Messenger of Angels

[skylerhigh]

The desert. Harsh, unforgiving, barren of life except for the few creatures that can sustain a meager existence by sucking water from cacti. Well, there is one other life form. From the bottom of a sand dune, we look up at the silhouette of a young man, wearing all black (in retrospect, not the best choice for a sunny day) and having very pale blond, spiked hair. Upon closer inspection, we can see his right arm is taped from the wrist to the elbow. Suddenly, a shimmer in the air appears next to the man, but although he sees it, he does not turn his head to inspect it, instinctively knowing that the angel Varia has just popped into being five metres from the spot where he stands.

??: Varia.

The angel, Varia, is only a faint outline which shines brightly, meaning we cannot make out her features. The light, however, obscures the man’s vision and he lowers a set of sunglasses from his hair to shield his light blue eyes.

Varia: Dylan, the time has come. Your quest begins now.

Dylan: So be it. Is this all or am I to carry an official message as well?

Varia: For now, no. You are free to enter. Upon the true beginning, you will be instructed further. For now, you are ready to make your entrance.

Dylan nods and Varia disappears. Dylan’s gaze, which has remained straight forward the entirety of the conversation, is still fixed upon what lies before him – a ruined city, hundreds and hundreds of years old. He seems to hesitate before pulling back and finally turning, sweeping his black robe behind him. Jumping onto his motorbike, which has a very futuristic and strange appearance, Dylan holds his right arm almost in pain and he grimaces. The pain fades and Dylan shakes his head before starting up the bike and disappearing into the horizon.

---

??: I’m coming back.

??: Already? Isn’t it a little dangerous?

??: I have some things I need to pick up, and then I’ll be gone again. Don’t worry.

??: Alright… I’ll be here. But be careful. They’re still chasing you.

??: I know. But I’m faster than them.

The phone conversation ends.

??: I’m always faster.

[skylerhigh]

A motorbike skids to a halt in a perfect parallel park right in front of a church. The church, however, is no regular church - it's not some Anglican load of bull or a Catholic hymn-singing church. The church isn't even in America. It's all the way down in Perth, Australia, and the person stepping off of it is the youth pastor for Riverview Youth. The motorbike switches off and Dylan Ryder, clothed in black, flickers for a moment before all his clothes become white, and the inverse happens to his arm tape, which becomes black. This unexplainable phenomenon is left in mystery as our focus comes back to the young woman standing in front of Dylan as he walks in the door. She is stunningly beautiful, with short blonde hair not dissimilar to Dylan's own. Well, to be honest, it is dissimilar now only because when Dylan's clothes changed colour, his hair also lost any sense of uprightness and blonde, and has instead turned pure white and now covers a large portion of his face. Nevertheless, the fact remains that Dylan seems to be very frustrated.

??: It happened again?

Dylan: Just as I walked in. You know, Rose, I still haven't found the cause.

Rose: I still think-

Dylan: I know what you still think. Did you get the stuff I asked you to?

Rose: All here.

Rose hoists up a rather heavy backpack which Dylan slings onto his back without effort.

Rose: So are you gonna tell me where you're going?

Dylan: No.

Rose: But-

Dylan: Later, Rose. I have someone to meet.

Dylan walks out the door of Riverview Church as quickly as he came in and as he steps onto his bike, his regular appearance returns, including black clothes and spiked blonde hair. Dylan flicks his hair in annoyance and revs the engine, speeding out of the carpark and down the highway.

---

Pilot: We are now landing in Chicago. Please make sure your seatbelt is fastened.

Dylan's eyes remain closed as his plane hits the ground in Chicago.

---

Dylan signs a form and walks through the customs zone to find a sign with 'Dylan Ryder' being held by a business-type woman. The face of Sylvia Banks stares back at Dylan and he surveys her quickly before nodding his head towards the exit.

Dylan: You want to talk, do it quick. My bike is waiting.

[skylerhigh]

The scenes you have seen before are in the future. At the current time, Dylan Ryder has not been informed of his quest, nor has he met Silvia Banks at the airport.

At the moment, Dylan Ryder is in fact in the middle of a show somewhere in Japan.

On top of that, Dylan is flying the through the air in the middle of a 450 Splash which looks extremely dangerous. Nevertheless, he is graceful beyond compare and lands the move with perfect accuracy, before rolling out of it and immediately hooking the leg of his opponent. The crowd count to three in Japanese, as does the referee, and Dylan stands tall, holding the back of his head, which looks to have suffered a nasty roundhouse kick during the match. A trickle of dried blood is evident but Dylan ignores it, his blonde hair covering it anyway. Dylan rolls out of the ring as “Force Your Way” by The Black Mages hits the small-town arena. Ignoring the fans, Dylan walks through the doors and into the wrestler’s room backstage. In here, he simply closes his eyes, and lies down, resting for the twenty minutes that the show has left. What goes on in his mind is unknown.

Twenty minutes later, Dylan’s eyes snap open and he walks out to the ring with the rest of the locker room. Every single wrestler bows to the audience, who are giving them a standing ovation. The show is over, so some wrestlers begin signing autographs, others head backstage. Dylan, however, spots another white female in the crowd, and she appears to be looking rather strangely at him. Dylan looks her up and down to see if he knows her but cannot recognize her. He slides out of the ring and comes to the barrier, and the woman also moves to the front of the crowd.

Dylan: Speak.

[sil]

Her reasons for being in Japan? To make a name for herself in the wrestling world. Her passion for this industry mirrors that of her love for fashion, but as with all things... passion can only get you so far. Passion without effort is but a longing dream. Now, passion WITH it? She has grown into a woman who always gets what she wants... heck she has ever since she was born into the world of the Italian Mafia... her father being a key figure in its continuing legacy this day in age. Growing up, she learned the power of persuasion, peeking in on her father's everyday meetings with "friends" as he called them. We can suppose that she liked to be in the know... a trait inherited from her father, Papa Banks. She's got the genes WEARING designer jeans. But back to the matter at hand. She stares intently into his eyes... he has a widely marketable face... and when it comes to talent? She knew what she saw... and she liked it very much so...

Swinging her Prada purse over her shoulder, she brushes her hair using her well-manicured fingers and smiles. A man of few words for a first impression.

Konnichiwa... Mr. Ryder. My name is Silvia Banks. The pleasure's all mine, I'm sure.

Using the same hand she brushed her hair back with, she extends it for a customary handshake.

[skylerhigh]

Dylan shakes the woman's hand, still unsure of what she wants. His mind works quickly, but his mouth works faster.

Dylan: Miss Banks. I'm sure you have something to say, so please do. I can tell you're a busy woman, and I'm an impatient man. Let's get this over with quick.

[sil]

She looks away momentarily... seeing a few passerbys walking around and away from the two. She returns her focus with a smirk on her face.

Meaning I shouldn't mince words? Very well then.

Silvia brings her purse into the space between the two, resting it on the railing. She continues by opening it, reaching in for something. Out comes a card... a business card actually... all her contact information for his general knowlege. Now to go in for the "kill" with her proposal, the pitch. She holds the card between her index and thumb finger...

Do you have passion for this? For wrestling? Would you be at all interested in broadening your horizons? A global scale if you will? The Compound is your best bet, Mr. Ryder... an establishment where limitations are of no hindrance. These small venues can only get you so far. Infamy will be yours, if you agree to my offer, the fight in the land of opportunity. But with all things? Think about it. I'll be waiting for your call.

She awaits for him to accept the card...

[skylerhigh]

Dylan hesitates, then takes the card, sliding it into his back pocket.

Dylan: I'll get to you within the week, Miss Banks.

Dylan nods and bows in the traditional Japanese style before walking away into the backstage area. His mind races and his thoughts scatter themselves everywhere, but his focus is only on returning to the land where he began his journey eight years ago.

[sil]

Ciao... darling...

...she whispers, cracking a smile and with a glint in her eye. The deed was done. And what would be next for her? To continue searching for the talent this globe has to offer. Little did she know that this one and those she has yet to speak to in the future... would be propelled into the spotlight sooner than she had planned. But first? MORE SHOPPING!!

She slips on her Dior sunglasses and walks away in the opposite direction, sighing a job well done...

[skylerhigh]

Three rings. She picks up. Good. No ridiculous messages.

Dylan: Miss Banks? I have your answer.

[sil]

So much has happened in the days that have passed. Tragedy and opportunities arose for her... both catching her completely off guard. She's still reeling from her aches and pains, the hospital ward filled with an alerted frenzy... people talking. She lays on her hospital bed, not knowing what to think. Trying to hold back the pain, both physical and emotional, Silvia hears her phone ringing. She wipes away the tears, before mustering enough strength to actually answer. She takes a second to look at the caller ID. Her nerves heightened, for the number was unknown to her. Should she answer?

On the third ring, she answers with a meek...

Hello?... Who is this?

Silvia takes a deep breath... bracing herself...

[skylerhigh]

Dylan hesitates. She sounds injured, or at least very stressed out. She is opening a new company, however, so he figures it's just stress.

Dylan: It's Dylan Ryder. We met in Japan a little while ago.

[sil]

Her tense nerves eased when the caller identified himself. So sad it was that she feared her own phone nowadays...

Mr. Ryder, yes... yes I remember you. I'm sorry if I seem a tad flustered. I've just been busy with things lately...

Who was she kidding? Yet, it need not concern the man she was interested in bringing to the United States via the Compound... to break out into the spotlight. Silvia winces as she tries to get herself comfortable in this tacky hospital bed.

...I'm glad you called, sir. I'm assuming you've taken my proposal into consideration?

[skylerhigh]

Dylan: I have. I've chosen to accept it. Not because of my own desire, because I have a purpose, a mission to accomplish. Once it is achieved... I may disappear. I have not decided that yet. But yes, Miss Banks - your answer is yes.

[sil]

A purpose? Silvia secretly adores ambition... her advocacy of such a thing is integral in her life. She hears shoes clogging just outside her door. Two women are conversing about something, so she tries her best to remain silent until they had passed.

...

Pulling the sheets up and over her head, she finally breaks her silence... just as the whispers beginto fade down the hallway as well.

Yes? I... I have to say Mr. Ryder... that you have made my day, sir...

It really didn't though... especially in her current situation. She feels like she's drowning in her hidden sorrow. Any other day, she would be ecstatic... just not today though. Silvia couldn't let him know however...

Are you still in Japan? I'd like for you to meet me at my headquarters... in Boston...

She stops, instantly backtracking. A conversation she had earlier in the day comes to mind.

***

I want you to go under the radar, Sil... your whereabouts unknown by anyone you have been affiliated to, especially me. I could not even imagine what I'd do...

The voice hesitates... as her worried eyes looked into his.

I... I can't...

Those same eyes light up in a fury... seemingly a man at the end of his rope...

DO NOT DISOBEY ME, SILVIA! The INSTANT you are discharged, you'll be en route to the airport. END of discussion.

Her eyes weld with tears, equally as frustrated as he was. He had never raised his voice to her in such a manner. Love does make one do crazy things... The man walks away, leaving her alone. If she only knew how much this pains him...

***

Back to the present... she recollects another conversation she had about a week ago.

Chicago, Illinois. I want you to meet me in Chicago, Illinois... Expenses paid...

[skylerhigh]

Dylan sighs. There were no details, just a voice that sounded troubled and left only extremely vague details. He has second thoughts about accepting before shrugging it off and speaking back into the phone.

Dylan: Chicago... that's extremely vague. Any specifics, or should I just hope to meet up with you on the street?