(no subject)

[ghost_rider]

Who: Ghost Rider
What: Poetic Justice
When: Morning’s twilight
Where: New York
Interactions: Open
Warnings: N/A



"As always, it is the darkest before the dawn." said the haunting voice of Ghost Rider. Standing on a pier of the Hudson River he turned his skull from the horizon where the sun would soon rise from to look at the woman his gloved hand held by the throat just over the edge of the pier above the water. The only light that was reflected in the water was the fire from his blazing skull and his hellish motorcycle that was just behind him, its flames harmlessly flickering against the wooden pier. "I know what you have done all those years ago Kate." Those empty eye sockets locked on her as he said "As does your deceased twin sister. She is how I know that you were the one who drowned her in this river all those years ago. You may elude punishment from the law of men but you cannot escape your due judgment. Confess your sins to me." demanded the fiery specter in a dangerous tone.

The woman was young, probably 23 years old. Her brown hair was a mess and was halfway done in a bun. She had been dragged from her home considering the trail of cracked pavement and wisps of flame that lead to the conflagrant wheels of his bike and that she was wearing a faded grey shirt and pink pajama pants. "Please" she pleaded, tears running down her face." I was a child, I didn't know-"

"Do not lie to me!" he roared, his voice caused the water to ripple angrily. All of them have tried to deny the truth. Liars until the bitter end. "You knew what you were doing Kate. So did your sister. Jennifer never lived her innocent life because of you." again he looked at her, waiting for her to do as he asked before he gave his Penance Stare. "Confess your sins to me."

She screamed "Help me! Please, someone, HELP MEEE!"

Comments

[big_blue_boyscout]

"Put her down." Came a firm, even command from behind him. Someone had clearly heard the screaming. Clark might have been able to knock him out of the way and catch the woman, and get her to safety, but he has no idea what this man is capable of, so he decided against the risk.

"Everything's going to be alright, ma'am." Clark said calmly, to try and reassure the terrified woman dangling over the edge of a pier.

[ghost_rider]

"Who dares attempt to wield the Spirit of Vengeance?" asked Ghost Rider, his tone as dark as the night itself. He turned his head to look at the new arrival. "Retribution must not wait any longer, the blood of the innocent demands it." he said as he eyed the red and blue Superman. "Sinners do not deserve a champion, only their fated punishment they brought upon themselves."

All the while the woman was sobbing, her tears non-stop. "I didn't know what I did." she said between breaths. Ghost Rider ignored her as she said "I just wanted to have-" he interrupted her by saying "Leave the condemned to face their crimes Superman." said Ghost Rider remembering that he had seen the popular superhero on television, or at least his alter-ego Johnny Blaze had. "They have nothing that can be saved."

[big_blue_boyscout]

"It's not our place to decide that." Superman replies, staying as calm as possible. He honestly hopes he can reach Ghost Rider. He doesn't want to have to fight him, but he will if it comes down to that. "No matter what crimes they've committed, people deserve the chance to make up for the crimes they've committed. They deserve the chance to try to better themselves after they've been tried for their crime and have served their due sentence."

Superman takes a step forward, "We can't be the judge, jury, and executioner. Not if we want don't want to become like the people we try and fight against."

[ghost_rider]

“Their departed victims decide their punishment; I am the conduit for their vengeance.” Finally Ghost Rider released the woman from her grasp. Strangely she wasn’t coughing nor were there any marks or bruises upon her neck. She crumpled onto the pier in a fetal positioning crying, sputtering incoherently yet sounding apologetic. “It is not your place to interrupt the due avengement they seek. No one is ever safe from their crimes and the sins spawned from them Superman. Once they face their past misdeeds and own their wrong doings, they are free to do whatever they wish.”

The chain that was wrapped around the jacket sleeve on his right arm started to come undone and they clattered to the wood at his feet, his hand tightly gripped the end. “Vengeance can never be stopped. Not even by you.” As they spoke the sky went from it’s black night into a lighter gray. “A murder fifteen years ago demands resolution now. Do you dare to forestall it any longer?” The chain moved twitching as it idled next Ghost Riders legs even though there wasn’t a wind strong enough to do so.

[big_blue_boyscout]

"If that's true," Something tells him it is, "Then I won't stop her from being arrested or tried for what she's done. But I can't just stand aside and let you do to her what you did to that other man, no matter how much you think she might deserve it." He looks to the woman, and he wants to tell her everything's going to be alright, but he's not sure she could even hear him anymore.

He watches the chain twitch like a snake angling for it's prey, before he looks back to Ghost Rider. "I know you think you're doing the right thing, but this isn't right. Taking revenge isn't going to bring whoever was murdered back to life."

[ghost_rider]

“I do not think she deserves it, I know she does.” Answered the grim specter. “Resurrection? No, but it does give them their final rest.” Starting to grow inpatient with trying to explain the supernatural, Ghost Rider clenched his fist tightly around the chain when he heard Johnny Blaze’s voice.

'There's nothing you can do to her that she hasn't done to herself.'

He inclined his skull, his gaze looking beyond Superman. “Vengeance is still due, no matter her grief.”

‘Look at her.’

And he did so, half turning to the woman who was obviously haunted by personal demons that were stirred from her experience of being ripped from her home and accused of something no one else would even know except her.

“Very well.” He answered both Blaze and Superman. “She will confess everything now, if not to me then to herself and the laws of men.” As Ghost Rider turned back to look at Superman the motorcycle turned on, and it’s flaming wheels brought to the edge of the pier to it’s rider. “Not all who harm the innocent feel guilt Superman. That is why I exist.” He climbed onto his bike, the sky had turned more orange to match the flames about his skull heralding the sunrise.

“Compassion is not always the answer Superman. Sometimes it is the problem.”