Post by Gemini Battle on Dec 23, 2015 17:45:03 GMT -5
Oakland, California
WCF House Show
Revenge
Grayson’s eyes open up from his trance-like state and he is standing in the center of a WCF ring…
*Ding Ding*
He smiles as he brings the microphone to his mouth.
Grayson
Good evening OAKLAND!
The crowd chanted his name and he felt alive for the first time in forever. The crowd’s energy drives him to be better. He was glad that he decided to fulfill his obligations.
Grayson
Last time I had any association with you all I was getting my ass tossed around by the Oakland Mack himself. But I got my sort of revenge when I faced him in Mexico at the finals of the Trio Tournament and we became the first ever WCF Trio’s Champions.
Crowd
DRG…DRG…DRG…
Grayson
And while I’m on the topic of revenge that brings me to my opponent this coming week at One, Wade Moor. A man that was so hell bent on Revenge on Scarecrow that he stood a mere few feet away from him as he was pushed to his death AT Revenge this past year.
Ever since then that moment has been eating away at him, because he never truly got to exact the revenge that he wanted for the atrocities that he felt Scarecrow bestowed upon him. He had a grand plan of pain and torture, and for all I know his grand plan ended in the death of Scarecrow. But it never got fulfilled.
I know about Revenge. I needed to get my revenge on KL Henson for haunting my reality. And directly after your match I got my Revenge on Henson the way that I had planned it. From that moment I went on a roll of dominance going onto the setting the war record for eliminations and winning the United States Championship.
My revenge was done in a way that made me stronger, but there’s some people that revenge only makes weaker. Take Dune for example. A man that hides behind a mask of his own insecurities. HE got revenge on the people who killed his family… an eye for an eye. They killed them so he killed them.
But it wasn’t enough for him either, the pain of what he went through coupled with the agony of knowing what he did threw him off the edge to the point where killing only the culprits of the attach of his parents wasn’t enough, and he had to kill again, and now he’s in a death match at One, appropriately named.
You, however never got to exact your revenge, so you are in your own head contemplating your next move knowing that it can never happen. You sit in your throne and wonder what life would be like if you got to go through with your plan knowing that it will never happen.
But then you begin to think, what if I was wrong, and that’s the point where you are now. You are questioning the beliefs that you once had, you are questioning your own reality knowing that you can’t trust what you can’t understand.
And that’s why you are the way you are. That’s why you treat people the way you do. You go on the internet and you troll people with your minions because there’s strength in numbers and you fear being alone. You fear being alone because when you’re alone you are stuck with your thoughts and when you are only with your thoughts you start to regret what happened to your mortal enemy.
Trust me Wade, I know what it’s like to fear your own thoughts, but unlike you I’ve broke through that barrier and found the real me. Now it’s up to you to find the real you. You don’t fit the mold of a Hawaiian shirt wearing, Birkenstock donning douche bag from SoCal. You strike me as a thought provoking and meaningful individual whose reckless nature is countered by his meticulousness.
You’re an interesting fellow Wade, but I imagine that you don’t have the same to say about me. You’ll make claims about my mental state but the fact of the matter is you don’t know jack shit about me, so don’t pretend that you do. You can mock my record in the ring but the fact of the matter is you were the one that wanted this match.
He puts his hand down and wipes the hair from his face. Since getting in the ring and pacing he has begun to sweat under the bright lights. The feeling of his own heat emanating from his body made him feel more alive than he had in the past few weeks.
Grayson
And for the record, I have my own form of revenge to get on you this week at One. As much as Revenge is a weakness for you, I have the ability to harness my energy for the betterment of myself. If you don’t remember because you were smoking too much Pot let me refresh your memory.
My good friend, Thomas Bates is out of the hospital and back in the hunt for State Senate in Alabama, no thanks to you. He is a brave and great man, and the fact that you used him to get to me was a cowardly move, but it did what you wanted. It got you to me, which is going to turn out to be the worst mistake of your life.
Because when you step into the ring with me normally you always get the best that I have to offer, which in my experience is pretty fucking good, but now you’re stepping into the ring with a man with not only glory on his mind but vengeance as well.
If Thomas Bates could he would crush you right here right now, Unfortunately for him he can’t be here, but fortunately for him he can’t be held responsible for the actions that I am going to take towards you. People don’t seem to think that there’s an emotional side to our story, but it goes deeper than they can possibly imagine. Revenge is sweet, but that World Title around my waist will be sweeter.
So you best beware because this week you’ll be stepping into the ring with the high flying, electrifying awe inspiring Livewire who will make you laugh, make you cry and make you kiss your ass goodbye. And after this week you’ll be kissing that title goodbye because there’s going to be Thunder in Paradise as I hit you with some High Voltage, son.
Livewire out!
12-23-15
Training Montage
Grayson Pierce is in his basement which doubles as a recording studio and a gym. He is using the side with the weight training equipment as his best friend Cliff joins him, spotting him. Both men were exhausted. They were working out for hours already and Grayson seemed to refuse to quit.
Cliff
Dude, you’re a beast today.
Grayson
Gotta be on my A Game. No time to play.
Cliff
Do it, bro!
Kat was upstairs making lunch, tuna sandwiches for the boys and rice and beans for her. She was still having a hard time adjusting to life as a wife and not a mother. It wasn’t too long ago that she was just this, but just 6 months as a mother seemed to fade away the memories of having little responsibility and no one to take care of but yourself.
Grayson was a little different. He didn’t carry the baby for 9 months and fall in love with it; he didn’t even know the baby existed until he was three months old. But that didn’t make him love Teddy any less. He met the child and immediately fell in love with him. There was no doubt in his mind that he belonged in that home and he was supposed to be a father.
Now all of that was stripped away as fast as it was given to him. It’s, funny how that works. Not funny like ‘ha ha’ funny but more like peculiar. He had experienced the highest of highs and he would have had no idea how low this moment would feel unless he had experienced a high such as that.
Grayson seated out his frustrations as he lifted weights heavier than he ever lifted, ran faster than he ever ran and worked out longer than he had ever done before in his life. Cliff was even worn out, and he was a weight trainer and personal trainer as an occupation.
Cliff
You keep going… I’m just gonna… sit… down… now.
It was nice for Grayson to have a familiar face around, but Cliff wasn’t as pleased with the situation. Last time he experience Grayson like this he was taking some pretty extreme uppers and he was nervous that the stress of life was leading him to do the same.
He was also nervous to confront him about it. What with the loss of his child, and impending title match he wasn’t sure if he should throw wild accusations about drug addiction to the mix. When Grayson was a kid he once got in trouble for being a stoner when he had never touched the stuff. He decided that if he was going to get in trouble for it he might as well try it, and that started a downward spiral that he was not proud of.
He’s older, wiser, and more mature, but that memory always remained in his head and it was Cliff who tipped off his parent on accident about the potential drug usage so needless to say he was always hesitant to say something. But he also was too scared not to. A Catch 22.
Grayson finally stopped working out and grabbed a drink and sat down for the first time in what seemed like days. Cliff stared at his friend worried both about what to say, and how to say it. But he couldn’t even open his mouth before Grayson started in.
Grayson
We need to talk.
December 24th
Still Training
Almost as though Grayson was training overnight he woke up, had breakfast and went right to his basement to stretch out. The clock on the wall read 5:00 AM. He was pissed that he let himself sleep in so late. He turned on the treadmill and set it to max and let it warm up. The basement was finally getting cold, and he loved it. It tightened his core and allowed him to work out in maximum lung deficiency which he knew would ultimately help his stamina.
He was unsure how much stamina he would need for his upcoming match. Wade Moor looks out of shape but is nimble and moves with the grace of a man half his size. He didn’t want to take the big man for granted. He was stronger and just as fast. He was smart too. Wade Moor was truly a specimen to be respected in the ring.
But that didn’t mean that Grayson didn’t have a few tricks up his sleeve. He was smart too, and he knew how to exploit weaknesses in others. For example, Wade Moor is reckless. He often attacks without thinking of the possible defense that could come from it. Grayson would use that to his advantage. And though in great shape, there was no chance in hell that he had the stamina that Grayson had. He had those and a plethora of other things on his side that he planned on using to the best of his ability.
He’s often left a lot on the table during matches. He never fully exerted himself in a match yet in the past year, except at War, and there he eliminated more people in the history of the match. But even then he knew that he had more in him, but his problem was he became complacent. He let a moment of solidarity and the roar of the crowd distract him when someone was just a little bit hungrier than he that night.
He would not let lightning strike twice. He would not go gracefully into that good night. Wade Moor was going to have to kill Grayson in order to win this match, and he knew that the prospect of killing him was not something that Wade Moor was above doing. So he was going into this match ready to die for the cause. He had little to live for anyway, so why not die in the ring like a true warrior.
Kat
It’s so early, why don’t you come back to bed.
Grayson
Can’t sleep… clowns will eat me!
He loved the show ‘The Simpsons,’ and quoted it as often as possible. And he also knew that this would shut her up at least for a moment.
Grayson
I’m alright babe.
She allowed him this moment alone, which would turn into hours. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Her face brought back too many bad memories. Her eyes were Teddy’s eyes, her face as Teddy’s face, her soul was Teddy’s soul. Before he knew it he had run 6 miles, but never left the spot where he was. He felt like he was running away from his life, but he was stuck in his own basement. This must be what purgatory feels like.
Meanwhile upstairs Clifford James, Grayson’s best friend and confidant was enjoying breakfast with Kat. He was dressed ready to work out, yet he still looked fatigued from the night before. Kat was dressed and ready for the day to start.
Cliff
How do you look so good at 7AM?
Kat
I gotta keep my mind off of things. Getting ready is a process in of itself. Gray has his exercise and I’ve got my fashion, what can I say?
Cliff
About his exercise. Has he seemed a bit more… energized than normal?
Kat
Yea, but he’s just working off his stress.
Cliff
Are you sure? Listen, I really hate to even mention this as a possibility but…
She stopped pouring the coffee into the ivory colored cup and stared at her now longtime companion.
Cliff
Never mind.
Kat
Listen, if you think that Gemini or whatever is coming back, you’re wrong. He’s gone.
Cliff
How can you be so sure?
Kat
When he sleeps he no longer has those recurring nightmares that kept him awake. He used to talk to himself, and talk about this Vanessa that was in Gemini’s life. He talked about her all the time, it was so disturbing to me that there was this woman in his life while he was gallivanting around as Gemini, but I kept my mouth shut and gave him all the love I possibly could, and now Gemini is gone. It’s only Grayson down there. I’m sure of it.
Cliff
Yea… I think so too. So that’s not what I was worried about before. You see when we were kids and just getting into music he used to stay up all night playing songs and getting better at his craft. And he was damn good, don’t get me wrong, a lot of that was intuitive and a lot of it was learned and from incredible amounts of practice, but he was able to do so much because he was taking Amphetamines.
Kat
Like, uppers?
Cliff
Yea. He had so much energy and he got fucking good at what he was doing, but it took a toll on him. He recovered but I would hate to think that he was taking drugs again.
Kat
Goodness… I never even thought of that.
They poked their heads downstairs and looked at Grayson with no shirt on sweating up a storm as he poured a water bottle over his body. His muscles were tightening as they watched and his hair dripped with water and sweat. He ran with purpose and conviction.
Kat
How do we bring this up to him?
Cliff
We can’t, not without proof. You know how pissed he would be if we accused him of being a druggy. I once accused him of eating the last slice of pizza when Cesare had done it and he punched me so hard I still have nightmares about it. This is serious.
Kat
Well, are they prescription?
Cliff
Could be.
Kat
I’ll check with the pharmacy to see if they have anything on file for him.
Cliff
You can’t just do that.
Kat
I’m his wife… and trust me, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve too.
Cliff
Ok, I’ll see what information I can get from him downstairs.
Kat walked to the basement door and yelled down.
Kat
Babe, I’m going to the store, need anything.
Grayson
NO!
Kat
Love You!
Grayson
LOVE YOU TOO!
Kat looks at Cliff.
Kat
Take care of him.
Cliff
I always do.
Kat left and Cliff shook his head. He headed downstairs and as he got there Grayson turned off the treadmill. 2 hours of running should be enough of a warm up he thought. He turned and wiped his brow with a green towel.
Grayson
You tell her?
Cliff
Just like we talked.
Grayson
And she’s doing some detective work now?
Cliff
Just like you thought. You got that girl pegged.
Grayson
I’m a little pissed that she didn’t stand up for me, but I’m glad she’s distracted now. I feel guilty down here knowing that I have been exercising so much, and how awesome it makes me feel to get the endorphins pumping even though I’m so fucking sad all the time.
Cliff
It really is making you feel better, huh?
Grayson
It really is. She has been closed for business if you know what I mean since the incident, which I totally get, but that was a huge source or relief if you know what I mean. Without that this is the best next thing.
Cliff
She seems to be holding up well.
Grayson
I know. On the outside, but if it’s eating away at me thig much imagine how it must feel for the mother.
Cliff
I can’t even begin to fathom.
Grayson
Once she realizes that she’s on a wild goose chase she’ll go back to status quo. I just hope that this distracts her long enough.
Cliff
I’m glad I talked to you about this yesterday. After the pizza incident, I was a little nervous to bring it up without hard proof.
Grayson
That wasn’t me… that was Cesare.
Grayson hit Cliff hard in the arm. The man’s arms were solid, but he still cowered in pain.
Grayson
Stop blaming me for things I didn’t do!
The two laughed and got back to exercising. About another hour went by and they stopped for a water break.
Cliff
She’s really concerned about you, man.
Grayson
Shit’s rough right now, she’s got it hard. But so do I. I’m mourning the death of my kid, and I’ve got to not only get ready for my World Title Match, but get my head wrapped around the fact that I am going to be the next face of the WCF. I started off on top of the world. And when I got to the top I fell, and I fell hard. Pretty much about as hard as a person could fall. The Livewire Grayson Perce was seen as one of the top stars in the company.
The problem was that I was stuck in a company where the heel forces dominated. Meaning that the likes of Ice Beckman and Steve Orbit were terrorizing the roster, but I was too young, and too naïve to realize what it would take to get over on them.
And that was my problem right there. I was looking to get over on them, not beat them. Well, I wanted to beat them, but perhaps there was a part of me that didn’t want to defeat them. There was a part of me that knew that I wasn’t ready for that type of lime light. But I still put everything that I was capable of putting out. People consider the Livewire vs Steve Orbit match for the Hardcore Title one of the greatest Hardcore Fights of all time. It was so good that Seth made us go at it again, a match that I pretty much sleepwalked through and got my ass kicked. Because at that point I was done.
Have you ever heard of hyper growth?
Cliff
No. And I assume that you’re going to explai…
Grayson
It’s basically this thing a lot of smaller businesses suffer from. Small business seems like a great idea but you see what happens is that once you get the smell of money you want more of it, and you’re willing to stretch yourself too thin to get what you feel like you deserve. You accept more than what you can handle and once you start failing at delivering the services that you promised you leave yourself vulnerable. You make yourself look like a failure and people start backing out on you and the next thing you know you’ve gone under and are in a mountain of debt that is impossible to get under.
I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I saw that happening to me. That’s why I had to take a step back. I had this asshole calling himself the Producer, Isaac Salinger, name ring a bell?
Cliff
Oh, that old guy. He threw all that money at you, right?
Grayson
Yea, man. Started my own Livewire.com network, before even the WCF Network was a thing. I revolutionized streaming media for wrestling fans, but I didn’t want any of that. You know that all I ever wanted was to…
Cliff
Be a professional wrestler. I remember when we were touring the north east and whenever we would hit one of those spots where we were the band for a wrestling event you would be like a fucking school girl.
Grayson
School boy… come on. I wasn’t that feminine, was I?
Cliff
*doing a very girly impression and flailing his hands wildly* ‘Oooh, I wanna get in that ring and kick some ass. It’s in my blood you know’
Grayson punches his friend on the shoulder, harder than before.
Cliff
Fuck, dude. Come on. You do that for a living now. It sucked in high school when you would give me a dead arm, this just is unfair!
Grayson
You’re like twice my size, dude. Man up.
Cliff
That obviously doesn’t matter.
Grayson
You’re right. I’ve stepped up to men far my superior in size and strength and I rocked them all. But it wasn’t until I came back that I really found my stride.
Cliff
As Gemini Battle. Now that it’s out of your system… it IS out of your system, right?
Grayson
I’m not totally sure, dude. I can’t bring him out on purpose now. I haven’t heard from him in a while. But I don’t know if it will ever be totally gone from my psyche, you know what I mean?
Cliff
Not a clue. How could I, I’m not a fucking lunatic like you… just kidding please don’t hit me!
Grayson unclenches his fist and smiles at his bro.
Cliff
Well, what was up with that whole situation?
Grayson
I don’t know. I think I was scared. Like I said I had grown so fast in the company, but wasn’t ready to be that person yet. Maybe Gemini was my way of expediting the process. I really do feel like that in order to truly respect and appreciate where I am today I had to hit rock bottom first. Gemini was what I thought was rock bottom, well until…
Well I came back and instead of dominating like I did I lost like all the fucking time. It wasn’t until I teamed up with Tommy Bates that I started coming into my own.
Cliff
You mean riding his coat tails.
Grayson
Nah, man. I helped him as much as he helped me. I was a lunatic, but when he killed those dudes in Mexico it was my alter ego that talked him off the ledge that day. When I fell victim to pain meds and alcohol he helped me. That was a true relationship that was forged under a false identity. So fucking weird. I felt as close to him as I do you, but when Gemini was gone, or whatever, when I was gaining back my sanity I still loved the dude like a brother. He and Gonzo.
Cliff
Sorry about that guy.
Grayson
He had his own demons, I think some of them were literal too. He was always on the run, even if he wasn’t actually running. It was a horrible tragedy but it brought me back to reality. They say people die in sets of three. It leaves me wondering who my third will be you know. It’s like I’m on the edge, waiting to see who is going to go next and… it’s fucking scary, dude.
Cliff
I know man. You just gotta keep yourself… busy.
Grayson
Hence the incessant working out. I’m sad, I’m pissed, and I’m scared, dude. But you know what I’m NOT scared of. I’m not scared of stepping into the ring with Wade this Sunday at One. I’m not afraid of going out there and becoming the World Champion for the first time. Last year I wasn’t ready, this year I’m more than ready. And not only am I ready, I’m willing and able.
Wade Moor wasn’t ready when he got the title. He got it on a fluke night where shit happened and everything hit the fan. He holds that title not truly knowing how to be a champion. He isn’t asserting his dominance or his will like Dune did… good or bad that guy was a real champion. He was feared and respected. Wade is neither of those things.
Even though he is dominant, he has never garnered the respect from anyone outside of his little group of 8 and even that group is getting more and more broken up as the time goes on. Part of me thinks that this week in LA I may not only become the World Champion but when I do that I may be the catalyst that breaks up Beach Krew.
Part of me thinks that the only thing holding together that shitty little group is that strap. Without that strap things will start to fall apart. Without a glue holding them together then Beach Krew will disintegrate into a pile of sand and get washed away by the tide. See I can do Beach Themed metaphors too.
Cliff
So that’s why the chaos lately. It… it kind of makes sense.
Grayson
I’m glad it does now. Can we get back to work now? I got a match to get ready for.
December 24th
Dinner at the Pierce House
Kat
Fresh out the kitchen, careful, it’s hot!
She put down a large Styrofoam container filled with calamari. They went to Papa Joes Fish Market and got their own feast of seven fishes for Christmas Eve dinner. Fried Calamari, Fried Shrimp, Fried Flounder, Fried Cod, Fried… well you get the gist of it. A shitload of fried food.
Gray and Cliff sat next to each other with a beer each in front of them and Kat joined them with her own glass of wine. She said.
Kat
Bon Appetite.
In the same grossly American Accent that his mother used to which brought a smile to his face as it always did and he dug in.
Cliff
This is delicious. You made this yourself, huh?
He said sarcastically.
Kat
I slaved over a hot phone for minutes!
Grayson
This is terrible for my training. I’m gonna have to work out crazy hard tomorrow to work this out.
He continued eating, but Kat paused for a moment.
Kat
You’re going to work out tomorrow again?
Grayson
Well, yea, of course. I’ve got a World Title match coming up babe, you think that I can take any time off. I guarantee that Wade Moor isn’t taking time off to… well he probably is, but that’s why I gotta be better than him.
Kat
I was, well I was hoping that we could go to your sister’s house. She’s inviting over your cousins, their kids, and even Uncle Egg. It could be really nice.
Grayson
I don’t want to see them. It’s… it won’t… just I don’t want to. I haven’t seen anyone in years.
Kat
And whose fault is that?
Grayson
Will you just please let me be. I’m doing the best I can here, I don’t want to see anyone, is that ok?
I’ll be right back.
Grayson got up from the table and stormed out of the room leaving Kat and Cliff alone. Kat leaned over to Cliff and whispered…
Kat
They said that he hadn’t ordered anything in a long time. So that was a dead end. I have one last idea though…
Grayson meanwhile went upstairs to the bathroom to wash this frustration off his face. He turned on the water and waited for it to get warm. He put some lavender soap on his hands and then washed his face. The lavender was a very soothing smell for him. He looked up in the mirror as the water dripped off his face with lines of lather going with it.
Grayson
Can you believe her? Does she have no idea how hard I’ve been working toward this. Is she completely oblivious to what it takes to be successful in the WCF? For over a year I’ve been clawing my way up. I’m finally there. I’m finally ready to take on Wade Moor.
He washed his face with cold water this time, shocking the frustration out of his system. It worked but not as well as he had hoped. He looked at his own reflection and he calmed down. Maybe it was narcissism, but for the past 6 months he had looked in the mirror and was unsure of who he was, now, for this first time in forever he saw who he really was.
His eyes were blood shot. There were bags under his eyes. His hair was unkempt and he had a beard.
He reached in the medicine cabinet and pulled out his razor and shaving cream. Dollar Shave club shit, only the best for him. He warmed his hands under the sink and put the lotion on his hands. The warm lather massaged his face and then he took the fresh razor to it. He was shaving off his reality and painting a new one on.
With each downward motion of the razor he revealed another part of his face and another part of his soul seemed to be revealed.
He was the proud father of a dead child.
But.
He was still the best friend to a guy for over 2 decades.
He was a loving husband to the most beautiful woman in the world.
He was the future World Champion in the WCF.
He washed his face and looked at the new him. He was ready to fight, but more importantly, he was ready for dessert.
He headed back to the dining room. When he got there Cliff was cleaning up the table.
Grayson
Hey man. Where’s Kat?
Cliff
She had to do some last minute shopping or something. She’ll be back later.
He looked at the clock. It read 9PM. It’s early, but after a long day of working out and eating like a fucking savage he didn’t care.
Grayson
Let me clean those up…
Cliff
Nah, man. I got you. You’re letting me crash here tonight, the least I could do is clean up after dinner.
Grayson
You’re staying here tonight?
Cliff
Oh, yea. Merry Christmas, bro.
Grayson
Word. Alright bro. On that note, I’m gonna hit the hay. See ya in the morning.
Grayson patted his friend on the back before heading to the stairs. He grabbed the banister and took the first…
Cliff
Dude…
Before he could step he turned around and looked at Cliff.
Cliff
I dig the clean face, bro. Now you just gotta do something with that mop on your head and you’ll be golden.
Grayson
*laughing* Shut the fuck up. See ya tomorrow.
A Grayson Carol, Grayson Pierce
Theodore Pierce was dead to begin with. Dead as a doornail. This fact is important because it leads you to understand the psyche of the protagonist of the story. He was broken, Grayson Pierce that is. He was a shell of who he used to be. He had lost his son and it appeared that he was losing his mind. He knew not what to do with his life, but one thing remained positive. He had one focus now, and he needed it more than ever.
To win the WCF World Title.
He was set to headline the biggest event in the yearly calendar for WCF and he intended on making good on the promises he made the fans. You see many people think that he has hit a wall. This is as far as he can go, and if he doesn’t break through the wall then he will sink back to obscurity. He doesn’t feel that way, however.
He knows that he is more important than the titles that he holds. He knows that, unlike Wade Moor, the man makes the title not the other way around. He knew that he was talented and charismatic. He was beloved by the fans and respected by the roster. The only thing he had to prove was to the naysayers who said that he could never win the World Title. He knew that they were the only people he had to prove wrong.
But if you spend all your time proving people wrong you tend to neglect the people you care for the most.
Grayson Pierce lay in his four post bed and enjoyed a peaceful sleep alone in his bed. He rarely got a chance to sleep on the twin sized mattress alone and used the time to spread out spread eagle and enjoy the room to stretch, as brief as he knew it would be.
He was being selfish. We know that. He felt he deserved to be. He never felt he deserved anything before, but this time he felt he deserved to be selfish. He was alienating his wife, and he allowed his friend to clean up the mess that he helped make as he lay down and enjoy a peaceful slumber. Yet no guilt came over him.
The clock struck 9 PM
The ringing of the infernal bells woke him. As he opened his eyes he saw a blurry white light form in front of him. He hardly slept at all.
Grayson
Damn neighbors and their Christmas lights. It’s fucking 10PM.
He had no idea. He removed the down comforter and used the closest post to pull himself up. The bright white light suddenly materialized to a human form. He jumped back and reached under the bed for a baseball bat. He looked at the form and the fear went away instantly. It was a child, no older than 4 years old standing there in front of him. He couldn’t be sure but he swore it was…
Figure
Hi dad!
He said as though he hadn’t seen him in minutes. It was Teddy, well, what teddy would probably look like in 4 years. He was a handsome young man with long hair just like his dad and the same piercing brown eyes his mother has. Tears formed in his eyes followed by a confusing notion.
Grayson
Teddy, I can’t believe it’s you.
Teddy smiled at his father. He was wearing all white, he looked like a little angel. A whisper of light shone overhead and he couldn’t help but think that it was a halo forming above him. He slapped himself in the face.
Teddy
Why are you hitting yourself?
Grayson
I just can’t believe that this is real. How are you here? What is happening?
Teddy
I’m here because you need me to be here.
Grayson
You have no idea how much I need you, boy. I miss you so much.
Teddy
Of course I know. The way you’ve been treating mom. The way you’ve been treating yourself. You think I don’t know that you need me.
Teddy was talking like a wise old man even with the image of a young child. He knew it couldn’t really be him. It must be his mind playing tricks on his again but he so wanted to believe that it was true that he would do anything to keep it so.
Teddy
I only have a short while on this plane…
Grayson
Wanna throw the ol’ pigskin around?
Teddy paused and smiled.
Teddy
Yes, I really do. But I don’t have time, dad. I just need to…
Grayson reached under his bed and pulled out his “The Duke” professional quality football.
Grayson
Not really made for a little boy, but you’re not really a little boy, now are you?
Teddy
Dad… I don’t have…
Grayson
I love hearing that. ‘Dad.’ Isn’t that the best? Come on.
Teddy smiled the most innocent 4 year old smile you could imagine and finally obliged as Grayson tossed him the ball and he caught it like a teenager would. He tossed it back with surprising strength. Grayson didn’t want this moment to end. He had always dreamt of showing his son everything he knew, this was the first step to something greater. He knew it was.
Teddy
Dad, my time here is limited, so I need to tell you the plan.
Grayson
The plan is football then some ice cream.
Teddy
As amazing as that sounds, and it really does, I just don’t have the time to do it.
Grayson caught the ball, held it close, and looked at his son.
Grayson
How could you be brought back to me and not spend time with me? What kind of cruel joke is this?
Teddy
I’m not the only one coming to visit you tonight, dad. There are the ghosts of Grayson Past, Present and Future still on their way. I’m merely a catalyst to them.
Grayson
Those are big words for a little guy.
He tosses him the ball. Teddy catches it then looks at his dad.
Teddy
Like you said, I’m not such a little guy, now am I?
He threw his dad back the ball who reciprocated the pass and the game continued as they talked.
Grayson
So what’s this, some sort of Charles Dickens remake or something?
Teddy
Something like that. But with your own spin on it.
Grayson
You know if we’re going to recreate some old movies or books I really prefer Scrooged, like I want to relive One when I beat Wade Moor over and over again. Now THAT’s a good movie.
Teddy
That was Groundhog’s Day.
Grayson
Oh… yea.
The clock began to toll. The time flew, it was already 10PM. This past hour with his son was the most amazing and confusing time of his life. But then he started to fade.
Grayson
What’s happening to you?
His tiny little body started to become translucent. He was fading away in front of his eyes, again.
Grayson
No… don’t leave me again!
Teddy
Tonight you will be visited by 3 spirits. You will be taught a very valuable lesson.
Grayson
I would give all of that up for just another minute with you, Teddy.
Teddy
I need you to be strong dad. This isn’t going to be easy. Please, do this for me, take care of mom. The first spirit will come when the clock strikes 10!
Grayson
No… don’t go. Teddy, please don’t!
10PM
He fell to his knees and cried again. A bell rang in his ear as a comforting hand fell on his shoulder; he looked up and saw the familiar image of a beautiful ebony woman staring back at him.
Grayson
V-Vanessa?
Vanessa Childs was the lover of Gemini Battle. He had believed that he had seen her numerous times in the past but for the first time he truly felt this was her. He knew everything was a fantasy, but it felt so real.
Vanessa
Gemini. You told me to come when the time was right. What better place than here? What better time than now?
Grayson
Are you the spirit that my son told me about?
Vanessa
One of them. I’m going to take you on a journey. I’m going to lead you through the past and explain to you how you’ve become what you’ve become. Take my hand and I’ll take you there.
Grayson took her hand. It was warm as he remembered it. It was careful and loving and it lifted him off his feet, literally. As the window open she headed towards it. She looked at him and jumped. They held on tight and they soared through the clouds.
It was an amazing feeling the cool mile high air caress his newly shaven face. He felt the warm mist of the clouds cover his body as they flew by it and then he landed at a familiar house.
Grayson
This is Mr. Fizzlebottom’s house!
Vanessa
His name was Mr. Henderson, your mom’s old boss.
Grayson
Yea, but watch…
A young Grayson and his sister are standing in a corner snickering as they point over towards a large chair. A large round man comes into view with a large smile on his face. He was balding with a formidable mustache and wore his best suit. He sat on the large chair and a loud fart sound came from it.
Mr. Fizzlebottom
Woopsy Daisy.
The responsible adults at the party feigned laughter as the children were up in arms. They fell on the ground laughing and when the large man got up a whoopy cushion was seen on the chair as well as a broken can of Coca Cola Classic. The carbonated bubbles still decorated the bottom of his pants.
Young Grayson
Lot at his bottom! It’s all fizzly!
Young Cathy
Mr. Fizzlebottom!
The children all laughed and the lovable old grouch joined along in the laughter. Their mother went over and smacked them both upside their heads.
Young Mom
You’re going to get me fired.
Mr. Fizzlebottom
Don’t be silly, Eleanor. Children will be children. No harm, no foul. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they suddenly got covered in SILLY STRING FOR THEIR ACTIONS!
He pulled out two bottle and started spraying the children who tried to get in the way. Many casualties were covered in silly strings, people young and old, and when the cans were finally emptied on the head of a young Grayson everyone in the room laughed as a large red suited man dressed as Santa Clause came out and joined the party. All the children screamed and sat in a circle around the jolly old elf.
Vanessa
You used to come to this Christmas Party every year as a child. Why did it stop?
Grayson
I don’t rememb… oh… I remember why…
Vanessa
Take my hand.
Grayson
I don’t wanna.
Vanessa
Just take it.
He knew where they were headed, he just felt it…This time they didn’t fly anywhere. The scene in front of them merely faded into obscurity and they reappeared in his bedroom.
Vanessa
Do you remember this room?
Grayson
This was my bedroom growing up.
The wainscoting on the wall was blue and the wall atop it was a dirty white, and covered in posters he pulled from wrestling magazines. He kept the pictures of the beautiful women of wrestling close to his bed for obvious reason. A 16 year old Grayson sat at his computer using AOL Instant Messenger and talking to strangers on the internet. The dial up was crazy slow, and the familiar dubstep was heard while it was loading.
Then he heard it.
Grayson
Why did you take me here? I remember this moment, I don’t need to live it again.
The Young Grayson ran over to where the scream was coming from, sure he would play the part of hero and save whoever was in trouble. It was his sister who stand in the kitchen crying looking at the floor where their mother lay.
Young Grayson
Mom?
He got to his knees, and felt her. She was still warm.
Young Grayson
Call 911 you idiot!
Young Cathy
She’s already dead you idiot!
Young Grayson
No she’s not. She’s still warm. Just call!
Cathy cried her eyes out.
Young Cathy
I can’t!
Grayson cried his eyes out.
Young Grayson
Neither can I?
He got to his feet and went to the phone. He couldn’t speak. He dialed the three numbers, the hardest three numbers he had ever had to press on a phone. The familiar sound of a police dispatcher was heard on the other end.
Dispatcher
911, what’s your emergency?
She surely could only hear tears as Grayson dropped the corded phone which was now hanging from the dock and banging against the kitchen counter. Both he and his sister held themselves in loving embrace.
They returned to his bedroom where she stared at him with pain in her eyes.
Grayson
Why did you have to show me this?
Vanessa
So you remembered.
Grayson
How could I forget? This was the worst moment of my life until… until Teddy that is.
Vanessa
Your sister had to take care of you after this. She had to grow up much faster than you did as she dropped out of college and spent her time making sure that you could succeed. And you did, didn’t you. You succeeded and she now lives in this same home and work her ass off at a grocery store to pay her bills. And look at you, too selfish to realize what she’s done for you.
Grayson
So what’s this, some sort of moral quandary? I choose not to recall those memories because I don’t want my past to dictate the way that I act.
Vanessa
But those who forget history are destined to repeat it.
Grayson
I don’t want to see anymore.
Vanessa
Well that’s good because…
The clock struck 11 and the bell started to ring. He covered his ears as it was louder than he could possibly imagine.
Vanessa
My time with you is done. Prepare for the next spirit.
Grayson
Well, thanks I guess. I’m still not going to go to my sister’s house tomorrow.
She vanished.
Grayson
I GOTTA WIN AT ONE! TOO MUCH TO DO!
(TBC)
WCF House Show
Revenge
Grayson’s eyes open up from his trance-like state and he is standing in the center of a WCF ring…
*Ding Ding*
He smiles as he brings the microphone to his mouth.
Grayson
Good evening OAKLAND!
The crowd chanted his name and he felt alive for the first time in forever. The crowd’s energy drives him to be better. He was glad that he decided to fulfill his obligations.
Grayson
Last time I had any association with you all I was getting my ass tossed around by the Oakland Mack himself. But I got my sort of revenge when I faced him in Mexico at the finals of the Trio Tournament and we became the first ever WCF Trio’s Champions.
Crowd
DRG…DRG…DRG…
Grayson
And while I’m on the topic of revenge that brings me to my opponent this coming week at One, Wade Moor. A man that was so hell bent on Revenge on Scarecrow that he stood a mere few feet away from him as he was pushed to his death AT Revenge this past year.
Ever since then that moment has been eating away at him, because he never truly got to exact the revenge that he wanted for the atrocities that he felt Scarecrow bestowed upon him. He had a grand plan of pain and torture, and for all I know his grand plan ended in the death of Scarecrow. But it never got fulfilled.
I know about Revenge. I needed to get my revenge on KL Henson for haunting my reality. And directly after your match I got my Revenge on Henson the way that I had planned it. From that moment I went on a roll of dominance going onto the setting the war record for eliminations and winning the United States Championship.
My revenge was done in a way that made me stronger, but there’s some people that revenge only makes weaker. Take Dune for example. A man that hides behind a mask of his own insecurities. HE got revenge on the people who killed his family… an eye for an eye. They killed them so he killed them.
But it wasn’t enough for him either, the pain of what he went through coupled with the agony of knowing what he did threw him off the edge to the point where killing only the culprits of the attach of his parents wasn’t enough, and he had to kill again, and now he’s in a death match at One, appropriately named.
You, however never got to exact your revenge, so you are in your own head contemplating your next move knowing that it can never happen. You sit in your throne and wonder what life would be like if you got to go through with your plan knowing that it will never happen.
But then you begin to think, what if I was wrong, and that’s the point where you are now. You are questioning the beliefs that you once had, you are questioning your own reality knowing that you can’t trust what you can’t understand.
And that’s why you are the way you are. That’s why you treat people the way you do. You go on the internet and you troll people with your minions because there’s strength in numbers and you fear being alone. You fear being alone because when you’re alone you are stuck with your thoughts and when you are only with your thoughts you start to regret what happened to your mortal enemy.
Trust me Wade, I know what it’s like to fear your own thoughts, but unlike you I’ve broke through that barrier and found the real me. Now it’s up to you to find the real you. You don’t fit the mold of a Hawaiian shirt wearing, Birkenstock donning douche bag from SoCal. You strike me as a thought provoking and meaningful individual whose reckless nature is countered by his meticulousness.
You’re an interesting fellow Wade, but I imagine that you don’t have the same to say about me. You’ll make claims about my mental state but the fact of the matter is you don’t know jack shit about me, so don’t pretend that you do. You can mock my record in the ring but the fact of the matter is you were the one that wanted this match.
He puts his hand down and wipes the hair from his face. Since getting in the ring and pacing he has begun to sweat under the bright lights. The feeling of his own heat emanating from his body made him feel more alive than he had in the past few weeks.
Grayson
And for the record, I have my own form of revenge to get on you this week at One. As much as Revenge is a weakness for you, I have the ability to harness my energy for the betterment of myself. If you don’t remember because you were smoking too much Pot let me refresh your memory.
My good friend, Thomas Bates is out of the hospital and back in the hunt for State Senate in Alabama, no thanks to you. He is a brave and great man, and the fact that you used him to get to me was a cowardly move, but it did what you wanted. It got you to me, which is going to turn out to be the worst mistake of your life.
Because when you step into the ring with me normally you always get the best that I have to offer, which in my experience is pretty fucking good, but now you’re stepping into the ring with a man with not only glory on his mind but vengeance as well.
If Thomas Bates could he would crush you right here right now, Unfortunately for him he can’t be here, but fortunately for him he can’t be held responsible for the actions that I am going to take towards you. People don’t seem to think that there’s an emotional side to our story, but it goes deeper than they can possibly imagine. Revenge is sweet, but that World Title around my waist will be sweeter.
So you best beware because this week you’ll be stepping into the ring with the high flying, electrifying awe inspiring Livewire who will make you laugh, make you cry and make you kiss your ass goodbye. And after this week you’ll be kissing that title goodbye because there’s going to be Thunder in Paradise as I hit you with some High Voltage, son.
Livewire out!
12-23-15
Training Montage
Grayson Pierce is in his basement which doubles as a recording studio and a gym. He is using the side with the weight training equipment as his best friend Cliff joins him, spotting him. Both men were exhausted. They were working out for hours already and Grayson seemed to refuse to quit.
Cliff
Dude, you’re a beast today.
Grayson
Gotta be on my A Game. No time to play.
Cliff
Do it, bro!
Kat was upstairs making lunch, tuna sandwiches for the boys and rice and beans for her. She was still having a hard time adjusting to life as a wife and not a mother. It wasn’t too long ago that she was just this, but just 6 months as a mother seemed to fade away the memories of having little responsibility and no one to take care of but yourself.
Grayson was a little different. He didn’t carry the baby for 9 months and fall in love with it; he didn’t even know the baby existed until he was three months old. But that didn’t make him love Teddy any less. He met the child and immediately fell in love with him. There was no doubt in his mind that he belonged in that home and he was supposed to be a father.
Now all of that was stripped away as fast as it was given to him. It’s, funny how that works. Not funny like ‘ha ha’ funny but more like peculiar. He had experienced the highest of highs and he would have had no idea how low this moment would feel unless he had experienced a high such as that.
Grayson seated out his frustrations as he lifted weights heavier than he ever lifted, ran faster than he ever ran and worked out longer than he had ever done before in his life. Cliff was even worn out, and he was a weight trainer and personal trainer as an occupation.
Cliff
You keep going… I’m just gonna… sit… down… now.
It was nice for Grayson to have a familiar face around, but Cliff wasn’t as pleased with the situation. Last time he experience Grayson like this he was taking some pretty extreme uppers and he was nervous that the stress of life was leading him to do the same.
He was also nervous to confront him about it. What with the loss of his child, and impending title match he wasn’t sure if he should throw wild accusations about drug addiction to the mix. When Grayson was a kid he once got in trouble for being a stoner when he had never touched the stuff. He decided that if he was going to get in trouble for it he might as well try it, and that started a downward spiral that he was not proud of.
He’s older, wiser, and more mature, but that memory always remained in his head and it was Cliff who tipped off his parent on accident about the potential drug usage so needless to say he was always hesitant to say something. But he also was too scared not to. A Catch 22.
Grayson finally stopped working out and grabbed a drink and sat down for the first time in what seemed like days. Cliff stared at his friend worried both about what to say, and how to say it. But he couldn’t even open his mouth before Grayson started in.
Grayson
We need to talk.
December 24th
Still Training
Almost as though Grayson was training overnight he woke up, had breakfast and went right to his basement to stretch out. The clock on the wall read 5:00 AM. He was pissed that he let himself sleep in so late. He turned on the treadmill and set it to max and let it warm up. The basement was finally getting cold, and he loved it. It tightened his core and allowed him to work out in maximum lung deficiency which he knew would ultimately help his stamina.
He was unsure how much stamina he would need for his upcoming match. Wade Moor looks out of shape but is nimble and moves with the grace of a man half his size. He didn’t want to take the big man for granted. He was stronger and just as fast. He was smart too. Wade Moor was truly a specimen to be respected in the ring.
But that didn’t mean that Grayson didn’t have a few tricks up his sleeve. He was smart too, and he knew how to exploit weaknesses in others. For example, Wade Moor is reckless. He often attacks without thinking of the possible defense that could come from it. Grayson would use that to his advantage. And though in great shape, there was no chance in hell that he had the stamina that Grayson had. He had those and a plethora of other things on his side that he planned on using to the best of his ability.
He’s often left a lot on the table during matches. He never fully exerted himself in a match yet in the past year, except at War, and there he eliminated more people in the history of the match. But even then he knew that he had more in him, but his problem was he became complacent. He let a moment of solidarity and the roar of the crowd distract him when someone was just a little bit hungrier than he that night.
He would not let lightning strike twice. He would not go gracefully into that good night. Wade Moor was going to have to kill Grayson in order to win this match, and he knew that the prospect of killing him was not something that Wade Moor was above doing. So he was going into this match ready to die for the cause. He had little to live for anyway, so why not die in the ring like a true warrior.
Kat
It’s so early, why don’t you come back to bed.
Grayson
Can’t sleep… clowns will eat me!
He loved the show ‘The Simpsons,’ and quoted it as often as possible. And he also knew that this would shut her up at least for a moment.
Grayson
I’m alright babe.
She allowed him this moment alone, which would turn into hours. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Her face brought back too many bad memories. Her eyes were Teddy’s eyes, her face as Teddy’s face, her soul was Teddy’s soul. Before he knew it he had run 6 miles, but never left the spot where he was. He felt like he was running away from his life, but he was stuck in his own basement. This must be what purgatory feels like.
Meanwhile upstairs Clifford James, Grayson’s best friend and confidant was enjoying breakfast with Kat. He was dressed ready to work out, yet he still looked fatigued from the night before. Kat was dressed and ready for the day to start.
Cliff
How do you look so good at 7AM?
Kat
I gotta keep my mind off of things. Getting ready is a process in of itself. Gray has his exercise and I’ve got my fashion, what can I say?
Cliff
About his exercise. Has he seemed a bit more… energized than normal?
Kat
Yea, but he’s just working off his stress.
Cliff
Are you sure? Listen, I really hate to even mention this as a possibility but…
She stopped pouring the coffee into the ivory colored cup and stared at her now longtime companion.
Cliff
Never mind.
Kat
Listen, if you think that Gemini or whatever is coming back, you’re wrong. He’s gone.
Cliff
How can you be so sure?
Kat
When he sleeps he no longer has those recurring nightmares that kept him awake. He used to talk to himself, and talk about this Vanessa that was in Gemini’s life. He talked about her all the time, it was so disturbing to me that there was this woman in his life while he was gallivanting around as Gemini, but I kept my mouth shut and gave him all the love I possibly could, and now Gemini is gone. It’s only Grayson down there. I’m sure of it.
Cliff
Yea… I think so too. So that’s not what I was worried about before. You see when we were kids and just getting into music he used to stay up all night playing songs and getting better at his craft. And he was damn good, don’t get me wrong, a lot of that was intuitive and a lot of it was learned and from incredible amounts of practice, but he was able to do so much because he was taking Amphetamines.
Kat
Like, uppers?
Cliff
Yea. He had so much energy and he got fucking good at what he was doing, but it took a toll on him. He recovered but I would hate to think that he was taking drugs again.
Kat
Goodness… I never even thought of that.
They poked their heads downstairs and looked at Grayson with no shirt on sweating up a storm as he poured a water bottle over his body. His muscles were tightening as they watched and his hair dripped with water and sweat. He ran with purpose and conviction.
Kat
How do we bring this up to him?
Cliff
We can’t, not without proof. You know how pissed he would be if we accused him of being a druggy. I once accused him of eating the last slice of pizza when Cesare had done it and he punched me so hard I still have nightmares about it. This is serious.
Kat
Well, are they prescription?
Cliff
Could be.
Kat
I’ll check with the pharmacy to see if they have anything on file for him.
Cliff
You can’t just do that.
Kat
I’m his wife… and trust me, I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve too.
Cliff
Ok, I’ll see what information I can get from him downstairs.
Kat walked to the basement door and yelled down.
Kat
Babe, I’m going to the store, need anything.
Grayson
NO!
Kat
Love You!
Grayson
LOVE YOU TOO!
Kat looks at Cliff.
Kat
Take care of him.
Cliff
I always do.
Kat left and Cliff shook his head. He headed downstairs and as he got there Grayson turned off the treadmill. 2 hours of running should be enough of a warm up he thought. He turned and wiped his brow with a green towel.
Grayson
You tell her?
Cliff
Just like we talked.
Grayson
And she’s doing some detective work now?
Cliff
Just like you thought. You got that girl pegged.
Grayson
I’m a little pissed that she didn’t stand up for me, but I’m glad she’s distracted now. I feel guilty down here knowing that I have been exercising so much, and how awesome it makes me feel to get the endorphins pumping even though I’m so fucking sad all the time.
Cliff
It really is making you feel better, huh?
Grayson
It really is. She has been closed for business if you know what I mean since the incident, which I totally get, but that was a huge source or relief if you know what I mean. Without that this is the best next thing.
Cliff
She seems to be holding up well.
Grayson
I know. On the outside, but if it’s eating away at me thig much imagine how it must feel for the mother.
Cliff
I can’t even begin to fathom.
Grayson
Once she realizes that she’s on a wild goose chase she’ll go back to status quo. I just hope that this distracts her long enough.
Cliff
I’m glad I talked to you about this yesterday. After the pizza incident, I was a little nervous to bring it up without hard proof.
Grayson
That wasn’t me… that was Cesare.
Grayson hit Cliff hard in the arm. The man’s arms were solid, but he still cowered in pain.
Grayson
Stop blaming me for things I didn’t do!
The two laughed and got back to exercising. About another hour went by and they stopped for a water break.
Cliff
She’s really concerned about you, man.
Grayson
Shit’s rough right now, she’s got it hard. But so do I. I’m mourning the death of my kid, and I’ve got to not only get ready for my World Title Match, but get my head wrapped around the fact that I am going to be the next face of the WCF. I started off on top of the world. And when I got to the top I fell, and I fell hard. Pretty much about as hard as a person could fall. The Livewire Grayson Perce was seen as one of the top stars in the company.
The problem was that I was stuck in a company where the heel forces dominated. Meaning that the likes of Ice Beckman and Steve Orbit were terrorizing the roster, but I was too young, and too naïve to realize what it would take to get over on them.
And that was my problem right there. I was looking to get over on them, not beat them. Well, I wanted to beat them, but perhaps there was a part of me that didn’t want to defeat them. There was a part of me that knew that I wasn’t ready for that type of lime light. But I still put everything that I was capable of putting out. People consider the Livewire vs Steve Orbit match for the Hardcore Title one of the greatest Hardcore Fights of all time. It was so good that Seth made us go at it again, a match that I pretty much sleepwalked through and got my ass kicked. Because at that point I was done.
Have you ever heard of hyper growth?
Cliff
No. And I assume that you’re going to explai…
Grayson
It’s basically this thing a lot of smaller businesses suffer from. Small business seems like a great idea but you see what happens is that once you get the smell of money you want more of it, and you’re willing to stretch yourself too thin to get what you feel like you deserve. You accept more than what you can handle and once you start failing at delivering the services that you promised you leave yourself vulnerable. You make yourself look like a failure and people start backing out on you and the next thing you know you’ve gone under and are in a mountain of debt that is impossible to get under.
I’m not the smartest guy in the world, but I saw that happening to me. That’s why I had to take a step back. I had this asshole calling himself the Producer, Isaac Salinger, name ring a bell?
Cliff
Oh, that old guy. He threw all that money at you, right?
Grayson
Yea, man. Started my own Livewire.com network, before even the WCF Network was a thing. I revolutionized streaming media for wrestling fans, but I didn’t want any of that. You know that all I ever wanted was to…
Cliff
Be a professional wrestler. I remember when we were touring the north east and whenever we would hit one of those spots where we were the band for a wrestling event you would be like a fucking school girl.
Grayson
School boy… come on. I wasn’t that feminine, was I?
Cliff
*doing a very girly impression and flailing his hands wildly* ‘Oooh, I wanna get in that ring and kick some ass. It’s in my blood you know’
Grayson punches his friend on the shoulder, harder than before.
Cliff
Fuck, dude. Come on. You do that for a living now. It sucked in high school when you would give me a dead arm, this just is unfair!
Grayson
You’re like twice my size, dude. Man up.
Cliff
That obviously doesn’t matter.
Grayson
You’re right. I’ve stepped up to men far my superior in size and strength and I rocked them all. But it wasn’t until I came back that I really found my stride.
Cliff
As Gemini Battle. Now that it’s out of your system… it IS out of your system, right?
Grayson
I’m not totally sure, dude. I can’t bring him out on purpose now. I haven’t heard from him in a while. But I don’t know if it will ever be totally gone from my psyche, you know what I mean?
Cliff
Not a clue. How could I, I’m not a fucking lunatic like you… just kidding please don’t hit me!
Grayson unclenches his fist and smiles at his bro.
Cliff
Well, what was up with that whole situation?
Grayson
I don’t know. I think I was scared. Like I said I had grown so fast in the company, but wasn’t ready to be that person yet. Maybe Gemini was my way of expediting the process. I really do feel like that in order to truly respect and appreciate where I am today I had to hit rock bottom first. Gemini was what I thought was rock bottom, well until…
Well I came back and instead of dominating like I did I lost like all the fucking time. It wasn’t until I teamed up with Tommy Bates that I started coming into my own.
Cliff
You mean riding his coat tails.
Grayson
Nah, man. I helped him as much as he helped me. I was a lunatic, but when he killed those dudes in Mexico it was my alter ego that talked him off the ledge that day. When I fell victim to pain meds and alcohol he helped me. That was a true relationship that was forged under a false identity. So fucking weird. I felt as close to him as I do you, but when Gemini was gone, or whatever, when I was gaining back my sanity I still loved the dude like a brother. He and Gonzo.
Cliff
Sorry about that guy.
Grayson
He had his own demons, I think some of them were literal too. He was always on the run, even if he wasn’t actually running. It was a horrible tragedy but it brought me back to reality. They say people die in sets of three. It leaves me wondering who my third will be you know. It’s like I’m on the edge, waiting to see who is going to go next and… it’s fucking scary, dude.
Cliff
I know man. You just gotta keep yourself… busy.
Grayson
Hence the incessant working out. I’m sad, I’m pissed, and I’m scared, dude. But you know what I’m NOT scared of. I’m not scared of stepping into the ring with Wade this Sunday at One. I’m not afraid of going out there and becoming the World Champion for the first time. Last year I wasn’t ready, this year I’m more than ready. And not only am I ready, I’m willing and able.
Wade Moor wasn’t ready when he got the title. He got it on a fluke night where shit happened and everything hit the fan. He holds that title not truly knowing how to be a champion. He isn’t asserting his dominance or his will like Dune did… good or bad that guy was a real champion. He was feared and respected. Wade is neither of those things.
Even though he is dominant, he has never garnered the respect from anyone outside of his little group of 8 and even that group is getting more and more broken up as the time goes on. Part of me thinks that this week in LA I may not only become the World Champion but when I do that I may be the catalyst that breaks up Beach Krew.
Part of me thinks that the only thing holding together that shitty little group is that strap. Without that strap things will start to fall apart. Without a glue holding them together then Beach Krew will disintegrate into a pile of sand and get washed away by the tide. See I can do Beach Themed metaphors too.
Cliff
So that’s why the chaos lately. It… it kind of makes sense.
Grayson
I’m glad it does now. Can we get back to work now? I got a match to get ready for.
December 24th
Dinner at the Pierce House
Kat
Fresh out the kitchen, careful, it’s hot!
She put down a large Styrofoam container filled with calamari. They went to Papa Joes Fish Market and got their own feast of seven fishes for Christmas Eve dinner. Fried Calamari, Fried Shrimp, Fried Flounder, Fried Cod, Fried… well you get the gist of it. A shitload of fried food.
Gray and Cliff sat next to each other with a beer each in front of them and Kat joined them with her own glass of wine. She said.
Kat
Bon Appetite.
In the same grossly American Accent that his mother used to which brought a smile to his face as it always did and he dug in.
Cliff
This is delicious. You made this yourself, huh?
He said sarcastically.
Kat
I slaved over a hot phone for minutes!
Grayson
This is terrible for my training. I’m gonna have to work out crazy hard tomorrow to work this out.
He continued eating, but Kat paused for a moment.
Kat
You’re going to work out tomorrow again?
Grayson
Well, yea, of course. I’ve got a World Title match coming up babe, you think that I can take any time off. I guarantee that Wade Moor isn’t taking time off to… well he probably is, but that’s why I gotta be better than him.
Kat
I was, well I was hoping that we could go to your sister’s house. She’s inviting over your cousins, their kids, and even Uncle Egg. It could be really nice.
Grayson
I don’t want to see them. It’s… it won’t… just I don’t want to. I haven’t seen anyone in years.
Kat
And whose fault is that?
Grayson
Will you just please let me be. I’m doing the best I can here, I don’t want to see anyone, is that ok?
I’ll be right back.
Grayson got up from the table and stormed out of the room leaving Kat and Cliff alone. Kat leaned over to Cliff and whispered…
Kat
They said that he hadn’t ordered anything in a long time. So that was a dead end. I have one last idea though…
Grayson meanwhile went upstairs to the bathroom to wash this frustration off his face. He turned on the water and waited for it to get warm. He put some lavender soap on his hands and then washed his face. The lavender was a very soothing smell for him. He looked up in the mirror as the water dripped off his face with lines of lather going with it.
Grayson
Can you believe her? Does she have no idea how hard I’ve been working toward this. Is she completely oblivious to what it takes to be successful in the WCF? For over a year I’ve been clawing my way up. I’m finally there. I’m finally ready to take on Wade Moor.
He washed his face with cold water this time, shocking the frustration out of his system. It worked but not as well as he had hoped. He looked at his own reflection and he calmed down. Maybe it was narcissism, but for the past 6 months he had looked in the mirror and was unsure of who he was, now, for this first time in forever he saw who he really was.
His eyes were blood shot. There were bags under his eyes. His hair was unkempt and he had a beard.
He reached in the medicine cabinet and pulled out his razor and shaving cream. Dollar Shave club shit, only the best for him. He warmed his hands under the sink and put the lotion on his hands. The warm lather massaged his face and then he took the fresh razor to it. He was shaving off his reality and painting a new one on.
With each downward motion of the razor he revealed another part of his face and another part of his soul seemed to be revealed.
He was the proud father of a dead child.
But.
He was still the best friend to a guy for over 2 decades.
He was a loving husband to the most beautiful woman in the world.
He was the future World Champion in the WCF.
He washed his face and looked at the new him. He was ready to fight, but more importantly, he was ready for dessert.
He headed back to the dining room. When he got there Cliff was cleaning up the table.
Grayson
Hey man. Where’s Kat?
Cliff
She had to do some last minute shopping or something. She’ll be back later.
He looked at the clock. It read 9PM. It’s early, but after a long day of working out and eating like a fucking savage he didn’t care.
Grayson
Let me clean those up…
Cliff
Nah, man. I got you. You’re letting me crash here tonight, the least I could do is clean up after dinner.
Grayson
You’re staying here tonight?
Cliff
Oh, yea. Merry Christmas, bro.
Grayson
Word. Alright bro. On that note, I’m gonna hit the hay. See ya in the morning.
Grayson patted his friend on the back before heading to the stairs. He grabbed the banister and took the first…
Cliff
Dude…
Before he could step he turned around and looked at Cliff.
Cliff
I dig the clean face, bro. Now you just gotta do something with that mop on your head and you’ll be golden.
Grayson
*laughing* Shut the fuck up. See ya tomorrow.
A Grayson Carol, Grayson Pierce
Theodore Pierce was dead to begin with. Dead as a doornail. This fact is important because it leads you to understand the psyche of the protagonist of the story. He was broken, Grayson Pierce that is. He was a shell of who he used to be. He had lost his son and it appeared that he was losing his mind. He knew not what to do with his life, but one thing remained positive. He had one focus now, and he needed it more than ever.
To win the WCF World Title.
He was set to headline the biggest event in the yearly calendar for WCF and he intended on making good on the promises he made the fans. You see many people think that he has hit a wall. This is as far as he can go, and if he doesn’t break through the wall then he will sink back to obscurity. He doesn’t feel that way, however.
He knows that he is more important than the titles that he holds. He knows that, unlike Wade Moor, the man makes the title not the other way around. He knew that he was talented and charismatic. He was beloved by the fans and respected by the roster. The only thing he had to prove was to the naysayers who said that he could never win the World Title. He knew that they were the only people he had to prove wrong.
But if you spend all your time proving people wrong you tend to neglect the people you care for the most.
Grayson Pierce lay in his four post bed and enjoyed a peaceful sleep alone in his bed. He rarely got a chance to sleep on the twin sized mattress alone and used the time to spread out spread eagle and enjoy the room to stretch, as brief as he knew it would be.
He was being selfish. We know that. He felt he deserved to be. He never felt he deserved anything before, but this time he felt he deserved to be selfish. He was alienating his wife, and he allowed his friend to clean up the mess that he helped make as he lay down and enjoy a peaceful slumber. Yet no guilt came over him.
The clock struck 9 PM
The ringing of the infernal bells woke him. As he opened his eyes he saw a blurry white light form in front of him. He hardly slept at all.
Grayson
Damn neighbors and their Christmas lights. It’s fucking 10PM.
He had no idea. He removed the down comforter and used the closest post to pull himself up. The bright white light suddenly materialized to a human form. He jumped back and reached under the bed for a baseball bat. He looked at the form and the fear went away instantly. It was a child, no older than 4 years old standing there in front of him. He couldn’t be sure but he swore it was…
Figure
Hi dad!
He said as though he hadn’t seen him in minutes. It was Teddy, well, what teddy would probably look like in 4 years. He was a handsome young man with long hair just like his dad and the same piercing brown eyes his mother has. Tears formed in his eyes followed by a confusing notion.
Grayson
Teddy, I can’t believe it’s you.
Teddy smiled at his father. He was wearing all white, he looked like a little angel. A whisper of light shone overhead and he couldn’t help but think that it was a halo forming above him. He slapped himself in the face.
Teddy
Why are you hitting yourself?
Grayson
I just can’t believe that this is real. How are you here? What is happening?
Teddy
I’m here because you need me to be here.
Grayson
You have no idea how much I need you, boy. I miss you so much.
Teddy
Of course I know. The way you’ve been treating mom. The way you’ve been treating yourself. You think I don’t know that you need me.
Teddy was talking like a wise old man even with the image of a young child. He knew it couldn’t really be him. It must be his mind playing tricks on his again but he so wanted to believe that it was true that he would do anything to keep it so.
Teddy
I only have a short while on this plane…
Grayson
Wanna throw the ol’ pigskin around?
Teddy paused and smiled.
Teddy
Yes, I really do. But I don’t have time, dad. I just need to…
Grayson reached under his bed and pulled out his “The Duke” professional quality football.
Grayson
Not really made for a little boy, but you’re not really a little boy, now are you?
Teddy
Dad… I don’t have…
Grayson
I love hearing that. ‘Dad.’ Isn’t that the best? Come on.
Teddy smiled the most innocent 4 year old smile you could imagine and finally obliged as Grayson tossed him the ball and he caught it like a teenager would. He tossed it back with surprising strength. Grayson didn’t want this moment to end. He had always dreamt of showing his son everything he knew, this was the first step to something greater. He knew it was.
Teddy
Dad, my time here is limited, so I need to tell you the plan.
Grayson
The plan is football then some ice cream.
Teddy
As amazing as that sounds, and it really does, I just don’t have the time to do it.
Grayson caught the ball, held it close, and looked at his son.
Grayson
How could you be brought back to me and not spend time with me? What kind of cruel joke is this?
Teddy
I’m not the only one coming to visit you tonight, dad. There are the ghosts of Grayson Past, Present and Future still on their way. I’m merely a catalyst to them.
Grayson
Those are big words for a little guy.
He tosses him the ball. Teddy catches it then looks at his dad.
Teddy
Like you said, I’m not such a little guy, now am I?
He threw his dad back the ball who reciprocated the pass and the game continued as they talked.
Grayson
So what’s this, some sort of Charles Dickens remake or something?
Teddy
Something like that. But with your own spin on it.
Grayson
You know if we’re going to recreate some old movies or books I really prefer Scrooged, like I want to relive One when I beat Wade Moor over and over again. Now THAT’s a good movie.
Teddy
That was Groundhog’s Day.
Grayson
Oh… yea.
The clock began to toll. The time flew, it was already 10PM. This past hour with his son was the most amazing and confusing time of his life. But then he started to fade.
Grayson
What’s happening to you?
His tiny little body started to become translucent. He was fading away in front of his eyes, again.
Grayson
No… don’t leave me again!
Teddy
Tonight you will be visited by 3 spirits. You will be taught a very valuable lesson.
Grayson
I would give all of that up for just another minute with you, Teddy.
Teddy
I need you to be strong dad. This isn’t going to be easy. Please, do this for me, take care of mom. The first spirit will come when the clock strikes 10!
Grayson
No… don’t go. Teddy, please don’t!
10PM
He fell to his knees and cried again. A bell rang in his ear as a comforting hand fell on his shoulder; he looked up and saw the familiar image of a beautiful ebony woman staring back at him.
Grayson
V-Vanessa?
Vanessa Childs was the lover of Gemini Battle. He had believed that he had seen her numerous times in the past but for the first time he truly felt this was her. He knew everything was a fantasy, but it felt so real.
Vanessa
Gemini. You told me to come when the time was right. What better place than here? What better time than now?
Grayson
Are you the spirit that my son told me about?
Vanessa
One of them. I’m going to take you on a journey. I’m going to lead you through the past and explain to you how you’ve become what you’ve become. Take my hand and I’ll take you there.
Grayson took her hand. It was warm as he remembered it. It was careful and loving and it lifted him off his feet, literally. As the window open she headed towards it. She looked at him and jumped. They held on tight and they soared through the clouds.
It was an amazing feeling the cool mile high air caress his newly shaven face. He felt the warm mist of the clouds cover his body as they flew by it and then he landed at a familiar house.
Grayson
This is Mr. Fizzlebottom’s house!
Vanessa
His name was Mr. Henderson, your mom’s old boss.
Grayson
Yea, but watch…
A young Grayson and his sister are standing in a corner snickering as they point over towards a large chair. A large round man comes into view with a large smile on his face. He was balding with a formidable mustache and wore his best suit. He sat on the large chair and a loud fart sound came from it.
Mr. Fizzlebottom
Woopsy Daisy.
The responsible adults at the party feigned laughter as the children were up in arms. They fell on the ground laughing and when the large man got up a whoopy cushion was seen on the chair as well as a broken can of Coca Cola Classic. The carbonated bubbles still decorated the bottom of his pants.
Young Grayson
Lot at his bottom! It’s all fizzly!
Young Cathy
Mr. Fizzlebottom!
The children all laughed and the lovable old grouch joined along in the laughter. Their mother went over and smacked them both upside their heads.
Young Mom
You’re going to get me fired.
Mr. Fizzlebottom
Don’t be silly, Eleanor. Children will be children. No harm, no foul. But I wouldn’t be surprised if they suddenly got covered in SILLY STRING FOR THEIR ACTIONS!
He pulled out two bottle and started spraying the children who tried to get in the way. Many casualties were covered in silly strings, people young and old, and when the cans were finally emptied on the head of a young Grayson everyone in the room laughed as a large red suited man dressed as Santa Clause came out and joined the party. All the children screamed and sat in a circle around the jolly old elf.
Vanessa
You used to come to this Christmas Party every year as a child. Why did it stop?
Grayson
I don’t rememb… oh… I remember why…
Vanessa
Take my hand.
Grayson
I don’t wanna.
Vanessa
Just take it.
He knew where they were headed, he just felt it…This time they didn’t fly anywhere. The scene in front of them merely faded into obscurity and they reappeared in his bedroom.
Vanessa
Do you remember this room?
Grayson
This was my bedroom growing up.
The wainscoting on the wall was blue and the wall atop it was a dirty white, and covered in posters he pulled from wrestling magazines. He kept the pictures of the beautiful women of wrestling close to his bed for obvious reason. A 16 year old Grayson sat at his computer using AOL Instant Messenger and talking to strangers on the internet. The dial up was crazy slow, and the familiar dubstep was heard while it was loading.
Then he heard it.
Grayson
Why did you take me here? I remember this moment, I don’t need to live it again.
The Young Grayson ran over to where the scream was coming from, sure he would play the part of hero and save whoever was in trouble. It was his sister who stand in the kitchen crying looking at the floor where their mother lay.
Young Grayson
Mom?
He got to his knees, and felt her. She was still warm.
Young Grayson
Call 911 you idiot!
Young Cathy
She’s already dead you idiot!
Young Grayson
No she’s not. She’s still warm. Just call!
Cathy cried her eyes out.
Young Cathy
I can’t!
Grayson cried his eyes out.
Young Grayson
Neither can I?
He got to his feet and went to the phone. He couldn’t speak. He dialed the three numbers, the hardest three numbers he had ever had to press on a phone. The familiar sound of a police dispatcher was heard on the other end.
Dispatcher
911, what’s your emergency?
She surely could only hear tears as Grayson dropped the corded phone which was now hanging from the dock and banging against the kitchen counter. Both he and his sister held themselves in loving embrace.
They returned to his bedroom where she stared at him with pain in her eyes.
Grayson
Why did you have to show me this?
Vanessa
So you remembered.
Grayson
How could I forget? This was the worst moment of my life until… until Teddy that is.
Vanessa
Your sister had to take care of you after this. She had to grow up much faster than you did as she dropped out of college and spent her time making sure that you could succeed. And you did, didn’t you. You succeeded and she now lives in this same home and work her ass off at a grocery store to pay her bills. And look at you, too selfish to realize what she’s done for you.
Grayson
So what’s this, some sort of moral quandary? I choose not to recall those memories because I don’t want my past to dictate the way that I act.
Vanessa
But those who forget history are destined to repeat it.
Grayson
I don’t want to see anymore.
Vanessa
Well that’s good because…
The clock struck 11 and the bell started to ring. He covered his ears as it was louder than he could possibly imagine.
Vanessa
My time with you is done. Prepare for the next spirit.
Grayson
Well, thanks I guess. I’m still not going to go to my sister’s house tomorrow.
She vanished.
Grayson
I GOTTA WIN AT ONE! TOO MUCH TO DO!
(TBC)
