-InsomniCat-
Flash Issue 11 (Acceptance) - A DCU Comic
Twenty years later life was still largely similar for Richard. His children grew up and we’re out of the house participating in their own manner of business. However, he still lived in the same house with his wife Elizabeth who admittedly was beginning to look older than her husband. During this time Richard Swift kept the Shade, his nickname for his powers, relatively hidden and under control. Although he had heard tales of heroic gunslingers with powers in America going by the name of Cowboy and Cowgirl which tempted him to use his powers. Though out of fear he kept them hidden from his family. Richard kept on the same career path as well. In fact, he was currently on a boat heading back to England from Africa with his associate who found him in his warehouse all those years ago.
Richard looked about the ship and watched his hired hands work similarly to ants. He then looked forward to the bow of the ship and noticed his associate holding his daughter in his arms. Seeing his long-time friend with a family of his own made him miss his. Yes, he still, of course, had Elizabeth but he would never forget his years with them. He walked over to the bow and stood behind him. “How’s your family doing?” he asked. His associate turned around to face his long-time boss wearing a black coat with his hand perched upon his ebony cane.
“Ah well...my wife’s relatives back in Spain...aren’t doing so hot. You know the political climate as well as I do. My parents back home are good though but my father is getting on in his age...why do you ask?”
“Seeing you with your daughter reminds me of better times. Just reminiscing made me curious I suppose.” His associate laughed in response.
“Are these not better times?” he asked gesturing to the empty ocean surrounding them. He then looked back to Richard and noticed the fatigue in his eyes. “You look tired Swift.”
“Nonsense...just my old age catching up with me is all,” Richard replied with a chuckle
“You look no older than you did when I met you years ago.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Well then ‘old man’. Why don’t you get some rest? I assure you we’ll make it back to port by tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be holding you to that,” Richard said as he went below deck to his cabin. As he walked to his bed his jacket and cane floated off of his body. He laid down and slowly drifted off into sleep.
He woke hours later into the night with the sound of a crash. He jumped out of his bed and outstretched his hand which caused his cane to fly into his hand. He rushed out into the hall just as a crewmember tumbled down the stairs. He ran to their aid but to no avail. They were dead with a large wound on their chest. Their clothing increasingly getting more red around the entrance of the wound. Richard ran up to the main deck to see several corpses in pools of blood. The only men he saw were pale with hair color varying from black to pure red. They stood holding various rifles, pistols, and rapiers. They paid no attention to Richard as they looked to be what seemed their leader holding the daughter of his associate. The leader raised the girl and bit into her neck finally satisfying their bitter hunger. “No!” Richard yelled with an outstretched hand. The figures turned in response, blood dripping from their mouths. Some hissed and exposed fangs. A tendril shot out from Richard’s hand and penetrated the leader’s torso. The tendril caught the girl and Richard pulled her back towards him holding her tight. He hid her face against the men hoping she would not see the onslaught he was about to occur. He began to tremble with rage and his pupils became fully dilated overtaking his grey irises almost fully. The starry night sky became pitch black and the ocean turned purple. His appearance shifted to an almost demonic state and when he spoke his voice was shrill.
“Hello, gentleman...welcome to The Shadowlands,” he spoke instinctively. “You are all going to pay for what you have done tonight.” They only hissed in response and before they could even fully respond black skeletal beings erupt from below deck with piercing lime green eyes. They began to tear the men apart. The sounds of screams, gunshots, and the tearing of flesh took over the deck. Once the carnage had stopped and the shadow creatures had dragged their victims into the purple water, Richard once again instinctively held out his hand and a vortex opened. The ship sailed through leaving a large red stain in the purple ocean and is transported to a port in London. The very port he had set sail from months ago. His body stopped trembling as the stars replaced the darkness and the water returned to its original coloring. He looked down at the girl in his arms. Her once brunette hair was now crimson red and she was extremely pale. “I am so sorry for what has happened...I am...so sorry,” he managed to say as the little girl began to sob.
Flash Issue 11 (Acceptance) - A DCU Comic
Twenty years later life was still largely similar for Richard. His children grew up and we’re out of the house participating in their own manner of business. However, he still lived in the same house with his wife Elizabeth who admittedly was beginning to look older than her husband. During this time Richard Swift kept the Shade, his nickname for his powers, relatively hidden and under control. Although he had heard tales of heroic gunslingers with powers in America going by the name of Cowboy and Cowgirl which tempted him to use his powers. Though out of fear he kept them hidden from his family. Richard kept on the same career path as well. In fact, he was currently on a boat heading back to England from Africa with his associate who found him in his warehouse all those years ago.
Richard looked about the ship and watched his hired hands work similarly to ants. He then looked forward to the bow of the ship and noticed his associate holding his daughter in his arms. Seeing his long-time friend with a family of his own made him miss his. Yes, he still, of course, had Elizabeth but he would never forget his years with them. He walked over to the bow and stood behind him. “How’s your family doing?” he asked. His associate turned around to face his long-time boss wearing a black coat with his hand perched upon his ebony cane.
“Ah well...my wife’s relatives back in Spain...aren’t doing so hot. You know the political climate as well as I do. My parents back home are good though but my father is getting on in his age...why do you ask?”
“Seeing you with your daughter reminds me of better times. Just reminiscing made me curious I suppose.” His associate laughed in response.
“Are these not better times?” he asked gesturing to the empty ocean surrounding them. He then looked back to Richard and noticed the fatigue in his eyes. “You look tired Swift.”
“Nonsense...just my old age catching up with me is all,” Richard replied with a chuckle
“You look no older than you did when I met you years ago.”
“You’re too kind.”
“Well then ‘old man’. Why don’t you get some rest? I assure you we’ll make it back to port by tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll be holding you to that,” Richard said as he went below deck to his cabin. As he walked to his bed his jacket and cane floated off of his body. He laid down and slowly drifted off into sleep.
He woke hours later into the night with the sound of a crash. He jumped out of his bed and outstretched his hand which caused his cane to fly into his hand. He rushed out into the hall just as a crewmember tumbled down the stairs. He ran to their aid but to no avail. They were dead with a large wound on their chest. Their clothing increasingly getting more red around the entrance of the wound. Richard ran up to the main deck to see several corpses in pools of blood. The only men he saw were pale with hair color varying from black to pure red. They stood holding various rifles, pistols, and rapiers. They paid no attention to Richard as they looked to be what seemed their leader holding the daughter of his associate. The leader raised the girl and bit into her neck finally satisfying their bitter hunger. “No!” Richard yelled with an outstretched hand. The figures turned in response, blood dripping from their mouths. Some hissed and exposed fangs. A tendril shot out from Richard’s hand and penetrated the leader’s torso. The tendril caught the girl and Richard pulled her back towards him holding her tight. He hid her face against the men hoping she would not see the onslaught he was about to occur. He began to tremble with rage and his pupils became fully dilated overtaking his grey irises almost fully. The starry night sky became pitch black and the ocean turned purple. His appearance shifted to an almost demonic state and when he spoke his voice was shrill.
“Hello, gentleman...welcome to The Shadowlands,” he spoke instinctively. “You are all going to pay for what you have done tonight.” They only hissed in response and before they could even fully respond black skeletal beings erupt from below deck with piercing lime green eyes. They began to tear the men apart. The sounds of screams, gunshots, and the tearing of flesh took over the deck. Once the carnage had stopped and the shadow creatures had dragged their victims into the purple water, Richard once again instinctively held out his hand and a vortex opened. The ship sailed through leaving a large red stain in the purple ocean and is transported to a port in London. The very port he had set sail from months ago. His body stopped trembling as the stars replaced the darkness and the water returned to its original coloring. He looked down at the girl in his arms. Her once brunette hair was now crimson red and she was extremely pale. “I am so sorry for what has happened...I am...so sorry,” he managed to say as the little girl began to sob.