"Never knock on Death's door: ring the bell and run away! Death really hates that!" Matt Frewer. Lets just say I've been playing ding dong ditch for a while now and Death finally disconnected the door bell. Unfortunately he still left up the neon welcome mat…
Now I've seen some strange things in my time as the Invisible Man. Ghosts, mermaids, Wendigo, swiss freaks, psychos (mostly looking in the mirror mind you), and dead people. Dead people in general have become an important part of my life. Hey! "I see dead people!" Gotta love that Sixth Sense. These sites however, couldn't prepare me for the nightmare on this Hallow's Eve…….
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The Agency was throwing a Halloween party! The Keeper brought it to the fat man's attention that I was a little old to go trick-or-treating (your never too old to go TNT, but that's not the point) and no one else had anything to do. The Official did one of those 'hmmm, I'll think about it till I hear something I don't like and turn you down flat.' Unfortunately, his chance never came. The Keeper was having too much fun telling everyone her ideas for the party, and frankly I would rather listen to her ranting than the fat man's ravings.
It was a nice break from my daily routine of almost getting killed, going psycho, almost getting killed, going psycho, and then coming into work and getting my butt chewed for a couple damages to some guys windows. I can't help that glass breaks. Anyways, the day before Halloween, Hobbes and I helped Claire decorate the Keep.
"Where do you want the bats?"
"Oh, just put them by the frogs and lizards Bobby."
"What do you want me to do?" I asked after spending the last half-hour making candy inspections.
"Could you set up the spider webs over there?" Obviously she didn't know whom she was talking to.
"Umm, Keep, what do you want me to do?"
"Come on Darien, they aren't real! Well at least I don't think they are." Claire gave a smirking glance towards Hobbes as they both laughed at my expense. Hobbes finally got frustrated enough at watching me do zilch to add in his two cents.
"Just help out and quit eating the provisions smartass!"
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That night it seemed everyone was at the Halloween party. Which just goes to show that Eberts isn't the only one without a social life. The strange thing was that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Something didn't seem right if even the Official could smile without swimming in a pool of money or having someone dead. All the agents I was used to seeing in ties and suits actually dressed in costumes. All the agents that is, except Hobbes.
"Hey Hobbes, how come you're not in a costume?"
"Bobby Hobbes does not wear costumes my friend."
"Why's that?"
"Because…"
"…you're scary enough already?"
"Smartass, by the way if your so 'into the season' where's your costume?"
"Right here." I let the quicksilver flow over my skin and flood my body; "I'm going as the invisible man."
"Original."
Claire was dressed as a mad scientist, which in all respects was predictable, but on the other hand a bit disturbing. I could actually see her in that persona if push came to shove, or if I accidentily knocked over a tube of green Kool-Aid again. The 'fish was in a fisherman's outfit which looked vaguley familiar from somewhere. He had a fishing pole with a skull on it. (*I wonder if it's real *) Alex had dressed up as a witch, big surprise. However the witch kind of resembled Elvira minus fifty years. That of course explains all the bachelor agents around her cauldron. (No pun intended, she actually had a cauldron with her) The most impressive costume by far though was our main man Eberts. Following the fat man around Eberts, or Egore I should say, was the life of the party.
"I wonder if Eeeeberts will start saying 'Yes master'" Hobbes obviously seeing the same thing I did. You know great minds not only think alike they notice the same things as well.
"Wanna make a bet?"
After settling Hobbes' six blue M&Ms to my four purple skittles (let's face it the color of an M&M doesn't really matter and everyone knows purple is the best) we went over to Egore.
"Hey Eberts, want to fetch me a cold one over there?" Hobbes, obviously not too intent on putting effort into this contest, had previously placed a can of Pepsi on the table directly behind Eberts without my knowledge.
"No Robert, I believe you can get one for yourself."
"Hey Eberts, first off that costume is the best, and second, could you hand me that candy bar right behind you, I'd really appreciate it."
"Where? I don't see…" Mysteriously a Snickers bar un-quicksilvered itself right beneath Eberts' hand, which he had just placed on an otherwise empty table. Hobbes had snatched his drink while I was working in my request.
"What are you two up to?"
"EBERTS! Get over here!" shouted the dead 'fisherman.
"Yes master" Without a hesitation the words just came out of Eberts mouth and he hobbled over to the Official.
"You two…"now the fat man was directing his orders at us, "owe me candy!"
So after digging through my pockets between Nerds, suckers, candy corn, and various non-purple skittles I paid the fat man his due. No matter what I do that guy always seems to win, even when it has nothing to do with business.
After about two hours, at least ten pounds of tootsie rolls, and two encores of the Monster Mash I was officially on a sugar rush complimented by a monsterous headache. For a while I couldn't tell is the peeled grapes, that vaguly resembled eyeballs, were looking at me.
"How many people are still here Hobbes?"
"You, me, Keep, Jensen, a couple other agents, Eberts"
"Eberts? I thought he'd be home watching the Buffy Halloween marathon."
"I'm taping it." Eberts commented to Darien, who didn't even realize that he had been standing right next to him at the time. Turning towards Eberts, Darien saw another person standing in the corner of the Keep.
"Who's that over there by Keeper's computer?"
Everything else had been locked up tightly to keep from breaking or being broken because people who worked for the Agency tended to be able to break substances, such as glass, very easily. Only the computer remained, for some strange reason, giving the sign that someone actually worked in the dungeon of Walmart terror. The figure was dressed in a ghost costume and had his, or her, back to I couldn't see a face. It was eerie how this ghost moved back and forth almost gliding from one position to the other, but it was probably just the fact that I couldn't see his feet that well.
"Fawkes, there's no one there, remember I took the Keeper's computer to the white room when we set up the stereo."
"But I just saw…I mean I'm seeing…"
The white figure was still there, and the computer was on turning to, as far as I could tell, classified files. I tried to move towards the person but it felt like my feet were laffy taffyed to the ground. Why wasn't anyone else stopping this person? Why was I the only one who could see them? Everyone else was preoccupied with having a good time, which I should have been doing, but it never happens. Claire was in a discussion with Alex over which snakes and lizards would be the most useful in a witch potion. Eberts and the two other agents were in agreement that Buffy could kick Wonder Woman's ass. Personally I would have to agree, but at the moment I was a bit distracted. Then something crossed my mind…where's The Official?
Normally I wouldn't have cared if the fat man was in the same room, let alone the same universe as me, but I had a bad feeling. Deciding not to share my paranoia I tried once again to move towards that door. My legs felt like rubber and I swear if anyone was paying attention they would've seen Darien Fawkes walking like a chicken.
"A six foot rubber chicken…. think of the possibilities!"
The so-called ghost by the so-called computer was pacing back and forth. I couldn't make out what was on the screen or for that matter why I was seeing anything at all. Something else caught my eye as well, this "ghost" was holding something in its hand…. a skull.
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"Hobbes." I couldn't tell if he heard me.
"What partner? Ya know you don't look too good."
"Well I feel worse…what do you see on the Keeper's desk?"
"Nothing, once again, just the stereo and an empty candy bowl thanks to you."
"You're telling me you don't see a ghost, or a person dressed as a ghost, trying to hack Claire's computer?"
"No buddy, maybe its time you got another shot, how's your tattoo?"
"Half full, but whether or not I'm sane is debatable. I'll live." I couldn't say I was fine, I hadn't been fine for about two years. Now I'm hallucinating, this had to stop, I had to know what I was seeing wasn't real and the only way to do that was to go find that computer.
"Where'd you say the Keeper's computer was?"
"In the white room Fawkes. How many times do I have to repeat myself?"
"Why there?" That was the last place I wanted to go.
"No one is ever in there. Keep and me thought it would be safe and out of the way, its not like anyone else ever uses that room. No offense Fawkes, but your freakin' me out."
"Sorry Hobbes, did the Official say where he was going?"
"To get some fresh air. How the hell should I know I'm not his babysitter! Fawkes let me see your eyes…" Hobbes was getting pissed.
" No, I'm alright I just need to get some fresh air."
"Alright buddy, but if your not back in an hour I'll assume you went frellin' psycho and started trickin' and treatin'. Bobby Hobbes will not be partnered with such immaturity."
"But Hobbes, the Agency across the street gives out the really big candy bars! Don't worry I'll be back." Note to self: the guy who always says that he will be back when there could be some kind of frellin' evil monster on the loose ain't comin' back. Basically I'm screwed.
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In the hall there was silence…well except for a constant boom from the bass in the Keep. Obviously someone had requested a third encore of the Monster Mash. God I hate that song.
Darien walked down the dark hallway of the Agency. It was almost serene with only his shadow to dance upon the wall. Right now though his shadow was stumbling along with him with every other step. What Darien didn't see however was that after every step small snowflakes were falling behind him. He was not invisible though, at least not on the outside.
Finally reaching his destination Darien froze. This was the room. He had nightmares about going back into the padded room and never being able to come back out. Now there could potentially be a ghost in it with a skull that belonged to his boss, or former boss. If that wasn't enough to drive a person insane…. what was?
It was Halloween so maybe the universe was a little frelled tonight. That is what Darien kept telling himself, and so desperately wanted to believe it. His thoughts were momentarily disrupted though when a sound from inside made him jump.
"Aw Crap!"
Not sure as to whether he was still imagining things or if reality had finally set in, Darien slowly turned the doorknob to face the unknown. Inside was the computer, how it was turned on baffled Darien for there was no outlet in sight. If there was his psychopathic alter ego would've probably found them and turned them both into a walking microwave.
As Darien walked over to view the screen a sudden movement caught his eye. Down came a butt of a gun onto his head. The last thing Darien saw was the computer screen blinking the phrase:
"Revival Complete: WELCOME BACK FAWKES"!
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*The room. I'm here, what have I done? Oh God where's Hobbes? Claire? Why can't I move? Help Me! I'm so sorry. *
Darien had woken up to find himself in the white room. On the verge of hysteria he had forgotten why he was there. He was strapped to the table that had contained the computer (*or had it?*) He couldn't tell if his memories were true and the crimson shades over his eyes certainly didn't help the situation.
"Why am I here?" Darien asked to anyone who might be listening.
"You are here so that I can complete my research, Darien." A voice rang out; it sounded just as mad as Darien was felt.
"Don't let him get to you." The Official was there as well. Good that means he's still alive Darien thought. However the tone in his voice had a hint of concern for Fawkes so Darien knew he must be in real danger.
"Who are you?" Darien demanded.
"Why that hurts Darien that you don't even recognize your own brother's voice!"
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Did I mention that dead people have become a familiar part of my life? Kevin had come back twice after Arnaud's betrayal (the swiss miss mother…). Each time had left me with more questions about my brother and his past than I cared to have.
"Charlie, are you seeing this?" I tried to see either my present captor or my past one to no avail. There was no reply but I could hear someone or something being moved around the table and shuffle across the floor. It was a rather large object so I figured it might be the Official. The fact that this could be accomplished without stopping, for I could hear the movements but the light were still out so I couldn't see anything, proved to me that this person wasn't Kevin because he was always kind of a wimp when it came to physical strength. I wondered then who might be sick enough to try something like this…only one answer came to mind and I wasn't about to let him get away again.
"What happened? What did you do the Official? What do you want? Why the hell are you doing this KEVIN…I mean..."
Darien didn't know why he said Kevin instead of Arnaud he had just convinced himself of the latter. But saying his brother's name seemed to have erupted something in him, the madness, even though Darien could've sworn he hadn't used any quicksilver in a while but that didn't stop it from overpowering his mind. Pain was shooting through every nerve of his body. With every effort to struggle free his sanity was slipping and his demon emerged.
"Ah! I see you've finally gone off the deep end," the voice returned, "happened sooner than I expected. I didn't actually think you'd consume that much of the formula."
"What are you frelling talking about?"
"The candy genius, it's coated with a drug that clouds your senses and most importantly stimulates quicksilver production internally. It also has a small amount of addictiveness so you can't eat just one, but obviously I put too much of that in…"
"Kudos to you, you'd have to be a genius to design something that stimulates a gland only two other people know a little something about. One's dead, and one is talking to a witch about lizard potions, and Arnaud if that's you…I'm going to frellin' kill you!"
"But that's where you are wrong. Claire knows a lot more about the gland than she's been letting on to anyone, this is most definitely not Arnaud deThiel, and I…well I know everything about you, your gland, the madness, counteragent, your past thanks to Claire's computer and some electrical stimulation. But mostly, this might be something you'll want to listen to; I know how to take the gland out. After all I am the one who put it in there." Just then the lights in the room were switched on and the figure moved from beneath its coat closer to Darien. Through his crimson eyes Darien could see the face of his dead brother just as he had remembered him. But with eyes as red as Darien's blinking back at him.
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"Hello Brother." Darien had heard those words before out of a swiss-miss, with the same tone but the voice was not of Arnaud. And that is what was really disturbing.
"Aw crap. This is great, back for a family reunion are we? Hey Kevin, where you been for the last year I've been missing you in ways only insanity can comprehend."
On the verge of total madness Darien no longer considered that fact that this might still be a hoax. All the hatred and anger that was building in his mind was directed towards Kevin. This was the first time his madness made sense for it was all the evil and anger that Darien himself believed Kevin had caused him and therefor he should pay. The demon, however, was ready to proceed with actions Darien only would have thought about…
"Why don't you let me out of these straps so I can give you a hug?"
"I maybe a little insane myself Darien, but as usual I'm not stupid." Kevin said with a tone of pride that Darien hated, "I know what you are capable of and quite frankly I like being in total control of the situation. No one telling me I'm not making progress, that my goals will never be reached, and when they are that my life's work was for nothing…"
"Well I wouldn't say for nothing…."
"To be isolated in a lab for the sake of a government that will only use you until you are no longer able to benefit them. You know Darien you aren't the only lab rat, granted you are the most obvious, but the minds of those who helped are always under speculation and sometimes told that once the project is over so are they."
"Wow I never thought you…"
"Of course you didn't, you were out having a real life, that is until you blew it with that old man. If it was me Darien I would've let him die and worried about my own survival."
"But it was you who saved me from my old life and a life sentence." Darien could sense his sanity coming back, something that never happened without a little assistance. Maybe in he had suddenly learned to control it or maybe Kevin was insane enough for the both of them. "Without your help I would be in a cell with some really bad people, or even dead." The optomistic point of view felt truthful to Darien for the first time in a while. Pessimism, however, was soon shoved back in his face.
"As opposed to this? Your whole life is spent in this prison either confined by the need of their counteragent or your own mind. You'll spend the rest of your life tied to some table like you are now or a chair and you won't know why. That's pathetic." So many times had Darien thought the same thing and prayed it would never come true. Hearing someone else share his subconscious opinion was unsettling. At the same time anger arose, not only because he was called pathetic, but his brother had no right to say there was no hope after he had proven him wrong with the help of the gland. If there was one thing Darien had learned from his years at The Agency is that there is always another option besides the obvious one of death.
"No Kevin, you're the pathetic one. Always taking all the attention, never thinking about how your research would hurt others. Survival my ass, you had to feed your own needs for success in life." continuing his rant, "Now you are back from the dead again, what is this the third time! I'm really getting tired of this and so are all the voices in my head. We would really like it if you took that gun and either shot yourself (*hopefully that'll work this time around*) or us. I'll leave it up to you since you're so good at making the right decisions in life and death."
"DO NOT BLAME ME FOR YOUR OWN MISFORTUNES! If you didn't notice I have a couple of my own. You should be happy to be alive with the risk it took to put that damn gland in!"
"Lucky. I'll tell you how lucky I am. Every time I turn around I see this demon in front of me because you wouldn't trust me about Arnaud."
"Well the choice was an ex-con or a colleague, it didn't seem like rocket science."
"Obviously it was rocket science."
Darien was still focusing on Kevin who was pacing back and forth muttering words to himself. His head now felt completely scrambled, like sticking it in a dishwasher for the mentally ill and hitting the spin cycle. Kevin wasn't doing much better, he started foaming at the mouth. Darien started to laugh at the site.
"Troubles brother?" Like he really wanted to know.
"Shut up! If I make a cut at the left occipital at a thirty-eight degree angle with a three inch incision the gland will be right in my view."
"Sorry to inform you bro, but that'd kill me. Not that that would be such a bad thing at this moment in time, but you'd have to find a place to keep the gland."
"Oh but don't you see? I have no intention of keeping you alive and once I have the gland I'm putting it where it was meant to go…in my head!"
"What the frell?" Even evil Darien didn't understand the logic in that statement.
"Why was my life devoted to invisibility? So others could use it? Hell no! I wanted to feel the freedom of not having to look at myself in the mirror everyday and never having to fear being locked up in a lab, or killed. That was big motivator till it obviously…well you know the rest." Kevin continued, "If people can't see me then they can't catch me, blame me, kill me, freakin' stress me out! I would be completely free of everything that keeps normal people suppressed."
"I think you forgot something there, the ol' red eye perhaps?"
"But don't you see, I'm loving it. Here I am Kevin Fawkes, holding a gun to my brother's head and talking about actually pulling the trigger. I'm completely free of guilt or worry. My conscience isn't going to stop me either, this is absolute FREE WILL!"
"They'll kill you like they killed Simon Cole. The Agency will find you, you aren't free at all."
"Simon Cole still had a conscience when we caught him. It was either Charlie shoot him and give him some dignity in death or he would've taken his own life. And we couldn't risk a shot to the head now could we?"
"But the Official…"
"Of course he didn't tell you as much, you agents are all the same: 'Go for glory, look out for your partner, die for your country'. Now that kind of logic is insane." Kevin was advancing towards Darien so now they were at point blank range. All Darien could think of was how bad a shot he must be to have to get that close. They were so alike how could he have let his brother get this bad…Darien stopped thinking like that, after all it was Kevin's fault and he was already dead, things couldn't get much worse. Or could they….
"I'm tired of talking, lets just move on with it. Goodbye Darien, say hello to Charlie when you see him."
"You didn't"
"Yes, I did."
"Hobbes will never let you out of here alive!"
"What's he got to stop me with? I already have his gun and he'll probably think I'm you. After all I can't let anyone know you are dead and I'm alive…. Besides, Mr. Hobbes will never shoot his partner."
"Claire will know, and she's got a bigger gun."
"I'm taking care of that problem too. She'll be joining you shortly as well, a great loss but I can't take any chances."
"Bastard…"
"Bye Fawkes, kind of ironic, both of us were betrayed by an ally for a common purpose."
"You were never an ally."
Kevin cocked the gun and held his hand to the trigger. Darien could only think of how the pain would be over, but also how his friends were next. Maybe he'd finally go to a better place, or his crimes had already decided his fate. Darien never thought about the afterlife, the present had always been too much of a distraction. Either way he went, he didn't care as long as invisibility wasn't a requirement. Besides, if he went to heaven, great, if not, it couldn't get much worse than this.
"You know death isn't all that it is cracked up to be."
"What are you psychic?"
"No, just don't want you to be disappointed." With that Kevin pulled the trigger. Darien's body went limp, blood flowing from his chest. His crimson eyes slowly closed and the last drops of quicksilver that would ever fall from his body landed beneath his feet.
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"Aw crap!" Darien woke up in a cold sweat. Terrified by the nightmare he had just encountered Darien started to check for a bullet in his chest. It had been so real, everything that he was afraid of all rolled into one nightmare. (* I gotta stop watching Hitchcock before I go to sleep. Even my dreams are freakin' me out as if life wasn't enough! *) Well this nightmare is definitely not getting told to the Keeper. She would put me in the padded room and I could experience the whole thing over again! The telephone in Darien's apartment began to ring.
"Fawkes."
"Hi! It's Claire. Look Eberts and I thought it would be nice if The Agency had a little get together for Halloween. Since I know that disrupts your prior…um…trick or treating plans," she started to snicker, "I thought I would ask if you would be interested in coming? Hobbes and I are going to set up the Keep today so everything will be ready. We just have to move my computer." There was a pause, "It might be fun, so what do you think?"
"Will there be candy?"
END
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