GhostWatch (FF)

Chapter 7

Jackson and Charles stood in front of an ornate temple. Charles looked at Jackson before sighing.

"You ready?" Jackson asked. "As ready as I'll ever be." Charles replied hefting his bag on his shoulder before the metal doors opened. A monk came before them and nodded.

"Follow me, he is waiting for you." The monk said as he made his way back into the temple. Charles and Jackson followed the monk until they came upon a giant area ordained with beautiful mosaic pictures and braziers with fire. A man of 90 sat in the middle. It looked as if the fire from the braziers yearned to be with him as the licked their way towards him.

"Greeting Sensei, I have found another." Jackson said bowing. Charles dropped his bag and bowed to the old man. 

"I sense you have the Rider within you." The man said. Charles looked up and nodded. "Yes Sensei, but I need help to control him. He tries to claw his way to the surface. I fear for my teammates lives." Charles explained. The old man opened his eyes and smiled before his face melted as the Rider took form.

"You have nothing to fear, you must become one with your Rider if you are to control him." The man said. 

'Bah, this old fool knows nothing. His Rider is a fool.' Charles's Rider scowled. The old man returned back to normal, but still retained the voice of the the Rider.

"No, I am not a fool." He said before the man smiled apologetic. "Apologies, he tends to get careless without my permission." He scowled. Charles stepped forward and feel to his knees.

"Teach me." Charles begged. The old man smiled warmly. "Then, prepare yourself." 

~5 months later~

Charles wore an orange and black robe as he made his way to where the old monk was to prepare for his meditation.

"The Rider is a vengeful spirit, it takes time to calm him and his voice." The man said. Charles nodded as he closed his eyes and felt himself being sucked back in the psychic plane. He imagined two doors in his mind, one door full of innocence and safety. The other, a dark metal door ordained with red fire chains and skulls. Charles knew about the skulls, they were of his victims that he 'punished'.

He opened the door to see the Rider torturing a punished soul. Sensing the presence of Charles, he dispersed the scene before turning to his host.

"Here for another pep talk?" He growled. Charles stared in the eyeless holes of the Rider. "No, I just wanted to hang out that's all. Why, is it wrong to hang out with your host?" Charles asked walking about.

"No, I just thought you'd be here to 'control' me." The Rider said watching his host walked about. Charles looked at him before chuckling lightly.

"Look, I know you hate being 'controlled' and I don't want that to happen. But we need to work together instead of you just possessing me and going on a rampage." Charles said. The Rider growled.

"It's my job, the earth is scorned by the damned. I am there to fix what's right." He said. Charles clicked his tongue before walking up to the Rider.

"Well, can we come to some kind of agreement?" Charles asked. The Rider hesitated before nodding for Charles to continue.

"How about this, if you help me fight against Talon and the enemies of Overwatch, I will set you free to do what you desire. You don't have to be tethered to me." Charles said offering his plan. The Rider thought for a moment before sighing.

"It's tempting, but a Rider needs to have a host." The Rider said. The old man appeared before Charles and The Rider.

"If I may interject, we can set you free. You'd just be a walking Spirit of Vengeance, tethered to no human." The old man said. Charles smiled at the Rider as he realized he could be free, but something kept him at bay. He wanted to be free and enact his will of Vengeance against those that did evil deeds, but he had grown accustomed to Charles. Sure they had their fallouts, but Charles was always there to help him or stop him. To be honest, the Rider didn't want to be separated from Charles.