Date: Mon, 2 Dec 2002 15:11:29 -0800 (PST) From: Author James Subject: Marvel Knights: Era of Hatred 6 Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. It has no intentions of resembling any real persons dead or alive. This is entirely from my imagination, with a little help from already established sources. This story is based loosely on the comic book character "The Punisher" from Marvel Comics. Other characters may appear from Marvel comics as well as DC Comics. Punisher and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Blade and all related characters copyright Marvel Comics. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel copyright Joss Whedon, United Paramount Network and Warner Bros. Respectively. The Vampire Chronicles and all related characters created by Anne Rice. Copyright Anne O'Brien Rice. I have written another story on nifty entitled "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". It is in the Celebrity/Boy Bands section. Batman may appear in this story once or twice, as the Punisher may appear in "Tales of a Real Dark Knight". Any comments may be sent to authorjames2002@yahoo.com Thank you and enjoy. Chapter 6 Why Weatherby and Johnny pulled into the driveway of the mansion. With the information they had, such as Ryan's address and what happened in school, they could help Ryan. They noticed Blade's motorcycle parked out front. The motor was warm still. "They must have just got back," Johnny replied. Weatherby went inside and Johnny followed. They found the rest of the group in the library where Tandy and Blade were reporting what they learned. "So the teacher found them doing it?" Ty asked incredulously. "Apparently so," Blade replied. "Were they both willing?" Harris asked. "Sort of," Weatherby replied. "It seems that there is more going on between those two that either care to admit." "What did you find?" Whistler asked. "It seems that Dorian enjoyed getting his cock sucked regardless who was doing it. However, he treated Ryan horribly anyway. As far as he was concerned, Ryan was just someone to use for sexual release." "Did Ryan want it?" Harris asked again. "We would have to ask him that. Regardless, his time with Dorian seemed a bit on the degrading side." "What?" "Dorian kept going on and on about how all homosexuals were good for only one thing, sucking dick," Johnny answered. "And if he treated Ryan like that..." Harris stood up and walked to the window. "If that is how he treated Ryan, someone who enjoyed doing something like that, he could grow to believe that he was only good for sex. Or could hate being gay." All grew quiet. "We have his address," Johnny said. "Or his address he reported while going to school. We could check it out and see what is going on." "Only one of us would be best suited to talk with him," Whistler stated. "Harris." Everyone turned to Harris. "No way," Davey said. "Who knows what Ryfin would be willing to do to Harris! I don't want Harris put in the middle of this! He doesn't deserve to be thrust in the thick of the problem every time!" "Its okay, Davey," Harris replied. "He may be the only one Ryfin talks to. We can't not let Harris go because of our personal feelings." Davey walked up to Harris and put his hand on Harris's shoulder. He leaned in and whispered, "Are you sure about this?" "I have to, Davey. He's my friend." "I don't want you to get hurt." "It's a bit late for that." Harris turned to the rest of the group. "Where do I have to go and what do I have to do?" A few hours later, Weatherby was dropping Harris off at the house Ryan Finster was supposedly staying. Dave sat in the back looking at his boyfriend walk to the front door. Weatherby drove down the road and turned around. They came back on the other side of the street and parked, keeping an eye on the house. Harris rang the doorbell and a lady opened it. "Hi," he said. "Does Ryan Finster live here?" "Yes," she said. "Can I ask who you are?" "I'm Harris, an old friend of his. Is Ryan home?" "Come on in. He will be happy to see you." Harris entered the house and was shown the living room. He was offered and seat and sat as the lady went upstairs. Harris looked around the walls, which were bare. The place was decorated simply. The sound of footsteps brought Harris's attention back to the moment. "Hi, Harris," a familiar voice said. "Ryan," Harris said standing and going to his friend. He opened his arms to hug Ryan, but Ryan stepped back. "What's wrong? We haven't seen each other for so long." "I know. I'm sorry. I'm just not comfortable with that. Please, seat down." Harris went back to his chair and Ryan sat down next to him. "What brings you here?" "I wanted to see how you were. I found out about...about Dorian." "Oh," Ryan replied as he held his head in shame. "You don't have to be ashamed, Ryan. Do you like guys?" Ryan's eyes lit up with anger. "If you do, that's okay," Harris said immediately. "If you were just exploring and don't really like guys, that's okay, too. You don't need to be ashamed of who you are. And exploring is natural." "You don't..." Ryan began, then stopped. "What?" "I...I can't do this." "Can't do what?" "I can't talk about this." Ryan stood and headed back toward the steps. Harris stood and grabbed his shoulder. "Ryan, have you been practicing magic?" Ryan's face paled dramatically. Then he flushed with anger. "What you are doing is dangerous," Harris continued. "You need to stop. Now." "You don't understand. You can't possibly understand what it's like for me." "I can. I understand perfectly. I know the shame you feel, because I felt it, too. It's okay that you are gay. I'm gay, too." Ryan became even angrier. He balled up his fist. "You disgust me!" He swung his fist around and punched Harris knocking his former friend to the floor. "Gay people disgust me! They don't deserve to be alive! All they are good for is sex and spreading AIDS! They need to be destroyed!" Ryan ran out of the house. "Michael," Davey said to Weatherby. Both turned to see Ryan exiting the house. He pulled out an amulet and muttered something inaudible. His eyes glowed yellow. Harris came outside to see his friend with his arms out to his side. Out of the blue sky, a Lanithro demon came and swooped down toward the front yard. "Harris! Get down!" Davey replied. Harris jumped to the ground as the Lanithro came and scooped up Ryan. "All of you will pay on the day you celebrate your uniqueness!" Ryan called out as the Lanithro carried him away. Harris got up to his knees and watched the demon carry his best friend away. Davey hopped out of the Suburban and ran over to Harris. Harris began to cry. Davey knelt behind him and held him in his arms. Weatherby came running up with a shot gun in his hand. "What did he say?" "He hates gay people," Harris answered. "Isn't he gay, though?" Davey asked. "Yes. But whatever Dorian said to him while he was pleasuring Dorian wasn't good. It must have been so degrading to what he felt inside. He's internalized all the negative beliefs of homosexuals. He thinks all we are good for is sex and spreading AIDS. He believes we need to be eliminated." "It's going to be awfully hard to do that to every gay person," Weatherby replied. "How can you identify gay people? Some are obvious, but many are not." "He mentioned the day we celebrate," Harris answered. "Oh, God," Davey realized. "What is it?" Weatherby asked. "The Gay Pride Parade every year in June. He's planning on killing all the gay people that show up for the parade." The three gay men headed sat in the library of the mansion. Harris shared with everyone what he experienced at Ryan's home, along with all Ryan said to him. "The Gay Pride Parade is his ultimate target," Whistler replied. "We have to find a way to cancel it." "We can't," Davey answered. "The Parade is the largest gathering of gay people to show their pride. What can we tell them? Every homo is going to get bumped off by flying demons controlled by a disgruntled faggot because he hates who he is? They will laugh in our faces!" Ty started laughing. "What's so funny?" Davey asked. "You just called Ryan a faggot." "You aren't allowed to use that word," Davey replied. "It's off limits to non-gay persons." "Why?" Ty asked, confused. "It's like a white person using the N-word. Very taboo and very derogatory." "Oh," Ty replied. "Sorry." "It's okay." "Shall we get back to the topic at hand?" Whistler replied. "As nice as it is for everyone to be all politically correct, we have something a bit more dangerous to deal with. A kid who hates who he is so much, he's willing to kill everyone who is like him." "Let's not forget the massive amounts of mystical powers he is building up," Tandy added. "How will he do it?" "Let's look at the amulet of Ashtoroth. It is used in enhancing control over the Lanithro. Its powers are very dangerous, especially in the hands of an avid practitioner of black magic." "And in the hands of someone filled with hate," Blade added. "What we need to do is keep the amulet under lock and key. If he knows where you are, Harris, he may come after you to get the amulet." "So he stays here?" Davey asked. "It might be better if he were to stay with you. Ryan has no idea you two are involved. He would be much safer with you." Davey nodded. "And mom has wanted to see Harris, too. She enjoyed his company before when he came over for dinner." "Very well. Weatherby, take Harris to Davey's to get his things. Then take him over to Davey's and drop him off. Come back here and we'll prepare for a possible attack." Weatherby nodded and he took Davey and Harris out to his Suburban. "What do you suppose that does to someone?" Davey said. "Hating ones' self so much, they hate everyone like them." "It makes you want to destroy them," Harris answered. "But why? It seems too crazy to join the people that hate your kind." "It's happened before. During World War II, Hitler had Jewish persons in charge of some concentration camps, the same camps that held Jewish people. If you hear enough hatred about your own kind, you end up believing it to be true. Why do you think so many gay people kill themselves? They believe they are bad. "If things keep up the way they are going now, heterosexual people won't have to worry about gay people being an issue. And the pretty ones won't have anyone to pick on. We'll all be dead." "Stop talking like that," Davey said getting angry. High up in the sky, so far human eye could not see, a Lanithro demon gazed down at the mansion in search of its assignment. After viewing the Suburban leaving the grounds, it turned and flew away toward its make-shift home and its awaiting master. "Tonight we get the amulet. And then you will be at full strength to ravage the land and the immorality that plagues us," Ryfin said as he pat the Lanithro on its head. "Soon they will have their parade. And then they will die. But first things first, we must prepare to get the Ashtoroth amulet." To Be Continued... I know this is a short chapter. But this is a perfect place to cut off. The next chapter should be interesting.