Shawn sat down on the hill, battered, scarred, and bruised. Yet in a way he never felt better than he did right now. “You there? We need to chat.”

“Of course, I am. I have always been here, waiting for you.” The hollow shell replied, standing dramatically as the wind blew his coat behind him.

Shawn laughed sardonically at that. “You would say that.” The figure tilted its head a little, as if confused. Shawn took his time though. Once he was ready he said, “Do you remember when we first met?”

“Yes. I saw a noble heart who cared for others no matter the cost to themself.” The tone was commending and reverent, as though speaking of a fallen hero. Fitting.

“Yeah, well, I’m starting to remember it a bit differently. Do you remember how old I was?” The figure’s noble bearing seemed to fade somewhat, as if slowly realizing the situation. “Cause I was just a kid desperate to save a friend of mine. So I asked for your help. Do you remember what you said to me?”

Its tone was reserved, “The path you seek is not for the faint of heart. Anything less than absolute dedication to this path may cost you everything.”

He nodded, “And I believed it. Bought it hook line and sinker. It made sense. Do you remember all that happened afterwards?” The figure refused to respond. “Don’t worry. I know we both do. Every time we ended a life.” The figure seemed unfazed. “Twenty years. Instead of high school. Instead of making a family. Hanging out with friends. Getting a degree. Writing my novels.”

“All for the good of the galaxy. A warrior of justice.”

He stood up with barely controlled indignation. Taking a breath, he soothed himself and continued, “Exactly. I became a child soldier. Grew up involved in this endless war against what you taught me was evil. I never hesitated. And I didn’t hesitate because I was afraid of what happened if I lost my resolve. That if I took any time to second guess myself or take ownership of what I did that I would lose the strength to protect the people I cared about. Groomed and held hostage by the guilt and responsibilities you trained me to take on.”

“Do you not stand by the good you did? The people you saved?” The figure sighed and shook its head. “You were the perfect hero. You sacrificed without hesitation. You did what needed to be done and there was nothing you wouldn’t surrender for justice. And no force that could overcome your will.”

“Damn right!” He finally let his fury begin bleeding through. “There is no force that can contain my will. That includes you.” His right hand curled into a fist. “I hid behind you and the mask you gave me. I did a lot of good, and I don’t regret that, but Douglas was right. I gave up way too much for what you gave me.”

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The figure shouted at him, “I saved the cosmos! Without me, chaos would have reigned and eventually evil would have prevailed! Suddenly you care about yourself. Your own well-being. Now that you have literally signed your life away.” It growled at him, “You are far too late to save yourself. If you hold any regrets then perhaps you should resign yourself to this tomb you made for yourself.”

Shawn began to cackle and his smile took up his whole face. “Oh, I’m getting out, but before I do, I’m taking it all back. Everything you stole from me.”

The figure tried to appear nonchalant. “Are you mad? I’m your only connection to that world. If you sever ties with me-“

Shawn cracked his neck, “There you go again. Trying to hold my life for ransom. But I’m done living in fear. Living half a life because of what I feel you made me do. This is my first step down a road of my own design.” He took off his coat and threw it across the street.

The figure sighed, “Fine. Then today is the day you finally burn to ash. A shame. Still, there is another who will appreciate my gift.” It hunched forward a little, leading with its left hand but it’s muscles seemed relaxed. It held no fear of this man. But he would show it the meaning of fear. He ran in, feinting with a right hook so he could kick it in the gut.

Shawn was launched across the street, through the stone wall around Mrs.Lesley’s house and into her foyer. As dust and plaster fell around him, he saw his mirror walking slowly towards him. He mustered more fighting spirit and stood up to go after him again but long before he could get a punch off, he felt a size twelve boot driven directly into his sternum and heard a loud crack. Out Mrs. Lesley’s kitchen wall and into the Cunningham’s pool. He wondered if drowning was a possibility here, but before it crossed his mind he felt his old gloves grab him by his waterlogged hair and pull him up. His full dead weight on his hair was painful but not as bad as the rest of his wounds.

The figure explained, “You have spent too long relying on my power. You aren’t used to pain. To death. Not anymore.” He was tossed to the hard tile around the pool. As he coughed up water. “As of today, you will never again fly over the sun on my wings. Languish here because as of now, your road home is closed. No one will remember you.”

He was too battered to move, his breathing ragged. He wondered if this was it. How he finally met his end after all this time.