Post by Mark Mania on Oct 19, 2012 16:51:37 GMT -4
OOC: If you'd like to hear the audio version of this RP, please visit this link.soundcloud.com/brojos13/one-night-in-hell-mark-mania-1
Let me know how you like it!
From the desk of Mark Mania
October 18, 2012
To APW,
Well, as you have all seen, Delikado has finally pushed me over the edge. For the past month he has blamed me not only for his rabies, but also his declining mental ability. He has attempted to attack me with a raccoon multiple times, he has played silly games, and has put myself and my secretary Rosa Ramirez in danger.
This past week, he went too far. This past week is when he made this entire situation personal. He and I knew that we would be facing off against each other. He and I knew that it would come down to one on one in the ring. It should’ve stayed like that. It should’ve stayed just between him and me. Then he went too far. Then he threatened my employee and my friend. That’s something that I don’t allow anyone to get away with.
I showed Delikado what happens when you push Mark Mania too far. I showed Delikado that I can only put up with stupid games for so long. That time is gone now. I have had enough of Delikado, I have had enough of looking behind my back or under my bed for a rabid animal.
In the wild, if you run across a wild animal there is only one course of action. You call the CDC or Animal Protective Services and you have someone come and put the animal down. If someone were to find a rabid raccoon on the street, there would be no medical diagnosis, there would be no treatment, the animal would be euthanized and that would be the end of it.
I’m not Level-One, I’m not going to pretend that I’m doing to kill Delikado. But I am going to put him down. After One Night in Hell, that will be the end of “Rabid” Delikado. No more games, no more rabies, and no more Overdrive title.
I apologize to the great fans of the APW for what you’re going to witness on October the 28th because I will not be proud of my behavior. But you will see a Mark Mania who will win by whatever means necessary. You’re going to see a Mark Mania that will not know when to stop, will not know when enough is enough, and will not know how the match will end. I’ll win of course, but at what cost? I do not know.
When you all see me in the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan next week, you will not recognize the man who comes down the ramp. I want to assure you all that Mark Mania has not lost his mind, Mark Mania is under control, and he is doing exactly what he’s planned. I have a plan.
See you next week,
Mark Mania
Rosa has been looking at me differently these past few days. I was more surprised by this than I expected to be. We had talked about the fact that I didn’t want her back stage with me. We talked about the fact that I didn’t need her being yet another woman dragged into the “Guiding Light” type programming that Overdrive has been lately. She knew the risks, she told me she had accepted them. Yet, she still has been off since the incident with Delikado.
“You got him pretty good, didn’t you?” I ask Rosa, about her shot over the head to Delikado last week.
She continued to stare outside. We’re riding in the limo to a restaurant on the other side of Tokyo. Came highly recommended by an old colleague. Rosa wasn’t making a move, she was lost in whatever was outside of that window. She didn’t talk to me much on the plane ride, didn’t talk much at the hotel, and now, even as we go to dinner she doesn’t want to talk to me. She’s only said enough to agree to go to eat.
“I don’t want to be the type of guy who says ‘I told you so.’” Yeah, that’s what I should say right now.
She turned from the window for the first time during the drive and I wished she hadn’t. She glared at me, deeply. Giving me what I assumed was a ‘go on’ type look.
“But, this was exactly why I didn’t want you to get involved. I knew that Delikado was out of his mind, there was no telling what he might’ve done. What if you had accidentally swallowed any of that raccoon hair?” Didn’t make sense then, don’t know why I thought it would make sense now.
“Are you a fucking idiot?” Well, glad to have her back.
I looked at her, giving her my best, ‘go on’ look.
“First of all, why in the hell would I eat any of that hair? Secondly, you can’t even transmit rabies that way!” I have no idea if you can or not.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure! You think I didn’t look it up after that all happened? Why didn’t you?!”
“I didn’t eat any of the hair.” I’m so very quick witted.
“Ugh!” This was a sound that every woman I’ve ever talked to has perfected. It’s the type of sound that is made when a woman realizes no matter what combination of words she says, it’s still going to be ignored by whomever she’s talking to. So in an attempt to avoid that, she tries to say every word at once.
“Rosa, the last thing I wanted was for you to be hurt. You were almost exposed to rabies and you needed to hit Delikado with a rock. I didn’t need you getting involved like that.”
“It happened Mark. It’s too late, it happened. I’m involved now. Like I should’ve been in the beginning. Those security guards weren’t enough because they don’t truly care about you.”
“Are you saying you care about me?” She blushed when I asked her this question. But not blushed like she had a crush on me, more blushed like she just saw red and was going to kill me.
“Are you ever going to be able to stop thinking about me for my tits and ass and start realizing that nothing will ever happen between us? I’m 100% lesbian, I’m 100% disgusted by penises, and I also 100% care about you. Those are all separate things.” Haha, she said penises. But I had to keep it together.
“I don’t just think of you as an object!” I say this, pulling my eyes up from her chest.
“You just did it again right there! Do you think women don’t notice when people look at their chest or check out their ass?”
“I’d like to think I’m pretty good at avoiding detection.”
“Well, like most other things, you’re wrong.”
“Rosa, I don’t think of you as just an object. You mean a lot to me, I wouldn’t be where I was if it wasn’t for you.”
“Then start acting like it. Every time I save your ass doesn’t mean that you’re going to get some of mine. You’re my boss and my friend, that’s it, nothing more.”
“I know that.”
“Then how don’t you know why I’m upset?” What is she talking about? Clearly she’s upset because she almost got rabies.
“You’re upset because I put you in danger.”
“No you fool! I’m upset because you still think I was in danger. I can take care of myself Mark, as you saw. I’m not afraid of getting hurt, I’m not afraid of Delikado. You need to stop treating me with kid gloves. You need to stop treating me like one of your girlfriends.” Oh she hit the nail on the head there.
“I…I know.” Someone call the Nobel Laureates, there’s a new orator in town!
“Oh have you finally come the realization that you’re not getting in these pants? Can we move on now.”
“I never expected to get in your pa-“
“Oh just cut the shit. This needed to come out. For the past month I was wondering if this was even the right job for me. I don’t want to feel like something you need to take care of. I want to help make Mania Enterprises better and I want to help make you better. I can’t do that if you’re always trying to either save me or fuck me.” I’m not used to women being so forward.
“I apologize Rosa. From now on, I will treat you as an employee and as a friend. It just takes some time for me to trust a person and to not worry about them. I’d be lying if I said I never thought about you in a sexual way. You’re a very attractive person and we’ve gotten very close over the past few months. It’s difficult for me to not think too much into that.”
“Well, the thought process ends now. Now we’re equals and now we’re on the same page.”
“You’re right Rosa.”
We continued to drive, talking like friends. Dinner went over without any speaking of Delikado or APW and we became closer. It was necessary, because now the real work starts. For both of us.
That night I had a dream that finalized my change in attitude. I normally don’t remember dreams, but this was no ordinary dream. It felt more like a memory than a nightmare.
I was in a cemetery, walking up and down through the different grave stones. I looked down and upon them were all familiar names. Not people that have died mind you, but people from my life that I’ve lost in other circumstances. There way my ex-girlfriend Emily, there was my longtime family friend Bonez, and my actual dead cousin, Smitty. I read their grave stones, but the words didn’t make sense to me. There were no dates, no epithets, just jumbled words.
I didn’t linger on any grave very long, there wasn’t something continually pushing me to move forward. There was a voice in the distance.
“Marrrrkkk!” It was a ghostly, haunting voice.
After I moved past the grave stones, I walked pass a grave being dug. It was night time, so it was odd to imagine someone would be digging, but I continued on. I tried to speak to the man digging the grave.
“Sir, why are you out here so late?” But he didn’t hear me. He didn’t even move when I tried to get in front of his face. I did though.
“Bill! What are you doing here?” I screamed to my friend. For years Bill Gnarly was a confidant and a friend. I fired him upon my return to APW because I felt that I was holding him back. He was relying too heavily on my success and I couldn’t deal with that pressure. I yelled to him again.
“Bill, get out of here!” But again he didn’t hear me. He continued to dig for what felt like hours. When he finished, he started to step into the grave. I yelled at him again, but to no avail, as I could hear the voice again.
“This way Mark, you need to come this way.” The voice was more controlled now, stern. The voice knew I wanted to stay.
Reluctantly I left Bill, who was now trying to scoop dirt onto himself. I continued to walk, seemingly more and more lost with each step. But I could heard the voice in the distance and I followed. I was stopped quite suddenly.
“Rosa?” In front of me was a large tomb, Rosa stood in front of it, arms outstretched like a cross.
“Rosa, come down from there!” I yelled, but she, like Bill, couldn’t hear me.
Her body jerked backwards up against the tomb. She flew like a rag doll. Then, the blood came. From her eyes, from her mouth, and from her nose. She jerked around again, looking as if she was trying to escape. I tried to run at her but I was stopped. I couldn’t get any further. She jerked once more and was gone. All that was left was an imprint of her body, in blood, on the tomb. A Christ-like bloody shadow was all that was left. I cried out.
“Why is this happening!?” I dropped to my knees, whatever had kept me from moving, allowed me to now. “What do you want!?”
“You’ve done this to yourself…” The voice said.
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“You will learn in time…” The voice was more ghostly, but was oddly familiar.
“What is it that I need to learn, why is this happening?!”
“You’ve made many mistakes Mark. You’ve hurt people, pushed them away, and abandoned them.”
“I never wanted to hurt anyone!”
“Silence! You will speak when I allow it. You were a fool Mark Mania. The grave stones were those of people who you have lost, emotionally or physically. Those people will not being coming back into your life.”
I thought about this, Smitty obviously wasn’t coming back, Bonez was dead to me, but even Emily? She’s never coming back.
“And what of Bi-“
“I said silence! You are losing your friend Bill. That is why he digs his own grave. There is still a chance to save him, but I think he will be lost forever too.”
The voice paused, expecting me to say something so it could silence me again. I kept my mouth shut.
“And finally, we come upon your dear sweet Rosa. You were shown what will happen if you don’t take responsibility for your actions. You will lose her in a most gruesome way. She is the only person who still cares for you and you are pushing her away. Your actions have caused all of this.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer and exploded.
“What actions!? What did I do? I don’t deserve to lose everyone close to me!”
“Oh but Mark, you do.”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“You gave Delikado rabies!” Finally the voice materializes and it’s Delikado, and behind him all of the people who were either dead or soon to be.
“You son of a bitch!” I yelled and ran towards him. Right before I reached him, my hands outstretched to grab his throat, I was jolted awake.
I took heavy breaths, my eyes opened upon the ceiling. I shot up and looked around, making sure everything that happened was a dream. I wished for a second it wasn’t so I would’ve been able to get my hands around Delikado’s throat.
I continued to breath heavily for a few more minutes, trying to comprehend everything that had just happened in the dream. I grabbed my phone to see what time it was; 4:30am. Just a little too early for my liking. Even though it was a dream and even though it was Delikado wreaking havoc in my dream, I still couldn’t help but think about it.
Obviously it was my own stupid brain that came up with it. Was ‘Dream’ Delikado right? Was I pushing these people away? It certainly wasn’t because I gave Delikado rabies. Wait, I didn’t even give him rabies! What in the hell is wrong with me?
I laid back down for a few minutes, but I couldn’t get out of my own head. I picked up my phone again and sent the same text message to two different people.
I know a lot has happened, but, I miss you.
I fell back asleep before I could think of any repercussions.
I woke up just a few hours after the dream. Luckily the rest of my sleep wasn’t bothered but any maniacs, just restful unconsciousness. Upon waking I knew that I would have a busy day ahead of me. I took a shower, made a hearty breakfast, and had a big cup of coffee. All the staples for the beginning of a successful day.
While I was watching TV, the phone rang and broke me out of my procrastination.
“ ‘ello?” I liked to answer and pretend I was British sometimes.
“What are you doing?” Rosa wasn’t very good with pleasantries and subtlety.
“Uhhh.” I stumbled trying to think of a good excuse. “Just catching up on some old wrestling film.”
Just then the TV blurted out ‘Welcome to SportsCenter!’.
“Yeah? Did you make the Top 10 plays or something?”
“Why yes I did, my losing really scored well.” Not as witty as I was hoping for.
“You need to get yourself motivated and moving!” She snapped at me. Obviously I knew that.
“I am, I am, I’m out of bed, showered, fed, I’m good to go. In fact, I’ve been waiting for you!” Ah yes, women love when you tell them they’re not getting ready fast enough.
“You could’ve called, I was waiting a little bit to make sure you were actually out of bed.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Again, that wit, just not where I need it to be.
“Alright, let’s meet in the lobby in ten minutes, I’ll have the car waiting to take us to the gym.”
“What gym, can’t I just work out here in the hotel?”
“No.” She said it with such force that I figured I wouldn’t bother asking ‘Why not?’
“Okay then, see you in a few.”
“Ten minutes.” Man she’s stern.
I lounged around for about five minutes and then finally rushed to get myself ready so I wouldn’t miss the ten minute deadline.
I got off the elevator and into the lobby at about minute twelve.
“I said ten minutes!” She held up both hands in case I didn’t know how many ten was.
“I was of by two minutes.” I said, accentuating the ‘two’ and holding up two fingers.
She replied with just one finger. It was enough to tell me when to shut up.
We both laughed and walked out the lobby and into the limo that was waiting out front. Even in Tokyo it was still the same old same old. Lobby’s, limos, drivers, they all seem the same to me whether it Tokyo or Detroit.
“There’s going to be an APW cameraman at the gym.” She said, expecting me to not take notice.
“Oh, uh, okay.” I have a degree in English Literature, bet you wouldn’t have guessed that.
“C’mon, run of the mill stuff. They need stuff to promote the match. Have you say a few words about Delikado.”
The name just strikes a chord with me every time I hear it.
“Yeah, I know the drill. It’s good, I have some things to say to him.”
“Try not to blame it on the camera man and try and beat him up.” Like this is something I do all the time.
“I won’t, won’t.” Am I convincing her or myself?
“If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, I am sick and tired of Delikado and his foolish antics!” I yelled this into the APW camera that was set up in the gym.
“Week in and week out for the past few months I’ve had to deal with him and his sophomoric humor and I am sick of it. It started months ago with his silly little dildo game that he played and it’s only gotten worse since then. He’s gotten rabies, he’s unleashed raccoons, he’s hid plastic toys around arenas, and for God sake he rented a hot air balloon last week!”
“What am I supposed to do in a predicament like that? He rents a balloon, gets me to come outside and then starts throwing hair all over me. Am I expected to keep my cool? Am I expected to not retaliate? I tried to get President Jeff’s help a few weeks ago and aside from a few extra security guards, I heard nothing. That said to me that it was time to take it into my own hands.”
“Which is why last week, finally, I did just that. Delikado, you finally stepped too far. I didn’t want to play into your games, but enough was enough. That’s why I popped your precious balloon and why I put an end to your foolish game. I had hoped that I was going to be able to get through the whole month without having to resort to your tactics, but I’m not one to be stubborn.”
“I’ve been wrestling for a long, long time, I’ve seen people come and go. I’ve seen this game before. I know that Delikado is out of his mind. I know he thinks he has rabies and thinks that I gave it to him. But this doesn’t change anything. He’s still just trying to get in my head. Maybe it worked last week, maybe it didn’t and I just had two shit tag team partners, but either way, I lost. Delikado’s goal all along was to make sure that I lost and he succeeded.”
“Not this week. No time to get into my head this week. No chance for him to rent a train or a jet ski or whatever silly idea he had thought up. At One Night in Hell we are going to be the very first match of the night. I’ll step into the arena and into the ring, without any of your head games to distract me. Way before any Elimination Chambers are lowered down or decided, our match will be long over with. My hope is that I’ll be in the back, celebrating with my new Overdrive title and I’ll be done with all of these mind games.”
“Enough is enough. For months I’ve had to deal with the embarrassment that is being associated with Delikado. Is he the Overdrive Champion? Sure he is, but does he really define what a ‘champion’ is supposed to be? I certainly don’t think so. I don’t think he knows the first thing about being a champion or about what it takes to be the fact of an organization. Could you imagine if that big ugly Cuban mug was on every billboard promoting the company? It would be a travesty.”
“This face… my face, that’s the face that belongs on billboards. That’s the face that brings the APW standard up even further than it is already. Screw Helen of Troy, mine is the face that launched a thousand ships. Maybe I’m being a little over-confident here, but as I said, I’ve been wrestling for a long, long time. I know what it takes to be a champion, I know what it takes to succeed.”
“I’ve watched Delikado very closely and I’ve seen that he doesn’t have it. He’s a talented wrestler sure, but sometimes because a champion isn’t just about what you do in the ring. It’s how you carry yourself, it’s how you articulate, it’s how you present yourself. Delikado is just a damn fool Cuban who is more interested in dildos and hot air balloons than he is the history and integrity of APW.”
“It’s sickening to watch him every week come out here and spew shit from his mouth and pretend that he deserves all the attention and fame he’s getting. He’s a damn sideshow! He’s just there for everyone to laugh at. I’ve been roped into his shtick because I’m trying to bring some class back to the Overdrive title. But I suffer for it now. My name is becoming synonymous with Delikado’s. There is nothing I want less in the world than to have my name be sullied by his.”
“Which is why I am so glad that One Night in Hell is just over a week away. I am so glad that finally I won’t have to see my name next to his on the marquee. I won’t have to deal with him trying to give me rabies every single week. If you’re finding it hard to understand me through this big bright smile, I don’t blame you. I’m just overtaken with joy that win or lose, I am going to be done with this embarrassment to wrestling.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that I beat him and finally restore some sanity to the Overdrive division. But, just the knowledge that no matter what happens, I won’t have to deal with him anymore is enough to make me sleep soundly again. Not that I should condemn Delikado to too much of a degree, he did help me learn some things about myself, helped me grow, and helped me get motivated…again.”
“So, I guess if I win, I almost owe it to him. I guess I should be thankful that he pushed me as hard as he did. I should be thankful he’s caused me to hate him as much as I do. Because if I win… it’ll be because I’ve ramped myself up more for him than I have for anyone since my return to APW.”
“Before I won the number one contenders shot and before this journey that I’ve been on with Delikado started I was feeling bad about myself. I was wondering if I really still had enough in the tank to make a run at it. I felt I was in a rut, I hadn’t found where I belonged. Delikado changed all of that. Delikado lit a fire that I didn’t think I could get to anymore. I felt it when I was in the Championship Scramble match back at Shockwave. I knew that I had hit on something. My desire to beat him was driving me. I came up short and I only have myself to blame for that, but I didn’t stop. The very next week I was given a chance against the now disappeared Slade Craven and Keaton Saint, who realized he couldn’t cut it here and moved to Asylum. I was given that chance and it kept the fire burning. I walked out the winner and that’s when I knew the fire was there to stay.”
“I knew that I’d have to deal with Delikado week in and week out and I just tried to keep my head to the grindstone and focus all my anger on beating him. Unfortunately it hasn’t quite gone that way due to Delikado’s mischief. But even through all of that, the fire remained. And finally, at One Night in Hell, I get to release the flame. I get to step into the ring with Delikado and finally unleash every bit of anger I have upon him.”
“Ah, I really can’t wait. Delikado, I know that over these next few weeks we’ll probably hear from each other, spew a bunch of nonsense and give the APW faithful some good television. But let me tell you this, when we get in the ring, the fun and games are over. The whole rabies excuse is done. When we get into the ring at One Night in Hell, I am going to end this. You will live in my shadow.”
Let me know how you like it!
From the desk of Mark Mania
October 18, 2012
To APW,
Well, as you have all seen, Delikado has finally pushed me over the edge. For the past month he has blamed me not only for his rabies, but also his declining mental ability. He has attempted to attack me with a raccoon multiple times, he has played silly games, and has put myself and my secretary Rosa Ramirez in danger.
This past week, he went too far. This past week is when he made this entire situation personal. He and I knew that we would be facing off against each other. He and I knew that it would come down to one on one in the ring. It should’ve stayed like that. It should’ve stayed just between him and me. Then he went too far. Then he threatened my employee and my friend. That’s something that I don’t allow anyone to get away with.
I showed Delikado what happens when you push Mark Mania too far. I showed Delikado that I can only put up with stupid games for so long. That time is gone now. I have had enough of Delikado, I have had enough of looking behind my back or under my bed for a rabid animal.
In the wild, if you run across a wild animal there is only one course of action. You call the CDC or Animal Protective Services and you have someone come and put the animal down. If someone were to find a rabid raccoon on the street, there would be no medical diagnosis, there would be no treatment, the animal would be euthanized and that would be the end of it.
I’m not Level-One, I’m not going to pretend that I’m doing to kill Delikado. But I am going to put him down. After One Night in Hell, that will be the end of “Rabid” Delikado. No more games, no more rabies, and no more Overdrive title.
I apologize to the great fans of the APW for what you’re going to witness on October the 28th because I will not be proud of my behavior. But you will see a Mark Mania who will win by whatever means necessary. You’re going to see a Mark Mania that will not know when to stop, will not know when enough is enough, and will not know how the match will end. I’ll win of course, but at what cost? I do not know.
When you all see me in the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo, Japan next week, you will not recognize the man who comes down the ramp. I want to assure you all that Mark Mania has not lost his mind, Mark Mania is under control, and he is doing exactly what he’s planned. I have a plan.
See you next week,
Mark Mania
Rosa has been looking at me differently these past few days. I was more surprised by this than I expected to be. We had talked about the fact that I didn’t want her back stage with me. We talked about the fact that I didn’t need her being yet another woman dragged into the “Guiding Light” type programming that Overdrive has been lately. She knew the risks, she told me she had accepted them. Yet, she still has been off since the incident with Delikado.
“You got him pretty good, didn’t you?” I ask Rosa, about her shot over the head to Delikado last week.
She continued to stare outside. We’re riding in the limo to a restaurant on the other side of Tokyo. Came highly recommended by an old colleague. Rosa wasn’t making a move, she was lost in whatever was outside of that window. She didn’t talk to me much on the plane ride, didn’t talk much at the hotel, and now, even as we go to dinner she doesn’t want to talk to me. She’s only said enough to agree to go to eat.
“I don’t want to be the type of guy who says ‘I told you so.’” Yeah, that’s what I should say right now.
She turned from the window for the first time during the drive and I wished she hadn’t. She glared at me, deeply. Giving me what I assumed was a ‘go on’ type look.
“But, this was exactly why I didn’t want you to get involved. I knew that Delikado was out of his mind, there was no telling what he might’ve done. What if you had accidentally swallowed any of that raccoon hair?” Didn’t make sense then, don’t know why I thought it would make sense now.
“Are you a fucking idiot?” Well, glad to have her back.
I looked at her, giving her my best, ‘go on’ look.
“First of all, why in the hell would I eat any of that hair? Secondly, you can’t even transmit rabies that way!” I have no idea if you can or not.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes I’m sure! You think I didn’t look it up after that all happened? Why didn’t you?!”
“I didn’t eat any of the hair.” I’m so very quick witted.
“Ugh!” This was a sound that every woman I’ve ever talked to has perfected. It’s the type of sound that is made when a woman realizes no matter what combination of words she says, it’s still going to be ignored by whomever she’s talking to. So in an attempt to avoid that, she tries to say every word at once.
“Rosa, the last thing I wanted was for you to be hurt. You were almost exposed to rabies and you needed to hit Delikado with a rock. I didn’t need you getting involved like that.”
“It happened Mark. It’s too late, it happened. I’m involved now. Like I should’ve been in the beginning. Those security guards weren’t enough because they don’t truly care about you.”
“Are you saying you care about me?” She blushed when I asked her this question. But not blushed like she had a crush on me, more blushed like she just saw red and was going to kill me.
“Are you ever going to be able to stop thinking about me for my tits and ass and start realizing that nothing will ever happen between us? I’m 100% lesbian, I’m 100% disgusted by penises, and I also 100% care about you. Those are all separate things.” Haha, she said penises. But I had to keep it together.
“I don’t just think of you as an object!” I say this, pulling my eyes up from her chest.
“You just did it again right there! Do you think women don’t notice when people look at their chest or check out their ass?”
“I’d like to think I’m pretty good at avoiding detection.”
“Well, like most other things, you’re wrong.”
“Rosa, I don’t think of you as just an object. You mean a lot to me, I wouldn’t be where I was if it wasn’t for you.”
“Then start acting like it. Every time I save your ass doesn’t mean that you’re going to get some of mine. You’re my boss and my friend, that’s it, nothing more.”
“I know that.”
“Then how don’t you know why I’m upset?” What is she talking about? Clearly she’s upset because she almost got rabies.
“You’re upset because I put you in danger.”
“No you fool! I’m upset because you still think I was in danger. I can take care of myself Mark, as you saw. I’m not afraid of getting hurt, I’m not afraid of Delikado. You need to stop treating me with kid gloves. You need to stop treating me like one of your girlfriends.” Oh she hit the nail on the head there.
“I…I know.” Someone call the Nobel Laureates, there’s a new orator in town!
“Oh have you finally come the realization that you’re not getting in these pants? Can we move on now.”
“I never expected to get in your pa-“
“Oh just cut the shit. This needed to come out. For the past month I was wondering if this was even the right job for me. I don’t want to feel like something you need to take care of. I want to help make Mania Enterprises better and I want to help make you better. I can’t do that if you’re always trying to either save me or fuck me.” I’m not used to women being so forward.
“I apologize Rosa. From now on, I will treat you as an employee and as a friend. It just takes some time for me to trust a person and to not worry about them. I’d be lying if I said I never thought about you in a sexual way. You’re a very attractive person and we’ve gotten very close over the past few months. It’s difficult for me to not think too much into that.”
“Well, the thought process ends now. Now we’re equals and now we’re on the same page.”
“You’re right Rosa.”
We continued to drive, talking like friends. Dinner went over without any speaking of Delikado or APW and we became closer. It was necessary, because now the real work starts. For both of us.
That night I had a dream that finalized my change in attitude. I normally don’t remember dreams, but this was no ordinary dream. It felt more like a memory than a nightmare.
I was in a cemetery, walking up and down through the different grave stones. I looked down and upon them were all familiar names. Not people that have died mind you, but people from my life that I’ve lost in other circumstances. There way my ex-girlfriend Emily, there was my longtime family friend Bonez, and my actual dead cousin, Smitty. I read their grave stones, but the words didn’t make sense to me. There were no dates, no epithets, just jumbled words.
I didn’t linger on any grave very long, there wasn’t something continually pushing me to move forward. There was a voice in the distance.
“Marrrrkkk!” It was a ghostly, haunting voice.
After I moved past the grave stones, I walked pass a grave being dug. It was night time, so it was odd to imagine someone would be digging, but I continued on. I tried to speak to the man digging the grave.
“Sir, why are you out here so late?” But he didn’t hear me. He didn’t even move when I tried to get in front of his face. I did though.
“Bill! What are you doing here?” I screamed to my friend. For years Bill Gnarly was a confidant and a friend. I fired him upon my return to APW because I felt that I was holding him back. He was relying too heavily on my success and I couldn’t deal with that pressure. I yelled to him again.
“Bill, get out of here!” But again he didn’t hear me. He continued to dig for what felt like hours. When he finished, he started to step into the grave. I yelled at him again, but to no avail, as I could hear the voice again.
“This way Mark, you need to come this way.” The voice was more controlled now, stern. The voice knew I wanted to stay.
Reluctantly I left Bill, who was now trying to scoop dirt onto himself. I continued to walk, seemingly more and more lost with each step. But I could heard the voice in the distance and I followed. I was stopped quite suddenly.
“Rosa?” In front of me was a large tomb, Rosa stood in front of it, arms outstretched like a cross.
“Rosa, come down from there!” I yelled, but she, like Bill, couldn’t hear me.
Her body jerked backwards up against the tomb. She flew like a rag doll. Then, the blood came. From her eyes, from her mouth, and from her nose. She jerked around again, looking as if she was trying to escape. I tried to run at her but I was stopped. I couldn’t get any further. She jerked once more and was gone. All that was left was an imprint of her body, in blood, on the tomb. A Christ-like bloody shadow was all that was left. I cried out.
“Why is this happening!?” I dropped to my knees, whatever had kept me from moving, allowed me to now. “What do you want!?”
“You’ve done this to yourself…” The voice said.
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“You will learn in time…” The voice was more ghostly, but was oddly familiar.
“What is it that I need to learn, why is this happening?!”
“You’ve made many mistakes Mark. You’ve hurt people, pushed them away, and abandoned them.”
“I never wanted to hurt anyone!”
“Silence! You will speak when I allow it. You were a fool Mark Mania. The grave stones were those of people who you have lost, emotionally or physically. Those people will not being coming back into your life.”
I thought about this, Smitty obviously wasn’t coming back, Bonez was dead to me, but even Emily? She’s never coming back.
“And what of Bi-“
“I said silence! You are losing your friend Bill. That is why he digs his own grave. There is still a chance to save him, but I think he will be lost forever too.”
The voice paused, expecting me to say something so it could silence me again. I kept my mouth shut.
“And finally, we come upon your dear sweet Rosa. You were shown what will happen if you don’t take responsibility for your actions. You will lose her in a most gruesome way. She is the only person who still cares for you and you are pushing her away. Your actions have caused all of this.”
I couldn’t hold it in any longer and exploded.
“What actions!? What did I do? I don’t deserve to lose everyone close to me!”
“Oh but Mark, you do.”
“What did I do to deserve this?”
“You gave Delikado rabies!” Finally the voice materializes and it’s Delikado, and behind him all of the people who were either dead or soon to be.
“You son of a bitch!” I yelled and ran towards him. Right before I reached him, my hands outstretched to grab his throat, I was jolted awake.
I took heavy breaths, my eyes opened upon the ceiling. I shot up and looked around, making sure everything that happened was a dream. I wished for a second it wasn’t so I would’ve been able to get my hands around Delikado’s throat.
I continued to breath heavily for a few more minutes, trying to comprehend everything that had just happened in the dream. I grabbed my phone to see what time it was; 4:30am. Just a little too early for my liking. Even though it was a dream and even though it was Delikado wreaking havoc in my dream, I still couldn’t help but think about it.
Obviously it was my own stupid brain that came up with it. Was ‘Dream’ Delikado right? Was I pushing these people away? It certainly wasn’t because I gave Delikado rabies. Wait, I didn’t even give him rabies! What in the hell is wrong with me?
I laid back down for a few minutes, but I couldn’t get out of my own head. I picked up my phone again and sent the same text message to two different people.
I know a lot has happened, but, I miss you.
I fell back asleep before I could think of any repercussions.
I woke up just a few hours after the dream. Luckily the rest of my sleep wasn’t bothered but any maniacs, just restful unconsciousness. Upon waking I knew that I would have a busy day ahead of me. I took a shower, made a hearty breakfast, and had a big cup of coffee. All the staples for the beginning of a successful day.
While I was watching TV, the phone rang and broke me out of my procrastination.
“ ‘ello?” I liked to answer and pretend I was British sometimes.
“What are you doing?” Rosa wasn’t very good with pleasantries and subtlety.
“Uhhh.” I stumbled trying to think of a good excuse. “Just catching up on some old wrestling film.”
Just then the TV blurted out ‘Welcome to SportsCenter!’.
“Yeah? Did you make the Top 10 plays or something?”
“Why yes I did, my losing really scored well.” Not as witty as I was hoping for.
“You need to get yourself motivated and moving!” She snapped at me. Obviously I knew that.
“I am, I am, I’m out of bed, showered, fed, I’m good to go. In fact, I’ve been waiting for you!” Ah yes, women love when you tell them they’re not getting ready fast enough.
“You could’ve called, I was waiting a little bit to make sure you were actually out of bed.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Again, that wit, just not where I need it to be.
“Alright, let’s meet in the lobby in ten minutes, I’ll have the car waiting to take us to the gym.”
“What gym, can’t I just work out here in the hotel?”
“No.” She said it with such force that I figured I wouldn’t bother asking ‘Why not?’
“Okay then, see you in a few.”
“Ten minutes.” Man she’s stern.
I lounged around for about five minutes and then finally rushed to get myself ready so I wouldn’t miss the ten minute deadline.
I got off the elevator and into the lobby at about minute twelve.
“I said ten minutes!” She held up both hands in case I didn’t know how many ten was.
“I was of by two minutes.” I said, accentuating the ‘two’ and holding up two fingers.
She replied with just one finger. It was enough to tell me when to shut up.
We both laughed and walked out the lobby and into the limo that was waiting out front. Even in Tokyo it was still the same old same old. Lobby’s, limos, drivers, they all seem the same to me whether it Tokyo or Detroit.
“There’s going to be an APW cameraman at the gym.” She said, expecting me to not take notice.
“Oh, uh, okay.” I have a degree in English Literature, bet you wouldn’t have guessed that.
“C’mon, run of the mill stuff. They need stuff to promote the match. Have you say a few words about Delikado.”
The name just strikes a chord with me every time I hear it.
“Yeah, I know the drill. It’s good, I have some things to say to him.”
“Try not to blame it on the camera man and try and beat him up.” Like this is something I do all the time.
“I won’t, won’t.” Am I convincing her or myself?
“If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, I am sick and tired of Delikado and his foolish antics!” I yelled this into the APW camera that was set up in the gym.
“Week in and week out for the past few months I’ve had to deal with him and his sophomoric humor and I am sick of it. It started months ago with his silly little dildo game that he played and it’s only gotten worse since then. He’s gotten rabies, he’s unleashed raccoons, he’s hid plastic toys around arenas, and for God sake he rented a hot air balloon last week!”
“What am I supposed to do in a predicament like that? He rents a balloon, gets me to come outside and then starts throwing hair all over me. Am I expected to keep my cool? Am I expected to not retaliate? I tried to get President Jeff’s help a few weeks ago and aside from a few extra security guards, I heard nothing. That said to me that it was time to take it into my own hands.”
“Which is why last week, finally, I did just that. Delikado, you finally stepped too far. I didn’t want to play into your games, but enough was enough. That’s why I popped your precious balloon and why I put an end to your foolish game. I had hoped that I was going to be able to get through the whole month without having to resort to your tactics, but I’m not one to be stubborn.”
“I’ve been wrestling for a long, long time, I’ve seen people come and go. I’ve seen this game before. I know that Delikado is out of his mind. I know he thinks he has rabies and thinks that I gave it to him. But this doesn’t change anything. He’s still just trying to get in my head. Maybe it worked last week, maybe it didn’t and I just had two shit tag team partners, but either way, I lost. Delikado’s goal all along was to make sure that I lost and he succeeded.”
“Not this week. No time to get into my head this week. No chance for him to rent a train or a jet ski or whatever silly idea he had thought up. At One Night in Hell we are going to be the very first match of the night. I’ll step into the arena and into the ring, without any of your head games to distract me. Way before any Elimination Chambers are lowered down or decided, our match will be long over with. My hope is that I’ll be in the back, celebrating with my new Overdrive title and I’ll be done with all of these mind games.”
“Enough is enough. For months I’ve had to deal with the embarrassment that is being associated with Delikado. Is he the Overdrive Champion? Sure he is, but does he really define what a ‘champion’ is supposed to be? I certainly don’t think so. I don’t think he knows the first thing about being a champion or about what it takes to be the fact of an organization. Could you imagine if that big ugly Cuban mug was on every billboard promoting the company? It would be a travesty.”
“This face… my face, that’s the face that belongs on billboards. That’s the face that brings the APW standard up even further than it is already. Screw Helen of Troy, mine is the face that launched a thousand ships. Maybe I’m being a little over-confident here, but as I said, I’ve been wrestling for a long, long time. I know what it takes to be a champion, I know what it takes to succeed.”
“I’ve watched Delikado very closely and I’ve seen that he doesn’t have it. He’s a talented wrestler sure, but sometimes because a champion isn’t just about what you do in the ring. It’s how you carry yourself, it’s how you articulate, it’s how you present yourself. Delikado is just a damn fool Cuban who is more interested in dildos and hot air balloons than he is the history and integrity of APW.”
“It’s sickening to watch him every week come out here and spew shit from his mouth and pretend that he deserves all the attention and fame he’s getting. He’s a damn sideshow! He’s just there for everyone to laugh at. I’ve been roped into his shtick because I’m trying to bring some class back to the Overdrive title. But I suffer for it now. My name is becoming synonymous with Delikado’s. There is nothing I want less in the world than to have my name be sullied by his.”
“Which is why I am so glad that One Night in Hell is just over a week away. I am so glad that finally I won’t have to see my name next to his on the marquee. I won’t have to deal with him trying to give me rabies every single week. If you’re finding it hard to understand me through this big bright smile, I don’t blame you. I’m just overtaken with joy that win or lose, I am going to be done with this embarrassment to wrestling.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I will fight tooth and nail to make sure that I beat him and finally restore some sanity to the Overdrive division. But, just the knowledge that no matter what happens, I won’t have to deal with him anymore is enough to make me sleep soundly again. Not that I should condemn Delikado to too much of a degree, he did help me learn some things about myself, helped me grow, and helped me get motivated…again.”
“So, I guess if I win, I almost owe it to him. I guess I should be thankful that he pushed me as hard as he did. I should be thankful he’s caused me to hate him as much as I do. Because if I win… it’ll be because I’ve ramped myself up more for him than I have for anyone since my return to APW.”
“Before I won the number one contenders shot and before this journey that I’ve been on with Delikado started I was feeling bad about myself. I was wondering if I really still had enough in the tank to make a run at it. I felt I was in a rut, I hadn’t found where I belonged. Delikado changed all of that. Delikado lit a fire that I didn’t think I could get to anymore. I felt it when I was in the Championship Scramble match back at Shockwave. I knew that I had hit on something. My desire to beat him was driving me. I came up short and I only have myself to blame for that, but I didn’t stop. The very next week I was given a chance against the now disappeared Slade Craven and Keaton Saint, who realized he couldn’t cut it here and moved to Asylum. I was given that chance and it kept the fire burning. I walked out the winner and that’s when I knew the fire was there to stay.”
“I knew that I’d have to deal with Delikado week in and week out and I just tried to keep my head to the grindstone and focus all my anger on beating him. Unfortunately it hasn’t quite gone that way due to Delikado’s mischief. But even through all of that, the fire remained. And finally, at One Night in Hell, I get to release the flame. I get to step into the ring with Delikado and finally unleash every bit of anger I have upon him.”
“Ah, I really can’t wait. Delikado, I know that over these next few weeks we’ll probably hear from each other, spew a bunch of nonsense and give the APW faithful some good television. But let me tell you this, when we get in the ring, the fun and games are over. The whole rabies excuse is done. When we get into the ring at One Night in Hell, I am going to end this. You will live in my shadow.”
