Post by Backstage Rumblings on Dec 15, 2023 23:29:27 GMT -8
We cut to a black screen. All that can be heard is light breathing. The breathing stops for a moment leaving total silence. The striking of a match breaks it. The scene goes white momentarily before Rowena’s face and hand appear. She lights a candle in front of her before bringing the lit match towards her face. With her eyes locked forward as if staring into your soul, she blows the match out and lets it fall. Her hand disappears into the dark, leaving her pale face and white eyes.
Rowena: You know what you don’t see that often these days? Cult leaders. They don’t get as big as they used to. Jim Jones, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite. It’s taken twenty-six years for another one to pop up finally. And, I’ve gotten to meet him.
Silence for a moment.
Rowena: The cult of Stanton. Wouldn’t be surprised if he soon had his own brand of flavored drink mix. This man sounds like every other cult leader before him. He and his views are the only truth. Follow him and he will lead you to greatness. Oppose him and you will suffer.
Another moment of silence.
Rowena: Dick, can I call you Dick? Dick, listen, man, Jimmy, Charley, and Davey did this whole thing WAY better. Though, to be honest, Charley got the best ending. Jimmy took his own life. Davey was torched by the FBI. Charley got to live into his eighties. Sure, he was locked up for a lot of that, but he was alive. He has been, as far as I know, the only Cult leader to die of old age.
An eerie chuckle comes from that pale face.
Rowena: Ya see, Dick, you’re right about that age that most Cult Leaders take the easy way out. You are getting close to your time. I know you won’t take yourself out. You have far too big of an ego to do that. But…
Her lips curl into a sinister grin.
Rowena: …I wouldn’t mind, helping you along. You have carried your ‘burden’ for too long. You’re like Loki but with zero of the redeeming qualities. You feel you were destined for some glorious purpose. And just like that trickster, your purpose is to always make everyone else the perfect, destined, selves. You’ve had a good run at it, Dick. But I’ll send you home. I’ll help you shuffle off that mortal coil and go to that great enterprise in the next life.
Her grin drops, leaving an emotionless mask.
Rowena: Tonight is the beginning of your downfall. Tonight you lose something precious. You will lose it in a manner that can’t be refuted. A loss to the official contender. Your self-coronation shall be brought to an end. But instead of rejoicing, the masses will fear. They will have traded the demon they know, for the demi-goddess they fear. Where you caused apathy and irritation. I shall bring fear, blood, power, and prestige to something you’ve flaunted around like a participation trophy. You have made it worthless in the eyes of so many. But I will correct that. I will achieve my greatness, thanks to you. So you will still be talked about. But not for some great wrestling career or business deal. But for help ushering in the dark cloud to fall over Glory. I will take yours, Dick. But don’t fret, your sacrifice won’t be in vain. It shall lead to a Bloody reign that none have seen since Elizabeth Bathory.
That grin returns.
Rowena: Thank you, Dick. Thank you for ushering this in. It shall be a great thing you do. Possibly the greatest. See ya soon, Dick.
Rowena blows the candle out disappearing into darkness once again. All that can be heard is a faint, sinister chuckle.
Rowena: You know what you don’t see that often these days? Cult leaders. They don’t get as big as they used to. Jim Jones, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Marshall Applewhite. It’s taken twenty-six years for another one to pop up finally. And, I’ve gotten to meet him.
Silence for a moment.
Rowena: The cult of Stanton. Wouldn’t be surprised if he soon had his own brand of flavored drink mix. This man sounds like every other cult leader before him. He and his views are the only truth. Follow him and he will lead you to greatness. Oppose him and you will suffer.
Another moment of silence.
Rowena: Dick, can I call you Dick? Dick, listen, man, Jimmy, Charley, and Davey did this whole thing WAY better. Though, to be honest, Charley got the best ending. Jimmy took his own life. Davey was torched by the FBI. Charley got to live into his eighties. Sure, he was locked up for a lot of that, but he was alive. He has been, as far as I know, the only Cult leader to die of old age.
An eerie chuckle comes from that pale face.
Rowena: Ya see, Dick, you’re right about that age that most Cult Leaders take the easy way out. You are getting close to your time. I know you won’t take yourself out. You have far too big of an ego to do that. But…
Her lips curl into a sinister grin.
Rowena: …I wouldn’t mind, helping you along. You have carried your ‘burden’ for too long. You’re like Loki but with zero of the redeeming qualities. You feel you were destined for some glorious purpose. And just like that trickster, your purpose is to always make everyone else the perfect, destined, selves. You’ve had a good run at it, Dick. But I’ll send you home. I’ll help you shuffle off that mortal coil and go to that great enterprise in the next life.
Her grin drops, leaving an emotionless mask.
Rowena: Tonight is the beginning of your downfall. Tonight you lose something precious. You will lose it in a manner that can’t be refuted. A loss to the official contender. Your self-coronation shall be brought to an end. But instead of rejoicing, the masses will fear. They will have traded the demon they know, for the demi-goddess they fear. Where you caused apathy and irritation. I shall bring fear, blood, power, and prestige to something you’ve flaunted around like a participation trophy. You have made it worthless in the eyes of so many. But I will correct that. I will achieve my greatness, thanks to you. So you will still be talked about. But not for some great wrestling career or business deal. But for help ushering in the dark cloud to fall over Glory. I will take yours, Dick. But don’t fret, your sacrifice won’t be in vain. It shall lead to a Bloody reign that none have seen since Elizabeth Bathory.
That grin returns.
Rowena: Thank you, Dick. Thank you for ushering this in. It shall be a great thing you do. Possibly the greatest. See ya soon, Dick.
Rowena blows the candle out disappearing into darkness once again. All that can be heard is a faint, sinister chuckle.