Post by Roddy Zalez - RIP 2021 to 2023 on Jan 30, 2022 14:36:27 GMT -5
He stares into the fiery pit through the window.
…
…
…
But unlike usual, he doesn’t look away.
Instead, everything around him burns. Flames spread on all of the wood.
Wood?
“Hello there. My name is Tina Timely”
Flames spread on all of the wood, surrounding Roddy.
He stares out of the school’s entrance to the orange smoke that surrounds him like a thick fog.
“I know that I didn’t earn my way in the proper way. But it was an error on Jimmy’s part that led me here, and quite frankly, it was an error that I wasn’t automatically put into the match in the first place.”
Roddy thinks of leaving. For just a moment.
Instead, he turns around, approaching a set of stairs, ignoring the embers that billow around him, never touching, never feeling, never feeling heat.
“People like Teo think they know how this goes. He’s the Cruiserweight Champion with confidence for days, and why shouldn’t he be? He beat Void, walked into the year as champion, is walking into DC a winner…
…déjà vu hits hard for those who remember.
And I remember that confidence, remember his victories, remember him walking into a city a winner…
…and I remember The Rulers beating him like he was just a rookie walking into a war without armor or a weapon.
Teo is confident, but he knows that with me in this match, his chances of victory went away just like his Tag Titles did. History repeats itself for those who don’t learn from it, and Teo hasn’t learned a damn thing since he watched his partner take the fall.
Again.
It won’t be a Lovely Dynasty that takes him out this time.
He needs to worry more about a Dynasty Reborn.
Reborn from the ashes like this school will be.
And with that Cruiserweight Title as a nice trophy.”
Roddy reaches the top of the stairs. He looks around, the fire continuing to spread from ceiling to floor.
“Something like this is probably familiar to Addy. For somebody who stepped into hell and walked backwards flipping evil the bird, she's unable to grasp that her time in the spotlight is over.
She had her chance against Regan. Blew it.
She had her chance in CruiserHavoc. Blew it.
She was chosen for Hellscape. Blew it.
Her biggest success recently has been defeating lWo, which amounts to beating up the smallest guys in a football tryout when you’re the coach.
You see, people like Addy think they’re so good because of what they did in the past.
All my success recently has been just that, recent. It’s in the present.
The past is pointless—”
“Hello there. My name is—”
“The past is meaningless—”
“Hello there. My name—”
“The past is worth remembering, but is it worth celebrating so much when it’s all you have to go off of?
Addy might’ve been worth a damn a year ago, but recently, it feels like she was slotted in by Bunga.
And this is coming from the guy who was slotted in by Bunga.
If Addy was really worth a damn, she would’ve taken advantage of her opportunities. Instead, she’s spinning wheels trying to get enough momentum to distract the crowd from realizing she isn’t worthy.
She isn’t worthy of this match.
She isn’t worthy of this title.
She isn’t worthy enough to even drop to her knees anymore.”
Roddy looks down at the pit of fire below. There is no more floor. Embers are all that remain.
Engulfing everything.
Roddy tosses the newspaper through the open window. Chinami follows it as it falls into the flames.
“I’m stepping into the fire because I was put into this match.
Time to show everyone what destiny feels like.”
He steps off the ledge, falling into the fire belo—
Roddy sits up out of his bed, his eyes widening and his skin sweating.
He throws his sheets off, rushing to the bathroom. He turns the cold-water faucet and wipes his face.
He looks into the mirror, letting the water drip down his face.
The sharp gasp rips through the silence.
He blinks.
It’s gone.
