Post by brandenharvey on Nov 21, 2010 4:15:42 GMT -4
Branden wheeled back to the first two. They looked at him calmly. What were they going to do?
"Do you give up? We have you beat." The man's voice was deep, friendly. Nonetheless, the threat was clear. He removed his leather gloves and tucked them into his belt. He obviously didn't consider Branden an obstacle. The other three waited silently while he spoke.
Branden hadn't expected a situation like this. But he couldn't lose. If he lost to these men, how could he expect to beat Damian Dimitri and Trevor Blackwell. But these men weren't afraid of him. But Dimitri and Blackwell wouldn't be either.
Branden looked at Lisa to see if she was ready.
He looked at the man and responded to his question. "Never give up, never surrender."
Lisa looked at him like he was crazy.
Lisa nodded and settled her hand tightly on his forearm. "You take the two in front, I'll take the two behind," she whispered. "I'm scared." Her hands tightened on his arm. He nodded his agreement. May God be with us, she said. She let her hands drop to her sides and turned to the two behind them.
"You sure you don't want to give up?" His voice was harder. He gritted his teeth. "Last time offered."
Branden swallowed hard.
He tried to sound sure of himself. "We're not beat yet." He wished he was as confident as he sounded.
Have it your way, then," the man said with finality. He started to come at them.
The man to his side started walking towards them. He had a depraved grin on his face. Branden could hear the men behind advancing. He was afraid. They were surrounded. They had no chance. None.
Time seemed to stop. The men kept advancing. And kept advancing. One swung a fist at Branden. Branden ducked, as the men behind grabbed Lisa.
Suddenly, there it was in Branden's mind, the attack from two weeks ago. The two men in front of him were no longer themselves but Trevor Blackwell and Damian Dimitri. Anger filled Branden's heart.
Suddenly, the men looked scared. As one of the men ran forward, Branden felt his back against the rock wall and hit both feet square in the man's chest. It knocked him clear of the path, into midair. the man's eyes went wide with surprise as he slammed into the rock wall on the other side and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
He turned to one of the men behind him and dropped him with a DDT onto the rock, busting him open and knocking him out. Before Branden could give it a thought, the leader ran past Branden and grabbed Lisa, holding her hostage. He hammered the heel of his hand into Branden's chest on his way past. The jolt knocked the wind out of him and flung him hard against the wall, smacking his head against the rock. As he fought to stay consious, all he saw was Damian Dimitri holding his wife hostage.
Summoning strength he didn't know he had, Branden snatched the leader by his husky wrist and spun him around. the man's fist suddenly headed towards him. It missed. There was a savage hunger in Branden's eyes. The man was afraid.
Suddenly, the other man came out of nowhere and tackled Branden.
Once again, Branden had the wind knocked out of him. The collision had been fierce. the two charged at Branden and he dropped them with a double X-Factor onto the rocks, knocking them both unconscious.
Branden stood stunned. He had won. They had won. Lisa's face had a faraway look. At least she was okay. He vowed to never let her train with him again.
He slumped down beside her. He had a powerful headache from having his head whacked on the wall. Branden could see she was all right, so he didn't ask. He was too ashamed that he let her participate to say anything. She noticed blood on the back of her hand and wiped it off on the wall. Branden was exausted from this training session.
He couldn't believe they had won. It didn't seem possible. He had never been that angry before. He had forgotten who the men really were and, in the heat of battle, actually believed that they were Trevor Blackwell and Damian Dimitri. He had never done anything like that before. He shuddered recalling it. Was he losing his mind? Had the attack two weeks ago made him crazy?
She leaned her head back against the rock, rolling it to the side, towards him. "That was scary. I never want to train with you again." She sighed. "Never again."
He felt about to cry. She looked like she did as well. he nodded his understanding.
"I'll never invite you to train with me again."
She looked at him. The light breeze carried wisps of hair across her face.
She smiled. "You handled those men like a pro." She looked at the men. She didn't seem to know what to say. Finally, she spoke. "You shouldn't have any problem with the Tag Match on Sunday, Branden."
Branden laughed at that. She looked at him, upset that he was laughing at her.
"I mean..." She looked like she was going to say something, but thought better of it. She looked back at him. "There were four of them. There will nly be two on Sunday."
He looked at her. "I wish that were true. I'm sure Kristina Blackwell will be there, too."
She smiled again. Her smile was closed mouth, not showing any teeth. It was also an unhappy smile. She knew it was true. It would be three on two, at the least.
Branden reached behind, felt the painful lump on the back of his head, and checked his fingers for blood. There was none. He started to think ahead to the match Sunday. Could he beat Damian Dimitri and Trevor Blackwell?
"Well, Lisa, I think I'm going to have to beat all three."
She looked at him. "Can you do that?"
"I hope so."
She got a sad look on her face. "Me too."
Branden shrugged. "We'll find out. At least I have a partner this time. I didn't last time. He smiled.
Lisa turned away. "That really scared me." Tears filled her eyes. "They beat the crap out of you. They could've...."
He felt the pain in her voice. You're not the only one," he said. "It was pinful and scary. That's why I have to get revenge."
She nodded. Branden looked out over the forest. He had grown up here. That had given him the advantage. He didn't have that advantage in the ring. He was a rookie. This would be his second match ever in pro wrestling. His opponents had the advantage in the ring. They had been wrestling longer than him. Especially Trevor Blackwell. He was the best of the best.
He gave Lisa a sideways glance. "Do you think I missed my calling? Should I have become a wrestler? Or should I have set my sights on something else?"
Lisa didn't meet his gaze. "Wrestling's what you've always wanted to do."
Branden knew that. He had wanted to be a wrestler since the age of four. His father hated the idea. But Branden had never faltered.
His father had tried to get him to become a carpenter. Or go to college.
"Lisa," he said, "I think you're right."
She didn't look at him, but nodded her agreement.
Branden got to his feet. His head hurt, his hand hurt, and now he realized his chest hurt where the man had hit him. To top it off he remembered he was hungry. Michael! He had forgotten about his cousin's party. The party was going on in Seattle, Washington. He was in Happy Valley, California. He was going to miss it.
He held his hand out to help Lisa up. She looked at him. He continued to hold his hand out. She took it and got up.
Branden smiled. "I have to call Michael and apologize for forgetting about his birthday party."
She looked down. "I don't like Michael anyway."
Branden started to feel angry, so he changed the subject.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes," she said.
He looked at her. "Me too. let's go to my dad's house." The men started to wake up. "I told you guys we hadn't lost yet. Better luck next time." He turned to Lisa again. "Lisa, do you really think I'm prepared for Sunday?"
Her face turned hard. "You're facing two of the best. You're new. You're...." She stopped herself again. "You're as prepared as you can be." She looked up at him. "You're better prepared than you were last time."
Branden was startled. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think. Dark, evil thoughts about Damian Dimitri started to swirl. He had to ask Lisa one more question before they started back to his father's house.
He looked hard into her eyes, expecting the truth this time. "Lisa, do you think I can win?"
She studied his face for a moment. "I'm not sure wrestling's for you."
Branden's skin went cold, and prickles bumped up along his arms in a wave that rolled up to the back of his neck, making the fine hairs there stand stiffly out. He felt angrier at her than he had ever been.
His own wife thought he should be doing something else. What could've made her believe that?
Damian Dimitri.
It was because of the attack orchastrated by Damian Dimitri. Branden would have to redeem himself this Sunday.
But first, he had to go get some food.
"Do you give up? We have you beat." The man's voice was deep, friendly. Nonetheless, the threat was clear. He removed his leather gloves and tucked them into his belt. He obviously didn't consider Branden an obstacle. The other three waited silently while he spoke.
Branden hadn't expected a situation like this. But he couldn't lose. If he lost to these men, how could he expect to beat Damian Dimitri and Trevor Blackwell. But these men weren't afraid of him. But Dimitri and Blackwell wouldn't be either.
Branden looked at Lisa to see if she was ready.
He looked at the man and responded to his question. "Never give up, never surrender."
Lisa looked at him like he was crazy.
Lisa nodded and settled her hand tightly on his forearm. "You take the two in front, I'll take the two behind," she whispered. "I'm scared." Her hands tightened on his arm. He nodded his agreement. May God be with us, she said. She let her hands drop to her sides and turned to the two behind them.
"You sure you don't want to give up?" His voice was harder. He gritted his teeth. "Last time offered."
Branden swallowed hard.
He tried to sound sure of himself. "We're not beat yet." He wished he was as confident as he sounded.
Have it your way, then," the man said with finality. He started to come at them.
The man to his side started walking towards them. He had a depraved grin on his face. Branden could hear the men behind advancing. He was afraid. They were surrounded. They had no chance. None.
Time seemed to stop. The men kept advancing. And kept advancing. One swung a fist at Branden. Branden ducked, as the men behind grabbed Lisa.
Suddenly, there it was in Branden's mind, the attack from two weeks ago. The two men in front of him were no longer themselves but Trevor Blackwell and Damian Dimitri. Anger filled Branden's heart.
Suddenly, the men looked scared. As one of the men ran forward, Branden felt his back against the rock wall and hit both feet square in the man's chest. It knocked him clear of the path, into midair. the man's eyes went wide with surprise as he slammed into the rock wall on the other side and slumped to the ground, unconscious.
He turned to one of the men behind him and dropped him with a DDT onto the rock, busting him open and knocking him out. Before Branden could give it a thought, the leader ran past Branden and grabbed Lisa, holding her hostage. He hammered the heel of his hand into Branden's chest on his way past. The jolt knocked the wind out of him and flung him hard against the wall, smacking his head against the rock. As he fought to stay consious, all he saw was Damian Dimitri holding his wife hostage.
Summoning strength he didn't know he had, Branden snatched the leader by his husky wrist and spun him around. the man's fist suddenly headed towards him. It missed. There was a savage hunger in Branden's eyes. The man was afraid.
Suddenly, the other man came out of nowhere and tackled Branden.
Once again, Branden had the wind knocked out of him. The collision had been fierce. the two charged at Branden and he dropped them with a double X-Factor onto the rocks, knocking them both unconscious.
Branden stood stunned. He had won. They had won. Lisa's face had a faraway look. At least she was okay. He vowed to never let her train with him again.
He slumped down beside her. He had a powerful headache from having his head whacked on the wall. Branden could see she was all right, so he didn't ask. He was too ashamed that he let her participate to say anything. She noticed blood on the back of her hand and wiped it off on the wall. Branden was exausted from this training session.
He couldn't believe they had won. It didn't seem possible. He had never been that angry before. He had forgotten who the men really were and, in the heat of battle, actually believed that they were Trevor Blackwell and Damian Dimitri. He had never done anything like that before. He shuddered recalling it. Was he losing his mind? Had the attack two weeks ago made him crazy?
She leaned her head back against the rock, rolling it to the side, towards him. "That was scary. I never want to train with you again." She sighed. "Never again."
He felt about to cry. She looked like she did as well. he nodded his understanding.
"I'll never invite you to train with me again."
She looked at him. The light breeze carried wisps of hair across her face.
She smiled. "You handled those men like a pro." She looked at the men. She didn't seem to know what to say. Finally, she spoke. "You shouldn't have any problem with the Tag Match on Sunday, Branden."
Branden laughed at that. She looked at him, upset that he was laughing at her.
"I mean..." She looked like she was going to say something, but thought better of it. She looked back at him. "There were four of them. There will nly be two on Sunday."
He looked at her. "I wish that were true. I'm sure Kristina Blackwell will be there, too."
She smiled again. Her smile was closed mouth, not showing any teeth. It was also an unhappy smile. She knew it was true. It would be three on two, at the least.
Branden reached behind, felt the painful lump on the back of his head, and checked his fingers for blood. There was none. He started to think ahead to the match Sunday. Could he beat Damian Dimitri and Trevor Blackwell?
"Well, Lisa, I think I'm going to have to beat all three."
She looked at him. "Can you do that?"
"I hope so."
She got a sad look on her face. "Me too."
Branden shrugged. "We'll find out. At least I have a partner this time. I didn't last time. He smiled.
Lisa turned away. "That really scared me." Tears filled her eyes. "They beat the crap out of you. They could've...."
He felt the pain in her voice. You're not the only one," he said. "It was pinful and scary. That's why I have to get revenge."
She nodded. Branden looked out over the forest. He had grown up here. That had given him the advantage. He didn't have that advantage in the ring. He was a rookie. This would be his second match ever in pro wrestling. His opponents had the advantage in the ring. They had been wrestling longer than him. Especially Trevor Blackwell. He was the best of the best.
He gave Lisa a sideways glance. "Do you think I missed my calling? Should I have become a wrestler? Or should I have set my sights on something else?"
Lisa didn't meet his gaze. "Wrestling's what you've always wanted to do."
Branden knew that. He had wanted to be a wrestler since the age of four. His father hated the idea. But Branden had never faltered.
His father had tried to get him to become a carpenter. Or go to college.
"Lisa," he said, "I think you're right."
She didn't look at him, but nodded her agreement.
Branden got to his feet. His head hurt, his hand hurt, and now he realized his chest hurt where the man had hit him. To top it off he remembered he was hungry. Michael! He had forgotten about his cousin's party. The party was going on in Seattle, Washington. He was in Happy Valley, California. He was going to miss it.
He held his hand out to help Lisa up. She looked at him. He continued to hold his hand out. She took it and got up.
Branden smiled. "I have to call Michael and apologize for forgetting about his birthday party."
She looked down. "I don't like Michael anyway."
Branden started to feel angry, so he changed the subject.
"Are you hungry?"
"Yes," she said.
He looked at her. "Me too. let's go to my dad's house." The men started to wake up. "I told you guys we hadn't lost yet. Better luck next time." He turned to Lisa again. "Lisa, do you really think I'm prepared for Sunday?"
Her face turned hard. "You're facing two of the best. You're new. You're...." She stopped herself again. "You're as prepared as you can be." She looked up at him. "You're better prepared than you were last time."
Branden was startled. He ran his fingers through his hair, trying to think. Dark, evil thoughts about Damian Dimitri started to swirl. He had to ask Lisa one more question before they started back to his father's house.
He looked hard into her eyes, expecting the truth this time. "Lisa, do you think I can win?"
She studied his face for a moment. "I'm not sure wrestling's for you."
Branden's skin went cold, and prickles bumped up along his arms in a wave that rolled up to the back of his neck, making the fine hairs there stand stiffly out. He felt angrier at her than he had ever been.
His own wife thought he should be doing something else. What could've made her believe that?
Damian Dimitri.
It was because of the attack orchastrated by Damian Dimitri. Branden would have to redeem himself this Sunday.
But first, he had to go get some food.
