Class Dismissed

[Deleted]

The scene opens with the buzz of whispers and murmurs as hundreds of college kids file into a lecture hall. The seats of the hall go back many rows, there is even a balcony above. There is not an empty seat by the time Lupus Onyx enters the hall in a horrid-looking brown suit and glasses, looking as much like an old professor as he could. The kids are all talking amongst themselves, trading glances at Onyx and their peers. Onyx clears his throat to try to get their attention, before slamming a stack of paper down on the podium.

Onyx - "Intelligence. Who can tell me what that word means?"

Kids yell out different answers. Brains, smarts, a collection of knowledge. Onyx nods affirmatively.

Onyx - "That was a trick question. We ARE here in Northwestern University, I had to make sure I wasn't surrounded by idiots. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Dr. Randall Wolfberg, and I'm a professor of sociology. Obviously, with a name like Randall Wolfberg, I am using a pseudonym as my actual name doesn't matter at this juncture. I wanted to come here today because I'm doing an experiment. You see, I believe society has gotten dumber. So I've started a mission to try and find the truly stupid, help them, and hopefully save humanity. I'm going to ask you a simple question, and based on your answers, I'll be able to know if, and how many, people need my help.

So my question is this. How does one obtain a higher level of intellect? Yes, you in the 3rd row."

A shy, timid girl stands up. Her head down, her stringy brown hair covering her face.

Girl (muttering)- "By learning."

Onyx - "Elaborate, and speak up. Let us see you and hear you."

Girl - "Um... uh... well, they would have to study for many years and gain knowledge in what they are studying."

Onyx - "Very good, thank you. Does everybody agree with that answer? Raise your hands. Good, good, a vast majority of you. Anyone else?"

The shy girl quickly sits back down, her face turning red in embarrassment. A random student yells out 'Google', causing a few people to laugh.

Onyx - "Yes, rude child up in the balcony, the internet can be a very good, and also dangerous, tool. Everyone agree? Excellent, excellent, you guys are all doing well. Anyone else?"

A blonde girl stands up, one finger twirling in her hair, dressed in a cheerleader outfit.

Dumb Chick - "Duh, it comes naturally!"

Onyx walks up to the blonde and gets within three inches of her face.

Onyx - "What is your name?"

Dumb Chick - "Maddie."

Onyx - "Maddie, let me guess, you were one of those 'no child left behind' kids, right? The ones whose report cards said 'marginally gifted' instead of the truthful 'your son/daughter is retarded'? Tell me, Maddie, who the hell did you go down on to get into this institution? Don't answer that, judging by the look on your face, the smeared lipstick and the scabs on your knees, there must have been quite a lineup. Do me a favor, do your classmates a favor, do YOURSELF a favor... and get out. Go fill out applications at McDonald's, waitress, pole dance, whatever. You... don't... belong... here."

As 'Maddie' runs away in tears, we hear a clapboard, the director calling 'Cut!' and everyone scurrying off. Onyx turns to the camera crew there for WCF.

Onyx - "This was a public service announcement. Don't be a Maddie, earn an education. And NOW... back to your regularly scheduled reality."

Onyx gets out of the horrible suit and changes back into his usual black clothing. One of the camera crew follows him outside the studio to the parking lot where he lights up a cigarette and sits on a concrete retaining wall. Onyx and the cameraman strike up a conversation.

Cameraman - "That was almost convincing."

Onyx laughs.

Onyx - "Damn, that suit was itchy. How do those stuffy fucks do it, with the tweed and shit?"

Cameraman - "No idea. What that a fair representation of your college days?"

Onyx - "I didn't go to college, couldn't afford it."

Cameraman - "No athletic scholarships?"

Onyx laughs, and shakes a finger at the cameraman.

Onyx - "Yeah, right. You'd probably be surprised to know I didn't do any sports in high school. I went to school so I wouldn't be arrested for truancy."

Cameraman - "What was home life then?"

Onyx - "Stay-at-home mum who couldn't cook or clean, abusive father. I ran away at 13, lived on the streets for the most part during my teens."

Cameraman - "Do you mind if I keep filming and asking you questions? We can do a mini-documentary."

Onyx - "A mini-documentary, huh? The Biography of Lupus Onyx, next on A&E. Right, ask away. My life was rough but I won't hide from it. It is what it is."

Onyx lights another cigarette, and takes a flask out of his back pocket and drinks from it before putting it back in his pocket.

Cameraman - "Were you a troublemaker?"

Onyx - "Then? Nah. I did some break-and-enters for drug money, stole a bit from stores, but nothing malicious. Not at first."

Cameraman - "Drug money?"

Onyx - "Oh yeah. Living on the streets like I did, begging for change downtown, there wasn't a whole lot to do so I took drugs. I'd be out for days at a time, lit up on something. Pills were my weakness, painkillers especially. I was also seeing a shrink."

Cameraman - "For what?"

Onyx - "I used to carry a journal, and I'd write down whatever popped into my head. One day, somebody found it, probably during one of the times I was out of it, and they turned it in to my principal. From then, it was school counselors until I tried to commit suicide, then they sent me to the shrink. I still have a scar on my neck from trying to hang myself, probably hard to see now."

Cameraman - "What kind of stuff did you write about?"

Onyx - "You have to understand this was a time before the world got too damn paranoid for its own good. I wrote about blowing up the school, killing people, killing myself. Even had plans on how to do it. Angry teenage stuff, that was."

Cameraman - "Ever follow through on any of it?"

Onyx - "Is the statute of limitations up yet? Yeah, I did hurt a lot of people physically. Broke some legs, knocked out some teeth, beat a couple of people into a coma. I set fire to a few things, just to watch them burn. Killed animals for fun. I did do time for manslaughter, five years. I still say it was self-defense, police and judge seemed to think I went overboard. Nobody stole my sandwich ever again."

Onyx smiles, and while we can't see the cameraman, the occasional shake in the camera points to an increased level of nervousness.

Cameraman - "How do you go from troubled street kid to becoming a Satanist?"

Onyx - "Pretty easily, actually. I was at my lowest, strung out on everything, wasn't eating. I wanted to die. I saw people gunned down in broad daylight. Found many a baby left in a dumpster, and yet no sign from the entity you would call God. I got tired of watching people file into churches every Sunday to ask forgiveness, only to see them cruising the streets for a good time the rest of the week. It was hypocritical. A friend pointed me to LaVey's Satanic Bible, and things started to make sense. From there, I stopped looking outside for answers, and started looking inside myself. I realized at that point that if I wanted something done, it would take my own strength, faith in my own abilities, to get through it."

Cameraman - "How so?"

Onyx - "You're a smart guy, right? This world, the people on it, they're almost all useless. We are all animals, and yet many of them flog themselves for doing what comes naturally to animals. They feel guilty for living, but treat suicide as an unforgiveable sin. They live by Commandments that say thou shalt not cover thy neighbors' possessions, yet live in a democracy built on coveting possessions. Keeping up with the Joneses. I hate the hypocrisy. I embrace the coveting of possessions. If you feel guilty for having it, I'll take it from you and absolve you of your guilt. If you want to die, I can put an end to your life because I could care less about you or where you think you'll go in your afterlife.

The greatest thing I learned from Satanism, and I say it all the time is this... indulgence over abstinence. My journal comes to life."

Onyx stands up, ready to leave.

Cameraman - "Wait, one last question. The human flesh, drinking children's blood, did you actually do that?"

Onyx smiles, not answering the question, tosses the cigarette butt on the ground and walks to his bus parked at the back of the lot.

**********************************************

A few hours have passed since the conversation with the cameraman. In that time, Onyx has been pacing back and forth on his, like a caged animal looking for an escape. Three ashtrays are full of cigarette butts, two bottles of Jack have been emptied, his match at Slam reviewed repeatedly. Onyx sets up a camcorder on the table and points it at himself. He is seated at said table so all we see is a close-up of Onyx's face.

Onyx - "They say it takes a strong man to admit when he's wrong. Valentina, I was wrong about you. This is not a show of kindness, but a show of respect.

I am going to clarify something for you, and while it would be easy to shoot down the higher intelligence boast, I'll try my best not to. I see you for exactly who you are. A rookie, still green, still wet behind the ears. Trying to make your mark as a woman in a male-dominated business. And I respect that. I know a little of your history, Valentina. You got beat up, laid out, chewed up and spit out. Every single wrestler in every locker room in every wresting company has had that experience. Some of them up and quit, some of them get taken out of the business prematurely. The rest get back up and do it again.

To say you had "daddy issues" was mild, that perhaps you had "many daddies", I was trying to spare you from my true intent. I've seen what happens to rookie females in this business. They trust too easily, they want to learn from the vets, and some of the guys use that to their advantage. Hell, some of the animals here have said so out loud to your face. They're not out to teach you, they're out to fuck you."

Onyx lights up another cigarette, looks around for a bottle with anything in it, finds a mouthful of something and shoots it back quickly.

Onyx - "You want to know what makes me so much different? Hmm? Fact is, while somebody like you just breaking in puts on a horse and pony show about changing who you are, burying the old you and what not, I changed slowly. You will always be the old you, you'll just become jaded about the business like I did. As good as this industry can be; fame, money, prestige... it can be a bitter bitch. Locker room drama, backstabbing, alliances created out of greed, always told you're replaceable.

That's what makes me different.

There is no front. I spit it all back in their faces. I have made a reputation of being outspoken, calling people out on their bullshit, kicking in their faces, working stiff. I give no quarter and I take no shit. I've been in this business a really long time, been on this earth a really long time, and yet in this place, they try to treat me like it's my first day. I've already made a list of people to silence, for when they have no choice but to place me against them. They won't be protected forever.

I found my way through books, just like you, Valentina. Mine weren't Caculus or History, though. They were my journals with all the twisted thoughts and ideas in it. It was LaVey's Bible that showed me it is okay to indulge in my desires. What people don't realize is that I already had the tools, I just needed the playgrounds to use them in, and the people continue to deliver what I want whether they know it or not. It's been that attitude from everyone that has weathered away any remorse for my actions. It is that dismissiveness that dissolved all feelings of guilt. It is seeing the sheep at the top, bleating their elitist rhetoric that feeds my need to torture them.

You're right, I used to have something to hide, something to protect. I used to have a conscience until this business, this life, destroyed it. And I thank them. How's that for fucked up? I thank the world for destroying me, so that I could have the motivation to destroy every single one of them. And they wonder why I drink."

We see Onyx lean over, then a clinking of bottles, before he brings another half-empty bottle and starts to drink from it.

Onyx - "I'm bitter, I'm angry, and I have a plan. This week, Valentina, respect or not, I am going to use you as a stepping stone. I have to, I need to. However, I will also give you the kindness you deserve, and I will protect you from the vultures who seek nothing more from you than their own satisfaction. You are better than that. No alliances, hell, I don't even want to be your friend. I just want to make sure you get a fair shot at success in this business. Whether you become successful or not falls on you and your abilities to adapt, to learn, to push yourself every single day. I'm just making sure you don't get fucked, figuratively speaking.

THAT'S what makes me different. Class dismissed."