Post by ryangraves on Jun 13, 2017 23:25:21 GMT
I’m not fighting myself, will not follow
'Cause my choices are mine, it's my fate
And I'll never bow down from the sorrow
I'll face all that is coming my way
The lying, the devil, the silence
Embracing the world on the edge
'Cause my choices are mine, it's my fate
And I'll never bow down from the sorrow
I'll face all that is coming my way
The lying, the devil, the silence
Embracing the world on the edge
****************************************
“Do you remember a movie from the ‘90s called Falling Down? It starred Michael Douglas as a guy who was tired of the way things worked and began acting out against them, usually with psychotic violence. That movie’s been on my mind a lot lately.”
“I’m the bad guy? How’d that happen?”
“Just because I voice my opinion and don’t back down from anyone. People say I should earn my stripes and shut up just because I am a rookie in Phoenix. Well, guess what that is fucking bullshit. You have a problem with what I say then do something about it!”
“But hearing people like Cassius Reed talk, you would think that I am the devil incarnate. Maybe I don’t do things the standard way. Maybe things have gotten a little darker than I anticipated. But that’s what happens in war. It’s not for the faint of heart.”
“So if Cassius wants to see himself as the noble hero then it is his funeral. He can cling to the old-fashioned view of honor and respect, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s on the wrong side of the line, which puts him in my sights.”
“It’s time to make things right. I don’t care that Cassius is the Rebirth Champion. I will do whatever it takes in our match, use any weapon available, to win another battle. That is how the world works now. I will make Cassius realize that he is underestimating me and that will be his downfall. His cockiness and arrogance will give me the opportunity that I need to show I am the real deal.”
“I always thought Michael Douglas was the hero in that movie. "Clear a path, motherfuckers. I’m going home.”
****************************************
Five Years Earlier
Location: New York City Club
Time: 10:30 PM
She hated going out. It was something that all of her friends knew, and very well respected. Every now and then she would give in, just like tonight. One of her closest friends, Florence Fallon, celebrated her birthday. They had entered this sticky club around three hours ago and she was already tired of it. Every now and then she would dance, but the truth was -- it bored her to death.
Returning to her table Gabriele Hellström had just raised her glass as it was snapped out of her hand. From behind someone had just bumped into her with a force that almost made her fall over. Considering Gabby was a skinny little thing, it didn’t take very much. When looking down her white shirt, annoyance was growing. Whirling around her blonde hair hit the ‘attacker’ in the face.
“Can’t you watch where you walk? You ruined my shirt… .”
The tall fella, Ryan Graves, was looking at her from head to toes. Instead of answering her he licked his lips, folding his arms in front of his chest. She hadn’t noticed it herself, but through the white tank, her breasts were showing. Her nipples sticking out from the cold sensation.
“Don’t you speak our language? Or are you just dumb?”
“Neither. I just enjoy the show.” In an amused manner, he pointed towards her chest. “You seem to be in rage, but then again you seem aroused as fuck too… weird mixture. Not that I mind the view.”
He smirks as she rolled her eyes before grabbing her bag, storming off. Missing the smile he gave her, staring after her.
“What a hellcat. I bet she is amazing in the sack!”
****************************************
“It’s easy to take what you have for granted.”
“You think what you’ve gained will always be there for you.”
“Money.”
“Respect.”
“Prestige.”
“Family.”
“You might spend time considering all the things that you don’t have, but few people really take a moment to appreciate everything they do have.”
“Those living in a small apartment, living off of frozen dinners they picked up at half-price at Wal-Mart, might talk about how nice it would be to be one of those families that can eat fresh meat and afford the finest things in life. But they don’t think about how they could be living on the street, dining out of trash cans and never knowing where they will be staying the next night. Roofs are highly underrated by most homeowners.”
“I have been there. When I ran away from home to get away from my father’s fists, I spent many months moving from place to place. Sometimes I got lucky and could catch a nap in the bus station. Other times I would be fortunate not to be sleeping out in the rain. When I was in school, stealing was a crime. On the street, it became a necessity. Survival of the fittest? More like survival of the fastest.”
“When you’ve been to that place and managed to survive, you have a whole new outlook on life. You still want the finer things, but you appreciate each step up you make. I am proud to have made it to where I am today, but I have not forgotten where I came from.”
“I am used to adversity. Maybe this is all a plan by President Rodrick, to try and starve me out or otherwise weaken me for Redemption. Maybe not. It doesn’t have the stench of Slaine on it since I doubt he is intelligent enough to pull something like this off. But Cassius? He might be another story. I know he is slippery as a snake. Could he pull something like this off, while hiding under the guise of an honorable warrior?”
“I will give him credit for being a good fighter. He did defeat Aurora to win that Rebirth Championship, so he’s earned that much. But I may be overlooking the mental aspect of Cassius Reed. He may be more devious than I give him credit for. What if he’s got a plan in place, and has Slaine’s backing behind him to make it work?”
“Not that it will make a difference to me. Whoever is doing this, whatever their motives, they are facing a man who has lived on the street before. I’ve been at the bottom; I’ve been at the top and all points in-between. They may think this will slow me down, but I will still be 100 percent when I head to Redemption 109, and I will come out victorious.”
“I may not smell the same come Tuesday night, that’s true. But I will look the same, unlike the Iron King.”
“Another wrestler’s fall is coming.”
****************************************
Five Years Earlier
90 Minutes Later
They left. And while she could have been upset about it -- she really wasn’t. Knowing they would hop from club to club. Gabby excused herself and now waited outside for a cab. Like in every bad movie it had just started to rain. Taking a few steps away from the exit she heard a noise. At first trying to ignore, but then she heard it again.
Being curious by nature she walked closer into the dark alley. Her inner voice telling her it was stupid, but something made her keep going. From afar she spotted two men standing over something -- or someone. Kicking. Using their fists. Her appearance didn’t go unnoticed, one of them looked at her.
“Get lost honey… this is none of your business.”
“I would do so… but unfortunately, the police will be here in about thirty seconds. So if anyone shall get lost, it's you guys.” Her voice was full of authority. Very untypical. “Twenty-five seconds… .”
One of them was ready and willing to argue, but the other looked caught off guard. They exchanged a few words in a different language, cursing mostly. Gabby was tipping against her watch, watching them leave. Neither of them looked at her again, leaving the scenario. Her big, blue eyes finally falling on the ‘victim’, a certain someone she had laid eyes on before. Without wanting it she felt a little sting, seeing him like that.
“I am fine hellcat… .”
One of her eyebrows raised when she finally was next to him. Kneeling down in the dirt, checking his already swollen face. Her small hand reached out, running her fingertips over the wounds. It was fascinating in some way.
“Some of your friends?” She asked in a playful tone.
“Yeah. We play that game every once in awhile. It is highly amusing, wouldn’t you agree?”
Idiot. She thought to herself but couldn’t help the smile. Showing one of her arms under his arm she raised him up. With more strength than he probably had expected.
“You ain’t a serial killer, are you?” She asked out of the blue.
He laughed. Against the pain, Ryan laughed hard.
“If I was… you think I would just tell you?”
****************************************
“There is nothing like the pain of breaking one of your bones.”
“These are the structures that you take for granted, the ones that hold your body together and keep you upright. Everyone abuses them in one way or another. Some gain too much weight, becoming fat-asses and putting a tremendous strain on their poor bones. Some just don’t take care of them properly, ignoring twinges and aches until the fracture grows, becoming a major issue.”
“And then you have professional wrestlers. Hospitals should have whole wings dedicated to us, considering how much money we’ve given them through the years.”
“The funny thing is, even after all the beatings my father gave me and even after living my life on the street, where anything could happen, I’d been lucky enough to avoid a major hospital stay. Sure, part of that is because my dear old dad didn’t want a record of my ‘accidents’ at the hospital, but mainly I was blessed with a good constitution and healthy bones.”
“I sit with the top wrestlers in Phoenix Wrestling.”
“You see, Cassius, it took a hell of a lot of work to get to where I am today. I dragged my ass from near death when a lesser man might have laid down and given up. I was broken, beaten, devastated. But I survived. No challenge thrown in front of me since has come close to where I’ve come from. So if you think I will be intimidated by the sight of you waiting for me inside the ring, just because you are Iron King and Rebirth Champion, you need to think again.”
“I can show you all the respect in the world for your accomplishments in Phoenix, for who you’ve beaten and who you’ve survived. You shocked the world when you won the Iron King tournament as an outsider. I don’t deny any of this. But at the same time, I don’t fear you. I see you as another test being put in front of me.”
“Maybe President Slaine tries to rig things against me, to your advantage. Maybe you even get lucky and get yourself up on those ropes at one point. But that’s as far as it will go. I have trained all my life to get to where I am today. I am at my peak, and you are far from yours. Maybe you need your own hospital stay, to help you put your life into perspective. Then again, you’ve already been there, haven’t you?”
“You may very well be going back. Stepping in the ring with me is truly unforgiving. You will witness just how tough the Tyrant of Pandemonium is. But go ahead doubt me everyone else on this roster isn’t giving me a chance to beat you but I like it that way. Doubt me so when I defeat you the look on people’s faces will be…”
“Priceless!"
"The Era of Pandemonium Will Continue!”
