Magadia

The downpour of black rain fills the bronze smoke of twilight. The stench of blood covers the ash gray air. “I look around and feel the hopelessness and despair.” The loaded gun stares blankly into the silence. “I wasn’t sure if I had done the right thing…taking justice into my own hands.” The worn out-mask by the passenger seat sends an auditory disarray of silence. “I was supposed to inspire justice and righteousness…I guess I took it too far…” The car whirred relentlessly under the crescendo of the half moon. “It wasn’t supposed to end this way…I didn’t choose to become the very thing I fought against…” The sound of silence strengthens his resolve; he touches his head and feels a sharp pain shriek through his nerves. “This has to be done…Before the darkness comes.”

October 24^th 11:59 P.M. a notorious crime lord was found dead. He was hanging upside down tied to a cross. “He always slithered his way out of prison, his hands were washed clean…as always. But now he couldn’t even slither out of the ropes that tied him, his blood was drained from his body.” Initial reports said that the assailants were Christian extremists from the southern provinces. “This guy tapped the black market selling guns to the Muslim terrorists, marking his territory—keeping the peace. The terrorists did their part by keeping the people afraid enough to keep quiet and do their jobs.” He lived in the city making his money work for him in the banks he controlled. He’s got congressmen and police officers under his payroll to cover his tracks. His imprints were everywhere—no one bothered to look just as long as it doesn’t affect them.

“The surprised look on his face relieved me from my grief; he knew what was coming from the terror shone in the brown of his eyes. I took him from the bed and threw him to the ground; he rolled like a rag doll and was awoken from his dreamy state. He realized that I was really there not just a nightmare in his head. He looked at me with a resigned fate and a sly smile of a child. My right hand thrust with full throttle between his eyes, my left hand landed a hook to his ribs. He spat blood from his mouth; his nose was a bloody mess. There was a gun by the side of his bed, he gave it a glance and didn’t bother to get it—he didn’t fight back, he didn’t call his bodyguards. He gave me a knowing look that pierced right through the black of my mask. I grabbed and thrashed him about almost ripping his clothes off. I beat him continuously; his body succumbed to every blow like a hollow doll. He looked at me through his bloodshot eyes and gave a knowing look. “Wh..a..t…ca…n…y…o..u…d…o?” he said with a muffled voice. I pulled him close to me and was about to pommel him again. “I’m only a symbol to this city, if you kill me or put me in prison, what next? There will always be someone who’ll replace me just as some nut would replace you…I didn’t draw anything out of this city that wasn’t here in the first place, I didn’t give them anything that they didn’t choose or want,” he said. I gave him a left hook and a right upper cut that sent him through the door and rolled down the stairs. Rising up he stood on two unstable feet with a wry smile he said with broken words, “I…own..t..his…c..it.y.” The noise rattled the whole house, awakening children from their rooms, a boy and a girl. Reminded me of my kids and what I set out to do—this mask and costume. The terror in those kids’ eyes filled my heart with despair and loathing. The children hugged their beaten father and protected him from my anger, I couldn’t move anymore, I couldn’t think. I rushed towards the window to make my escape. I broke the glass, the half-moon sang its endless waltz—the blackness of the night swallowed me whole. I knew I couldn’t escape.”

The empty streets that passed him by reminded him of how alone he was on his journey. Asking himself what more could he have done for a decaying city, a city lost and misguided—with only a handful of men trying to salvage its soul. Only to see the effect of their work wane as age approaches, they’ve withered down and died in a helpless state of mind. Freed crime lords and drug lords said to have been changed are now running this city, in public office. Expanding their network to different cities across the country. The robin hood of the city, loved by the people knowing their haunted past but chose to look the other way, kindness heals all wounds. The people were fed and educated by these people, they were taken cared of, they were protected. They vowed to take down crime, as crime had built and consumed their lives at the same time. The car drives on recklessly towards an abandoned part of the city as the rain continuously pours.

“What is evil what is good? If these very people whom I captured in the name of justice showed this kindness…What was I, what were they….Where lies the difference…” He awoke from his black stupor, surprised to have awoken in his house with his mask and costume off scattered on the floor. Its pitch black tint blurred his eyes for a moment, he stood up picked the remote and turned the TV on. “News alert, early this morning renowned businessman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ was found dead in his home, he leaves behind his two children. He now joins his wife with the Heavenly Father,” said the newscaster. “This man would be greatly missed by the city, his acts of kindness shall be missed,” an interviewed friend said. “The man that has passed away has done a great deal for this city. The public school erected on the most criminal infested area and the poorest has shown this man’s vision for the future and his undying compassion towards people,” as the screen showed the mayor. “_ _ _ _ _ _ has done good since I can remember, he put up the orphanage and home for the homeless for our city, he was such a good man,” as the screen now featured a priest. “We will do our best to bring this heinous criminal who killed this city’s beloved son behind bars and in a gas chamber. He was more than a friend he was like a brother to me, he will be missed,” said the police commissioner. “And in other news the masked avenger strikes again. Foiling a drug deal at the bay ports, the perpetrators were found suspended forty feet into the air. The culprits were tied with drug paraphernalia and the address of their factory written on their foreheads. What will happen to this city without its hero? On the other hand, will the masked avenger find the criminal behind _ _ _ _ _ _ murder? We have award-winning psychologist Dr. _ _ _ _ opinion, up next stay tuned.” He turns the TV off and lets his eyes wander up at the ceiling looking down on him. “The day’s over at last the investigation can wait, for all I know I…” his voice trails off into the darkness of the night.

New leads have been found that indeed it was a Christian extremist group who killed renowned businessman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Sources state that the alleged extremists pin Mr. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ for helping Muslim terrorists attack and raze their homes and provinces. The Christian extremists said he gave them weapons and money to scare the people. Keeping his hold on the land and property in the surrounding areas. They allege the businessman for hiring the terrorists as his bodyguards so that the people would remain quiet and loyal. Some of their family members were seen hanged upside down on a cross drained with blood. “God is fair and just, what you sow is what you reap,” their commander said. “The Muslim terrorists will feel the wrath of God fall upon them and the family of Mr. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ will have hell to pay,” he added. “God is on our side, we have had enough, this is WAR!!!.” “We will do all we can to shut down these terrorists and put an end to their menace,” the police commissioner said.

Looking at the evidence closely he decided to take justice into his own hands, “I should pay this guy a visit.” He puts on his dark costume and disappears into the shadows.

“Sir everything is going according to plan we’ll strike at midnight the next day,” a man said. “Very well. We didn’t see that one coming…better that we take advantage of this, push through with the plan. It seems like someone got here first…”

The moon hid itself behind the dark clouds, it was time to strike. He bulleted through the glass windows into the hallway dismantling the guards along the way. The commander was all alone in his office eating a late dinner, he heard someone knock and as he opened the door his body guard went flying through the air smashing into the door and landing on top off him. The dazed face slobbered all over his mouth giving him a wet kiss. Startled he got up to his feet terrified looking around he found nothing, just shadows lurking. “This is no time to be playing with your boyfriend my friend…” Within

seconds a fist landed between his eyes knocking him to the ground. He looked around and still couldn’t see anything. Another fist landed on his midsection sending him to his knees…”AAAWWWCCCKKKK” blood spewed into the wooden floor. “There goes dinner,” the voice said. “What do you want?” the commander said. “I want you,” the voice said. “You know what I want? The murder of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ all fingers point to your group. You have every reason to do it …” the voice said. “NO! it wasn’t us although we planned to…someone got there before we did…he was all ready dead when we got there…” the commander said. “Listen I got a wife and kids to take care of and that man had it coming to him…We had enough…” The shadow revealed itself, the worn out mask revealed a sinister grin across the pale face. The mask was tattered and worn out bursting with raw emotion. “Justice must be served…”

The car careens into a dark driveway, he walks out of the car. His hazy eyes couldn’t tell the difference between night and day, the blackness is coming. He touches his head and feels pain dripping from his brain down to his toes, he is slowly losing strength. He takes the gun and the mask out of the car. The black rain pours down relentlessly, beating down on the empty streets. He sees a barrel of garbage burning through the glowing darkness of his eyes. He walks towards it and sees two sleeping homeless children next to their father. He stops and thinks as if in a dream and drops the tattered mask onto the wet pavement and walks away.

“Levi and Doug…How could I make it up to you?” The torrential rain fills the silence of the penumbra of darkness, bearing down on the burden he carries, and the decision he has to make. “This has to be done.” The click of the gun resounds an echo heard through the darkness. His hands tremble as he slowly points the gun towards his head. “This has to be done, to stop him and end what I’ve become…”

The gun stops and points to the sky. “You know this won’t change anything…You can’t kill me. I’m as much a part of you as you are a part of me…You can’t blame me…You KILLED those people!!! The gun swings wildly firing aimless shots into the abyss. “NO!!! I CAN NEVER BE LIKE YOU!!! What makes you any different from me??? At least I didn’t choose to hide under a mask…I did what I wanted for the greater good.”

“I’m not like YOU!!! It was a mistake. I should have seen the signs. I could’ve stopped you but things were going so well. I was so enamored with my self and my newfound prestige. The crime lords, corrupt politicians you name it they were all dropping like flies and I took credit for them. I couldn’t admit it…That I couldn’t track YOU DOWN!!! That I was weak…I made up evidence…Things were good, the crime rate was down, the poor were getting fed, everyone was happy, everyone got what they wanted!!! I was their Hero, someone they could look up to knowing it could be anybody under that mask.”

“You can’t blame me, YOU CREATED ME!!! You use me as a scapegoat but when in fact you always had a choice!!! YOU ARE NOT BLAMELESS!!!” The gun fires and hits the palm of his left hand. His hand bled profusely and another shot was fired, it pierced through the sole of his right foot.

“IF YOU KILL ME YOU KILL YOURSELF!!! What have you accomplished? You have accomplished NOTHING!!! It’s been fifteen years since you’ve gone under a mask…I’ve been watching you since the beginning. Nothing has changed! The same things are happening but different people are running the show, they’re saying the same things and doing the same things but under a different guise. Actually, pretty much like you and the freaks that rode your bandwagon. The VERY people you fight for will use you as a SCAPEGOAT!!! just as what you are doing with me. When they’ve got nothing left to hate they’ll start hating you…” The darkness is slowly enveloping his senses, his head is hurting, sending a multitude of waves through his spine. “The poor you saved will only replace the wretched rich that they have so eagerly contempt. The world won’t change just because you forced it to.” His hands are shaking vigorously as he dropped the gun. Hallucinations of the people they killed spawn themselves in the river of his eyes. Alive more than ever, he could feel their screams bouncing off the flesh of his skin. The inundation of rain painted their faces with the pallid horror upon their death. “AAAHHHH!!! NO! NO! NO! Stay AWAY FROM ME!!!”

“Give it up you can’t win, you’re dead either way…By killing yourself you’d make my victory so much sweeter HEHEHE!!! By living you’d carry the badge of murder in your hands…What makes you any different then from those you’ve put in prison? What makes you a hero??? Come let’s dance this endless waltz together…You will still be the hero everyone adores, faultless and righteous. Together we will make it work…

The glimmer of light coming from the half-moon pierces through the black rain slowly pointing its way to the gun. “I MUST NOT WAIVER!!! O…nn…eeee..www.aaa…yyy…to..s…t..op..this…madness…” His hands thrash about, waving wildly throwing the gun to the side of the street. His right hand throws a right hook to his face knocking him down. “Tsk tsk temper temper we don’t want damaged

goods don’t we?” The image of two children flash across his mind like an eternal sunshine. “Levi and Doug…” He falls to his knees and looks up as the baptism of rain falls heavily on his shoulders. “I did this for the two of you…for your mother.”

October 24^th 7:00 P.M. Two male children were found tied and gagged in their rooms, male identical twins aged seven. A woman was found naked in a bedroom. She was raped and suffered multiple stab wounds in the chest and genital area, pronounced dead on arrival, she was twenty-seven. The two children are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder due to the break in and murder. A total of P150,000 worth of cash, jewellery and valuables were reportedly stolen. A neighbor reported the crime as he heard the screams from the upper rooms of the apartment—no one else bothered to help.

“The first time I heard the news I was thrown into a fit of rage. The address the descriptions, the children..my wife..I knew exactly where to go and who to go after. I was on his case looking at new witnesses to take him to trial to put him behind bars. So close to nailing him, there was always evidence and witnesses. But it was always the same the witnesses either disappeared or changed their statements. He pulled strings here and there paid of politicians and judges, silenced anyone who stood in his way. I had to do something, my hands were shaking my head was swaying to and fro. I looked in the mirror and knew what I had to do…I went right to work, tracking him down was no problem, being in the police department and all. Getting equipment was not so hard either, I was also physically well trained due to the extra work-out I usually do after work hours. I was ready…”

He walks towards the gun uneasily, swaying back and forth. His senses are numb and dumbfounded, a squalid scream shot through his ears. He falters momentarily losing himself. “Temper temper no can do.”

“It was like living a childhood dream hiding under a mask, no one knows who you are. At first, the costume looked like hell and child’s play, a black bonnet over my head with tinted goggles, talk about a high school prank or some teenager shoplifting, it seemed like a joke. I went after small fry at first, the local shoplifter and mugger, the occasional rapist and kid pimp in the avenue, taught that kid a lesson brought him to a foster home, just to get used to this hero stuff. The look on the faces of the people after I’ve saved them was always priceless. They gave looks of different sorts others were deeply thankful, some were indifferent, some turned on me after I’ve saved them. There was a time this middle-aged man in a shop thought I was a shoplifter almost called the cops on me. I gave ‘em a love tap that knocked him off a bit so I could make my escape. That day was the first time I made the evening news not exactly the point I wanted to make. “In today’s evening news: masked man, vigilante? Hero? Or crook? Up next stay tuned!” said the newscaster. Not exactly good publicity but as the cliché goes there’s no such thing as bad publicity. After that night, I decided to revamp the costume instead of being mistaken as some crook I’d want to instil fear and respect. I decided to rid of the tinted goggles for a sleek metal plated black mask, no frills just black looking into a void that you can’t get out of. I didn’t bother putting on a cape for practical reasons even if it looks majestic. I settled for a sleek black suit for camouflage and easy movements and yes I didn’t want to look like an ass with my underwear outside my trousers, all black from top to bottom. I didn’t bother naming myself although the idea was intriguing at first, the bad and good guys could call me whatever the hell they wanted, it didn’t matter adds more to the mystery, scares the living hell out of them not knowing what to call me. The thrill of wearing a mask and stopping crime, scaring the living daylight’s out of crime lords and corrupt politicians. Creeping up behind them when they least expect it, beating them to a pulp to the brink of death just to get what I want from them. To admit, to point out accomplices and testify against each other was heck of a lot of fun. The site of their bloody faces mocking justice for the last time. It was fun, the adulation, the prestige, the people’s champion…The crime lords had no answer for me, the corrupt politicians were caught tongue-tied, their little game was being whittled away piece by piece. Their drug deals were being distraught before it even started, their money laundering thoroughly washed and hung dry. The little corrupt boys in city hall started using money for the city and the urban poor, feeding and educating them, finally getting things done. It was my city. I was on a high, I could do no wrong…The accolades came one after another, there was praise everywhere the city (no pun intended) had a face to heroism, the women came easy and again no pun intended. I was lonely, they didn’t know who I was…Made me forget things that I shouldn’t be forgetting and things that I should’ve been doing…”

The black rain slowly caresses his face waking him from his stupor. The dim light from the half-moon wakes him momentarily sharing its light on the dark alley. “Levi and Doug…”

“It’s been fifteen years…I did this for the two of you…for your mother. I wanted to change the world because these people were taking too much all ready…I took justice into my own hands…Even if I unknowingly stained it with blood. I felt helpless that I couldn’t do anything even as a cop, I only caught the small fry and the fall-guys but the big fish were always let loose…Now I must pay for it…I should have spent more time with you two after your mother died…I could’ve done real change…”

He pulls himself together inching closer. He feels a fist go through his left side, he loses breath for a moment the darkness takes over his eyes…”No not yet.” A pain as fierce as a bullet shrivels up in his head, taking him down….”It’s my turn now hehehe.” “Not just yet…”

“I can’t let you win…you can’t win. I know what I must do…” He reached out for the gun drenched by the rain. Taking it inch by inch towards the creases of his skull. ‘Temper temper.” He takes the gun and fires two shots into the air, one grazing the side of his graying hair. “You can’t do it, face it you need me, I’m holding the gun right now I can end all this for you since you can’t really decide for yourself…As I’ve all ready told you, all will be well…drop the gun.”

“This life I’ve lived was it all worth it? Have I really done anything…? The world hasn’t changed since I’ve worn this costume. Levi and Doug…” The pale moonlight shed its light on the dark alley revealing a figure forming out of the darkness. The tired brown eyes, the mouth, the grey beard, the scar on the left cheek. All too familiar in the pool of his eyes. The rain didn’t seem to wet the figure’s clothes, it was clean compared to his bloody appearance. It came up close, the penumbra of light revealed the figure’s

face—it was him. It was like looking into a mirror, there was no identifiable difference between the two of them they had the same features.

“Temper temper, you look surprised.” Out of his beaten and bloody face a look of disbelief shot through his eyes. The voice came from his mouth but he didn’t move his lips to say anything. A chill went through his spine, he couldn’t move, all emotion evaporated from him. The first time they’ve seen eye to eye, he didn’t know what to feel, he wasn’t scared nor was he happy. “Surprised aren’t you? What were you expecting? Some monster with two horns?” He through a fist that landed in the midsection of his alter ego, sending the gun sprawling across the floor. Placing a foot on the fallen man’s face he said, “I’m giving you an offer you can’t resist but you still insist on pushing through with your little plan…I thought I told you all ready, there’s no way you can win!!!

He crawls slowly towards the gun. “Are you looking for this?” He waves the gun in the air mockingly pointing it at him. “I wouldn’t go on a monologue without taking this little toy, would I?”

“Get it through that head of yours, you’re fighting a lost cause, you can’t win, how many times do I have to tell you? Kill me then what? It won’t change the fact—you killed those people…Not me you did. But it was for the greater good wasn’t it? I was just their watching…maybe I interfered a bit but you know it was your choice. You know I won’t kill you I need you just as you need me…I’m protecting you from yourself you hear?”

He looks at the gun held in the other man’s right hand and thinks…”If he’s holding it then…” He noticed the grin on the other man’s face and pointed the gun towards the man’s head. Two guns looking into a mirror engulfed in silence as the pale moon disappears into the darkness. Two gunshots were fired, a body falls into the ground with two holes in the head bleeding profusely. “It’s over…” The gun falls to the ground as the rain pours on relentlessly. He gingerly gets on the car holding the side of his face. The blood from the gunshot wound flowed continuously putting him into a dreamy state. Then slowly his eyes turn into glass staring at the white in front of him, his eyes drifting into sleep.

Five years after their father had disappeared the twins decided to stop looking…

As the light from the sun creeps through the heavy-set blinds, the formless figures from the shadows slowly reveal themselves. The two men were identical from the tips of their dark hair to the size of their feet. Both men moved about restlessly anticipating each word that comes out of the other. The mannerisms of “Its time we finally ended this chapter in our lives, we never really got to see him much since mother died,” said Levi. “It has been a while, we didn’t get to know him much he was always busy and didn’t seem to want to be bothered,” said Doug. “He left behind so many question marks.” “We did our best to find him…he suddenly just disappeared—even the body wasn’t found.” “They said he went out for a while didn’t bother telling anyone where he was going.” “Its best that we just move on put an end to this, lets call for a wake and burial.” “A ceremonial one at that there is no body, and pops was pretty well-known in the department.” “A good man at that from what I’ve heard never let up he could’ve been police commissioner if only he took the offer.”

The rain poured on relentlessly, the damp moist clung onto the epitaphs of unknown men it was the same during that night the 24^th of October. The faceless figures travelled about on the muddy ground with their black umbrellas hanging over their heads. Their footsteps making soundless echoes across the whispers of the wind. No one stood out of the crowd, their dilapidated faces stung the moonlight air and vanished as their voices were absolved by the darkness.

Only two men stood out of the crowd. “That boy of _ _ _ _ _ _ he’s very nice, a little rough around the edges but he’s all right,” a man said. “I heard he was running a school for orphaned children the young man has a bright future ahead of him,” the police commissioner said. “A good man indeed heard he was putting up a charity for the benefit of the homeless and uneducated,” the mayor said. “A man of his stature will do great things for our city. We need more fine young men like these, our children need examples to look up to in these dark hours we’ve suddenly come across.” “Too bad there father wasn’t around to see his children grow into fine young men.”

“He’s just a little too hard on himself lately since they couldn’t find their father’s body.” “Well anyway the day couldn’t be more sombre, the masked man suddenly disappeared into thin air as of late. Wonder where he’s gone too. Things haven’t been going well for our once peaceful city as of late. Those goddamn extremists have gone on too far. They’ve resorted to thievery, arson, murder, you name it. All in the name of God so they say. They’ve dragged everybody into this mess women, children, old men. Naming names to their victims all good men from what I’ve heard. They say the people they’ve killed were common criminals, crime lords, fascists guised as benevolent businessmen. Oppressed their families and milked every inch of their provinces so they say. The nerve of those brutes!!! Killing these good and honest men, they are the ones who should be eradicated from society. And they say God is on their side.”

The voices falter as the rain keeps pouring on disappearing slowly into the shadows, they are left alone at the grave staring into the epitaph buried next to his wife. Here lies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _, 1973-2020. The tears remain crystal in the whites of their eyes looking on as the last of the visitors pay their respects. They were all saying the same thing your father was a good man.

The rain kept on falling replacing the tears on their eyes. The pale half moon’s light dances across the muddy floor, the grave was empty. “It’s finally over and done with,” Doug said. “It was about time we ended this chapter of our lives, I’m sad that we never really got to know dad as much as these people. We’ve heard more about him these past few days compared to the years we’ve lived with him.” “He was very secretive wasn’t he, he was hiding something from us…since mother died he wasn’t the same. He was there but at the same time he wasn’t…”

“They say he was investigating the murder of renowned businessman _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _,” said Levi. “They said the case was closed after they found the body of the extremists’ leader badly beaten, he bled to death hanging on a five story building, it was all over the papers it was big news. Come to think of it after that event the so-called hero of the city disappeared that masked man in a black suit. Then everything started falling apart…Extremists here and there, political unrest, crime rate is up, everyone’s out for their own skin now. Just a thought I suppose,” Doug said.

“Speaking of heroes have you heard of the news lately there’s some cuckoo dressed in all white the exact opposite of that man wearing all black, it’s a clear lack of imagination and a sad joke for that matter,” Levi said. “Picking up where that man left off.” “I still do want to believe in people they just have to be led in the right direction you know…Just because you’re some hotshot celebrity you can say whatever you want haha,” Doug said jokingly. “At least someone out there is doing something,” he continued. “For all I know it might be you haha. You did have a penchant for wearing costumes especially spandex hahaha,” Levi said. “Speak for yourself Batman haha,” Doug said while giving a knowing wink. The two mirrored each other, they were the same from the tips of their dark hair to the size of their shoes. But they were different all the same.

“If we lived in an ideal world this would all end, all of this. We would’ve been one family then,” they said to each other.

“It never ends…it never ends” the voice whispered into the thick damp air. The voice danced along their ears emulating a familiar echo. Both men heard the whisper looked around but there was no one there. “Did you hear that?” Doug said. “Yes,” said Levi. “I don’t see anyone around, what or who was it?” Doug said. “I think it’s a ghost…” “This is no time for fun and games Levi.” They continued looking as the dark rain filled the skies but to no avail. The voice lingered in their heads then disappeared waiting for its time once again.

The rain poured on, the same during that night of the 24^th of October. A man wearing an overcoat walked through the mist looked back and touched the scar on his face. “It never ends boys…It never ends…hahaha” His voice trails off into the night of day. The figure of the man slowly disappears as he walks towards the moonshine he puts on a mask which was neither black nor white.