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Post By Anime Jason Wed Oct 13, 2004 at 08:35:30 pm EDT |
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Hatman Special Edition: Hatman, Raiders Style - extended edition! | |
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Hatman Special Edition: Hatman, Raiders Style - extended edition! It all happened so fast, they always say. But it never does. When horror strikes, it does so in slow motion...and it replays in your mind again and again for as long as you live. Jay Boaz, heading to work as usual, running late, sped down the freeway at nearly eighty five miles per hour. He didn't see the two teen age drivers in 'tuner' cars, in the middle of an impromptu street race, attempting to pass him to the right. His exit was coming up, and he had to move to the right quickly to avoid flying past it at that speed. A coffee in his lap, a cell phone cradled in his hand, Jay tried to dial his boss to announce that he'd be late, while shoving his way to the exit. He heard squealing tires to his right and left simultaneously. One of the amateur street racers cut in front of him abruptly and braked suddenly. Jay swerved to avoid the red Toyota Supra, and slammed sideways into the other street racer who was attempting to pass him on the left. "Shit!" Jay cursed as his coffee spilled, burning him. The inexperienced driver of the silver Acura Integra didn't even have a prayer of regaining control after that. His car spun and he plowed head-on into the wall. Jay began to slow to pull over and wait for the police. The red Supra swerved again, this time to avoid a truck. He clipped the front right corner of Jay's car as he headed to the wall as well. Jay easily regained control of his car to recover, and tried to find space to pull over... ...but he never made it. Rather than simply slam into the wall, the Supra bounced instead, flinging back across the traffic lanes as it did. Jay floored the brakes as the Supra flipped and landed cleanly across his windshield...and then the most horrible sound imaginable as the truck in the lane to Jay's right violently locked its brakes. The last thing Jay remembered of that day was watching what seemed like the sun disappearing, and the sky falling. --- Jay Boaz awoke in a cold sweat. Those memories again...the ones of who he used to be. Aside from those horrifying glimpses into his past, he couldn't remember a thing beyond the fact that he had woken up one day in the hospital, and been looked after by a woman named Whitney Darkness. She was his savior - quite literally, as she was the one who brought him to the hospital. And she was the only one he shared his secret with. The only one alive, at least. As usual, on a night when Jay found himself awoken by these nightmares, he rode his bicycle to a cemetery a few blocks from his Paradopolis apartment. He entered the gates and wandered all the way to the rear, the oldest and most overgrown part of the cemetery where the ancient remains of the long dead settlers of Gothametropolis lie in supposed rest. Only he knew they did anything but rest. In his hands he held a black pyramid shaped hat which was very, very old. Its seams were worn, its fabric dulled, but its purpose had been preserved through careful restoration efforts during the last several centuries. "I-I'm here," Jay stammered slowly. "I...I had one of those dreams again." There was no response at first...but after a moment or so of silence, the wind picked up suddenly until it was blowing as if a storm was about to begin. Leaves tossed around Jay's feet, the trees whispered the sound of the rushing breeze, and it seemed as if the cemetery itself had become a lot darker. A female form appeared out of the darkness, both familiar and very alien. Her skin was a crystalline white color, her hair long and silver, and she had eyes the purest blue of the sea. She seemed to be floating above the ground rather than walking upon it as she approached him in charcoal colored silk robes. Large wings unfurled from behind her and seemed to guide the wind itself as it whipped through Jay's hair. "I...I'm afraid," Jay told her. He looked down at the pyramid hat held in his fingers. "Of what I'm becoming...or what I was. I'm not sure." He offered the hat to the strange woman. "I don't want to do this anymore. I don't want to be Hatman. I just want to be...Jay Boaz. Whoever that is." The woman gently pushed the hat back into Jay's hands. "This is only a trophy," she told him in a voice as soft and fresh as the breeze. "If you hand it back to me...you will still have the power. You will still be Hatman." Jay looked down slowly. "I...I want to be normal. For...for Whitney." "Normal," the woman started as she began circling Jay, "Means being helpless while the one you've fallen in love with is stalked by every man and woman with evil intent." She moved closer and whispered into his ear, "That dream of yours...you know now that you were destined to die that day, yes?" "Yes," Jay whispered, his eyes widening as the memories came rushing back again. He remembered the encroaching darkness again, the horrible sound of twisting and straining steel, and-- "What happened to me?" "I chose you," the woman whispered. She took a step back and indicated toward the gravestones around them. "I gave you the power. That is why you constantly feel compelled to return here, Jay Boaz." She looked down at a grave at her feet. It was labeled 'Jonathan Frye, 1701 - 1791'. "You are not the first I've chosen," she whispered. "But you are the strongest of will yet." Jay sighed. "I've spoken to you at least three times since you 'chose' me," he said, "And I still don't know who you are." He shrugged. "I guess I've been afraid to ask." "I am Faite," she replied. "Keeper of the Power of the Hat. One of five such Keeper. The four remaining are Keeper of the Power of Glove, Sock, Eyewear, and Jacket." "I could have been Jacketman?" Jay asked. "No." Faite shook her head slowly. "You could only be Hatman. It is your--" "My fate?" Jay asked with a slight smile. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't make fun of your name." She finally smiled slightly. "No apology necessary. I chose you in part for your sense of humor. Given the wide variety of hats available in this world humor aids in your success." "Why am I having these miserable dreams?" Jay asked. "And why do they keep leading me back here?" "Because you are missing something in your life, dear Jay." Faite brushed his chin gently with a chilled crystalline hand. "Whitney is your center. But you require direction." "Direction?" he asked. "Faite will guide you once more," she said, smiling as if she intended the pun. "You will be offered membership in an elite group of heroes, Jay." "What?" Jay exclaimed. "But I'm no--" "Accept it," she told him, "Your life will change forever." "What if I don't?" he asked. "Then you will continue having these dreams," she explained. "You will continue to feel unsure of yourself, confused. You will never know your true potential...your true fate." With that, she turned and began walking away into the shadows. "Can I speak to you again?" Jay asked. She turned slowly, so the charcoal silk robes no longer blended with the darkness beyond, and her crystalline face and cool blue eyes pierced the night. "I will always be here, Jay," she whispered softly. "Always guiding you." --- A grandfather clock ticked loudly in the silent wood paneled, plush carpeted office of Sir Mumphrey Wilton. Everything in that office seemed ancient by current standards, as it was designed to make comfortable a man of another era - the room was completely free of electronic distractions such as a television, cell phone, or pager. Not one digital clock was even present, and of course, no computer. Hatman sat in a leather guest chair in the office, waiting calmly. He felt strange and fearful that at any moment he could be tossed out of the Lair Legion Mansion. Especially when he told the esteemed Sir Mumphrey that he decided to accept the offer because the Keeper of the Hat urged him to do so. "Good morning, Mr. Boaz," the cheerful British gentleman announced as he entered the room and gently closed the wooden door behind him. Jay felt compelled to stand as he entered, and wait till Sir Mumphrey asked him to sit down before he took his seat again. "You have decided to accept our invitation?" "Yes. Yes." Jay repeated unconsciously. "May I ask what prompted you to decide to come?" Here it comes, Jay thought to himself. "Umm...honestly...this Keeper gave me the Power of the Hat, and she urged me to do this." His voice trailed off uncertainly at the end. He flinched for a moment after speaking, somehow expecting the old British man to launch over the desk and strangle him for giving such a ridiculous reason. "A Keeper, you say?" Sir Mumphrey Wilton asked. He cocked one eyebrow. "I don't suppose you have a bit more proof, what?" "I...umm--" Jay reached into the backpack he brought with him and produced the ancient black velvet triangular hat he nearly returned to Faite the night before. "My word," Sir Mumphrey gasped as he looked at the hat. He took it gently from Jay and examined it closely in the light cast by an old banker's lamp on his desk. During that time, not a single word or sound passed between them. "Hmph," he finally said, "The power you have been given is amazing indeed." "I...wouldn't know. I haven't really tried using it much." "Well then, young man, this is the perfect job for you. You're hired. I certainly hope you can fill the shoes of the last Hatman." "What happened to him?" Jay couldn't help but ask. Sir Mumphrey frowned, and took a deep breath before replying. "He simply vanished one day." --- "Faite!" Jay called out as he wandered the cemetery. He knew it was still daytime, but what he had to say couldn't wait. "She's not here," a familiar voice whispered. "Whitney!" Jay hugged her tightly as soon as he figured out who it was. He took a step back when he realized...she was dressed in some sort of strange, colorful, incredibly flattering costume, complete with a cape. "What's going on?" "I'm sorry, Jay. I wanted you to join the Lair Legion because...so we could be together." She sighed and spread out her cape, seeming crushed at having to break the news to Jay. "I'm...Sorceress." "What? And you didn't tell me?" Jay asked her angrily. She shrugged and looked down sadly. "I'll understand if you don't...trust me anymore. I'll understand if you can't love me." Jay's heart sank at those words. He always knew that poor Whitney's spirit was fragile, and that she had self esteem which could be shattered so easily. "I'll always love you," he whispered to her, and hugged her tightly. He then smiled. "And if the Lair Legion is what you want for me...I'll do it." Whitney cried, only this time they were tears of joy. She held on to Jay tightly, as if she never would let go. From the trees beyond the cemetery, two sea blue eyes watched in silence, watching everything come together. Just as it had been predicted. --- The Lair Mansion was much bigger inside than it seemed to be from the outside. Externally, it seemed almost like a miniature American gothic style building, almost imitating the structure of many schools built during the Great Depression. Internally, however, the Lair Mansion made extravagant use of marble, dark, heavily varnished wood, and in selected areas, plush carpeting. "This is the dining room," Whitney Darkness indicated as she entered a large high-ceiling room with a large polished wooden table in the center. She was still dressed in the brightly colored costume, and Jay found himself it more attractive now that it was no longer a surprise. "We don't always eat in here. In fact, we hardly ever do. It's mostly for formal dinners." "All of these rooms are so clean and...untouched," Jay pointed out. "I get the feeling that most of this place isn't used." Whitney took his hand gently and led him upstairs, and down a long hallway as she told him, "It is nearly empty. Much of the time we're out living our 'other' lives, or fighting evil. It's rare that we are all here to spend time together." She suddenly turned when they reached one of the upstairs rooms, and smiled excitedly. "But now you've joined us. I'm very happy." Jay smiled too, only warily, as he was unsure about what was inside the room he was about to enter. Once the door opened, however, he found himself overwhelmed by the room's contents. It was every baseball cap, fedora, crown, cloak, hood, and helmet he could imagine, arranged neatly on shelves. There was a table next to the window holding a tee-shirt and a red cape, both neatly folded. And a coat rack was next to the table, hanging from it was a special belt with clips designed to hold several hats, as well as a backpack. "I asked Sir Mumphrey to put this together for you," Whitney told him softly. "Whitney...I'm overwhelmed." Jay started seriously as he looked around the room. He then smiled at a very confused Whitney, and held her tightly. "I love you." He then let go and gave Whitney a curious look. "One day you'll have to show me why you're called Sorceress." Without a second thought, Whitney gave the heavy wooden door to the room a quick glance. It slammed shut, and then the windows flew open...and a fierce breeze began whipping through the room, tossing the heavy drapes around, but leaving the hats in place on their shelves. "Wow," Jay whispered, as he stared in amazement. He looked sad as he asked her, "Why didn't you tell me about this before?" "I was afraid," she admitted. "I didn't want you to be frightened of me. I didn't think you could love who I really am." "You were wrong," Jay teased. She chuckled, and then peeled herself away from Jay for a moment. "Sir Mumphrey called a special dinner so we can introduce you. Do you mind waiting here for a bit until I call for you?" Jay looked around quickly. "But...there's no phone. How will you call for me?" It began to dawn on him when she gave him a mischievous smile. "Oh, I see. The Sorceress thing." "I'll call you soon," she told him. As soon as she opened the door and left the room, the breeze through the window ceased. But then, curiously, as Jay began to examine the hats stored in the room, the wind began to start up again. He wondered if that meant Whitney was calling him - but it wasn't Whitney. When he turned around, Faite stood in his path. "I trust you are learning," Faite whispered, her crystal white skin glinting frighteningly in the evening sunlight streaming through the windows. "I'm a little scared," Jay admitted. "My whole life is changing so fast." "Yes," she replied softly. "You will become a much different man." Faite moved closer to Jay, seeming as if she were floating as she did, and held his chin gently in one of her chilly crystalline hands. She reached over his shoulder and selected one of the baseball caps on the shelf behind him, placing it atop his head gently. Hatman felt a rush of energy, first in his core, spreading out to his fingertips. A slow warmth began to rise through his body. He felt strong, confident, invincible. "How do you feel?" Faite asked him. "Good," Hatman told her. "I feel...strong." Faite spread her hands out in a straight line, and a thin steel sword appeared between them. She flipped the sword around and handed it to Hatman, taking a quick step backward... ...and without really understanding how, he whipped the sword around quickly, motioning at the air with uncanny precision. He turned his attention to the drapes, and managed to cut a perfect 'Z' into them without causing the fabric to separate, even as the wind whipped them around. "Wow," he said, "How did I do that?" Without saying a word, Faite removed the baseball cap and handed it to him. The caption on it read, 'The adventures of Zorro'. Without the cap, Jay suddenly felt the weight and danger of the sword, and dropped it to the floor with a clang. "With time," Faite told him, "Your will can become stronger than the caps you choose. You may be able to retain some of your abilities for a time even after removing--" She turned and looked at a row of candles on the table in front of the window. They had all suddenly lighted. "I believe Whitney is attempting to summon you." "Faite, can I ask you a favor?" "Certainly." Faite nodded. "Please, I know it's a lot to ask," he begged, "I want you to meet Whitney. I...I don't know how to explain you to her otherwise. Could you wait here for me?" "I have told you before, Jay," she replied with a smile, "I am always here for you. You just have to ask." She picked up the ancient black triangular shaped hat left on the table. "One more thing. This hat is by far your most valuable, Jay. It's unique. You must take care with it, and pass it along to your successor." "What does it do?" Jay asked. Faite smiled cryptically. "You must discover that for yourself." She pointed at the hat and tee-shirt. "I believe Whitney is expecting you. It's only good manners that you use the correct attire." Jay quickly slipped into the new tee-shirt and cape. It felt good, even the rather cheesy baseball cap that completed the costume did. He was Hatman in those clothes, and ready for anything. Even a frightening meeting with the Lair Legion. He took a deep breath, closed the door behind him, and headed out into the hallway. Minutes after the door closed, it opened again. Sir Mumphrey Wilton stuck his head inside and looked around for his missing surprise guest. "He's on his way," a crystalline skinned woman in a long, dark cloak said, as she sat on the table next to the window. She looked up and her long, silver hair fell across her shoulders. Her eyes seemed to pierce directly through to Sir Mumphrey's soul. "Good evening, Faite." Sir Mumphrey gave a slight bow. "Training another young man, what?" She nodded once, slowly, and smiled. "This one has a lot of promise. He has a lot of passion. He understands love." "Jolly good." Mumphrey apologized for not conversing for longer, as he had guests waiting for him downstairs. Faite understood. --- Jay Boaz was a trembling wreck after meeting the Lair Legion. He hadn't even gone on a single mission with them yet, and he already entertained thoughts of quitting. Seeing CrazySugarFreakBoy dart around all through dinner made him nauseated, as did the tales told by Nats. The Manga Shoggoth seemed polite, but frightened Jay more with every pleasant gesture he attempted. And there was this woman named Lisa who actually passed him a napkin inviting him to a 'three way' in her room later with himself and Whitney. "Honest, they get better as you get used to them," Whitney reassured him as he headed back upstairs to the room he had been assigned. "Okay, I know that's not a ringing endorsement, but...they're really not all that bad." "I'm just a normal guy," Jay told her. "I...I don't know how I would even fit in with them." He sighed deeply. "I guess what I'm saying is...they all scare me, Whitney. They make me miss my normal life." "And what kind of life is that?" Whitney asked. "Being normal. Being helpless--" "--while one you've fallen in love with is stalked by every man and woman with evil intent," Jay finished. Whitney looked at him, confused. "It's something Fait told me," he said. His own words reminded him, just as he opened the door of his room, who he asked to remain there and wait for him...to meet Whitney. And as he asked, Fait sat calmly and patiently on the table next to the window, where his tee-shirt and cape used to be. "Is that...Fait?" Whitney asked, wide-eyed. "You've met?" Jay asked, suddenly confused as to what was going on. He looked out into the hallway as he heard footsteps, and Lisa stuck her head in. "Oh. I see you already have a three-way going." Lisa frowned, and moved on. Jay angrily slammed the door shut. "Jay." Whitney seemed to be blushing as she spoke to him. "Faite is a Keeper." "She explained that to me," Jay replied. His calm response and smile faded away when he realized that Whitney was trembling. "Whitney, she's a friend. Don't be afraid." "She is not afraid," Faite intervened. "Faite is...someone a sorcerer or sorceress only dreams of meeting," Whitney whispered, sounding a little breathless. "I don't think even Xander has met her." She smiled nervously and held Jay's arm. "Meeting a Keeper is a very good omen." "Oh? What does it mean to have one as a friend and mentor?" Jay boasted to Whitney. "I asked her to wait here for me. I wanted you to meet her." Whitney looked at Jay, confused. "When you told me Faite chose you as Hatman, I thought you meant...in the spiritual sense. I didn't think you meant--" She looked at Faite again. "So what's the big deal?" Jay asked. "Jay, Keepers--" She held both of Jay's hands and looked into his eyes. "Keepers are a kind of Muse." She glanced behind her at Faite. "If only I had a Muse to help me discover my own powers." "Faite? What do you say?" Jay suddenly asked. "Could you help Whitney too?" Whitney frowned. "Jay! You can't ask a muse to--" "If it will aid you, Jay." Faite nodded. "I will help Whitney if I can. But as with you, I may only give her aid. You both must learn on your own." "Fair enough." Jay nodded. "Hey, Faite?" "Yes, Jay?" Faite asked. "I never took the chance to thank you." He reached out and held her chilly, crystalline hand. "Thank you for all of your help." "You are most welcome," Faite replied. "Though honestly, I did not give you much help. Since you were given the power of the Hat, you have accomplished everything else on your own." She walked over to the window and looked out, and as she did, the drapes began blowing around again. "I will see you again, Jay," she said as she looked at Jay. She then eyed Whitney and added, "You as well, Whitney. I will be watching and guiding you both." With that, Faite stepped between the flapping drapes and simply disappeared. A few seconds later, the wind stopped blowing the curtains. And the first thing Jay noticed was that the 'Z' he carved into the curtains earlier was gone. --- That night, at home, Jay couldn't sleep. He stared nonstop at the ancient black triangular shaped hat, and he just had to know what it did. Finally, when he gave up on sleeping, He placed it on his head and headed into the cemetery to see if he could ask Faite. As he began walking, he began to feel a little warm, as he did when he wore the Zorro baseball cap at the Lair Mansion, but nothing else seemed to be happening... ...until he stepped into the cemetery. Moonlight streamed from a full moon above, casting shadows from all of the grave stones. And slipping through the beams of moonlight were what seemed to be beings of shadow...ghosts. He could hear them whispering all around him, saying things to him. Giving him warnings, offering him advice. But he couldn't hear them speaking all at once. He looked down at a grave marked 'Jonathan Frye, 1701 - 1791'...and a shadow oozed from the gravestone and began to take shape. It was a man wearing 18th century dress, and wearing a ghostly triangular hat much like the one Jay had upon his head. "Um...hello," Jay said, trying his best to not tremble with fear. "You're the new Hatman," the ghost of Jonathan Frye indicated in a distant, echoing voice. "Faite chose well," his voice drifted. "Your spirit is very strong." "Uh...Thanks," Jay replied, his voice wavering slightly. "Do not fear," Jonathan told him. " With this hat," he pointed to the triangular hat on his had, "you will only find friends here." He tilted his head slightly. "Are you in love, Jay?" "Yes," he answered quickly. "I am. With a wonderful woman named Whitney." "Love," the quickly fading ghost echoed, "Love will be your salvation. Hold on to it...compromise nothing for it...and you will be stronger than all who have come before you." It was then Jay realized that it wasn't the ghost who was fading, it was he himself. He stumbled and collapsed to the leaf covered ground, watching the wind toss more leaves before his eyes closed and the triangular hat tumbled off of his head. His eyes reopened, and he saw a crystalline face looking down at him. "You are a fast learner," Faite whispered. "But you must be careful with this hat. It uses you as a battery to give the spirits life...and it consumes a lot of energy." "I'm...too tired to move," Jay mumbled. "That is okay." Faite smiled. "It is about time you went to sleep." "I...can't sleep out here," Jay protested. He closed his eyes for a moment, and felt a lifting sensation, as if he were in a fast moving elevator heading down. When he forced his eyes to open again, he was in bed again, lying next to a sleeping Whitney, and he was wearing his pajamas. The triangular hat was on a table across the room. "Was it a dream?" he whispered to himself. "No," Faite's soft voice whispered. She kneeled down at his bedside. Jay looked around again. "How did you get me here?" Faite placed a baseball cap on the edge of the bed which read 'Stephen King's Sleepwalkers'. "A little gift from me." She stood and smiled. "I did tell you I would look out for you." Jay smiled, and dropped his head back on the pillow. "Thank you, Fait," he whispered. He knew he wouldn't get answer. By then, she would be long gone. -- Story written and copyrighted (C) 2004 by Jason Froikin, and may not be -- reprinted without permission. Characters owned by their respective -- owners, whoever they may be. |
To the Spirit of the Night, I surrender...