The Scarlet Fire

Stunts and Videogames

Eyes haunted and empty looking through a motorcycle helmet. And in it's reflection is a sea of spectators rising to their feet.

"BLAZE! BLAZE! BLAZE!"

Y/N Blaze, now aged twenty. He has the rugged good looks of a modern-day cowboy. He wears a dark blue jumpsuit form-fitted to his lean, muscular physique. 

Y/N steels himself for what's to come as forty automobiles are seen with a landing ramp on the other side. Y/N pumps his fist as they burst into flames. 

A remix of back in black rocks the P.A. as thirty thousand strong roar their approval. Welcome to the world of X-treme Motorcycle Jumping - The Gladiator Games of rock and roll. 

Y/N cracks the throttle as the motorcycle takes off. He taps the NOS button just before hitting the take off ramp - 

And we're flying!

Y/N sails  in slow motion across the stadium, backlit by an explosion of flashbulbs. But as he gradually makes his descent it becomes clear that he's not going to make it. 

CHA-CHUNK!

The motorcycle bounces off the hood of the last car before dumping Y/N on his head like a rag doll. He tumbles over burning asphalt before getting slammed into the retaining wall. 

The crowd screams as the Stunt Team runs to his side. Y/N's Chief Mechanic and best friend Kuro Furasshu pries Y/N's helmet off and pats his cheek...

"C'mon, bud. Talk to me..."

And then, like magic, Y/N's eyes roll forward. He blinks. 

"Is the bike okay?"

Kuro grins. 

"He's fine."

The crowd cheers as the stunt team helps him to his feet. Y/N waves to the fans, grimacing through bruised ribs. 

"Y/N, you gave us quite the scare out there today."

"Well, that's what I'm good at..."

That night on the highway, the Team Blaze tour bus drives through a heavy rain for home as it passes a Texas-shaped road sign along the highway:

'DRIVE FRIENDLY - THE TEXAS WAY!'

Inside the tour bus, the team plays poker in the back, laughing over cigarettes and long necks. Kuro balances a beer on his belly while playing the PlayStation 2 game: 'Y/N Blaze - Airtime'.

"And Blaze is down!" The video games says as crashing is heard. 

Kuro giggles. Y/N is watching an ESPN2 interview from earlier tonight.

"Sports Illustrated has named you 'The Daddy of the X-Games.' How does that make you feel?"

"Sexy."

The TV reporter laughs. 

"Y/N, you've been at the top of the daredevil game since you were sixteen. You've dominated the record books and made your fortune many times over. Not to mention, being the youngest daredevil in history.

 And yet, you continue to risk life and limb in ways daredevils who have gone before you have not done. To ride your motorcycle into the face of death and spit in its eye. Why?"

After a long beat, Y/N shrugs. 

"Habit."

More crashing noises come from behind him as he hears:

"And Blaze is down!" 

Y/N clicks off his T.V. and shoots Kuro a look. 

"What?"

"Have you tried not crashing?"

"Level six is a bitch. Here..."

Kuro tosses him the controller. Y/N starts playing his own video game. He's terrible. He crashes his virtual self. 

"This game's impossible...."

Kuro routs through the ice box before reappearing with a six-pack of Lone Star Beer and a leathery strip of dried meat. 

"Check it out. A seven course dinner. You want some jerky?"

Kuro takes a bite out of the meat. 

"That ain't jerky..."

Kuro stops. Then he shrugs and takes another bite. More crashing noises come from the video game. 

"And Blaze is down!"

"Just like the real thing..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You should be takin' a dirt nap after that rag doll today."

"I got lucky..."

"'Lucky?' My hunting dog's named 'Lucky' and he's got one eye and no nuts. Lucky don't cover it, bud. You got an angel watching over you."

"Yeah. Maybe..."

Y/N tosses the controller back to Kuro before looking out the window to the passing desert; his rain-distorted reflection superimposed over the coming storm...