The Return

(“The Lord” slowly pulls himself to his feet. He slowly walks over to the main doors of the Temple of God and looks out at the city. He feels a panic begin to well up inside him as he sees the City of Salvation begin to crumble down to the ground. He clenches his fists; he knew that the city was crumbling because Corey Casey thought he had finally defeated him once and for all…

It couldn’t end this way…he wouldn’t let it end this way.

The temple’s roof begins to disappear, as if it were being sucked up into a giant vortex in the sky. The walls begin to fall apart, brick by brick as the vortex above begins to suck up all the rubble and remains.

“The Lord” watches as Corey Casey’s memories of the City of Salvation all are sucked up into the swirling vortex in the sky above. Then, he starts to feel a slight pulling sensation. It is light at first, as if someone where pulling lightly on his dreadlocks. As he ponders what could possibly be causing this pulling sensation…the feeling begins to amplify. It turns from a slight tug to a firm pulling as the vortex above tries to consume him…tries to suck him into the everlasting nothingness forever…

“The Lord” grits his teeth, trying his hardest to resist the pulling sensation. He reaches out and grabs a hold of one of the heavy oaken doors of the temple. Corey Casey might be trying to forget about Salvation, forget about the City, and forget about the temple…but “The Lord” would make sure that Corey Casey NEVER forgot about him. “The Lord” suddenly lets out a defiant scream as the pulling feeling amplifies once more and threatens to pull him into the void)

“The Lord”
I AM “THE LORD” COREY CASEY! HARBRINGER OF VIOLENCE AND DEATH! THE VENGEFUL STRIKING HAND OF GOD HIMSELF!

(As “The Lord” finishes his defiant scream, the pulling feeling begins to abate. He looks around him, watching as massive pieces of stone and entire buildings are sucked up into the vortex…and yet…the pulling feeling seems to be weakening…

“The Lord” slowly descends to the ground, watching as Corey Casey’s last memory of the City of Salvation is sucked up into the vortex. “The Lord” suddenly hears a massive clap of thunder and a massive bolt of lightning seemingly splits the sky in two. And just like that…the vortex closes, leaving an empty black sky high overhead.

“The Lord” looks around him, searching for some sort of land mark or hint as to what direction he should walk in order to find a place where he could shelter himself…a place in the darkest corners of Corey Casey’s mind where he could begin to plan a hostile take over of his body once more…

“The Lord” dusts himself off, and begins walking…)

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Knoxville, Tennessee
Wednesday
September, 1^st
2010

Jessica Matthews
So, what did you and Charlie talk about while I was looking for my purse?

(Corey takes a sip of his beer, trying to avoid the question. They had had an uneventful drive to the restaurant, a place called The Smoke Shack. Corey had booked reservations there before he left Chicago to come down here because the place boasted “the best baby back ribs north of Georgia.” Corey had to admit, he had been skeptical about the place when he saw the name…for some reason it reminded him of Matt Biggars…)

Jessica Matthews
Well…?

(Corey snaps back into the moment)

Corey Casey
Oh, nothing really. Just discussed the weather and who he thought burned his house down…just basically caught up

(The instant the words left Corey’s mouth he felt his confidence plummet. Here he was, lying to Jess yet again. Jess just kind of kept looking at Corey, a slight smile on her lips. “I wonder if she knows I am lying to her?” Corey thinks to himself as he stares into her eyes)

“Are you lying to her…or are you lying to yourself?”

(The voice catches Corey off guard. He feels the familiar panic that had been gripping him over the past few days begin to return. He made a mental note to call Dr. Sheppard as soon as humanly possible)

Jessica Matthews
It’s good that you two are talking again. If it weren’t for Charlie suggesting you buy me a drink, we may never have had a chance to actually talk and get to know each other

(Corey smiles and nods his head…but inside, guilt floods his entire system. There was no way she couldn’t tell that he was lying. He knew he had to eventually come clean and tell her about the three paths, tell her about…)

“Would you tell her about ‘The Lord’ as well?”

(“Shut up” Corey thinks to himself. He suddenly realizes…he was talking to himself again. This wasn’t a good sign. Dr. Sheppard had said that if he found himself beginning to have auditory hallucinations that…)

Jessica Matthews
Are you alright Corey? You seem…off…

“Go ahead…lie to her again…”

(Corey flashes a smile at Jess)

Corey Casey
I’m fine. I’m just concerned with my big match coming up

(At the mention of wrestling and NLWF, a slight frown appears on Jess’ face)

Jessica Matthews
Corey…I feel like I should tell you something

(Corey tries to take a casual sip of his beer…but ends up only taking a tiny sip because his hand was shaking due to the shock of having the voices return…)

Corey Casey
What’s on your mind?

(Jess inhales deeply)

“She’s breaking off whatever this is and leaving you for someone who isn’t a complete douche”

Jessica Matthews
I know it’s your job and everything…but I could never take violence…of any kind. Wrestling, MMA…even heated yelling matches kinda make me uncomfortable…

“She would have loved ‘The Lord’ then”

(“Please…leave me alone” Corey whispers to the voices echoing out of the darkest corners of his mind)

“Please leave you alone? See, this is what we are talking about. You have lost any and all trace of having a fucking backbone!”

Jessica Matthews
I…I have some bad memories. Things really went downhill for me when Charlie left when we were kids. Chris tried to be the older brother and best friend Charlie had been…but it just wasn’t the same. Chris tried to include me when he went places, he even brought me with him to one of those horrible fight circles that he fought in sometimes…

(Corey tries to ignore the wiseass comments of the voices as he pieces the puzzle that was Jessica Matthews together. It was no secret that Chuck had a shady past…there were even rumors that he had murdered his entire family as a kid. Corey had always ignored those rumors, figuring that there was no way that both he and Chuck could have that one thing in common…that they both had killed off their own flesh and blood)

“You didn’t do shit…we have been around since the beginning…”

Corey Casey
Why did Chris participating in MMA fights disgust you?

(Jessica sighs heavily)

Jessica Matthews
The people there…they were barbarians. They constantly cheered as two human begins entered into a steel structure and tried to kill each other. It was the most horrible experience ever. I had to sit there and watch while my brother willingly sacrificed his health…all while the savages around me chanted for blood… They ate it up, you know? I don’t understand how hurting another person can qualify as…entertainment

(Jess takes a sip of her wine in an attempt to calm her nerves. It was painfully obvious that Jess was upset)

Corey Casey
I’m sorry Jess…I won’t talk about NLWF anymore around you I promise

“You seem to be making a lot of promises…let’s hope you can keep them all”

(“I know I can you fuckers” Corey thinks to himself)

“Oooh look at the big tough guy. Threatening voices that aren’t even real”

(“I swear to god…”)

Jessica Matthews
It’s okay. I mean, it’s your job…but I needed to get it off my chest. I feel like it’s something important. But thank you Corey. I have told Charlie time and again that he should quit that awful NLWF and just concentrate on his company. But he always either refuses to listen or changes the subject

(Suddenly, the waiter appears carrying both Jess and Corey’s meals. Jess had ordered some sort of chicken breast while Corey had ordered the house special, BBQ baby back ribs)

Waiter
Here ya’ll go, enjoy!

(Corey and Jess both nod their thanks and begin to eat their meals. The food was, indeed, quite good…despite the questionable name of the restaurant. Towards the end of the meal, Jess suddenly asks)

Jessica Matthews
Are you sure you are alright Corey?

“This girl is no dummy. She can see right through you”

Corey Casey
It’s just stuff having to do with work. I already promised you that I wouldn’t talk about it

Jessica Matthews
I can tell that whatever it is…it is eating you up inside

“Either that or you have, once again, taken a swan dive off the edge of the sanity cliff…again…”

(Anger begins to build up inside Corey. Why were these voices coming back? Why were they assaulting him again? Why hadn’t they disappeared like Dr. Sheppard had said they would? The frustration begins to build on top of the anger and the guilt Corey felt about lying to Jess…and he suddenly snaps)

Corey Casey
JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!

(Jess’ face suddenly drains of color and her eyes begin to cloud over. Corey looks across the table at Jess and sees her terrified face)

Corey Casey
Jess, that wasn’t directed at you I promise…

“Way to kill the mood”

(It’s Corey’s turn to sigh heavily)

Corey Casey
Jess…I haven’t been 100% honest with you

(Some of the color begins to return to Jess’ face as she stares warily at Corey)

Jessica Matthews
About what?

“$20 says that if you tell her the truth…she leaves your sorry ass”

Corey Casey
It has to do with wrest…with work. Is it ok that I talk about it?

(Jess slowly nods her head yes. Corey breaths in and prepares to tell her everything…when he suddenly notices that every single person in the restaurant was staring at them)

Corey Casey
Can I tell you some place a little more…private?

(Jess turns her head and sees that everyone is staring at them. She turns her attention back to Corey and a skeptical look appears on her face)

Jessica Matthews
You’re not going to kill me if I get into the car with you are you?

“You’re too much of a chicken shit to do something as awesome as that”

Corey Casey
I swear I won’t. I just…I just really need to be honest with you

(Corey pushes his chair back from the table and stands up. He extends his hand to Jess in an attempt to help her out of her chair…but Jess ignores his gesture and stands up on her own. Corey and Jess quickly make their way to the host and Corey hands him a $100 bill)

Corey Casey
Look, I’m sorry for causing a scene. This is the money for my bill on table 12. You’ll find that it is much more than the actual amount I owe

(Before the host can even say anything Corey turns and sees Jess walk out the front door. He quickly slams the $100 bill down on the podium that the host is leaning on and follows Jess out of the restaurant. Corey quickly digs his keys out of his pocket and unlocks the car. Jess doesn’t even pause as she fluidly flings open the car door and climbs in, slamming the door behind her. Corey walks around to the driver’s side and climbs in)

Corey Casey
Jess, look I’m…

(Jess turns and Corey can see the anger on her face)

Jessica Matthews
What did you need to tell me? What the hell is wrong with you?

“He’s a schizophrenic mass murderer that had to spend a number of weeks in a mental institution because he was hearing voices and hallucinating an evil version of himself that told him to do horrible things”

(“Shut the hell up!” Corey screams at the voices in his head. When he turns his attention back to Jess, her look of anger has been replaced by a look of concern)

Jessica Matthews
Corey…let me help you…

(All it took was that one phrase, that one offer of help…and the words just started pouring out of Corey’s mouth.

He told her everything. He told her about Lethal Injection and how he had betrayed Ryan Apollos and joined Salvation. He told her about how he became the Prophet and right hand of Brenton Cyrus. He told her about his epic battles with her brother Chuck and how Chuck and Nick had almost killed him. He told her about being arrested and sent to the asylum. He told her about “The Lord” and his true role in Salvation…

Once the floodgates had been opened, there was no way to close them. Corey literally told her everything about himself, his childhood, his past…everything. While he bore his soul to Jess, she didn’t interrupt or judge him. She just sat there, a neutral expression on her face while Corey told her of every dark and disturbing aspect of his past)

Corey Casey
…which brings me to the three paths I have before me. I can unleash “The Lord” again and join Death Angel’s Uprising. I can re-join your brother and niece and the rest of Bad Company. Or I can, for the first time in my entire career, be my own man and walk my own path.

(Jess just continues to stare at Corey, letting the entire story of his life sink in. Corey slumps down in his seat, completely exhausted. Telling his entire life story had drained him more than he had anticipated. The best part was, as he told Jess every horrible thing, every murder, every torture session, everything “The Lord” had done…the voices had begun disappearing. After he had finally vented every bad thing he had done, the voices had trailed off, becoming quieter and quieter until they were completely gone)

Jessica Matthews
That is one hell of a story Corey

(Corey laughs nervously)

Corey Casey
Yeah…It’s not a story…it’s my life

(Corey reaches for the car keys and slides them into the ignition. He needed to get out of this parking lot. He needed to feel like he was going somewhere or had some purpose…some goal that he could actually do something about instead of just sitting there like a retard, waiting for Jess to tell him that he was a sick fuck and leave him in the dust)

Corey Casey
Don’t worry, I’m going to just bring you home now

Jess doesn’t say anything, she just kind of nods. Corey pulls out of the parking lot and quickly begins shifting gears, sending the car hurdling through the night. Corey shifts the car into 5^th gear and presses the pedal to the floor. It felt good to be able to unleash some of the nervous energy he had built up. The roar of the engine and the sound of the wind whipping past the car drowned out any sort of sound inside the car. Corey looks over at Jess briefly, searching her face for any sort of hint as to what she might say.

What would he do if she told him to fuck off and die? What would he do if she told him that she didn’t need or want his help anymore and that he was the worst person in the entire world? Yeah he had been called worst things in his career…but coming from her it was a whole different story…

The Matthews family mansion appears up ahead and Corey slows the car down. He turns right into the driveway and slowly begins to pull up the driveway. As he gets closer to the front door, Jess suddenly turns and looks at him)

Jessica Matthews
Stop here

(Corey presses the brakes gently, bringing the car to a stop halfway up the driveway. He turns and looks at her, a quizzical look on his face)

Corey Casey
Why am I stopping here? Your house is still halfway up the driveway

(Jess’ expression begins to soften and Corey can see compassion in Jess’ eyes)

Jessica Matthews
When you first told me about your past…I was disgusted. You were everything I hate about humanity. You were cruel, wicked, evil, violent…you were a sadistic piece of shit. But now, now you are different. You were honest. You came to terms with who you were, and you shared your darkest secrets…with me.

(Corey feels the fire where his heart used to be begin to burn brightly as Jess slowly reaches out and takes his hand)

Jessica Matthews
You’re not “The Lord” anymore Corey…you are a new man. You are Corey Casey. You don’t need to unleash that monster again and join in some evil Uprising. And as for walking alone…well…I know you could do it and you could succeed…but why should you be out on your own when there are people here willing to help you? Why should you turn your back on your friends who are willing to help you?

Corey Casey
I’m assuming your opinion is that I should re-join your brother and niece and the rest of Bad Company?

(Jess gives Corey a warm smile)

Jessica Matthews
I think that you are a big boy and you can make that decision on your own. But I also think that you would benefit from surrounding yourself with people that care about you

(Corey nods his head in agreement)

Corey Casey
Thank you Jess…it means a lot to me that you are still here…

(Corey starts the car and drives the rest of the way up the driveway. Corey brings the car to a stop in front of the main door of the mansion and quickly gets out of the car and walks around to the passenger’s side door. He opens the door for Jess who laughs lightly as she climbs out of the car. Corey closes the door and takes Jess’ hand)

Corey Casey
Jess, really…it means a lot to me that you are still willing to stand by me. Even after all I have told you

(Jess laughs and presses her body up against Corey’s. Corey wraps his arms around Jess, savoring the warmth of her body against his)

Jessica Matthews
You really don’t know when to stop talking do you?

(Before Corey can even respond Jess stands up on her tippy toes and kisses him. Corey feels his mind go blank as wave after wave of pure ecstasy washes over him. Her kiss was all he could think about, all he could feel…it was the only thing that was real…

Suddenly, the front door of the Matthews’ family mansion swings open and Corey can hear the only voice that could have ruined this moment cut through warm summer’s night air)

Ashley Matthews
Really Aunt Jess?!

(Jess breaks the kiss off and turns, giving Ashley an embarrassed smile)

Jessica Matthews
I am your aunt…you are not my mother

(Ashley stares coldly at Corey)

Ashley Matthews
But he’s…Corey!

(Jess turns and looks up into Corey’s eyes, a smile on her face)

Jessica Matthews
Yeah…yeah he is

(Jess kisses him again before turning and walking to the front door of the mansion. Corey has a goofy grin on his face as he watches Jess walk away)

Corey Casey
I’ll talk to you soon?

(Jess laughs again and turns, giving him a smile)

Jessica Matthews
I hope so

(Jess walks past Ashley and into the house. Ashley snarls at Corey before slamming the door shut. Corey stands in the driveway for a few moments, the goofy grin on his face widening as he relives the kiss over and over again in his mind. He walks around the front of the car and climbs into the driver’s seat. This entire trip had been worth every penny. He was so glad he had told her about his past and everything that had happened to him. He is so caught up reliving the kiss over and over again that he doesn’t notice a familiar figure sitting in the passenger’s side seat. Corey doesn’t even notice the figure is wearing a black leather jacket and a pair of ripped jeans. Corey doesn’t notice the figure…until his cold voice slices through the warm summer air like a knife)

“The Lord”
So…did you miss me?

The Return

The Return

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