A bright sunny Chicago day, in the middle of Jackson Park. Sean Raines sits on a park bench, just watching as the day passes by. Torn jeans and a black t-shirt, his hair tied back out of his face. Raines leans back, his right arm, resting comfortably across the back of the bench. The mid day sun glares off of his black sunglasses. As we focus in on the sky around the city, Raines begins to speak without ever looking at the camera.
“Nature is a funny thing isn’t it? So free, so pure. There are many sides to the natural world. Some are good, others are bad. Some….even indifferent to the way of the others. The world continues as long as balance is retained in its confignments. A balance between good and evil, the ying and yang, day and night. The universe only continues to exist with a proper balance of these elements. Nature has a way of riding itself of unbalance. Sometimes nature does it quickly, other times it passes over time. Much like a group of crows sitting atop their perch, watching the sparrows feed on some seed in the park. The crow are blinded by their own ignorance and greed. Focusing solely on what it is that they desire most. The sparrows, pick away at the ground below, aware the crows watches, but not really caring of their existence. For the crows at any moment could swoop down, spooking the sparrows and enjoying their mid-day snack for themselves. The sparrows do not worry, as they know of another that lays wait in the shadows, awaiting the crows bold display of ignorance and ego. Away in the bushes, a wild cat lays in wait. The sparrows an easy target, but the thrill of the hunt and the kill drives it to wait for the sport of it all. The victory has a better taste when you wait for the proper pray. All the while, the crows sit focused on the small momentary target, blindfully ignorant to the target they have made themselves.”
Raines slowly stands up. Turning his attention towards a street vendor standing across the square in the center of the park, Raines makes his way over. He continues to speak, still not looking at the camera.
“Now, I know the intelligence of those crows. Stupid and ignorant as crows are. They think they have the ability to control the situation, but in the end they will fail, and their demise inevitable. Sadly, the IIW has a group of those ignorant birds in our ranks. These seed stealing ass clowns call themselves the Nightmare Court. And much like the group of crows, they have been stopped before by the situation they find themselves in. A hole in their plan that has almost cost them their lives in the past. This time, the ignorant crows have a plan. Sacrifice one to go in first, to see if the coast is clear. A Sacrificial being that will fall to the danger they know could be waiting. A pawn in the narrow minded plan for the seed. The goal in this situation is Caleb Scott. Blided by the want to bring Caleb into their ranks the crows send their pawn Jack Tyde. The self-proclaimed Nautical King. Jack how about we focus on you for a second here shall we? You are simply a pawn….a nothing. A man with a delusion. You unknowing get sacrificed to the one man who has ever gone head to head with the Nightmare Court. Although, they were just the Hamilton Establishment at that point…weren’t you Sebby? Jack you were sent as a sacrifice, by the crows that have battled the wild cat before. The ones who know what I can do. They sacrificed you Jack, to try and see if the coast was clear. But I can assure you it is not….”
Raines hands the vendor a bill, collecting a bottle of water before turning to continue walking. He open the water and takes a quick drink before continuing on his way.
“Jack. The Nautical King. The ability to indirectly pull strings and manipulate to turn the odds in your favor, the King of deceit and lies. Not what you think it means Jack. You are not the King of deceit. You are simply the puppet on the strings. The sacrificial pawn on the strings. The sooner you realize this the greater your chance of survival. You are walking into this match as the Nautical King, as the King of Deceit and Lies. You will be carried out as something else. You should be aware of what exactly it is I do at this point Jack. I break bodies, I break spirits, I break anything and everyone in my god damn way. Your delusion of your little kingdom you are building…I am going to break that down as well…”
“All the wants you waste
All the things you’ve chased
They will all come crashing down
You will break your crown
You will try to point your finger, but there will be no one around to help.
At the end, you will only want one thing, Just to play the king.
But the castles crumbled and you’re left with just a name.
Where’s your crown, King Nothing?
Where’s your crown.”
“There is a taste of fear
When the henchmen call
Iron fist to tame them
Iron first to claim it all”
“Jack. You are the pawn. The henchmen sent to try and push their weight around.
But I am bigger.
I am going to beat your sorry ass all over that ring.
But it’s not personal Jack.
You simply aligned yourself with the wrong people.
You aligned yourself with the people that made you a sacrifice knowing that I was coming to show resistance against the court.
You aligned yourself with the people who are very aware as to what I can do.
Back and forth we have fought, both of us bloodied and bruised after many battles.
The puppet master is not stupid Jack, he didn’t want to go through all of that again.
This is where you became the pawn.
And unfortunately for you, I don’t like to lose this game. The so called king will be taken down.”
As Raines makes his way through the park, he suddenly hears a small voice call his name. Stopping to look around he sees a group of young fans running up to him.
Mr Raines can we have your autograph?
With a quick smirk, Raines stops a kneels down to sign whatever items the kids have for him. Finishing with the autographs he stands up and continues his journey.
“The crows will circle. They will sacrifice one for their cause. And while the pawn is gone they will swoop in to get the goal that they desire. But the wild cat lay in wait, and one by one the court will fall. The bishop, the rook, the knight, the queen and the king will all lay down, sacrificed by their own egos. In a war that they all feared from the beginning. In the words of the Crimson King, “The only way to get what you want is to make them more afraid of you than they are of each other.”
“In the end it is the cat that wins. The hunt is the game, the victory is catch.”
“Jack, it is not personal. The end game is the same for both of us. We both have invested interest in Caleb Scott. Unfortunately for you, the group you represent would rather sacrifice you to the cause rather than back off. So I will force the hand and take care of business for them. A message will be given, and a message will be received. Don’t get in my way. The history of Sean Raines speaks for itself, one more name on the wall of pain. One more broken and twisted body for all to witness, the new Ray Brower. Another victim on the path set forth by destiny. It is really not intended as anything personal Jack, I actually know very little about you. You were given the short straw…no one else wanted to try their luck…..”
“See you Friday night Jack.”
Raines takes another drink as he walks away, deeper into the park.