Chapter 1: Get Born Again

Darkness!

All that he sees is darkness.

Where am I?

Hands search for a grip, hoping for an exit out of a pitch-black prison. Finding something, he pushes against it and hears the tiniest little creak. Now going on intuition, and within minutes, the stranger is now staring into the sunlight display of an auto junkyard. Waiting for eyes to focus on surroundings, nothing connects in the jumble of electric impulses going through his head. Not really wanting to wait right now, he staggers along to the outside entrance and manages to slip through an opening by the gates. Out now and amongst the world, the stranger sits to rest by the side of the metal fence, next to an abandoned dressing mirror. Hoping for a hint of identification, the tall raven-haired stranger observes steel blue eyes staring back as lithe movements reflect an animal-like quality.

Why the fuck can't I remember anything?

Kneeling down, and face in hand, pale thoughts inhabit his mind but prove worthless. Dragging on for way too long, his legs stretch and walk on their own. It only seems like a minute when a homeless guy grabs him and takes him into an alley. The bum leaves the stranger without clothes. As he leans against a dumpster for leverage, a young black man wearing a bowler hat, on the way back from shopping at the mall, passing by notices the state of the man.

The young black man says, “Are you ok, man?"

The stranger just stares at him and returns his glance back down.

The young black man says, “I'll tell you what. Since you’re in serious need of apparel, I'll be a good samaritan and offer you a donation. Besides, the last thing anyone needs to see is a butt naked white boy."

He takes the necessary clothes and gives the stranger his good deed for the day. As the young black man, happy and content, walks away, the stranger goes for the clothing, picks them up and staggers back to the side of the dumpster. Minutes come and leave as, after being dressed, he gets up and uses his hand to push himself away from the wall. Walking but with a hint of irregularity, he enters the sidewalk. Looking around, his eyes find a store window that holds a piece of clothing that he can feel emotion from. Memories and emotions viciously attack and he slides down to the pavement in pain. Appearing like a junkie to many, his convulsions stop as pain withdraws from his frail body. Trying one more attempt to walk, he walks past another alleyway and sees two guys harassing a young woman in her thirties.

Dan Forden and Ken Barbero are standing against the building smoking a joint. As Dan runs a hand through his greasy hair he notices a slender looking woman walking by on the sidewalk.

Ken says, “Some fine looking pussy, eh Dan?"
Dan snarls, "I can smell her cunt."

Dan approaches the woman and grabs her, returning to the alley.

Ken says, “I know you want some of this, bitch."

She can smell his putrid breath as she continues to struggle against Dan and Ken. They notice a guy in black watching them.

"What the fuck is he lookin’ at?” Dan asks Ken.
Dan then says, “Hey asshole, what the hell you looking at? It's none of your fuckin’ business."

Dan snarls as his attention is now on the stranger and not the girl. The man looks through those steel eyes again at the commotion and continues to walk past like it’s nothing to him. As they continue with the young woman, Dan calls to the man.

"Hey asshole..." says Dan."

Ken just laughs along with him. The man responds to them by giving them the finger.

“Did he just give me the finger?” Ken asks with surprise.
Ken says, “You fuckin’ faggot. We'll see if you're still doing that after I gut yer ass."

After Ken says that, the woman knees both of them in the nuts and runs away as fast as she can. Dan gets up and sees that the woman has fled.

Dan says, “Well, Ken, at least there's a replacement for her."

Ken runs towards the man, who in turn sidesteps him, causing Ken to violently run into the wall. Dan, taking advantage of the situation, runs up to the man and tackles the stranger, punching him in the gut repeatedly. After a minute of beating, Ken wakes up and joins Dan in kicking the man's ass.

Ken gets up with blood on his hands and says, “That oughta teach ya, you piece ‘o shit."

They both hear police sirens and take off. The stranger, viciously battered and bruised, gets up slowly by leaning on the wall. As the police arrive at the scene, he just barely makes it across the corner.