If At First You Don't Succeed...
The camera is focused in on the full moon in the California sky, as the scene fades in. Slowly the camera pans down, and below that pale moone, we see the silhouette of Randall Flagg's mansion, the homey looking carved wooden sign now perched on the front gate reading "Ravenswood". Suddenly a large black bird glides abruptly across our vision, and we follow it as it's path takes it toward the manse.
We glide right behind the bird, which is obviously Flagg's bird Hubris, as if we are a fighter jet pacing its target in a desparate dogfight over some god forsaken blasted landscape. This glide path takes us to the very front door of Ravenswood, then veers to the right, winding around the expanse of the building. In the corner of our eye we spot an open window on the second floor, and the bird takes the entrance at breakneck speed. Walls blur as the bird speeds down hallways and staircases. As quickly as the avian traversed the mansion, the great wings reach out to halt its flight, fluttering to a perch atop an overtuffed leather chair in front of a blazing stone fire place.
Flagg: Ahhh, there you are, ole son. Vendetta?
Hubris: CAWWWWW!!!
Flagg: Good, then he should be here any moment. And his hunt?
Hubris: Caww Cawwwwww!!
Here Flagg's famous grin widens ever so slightly.
Flagg: Excellent! A good kill will do him wonders. The both of us have become passive in our actions. Not sure if we were hoping to gain the acceptance of our peers on a weekly basis, or we were just becoming soft. But, Darksyde Inc. is back to basics now!
Almost as soon as "The Dark Man" finishes speaking, a door closing is heard, and Flagg looks at the closest doorway in grinning anticipation. His vigilance is not disappointed, as the long time body guard and tag partner known as Vendetta is seen in the doorway. He, of course, is now fully clothed in his usual generic black suit.
Flagg: Ahhh, Detta ole son. Hubris here tells me the hunt was successful!
Vendetta stands in his normal nonemotional way, his massive form looking almost out of place in such dress.
Vendetta: It was.
Flagg: Good, very good. In all honesty, I was getting a bit concerned about you.
If there is any curiosity in Detta, one cannot tell from his outward still appearance. But Flagg, who after all "rescued" him from hell, knows his partner well.
Flagg: Yeah, you were getting downright chatty lately during the PPV's and all, ole son. It was so much not like you, I thought maybe you were losing your edge.
Vendetta stands stock still, and says not a word.
Flagg: Oh well, we'll chalk it up to jitters. Let's hope they are past.
Vendetta silently nods in the affirmative.
Flagg: Good, because GSW is proving a bit more of a challenge than I had hoped. This...Flagg raises two fingers on each hand and crooks them in the universal "quote" motion..."Invisible Man" character is starting to wear my patience thin. It is obvious money is not the answer, as he misuses our bribes.
Vendetta nods quietly.
Flagg: But, every man has his price, money or otherwise. And man he is, or I would detect a disturbance in The Beam.
There is a long pause as Flagg quiets and stares at the crackling fire in the infamous stone fireplace that has witnessed so much evil incarnate. Where Manson attempted, Flagg reigns supreme.
Flagg: Bloodewing tells me he is close to a discovery of the man's identity. Once that is done, then perhaps good ole fashioned blackmale, or extortion should suffice. Worse case scenerio, we will have to make short work of this Wined and Dined But, we have more than one belt to be concerned about. How confident are you about retaining your Streets of LA belt?
Vendetta: It is the one thing I have owned on my own. They will have to kill me to pry it from me, and for that, they must know how.
Flagg: And this Extreme Randy, that seems so confident, ole son?
Vendetta says nothing, as usual, but brings his hand from behind his back, where it has been since he walked in. There, suspended from his huge gray paw, is the lifeless head of a cougar. It's pale eyes sightless, as the scene fades black to Flagg's unmistakable laughter. mingled with the hoarse chortling of the raven Hubris...... |
