"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
― Plato
June 14, 1993
Los Angeles
"Trevor Dedntik."
A chorus of claps and applause shower across the stage in the middle of the park on this beautiful graduation day. The Future-Detective stands up from his seat, walks across the stage, receives his small diploma and takes his position on the opposite side.
The young girl next to him smiles widely and squeezes his hand.
"This is it, Trey."
Ahh.. Jesse.
Looking down she holds her belly. I small bump is visible through the baggy maroon-colored gown. She takes the Future Detective's hand and places it on her stomach and squeezes his hand even harder.
She's about six and a half months pregnant. The two have been together since they can last remember. They grew up in a small neighborhood in the outskirts of Los Angeles, across the road from each other in a small culdasack. It was so meant-to-be that it almost seemed like a fairy-tale.
Their plans for a wedding were pushed a little closer due to the gift they were presented with a few short months back. The families frowned upon the order in which they did things, but the love between the two families and the bride and groom were too strong for any bonds to be broken. They used this more as a stepping stone for the future, rather than an obstacle to climb over or step around.
After the Valedictorian stepped in front of his peers and finished his lengthy speech of success and what the future has in store for all of them. The crowd cheered and the former students threw their caps into the air in celebration of the new door that has been opened for them. A new life.
Present Day
The Ex-Detective wakes up. To travel by train, leaving Stockholm and travelling West to Gothenburg would take about four hours. The SJ X2000 was doing just that. The Ex-Detective sits alone in his own private booth. He shakes off whatever dream he was trying to forget with a small shot of whiskey that he kept inside his coat pocket. The rain steadily came down for what has seemed like days upon days, without a single spot of sunlight. Sweden was very green, as they traveled at speed past forests and fields. It's much more comforting than the desert that he's been living in for nearly forty years.
The Ex-Detective didn't do a lot of travelling before catching up with the Doctor again. It was then that he became a personal driver, and in some cases, a simple companion to travel alongside his new friend. A lot of times during the travel, however, it was the Ex-Detective that found himself needing companionship. The Doctor only seemed to be around when he felt like it. Where he disappeared to each time? What he was doing? The Ex-Detective never asked. He was kind of afraid to know in a way.
Suddenly, the door swings open and a thin red mist begins creeping into the booth. In steps an older looking man wearing a white suit and old derby hat. He takes a seat across from the Ex-Detective.
"Doc."
Good morning, Trevor. Tell me, did you manage to catch any shut-eye? It's a short trip our next appointment and we have much to do.
"If you call waking up in a cold sweat after being pillaged with some of my darkest memories... Sure. I managed to get some shut-eye."
Splendid! You need your rest. You have looked a bit rough around the edges as of late. We don't want people to think any less of my practices by looking at one of my most dear patients, would we?
The Ex-Detective takes another drink from his flask and rolls his eyes a bit.
"Of course not, Lou. Of course not."
The Doctor reaches into his pocket and pulls out a large cigar. Lights it. Then releases a large puff of smoke into the air.
I may sound like a broken record here, Trevor, but this could perhaps be my most important appointment to date, my friend. A window has been left open for me, all I must do is climb in and slam it shut.
"What do you mean, Doc?"
My next patient is a fellow that I've had my eye on for quite some time now. A man that I've been waiting to come out of the woodwork and challenge me. A man, who admits to the world, that he now feels ready to step in front of the Doctor for the first time. Admitting to us all that before, he never felt up to the task. He never felt 'good' enough.
Quite humble, I must say. He is the current XWF X-treme Champion. He is a former champion. He's gone from some of the lowest places in his XWF career back to the top in a few short weeks. A several week losing streak, turned about into a several week winning streak. I do appreciate your honesty, Mastermind, but if you think that just a few short weeks after you've fumbled around this organization, loss after loss, that this little streak of luck means anything... You're mistaken.
I have yet to see my lowest point here in the XWF. You've had several. These small streaks of luck that you've continued to come across are only temporary. If it is the Doctor that must open your eyes to this, so be it. I've told my patients in the past that I am far stronger than everyone wants to believe. My appearance. My practices. They seem like a joke to most of the fellows here in this fine organization. I have been someone that several of the roster have not taken seriously. I know you've been paying attention. You're not one of these men, now are you? You're at least smart enough to see the threat that's presented in front of you. You know, even though you've placed several of those fancy new tee shirts across my chest, that your new title is not safe. Keeping track of your kickouts... Now that's a joke, my friend.
What are we up to now? Twenty-three? Twenty-four? Whatever it may be. I'm surprised so many of the competitors are trying so hard this week to take the title from you. Surely they know what's in your future. Surely they know if they do manage to sneak up on you and take your title, that their reign with it will only last until the 3rd. Surely, they know it does not matter who the Doctor faces on his day, that I will walk away the XWF X-treme Champion.
The Ex-Detective continues to watch outside the window as the Doctor speaks. It's something about the travel that makes him feel so tired all of the time. He rests his chin against his fist and slowly begins nodding off again, watching the green scenery pass by him. He slowly drifts away again.
December 23, 1998
Los Angeles
03:43 AM
"... but you promised."
The Detective sits back in the driver's seat of his blue unmarked car. He scratches his forehead with the top of his flip phone and places it back against his ear.
"It's not Christmas yet, baby. Give me some time. I'm on to something, I know it, okay?"
The Detective lies through his teeth to his wife on the phone. He knows this stake-out could last hours and hours, maybe days.
"It's not me you promised. It was your son, Trevor... You... ex... t....t....
The Detective holds a small pair of binoculars up to his eyes. The woman on the phone continues to weep and the chatter begins to drone through from the phone into his ear. He peers through the binoculars from his unmarked car, a few blocks away, watching no activity from the small residence.
".... are you hearing me, Trevor?!"
"Of course. You just sit tight, okay?"
"You can't break his heart again, Trevor. This is it."
"What's it?"
"Louie needs his father, Trevor. You don't understand what this life is doing to him."
The Detective looks down his binoculars again and scopes out the scene. The woman he's speaking with remains silent on the other line.
"Goodbye Trevor."
The line goes dead and the Detective closes the phone and tosses it down on the passenger seat.
The Detective sat in the car for nearly forty-eight hours. What he was waiting for, never came. That hunch he felt. Was a hoax. He's without sleep, little food, and no bathroom. It's time to say,
"Fuck it."
He turned the keys in the ignition and started his vehicle. He made a three-point turn in the intersection and began travelling the other direction. Behind him, a pair of headlights creep up on him slowly.
He notices them almost immediately. His eyes don't leave the rear-view mirror, but he's unable to see any specific details about the vehicle, other than it being a red pick-up. He approaches a stop light ahead and slows down enough to catch it on 'red'. The 'green' goes to 'yellow', the 'yellow' to 'red' and the Detective stops his vehicle. The red pick-up that's been tailing him since he left the site stopped a block away from the Detective.
"Well. Who the fuck is this?"
The Detective reaches for his gun beside him and places it under his right leg, with the butt of the gun sticking out for an easy grab.
From the left hand side of the intersection came a speeding vehicle. The Detective was unable to tell what type, the headlights shined brightly into his own vehicle. The car sped through the intersection and headed straight for the Detective. Without having have time to react, the Detective shielded his face with his arms as the vehicle smashed into his own. Glass and pieces of his car flew everywhere as his airbags popped and flew into his face. Dizzy and delirious from the impact, the Detective could barely adjust himself to make an escape.
Someone tipped them off.... Who...... How........?!
The Detective's door swung open and he was grabbed and thrown to the ground. Three men with assault rifles stood over him, with the one with his big foot in the middle of the Detective's back. He also felt the butt end of one of those rifles on the back of his head before he went down.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
The thud that came from the back of his head wasn't what worried him. It was the three razor sharp pains that came to the center of his back in succession that did. He felt his breathing get slower, as the three dark figures step away from him. Unable to move, the Detective closes his eyes.
Fuck.
Hello, my friends.
Are you enjoying your time off, Mastermind? Your little.... vacation? I suppose it wouldn't necessarily be considered a vacation when all you did was go home, aye? A vacation from this tour of Europe then. You are missing out though, Sweden is a beautiful country.
So, while you're away, meeting with your possible future in-laws, training vigorously in your gym.. Here I have waited. What have I been waiting for you ask? Well, I'm not quite sure to be honest. A sign, perhaps? A sign of weakness, maybe? You've showed plenty of signs of weakness over the past few days. Revealing the true face behind the mind of Mastermind wouldn't be the best route to take when coming face to face with the Doctor. That is, well, it depends on what you're trying to do, I suppose. I've just never met someone who wanted cured so badly. You've left yourself alone with every door and window to the mind wide open for me to just climb in and take a seat. Every feeling, every thought, every fear you've left lay out as if saying, "Here, Doc. Pick me to pieces."
How disappointing.
However! It is not me, the Doctor, who should be disappointed now, is it??
HMPH.
You calling me out has done nothing for you, Mastermind. You... Are disappointed in me??
Let me remind you, my friend. I am the King of the XWF. Yes, that's right, regardless of what Mister Gilmour may still think, I am the King. You expected a long running battle, you say? Well, that's just not how I do things. If you haven't noticed up to this point, I have my own methods when it comes to this battles. You looking forward to a long, drawn out war is just silly. Nothing like skipping straight to the inevitable. You don't stand a chance against me, Mastermind. You've even admitted that yourself. The months since I've first arrived here in this FINE organization have overshadowed every accomplishment that you've ever had. A two time X-treme Champion? The title is so easy to win from someone so ignorant, and luck for you, you've found that someone twice. You're obviously not that kind of champion. You don't sleep. You hold it as your most prized possession. An obsession.
After you admitted your fear against me. Your fear to face me. Your fear to lose. I've sat back and watched you squirm. Your restlessness amuses me. You're like a tiny rodent in a cage. Scurrying about inside your four walls, living your life like a drone, and just going through the motions. You say you're ready for a match with me. After months and months of avoiding me.
Don't act like this was your choice to face me either, Mastermind. Don't pretend that you've spent these past few months training yourself. Don't lie and say that you finally feel 'ready' to face me one-on-one. We all know that you're not ready. You will never be ready, but keep telling yourself that you are. I don't want any lack of confidence coming into Warfare, as I expect the best from all of my patients. This X-Treme Title in your possession right now is only a piece to the puzzle for me right now. A piece required for me to continue an epic legacy that is going to haunt the XWF for years to come. Another stepping stone, my friend. It may have taken a pretty penny to 'hurry' the process a bit, but trust me, I believe I've earned everything that I have here right now.
So, as your King. As the holder and controller of your demise. Take a moment now and breathe in deep, Mister Mastermind.
You've taunted my absence.
You've spoken your frail words and they've crumbled at my feet.
Bow to your King. The fear is far from over and the pain is just beginning.
March 1, 1999
Los Angeles
The Detective wakes up.
The steady beep from the heart monitor beside the bed haunted his dreams for days. Unconscious. Unable to move. Unable to control his own breathing. The Detective was dead.
At least, he thought he was dead.
On the morning of March 1, 1999, the Detective opened his eyes for the first time in over two months. The lights beating down on him and the white lab coats blurred together like a melted painting hanging directly in front of him.
The muffle of voices polluted his head. He began shaking and moving around, trying to pull himself free from the bed.
"Detective? Detective!"
The voice became clearer.
"Detective, please!"
Several nurses and Doctors hold him down, as the restraints began giving a little bit more and more.
During his struggle, the Detective remembers what might've happened to him. It seems like years ago, like a dream.. or a memory. He rests his arms to his side and takes a deep breathe.
"Mister Dedntik... Please, try to relax."
The Detective blinks his eyes a few times, focuses, and sees several doctors and police officers standing above him.
"Sir. I know this is a terrible time. I know you probably have no clue what's going on, but you're lucky to be alive."
"Lou."
"What?"
"LOU!"
The Detective shouts out several times.
"My son! Where is my son?!"
Silence takes over the room. The Doctors all slowly take a few steps back and the officers look around at each other. One steps forward.
"Trevor."
The officer places his hand on the Detective's arm.
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