Post by Rowan MacDonnough on Mar 28, 2017 19:44:45 GMT
"When hope fails to stand against the shadow, Pride and Faith are the next to rise..."
The image of Rowan standing in a forest of dead trees comes into view, head hanging to conceal her face. Behind her are two figures hanging by the neck from the twisting branches behind her. They might be mannequins or sack dolls, but they have been dressed in the ring attire of Charity Crowne and Abigail Spencer. Large pictures of the two womens' faces have been pinned to the heads of the two hanging figures, their eyes crossed out with what looks like blood. Even though the hanging figures clearly cannot be actual humans, they must be dolls of some kind... reddish-black liquid, too dark and thick to be blood, oozes and drips gently from their fingers and their legs to the ground beneath them. As the image becomes clear, MUSIC begins to play.
"And they are the next to fall."
Her head rises to glare maliciously at the camera, shining golden eyes seeming to lock onto the viewer.
"Patricia Powers strode into that pit full of confidence and her so-lauded positivity, but it could not save her. In the end she could only wither and snap under the weight of the Abyss' embrace. I brought her pain unlike anything she had contested with in her wretched life, and she broke under the weight of it.
It was only a taste of what I have to offer. The beginning. Some might call it... Genesis."
She turns to the effigy of Abigail Spencer, gently caressing the figure's cheek with the back of her hand and tracing her fingers down to its throat. "You will believe, I expect, that I worship demons. The hearts of the faithful so often suspect that faith is the driving force of all whose conviction is like unto my own. There is so much that you fail to understand, little Abigail... So ferocious in your beliefs in a higher power driving you forward, your fanaticism pushing you to hear guidance from the darkness. Poor girl. I will show you the truth - I have stared into the heart of that darkness, Abigail, and I have seen that your God is dead. You have been lying to your family, and lying to yourself. You will see. I will drag you by the throat-" as she says the word, her fingers curl around the effigy's neck like a vice, "into that blackness where I was reborn, and allow you a moment of silence as you gaze upon the rotting corpse on his shattered throne."
She lets go. "I do not worship demons, Spencer. It was not the cruelty of the devil that birthed me. Soon you too will understand."
She turns next to the effigy of Charity Crowne. "Do you know the difference between me and Maxine Valentine, Crowne?" she asks smoothly as she curls both hands into the figure's hair. "She only played at being the monster. When she walked to the ring, she made her preening displays with her mask and her stride... but in the end, she removed the mask and walked as a woman. It is all a show, an act to intimidate and frighten, and I almost believed it. But the second the mask came off, the magic broke. You will bask in your pride and praise yourself for bringing down the monster, Charity, but the truth is that you and Maxine were far more alike then you will ever admit. You both put on your displays, be it the Crowne Jewel or The Survivor... but at your cores you are just women trying to convince the world you are something you are not."
She turns her back. "You are not flawless. You are a coward. You are mediocre. And the world will see as they are reminded just what it is that comes after pride."
Eleven Months Ago - Kilkenny Ireland
The image of Rowan standing in a forest of dead trees comes into view, head hanging to conceal her face. Behind her are two figures hanging by the neck from the twisting branches behind her. They might be mannequins or sack dolls, but they have been dressed in the ring attire of Charity Crowne and Abigail Spencer. Large pictures of the two womens' faces have been pinned to the heads of the two hanging figures, their eyes crossed out with what looks like blood. Even though the hanging figures clearly cannot be actual humans, they must be dolls of some kind... reddish-black liquid, too dark and thick to be blood, oozes and drips gently from their fingers and their legs to the ground beneath them. As the image becomes clear, MUSIC begins to play.
"And they are the next to fall."
Her head rises to glare maliciously at the camera, shining golden eyes seeming to lock onto the viewer.
"Patricia Powers strode into that pit full of confidence and her so-lauded positivity, but it could not save her. In the end she could only wither and snap under the weight of the Abyss' embrace. I brought her pain unlike anything she had contested with in her wretched life, and she broke under the weight of it.
It was only a taste of what I have to offer. The beginning. Some might call it... Genesis."
She turns to the effigy of Abigail Spencer, gently caressing the figure's cheek with the back of her hand and tracing her fingers down to its throat. "You will believe, I expect, that I worship demons. The hearts of the faithful so often suspect that faith is the driving force of all whose conviction is like unto my own. There is so much that you fail to understand, little Abigail... So ferocious in your beliefs in a higher power driving you forward, your fanaticism pushing you to hear guidance from the darkness. Poor girl. I will show you the truth - I have stared into the heart of that darkness, Abigail, and I have seen that your God is dead. You have been lying to your family, and lying to yourself. You will see. I will drag you by the throat-" as she says the word, her fingers curl around the effigy's neck like a vice, "into that blackness where I was reborn, and allow you a moment of silence as you gaze upon the rotting corpse on his shattered throne."
She lets go. "I do not worship demons, Spencer. It was not the cruelty of the devil that birthed me. Soon you too will understand."
She turns next to the effigy of Charity Crowne. "Do you know the difference between me and Maxine Valentine, Crowne?" she asks smoothly as she curls both hands into the figure's hair. "She only played at being the monster. When she walked to the ring, she made her preening displays with her mask and her stride... but in the end, she removed the mask and walked as a woman. It is all a show, an act to intimidate and frighten, and I almost believed it. But the second the mask came off, the magic broke. You will bask in your pride and praise yourself for bringing down the monster, Charity, but the truth is that you and Maxine were far more alike then you will ever admit. You both put on your displays, be it the Crowne Jewel or The Survivor... but at your cores you are just women trying to convince the world you are something you are not."
She turns her back. "You are not flawless. You are a coward. You are mediocre. And the world will see as they are reminded just what it is that comes after pride."
Eleven Months Ago - Kilkenny Ireland
John Collins staggered out of the pub on the outskirts of town, smiling happily as the world around him spun fuzzily in his liquor-clouded mind. He'd been enjoying the night out with his friends, drinking away the cares of the past month. He'd been in court just a week ago, defending himself against unfairly trumped-up charges after an unfortunate accident the month earlier. He knew he probably shouldn't have been behind the wheel after the night he'd had then, and the fact that a few people had died was unfortunate, sure. He knew he'd had better moments than that. A lesser man might have faced a significant jail sentence for the accident, but he had the benefit of his father's significant wealth to get him through. In the end he'd only had is driver's license suspended and had to pay a fine... a fine which came out of his father's pockets, of course. Some people called it a slap on the wrist, but how could they expect a man like him to go to prison for such a simple mistake? The fact that people had died wasn't his fault, after all.
It's not like he wasn't being punished, either. After a long night celebrating and drinking with his friends, he had to walk all the way home. There was the true injustice. Still, it was a nice spring evening and the weather was splendid, so he couldn't complain too much about his affairs.
A car pulled up next to him, the window rolled down. Behind the wheel was a beautiful woman with bright eyes and a warm smile. She looked a little familliar to him, though he couldn't place it through the fog of his mind. Right now, however, she looked to be the most gorgeous woman in the world. "Look like you've been ditched by your friends," she asked with a melodic voice. "Need a ride, stranger?"
Speaking of affairs... John thought to himself happily. This evening was looking up!
"I sure do, Lass!" he replied with what he hoped was a winning smile. "Though to my house or yours I'll happily leave in your capable hands... and if you want other things in your capable hands, I'll gladly put parts of you in mine."
He thought it was the most charming sounding come-on he'd ever thought of. He made a mental note to remember it for the future. It clearly must have worked, because the girl gestured for him to get into the back seat of the car with a grin. He looked around to see if any of his friends had left the pub to witness his conquest, but saw that the street was empty of observers. Shame. He shook his head and got into the car, which sped off into the night.
"So what's your name, lass?" he asked merrily, rolling the back seat window down to enjoy some fresh air.
"You can call me Katherine," she replied. "Seems like you've been having a night. Celebrating something?"
"Justice done, m'lady, justice done," he replied, beaming. "You're looking at a man who deftly avoided having his freedom taken from him."
"Is that so?" she asked. "What did they try to put you away for?"
"I hit a car as it drifted into the oncoming lane," he explained solemnly, drawing upon the same excuse that the solicitor his father had hired had used. "The other driver was clearly at fault, but because my car was better than theirs there were some injuries. Got sued for it. You know how people try to prey upon the wealth of the fortunate in this country when they can't provide for themselves." He shook his head in exaggerated sorrow. "It was a trial, of course, but through strength and faith I earned my freedom... freedom which has taken me joyously into your company! God truly delivers great things to a man who takes pride in his faith."
The driver laughed as she turned off the main roads, driving down dark off roads away from the city. She was taking him to her home! He felt his heart quicken with the thrill of anticipation. He was a lucky man tonight!
"That must have been hard for you," she replied quietly. "But I imagine also for the other family as well with their... injuries."
John laughed. "I doubt it. They're just sore they lost, I'm sure. Nothing of value was lost in that crash, I'm certain," he paused as he looked out into the the dark fields around them. "You live out here? Bit away from town, lass. What brought you my way?"
"I was looking for something," she replied, and something in her tone was... cold. Still, John didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to get laid.
"Well I hope you found it," he replied. "Generous lass like you deserves to get what she wants."
"My thoughts exactly. Here we are."
They had pulled down a driveway outside of a broken down farmhouse. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. How far away from town were they? The drive had seemed so short, but he didn't recognize anything around them. Had he been blacking out between their conversation?
"Where are we?" he asked, suddenly nervous. "You can't live in a dump like this."
The driver turned around in her seat as she parked the car, and as she did John immediately recognized her - Rowan MacDonnough, the girl whose family he had killed in that crash. She smiled at him, beauty gone from every line of her face as it twisted into a visage of absolute horror. "Get away from me!" He exclaimed in panic as he fumbled at the doors, only to find them locked.
"What's wrong, John?" she asked with a harsh tone. "What happened to your pride in your faith?"
Rowan tilts her head to the side, once again glaring at the camera as she raises her arms, gesturing at the two effigies flanking her in the trees. "Imperial Wrestling Federation... last night I showed you what happens when hope is shattered and broken, what it looks like when the power of positivity is torn down and revealed to be nothing but lies and dust. In one week we will meet again, and when Abigail Spencer and Charity Crowne walk into that pit, I will show you what it is to watch the destruction of two more lifelines that the weak cling to in order to escape from the Abyss. Your first lesson was the fruitlessness of hope. Now you will see that Faith and Pride are likewise hollow... what will you cling to when they, too, are reduced to nothing more than ash?
I warned you all that I was coming. I gave you a chance to escape before I arrived. But now that I'm here... Patricia Powers is only the first. You cannot stop what is now happening. What started with Powers will not end until every Diamond has been shattered under my heel... and none of you are prepared to do what must be done to stop me."
She turns her back and walks away, and as she does so the two effigies burst into flame. The camera lingers on them for a few seconds before fading to black.
It's not like he wasn't being punished, either. After a long night celebrating and drinking with his friends, he had to walk all the way home. There was the true injustice. Still, it was a nice spring evening and the weather was splendid, so he couldn't complain too much about his affairs.
A car pulled up next to him, the window rolled down. Behind the wheel was a beautiful woman with bright eyes and a warm smile. She looked a little familliar to him, though he couldn't place it through the fog of his mind. Right now, however, she looked to be the most gorgeous woman in the world. "Look like you've been ditched by your friends," she asked with a melodic voice. "Need a ride, stranger?"
Speaking of affairs... John thought to himself happily. This evening was looking up!
"I sure do, Lass!" he replied with what he hoped was a winning smile. "Though to my house or yours I'll happily leave in your capable hands... and if you want other things in your capable hands, I'll gladly put parts of you in mine."
He thought it was the most charming sounding come-on he'd ever thought of. He made a mental note to remember it for the future. It clearly must have worked, because the girl gestured for him to get into the back seat of the car with a grin. He looked around to see if any of his friends had left the pub to witness his conquest, but saw that the street was empty of observers. Shame. He shook his head and got into the car, which sped off into the night.
"So what's your name, lass?" he asked merrily, rolling the back seat window down to enjoy some fresh air.
"You can call me Katherine," she replied. "Seems like you've been having a night. Celebrating something?"
"Justice done, m'lady, justice done," he replied, beaming. "You're looking at a man who deftly avoided having his freedom taken from him."
"Is that so?" she asked. "What did they try to put you away for?"
"I hit a car as it drifted into the oncoming lane," he explained solemnly, drawing upon the same excuse that the solicitor his father had hired had used. "The other driver was clearly at fault, but because my car was better than theirs there were some injuries. Got sued for it. You know how people try to prey upon the wealth of the fortunate in this country when they can't provide for themselves." He shook his head in exaggerated sorrow. "It was a trial, of course, but through strength and faith I earned my freedom... freedom which has taken me joyously into your company! God truly delivers great things to a man who takes pride in his faith."
The driver laughed as she turned off the main roads, driving down dark off roads away from the city. She was taking him to her home! He felt his heart quicken with the thrill of anticipation. He was a lucky man tonight!
"That must have been hard for you," she replied quietly. "But I imagine also for the other family as well with their... injuries."
John laughed. "I doubt it. They're just sore they lost, I'm sure. Nothing of value was lost in that crash, I'm certain," he paused as he looked out into the the dark fields around them. "You live out here? Bit away from town, lass. What brought you my way?"
"I was looking for something," she replied, and something in her tone was... cold. Still, John didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to get laid.
"Well I hope you found it," he replied. "Generous lass like you deserves to get what she wants."
"My thoughts exactly. Here we are."
They had pulled down a driveway outside of a broken down farmhouse. It looked like it had been abandoned for a long time. How far away from town were they? The drive had seemed so short, but he didn't recognize anything around them. Had he been blacking out between their conversation?
"Where are we?" he asked, suddenly nervous. "You can't live in a dump like this."
The driver turned around in her seat as she parked the car, and as she did John immediately recognized her - Rowan MacDonnough, the girl whose family he had killed in that crash. She smiled at him, beauty gone from every line of her face as it twisted into a visage of absolute horror. "Get away from me!" He exclaimed in panic as he fumbled at the doors, only to find them locked.
"What's wrong, John?" she asked with a harsh tone. "What happened to your pride in your faith?"
Rowan tilts her head to the side, once again glaring at the camera as she raises her arms, gesturing at the two effigies flanking her in the trees. "Imperial Wrestling Federation... last night I showed you what happens when hope is shattered and broken, what it looks like when the power of positivity is torn down and revealed to be nothing but lies and dust. In one week we will meet again, and when Abigail Spencer and Charity Crowne walk into that pit, I will show you what it is to watch the destruction of two more lifelines that the weak cling to in order to escape from the Abyss. Your first lesson was the fruitlessness of hope. Now you will see that Faith and Pride are likewise hollow... what will you cling to when they, too, are reduced to nothing more than ash?
I warned you all that I was coming. I gave you a chance to escape before I arrived. But now that I'm here... Patricia Powers is only the first. You cannot stop what is now happening. What started with Powers will not end until every Diamond has been shattered under my heel... and none of you are prepared to do what must be done to stop me."
She turns her back and walks away, and as she does so the two effigies burst into flame. The camera lingers on them for a few seconds before fading to black.
Well howdy there pardner.