Does It Mean The Same To You, As It Means To Me?

The building was conventionally impenetrable. Every security measure. Built from the most durable, resilient materials. Every inch crawling with armed security comprised of the world's most skilled and lethal military forces.

Outside of the building looked like a military show of force. On a global scale. The largest of weapons, the most destructive of weapons, aerial assets circling the venue. Snipers' aim laser locked on the door, waiting for any sign of life to emerge.

The greatest scourge to all humanity was undergoing an interview inside of that building. Despite all of the security and preventative measures, every single human life knew it was futile. Nothing they used ever worked and they were sure they never would. A threat so great, all humanity has united in the name of survival, to fight against it, was seated calmly in front of them. Being broadcasted to every, remaining human alive. All eyes were glued to their screens, listening to every word uttered. Searching for the salvation they knew wouldn't come.

"You probably don't even remember me but there's a reason why I chose you to interview me."

"They told me that -" His voice cracked. Mouth dry yet body moist all over. Nervous beyond belief. "They told me that you said we went to school together."

"Yeah, we did. I remembered your name. We weren't friends or anything but I thought you'd be perfect to do this Claude. You didn't hate me, you didn't like me. You didn't really even know me. Don't think, just ask the questions that flash on the tablet they gave you."

"O-O-....Okay, Mister Scourge?"

"My name is Nathan. Nate is fine. Calling someone the Scourge is kinda rude, wouldn't you think?"

"Right....Nate. Well, uhhhhh....first question is how did you get your powers?"

"I made a deal with someone. I don't know who or what. It was at a low point in my life. Perched on the side of the highest building here. Legs dangling off the side. Nothing left in my life and nothing worth living for."

He held his face in his hands while he spoke. Fingers spread wide enough to show a tear running down his face as he spoke. Who knows why he's crying. Nate is, or the closest thing possible to, God. Impervious. Immortal. Unchalleged. Humanity has waged war against him for years now and he decimates us. No known weapon can even phase him in the slightest.

"I closed my eyes and slid off the side of the building but I noticed I wasn't falling." He lifted his head slightly. His bright orange eyes locked with Claude's and pierced straight into is soul. "Something. SOMEONE. Grabbed me. When I opened my eyes, I saw life going on, as if a teenage boy wasn't suspended in the air by some mysterious force."

"The Something had a long conversation with me. We spoke about life, perspective and it helped me find my reason to live again."

"Which was what?" Claude interjected softly, voice reminiscent of a pubescent boy.

"Oddly life, was my reason to continue living. I couldn't repay The Something enough, I was so happy to be rejuvenated with new purpose and direction....," The Scourge stood up slowly. Claude's entire body locked up. The Scourge walked over, bent slightly forward at the waist and pressed his forehead against Claude's. "Then he asked me what I wanted to be in life."

"I was but an emotional, hormonal, depressed teenager, happy to have learned the secrets of life and The Something asked me what I wanted to be? Can you believe that? Just a few moments earlier I had wanted to be dead but it had the audacity to ask what I wanted to be in life."

The anger in his was voice was audible. The tears were barreling uncontrollably down his face. In a quick rage he turned around and kicked the chair he had been seated on. A sturdy wooden one. It shattered upon first contact and when it hit the wall, the remaining wooden mess was completely unrecognizable. Then the shards started to flower.

"He had just shown me the key to life and I just wanted to be able to give that back to everyone but I didn't know what I would have to be to do that, so I jokingly responded, 'A super hero'."

His orange eyes began to pulsate.

"The Something asked me what powers I wanted, without skipping a beat, and I told him I wanted every power but I especially wanted to be able to give life to people. He asked me if I specifically wanted to be able to show people how to find life in death, just I had just done, and I told him yes. Then he said it was a deal and I immediately began to plummet out of the sky."

"What do you think about that Claude?"

"I don't know what to make of it....so your power is to give people life?"

"Claude, I can do whatever it is I can think of but he fooled me. I was but a teenager. It was a bad deal really. Exactly what happens when expectations aren't clearly communicated so they become standards. I had expected to be able to give people life just as the The Something had done for me....."

Nate began to chuckle.

"And I do bring life to people. Just from death, exactly like he had done for me, but not in the same way at all. You see, everytime I destroy an inanimate object or kill something, marigolds begin to grow on the remains. Look at the chair Claude."

The pile was completely covered in marigolds.

"In some cultures, they believe that marigolds attract the souls of the dead. How fitting for what I am now. I bring only death and destruction, and from it, I bring life by leaving marigolds in my wake. They're all I see now."

Nate began to tremble. He was again angry, he looked like the entity we call The Scourge. Orange eyes, blazing. Pulses of electricity visibly surging through his body. An ominous, smoky aura surrounding him. Claude was screaming hysterically. He was face to face with the thing that would end humanity and he could do nothing to protect himself.

"I don't see people, places or things anymore. Just the marigolds they'll become when I'm ready to face those repulsive, filthy flowers. I've got to get rid of them all at once and the only way to do that, is to destroy everything so I can eradicate all the marigolds at the same time!"

Nate, no, The Scourge was yelling maniacly. His power ever growing. The impenetrable fortress built specifically for this event was crumbling around him. Claude had long passed out from hysteria and was trapped beneath the rubble of the building.

"Don't cut the broadcast yet and don't panic for you already know how this will end. Everyone watching this it's only a matter of time before you join the fields I leave behind me. The secret to life is on the way. I'll be right there."