NICK (cont’d):
money. He probably gave you a day to come up with the cash. You couldn’t do it and, knowing he was going to beat you again—or worse—you killed him when he came back. Is that what happened, Mr. Chersky?
DAVE:
(losing it) No! You don’t know what you’re talking about! You’re just another bully pushing me around!
NICK:
That’s why you got that black eye—it wasn’t from comic books falling on you, it was from a scuffle with Keller. . . What the hell is that noise?
SOUND:
The rumbling, now deafening, is followed by the sudden sound of flames roaring. When the flames stop, we hear the familiar wet, slobbery breathing.
NICK:
Dear God!
DAVE:
You can’t accuse me of killing Keller. . .or anyone else! I didn’t do it!
ENFORCER:
My master is in distress. You must pay!
SOUND:
The Dark Enforcer snarling as he yanks Nick off his feet.
NICK:
Whoa. . .put me down!!
DAVE:
Wait! What are you doing? Detective, I didn’t tell him to do this—I swear!
ENFORCER:
I must avenge my master!
NICK:
No! Stop!!
SOUND:
Nick screaming, and the sound of The Dark Enforcer snarling and ripping the detective apart.
NARRATOR:
To Dave’s surprise, The Dark Enforcer proceeds to tear the detective apart. When he is finished, he tosses the remains on the floor at Dave’s feet.
SOUND:
Monaghan’s body being thrown to the ground with a sickening thump. We then hear only The Dark Enforcer’s slightly labored wet, slobbery breathing.
DAVE:
Why did you do that?!
ENFORCER:
Thou art the maltreated, the subjugated, the oppressed. . .
DAVE:
Yeah, yeah. . .I’m the underdog, I get that!
ENFORCER:
I must kill all enemies of the underdog!
DAVE:
But you must wait for my command.
ENFORCER:
I need not wait once I know who your enemies are. It is the bidding of Balthazar.
DAVE:
(the name is familiar) Balthazar, Balthazar. . . (remembering) Oh my god—Balthazar became the second Dark Lord of the underworld in issue number 47. He gave you the ability to identify enemies of your master and kill them at your own will. It’s like you’re learning. . .becoming more intuitive as time goes on—just like in the comic. (almost in tears) This has gotten out of control! We need to take care of this mess. You get rid of the body. I’ll clean up. . .I hope I have enough bleach left. Then, we have to figure out our next move.
ANNOUNCER:
We’ll return to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories – after these words.
ANNOUNCER:
Now back to Fangoria’s Dreadtime Stories and “The Dark Enforcer.”
NARRATOR:
Having disposed of Detective Monaghan’s body, The Dark Enforcer has returned to
NARRATOR (cont’d):
whatever demonic lair he calls home. Dave now sits on a chair in the back room, his head in his hands, the very picture of dejection.
DAVE:
(at the end of his rope) I can’t do this anymore. Things have gotten out of control. I should never have summoned The Dark Enforcer. . .should never have had him murder all those people. Now he can destroy whoever he thinks is my enemy without my command. Anyone who so much as frowns at me could get killed. I have to figure out a way to stop it!
SOUND:
A creak and Dave’s footsteps as he gets up from the chair and walks to a box of comics.
DAVE:
There’s only one thing I can do: find the issue of The Dark Enforcer that tells how to reverse the summoning command.
NARRATOR:
Dave spends an hour searching through his archive of back issues, but comes up empty.
DAVE:
I’d have sworn up and down I had a copy here, but I guess not. I know I have it at home. I’ll have to go home and get it.
SOUND:
Knocking at the door.
DAN:
(muffled) Dave?
DAVE:
Dan!
SOUND:
Dave’s footsteps walking to door. The door opening and jingling.
DAN:
Sorry to bother you. I know you’re closed now. . .
DAVE:
It’s fine. Come on in.
SOUND:
The door closing.
DAN:
What’s up? You look like you had a rough day.
DAVE:
You have no idea. You ever feel like the world is collapsing all around you?
DAN:
Funny you should mention that. . .I had a job interview this afternoon. I just stopped by to tell you how badly it went.
DAVE:
I wish my problems were that simple. I’m thinking about closing up the shop and leaving town.
DAN:
Really? Things can’t be that bad.
DAVE:
Trust me. . .they are.
DAN:
My shoulder’s pretty good for crying on. . .if you’re comfortable doing that. . .you know, in a manly way. (they both laugh.)
DAVE:
(tentatively) Maybe you would understand. You’re a fellow Dark Enforcer fan, after all. I’ve been keeping this to myself for so long; a little confession might be good for the soul. . .although I think mine may be beyond redemption. (coming to a decision) Ah hell, I’m in trouble anyway—I guess at this point I’ve got nothing to lose.
DAN:
Sounds serious. What is it?
DAVE:
Well, it started a week ago. (his voice gradually fading out) This guy came into the shop after closing time. See, I’d been paying him protection money. . .
NARRATOR:
(overlapping slightly with Dave’s last line) And so, as the morning light
NARRATOR (cont’d):
spills into this unlikely confessional, Dave spills his guts. While relating the gruesome story, Dave questions whether he’s doing the right thing. . .he even thinks about stopping once or twice. But once the words start tumbling out, he realizes it feels good to unload—especially with Dan. He’s an ally, a comrade. . .a kindred spirit willing to sit and listen to his horrific story. Dan reacts with the appropriate amount of shock at all the right moments, but as Dave gets to the end of his story—concluding with the killing of Detective Monaghan that morning—Dan gets very quiet.
DAVE:
(fading up) The good news is, I don’t think there’s anyone left who has ever bullied me or pushed me around. The bad news is, the police are on to me. . .plus, I think I’ve sacrificed my soul somewhere along the way.
DAN:
(in shock, almost emotionless) That’s quite a story.
DAVE:
Yeah. So now you see my dilemma. I don’t want The Dark Enforcer to kill anyone else. I was in back trying to find