The Scarlet Fire

The Order with a Side of Ghost Rider

(A/N: Ghost Rider will be bold and caps)

Brakes screech as Ghost Rider turns to see a semi-truck crashing right into him. Steam billows out from beneath the crushed engine as a chubby Trucker hops out wearing a cowboy hat and a horrified expression.

"Oh, Geez! Oh, Man! Are ya'll okay?"

The Trucker freezes as he sees the gruesome visage of The Ghost Rider stepping out of the billowing cloud of steam. 

"That ain't right..."

The Ghost Rider shoots out his fist as the Trucker screams. A beat passes, the Ghost Rider reaching for a chain padlocked to the truck's grill.

Ghost Rider effortlessly snaps the padlock and yanks the heavy chain free. A blast of Hellfire ignites the links, giving the chain a life of its own. 

It snakes over his shoulder in a heavy metal version of the Old West Ghost Rider's bullwhip. He turns to the Trucker and points his skeletal finger. 

"GO."

The Trucker doesn't have to be told twice and runs off down the empty street. The sound of clapping can be heard as Blackheart steps out of the shadows applauding this performance.

"Now that was impressive. Really. I've heard stories about the Rider ever since I was young. The Road Wraith. The Devil's Bounty Hunter. I must say you don't disappoint."

Ghost Rider points his finger at Blackheart and growls.

"VIOLATOR."

"We're not going to have any sort of meaningful dialogue here, are we?"

TCHINK. TCHINK. TCHINK.

The fiery Hellchain is pulled through the Ghost Rider's skeletal fingers link by link. 

"BACK TO HELL."

Blackheart sighs. 

"I didn't think so..."

The flapping of wings cuts through the night as --

WHAAAAM!

Ghost Rider is suddenly blasted off his feet in an oily blur of teeth and talons. He slides for fifty yards across the asphalt before coming to a steaming stop.

Skinner drops down into the middle of the street as his leathery wings fold back into his long black duster once again. 

"Now listen carefully, and try to get this through that thick skull of yours: I'm not the one you should be fighting with. Mephistopheles is the one who has enslaved you. So you can either die out here in the street tonight..."

Skinner grins malevolently and flexes his forearms as his spiked exoskeleton punches through his skin.

"Or you can ask me for mercy. And join us in the New Hell."

The Ghost Rider takes out his heavy chain...

"NO MERCY FOR ME."

...and whirls it overhead like an iron lasso.

"NO MERCY FOR YOU."

TCHINKKK!

The Ghost Rider lassoes Skinner and ignites the red hot coils of his chain. Skinner shrieks as Ghost Rider yanks him off his feet and slams him into the side of the semi.

The lights of two police cars approaching can be seen. Skinner slices right through the links of the chain. He growls and starts for Ghost Rider until Blackheart stops him.