Bloodfall: Through another's Eyes

"So, why all the dogs?"

 

"Rescue dogs. Some cats around here, too."

 

"Must be a pain in the ass to clean up."

 

"Nah. They know better...."

 

"Heh....."

 

Well, Abe loves the new duds with the memory cloth shit and all that. But a visit to Patton Arms wasn't the only reason I called him up. After Patton's place, Mike took off, possibly more Az stuff, slaying people and going on about how he doesn't deserve this and that. Seriously, that shit's getting old. Especially after I gave him the computer. But enough of that. The point is,Abe's in my house now, all my hounds...er...hounding him. They love visitors, what can I say. But I had questions to ask him. After that whole Scarecrow thing, I had big questions.

 

"Sooo, Jerrick. Your house is nice and all, and some of dogs are freaking adorable, but why am I here. I got a wife and kid, y'know."

 

"Yeah, Ive met them. Your boy still flipping out?"

 

"Haha, no, luckily. Didn't hear the end of it for days. 'Jerrick freaking Davao, dad! The undefeated champ!' Ah man..."

 

"Still, enough about him. Being the bigshot detective and all, I'd image you'd know what happened to Scarecrow, right?"

 

"Yeah. Some patrolmen found him washed up by the reservoir. Guy was busted up. Still in comatose."

 

"Comatose!? Fucking hell...I broke his arm and leg, dammit! He should be dead...."

 

"Oh, so that was your doing? Pretty mild for you, gotta admit."

 

"Next time,I'll literally feed him his entrails."

 

"Gross. So what'd he do to piss you off. Well, beside being a supervillain."

 

"I found him at the Harbor, about to rip him apart. he got me with some of his gas and made me fall of the deck."

 

"Yikes. Can see why you busted him up like that."

 

"Oh no, that's not even the start! That begins....in my head."

 

"....what?...."

 

"I found myself waking up on a twisted street, no armor and just a small knife, like this one of the cabinet here. I see my house by the street and walk in. Everything inside is just as twisted and distorted. Like a damned acid trip. In the kitchen was...well, it's hard to explain. It was me, but it wasn't Basically, what if I was a lawyer, a coward, and not a vigilante? You get what I saw."

 

"That's...messes up."

 

"But it gets worse. After he stopped pissing himself, we got aquanted and explored the city. You think Gotham's fucked up now? Should've seen what I saw. The other Jerrick, "weak Jerrick' as I said, told me the story of a viscous monster that murdered criminals, common thieves to hardcore murderers."

 

"Lemme guess; Bloodfall?"

 

"Yep. And then after witnessing a kid who stole from weak Jerrick get killed, I met him. It's...it's still clear in my head. The thing had to be at least 8-10 feet tall. The noises it made weren't even human. A trail of gore was left from wherever it had been. It's blade was a big as I am, and drenched in blood like it's hands."

 

"Damn..."

 

"Surprised I was able to beat it. When it dies, there was nothing but fire and a pile of entrails. Even for me, it was a bit much. But something stayed with me....all I could keep wondering was if that what everyone say me as. Not just the scum I kill, but innocents alike. Am I really that much of a monster?"

 

"......"

 

"I've been doing this Bloodfall thing for a while, Abe. Probably when you were an officer. And I've ran from the cops before. Tell me...did you even see me when I was in the armor while you were an officer?"

 

"Yeah, actually. About 8 years ago, I think. Still remember the scene in my head, though...."

 

"What did you see?"

 

"It was horrible...after it was over and we cleaned up the mess, the guys in the forensics couldn't I.D the bodies they were so mutilated. Think I puked, truth be told..."

 

"But me! You saw me, right? What...what did I look like to you? What did you think?"

 

"Nah, we don't need this. I don't think you'd like what you'd hear anyway."

 

"No! Fucking tell me! I--I have to know!"

 

"Not gonna lie....I was terrified. By the time we saw you, the guy you were dealing with stopped screaming. Another officer's flashlight hit you, and I saw something straight out of a horror story. You where way bigger than all of us. Well, you still are, but with that armor...blood splatter all over you, the mutilated remains of the scumbag at your feet. But your eyes. Those insane red eyes. I'm used to seeing them now, but the first time I saw them, all I can remember was feeling terror. I think I emptied my sidearm's mag..."

 

"Go on..."

 

"When it was over and you lost us, I was still a bit shaky. I learned monsters where real that day. I wondered how anyone could possibly think of you as a hero..."

 

"......"

 

"I'm....I'm sorry."

 

"Don't be. You're sorta right."

 

"Nah, man. Look. I've been on the force for about a decade. my encounter with you was stupid early. Over the years, I learned something. In this city, there are FAR worse things than you. Actual monsters."

 

"What does that make me, then?"

 

"One of the few guys with the balls big enough to truly deal with some of these monsters. Still not a fan of how you do the dealing, but still. With the stuff I've seen, what you do is sometimes just necessary."

 

"But...You're just one guy. What about other non-shitstains? They see me all the same."

 

"Not true. You've got supporters. Alot, actually. Another thing Ive encountered over this glamorous career of mine."

 

"....for real?"

 

"Yeah! And y'know what? I am too."

 

" Aw, man..."

 

"No, really! Like I said, I think you have a bit too much fun here and there, but seriously, what you do gets the job done and gets the point across. The police have been trying to do that for years. You're just one guy and you do that no problem."

 

"Yeah, but---"

 

"But nothing! Look, alot of people may not think it, but in a town like this, we need someone like you. Someone to make the losers think twice about crawling out from under whatever god-forsaken rock they came from."

 

"...."

 

"Look, the only people you're truly a monster too are the people you 'deal' with, and rightful so. They should learn there's a punishment for every horrible act they do. And dammit, you're a helluva punishment. As long as we have Bloodfall, the real monster have a very good reason to be afraid. Am I right."

 

"....yeah, you are..."

 

"Damn right I am. Now tonight, you're gonna put that armor on, and put the fear of god into the worse this city has to offer!"

 

"Yes.....yes I am! HehehehHAHAHAHA!!!!"

 

"Uh....don't laugh like that in front of me. You're freaking me out."

 

"Sorry...."

 

Done