Do you know what an Arcadian Standoff is? It’s where three or more people are posed with weapons that would lead to Mutually Assured Destruction aimed directly at each other. One false move and all could be in the obituaries.
It’s a very tense situation where everyone’s nerves are on edge, hearts are thumping, and no one’s confident in who has the upper hand. Sweat soaks your body as you contemplate what death’s cold embrace will feel like while your fingers twitch on the trigger. The pressure is immense, one false move and you could find yourself at the Ferryman’s door.
Recently that pressure’s been building, I can feel the gun pointed at my head. Everyone is waiting with bated breath for when I’ll pull the trigger myself.
This week the standoff is a true Arcadian one which includes Jackson Cade and Vision. Two men who have nerves of steel. One who’s been through the same torment as I after facing the trials and tribulations of Deathrow. The other has faced down a Serial Killer and been through the bloodiest torture that I’ve ever seen a man endure.
Jackson, you’re a man of true resolve. The extent that you’d go to to save your brother. You tempted fate my boy and came out the better for it. You’ve even looked beyond the book to get what you want.
Vision, you’ve been a man of principles. I can accept the fact that you didn’t want to end the man who helped you escape that living hell known as Deathrow. You’ve proven yourself to be skilled and have a heart.
This week we will point our weapons at each other and find out who’ll walk away from our Arcadian Standoff while others may look at this and lack confidence in who’ll walk away with their blood still pumping. I can say that I’m confident in walking away with my heart still beating because I know all it takes is, One Shot, One Kill to drop either one of you.
Because I may be a Deadman Walking, but I know that I’m still a long way off from taking that particular boat ride.
Jackson, I give you credit for looking beyond the book but it’s always in your periphery just in sight. I’ve already read that book and burned it on the pyre along with my own soul.
That point made, Vision, you may have a heart and that may work for you. But I’ve got no conscience with ice water pumping through my veins.
I can count on you to flinch before me while I can trust that Mr. By The Book will still have his safety on when it comes time to take this hostile down.
I could put the gun in either one of your hands and let you press it to my forehead with all the confidence in the world that I can take you out before I get a muzzle imprint on my skin.
Because unlike you two, Nobody remembers how to take a life and save his own.