I once again find myself going back to that place.
That place which always seems to bring out the worst in me.
That place which I swear I’ll never return to as it seems to always steal a sliver of my entire being each time I revisit it.
It has taken so much from me both physically and metaphorically to the point it sometimes took me months to claw my way back to some semblance of humanity…
I always remember what Rachel Foxx said to me during one of the many lulls in our rivalry.
She told me that in order to succeed in that place, you need to be able to leave your humanity at the door. You have to take that other part of you in there… The part that gets shit done… Because the aftermath of having any sort of humanity with you once you open that door and step through… It will demand a bigger toll than what you might believe if you haven’t prepared.
The toll I paid before she told me this, was my eyesight… Yeah, you heard. Rach took advantage of my inexperience and made me pay courtesy of a plank with a nail lodged in it. Even now I have a phantom ache right where she drove that nail every now and again.
Weird huh?
That was the last time I carried my humanity into that sort of arena. Rachel and her advice to me ensured that the same mistake was never made twice… However, it’s been a long time since I was able to diverge from that road and now my path has taken a U turn, that’s the funny thing about a dark place, the beginning and end are always one and the same. That place can be navigated if you embrace the only way to get through it, but this time it’s different.
This time I’m not alone.
This time my wife walks alongside me.
You may have to be the light that brings me back afterwards Kandis, in case I stray too far in order to do what needs to be done for the greater good, to emerge from this with just the sliver of my being as the only toll to be paid.
I’m going back to that place Kandis, and for what you might have to be witness to in our match; I’m sorry for what you might have to see me resort to.
Babe.
I’m truly sorry.
-=-=-=-=-=-
ALEX
Ante Up Academy
Raleigh, NC
I stepped out of the cab in front of the rather impressive looking building that was my destination. I didn’t have any sort of leads other than the advert for this place having an official opening this week and I guess my deduction skills sorta urged me in this direction. I wasn’t sure how I felt about this town just yet, it seemed like it was a little on the ‘rural’ side, and the location of this place kinda confirmed it. But after living in bustling cities like London, Sheffield and Manchester; I guess most places would look like they would double up as the setting for The Hills Have Eyes or some shit like that.
Sniffing and then taking deep breaths, I found myself staring at the building and not moving. Now I was here, I was kinda nervous. Pretty lame huh? Though this Ante Up place looked like a palace built on farmland with how hi tech it appeared and from the pictures I’d seen on the way from the airport alone, it was the same on the inside… Something that I would obviously be able to confirm if I just got these legs moving! I wasn’t going to meet him by standing out here in the parking lot…“This isn’t getting me anywhere” I murmured to myself before sighing again and walking into the building slowly.
The photos didn’t do the place justice! It was huge! I looked around briefly before seeing the reception desk and a youngish looking Goth girl complete with a snakebite piercing or whatever they called them, and some band T Shirt with illegible wring on. Even though the reception area was deserted, the girl wasn’t giving me an iota of attention even as I walked over and stood pretty much in front of her. “Um excuse me, love” I said as I looked at the young woman at the reception desk. If I had to guess, I’d say that she was his daughter as the resemblance was more than uncanny as they say. There was almost no response whatsoever other than a brief glance up at me before returning to the surface of the desk she was sat at. I waited a few seconds before clearing my throat. “Excuse me?” I prompted before she finally looked at me directly, a look of annoyance on her face.
Scrutinising me, the young woman looked at me before cocking her head to the side. “You’re excused?” she finally replied, as if I was irritating her despite literally only just walking in the building.
I scoffed before shaking my head. “Haha, cute…” I exclaimed before once again clearing my throat..
Once again looking me up and down, this time with undisguised disdain, she recoiled. “Eww, I’m not interested… And you’re so old… Like probably ancient” she stated with a surprising amount of venom behind the words. Wow, she was one heck of a firecracker, that's for sure!
Running a hand on my chin, I chuckled softly. “You obviously don’t need to sharpen your flattery skills as they’re clearly razor sharp” I retorted as she looked to her nails that were painted black as if completely bored already.
Looking up at me with that same disinterested look, I couldn’t believe that she literally shrugged. “Whatever” she murmured before looking back at her painted nails.
“Can I talk to an adult?” I tried as I figured I wouldn’t get anywhere fast in the moment. It was bloody hard work and I had to wonder if he would be this much hard work since they did have that saying about the apple and the tree.
She finally seemed to take notice of me properly as she looked in my direction and held my gaze briefly. “Maybe, are you here to complain already?” she asked, a flicker of what looked like it could be worry crossed the teenagers face.
“Erm, no love” I responded, unsure of why she would say that… Unless obviously this lil firecracker had a penchant for pissing off customers.
She wrinkled her nose slightly as she then scowled at me. “I’m not your love” she scoffed as I began to wonder if I should have opened my big mouth if this is the shit it caused.
I patiently put on my best smile. “It’s just a figure of speech” I replied, and once again flashed the smile in the hopes that I could defuse the situation. her features softened and I started to wrack my brain to remember what his bloody daughter was called.
Tamara? Tiana?
“You talk like my uncle” she finally said as she sat down at the desk in front of her again and looked at me as if waiting for something. It was a bit of a weird reply to what I’d said, but hey… The last thing I needed at this point was to go upsetting his family.
Smirking, I shrugged. Uncle eh? “He must be a swell guy” I said and then my grin widened as my response seemed to take her by surprise once again.
After a few seconds, she scoffed.“He’s an
idiot” she replied finally and the grin vanished from my face. Was this kid actually implying what I thought she was implying?
I didn’t have long to mull it over as a woman walked out from a door behind the desk that I certainly did recognise. Word on the street was that he was knocking boots with her at some. She was wearing a vest with some lettering on and due to it being stretched by her… endowments, I found myself staring for what many would think was a creepy amount of time in order to read what it said. ‘BimboCore’ eh? Not quite sure what that meant… “TAY! What have I told you about abusing customers when covering the desk?” the newcomer, one Harmony Fisher I believe; chastised the young woman whose name finally came to me. TAYLOR! I knew it was summat along those lines!
Taylor took on the look of a scolded child. “Eurgh, I’m not insulting OR abusing this weir-” she replied as I smirked as she almost made things worse for herself with that last word I’m sure was about to slip out of her mouth. “This gentleman...I was talking about Uncle Tom” she corrected herself on the fly as I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself.
Harmony folded her arms and sighed with exasperation. From the look of it, this wasn’t an unusual occurrence. “And that makes it better?” she asked Taylor expectantly as I stood waiting for their attention again.
“You’re so dramatic…” Taylor replied to Fisher finally, pout still firmly in place as it seemed like for the moment I had been forgotten about for sure.
Cocking her head to the side, Harmony glared at Taylor. “And if I told your dad about this, do you think he’d be cool with you chasing away customers?” she asked the younger woman and stood with hands now on hips expectantly.
For a second, Taylor seemed speechless, but obviously not wanting to let Fisher have the last word, she stood up and faced Harmony. “But he… I mean; you’re such a fun sponge!” she said, pointing a finger in Fisher’s face who didn’t even flinch.
Rolling her eyes much like Taylor had done earlier, Harmony Fisher looked down at her watch pointedly and tapped it. “And I think it’s about time you went on TikTok or something whilst I talk to this gentleman” she commanded rather than gave any sort of choice about.
Taylor looked first to me as I shrugged and then back at Harmony with narrowed eyes.“Whatev’s, just remember you’re taken…” she retorted, once again looking between me and Harmony whose cheeks had gone bright red for a few seconds before I could see her jaw clench.
“GAH! Get… I mean, enjoy your break” Harmony said with exaggerated sweetness to Taylor who grabbed the magazine she was reading when I arrived and stormed through the door that Harmony had entered the reception from behind the desk. Fisher watched her go and once the door closed she took a deep breath and let it out in a big sigh. “I’m REALLY sorry sir, she’s trying to learn the value of hard work” she explained with a little look over her shoulder at the door that presumably led into the back.
Shrugging dismissively I smiled. “My ma is the same, love… I’m gonna presume you’re the legendary Psycho Bimbo?” I said, trying to play it casual despite me knowing who she was with very little doubt.
Her nose wrinkled with confusion before her eyes widened and she looked down at her vest and probably put two and two together… Well if she kicked off… In my defence, it’s not as if I could miss a rack like that… “Psycho Barbie… Close enough” she said but then smiled and I realised that I’d probably been graciously let off the hook.
“My bad… I should be better with this kind of subject matter” I replied, trying to keep any signs of my relief from showing too much in case she read it all wrong.
A surprised look crossed her face as she looked me up and down with obvious curiosity. “Oh? A Superfan?” she asked and I almost laughed out loud at that one. She wasn’t anywhere close. It seemed that Fisher was truly in the dark which was nice in a way.
“Not exactly… I’m ah…” I said, trying to think on my feet, but under her now scrutinising gaze, it turned out to be quite difficult.
Once again, she let me off the hook, but this time I’m sure it was unknowingly. “It doesn’t matter, sir… It’s none of my business” she replied dismissively and then smiled again.
Deciding I needed to break this increasingly awkward situation, I nodded slowly. “Am I able to speak to management?” I asked politely which caused a troubled look to instantly appear on her face.
Harmony leaned on the desk and looked at me intently. “If Taylor has offended you, I swear she didn’t mean to…” she started, obviously not knowing the reason I wanted to talk to who I presumed was the manager, owner or whatever. Understandably she obviously thought that the kid had pissed me off.
I wave my hands in front of me dismissively and smiled.“Hey, we were all kids once, right? No harm done, love” I said and then waited expectantly for her to answer my question.
The relief on her face was blatant as she cleared her throat and walked back to the seat behind the desk and then sat down at it before looking back at me. “Well are you wanting to talk to a particular manager, or would the general one that’s on call be okay?” Harmony asked, back in customer service mode it would seem.
“Well I don’t wanna be cheeky or owt, but can I speak to the owner himself? It’s a quite important and personal matter” I asked and as she had started to tap away on the keyboard, probably to look up the schedule of the managers, she stopped mid keystroke and looked up at me.
Fisher’s mouth opened and then shut again as I probably had taken her by surprise. “Well to-” she started and then seemed to change her mind on what she was about to say. Turning her full attention back to me once again she smiled slightly. “The owner isn’t actually here at the moment, but seeing as it’s important, I could see if he’s able to come see you?” she said and I couldn’t help but grin at this breakthrough.
“Is there a
Staff Member Of The Month or somethin’ in this fine establishment? As you have just made my day!” I exclaimed as she chuckled at my excited response.
Harmony shook her head. “I don’t think there’s anything like that, but I appreciate it nonetheless” she said, and from the look on her face, I think that she was being straight up with me.
“Who should I say is asking for him?” Fisher enquired as I leant on the desk slightly and tried to hold in my excitement even more.
Clearing my throat, I nodded. “My name’s Alex Ackles. Pleased to meet you, Barbie” I said and held out my hand.
The blonde smirked as she took my hand and shook it. “Harmony… Harmony Fisher; but I guess you already knew that?” she said with a knowing look on her face. Seems like this woman was a lot more clued up than I thought. Or maybe it was just coincidence? Eh fuck it, doesn’t matter either way.
Smiling, I shrug apologetically. “I had a better idea about your name than I did yer moniker, eh?” I retorted and then immediately kicked myself mentally as I remembered about the earlier faux pas with her chest.
Whether she chose to ignore it or wasn’t even thinking about it, she turned to the phone laying on the desk in front of her and shot me a kind smile. “I’ll give the boss a call” she said as I nodded and returned the smile.
“You’re a star, love. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me” I replied with gratitude as I turned away and smiled to myself as I heard her start talking into the phone.
It was finally going to happen.
I wonder if you’ll be happy to see me…
Dad.
-=-=-=-=-
(I rub my hands together and sigh. Things hadn’t exactly gone the way I’d have liked since The Connection returned to SCW with fanfare and all that shit… Yeah there were a lot of outside forces at play, fuckers like Josh Hudson sticking his beak in Connection business for starters… But there was still that nagging feeling in the back of my mind. Was I holding Kandis back? Should I have just returned in a managerial role and let her do her thing? As much as I know she wanted to break that Tag Title record, but perhaps the progression of her career and to take her to that… Next level, no pun intended; should have come first. Or if she wanted the tag straps that bad, perhaps I could have brought Ash or Annijah in to deputise for me? I shook my head vigorously and then slapped at my cheeks as I got a hold of myself. I’m Tommy fucking Valentine, I’m the best in the damn world and could out-wrestle anyone on that roster blindfolded damn it! My wife wants us to walk off into the sunset with the title belts around our waists one more time… And what Kandis wants, she gets! I press the button on the remote that started the camcorder and then smirk before sniffing the air)
Do you smell that?
(I sniff again for emphasis)
You wanna know what that smells like to me?
It smells like home, gentleman.
(The smirk that had been forming on my face disappears)
How’s your history, European Fiery Nation?
(I scoff at the stupid name but then shake my head. ‘pick your battles Tommy’)
If you take The Connection out of the equation; on paper you guys take all the marbles in this one. I mean look at the two of you, jacked up, hungry; it goes without saying you’re dangerous… And to cap it off you’ve got a batshit crazy geriatric German backing you up… Tailor made for the Underground Division, right? Most other teams would be in trouble at the announcement of this one, given what you guys have brought to the table…
(I waggle my finger)
But you’d be wrong to put any sort of wager against The Connection in this one… You’d be silly to think that the team with a guy on it that called the Underground Division ‘home’ for many years wouldn’t have something to say after the shenanigans for the past few months and change. When you add the Connection to ANY match, the ante is automatically upped, but this one? It’s gone from being just business, to extremely personal… And if anyone knows how to take care of personal business in that ring, it’s me. Josh Hudson…
(I step closer to the camera)
You opportunistic, cowardly, sneaky son of a fucking whore… LISTEN CLOSELY!
(I promised myself I would keep my anger in check, but remembering what he had done to both Kandis and I… That promise couldn’t be kept)
As long as there is breath in my body, I will ensure you pay the piper for what you did to Kandis and I! You of all people should know what happens when you provoke me Josh… And yet you did it anyway, even encouraging your crew to paint targets on their backs as well! That debt to The Connection will be paid in due time… But in the meantime you need to pay attention to what happens in our match against the European Fiery Nation and mull over the grave mistake you’ve made!
(Taking a deep breath I remain still, looking at the camera)
Dakon… Ludvig… Think very carefully about what you are walking into. Think about what’s waiting for you in this match. As I said before, usually a match like this would suit you fine… But let’s be honest here and get away from the bravado for a second. Guys… I put my best friend into permanent retirement the last time I stepped into the Underground. A man I love like my own brother was unable to leave the ring of his own volition… So if I can do that to my brother… Think about what I can do to two guys that are simply in my way, yeah?
(I start to pace then stop and look at the camera again)
Bring everything you have boys, bring it all! But just promise me that when it comes down to it… And it will… When it comes down to it European Fiery Nation, and I’m choking the life out of either of you, or Kandis is ready to snuff you out… Make the right decision and think about your careers, how many accolades and accomplishments are ahead of you on the horizon… Because we didn’t come back to play second fiddle to anyone, not you, not Konrad, not Josh… ANYONE! We do what we need to on Breakdown and so when those lights in your eyes start to fade, remember my words… We’ve been backed into a corner, and it’s about time we show SCW why it’s once again knee deep in trouble.
(Ending the recording, I run a hand down my face. I needed to keep it together. I couldn’t let this thing topple our empire… I wouldn’t let it)