Packing finished, the dejected woman took one final look at her now empty flat and sighs deeply. A final goodbye to the people who used to live in it. Hopefully she can at least help one more lost soul find a home by giving up her own. She exits the flat and locks the door behind her for the final time before slowly strolling through the long, dark hallway of the apartment building, dragging her suitcase along behind her across the carpeted floor.
The further away she walked from her room, the darker the hallways were starting to appear. She glanced up at the lights on the walls, wondering if there was a problem with the building’s electrical system. But much to her confusion, they were completely fine. So why was it getting so dark? She quickly checks the time on her phone and was surprised to see that it was only 5:26pm. It shouldn’t be dark outside yet, not for another hour at least.
May Li: What on earth is going on?
Her attention to her phone took up a lot of her focus that by the time she looked away she was met with complete pitch blackness. She couldn’t see the path ahead nor the room she left behind her. Panic took hold of her as she dropped her suitcase and started effortlessly stretching her arms out, desperate to feel something/anything that could help guide her out of there.
May Li: Help! Can anybody hear me?! HELP ME PLEASE!
But there was no reply from anyone. All she could hear was total, eerie silence. Silence and a faint, sinister laugh that was echoed by something at the far end of the hallway. She froze in place, too scared to move as she tried to look far down the hall in the direction of the laughter. Then she saw something unsettling. A pair of wide white eyes and a wide toothy grin in the darkness. It looked as if it was growing bigger… or moving closer towards her.
A blood red glow emits from the Umbra Ruby within the golden scepter clutched tightly in his hand, lighting up the hallway just enough to give the terrified woman a proper look at the creature slowly approaching her. Her eyes were as wide as they can physically go. She felt a lump in her throat. Her heart started beating rapidly in response to the pure terror building within her. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. It was exactly like how her grandmother described it to be in her stories, the ancient demon from her childhood nightmares!
May Li: I-it c-can’t be! T-the… The Wilfre!
Wilfre: That’s right! About goddamn time someone got my name right… It’s not so good to see you again, May Li.
As he was getting closer to her, May Li makes a desperate attempt to back away from him. However, she suddenly finds her feet stuck to the floor, forcing her to look down. She gasped in terror as some kind of black, shadowy liquid was engulfing her feet and she was starting to sink into it.
Wilfre: Didn’t expect to see me again, did you?
He says mockingly as he watched her struggle to pull herself free. All that accomplished was speeding up the process. She had no choice but to stop and gaze at the monster from her dreams close the gap between them, sending an uncontrollable shiver throughout her body.
May Li: You… You can’t be real! You’re a myth!
Wilfre continued to laugh as he finally reached her. By then May Li was already halfway into the depths of the shadowy abyss. He looms over her, drinking in her appearance one last time before drowning her in darkness.
Wilfre: My dear May Li, I’m afraid that from this day forward you and everyone you’ve loved will become… a myth.
He reaches out towards her with his claw stretched out, forcing May Li to cower in fear of being attacked. Instead, he stops her plunge by tightly grasping her wrist. He wanted to utter a few final words first before killing her.
Wilfre: You have no one to blame but yourself, you know. One often manifests their own nightmares on the road they take to avoid them. Wilfre only exists because you chose to turn your back on a child. Blamed him for your wife’s death and forced him to go on the run! Everyone I’ve killed today would’ve lived if you hadn’t turned Jason Dark into the villain of this story… It’s all your fault. Now you will die how victims of Wilfre went in the stories… Drowning in eternal darkness with nothing but their pain occupying their thoughts!
May Li started screaming, begging for anyone to save her. But nobody came. She was truly alone and helpless. Wilfre slowly gets down on one knee, letting her sink even lower until only her head and right arm that he was holding up was sticking out of the void. He slowly leans closer to her, getting up close and personal with his former care worker. As his final act of punishing her, he allowed the shadows covering his face to retract, revealing his true identity to her. May Li started to tremble as she gazed upon the very boy she foretold would become a monster to Jackson. She was right. He had become a monster of her own making. A combination of the dark entity she sensed was hiding under her bed or in her closest when she was a little girl and the empty husk that had grown up to be Jason.
May Li: J-Jason?!
Jason: It’s Wilfre now! Remember everything I said to you. Die knowing that you’re responsible for my creation… as well as the suffering I will bestow on every single person on this miserable planet. I just wanted you to look one last time into the eyes of the helpless boy you hated… Goodbye.
With that, the shadows quickly covered his face again and he released his grip on May Li, allowing her to sink into the darkness. Her arm being the last part of her he saw before submerging completely. It is done. With May Li gone, there were only two more people left for him to dispose of before he is able to sever all ties to Jason Dark and fully embrace Wilfre. The people responsible for bringing him into this cruel, heartless world in the first place.
As he disappears through yet another portal, the darkness enveloping the hallway instantly faded out, restoring the building to normal. A lone old woman and was slowly walking down the hall, trying to get back to her apartment after returning from the market. To her all the events that took place here were over just as instantly as it began. She had no idea of the horrors that happened in this very hall.
However, as she was hobbling over to her door, she caught something out of place in the corner of her eye. Something so bad that it caused her to drop her precious grocery bag, letting its contents spill out all over the floor, and scream so loudly that she disturbed the other residents and force them to step outside and see what’s gotten her spooked.
That’s when they all saw May Li’s lifeless body lying on the floor next to her discarded suitcase and carrying bag. It wasn’t only the fact that there was a dead body at the end of the hall that terrified the other tenants, but the still terrified expression still frozen on her face as she died. Her skin was pale, almost grey. Her eyes were bloodshot, her hands were positioned just in front of her face, and her mouth was open. She wasn’t just dead, she was petrified.
When it came to delivering the punishment of his birth parents, Wilfre wanted the setting to be perfect. To show them the errors of their ways and help them painfully understand that every action will have consequences. He found his mother in a public bathroom at an underground subway station somewhere in New London. He had to wait for her to finish before fazing through the wall and scaring her to the point where she passed out and fell backwards into his portal.
His father, though, was much more difficult to track down. He only had the painful memories of all the times he abused him to maintain an image of his appearance in order to track him down. Never would he have anticipated that he’d be staying at a rehab centre for alcoholics. He watched him for a while, curious to see just how he’s living life nowadays. Was he happy to be rid of his submissive ex wife and annoying brat of a son? Did he really think admitting himself into rehab would magically make up for all the awful things he’s done? Wilfre snarled at the thought. He deserves what’s coming to him, he and his mother. That fat piece of trash didn’t deserve a second chance.
As soon as he was asleep in his room, Wilfre made his move and abducted his father right then and there. Wrapping his tentacles around his rotund body and dragging him through the black portal.
The other end of the portal opens above the ceiling of what appears to be a giant cage made from his shadows. Jason’s dad falls through the portal and hits the ground beneath, startling him awake.
Brad: Wha- What the hell?! Where am I? … Wait, is this…
Ignoring the black bars in front of him, he takes a look around the place he’s being held prisoner inside of. He didn’t recognise it at first because of how clean it was or all the fresh new furniture. But he soon learned that he’s been brought back to his old apartment in the city before the Monster War.
Brad: My old flat?
Jason’s mother begins to awaken as well as he utters those words. It didn’t take her long to realise that she was in a cage that was in the middle of their old family home’s living room, and she wasn’t alone.
Jen: What… the hell?
Brad: Jen? Is that you?
Jen: Brad? I can’t believe it. What are you doing here?
Brad: I… don’t know. One second, I was sleeping in my room at rehab. Next thing I end up here in our old flat.
Jen: Brad, I… I’ve missed you.
Brad: I… missed you too, Jen.
Wilfre: Aww, how sweet.
This touching reunion – at least to the parents – was ruined by Wilfre’s intervention. The couple shot their heads to the left and spot him sitting in a comfy armchair with his legs crossed and his hands on the armrests. The scepter was leaned up against the wall beside him.
Wilfre: Don’t you just love family reunions?
Brad: You’re the bastard who kidnapped us?! Let us outta here now!
Jen: Who the hell are you anyway?! Why’d you bring us here?!
Wilfre laughed as he watched them grab onto the bars and try to pry them apart to escape. Sighing with amusement, he gets up from the chair and stands in front of them, feeling excited for the big reveal he’ll be surprising them with.
Wilfre: You don’t recognise me? Then again, I have changed a lot since we last saw each other. Even back then you treated me like crap as you do now.
It was at that moment that the wheels started turning in their heads as they pieced together what this was all about. There was only one person they knew who’d wanted them gathered together in this specific place.
Brad: Hold on… You mean you’re…
The shadows slowly pull away again, this time revealing his whole head to his parents. The shocked expressions on their faces were exactly what he was waiting for and they did not disappoint. The way they were looking at him, it was like they were seeing a ghost.
Jason: Hello Mum. Hello Dad.
They couldn’t believe their eyes. Their long-lost son. The one who Brad abused for years. The one Jen left for dead during the Monster War. He was alive, well and now holding them prisoners in their old home. Jen slowly reached through the bars to touch Jason’s face. It wasn’t an illusion. He was really here, flesh and blood.
Jen: It is you, Jason… Our son.
Brad: How’s that possible. I thought you were dead.
Jason then quickly morphs back into Wilfre, spooking his mother and forcing her to retract her arm in retaliation.
Wilfre: Oh, I’m sorry. Are you disappointed that I didn’t rot in that dog cage you kept me in for years?! Remember that “Dad”?! How you always hit me for no reason?! Or used my arms as ashtrays to stub out those disgusting, cheap cigarettes?!
Brad: Okay okay, I see that you’re pissed at me, and you have every right to be. I was a different man back then… After the war, I was living in a homeless shelter. I hit rock bottom. That was when I admitted myself into rehab to get the help I-
Wilfre: I don’t give a shit about whatever fucking sob story you’ve got!
He shouted whilst banging on the bars, startling his parents and forcing them to shuffle backwards away from him. He then walks through the bars as if they weren’t there and angrily grabs his father by his hair before dragging him out of the cage. The man shouted in agony and tried to fight back, but Wilfre’s hold was as strong as his burning hatred for him and his mother.
Wilfre: Nothing you say or do will make you worthy of forgiveness! All that’s waiting for you now is the payment for all the times you beat me. Like this!
He made sure he was in full view of his mother before he laid down the mother of all beatings onto his father, starting off with several hard punches to the stomach and sides, winding the man and forcing him to his knees and vomit a few drops of blood onto the floor.
Wilfre: How does it feel to be helpless?!
He shouted as he started kicking him in the sides, knocking him over. Brad holds his stomach in a vain attempt to dull the pain. But there was more to come.
Wilfre: How does it feel to know pain?! For every time you’ve hurt me, I’m gonna repay you tenfold!
Jen covers her mouth in shock as she watched her ex-husband getting beaten up by their own son. He continues punching and kicking his dad until he was starting to get bruised and bloodied.
Brad: Jason! Stop it, please!
Wilfre: You didn’t stop when I begged you! You just laughed in my face as you kept hitting me! Now I will laugh as I beat you to a bloody pulp! And you, Mother, will watch helplessly from inside that cage! Just like how you always stood in the background and did nothing to help me like a real mother should!
Wilfre continued to beat his father until his face became nothing but a mangled mess. His shadowy fists dripping red with is blood. He was barely breathing now. His breaths sounding more like tiny gasps. Wilfre was happy with his handy work, but he wasn’t fully satisfied yet. As he was getting down on one knee and pulls his head up to be at level with him, Wilfre thought back on the time he burned him with his cigarettes. It was about time he payed him back for that as well.
With his free hand, he conjured up a small ball of black and purple fire and slowly brings it closer to his dad’s mangled face. With the bruising over his blackened eyes, he could barely see the brightness of the flame. But he can definitely feel its heat. And it was getting even hotter.
Brad had already shouted so much from all the pain he’d received as he was getting beaten by his son that his throat had become sore. Yet somehow, he was still able to scream as the flames started eating away at his face, burning his flesh.
Jen: Oh my god! Brad! Jason, please stop this madness!
Wilfre ignored her desperate pleas and continued burning his father, smiling all the way as he watched the flames completely engulf his head.
By the time he felt satisfied, Wilfre pulls his hand away, the flames still flickering in his palm. The result of his brutal revenge was crystal clear to his mother. His father lying dead on the floor with a completely burnt, charred-black skull. His shirt around his collar was scorched and clumps of his hair still clung to the back of the head where he grabbed him. Wilfre stood over his corpse, putting one foot atop his back as he revelled in the satisfaction of what he perceived as true justice to the man who ruined his life before it could begin.
Jen: You… You animal! What kind of cruel, careless, evil person would do something so horrible to his own father?!
Wilfre: The kind whose parents beat them and locked them up in a cage for years! If I’m a wild animal, it’s only because you treated me like one!
Jen: P-please Jason! I’m sorry! I swear to you that I’m so sorry for abandoning you! You have to understand, I wasn’t myself back then. I’ve been struggling with keeping our family together. I had nothing until I met your father. He gave me a roof over my head and love I never gotten from my own father who walked out on me. When he left, I was so angry that I chose to blame you instead of blaming myself for allowing him to hurt you. But I’ve changed now! I was happy being on my own. I didn’t need to rely on men like him anymore… I always regretted leaving you behind. I would’ve come back for you had I known you were still alive, I swear!
Wilfre: You just can’t stop lying, can you, Mother? It’s in your genes. No wonder Jason was so pathetic growing up. He got it from you! It’s far too late for apologies now, you heartless bitch! The only one in the family who ever showed me any kind of affection was our dog, Scratch. She’s been more of a mother to me than you ever did. And how did you repay her? By stuffing her body into a bin bag and throwing it into the back of a garbage truck instead of giving her the proper burial she deserved!
Jen began breaking down into tears. She was on her knees begging Wilfre to spare her life and just let her leave. She can disappear from his life for good. He’ll never have to see her again. But that was never going to happen. He brought her here so he can kill her. It was as simple as that.
Jen: Please, Jason! Don’t do this… You’re our son.
Wilfre: WRONG! Jason Dark was killed all those years ago when you left him to die in that dog cage! Now it’s your turn… What was the last thing you ever said to me again? Oh yeah, “BURN IN HELL!”
Tilting his hand holding the flame upwards, Wilfre allows it to fall out of his grasp and land atop Brad’s body, instantly spreading and setting fire to it and soon after, the whole flat. The dark flames quickly spread throughout the place, bending to his will as he turns his back to his begging mother banging furiously on the bars, desperate to break free. Wilfre drowns out her her pleas and walks over to the wall to retrieve his scepter.
Smoke completely engulfs the apartment. Jen couldn’t see anything and now her lungs were filling up with the harmful gasses. At this rate she may die of smoke inhalation before the flames could reach her. Either way she’ll end up dead and that’s all that mattered to Wilfre. Fortunately, he was able to teleport the family that now lived in his old flat out of the building before bringing his parents here. Not because he cares about their lives, but because he didn’t want them ruining the moment he’d been dreaming of his entire life. Finally making his parents suffer as they made him suffer. He leaves the flat through the portal with a satisfied smile on his face. His revenge is complete.
Chaos Man must have circled the whole city about four times by now as he searched for Wilfre, or at least any kind of terrorism he instigated. It was getting dark now as night took over, blanketing the UK in its darkness. A fitting time too, given how much of a dark turn Jason had taken since he last saw him, back when he was still human. Underneath the dark blue mask, Alex was consumed with guilt and despair for allowing his best friend to fall so far away from the sweet little boy he used to be.
There’s nothing he can do to save him anymore. He’d already taken human lives and claimed that he won’t stop. What will he do when he sees him again? Will he have to kill him in order to stop him for good? No prison can hold a being as powerful as him.
Chaos Man: I don’t know if I can do it… I don’t want to kill Jason. I’ve never killed anyone. Yeah, I’ve killed a few monsters before, but they’re no different than putting down a wild or sick animal. There’s no malice behind it… Hopefully Omnius will have an idea on what to do. Maybe I could-
As he was flying and thinking at the same time, Chaos Man suddenly comes to a standstill midair when he noticed a plume of black smoke rising into the air about 20 miles northeast of his position.
Chaos Man: Oh no, another fire… has to be Jason.
He sped in the direction of the smoke, blasting through the sky like a jet. Arriving at the street Jason grew up on just in time to see yet another building going up in flames. Fortunately, it looked like the residents were evacuated in time and the firefighters weren’t attacked this time. The autonomous MT fire engines were spraying their powerful water jets that stretched almost all the way to the top of the building. Pretty impressive Chaos Man will admit, though it didn’t change his overall thoughts on Magna Tech.
He was planning to descend onto the street and see if the people were okay and if any of them needed to be taken to the hospital. With his speed, he can carry them to the nearest hospital and come back for the others in seconds, though he made a mental note to not go too fast to avoid further injury or the chance of people vomiting all over him.
However, he was suddenly ambushed from behind by Wilfre who had been waiting for him all this time, hiding in the shadows of the buildings below. Grasping the hero’s neck and pulling him closer so he could whisper into his ear.
Wilfre: Like a moth to a flame, you are pathetically predictable.
The shadow man musters all his newfound strength to throw Chaos Man over his head and send him spiralling down to earth, crashing headfirst into a local street park. The impact scared any passersby who only wanted a nice, quiet stroll through nature under the cozy lights of the lampposts. Only to end up running and shouting in terror as Wilfre slowly descends to the ground.
A young girl accidentally gets seperated from her mother in the crowd of panicked civilians and falls to the ground right in front of where Wilfre’s shadowy black feet touched down. She slowly gazes up at him, her lips and hands trembling in his presence. Wilfre looks down at the girl, his white eyes like knives piercing her soul.
Wilfre: Boo!
The little girl screams scurries around him, running like hell away from the monster and out the park entrance where she hoped her mother would be waiting for her. Wilfre chuckled as he approached the fallen hero as he recovered from the crash. He was fine mostly. Compared to crashing headfirst into the lake at the monastery, this was’t too bad. At least he hit the grass and not the concrete path.
Wilfre: I knew you’d show up again once I burnt another place down. This time I was ready for you.
Chaos Man: Why are you doing this? What do you have against these random people?
Wilfre: They may seem random to you. But to me they’ve hurt me in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine. Just another pile of trash that needed to be incinerated… I’ve crossed all but one target off my list. All that’s left is you, Chaos Man!
Picking himself back up again, Chaos Man stares down at his fallen friend turned foe and brings his fists up, taking a boxer’s stance.
Chaos Man: You can’t keep killing people like this, Jason! It’s wrong-
He was suddenly silenced by an enraged Wilfre who closed the gap between them at a speed equal to his own. Grabbing his face by his mouth and snarling at him like a rabid animal.
Wilfre: STOP CALLING ME THAT! I AM WILFRE NOW! GET IT RIGHT!
He slams the hero back down into the crater he made when he crashed and unleashes a surge of dark lightning through his face, electrocuting his body. His screams muffled by Wilfre’s hand.
Wilfre: Is this really all you’ve got? I was expecting more after the way the public bragged about you. C’mon, Chaos Man, at least make a fight out of it!
Chaos Man uses both of his feet to kick Wilfre off of him, sending him flying a good couple of feet away, giving him time to get back up and shake off that painful shock therapy he was pumping into him. Even now he can still feel the effects. Wilfre levels himself out midair and hovers in place as he lands an energy strike on his enemy. Clutching the scepter in his hand, he aims the spearhead at him and charges up a powerful burst of dark energy before letting it loose on him.
Instead of counterattacking like he expected, Chaos Man chose to stay on the defensive and dodge his attack. This didn’t stop Wilfre from throwing more at him, starting with another dark energy blast before swooping in to swipe at him with his claws. But again, the multi-coloured hero evades every attack he threw at him. It felt as if he wasn’t taking him seriously as a major threat. Or was he choosing not to fight him?
Wilfre: What’s wrong with you?! Why aren’t you fighting back?! You think I’m a joke?!
His lack of response – or respect – for trying to prove himself a great first villain only made Wilfre angrier. A purple flaming aura surrounds him as he growls at Chaos Man.
Wilfre: ANSWER ME!
Chaos Man: Because… I don’t want to hurt you.
He finally answered, sparking a confused reaction out of Wilfre. It didn’t last long as he realised how easy killing him is going to be now.
Wilfre: Hahahaha, is that so? Looks like I overestimated you.
Sighing with disappointment, Wilfre summons a dozen shadow tendrils out of the pool of blackness forming under their feet. The tentacles wrapped around around Chaos Man’s limbs and torso before lifting him a few feet off the ground. Their grip tightens around him, causing him to gasp a little as he felt his chest being crushed, like boa constrictor wrapping itself around its prey. But Wilfre wasn’t going to kill him yet. There was one important thing he wanted to do first.
Unbeknownst to Wilfre, Alex had secretly dialled Michael’s number and stayed on the line so that he could track the signal to his current whereabouts before his second round with Wilfre even started. He did promise him that he’d at least call him if he appeared again.
The young Mercer’s motorcycle pulls up to the side of the road a few blocks away from the entrance. He didn’t have time to properly park it in the empty spaces between the cars and just drove it onto the pavement. As he climbed off, he pulled out his phone and followed the signal to the park entrance.
Michael: Okay, he should be in… Oh no. I’m too late.
He arrived just in time to see Wilfre close the gap between him and Chaos Man, relishing in his triumph over the hero however underwhelming it was. He couldn’t believe what he was witnessing. “That demonic being is Jason?” he thought. Chaos Man may’ve already described what Jason had become after obtaining the scepter for himself, but it was another thing seeing it with his own eyes.
Michael: …What happened to you, Jason? No! That’s not Jason anymore. Just one more monster for me to kill!
Michael noticed that he’d discarded the scepter and left it impaled in the ground to the left. Maybe if he were to snatch it from him, he could strip Jason of his powers and put a stop to all this. He would have to tread lightly. Any sudden noise and he’ll be torn to pieces. After seeing all the things Wilfre had done to the three bullies, he knew he wasn’t above such things.
Now was his chance to make a move while he had his back turned and all his focus on Chaos Man. All the while Wilfre was conjuring a twisted black dagger in his right hand and slowly lifts it to the underside of Chaos Man’s chin.
Wilfre: I can finally make you suffer the way I suffered… But first, I wanna see who’s under that mask. I want to see the light fade from your true eyes as you die!
Curiosity overcame Michael at the worst possible time at the mention of removing Chaos Man’s mask. He knows he shouldn’t look, but every part of him was screaming “Look!” to satisfy his interest in knowing Chaos Man’s true identity. The desire to finally see the face of someone who goes to great lengths to keep it hidden is an interest not many people can disregard easily. It’s not something you think about. Just a nosy itch that had to be scratched. An itch that was already making him forget about his plan.
Wilfre quickly grabs the back end of Chaos Man’s dark blue mask and rips it off his head, tearing the fabric from the white collar connecting the rest of the suit. Alex’s original hairstyle and colour revert back to his original look. He slowly lifts his head to give Michael and Wilfre a good look at his face and his true brown eyes underneath the emerald, green energy.
Both of them were beyond shocked to discover that the one behind the Chaos Man suit was in fact their old friend, Alex Laytham. He was the last person either of them would suspect. Wilfre was so stunned and upset by this discovery that he unconsciously releases him from his tentacles and backs away from him, accidentally bumping into Michael. Both of them fall backwards on their rears but neither of them acknowledged the presence of the other. They were too focused on Alex to care at this current time.
Wilfre: Alex?! No! I-it can’t be… This- this must be some kind of trick! I know Alex! He could never be the kind of person Chaos Man is… He can’t be.
Micheal: I… can’t believe it. Alex… You were Chaos Man the whole time?
Alex: I’m… sorry, Michael. Jason.
So many emotions were running through Wilfre’s mind. Anger. Pain. Hatred. He felt like he was losing it. That his perception of reality was crumbling to dust around him. He wanted Chaos Man to be just some random nobody that was lucky enough to gain the powers of a god. It would’ve made killing him so simple. But this devastating truth shatters everything he thought he knew. Why Alex? He was his best friend. His only friend. Friends don’t betray each other like that. Friends stick together through every hardship no matter what. Now he can’t help but question everything he thought he knew. Were Alex and Michael really his friends? All of this was giving him painful heartache, forcing him to grasp his chest and let out a pain-wracked, demonic scream.
Alex and Michael dart their heads in his direction as he has a mental breakdown. There was no accepting of the hard facts laid out in front of him. But as he was beginning to calm down and think clearly about this, things started to make sense to him. The night Alex disappeared must have been the same night he was reborn as Chaos Man. That man, Omnius, knew about his powers and took him away to train him. That’s why he abandoned him. He chose the life of being a superhero over friendship. Just as Michael chose to become a soldier that slaughtered monsters.
He slowly picks himself off the grass and stands back up on his two legs. His white eyes staring intense daggers at the two people standing before him - professing to be his best and supportive friends - with such genuine hatred. A rage that somehow surpassed the one that he held for his parents since childhood.
Wilfre: It was you… All this time it was YOU! That night when you left, that was when it happened, wasn’t it? That was why you left me… Why you still abandon me even now!
Alex: Jason… I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you.
Wilfre: All those times I’ve told myself that Chaos Man was ruining my life. I meant you were ruining my life! You did this to me, Alex! You and Michael were my friends and you BETRAYED ME!
Alex: N-no, we were trying to protect you!
Wilfre: Hahahahaha! Look at me! You made me a monster! Both of you did… You don’t save lives! You destroy them! … You’ll pay for this, Alex. I swear on my parents’ burnt carcasses. You. Will. Pay!
Fully consumed by despair and anger, Wilfre summons the scepter back to his hand and conjures a portal behind him which he quickly backs into. Michael attempts to go after him but was stopped by Alex who lightly grabs his arm. The portal closes in on itself, leaving the boys alone to grieve in the stillness of the empty park.
Alex: What have I done? It’s all my fault.
Michael: No. We’re both to blame, not just you… “Chaos Man”.
Friday the 13th was nearing its end now as Big Ben’s clock was counting up towards midnight. The other side of the portal manifests within the clock tower, allowing Wilfre to return to his home away from home. The one place he truly felt safe and comfortable to be himself without anyone else judging him.
The pain he felt in his blackened heart over the betrayal of his best friend, Alex, was still fresh. In a fit of anger, he tosses the scepter to the farthest side of the room and collapses to his knees and lowered his head to the wooden floorboards as he broke down crying. His tears stood out on his darkened face, making it more obvious as they trickled down his cheeks. His emotional state caused his shadow form to fade away, reverting him back to regular Jason Dark.
Jason: I thought I knew you, Alex. How could you do this to me?! Me! You were my friend to the end?! It- It’s not fair!
There’s an eerie whisper in the air that temporarily brings Jason out of his devastated display of sorrow. The mysterious dark voice that had been goading him down the path of villainy spoke softly to him, questioning why he is on his knees crying like a child.
Dark Voice: What is wrong, Jason? Why didn’t you finish them both when you had the chance?
Jason’s head shot upwards, acting shocked it would even criticise him for not killing his supposed friends.
Jason: Alex… Why did he have to be Chaos Man? I-I swore to kill him. But I can’t kill Alex. He was my best friend… the only one I ever had.
Dark Voice: … You weak, naïve fool. Have you forgotten your vow?
Jason: What?
Dark Voice: You swore to cast aside your humanity and become the deadliest monster this world has ever seen. Yet now you’re on your knees, weeping over something as meaningless as Chaos Man being Alex? Did you forget how he abandoned you?! Chose Violet over you! And Michael, he was ready to imprison you for life for killing those parasites… You need to block out these pointless feelings you have for them. Can’t you see it, Jason? Chaos Man is all but invincible. But Alex Laytham? You can destroy him!
Jason: I-I can’t…
Dark Voice: They betrayed you! They want to destroy you. You shouldn’t show mercy to them! They won’t do the same for you. Alex and Michael must pay for their crimes.
Jason slowly crawls over to the scepter as the voice instructs him on how to deal with his “friends.”
Jason: … You’re right. I can’t let them get away with this. What do I do?
Dark Voice: Show them how it feels to be on the receiving end of pain and misery. Let them know true despair as you once experienced. Make them suffer until they beg for death.
Jason: How?
Dark Voice: To truly break an enemy, a cunning warrior must not attack the body or mind.
Jason: Just tell me how!
The voice sighs in exasperation.
Dark Voice: The heart, Jason. You must attack the heart. Destroy everything he holds close to it.
Jason: Yes…
He whispered sinisterly as he reached out to grab the scepter. The scepter responds to his selfish desires. Black smoke seeps out of the Umbra Ruby and surrounds him once more. Jason wasn’t fazed by it this time. In fact, he welcomed it as he rose to his feet, standing tall as Wilfre again. He knows now what must be done. Not only will he make Alex and Michael suffer, but he will show the whole world what happens when you abandon a sick kid and treat him like trash. They will all get what they deserve.
Wilfre: Alex has taken everything from me! I will make him suffer! I will destroy him… and everything he loves!
To Be Continued