Post by Joey Flash on May 10, 2015 14:46:41 GMT -5
(OF COURSE ALL CHARACTERS USED WITH OCCYS PERMISSION, ENJOY!)
Legacy of the Snake
The text had read ‘You help me, I’ll help you.’ It had taken all of half of a second for Joey to make his mind up and begin his reply, ‘Gotham, 12E and 12th Steet, 18:00’. He didn’t know it at the time, but this message would start a chain reaction of events that would go on to be either the best or worst decision of his short life. It had been five hours since then and Joey was stood outside of the bar, the last embers of the joint floating into the wind as he ground it beneath his heel. His attire for this meeting was as formal as formal got, black trousers, shoes and jacket with a white fully buttoned shirt and a black tie, he had his hair tied back into a ponytail and looked every bit the slick Italian businessman…or every dodgy Mafia sort trying his best to pull of the classy, suave ‘legit’ look, he was proud of his efforts.
He approached the two doormen barring the gates to the cocktail kingdom within and shot them a smile. Both men towered over the 6’2 Joey and made him look like he belonged to be toddling after Snow White with a pick in his hand and a chirpy whistle.
Left Doorman: Sorry, we’re full up.
Joey took a step to one side and looked through the large glass window that as delightful as the bar looked, full it certainly wasn’t.
Joey: Are you shitting me?
Right Doorman: I am not shitting you, so if you’d like to find somewhere else this evening.
Joey: No thank you. I’m going to be drinking here tonight.
Joey reached into his jacket pocket and removed his wallet; he fished through the black leather receptacle and produced a handful of bills. The two doormen look at each other and one of them holds his hand out.
Left Doorman: Ahh, I see there is a space opening up.
Joey swiftly and lightly placed a palm on the man’s outreaching hand.
Joey: What do you think you’re doing?
Right Doorman: We’re letting you in you idiot.
Joey: What is the cover fee for entrance?
Right Doorman: There isn’t-
Joey: Oh, there isn’t one? Take your hand back you look positively ridiculous.
Left Doorman: Listen you little fucker, hand that shit over or you’re not getting in. What was the money for if not to get in here?
Joey: It’s to pay for my drinks in your fine establishment, now you two meat heads will take one step to the side, lower your heads and say ‘Welcome Mr Malignaggi’.
The two men look in contorted horror at each other clearly only now recognising what they had in front of them. The Don of whatever was remaining of the Facchetti crime empire was staring at them like a shark circling a wounded seal, a burning intensity in his eyes and a scowl across his lips.
Joey: Let me hear you say it.
Right Doorman: W-wel
Joey: Don’t stutter. Say the word properly.
Left Doorman: Wel-
Joey: Not you.
He takes a step toward the right doorman. The presence of the six foot six and near three hundred pounds of this balding muscular man had been reduced to that of a new born mouse.
Joey: You, say it.
Right Doorman: I’m sorry-
Joey: That’s not what I told you to say.
Left Doorman: Listen, back off-
With one lightning fast movement Joey had slapped the left doorman across the mouth and left a bright red handprint across his cheek.
Joey: Tell your friend to shut up.
He stepped closer toward the right doorman.
Joey: Tell him.
Right Doorman: Jim shut-
Joey slapped the right doorman across the face with even more ferocity.
Joey: No no, the words I first asked you to say. You really are a fucking oaf aren’t you? What’s your name?
The rage was clearly building up in both men, but they were still frozen by the fear of what the man in front of them represented. They both lowered their heads.
Right Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: What? What was that? Speak up I didn’t hear it too well.
Right Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: And you-
He turned to the Left Doorman.
Left Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: Good evening gentlemen.
A triumphant smile spread across Joey’s face as he stepped in between the two bouncers and pushed the door to Gotham Bar & Grill, a much friendlier face approached him at the front door as a young woman asked if he had made a reservation. He smiled and replied in the affirmative before being led to a table next to the window, Joey smiled to himself as he could see the pride of the doormen had completely slipped away, their shoulders sunk and their whole demeanour changed. Good.
Joey: I’ll have two whiskey doubles, one neat one on the rocks.
Young Waitress: Sure thing, be with ya in a second!
Joey watched her leave and smiled to himself, a cute little thing. After a minute or so the cute little thing returned with both drinks, Joey gave her a smile and a five dollar tip. He swirled the whiskey round in his drink the ice tinkling off the glass. He waited for around five minutes before the person he was waiting for arrived in view as Joey was looking through the window aside.
He approached the two doormen who had no such issue with allowing him past, why the special fuckin treatment for me? He didn’t know whether to regard it as a compliment or an insult, he took a sip of his drink as the man sat down opposite. The man had his hair cut short and neat, the thin greying along the sideburns added an air of authority to his already intimidating presence, and he flashed a yellowed grin Joey’s way.
Man: Someone’s gotten on someone’s bad side. You’re a wanted man Malignaggi.
Joey: So are you, Mullins.
The father and former manager of Occulo John Mullins Sr smiled once more and pointed at the drink on the table.
Mullins: That for me?
Joey: You can buy the next round.
Mullins: Not poisoned is it?
Joey: Give me some credit; I’d rather give you that Michael Corleone when I come back from the toilet type shit.
Mullins: Thought as much.
Mullins knocks the drink back and whistles for the waitress, the cute little thing scurries over.
Mullins: Two more of the same for each of us.
Joey: Slow down cowboy.
Mullins looks at the waitress.
Mullins: What are you waiting for, a please? Bring our drinks.
She looks both shocked and hurt but leaves nonetheless.
Joey: That was harsh.
Mullins: Idiot girl.
The two stare at each other, over five years of hatred and animosity bubbling between the surfaces of these intense stares. Joey breaks the silence.
Joey: How’s the family?
Mullins: Fuck em.
Joey: That was harsh. I’m sorry about your wife by the way.
Mullins: No you’re not.
Joey smiled.
Joey: You’re right. I don’t care how you feel about it either, how does your son feel?
Mullins: How would you feel if someone choked your worthless slut wife to death?
Joey bit his lip and smiled wider.
Joey: I’d like to see them try.
Mullins: Maybe I’ll give it a go someday.
Joey shrugs.
Joey: It’s your funeral.
The tension and building anxiety in the discussion is dissipated by the arrival of the cute little thing and the drinks.
Mullins: Now fu-
Joey: Great job darling, pardon my friends rudeness earlier, please accept this for your continued excellent service.
Joey folds a twenty and places it on the tray with a grin; she blushes and accepts the money before tottering off with a spring in her step.
Mullins: You’re pathetic.
Joey: At least now we’ll get the next round rather than getting kicked out.
Mullins: Right.
Joey: Let’s cut the shit Mullins, why are we here? Just to trade barbs all night?
Mullins: I know what happened in Vegas.
Joey: What’s this, a new shitty teen film?
Mullins: ‘Mallory Steele, Age 23 found slain in parking lot of MGM Grand Hotel’
Joey: Poor girl.
Mullins: She wasn’t killed in a parking lot though was she Joe?
Now it was Mullins’ turn to smile.
Mullins: Let me paint you a picture of what I’ve managed to find out Joe, you were spotted leaving your room last weekend at around 17:00, an hour later a young woman matching her description and someone matching yours were seen heading back up to your very room. Half an hour later someone matching your description leaves the room, but no Mallory follows, why is this Joe?
Joey: Wait a fuckin second-
Mullins: I’m talking, scum. Now we have you return only seconds later, remain in the room for over an hour until several other men enter the room, I find it odd that they were carrying industrial cleaning equipment and left with one more piece of Mallory shaped kit than they arrived with. Now you tell me Joseph Malignaggi, how does this sound for a ‘new shitty teen film?’
Joey is silent for a moment as Mullins’ smugness radiates from him.
Joey: That ain’t what happened.
Mullins: Little Joe feeling a bit scared?
Joey: No, that’s not what happened.
Mullins: Come off it you fucking sociopath.
Joey: I’ve never met a fuckin Mallory in my life, sure ain’t fucked one and sure ain’t never killed one.
Mullins: Lies lies lies. Does anything else come from your filthy guinea mouth?
Joey: Listen you cocksucker, I was fuckin set u-
Joey was stupid, really Joseph, you’re going to let it fucking slip that you were actually there. Good god.
Mullins: See, it feels so nice to tell the truth.
Mullins downs another drink.
Mullins: Wanna know what I’m going to do with the information I’ve found out? Nothing, absolutely fucking nothing.
Joey appraises Mullins, who is still smiling.
Mullins: If…
Joey sighs, this was coming.
Mullins: If you do a little something for me.
Joey: if I do something then what?
Mullins: I squash this…federally.
Joey: You don’t have that pull anymore, get off ya fuckin shit.
Mullins: You really have no idea do you Joe? An interested citizen could somehow find this information out?
Mullins chuckles, but quickly turns to a splutter as Flash stands up and begins patting Mullins down, making sure he leaves no area unchecked…no area.
Joey: You’re being legit with this shit?
Mullins: Did you really need to…double check?
Joey: Listen I know what you are you fuckin deviant.
Mullins: I lied when I said I want a little something. I want two things.
Joey: Which are?
Mullins: Number one, you’re fighting John on Sunday.
Joey narrows his eyes and picks his own glass up taking a sip.
Mullins: I want you to break him. I want you to crush him; I want you to grind his pathetic fragile mind into dust. He cannot survive in this world, not the world we survive in. What I want Joseph, is my son back. He is my creation, he is my property…he is mine. He has had a lot of distractions in the past few months; I have already had an excellent ah…discussion with Frank about how he was such a bad influence on John, but I feel he has been having too much success, too much happiness in his little world. Who is this ‘Dune’ fellow? He had no business interrupting mine and my son’s family time.
Now there is this Howard Black character as well, this is not going to do Joe; this is not going to do at all. So here is what I want you to do, I want you to isolate my son, make him know he is alone in this world, he has no friends, no one who cares for him, no one who so much as likes his pitiful little self…and that he knows daddy is the only person he can rely on. Think you can do that Joe?
Flash clinks the ice in his glass as he takes another sip.
Joey: You’re cold.
Mullins: Ice cold. You need to be…Cold in this world, something I want John to realise.
Joey: That’s it?
Mullins: I said two things, didn’t I?
Joey makes a gesture of ‘continue’ with his hands.
Mullins: There is another thing I want you to take care of. Of late John, Occulo, has been spending a lot of time with a woman I’ve had…relations with. Her name is Bonnie, she is a menace to everything my son needs to be. She has taken him and made him weak, it is her fault that he lost the United States Title. She has corrupted his mind and even now she continues to abuse his potential. She is the wedge between myself and John and I need that wedge removed. I don’t ask much from you Joseph, remember now, you do this and all your troubles go away. I only need one simple thing from you…
He pulls a napkin over to him, clicks a pen and begins scribbling something down before pushing the napkin toward Joey.
Joey: Hold the fuck on Mullins, I’m not doing this.
Mullins: You are doing it or you are finished, Flash.
Mullins grins a very wide smile before standing up.
Mullins: Just remember what it felt to spend such quality time with Facchetti’s wife and his little girls, ahh memories. Get it done before Sunday, or you’re finished, I’ll give you location details closer to the date, thanks for the drinks by the way.
Mullins knocks down both his drink, and takes Joey’s untouched one from the table and downs that as well. Chuckling to himself Mullins saunters away from the table and toward the door. Joey watches the man leave with nothing but hatred for everything he represents; he has had ample opportunities to deal with Mullins but always stayed his hand thinking he was a pest that would just go away. This didn’t seem to be the case, at least not anymore. He felt a twinge of sympathy for Occulo, this was the one person in the world supposed to care for you and cherish you but instead he was hell bent in rending Occulo’s world asunder because of his own arrogance.
Joey had never once hurt a woman, he had never hurt a child no matter what Mullins said, no matter what the papers said or everyone believed. Joseph Malignaggi did not kill Robert Facchetti’s wife nor his twin daughters, it was just like that time, Joey had been trapped by being sloppy and panicked. How was he going to get out of this, kill Mullins? No, Mullins had done the smart thing by meeting in a public place and insulting the waitress to make sure she had remembered his face here, Joey was sure as shit gonna be remembered by the doormen out front. Stupid, stupid. What was the way out here? Was Joey really going to have to abandon everything that was saving him from falling completely into darkness? What other option was there?
Occulo and Joey Flash, their fates were entwined once more and this tale was taking a turn much darker than Joey had ever expected. He was all for rivalry, for hatred and for competition, but to kill an innocent woman? To ruin a man’s life with whom he had nothing but professional hatred for?
Joseph Malignaggi, John Mullins Jr this is your life.
The Neverending Shoot
A room in darkness, a single small table with a large bottle of water sat on it, a folding metal chair and Joseph Flash stood with his customary smile on his face, a large sheepskin coat over his shoulders and his hair flopping down his back.
Joey: This is a match where we don’t need any gimmicks; we don’t need any bullshit here. I’m not going to laugh and joke with you people.
This is where the bullshit stops and the fire starts. Let me just take a moment before I hit ignition here, I’m going to make a few assumptions you have about this match and about the way you think this situation is going to go down.
1) On any given day each of you could beat each of us.
2) Howard Black is a great matchup for ZMAC, he has the technicality and the savvy to take advantage of the erraticism of the coked up madman.
3) Dune = Beckman and given you’re the #1 Contender for the World Title you’re at least on the same level, even though deep down you probably think you’ve got the edge.
4) Occulo = Joey Flash, we’ve been involved in the #1 rivalry in the federation since we debuted and if anyone knows how to beat me it’s him.
Good so far? That checks out huh? Now let me show you where your own assumptions will be your own downfall. The World Champion is on our team, he’s the main man, he’s the big threat, he’s the guy that you need to watch for, need to counter, need to plan around, that’s exactly what the last team that faced The Vapor Kings planned for.
Gentlemen there may be champions, challengers and top tier wrestlers in this match, this I don’t doubt, but there is only one true bonafide fucking monster in this match and if I were you I would take this as nothing but a sign of respect, this is going to be the first time the big bad wolf is gonna shed his sheepskin coat.
For effect, Joey shrugs his jacket off his shoulders and neatly folds it onto the table.
Joey: What does a being like me desire? Days turn to months as I watch this federation evolve around me, people change as the leaves in the autumn wind. You people lose, you grow and you evolve, every tough time I’ve seen despair in this place the people either look to the heavens for answers and scream for a voice that will never reply or they dig deep inside of themselves and try as best they can to overcome the adversity. It’s been an interesting experience for me but see I’ve let you people have your fun long enough; this is where the experiencing stops…
Joey smiles before letting the smile wash completely away with a deep breath and the jovial bright eyed look we are used to seeing is replaced with one of ironclad stoicism.
Joey: ..and where the fucking actions starts. I’ve carved my way through this federation so effortlessly it’s like I got a Hattori Hanzo blade on my belt and I’m slicing polythene. It’s been true since the day I signed my contract here and it’s true now, Joey Flash is the best wrestler in the company. You are stepping into this match with the terrible delusion that this isn’t the case, oh I get it H-Howie could have beaten me, hey I know Dune you’re the number one contender right, you won the Trilogy Cup! Occulo has had two debateable classics with me and he’s the guy who knows the most about how to deal with Flash!
I think in a sense you’re getting a little bit warm, I think in the entire federation there is only one man who knows just how deep this rabbit hole goes, go ahead Dune, ask your new buddy, your new partner what facing Joey Flash in a high leverage matchup is like, ask him the hopelessness he felt when he felt himself staring into the abyss and the abyss was staring straight back at him with all 220lbs of Italian godhood that the world has to offer. You had your glimpse past the pearly gates but now it’s time to slam them shut for good and relegate you to a life of true mediocrity.
Howard Black, BODYBAG.
Dune, BODYBAG.
John Mullins Jr I’ll put ya bodybag in a bodybag.
You’re wise men, pragmatic, logical, you go by what you see and what you know, men of science. You’ve seen Natural ICE Beckman had one of the greatest World Title reigns ever last year and just now reclaimed the title to begin the ICE Age anew. You’ve seen the long term dominance Zombie McMorris has had in this federation, good. You also have taken note that the other guy in the match only has one Television Title reign, nothing else. Joey Flash has achieved nothing in this federation of note, and nothing of worth. What has Joey Flash showed so far?
The difference in this scenario is that ICE has given everything he has to give; ZMAC has given everything he has to give in matches here. In my entire career here there has been only one match that has made me get serious about shit, you can ask Occulo’s broken arm how that one went.
You want a real challenge; you want to fight the best? Boys you’re in for a fucking treat, this isn’t going to be Joey Flash fighting you on a whim, this isn’t Joey Flash fighting you to pass the time, this is Joey Flash fighting to fucking crush you. You’re playing No Limit Holdem and you’ve drawn completely dead while your opponent flopped a Royal Flush, see I don’t get the opportunity much to really break out, really get a good stretch on and flourish my skills often. You three are going to be the crash test dummies in a thin aluminium tin covering smashing face first into a titanium wall.
As much as The Sentinels, Howard Black, the fans think this is going to be a close fought, epic contest I’m going to quiet all of that noise in one fell fucking swoop and dead any idea any of you have of ever competing on a level close to my own. You’re about to witness the very reason I’m the most feared wrestler in this federation, just understand that you didn’t ask for this, but be proud because you fucking earned it.
This whole shit show started about a month ago, see all that I wanted to help make happen is a nice heart to heart between father and son. We had John Mullins Sr and John Mullins Jr having a lovely discussion in the middle of that ring, albeit a very one sided discussion…with lots of help from us lovely mediatory Vapes but a discussion nonetheless. This was family time, so what if Occulo was unconscious and bleeding heavily with his father beating him to death, who is anyone to stop such lovely father/son bonding time? But here comes Mister ‘Get Involved in everything that doesn’t involve him in the fucking slightest’…no folks, not me, fucking Dune, out comes the mask wearing reprobate and saves little Occy.
Where does this story go next you wonder? Little Occy and little Dune, the two people in the company who have no friends and no allies, probably because of their severe introverted anti-social socially awkward fuckin personalities join forces. Thus The Sentinels are created, no Stan Lee and Jack Kirby shit, but fuckin Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy shit.
What exactly do the pair of you hope to even achieve in the WCF? Peace and Love? Equality and Fairness? Get off that shit you’re no Two Man Power Trip, you’re the Two Man Ego-Stroking Trip, ‘I know I know let me find the other cryptic weird bloviating bullshit artist available in the federation so we can fight the wrongs in the federation in a mysterious and vigilante way’. Mad Max and fucking Batman team up, the caped desert crusaders, you guys are fucking ridiculous. Real talk, what do you hope to achieve here?
Occulo who was so disgusted with Scarecrow joining Pantheon that you decided to take Scarecrow Mk2 as your partner and continue living in your little ‘loner’ bubble. Wanna know why I think that annoyed you so much? Because you wanted Scarecrow, you wanted to live out your vigilante fantasy long before Dune even arrived here, you can’t stand up to me by yourself so you needed to grab whatever help you could. Don’t try to paint it as something it isn’t ‘justice and good’, it’s about one thing for you Occy, survival.
You saw the landscape changing in the WCF, you saw the last hope of a kindred spirit in Scarecrow turn tail and run to join the cowards in Pantheon, that made you mad, that made you fucking furious, who was he to betray his beliefs? No motherfucker, they weren’t his beliefs; they were YOUR beliefs, the beliefs you prescribed to him, the same beliefs you’re prescribing to Dune right now. The same beliefs that you think will carry you head and shoulders above everyone else in the federation, shit morality wise at least.
Then Joey Flash joins the Vapor Kings and ya whole world changes, your fiercest rival, the man you could never beat, the one man that haunts your fuckin dreams goes and takes control of the most dominant stable of 2014, that’s got to gnaw at you, that’s got to eat at your very fuckin soul knowing that for all your skill and talent you were just one man. Thus, you turn to little Dune and here we are today. Yet we have another twist to the tale, Imperium.
Joey smiles
Joey: The pair of you were happy, you were confident, you can get to Joey Flash, you can get to Beckman, between us there is only Zombie McMorris, but then Aftermath happens and now it’s Zombie McMorris, Odin Balfore, Kaz Mazy and Robert Hercules-Cairo Roman in between the pair of you and what you desire in this federation. So what are you gonna do? Fuck you have such a great opportunity ahead of you here, a match where Dune can get his hands on Beckman and Occy can get his hands on me, cut the head off the snake and the snake dies right? This snake is that eight headed shit from Japan, more lives than Adam Young has managed wrestlers, Sentinels, you are in an unwinnable battle against an opponent that outskills you, outnumbers you and outsmarts you. Joey Flash is untouchable to your fangs, for however hard you try you will always fall just that little bit short.
So Sentinels, Howard Black, it’s that time again, say it with me now…Bodybags on deck. You’re finished.
The camera cuts.
Part One
The camera cuts back in a second later.
Joey:…PSYCHE I LIED BITCHES. You think that’s it? You think that’s us done? I told you motherfuckers, I’m going to show you why I am the single most feared competitor in the whole fucking federation, cos we’re just getting started and boys I’ve got all fuckin night.
Let’s get it poppin, Howard Black hello again ya fuckin worthless cunt. What’s happening? I leave you alone for a couple of weeks after the ass whuppin I delivered to ya and look what’s gone and happened, you’ve joined the rest of the ‘Joey Flash Haters Club aka the ‘Got they ass whupped by Joey Flash club + some faggot in a gimp mask’’. Congratulations on your ascension from bottom bitch of the bottom bitch to the status of bottom bitch. They really scraped the bottom of the barrel to find your worthless self didn’t they Howie? Wowie you fuckin suck. How did that discussion between Dune and Occy go to decide who to bring on board for this tournament?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: We need another worthless loser to join us in our destined defeat against the Vapor Kings.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: Is anyone from Pantheon available?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: No I am afraid not, we are left with…uhhh, Howard Black.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: Who the fuck is that?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: I don’t quite know, but he’s probably as shit as us. I’m a brooding badass.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: RAWR I’M FROM THE FUCKIN DESERT!!!!
Fuckin creampuffs, Howard Black lets get it out of the way, compared to the names in the match…Joey Flash, ICE Beckman, Zombie McMorris, head referee Stan Moser, you are an absolute nobody, your career: no bodies. You fit in well with this group of misfits, no punk band. You probably think that by joining in this Trios escapade with The Sentinels that your stock is going to rise, shit maybe you’ll gain fame my association, shame you’re associating with a pair of fuckin dregs who are just solidifying your place as bottom rung in this federation.
Vapor Kings? Platinum, Gold and Silver.
The Sentinels + Howie? A toilet, a steaming piece of shit and a toilet brush.
You are the next in a long list of people who seem to take aim at The Vapor Kings, it seems that it’s a newbies fuckin first task: Let’s find the strongest most dominant group of people and talk them down and challenge them! Shit I know, I did that shit too, I was all ‘I’M GONNA KILL THE FUCKIN VAPOR KINGS’ now look where I am, ya boy leading that Imperium Army like a five star fuckin general. Let’s have a pop quiz, where will Howard Black be in six months time
a) Leading the most dominant, talent filled stable in the history of the WCF
b) A solid mid card wrestler, nothing more.
c) Out of the federation and working a 9-5.
Let me tell you the answer, in six months I’m going to be World Champion, sorry ICE old buddy old pal don’t get mad, I’m going to be the highest earner in this company, I’m going to be as ever the single most dominant wrestler in this companies history.
In six months for Howie? We’ll be stood face to face, old rivals renewed once more, I’ll give you curt nod and a little smile as we share a knowing look that we once faced each other at the epitome of completion on Sunday 10th of May 2015…then you’ll fucking hand over a Big Mac with my choice of side and a drink.
Joey shakes his head.
Joey: See what I’m doing to you Howard, I’m fucking bullying you, I’m punking you, I’m telling you straight to your fucking face you ain’t shit. There’s a difference between the level you’re at and the level of the Vapor Kings. I’m not going to speak on the other guys because you know them well enough, reputation that makes your dick shrivel and your balls shrink, that rep. You stepping to us here is like you’re walking through Watts throwing up ‘Blood’. Ironic, because by the end of the night with us you’re gonna be throwing up blood.
Mister number #1 contender for the Television Title, shit you’ve made it now man! Enjoy the pride of wearing my belt when you eventually beat that massive shitstain Bates, look after ol’ Betsy. Fuckin hell, HOWARD you stupid mothafucka, do you know the sort of people that get Television Title shots? ADAM YOUNG, BIOWALKER, THESE PEOPLE! But you, Seth had you pinned as a mark for the moment you signed ya fuckin contract. Running and jumping through meaningless hoops to hold you hostage, that’s how he gets you. He got Marc Mayhem that way, same way he’s doing you. So yeah, you keep fighting, you keep jumping through the hoops, maybe in a couple of months you’ll even get your title shot.
You’re soft and weak; you’d probably get a concussion playing fantasy football. How could you even think that you have a chance of beating me? Soft little fuckin frat boy, you attended cos you the initiation paddlings and left after that, go back to the football field cos this ring? This my home, that ring is mine, you are a fuckin visitor in my house, wipe ya shoes and prepare to get ya chin checked, someone who has lived a protected, fragile little life like yours cannot stand toe to toe with me. I’ve survived being shot, stabbed, betrayals from behind and straight up wars face to face, I’ve battled the Grim Reaper and come out swinging, you punched the wall cos you fucked up on Grim Fandango.
Joey takes a sip from the bottled water.
Joey: Am I done with you Howard? What do you think? Do you want it to be over? Little scared child in the night and Daddy’s just unzipped, hush hush keep it down now, voices carry. We’re going to belabour one more point before I snuff what little hope you have of success in this life out. You’re a religious man! You show me right now where your mental state heading into this match is, you see for me? I head into every match the same, confident and calm of victory. I have absolutely no doubts creeping into my mind, I have nothing in my head telling me ‘No, you can’t do it’ because the only memories my mind has are victory and the only memories my muscles have is of inflicting pain.
You’re having doubts; you’re crippling yourself with worry before I even get the chance to do it for real. So what does little doubting Howard do? He turns to the big man upstairs, when I’m beating your face in on Sunday and you’re getting outclassed on the feet, on the mat, anywhere I decide to take the fight what will you say to God then? Will you beg? Will you plead? Will you ask ‘Why can’t I hit him? Why can’t I hurt him?’ Then shit…
I’ll answer ‘Because Howie, you ain’t shit’.
Joey smiles
Joey: I said before, this ring is my house and you are there as a guest, this is the wrestling Sabbath and you’re taking on God in the flesh, you’re on that ‘Turn the other cheek’ shit, I’m on that Old Testament pestilence and plagues shit. At Slam you’re going to be in a dance with the devil under the pale moonlight of Mexico City where all of your beliefs are shattered in front of your eyes. The devil is coming Howard, no amount of wolves protecting you, no amount of Sentinels is going to get in the way of what I’m going to do you, I’m gonna beat you so brutally they’re gonna have to remove your organs like a church renovation.
So take my hand Honey Badger, False Prophet, it doesn’t matter what name you’re going by, the man I’m facing is Howard Black, husband to Sarah, father to Joey, we’re gonna dance Howie and you can have your dance with the devil and see how well you move.
I’m two sides of a coin Howard, you’re going to find out in the worst way. In that ring I am God, but what makes you think me and the devil are different?
Howard Black…Bodybag.
The camera cuts for a second...
Part Two
Then cuts back on.
Joey: There is one man I’ve wanted to face for some time, a man who joined around the same time as myself, along with myself Scarecrow and Occulo they were heralded as one of the greatest newcomers of the new golden generation of WCF superstars, a group of people whose talent ran so deep and so thorough it was an estuary that quickly turned into a tsunami sweeping across the federation, so finally now after five months I get to face him…EL TAIMADOOOOOOOO, Dan Van Slade.
Joey smiles.
Joey: Nope sorry to disappoint fans, it’s fucking Dune, fuck off you spastic sand wigger. For the past five months we have shared space in this federation and for five months it looked as if maybe Joey Flash and Dune would face each other in singles competition, shit I wanted it, I wanted this shit from day fucking one, I was there day zero for this shit wanting to crush your burgeoning career. Don’t get it twisted in any amount; I’ve wanted to face you mano a mano since the moment I saw a bit of talent in you. This is the difference between me and every other top tier wrestler in this federation, I take the fight to the people who deserve the chance, I take the fight to the people who ask for it and I take the fight to the people who’ve earned it. Others hide behind their titles and their prestige, but me? I’m out there every week dominating and backing up my position as top dog in this federation.
So along comes little Dune, conquering everything in his sight, shit this little motherfucker won the Internet Title while posting from a fuckin calculator in the desert! The boy done good, he’s the only person to hang with Richards in that format, he took my second in command to the limits only a couple of months or so ago, something that no one else in the federation could even think about. He almost quelled the ICE Age before it got started again.
Joey claps.
Joey: You then pretty much ran a train on Pantheon through the Trilogy Cup, left em feeling like Kathy P on a Saturday night at the Adult Book Store. Amazing, what a debut year you’ve put forward man, you’d be a nailed on certain for Rookie of the Year…in any other year. In the team facing you on Sunday you have the two best ‘Rookies’ in WCF history, last year Beckman crushed this federation and this year I take complete control. We have a combined record of like 50-8, do you understand how rare this air is Dune, do you have any idea what you’re stepping to? You think you’re the man to end the ICE Age? Yep, you and every other fuckin person on the roster ya delusional cunt.
The Trilogy Cup? A fucking joke. The fact that the tournament didn’t contain Joey Flash automatically puts an asterisk next to your victory, sorry Dune. See at the time I was, as I am now the most dominant wrestler in the whole damn company, I saw wrestlers I had thrashed, wrestlers I had destroyed in that lineup and yet Joey Flash was held out of the tournament. Let me digress.
Seth, is this what you wanted? This mangled mandibled mongoloid as the figurehead for your next couple of Pay Per Views? Is this business sense? This man will get crushed by Beckman and humiliated by the simple superior talent ICE possesses. But shit this is what you wanted right? You didn’t want a beautiful, technical genius with all the charisma in the world in the tournament to sort this shit out right? Do you realise if the name ‘Joey Flash’ was in that tournament that you wouldn’t have the name ‘Imperium’ to deal with right now? At first I thought you were holding me down due to you being worried that I’d create a Jonny Fly death grip around the company, now that faggot has returned and I can finally see for myself what a joke he is? I can tell why you’re scared; the fear is seeping out your every pore.
Yeah I fucked with your tournament; I fucked with it at every turn. Blink ‘OH THERE’S JOEY FLASH’, blink ‘FUCK SAKE JOEY FLASH AGAIN’, blink of boredom with constant interference of Joey Flash ‘FUCK OFF JOEY FLASH GO AWAY!’ Wanna know why I did this shit Dune? It wasn’t because I wanted to ruin your chances, I didn’t want to fuck with anyone’s livelihood, I simply wanted what was owed.
Dune, back to you, I want to fight you, same as I wanna fight anyone with talent in this fuckin federation that’s dearth of such. I’ve pushed you and I’ve prodded you at every point to fight me, I just wanted to see that little spark of resistance, but where’s it at? Is it still in you? Or did it die with your fuckin weak mess of a brother back in the Mojave?
A sick smile crosses Joey’s face.
Joey: You want to fight me? This is to anyone in the fuckin federation, give me that challenge, don’t talk shit to me on twitter, don’t take potshots, be a fucking man and ask me to my face.
Here is my challenge right now Dune, one you’re going to turn down because of how much of a straight up pussy you are. I’ll fight you one on one, I’ll rip the maraschino cherry out ya chest while it’s still beating…all you have to do…
Joey smiles-
Joey: Is put that World Title shot up for grabs.
-and takes another gulp of water.
Joey: We’ll see what kind of man you are Dune, whether you really want what you claim to want and are so utterly confident in it that you’ll put everything you hold up for grabs or whether you’re the type of man that’s happy to talk a great deal of shit from behind a desk and where nothing in this world would hurt him, you’d make a great politician. Every time I step into the ring I put my claim as ‘the best’ on the line and fight tooth and nail to keep that, you’re that type of wrestler who doesn’t sweat a loss, I sweat it like I’m in a fuckin sauna. Motherfucker I’m walkin tall, my chest is out and I’m talking straight to you, you want it? I got it.
As far as this week though? Fuggedaboutit! We getting all of the fuckery out of the way, Dune you’re seen one of the best in this federation, well this week is going to show what happens when perception meets reality and you get that shotgun blast right to the back of ya skull courtesy of the best in the biz.
Joey pauses for a moment and looks about in surprise, his head darting from side to side.
Joey: Shit outta nowhere I’ve been hit by the need for a mothafuckin roasting session. Dune, you think you’re such a fuckin threat like you’re gonna dominate the WCF, you’re only a fucking threat like Mr Marcus. You’re real talk one of the strangest fuckin idiots in the whole company, the only bastard that would accept that loser Occulo as his team mate shit you have to be fuckin odd.
Has anyone actually tried to sit through a Dune promo? Really? This shit is unbelievable, probably the worst shit I’ve ever had to watch, and I’ve seen The Poughkeepsie Tapes, A Serbian Film and Martyrs. Not cos they’re particularly horror inducing, nah nothing like that, just this shit puts me straight to sleep, your shit is the #1 cause of Narcolepsy in America, a Dune promo puts more people to sleep than a Jigglypuff song.
You’re fucking horrible, in the ring you’re slow and lumbering, on the mic you sound like you’re stuttering and stumbling, you’re the opposite of Lex Luger ‘The fuckin worst package anyone ever received in the world’ Yep anthrax would be a better package than fucking Dune.
Never think for a second that I’m giving you this work because you’ve earned it, because you deserve it, it’s simply a job, because I am booked in the match against you. You are a fucking gnat to me; you are nothing. Anything you think you’ve achieved or you’ve earned is simply because you haven’t met me in the ring yet, shit Dune maybe you’re looking forward to taking ICE on, maybe you think you’re the one to finally defeat my man in a one on one match for the World Title, you’re not. Only Imperium can topple Imperium.
Let me get this out the way, everyone who is trying to create a divide between us, it won’t happen, we are together because of the hunger, because of the talent, fuck if I saw Kaz saying he was ‘happy to be the bottom guy’ I’d slap him in the fuckin face, that’s not how shit works here. This isn’t communism, this isn’t a dictatorship, this is a group of alpha males together fighting for fuckin dominance…but if anyone threatens our little group? Shit about to get real in a matter of seconds.
We off that, Dune, it doesn’t matter what you come with this week, any week. It’s not enough. I’ve laid my challenge right there for you, you got the nuts? Fuckin let em swing. You couldn’t handle Beckman one on one, you sure as shit can’t handle me in any match we fight. I’m so Imperious with this shit, so cool under pressure not even Jim Kirk could phase me.
Mexico City, me and thee Dune, I’m gonna lay you down and beat you fuckin senseless, maybe I’ll drag your lifeless body into the sand so you can die with your brother in the desert like Pesci in Casino.
Dune…Bodybag.
Part Three
Joey chugs the rest of the water and throws it against the wall, the hollow *clack* of the bottle on first the wall and then the floor rings out through the room. Joey runs a hand through his hair and flashes a lizard like tongue across his lips.
Joey: But this is the reason people are tuning in for this isn’t it? This is what people want to see, this is the match that could main event any event anywhere in the world. I’m not going to sugar coat shit, Joseph Malignaggi vs John Mullins Jr, Joey Flash vs Occulo.
Joey licks his lips again.
Joey: This is the best matchup in WCF, period. People can talk about Fly and Orbit, Beckman and Cairo, but this is the shit right here, motherfucker you aren’t my secret surprise hidden brother, we aren’t going to join teams after our biggest match, you are just a weak fuckin idiot I identified I could exploit and use to my advantage the day I arrived in the WCF. Let’s get this shit poppin, first things first let’s get this out of the way.
YOU HAVE NEVER BEATEN ME.
Say it with me now Occulo.
I…HAVE…NEVER…BEATEN…JOEY…FLASH.
Now breathe. Isn’t that nice? Occulo, finally after five long months we are back in the ring together, it’s been this long? It feels like just yesterday I was snapping your arm as you screamed in pain wanting the ref to stop our match. That was the best match at One, this will be the best match this week, we will tear the fuckin house down no matter where, no matter when we fight, but as much of that is certain, what else is certain is the outcome. You cannot beat me Occulo, you dream of beating Joey Flash and wake up to slap yourself because you realise that it just isn’t real.
This is the big one Occy, you know it and I know it. You joined with Dune as a reaction to me with the Vapor Kings, you added Howard Black as a reaction to me with Imperium. Everything you do in this federation is a reaction to what Joey Flash does. Your goal, your fuckin existence is to stop what I do here.
You tried to stop me winning my debut, oops.
You tried to stop me winning at One, oops.
You’re trying to stop me winning here? Britney Spears has a fuckin song for this shit.
This shit needs to stop before it gets too repetitive for the viewers here, how many times do the WCF fans have to watch Joey Flash dismantle Occulo? You people are sadists, this poor man who is so unbelievably outclassed by me classes me as his rival, it’s cute, so cute it’s sickening. You’re obsessed with me as much as Katherine Phoenix is, but yours is even unhealthier. Yours is based around hate and revulsion rather than awe and desire. Fuck this cordial shit, let’s dig into you John.
Since we last fought you won the United States Title, without beating a champion. You defended it against uhh…hmm…Dark Prince, what the fuck? Then you lost against a superior wrestler in Kaz Mazy, oh what’s that he’s in Imperium? What a fuckin surprise Occulo loses against Imperium already. What has happened to you John? The man who went toe to toe with me, gave me everything I could handle? The man who should be the person who slays the monster known as Joey Flash. You’ve become nothing more than another body, I thought high of you, I thought the fuckin highest of you, I expected to see you as my nemesis, my fuckin Moriarty, now you’ve slipped and fallen into mediocrity, it’s sad, it’s pitiful it’s fucking heart rending.
You coughed up your title like it was nothing. My Television Title? Ran its course, but you, fucking you, you had two defences and couldn’t even last. It’s like I’ve pushed all my chips onto red and black is laughing in my face telling me how pathetic red is the fact I’ve put all my chips on you.
Occulo vs Joey Flash, this shit is ridiculous, it’s the Washington Generals vs the Harlem Globetrotters, nah it’s Gus Fring vs Hector Salamanca…this shit is over when the bell rings.
Enough of this shit, let’s talk some real shit. I’m not going to waste my time talking wrestling with you, I’m gonna get fuckin real with you. Occulo, how’s your family? How’s your pops? How’s your mother?
Joey begins to laugh.
Joey: Occulo, this tale is mine and yours, yet I’m treating you like the fuckin second string, I’m treating you like you don’t even matter…Occulo, prepare, Bodybags on-
The scene is wise to this shit and doesn't even cut out now.
Joey: PSYCHE I LIED. FUCK SHITS ABOUT TO GET BRUTAL.
Joey: It’s weird man, stick with me now I had the most unbelievable dream the other night, see Occulo I was in this amazing world, everything was beautiful. The colours were so vibrant and everyone was so lovely and kind. There were beautiful songs, lullabies…and your mother died.
I woke up with a happy smile and some sticky sheets then realised this shit wasn’t a dream at all.
How does it feel? Do you wake up sad? Do you cry? Bitch this has been my life for the past fifteen years, welcome to my world, how does it feel to be walking in half of my shoes? This shit isn’t roses and rainbows is it Occulo? You who thought to be able to analyse me with your bullshit antiquated psychology, none of that matters at this point does it? We’re two men with two sets of problems and two sets of feelings, we can battle in any era this world holds, we can war across any world and the story will be the same. It will always end with my victory.
Our matches will happen the same every time, you spout some out dated rhetoric and analysis about me, I laugh that shit off and fucking body you, straight up crush you. It’s ridiculous, we joined this place on the exact same day, we’ve been enemies ever since the day we met, this means people put us in the same class…bitch same was true of LeBron and Darko, Jordan and Bowie, Shaq and Laettner. You’re the draft pick everyone will regret, I’m sure Dune will be feeling sorry for the soft blue eyes of John Mullins Jr and choosing him as his partner before the day is done.
I could wax lyrical about this match Occulo, I could talk for a fucking hour straight about this, but notice this shit, I’m talking about you less than any of my opponents, why is that? It’s because I know how truly fucking weak you are, your weakness pervades across the whole of the federation, I know for a fact you are the weakest of your team, I’ve stared in your eyes, I’ve ripped your muscle from bone, I’ve cracked your bone from sinew and I know, I know just how weak you are.
So what are you going to bring at Slam Occulo? What is the great miracle John Mullins Jr is going to unleash to defeat the evil Joseph Flash? Fucking nothing, you can do anything you want, you can poke fun at my career, you can insult the fact I haven’t won the World Title yet, all of this shit is ridiculous, you seem like a homeless fuckin bum peeking through the windows to my house to critisize my furniture, fuckin idiot.
I know what you are Occulo, as much as you know what I am. We're in that loop of infinite battle, it doesn't matter how either of us try to escape it this is how it's going to be. It's a tough road to walk in your shoes, but shit, I'm always here and I'm always waiting. You're the only wrestler who are bare his fangs at me, for that Occulo, I will never hesitate, I will never go 50%, you have my utmost, you have my maximum, this guarantees your utter defeat...but you're the only person in the federation that will ever get the fear of 100% Flash, be fucking proud.
Occulo vs Joey Flash
Dune vs ICE Beckman
Howard Black vs Zombie McMorris
Three matches that could headline any Pay Per View in WCF history, it's sickening this is going to be forgotten as a Saturday in May, but believe this as sure as I'm standing here in front of you now, in each of these matches the winner is Imperium. This is the most one sided 'close match' in history, you fuckers are finished.
Howard, Dune, Occulo, you've fucking earned these bodybags, this shit is over.
Your Sentinel
The woman in the photo has such a vibrant smile, it looked like the type of smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts and could throw aside any barriers. Her blonde hair curled to her shoulders and her bright eyes made Joey smile. He could tell from this one still image the amount of warmth, love and happiness this woman could offer to someone. This was the woman he was going to kill.
Joey replaced the phone in his pocket and took a long drag of his cigarette, lowering the brim of his cap as a car drove past. Joey had asked one of his subordinates to provide him with a ‘Black SUV’, and provide they had. The plates were registered to a ‘Mr Ellison’ and it hadn’t even been registered as stolen yet, this would be a good boon for Flash tonight. Joey had attired himself in grey jogging bottoms, a grey hooded top, his hair held in a scrunch above his head by a sturdy hairnet and a Detroit Tigers cap with the stylized ‘D’ being the most telling part of his appearance. He examined the .44 Special he had acquired for tonight and chambered a round before ensuring the safety was well and truly fixed. He slunk down in the driver’s seat and he waited.
He pulled his phone once more and opened the picture that John Mullins Sr had sent him earlier today along with the details of the hotel she was going to be staying at while down here in Mexico City. She’s really coming this far to support him, to drag him through the toughest match of his life. Look at that smile…
His inner machinations were halted as the appearance of the woman smashed him back to alertness. He stepped from the foyer of the hotel and clutched a handbag tight as her hair flowed in the warm spring wind. She looked at her phone for a moment as a smile crossed her face and she typed a short message back to whoever had made her smile, then began striding down the street. Joey pocketed his phone, checking it was on silent and placed the firearm in the other. He hopped out of the SUV and his sneakers on the pavement. He jogged quietly across the road and was behind the woman now by all of twenty or so paces.
He watched her legs pump out a rhythm on the sidewalk as he was getting closer and closer, pulling the cap further down across his face. She turned a corner and so did he, she was heading right where he needed her to be, the street was dimly lit, there was nary a person about, not the right place for a young woman at midnight in Mexico City. Joey reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand around the .44, he pulled the gun from his pocket and aimed it straight at the back of her head. One more movement of his index finger and this woman with the delightful smile would be erased from the world like she never existed.
Last week a young woman was killed to send a message to Joey, a message that said ‘I’m still watching you’, this week a young woman would be killed to send a message to Occulo, a message that said ‘Daddy’s still here, son’. Since when did the great Joseph Malignaggi get blackmailed? Since when would the great Joseph Malignaggi disobey his own conscience and fly in the face of his own thin morality?
One twitch of that trigger and you destroy yourself.
With a deep gulp of air Joey lowered the gun and turned back on himself, he exhaled and slumped against the chain link fence. The woman turned round.
Bonnie: Are you okay?
Joey looked in surprise at her and pulled the hood over his head and began to walk away.
Joey: Yeah, yeah I’m fine, thanks.
Bonnie: Are you sure?
Joey: Sure I’m sure; you have a nice night ya hear?
With that Joey began to speed away from Bonnie and disappeared around the corner before she could quiz him further. He wiped the sweat from his brow, what the fuck was he doing? Before he knew it he was back around the corner and following her again.
Joey: Hey miss!
She turned to look at him, look of concern on his face. What was he doing?
Joey: Look, this is a dangerous place; I can help walk you to wherever you’re going.
He tipped his cap up to show his face and gave her a smile, her face at least didn’t give away that she recognised him. He had tracked her with the intent of putting a bullet into the back of her skull and now was helping her through the mazy backstreets of Mexico City.
Bonnie: Good night for a run is it?
Joey: Huh?
He remembered his attire.
Joey: Yeah, shit is crazy.
Bonnie: I’m going to visit someone at a gym nearby here, what is it with men and late night workouts?
Joey: Hah, husband?
Bonnie: Barely even boyfriend, but…he’s nice.
Joey: Good shit, he treat ya right?
Bonnie: In his own way.
Joey: Good, keep him honest. Anyway, this as far as I-
Before Joey could get anymore out the unlikely twosome were stopped in their tracks by three guys dressed almost identically to Joey, these men however all had balaclavas pulled down over their heads, one had a pistol in his hand raised at Joey and the other two carried baseball bats, the man with the gun was shorter than the other two and seemed to be the leader, he spoke with a very thick Mexican accent.
Gunman: He knew you’d flake Malignaggi.
Mullins, that fucking snake, so this was how he intended it from the start, have Joey and Bonnie get blasted up by these thugs, Mullins comes away scot free and all his hindrances are out of the way for good. Joey holds his hands up and whispers to Bonnie.
Joey: In five seconds, run.
Bonnie: I’m not leaving you.
Joey: Do what I fucking say
The gunman laughed and shouted angrily.
Gunman: Cat your tongue Joe Joe?
Joey took a step forward and lowered his hands to his waistline, he would have to be fast, he would have to be lightning, this is speed or death.
Joey: Nah motherfucker, try me.
Gunman: Hah, he told me to make sure you watched the woman die first, ‘I don’t kill women’ what a fucking sap you are, how pathetic Fla-
His sentence, as was his life was cut short by a lightning draw from Flash’s .44 pistol as the slug slammed into his forehead from all of ten paces away and sent the Gunman’s brain matter into the sky behind him. Joey knew he didn’t need to fire a second or third shot as the other two thugs dropped their ballbats and immediately took flight down the other end of the dark alley. The sound echoed through the alley in tandem with a scream of horror from Bonnie.
Joey: Cocksuckers.
He turned to see the woman in shock next to him, he grabbed her hand.
Joey: We need to fucking move, now.
Bonnie: Y-you killed-
Joey: NOW.
He physically dragged her across the alley and back through the winding roads. It looked like a scene from The Last of Us as Joey and Bonnie ran through the backstreets trying to avoid any contact with humanity. They managed to get back to the hotel.
Joey: Call the guy you’re supposed to be meeting and cancel it, get him here, now.
Bonnie had broken down into tears and slumped down on the steps leading up the entrance.
Joey: Fuck it, give me your phone.
Bonnie: N-No I can do it.
She tapped at the screen and held the phone to her ear, Joey offered his hand for comfort, she accepted.
Bonnie: J-John?
It WAS Occulo.
Bonnie: Something terrible happened, these men tried to…oh god. Come back to the hotel please, I need you.
She lowered the phone and Joey took his hand away from hers.
Joey: You’re gonna be okay, don’t worry.
Bonnie: W-who were those men?
Joey: Just thugs wanting some easy American marks, punks.
Bonnie: They seemed to know you, w-why were they-
Joey: Damned if I know? Look, I need to get going,
Bonnie: Please, please stay, I don’t know who you are or why you were there but you saved me, let me thank you properly, my boyfriend is a bit of a celebrity so maybe we could do something to reward you and what you did tonight, money or oh I don’t know.
Joey: Look, I dunno what you think but I was just in the right place at the right time I guess.
Bonnie: …I don’t care what anyone says, you’re a hero.
Joey tipped his cap to her.
Bonnie: At least tell me your name!
Joey smiled
Joey: Just call me your ‘Sentinel’.
Bonnie stifled a laugh that stopped her fear.
Bonnie: What does that even mean?
Joey: Occy will know.
He smiled once more and without so much as a second look back made his way back across the road to the car. The night had grown cold as Joey opened the door to the black SUV. He let a sigh out and pulled the cap and the hairnet off his head letting his hair flop free. He placed the gun into the glove compartment and pulled his phone out once more, the time read 23:32, he really needed to get some sleep before his big fight on Sunday but couldn’t just leave the woman alone out here. A lot of thoughts were running through Joey’s head, he wondered what Mullins was thinking trying to get rid of him as well, was it even Mullins? Was it Sam? Are they the same person? He didn’t have a fucking clue, but what he did know is he wasn’t going to let this woman die.
He waited and he waited until he saw a figure jogging down the road toward the Marriott, Joey stared at the man as he approached the woman, he slowly came into focus as Occulo and watched their embrace as Bonnie leapt into his arms and held him with all of her might. Joey smiled and turned the ignition of his car, for half a second Joey thought that would be a fitting end to his life as his car explodes into flames having finally done something good in his measly life, but alas he depressed the accelerator the car simply moved forward. Moving forward huh?
Joey checked the road for traffic and made a turn, the car swung round and Joey could see Bonnie pointing at the car as Occulo spun round to look, Joey drove past the re-united couple and gave a single glance in their direction to find Occulo turning to look, but the car had flown past before Occulo could feast his eyes on the man known as Joey Flash. With another deep breath Flash put the hammer down and gunned the SUV through the streets.
Is this how it had to be? Every step Joey Flash thought took him away from Occulo, from Mullins from all this shit, yet it seemed to be the exact opposite, like these two men were simply running on tracks that no matter if they wanted to get off or change direction were on a constant collision course. Now it dragged itself even further than Joey had expected and had transcended what was going to happen in the squared circle in Sunday, it wouldn’t take long before Occulo found out what had happened this evening, Bonnie would certainly be able to put a name to his face after Sunday night.
He clicked the indicator and parked up in a small 7/11 car park. He slumped forward and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. While Occulo, Dune and Howard Black were training Joey Flash was doing what came naturally, ruining people's lives. He hoped to high hell he hadn't effected or ruined the life of the blonde with the beautiful smile, she deserved so much more than to be dragged into this bullshit. He didn't hate Occulo, quite the opposite actually, the man had earned more respect and more professional pride than any other wrestler Joey had ever faced, Joey hoped he would look after the woman tonight. Please...do what I can't. What was this match? Was this a test at the right time? At the wrong time? Would Joey just fall here and that be that, or is this finally Joey Flash's path to what he wanted? The WCF World Title.
Joey hit his head on the steering wheel. This was not a match to ever look beyond, as far as any bullshit goes, this is the most important match in the tournament, this is the one that will decide it all, on all levels it is rival vs rival, on Sunday you meet the man who will eventually rip the crown of avarice from your head once more...Joey snarled to himself as the tears cascaded down his cheeks, not now, not ever.
'I am the king'
Legacy of the Snake
The text had read ‘You help me, I’ll help you.’ It had taken all of half of a second for Joey to make his mind up and begin his reply, ‘Gotham, 12E and 12th Steet, 18:00’. He didn’t know it at the time, but this message would start a chain reaction of events that would go on to be either the best or worst decision of his short life. It had been five hours since then and Joey was stood outside of the bar, the last embers of the joint floating into the wind as he ground it beneath his heel. His attire for this meeting was as formal as formal got, black trousers, shoes and jacket with a white fully buttoned shirt and a black tie, he had his hair tied back into a ponytail and looked every bit the slick Italian businessman…or every dodgy Mafia sort trying his best to pull of the classy, suave ‘legit’ look, he was proud of his efforts.
He approached the two doormen barring the gates to the cocktail kingdom within and shot them a smile. Both men towered over the 6’2 Joey and made him look like he belonged to be toddling after Snow White with a pick in his hand and a chirpy whistle.
Left Doorman: Sorry, we’re full up.
Joey took a step to one side and looked through the large glass window that as delightful as the bar looked, full it certainly wasn’t.
Joey: Are you shitting me?
Right Doorman: I am not shitting you, so if you’d like to find somewhere else this evening.
Joey: No thank you. I’m going to be drinking here tonight.
Joey reached into his jacket pocket and removed his wallet; he fished through the black leather receptacle and produced a handful of bills. The two doormen look at each other and one of them holds his hand out.
Left Doorman: Ahh, I see there is a space opening up.
Joey swiftly and lightly placed a palm on the man’s outreaching hand.
Joey: What do you think you’re doing?
Right Doorman: We’re letting you in you idiot.
Joey: What is the cover fee for entrance?
Right Doorman: There isn’t-
Joey: Oh, there isn’t one? Take your hand back you look positively ridiculous.
Left Doorman: Listen you little fucker, hand that shit over or you’re not getting in. What was the money for if not to get in here?
Joey: It’s to pay for my drinks in your fine establishment, now you two meat heads will take one step to the side, lower your heads and say ‘Welcome Mr Malignaggi’.
The two men look in contorted horror at each other clearly only now recognising what they had in front of them. The Don of whatever was remaining of the Facchetti crime empire was staring at them like a shark circling a wounded seal, a burning intensity in his eyes and a scowl across his lips.
Joey: Let me hear you say it.
Right Doorman: W-wel
Joey: Don’t stutter. Say the word properly.
Left Doorman: Wel-
Joey: Not you.
He takes a step toward the right doorman. The presence of the six foot six and near three hundred pounds of this balding muscular man had been reduced to that of a new born mouse.
Joey: You, say it.
Right Doorman: I’m sorry-
Joey: That’s not what I told you to say.
Left Doorman: Listen, back off-
With one lightning fast movement Joey had slapped the left doorman across the mouth and left a bright red handprint across his cheek.
Joey: Tell your friend to shut up.
He stepped closer toward the right doorman.
Joey: Tell him.
Right Doorman: Jim shut-
Joey slapped the right doorman across the face with even more ferocity.
Joey: No no, the words I first asked you to say. You really are a fucking oaf aren’t you? What’s your name?
The rage was clearly building up in both men, but they were still frozen by the fear of what the man in front of them represented. They both lowered their heads.
Right Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: What? What was that? Speak up I didn’t hear it too well.
Right Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: And you-
He turned to the Left Doorman.
Left Doorman: Welcome Mr Malignaggi.
Joey: Good evening gentlemen.
A triumphant smile spread across Joey’s face as he stepped in between the two bouncers and pushed the door to Gotham Bar & Grill, a much friendlier face approached him at the front door as a young woman asked if he had made a reservation. He smiled and replied in the affirmative before being led to a table next to the window, Joey smiled to himself as he could see the pride of the doormen had completely slipped away, their shoulders sunk and their whole demeanour changed. Good.
Joey: I’ll have two whiskey doubles, one neat one on the rocks.
Young Waitress: Sure thing, be with ya in a second!
Joey watched her leave and smiled to himself, a cute little thing. After a minute or so the cute little thing returned with both drinks, Joey gave her a smile and a five dollar tip. He swirled the whiskey round in his drink the ice tinkling off the glass. He waited for around five minutes before the person he was waiting for arrived in view as Joey was looking through the window aside.
He approached the two doormen who had no such issue with allowing him past, why the special fuckin treatment for me? He didn’t know whether to regard it as a compliment or an insult, he took a sip of his drink as the man sat down opposite. The man had his hair cut short and neat, the thin greying along the sideburns added an air of authority to his already intimidating presence, and he flashed a yellowed grin Joey’s way.
Man: Someone’s gotten on someone’s bad side. You’re a wanted man Malignaggi.
Joey: So are you, Mullins.
The father and former manager of Occulo John Mullins Sr smiled once more and pointed at the drink on the table.
Mullins: That for me?
Joey: You can buy the next round.
Mullins: Not poisoned is it?
Joey: Give me some credit; I’d rather give you that Michael Corleone when I come back from the toilet type shit.
Mullins: Thought as much.
Mullins knocks the drink back and whistles for the waitress, the cute little thing scurries over.
Mullins: Two more of the same for each of us.
Joey: Slow down cowboy.
Mullins looks at the waitress.
Mullins: What are you waiting for, a please? Bring our drinks.
She looks both shocked and hurt but leaves nonetheless.
Joey: That was harsh.
Mullins: Idiot girl.
The two stare at each other, over five years of hatred and animosity bubbling between the surfaces of these intense stares. Joey breaks the silence.
Joey: How’s the family?
Mullins: Fuck em.
Joey: That was harsh. I’m sorry about your wife by the way.
Mullins: No you’re not.
Joey smiled.
Joey: You’re right. I don’t care how you feel about it either, how does your son feel?
Mullins: How would you feel if someone choked your worthless slut wife to death?
Joey bit his lip and smiled wider.
Joey: I’d like to see them try.
Mullins: Maybe I’ll give it a go someday.
Joey shrugs.
Joey: It’s your funeral.
The tension and building anxiety in the discussion is dissipated by the arrival of the cute little thing and the drinks.
Mullins: Now fu-
Joey: Great job darling, pardon my friends rudeness earlier, please accept this for your continued excellent service.
Joey folds a twenty and places it on the tray with a grin; she blushes and accepts the money before tottering off with a spring in her step.
Mullins: You’re pathetic.
Joey: At least now we’ll get the next round rather than getting kicked out.
Mullins: Right.
Joey: Let’s cut the shit Mullins, why are we here? Just to trade barbs all night?
Mullins: I know what happened in Vegas.
Joey: What’s this, a new shitty teen film?
Mullins: ‘Mallory Steele, Age 23 found slain in parking lot of MGM Grand Hotel’
Joey: Poor girl.
Mullins: She wasn’t killed in a parking lot though was she Joe?
Now it was Mullins’ turn to smile.
Mullins: Let me paint you a picture of what I’ve managed to find out Joe, you were spotted leaving your room last weekend at around 17:00, an hour later a young woman matching her description and someone matching yours were seen heading back up to your very room. Half an hour later someone matching your description leaves the room, but no Mallory follows, why is this Joe?
Joey: Wait a fuckin second-
Mullins: I’m talking, scum. Now we have you return only seconds later, remain in the room for over an hour until several other men enter the room, I find it odd that they were carrying industrial cleaning equipment and left with one more piece of Mallory shaped kit than they arrived with. Now you tell me Joseph Malignaggi, how does this sound for a ‘new shitty teen film?’
Joey is silent for a moment as Mullins’ smugness radiates from him.
Joey: That ain’t what happened.
Mullins: Little Joe feeling a bit scared?
Joey: No, that’s not what happened.
Mullins: Come off it you fucking sociopath.
Joey: I’ve never met a fuckin Mallory in my life, sure ain’t fucked one and sure ain’t never killed one.
Mullins: Lies lies lies. Does anything else come from your filthy guinea mouth?
Joey: Listen you cocksucker, I was fuckin set u-
Joey was stupid, really Joseph, you’re going to let it fucking slip that you were actually there. Good god.
Mullins: See, it feels so nice to tell the truth.
Mullins downs another drink.
Mullins: Wanna know what I’m going to do with the information I’ve found out? Nothing, absolutely fucking nothing.
Joey appraises Mullins, who is still smiling.
Mullins: If…
Joey sighs, this was coming.
Mullins: If you do a little something for me.
Joey: if I do something then what?
Mullins: I squash this…federally.
Joey: You don’t have that pull anymore, get off ya fuckin shit.
Mullins: You really have no idea do you Joe? An interested citizen could somehow find this information out?
Mullins chuckles, but quickly turns to a splutter as Flash stands up and begins patting Mullins down, making sure he leaves no area unchecked…no area.
Joey: You’re being legit with this shit?
Mullins: Did you really need to…double check?
Joey: Listen I know what you are you fuckin deviant.
Mullins: I lied when I said I want a little something. I want two things.
Joey: Which are?
Mullins: Number one, you’re fighting John on Sunday.
Joey narrows his eyes and picks his own glass up taking a sip.
Mullins: I want you to break him. I want you to crush him; I want you to grind his pathetic fragile mind into dust. He cannot survive in this world, not the world we survive in. What I want Joseph, is my son back. He is my creation, he is my property…he is mine. He has had a lot of distractions in the past few months; I have already had an excellent ah…discussion with Frank about how he was such a bad influence on John, but I feel he has been having too much success, too much happiness in his little world. Who is this ‘Dune’ fellow? He had no business interrupting mine and my son’s family time.
Now there is this Howard Black character as well, this is not going to do Joe; this is not going to do at all. So here is what I want you to do, I want you to isolate my son, make him know he is alone in this world, he has no friends, no one who cares for him, no one who so much as likes his pitiful little self…and that he knows daddy is the only person he can rely on. Think you can do that Joe?
Flash clinks the ice in his glass as he takes another sip.
Joey: You’re cold.
Mullins: Ice cold. You need to be…Cold in this world, something I want John to realise.
Joey: That’s it?
Mullins: I said two things, didn’t I?
Joey makes a gesture of ‘continue’ with his hands.
Mullins: There is another thing I want you to take care of. Of late John, Occulo, has been spending a lot of time with a woman I’ve had…relations with. Her name is Bonnie, she is a menace to everything my son needs to be. She has taken him and made him weak, it is her fault that he lost the United States Title. She has corrupted his mind and even now she continues to abuse his potential. She is the wedge between myself and John and I need that wedge removed. I don’t ask much from you Joseph, remember now, you do this and all your troubles go away. I only need one simple thing from you…
He pulls a napkin over to him, clicks a pen and begins scribbling something down before pushing the napkin toward Joey.
Joey: Hold the fuck on Mullins, I’m not doing this.
Mullins: You are doing it or you are finished, Flash.
Mullins grins a very wide smile before standing up.
Mullins: Just remember what it felt to spend such quality time with Facchetti’s wife and his little girls, ahh memories. Get it done before Sunday, or you’re finished, I’ll give you location details closer to the date, thanks for the drinks by the way.
Mullins knocks down both his drink, and takes Joey’s untouched one from the table and downs that as well. Chuckling to himself Mullins saunters away from the table and toward the door. Joey watches the man leave with nothing but hatred for everything he represents; he has had ample opportunities to deal with Mullins but always stayed his hand thinking he was a pest that would just go away. This didn’t seem to be the case, at least not anymore. He felt a twinge of sympathy for Occulo, this was the one person in the world supposed to care for you and cherish you but instead he was hell bent in rending Occulo’s world asunder because of his own arrogance.
Joey had never once hurt a woman, he had never hurt a child no matter what Mullins said, no matter what the papers said or everyone believed. Joseph Malignaggi did not kill Robert Facchetti’s wife nor his twin daughters, it was just like that time, Joey had been trapped by being sloppy and panicked. How was he going to get out of this, kill Mullins? No, Mullins had done the smart thing by meeting in a public place and insulting the waitress to make sure she had remembered his face here, Joey was sure as shit gonna be remembered by the doormen out front. Stupid, stupid. What was the way out here? Was Joey really going to have to abandon everything that was saving him from falling completely into darkness? What other option was there?
Occulo and Joey Flash, their fates were entwined once more and this tale was taking a turn much darker than Joey had ever expected. He was all for rivalry, for hatred and for competition, but to kill an innocent woman? To ruin a man’s life with whom he had nothing but professional hatred for?
Joseph Malignaggi, John Mullins Jr this is your life.
The Neverending Shoot
A room in darkness, a single small table with a large bottle of water sat on it, a folding metal chair and Joseph Flash stood with his customary smile on his face, a large sheepskin coat over his shoulders and his hair flopping down his back.
Joey: This is a match where we don’t need any gimmicks; we don’t need any bullshit here. I’m not going to laugh and joke with you people.
This is where the bullshit stops and the fire starts. Let me just take a moment before I hit ignition here, I’m going to make a few assumptions you have about this match and about the way you think this situation is going to go down.
1) On any given day each of you could beat each of us.
2) Howard Black is a great matchup for ZMAC, he has the technicality and the savvy to take advantage of the erraticism of the coked up madman.
3) Dune = Beckman and given you’re the #1 Contender for the World Title you’re at least on the same level, even though deep down you probably think you’ve got the edge.
4) Occulo = Joey Flash, we’ve been involved in the #1 rivalry in the federation since we debuted and if anyone knows how to beat me it’s him.
Good so far? That checks out huh? Now let me show you where your own assumptions will be your own downfall. The World Champion is on our team, he’s the main man, he’s the big threat, he’s the guy that you need to watch for, need to counter, need to plan around, that’s exactly what the last team that faced The Vapor Kings planned for.
Gentlemen there may be champions, challengers and top tier wrestlers in this match, this I don’t doubt, but there is only one true bonafide fucking monster in this match and if I were you I would take this as nothing but a sign of respect, this is going to be the first time the big bad wolf is gonna shed his sheepskin coat.
For effect, Joey shrugs his jacket off his shoulders and neatly folds it onto the table.
Joey: What does a being like me desire? Days turn to months as I watch this federation evolve around me, people change as the leaves in the autumn wind. You people lose, you grow and you evolve, every tough time I’ve seen despair in this place the people either look to the heavens for answers and scream for a voice that will never reply or they dig deep inside of themselves and try as best they can to overcome the adversity. It’s been an interesting experience for me but see I’ve let you people have your fun long enough; this is where the experiencing stops…
Joey smiles before letting the smile wash completely away with a deep breath and the jovial bright eyed look we are used to seeing is replaced with one of ironclad stoicism.
Joey: ..and where the fucking actions starts. I’ve carved my way through this federation so effortlessly it’s like I got a Hattori Hanzo blade on my belt and I’m slicing polythene. It’s been true since the day I signed my contract here and it’s true now, Joey Flash is the best wrestler in the company. You are stepping into this match with the terrible delusion that this isn’t the case, oh I get it H-Howie could have beaten me, hey I know Dune you’re the number one contender right, you won the Trilogy Cup! Occulo has had two debateable classics with me and he’s the guy who knows the most about how to deal with Flash!
I think in a sense you’re getting a little bit warm, I think in the entire federation there is only one man who knows just how deep this rabbit hole goes, go ahead Dune, ask your new buddy, your new partner what facing Joey Flash in a high leverage matchup is like, ask him the hopelessness he felt when he felt himself staring into the abyss and the abyss was staring straight back at him with all 220lbs of Italian godhood that the world has to offer. You had your glimpse past the pearly gates but now it’s time to slam them shut for good and relegate you to a life of true mediocrity.
Howard Black, BODYBAG.
Dune, BODYBAG.
John Mullins Jr I’ll put ya bodybag in a bodybag.
You’re wise men, pragmatic, logical, you go by what you see and what you know, men of science. You’ve seen Natural ICE Beckman had one of the greatest World Title reigns ever last year and just now reclaimed the title to begin the ICE Age anew. You’ve seen the long term dominance Zombie McMorris has had in this federation, good. You also have taken note that the other guy in the match only has one Television Title reign, nothing else. Joey Flash has achieved nothing in this federation of note, and nothing of worth. What has Joey Flash showed so far?
The difference in this scenario is that ICE has given everything he has to give; ZMAC has given everything he has to give in matches here. In my entire career here there has been only one match that has made me get serious about shit, you can ask Occulo’s broken arm how that one went.
You want a real challenge; you want to fight the best? Boys you’re in for a fucking treat, this isn’t going to be Joey Flash fighting you on a whim, this isn’t Joey Flash fighting you to pass the time, this is Joey Flash fighting to fucking crush you. You’re playing No Limit Holdem and you’ve drawn completely dead while your opponent flopped a Royal Flush, see I don’t get the opportunity much to really break out, really get a good stretch on and flourish my skills often. You three are going to be the crash test dummies in a thin aluminium tin covering smashing face first into a titanium wall.
As much as The Sentinels, Howard Black, the fans think this is going to be a close fought, epic contest I’m going to quiet all of that noise in one fell fucking swoop and dead any idea any of you have of ever competing on a level close to my own. You’re about to witness the very reason I’m the most feared wrestler in this federation, just understand that you didn’t ask for this, but be proud because you fucking earned it.
This whole shit show started about a month ago, see all that I wanted to help make happen is a nice heart to heart between father and son. We had John Mullins Sr and John Mullins Jr having a lovely discussion in the middle of that ring, albeit a very one sided discussion…with lots of help from us lovely mediatory Vapes but a discussion nonetheless. This was family time, so what if Occulo was unconscious and bleeding heavily with his father beating him to death, who is anyone to stop such lovely father/son bonding time? But here comes Mister ‘Get Involved in everything that doesn’t involve him in the fucking slightest’…no folks, not me, fucking Dune, out comes the mask wearing reprobate and saves little Occy.
Where does this story go next you wonder? Little Occy and little Dune, the two people in the company who have no friends and no allies, probably because of their severe introverted anti-social socially awkward fuckin personalities join forces. Thus The Sentinels are created, no Stan Lee and Jack Kirby shit, but fuckin Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy shit.
What exactly do the pair of you hope to even achieve in the WCF? Peace and Love? Equality and Fairness? Get off that shit you’re no Two Man Power Trip, you’re the Two Man Ego-Stroking Trip, ‘I know I know let me find the other cryptic weird bloviating bullshit artist available in the federation so we can fight the wrongs in the federation in a mysterious and vigilante way’. Mad Max and fucking Batman team up, the caped desert crusaders, you guys are fucking ridiculous. Real talk, what do you hope to achieve here?
Occulo who was so disgusted with Scarecrow joining Pantheon that you decided to take Scarecrow Mk2 as your partner and continue living in your little ‘loner’ bubble. Wanna know why I think that annoyed you so much? Because you wanted Scarecrow, you wanted to live out your vigilante fantasy long before Dune even arrived here, you can’t stand up to me by yourself so you needed to grab whatever help you could. Don’t try to paint it as something it isn’t ‘justice and good’, it’s about one thing for you Occy, survival.
You saw the landscape changing in the WCF, you saw the last hope of a kindred spirit in Scarecrow turn tail and run to join the cowards in Pantheon, that made you mad, that made you fucking furious, who was he to betray his beliefs? No motherfucker, they weren’t his beliefs; they were YOUR beliefs, the beliefs you prescribed to him, the same beliefs you’re prescribing to Dune right now. The same beliefs that you think will carry you head and shoulders above everyone else in the federation, shit morality wise at least.
Then Joey Flash joins the Vapor Kings and ya whole world changes, your fiercest rival, the man you could never beat, the one man that haunts your fuckin dreams goes and takes control of the most dominant stable of 2014, that’s got to gnaw at you, that’s got to eat at your very fuckin soul knowing that for all your skill and talent you were just one man. Thus, you turn to little Dune and here we are today. Yet we have another twist to the tale, Imperium.
Joey smiles
Joey: The pair of you were happy, you were confident, you can get to Joey Flash, you can get to Beckman, between us there is only Zombie McMorris, but then Aftermath happens and now it’s Zombie McMorris, Odin Balfore, Kaz Mazy and Robert Hercules-Cairo Roman in between the pair of you and what you desire in this federation. So what are you gonna do? Fuck you have such a great opportunity ahead of you here, a match where Dune can get his hands on Beckman and Occy can get his hands on me, cut the head off the snake and the snake dies right? This snake is that eight headed shit from Japan, more lives than Adam Young has managed wrestlers, Sentinels, you are in an unwinnable battle against an opponent that outskills you, outnumbers you and outsmarts you. Joey Flash is untouchable to your fangs, for however hard you try you will always fall just that little bit short.
So Sentinels, Howard Black, it’s that time again, say it with me now…Bodybags on deck. You’re finished.
The camera cuts.
Part One
The camera cuts back in a second later.
Joey:…PSYCHE I LIED BITCHES. You think that’s it? You think that’s us done? I told you motherfuckers, I’m going to show you why I am the single most feared competitor in the whole fucking federation, cos we’re just getting started and boys I’ve got all fuckin night.
Let’s get it poppin, Howard Black hello again ya fuckin worthless cunt. What’s happening? I leave you alone for a couple of weeks after the ass whuppin I delivered to ya and look what’s gone and happened, you’ve joined the rest of the ‘Joey Flash Haters Club aka the ‘Got they ass whupped by Joey Flash club + some faggot in a gimp mask’’. Congratulations on your ascension from bottom bitch of the bottom bitch to the status of bottom bitch. They really scraped the bottom of the barrel to find your worthless self didn’t they Howie? Wowie you fuckin suck. How did that discussion between Dune and Occy go to decide who to bring on board for this tournament?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: We need another worthless loser to join us in our destined defeat against the Vapor Kings.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: Is anyone from Pantheon available?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: No I am afraid not, we are left with…uhhh, Howard Black.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: Who the fuck is that?
Parentally Abused Joey Flash Victim: I don’t quite know, but he’s probably as shit as us. I’m a brooding badass.
Gimped up Desert Dweller: RAWR I’M FROM THE FUCKIN DESERT!!!!
Fuckin creampuffs, Howard Black lets get it out of the way, compared to the names in the match…Joey Flash, ICE Beckman, Zombie McMorris, head referee Stan Moser, you are an absolute nobody, your career: no bodies. You fit in well with this group of misfits, no punk band. You probably think that by joining in this Trios escapade with The Sentinels that your stock is going to rise, shit maybe you’ll gain fame my association, shame you’re associating with a pair of fuckin dregs who are just solidifying your place as bottom rung in this federation.
Vapor Kings? Platinum, Gold and Silver.
The Sentinels + Howie? A toilet, a steaming piece of shit and a toilet brush.
You are the next in a long list of people who seem to take aim at The Vapor Kings, it seems that it’s a newbies fuckin first task: Let’s find the strongest most dominant group of people and talk them down and challenge them! Shit I know, I did that shit too, I was all ‘I’M GONNA KILL THE FUCKIN VAPOR KINGS’ now look where I am, ya boy leading that Imperium Army like a five star fuckin general. Let’s have a pop quiz, where will Howard Black be in six months time
a) Leading the most dominant, talent filled stable in the history of the WCF
b) A solid mid card wrestler, nothing more.
c) Out of the federation and working a 9-5.
Let me tell you the answer, in six months I’m going to be World Champion, sorry ICE old buddy old pal don’t get mad, I’m going to be the highest earner in this company, I’m going to be as ever the single most dominant wrestler in this companies history.
In six months for Howie? We’ll be stood face to face, old rivals renewed once more, I’ll give you curt nod and a little smile as we share a knowing look that we once faced each other at the epitome of completion on Sunday 10th of May 2015…then you’ll fucking hand over a Big Mac with my choice of side and a drink.
Joey shakes his head.
Joey: See what I’m doing to you Howard, I’m fucking bullying you, I’m punking you, I’m telling you straight to your fucking face you ain’t shit. There’s a difference between the level you’re at and the level of the Vapor Kings. I’m not going to speak on the other guys because you know them well enough, reputation that makes your dick shrivel and your balls shrink, that rep. You stepping to us here is like you’re walking through Watts throwing up ‘Blood’. Ironic, because by the end of the night with us you’re gonna be throwing up blood.
Mister number #1 contender for the Television Title, shit you’ve made it now man! Enjoy the pride of wearing my belt when you eventually beat that massive shitstain Bates, look after ol’ Betsy. Fuckin hell, HOWARD you stupid mothafucka, do you know the sort of people that get Television Title shots? ADAM YOUNG, BIOWALKER, THESE PEOPLE! But you, Seth had you pinned as a mark for the moment you signed ya fuckin contract. Running and jumping through meaningless hoops to hold you hostage, that’s how he gets you. He got Marc Mayhem that way, same way he’s doing you. So yeah, you keep fighting, you keep jumping through the hoops, maybe in a couple of months you’ll even get your title shot.
You’re soft and weak; you’d probably get a concussion playing fantasy football. How could you even think that you have a chance of beating me? Soft little fuckin frat boy, you attended cos you the initiation paddlings and left after that, go back to the football field cos this ring? This my home, that ring is mine, you are a fuckin visitor in my house, wipe ya shoes and prepare to get ya chin checked, someone who has lived a protected, fragile little life like yours cannot stand toe to toe with me. I’ve survived being shot, stabbed, betrayals from behind and straight up wars face to face, I’ve battled the Grim Reaper and come out swinging, you punched the wall cos you fucked up on Grim Fandango.
Joey takes a sip from the bottled water.
Joey: Am I done with you Howard? What do you think? Do you want it to be over? Little scared child in the night and Daddy’s just unzipped, hush hush keep it down now, voices carry. We’re going to belabour one more point before I snuff what little hope you have of success in this life out. You’re a religious man! You show me right now where your mental state heading into this match is, you see for me? I head into every match the same, confident and calm of victory. I have absolutely no doubts creeping into my mind, I have nothing in my head telling me ‘No, you can’t do it’ because the only memories my mind has are victory and the only memories my muscles have is of inflicting pain.
You’re having doubts; you’re crippling yourself with worry before I even get the chance to do it for real. So what does little doubting Howard do? He turns to the big man upstairs, when I’m beating your face in on Sunday and you’re getting outclassed on the feet, on the mat, anywhere I decide to take the fight what will you say to God then? Will you beg? Will you plead? Will you ask ‘Why can’t I hit him? Why can’t I hurt him?’ Then shit…
I’ll answer ‘Because Howie, you ain’t shit’.
Joey smiles
Joey: I said before, this ring is my house and you are there as a guest, this is the wrestling Sabbath and you’re taking on God in the flesh, you’re on that ‘Turn the other cheek’ shit, I’m on that Old Testament pestilence and plagues shit. At Slam you’re going to be in a dance with the devil under the pale moonlight of Mexico City where all of your beliefs are shattered in front of your eyes. The devil is coming Howard, no amount of wolves protecting you, no amount of Sentinels is going to get in the way of what I’m going to do you, I’m gonna beat you so brutally they’re gonna have to remove your organs like a church renovation.
So take my hand Honey Badger, False Prophet, it doesn’t matter what name you’re going by, the man I’m facing is Howard Black, husband to Sarah, father to Joey, we’re gonna dance Howie and you can have your dance with the devil and see how well you move.
I’m two sides of a coin Howard, you’re going to find out in the worst way. In that ring I am God, but what makes you think me and the devil are different?
Howard Black…Bodybag.
The camera cuts for a second...
Part Two
Then cuts back on.
Joey: There is one man I’ve wanted to face for some time, a man who joined around the same time as myself, along with myself Scarecrow and Occulo they were heralded as one of the greatest newcomers of the new golden generation of WCF superstars, a group of people whose talent ran so deep and so thorough it was an estuary that quickly turned into a tsunami sweeping across the federation, so finally now after five months I get to face him…EL TAIMADOOOOOOOO, Dan Van Slade.
Joey smiles.
Joey: Nope sorry to disappoint fans, it’s fucking Dune, fuck off you spastic sand wigger. For the past five months we have shared space in this federation and for five months it looked as if maybe Joey Flash and Dune would face each other in singles competition, shit I wanted it, I wanted this shit from day fucking one, I was there day zero for this shit wanting to crush your burgeoning career. Don’t get it twisted in any amount; I’ve wanted to face you mano a mano since the moment I saw a bit of talent in you. This is the difference between me and every other top tier wrestler in this federation, I take the fight to the people who deserve the chance, I take the fight to the people who ask for it and I take the fight to the people who’ve earned it. Others hide behind their titles and their prestige, but me? I’m out there every week dominating and backing up my position as top dog in this federation.
So along comes little Dune, conquering everything in his sight, shit this little motherfucker won the Internet Title while posting from a fuckin calculator in the desert! The boy done good, he’s the only person to hang with Richards in that format, he took my second in command to the limits only a couple of months or so ago, something that no one else in the federation could even think about. He almost quelled the ICE Age before it got started again.
Joey claps.
Joey: You then pretty much ran a train on Pantheon through the Trilogy Cup, left em feeling like Kathy P on a Saturday night at the Adult Book Store. Amazing, what a debut year you’ve put forward man, you’d be a nailed on certain for Rookie of the Year…in any other year. In the team facing you on Sunday you have the two best ‘Rookies’ in WCF history, last year Beckman crushed this federation and this year I take complete control. We have a combined record of like 50-8, do you understand how rare this air is Dune, do you have any idea what you’re stepping to? You think you’re the man to end the ICE Age? Yep, you and every other fuckin person on the roster ya delusional cunt.
The Trilogy Cup? A fucking joke. The fact that the tournament didn’t contain Joey Flash automatically puts an asterisk next to your victory, sorry Dune. See at the time I was, as I am now the most dominant wrestler in the whole damn company, I saw wrestlers I had thrashed, wrestlers I had destroyed in that lineup and yet Joey Flash was held out of the tournament. Let me digress.
Seth, is this what you wanted? This mangled mandibled mongoloid as the figurehead for your next couple of Pay Per Views? Is this business sense? This man will get crushed by Beckman and humiliated by the simple superior talent ICE possesses. But shit this is what you wanted right? You didn’t want a beautiful, technical genius with all the charisma in the world in the tournament to sort this shit out right? Do you realise if the name ‘Joey Flash’ was in that tournament that you wouldn’t have the name ‘Imperium’ to deal with right now? At first I thought you were holding me down due to you being worried that I’d create a Jonny Fly death grip around the company, now that faggot has returned and I can finally see for myself what a joke he is? I can tell why you’re scared; the fear is seeping out your every pore.
Yeah I fucked with your tournament; I fucked with it at every turn. Blink ‘OH THERE’S JOEY FLASH’, blink ‘FUCK SAKE JOEY FLASH AGAIN’, blink of boredom with constant interference of Joey Flash ‘FUCK OFF JOEY FLASH GO AWAY!’ Wanna know why I did this shit Dune? It wasn’t because I wanted to ruin your chances, I didn’t want to fuck with anyone’s livelihood, I simply wanted what was owed.
Dune, back to you, I want to fight you, same as I wanna fight anyone with talent in this fuckin federation that’s dearth of such. I’ve pushed you and I’ve prodded you at every point to fight me, I just wanted to see that little spark of resistance, but where’s it at? Is it still in you? Or did it die with your fuckin weak mess of a brother back in the Mojave?
A sick smile crosses Joey’s face.
Joey: You want to fight me? This is to anyone in the fuckin federation, give me that challenge, don’t talk shit to me on twitter, don’t take potshots, be a fucking man and ask me to my face.
Here is my challenge right now Dune, one you’re going to turn down because of how much of a straight up pussy you are. I’ll fight you one on one, I’ll rip the maraschino cherry out ya chest while it’s still beating…all you have to do…
Joey smiles-
Joey: Is put that World Title shot up for grabs.
-and takes another gulp of water.
Joey: We’ll see what kind of man you are Dune, whether you really want what you claim to want and are so utterly confident in it that you’ll put everything you hold up for grabs or whether you’re the type of man that’s happy to talk a great deal of shit from behind a desk and where nothing in this world would hurt him, you’d make a great politician. Every time I step into the ring I put my claim as ‘the best’ on the line and fight tooth and nail to keep that, you’re that type of wrestler who doesn’t sweat a loss, I sweat it like I’m in a fuckin sauna. Motherfucker I’m walkin tall, my chest is out and I’m talking straight to you, you want it? I got it.
As far as this week though? Fuggedaboutit! We getting all of the fuckery out of the way, Dune you’re seen one of the best in this federation, well this week is going to show what happens when perception meets reality and you get that shotgun blast right to the back of ya skull courtesy of the best in the biz.
Joey pauses for a moment and looks about in surprise, his head darting from side to side.
Joey: Shit outta nowhere I’ve been hit by the need for a mothafuckin roasting session. Dune, you think you’re such a fuckin threat like you’re gonna dominate the WCF, you’re only a fucking threat like Mr Marcus. You’re real talk one of the strangest fuckin idiots in the whole company, the only bastard that would accept that loser Occulo as his team mate shit you have to be fuckin odd.
Has anyone actually tried to sit through a Dune promo? Really? This shit is unbelievable, probably the worst shit I’ve ever had to watch, and I’ve seen The Poughkeepsie Tapes, A Serbian Film and Martyrs. Not cos they’re particularly horror inducing, nah nothing like that, just this shit puts me straight to sleep, your shit is the #1 cause of Narcolepsy in America, a Dune promo puts more people to sleep than a Jigglypuff song.
You’re fucking horrible, in the ring you’re slow and lumbering, on the mic you sound like you’re stuttering and stumbling, you’re the opposite of Lex Luger ‘The fuckin worst package anyone ever received in the world’ Yep anthrax would be a better package than fucking Dune.
Never think for a second that I’m giving you this work because you’ve earned it, because you deserve it, it’s simply a job, because I am booked in the match against you. You are a fucking gnat to me; you are nothing. Anything you think you’ve achieved or you’ve earned is simply because you haven’t met me in the ring yet, shit Dune maybe you’re looking forward to taking ICE on, maybe you think you’re the one to finally defeat my man in a one on one match for the World Title, you’re not. Only Imperium can topple Imperium.
Let me get this out the way, everyone who is trying to create a divide between us, it won’t happen, we are together because of the hunger, because of the talent, fuck if I saw Kaz saying he was ‘happy to be the bottom guy’ I’d slap him in the fuckin face, that’s not how shit works here. This isn’t communism, this isn’t a dictatorship, this is a group of alpha males together fighting for fuckin dominance…but if anyone threatens our little group? Shit about to get real in a matter of seconds.
We off that, Dune, it doesn’t matter what you come with this week, any week. It’s not enough. I’ve laid my challenge right there for you, you got the nuts? Fuckin let em swing. You couldn’t handle Beckman one on one, you sure as shit can’t handle me in any match we fight. I’m so Imperious with this shit, so cool under pressure not even Jim Kirk could phase me.
Mexico City, me and thee Dune, I’m gonna lay you down and beat you fuckin senseless, maybe I’ll drag your lifeless body into the sand so you can die with your brother in the desert like Pesci in Casino.
Dune…Bodybag.
Part Three
Joey chugs the rest of the water and throws it against the wall, the hollow *clack* of the bottle on first the wall and then the floor rings out through the room. Joey runs a hand through his hair and flashes a lizard like tongue across his lips.
Joey: But this is the reason people are tuning in for this isn’t it? This is what people want to see, this is the match that could main event any event anywhere in the world. I’m not going to sugar coat shit, Joseph Malignaggi vs John Mullins Jr, Joey Flash vs Occulo.
Joey licks his lips again.
Joey: This is the best matchup in WCF, period. People can talk about Fly and Orbit, Beckman and Cairo, but this is the shit right here, motherfucker you aren’t my secret surprise hidden brother, we aren’t going to join teams after our biggest match, you are just a weak fuckin idiot I identified I could exploit and use to my advantage the day I arrived in the WCF. Let’s get this shit poppin, first things first let’s get this out of the way.
YOU HAVE NEVER BEATEN ME.
Say it with me now Occulo.
I…HAVE…NEVER…BEATEN…JOEY…FLASH.
Now breathe. Isn’t that nice? Occulo, finally after five long months we are back in the ring together, it’s been this long? It feels like just yesterday I was snapping your arm as you screamed in pain wanting the ref to stop our match. That was the best match at One, this will be the best match this week, we will tear the fuckin house down no matter where, no matter when we fight, but as much of that is certain, what else is certain is the outcome. You cannot beat me Occulo, you dream of beating Joey Flash and wake up to slap yourself because you realise that it just isn’t real.
This is the big one Occy, you know it and I know it. You joined with Dune as a reaction to me with the Vapor Kings, you added Howard Black as a reaction to me with Imperium. Everything you do in this federation is a reaction to what Joey Flash does. Your goal, your fuckin existence is to stop what I do here.
You tried to stop me winning my debut, oops.
You tried to stop me winning at One, oops.
You’re trying to stop me winning here? Britney Spears has a fuckin song for this shit.
This shit needs to stop before it gets too repetitive for the viewers here, how many times do the WCF fans have to watch Joey Flash dismantle Occulo? You people are sadists, this poor man who is so unbelievably outclassed by me classes me as his rival, it’s cute, so cute it’s sickening. You’re obsessed with me as much as Katherine Phoenix is, but yours is even unhealthier. Yours is based around hate and revulsion rather than awe and desire. Fuck this cordial shit, let’s dig into you John.
Since we last fought you won the United States Title, without beating a champion. You defended it against uhh…hmm…Dark Prince, what the fuck? Then you lost against a superior wrestler in Kaz Mazy, oh what’s that he’s in Imperium? What a fuckin surprise Occulo loses against Imperium already. What has happened to you John? The man who went toe to toe with me, gave me everything I could handle? The man who should be the person who slays the monster known as Joey Flash. You’ve become nothing more than another body, I thought high of you, I thought the fuckin highest of you, I expected to see you as my nemesis, my fuckin Moriarty, now you’ve slipped and fallen into mediocrity, it’s sad, it’s pitiful it’s fucking heart rending.
You coughed up your title like it was nothing. My Television Title? Ran its course, but you, fucking you, you had two defences and couldn’t even last. It’s like I’ve pushed all my chips onto red and black is laughing in my face telling me how pathetic red is the fact I’ve put all my chips on you.
Occulo vs Joey Flash, this shit is ridiculous, it’s the Washington Generals vs the Harlem Globetrotters, nah it’s Gus Fring vs Hector Salamanca…this shit is over when the bell rings.
Enough of this shit, let’s talk some real shit. I’m not going to waste my time talking wrestling with you, I’m gonna get fuckin real with you. Occulo, how’s your family? How’s your pops? How’s your mother?
Joey begins to laugh.
Joey: Occulo, this tale is mine and yours, yet I’m treating you like the fuckin second string, I’m treating you like you don’t even matter…Occulo, prepare, Bodybags on-
The scene is wise to this shit and doesn't even cut out now.
Joey: PSYCHE I LIED. FUCK SHITS ABOUT TO GET BRUTAL.
Joey: It’s weird man, stick with me now I had the most unbelievable dream the other night, see Occulo I was in this amazing world, everything was beautiful. The colours were so vibrant and everyone was so lovely and kind. There were beautiful songs, lullabies…and your mother died.
I woke up with a happy smile and some sticky sheets then realised this shit wasn’t a dream at all.
How does it feel? Do you wake up sad? Do you cry? Bitch this has been my life for the past fifteen years, welcome to my world, how does it feel to be walking in half of my shoes? This shit isn’t roses and rainbows is it Occulo? You who thought to be able to analyse me with your bullshit antiquated psychology, none of that matters at this point does it? We’re two men with two sets of problems and two sets of feelings, we can battle in any era this world holds, we can war across any world and the story will be the same. It will always end with my victory.
Our matches will happen the same every time, you spout some out dated rhetoric and analysis about me, I laugh that shit off and fucking body you, straight up crush you. It’s ridiculous, we joined this place on the exact same day, we’ve been enemies ever since the day we met, this means people put us in the same class…bitch same was true of LeBron and Darko, Jordan and Bowie, Shaq and Laettner. You’re the draft pick everyone will regret, I’m sure Dune will be feeling sorry for the soft blue eyes of John Mullins Jr and choosing him as his partner before the day is done.
I could wax lyrical about this match Occulo, I could talk for a fucking hour straight about this, but notice this shit, I’m talking about you less than any of my opponents, why is that? It’s because I know how truly fucking weak you are, your weakness pervades across the whole of the federation, I know for a fact you are the weakest of your team, I’ve stared in your eyes, I’ve ripped your muscle from bone, I’ve cracked your bone from sinew and I know, I know just how weak you are.
So what are you going to bring at Slam Occulo? What is the great miracle John Mullins Jr is going to unleash to defeat the evil Joseph Flash? Fucking nothing, you can do anything you want, you can poke fun at my career, you can insult the fact I haven’t won the World Title yet, all of this shit is ridiculous, you seem like a homeless fuckin bum peeking through the windows to my house to critisize my furniture, fuckin idiot.
I know what you are Occulo, as much as you know what I am. We're in that loop of infinite battle, it doesn't matter how either of us try to escape it this is how it's going to be. It's a tough road to walk in your shoes, but shit, I'm always here and I'm always waiting. You're the only wrestler who are bare his fangs at me, for that Occulo, I will never hesitate, I will never go 50%, you have my utmost, you have my maximum, this guarantees your utter defeat...but you're the only person in the federation that will ever get the fear of 100% Flash, be fucking proud.
Occulo vs Joey Flash
Dune vs ICE Beckman
Howard Black vs Zombie McMorris
Three matches that could headline any Pay Per View in WCF history, it's sickening this is going to be forgotten as a Saturday in May, but believe this as sure as I'm standing here in front of you now, in each of these matches the winner is Imperium. This is the most one sided 'close match' in history, you fuckers are finished.
Howard, Dune, Occulo, you've fucking earned these bodybags, this shit is over.
Your Sentinel
The woman in the photo has such a vibrant smile, it looked like the type of smile that could melt even the coldest of hearts and could throw aside any barriers. Her blonde hair curled to her shoulders and her bright eyes made Joey smile. He could tell from this one still image the amount of warmth, love and happiness this woman could offer to someone. This was the woman he was going to kill.
Joey replaced the phone in his pocket and took a long drag of his cigarette, lowering the brim of his cap as a car drove past. Joey had asked one of his subordinates to provide him with a ‘Black SUV’, and provide they had. The plates were registered to a ‘Mr Ellison’ and it hadn’t even been registered as stolen yet, this would be a good boon for Flash tonight. Joey had attired himself in grey jogging bottoms, a grey hooded top, his hair held in a scrunch above his head by a sturdy hairnet and a Detroit Tigers cap with the stylized ‘D’ being the most telling part of his appearance. He examined the .44 Special he had acquired for tonight and chambered a round before ensuring the safety was well and truly fixed. He slunk down in the driver’s seat and he waited.
He pulled his phone once more and opened the picture that John Mullins Sr had sent him earlier today along with the details of the hotel she was going to be staying at while down here in Mexico City. She’s really coming this far to support him, to drag him through the toughest match of his life. Look at that smile…
His inner machinations were halted as the appearance of the woman smashed him back to alertness. He stepped from the foyer of the hotel and clutched a handbag tight as her hair flowed in the warm spring wind. She looked at her phone for a moment as a smile crossed her face and she typed a short message back to whoever had made her smile, then began striding down the street. Joey pocketed his phone, checking it was on silent and placed the firearm in the other. He hopped out of the SUV and his sneakers on the pavement. He jogged quietly across the road and was behind the woman now by all of twenty or so paces.
He watched her legs pump out a rhythm on the sidewalk as he was getting closer and closer, pulling the cap further down across his face. She turned a corner and so did he, she was heading right where he needed her to be, the street was dimly lit, there was nary a person about, not the right place for a young woman at midnight in Mexico City. Joey reached into his pocket and wrapped his hand around the .44, he pulled the gun from his pocket and aimed it straight at the back of her head. One more movement of his index finger and this woman with the delightful smile would be erased from the world like she never existed.
Last week a young woman was killed to send a message to Joey, a message that said ‘I’m still watching you’, this week a young woman would be killed to send a message to Occulo, a message that said ‘Daddy’s still here, son’. Since when did the great Joseph Malignaggi get blackmailed? Since when would the great Joseph Malignaggi disobey his own conscience and fly in the face of his own thin morality?
One twitch of that trigger and you destroy yourself.
With a deep gulp of air Joey lowered the gun and turned back on himself, he exhaled and slumped against the chain link fence. The woman turned round.
Bonnie: Are you okay?
Joey looked in surprise at her and pulled the hood over his head and began to walk away.
Joey: Yeah, yeah I’m fine, thanks.
Bonnie: Are you sure?
Joey: Sure I’m sure; you have a nice night ya hear?
With that Joey began to speed away from Bonnie and disappeared around the corner before she could quiz him further. He wiped the sweat from his brow, what the fuck was he doing? Before he knew it he was back around the corner and following her again.
Joey: Hey miss!
She turned to look at him, look of concern on his face. What was he doing?
Joey: Look, this is a dangerous place; I can help walk you to wherever you’re going.
He tipped his cap up to show his face and gave her a smile, her face at least didn’t give away that she recognised him. He had tracked her with the intent of putting a bullet into the back of her skull and now was helping her through the mazy backstreets of Mexico City.
Bonnie: Good night for a run is it?
Joey: Huh?
He remembered his attire.
Joey: Yeah, shit is crazy.
Bonnie: I’m going to visit someone at a gym nearby here, what is it with men and late night workouts?
Joey: Hah, husband?
Bonnie: Barely even boyfriend, but…he’s nice.
Joey: Good shit, he treat ya right?
Bonnie: In his own way.
Joey: Good, keep him honest. Anyway, this as far as I-
Before Joey could get anymore out the unlikely twosome were stopped in their tracks by three guys dressed almost identically to Joey, these men however all had balaclavas pulled down over their heads, one had a pistol in his hand raised at Joey and the other two carried baseball bats, the man with the gun was shorter than the other two and seemed to be the leader, he spoke with a very thick Mexican accent.
Gunman: He knew you’d flake Malignaggi.
Mullins, that fucking snake, so this was how he intended it from the start, have Joey and Bonnie get blasted up by these thugs, Mullins comes away scot free and all his hindrances are out of the way for good. Joey holds his hands up and whispers to Bonnie.
Joey: In five seconds, run.
Bonnie: I’m not leaving you.
Joey: Do what I fucking say
The gunman laughed and shouted angrily.
Gunman: Cat your tongue Joe Joe?
Joey took a step forward and lowered his hands to his waistline, he would have to be fast, he would have to be lightning, this is speed or death.
Joey: Nah motherfucker, try me.
Gunman: Hah, he told me to make sure you watched the woman die first, ‘I don’t kill women’ what a fucking sap you are, how pathetic Fla-
His sentence, as was his life was cut short by a lightning draw from Flash’s .44 pistol as the slug slammed into his forehead from all of ten paces away and sent the Gunman’s brain matter into the sky behind him. Joey knew he didn’t need to fire a second or third shot as the other two thugs dropped their ballbats and immediately took flight down the other end of the dark alley. The sound echoed through the alley in tandem with a scream of horror from Bonnie.
Joey: Cocksuckers.
He turned to see the woman in shock next to him, he grabbed her hand.
Joey: We need to fucking move, now.
Bonnie: Y-you killed-
Joey: NOW.
He physically dragged her across the alley and back through the winding roads. It looked like a scene from The Last of Us as Joey and Bonnie ran through the backstreets trying to avoid any contact with humanity. They managed to get back to the hotel.
Joey: Call the guy you’re supposed to be meeting and cancel it, get him here, now.
Bonnie had broken down into tears and slumped down on the steps leading up the entrance.
Joey: Fuck it, give me your phone.
Bonnie: N-No I can do it.
She tapped at the screen and held the phone to her ear, Joey offered his hand for comfort, she accepted.
Bonnie: J-John?
It WAS Occulo.
Bonnie: Something terrible happened, these men tried to…oh god. Come back to the hotel please, I need you.
She lowered the phone and Joey took his hand away from hers.
Joey: You’re gonna be okay, don’t worry.
Bonnie: W-who were those men?
Joey: Just thugs wanting some easy American marks, punks.
Bonnie: They seemed to know you, w-why were they-
Joey: Damned if I know? Look, I need to get going,
Bonnie: Please, please stay, I don’t know who you are or why you were there but you saved me, let me thank you properly, my boyfriend is a bit of a celebrity so maybe we could do something to reward you and what you did tonight, money or oh I don’t know.
Joey: Look, I dunno what you think but I was just in the right place at the right time I guess.
Bonnie: …I don’t care what anyone says, you’re a hero.
Joey tipped his cap to her.
Bonnie: At least tell me your name!
Joey smiled
Joey: Just call me your ‘Sentinel’.
Bonnie stifled a laugh that stopped her fear.
Bonnie: What does that even mean?
Joey: Occy will know.
He smiled once more and without so much as a second look back made his way back across the road to the car. The night had grown cold as Joey opened the door to the black SUV. He let a sigh out and pulled the cap and the hairnet off his head letting his hair flop free. He placed the gun into the glove compartment and pulled his phone out once more, the time read 23:32, he really needed to get some sleep before his big fight on Sunday but couldn’t just leave the woman alone out here. A lot of thoughts were running through Joey’s head, he wondered what Mullins was thinking trying to get rid of him as well, was it even Mullins? Was it Sam? Are they the same person? He didn’t have a fucking clue, but what he did know is he wasn’t going to let this woman die.
He waited and he waited until he saw a figure jogging down the road toward the Marriott, Joey stared at the man as he approached the woman, he slowly came into focus as Occulo and watched their embrace as Bonnie leapt into his arms and held him with all of her might. Joey smiled and turned the ignition of his car, for half a second Joey thought that would be a fitting end to his life as his car explodes into flames having finally done something good in his measly life, but alas he depressed the accelerator the car simply moved forward. Moving forward huh?
Joey checked the road for traffic and made a turn, the car swung round and Joey could see Bonnie pointing at the car as Occulo spun round to look, Joey drove past the re-united couple and gave a single glance in their direction to find Occulo turning to look, but the car had flown past before Occulo could feast his eyes on the man known as Joey Flash. With another deep breath Flash put the hammer down and gunned the SUV through the streets.
Is this how it had to be? Every step Joey Flash thought took him away from Occulo, from Mullins from all this shit, yet it seemed to be the exact opposite, like these two men were simply running on tracks that no matter if they wanted to get off or change direction were on a constant collision course. Now it dragged itself even further than Joey had expected and had transcended what was going to happen in the squared circle in Sunday, it wouldn’t take long before Occulo found out what had happened this evening, Bonnie would certainly be able to put a name to his face after Sunday night.
He clicked the indicator and parked up in a small 7/11 car park. He slumped forward and rested his forehead on the steering wheel. While Occulo, Dune and Howard Black were training Joey Flash was doing what came naturally, ruining people's lives. He hoped to high hell he hadn't effected or ruined the life of the blonde with the beautiful smile, she deserved so much more than to be dragged into this bullshit. He didn't hate Occulo, quite the opposite actually, the man had earned more respect and more professional pride than any other wrestler Joey had ever faced, Joey hoped he would look after the woman tonight. Please...do what I can't. What was this match? Was this a test at the right time? At the wrong time? Would Joey just fall here and that be that, or is this finally Joey Flash's path to what he wanted? The WCF World Title.
Joey hit his head on the steering wheel. This was not a match to ever look beyond, as far as any bullshit goes, this is the most important match in the tournament, this is the one that will decide it all, on all levels it is rival vs rival, on Sunday you meet the man who will eventually rip the crown of avarice from your head once more...Joey snarled to himself as the tears cascaded down his cheeks, not now, not ever.
'I am the king'
