5. Rendezvous
"Who are you?" The voice called out. "Why are you here?"
Cornell stood in darkness. The void reminded him of the dark dimension where he once faced the vampire Dracula. It was infinite. The voice that called out to him called from within, not without. It was in his head.
"Why are you here?"
"I am Cornell." He responded.
"No you are not."
The outline of a man drizzled into existence right in front of Cornell. As the man came into shape, Cornell saw it was that of an old man. He was dressed in a long gray robe. His beard extended almost to the ground. His long fingers were thin as bone.
"I knew a man-wolf named Cornell." The old man spoke in a strong and virile voice that contrasted his ancient appearance. "You are but a shadow of the man who came to me years ago." The old man slapped Cornell across the face. Cornell remained motionless.
"It is worse than I feared." The old man began to pace around Cornell. He stared at him intensely studying his every detail. The old man had known Cornell before but nevertheless looked at him as if it were the first time.
"Are you ready?"
"For what," Cornell asked.
A smile crept across the old man's face. "To face fear." He then broke into a loud laugh. His hand lashed out and struck Cornell across the face once more. Cornell closed his eyes before the old man's hand touched his face. For a brief second Cornell waited for the strike, but it never came. His eyes remained closed but his nose was aware. A scent entered his nostrils. It was the scent of man. Cornell opened his eyes. No longer was he standing in a void. Now he stood in a dense forest. It was a familiar forest. He remembered it well. However it was not just that he knew the forest he was in, but he was overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu. He felt as though he were reliving a past moment. Cornell began to traverse the woods. He maneuvered through the forest until he came upon a campfire. The campfire was laid in the center of a small wagon train. Cornell walked towards the camp and saw no one. Abandoned.
"What have here?"
Cornell felt the brunt of a rifle barrel strike the back of his head. The pain roused every nerve in his body and he fell to the ground limp. The man who had hit him turned Cornell face up on the ground. Cornell looked into his face.
"No." Cornell spoke in astonishment. "It can't be."
"Infernal man-wolf. Did you think I would let you harm my family." The man stared into Cornell's eyes with hate. He then looked away to something that Cornell could not see.
"Did you get the others?" The man called out. Cornell managed to turn himself and look in same direction as the man did. Three other man dressed similarly approached the camp. In their hands they carried heads, the heads of man wolves. Cornell nearly screamed in agony. Cornell turned an faced the man who had hit before. The man now held a small child in his arms.
"See, Ada dear, your dad got you a man-wolf. You want me to rip his teeth out and make a necklace for you?" The small child just stared at Cornell and smiled as a child does.
"No. No! These atrocities never happened. This is not the way it happened!"
Suddenly Ada was gone and her father grabbed Cornell by the throat and picked him up.
"You are right. These atrocities never happened. You massacred us. We were helpless. Helpless to a bunch of animals! Senseless, bloodthirsty, murdering animals!" Ada's father raised his rifle and took aim at Cornell's head.
"What's the matter wolf man? Do you want to kill me?
The tip of the rifle danced before Cornell's eyes. He thought that at any moment it would be over. Cornell heard the click as the hammer of the rifle was pulled all the way back. The click struck a chord in Cornell's mind. He felt a surge of adrenaline fill his body. The sound of Cornell's hand breaking the wind was heard as he grabbed the barrel of the rifle and ripped it from the man's hands. Ada's father did not seem surprised but nevertheless backed away from Cornell. Cornell leaped to his feet and poised himself to attack the man. The man merely turned and ran. Anger swelled up inside of Cornell as he followed him. Cornell followed him until he reached the back of one of the wagon trains. The man dove inside and Cornell dove after him. Inside Cornell raised his fisted hand as to strike. Cornell paused his attack his he watched his former attacker quivering in fear huddled with a small baby. Cornell stared into the baby's eyes.
"Ada?"
Then everything disappeared. The wagon, the camp, Ada and her father were all gone. Cornell was no longer standing but was lying on the ground. The ground was hard and cold. Cornell opened his eyes even though he did not remember closing them. Wherever he was, it was very foggy. Cornell stood up and scanned his surroundings. Once again it was familiar to him. It was the roof of a large structure. If he surmised correctly, it was a tower. Cornell peaked over the edge and saw a great abyss of clouds.
"At last, I face the real you."
Cornell turned to face the speaker. As he turned he knew who it was that awaited him.
"Ortega."
Ortega stood not ten feet away from Cornell. He looked exactly as he did all those years ago. This was the place where they met for the last time. It was an encounter that had haunted Cornell for years. Even his very words would continue to follow him through the years.
Ortega displayed his teeth in a menacing grin. "I so wanted to drive the animal that you had locked within you, into the open. Here where I could fight it. I wanted all the world to know you for the animal you really are!"
Cornell nodded. "And you succeeded. You were right. In my mindless animal state I defeated you."
"Did you?"
Cornell felt Ortega's hands clasp themselves around his throat. He felt himself being lifted into the air and being thrown back to the ground. The rock hard roof of the tower cracked under the force of Cornell's fall. Cornell felt pain surge to all parts of his body.
"Show yourself!" Ortega yelled in a maniacal rage. He then raised his fists and brought them down upon the helpless Cornell. Cornell could feel as Ortega's fists beat down upon him. Such was the force of Ortega's blows that when he raised his hands up into the air they were stained in blood.
"Show your.!" Ortega called out once more. A sudden grin swept across Ortega's face. Cornell had caught Ortega's fist midway to hitting him again. Leveraging himself on Ortega's arm, Cornell lifted himself up and threw his other fist into Ortega's face in the form of a strong punch. Ortega stumbled backwards a few steps. His grin had not faded a bit.
"Yes. Let us do battle now and for all eternity. Two immortal beasts."
"No!" Cornell launched a broad punch at Ortega and sent him flying backwards. Now Cornell stood above Ortega.
"Our roles have been reversed." Ortega spit blood out. The blood hit Cornell's chest and he stared at it. Cornell then flashed his teeth and seemed prepared to howl with his fist raised into the air. The expression of his face suddenly changed but his fist came crashing down. Ortega continued to smile. Cornell felt something hard break against the force of his fists. Then the blood began to drown his hands. Cornell lifted his hands and stared at them. Then he let his gaze drift to Ortega's head. His grin was gone. In its place was a mute and expressionless face. The floor beside his head was cracked and stained with Cornell's blood.
"You're wrong. I have let your words haunt me long enough. I am not an animal. I am a man."
Ortega did not seem moved by Cornell's words. When he spoke again, it was as if not in his own voice. "To prove your self a man is not so simple. You still need to face your greatest demon of all."
"Who?"
Suddenly the voice that spoke from Ortega's body began to laugh. His body slowly dissipated into mist and finally into nothingness. Cornell's surroundings also began to blur until they too dissolved into a black void. A crack of thunder and a bolt of lightening startled Cornell but it also revealed a silhouetted figure. The obscure figure stood far away from Cornell. The vastness of the black void made the distance seem infinite. Another lightening bolt struck and in the flash of light the figure closed the distance between Cornell and himself.
"At last. Face to face."
Cornell stared into the familiar yet estranged face that stood before him. He was filled with disbelief that at one time he looked like such a creature. The dark gray fur that once kept him warm during winter nights. The long nose that directed him to his prey. The eyes and pointed ears that did not allow a single detail to escape his attention. It was a man-wolf that stood before Cornell. It was the man-wolf Cornell. The man-wolf Cornell extended his clawed hand and slashed Cornell across the face. Cornell recoil from the pain. The man-wolf Cornell howled. It then took its bloodied hand and licked it with his tongue. Cornell did not feel envy. He did not feel thirsty. Cornell felt angry. Cornell's fist connected with the man-wolf's. Every move that Cornell launched his opponent blocked and counter attacked. Cornell knew that he was facing a physical representation of himself. How do you beat yourself? Cornell pondered as he attacked, blocked and attacked again. Their struggle went on for what seemed like an eternity. Cornell began to feel his movements becoming automatic and rhythmic. He suddenly felt locked in a never ending cycle of fighting techniques.
"What makes a man different than an animal?"
Cornell heard a voice speak out loud in his head. Cornell felt like yelling back 'I don't know' but he was hypnotized by the fight at hand. However the voice was enough to get Cornell thinking. Throughout his life he had fought many times. He had fought for his tribe. He had fought for his village. Now Cornell fought for the right to choose what his soul was. Man or animal. It was at that moment that Cornell found the answer. At least it was his answer. If it worked then finally he would relieve himself of the guilt that had weighed down on him for so many years. If he was wrong, then he would have nothing to worry about.ever. At that moment Cornell ceased his attacks. The man-wolf's did not. It's claws suddenly inserted themselves into his chest. Cornell felt the man-wolf's claws digging into his chest and finally grasping its target. Cornell's body went cold as he felt his heart being ripped from its chamber. The man-wolf held his still beating heart in its palm. Cornell stared at it intensely. What followed was a feeling that if Cornell were ever asked to describe in words, he could not. The bloody and pulsating heart slowly changed form. Its soft and organic texture became smooth and sleek however it ke[t its blood red color. The heart became transparent as it took on a new shape. When its transformation was complete, Cornell saw what it was. His heart had turned into a red jewel. It was exactly like the red jewel Ada had been inside many years ago only this time he was on the inside. No longer was he staring from the outside within but from the inside. He stared out of of his jewel prison and saw only the void. With all the strength he could muster Cornell forced his way out of the jewel. His hands pushed against the interior of the jewel.
"I am a man. I am a MAN!"
The jewel burst into a hundred pieces and flew in every direction. Cornell dropped to his knees and stared upwards into the dark abyss. The blackness slowly trickled away and revealed a blue sky. Within moments Cornell was no longer in the void but where he always had been. He was on his knees and standing beside him was Coller and the nearby campfire they had made. Coller undead eyes looked into Cornell's. Coller smiled and nodded his head.
"I'm ready now." Cornell said.
"Ready?" Coller asked.
"I'm ready to live."
"Who are you?" The voice called out. "Why are you here?"
Cornell stood in darkness. The void reminded him of the dark dimension where he once faced the vampire Dracula. It was infinite. The voice that called out to him called from within, not without. It was in his head.
"Why are you here?"
"I am Cornell." He responded.
"No you are not."
The outline of a man drizzled into existence right in front of Cornell. As the man came into shape, Cornell saw it was that of an old man. He was dressed in a long gray robe. His beard extended almost to the ground. His long fingers were thin as bone.
"I knew a man-wolf named Cornell." The old man spoke in a strong and virile voice that contrasted his ancient appearance. "You are but a shadow of the man who came to me years ago." The old man slapped Cornell across the face. Cornell remained motionless.
"It is worse than I feared." The old man began to pace around Cornell. He stared at him intensely studying his every detail. The old man had known Cornell before but nevertheless looked at him as if it were the first time.
"Are you ready?"
"For what," Cornell asked.
A smile crept across the old man's face. "To face fear." He then broke into a loud laugh. His hand lashed out and struck Cornell across the face once more. Cornell closed his eyes before the old man's hand touched his face. For a brief second Cornell waited for the strike, but it never came. His eyes remained closed but his nose was aware. A scent entered his nostrils. It was the scent of man. Cornell opened his eyes. No longer was he standing in a void. Now he stood in a dense forest. It was a familiar forest. He remembered it well. However it was not just that he knew the forest he was in, but he was overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu. He felt as though he were reliving a past moment. Cornell began to traverse the woods. He maneuvered through the forest until he came upon a campfire. The campfire was laid in the center of a small wagon train. Cornell walked towards the camp and saw no one. Abandoned.
"What have here?"
Cornell felt the brunt of a rifle barrel strike the back of his head. The pain roused every nerve in his body and he fell to the ground limp. The man who had hit him turned Cornell face up on the ground. Cornell looked into his face.
"No." Cornell spoke in astonishment. "It can't be."
"Infernal man-wolf. Did you think I would let you harm my family." The man stared into Cornell's eyes with hate. He then looked away to something that Cornell could not see.
"Did you get the others?" The man called out. Cornell managed to turn himself and look in same direction as the man did. Three other man dressed similarly approached the camp. In their hands they carried heads, the heads of man wolves. Cornell nearly screamed in agony. Cornell turned an faced the man who had hit before. The man now held a small child in his arms.
"See, Ada dear, your dad got you a man-wolf. You want me to rip his teeth out and make a necklace for you?" The small child just stared at Cornell and smiled as a child does.
"No. No! These atrocities never happened. This is not the way it happened!"
Suddenly Ada was gone and her father grabbed Cornell by the throat and picked him up.
"You are right. These atrocities never happened. You massacred us. We were helpless. Helpless to a bunch of animals! Senseless, bloodthirsty, murdering animals!" Ada's father raised his rifle and took aim at Cornell's head.
"What's the matter wolf man? Do you want to kill me?
The tip of the rifle danced before Cornell's eyes. He thought that at any moment it would be over. Cornell heard the click as the hammer of the rifle was pulled all the way back. The click struck a chord in Cornell's mind. He felt a surge of adrenaline fill his body. The sound of Cornell's hand breaking the wind was heard as he grabbed the barrel of the rifle and ripped it from the man's hands. Ada's father did not seem surprised but nevertheless backed away from Cornell. Cornell leaped to his feet and poised himself to attack the man. The man merely turned and ran. Anger swelled up inside of Cornell as he followed him. Cornell followed him until he reached the back of one of the wagon trains. The man dove inside and Cornell dove after him. Inside Cornell raised his fisted hand as to strike. Cornell paused his attack his he watched his former attacker quivering in fear huddled with a small baby. Cornell stared into the baby's eyes.
"Ada?"
Then everything disappeared. The wagon, the camp, Ada and her father were all gone. Cornell was no longer standing but was lying on the ground. The ground was hard and cold. Cornell opened his eyes even though he did not remember closing them. Wherever he was, it was very foggy. Cornell stood up and scanned his surroundings. Once again it was familiar to him. It was the roof of a large structure. If he surmised correctly, it was a tower. Cornell peaked over the edge and saw a great abyss of clouds.
"At last, I face the real you."
Cornell turned to face the speaker. As he turned he knew who it was that awaited him.
"Ortega."
Ortega stood not ten feet away from Cornell. He looked exactly as he did all those years ago. This was the place where they met for the last time. It was an encounter that had haunted Cornell for years. Even his very words would continue to follow him through the years.
Ortega displayed his teeth in a menacing grin. "I so wanted to drive the animal that you had locked within you, into the open. Here where I could fight it. I wanted all the world to know you for the animal you really are!"
Cornell nodded. "And you succeeded. You were right. In my mindless animal state I defeated you."
"Did you?"
Cornell felt Ortega's hands clasp themselves around his throat. He felt himself being lifted into the air and being thrown back to the ground. The rock hard roof of the tower cracked under the force of Cornell's fall. Cornell felt pain surge to all parts of his body.
"Show yourself!" Ortega yelled in a maniacal rage. He then raised his fists and brought them down upon the helpless Cornell. Cornell could feel as Ortega's fists beat down upon him. Such was the force of Ortega's blows that when he raised his hands up into the air they were stained in blood.
"Show your.!" Ortega called out once more. A sudden grin swept across Ortega's face. Cornell had caught Ortega's fist midway to hitting him again. Leveraging himself on Ortega's arm, Cornell lifted himself up and threw his other fist into Ortega's face in the form of a strong punch. Ortega stumbled backwards a few steps. His grin had not faded a bit.
"Yes. Let us do battle now and for all eternity. Two immortal beasts."
"No!" Cornell launched a broad punch at Ortega and sent him flying backwards. Now Cornell stood above Ortega.
"Our roles have been reversed." Ortega spit blood out. The blood hit Cornell's chest and he stared at it. Cornell then flashed his teeth and seemed prepared to howl with his fist raised into the air. The expression of his face suddenly changed but his fist came crashing down. Ortega continued to smile. Cornell felt something hard break against the force of his fists. Then the blood began to drown his hands. Cornell lifted his hands and stared at them. Then he let his gaze drift to Ortega's head. His grin was gone. In its place was a mute and expressionless face. The floor beside his head was cracked and stained with Cornell's blood.
"You're wrong. I have let your words haunt me long enough. I am not an animal. I am a man."
Ortega did not seem moved by Cornell's words. When he spoke again, it was as if not in his own voice. "To prove your self a man is not so simple. You still need to face your greatest demon of all."
"Who?"
Suddenly the voice that spoke from Ortega's body began to laugh. His body slowly dissipated into mist and finally into nothingness. Cornell's surroundings also began to blur until they too dissolved into a black void. A crack of thunder and a bolt of lightening startled Cornell but it also revealed a silhouetted figure. The obscure figure stood far away from Cornell. The vastness of the black void made the distance seem infinite. Another lightening bolt struck and in the flash of light the figure closed the distance between Cornell and himself.
"At last. Face to face."
Cornell stared into the familiar yet estranged face that stood before him. He was filled with disbelief that at one time he looked like such a creature. The dark gray fur that once kept him warm during winter nights. The long nose that directed him to his prey. The eyes and pointed ears that did not allow a single detail to escape his attention. It was a man-wolf that stood before Cornell. It was the man-wolf Cornell. The man-wolf Cornell extended his clawed hand and slashed Cornell across the face. Cornell recoil from the pain. The man-wolf Cornell howled. It then took its bloodied hand and licked it with his tongue. Cornell did not feel envy. He did not feel thirsty. Cornell felt angry. Cornell's fist connected with the man-wolf's. Every move that Cornell launched his opponent blocked and counter attacked. Cornell knew that he was facing a physical representation of himself. How do you beat yourself? Cornell pondered as he attacked, blocked and attacked again. Their struggle went on for what seemed like an eternity. Cornell began to feel his movements becoming automatic and rhythmic. He suddenly felt locked in a never ending cycle of fighting techniques.
"What makes a man different than an animal?"
Cornell heard a voice speak out loud in his head. Cornell felt like yelling back 'I don't know' but he was hypnotized by the fight at hand. However the voice was enough to get Cornell thinking. Throughout his life he had fought many times. He had fought for his tribe. He had fought for his village. Now Cornell fought for the right to choose what his soul was. Man or animal. It was at that moment that Cornell found the answer. At least it was his answer. If it worked then finally he would relieve himself of the guilt that had weighed down on him for so many years. If he was wrong, then he would have nothing to worry about.ever. At that moment Cornell ceased his attacks. The man-wolf's did not. It's claws suddenly inserted themselves into his chest. Cornell felt the man-wolf's claws digging into his chest and finally grasping its target. Cornell's body went cold as he felt his heart being ripped from its chamber. The man-wolf held his still beating heart in its palm. Cornell stared at it intensely. What followed was a feeling that if Cornell were ever asked to describe in words, he could not. The bloody and pulsating heart slowly changed form. Its soft and organic texture became smooth and sleek however it ke[t its blood red color. The heart became transparent as it took on a new shape. When its transformation was complete, Cornell saw what it was. His heart had turned into a red jewel. It was exactly like the red jewel Ada had been inside many years ago only this time he was on the inside. No longer was he staring from the outside within but from the inside. He stared out of of his jewel prison and saw only the void. With all the strength he could muster Cornell forced his way out of the jewel. His hands pushed against the interior of the jewel.
"I am a man. I am a MAN!"
The jewel burst into a hundred pieces and flew in every direction. Cornell dropped to his knees and stared upwards into the dark abyss. The blackness slowly trickled away and revealed a blue sky. Within moments Cornell was no longer in the void but where he always had been. He was on his knees and standing beside him was Coller and the nearby campfire they had made. Coller undead eyes looked into Cornell's. Coller smiled and nodded his head.
"I'm ready now." Cornell said.
"Ready?" Coller asked.
"I'm ready to live."