Sorcerer in the Marvel Universe

Johnny Blaze was a hero.

Well, technically.

If he couldn’t transform, he would have been a perfectly ordinary man. He wasn’t cruel, but he wasn’t the sort to throw himself into danger for strangers, either.

Years ago, he’d sold his soul to Mephisto to save his father’s life. At the time, Johnny hadn’t even known who he was dealing with. He’d barely understood the stakes, treating the whole thing like some sleazy supernatural prank before signing the contract without a second thought.

Expecting him to sacrifice himself now, after finally escaping the curse, just to save a kid he’d known for a few days?

That was asking a lot.

Johnny had only two choices. Either he accepted the curse again, or he let Evenson kill him along with the child.

"Do you know what it feels like to have the Ghost Rider inside you?"

Johnny didn’t answer the question. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject.

"I don’t," Evenson said, pursing his lower lip. "Why don’t you tell me?"

"I feel angry all the time. Hungry, too. In the beginning, it only happened at night. Eventually, even the daylight couldn’t keep it away."

Johnny’s face twitched as he spoke, the muscles around his eyes and jaw tightening at random.

"Every time night falls, I have to stay away from people. If there’s a criminal anywhere near me, even some petty thief or junkie, they can be the spark that sets off a gasoline tanker."

His hands clenched.

"Then the Rider comes out."

Johnny slapped a hand against his chest.

"And transforming isn’t like those superheroes who push a button and have a suit of armor fly onto them. There’s no magic costume change. Hellfire comes straight out of my body."

He struck his chest again, looking increasingly agitated.

"Every time it happens, I can feel my flesh burning away. Melting. Turning to ash. And I feel every second of it."

He swallowed.

"Every single time."

Johnny gradually calmed himself, then looked at Evenson with hollow eyes.

"Tell me, what’s the point of living like that?"

His voice was quieter now.

"If I hadn’t been unable to die before, I might have killed myself a long time ago."

He gave a bitter laugh.

"And now you’re asking me to die? Fine. Have it your way. At least that would be a release."

What the hell is wrong with these people?

Evenson was beginning to develop a genuine dislike for this particular breed of suicidal fatalist.

The leader of the cult had been the same way.

Now Johnny was doing it too.

Was dealing with Mephisto some kind of express train to existential despair?

Evenson rubbed his face and glanced at Danny.

He really was supposed to use this kid as a sacrifice?

That seemed like an enormous waste.

Better to keep him alive and make use of the power inside him.

I mean... keep him alive. Obviously.

"Having the Ghost Rider inside you sounds awful," Evenson said, strolling slowly back and forth. "But is it really the worst possible outcome?"

Johnny frowned.

"Think about it. During the day, you still control your own body. Transformation is painful, sure, but if you stay somewhere isolated, you can avoid triggering it."

Evenson stopped.

"But..."

His eyes sharpened.

"Don’t forget that your soul already belongs to Mephisto."

Johnny’s expression changed.

"Because of the Ghost Rider, some part of your will is still anchored to your body. That’s why Mephisto can’t collect what he’s owed yet. Your soul is effectively frozen."

He stepped closer.

"But if you die now?"

Evenson’s voice became almost conversational.

"Mephisto gets paid."

Johnny’s face went pale.

"Think about how furious he was when you broke your previous agreement. Imagine what he’ll do to you once you’re completely in his hands."

Evenson walked behind Johnny and lowered his voice.

"And when you sold him your soul, did you specify an expiration date?"

Johnny said nothing.

"Of course you didn’t."

Evenson smiled faintly.

"Which means forever."

Johnny’s shoulders sagged.

"Mr. Blaze, I strongly recommend you think carefully about my proposal."

Evenson walked away and turned his back on him.

"You can endure a curse that hurts like hell..."

He paused.

"...or you can gamble that Mephisto’s torture methods are boring enough to put you to sleep."

Johnny sank to the ground.

"Really..."

His voice was barely audible.

"Even death won’t free me?"

"Most fools who make deals with devils don’t realize one simple thing."

Evenson looked down at him coldly.

"Death isn’t the end."

He let the silence linger.

"It’s the beginning."

Johnny stared at the floor.

"Have you decided?"

"I don’t have much time for you to keep stalling."

Johnny gave a bleak laugh.

"So I really don’t have a choice."

He lifted his head.

"What do I need to do?"

That was acceptance.

"Kneel."

Johnny didn’t hesitate. He dropped to both knees.

Evenson extended a hand toward Nadya.

"Ma’am. Bring Danny over here."

Nadya clutched her son tighter and shook her head frantically.

She was terrified.

At first, Evenson had promised that Danny would be safe. Now he’d suddenly suggested using the boy as a sacrifice. Even if that plan had apparently been abandoned, how was she supposed to trust that it wouldn’t change again?

Evenson kept his hand extended.

Then he glanced at Rumlow.

The meaning was obvious.

Rumlow moved immediately, stepping forward and pulling Danny from Nadya’s arms.

Nadya’s scream tore through the room.

The sight was almost absurdly dramatic. She looked like a discarded noblewoman watching a cruel household servant drag her child away after some heartless aristocrat had thrown her out.

Evenson caught Danny and carried him over to Johnny.

"All right."

He carefully opened the unconscious boy’s mouth.

"Johnny, open yours."

Johnny stared at him.

"What?"

He looked from Evenson to the unconscious child and back again.

Something about this situation felt deeply wrong.

"You want me to do what?"

"Draw the power out."

Evenson sighed.

"If Danny were conscious, I’d have him release the Ghost Rider’s power himself. Unfortunately, he’s unconscious, so you’ll have to receive it directly."

Johnny stared at him.

"You’re telling me I can just... absorb it?"

"Not literally."

Evenson adjusted Danny’s position.

"This is only a conduit. I’ll use magic to gather the Ghost Rider’s power inside him and force it into you."

He gestured toward Danny.

"The exact point of contact doesn’t matter. I just need a viable channel."

Johnny slowly nodded.

"Okay."

Evenson raised one hand.

"Brace yourself."

Johnny did.

"Because this is probably going to hurt."

Johnny’s expression immediately darkened.

"Of course it is."

Evenson smiled.

"Welcome back to your normal life, Johnny Blaze."

The air around his hand began to tremble.

Hellfire stirred inside Danny’s unconscious body.

And Johnny felt something ancient, furious, and impossibly hot beginning to move toward him.

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