Post by Shadow on Aug 25, 2012 20:31:30 GMT -4
[glow=silver,9,200]THEN...[/glow]
“Dreams... What do you mean dreams?”
Back before Mayhem a fuse was lit, a very long fuse. Shadow started dreaming about his old house and remembering how volatile he could be in the ring. As the nights wore on he was unable to sleep, cursed with these nightmares that haunted him. Each one was worse than the next. The only Shadow found was the hope that he could change them, like the one on the highway.
Something happened on that highway. A creature which had ties to a young Shadow suddenly came back. He didn’t understand why and at first Shadow ran from it. He thought his curse would get his friends hurt so he pulled away. Isolation did not do him any good.
Even at the convents up at the bar Shadow felt alone. Then his dreams changed. It had blue eyes, cold and empty blue eyes. They appeared in every dream. Each time they stared into his soul and Shadow could hear a voice. It said “Let go.” But Shadow wouldn’t he couldn’t. Something told him it was wrong.
Meanwhile in the wrestling ring, Shadow was carving his name into the cornerstone of Meltdown. One by one he ripped through the competition. He throttled everyone, face or heel, it didn’t matter. Everyone was trying to stand in his way and Shadow was set on taking on the world. As his strength grew so did his appetite. He ended up on Overdrive and earned a shot at Steve Stryker’s Xtreme title. This was the moment Shadow was waiting for. He earned his claim to glory. He felt everything fall into place, and for the first time in a long time, Shadow was proud of himself.
Then his best friend betrayed him. Slade screwed Shadow stole from him. Slade stole everything. Shadow was so close to finding the man with the blue eyes. He was so close to avenging his family, and Slade pulled that shit. Shadow was livid. He took it out on everyone, even his team. Finally after he finished demolishing the entire Meltdown roster Shadow walked out. He was going to get his stuff back, even if he had to pry it from Slade’s lifeless fingers. This was war. Shadow knew he could stop it. He figured that because of his strength he would be the only one. Slade felt differently. Shadow didn’t care, this was his time. As he sat on the greyhound bus heading for Los Angeles Shadow saw the billboard that advertised the Overdrive Scramble. Shadow finally earned his shot to return to Overdrive and Slade was outshining him again. Slade was going for Shadow’s old belt. That made him mad. He would never live in Slade’s shadow ever again. The bus drove on as Shadow felt tired again. He slowly slipped away and fell into the dream. He watched his own soul being consumed by that house. It didn’t fill Shadow with fear; instead it dared him to come. Shadow knew Blue Eyes was waiting. So was Shadow.
[glow=silver,9,200]NOW...[/glow]
The Staples Center was frosty. It had a great air conditioning system. Shadow basked in it while he sat in his locker room. Of course, his idea of “basking” was looking at pictures of himself and Dita. Shadow remembered lifting her in the air during the final ECFW show. He always cared for her. The brisk wind blew through that hole in his heart. Shadow thought back on all his opponents, all his victories. Everything felt so empty. He was getting closer and closer to Shockwave and that was the only thing felt like something.
Shadow knew the past was laid to rest as he sat there exhausted. He hadn’t slept since Palo Alto two days ago. It was killing him. Shadow intended to freeze himself awake with the cold air conditioning while waiting for Slade to show up and check in. Shadow even had a parking attendant on lookout.
His hands quivered a little as Shadow looked over the photo of the entire AKA when they were inducted into the ECFW Hall of Fame: the glory days. Shadow thought about the induction into the A.P.W. Hall of Fame. He glanced over at a photo of Slade and himself taken before Rasslemania VI. He could see how Slade’s eyes had changed, how his friend was gone. Shadow couldn’t trust him, Dita or Assassin anymore.
“I miss you.” Shadow ran his fingers down the image; Dita changed so much since then.
Shadow’s locker room looked like everyone else’s. He didn’t bother decorating them like some Megastars would. The locker room was so cold; unlike the homely A.K.A. office he used to share with the others. That place had no walls, no limits. The big guy’s eyes shifted to the white cinder blocks which imprisoned him.
“No limits.”
The voice was a whisper in his head. Shadow shook his head side to side both trying to kick off that feeling he got when he heard the voice and see if someone else was there. He was alone. Shadow looked up at the A/C vent. Maintenance tied a string to the vent awhile back. Right now it swam against the current rushing from those frozen floodgates. Suddenly Shadow heard a “click,” and then the string slowly fluttered to a hanging position. The air conditioning shut off.
“Weird.” Shadow muttered, he dropped the photo in his hand and stood up. “I’ve been here three hours, hasn’t shut off once.”
In the hallway outside, Shadow hears a pipe drop. The sound is obvious. He can hear the reverberating sounds of the metal bouncing off the tile floor through his locker room door. Shadow’s ears twitch when the pip starts rolling.
“Who’s there?” He called to the door.
Tap...tap...tap...tap
Shadow approached the door both slowly and with trepidation. That faint tapping sounded like a water leak but Shadow could swear someone was tapping on his locker room door. His hand grips the handle and rips the door open. Shadow was suddenly outside. He looked around confused. He can’t tell that he’s dreaming, yet.
Shadow mouthed the words “What the hell,” but no sound came out. It startled him. Shadow put his hands over his mouth and spoke again. Then he screamed; he couldn’t feel his breath against his fingertips.
But that wasn’t the worst of his fears. Shadow knew where he was. He recognized that neighborhood and the house that stood in front of him. Shadow could see his Camaro parked in the driveway. There was no mistaking his baby. His doppleganger fell out of the vehicle beaten. The battered and bruised version could barely pull himself to his feet.
His mouth called the word “Hey” silently as Shadow started jogging toward the house.
He had to get there this time, but his legs already caved like puddings. Shadow fell forward. He caught himself as he fell, landing with his palms flat on the sharp spear grass. The needles pierced his first few layers of skin but didn’t draw blood. He knew it was a dream now, but still the pain felt real. He looked up.
“You!” His futility was leading to insanity.
Anger washed over him as Shadow clenched his fists and forced himself to his feet. He started running again. He ran like a giant.
“Fe Fi Fo Fum!” Shadow heard himself say in his head as he charged.
The staggering Doppleganger gripped the porch rail and heaved himself up the stairs. Shadow watched as the house began to morph again. The living room and master bedroom windows warped into the most hideous eyes. The door frame began dripping drops of drool from its jagged teeth. Either the doppleganger didn’t notice of maybe just did care anymore. He stepped through the door as Shadow reached the yard for the first time. The sharp blades of grass jutted through the soles of his boots making him wince and stumble. The mouth slammed shut as Shadow silently screamed.
The windows eyes glowed turquoise as Shadow heard laughter. He reached the front steps but he just stepped through the cement right into quicksand. Shadow grabbed the rail in a panic. The house was suddenly engulfed in flames. They burned so close to him. Shadow couldn’t pull himself away. He just kept sinking. The fire was hotter than anything he imagined. Shadow screamed in silence. He could hear the fire eating the air around him. Scarfing it down as the blaze grew. Shadow felt his skin ignite.
“DING! Round one!”
The voice of Michael Clark Duncan from “The Slammin Salmon” telling Shadow he had a text message snapped him right awake. The first thing he realized was he was FREEZING! While he slept Shadow must have been sweating profusely. He felt like he was encased in a thin layer of ice and only not was shaking it off. Shadow reached for his cell phone and grabbed the nearest piece of fabric available. Using a shirt to wipe the cold sweat from his skin Shadow flipped open his phone and looked at the screen.
“He’s here.”
Shadow snapped his flip phone shut.
Slade was walking down the hallway toward his locker room. He wore jeans and a black “Main Man” T shirt. If the arena were full, they’d be cheering. Slade carried his ring bag over his shoulder while he walked. All around him people were getting ready for the big Pay per View in just a few days. In Slade left hand was a piece of paper, directions to his locker room. He was heading there now.
He opened his locker room do and there stood Shadow. From behind the sunglasses both men’s eyes met. Shadow scowled. Slade didn’t move.
“Where ya been?”
“None of your business,” Slade shot back.
“Fine,” Shadow shrugged. “Where is my stuff?”
Slade tossed him the folders. They landed on the floor with a slap. Shadow glanced down at all of his research. He cocks his head back up at Slade. Shadow knew.
“You know where he's going to be dont you?”
“None of your business,” Slade repeated.
Shadow leaped across the room and grabbed Slade by the collar. He slammed “The Main Man” against the locker room door and growled.
“This isn’t a game Slade! You have no right to interfere. This is my life, it’s my choice! Now you tell me what I want to know, you tell me where he’s going to be!”
Craven threw both hands between Shadow’s wrists and split his grip. He shoved Shadow back, the big guy didn’t move very far though. He still towered over Slade, from behind the sunglasses, Shadow’s eyes burned with anger.
“No,” Slade said calmly. “Find him yourself.”
Shadow shoved Slade this time. Craven bounced off the door, but still stayed standing. Slade started to shake his head.
“I said, we’re not doing this.”
He turned and grabbed the door. But Shadow gripped Slade by the shoulder and pulled him away from the door. Slade staggers back as Shadow steps between “The Main Man” and the locker room door.
“This is starting to look like slash fiction, Shadow.” Slade said to him. “Get out of the way.”
Shadow calmly reached up and took off his sunglasses. He folded them up and put them in his coat pocket. Next Shadow silently folded his arms over his chest.
“Make me.”
Slade walked toward Shadow and started to pass him. Then Slade body checked Shadow, so the big man shoved Slade a second time. Although Slade kept his balance, his sunglasses fell off. Shadow took a step forward. He crushed them beneath his soles. Slade sucked air through his teeth.
“You really want to do this?”
“No. I don’t.” Shadow said to him. “Just tell me what I want to know. This isn’t about you Slade. Everything doesn’t always have to be about you. Let me handle this, I’m ready.”
“You’re not. You’re fooling yourself. You think unbeatable you’re not. This is bigger than anything and all you’re doing is giving in. You’re going down a dark road Shadow. I’m here to help. Let me help you.”
“Stop it.” Shadow said curtly. He tried to calm down. “Our entire career, it’s always been about you. You drove the truck, you went for the heavyweight gold, your planned the missions and got the big score. And I’ve always had faith in you to pull us through. I can do this, I can stop him. I owe it to my family. I’m just asking you to trust me on this and let me do it my way.”
Craven looked so exacerbated. He was torn. He wanted his best friend back, but at what cost? After pondering for a few seconds, Slade shook his head.
“No.”
Shadow rolled his eyes in frustration. “Why?”
“Because you have no idea what you’re doing!”
“Yes I do.”
“That’s even worse. You know where the road leads.”
“But it’ll work.”
“And you’ll be completely lost!” He paused for a moment. “I can’t let you do that. I can’t let you become...”
Shadow was hurt. He drew a breath. Slade stopped speaking. Several seconds pass before either speaks.
“It means...”
Craven pauses again and Shadow shakes his head. His voice sounds like Harvey Dent when Shadow barks out “Say it!”
“It makes you a monster.”
Shadow rolled his shoulders and found back the tear. Then, without a word he threw the first punch. Slade went go down. He rolled off the floor and back to his feet. Craven moved his jaw as he shook the cobwebs out. Next, Slade spit on the floor between him and Shadow. A look of acceptance was plastered all over “The Main Man’s” face. Shadow was snarling; he beckoned. In a heartbeat, Slade drew back and came forward with a right. His silver ring shone brilliantly as he did.
Slade charged in with several more punches, he tried to take Shadow off his feet. But Shadow blocked the third punch and head butted Slade in the face. Craven nearly fell, but Shadow delivered a front kick that sent Slade sailing into the lockers. The crash was deafening. Slade’s hand went to his sternum, clutching it. Shadow cracked his neck.
This time Slade dove with a spear and connected. He sent Shadow into the opposite wall. But Shadow wasn’t finished; he began driving his knees into Slade’s gut, over and over. Next Shadow brought his fists down across Slade’s back in a double axe handle. Shadow couldn’t tell who he was fighting anymore, Steve Stryker or Slade Craven.
Shadow bent down and lifted Slade up into a Gorilla Press. Then with no effort at all Shadow pushed Slade up making him collide with the ceiling before Slade came crashing back down to the hard concrete floors. Slade impacted with a sickening thud. Above one of the florescent light bulbs fell and shattered as Slade hit the floor. With a spark the light dies. The room got a little darker as Shadow turned to his prey. He gazed down at Craven in disgust. Shadow paced in a circle, stalking Slade.
“My career you made me you shadow. It’s your turn.”
Slade struggled to pull himself up. His body collapsed as Shadow’s gaze bore down on him.
“My biggest mistake was saying yes. All that time, you held me back.”
Craven pushed up, he tried to peel himself off the floor.
“You asked me if I wanted to do this.”
Slade’s left eye was swelling and he had a piece of glass lodged in his cheek. Blood dropped from his chin as Craven clutched his abdomen. Shadow stared right into Slade’s eyes before decking “The Main Man” and sending him back to the floor. Slade bounced and rolled onto his back with a gasping cough. He choked out some blood. Shadow stood over Slade. He looked down upon Craven in triumph.
“Truth is...” Shadow started to say as he stood over the body of Slade Craven. Blood dripped from Shadow’s nose. He wiped it away. “I’ve been-wanting to do this...” He raised his foot high. Its shadow fell across Slade’s face. Craven couldn’t move, he was in so much pain. Time was flowing so slowly. Slade tried to think as he blinked with his one good eye. The boot was all he saw. Shadow was out of breath. He gasped, “...for a very long time.”
The boot came down but Shadow stopped it seconds before it crushed Slade’s skull. Slade collapsed; his head dropped back and hit the floor. He passed out. Shadow looked down at his former tag partner. Then as Slade laid there unconscious Shadow just stared. He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t kill his best friend. Finally Shadow turned away, bent down and grabbed all the paperwork. He had to get out of there. Actually, Shadow was surprised security wasn’t there already.
The door slowly closed behind Shadow as he walked out into the hallway. He left Slade there. Shadow didn’t call anyone for help. Shadow went straight from Slade’s locker room to the parking lot. He left his gear and everything else behind. Shadow thought about what he just did. He tried to calm down, tried to slow his heartbeat. But the adrenaline had his blood pumping. Shadow realized something. He liked it.
He entered the parking lot on the ground level. He looked to see if Slade’s Firebird was around. But Shadow didn’t see it and he didn’t have time to look for it. He needed to get back to his hotel room. Shadow walked past the guard shack and out onto the sidewalk. It was a little harder to disappear in plain sight when you look like Shadow did, but he tried his best. It didn’t take him long to hail a cab though. Once he was on the street with the Staples center in the rearview mirror, Shadow finally stopped thinking about Slade and his thoughts returned to Steve Stryker.
As the car ride continued all he could see was Stryker’s face where Slade’s was. He imagined destroying “The Hitman” like he just did “The Main Man.” The thought made him smile. Shadow tasted his own blood. His eyes curved up and that smile turned into a grin. Shadow was looking forward to what he was going to do at Shockwave. But he couldn’t wait to do it to Blue Eyes first.
Steve Stryker, I told you I would come back for you. I scoured the earth for you. I traveled across shows and brands, I destroyed an entire roster, I did everything it would take to seek you out. Why? I swore I would eject your ass from A.P.W. Maybe it’s only for a week, maybe it’s forever. But I will fulfill my promise. I swore to everyone I would rid them of Steve Stryker and at Shockwave, I am going to do just that.
Johnny Diamond made me the official APW employee removal specialist and I am damn good at it. I kept the Meltdown roster pretty clean since I got that label. Sure it’s a Dirty Job, but someone has to do it. Plus, I enjoy it! I’ve cleared out more jobbers than anybody else and the next person on my hit list before going to Overdrive: Steve Stryker.
Oh I have ulterior motives for going to Overdrive, not just Steve Stryker. This bounty hunter is also chasing down Mrs. Evan Envi. Don’t think I forgot about that stupid little transvestite. Once I’m finished making a stain out of Stryker, I’m coming for you next. I cleaned out the rest of your little fag squad back on Meltdown, the only one still running is you. Run Rabbit, run.
Let’s get back to the contract I’m about to execute on “The Hitman.” He doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to cash in on the bounty he has on his head. Moreover, the best part about zeroing in for this particular kill is that I don’t have to worry about being disqualified. How scary is that? This is the day I will lay claim to a title that explicitly stipulates that I cannot hold back.
Steel chairs, tables and chains oh my! Do you people realize that I am about to snuff out Steve Stryker, can you feel it? I’m just tingling with anticipation. I don’t know what I intend to use on you first: Steel chairs are fun, but let’s get creative. I think you’ve been on top of the world since you jumped from Meltdown and got yourself a strap. I’m here to ground your ass. And I literally mean I’m get a car battery and ground your ass to an engine block. Let me ask the question. What do you want on your Tombstone? Extra chairs? Call it a going away present. Something for us to forget you by. I know what I said.
For some reason though, I am experiencing a moment of Déjà vu. I think it’s because this title match is going to shape up like my original Overdrive title match. Oh, Steve, no one told you. The thing that makes me a “specialist” is I specialize at catapulting champions to the curb. Just ask Carl Cage. Last I heard he was living outside the Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. I think they call him Crazy Carl now. Let’s think of a cool homeless name for you, Shopping Cart Steve.
I’ll even bring one to the show. Looking at you, I think you need one from the local Mexican meat market. Let you start at the bottom, only this time you’ll stay there. Seems like a shame, ending you career so early but then I remember you were never cut out to be a Megastar, let alone the Xtreme champion. I had fun facing Stefan Raab in that No DQ match. From the moment he threw me through that window I knew, animals like Raab really are rabid. I let go, and it was fun too. Shopping Cart Steve was never really a champion. He was just a kid who got lucky, a fluke. I’m here to restore the natural order. A fighting champion must be crowned. Steve Stryker, I’m going to French Revolution your ass. I will take your head off and then take the throne. It’s only right. Then I will take on all challengers.
Anyone not worthy of these walls I get to eradicate. That’s the perfect word for it to. Trace the etymology, it means uproot, reminds me exactly what I’m going to do to Shopping Cart Steve tonight on Shockwave. I can’t wait. I even plan to launch him over the top rope into the crowd. I promised I would once.
But back to my new championship and how the creative ways I intend to strip it from you. How about a little fire Scarecrow? I recall one poor son of a bitch getting set on fire in an Xtreme title match a few years ago. That sounds like pretty good idea. Let’s see your ass go up in smoke just like everyone piece of trash I sent to the incinerator. I bet you burn up under the spotlight Steve, that’s why you never amounted to anything as a champion.
Not only are you really good at going down in flames, you’re even better at sinking. I’ll be the one crashing you into the ocean. Then, as you sink to the cold, crushing, deep, dark abyss the water will extinguish your light and you will never be heard from again. I’ll use every natural element on your and I’ll finish by burying you in the earth. I’ll bury you so deep they’ll never find you. Your being here is a slap in the face to everyone in the crowd. You belong behind the concession stand making minimum wage. Let some other kid who has heart and talent get in the ring and make a name for himself. I’m going to make you pay for wasting my time.
A waste of time, that’s exactly what you were. I spent all this time wanting to take on the great “Hitman,” the guy who had the balls to run from Shadow. You’re going to go out, cowering in the corner like a sniveling horror movie victim. As the shadow falls upon your face you will see that all hope is gone and no one will be able to help you. There is nowhere else to run, no place to hide and most certainly no way to get out of the match. No DQ. You really bit off more than you could chew, Steve. And with the teeth I’m going to kick out, you’re going to real hard time chewing. And all this could have been avoided. Well not really, but I would have been nicer about it. Had you been a real champion I would have at least respected you. Now, I’m going violate the crap out of you.
But Steve, this sendoff can be fun for you too! Don’t get discouraged. Remember, I said I was going to get really creative on your ass. Before we give your ass the big boot, maybe we should have the A.V. team whip up little highlights video. That way you can relive the instant replay of how I beat your ass and laid claim to my new championship. But wait, there’s more! Because of the advances in technology, especially with 3D projection and the return of virtual reality simulation, you get to not only see it again you can feel it again! If you elect this option I’ll put you through the exact same match twice in a row, then I’ll personally parade your ass throughout the arena (by throwing you and dragging you across everything in sight), and finally fling your ass from our home once in for all. Better yet, I think I stuff your little bald ass into your new shopping cart and roll you into oncoming traffic.
And let this be a warning to everyone on the Overdrive roster. Meltdown is getting a reprieve, Daddy’s home. You saw how I earned this title shot. That’s coming back to Overdrive. In fact, that’s coming back to really soon. Let the boys beware. Watch and bear witness to the beginnings of a very dark night. No one will stand in my way. I will make Shopping Cart Steve my masterpiece and everyone else will follow suit. S.C. Steve, this is not going to be quick. But it definitely will be painful. I want everyone to take on last look at Steve Stryker because the next time you see him, he will be on the back of a milk-carton.
[shadow=white,right,1200]TO BE CONTINUED[/shadow]
