The Scarlet Fire

The Stranger

(It's been awhile since I posted this so sorry but here we go)

Later in the night, the Blaze trailer is filled with old racing trophies and posters proclaiming 'THE AMAZING BLAZE' and 'LEAP OF DEATH!' Y/N hurries inside to tell his father his plans. 

"Dad? I need to talk to ya..."

Nothing. But then he hears a wheezing noise as he sees his father, Johnny slumped over in his chair looking deathly pale. Y/N rushes over.

"We gotta get you to a doctor..."

Johnny gives him a telling look.

"I've already been to the doctor. So much for 'death defying', huh?"

Johnny shrugs it off as he hates feeling sorry for himself.

"What'd you wanna tell me, son?"

Y/N shakes his head helping his father up.

"Nothin'. C'mon. Let's get you to bed."

Later, Y/N is in the maintenance tent tuning up the bikes. In the corner is his father's pride and joy, a late 70's Harley-Davidson Chopper. The name 'Grace' has been airbrushed across the gas tank. 

The wrench in Y/N's hand slips and cuts his hand. He cruses and kicks the chopper over in a sudden burst of anger and frustration. 

"IT'S NOT FAIR!"

He slumps to the ground as the tears come at last.

"Please...don't take my dad...I'd give anything to make him better..."

Meanwhile on the carnival grounds, a thunderbolt illuminates the Texas sky as carny workers hurry to strike their tents before the storm hits but strolling purposely through it all, The Stranger.

Bald, tall, and deathly pale, he wears a long black coat that flaps behind him like a magician's cape. He walks with a limp and wields a cane with a silver skull on its handle. 

The Stranger turns to see Clara watching through her trailer window. She gasps and snaps her blinds shut as he smiles. 

The carnival lights of the speedway blinking off around him as he goes, creating a literal path of darkness in his wake. Something Wicked This Way Comes. 

"Anything..."

Y/N wipes his tears but then he stops as he sees his breath appearing in ice bursts. The room has gone cold.

"God's not here, Y/N..."

Y/N turns to see The Stranger standing in the doorway. His eyes shimmer in the darkness, a cat's eyes.

"But I am."

"Are...are you a doctor?"

"I'm whatever you want me to be. But first, you must invite me in."

"Come in..."

The Stranger bows and steps inside as the lights dim in his presence. A glimpse of his true form can be seen in the monstrous shadows on the wall. 

"My father...he has cancer..."

The Stranger slowly circles Y/N, like a shark.

"Yesss..."

"Can you help him?"

"Yesss..." He smiles a little. "...for a price."

Lightning crackles to reveal that the silver skull seems to be changing. Its smile has grown wider, its teeth longer. 

"I-I don't have any money."

"No Money? Now that is a problem."

"Please...there's gotta be something else you want...the trailer...the motorcycles...just name it..."

The Stranger traces a long finger over the old chopper...past the word 'Grace' on the tank...and up onto the handlebars...

"What I want..."

...before running up Y/N's arm and stopping on his heart.

"Is right here."

Y/N steps back from his icy touch.

"I-I don't understand..."

"Your soul, Y/N Blaze."

Y/N tries to laugh but he can't find his voice.

"I don't believe in souls..."

The Stranger looms. 

"Then you've got nothing to lose."

The silver skull seems to be laughing now as he hears;

"Y/N? Hey, Y/N Boy!"