by GoozX and The Eurostar
The EPS:
"So, is our favorite little hero gonna always be in this dream state, believing he has a perfectly normal life?"
The voice interrupted Dr. Charles Walker, who was hard at work putting together research on recent developments.
"Turner. What?" Walker had no emotion to his voice, which was cold and stern.
"Why did you give him the perfect life? Why not let him think he is in Hell for all eternity? He's religious -- the perfect payback. Poetic, even."
"If he knew where he was, if he thought he was in Hell, then he would try to escape. I don't need any more hassles. I have had enough to deal with as of late."
Turner laughed. A smile followed. "What? Still mad because of that scar I gave you? Heh. If you ask me, if fixed your face up a bit."
Turner mimicked Walker with a sad face and swiped his finger across his own face in the place where Walker's scar would be. Walker was silent for a moment. He pressed a small button on his belt that sent surges throughout Turner's body, bringing him to his knees. Blood dripped from the ex-special agent's nose. Walker fell to one knee, eye to eye with Turner.
"You know, it isn't too late for me to place you within your own hell, or worse."
Turner smiled, the blood still dripping down. "You wouldn't. I am way too fucking powerful for you to let go." Walker pressed the button again. Turner kept looking forward, blocking out the pain. "And right when I get this collar off, your head is mine."
"Right when your collar comes off, we will not need you any more."
The two men, both leaders in their own right, just continued to stare each other down.
Edulcore Cicciotto:
I awoke.
This night, the dark dwarf I dreamed of months ago has returned, talking backward and throwing water at me. I didn't understand his words, this time.
But I awoke, and this time, there was not my Eddie near me. I was in a cage made of energy, something in the comics that is called a stasis field.
And my memories have returned, too. Not the memories of my working for the Time Trust, no. But what really has happened since my return in Chicago.
My entry -- all alone -- into the EPS fortress in gaseous form, my arrival in Eddie's room. There was a beautiful lady next to him, talking softly to him. I had seen her before, at the Zoo. But to take Eddie, I had to turn solid. And that was my defeat.
As I took solid form, the woman noticed me, and I wasn't myself anymore. I fell in love with her all of a sudden. And then many men were in the room, charging at me, and I was powerless, unable to react.
And then I forgot everything, and the dreams began. Dreams of being able to rescue Eddie, dreams of a beating by the EPS in a Sicily straight out from a Hollywood movie of the fifties. And dreams of dreams.
And then the dwarf arrived and opened my eyes. And then Walker arrived to my prison, smiling, with Eddie in his arms.
"Will you work for us, Cicciotto?" he asks. And his hand keeps stroking evilly the neck of my son.
What could I do?
I accepted.