Punishment
Paul Bearer was hanging upside down in a shaft of light. A metal rod had been inserted through his ankles and the rod was attached to a chain that led up into the darkness high above. Blood flowed freely from many wounds and pooled on the floor.
"You disappoint me Paul," said a voice in the darkness. "You were supposed to watch him and see to it that he did what he was tasked to do."
"It's not my fault," whined the obese man. "His will was too great. His love for the woman was too strong."
"Don't make excuses!" shouted the voice. "You have always made excuses!" Paul just whimpered.
"Give me one more chance," begged Paul. "I know that he is close to returning now that you've sent Dallas Page after Sara."
"I'm sorry, Paul," said the voice, who now stepped into the light. "But you have run out of chances. Now it's time to punish you."
"Please, Damian, I'll do anything! Anything!"
"Good," said Damian. "Then you won't mind dying for me!"
"Noooooooo!" cried Paul.
Damian held out his hand towards the shaft of light. The light itself got brighter and brighter and Paul began to howl out in pain. Slowly, his veins began to bulge and his skin cracked and split. Without any warning Paul burst into flames and his piercing death-cry resounded about the room. The chain holding the rod through his ankles started to move upwards and within moments the still-burning carcass was out of sight.
Damian closed his eyes and let out a low growl of hate. "Why does Mark make me have to torture his friends?" he asked himself. "Something must be done."
Damian sat and immersed himself in deep contemplation for what felt like an eternity. Then a cruel and ominous smile spread across his face slowly. Equally as slowly he rose to his feet. "I summon the Warriors of Darkness," he said, allowing his voice to echo about the dark chamber. Three spotlights shone down on floor. "Step forward, Meathook Harris, Amano Tensho, and Aurora Angelica." Slowly the images of three demons faded in inside the three spotlights. They were cruel and horrible looking abominations. The surface of their skin was black and coated with blood and slime. Their eyes burned a deep red. Each flexed their dagger-like talons.
"What is your bidding?" they asked as one. Their voices were just as cruel and twisted as their forms. "Why have you sent for us?"
"I have summoned you to aid me in returning the Undertaker, Mark Calaway, to the Darkness where he rightfully belongs," said Damian.
"Your bidding is heard and will be obeyed," the Warriors responded.
"Change into your human forms and find three to make an example of," said Damian. "But do not kill them."
"As you wish," they said. With that they erupted into flames. Their bodies twisted and contorted inside the fire. When the fires died away, they were in their human forms. The one called Meathook was now a Caucasian male in his late thirties. He stood at about 6'9" and had a very muscular build. He wore a dirty gray flannel shirt with the sleeves ripped off, black army fatigue pants, and black army boots. His hair was twisted into dreadlocks and was grayer than his shirt. His eyes were hazel. He had a vertical scar across his right eye. He had an equally gray mustache and beard. On the bicep of his right arm was the tattoo of a bloody hook. The one called Amano was now a Japanese male in his late twenties. He stood at about 6'5" and had an athletic build. He wore a blue T-shirt, dark blue karate gi pants, and blue shoes. His black hair was short and neat. His eyes were almost black. He was clean-shaven. Finally, the one called Aurora was now a Caucasian female in her late teens or early twenties. She was about 5'7" and had the body of a centerfold and a face to match. Her platinum blonde hair reached almost to her waist and was kept loose. Her eyes were a dark rich blue. She wore a sleeveless and shoulderless white leather catsuit with black tiger stripes. She also had a matching white leather trenchcoat. Finally she wore matching thigh-high white leather boots with diamond stiletto heels and silver spurs.
"Go now," said Damian. "I will handle Vince McMahon and inform him of your impending arrival. Don't disappoint me or you will end up like that obese wretch I just dispatched."
Without a word they all bowed their heads and faded back into the darkness.
"Your time is now, Mark," said Damian. "We're coming for you."
To be continued…
