Lord of Fear

[mirage]

We walk down a thin passageway...there is a very large man following us unoticed except by me...we come across a dark cave which has written: "ENTER AT OWN RISK"...

--escort-- Enter...you are expected...

We enter a dark passageway and we come across a small room with a desk and chair at the front...with what seem to be old tires sitting around it...There is a man behind the desk in the shadows...

--Man-- Come my children...sit...

We hesitate...apparently all reluctant on actually sitting...at this point I wonder where the large follower is...

--Man-- Go on...they don't bite...don't be afraid...yet...

We do as we are told...I am the last to sit...

--Man-- I don't expect most of you to understand the customs of my Kingdom, yet...but if any of you falls out of line...even once...!

The man points to what seems to be some kind of torture chamber...a narrow cage of some kind with large rusty nails sticking out...

--Man-- That will be your new home...do I make myself clear...

We all nod, terrified...well at least I am terrified...

--Man-- I am Mirage...welcome to my home...my Kingdom...

I heard one of us stand up...

--Boy-- Kingdom? This place is a dump!

--Mirage-- Have I not warned you? SIT!

He did as he was told, very promptly...apparently he was fine with the home he lived in...although I thought I saw him on the street once, though...Mirage stands up and paces back and forth...apparently studying us...I was only looking at his mask...

--Mirage-- Pathetic...pitiful...weak...

Mirage stoped at me...

--Mirage-- Not bad actually...you look quite strong for your age...

I didn't speak...I wasn't sure if I had to...

--Mirage-- Stand...

Stand? Stand up?

--Mirage-- STAND!!

I did as I was told...still terrified...

--Mirage-- Do not be afraid...name...

I know my name...my name is Max...why couldn't I say it...?

--Mirage-- Max, is it?

--Max-- Y-yes, sir...

--Mirage-- I will be refered to as Mirage...do I make myself clear...

I nodded...to afraid to speak...

--Mirage-- Do not be afraid to speak, boy...

Mirage turns to our escort...

--Mirage-- Take this lot and throw them out...they can find their own way home...

Everyone starts to leave...I try to follow...

--Mirage-- Max! Wait...you are one of us now...welcome to the Kingdom of Doom...you will no longer be called Max...you will be called...Bio...

--Max-- O-ok...

--Mirage-- Go now...to the room over there...and meet your new family...

I start to make my way to the other room...

--Mirage-- Bio...

I turn to look at him...Mirage throws me a black armband...

--Mirage-- Put this on...show some respect...

Before I can get into the other room...the large man bursts into the room from the outside...

--Man-- Mirage! This is what you have been doing!!

--Mirage-- Ahh, Immortal...good of you to drop bye...

--Immortal-- Yes, well...I am here to stop this nonsense! You will not be recruiting these children...not any more...

--Mirage-- Ahh, you see, that is where you are wrong...

There is a short stare-down...and Mirage continues...

--Mirage-- I come here to try to make a difference...I took in these children off of the street...I gave the homeless a home...I found the lost children a place to belong...you are like the other who criticises my actions...Misery...I will show you and Misery, now, what I am doing here...Kar!

Another man comes out...a bigger man than I...he had to be 5'11"...235 lbs...at least...

--Kar-- Yes, Mirage...

--Mirage-- Show our guest how we deal with intruders...

Before I new what had happened...Kar had speared The Immortal, and as soon as The Immortal got up...he was spinebustered by Kar...

--Mirage-- Do you see that, Misery...That is your fate...beaten by a descendant of Mirage...You challenge Mirage? You will get Mirage...he will accept your challenge...do you understand?

The Immortal is lying on the ground beaten...but gets up and begins to leave...

--Immortal-- I have no time for this...I have a match...

He leaves...I stand in shock...Kar stands beside Mirage...the winner...

--Mirage-- Misery...The Lord of Pain...well The Lord of Fear will defeat you...beware...Fear will overcome Pain...Mirage will overcome Misery...

Mirage looks at Kar who nods, smiling...the lights fade to black...