Post by Shadow on Aug 25, 2012 9:23:58 GMT -4
[glow=silver,9,200]THEN...[/glow]
In Shadow’s first depicted reoccurring nightmare, he was walking down the hallway of an old house. He remembered everything about that house. The way the walls were, and how cold it could get at night. For a moment in this dream, for perhaps a few little nanoseconds he flashed back to his childhood, when he walked those halls himself. That’s how he remembered. But it wasn’t the house with the fire. it was the house next door. He remembered that he lived there too. It was the house he was born in. His parents owned both. In the dream Shadow walked into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. Suddenly the mirror explodes and Shadow would wake up.
His next dream happened only one time. Shadow stopped in Morton Mississippi to gas up. An old man came up and spoke with him. After that Shadow headed off down the highway. He missed his Camaro. Shadow loved driving. “Bad Company” was playing. It kept getting louder. Shadow felt it pounding in his ears, over and over. He couldn’t think straight and the light behind him was blinding. It shined in his eyes and then he saw the semi. The truck hit! Then Shadow snapped awake.
Shadows dreams were tearing him up inside. He knew they meant something. His third dream involved Dita. She had those horrid blue eyes. It haunted him to miss her so much. Shadow hated this he couldn’t stand not being able to sleep. There was no one left to trust. Now Shadow was on his own. But to his surprise, that was going well. Very well actually. Shadow was skyrocketing again, just like he did the first time he showed up at APW before the AKA got rolling again. Shadow was unstoppable. Soon he would become the new Xtreme Champion. Shockwave was just a few days away.
[glow=silver,9,200]NOW...[/glow]
Storm clouds swelled overhead. Shadow calmly walked up the driveway. His old Camaro actually looked at home, is shined beautifully in the twilight. That sun set in the distance cast a red hue against the darkening clouds. Suddenly, Shadow did not feel alone. He could sense people around him. Shadow looked to either side but could not find anyone. The first drops of rain splashed against the loose soil beneath Shadow’s feet. As Shadow gasped the porch’s stair rail he noticed a drop of blood on his hand. It was at this moment that Shadow realized that he was wearing his ring gear. The rain felt hot against his bare shoulders. He looked at his arms and then held out his hands. Shadow watched as the blood stained his white flesh and blonde hair. His left eye swelled shut and he coughed up blood as well. He felt pain.
The house that was so close before now stood in the distance. Shadow could see himself gripping the porch rail tightly, barely able to hold himself up. The doppelganger struggled up the steps toward the front door. Meanwhile the real Shadow began to sprint toward the house. He silently screamed for himself to stay away! As the doppleganger’s bloody hand gasped the doorknob Shadow could swear the house was alive and was about to consume him. Jagged razor sharp teeth formed along the doorway when the front door opened. The doppleganger fell through the door as Shadow’s legs became Jello. He fell to the earth and looked up. A loud crack filled the air. The front door slammed shut. Then, flames burst from every window. They strike up at the heavens while lightning repeatedly splits the skyline. The rain continues to bleed from the above.
Suddenly Shadow flashes back to his childhood; the flames take him all the way back to Balch Springs. Steve sees his house burning like a bonfire on that hot summer night. Then everything is calm. He sees his house again, like he did the last time he was there. Standing there alone in the dark. He remembered everything. Then, Shadow abruptly woke up.
“Palo Alto California fifteen minute stop!”
The bus driver’s voice blaring over the PA system woke Shadow from his slumber. The bus was bustling with people as they rose to gather their things. The trip down from Seattle was not a pleasant one. Hell the past few days as a whole out right sucked. People hounded him on Indy Warz for walking out of the main event a few days back on Meltdown. Shadow ignored them. He had his reasons. Now Shadow was incognito, blending into the public while he waited for Shockwave.
The bus slowly drained of passengers before the lumbering giant rose from his cramped and tiny seat. Due to his ball cap bill, Shadow didn’t spot the overhead bin just above him. His head smacked against the plastic shell.
“Blast!” Shadow grabbed the top of the cap that covered his long hair in pain.
Its funny how sometimes someone can take a bullet without flinching but they cringe and drop at the slightest hit in a key area. This was one of those. Shadow had to smash his hand against the baggage compartment to feel better about what just happened. Luckily most everyone was off the bus and no one noticed. Shadow didn’t need problems with the bus driver right now anyway.
Outside Shadow could see the people pouring into the Pilot. Taking a bus was not his usual style but with Shadow avoiding everyone right now, this was the best option. Palo Alto was the last stop before they reached Los Angeles. He pulled out his phone and hit the ‘Talk’ button twice: redial.
“Vick’s Lodge” Shadow heard Stacy on the other line as he put the phone to his ear.
“Hey Stacy, have you seen him?” Shadow asked her.
“No,” he didn’t believe her. Slade always ran there.
If you do you’ll let me know?”
“No! Work your drama out somewhere else asshole.”
She hung up on him. Shadow stared at the phone.
“Must be a Benny Horrowitz fan,” he said like a smartass.
His thoughts returned to Overdrive as Shadow stepped off the Greyhound. He rounded the front of the bus, meeting the morning sunrise. The Pilot truck stop was very busy. People clamored to and fro both inside and outside. Aside from being about a foot taller than everyone else, Shadow fell right in with the crowd. He dressed like a normal civilian, hiding his tattoos and eyes beneath long sleeves and behind a pair of sunglasses. Shadow had his hair pulled into a ponytail and tucked into his shirt with the Los Angeles Angel’s baseball cap over top. No one recognized him.
“Excuse me,” a young child said as she passed him.
It felt good to stretch his legs again, that bus ride was hell. Shadow did not fit into that seat, the air was stuffy and the same little girl who just brushed passed him wouldn’t stop screaming the trip. It was awful. Now Shadow wanted ten minutes of peace before everyone bundled back into the sardine can to set sail for Los Angeles. Sadly, he wouldn’t get it, there were too many tourists.
“Herro?” a short older woman stretched her arm up and tapped the big man on the shoulder. Shadow turned to her and saw that it was a Korean woman holding a map. “Ris this Ros Angeres?”
Her accent was thick. Shadow looked right then left, all around were signs pointing to the nearby college or naming off the city they were actually in. Observation told Shadow this particular partially silver stranded, dark haired Korean woman barely understood English.
“No maam,” Shadow replied patiently. “We won’t reach LA for another hour or so.”
She nodded and gave the little bow as Shadow smiled and bowed as well. He knew the custom. Ten years wrestling, Shadow had been all over the world. He knew the formal greeting customs for most major nations. Part of hiding in plain sight meant being able to socialize without being remembered. However at this particular moment, Shadow just wanted everyone to leave him alone. He finally got away from the group, and headed for the truck stop’s entrance. Shadow was a little parched. As he approached the door, the light caught Shadow’s eyes in a weird way. It blinded him for a moment and made him bumped into a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and killer legs to match.
“Sorry.” He said to her as she walked away. She kind of ignored him like he was the rude one.
Still, Shadow couldn’t help but watch her as she sauntered over to a fuel pump. Her ass was perfect. So was the rest of her. The girl even had a beauty mark on her face. She looked like she could be Wonder Woman; except for the face she was blonde. Then Shadow looked down and saw the woman dropped some money when Shadow bumped into her. Without a second’s hesitation, Shadow scooped up the Jackson portrait and the couple quarters lying on the ground and then headed toward her.
“You dropped this.” Shadow said as she opened the gas cap, her rear was still pointed in his general direction. It was a great view.
“Huh?” She turned her head back to him as Shadow extended his hand holding out the money, she realized he wasn’t being a ‘creeper.’ The girl erected herself as she took her money back “Oh, thank you.”
Shadow smiled for a minute. She was young, in her early twenties. He contemplated asking for her number when some guy behind Shadow spoke up.
“Everything alright, Jess?” Shadow turned around and came face to face with a taller fellow who couldn’t be any older than twenty two. He had short shaggy dirty blond hair and a larger nose. Funny thing was the guy was just about as tall as Shadow. Not many people out there were like that.
“Yeah baby.” She said to the man who is obviously her boyfriend. “I dropped the change,” Jess flashed her boyfriend the twenty as the guy realized it was all okay.
Shadow just gave a soft smile, knowing he didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell with her now. He wasn’t going to rock the boat either. The bus would be leaving soon and Shadow’s throat spontaneously got super dry again. This time though, he felt as if something was eating away at him.
“Well, if you’ll excuse me,” Shadow tipped his ball cap, just like a Texan would his Stetson. “I’d best be getting back to my bus.”
He took his leave with no trouble, after two steps Shadow glanced on the inside edge of his sunglass lens. They were mirrored, just like the cheap spy sunglasses. It allowed Shadow to watch his back better. He saw the guy approach his girlfriend Jess and give her a kiss. After a few more steps suddenly Shadow heard Jess call out to him.
“Hey, mister!” Shadow turned and looked at her as she walked up. In her hand was a bottle of Pepsi. “Bus rides are pretty long. Need something to drink, as a thank you maybe?”
Shadow removed his sunglasses. Her eyes were so kind. It made the old Shadow; the happier Shadow, wall all his rage up while he spoke to her. It’s the first time in a long time that Shadow saw so clearly once again. He took the bottle of pop and looked right into her eyes. Then Shadow saw a spark.
“Thank you, I’m just heading to L.A. but sure.”
“What’s in L.A.?” The boyfriend approached. He wasn’t the jealous type. He seemed more intrigued by Shadow, which puzzled the APW megastar.
Jess angled her head back toward Shadow. Her boyfriend put his arm around her waist when he reached them. For a moment Shadow wanted to be completely honest. He was struggling with the decision. This guy wouldn’t but the truth...would he?
“Work,” Shadow said honestly. “I have a job there. Its temporary and then it’s off to the next town, one after another, different day different city.”
The boyfriend solemnly nodded, he understood. The thought comforted Shadow for some odd reason.
“Are you in the circus?” Jess asked confused.
“No, no. Nothing like that,” Shadow said to her. “I just do a lot of temporary jobs. Week here, week there kind of stuff.”
“Doesn’t that get lonely?” She asked him.
It did. But he couldn’t tell her. “No, I’m always surrounded by the people I care about.” He lied to them. Her words kind of cut deep.
Jessica nodded while the boyfriend continued evaluating Shadow, reading him. For some reason, that man’s eyes just stared into Shadow. They compelled him to speak.
“But thank you though. Where are my manners,” Shadow asked aloud and then he extended his hand in hospitality. “I’m Steve.”
The young woman and her boyfriend looked at one another. Then Jess speaks.
“I’m Jessica,” she gestures to her man, “and this is my boyfriend, Sam.”
Shadow shook his hand as well. Both hunters’ eyes meet and for a fleeting moment the strands of fate between these two intertwine as their hands clasp. It’s a moment in history that most would consider insignificant. Because of the cosmic magnitude of their handshake, both Sam and Steve experienced a brief wave of subconscious dread. Neither knew why though. No other words are shared between the two men. There was no need. It was at that moment, the bus drive called to his passengers. Just like that the golden threads separate again, streaming off toward their own destinies.
“Five minutes!”
“There’s my bus.” He said. Then Shadow lightly flicked his left wrist, motioning to the pop in that hand. “Thank you again, I could use this.”
“Of course,” Jessica replied. She dazzled him with her white smile.
With that Shadow turned, put the pop in his bag and walked away from them. As Shadow left their presence, he felt sad for Jessica. He didn’t know why, he just sensed heartache for both her and her boyfriend, Sam. The sorrow filled his soul. He never looked back though. Something about the boy, it troubled Shadow, like the young man knew who Steve was. Not his wrestling persona, but Steve.
“It’s got to be nothing.” Shadow lied to himself as he put on his sunglasses.
He knew they were important. Well, Shadow knew the boy was; the girl however, Shadow could only speculate what triggered the ominous feeling in his gut: something about that handshake, something about that boy. Just before he got back on the bus, Shadow peered into the mirrors lining his sunglasses. He saw Sam and Jessica getting into their car. He wondered if he would ever see them again as he stepped onto the buss. Making his way down the already packed aisle, Shadow returned to his cramped seat on the Greyhound. The Korean lady sat two seats in front and that little girl was now parked behind him. She kicked his chair in boredom. There were no other open seats. With a sign Shadow leaned his head back, resigned to his fate. He closed his eyes and tried to drown out the little girl’s annoyingness. However it didn’t work, she kept kicking his chair repeatedly. Shadow felt his anger teeming. He didn’t want to yell at this kid. She would cry and then he would look like a bad guy. His throat got tight due to dryness. It made him remember the Pepsi Jessica offered. Opening his eyes, Shadow looked down at his bag and pulled out the Pepsi. As he looked at the gift, Shadow felt a chord in his heart twanged. Remembering the simple act of kindness between Shadow and Jessica caused the big man’s anger to slowly subside. Maybe it was their eyes. How kind their eyes were. His breathing slowed just a bit. The bus pulled out of the parking lot and headed for the highway as Shadow took a drink. His anger was almost gone. The Pepsi tasted refreshing. Then out of the blue, everything went to Hell. Shadow spotted a billboard. On that Billboard was an advertisement for the Overdrive Championship Scramble. Shadow looked up as the bus approached. He stared at the picture of his old tag team partner. The bus drew closer and Shadow got angrier. All at once the memory of Overdrive a week back flooded his head. Shadow felt betrayed. Slade had stolen something from him. One way or another, Shadow was going to get it back. He set the drink down and forgot about it. Instead Shadow closed his eyes. He was going to try and sleep again. Always a bad idea.
This time he saw a little more, but it didn’t matter. Overall, the song remained the same. Shadow saw it all from the field this time. He saw his Camaro drive up this time. The car sat there idling for a moment. Shadow was frozen, he couldn’t move. He wanted to, but Shadow’s body was locked in place. He was being forced to watch this time. He watched his doppleganger fall from the opening car door. Shadow could only suspect this was after Shockwave. He was seeing the future. He had to change his fate. That’s why he was seeing this. Shadow decided to watch and learn. Another bad idea.
The best way to change his fate would be to beat Steve Stryker at Shockwave. He wouldn’t come back to that hiding place. He would be out celebrating. He looked at the bruises all over his body. He had his ass kicked. Shadow’s left eye was puffed up. He couldn’t even remember the last time his face looked like that. Stryker must have done a number on him. Shadow clutched his stomach in pain and staggered up the driveway, up the porch and grabbed the guardrail. Blood dripped from his mouth. Shadow saw welts across his back. They looked like Kendo sticks. Then the feeling of terror swept through him.
Shadow felt it creeping up his spine to the back of his mind. He watched the evil that waited inside that house. A turquoise glow begins to emit from the front windows. Shadow senses the glow focusing on him. Those eyes were smiling at him. He felt powerless to it for a moment.
Then Shadow remembered what happened today. He remembered that feeling that anger when he saw Slade. He wouldn’t let Slade be a factor at Shockwave. He had an idea on how to deal with “The Main Man.” He turned his anger toward those Blue Eyes. It stares into him. The house smiles as the door slams shut devouring his doppleganger. Shadow saw that jagged grin. He glared back. The house burst into flames.
Shadow saw those flames devour the wood. Slowly burning it away. He watched. He forgot why he was watching. The flames reflected in Steve’s pupils. He was five again, standing in his front yard watching the flames consume his parent’s house. A man’s voice howled in pain from inside the house as the young boy screamed for someone, anyone, to help. He tried to remember back before to what caused the fire. Everything suddenly flashed. Steve was inside that living room. But this was recently. Shadow was standing there, Blue Eyes smiled from across the damaged living room. He saw those blue eyes. Blue Eyes suddenly gave him a questionable look. Steve was in his bedroom in the back corner room of the house. A nightmare awoke him. It was important. He’d been having it for weeks. It made him snap awake. There was someone standing over him. Steve screamed. He had those horrid blue eyes. The screaming banished Steve from the house and back to the yard. He saw his house burning. He heard his father yelling in pain. Steve was still screaming. One of Steve’s neighbors, a retired Vietnam Vet seized the hysterical child, tossed him over his shoulder and rushed Steve away. Problem was; Steve was still able to look back. He watched his house burning in the night. He looked at the window that led into his bedroom. A black silhouette gazes out. Steve stared into those eyes, those awful evil eyes. He promised he would never forget those eyes. He watched his world burn as his neighbor ferried him away. A really bad idea. The silhouette vanished before anyone else spotted it. Shadow woke up.
[shadow=white,right,1200]TO BE CONTINUED[/shadow]
