Chapter 82: Buried Alive

"If I get that away from you, it's going right in your brain."

Lucy Chen, a Los Angeles Police officer on training, said as she limped painfully. She struggled to move her hands, but the tight zip ties holding her wrists to her waist prevented her from the movement she needed to try and escape.

The memory of her last attempt caused her to pause, wincing at the memory of the pain she received when she accidentally tripped on that invisible wire. That resulted in her captor, Caleb Wright, to mace and attack her. A slight grin grew on Lucy's face; at least she was able to land a solid hit on the face of that son of a bitch.

Each step sent a wave of agony through her body; the large bruise on her face stung as the dry California air blew into her. How did things end up this way? How could she let this happen? Those questions were meaningless; Lucy knew how. She grew careless, and that cost her. If only she could go back in time and head home instead of going to the bar, she never would have met Caleb. She would have been free.

"Such bravado." Caleb said mockingly. "Still thinking there's an escape. You weren't conscious of your birth, but you'll feel every second of your death."

Lucy scoffed. "That's some greeting card level of villainy. Not that psychopaths are known for being original thinkers."

A sharp light jab at her back caused Lucy to suck in a breath; Caleb was walking closely behind her with a sharp knife in his hand—mere inches from her vulnerable backside. "I know what you're trying to do. But you're not going to ruin this moment for me."

What Lucy saw in the distance caused her stomach to drop, and a wave of fear washed over her. Several feet away laid a large dug-out hole that seemed four feet deep and six feet wide. Off to the side were small piles of dirt and rock. A lone shovel was stabbed into one of the piles of dirt; it was old and cracked. Tiny dried-out blood stains could be seen on the wooden shaft.

The yellow barrel beside the hole caught Lucy's attention the most. The sight of it caused her to feel ill; against her wishes, Lucy's lip began to quiver. Images of Caleb's past victims flashed through her mind; they demonstrated what would happen to her should she step inside that barrel. A slow and painful death was promised to her within that barrel.

"Let's go." Caleb said impatiently and poked her back with the knife, snapping her out of her thoughts of death.

Lucy whimpered and continued limping along. Step by step, Lucy felt as if she had been walking for miles. Her legs and feet felt heavy like they were filled with heavy lead. Shaking her head, Lucy gritted her teeth and became angry. Gathering her courage, Lucy began to talk again.

"This is new." Lucy said. "You suffocated the other two victims above ground before you buried them with Rosalind's kills."

"Given the setbacks, I'm taking extra precautions." Caleb said as Lucy limped tentatively over to the barrel and peeked inside. "Climb in."

Turning around, Lucy glared at Caleb. "I'm not getting in there."

"You know, they all say that. And then they all get in." Caleb said as he placed his knife away somewhere in his back pocket. "You know why? Hope. Inside that barrel, there's still life."

Lucy cringed at the sight of the gun in Caleb's right hand. "Out here... only death. And you and I both know that, despite the evidence literally tattoed to your side, you don't think you're dying today. So get in the barrel!"

With trembling lips, Lucy slowly approached the barrel. This was it. Was this how she would die? Alone and buried? No, she couldn't accept that. So, as discreetly as she could, she took off her ring and threw it to the ground.

Slowly, Lucy entered the barrel with a grimace. Once she was inside, Lucy looked over to Caleb. He frowned and waved the gun threateningly.

"Get down." Caleb said.

Swallowing the thick saliva that built up in her mouth, Lucy slowly slid down into the barrel. Satisfied, Caleb put away his gun and walked over to look down at Lucy. He then pulled out his cell phone and pointed it down at Lucy.

"Look." Caleb said and snapped a photo when Lucy looked up at him, hate and fear in her eyes. "Any last words?"

"Yeah." Lucy smiled sardonicly. "You're gonna be dead long before I am."

Caleb chuckled and lifted the lid of the barrel. Underneath the lid were several small LED's and a small camera. "So I can watch."

Lucy watched shakingly as Caleb placed the lid over the barrel. Now alone in the dark, Lucy jumped slightly at the loud sound of metal snapping. Breathing shakily, Lucy released a surprised yell when the barrel was kicked into the hole. She released a grunt of pain as she was rocked around the barrel.

Lucy started to trash and yell at the sounds of dirt being shoveled onto her. Lucy could do nothing as Caleb continued digging more dirt onto the barrel, burying her alive.

•••

"There we go." Caleb said and rested the shovel on his shoulder. "Time for the next step."

Caleb jumped at the sound of heavy footsteps and took out his gun; spinning around, Caleb pointed his weapon at a brown-haired man dressed in a leather jacket. He seemed to be in his late teens.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Caleb yelled and leveled the gun at the intruder's face. "Another step, and you're dead!"

The teenager looked at him disinterred and looked over to where he buried Lucy. "Human life has infinite value. To destroy even one is a crime against all humanity. Do you know the punishment for that crime?"

Caleb looked at the soon-to-be-dead kid with confusion. What was this nutcase talking about? Either way, it didn't matter; the kid knew too much.

"The punishment." Fire enveloped the kid's skull, burning flesh and skin. "Is eternal damnation."

"I-I-It's y-you!" Caleb yelled in fear. How could he not? In front of him stood the hero of Los Angeles. The Ghost Rider! "D-Dont mo-"

In the blink of an eye, the Ghost Rider appeared right in front of him and grabbed him tightly around the neck. Seemingly without effort, he was lifted into the air; Caleb then felt the hand he held the gun in being crushed under the Rider's grip.

"AAAGGH!" Caleb yelled in agony as all the bones in his hand were reduced to pieces.

"Look into my eyes... and feel the pain of penance." Ghost Rider said unwillingly. Caleb stared into the eyes of the Demon before him.

"G-Geh! RaaaaggGHHH!"

•••

Lucy looked up and heard a scream reach her from outside. It sounded like Caleb. Lucy banged on the barrel and tried to make as much noise as possible.

"HEY! HELP ME! I'm here!" Lucy yelled.

CRUNCH

The sounds of dirt and rock being dug echoed inside the barrel. With a firm jerk, she felt herself and the barrel move quickly. With a light slam, she felt the barrel be placed down gently on the ground. Suddenly, the barrel lid was ripped off as if made of paper. Filling the barrel with light and causing Lucy to squint due to the sudden brightness.

As her eyes adjusted, Lucy looked up and saw someone she had only ever seen on the news and near City Hall.

"G-Ghost Rider." Lucy whispered.

The flaming hero nodded and extended a hand. "Let me help."

Numbly, Lucy nodded and grabbed his leather-gloved hand. She expected it to be hot, but it was warm. Almost filling her with an odd sense of comfort.

"Easy." Ghost Rider said. Lucy gasped as the flaming hero placed his hands around her, gently lifting her out of the barrel and gently placing her down to the ground. "Hold still."

Ghost Rider placed a leather glove on her stomach, causing her to flinch slightly. What Lucy saw next shocked her; Soft blue energy expanded over his hand and slowly flowed into her. Immediately, Lucy felt her body grow warm; all the pain her body was wracked with slowly began to disappear.

Nodding, Ghost Rider lifted his hand and looked down at her. "There, I've healed all the major injuries on your body. But you should still see a doctor; your minor wounds still need addressing."

Lucy nodded and stood up slowly, taking a cautious step forward. Lucy was amazed to see her limp gone. Amazing, she was actually healed!

"Wait! Caleb Wright! The man that abducted me and buried me alive, where is he?" Lucy walked around and looked for any sight of Caleb.

Something caught her eye right there, next to the shovel. It was a pile of scattered ashes; they flew lazily in the wind. Were those ashes there before? Lucy jumped back when a phone was mere inches from her face. It was the phone Caleb took her picture with.

"Call for help. You're far off into the mountains. Several miles from the city." Ghost Rider said as she accepted the phone. "This is goodbye."

"Wait! What happened to Caleb? We can't let him escape!" Lucy ignored her fear and ran in front of her flaming savior and grabbed his arm. "Please wait!"

"Caleb has not escaped." Ghost Rider said as he removed her hand. "He has been punished for all his sins and crimes. Rest easy. No one else will ever be hurt by him again."

Lucy looked over to the pile of ashes in realization. Could it be that Caleb…

At the sound of a motorcycle engine revving, Lucy spun around and saw Ghost Rider drive away. Taking a step forward, Lucy looked down at the phone and numbly typed in a number. Hearing the number being dialed, she looked up at the long trail of fire. He was no longer in sight.

"That motorcycle… looks familiar. Where have I seen it before?" Lucy asked herself. Suddenly, a voice answered on the other end.

[ "Hello?" ] Lucy smiled at hearing her training officer's voice; there was a hint of desperation in his voice.

"Hey, Tim. Can I get a ride?"

•••

"Okay, what have you guys learned?"

Strewn across a back alley were several downed men and women. They were in various positions and situations. Two men were strung upside down by a long rope, and the words 'sore losers' were drawn on their foreheads by a black marker. Three men were lying on their stomachs, all hogtied with apples in their mouths. Two women lay unconscious with their faces painted to appear like circus clowns. The ones that were still awake moaned in response.

Pietro snapped a picture and chuckled. All these people attempted to break into a closed jewelry shop, hoping to run off with thousands worth of jewels and expensive items. Unfortunately for them, the West Coast's favorite speedster happened to be in the area during his patrols.

"This is a good one." Pietro looked down at the picture with a grin. "I really outdid myself tonight? Alright, the cops have been called, so I should get out of here. Don't want to embarrass them again."

Pietro stood up from the pile of boxes he was sitting on and stretched. His vigilante outfit creased alongside his stretches. Hearing several satisfying pops, he leaned forward to run but stopped when a low sound echoed nearby him.

"Hm?" Pietro tilted his head with a severe expression. "That sounds like…"

Eyes growing wide, Pietro dashed to the side just in time to avoid a long line of chains slamming where he stood previously.

"Chains!?" Pietro yelled and followed where the steel weapon led up to.

PSH

Disappearing in a blur of speed, Pietro ran towards whoever attacked him. Brick walls and trash bins blurred by him as he turned several corners and ran down a long alleyway.

'There!' Pietro thought as he saw a shadowy figure pull back the chain to his body. Due to the darkness of night, it was impossible to see who it was.

Without warning, the figure dashed at him in an impressive burst of speed. That wasn't what shocked him the most. It was that the figure was running directly at him. Almost like…

"He can see me?! At these speeds!" Pietro said in surprise. Immediately, his mind went to the Demon he had fought months ago. "Xannal!"

Ducking under a right hook, Pietro dashed behind the shadowed figure and threw a right cross where his opponent's head was. Instead of hitting his opponent's head, Pietro saw his fist caught in their open palm.

SLAM

Pietro gasped as all the air in his lungs was slammed out of him as his back impacted the hard, dirty ground that was the filthy back alley he was in. Before Pietro could stand up, the figure rested his knee on his chest, pinning him down.

Slowly, Pietro looked up to an extremely sharp dagger. But this dagger was made of odd materials. It almost resembled molten rock as the blade glowed yellow. He could feel the heat radiating off the sharp weapon. Hold on, chains that moved unnaturally and hot molten weapons? Pietro's eyes widened, and an excited smile spread across his face.

"Holy shit, Harvey!"

"It's good to see you, Pietro." Harvey leaned into the moonlight and smiled down at him. "Sorry about the rude hello. I couldn't help myself."

The sharp dagger that was a few inches from his throat disappeared in a flurry of embers. Pietro accepted Harvey's offered hand and was lifted to his feet.

"Hold on, did you get taller?" Pietro asked as he looked over Harvey. He was slightly taller, and his muscle definition grew as well. "Wait, that's not important! When did you get back?!"

Harvey grinned and was about to respond, but the sounds of police sirens caused him to stop. He turned to look over in the direction of the sirens and sighed.

"Let's talk somewhere a bit more quiet." Harvey said and pointed at the noise with his thumb.

"I know just the place."