A light snow gently falls as the people outside slowly and somberly make their way inside. The crowd, dressed in black are greeted by the pastor just inside the door.
"Bless you my child."
The pastor greets and shakes the hand of each patron who makes their way through the door. The air is stale in the room, the walls a drab mix of featureless beige paint and floral borders. The lights are controlled by dimmer switches, and most of them are set to their lowest setting. Just inside the viewing room, the guest book is set upon a pulpit, and names are scribbled inside.
"He looks so natural."
"At least he is in a better place."
"He is gone too soon."
Various generic compliments are paid as the remaining crowd outside shuffle inside and view the body. Sitting in the front row are the closest thing the recently departed has to family left, James Howard and Dinah Kelly, Dinah holding onto their son Oliver. The generic compliments that are paid to them by the passing patrons do little to ease their visible pain. The last few people shuffle in from outside and pass by the casket before finding their seats. After a few minutes of awkward talking among themselves, the pastor makes his way to the front of the room, just to the side of the casket.
"We are gathered here today the celebrate the life of a departed friend, but we are also here to mourn the loss of Michael Brown, better known to most of you as Mikey Stormrage. Michael could easily be described as a man whose heart was as big as his waistline.
The congregation chuckles at the moment of light heartedness.
"As neither Michael, nor James and Dinah are religious, they requested that they be able to speak their own pieces regarding their departed friend.
The pastor steps aside and shakes the hand of James as he makes his way to the pulpit. He takes a long look at the casket before he begins speaking.
"First off, I want to say I miss my friend. I'm not sure where things went wrong, but somewhere along the line we had a falling out. I regret it. He and I were always fiercely competitive, be it in the ring, sparring, video games, or even the occasional all you can eat buffet. He was my brother, no matter how far we drifted. Even after our falling out, he was still my brother, and he always will be. He and I went through a lot. From Russian gangsters, to him jumping off the roof dressed as Batman, to him visiting me in the hospital, we were always there for each other. I just wish I could have saved him from this."
James turns and walks to the casket, placing his hand on his late friend.
"I love you and miss you man."
Just as James returns to his seat, a large crash can be heard, startling those in attendance. As they turn around, a masked man runs into the funeral parlor.
"STOP!"
The man proceeds to the front of the room and stands in front of the mic.
"This is all a sham. The man in that casket isn't Mikey Stormrage, I'm Mikey Stormrage!"
A few members of the congregation begin to advance upon him to restrain the crazed masked mad man.
"I'm serious, just look!"
The man removes his mask, revealing himself to be Mikey Stormrage. Those in attendance gasp as Mikey Stormrage stands next to the casket containing his body.
"I don't want to ruin my own funeral, because there is a part of me that died today."
Stormrage takes the mask off the top of his head and places it inside the casket. He closes the casket and walks over to hug James. He doesn't speak, and he doesn't allow James to speak, despite James trying. He simply releases his friend and walks out the door into a blinding white light.
