Is This Me? (Part Two of Three)

[[Is this not making ANY sense to you? Read Part One of "Is This Me?" before reading this. Thanks!]]

-=(We slowly make a fade in to show the place that we were before: the warehouse. Except, the scene is a bit different now. The dark of night, and the cold, biting wind is no different, but the warehouse itself is. Mainly, it doesn't look so damned old. Many of the windows are still intact, and it can be seen that the borads have just started being put up. The doors of the warehouse don't seem as rotted as before, and the overall look of the building is, well, less dilapidated. Anyway, we slowly move forward, in the same path as before, moving towards the large bay doors. This time they are closed, but they open before us, and we enter the dark, dusty air of this place. Once again, a light is seen in the distance, and we move toward it, until we step into a small, circle of light, if you will. About eight men sit, surounding a small table on which rests a candle. At what appears to be the head of the circle, a man sits in a nice, plush armchair, looking over the heads of all of the people. The men in the circle sit on small wooden crates or boxes, and just sit, watching the flame move, and it's shadows dance across the wall. Just then, the man clears his throat, and all turn to face him. It's the same leader as before, slightly younger. Same spiked black hair, same stubble of a beard, everything. He looks around at the group, and speaks.)=-

-[Leader]- Folks. Tonight, is a serious night...It seems, we've had a violation. Quick, someone tell me rule number 8 of the Angels.

-=(One man leaps from his crate to answer.)=-

-[Man]- You will not have any intimate or close interaction with non-Angels!

-[Leader]- Congratulations. You get a cookie.

-=(The leader reaches into a small bag next to him, and pulls out what looks like an Oreo. He tosses it to the kid, who looks at it oddly. The leader nods, and the kid sits down, shrugging. The leader then turns back to the group.)=-

-[Leader]- No outside interaction...Ryan, let me ask you, who was that girl you were with, the other day, in the fields?

-=(We now see that neXt, or Ryan, is seated just as he was last time. Except now, he is slightly younger. Shorter hair, not quite as built. He looks worriedly at the leader, and just shrugs.)=-

-[Ryan]- I'm not quite sure I know what you're tal-

-[Leader]- You know damn well what I'm talking about.

-=(Ryan stares at him, an almost worried stare, one searching for remorse, for mercy, and finding none.)=-

-[Ryan]- Scott, I-

-[Scott]- You know...What I'm talking about. Who, is the girl?

-=(So he has a name...Scott glares down on Ryan, who just lets out a deep sigh, and stands up, appearing slightly frusturated.)=-

-[Ryan]- Alright Scott. The girl is Amy. I met her on campus a year or so ago...She, she's great, alright? I mean, she understands me...I've, I've been talking to her for awhile, writing letters and stuff...Every now and then we get together...I need something normal in my life, Scott. I'm not like you. I'm not like Sean and Eric, I'm not a born goth. I'm just...different. You guys are those who understand me the most, but that isn't to say I fit in here. Not in the least.

-[Scott]- This isn't Oprah Ryan. I just needed to know who the girl is, so we can...Erradicate the problem.

-[Ryan]- You lay a finger on he-

-[Scott]- And you will? Ryan, this girl is a distraction to you. We need to fix the problem.

-=(Ryan glares down on Scott. He turns to walk away, but Scott stands up, and grabs Ryan's shoulder, and spins him around, staring him in the eye.)=-

-[Scott]- You never, turn your back to me...

-[Ryan]- When did it happen?

-[Scott]- What?

-[Ryan]- When, did you stop being Scott, the guy I knew, the guy who I used to skateboard with, and watch MST3K with, and I used to sneak peaks at porno mags with? Where'd he go? 'Cause, suddenly, he's a powerhungry, satan worshipping shithead.

-=(Scott's face explodes with anger, and his hand flies to the table, where he grabs the small Cassette player, and swings it at Ryan's head. It catches Ryan right in the temple, and Ryan goes down hard, a trickle of blood running down the side of his face.)=-

-[Scott]- You never question me. The Angels are bretheren. We do for each other. WE DON'T INTERACT OUTSIDE OF THE FAMILY! Ryan, you disobeyed our most serious of laws...It would have been fine, if you weren't...you. You are different, aren't you? You're just not one of us...I was going to kill the girl, get you back on track...But now, that won't be enough. Kill you? Oh, no. Because, we're more then that. No matter what you do, nothing could make you an outsider. But Ryan, the choice is yours. Either you stay with us, do the smart things, or you walk out that door, an Angel, yes, but a fallen one.

-=(Ryan looks up at him, wiping the blood from his face. He looks wearily at the door, and then at Scott. He unsteadily raises himself to his feet, with Scott giving him a hand. Ryan looks at Scott, and raises a hand. He hesitates, and then...sticks it out for a hand shake. Scott smiles a bit, and shakes his hand. Ryan then bends down, and grabs his backpack. He swings it over his back, takes one last look at Scott, and turns around, heading for the door. An odd look crosses Scott's face, one of despari, almost, but at the same time, one of wonderment. From this, we slowly fade, to black...And then?)=-

:::Quiet, aren't we?:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- What?

:::Oh, this whole time, you think nothing...Just focus on the scene. :::

-[neXt (Faded)]- Oh...Well...It's a serious thing...Why this though?

::: -=(Sigh)=- Day in and day out, the same thoughts pass through your head. "Why me? Why am I like this? Why am I chosen?" And the answer is always the same. You are just NOT normal. No personality can match yours. You are neither jock nor nerd, interesting nor boring, etcetera. You are you. You just can't seem to grasp that. :::

-[neXt (Faded)]- Am I supposed to grasp it? Is it not one of the secrets of life, my purpose here?

:::The secrets are secrets, because they have no use in the hands of humans. But you...Every person holds the secrets, deep down. You are just in touch with yourself enough to unearth the answers.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- Now only to find the question.

:::We're getting somewhere now.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- But, with that scene...Why that? What impact did that have on me?

:::That day, you learned to be you. To think for yourself, to fully utilize your wide array of past conflicts, and abilities. You became and indiviual that day.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- And now, they want me back...That's the decision, right?

:::Well, the root, yes. Also, do you want to trust Scott? Do you want to believe all this? But, you're on the right track.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- Heh, neXt, gang member slash Wrestling God participant...That'll look great in the papers.

:::God bringing you down, I can see.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- I'm just overwhelmed by what I'm up against. Ironfist, Extreme, guys like that, all favored to win, along with the underdogs, most likely to overcome the bracket.

:::You're an underdog.:::

-[neXt (Faded)]- Yeah...

:::Well, you have other times to worry about God. Right now, a satanic best friend is staring you right in your eye, asking you to join him. Answers?:::

-=(We then see a flash like that of lighting, and we are back where we started, in the circle of people inside the warehouse. The older Scott is staring straight at neXt, a look of anticipation on his face. neXt slowly raises a finger to trace the scar over his right temple, and lowers the hand slowly, as we fade out...)=-

[[Ah, it's coming together now. Check out the third installment to get the whole picture. Until neXt time...]]