the forbidden fruit / the beast of Wrath part I

before the 'Midnight Reaper' could ever be forgotten. there were news of multiple copycats on the state of Creepwood. also there was a copycat in the town in which the original evil begin.

some people didn't believe in the word copycat. they believed it was the real Reaper, or an apprentice of the Reaper. waiting for his time to finish the work of his master. those are the news on every newspaper.

as the interest on the 'Midnight Reaper' increase, on the center of the storm to create even more myths is Martin Johnson. the man been convicted for the Midnight Reaper's crimes.

he was such an average person that is impossible to find anything unique about his past to define his present. the only thing not average about him is the brutal murder of his parents. the fact that he was a witness of such brutality is the focus of everyone.

Martin is right now standing in front of a camera for an interview. the interview is taking place inside of prison. channel 5's newbie is the one who will asks the questions. more than anything the interview is to increase the morbid curiosity on people's hearts.

Martin is siting with a disturbing smile on his face. he asks the young lady if she is ready to asks the questions. she only nods. she trembles as she holds the microphone.

Martin looks haggard. his lips are dry. his skin is pale. his long curly black hair is opaque. his eyes are lifeless. he seems to be struggling behind bars. he has an innocent look that makes him look more like the victim, more than anything else.

Martin smiles with sorrow. a tear falls from his eyes. he can't concentrate as he looks at every corner. he then looks at the young lady in front of him.

"should we start the interview?"

"what do you have to say about the crimes of which you are being accuse right now?"

"I am guilty. I had murdered. slaughter. and tortured those who the law was too weak, or too corrupted to touch."

"do you feel guilt? had you ever regretted your actions?"

"I regret nothing. I am proud and glad of what I did.... wait. there is something that I deadly regret every damn second. I regret trusting on the bastard that betrayed me."

"is there any particular reason for which you started to commit murder? where you inspired by someone else? or something in particular? are you insane?"

"I am more sane than most of you out there. I was inspired by a cop with broken promises who let on freedom my father's murdered. a cop who took a bribe."

"is there anything that you want to say to the people out there?"

"yes, don't trust on anybody. they will betray you no matter how loyal they promise to be. don't trust on others. they have a tendency to stab from behind."

"I am not sure if you are aware. but you have many supporters and fans. there are some copycats out there. so, is there anything you want to share with them?"

"I am not a good man. I am not a just man. I am just a killer. I only chose to go after those who I believed to be sinners. there is nothing to admire of someone like me."

"any last words before we end the interview?"

"yes. I want to warned the person who send me here. I don't believe in forgiveness. I will have my revenge one way, or another. I am the real beast of Wrath."

.....

two months ago.

Rig is walking on a white hallway. he is at the moment on the third floor of a hospital. the person he is visiting is Martin. he felt guilt. he also felt the need to say goodbye to an old friend. Martin was loyal till the end. that is another reason for Rig to feel guilt.

Rig gets inside of a room. Martin is in there half awake. Martin is glad to see his hero. he thinks that Rigoberto came to free him. but soon reality knocks the door. there is no way that his hero had come for him. something has to be wrong.

"master I know that you are busy lately. it makes me happy, but being so modest to even called yourself my copycat is unbelievable. how is she? is she still madly in love of you master? or has the real you scared her? she will never accept you."

"you are going to prison tomorrow. I know that you wouldn't be free ever. let me ask the real question, you may know why I am here. why you didn't snitch on me?"

"because this world is so wrong that a person like you is needed. no matter how much I hate you, or I resent you for betraying me. the Midnight Reaper is a necessary evil."

"I am glad to know your standing. I am honored to know how much the Reaper means to you. now if you allow me I had to leave."

"don't ever stop. don't ever forget that they needs of us. we are the Reaper, and the Reaper is the protector of this town. without us, the town would be sallow once more by the scum that walks the earth. let me be sallow by those sinful rats in human suits."

Rig understood that Martin was far gone on his madness. he was refusing to accept that the Reaper was over. it was time to let the sins on the past. maybe Martin was just victim of his undying rage. his resent towards the word who refused to give him justice.

Rigoberto wasn't a hero. he wasn't there to fulfill anyone's dreams. he walked a rough path that many refuse to even look at. it is time to change the page of the book. Rig is closer to becoming 30 years old. he can't be the Reaper forever. he leaves.

.....

in the meanwhile.

Tiziano Fierro is on a bar drinking. he was affected for the lose of his childhood friend. he didn't like the way in which he died. he didn't die like a hero, but like a side character. that is something that he didn't deserve.

it wasn't just painful to know that his friend died. but the most painful thing was that in the end Tiziano was right. the more he wanted to be wrong. the more evident it became after Brandon's death.

Tiziano keeps working and making money out of the pain and death of others. the only hero that this rotten town had died in an anticlimactic way leaving no legacy, nor footprint in this world.

the few who remember him will die, or forgot about him. there would be others that out of anger will spit on his grave.

they would spread lies staining the reputation and name of a man, that was much more than a man. but a hero that walked in the darkness to bring the light, to those ungrateful bastards that he tried to protect so much. well this world isn't only unjust.

but it is also cruel and sadistic. the few holy men would die stained by the shadows of a world that refuses to accept them. of a society that sees them as a menace. that is the fate of the few righteous man.

.....

in the meantime.

Rigoberto is with his girlfriend in her house. Rig sees photos of her dad with her. there is that pain on his chest. the guilt is eating him alive.

"you may be curious to know why I behave so strange lately. the true is that my father was murdered. even when I was angry at him and even when I pushed him away. he was my father and it is painful to me."

Rig hugs her. he kisses her lips lightly. Rig looks at Nina's eyes. he wants to confess to her everything. he wants to take the blame for Brandon's death. it hurts him.

"I am so sorry my love. I wish I could do anything to take your anger away, for you. not just your anger. but also your pain. I don't like to see you in pain. you have no idea what I could do in order to see you smiling my love. if it was possible, I would eat your suffering so you won't had to feel any bad feeling."

Nina kisses him. some tears fall from his eyes. Nina doesn't say anything. she just smiles at him. Rig kisses her. he holds her tight between his arms.

"had I ever told you that I love you. I don't just say it because I can. it is because I feel it deep inside of myself. I feel it in every part of my body. and if I never before told you about this love. was because I wasn't sure, or maybe because I was afraid....."

Rigoberto stops for a second before he continues with his speech.

".....afraid that you would believe that I was too stupid to believe in something like love, but here I am telling you, what I feel for you. the thing that scares me the most is losing you. I would never ever be able to survived if I lose you."

"I also love you dear. how can you ever think that I don't love you back, or that I would judge you for such a silly reason."

Nina kisses him once more. they are two lovers alone in the privacy of their home confessing their eternal love for each other.

Rigoberto is hiding some truth from the girl that he loves so much. he is afraid that his actions can caused some complications in the future. he thinks in a way to avoid the resolution that he fears.

Rigoberto may be at times a heartless bastard. but his concern for her is authentic. he only wants the best for the lady that he loves more than anything in this world. there is something that Rigoberto doesn't know.

the truth is that Nina knew who he was from the beginning. because her father told her who is the 'Midnight Reaper.' all this years she has been lying to him pretending to not know about his activities after midnight.

the only reason she got close to him. was to proved to her father that the guy, or guys behind the name 'Midnight Reaper' are good people. doing justice to this town.

she also told the police about the Midnight Reaper's location. the night in which the police discovered Martin's identity. she made sure to stop Rig from being associated with his midnight hobby.

Nina knew about the intentions of Martin that night. she did everything that she could to take him out of the game without getting her hands dirty. you might believe it, or not. but she isn't as innocent as she pretends to be.

she always wanted to know what does the 'Reaper' feels when killing. to be honest she enjoys the game she is playing now, at the side of her lover.

Rigoberto is thinking about Martin's words. he knows that for many people his work has some personal, or spiritual meaning. when in reality he does it for selfish reasons. he has kill to nourish his wrath.

.....

in the meanwhile.

Kenneth Robins is getting out of jail. not even him can believe it. he is finally going to be a free man. when he received the news he wasn't sure if it was a dream, or reality. he cried while hugging his friends.

Terry Davis is waiting for him in a car. Kenneth has payed for his past crimes. he is ready to go back to the world. Kenneth is afraid that the world would reject him after all the things that he did in his previous life when he was younger.

Kenneth gets inside of Terry's car. Terry takes him to a hotel. Kenneth thanks Terry for being a loyal friend. he asks him to not tell him anything about his family. he prefers to not know about them. nor about Rigoberto. he wants to restart his life from zero.

"your daughter left town with money and some boyfriend. your son was last seen in the shooting on the diner. his body was never found. but we believed that someone killed him. I am sorry."

"I know that I committed many mistakes in my past. many atrocities of which I mostly feel regret. I never knew that the price for my sins to be the death of my first born and my other boy. I lost two kids and I don't know how am I even alive."

"sorry, I wasn't able to do something for a brother. you know that I respect you. even when I am in debt with you I wasn't able to protect your boy. I am sorry."

"don't worry, I know that you did what you could do and that is enough. now help me please. to bury his body."

"one last thing our rivals, the Fierro family is losing power. some had speculated that it has something to do with your young friend. that he scared the boss of the Fierro family. some others believe that Tiziano is just tired, he wants out of the business. whatever is the reason. he is losing power in town. I say that this is our opportunity to take his place as the kings of Inflictionville."

"I am not sure. it is true that prison turned us into brothers. after losing two kids, I want out of this life style. I just want to spend my last days paying for my mistakes by behaving properly. I don't expect to get a redemption, because my sins are too high. but at least I want to not sin anymore. if possible I want a peaceful life."

"okay man, I understand why you want out. no problem. so at least let me get you a descent job. so you can have your peaceful life. after all we are brothers, aren't we?"

"thanks man. I appreciate your dedication. thanks for everything."

.....

in the meantime.

Rig accompanies Nina to a graveyard. they are in front of detective Brandon Williams' tombstone. detective Anderson joins them.

"he was a great man. he didn't deserve to die in that way." the hypocrisy behind Anderson's words.

"he was a great man. this world is so unjust that ended the life of a hero. there would be no one like him with such a strong sense of justice. he would be forever remembered by those whom admired him like me."

Detective Anderson listens to Nina's words about her father. he felt bad. he then looks at Rig who doesn't react to those words. Detective Anderson leaves.

Rig hugs Nina. she kisses him. Nina places her head on his chest.

"do you think that my father can accept our happiness?"