L!GHTS OUT #22 | FLASH KASSIDY & THE OUTLIERS vs SALVATION

“Black Death Cometh”
vs Flash Kassidy and The Outliers
By Nemesis, Aiden Deimos & Viduus Morta 3899 WORDS

Rain falls down lucidly onto the cold, hard cobblestone road. The brick buildings rise high above the streets, almost blending into the cloudy night sky. On the road, the street lamps light a vacant path with the yellow bulbs casting shadows across every structure they illuminate. In the distance stands a man however, leaning against the post of a street lamp with the light above him flickering on and off, as if it is subtly hinting towards the viewer in Morse Code to be weary of the man underneath it.

He pushes off of the lamp with his shoulders and begins to walk closer, his boots colliding with the road below as loose rocks crunch beneath the soles. He isn’t a large man, but with his demeanor he might as well be a giant. Charcoal black and slicked, his long hair shifts ever so softly in the cool, British breeze, yet his blood red jacket, flaps wildly in the wind as he continues forward.

“Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. The fear of what awaits one on the ‘other side’ makes most of you lie restlessly in the dark hours of the night, not knowing whether you’ll see the ones you hold dearly to your heart when you pass on or even the selfish thought of if you’ve done enough in your given time to be remembered. Mankind has a yearning to know, especially that of which they do not understand or comprehend, yet, when faced with the reality that they will never truly understand anything until they experience it; mankind runs and cowers in fear.”

Preacher, the clergyman of Salvation, stops in his tracks as we become quickly aware that it was he that spoke those words we just heard. Not much is known about Preacher besides the fact that he once was a devout follower of the Church before leaving it due to the hypocrisy and the ‘truth’ he uncovered during his time in it. One thing is for sure though, ever since Nemesis found the former Priest on this side of the road and ‘saved’ him, his words have been nothing short of prophetic in Union Battleground.

“I hear many say that He ‘likes to work in mysterious ways’ though I ask a few simple questions to those blind sheep that follow the herd; ‘what mystery lies amongst allowing His people in Egypt to be kept as slaves while sending in Seven Plagues to free a few but to kill thousands?’, ‘what is so mysterious about the fact that He saved but only ONE family from the Great Flood but watched as millions perished?’…Just a few centuries ago, in His ‘great’ and ‘mysterious’ work, He brought the Bubonic Plague, more commonly known as the Black Death, to the streets of London.”

A low-pitched squeak is heard that draws the attention of Preacher, followed up by a sinister smirk. A small shadow sneaks across the ground, followed by a rat visibly making its way slowly over to Preacher’s perfectly polished dress shoes. The rat’s long, pink tail rests in front of Preacher’s shoe now as it turns it’s back to him and begins nibbling on something.

“How inconceivable it is to believe such a tiny rodent could cause such mass destruction and fear but it is what lies inside of the rat to which what needs to be taken note of: the bacteria. As the bacteria came into contact with hosts and infected them, the plague began to spread all across the land, bringing it’s inhabitants to their knees much like the Kingdom of Salvation has done to Union Battleground. Once we infiltrated, our message and belief system spread to those who seek out the truth, who yearn to be saved…who wish to walk the one, true path towards Salvation and not follow some Shepherd's Flock, Raven’s Flock or congregate of lost souls towards damnation.”

As if on cue, Speaker makes his way out from the shadows, silently approaching the old clergyman. He slowly raises his hand and softly lays it upon Preacher’s shoulder. The blood red jacket of Preacher resting underneath Speaker’s hand slowly starts to burn away, inch by inch, then the body of Preacher begins to fall away like ashes dancing in the air mixed in with scattered embers. As the ash swirls around in the air, forming a large black cloud, the outline of a massive figure can be seen inside of the darkness. The ash begins to trail off causing the thick, black cloud to fade and standing in the place of where Preacher once stood is Viduus Morta with an overly confident, yet stern smirk on his face.

“One third of the continent’s population died as a result of the Black Death. One third. Now, the Outliers seem intelligent enough to grasp the concept by that sheer number but for Flash Kassidy let me explain what that means. In a five-year span, this monstrosity spread throughout Europe taking the lives of over twenty million people. If an unsophisticated bacteria can take over one third of an entire continent in just five years what do you think cunning and intelligent individuals can do with five years? Three years? Or how about just one year? It has taken Salvation less than one year to procure the Union Battleground Championship. It has taken us less than one year to have the world look upon us as the next pestilence to cleanse this Earth. War has been declared and it would appear that you three will be our Black Death’s first victims.”

A large snake swirls around the left arm of Viduus Morta. It slides calmly through his jacket sleeve and out the other, wrapping itself around his other arm. As it does, you can see Speaker’s hand shift as the snake passes Viduus’ shoulder craning his neck up and watching the rat below still nibbling away, unaware of the changing persons behind him.

“You three are the biggest rats of them all. Disgusting. Vile. VERMIN. You carry your own brand of ‘bacteria’ that pollutes this earth with the lifestyles you lead. You three are the greatest representations of the nuisance mankind has become and why Salvation has been brought together to purge this world once again.”

The Speaker turns his attention towards the rat on the ground as the snake descends down the body of Viduus stalking its prey gently and quietly.

“Salvation is the cure for your mundane, meaningless lives. The three of you and the rest of Union Battleground take and take and take without ever giving something back. You will leave no memorable mark on this world when you exit it. You will leave no legacy to be told. You do not further the longevity of man, only its depravity. The three of you go through the motions as if you are part of some dead eyed society. Salvation will strike swiftly, we will strike with fury and when the end is near you will all beg for mercy.”

With one quick gulp, the rat is nowhere to be seen or heard from ever again while the snake rests on the floor beneath the feet of Viduus and the Speaker in a satisfied manner.

“In our kingdom you will be nothing more than dogs sentenced to serve your masters, who are the true and rightful heirs to this world. The Outliers have already done the hard part and fetched The Executioner and Viduus the Union Battleground Tag Team Titles and all that remains is for them to be beaten as we teach them to ‘drop it’ to rightful Champions in the Battleground. Who are the two of you to enter this war though? What justifications do you have to believe you will be of any help at all to the other cause? Because of your inclusion, your Titles will soon belong to us and as for your partner Flash, he has already been humbled by Viduus and Nemesis. This is what Union Battleground and Elysium Pro have conjured up in this war? Paper Champions and a man who can barely speak the English language? Two men who buy into their own hype and another whose eyes are so glazed over he can barely see what is right in front of him? ”

The Speaker shakes his head in disappointment as Viduus continues to just look on in an intimidating manne.

“Have you three paid any attention to what is happening around you? Our Kingdom RISES while Elysium Pro and Union Battleground have begun to crumble all around you. Don’t believe me when I tell you that you will be reduced to dogs? Scoff at the notion of being reduced to a pet by Salvation? Perhaps we should paint you a better picture?”

Behind the two men, approaching swiftly is Aiden Deimos, dragging a man slowly behind him whose clothes are frayed and dirty. He looks broken and abused as he follows like a dog behind the Executioner. His wrists are bleeding, as the chain that is wrapped around them are digging deeply into his flesh. Aiden yanks on the iron chain and immediately he falls to his knees. Aiden raises his hand and the man turns his gaze from the three Salvation members.

“Kelly Godless has become a very valuable pawn in this war that his brother and Axel has waged upon us. You all had the option to step away, to be selfish and walk away from the impending doom that is coming for you like a cloud of locusts. Flash, you have been a thorn in our side for quite some time and just like this joke that kneels at my feet, you too will be beaten mercilessly. Last week you stood face to face with Nemesis and like all before you, fell down to your knees where you belong. We were then about to send a message, to finally show you the power of Salvation but those two trailer trash pieces of shit stuck their nose into our business.”

The shadows seem to move behind the two men. Aiden looks back at the man who remains on his knees. Disgusting, he thinks, as the man picks at the ground, trying to grab what seems to be a small berry. Where it came from is not really known but the man looks at it like it's the first morsel of food he has seen in months. Aiden reaches out and grabs the berry, proceeding to squeeze it between his thumb and forefinger, then flicking it onto the dirty ground in front of the malnourished man.

“So now the Outliers have entered this war. Like moths drawn to the flame, you have came to the hot commodity in Union Battleground. I thought you were both unique. I thought that the two of you would be able to stay in your own ‘lane’, away from this so called ‘war’ but now you voluntarily stand across from us. Like those before you, you will be conquered, you will be demolished and you will be destroyed. When your bloody carcasses lay lifeless in the middle of the ring, your souls will be in a constant state of wonder as to what may have happened if both of you just sat on the sidelines and watched the carnage unfold from a distance. You would have been safe from this fate that you have now doomed yourselves too. You would have been able to have a healthy and safe life away from pain and suffering but now you two are nothing more than dead men walking.”

Aiden pauses and casts a slight grin as he pulls hard on the chain. The rusted metal digs further into the prisoners flesh, a droplet of blood forms, then runs down his arm and drips to the cobblestone roadway.

“We arrived much like Black Death all those years ago, entering this world on the back of one. Slowly spreading to two, then three and before you can realize what is happening, we have you all surrounded, leaving nothing but blood and destruction in our wake while leaving those infected behind to fend for themselves. Where were the Outliers when Alyssa Daniels felt the wrath of standing up against Salvation at the hands of Legion? Where were the Outliers when Dick Devereaux and his band of misfits were sent to the hospital? Where were the Outliers when the man you were so desperate to save last week was getting the shit kicked out of him week in and week out by the hands of Salvation? Nowhere, far away from this war safe but for some reason, the Outliers grew a pair and have decided to meet their makers.”

Aiden Deimos stops and glances over at Viduus who stands beside him as they rain continues to fall from the sky. Large dark droplets collide with the cobblestone road while the chained man behind Aiden opens his mouth, allowing the water to fall onto his dry tongue, trying to hydrate himself. The man didn’t even seem to be looked upon as human anymore, more so just worthless slave to the Executioner. Is this what he meant by breaking those that rise up against Salvation?

“It wasn’t until after you finished with the Firing Squad that you turned your attention to the real threat to the Battalion Division, Salvation. Viduus and I are in Union Battleground not to win Championships but instead, to help lead every single one of these ignorant sheep down the Path of Salvation. Just like the plague, thousands will fall victim to our destruction but eventually you will all turn your back on each other, hoping to God that if you leave the Battleground, we too will leave you alone. So you run, heading towards the only place that we want you to be. You run to the Kingdom of Salvation, the only place that you will find free of the Black Death that is ravishing the landscape around you.”

The shadows move behind them once more.

“It is pride and ego that keeps many from falling in line as their aspiration for the Championships here in Union Battleground lend only thirst and desire on parched lips. So we hunt, we hunt for each and every Championship that has fallen onto the shoulders of those that are lost to the true cause as we will rip them away from their cold limp hands and add them to our growing ranks. Sawtooth Grin...HEWHOCORRUPTS...the Battalion Championships are next. The last time Salvation participated in the Battalion Division, we witnessed the sacrifice of our own two followers due to their failures. We have learned from those mistakes and now we are bent on destruction, bent on corruption, bent on shaping the world in our image as we turn to you two.”

A low whimper comes from Aiden’s chained prisoner as he begins to tremble and cower while looking over his shoulder, directly into the darkness behind him that consumes a narrow alleyway. Like earlier when Preacher stood underneath the lamp post, lights begin to flicker, that is, every single light on this street until they finally go out causing the whole screen to go pitch black.

Breaking the silence in the dark, the voices of children all around can be heard singing in unison;


Suddenly the children’s voices stop singing the old British version of “Ring a Ring o’ Roses” or “Ring Around The Rosie” as it’s more commonly referred to, which is also rumored to be about the Plague. Just then, the lamp post above where Aiden, Viduus, Speaker and the slave were situated flickers back on to reveal the Union Battleground Champion Nemesis standing tall and gleaming with confidence due to his recent Title defense as the Union Battleground Championship’s gold plate glimmers in the darkness thanks to the lamp’s dim light even with a few drops of rain on it. Aiden is to Nemesis’ left while Viduus and the Speaker are to his right, noticeably there are no children present, so the source of the singing earlier remains an eerie mystery. Nemesis dons a long black trench coat that it closed up, black boots, his usual headpiece and his face masked in the evil that he embodies.

“I never thought that I would see the day where two skateboarding imbeciles with bad hair cuts coming to the aid of a doped out peon, who himself has a speech impediment and obvious learning disorder would be considered a ‘shift in the tide of war’ but yet, here we are. Though I must say, I haven’t fallen for that narrative which Union Battleground management has tried to feed it’s viewers, fans and roster members because the way I see it is that you two volunteered yourselves as victims, not saviours.”

Nemesis takes the Union Battleground Championship off of his shoulder and holds it down at his right side, clutching the belt itself in his right hand as the Devereaux blood stained handprint almost looks to be waving at us as the Title shifts lightly in a gust of wind.

“Flash Kassidy was so sure of himself and his so-called ‘destiny’ going into L!GHTS OUT Twenty-One, he even had all of the optimistic members of Union Battleground, mixed in with some clearly envious ones, rooting vigorously for him, both in the back and all over public forums.”

A sly laugh escapes Nemesis showing his obvious disregard at the notion.

“But where are all of them now Flash? Where are all of these people who were wishing you luck? Where are all of the fools who were hoping with every fiber of their being that you would dethrone me? Nowhere, they are all in hiding and the two men who came out to save you, the Outliers, their only concern is trying to step into the spotlight, not your well being though, they may have felt pity for you after witnessing myself kick your head into the third row, followed by Salvation dismantling you limb by limb, only to have none of these inferior mortals who wished you well in our match come to your rescue. You see Flash, you learned in that moment, before Sawtooth Grin and HEWHOCORRUPTS came out, that everyone in Union Battleground is nothing more than talk, nothing more than shallow words and hollow threats…that is of course except for myself and Salvation which I’m sure became a harsh reality to face as you laid there on the mat, barely clinging onto consciousness while the referee handed over my Union Battleground Championship in victory.”

The Union Battleground Championship is now raised up and held out at chest level by Nemesis, like he’s showing it off to make a point.

“Is this what’s drawn the Outliers into this war? I am aware of the singles success outside of Union Battleground that Sawtooth Grin has accomplished in Caged Glory, so maybe they are just using you as a stepping stone Flash? As a way to get themselves into the mix by potentially scoring a pinfall over me to earn a chance at my Union Battleground Championship? Either way, once they are unsuccessful in doing so, what will happen then Flash?”

Nemesis brings the Title back in towards his body and slings it over his right shoulder once again as the look of confidence grows on the Champion’s face.

“I’ll tell you what will happen; like those who stopped wishing you well once they saw your failure and discarded you as yesterday’s news, the Outliers too will deem you useless after being struck with the harsh reality that you are EXACTLY what I said everyone in Union Battleground is earlier; nothing more than talk.”

Glancing back towards his left, Nemesis gives a quick nod to Aiden who brings his chained slave forward, front and center before Nemesis’ feet. Speaker now steps forward and extends out his right arm as a dagger, looking to be about nine inches long and luxuriously crafted, slips out from under his jacket’s sleeve and into his hand. Viduus walks behind the chained man, grabs his chains and pulls them behind his back as he drives his knee into the man’s back, pushing his chest, neck and head forward as he makes a gargling noise due to Viduus choking him with the chains as well for pleasure. The Speaker hands the dagger to Aiden Deimos whose now standing in front of the helpless bounded man and Aiden begins caressing the dagger’s edge along his cheek. The Executioner now slides the blade down so it’s across the man’s throat and flashes a sick smile as we now switch back to a close up of Nemesis with the sounds of a scream, followed up by the sounds of the man gargling his own blood consuming the background.

“So Sawtooth, HEWHOCORRUPTS, keep talking, even do it in coordinated fashion like you two adorably do so often while Flash, you go ahead and keep trying to talk or find a somewhat coherent way to get across your destiny drivel because there will be no crowd surfing, partying or good times to be had come L!GHTS OUT Twenty-Two, only destruction, despair and the demise of three fools who look like a bad, hipster version of a metal band who couldn’t get a gig on karaoke night. We will not only dash all of your hopes and expectations in this match but the result of it will also turn your dreams into nightmares. Flash, you will be regulated to the oblivion of irrelevance as a casualty of this war who could never win a battle when it mattered while the Outliers will have to deal with Salvation moving forward as we have not only declared you as enemies but in case you haven’t figured it out yet, the hunt for the Battalion Championships has now begun. I ask you this Sawtooth, HEWHOCORRUPTS; if inferior beings like Mila and Sinister could move forward to the Semi-Finals of the Battalion Tournament, what do you think Salvation’s Executioner, Aiden Deimos and Salvation’s Enforcer, Viduus Morta, will do to you two? You two have had a ‘cake walk’ with the Firing Squad compared to what lies ahead of you, when all the talking ceases and the time for combat begins because we are Salvation…we will be the downfall of you all!”

A howl from Nemesis rings throughout the streets as the Champion’s faith and confidence in his two closest comrades is utterly obvious. With that, all four men begin to walk off into the darkness behind them, as the bodily heap of the Executioner’s slave lies motionless on the ground while a thick red stream of blood trickles down the cobblestone road heading for the sewage drain as the rain is not strong enough to dilute the crimson red.