Chapter Twenty Two - Now and Then
Aug 12, 2016 13:36:37 GMT -5
Eden Morgan, Dave Rydell, and 2 more like this
Post by Gabriel Baal on Aug 12, 2016 13:36:37 GMT -5
Victor Ryder lay perfectly still on the top bunk in the on call room wondering just how his life managed to take this dark path. He glanced down at his smart watch and noticed the time – 1.30am, January 1st 2021. Happy god damn New Year. He couldn’t help but let his mind wander to New Year 2016-17. It had been an amazing night. He’d spent the evening with his wife as the guest of honour at the party of one of his patients. The champagne had been flowing, the food had been amazing – he’d even managed to slip off to a bathroom with one of the twenty something revellers while his wife flirted with the millionaires. It had been one of the best nights of his life.
Now here he was, five years later, on the verge of turning fifty and on call at New Years. That was without the awkward erection due to the on-call fumbling of the attractive nurse from Cardiology and one of the student doctors on the bunk beneath him. How the hell had he ended up like this? He’d been at the top of his field – one of the most noted Psychiatrists in the country. And then he met… Her.
"Doctor Ryder – you in there?"
The door opened and the lights turned on.
"Oh – uh… Sorry. Doctor, we have a new admission and I think you need to take a look."
Jenny, the ER nurse, averted her eyes as the two lovers conscientiously uncoupled, and hid beneath the thin sheet. He tried to think fast, both to pretend he’d just woken up, and to give his area a moment to deflate. He jumped down off the top bunk and walked towards the door – Jenny gave him a searching look. She left the room first, before he turned to face the two youngsters.
"As you were."
He grinned as he clicked off the light, plunging the room into darkness.
"Enjoying yourself?"
He smiled, but his eyes didn’t comply. The years had not been kind to the Doctor. His hair had greyed, there were heavy lids under his eyes and he hadn’t shaved in days. His marriage had broken up not long after he’d left Psychiatry – he’d been alone for some time, but at least he had frends like Jenny.
"This hospitals choice of pornography is not what I would have hoped for."
She shook her head feigning disapproval – but he knew she’d didn’t mind really. They’d often engage in exchanges by which one would try to make the other turn red. She’d managed it once, when she announced in front of the other nurses that she’d given him a handjob at the Christmas party – by all accounts, he’d “looked like he needed it.”
They had remained firm friends – the episode had not changed that fact. He’d thought about going back, but he thought it was unwise – not that he wasn’t attracted to the thirty five year old - it was more out of guilt. She was married with a child. He’d written a thousand text messages to arrange them meeting up outside of work – not a single one had been sent. He’d made a mistake and it was something he didn’t want to repeat. He didn’t want to lose a friend, and he didn’t want his friend to lose her family. It was that’s simple. Plus he’d never plucked up the courage to ask how she explained away him having Monica Lewinski’d her cocktail dress.
"So what exactly was so important that you needed to drag me away from the live sex show?"
"I’m not entirely sure I can explain it – it’s one of those things that you need to see to believe."
He furrowed his brow – this was unusual she’d seen a lot in her time. Despite her relatively young age, she’d been a nurse for fifteen years, almost all of it in ER. He couldn’t imagine anything that she hadn’t seen. She noticed the look on his face and smiled mischievously.
"Don’t look so scared, Vic – we both know you can handle anything."
He smiled – she was stroking his ego, if nothing else. He knew what she was doing – she had a way of telling him what he needed to hear. This was a patient she was interested in, and she wanted to make sure they found out his story.
"Alright what do we have?"
She bounced on the balls of her feet a little, in that way she did when she was excited, before she pulled a chart up onto the desk in front of her.
"Mr. Daniel Collins - Male, thirty nine years of age, British."
"British?"
Well that was odd, of course – but hardly heart stopping. Was it the accent? Was she sweet on this guy and wanted to find out more about him? Victor inhaled deeply, fearing the worst. Was he about to be the wingman at the beginning of a budding affair with a patient?
"Did I stutter? Yes, hes British – it’s odd. He sounds all pompous, but the way he talks is… Different. Anyway, he’s here with two people – a guy, in his mid-fifties, and a girl – she’s in her late twenties, early thirties? She’s weird… Like, really weird."
He liked weird…. Wait, no – she was with the patient.
"What’s he been admitted with?"
"That’s what’s odd – he’s covered in dried blood, but as best we can tell he’s not got any cuts or wounds at all.
"As best we can tell? The hell does that mean?"
"They won’t let us touch him – not yet. They said we can touch him when he says we can touch him."
"No – if he wants treating then we treat him, he wants to screw around then we call security."
She grinned up at him, really looking like she appreciated his bad ass attitude. For some reason, he felt the need to try and impress her. He picked up the chart and walked towards the allocated cubicle and pulled back the curtain. He wasn’t quite expecting what he saw.
To the right of the bed was one of the most stunning women he’d ever seen – porcelain skin, and jet black hair that fell to her shoulders. She had her hand lazy draped over the patients shoulder. To the left of the bed stood a worn and weary looking man, with a sheepskin coat covering a white t-shirt and jeans.
The patient, on the other hand, was something else. He was pristine looking – not a hair out of place – yet his purple shirt was torn all over. His hands, arms and upper body were covered – as previously described – with a crust of dried blood. He sat up, with his legs crossed in front of him, his hands held in a zen-like pinch as if meditating. Yet his eyes were open, staring directly at Victor.
Suddenly, his want to impress Jenny had subsided.
"Mr…. Collins, is it?"
"Oh, Doctor Ryder – I’m afraid that I may have mislead you on that silly little form. My apologies, but I have a feeling my real name might be on a watch list or two.."
"Wait… ."
Ryder moved closer to the patient and looked closer – then he looked over at the woman and then the older man. Quickly he stepped backwards.
"I know you… You’re… You’re Gabriel Baal"
"Doctor…"
"What?"
Gabriel jumped to his feet and stood nose to nose with Victor Ryder. He smiled out the corner of his mouth before lowering his lips
"My name is Doctor Gabriel Baal. They never did manage to take away the PhD..."
He smiled as he looked towards the woman, with a grin on his face. She giggled like a schoolgirl as she leant towards him and pressed a kiss against his lips. A moment later, he’d hopped back up onto the bed and crossed his legs.
"What in the hell are you doing here? You know what, I don’t even care. I’m calling security.”
"You could, Doctor Ryder. However, I would recommend against it. Solomon…"
Gabriel turned his head, not enough to face the older man, but enough to ensure his instructions were followed. Solomon pulled from his pocket what looked like some kind of detonator – Victor’s heart beat doubled in seconds – was this just a psycho with a bomb belt, or did he have the entire hospital rigged. Either way, he couldn’t risk making a run for it. Jenny’s eyes were wide now as Lilith slowly beckoned her into the cubicle.
"There are four explosives strategically placed at weak points around this buildin’. As soon as he gives me any signal, I’ll blow the fuckin’ place… Understand?"
Solomon held the detonator like it was nothing – commonplace.
"What he means to say is that it would probably be a good idea for you to take a seat. I’m here because I want to talk – and you’re the lucky winner of today’s star prize. We all know how we like to put your own safety above that of your patients, but even you couldn’t get out of here before… Well… Kaboom!"
Baal made an explosive gesture with his hands. He then feigned people running around screaming and crying
"Argh, help me. It burns, it burns! Where's my leg gone? Argh!"
He let out a small chuckle before crossing his legs with his elbows resting on his knees. Jenny was sat in front of the women now, quivering as her hair was caressed and massaged by the woman stood behind her.
"What do you want?"
It appeared Gabriel wasn’t all that sure – it was if he really had just wandered in off the streets and happened upon a man who had once been the only thing stood between Gabriel and… Her. Baal seemed suddenly intrigued by his own fingers as he moved them backwards and forwards like a fan.
"That is an interesting question – I would suppose that’s all a matter of perspective."
Victor tried really, really hard not to roll his eyes – yet it was so difficult. He looked up at Solomon who seemed to know.
"I mean, if you’re asking what do I want from life? Well that’s simple. World domination, riches beyond my wildest dreams and a way for all of my enemies to die a slow painful death that doesn’t end with me going to prison.."
Baal let out a grunt of laughter. He was still infatuated by his own digits.
"You know what I mean, Gabriel. I want to know why you’ve come here and I want to know now.."
"I know exactly what you meant, doctor – I’m merely jesting. You wish to know what is it that ails me – you want to know what malady could have led me to your door. You’d like to know if I’m down with the sickness?"
This guy was nuts – take the blood out of the equation and he was still fucking nuts.
"No – I honestly couldn’t care less what is wrong with you. I want to know what made you come to see me, what made you come to find me. Why the fuck are you here?"
The cuss dropped in volume – as if Victor was trying to hide the fact that he was swearing loudly on a full ward of patients.
"I’m here, dear Victor, because you and I have business – and as always, you weren’t returning my calls.”
"What calls? I’ve not had any calls?"
Gabriel looked to Lilith and then to Solomon…
"Have… Have I been hallucinating again? Well that’s inconvenient… Still, the my point remains the same. We have business."
Victor felt tense, his eyes couldn’t help but dart towards Solomon’s jacket pocket, within which lay the very device that prevented him from merely walking away. He waited and waited – but he’d been told before. Gabriel would never break – he would wait for your reply until you could feel his stare burning to your very core.
"What business?"
"Thank you Victor – that silence was becoming quite awkward. I feared I would have to do something terrible."
He smiled, before continuing.
"Two thousand sixteen – I assume you remember that year."
"How could I forget?"
He knew that, perhaps, his snarky reply would potentially provoke the good doctor, but he didn’t care. Gabriel was playing games, as he always had. To be clear – they’d never met in person. Not one on one anyway. He was more like a spectre that haunted the very being of those Victor had wanted to help. Help which had gotten him into this mess.
Jenny’s eyes were focused on Victor – he tried to wordlessly tell her that everything was going to be alright. He wasn’t sure if a look could lie, but he did everything he could to tell that lie with his eyes.
"What do you want,?"
He repeated the question of his captor, whilst still looking at Jenny.
”You’re not an effective listener – did they not teach you that at Medical school? It was one of the first things I learnt. Well, no, I tell a lie – one of the first things I learnt was that it’s so much easier to get good grades if you can obtain sordid pictures of your lecturers."
He let out a laugh, which was shared by the woman – the man, not so much. He looked like a man who hadn’t laughed in a long, long time.
"Oh wait… How rude of me– I’ve not introduced my family. Firstly – I would like to introduce you to the eggs in my Benedict, the twist in my shout, the beluga to my caviar…"
The female stopped her caressing of Jenny’s hair and snapped a look in Gabriel’s direction – she pouted.
"Did you just call me a whale?"
"Of course not my dear – please try not to fixate on less than salient details."
He rolled his eyes at his wife.
"This is my wife – Lilith."
He flicked his hand absently in the direction of the old guy.
And this charming, if not offensively stern looking individual is Solomon."
He grunted something that sounded like “fuck you” at Gabriel before leaning against the wall. Lilith had returned to her previous task of, somewhat oddly, taking out Jenny’s pony tail. She then began the task of making what he could only describe as the first of what could become several tiny plaits.
"And of course – you know who I am. Well, the name Gabriel Baal is how those within my circle know me. And a few million fans of professional wrestling of course. You will, however, have heard of me under another name. For now, that will remain a secret – I’m not sure I can trust you with that much information – you have quite the reputation as a blabber mouth.."
Victor’s head swam with fury – he almost felt dizzy. This guy… THIS guy, was calling him a blabber mouth? He had no idea what was going on or how he’d found himself in this position. Half an hour ago, he was getting ready to jerk off while two overly attractive twenty something’s swapped bodily fluids, and now he was watching his friend being preened by the nurse from Misery.
"I’m terribly sorry, Doctor… I am being terribly rude – you asked me a question and my answer was somewhat vague, I’m here to talk. If I was a catholic I would go to confession – but seeing as I have no proof of any deity that could listen to, never mind, answer my prayers I fell back on what I know best – medicine. You still remember what it’s like to be a therapist, do you not?"
"And what exactly do you want to talk about?"
He could feel his body almost shaking – he could feel the fury rising from the pit of his stomach. Gabriel Baal was mocking him – making light of all that he’d lost. He couldn’t accept that, he had to do something about this. Solomon – he was the first point of contact. If Victor could get hold of the detonator, he could bring an end to this farce.
Or so he thought. It was at that moment of clarity, that Gabriel changed the game once more. He reached over the edge of the bed into Lilith’s purse. With her tongue pressed against her front teeth, she let out a giddy burst of joy. It was almost orgasmic. When Gabriel withdrew his hand, he was holding an eleven inch hunting knife.
"You know – I used to abhor violence. Of course, it was a means to an end – it helped to get the job done. But Solomon will tell you – once upon a time I would never have felt comfortable holding something like this in my hand. No – Solomon was my weapon, and I wielded him with precision. How many men have you killed for me Solomon?"
The older man stared a hole in Gabriel, but didn’t speak.
"Oh you military types."
He looked back at Victor and lowered his voice, as if Solomon would never be able to hear.
"They’ve killed more people than any of us could ever dream of, yet try to get them to talk about their greatest hits and they clam up. It’s almost as if it was a job, and not a vocation. Never mind – my point is this. If someone had handed me this knife five years ago, I would never have even considered using it. It would have hung on my wall at…"
He trailed off, his jovial look trailing off as he looked off into the distance. Lilith stopped plaiting Jenny’s hair and looked towards Solomon who looked at her, then at Victor, then at Gabriel before stepping away from the wall. Doctor Ryder looked at Baal, but out the corner of his eye he noticed Solomon reaching for something. Suddenly, and without warning, Gabriel seemed to snap out of his momentary lapse.
"Apologies – sometimes the mind wanders. Solomon were you…"
"Yup…."
"Good… Good… Best keep it close by, just in case."
He looked back towards Victor who was sweating profusely – he could feel it dripping down his face. Jenny seemed much calmer – her eyes were shut but a silent tear started to roll down her face.
"I have moments, doctor – moments in which I’m swept up by a kind of rage that terrifies even me. If you knew what I’d done and what I’d seen, you’d know that it takes quite a significant level of terror to register on my scale. But not to worry – I have taken precautions. Should I overstep the mark, Solomon will step in and ensure I am subdued."
Victor felt a pang of hope – all he needed to do would be to provoke Baal into an over-reaction and they would be free. It would be perfect - everyone would be safe…
"He will subdue me and he will ensure this building is destroyed. Just in case you were getting any bright ideas."
His mouth was dry – he was trembling. This man had every angle covered.
"What made you change your mind?"
Doctor Ryder’s question didn’t make much sense – his anger had given way to fear. Between the detonator and the knife, this was becoming a somewhat dangerous meeting.
"Would you mind rephrasing the question?"
"What made you change your mind about that knife? Was it what happened with Rogan Maclean?"
Jenny’s eyes shot open – a look that said “Why the fuck are you talking about the fucking knife you fucking fuck?” seemed to cross her face. He wasn’t sure himself, but somehow he knew it was important.
"We do not talk about him. We do not talk about him ever. That name does not exist in my world and if it did I would burn it with fire-"
"Easy Gabe… Calm down."
Solomon stepped forward but Gabriel waved him away.
"I’m fine, I’m fine… But I think you know, Doctor. I think you know the truth"
Gabriel leaned forward onto his knees and crawled down the bed towards Victor, the grin on his face was terrifying – it was maniacal. It was fucking gleeful.
"I think if you search deep down within your heart you already know, and if not you are surely smart enough to work out. You know what changed me for the better – or should I say… Who."
Victor knew – he’d known since the moment he’d walked in the room – he knew what this entire visit had been about. Yet it wasn’t Gabriel who replied, but Lilith. As she answered the question, Victor saw her knuckles whiten as she gripped a handful of Jenny’s hair in both hands. His friend’s jaw clenched tight and she stifled a cry – it was this pain that was likely the cause of her not hearing Lilith’s answer.
"Eden… Morgan."
Gabriel climbed into his car and let out a meaningful moan – it had been a long time since he’d driven himself anywhere. It would be good to spend some time on his own. Solomon had been left guarding Lilith – her behaviour having been a little erratic since she’d returned to his side. He dropped the roof of the classic DB7, not allowing himself to regret passing up his chance to join MI5 after University, and started his journey.
This would be one hell of a weekend.
"If that’s why you’re here then you’ve wasted a journey. We have nothing to discuss about that."
Gabriel shifted his weight and sat back against the pillows of his bed with his right leg bent up at the knee, his left curled underneath. He held the tip of the hunting blade against his thumb and spun it on it’s axis, drawing a little blood.
"Eden Morgan was one of the most damaged and tortured individuals that I’d ever set eyes on. She was harrowingly beautiful. But you’ve seen that for yourself. Did you feel the same? She was so utterly breath-taking that it’s almost sad to witness? That a beauty can exist in the world without equal, yet will never know just how beautiful they truly are?"
Dr. Ryder looked from Gabriel to Lilith, who seemed unmoved by Baal’s apparent infatuation. The look did not go unnoticed.
"Oh dear lord no – Eden Morgan? She and I would never have been compatible. Too much to analyse – we’d have spent our waking hours arguing about what she was hiding and what I was trying to uncover. No, my interest in Ms. Morgan was only ever professional. A florist knows the beauty of a rose, but is still weary of the thorns. And as you’re well aware, Eden Morgan had thorns, my friend, oh yes."
Gabriel seemed to be in some kind of dream-state where he could see almost every word play out in front of him – as if the images were floating just in front of his face.
"She lost friends, she made enemies – she was part of what many hoped and some even believed was the end of a monster. She took everything that this hellacious creature could throw at her – including but not restricted to the murder of her best friend. She fought, she clawed and she scrapped to end everything about him. I should have known…"
He trailed off, but Solomon didn’t seem concerned – this was obviously not a subject that set him off.
"Yet actions like these change even the most hardened of us, Doctor. If Solomon was willing, I’m sure he’d tell you that he wasn’t born an assassin. He wasn’t born a killer – circumstance makes monsters of us all, and in Ms. Morgan’s case – well – circumstance WAS a monster. She won out in the end, but she was never the same. She was changed – damaged. She was forever hardened to the world."
"I’m well aware of Ms. Morgan was. I was there, remember – I was trying to pull her back from the edge that you constantly tried to push her towards. I was the one who had to drag her back when she made mistakes."
Gabriel paused and closed his eyes for a moment – against his better judgement, Victor had to push on – he wasn’t sure why but he knew there was no other option.
"I did everything I could for that woman – I gave and I gave. I fought for her, I fought against her. I wanted to help her but she was so damn stubborn."
"You and I were the opposite sides of the same coin – pulling her this way and that. Both of us knew that we could cut and run should she stray too far. Little did we know just how devastating she could be. I know you were the first person to speak to her Doctor – after she tried to frame me. I know you gave her advice. You were a dog barking at a car as it passes. You had a lot to say, but in the end your words made no deviation to her path. There’s not really any other way to describe it, Doctor – Eden Morgan was a cu…"
"-ntusion caused by a blunt force trauma."
The loud passing team of doctors working on a new admission clouded Gabriel’s description. He didn’t seem to notice the commotion on the outside – nor did he seem to care that he was holding what constituted an illegal blade.
"I offered her my help, yet she rebuffed – I understood, though, she had no idea who I was at the time and why would she? My career up until that point had been within the realms of mental health and she hadn’t yet fallen prey to those particular demons. Yet by the time I debuted, the story was much different. She had gone – forced to seek help against her will. And when she returned, she was all shiny like a new penny. That was all because of you, Doctor Ryder. I never quite forgave you for that."
He smiled and looked up at Lilith blowing a kiss in her direction – she smiled a little, and continued making these tiny braids. By this point, Jenny almost appeared zen – her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and steady.
"No shit…"
Ryder’s anger was starting to build again – he couldn’t believe just how many times this man had managed to change his moods. Still, he ignored the rebuff.
"When she returned, she was no longer the angry, hate-filled Eden Morgan of old. She was renewed with a sense of purpose – to right the wrongs that she had caused during her malaise. She’d embarked on quite the “tour” of her own."
He emphasised the word tour with air quotations, and appeared to suddenly hate himself for doing so. He wiped his hands on the bedclothes as if to wash away the stench.
"Eden Morgan was making amends for manipulation, blackmail, violence amongst other things – and the victims were some of the very men who had helped her rid her world of that demon that had plagued her nightmares. Yet now she was kind? She was heartfelt and apologetic? She was… fixed. No, no, no – Doctor – as you’re well aware, afflictions of the mind are never truly healed, yet here she was claiming that she was a changed woman. Despite your best attempts to the contrary, my friend, I laid waste to that notion. "
Doctor Ryder knew this story, inside and out – he’d lived it. Yet while Gabriel talked, they were all safe. While he talked, there was the chance they’d all get out alive. He sat up straight and twirled the knife around like it wasn’t even there
"I know I pushed her, Doctor. I know that at times I maybe went a little far. But I can assure you it’s nowhere near as far as I could have gone. I just wanted to confuse her. I just wanted to make her think. I wanted to force her to show her true self – I had no idea just how far she would go."
Gabriel leaned forward again, like friend telling a secret.
"What you need to understand, is that despite the open and honest nature that I have today, I wasn’t quite so forward with my less than scrupulous dealings back then. My dear Lilith here fed word of said dealings to Ms. Morgan who tried to leak them. Long story short, the plan backfired and she was left looking like a devious little pric…"
"-kling sensation down the back of his knees, which is a good sign – it means he’s not lost feeling completely."
"Wait – you mean she was telling the truth? I tried to have her locked back up because of that and all the time she was being honest? You’re a psychopath!"
Baal leaped forward, gripping Victor by the collar and forcing him down onto the bed – he held the knife close to his face.
"Do you want to see a real psychopath, Victor? You know nothing. You think your little bevey of broken toys were insane – you have no idea what true madness is really like. I’ve witnessed it, I’ve lived it… I could peel your face off and wear it like a mask and I wouldn’t shed a tear for your pain. Yet I’m not even the tip of the iceberg compared to what I’ve seen from others."
A moment later, Gabriel had let go. He swept past Lilith planting a kiss on her cheek. He sat back down on the bed, and once again, continued as if nothing had happened.
"We fought at In Your House and as far as she was concerned that was to be it – the chapter entitled Eden and Gabriel was to be closed. But what you and her and everyone else failed to understand was that I never planned on trying to hurt her – not really. I just wanted her to embrace her true self. She was never the evil she-beast of two thousand fifteen, but neither was she the show-pony of twenty sixteen. No, Ms. Morgan was somewhere in between. She was feisty and furious, yet caring and calm. She was vengeful and merciful in equal measure – she was everything I required in a Queen for the kingdom I would build."
"But nooooooo… Little miss goody two shoes was two good for Gabriel – she just had to go her own way."
"And unfortunately, that upset Lilith – and when Lilith is upset well – suffice to say, that chapter was merely the Epilogue. What came next was the true story. A story of pain and suffering, a story of anger and venom – a story of two people with so much bile and hate for one another that they could almost have been in love. Eden and I would have ruled UGWC…”
A dawning realisation seemed to cross his face.
”Strike that, Eden and I would have ruled the entire world - yet she was too stubborn to realise. So instead, she set about a campaign to take away everything I’ve ever loved."
"It’s not like she’s alone in that, right? You tried to do your best to bring her down too. And yeah, alright – she had it tough for a while. People didn’t trust her, people didn’t like her. But me? I was caught in the middle. And look at me now? Sat here talking to you in this place on New Years. And it’s all because of you."
Gabriel feigned shock and upset at the sentiment.
"Excuse me, I think you’ll find I stepped in to prevent your medical licence being taken away. I merely suggested it would be for the best if you didn’t screw up any more patients by being a psychiatrist. Besides – you were adequately compensated for the inconvenience. It wasn’t even me who turned you in."
Doctor Ryder let out a burst of derisive laughter, before shaking his head.
"Yeah – I know. That’s why I hate her too."
And she’d done it out of spite – turned her back on him, all because he’d done his job. This was what you got for caring in a world like this. A kick in the teeth and a divorce.
"Less of your self pity – Eden Morgan took away every reason I had be a legitimate businessman. She took away my friends, she took away my contacts, she took away my family and she took away my facility."
He stopped for a second and closed his eyes, but held up a hand to Solomon to tell him that everything was alright.
"But you have to look on the bright side. Look for the silver lining. She removed every distraction and left me in a world where anything would go. Of course, I couldn’t face the world as my true self – Gabriel Baal, professional wrestler. How would that be possible? As soon as I arrived in the building I would be arrested on the spot. No, Eden Morgan made me realise that to be the best you can possibly be, you really do have to hide what you really are. She made me see that. Which is why from that day forward, the day I watched my world burn around my ears I knew that I needed to become something different – I knew I needed to become…"
"Gabriel…"
Solomon’s tone was warning. Baal held up his hand again, silencing his hired gun. Lilith reached out and placed her hand on his arm – a hint of pleading in how she tugged at his ragged sleeve. He refused to look at her.
"I knew, I needed to become The Facade."
Victor’s eyes opened wide with shock – he’d heard that name. It was a synonymous name. The name of a terrible and feared entity in the criminal world. He’d seen the symbol, burned into victims over the years. Yet now it all made sense – The Façade’s followers were said to be brain-washed. Forced to do the bidding of their unknown leader – this was Gabriel Baal all over. He was surprised no-one had seen it before.
Or had they?
As he flew down I90, Gabriel couldn’t help but think about the opportunities he’d missed over the years. He’d turned down so many good deals that would have meant he was richer now than he’d ever been. He’d refused though – unwilling to risk the stature of his legitimate front. Angelfields was his number one priority, and even when a member of the order had described a scenario wherein Baal would control a number of outlying criminal gangs using his powers of persuasion, he could hide behind a nickname – a façade.
Once again, Gabriel had declined, knowing that he couldn’t chance looking everything he’d worked for. Still, it didn’t hurt to wonder what could have been.
Victor tried to settle his nerves – this was a man who was used to doing the wrong thing and not getting caught. He tried to imagine how many of the people in this hospital were his and how many were in danger. He had no way of escaping.
"The day my World fell apart, I understood the truth of what it meant to be thankful. Eden Morgan made me than man I am today – and in turn, she was the architect every… single… woe that I’ve caused ever since. I’d never killed a man until after the sky fell – I’d claimed to, but I never had. It was lie I told to make people fear me, and then I realised that true fear would come from true deeds. The first time I carved open the throat of another living thing, I laughed, doctor, I laughed out loud."
Victor was getting worried – this conversation was becoming more and more unhinged by the second. His eyes flicked to Solomon who seemed to be more interested with picking bits from between his teeth. He flicked over towards Lilith who let out a cry of excitement.
"Baby! Look! I’m done! She looks just like Medusa!"
Gabriel started to laugh as he looked all around Jenny’s now oddly adorned head. Ryder had to admit that these small, twisted braids managed to oddly resemble snakes – he just wished she could open up her eyes and turn them all to stone.
"My Lilith wanted a sister – someone she could talk to, bond with. She wanted a woman who would stand by my side during the day, and step aside at night. You have to understand that none of this was necessary – if Eden had merely accepted my offer we would both be in a better place – YOU would be in a better place. Likely in the on call room with this little minx, am I right?"
He reached out for an awkward looking fist bump – Victor reluctantly responded in kind with a shaky fist. Lilith giggled.
"If you always shake like that I can see why she likes you."
The giggle became a cackle, which was silenced with a look from Baal.
"Alas, Doctor – here we are. You, and Jenny, and Lilith and I… It’s like a double date. With a grouchy old chaperone. But I suppose you’ve had enough of me talking, talking, talking – we’re back to your original question. Why am I here?”
Victor’s hands were shaking now – the end was near he could feel it. This was it.
"I’m here to offer you an opportunity, Doctor Ryder. My new facility will open soon and it’s – shall I say – not exactly legitimate. I require good people to help me with my work. Intelligent people. Like-minded people. We were both burned, Doctor. Burned by her gaze, by her touch. We both lost everything we’d ever worked for and how she’s somewhere, living her life as if she’d never met us. I intend to extend my gratitude, Doctor – for everything she gave me and for everything she took away. Will you help me?"
Victor couldn’t believe his ears – help? Gabriel Baal was asking for help. Of course, his dislike of Eden Morgan could cause a seriously damaged person to believe that he would forget everything that Baal had done, but still – was he really that unhinged?
"Look – I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. But I’m sorry – there is no way I could be part of your world. Not again. I wouldn’t get myself mixed up in all of that again. I’ve had enough. And if that means you have to kill me? Then so be it."
Gabriel smiled and climbed to his feet. He walked towards Doctor Ryder and placed the tip of the knife against his cheek.
"I have to respect your wishes, sir. I’m nothing if not a man of my word. I asked for you ehlp, I did not demand it and it is your prerogative to refuse it. Thank you for your time, Victor – it was wonderful to see you. We should do this again some time. Lilith, Saul – time we were gone."
Was… That it? They were leaving… Gabriel climbed to his feet and pulled on a leather jacket that Victor had never even seen. Lilith leaned forward and placed a kiss on the side of Jenny’s cheek.
"You were wonderful, sweetie."
As Gabriel reached the curtain, something gripped Victor. The sudden urge to ask a question – one that had burned in him for years and years.
"What happened that day? At the end? With you and Eden."
Gabriel stopped, his hand on the edge of the curtain, as his head dipped. He slowly turned on the stop, an odd grin on his face and a burning in his eyes.
"Oh Victor… You were so close."
And then the world went black.
He had a chill – In Your House was one of, if not the biggest night of his career. Sure, he’d taken on Travis Roberts – but he’d been an unknown quantity. This time, he was the Champion, the favourite – he had to be on top of his game. Time for words were over, the time for talking was done – he’d said everything he needed to say. Time now was for focus.
Doctor Ryder slowly opened his eyes feeling groggy – he tried to lift his hand to his head, but couldn’t move. His eyes darted around, except they didn’t – they stared straight up at the ceiling. He could breathe, but he couldn’t move. It was an eerie feeling. His eyes focused on the ceiling – it wasn’t the same as the hospital. It was metallic and grey, like a storage unit or a warehouse. He tried to call out but it was impossible – as every second passed, the fear gripped him deeper.
"Good morning sunshine."
It was Lilith’s voice – and then she was stood over him, looking down into his eyes. She had mascara running down her face, and lipstick smudged across her mouth. She was smiling now, though, as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"He’ll be here any minute – so I just wanted to take a minute to tell you that none of this is personal to me. I’m here to make everything comfortable for you. I’m here to make everything hurt less than he wants it to. That’s my job. To try and take the pain away."
She pressed her lips against his forehead and started to laugh.
"But I’m not very goo-ood."
Her sing-song reply felt like an icy dagger to his heart. She backed away, as the sound of a sliding metallic door cut through her maddening laughter. Slow, slow footsteps before the grinning face of Gabriel Baal slid into view.
"Welcome… To Demonsacre. Shall we begin?"
Gabriel fired off a DM to Rogan to remind him that they were going to meet up later that night to talk strategy. He felt good. His dinner with Ms. Morgan had set a flame burning inside him and that night he and Lilith had enjoyed one of the most mutually satisfying evenings that he could remember. He felt happy and content and as he looked down at the Cross-Hemisphere Championship on his passenger he could only see greatness in his future. He looked up at the sign that signalled his entrance to the town in which this Monday’s In Your Hands event would be held.
"Sturgis, South Carolina… Please allow me to introduce myself."
He grinned as the opening rift of the original Rolling Stone’s version began to play.
Now here he was, five years later, on the verge of turning fifty and on call at New Years. That was without the awkward erection due to the on-call fumbling of the attractive nurse from Cardiology and one of the student doctors on the bunk beneath him. How the hell had he ended up like this? He’d been at the top of his field – one of the most noted Psychiatrists in the country. And then he met… Her.
"Doctor Ryder – you in there?"
The door opened and the lights turned on.
"Oh – uh… Sorry. Doctor, we have a new admission and I think you need to take a look."
Jenny, the ER nurse, averted her eyes as the two lovers conscientiously uncoupled, and hid beneath the thin sheet. He tried to think fast, both to pretend he’d just woken up, and to give his area a moment to deflate. He jumped down off the top bunk and walked towards the door – Jenny gave him a searching look. She left the room first, before he turned to face the two youngsters.
"As you were."
He grinned as he clicked off the light, plunging the room into darkness.
"Enjoying yourself?"
He smiled, but his eyes didn’t comply. The years had not been kind to the Doctor. His hair had greyed, there were heavy lids under his eyes and he hadn’t shaved in days. His marriage had broken up not long after he’d left Psychiatry – he’d been alone for some time, but at least he had frends like Jenny.
"This hospitals choice of pornography is not what I would have hoped for."
She shook her head feigning disapproval – but he knew she’d didn’t mind really. They’d often engage in exchanges by which one would try to make the other turn red. She’d managed it once, when she announced in front of the other nurses that she’d given him a handjob at the Christmas party – by all accounts, he’d “looked like he needed it.”
They had remained firm friends – the episode had not changed that fact. He’d thought about going back, but he thought it was unwise – not that he wasn’t attracted to the thirty five year old - it was more out of guilt. She was married with a child. He’d written a thousand text messages to arrange them meeting up outside of work – not a single one had been sent. He’d made a mistake and it was something he didn’t want to repeat. He didn’t want to lose a friend, and he didn’t want his friend to lose her family. It was that’s simple. Plus he’d never plucked up the courage to ask how she explained away him having Monica Lewinski’d her cocktail dress.
"So what exactly was so important that you needed to drag me away from the live sex show?"
"I’m not entirely sure I can explain it – it’s one of those things that you need to see to believe."
He furrowed his brow – this was unusual she’d seen a lot in her time. Despite her relatively young age, she’d been a nurse for fifteen years, almost all of it in ER. He couldn’t imagine anything that she hadn’t seen. She noticed the look on his face and smiled mischievously.
"Don’t look so scared, Vic – we both know you can handle anything."
He smiled – she was stroking his ego, if nothing else. He knew what she was doing – she had a way of telling him what he needed to hear. This was a patient she was interested in, and she wanted to make sure they found out his story.
"Alright what do we have?"
She bounced on the balls of her feet a little, in that way she did when she was excited, before she pulled a chart up onto the desk in front of her.
"Mr. Daniel Collins - Male, thirty nine years of age, British."
"British?"
Well that was odd, of course – but hardly heart stopping. Was it the accent? Was she sweet on this guy and wanted to find out more about him? Victor inhaled deeply, fearing the worst. Was he about to be the wingman at the beginning of a budding affair with a patient?
"Did I stutter? Yes, hes British – it’s odd. He sounds all pompous, but the way he talks is… Different. Anyway, he’s here with two people – a guy, in his mid-fifties, and a girl – she’s in her late twenties, early thirties? She’s weird… Like, really weird."
He liked weird…. Wait, no – she was with the patient.
"What’s he been admitted with?"
"That’s what’s odd – he’s covered in dried blood, but as best we can tell he’s not got any cuts or wounds at all.
"As best we can tell? The hell does that mean?"
"They won’t let us touch him – not yet. They said we can touch him when he says we can touch him."
"No – if he wants treating then we treat him, he wants to screw around then we call security."
She grinned up at him, really looking like she appreciated his bad ass attitude. For some reason, he felt the need to try and impress her. He picked up the chart and walked towards the allocated cubicle and pulled back the curtain. He wasn’t quite expecting what he saw.
To the right of the bed was one of the most stunning women he’d ever seen – porcelain skin, and jet black hair that fell to her shoulders. She had her hand lazy draped over the patients shoulder. To the left of the bed stood a worn and weary looking man, with a sheepskin coat covering a white t-shirt and jeans.
The patient, on the other hand, was something else. He was pristine looking – not a hair out of place – yet his purple shirt was torn all over. His hands, arms and upper body were covered – as previously described – with a crust of dried blood. He sat up, with his legs crossed in front of him, his hands held in a zen-like pinch as if meditating. Yet his eyes were open, staring directly at Victor.
Suddenly, his want to impress Jenny had subsided.
"Mr…. Collins, is it?"
"Oh, Doctor Ryder – I’m afraid that I may have mislead you on that silly little form. My apologies, but I have a feeling my real name might be on a watch list or two.."
"Wait… ."
Ryder moved closer to the patient and looked closer – then he looked over at the woman and then the older man. Quickly he stepped backwards.
"I know you… You’re… You’re Gabriel Baal"
"Doctor…"
"What?"
Gabriel jumped to his feet and stood nose to nose with Victor Ryder. He smiled out the corner of his mouth before lowering his lips
"My name is Doctor Gabriel Baal. They never did manage to take away the PhD..."
He smiled as he looked towards the woman, with a grin on his face. She giggled like a schoolgirl as she leant towards him and pressed a kiss against his lips. A moment later, he’d hopped back up onto the bed and crossed his legs.
"What in the hell are you doing here? You know what, I don’t even care. I’m calling security.”
"You could, Doctor Ryder. However, I would recommend against it. Solomon…"
Gabriel turned his head, not enough to face the older man, but enough to ensure his instructions were followed. Solomon pulled from his pocket what looked like some kind of detonator – Victor’s heart beat doubled in seconds – was this just a psycho with a bomb belt, or did he have the entire hospital rigged. Either way, he couldn’t risk making a run for it. Jenny’s eyes were wide now as Lilith slowly beckoned her into the cubicle.
"There are four explosives strategically placed at weak points around this buildin’. As soon as he gives me any signal, I’ll blow the fuckin’ place… Understand?"
Solomon held the detonator like it was nothing – commonplace.
"What he means to say is that it would probably be a good idea for you to take a seat. I’m here because I want to talk – and you’re the lucky winner of today’s star prize. We all know how we like to put your own safety above that of your patients, but even you couldn’t get out of here before… Well… Kaboom!"
Baal made an explosive gesture with his hands. He then feigned people running around screaming and crying
"Argh, help me. It burns, it burns! Where's my leg gone? Argh!"
He let out a small chuckle before crossing his legs with his elbows resting on his knees. Jenny was sat in front of the women now, quivering as her hair was caressed and massaged by the woman stood behind her.
"What do you want?"
It appeared Gabriel wasn’t all that sure – it was if he really had just wandered in off the streets and happened upon a man who had once been the only thing stood between Gabriel and… Her. Baal seemed suddenly intrigued by his own fingers as he moved them backwards and forwards like a fan.
"That is an interesting question – I would suppose that’s all a matter of perspective."
Victor tried really, really hard not to roll his eyes – yet it was so difficult. He looked up at Solomon who seemed to know.
"I mean, if you’re asking what do I want from life? Well that’s simple. World domination, riches beyond my wildest dreams and a way for all of my enemies to die a slow painful death that doesn’t end with me going to prison.."
Baal let out a grunt of laughter. He was still infatuated by his own digits.
"You know what I mean, Gabriel. I want to know why you’ve come here and I want to know now.."
"I know exactly what you meant, doctor – I’m merely jesting. You wish to know what is it that ails me – you want to know what malady could have led me to your door. You’d like to know if I’m down with the sickness?"
This guy was nuts – take the blood out of the equation and he was still fucking nuts.
"No – I honestly couldn’t care less what is wrong with you. I want to know what made you come to see me, what made you come to find me. Why the fuck are you here?"
The cuss dropped in volume – as if Victor was trying to hide the fact that he was swearing loudly on a full ward of patients.
"I’m here, dear Victor, because you and I have business – and as always, you weren’t returning my calls.”
"What calls? I’ve not had any calls?"
Gabriel looked to Lilith and then to Solomon…
"Have… Have I been hallucinating again? Well that’s inconvenient… Still, the my point remains the same. We have business."
Victor felt tense, his eyes couldn’t help but dart towards Solomon’s jacket pocket, within which lay the very device that prevented him from merely walking away. He waited and waited – but he’d been told before. Gabriel would never break – he would wait for your reply until you could feel his stare burning to your very core.
"What business?"
"Thank you Victor – that silence was becoming quite awkward. I feared I would have to do something terrible."
He smiled, before continuing.
"Two thousand sixteen – I assume you remember that year."
"How could I forget?"
He knew that, perhaps, his snarky reply would potentially provoke the good doctor, but he didn’t care. Gabriel was playing games, as he always had. To be clear – they’d never met in person. Not one on one anyway. He was more like a spectre that haunted the very being of those Victor had wanted to help. Help which had gotten him into this mess.
Jenny’s eyes were focused on Victor – he tried to wordlessly tell her that everything was going to be alright. He wasn’t sure if a look could lie, but he did everything he could to tell that lie with his eyes.
"What do you want,?"
He repeated the question of his captor, whilst still looking at Jenny.
”You’re not an effective listener – did they not teach you that at Medical school? It was one of the first things I learnt. Well, no, I tell a lie – one of the first things I learnt was that it’s so much easier to get good grades if you can obtain sordid pictures of your lecturers."
He let out a laugh, which was shared by the woman – the man, not so much. He looked like a man who hadn’t laughed in a long, long time.
"Oh wait… How rude of me– I’ve not introduced my family. Firstly – I would like to introduce you to the eggs in my Benedict, the twist in my shout, the beluga to my caviar…"
The female stopped her caressing of Jenny’s hair and snapped a look in Gabriel’s direction – she pouted.
"Did you just call me a whale?"
"Of course not my dear – please try not to fixate on less than salient details."
He rolled his eyes at his wife.
"This is my wife – Lilith."
He flicked his hand absently in the direction of the old guy.
And this charming, if not offensively stern looking individual is Solomon."
He grunted something that sounded like “fuck you” at Gabriel before leaning against the wall. Lilith had returned to her previous task of, somewhat oddly, taking out Jenny’s pony tail. She then began the task of making what he could only describe as the first of what could become several tiny plaits.
"And of course – you know who I am. Well, the name Gabriel Baal is how those within my circle know me. And a few million fans of professional wrestling of course. You will, however, have heard of me under another name. For now, that will remain a secret – I’m not sure I can trust you with that much information – you have quite the reputation as a blabber mouth.."
Victor’s head swam with fury – he almost felt dizzy. This guy… THIS guy, was calling him a blabber mouth? He had no idea what was going on or how he’d found himself in this position. Half an hour ago, he was getting ready to jerk off while two overly attractive twenty something’s swapped bodily fluids, and now he was watching his friend being preened by the nurse from Misery.
"I’m terribly sorry, Doctor… I am being terribly rude – you asked me a question and my answer was somewhat vague, I’m here to talk. If I was a catholic I would go to confession – but seeing as I have no proof of any deity that could listen to, never mind, answer my prayers I fell back on what I know best – medicine. You still remember what it’s like to be a therapist, do you not?"
"And what exactly do you want to talk about?"
He could feel his body almost shaking – he could feel the fury rising from the pit of his stomach. Gabriel Baal was mocking him – making light of all that he’d lost. He couldn’t accept that, he had to do something about this. Solomon – he was the first point of contact. If Victor could get hold of the detonator, he could bring an end to this farce.
Or so he thought. It was at that moment of clarity, that Gabriel changed the game once more. He reached over the edge of the bed into Lilith’s purse. With her tongue pressed against her front teeth, she let out a giddy burst of joy. It was almost orgasmic. When Gabriel withdrew his hand, he was holding an eleven inch hunting knife.
"You know – I used to abhor violence. Of course, it was a means to an end – it helped to get the job done. But Solomon will tell you – once upon a time I would never have felt comfortable holding something like this in my hand. No – Solomon was my weapon, and I wielded him with precision. How many men have you killed for me Solomon?"
The older man stared a hole in Gabriel, but didn’t speak.
"Oh you military types."
He looked back at Victor and lowered his voice, as if Solomon would never be able to hear.
"They’ve killed more people than any of us could ever dream of, yet try to get them to talk about their greatest hits and they clam up. It’s almost as if it was a job, and not a vocation. Never mind – my point is this. If someone had handed me this knife five years ago, I would never have even considered using it. It would have hung on my wall at…"
He trailed off, his jovial look trailing off as he looked off into the distance. Lilith stopped plaiting Jenny’s hair and looked towards Solomon who looked at her, then at Victor, then at Gabriel before stepping away from the wall. Doctor Ryder looked at Baal, but out the corner of his eye he noticed Solomon reaching for something. Suddenly, and without warning, Gabriel seemed to snap out of his momentary lapse.
"Apologies – sometimes the mind wanders. Solomon were you…"
"Yup…."
"Good… Good… Best keep it close by, just in case."
He looked back towards Victor who was sweating profusely – he could feel it dripping down his face. Jenny seemed much calmer – her eyes were shut but a silent tear started to roll down her face.
"I have moments, doctor – moments in which I’m swept up by a kind of rage that terrifies even me. If you knew what I’d done and what I’d seen, you’d know that it takes quite a significant level of terror to register on my scale. But not to worry – I have taken precautions. Should I overstep the mark, Solomon will step in and ensure I am subdued."
Victor felt a pang of hope – all he needed to do would be to provoke Baal into an over-reaction and they would be free. It would be perfect - everyone would be safe…
"He will subdue me and he will ensure this building is destroyed. Just in case you were getting any bright ideas."
His mouth was dry – he was trembling. This man had every angle covered.
"What made you change your mind?"
Doctor Ryder’s question didn’t make much sense – his anger had given way to fear. Between the detonator and the knife, this was becoming a somewhat dangerous meeting.
"Would you mind rephrasing the question?"
"What made you change your mind about that knife? Was it what happened with Rogan Maclean?"
Jenny’s eyes shot open – a look that said “Why the fuck are you talking about the fucking knife you fucking fuck?” seemed to cross her face. He wasn’t sure himself, but somehow he knew it was important.
"We do not talk about him. We do not talk about him ever. That name does not exist in my world and if it did I would burn it with fire-"
"Easy Gabe… Calm down."
Solomon stepped forward but Gabriel waved him away.
"I’m fine, I’m fine… But I think you know, Doctor. I think you know the truth"
Gabriel leaned forward onto his knees and crawled down the bed towards Victor, the grin on his face was terrifying – it was maniacal. It was fucking gleeful.
"I think if you search deep down within your heart you already know, and if not you are surely smart enough to work out. You know what changed me for the better – or should I say… Who."
Victor knew – he’d known since the moment he’d walked in the room – he knew what this entire visit had been about. Yet it wasn’t Gabriel who replied, but Lilith. As she answered the question, Victor saw her knuckles whiten as she gripped a handful of Jenny’s hair in both hands. His friend’s jaw clenched tight and she stifled a cry – it was this pain that was likely the cause of her not hearing Lilith’s answer.
"Eden… Morgan."
Gabriel climbed into his car and let out a meaningful moan – it had been a long time since he’d driven himself anywhere. It would be good to spend some time on his own. Solomon had been left guarding Lilith – her behaviour having been a little erratic since she’d returned to his side. He dropped the roof of the classic DB7, not allowing himself to regret passing up his chance to join MI5 after University, and started his journey.
This would be one hell of a weekend.
Tonight I'm gonna have myself a real good time
I feel alive and the world I'll turn it inside out - yeah
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now, don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time
I feel alive and the world I'll turn it inside out - yeah
And floating around in ecstasy
So don't stop me now, don't stop me
'Cause I'm having a good time, having a good time
"If that’s why you’re here then you’ve wasted a journey. We have nothing to discuss about that."
Gabriel shifted his weight and sat back against the pillows of his bed with his right leg bent up at the knee, his left curled underneath. He held the tip of the hunting blade against his thumb and spun it on it’s axis, drawing a little blood.
"Eden Morgan was one of the most damaged and tortured individuals that I’d ever set eyes on. She was harrowingly beautiful. But you’ve seen that for yourself. Did you feel the same? She was so utterly breath-taking that it’s almost sad to witness? That a beauty can exist in the world without equal, yet will never know just how beautiful they truly are?"
Dr. Ryder looked from Gabriel to Lilith, who seemed unmoved by Baal’s apparent infatuation. The look did not go unnoticed.
"Oh dear lord no – Eden Morgan? She and I would never have been compatible. Too much to analyse – we’d have spent our waking hours arguing about what she was hiding and what I was trying to uncover. No, my interest in Ms. Morgan was only ever professional. A florist knows the beauty of a rose, but is still weary of the thorns. And as you’re well aware, Eden Morgan had thorns, my friend, oh yes."
Gabriel seemed to be in some kind of dream-state where he could see almost every word play out in front of him – as if the images were floating just in front of his face.
"She lost friends, she made enemies – she was part of what many hoped and some even believed was the end of a monster. She took everything that this hellacious creature could throw at her – including but not restricted to the murder of her best friend. She fought, she clawed and she scrapped to end everything about him. I should have known…"
He trailed off, but Solomon didn’t seem concerned – this was obviously not a subject that set him off.
"Yet actions like these change even the most hardened of us, Doctor. If Solomon was willing, I’m sure he’d tell you that he wasn’t born an assassin. He wasn’t born a killer – circumstance makes monsters of us all, and in Ms. Morgan’s case – well – circumstance WAS a monster. She won out in the end, but she was never the same. She was changed – damaged. She was forever hardened to the world."
"I’m well aware of Ms. Morgan was. I was there, remember – I was trying to pull her back from the edge that you constantly tried to push her towards. I was the one who had to drag her back when she made mistakes."
Gabriel paused and closed his eyes for a moment – against his better judgement, Victor had to push on – he wasn’t sure why but he knew there was no other option.
"I did everything I could for that woman – I gave and I gave. I fought for her, I fought against her. I wanted to help her but she was so damn stubborn."
"You and I were the opposite sides of the same coin – pulling her this way and that. Both of us knew that we could cut and run should she stray too far. Little did we know just how devastating she could be. I know you were the first person to speak to her Doctor – after she tried to frame me. I know you gave her advice. You were a dog barking at a car as it passes. You had a lot to say, but in the end your words made no deviation to her path. There’s not really any other way to describe it, Doctor – Eden Morgan was a cu…"
"-ntusion caused by a blunt force trauma."
The loud passing team of doctors working on a new admission clouded Gabriel’s description. He didn’t seem to notice the commotion on the outside – nor did he seem to care that he was holding what constituted an illegal blade.
"I offered her my help, yet she rebuffed – I understood, though, she had no idea who I was at the time and why would she? My career up until that point had been within the realms of mental health and she hadn’t yet fallen prey to those particular demons. Yet by the time I debuted, the story was much different. She had gone – forced to seek help against her will. And when she returned, she was all shiny like a new penny. That was all because of you, Doctor Ryder. I never quite forgave you for that."
He smiled and looked up at Lilith blowing a kiss in her direction – she smiled a little, and continued making these tiny braids. By this point, Jenny almost appeared zen – her eyes were closed and her breathing was slow and steady.
"No shit…"
Ryder’s anger was starting to build again – he couldn’t believe just how many times this man had managed to change his moods. Still, he ignored the rebuff.
"When she returned, she was no longer the angry, hate-filled Eden Morgan of old. She was renewed with a sense of purpose – to right the wrongs that she had caused during her malaise. She’d embarked on quite the “tour” of her own."
He emphasised the word tour with air quotations, and appeared to suddenly hate himself for doing so. He wiped his hands on the bedclothes as if to wash away the stench.
"Eden Morgan was making amends for manipulation, blackmail, violence amongst other things – and the victims were some of the very men who had helped her rid her world of that demon that had plagued her nightmares. Yet now she was kind? She was heartfelt and apologetic? She was… fixed. No, no, no – Doctor – as you’re well aware, afflictions of the mind are never truly healed, yet here she was claiming that she was a changed woman. Despite your best attempts to the contrary, my friend, I laid waste to that notion. "
Doctor Ryder knew this story, inside and out – he’d lived it. Yet while Gabriel talked, they were all safe. While he talked, there was the chance they’d all get out alive. He sat up straight and twirled the knife around like it wasn’t even there
"I know I pushed her, Doctor. I know that at times I maybe went a little far. But I can assure you it’s nowhere near as far as I could have gone. I just wanted to confuse her. I just wanted to make her think. I wanted to force her to show her true self – I had no idea just how far she would go."
Gabriel leaned forward again, like friend telling a secret.
"What you need to understand, is that despite the open and honest nature that I have today, I wasn’t quite so forward with my less than scrupulous dealings back then. My dear Lilith here fed word of said dealings to Ms. Morgan who tried to leak them. Long story short, the plan backfired and she was left looking like a devious little pric…"
"-kling sensation down the back of his knees, which is a good sign – it means he’s not lost feeling completely."
"Wait – you mean she was telling the truth? I tried to have her locked back up because of that and all the time she was being honest? You’re a psychopath!"
Baal leaped forward, gripping Victor by the collar and forcing him down onto the bed – he held the knife close to his face.
"Do you want to see a real psychopath, Victor? You know nothing. You think your little bevey of broken toys were insane – you have no idea what true madness is really like. I’ve witnessed it, I’ve lived it… I could peel your face off and wear it like a mask and I wouldn’t shed a tear for your pain. Yet I’m not even the tip of the iceberg compared to what I’ve seen from others."
A moment later, Gabriel had let go. He swept past Lilith planting a kiss on her cheek. He sat back down on the bed, and once again, continued as if nothing had happened.
"We fought at In Your House and as far as she was concerned that was to be it – the chapter entitled Eden and Gabriel was to be closed. But what you and her and everyone else failed to understand was that I never planned on trying to hurt her – not really. I just wanted her to embrace her true self. She was never the evil she-beast of two thousand fifteen, but neither was she the show-pony of twenty sixteen. No, Ms. Morgan was somewhere in between. She was feisty and furious, yet caring and calm. She was vengeful and merciful in equal measure – she was everything I required in a Queen for the kingdom I would build."
"But nooooooo… Little miss goody two shoes was two good for Gabriel – she just had to go her own way."
"And unfortunately, that upset Lilith – and when Lilith is upset well – suffice to say, that chapter was merely the Epilogue. What came next was the true story. A story of pain and suffering, a story of anger and venom – a story of two people with so much bile and hate for one another that they could almost have been in love. Eden and I would have ruled UGWC…”
A dawning realisation seemed to cross his face.
”Strike that, Eden and I would have ruled the entire world - yet she was too stubborn to realise. So instead, she set about a campaign to take away everything I’ve ever loved."
"It’s not like she’s alone in that, right? You tried to do your best to bring her down too. And yeah, alright – she had it tough for a while. People didn’t trust her, people didn’t like her. But me? I was caught in the middle. And look at me now? Sat here talking to you in this place on New Years. And it’s all because of you."
Gabriel feigned shock and upset at the sentiment.
"Excuse me, I think you’ll find I stepped in to prevent your medical licence being taken away. I merely suggested it would be for the best if you didn’t screw up any more patients by being a psychiatrist. Besides – you were adequately compensated for the inconvenience. It wasn’t even me who turned you in."
Doctor Ryder let out a burst of derisive laughter, before shaking his head.
"Yeah – I know. That’s why I hate her too."
And she’d done it out of spite – turned her back on him, all because he’d done his job. This was what you got for caring in a world like this. A kick in the teeth and a divorce.
"Less of your self pity – Eden Morgan took away every reason I had be a legitimate businessman. She took away my friends, she took away my contacts, she took away my family and she took away my facility."
He stopped for a second and closed his eyes, but held up a hand to Solomon to tell him that everything was alright.
"But you have to look on the bright side. Look for the silver lining. She removed every distraction and left me in a world where anything would go. Of course, I couldn’t face the world as my true self – Gabriel Baal, professional wrestler. How would that be possible? As soon as I arrived in the building I would be arrested on the spot. No, Eden Morgan made me realise that to be the best you can possibly be, you really do have to hide what you really are. She made me see that. Which is why from that day forward, the day I watched my world burn around my ears I knew that I needed to become something different – I knew I needed to become…"
"Gabriel…"
Solomon’s tone was warning. Baal held up his hand again, silencing his hired gun. Lilith reached out and placed her hand on his arm – a hint of pleading in how she tugged at his ragged sleeve. He refused to look at her.
"I knew, I needed to become The Facade."
Victor’s eyes opened wide with shock – he’d heard that name. It was a synonymous name. The name of a terrible and feared entity in the criminal world. He’d seen the symbol, burned into victims over the years. Yet now it all made sense – The Façade’s followers were said to be brain-washed. Forced to do the bidding of their unknown leader – this was Gabriel Baal all over. He was surprised no-one had seen it before.
Or had they?
As he flew down I90, Gabriel couldn’t help but think about the opportunities he’d missed over the years. He’d turned down so many good deals that would have meant he was richer now than he’d ever been. He’d refused though – unwilling to risk the stature of his legitimate front. Angelfields was his number one priority, and even when a member of the order had described a scenario wherein Baal would control a number of outlying criminal gangs using his powers of persuasion, he could hide behind a nickname – a façade.
Once again, Gabriel had declined, knowing that he couldn’t chance looking everything he’d worked for. Still, it didn’t hurt to wonder what could have been.
How many times have
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way
But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind
You heard someone say
If I had his money
I could do things my way
But little they know
That it's so hard to find
One rich man in ten
With a satisfied mind
Victor tried to settle his nerves – this was a man who was used to doing the wrong thing and not getting caught. He tried to imagine how many of the people in this hospital were his and how many were in danger. He had no way of escaping.
"The day my World fell apart, I understood the truth of what it meant to be thankful. Eden Morgan made me than man I am today – and in turn, she was the architect every… single… woe that I’ve caused ever since. I’d never killed a man until after the sky fell – I’d claimed to, but I never had. It was lie I told to make people fear me, and then I realised that true fear would come from true deeds. The first time I carved open the throat of another living thing, I laughed, doctor, I laughed out loud."
Victor was getting worried – this conversation was becoming more and more unhinged by the second. His eyes flicked to Solomon who seemed to be more interested with picking bits from between his teeth. He flicked over towards Lilith who let out a cry of excitement.
"Baby! Look! I’m done! She looks just like Medusa!"
Gabriel started to laugh as he looked all around Jenny’s now oddly adorned head. Ryder had to admit that these small, twisted braids managed to oddly resemble snakes – he just wished she could open up her eyes and turn them all to stone.
"My Lilith wanted a sister – someone she could talk to, bond with. She wanted a woman who would stand by my side during the day, and step aside at night. You have to understand that none of this was necessary – if Eden had merely accepted my offer we would both be in a better place – YOU would be in a better place. Likely in the on call room with this little minx, am I right?"
He reached out for an awkward looking fist bump – Victor reluctantly responded in kind with a shaky fist. Lilith giggled.
"If you always shake like that I can see why she likes you."
The giggle became a cackle, which was silenced with a look from Baal.
"Alas, Doctor – here we are. You, and Jenny, and Lilith and I… It’s like a double date. With a grouchy old chaperone. But I suppose you’ve had enough of me talking, talking, talking – we’re back to your original question. Why am I here?”
Victor’s hands were shaking now – the end was near he could feel it. This was it.
"I’m here to offer you an opportunity, Doctor Ryder. My new facility will open soon and it’s – shall I say – not exactly legitimate. I require good people to help me with my work. Intelligent people. Like-minded people. We were both burned, Doctor. Burned by her gaze, by her touch. We both lost everything we’d ever worked for and how she’s somewhere, living her life as if she’d never met us. I intend to extend my gratitude, Doctor – for everything she gave me and for everything she took away. Will you help me?"
Victor couldn’t believe his ears – help? Gabriel Baal was asking for help. Of course, his dislike of Eden Morgan could cause a seriously damaged person to believe that he would forget everything that Baal had done, but still – was he really that unhinged?
"Look – I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours. But I’m sorry – there is no way I could be part of your world. Not again. I wouldn’t get myself mixed up in all of that again. I’ve had enough. And if that means you have to kill me? Then so be it."
Gabriel smiled and climbed to his feet. He walked towards Doctor Ryder and placed the tip of the knife against his cheek.
"I have to respect your wishes, sir. I’m nothing if not a man of my word. I asked for you ehlp, I did not demand it and it is your prerogative to refuse it. Thank you for your time, Victor – it was wonderful to see you. We should do this again some time. Lilith, Saul – time we were gone."
Was… That it? They were leaving… Gabriel climbed to his feet and pulled on a leather jacket that Victor had never even seen. Lilith leaned forward and placed a kiss on the side of Jenny’s cheek.
"You were wonderful, sweetie."
As Gabriel reached the curtain, something gripped Victor. The sudden urge to ask a question – one that had burned in him for years and years.
"What happened that day? At the end? With you and Eden."
Gabriel stopped, his hand on the edge of the curtain, as his head dipped. He slowly turned on the stop, an odd grin on his face and a burning in his eyes.
"Oh Victor… You were so close."
And then the world went black.
He had a chill – In Your House was one of, if not the biggest night of his career. Sure, he’d taken on Travis Roberts – but he’d been an unknown quantity. This time, he was the Champion, the favourite – he had to be on top of his game. Time for words were over, the time for talking was done – he’d said everything he needed to say. Time now was for focus.
Take the time to make some sense
Of what you want to say
And cast your words away upon the waves
And sail them home with acquiesce
On a ship of hope today
And as they land upon the shore
Tell them not to fear no more
Say it loud, and sing it proud today
Of what you want to say
And cast your words away upon the waves
And sail them home with acquiesce
On a ship of hope today
And as they land upon the shore
Tell them not to fear no more
Say it loud, and sing it proud today
Doctor Ryder slowly opened his eyes feeling groggy – he tried to lift his hand to his head, but couldn’t move. His eyes darted around, except they didn’t – they stared straight up at the ceiling. He could breathe, but he couldn’t move. It was an eerie feeling. His eyes focused on the ceiling – it wasn’t the same as the hospital. It was metallic and grey, like a storage unit or a warehouse. He tried to call out but it was impossible – as every second passed, the fear gripped him deeper.
"Good morning sunshine."
It was Lilith’s voice – and then she was stood over him, looking down into his eyes. She had mascara running down her face, and lipstick smudged across her mouth. She was smiling now, though, as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"He’ll be here any minute – so I just wanted to take a minute to tell you that none of this is personal to me. I’m here to make everything comfortable for you. I’m here to make everything hurt less than he wants it to. That’s my job. To try and take the pain away."
She pressed her lips against his forehead and started to laugh.
"But I’m not very goo-ood."
Her sing-song reply felt like an icy dagger to his heart. She backed away, as the sound of a sliding metallic door cut through her maddening laughter. Slow, slow footsteps before the grinning face of Gabriel Baal slid into view.
"Welcome… To Demonsacre. Shall we begin?"
Gabriel fired off a DM to Rogan to remind him that they were going to meet up later that night to talk strategy. He felt good. His dinner with Ms. Morgan had set a flame burning inside him and that night he and Lilith had enjoyed one of the most mutually satisfying evenings that he could remember. He felt happy and content and as he looked down at the Cross-Hemisphere Championship on his passenger he could only see greatness in his future. He looked up at the sign that signalled his entrance to the town in which this Monday’s In Your Hands event would be held.
"Sturgis, South Carolina… Please allow me to introduce myself."
He grinned as the opening rift of the original Rolling Stone’s version began to play.
Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
I'm a man of wealth and taste
I've been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man's soul to waste
Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
