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When Parker was first put here, relief was the only thing he felt. For too long, he’d been forced to march away from those he loved and to watch them disappear into smoke and ash from a distance. Now, those who remain would be safe. The neverending terror of being stuck in this body that killed was over.
But now he was stuck here.
In this vault, he sat among legends stored here because they were adored, not because they were feared and hated. The golden gleaming walls mocked him as they reflected the others’ wary stares. Even with the knowledge that they were safe here, they could not shake the memories of what he’d done to their teammates. He did not blame them for giving him a wide berth. He would, too, if he could.
Years passed. Decades, centuries, perhaps. It was hard to tell when all he knew were the endless walls and the ones who were trapped in here with him. What little solace he’d gained from being here became suffocating.
He was stuck here, and he didn’t know how much longer he could bear it.
One day, things began to change. Someone new joined this group of legends. The sands of time had long buried his memory of the last time this had happened.
And soon, more began dropping in. Not much had changed for him personally, but it kept things interesting, at least. And he supposed it was nice not to be regarded as a threat, not to be judged only by those plagued by the destruction he’d left in his wake.
Then, something else changed. He could feel it in his bones. He wanted out.
But no matter how hard he tried, the force that had kept him here all these years continued to sink its claws into his skin. It didn’t matter. One day, it would have to let go. He could feel it in his bones.
And he was right. On the day he finally found himself playing again, found himself going through the familiar motions of swinging his bat, his muscles aching with relief after lying still for too long, he watched as his former rival reached towards him.
The weights dragging him down lifted. In exchange, a base, filled with power and freedom, complete relief and the heavy dread of knowing what came next. But he wanted out, no matter the consequences.
And so he walked from one prison to another, one all too familiar to him. As eagerly as he entered the vault, he exited it.