Post by Lockhart on Aug 18, 2019 22:36:28 GMT -5
He took each step up the porch of The Home For Wayward Souls deliberately, wooden boards creaking as he approached the tall door fitted with wide rectangular windows. Behind him, a well-maintained lawn gave the home a sunny disposition, which did little to ease Ryan‘s suspicions.
He knocked three times. Each sending a shudder down the door that the interior of the building repeated through the spacious common area. A recognizable figure appeared, opening the door to reveal William. Empty, hollow eyes backed by a shark-toothed smile, one which seemed like it could activate into a blood lusted frenzy at any moment.
“Moor” greeted his “friend” with an embrace, taking him into his arms with a firm grasp which Ryan didn’t return. Wade pulled back and stepped sideward, giving a wave of the arm to encourage Ryan to enter.
‘No need to be cold, Ryan. We’re f̵̛͈̦̼̖̒̂̀̉̉̐̄́͝r̴̡̭̺͍̭͕̘̭̝̮̯̰͗̈́̇͛͐̅͛͒̒̎͝i̵̧͔̝̲̟̩͇͍̳̟̼͎̍́̈̀̒̓̈̌͊̚e̶̲͖̙̯̣̻̜̤̙̼͎̲̪̯̎ͅn̵̠̱̊̐͝d̶̢̼̩̜̄̔́͠͠ͅs̶͇̿̀́̿̾̊̄͗͘͠͠, right? I thought you’d reconsidered, since you’ve come to my humble abode.’
Ryan scoffed, followed by a brief shake of the head.
‘You’re not Wade, no need to pretend.’
William’s expression didn’t change, smile remaining plastered across his face.
‘But… I’ve been on edge lately, and I’m curious about what you know… and how you’ve manipulated Quixote and company. I want to see first-hand how you’ve made them open up to their inner-selves once more.’
William cackled, high-pitched enough to sound delirious.
‘Me? Manipulating? Preposterous! And if that were to be the case, my friend… you’d be in dangerous waters. You’re walking into myMad World Home For Wayward Souls, would this not be the most disadvantageous place to test your theories?’
A smile from Ryan, who tilted his head to the side.
‘Is it? If I’m being honest, you’re not a threat. At the height of his powers, Wade was the only man who could stop me. You? You have his body, but you can’t use it as a weapon of mass destruction like he could, not yet, anyway.’
Ryan paced past him, looking around the Victorian-styled interior of The Home For Wayward Souls. His lips drop and spread ever-so-slightly, signalling his liking for the decor. William watched him with a keen eye, amused by his visitor’s analysis.
‘Enough games, I want to see what’s really going on. Show me.’
William’s smile dropped, his formerly emotionless eyes developing a flame of interest in them.
‘You r̷̰̖̭̂̀̎̍̑͒͋͗̈̆͗̋͝͠ȇ̷̛̳͓̎͐́͠͠ą̵̣̳̱̳͙̘̱̘̭̑̏̕ͅl̴̻̮̭̯̲̯͍͚̞̱̤̥̪͂͛͐̆͗̊͜l̸̡̪͓̫͎̫̺̙͉͙̫̭̋̍̍̌͐̈̒̈̅̾͜͜͠ỵ̶̝͈͑̋͆̈̕ want to see?’ he said, voice lowered to an intimate whisper.
Ryan nodded, and William smiled.
‘As you wish, f̸͍̟͔̀̃̋́̌ȑ̷͚̭̠͕̩͔̘̘̥͈͔̏̀̂̒̎͑̇i̵̹̖̮̤̖̖̞̽̓̓̎̌̾̇̓e̸̼͍̙̩͓͛̔n̶̼͐̉̃d̴̛͙̩̮̲̘̫̗͙̈̑̈̄̄͒͛̑̔͘͘.’
Almost immediately, The World around him warping. The pristine walls morphed and the furnishing disappeared, making way for darkness. Small candles provided miniscule points of safety in the black, and the air had become much colder, as though he were trapped in a cave.
William’s laugh engrained itself into his mind as it rang his eardrums. Ryan grew queasy. He raised his voice, attempting to compose himself and regain control over the situation.
‘You think I haven’t seen an illusion before, William? I broke free from Thuggin’s months ago, what chance does yours have?’
‘Oh? Then be my guest, Curse. Show what you did to Mr. Thuggin when he conducted his experiments on you.
Ryan steadied himself, spreading his feet shoulder-width apart. His eyes darted between each of the dim sources of light, hoping to find anything that could key him in on what was happening, to no avail. He inhaled deeply, and blew out a cool stream of air.
Fuck, I haven’t done this in a while. I hope it still works.
He braced himself, already feeling his body beginning to convulse due to the strain this put on his body.
STAR PLATINUM, THE WORLD.
What sounded like a sonic boom blasted forth, a wave erupting from Ryan’s being in an outward direction. Like last time, he expected the illusion to shatter and return both himself and William back to the real world…
But that moment never came.
Silence, and then a click of the tongue from William.
‘Valiant attempt, Curse. But you’re forgetting… this isn’t your World, nor is it Joey Flash’s, or 6ix God’s. This is…
‘M̵͇͆͂̓̀̕͜ÿ̵̡̨̳̩̙̰̺̰̗͇̗́͗̒̀̉̉͘ͅ ̵̟͙̃̀M̵̛͓͚̆̔́̓̊͗̀͘ă̷̽̏̌͊̇̈́̎̕̕͜ḏ̵̡̤̪̤̩͉͖͚͍̪̩͆͐̀̒̓̉̅̿̈́̾̍̅́̈́̕ ̵̢̜͎̝̦̥̝̬̼̄͜ͅW̵̼̣̠̯̓̈́̄́͂̂̒̓̍̔͗͑̕ờ̷̠̙̳͂̋̇̅́͌͋͘͝r̸̡̨̤͈̗̹͔̯̝͓̗͕̣̫̽̈́̀̓ͅl̶̨̬̼͚̹̺͍͍͓̞͙͂͋͛͒͑̓̃̊͝ḑ̵̗͍̦͈͇̳̓̏͑̆̇͐̀͒̓͘͜’
Ryan dropped to his knees, exhausted from his escape attempt. He breathed rapidly to draw in as much oxygen as possible to keep himself from passing out. His already darkened vision began to fade further, as the hushed tones of William swept through his mind.
‘Now fall asleep, my son. We’ll begin our session once you’ve awoke.’
An indistinguishable amount of time later, Ryan awakes in a trance, a joint pressed between his lips as he instinctively inhales the B L U E V E L V E T from within. His vision swirls until everything comes to a stop, and he sees a peaceful lake ahead of him, ducks swimming through and birds perched on the surrounding trees circling the body of water. He glances to his right and sees Wade by his side.
From one look, Ryan already knew that this was his Wade, the rival and friend who‘d been such a major part of his career. The two shared a companionable silence as they stared ahead until eventually Wade spoke.
‘You know, part of me wanted to fight against the Krew getting broken up, man. We had something great there, didn’t we?’
Ryan frowned. What was happening?
‘I’m proud of you though, for real. I saw the fire, the hunger, the drive, all that good shit. But I never thought you’d get THIS good. I wish they‘d given me the chance to go up against you the way you are now. You aren’t a starry-eyed kid anymore. You’re the real deal.’
Without even being aware of it, Ryan inhaled more of the B L U E V E L V E T and felt himself going numb, his mouth formulating words on its own.
‘It’s only right that you and I get our one-on-one for the strap. That was my dream from the beginning, even when we had just teamed up.’
Wade nodded, smiling.
‘You’re a brother to me, Ryan. We’ve each seen the other’s inner-self. What we’re like on the inside. It’s something that can only be experienced when you share blood inside the ring together, a bond that can’t be broken.
‘But since then? It feels like I’m the only one that’s embraced that self. I’m the one moving towards it, while you keep shunning it away. Are you afraid?’
Ryan shrugs, uncertain.
‘I… I don’t know, man. When you’re at the top, you can only go down. It’s scary. If I give into the temptation? My gameplan gets thrown out the window and I run on instinct. That’s how mistakes happen. Everything I’ve worked for could get snapped away in an instant.’
‘I get it. It’s not an easy thing to come to grips with… but it’s about time you let him in, Ryan. Don’t hide your true nature from The World, it’s what brought you to this pinnacle.
‘You’re at a crossroads now. You got the biggest test of your career coming up. Five guys, one title. This isn’t something you’ll win easily, you can‘t be complacent. That’s why I lost the title to Speede.’
‘You just beat TFK and Richards, didn’t you? That doesn’t mean you’ve got the edge. Stay sharp, man. Focus up and show these fools that the first time wasn’t a fluke. You and me? We’re the best in The World, but getting caught off-guard can happen even to the greats.
‘Don’t be complacent. Rip them limb from limb. Unleash The Curse, you know it’s your best chance.’
Ryan’s eyes are drawn back to the lake, but the water isn’t the still calm it was earlier. It now swirls viciously, a huge hole in the middle sucking everything around it inside. When he turns to look at Wade, he is no longer there. Ryan is alone watching this serene landscape being dragged away before him.
‘Complacent? That’s not me. I put my all in there every time, whether or not the belt is on the line. That’s what Richards doesn’t understand about me. He doesn’t respect me as a competitor, nor does he respect me as a man.
‘I’ve taken the fight to him every time we’ve shared the squared circle together, but he’s still under this illusion that I’m not every bit the champion I say I am. Interesting, coming from the man who hasn’t been able to string together a respectable reign since levelling out as a third-tier champion consisting of being a keyboard warrior.
‘Even now, that’s all you do, Alex. Old habits die hard, huh? You get caught into scrimmages and engagements with people far beneath your level, but you can’t let them off the hook, can you? You can’t resist getting the last word in, because you know getting results in the middle of the ring where it counts isn’t possible when faced with someone of my ability and tenacity.
‘Don’t spin it any other way. Your insecurities about your status here are clear. You can’t back down from any challenge, you take every single word to heart and you cry to yourself when you realize you haven’t got all the respect you think you’ve earned through your lengthy tenure as a veteran.
‘You’ve got a severe case of tunnel vision. You hang onto past glory and don’t see the constantly shifting landscape with every new generation of talent sweeping through the gates. I caught you by surprise our first match, and I out-smarted you the second time with The World on the line. Blame TFK all you want, but I’m the one who dropped you on your dome and left you dreaming while I was being handed MY belt.
‘I’ve seen what you’re capable of, and it’s definitely impressive. You’re no slouch in the ring, and you’re powerful enough to put me out of commission if I grow too confident…
‘But there’s no such thing for me, Alex. While you’re constantly in denial about your shortcomings, I know that there’s no opponent I’m too good for. Anyone can get caught slipping. You see it all the time in many professional sports. That’s what they call a “puncher’s chance”, and with you? That chance could come at any moment.
‘So trust me when I say I’ll be ready, and that for the third time… you’ll see what a true champion is made of.’
He stands up and finds himself sinking, caught in the mud and water being drawn to the center of the riptide in the lake. He doesn’t allow this to stop him from speaking, though.
‘TFK, the curtains on your fairytale should’ve closed the moment I pinned you at Carnage, but… people are ready to see the reboot of you getting your ass kicked by me for the second time. Well, who am I to deny fans the opportunity to see Boston‘s second best get utterly annihilated by the pride and joy of the greatest city in The World? P.S: If you haven’t read your script yet, that’s me.
‘All jokes aside, I’m keen to see if you’ve changed your strategy. That’s your biggest issue, isn’t it, Thad? You’re a one-trick-pony, and once you’ve been solved? It only gets easier each successive time. You hide behind jokes and flashy performances, but it’s clear that out of your little trio… you’re the one who isn’t living up to the Hollywood standard. You could’ve given the opportunity to your more deserving friend in Kidsgrove, but you selfishly took center-stage as you always do.
‘Your performance was lackluster, especially when compared to an A-List megastar like myself. You’re usually great at the game, TFK. But when put side by side with your direct superior? Your light dims and my star only grows brighter. With each successive win I take, I extend my lead over the desperately chasing pack, one that includes The Hollywood Elite, who seem to take solace with hiding in my shadow and bringing up my name when they want to be recognized for something.
‘Once I’ve eviscerated you at Uprising, all three of you can rejoice about the times you got to share the ring with me and how badly I embarrassed you. Be proud, it’s your greatest achievement. No need to thank me, Thad. Giving you some relevance in 2019 is the least I could do, since you peaked last year and haven‘t hit the same level since.
‘Keep your head high. You and your boys stay by my side like good little children, and we’ll see what we can do about getting you your precious United States Title back, okay?’
As he finishes, the mud and water combination creeps up his body, threatening to cover him entirely. He expects to feel something. Panic, fear, anything. But nothing, just numb, as though waves are crashing over him and limiting his senses.
His eyes close once more, and when they flutter back awake, he finds himself laid-out on a luxurious recliner, his skin and everything around him soaked in golden rays of sunlight. He shoots up, dazed and confused. This time, Jared Holmes is the one by his side, flipping idly through a fashion magazine as his phone explodes with notifications.
‘Relax. That’s what the B L U E V E L V E T is for. Don’t get all paranoid, I fucking hate when people get paranoid.’
Jared didn‘t look at him, remaining centered on his skimming of the magazine. Ryan frowned, but leaned back into his recliner. The warmth of the sun felt real, the outside of Jared’s Los Angeles mansion was true to its real counterpart… but what was this? What was he experiencing?
‘You shouldn’t be on edge, I’m on your side. It’s when I’m on the other end that you should start worrying. That’s when shit would get messy. Now though? I don’t know, man. Bringing another version of #BeachKrew around was fun, but I’m not feeling the same destructive drive anymore.
‘Spencer and Kemp? That was some motivation. Getting to snuff #FightBigDumb was great. #EFFINRAGER was great. After that? Having another federation just kneel and beg before me… didn’t feel like it did when WCF was doing the dick-sucking, you know?
‘That’s why I started giving you my attention. You were my little magikarp, Ryan.’
‘I won’t lie, you didn’t progress how I thought you would. You’re more Flash-lite than the Flash-stopper, but it was a tough ask for anyone but me to fill that role.
‘You could’ve fought him. But honestly? You weren’t ready. I wanted it to happen though. The dream match that should’ve happened between me and Flash could’ve been replicated by my successor...
‘But you don’t have the same edge as him, or even as Wade. That’s why he bodied you twice. They’re monsters in the ring, just like I was. You haven’t pulled that out yet.
‘With how you are now, though? You can probably at least beat Spencer for me again. Ah, I remember when he was white. Now he’s a monk or some shit? Bully him, for old times’ sake. You might not be The 6ix God or Flash… but you’re good enough to stomp these plebs.’
The recliner is gone, and Ryan is now floating in the pool instead, hovering on the surface.
‘Hey, Spence. Hope it’s still cool if I address you like that. I know you’ve been going through some changes, but it’d be nice if we could keep the tradition going. It’d be rude if we broke the pattern of me annihilating your ass every-time we shared a space together, whether it be on promo or during a match.’
A joyful smile.
‘You’re on a new path now and you’ve seen the light. From being the mega-villain of Season 1 to the enlightened hero of Season 2, Spencer Adams is under a new alias and will become the savior of the masses. Please. One night at The Range and your outlook changed, your weak mind and weaker spirit fell under the spell of a brighter future that you thought you'd bring into reality.
‘It’s nonsense. A conjured up ideal you’ve turned into a smokescreen, an illusion you force yourself to believe so you have a purpose. How’s it going for you? It musn’t be working, since you desperately inserted yourself into this World Title picture after gathering no momentum and having no claim to the title besides being a disappointing former champion who had to cheat both to win it, and defend it, ONCE.
‘Me? I earned everything, from my title shot, to my All-In Briefcase. For all your optimistic talk, all you’ve ever done is take, take, take, Spencer. You pretend to give back, just like you did in #FightSmart, but we see through it. Or maybe they don’t and only I do. Maybe I’m the only one who really has your number, and that’s why you’ve avoided me all this time since I single-handedly disbanded your entire crew back at WarGames when I pinned your little prospect Link.
‘KOS is the next charade I bring to an end, and it will be… beautiful.’
A Flash of light, and the scenery changed once more. The Los Angeles heat dissipated into a cold Boston night out on Ryan’s own apartment balcony overlooking the city, and by his side was Pasternak, who was blowing a cloud of grey smoke into the air.
‘Now you, huh?’
Pasternak exposed a toothy grin.
‘You had to come full circle. It starts and ends with me, right? That’s why you wanted nothing more than to get away from me, but also couldn’t help keeping me by your side. We’re everything we love and hate about one another.
‘It’s kinda poetic, isn’t it?’
Neither spoke, each taking a drag and exhaling.
‘I get why you did it. You wanted to be the good guy for once, like you used to. Some people thought I was a good guy too. It’s a nice feeling. Not as empty as some other shit we’ve felt, yeah? But we are who we are. You snitching on me to my girlfriend didn’t really change that.’
He sighs.
‘We’re both assholes, and we gotta live with that. Might as well have done it side-by-side, but I suppose sharing isn’t really your style. You got more ambition than I’ll ever have, and realistically? You’ll be more successful overall.
‘But that’s not gonna stop me from having a space rented in that head of yours, will it, friend? That’s what we were, yeah?Friends. Brothers. All that good shit. But your play to be the good guy ended up with you feeling guilty.
‘Maybe that’s how you feel about Dandy, too. He could’ve been in our clique. You could’ve brought him into the fold. Moulded him. Guided him through the beginning steps of his career. You guys are similar too. Scrappy. Spirited. Damaged. Maybe then he wouldn’t be feeling so hurt right now.
‘You gonna feel guilty about that one too, you pussy? Or are you gonna rip his throat out like you should’ve done to me before I got into that head of yours?’
With that, Pasternak climbed up onto the balcony, and tipped off the edge, dissipating into thin air before the image of him falling had even registered in Ryan’s slowed conscience. The joint he had carried with him through all three “worlds” was finished. He looked up into the star-filled sky.
‘Welcome to your moment, Dandy. This is where you break the glass ceiling and reach the level everyone thought you should’ve been at months ago. You had your title run, your legendary feud, your epic final match…
‘And now you’ll cap it all off by beating the most dominant World Champion, no, most dominant Champion PERIOD, ending his reign and becoming the man who beat the motherfuckin’ man.
‘If only things were that simple.
‘You’ve been riding my coattails since the beginning, Dandy. From my formula of victory, to my tenacious fighting style, my wit on twitter and my devastating shoot. You’ve taken notes from your teacher and think you’ve got it figured out, bringing it into one complete package that’ll take out the same man you set your sights on from the start.
‘Did it hurt that I forgot about you? That while you were in a blood-feud with Kidsgrove where you damn near ended your career, I was continuing to break records and solidify myself as the GOAT? The same Kidsgrove you struggled against for months is the same Kidsgrove I pinned in a three-on-one fuckin’ handicap match.
‘You have the heart of a warrior and a fighter’s spirit. I respect that. But you aren’t half the man I am, let alone champion. I would’ve never allowed one of my main rivals to secure the belt I considered my pride and joy, but you? You faltered. You wavered. You lost focus.
‘I don’t do that. I stay true to the legacy I’ve dedicated myself to upholding, and I keep on fuckin’ winning. I don’t take breaks unless I’m forced to, I challenge everyone and anyone. You think you’re on that same level, but you haven’t lived through that yet. You’ve watched the master and think you’ve figured out all the tricks and secrets, but it isn‘t that simple when the master is an unmatched prodigy with a record even Gods would cower from.
‘While you spend your time bickering with your family and having them question you at every turn, I honor mine with legendary performances and my unrelenting will to keep my championship pride. I make believers out of everyone who thought I didn’t have what it takes, while you still doubt whether you truly belong. You say you do, you act like you do, but the doubt is clear, the nerves are evident, that’s why you felt the need to attack me rather than stay true to your fuckin’ word and shake my hand like a man.
‘You’re a fighter but a coward at the same time. You’ve been a champion, but allowed your direct rival to hold what should’ve been yours. You’re the best of your wave of talent, but you’re still afraid of what awaits you in the main-event, which is why you relegate yourself to the role of a cheapshot artist with no backbone.
‘Me? I’m a fighter who has never backed down. I’ve been World Champion all of 2019 and haven’t let anyone hold what’s rightfully mine. I'm the best of my generation, and I’ve set my sights on being the greatest ever. While on paper you might be a decent challenge, when reality kicks in and you realize what kind of battle-hardened, championship experience you’re going up against... you'll lose all hope of victory.
‘Try sneak one by me again, Dandy. It’s your only shot at taking my belt and making history. The pressure is mounting and I see you starting to waver. This is your first time on this World Title stage. This is what, my fourteenth? For all our similarities, you’re just a poor man’s Lockhart. Until you branch out and develop your own identity? You’ll always be in my shadow, fighting for belts you should’ve surpassed long ago.
‘Farewell, Dandy. In a World where I didn‘t exist? You could’ve been the best. But I do exist, and I am the best. You're not destined to carry the weight of My World.
Hours later, Ryan shuffled out of The Home For Wayward Souls, eyes drooped and shoulders slumped. Behind him, The Leviathan watched, eyes boring a hole in the back of Lockhart's skull.
'I hope you enjoyed our session, Curse. Remember, it'll all make sense once you embrace your true self.'
Ryan rubbed his eyes and when he looked up...
A scarred, bloodied version of himself stood before him, a predatory smile aimed at him.
'You've kept me under lock and key for a while, Ryan... are you ready to accept me?'
Ryan couldn't provide an answer.
He knocked three times. Each sending a shudder down the door that the interior of the building repeated through the spacious common area. A recognizable figure appeared, opening the door to reveal William. Empty, hollow eyes backed by a shark-toothed smile, one which seemed like it could activate into a blood lusted frenzy at any moment.
“Moor” greeted his “friend” with an embrace, taking him into his arms with a firm grasp which Ryan didn’t return. Wade pulled back and stepped sideward, giving a wave of the arm to encourage Ryan to enter.
‘No need to be cold, Ryan. We’re f̵̛͈̦̼̖̒̂̀̉̉̐̄́͝r̴̡̭̺͍̭͕̘̭̝̮̯̰͗̈́̇͛͐̅͛͒̒̎͝i̵̧͔̝̲̟̩͇͍̳̟̼͎̍́̈̀̒̓̈̌͊̚e̶̲͖̙̯̣̻̜̤̙̼͎̲̪̯̎ͅn̵̠̱̊̐͝d̶̢̼̩̜̄̔́͠͠ͅs̶͇̿̀́̿̾̊̄͗͘͠͠, right? I thought you’d reconsidered, since you’ve come to my humble abode.’
Ryan scoffed, followed by a brief shake of the head.
‘You’re not Wade, no need to pretend.’
William’s expression didn’t change, smile remaining plastered across his face.
‘But… I’ve been on edge lately, and I’m curious about what you know… and how you’ve manipulated Quixote and company. I want to see first-hand how you’ve made them open up to their inner-selves once more.’
William cackled, high-pitched enough to sound delirious.
‘Me? Manipulating? Preposterous! And if that were to be the case, my friend… you’d be in dangerous waters. You’re walking into my
A smile from Ryan, who tilted his head to the side.
‘Is it? If I’m being honest, you’re not a threat. At the height of his powers, Wade was the only man who could stop me. You? You have his body, but you can’t use it as a weapon of mass destruction like he could, not yet, anyway.’
Ryan paced past him, looking around the Victorian-styled interior of The Home For Wayward Souls. His lips drop and spread ever-so-slightly, signalling his liking for the decor. William watched him with a keen eye, amused by his visitor’s analysis.
‘Enough games, I want to see what’s really going on. Show me.’
William’s smile dropped, his formerly emotionless eyes developing a flame of interest in them.
‘You r̷̰̖̭̂̀̎̍̑͒͋͗̈̆͗̋͝͠ȇ̷̛̳͓̎͐́͠͠ą̵̣̳̱̳͙̘̱̘̭̑̏̕ͅl̴̻̮̭̯̲̯͍͚̞̱̤̥̪͂͛͐̆͗̊͜l̸̡̪͓̫͎̫̺̙͉͙̫̭̋̍̍̌͐̈̒̈̅̾͜͜͠ỵ̶̝͈͑̋͆̈̕ want to see?’ he said, voice lowered to an intimate whisper.
Ryan nodded, and William smiled.
‘As you wish, f̸͍̟͔̀̃̋́̌ȑ̷͚̭̠͕̩͔̘̘̥͈͔̏̀̂̒̎͑̇i̵̹̖̮̤̖̖̞̽̓̓̎̌̾̇̓e̸̼͍̙̩͓͛̔n̶̼͐̉̃d̴̛͙̩̮̲̘̫̗͙̈̑̈̄̄͒͛̑̔͘͘.’
Almost immediately, The World around him warping. The pristine walls morphed and the furnishing disappeared, making way for darkness. Small candles provided miniscule points of safety in the black, and the air had become much colder, as though he were trapped in a cave.
William’s laugh engrained itself into his mind as it rang his eardrums. Ryan grew queasy. He raised his voice, attempting to compose himself and regain control over the situation.
‘You think I haven’t seen an illusion before, William? I broke free from Thuggin’s months ago, what chance does yours have?’
‘Oh? Then be my guest, Curse. Show what you did to Mr. Thuggin when he conducted his experiments on you.
Ryan steadied himself, spreading his feet shoulder-width apart. His eyes darted between each of the dim sources of light, hoping to find anything that could key him in on what was happening, to no avail. He inhaled deeply, and blew out a cool stream of air.
Fuck, I haven’t done this in a while. I hope it still works.
He braced himself, already feeling his body beginning to convulse due to the strain this put on his body.
STAR PLATINUM, THE WORLD.
What sounded like a sonic boom blasted forth, a wave erupting from Ryan’s being in an outward direction. Like last time, he expected the illusion to shatter and return both himself and William back to the real world…
But that moment never came.
Silence, and then a click of the tongue from William.
‘Valiant attempt, Curse. But you’re forgetting… this isn’t your World, nor is it Joey Flash’s, or 6ix God’s. This is…
‘M̵͇͆͂̓̀̕͜ÿ̵̡̨̳̩̙̰̺̰̗͇̗́͗̒̀̉̉͘ͅ ̵̟͙̃̀M̵̛͓͚̆̔́̓̊͗̀͘ă̷̽̏̌͊̇̈́̎̕̕͜ḏ̵̡̤̪̤̩͉͖͚͍̪̩͆͐̀̒̓̉̅̿̈́̾̍̅́̈́̕ ̵̢̜͎̝̦̥̝̬̼̄͜ͅW̵̼̣̠̯̓̈́̄́͂̂̒̓̍̔͗͑̕ờ̷̠̙̳͂̋̇̅́͌͋͘͝r̸̡̨̤͈̗̹͔̯̝͓̗͕̣̫̽̈́̀̓ͅl̶̨̬̼͚̹̺͍͍͓̞͙͂͋͛͒͑̓̃̊͝ḑ̵̗͍̦͈͇̳̓̏͑̆̇͐̀͒̓͘͜’
Ryan dropped to his knees, exhausted from his escape attempt. He breathed rapidly to draw in as much oxygen as possible to keep himself from passing out. His already darkened vision began to fade further, as the hushed tones of William swept through his mind.
‘Now fall asleep, my son. We’ll begin our session once you’ve awoke.’
An indistinguishable amount of time later, Ryan awakes in a trance, a joint pressed between his lips as he instinctively inhales the B L U E V E L V E T from within. His vision swirls until everything comes to a stop, and he sees a peaceful lake ahead of him, ducks swimming through and birds perched on the surrounding trees circling the body of water. He glances to his right and sees Wade by his side.
From one look, Ryan already knew that this was his Wade, the rival and friend who‘d been such a major part of his career. The two shared a companionable silence as they stared ahead until eventually Wade spoke.
‘You know, part of me wanted to fight against the Krew getting broken up, man. We had something great there, didn’t we?’
Ryan frowned. What was happening?
‘I’m proud of you though, for real. I saw the fire, the hunger, the drive, all that good shit. But I never thought you’d get THIS good. I wish they‘d given me the chance to go up against you the way you are now. You aren’t a starry-eyed kid anymore. You’re the real deal.’
Without even being aware of it, Ryan inhaled more of the B L U E V E L V E T and felt himself going numb, his mouth formulating words on its own.
‘It’s only right that you and I get our one-on-one for the strap. That was my dream from the beginning, even when we had just teamed up.’
Wade nodded, smiling.
‘You’re a brother to me, Ryan. We’ve each seen the other’s inner-self. What we’re like on the inside. It’s something that can only be experienced when you share blood inside the ring together, a bond that can’t be broken.
‘But since then? It feels like I’m the only one that’s embraced that self. I’m the one moving towards it, while you keep shunning it away. Are you afraid?’
Ryan shrugs, uncertain.
‘I… I don’t know, man. When you’re at the top, you can only go down. It’s scary. If I give into the temptation? My gameplan gets thrown out the window and I run on instinct. That’s how mistakes happen. Everything I’ve worked for could get snapped away in an instant.’
‘I get it. It’s not an easy thing to come to grips with… but it’s about time you let him in, Ryan. Don’t hide your true nature from The World, it’s what brought you to this pinnacle.
‘You’re at a crossroads now. You got the biggest test of your career coming up. Five guys, one title. This isn’t something you’ll win easily, you can‘t be complacent. That’s why I lost the title to Speede.’
‘You just beat TFK and Richards, didn’t you? That doesn’t mean you’ve got the edge. Stay sharp, man. Focus up and show these fools that the first time wasn’t a fluke. You and me? We’re the best in The World, but getting caught off-guard can happen even to the greats.
‘Don’t be complacent. Rip them limb from limb. Unleash The Curse, you know it’s your best chance.’
Ryan’s eyes are drawn back to the lake, but the water isn’t the still calm it was earlier. It now swirls viciously, a huge hole in the middle sucking everything around it inside. When he turns to look at Wade, he is no longer there. Ryan is alone watching this serene landscape being dragged away before him.
‘Complacent? That’s not me. I put my all in there every time, whether or not the belt is on the line. That’s what Richards doesn’t understand about me. He doesn’t respect me as a competitor, nor does he respect me as a man.
‘I’ve taken the fight to him every time we’ve shared the squared circle together, but he’s still under this illusion that I’m not every bit the champion I say I am. Interesting, coming from the man who hasn’t been able to string together a respectable reign since levelling out as a third-tier champion consisting of being a keyboard warrior.
‘Even now, that’s all you do, Alex. Old habits die hard, huh? You get caught into scrimmages and engagements with people far beneath your level, but you can’t let them off the hook, can you? You can’t resist getting the last word in, because you know getting results in the middle of the ring where it counts isn’t possible when faced with someone of my ability and tenacity.
‘Don’t spin it any other way. Your insecurities about your status here are clear. You can’t back down from any challenge, you take every single word to heart and you cry to yourself when you realize you haven’t got all the respect you think you’ve earned through your lengthy tenure as a veteran.
‘You’ve got a severe case of tunnel vision. You hang onto past glory and don’t see the constantly shifting landscape with every new generation of talent sweeping through the gates. I caught you by surprise our first match, and I out-smarted you the second time with The World on the line. Blame TFK all you want, but I’m the one who dropped you on your dome and left you dreaming while I was being handed MY belt.
‘I’ve seen what you’re capable of, and it’s definitely impressive. You’re no slouch in the ring, and you’re powerful enough to put me out of commission if I grow too confident…
‘But there’s no such thing for me, Alex. While you’re constantly in denial about your shortcomings, I know that there’s no opponent I’m too good for. Anyone can get caught slipping. You see it all the time in many professional sports. That’s what they call a “puncher’s chance”, and with you? That chance could come at any moment.
‘So trust me when I say I’ll be ready, and that for the third time… you’ll see what a true champion is made of.’
He stands up and finds himself sinking, caught in the mud and water being drawn to the center of the riptide in the lake. He doesn’t allow this to stop him from speaking, though.
‘TFK, the curtains on your fairytale should’ve closed the moment I pinned you at Carnage, but… people are ready to see the reboot of you getting your ass kicked by me for the second time. Well, who am I to deny fans the opportunity to see Boston‘s second best get utterly annihilated by the pride and joy of the greatest city in The World? P.S: If you haven’t read your script yet, that’s me.
‘All jokes aside, I’m keen to see if you’ve changed your strategy. That’s your biggest issue, isn’t it, Thad? You’re a one-trick-pony, and once you’ve been solved? It only gets easier each successive time. You hide behind jokes and flashy performances, but it’s clear that out of your little trio… you’re the one who isn’t living up to the Hollywood standard. You could’ve given the opportunity to your more deserving friend in Kidsgrove, but you selfishly took center-stage as you always do.
‘Your performance was lackluster, especially when compared to an A-List megastar like myself. You’re usually great at the game, TFK. But when put side by side with your direct superior? Your light dims and my star only grows brighter. With each successive win I take, I extend my lead over the desperately chasing pack, one that includes The Hollywood Elite, who seem to take solace with hiding in my shadow and bringing up my name when they want to be recognized for something.
‘Once I’ve eviscerated you at Uprising, all three of you can rejoice about the times you got to share the ring with me and how badly I embarrassed you. Be proud, it’s your greatest achievement. No need to thank me, Thad. Giving you some relevance in 2019 is the least I could do, since you peaked last year and haven‘t hit the same level since.
‘Keep your head high. You and your boys stay by my side like good little children, and we’ll see what we can do about getting you your precious United States Title back, okay?’
As he finishes, the mud and water combination creeps up his body, threatening to cover him entirely. He expects to feel something. Panic, fear, anything. But nothing, just numb, as though waves are crashing over him and limiting his senses.
His eyes close once more, and when they flutter back awake, he finds himself laid-out on a luxurious recliner, his skin and everything around him soaked in golden rays of sunlight. He shoots up, dazed and confused. This time, Jared Holmes is the one by his side, flipping idly through a fashion magazine as his phone explodes with notifications.
‘Relax. That’s what the B L U E V E L V E T is for. Don’t get all paranoid, I fucking hate when people get paranoid.’
Jared didn‘t look at him, remaining centered on his skimming of the magazine. Ryan frowned, but leaned back into his recliner. The warmth of the sun felt real, the outside of Jared’s Los Angeles mansion was true to its real counterpart… but what was this? What was he experiencing?
‘You shouldn’t be on edge, I’m on your side. It’s when I’m on the other end that you should start worrying. That’s when shit would get messy. Now though? I don’t know, man. Bringing another version of #BeachKrew around was fun, but I’m not feeling the same destructive drive anymore.
‘Spencer and Kemp? That was some motivation. Getting to snuff #FightBigDumb was great. #EFFINRAGER was great. After that? Having another federation just kneel and beg before me… didn’t feel like it did when WCF was doing the dick-sucking, you know?
‘That’s why I started giving you my attention. You were my little magikarp, Ryan.’
‘I won’t lie, you didn’t progress how I thought you would. You’re more Flash-lite than the Flash-stopper, but it was a tough ask for anyone but me to fill that role.
‘You could’ve fought him. But honestly? You weren’t ready. I wanted it to happen though. The dream match that should’ve happened between me and Flash could’ve been replicated by my successor...
‘But you don’t have the same edge as him, or even as Wade. That’s why he bodied you twice. They’re monsters in the ring, just like I was. You haven’t pulled that out yet.
‘With how you are now, though? You can probably at least beat Spencer for me again. Ah, I remember when he was white. Now he’s a monk or some shit? Bully him, for old times’ sake. You might not be The 6ix God or Flash… but you’re good enough to stomp these plebs.’
The recliner is gone, and Ryan is now floating in the pool instead, hovering on the surface.
‘Hey, Spence. Hope it’s still cool if I address you like that. I know you’ve been going through some changes, but it’d be nice if we could keep the tradition going. It’d be rude if we broke the pattern of me annihilating your ass every-time we shared a space together, whether it be on promo or during a match.’
A joyful smile.
‘You’re on a new path now and you’ve seen the light. From being the mega-villain of Season 1 to the enlightened hero of Season 2, Spencer Adams is under a new alias and will become the savior of the masses. Please. One night at The Range and your outlook changed, your weak mind and weaker spirit fell under the spell of a brighter future that you thought you'd bring into reality.
‘It’s nonsense. A conjured up ideal you’ve turned into a smokescreen, an illusion you force yourself to believe so you have a purpose. How’s it going for you? It musn’t be working, since you desperately inserted yourself into this World Title picture after gathering no momentum and having no claim to the title besides being a disappointing former champion who had to cheat both to win it, and defend it, ONCE.
‘Me? I earned everything, from my title shot, to my All-In Briefcase. For all your optimistic talk, all you’ve ever done is take, take, take, Spencer. You pretend to give back, just like you did in #FightSmart, but we see through it. Or maybe they don’t and only I do. Maybe I’m the only one who really has your number, and that’s why you’ve avoided me all this time since I single-handedly disbanded your entire crew back at WarGames when I pinned your little prospect Link.
‘KOS is the next charade I bring to an end, and it will be… beautiful.’
A Flash of light, and the scenery changed once more. The Los Angeles heat dissipated into a cold Boston night out on Ryan’s own apartment balcony overlooking the city, and by his side was Pasternak, who was blowing a cloud of grey smoke into the air.
‘Now you, huh?’
Pasternak exposed a toothy grin.
‘You had to come full circle. It starts and ends with me, right? That’s why you wanted nothing more than to get away from me, but also couldn’t help keeping me by your side. We’re everything we love and hate about one another.
‘It’s kinda poetic, isn’t it?’
Neither spoke, each taking a drag and exhaling.
‘I get why you did it. You wanted to be the good guy for once, like you used to. Some people thought I was a good guy too. It’s a nice feeling. Not as empty as some other shit we’ve felt, yeah? But we are who we are. You snitching on me to my girlfriend didn’t really change that.’
He sighs.
‘We’re both assholes, and we gotta live with that. Might as well have done it side-by-side, but I suppose sharing isn’t really your style. You got more ambition than I’ll ever have, and realistically? You’ll be more successful overall.
‘But that’s not gonna stop me from having a space rented in that head of yours, will it, friend? That’s what we were, yeah?Friends. Brothers. All that good shit. But your play to be the good guy ended up with you feeling guilty.
‘Maybe that’s how you feel about Dandy, too. He could’ve been in our clique. You could’ve brought him into the fold. Moulded him. Guided him through the beginning steps of his career. You guys are similar too. Scrappy. Spirited. Damaged. Maybe then he wouldn’t be feeling so hurt right now.
‘You gonna feel guilty about that one too, you pussy? Or are you gonna rip his throat out like you should’ve done to me before I got into that head of yours?’
With that, Pasternak climbed up onto the balcony, and tipped off the edge, dissipating into thin air before the image of him falling had even registered in Ryan’s slowed conscience. The joint he had carried with him through all three “worlds” was finished. He looked up into the star-filled sky.
‘Welcome to your moment, Dandy. This is where you break the glass ceiling and reach the level everyone thought you should’ve been at months ago. You had your title run, your legendary feud, your epic final match…
‘And now you’ll cap it all off by beating the most dominant World Champion, no, most dominant Champion PERIOD, ending his reign and becoming the man who beat the motherfuckin’ man.
‘If only things were that simple.
‘You’ve been riding my coattails since the beginning, Dandy. From my formula of victory, to my tenacious fighting style, my wit on twitter and my devastating shoot. You’ve taken notes from your teacher and think you’ve got it figured out, bringing it into one complete package that’ll take out the same man you set your sights on from the start.
‘Did it hurt that I forgot about you? That while you were in a blood-feud with Kidsgrove where you damn near ended your career, I was continuing to break records and solidify myself as the GOAT? The same Kidsgrove you struggled against for months is the same Kidsgrove I pinned in a three-on-one fuckin’ handicap match.
‘You have the heart of a warrior and a fighter’s spirit. I respect that. But you aren’t half the man I am, let alone champion. I would’ve never allowed one of my main rivals to secure the belt I considered my pride and joy, but you? You faltered. You wavered. You lost focus.
‘I don’t do that. I stay true to the legacy I’ve dedicated myself to upholding, and I keep on fuckin’ winning. I don’t take breaks unless I’m forced to, I challenge everyone and anyone. You think you’re on that same level, but you haven’t lived through that yet. You’ve watched the master and think you’ve figured out all the tricks and secrets, but it isn‘t that simple when the master is an unmatched prodigy with a record even Gods would cower from.
‘While you spend your time bickering with your family and having them question you at every turn, I honor mine with legendary performances and my unrelenting will to keep my championship pride. I make believers out of everyone who thought I didn’t have what it takes, while you still doubt whether you truly belong. You say you do, you act like you do, but the doubt is clear, the nerves are evident, that’s why you felt the need to attack me rather than stay true to your fuckin’ word and shake my hand like a man.
‘You’re a fighter but a coward at the same time. You’ve been a champion, but allowed your direct rival to hold what should’ve been yours. You’re the best of your wave of talent, but you’re still afraid of what awaits you in the main-event, which is why you relegate yourself to the role of a cheapshot artist with no backbone.
‘Me? I’m a fighter who has never backed down. I’ve been World Champion all of 2019 and haven’t let anyone hold what’s rightfully mine. I'm the best of my generation, and I’ve set my sights on being the greatest ever. While on paper you might be a decent challenge, when reality kicks in and you realize what kind of battle-hardened, championship experience you’re going up against... you'll lose all hope of victory.
‘Try sneak one by me again, Dandy. It’s your only shot at taking my belt and making history. The pressure is mounting and I see you starting to waver. This is your first time on this World Title stage. This is what, my fourteenth? For all our similarities, you’re just a poor man’s Lockhart. Until you branch out and develop your own identity? You’ll always be in my shadow, fighting for belts you should’ve surpassed long ago.
‘Farewell, Dandy. In a World where I didn‘t exist? You could’ve been the best. But I do exist, and I am the best. You're not destined to carry the weight of My World.
Hours later, Ryan shuffled out of The Home For Wayward Souls, eyes drooped and shoulders slumped. Behind him, The Leviathan watched, eyes boring a hole in the back of Lockhart's skull.
'I hope you enjoyed our session, Curse. Remember, it'll all make sense once you embrace your true self.'
Ryan rubbed his eyes and when he looked up...
A scarred, bloodied version of himself stood before him, a predatory smile aimed at him.
'You've kept me under lock and key for a while, Ryan... are you ready to accept me?'
Ryan couldn't provide an answer.