Revenant
I curse the day and blame the world
For choices all my own
I got the patience of a dying man
Whose heart has turned to stone
The blood that's running through my veins
Is cold as cold can be
The darkness that I keep inside
Is surely killing me
A cold, howling wind blew through the cemetery on that mid-October day, The rain had left the ground damp. Most people stayed away due to superstitions and made it a perfect spot for forgotten souls.
The gravestones were wet and nearly crumbling in the wind, with only a few still retaining their mossy coloring amid the brown of disuse. However, one stood out; it was fresh, leaving little doubt that someone had recently been put there.
At the headstone, Tala stood in his mid-twenties. His bright red hair hung down from the rain that had started pouring a few minutes earlier. He gazed at the name carved into the tombstone: Alyosha "Yevgy" Ivanov. It had been more than two decades since he had last seen him, and yet somehow knowing he was now buried six feet under gave him some semblance of peace.
His father was an alcoholic gambler who had no real talent for anything else. A womanizer who took out his frustrations on his wife and child when things didn't go his way in the gambling house. Tala never understood why his dad had chosen such a life. But then again, maybe he simply never knew enough about him to make sense of it all.
He looked around at the empty graves. His father's grave was far from the only one here. Some of them were decades old and looked like they had seen better days, their decorative stone slabs worn down by time and weather. There weren't many people who actually came to this godforsaken place these days, which meant that he would probably be alone. Just the way he preferred it to be.
He took out a box of cigarettes from his pocket and placed one in his mouth, twisting it around with his fingers until it stood straight up in between his lips. With a few attempts to light it with one of those cheap supermarket lighters, it finally lit the tip.
"Damn cheap ass lighters.." He mumbled..
He glanced at the dark clouds gathering overhead, threatening to unleash a downpour. But none of that mattered to him. He had come here not to mourn the old man, but to be sure he was gone for good.
From a distance, he heard the shuffling of feet on the gravel path that led to him. He quickly identified who was approaching—Boris, unmistakable with his gait accompanied by a cane. Still tall and heavy, Boris's dark purple hair had gone gray, and his wild sideburns led a life of their own. Wrinkles covered his forehead; time had taken its toll.
He stopped next to Tala, who glanced towards him. His right hand went into his coat and clicked off the safety of the gun holstered beneath it. This man was a madman responsible for making the lives of many children miserable - including Tala's own.
Boris cleared his throat before speaking, both hands tightening on the top of his cane. His eyes held a menacing glimmer when he looked upon Tala's glazed eyes and dialated pupils. In the past he had great hopes for his pet project, but that seemed to have completely faded into an addict clinging on to whatever still kept him from hitting rock bottom.
Tala drew in a deep breath and exhaled the smoke, trying to steady himself. Boris was the type to act on even the slightest mistake.
"I heard about your father's passing," Boris continued. "My condolences."
He didn't believe in coincidences. Boris showing up here was too convenient. He suspected that the old man's death had something to do with his father. After all, Boris wasn't the type to offer condolences.
"You didn't come all this way just to offer me condolences," Tala finally spoke, his voice low and dangerous.
Boris chuckled softly. "Always the observant one"
"Perhaps you're interested in a spot here?" he calmly asked him.
Boris laughed at Tala's words. "You don't have the faintest idea, do you?"
Tala's blood ran cold as Boris spoke.
"Ah..Burials make for great family reunions, don't you think?" He said it in a sadistic tone, his eyes twinkling with malice.
A chill went down Tala's spine. He couldn't believe what He had just heard. But this time Boris wasn't lying. Tightening the grip on the gun handle, his mind raced with thoughts. His mind screamed at him to shoot this monster on the spot and take care of the problem once and for all, but he knew doing so would come with dire consequences.
"You see," Boris took a pause, shifting his weight onto his good leg. "Your father, Alyosha...is my brother."
His laughter faded away, and he wiped away an insincere tear from the corner of his eye. "Life sure is full of surprises, isn't it my dear nephew."
The thought of Boris being related to him in any way made made him sick, but he couldn't break his composure.
If Boris was indeed his uncle, it only made the situation an even bigger mess than it already was.
"The world really runs in mysteries." Boris exclaimed with a smug look on his face. "I suppose now that you're a bit older you start to take after him."
Tala snarled as he pulled out the gun and took aim right at Boris's. The air thickened, but Boris wasn't fazed by his actions in the least. His lips curled into a sickening smile and again Tala felt that same damn chill again, as if foretelling of something sinister yet to come.
Boris sighed and smiled.
"Drop the act Tala, you're incapable of killing me."
He hated to admit to Boris, it was indeed unwise to shoot him all things considered. Gritting his teeth he spat out "Fuck!" loudly. when he put the gun back in its holster. He had no choice but to quickly calm down his anger and lit another cigarette. How he longed for something more powerful, but for now that's enough.
After calming down Tala was riddled with questions. "Did you know?"
"I didn't." Boris stated. "Like I said, as a kid, you looked nothing like him, that was until now."
The last thing he needed was to hear, how much of a resemblance he had to his father. Perhaps prying further would only bite him in the ass in the long run, it would be best if they'd just simply part ways.
Cutting the silence between them Boris continued. "Word goes that you've been cleaning up for the FBSC."
"What of it." Tala replied.
Boris grinned. "You just can't rid yourself of old habits, now can you?"
Tala's eyes narrowed. He had been trying to leave his past behind, but it seemed like it was determined to catch up to him. He took a drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke fill his lungs before slowly exhaling.
"I'm not here to talk about that," Tala said, his voice low and steady. "What do you want, Boris?"
Boris chuckled. "Always in such a rush, Tala."
Tala tightened his jaw, refusing to take the bait. He knew that Boris was trying to get under his skin, but he wouldn't let him.
"I have other things to do," Tala said, taking a step back. "So if you don't have anything else to say, I'll be on my way."
Boris's expression darkened. "I do have something to say actually."
Tala raised an eyebrow, waiting for Boris to continue.
"I need your help," Boris said, his tone serious.
Tala scoffed. "Why would I help you? You've caused me nothing but pain and misery."
Boris's lips curled into a sneer. "Because I know that you have been cleaning up those bloody cults for the FBSC."
Tala had to hide his suprise. How did Boris know about that? He had been careful to keep his involvement with the FBSC under wraps, and yet somehow, Boris had found out.
The Federal Bureau of Sacred Beast Control, short FBSC. Govements across the globe had been afraid for another cataclysmic event. They banded together, forming the FBSC and banned the usage of sacred beasts since 2017. During a series of unfortunate events Tala got intwinded with them and has been working for them ever since.
He wasn't wrong. Ever since the sacred beast ban, cults popped up right left and center worshipping the sacred beasts as diety's. Most of them were harmless but some of them... well they conjured other things than sacred beasts.
Tala's lips curled with contempt. "I don't see how that concerns me," he muttered between gritted teeth, his eyes narrowing.
The air in the room began to thicken as Boris shook his head slowly. "Don't be foolish, Tala. You and I both know that there are bigger things at play here. Those cults aren't just an annoyance; they're a threat to your little club, the BBA."
"And you," Tala replied pointedly. "Whatever twisted scheme you have planned now Boris, count me out. There's no way I'm helping you cover up whatever mess you've gotten yourself in now."
Boris's smile faded and the atmosphere shifted ominously. "I see you're still as stubborn as ever," He said through clenched teeth. "But believe what I say when I tell you, those cults are an imminent danger to all of us. Not even you or the FBSC will be able to contain them on your own."
Tala mulled over his words reluctantly, realizing there was some truth behind them. It was a losing battle—but it was better than standing by while chaos ensued. The cults were getting more powerful every day, and each time he destroyed one group something far more sinister seemed to take their place.
"Fine," Tala finally said, throwing his cigarette butt to the ground. "I'll help you with the cults. But this doesn't mean we're on good terms."
Boris raised up a hand and smiled. "You don't have to tell me twice. I know how we stand."
As Tala was about to leave, Boris said: "Tala, you can flee this crazy world as much as you'd like, But whether you want it or not, You are now just as twisted as everyone else."
A few weeks later,
Moscow
Tala's phone screamed from the bedside, waking him from his uneasy sleep. He blindly reached for the device, checking it with still-sleepy eyes. Brian had called twelve times and sent a dozen messages, but Tala ignored them all. His head pounded and he could hear ringing in his ears. With a groan of pain, he sat up and rubbed the back of his neck. Liquor bottles littered the floor around him, while on the side table was a pack of cigarettes that he lit up as soon as he got it in his hands.
For years now this had become his daily life: go to sleep only to wake up with unbearable headaches, numbing the pain away with drugs or alcohol. It started a few times a month, until it became days then weeks. Nowadays he rarely even went home - using his workshop's office as a bedroom. He often used work as an excuse to not come home. It was mainly to avoid Spencer who after he had become a paramedic was always on Tala's ass how he had to take things easier.
But in spite of it all he clanged on to life, a resolve that had gotten him through the most desperate of times. No matter what he wanted to keep his brothers safe. That, and he had many things to repent for.
Blowing out the last of his smoke he returned Brian's call.
In mere seconds he was greeted by the shrieking voice of his dear brother from another mother.
"WHAT THE HELL IS TAKING YOU SO LONG!"
Tala held the phone away from his ears and swore even the neighbors could have heard him. Brian was notorious for being a bit more… aggressive than others. Obviously his past was a big factor regarding that. But personality wise he had his own special way of communication.
Before Tala could answer his question Brian continued. "Do you know what day it even is?!"
"Friday." He stated bluntly
Sighing loudly Tala could hear the annoyance in Brian's voice. It amused him a great deal and it was just too damn easy to get on his nerves. Tala had known him all his life and knew that despite being loud and aggressive, he was mostly harmless.
"Well good for you! You have a calendar, I am thrilled." Brian said with sarcasm. "So haul your ass to the bar 'cause it won't be long before all of 'em are here."
Narrowing his eyes Tala caught on to what Brian was talking about. "It has been a year already, huh."
"Fine, fine." Tala sighed.
Without saying anything back Brian ended the call.
Raising to his feet he freshened himself up and swallowed a moderate amount of painkillers. Looking in the mirror, he saw dull, blue eyes looking back at him. Dark circles indicated his lack of proper rest. His already pale skin make him look more dead than alive at the moment and stepped out of his workshop.
The bar that Brian owned was a twenty minute walk from the shop. He took the route with streets that were quiet, without too many cars driving by or children playing in the streets. He didn't need more noise added to his already crowded thoughts and he preferred the silence.
The bar was no different than it always was when he walked inside.
The bottles of alcohol lined up behind the bar sparkled under the lights, Brian was quite proud of his collection. The tables were all clean, chairs neatly stacked beneath them. Brian came out from behind the counter and spotted Tala immediately.
"I swear that Dickenson has some nerve to keep using my bar as his damn meeting room!" he said, furiously wiping down some glasses with a towel. He was only half-joking, his face screwed up in anger.
Tala just shrugged, not wanting to get involved in this particular argument.
"You know... Julia is coming too." Brian grinned.
Tala's eyes widened. but he tried to hide his excitement by replying in his usual stoic self. "Is she now?"
Brian would take every opportunity to get under Tala's skin just because he could. "Oh come on, Tala. Don't act like you're not interested."
Tala rolled his eyes, but couldn't deny that he was looking forward to seeing Julia again. She was always a force to be reckoned with, and their chemistry was undeniable.
The first to arrive were Mr. Dickenson and Kai. Prior to the meeting, they had met up to discuss matters between the BBA and Hiwatari firm. Although Kai had changed teams, he still held a spot on the Neoborgs. They shared a common background despite their differences. When they were younger, Kai and Tala used to be rivals- but now that they had matured, Kai's air of superiority no longer bothered him.
After his grandfather's ousting as chairman, Kai swiftly moved up in the ranks and took charge of the Hiwatari corporation. Within a few years, he successfully increased profits and steered through multiple restructurings, leading to the success it enjoys today. The Hiwatari firm excels in the tech world and has much to contribute to their name.
The rest followed soon after, representing the BBA were Tyson, his father Tatsuya, Hiro, Kenny, Daichi, and Hilary. Meanwhile, Rei and Max returned to their other squads: White Tigers and All Stars respectively. Barthez Battalion also changed its name after Barthez was exposed as a Biovolt agent; they are known now as Team Dauntless.
At first, BEGA was reluctant to join the fun, however, Mr. Dickenson managed to convince them otherwise. Brian and Spencer opposed the idea heavily, but Tala understood why. Mr. Dickenson did what was necessary- he had acknowledged their skills and power.
Finally, the European teams rounded out the party: The Majestics and F-Dynasty.
Over the years, Mr. Dickenson had watched with pride as his teams grew faster than he had expected.
Hilary and Kai's relationship rapidly blossomed into marriage, and it wasn't long before Rei and Mariah followed suit.
Tyson adopted a life of bachelorhood, travelling with his father and brother or helping out in his grandfather's dojo. Daichi usually followed Tyson around wherever he went.
Emily poured her energy into her work and rose quickly through the ranks to become an esteemed scientist.
Since team Dauntless had little besides their training from Barthez, they stayed with the BBA as agents and educated other field teams.
The members of the Majestics were successful businessmen, who took pride in their ancestry.
But the team that surprised them most was the Neoborgs. Right after Australia, they all looked so dejected. But their determination to keep going enabled them to bounce back quickly.
Brian opened his own bar. Spencer followed his long-held dream by becoming a paramedic. It took Ian a while to adapt, but the sly weasel found success on the stock market.
Tala's brilliance was unmistakable, though he wished it came with an off-switch at times. Strangely enough, he found tranquility in working with his hands and swiftly obtained a degree in engineering after fulfilling a few roles as a mechanic on oil rigs and industrial sites.
By that time, he was already occupied enough with the FBSC. opening up a workshop made the double-life business a little easier.
Although, they missed the taste of the battle, dearly. Despite the bitter reality, they pushed through and made something out of themselves.
As the bar filled with people, Tala stood behind it and quietly observed. He didn't mingle with the group much, He found the noise and chaos to be too overwhelming for his existing headache.
He limited himself to formal greetings, when anyone approached him. Tala began to question whether attending these events were still worth it.
He caught Julia's eye from across the room, and felt his heart skip a beat. She had always been a fierce competitor, one who never backed down from a challenge. He admired that about her. But there was something about her tonight that he couldn't quite put his finger on. Other than that she looked as stunning as ever.
Letting out a frustrated groan, he took another painkiller hoping to make it through the night. Would he have to listen to Judy's endless sheets about her work again? Would Tatsuya show off another shitty artifact that meant nothing in the grand scheme of things?
The reality of the FBSC and BBA struggle weighed heavily on his mind. It was something he had to deal with, yet they were unaware of it entirely.
Digging his nails into his arms, Tala pushed his thoughts aside and focused on what was before him. There was no point in worrying about it tonight. It would all be over in a few hours, and not a damn thing would be changed.
Mr. Dickenson allowed the teams to catch up for an hour or so, before he finally raised his voice to gather everybody's attention.
Speaking in his usual polite voice he said: "Ahem! I'd like to ask for a bit of your time."
The chattering of the crowd died down and everybody's attention was focused on Mr. Dickenson now.
"It makes me so incredibly happy to see you all together again, in good spirits and health." A certain pride was heard in his voice.
"Remarkable, how a year goes by so fast, but it lightens my heart so see you all, as resolved as ever. One cannot deny the fighting spirit that you all possess, and the BBA is greatly indebted to all of you and your efforts."
Before he could finish Tyson fired up the crowd by whistling loudly and clapping. "You got it Mr. D!"
Motioning his hand up and down he gently shushed the crowd again. He loved the enthusiasm though. "Just like the previous years, we gather here, not just for the sake of camaraderie and reminiscing about the past. We're also here to exchange information, to bring you all up to date with the latest research and more importantly... how matters stand with the FBSC."
The mention of FBSC immediately brought a dead silence over the crowd. The Federal Bureau of Sacred Beast Control and BBA had been at odds for years, and tensions were still high between the organizations.
"As you all know, the FBSC has been attempting to sabotage our efforts for years now. The ban on using sacred beasts, terrorizing bladers into handing them over, even threatening entire family lines. in some cases, they've been successful."
A murmur rose from the crowd. It did seem as if the FBSC was acting more violently lately. Up to now, they have avoided meddling with the teams affiliated with the BBA, especially the more experienced and stronger ones.
Suddenly Mr. Dickenson's face turned grim. "I fear though, the FBSC isn't our only opponent."
Looking to his side, he gave Judy a nod. She walked up to the podium and stood next to him.
"With the FBSC unleashing a witch hunt on sacred beasts, they are also influencing the very balance of the world. Unfortunately their views and beliefs stop them from seeing the bigger picture."
She opened her laptop, and a file containing a video appeared. "What I'm about to show you is unsettling, but everyone needs to see it," she said as she pressed the play button.
On the screen was a rather eerie scene of a young, possessed blader whose movements felt unhinged and deranged. Their beyblade radiated with an unmistakable dark energy. the youth mumbled something inaudible while the audience donned robes and watched silently in the flickering candlelight. The walls were marked with crimson symbols.
"This video was taken by one of our agents who infiltrated one of the cults that have been popping first, we had no real reason to believe, They were a threat,but it was alarming to see how rapidly people started to join. Our agent discovered a secret gathering a few weeks ago, as you can see it seems as if the blader had been possessed. "
The crowd was silent as they watched the video, the flickering candlelight casting a glow across the faces of the bizarre cult members. As the possessed blader continued to move in an unnatural and frenzied way, the symbols on the walls seemed almost satanic.
Judy paused the video and turned to face the group. "We have reason to believe that these cults are attempting to harness the power of the sacred beasts for their own twisted purposes."
"We don't know for sure what their motives are or what they're capable of," Judy continued. "But we need to be vigilant and keep our eyes open.
"We.." She bit her lip and looked briefly in the direction of the Neoborgs. "Have reason to believe that this is a far greater danger than Biovolt ever was."
The room remained quiet as everyone contemplated the seriousness of the situation.
"I know this all sounds very dire and serious." Mr. Dickenson began. "It is all a bit much to take in, I suggest that we end the evening in a positive manner. Once everybody has rested properly, I want to invite you all to the BBA Headquarters, so we can elaborate more on our findings."
In the back Tala let out a quiet sigh. In some way he ended up getting caught between keeping the BBA safe and cleaning up cults for the FBSC. Nobody knew about his role in this and he had no intention in telling them.
For years he had been hunting those damned cult members. He'd even shot the blader from the video weeks ago, in a desperate bid to save someone else's life. As if that hadn't happened as they argued over the box that the very body laid in.
As the meeting continued, Tala couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. He knew that the danger posed by the cults was real, and he also knew that he was the best equipped to deal with them.
He was the only one who knew the ins and outs of their operations; the only one who had seen the true extent of their power.
But at what cost? He had already sacrificed so much for this fight. His body was riddled with scars and his mind was weighed down by the many times he did lose. And then those damned headaches, like somebody was scratching the inside of his skull with razor sharp claws. On some of the worst days, he swore he even heard voices.
Tala took a deep breath and tried to push those thoughts aside. He made his decision a long time ago. He would do whatever it takes to protect the world from the dangers posed by these cults. He owed everyone that much.
As the meeting came to an end, Tala quietly left the room.
He moved through the crowd and toward the back of the bar, a place that was familiar to him ,since he had been working as Brian's handyman for months. He still remembered having to rewire everything and it wasn't something he wanted to repeat.
In the back was a quiet alley door, even though it opened into a busy street. Tala sat down on the stack of crates that had been there for as long as he could remember and lit another cigarette.
Each year He felt less connected with reality and more out of place. Yet, what was really real? He had been struggling against an unwinnable fight for years now, Even his best efforts were unable to stop it from happening. Thinking about that blader made him realize what they were going through; he had seen their exact condition so many times before.
As his mind started to fill with noise, intrusive thoughts, and memories, he almost got up to leave when suddenly the door opened.
"I sure hope you're not hiding from me." Julia said in her usual cheerful tone.
"If it isn't the secret addict." Tala replied sarcastically, pulling a cigarette out of the box and lighting up.
"Alcohol and smokes, pass it over." She exclaimed before pushing Tala to the side with her body and sitting down.
He was in awe of how Julia had managed to get the bottle of alcohol past Brian.
She unscrewed the lid and took a sip, briefly cringing at the taste of the cheap tequila before passing it to Tala.
"Just don't tell Raul; he's already under enough strain as it is."
Julia and Tala had a complicated relationship that dated back to their days in Egypt. They existed somewhere between familiarity, competitiveness, and mutual admiration.
She wasn't unaware of her own appearance and presented herself carefully to outsiders; however, this usually drew undesirables who were hoping for her approval. Over the years she had learned not to trust them after more than one disappointment.
But Tala saw right through her facade. There was no pretense with him- He was exactly what you saw before you, nothing more, nothing less. He always made her feel both excited and safe- like an animal was lurking behind her ready to pounce, but still secure in his presence.
Looking to his side, he watched how her big emerald eyes were staring back at him. In this dark alley, where it was just the two of them, the muffled sound of laughter and music coming from the bar seemed in the far distance now.
Julia dropped her gaze to his lap and smiled halfheartedly.
"You're a Paradox, Tala" Julia said.
Tala raised an eyebrow, he stretched his hand out and lifted her chin with the tip of a finger. Despite having perfected an impersonal mask to hide his true emotions, he loathed that he couldn't shake it off-in fact, it seemed, he had entirely forgotten how to be human again. He clung desperately to the few good memories
Tysons handshake, the support they had in Australia... Egypt.
But those moments were overshadowed by the dark ones. The ones that kept him up at night and called his own sanity into question. The ones that made him feel like a monster, the ones that led to who he was now.
But each time that he was with Julia, he felt a fleeting moment of normalcy. If he could, he'd just shut the doors of his past and everything that chased him until now, But the risk of dragging her and everybody he still had the slightest care for was far too great.
"You okay?" Julia asked, concern etched on her face.
"I'm fine."
Julia smiled, then moved closer and rested her head on his shoulder.
Usually when people touched him, his instincts kicked in ,and he'd send them straight to oblivion. But, she was one of the very few people in the world able to do so.
At first it did take him some getting used to it and Julia is very much for physical contact.
But over the years, Tala had learned that Julia wasn't taking "No" for an answer. and he began to appreciate it. It made him feel like he belonged somewhere, that he wasn't just a wandering soul in a world that didn't want him.
But even with Julia, Tala knew that He couldn't let his guard down completely. He couldn't risk exposing her to the darkness that lingered within him. He couldn't bear the thought of hurting her, of turning her into a victim of his past.
As they sat in the alleyway, Tala's mind drifted to the memories he tried so hard to keep buried. The screams of his victims echoed in his mind, their blood staining his hands. He had done terrible things in the name of survival, was it worth it?
Julia's voice broke through his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.
"You know.." Smiling deviously. "We could just sneak away and do something more fun than listening to Tatsuya's lectures."
Tala couldn't help but grin. It had been a long time since he had done anything purely for fun. Going out with Julia was a one way ticket to disaster, but at least it would be the good kind.
"Lead the way." Tala said, standing up and offering his hand to Julia.
Julia took his hand and stood up, a mischievous glint in her eye as she led him out of the alleyway and onto the busy street. They walked for a few blocks, The noise of the city slowly drowning out the sound of their footsteps.
A/N
Special thanks to my proof reader Mkayverse
Poem: Raphael Lake – Slow farewell
