Post by Jackson White on Mar 31, 2015 19:17:38 GMT -5
26th August of 1191
The snow is intense and there isn’t almost any visibility. The risk of avalanche is very high and the temperature is below 0ºC. There is a man climbing a famous mountain in Portugal, named “Serra da Estrela” which name is something similar to “Star’s Mountain”. He is wearing lots of clothes that were used in that time and is having a lot of difficulty in breathing. He slowly gets to the top of the mountain as the wind blows really hard against his face. He lies down for a few seconds but quickly tries to get up as he sees a very old man sitting in a white throne. The elderly man has long white hair and beard. His eyes are blue and he looks older than time itself. The young man approaches him a little scared but at the same time satisfied to finally reach his goal. They were speaking in an ancestral Portuguese dialect.
Young man: I was sent by the king, D. Sancho I, blessed be his name. The gods have been whispering this place is holy and that you have the prophecy of the Portuguese hero that will save the Portuguese people.
The old man looked surprised. Nobody has ever had the courage to climb that mountain. He got up with the help of the throne and started to walk really slowly while talking.
Old man: Many men have tried to climb the “Star’s Mountain”. Some believed I kept the secret to immortality, others the meaning of life, others were just looking for fame and glory and wanted to be the first man to find the “Mage of the Mountain” as people used to call me. But you came here for different reasons, didn’t you? You are humble, you’re brave and you’re determined. You are focused on your goals and you do anything you can to get what you want.
Young man: You’re right…
Old man: After living so many years it gets easier to read people’s minds. So tell me boy, what does that phoenix on your chest represent?
The young man looked down. On his coat there was an emblem with a phoenix.
Young man: It’s my family’s symbol. The phoenix means renewal and self-heal. Those are my family’s values, we believe we only depend on ourselves to go through the difficulties we face.
Old man: I suppose you believe in resurrection then…
Young man: Well, I am faithful to all the gods. I believe in everything they say.
Old man: Let me tell you something my dear boy. Most of the things people say about me are true. I am a mage, I have strong powers and I am more discerning than any common human being. However, I am not immortal. There is only one thing that can kill me and it’s right here.
Young man: Me? I don’t understand…
Old man: The gods whisper to me too… They said “The day the first man reaches the top of the mountain is the day you die.”
Young man: I can’t kill you… I need you to tell me who is the Portuguese savior.
The old man pulled out a sword and delivered it to the young man. It was shining, like a diamond. The boy felt a strong power as he grabbed it with his right hand.
Old man: You’re the chosen one, boy. You should feel honored.
Young man: The chosen one? What do you mean? The king only chose me because I won a fight against five other men. He believed I was strong enough to deliver the message to you.
Old man: Like I said, the gods whisper to me regularly. They chose you to put a final mark on my life for now. The gods’ will shall be fulfilled or massive destruction will come to the Earth.
Young man: I don’t have any choice then, do I?
Old man: You don’t.
Young man: Can I at least now who is “The Wanted One” so I can tell my king?
Old man: Of course, but it won’t matter.
Young man: Why?
Old man: “After the Chosen One kills you the eight gods will merge into only one. Each god represents one hundred years that will pass. Both of your souls will be sent to the future with two different purposes.”
Young man: I don’t understand…
Old man: I’m not over yet. “Your fate is to guide The Chosen One to save his country.”
Young man: Does that mean what I am thinking? That can’t be true…
Old man: Yes, my boy. You’re your country’s savior. But you can’t tell it to your king. It’s time for you to resurrect in another period.
Young man: What about my family? I can’t do this to my mom… She will be shattered.
Old man: It’s for a greater good, my dear boy. If you don’t do this it will be worse. You will see things you can’t imagine: monsters, demons, all the evil beings will walk through this planet. The things the gods write always have to happen or they punish the humans. Come on, use the sword I gave you. Save your country, save the humanity.
The boy nodded and the sword went through the old man’s heart. The earth started to shake and the sky’s blue turned into eight different colors. The young man looked at that whole scene, astonished. Suddenly, loud noises started to destroy the boy’s ears. The whole mountain was falling apart and he was going down with it. As he was falling he could hear the gods telling him that it was time to burn and reborn. It all turned black after that.
Nowadays
Jackson is on his house in New York. He is on his couch watching TV. His house is clean and is not very big, only the room where Jackson practices for his matches is really huge. There are lots of photos of “The Fenix” with his parents, especially his father. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jackson got up and quickly opened the door. He should have looked to see who was knocking first, because Carl entered his apartment punching the Portuguese wrestler in the nose and closing the door. Jackson fell on the ground and Call tossed himself over White punching him.
Carl: It was your fault!
Jackson managed to hold Carl’s hand and raked his eyes. Carl screamed in agony and got up while grabbing his eyes. Jackson grabbed the big man’s head and threw it against the wall. After that he put Carl on the floor and punched him furiously many times until he was almost unconscious. Jackson picked up his mobile phone and called Matt. He said he was going as fast as possible. Jackson tied Carl’s hands and after a few minutes Matt and Doug arrived. Carl was in really bad shape.
Matt: I can see why you’re a good wrestler. Look at his face!
Doug: I wouldn’t have been able to beat him the way you did, man. Congratulations.
Jackson: Just take him out of here I don’t want to look at this disgusting sample of a human being.
Doug grabbed Carl and put him out of Jackson’s house.
Doug (leaving): I’ll be waiting in the car, chief.
Matt: Thank you Doug.
Jackson: What are you going to do with him?
Matt: The rules in The Dragons are simple: You betray the crew, you die.
Jackson: Your group’s rules are a little aggressive.
Matt: Yes, they are, but that way we guarantee that things like this don’t happen often.
Jackson: Look, Matt, I know you’re just continuing what your father started but don’t you think you should leave your dishonest life? That’s dangerous man… Your family may get hurt…
Matt: Look, everything’s fine. I have deals with many gangs in New York and usually my employees deal with those matters for me. The issues with the NY Kings are getting fixed and they were just lucky that Carl was giving information to them.
Jackson: Be careful Matt. Think about Sarah. Don’t you want to have kids with her?
Matt: Yes, I do Jackson but right now I am too busy to have a child. I have a lot of stuff to do at work and I have many things to deal with The Dragons.
Jackson: So what’s more important, your career or your family? You’ve got to think about it Matt… Don’t ignore Sarah, she loves you a lot.
Matt: Don’t you think I love her too?
Jackson: I know you love her…
Matt: Then why the fuck are you saying that?
Jackson: I just think you’re ignoring Sarah… You’re being too egocentric… You only think about work and your gang, nothing else. That’s bad for you…
Matt: That’s bad for me? Are you fucking kidding me Jackson? You’re a mess and you’re saying that’s bad for me! Don’t you see how ridiculous that is? You’re obsessed about finding your dad’s killer since he died and you didn’t let it go for a second. You’re risking your life every single day to find that man and you’re worried about what’s best for me? Are you stupid?
Jackson: Hey! I am just protecting you and my cousin. And I know my mind is not very stable right now, ok? But you don’t know what it feels like, Matt…
Matt: Oh my god, stop being such a pussy.
Jackson: Calm the fuck down.
Matt: I won’t calm down Jackson. You don’t have the right to tell me I should stop working just because that harms me. You’re destroying yourself too. And I am protecting Sarah by doing this, trust me.
Jackson: How? How the hell are you protecting her by dealing drugs and killing people? You’re an evil man Matt, that’s the fucking truth.
Matt slaps Jackson on his face.
Matt: That’s the last time you talk to me like that.
Matt leaves Jackson’s house, leaving him stunned. Jackson couldn’t believe his best friend had just slapped him. He knew he was right. Matt was putting himself and his family in danger.
Jackson (thinking): It’s just a matter of time until something bad happens…
Jackson let it go for a while. Explosion was just a few days ahead and Jackson needed to be at his maximum form to beat Grime and Mikey for the TV Title. He had to study his opponents really carefully to win the match. Fenix knew that was the only way he could leave Chicago with the belt. He started to study Mikey Extreme since he fought on his side on his last match at Slam so he watched some of his past matches.
Jackson: Thank god I don’t have to fight with this lunatic on my corner. He was always talking with some guy named “Doc”. It was annoying me so much that I even thought about leaving him alone on the ring and go backstage. It would be better for me, that way I wouldn’t get pinned. But it doesn’t matter now. All I have to do this time is calculate every single move I make and pay more attention to my opponents so I can dodge or reverse their attacks. The best strategy against Extreme is probably to threat Doc… Maybe I can persuade him to lie down on the ring and let me cover him or I beat the crap out of his mentor. How the fuck is he a professional wrestler? An insane dude like him should be in an asylum, not wrestling against some of the best athletes in the world. However, he has some similarities with me, he watched his parents dying and he drinks to forget his problems. The thing is that he is a crazy man, I am not. He lives without accepting the truth on the contrary of me. I am pretty aware of what happens to me and I accept the bad things that happen. I don’t lie to myself. When I lose a match I try to improve what I did wrongly in the past. That’s what I’m doing right now… When my dad passed away, I didn’t try to deny what happened... He just prefers to live deluded and it erodes his mind. He will be an easy target to eliminate from the Triple Threat. I just have to mess with his emotional side and he will be so distracted he won’t do anything relevant in the match. Even if I don’t do this, why I am so worried about Mikey Extreme? What did he achieve in WCF since he joined it? He won a few matches but besides that he’s just another head floating in the ocean dreaming with a belt he’s never going to have. Well, at least while I’m fighting for it. This is his first title shot, I’ve already had two. On his debut match, he eliminated all his opponents on his own, but I fought with impressive performances great names like Kaz Mazy, Dune and Occulo. He just battled against some jobbers that never appeared again on WCF. Besides that, I’m more experienced than he is! I just have to be at my maximum form and Mikey Extreme Crazy won’t be a threat. He is even part of Thomas Bates’s motorcycle gang! It’s so ridiculous! They look like children playing, pretending they are the Sons of Anarchy. Great TV show, awful wrestling stable.
Jackson got up and opened his fridge. It was full of beers and food. He grabbed one beer, opened it and took a sip. He then watched a few matches of Grime.
Jackson: Even though this guy is a cocky asshole I can’t underestimate him. He beat Joey Flash, one of the best TV Champions ever! But he is being arrogant and that won’t help him. He thinks I’m nobody but I have to proof that I am the best newcomer on WCF. I will leave all the anxiety and all my imperfections aside when I step on that ring and I am simply going to devote my energy to win the TV Title. I deserve that for god’s sake! A man that disrespects a WCF belt like Grime should be fired. How does he dare to do something like that? Some of the best wrestlers in this company held the TV Championship when they first joined this company and he vacates the title just because he “wants to teach some guys a lesson”? That makes no fucking sense and it makes so angry that I want to explode. Maybe he needs a lesson and he will get one. My father used to say that he who wants everything, loses everything. After Explosion he’ll just be the man who ended Joey Flash’s streak and left WCF because he was a little bitch. He looks like a girl whose daddy is so rich that she is never satisfied with anything. Guess what, Grime, the foreigner will destroy you and steal the belt from you. I’ll elevate my country’s fame and glory by being the first Portuguese champion in the history of the best wrestling company in the Universe. You’re done after the match, you should quit wrestling and continuing to help the cops finding your boyfriend’s murderer since they are so incompetent they can’t do it on their own. I don’t fucking understand the police, honestly. A prisoner dies and they do all they have on their reach to find his killer. My dad, a good man, dies and they just tell me there weren’t enough evidence to find the murderer. That’s not fair, Grime. Is your friend more important than my dad? Is a criminal more important than a humble and honest man? No! Of course not!
Jackson ended up his beer, got up and took another one from the fridge. Even though he had a match on Sunday he didn’t care. He had to get drunk. It was one of the ways to run from the monotony of his daily routine.
Jackson: Oh, so you’re a rider too, Grime. Don’t you want to join Mikey and Bates on their Sons of Anarchy imitation? Of course you don’t. You think you’re better than them, don’t you? I understand why you feel that way… You were nobody and that gym saved your life. It gave you a purpose. It thought you how to fight and made you stronger. When you finally joined a wrestling company, you discovered you were pretty good at it. You won a few matches, you slowly became famous and then it happened the best thing it could have happened to you: you won a title. That’s the only thing in which you’re better than me, you’ve already got gold. But you didn’t do anything impressive besides that. You beat Mikey Extreme which is something pretty casual to do, you beat Doc Henry, nothing extraordinary and oh my god! You beat BioWalker! How did you do that? That was probably the hardest match on your small career.
Jackson threw the beer to the ground and it made a huge noise. There were glasses all over the living room’s floor. Jackson stood still with a really serious look on his face. He was calm, even after breaking a beer bottle.
Jackson: I’m done with losing. I’m done with being insulted by every single American. Every time a WCF fan faces me on the street he mocks me and tells me I suck. At XIII nobody expected me to win against the WCF’s veterans, at Explosion no one believes I am going to win the Television Title, but I will. (Screaming and more agitated) I’ll make my country proud by being the first Portuguese wrestler to conquer gold in an American wrestling company. Every single newspaper will be talking about how Jackson White managed to beat Grime and Mikey Extreme at Explosion. Every single Portuguese television channel will be mentioning my name. It’s my job to make Portugal famous and great again, like we were in the past. I was born to do this, I feel it. It’s my fate to save my country.
Jackson White’s phone started to rang. It was Sarah, his cousin. She was married to his friend Matt. Fenix picked up his phone.
Jackson: Hi Sarah.
Sarah (whispering): Jackson you’ve got to help me… Some men broke into my house and they are searching the place… I’m hidden but they may be able to find me… Help me please…
Jackson: I’m going! Just hang on!
Jackson left his house in a hurry. Sarah and Matt’s house was really close to Jackson’s. He started to run through the street.
Jackson (thinking): If this has something to do with Matt I don’t know what I’m going to do to him… Hold on Sarah, I’m coming…
Jackson finally arrived Sarah’s house. The front door was opened. He slowly got in but he didn’t hear anything. He entered the kitchen and noticed all the cabinets’ doors were opened. He checked the living room and the toilet and they were empty. It was obvious they were not looking for things, but for Sarah, since the whole house was still tidy, just some doors were opened. He went upstairs and started to call for Sarah. Nobody answered. He checked every single division and didn’t find anyone.
Jackson: Fuck, they got her…
Jackson picked his phone and called Matt. It called for a while but Matt wasn’t answering. He was probably dealing with Carl that was too busy to answer his wife and his best friend. He called for five or six times, but his friend wasn’t still answering. Jackson was desperate. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t call the cops because it could have something to do with the rivalry between The Dragons and The NY Kings and it could lead to Matt being arrested, he couldn’t talk to Matt since he didn’t answer his phone so he left the house and went looking in the streets of New York for someone of The Dragons or The NY Kings. He walked for a long time but he couldn’t find anyone. Finally, Matt called Jackson.
Matt: What?
Jackson: Matt, they found Sarah.
Matt: What happened?!
Jackson: Sarah called me saying there were men searching for something on your house and I went there and nobody was home. I bet the NY Kings took Sarah.
Matt: Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! (Talking to someone else besides Jackson) See?! This is your fault! They took my wife you fucking miserable piece of shit! (Sounds of punches and kicks)
Jackson: Matt?!
Matt: I’m going to contact someone from The Kings and make a deal or something… I can’t believe they took my girl…
Jackson: What can I do to help?
Matt: Nothing, you’ve already done too much… Just go home and rest Jackson…
Jackson: Are you fucking kidding me? She is my cousin! I’ve got to do something more to help…
Matt: Look, there’s nothing you can do now. I don’t want you to have any more trouble. Just go home Jackson, please…
Jackson: I won’t go home. I’ll have a little chat with Mad Sam’s friend. I know where he lives.
Matt: Jackson, this is a dangerous situation, just go home!
Jackson: I’ll update you after talking to him.
Jackson hung up the phone and called a cab to the stoner’s house. After a few minutes he arrived and knocked the door. He then heard two people talking inside.
Person 1: It’s a white guy.
Person 2: What the fuck? Is he a cop?
Person 1: I don’t know man… I won’t open it.
Person 2: Hide the weed…
After a few seconds, the stoner opened the door.
Stoner: Yes?
Jackson punched the stoner and entered the house. He closed the door and started to punch him many times. His friend came to help him but Jackson kicked him in the belly and applied The Destroyer on the floor. The stoner tried to run but Jackson grabbed his head and hit him against a cabinet.
Jackson: You’re gonna tell me everything you know about The NY Kings. Where do they usually hide people?!
Stoner: I don’t know man! I swear! I hang out with Sam sometimes but he doesn’t tell me anything about the gang!
Jackson: You’re lying!
Jackson punched him hard again and he started to bleed. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife.
Jackson: You’ve got one chance to tell me something useful or I’ll cut your fucking throat.
Stoner (crying): Please man, don’t kill me… I swear, I don’t know anything…
Stoner’s friend: Don’t do anything, please… He is telling the truth… But I know something that may help you…
Jackson: What?
Stoner’s friend: Sam has a warehouse three blocks away from here… You may find something in there…
Jackson: If you’re lying you’re fucked with me…
Jackson left the house but kept the knife he started to run to that warehouse and called Matt at the same time.
Jackson: Matt I found out that Mad Sam as warehouse near the Central Bar. I’m heading there.
Matt: Jackson I told you to go home… Fuck… I’m heading there as well… Wait for me! Don’t do anything stupid!
Jackson: Just hurry up…
Jackson arrived the warehouse and tried to open the front door. It was locked so he did a little noise trying to break it. He couldn’t do it, so he went around trying to find a way to get in. He found a little opening in a wall so he entered it. He saw Sarah sitting in a chair with some cloth stopping her from talking and her hands tied up. She was crying and shaking his head to Jackson, as warning him not to come. Suddenly, Mad Sam and another black guy showed up pointing two guns at Jackson.
Samuel: So we meet again white piece of crap.
Jackson: If you kill me you’ll regret it… I’m a famous wrestler… People will be looking for me…
Samuel: I don’t fucking care about wrestling…
The black guy whispered something on Sam’s ear and they started to have a discussion. Jackson noticed they were distracted and ran to them, trying to attack Sam. The black guy realized it and hit Jackson with the pistol, leaving him on the ground.
Samuel: If I were you I would stay really quiet.
Suddenly, a smoke grenade was thrown through the small opening. Jackson couldn’t see anything for a few seconds but when he smoke disappeared he saw Matt and Doug kicking Samuel and the black guy.
Matt: Jackson! Take Sarah away from here!
Jackson untied his cousin and both of them ran from the warehouse. Sarah hugged Jackson, crying.
Jackson: Are you alright?
Sarah: Yes… Thank you Jackson…
Jackson: It’s over now… Everything’s fine…
Just when Jackson stopped talking they heard two shots. What had just happen there?
Sarah: Matt… Please be alive…
Matt and Doug left the warehouse. They were alive. Sarah ran to her husband and they kissed and hugged. Doug came to Jackson and shook his hand.
Doug: Thank you, Jackson. You don’t belong to The Dragons but you’re certainly a great help.
Jackson: I just did this for my cousin. I hate what your crew does.
Doug: It doesn’t matter why you did it. You helped us. Thank you.
Matt: Doug, call Richard and clean that mess.
Doug: Right away, boss.
Matt: Sarah, go to the car honey, we’ll go home soon. Let me just talk to Jackson.
Jackson slapped Matt on his face really hard and started to scream at him.
Jackson: This is your fucking fault, Matt. It’s not Carl’s fault, it’s not Mad Sam’s fault. It’s yours. You’re the reason Sarah went through this. Why can’t you just live an honest life? Why do you have to follow your father’s steps?
Matt: You don’t understand Jackson…
Jackson: You’re right, Matt. I don’t.
Matt: So what I do some bad things? You’re no different than me. Your work is to fight people.
Jackson: There is no possible comparison! Wrestling is a sport, everything’s legal! I mean, of course sometimes I cheat, but I don’t kill people! I don’t sell drugs either… Your gang does all of those things. And you put your wife’s life in danger! She has nothing to do with all of this… Think about this, Matt. Stop being an evil man.
Jackson left the place, leaving Matt with his hands on his head. He called a taxi and went home. He needed to rest it had been a really long day. Besides that, he needed to be ready for his match on Explosion. It was, probably, one of the most important matches he was going to have since he joined WCF.
Jackson (thinking): I know you’ll be watching for me, dad. I’ve been working hard to achieve great things on WCF and you’re one of the main reasons why I joined this company. I’ve learnt how to fight so I can teach a lesson to your killer and I’ve been a little more cheered up than I was a few months ago. Mom and Matt were right, I was too obsessed with you… I still am though… But wrestling helps me a lot, father. You know it does! You’re not the only thing I think about every single second anymore. I’ll bring the TV Title home and I’ll dedicate it to you and to all the Portuguese people. I am my country’s savior, dad. You’re mine. I needed you here… I just wished this was just a nightmare... But I am aware this is reality I am not like Mikey Extreme. And when I win the Television Championship I’ll not be like Grime. I’ll honor the belt and defend it with integrity. I was born to be a champion, it wasn’t just the time until now. This is the time for me to shine, father.
The snow is intense and there isn’t almost any visibility. The risk of avalanche is very high and the temperature is below 0ºC. There is a man climbing a famous mountain in Portugal, named “Serra da Estrela” which name is something similar to “Star’s Mountain”. He is wearing lots of clothes that were used in that time and is having a lot of difficulty in breathing. He slowly gets to the top of the mountain as the wind blows really hard against his face. He lies down for a few seconds but quickly tries to get up as he sees a very old man sitting in a white throne. The elderly man has long white hair and beard. His eyes are blue and he looks older than time itself. The young man approaches him a little scared but at the same time satisfied to finally reach his goal. They were speaking in an ancestral Portuguese dialect.
Young man: I was sent by the king, D. Sancho I, blessed be his name. The gods have been whispering this place is holy and that you have the prophecy of the Portuguese hero that will save the Portuguese people.
The old man looked surprised. Nobody has ever had the courage to climb that mountain. He got up with the help of the throne and started to walk really slowly while talking.
Old man: Many men have tried to climb the “Star’s Mountain”. Some believed I kept the secret to immortality, others the meaning of life, others were just looking for fame and glory and wanted to be the first man to find the “Mage of the Mountain” as people used to call me. But you came here for different reasons, didn’t you? You are humble, you’re brave and you’re determined. You are focused on your goals and you do anything you can to get what you want.
Young man: You’re right…
Old man: After living so many years it gets easier to read people’s minds. So tell me boy, what does that phoenix on your chest represent?
The young man looked down. On his coat there was an emblem with a phoenix.
Young man: It’s my family’s symbol. The phoenix means renewal and self-heal. Those are my family’s values, we believe we only depend on ourselves to go through the difficulties we face.
Old man: I suppose you believe in resurrection then…
Young man: Well, I am faithful to all the gods. I believe in everything they say.
Old man: Let me tell you something my dear boy. Most of the things people say about me are true. I am a mage, I have strong powers and I am more discerning than any common human being. However, I am not immortal. There is only one thing that can kill me and it’s right here.
Young man: Me? I don’t understand…
Old man: The gods whisper to me too… They said “The day the first man reaches the top of the mountain is the day you die.”
Young man: I can’t kill you… I need you to tell me who is the Portuguese savior.
The old man pulled out a sword and delivered it to the young man. It was shining, like a diamond. The boy felt a strong power as he grabbed it with his right hand.
Old man: You’re the chosen one, boy. You should feel honored.
Young man: The chosen one? What do you mean? The king only chose me because I won a fight against five other men. He believed I was strong enough to deliver the message to you.
Old man: Like I said, the gods whisper to me regularly. They chose you to put a final mark on my life for now. The gods’ will shall be fulfilled or massive destruction will come to the Earth.
Young man: I don’t have any choice then, do I?
Old man: You don’t.
Young man: Can I at least now who is “The Wanted One” so I can tell my king?
Old man: Of course, but it won’t matter.
Young man: Why?
Old man: “After the Chosen One kills you the eight gods will merge into only one. Each god represents one hundred years that will pass. Both of your souls will be sent to the future with two different purposes.”
Young man: I don’t understand…
Old man: I’m not over yet. “Your fate is to guide The Chosen One to save his country.”
Young man: Does that mean what I am thinking? That can’t be true…
Old man: Yes, my boy. You’re your country’s savior. But you can’t tell it to your king. It’s time for you to resurrect in another period.
Young man: What about my family? I can’t do this to my mom… She will be shattered.
Old man: It’s for a greater good, my dear boy. If you don’t do this it will be worse. You will see things you can’t imagine: monsters, demons, all the evil beings will walk through this planet. The things the gods write always have to happen or they punish the humans. Come on, use the sword I gave you. Save your country, save the humanity.
The boy nodded and the sword went through the old man’s heart. The earth started to shake and the sky’s blue turned into eight different colors. The young man looked at that whole scene, astonished. Suddenly, loud noises started to destroy the boy’s ears. The whole mountain was falling apart and he was going down with it. As he was falling he could hear the gods telling him that it was time to burn and reborn. It all turned black after that.
Nowadays
Jackson is on his house in New York. He is on his couch watching TV. His house is clean and is not very big, only the room where Jackson practices for his matches is really huge. There are lots of photos of “The Fenix” with his parents, especially his father. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Jackson got up and quickly opened the door. He should have looked to see who was knocking first, because Carl entered his apartment punching the Portuguese wrestler in the nose and closing the door. Jackson fell on the ground and Call tossed himself over White punching him.
Carl: It was your fault!
Jackson managed to hold Carl’s hand and raked his eyes. Carl screamed in agony and got up while grabbing his eyes. Jackson grabbed the big man’s head and threw it against the wall. After that he put Carl on the floor and punched him furiously many times until he was almost unconscious. Jackson picked up his mobile phone and called Matt. He said he was going as fast as possible. Jackson tied Carl’s hands and after a few minutes Matt and Doug arrived. Carl was in really bad shape.
Matt: I can see why you’re a good wrestler. Look at his face!
Doug: I wouldn’t have been able to beat him the way you did, man. Congratulations.
Jackson: Just take him out of here I don’t want to look at this disgusting sample of a human being.
Doug grabbed Carl and put him out of Jackson’s house.
Doug (leaving): I’ll be waiting in the car, chief.
Matt: Thank you Doug.
Jackson: What are you going to do with him?
Matt: The rules in The Dragons are simple: You betray the crew, you die.
Jackson: Your group’s rules are a little aggressive.
Matt: Yes, they are, but that way we guarantee that things like this don’t happen often.
Jackson: Look, Matt, I know you’re just continuing what your father started but don’t you think you should leave your dishonest life? That’s dangerous man… Your family may get hurt…
Matt: Look, everything’s fine. I have deals with many gangs in New York and usually my employees deal with those matters for me. The issues with the NY Kings are getting fixed and they were just lucky that Carl was giving information to them.
Jackson: Be careful Matt. Think about Sarah. Don’t you want to have kids with her?
Matt: Yes, I do Jackson but right now I am too busy to have a child. I have a lot of stuff to do at work and I have many things to deal with The Dragons.
Jackson: So what’s more important, your career or your family? You’ve got to think about it Matt… Don’t ignore Sarah, she loves you a lot.
Matt: Don’t you think I love her too?
Jackson: I know you love her…
Matt: Then why the fuck are you saying that?
Jackson: I just think you’re ignoring Sarah… You’re being too egocentric… You only think about work and your gang, nothing else. That’s bad for you…
Matt: That’s bad for me? Are you fucking kidding me Jackson? You’re a mess and you’re saying that’s bad for me! Don’t you see how ridiculous that is? You’re obsessed about finding your dad’s killer since he died and you didn’t let it go for a second. You’re risking your life every single day to find that man and you’re worried about what’s best for me? Are you stupid?
Jackson: Hey! I am just protecting you and my cousin. And I know my mind is not very stable right now, ok? But you don’t know what it feels like, Matt…
Matt: Oh my god, stop being such a pussy.
Jackson: Calm the fuck down.
Matt: I won’t calm down Jackson. You don’t have the right to tell me I should stop working just because that harms me. You’re destroying yourself too. And I am protecting Sarah by doing this, trust me.
Jackson: How? How the hell are you protecting her by dealing drugs and killing people? You’re an evil man Matt, that’s the fucking truth.
Matt slaps Jackson on his face.
Matt: That’s the last time you talk to me like that.
Matt leaves Jackson’s house, leaving him stunned. Jackson couldn’t believe his best friend had just slapped him. He knew he was right. Matt was putting himself and his family in danger.
Jackson (thinking): It’s just a matter of time until something bad happens…
Jackson let it go for a while. Explosion was just a few days ahead and Jackson needed to be at his maximum form to beat Grime and Mikey for the TV Title. He had to study his opponents really carefully to win the match. Fenix knew that was the only way he could leave Chicago with the belt. He started to study Mikey Extreme since he fought on his side on his last match at Slam so he watched some of his past matches.
Jackson: Thank god I don’t have to fight with this lunatic on my corner. He was always talking with some guy named “Doc”. It was annoying me so much that I even thought about leaving him alone on the ring and go backstage. It would be better for me, that way I wouldn’t get pinned. But it doesn’t matter now. All I have to do this time is calculate every single move I make and pay more attention to my opponents so I can dodge or reverse their attacks. The best strategy against Extreme is probably to threat Doc… Maybe I can persuade him to lie down on the ring and let me cover him or I beat the crap out of his mentor. How the fuck is he a professional wrestler? An insane dude like him should be in an asylum, not wrestling against some of the best athletes in the world. However, he has some similarities with me, he watched his parents dying and he drinks to forget his problems. The thing is that he is a crazy man, I am not. He lives without accepting the truth on the contrary of me. I am pretty aware of what happens to me and I accept the bad things that happen. I don’t lie to myself. When I lose a match I try to improve what I did wrongly in the past. That’s what I’m doing right now… When my dad passed away, I didn’t try to deny what happened... He just prefers to live deluded and it erodes his mind. He will be an easy target to eliminate from the Triple Threat. I just have to mess with his emotional side and he will be so distracted he won’t do anything relevant in the match. Even if I don’t do this, why I am so worried about Mikey Extreme? What did he achieve in WCF since he joined it? He won a few matches but besides that he’s just another head floating in the ocean dreaming with a belt he’s never going to have. Well, at least while I’m fighting for it. This is his first title shot, I’ve already had two. On his debut match, he eliminated all his opponents on his own, but I fought with impressive performances great names like Kaz Mazy, Dune and Occulo. He just battled against some jobbers that never appeared again on WCF. Besides that, I’m more experienced than he is! I just have to be at my maximum form and Mikey Extreme Crazy won’t be a threat. He is even part of Thomas Bates’s motorcycle gang! It’s so ridiculous! They look like children playing, pretending they are the Sons of Anarchy. Great TV show, awful wrestling stable.
Jackson got up and opened his fridge. It was full of beers and food. He grabbed one beer, opened it and took a sip. He then watched a few matches of Grime.
Jackson: Even though this guy is a cocky asshole I can’t underestimate him. He beat Joey Flash, one of the best TV Champions ever! But he is being arrogant and that won’t help him. He thinks I’m nobody but I have to proof that I am the best newcomer on WCF. I will leave all the anxiety and all my imperfections aside when I step on that ring and I am simply going to devote my energy to win the TV Title. I deserve that for god’s sake! A man that disrespects a WCF belt like Grime should be fired. How does he dare to do something like that? Some of the best wrestlers in this company held the TV Championship when they first joined this company and he vacates the title just because he “wants to teach some guys a lesson”? That makes no fucking sense and it makes so angry that I want to explode. Maybe he needs a lesson and he will get one. My father used to say that he who wants everything, loses everything. After Explosion he’ll just be the man who ended Joey Flash’s streak and left WCF because he was a little bitch. He looks like a girl whose daddy is so rich that she is never satisfied with anything. Guess what, Grime, the foreigner will destroy you and steal the belt from you. I’ll elevate my country’s fame and glory by being the first Portuguese champion in the history of the best wrestling company in the Universe. You’re done after the match, you should quit wrestling and continuing to help the cops finding your boyfriend’s murderer since they are so incompetent they can’t do it on their own. I don’t fucking understand the police, honestly. A prisoner dies and they do all they have on their reach to find his killer. My dad, a good man, dies and they just tell me there weren’t enough evidence to find the murderer. That’s not fair, Grime. Is your friend more important than my dad? Is a criminal more important than a humble and honest man? No! Of course not!
Jackson ended up his beer, got up and took another one from the fridge. Even though he had a match on Sunday he didn’t care. He had to get drunk. It was one of the ways to run from the monotony of his daily routine.
Jackson: Oh, so you’re a rider too, Grime. Don’t you want to join Mikey and Bates on their Sons of Anarchy imitation? Of course you don’t. You think you’re better than them, don’t you? I understand why you feel that way… You were nobody and that gym saved your life. It gave you a purpose. It thought you how to fight and made you stronger. When you finally joined a wrestling company, you discovered you were pretty good at it. You won a few matches, you slowly became famous and then it happened the best thing it could have happened to you: you won a title. That’s the only thing in which you’re better than me, you’ve already got gold. But you didn’t do anything impressive besides that. You beat Mikey Extreme which is something pretty casual to do, you beat Doc Henry, nothing extraordinary and oh my god! You beat BioWalker! How did you do that? That was probably the hardest match on your small career.
Jackson threw the beer to the ground and it made a huge noise. There were glasses all over the living room’s floor. Jackson stood still with a really serious look on his face. He was calm, even after breaking a beer bottle.
Jackson: I’m done with losing. I’m done with being insulted by every single American. Every time a WCF fan faces me on the street he mocks me and tells me I suck. At XIII nobody expected me to win against the WCF’s veterans, at Explosion no one believes I am going to win the Television Title, but I will. (Screaming and more agitated) I’ll make my country proud by being the first Portuguese wrestler to conquer gold in an American wrestling company. Every single newspaper will be talking about how Jackson White managed to beat Grime and Mikey Extreme at Explosion. Every single Portuguese television channel will be mentioning my name. It’s my job to make Portugal famous and great again, like we were in the past. I was born to do this, I feel it. It’s my fate to save my country.
Jackson White’s phone started to rang. It was Sarah, his cousin. She was married to his friend Matt. Fenix picked up his phone.
Jackson: Hi Sarah.
Sarah (whispering): Jackson you’ve got to help me… Some men broke into my house and they are searching the place… I’m hidden but they may be able to find me… Help me please…
Jackson: I’m going! Just hang on!
Jackson left his house in a hurry. Sarah and Matt’s house was really close to Jackson’s. He started to run through the street.
Jackson (thinking): If this has something to do with Matt I don’t know what I’m going to do to him… Hold on Sarah, I’m coming…
Jackson finally arrived Sarah’s house. The front door was opened. He slowly got in but he didn’t hear anything. He entered the kitchen and noticed all the cabinets’ doors were opened. He checked the living room and the toilet and they were empty. It was obvious they were not looking for things, but for Sarah, since the whole house was still tidy, just some doors were opened. He went upstairs and started to call for Sarah. Nobody answered. He checked every single division and didn’t find anyone.
Jackson: Fuck, they got her…
Jackson picked his phone and called Matt. It called for a while but Matt wasn’t answering. He was probably dealing with Carl that was too busy to answer his wife and his best friend. He called for five or six times, but his friend wasn’t still answering. Jackson was desperate. He didn’t know what to do. He couldn’t call the cops because it could have something to do with the rivalry between The Dragons and The NY Kings and it could lead to Matt being arrested, he couldn’t talk to Matt since he didn’t answer his phone so he left the house and went looking in the streets of New York for someone of The Dragons or The NY Kings. He walked for a long time but he couldn’t find anyone. Finally, Matt called Jackson.
Matt: What?
Jackson: Matt, they found Sarah.
Matt: What happened?!
Jackson: Sarah called me saying there were men searching for something on your house and I went there and nobody was home. I bet the NY Kings took Sarah.
Matt: Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! (Talking to someone else besides Jackson) See?! This is your fault! They took my wife you fucking miserable piece of shit! (Sounds of punches and kicks)
Jackson: Matt?!
Matt: I’m going to contact someone from The Kings and make a deal or something… I can’t believe they took my girl…
Jackson: What can I do to help?
Matt: Nothing, you’ve already done too much… Just go home and rest Jackson…
Jackson: Are you fucking kidding me? She is my cousin! I’ve got to do something more to help…
Matt: Look, there’s nothing you can do now. I don’t want you to have any more trouble. Just go home Jackson, please…
Jackson: I won’t go home. I’ll have a little chat with Mad Sam’s friend. I know where he lives.
Matt: Jackson, this is a dangerous situation, just go home!
Jackson: I’ll update you after talking to him.
Jackson hung up the phone and called a cab to the stoner’s house. After a few minutes he arrived and knocked the door. He then heard two people talking inside.
Person 1: It’s a white guy.
Person 2: What the fuck? Is he a cop?
Person 1: I don’t know man… I won’t open it.
Person 2: Hide the weed…
After a few seconds, the stoner opened the door.
Stoner: Yes?
Jackson punched the stoner and entered the house. He closed the door and started to punch him many times. His friend came to help him but Jackson kicked him in the belly and applied The Destroyer on the floor. The stoner tried to run but Jackson grabbed his head and hit him against a cabinet.
Jackson: You’re gonna tell me everything you know about The NY Kings. Where do they usually hide people?!
Stoner: I don’t know man! I swear! I hang out with Sam sometimes but he doesn’t tell me anything about the gang!
Jackson: You’re lying!
Jackson punched him hard again and he started to bleed. He then went to the kitchen and grabbed a knife.
Jackson: You’ve got one chance to tell me something useful or I’ll cut your fucking throat.
Stoner (crying): Please man, don’t kill me… I swear, I don’t know anything…
Stoner’s friend: Don’t do anything, please… He is telling the truth… But I know something that may help you…
Jackson: What?
Stoner’s friend: Sam has a warehouse three blocks away from here… You may find something in there…
Jackson: If you’re lying you’re fucked with me…
Jackson left the house but kept the knife he started to run to that warehouse and called Matt at the same time.
Jackson: Matt I found out that Mad Sam as warehouse near the Central Bar. I’m heading there.
Matt: Jackson I told you to go home… Fuck… I’m heading there as well… Wait for me! Don’t do anything stupid!
Jackson: Just hurry up…
Jackson arrived the warehouse and tried to open the front door. It was locked so he did a little noise trying to break it. He couldn’t do it, so he went around trying to find a way to get in. He found a little opening in a wall so he entered it. He saw Sarah sitting in a chair with some cloth stopping her from talking and her hands tied up. She was crying and shaking his head to Jackson, as warning him not to come. Suddenly, Mad Sam and another black guy showed up pointing two guns at Jackson.
Samuel: So we meet again white piece of crap.
Jackson: If you kill me you’ll regret it… I’m a famous wrestler… People will be looking for me…
Samuel: I don’t fucking care about wrestling…
The black guy whispered something on Sam’s ear and they started to have a discussion. Jackson noticed they were distracted and ran to them, trying to attack Sam. The black guy realized it and hit Jackson with the pistol, leaving him on the ground.
Samuel: If I were you I would stay really quiet.
Suddenly, a smoke grenade was thrown through the small opening. Jackson couldn’t see anything for a few seconds but when he smoke disappeared he saw Matt and Doug kicking Samuel and the black guy.
Matt: Jackson! Take Sarah away from here!
Jackson untied his cousin and both of them ran from the warehouse. Sarah hugged Jackson, crying.
Jackson: Are you alright?
Sarah: Yes… Thank you Jackson…
Jackson: It’s over now… Everything’s fine…
Just when Jackson stopped talking they heard two shots. What had just happen there?
Sarah: Matt… Please be alive…
Matt and Doug left the warehouse. They were alive. Sarah ran to her husband and they kissed and hugged. Doug came to Jackson and shook his hand.
Doug: Thank you, Jackson. You don’t belong to The Dragons but you’re certainly a great help.
Jackson: I just did this for my cousin. I hate what your crew does.
Doug: It doesn’t matter why you did it. You helped us. Thank you.
Matt: Doug, call Richard and clean that mess.
Doug: Right away, boss.
Matt: Sarah, go to the car honey, we’ll go home soon. Let me just talk to Jackson.
Jackson slapped Matt on his face really hard and started to scream at him.
Jackson: This is your fucking fault, Matt. It’s not Carl’s fault, it’s not Mad Sam’s fault. It’s yours. You’re the reason Sarah went through this. Why can’t you just live an honest life? Why do you have to follow your father’s steps?
Matt: You don’t understand Jackson…
Jackson: You’re right, Matt. I don’t.
Matt: So what I do some bad things? You’re no different than me. Your work is to fight people.
Jackson: There is no possible comparison! Wrestling is a sport, everything’s legal! I mean, of course sometimes I cheat, but I don’t kill people! I don’t sell drugs either… Your gang does all of those things. And you put your wife’s life in danger! She has nothing to do with all of this… Think about this, Matt. Stop being an evil man.
Jackson left the place, leaving Matt with his hands on his head. He called a taxi and went home. He needed to rest it had been a really long day. Besides that, he needed to be ready for his match on Explosion. It was, probably, one of the most important matches he was going to have since he joined WCF.
Jackson (thinking): I know you’ll be watching for me, dad. I’ve been working hard to achieve great things on WCF and you’re one of the main reasons why I joined this company. I’ve learnt how to fight so I can teach a lesson to your killer and I’ve been a little more cheered up than I was a few months ago. Mom and Matt were right, I was too obsessed with you… I still am though… But wrestling helps me a lot, father. You know it does! You’re not the only thing I think about every single second anymore. I’ll bring the TV Title home and I’ll dedicate it to you and to all the Portuguese people. I am my country’s savior, dad. You’re mine. I needed you here… I just wished this was just a nightmare... But I am aware this is reality I am not like Mikey Extreme. And when I win the Television Championship I’ll not be like Grime. I’ll honor the belt and defend it with integrity. I was born to be a champion, it wasn’t just the time until now. This is the time for me to shine, father.
