MC: The Alarm of Reality

August 11, 2022
Somewhere, Eastern Tennessee/North Carolina Boarder
Equa Dutsusdu Dodalv (Smokey Mountain Range)




August being the hottest month of the year for any location, it is especially concerning for the mountain ranges in this part of North America. Potentially even worse, the Smokey Mountains section of the Blue Ridge Mountains are named such for the vegetation releasing chemicals that create a fog, and trapping heat and humidity in a dense area. In the midst of this natural environment sits haphazardly against a simple camping pack, is Marcus Collins. Dressed in his typical cut off band shirt, jeans, but adding a hat to keep his hair tucked up. He looks around the surrounding forest seemingly safe in a small clearing, not really taking anything in, or enjoying it; just watching.


There’s a lot of stories about this area of the world, rarely any of them good. This area is always good because it has that Native and Hillbilly flare to it.


He turns his gaze to the camera, and a slight grin comes over his face as if he was holding back a small laugh.

Take this area for instance, this area supposedly has a Wampus running wild, killing livestock from the small farms in the area, and in the low lands running from West Virginia, all the way down to Georgia. Although my guess since Mumble Rapping has been a thing, it’s stayed out of Georgia, it is after all a class lady. You see this half bear half mountain lion type of creature was originally a woman. Part of the Cherokee nation, and was cursed for watching some stupid ceremony, never said women got a good shake in lore’s. At least you get to be a bear cat, that just sounds pretty cool.


The sounds of something moving through the wooded areas to his right takes his attention. He slowly rises up into a kneeling position as his hand slowly grasps the hilt of a knife attached to his boot. He slowly starts to get to his feet in a squatted position as he slowly starts to pull the blade out. He suddenly freezes, pushing the knife back in the sheath, and laughs.





Just a small black bear, but it seems to have our scent so it may be a good idea to go for a little walk.


He keeps an eye on the area of the woods he saw the small bear, reaches over and grabs his bag and a bottle of water that was sitting on the ground. He looks back to the camera and winks as he begins to walk, with no sense of urgency.


Where was I? Oh, yes; This story was used for generations to scare kids into keeping with the authority of the elders and such like that. As with most lore’s it’s a control mechanism, something to give kids nightmares so they will be agreeable. Thankfully for me, I don’t really dream, sure everyone does, but they apparently aren’t anything impactful that I remember, nightmares or not. It’s pretty obvious the people who lived in this area was more likely finding kills from the heavy black bear population. There is a lot of fascinating ideas and thoughts that come with misinformation, lack of understanding, and often of delusional optimism. Take my opponent this week, Niobe. You know, she really does remind me of someone from my past.


Marcus’s arm slowly makes its way south of the camera and he gives an almost shrugging look to the camera. He suddenly stops dead in his tracks and the sound of falling water is heard on camera. This goes on for a moment before he clears his throat and continues on the path.


Just in case we are being followed, giving it something to occupy itself with. The woman in my past yeah, we beat the shit out of each other over the big title for months. And yes, she beat the shit out of me, even traded the title a few times. I’m not sure what the expectations from Niobe going into the match is, but the fact she’s tall and skinny isn’t going to change how I work in the ring. This isn’t my first debut in a company, done it a couple of times, so I know the preparation that goes into these sorts of things. The pressure of wanting to have a good showing for the bosses, but that’s usually what gets people in trouble isn’t it? The eagerness to win so badly that we often over look things. Maybe I should use the proverbial “you”, that’s not to say I don’t make mistakes, I also don’t train expecting to win.


The subtle sound of a heavy stream of water begins to fill the ambient sounds of the forest, unlike previously, this is not coming from Marcus. After a moment he comes to a small creek roughly twelve feet wide. He looks up and down the body of water assessing his options.


Get out the city they said. Find yourself an adventure, experience new things. Never had to deal with this shit in berg. I hate bugs and I’m not trying to fight a bear today, done with this country shit.


He takes a deep breath in defeat as he knows he can only go backwards or go through the creek. He takes a step into the water and with a look of shellacking he trudges through to the other side. Once on land, he takes a deep breath and looks at the camera making a disapproval tooth sucking gesture, and continues on as before.


Never again. Anyways, what am I getting at with all this? Sometimes you have to stand out, just winning all the time doesn’t always cut it, you have to be more than a win loss record. Why I don’t focus on wins, the losses are what effects things more. Ask any champion, what was a bigger lesson; winning a title, or losing it? You can have all the talent in the world, if you can’t endure it doesn’t matter, eventually we all find our challenge, our wall we must overcome. I look at you and I honestly don’t see anything that stands out from you and the rest of the women in the locker room. Another kind of tall for a woman blonde athlete who does a flippy flip and a spiny kick. Whoever trained you, or mentored you, or any of that let you down with allowing you to be cookie cutter. I really do hope you are more like Trine, but let’s face it, like a nightmare, you’re a dime a dozen. And like a nightmare, it will be really easy to wake up from.





He comes to what looks like an intentional clearing for some sort of a regular path for pedestrians or mountain bikers. He takes a look down both paths, and looks up at the sky for a moment.


On the Fifteenth my alarm will wake me up, I’ll get a workout in, head to the arena, get ready for our match. Nothing scary would happen to me that day, I will expect you to win, figure out what makes you tick; like I always do. I will kick out of your finisher; I’ll enjoy the look of shock and distain in your eyes when doing it. You will get frustrated, and leave an opening and that is when I will end the match. Before I make my way out of this mess, I will leave you with one short story. A lot of people comment and think that my moniker of ‘The Reaper’, that is an attempt to sound tough or intimidate people. It’s not, an advert effect are those things yes but that is not the reason it was given to me. In this case, it is more of the dream killer. I’m motivated by money sure, who isn’t, but I also like to make my own currency that comes in the form of taking away people’s big moments, matches, and of course championships. I guess that means AW… I guess that means I’m all of your problem, and this week I gladly give you all an alarm of reality, and Niobe’s will be the first dream reaped.


He winks once more and looks back and forth on the trail once more and heads off down the trail. Even thirty yards away he can be heard ‘I really hope this is the right way! ’