Breaking News.
The sounds of various voices play amongst static.
“New York City is under attack.”
“Witnesses report violent storms over New York City.”
“Hell, fire and Brimstone – it looks like the end of the world!”
“There’s a war taking place, but between who?”
“People are dying. They’re getting caught in whatever this war is.”
“Suddenly, the battlefield has quietened. New York City is trying to piece themselves back together. The relief effort in these dark times is monumental.”
Click.
D’von Chambers stands in front of a television, his eyes widened in terror. He’s back in the confines of his Sanctuary – where he was tending library.
“What should I do?” He queries of someone we can’t see. “New York is being ravaged.”
“It won’t be long before the battle consumes Earth,” the person he’s talking to replies, out of our view until he enters – but somewhat blurred. “They know they’re here now.”
“Is that why they’ve stopped?” Chambers asks whilst turning around to face him.
“For now, but they won’t stop long. They’re at war but there wasn’t any way we could know. You have two important jobs, D’von.”
Chambers folds his arms and listens intently.
“You must find Sigil and release The Butcher,” he says as if both of those things are easy.
D’von’s brow furrows, understandably.
“Sigil went into hiding the minute he brought this war to Earth,” Chambers reminds the speaker. “And The Butcher is locked up. He was arrested for murder.”
The person stands up and begins walking away.
“If you want to stop this war from destroying New York City, if not the world, you know what you must do. Find Sigil and save The Butcher.”
Cut.
Tonight the Guv’Nor faces off against The Outlaw! It’s Albert Shaw vs Bishop!
DING! The bell is like a queue for Albert Shaw to just start across the ring and start beating the living shit out of Bishop! Left! Right! Left! Right! A stiff knee to the breadbasket! An uppercut to the prone Bishop sends him hurdling back into the turnbuckles! MY GOD! PUNT KICK TO THE TESTICLES!
Bishop sinks into the turnbuckles! He’s practically defenseless. Albert Shaw blows a kiss at a woman in the front row! LOWBLOW TO ALBERT SHAW!!! BOTH MEN ON THEIR KNEES NOW! They lock up! They lock up all the way to their feet! Bishop gets the upperhand! He whips Shaw into the ropes! DEADEYE!!!
THE SPEAR!!! BUT NO!!! SHAW MEETS HIM HEAD ON WITH THE GBH!!! CLAYMORE KICK!!! But Albert isn’t done!!! The arrogant son of a bitch steps outside the ring and grabs a cricket bat. It’s wrapped in barbed wire!! He rolls back into the ring, a dangerous look in his eye! He’s gonna try and bash Bishop’s god damn head in!
He waits for Bishop to slowly crawl to his feet! He winds up! SWINGS!!! BUT BISHOP NARROWLY SIDESTEPS IT!!! He kicks Shaw!! Lowblow again!!! Albert drops the cricket bat!!! Bishop scoops Albert up for LAST RIGHTS!!! BUT SHAW TWIRLS OUT OF IT! ANOTHER GBH!!! A VICIOUS CLAYMORE KICK!!! THE GUV’NOR JUST CUT OFF THE LIGHTS IN THE OUTLAW HOTEL!!! IT’S OVER!!!
With that knock out victory, Albert Shaw has his hand held high, a nice win for the newcomer!
He’s forcibly sat down in a chair where opposite him, CXDY sits. Cody is grimacing – clearly angry. He motions for Colin to pick up the phone and he does.
“You don’t look happy to see me,” Colin muses nonchalantly. “What’s the matter? Do you need to get something off your chest?”
CXDY almost growls. The intensity in his voice is somewhat unrecognisable.
“You had my best friend murdered in cold blood. I thought seeing you like this would make me feel better, but it makes my blood boil.”
The Butcher smiles.
“What do you wanna know, kid?” He asks sternly. “Do you wanna know if I enjoyed it? I didn’t – it was just business. His father tried to take my company and I couldn’t trust that he wouldn’t be a snake in the grass just like him.”
He pauses, looking around to see if the guards are listening. He leans in to a whisper.
“It wasn’t personal.”
CXDY’s eyes twitch. His face goes red.
“It was just business?” He barks. “It wasn’t fucking personal? It was personal to me, you piece of shit. He was my friend.”
The Butcher leans back in his chair and takes a deep breath.
“I want to know who did it,” CXDY demands. “The least you can do is tell me that.”
Colin chuckles, a wry smile appearing on his face.
“You and your army of idiots have me locked up in here for a murder I didn’t commit and now you come here, asking favors?” The Butcher says in disbelief. “Over my dead body.”
CXDY stands up, his eyes laser focused on The Butcher with the telephone still in hand.
“You’ll tell me,” he sneers. “Because if you don’t, I’ll beat it out of you.”
He angrily drops the phone and walks away, leaving The Butcher to shake his head and hang up his. A guard comes and grabs him to lead him away as this visiting hour is up.
Cut.
So it was with that perspective that Death Note made the potential mistake of tapping Darklord on the shoulder from behind.
Darklord turns, snarls at Death Note.
“Stay away from me, death scriber,” The God King demands.
“We must speak,” Death Note replies. “It is a matter of urgency.”
Carthian Incarnum chuckles as he continues walking. “There is but one matter of urgency, and whatever this is, it is not that.”
“I have pages,” Death Note continues. “In my book. You must see them. I believe it may be written in your language.”
This stops Darklord in his tracks, like a lightning bolt just struck him. He’s almost dazed.
“Say that again,” Darklord states.
“I believe the pages may be written in Carthian.”
Darklord shakes his head, “That cannot be true.”
Death Note withdraws his black book. He flips through the book, then holds the book pages out so Darklord can see.
Symbols from a language human eyes have yet to see.
Darklord GRABS Death Note by the throat! He slams him against the wall!
“They’re fake!” Death Note says. “They’re fake!”
Darklord stops the assault. He looks at Death Note, eyebrow raised, his rage momentarily subsided.
“They were not always in my book, nor were they written by my kind. This is a forgery.”
“Why?” Darklord asks. “And how? No one on this planet could know the names of the people on these pages, much less scribe them.”
“Maybe it is not someone from this planet who did this,” Death Note replies. “I do not know who this man is, except that he is perhaps the cleverest entity in life and after.”
“Give me his names and titles,” Darklord replies. “All of them. So I may know exactly who it is.”
“He has just one,” Death Note says. A tone in his voice, a sinister plot beginning to unfold.
Cut.
Valentine’s is a day to feast and gorge on love and affection and hatred is closer to love then most will admit. Will Pyre succumb to poetry of true finality or will Deathnote find his heart set ablaze?
The bell sounds as Pyre rushes forward, taking Deathnote by surprise with a stiff running enziguri to the back of the head before dropping down quickly, trapping Deathnote in a headlock and delivering a pair of knees to the temple that send his eyes rolling into the back of his head. Pyre smiles, her lower body burning with a brilliant flame as she looks to deliver an inferno fuelled knee but Deathnote slips out just in time.
The Shinigami stumbles to his feet, palming away a leaping knee before stunning Pyre with a palm strike to the jaw, leaping up and spiking her straight into the mat with a huge DDT. He quickly pulls his groggy opponent up, hoisted up onto his shoulders with her back draped across his shoulders as he rushes to the ropes
DYING WISH…TO THE OUTSIDE! Pyre gets dropped right on her head on the apron with that Burning Hammer, slowly crashing to the floor but Deathnote isn’t done, quickly rushing to the top rope before diving off…KISS OF DEATH! DOUBLE STOMP TO THE OUTSIDE!
Deathnote rolls out of the ring, grabbing Pyre as he throws her back into the ring, backing up as he looks for the end. Running forward as Pyre stumbles up to her feet, FIREBALL TO THE FACE! Pyre lit up Deathnote out of nowhere as she slowly climbs up to the top rope, DANCING…THE PAGE! Deathnote catches her in the blink of an eye with that twisting STO, collapsing on the Queen of Flames for the One…Two…Three!!!
Deathnote picks up a huge victory here, just putting down Pyre as he proves that no flames can destroy the words he weaves.
Or someone.
Only that someone finds her first.
GBH! CLAYMORE KICK TO THE BACK OF THE SKULL! LEAH’S HEAD BOUNCES RIGHT OFF THE CONCRETE!
“Looking for me, were you?”
One can just hear the smug radiating out of the voice of the one and only Albert Shaw. Blood Money Inc’s new hire looms over Leah, the smaller fighter clutching her head as she lays on the ground.
“You’re pretty good at hiding, but a few years in prison will teach anyone to always be watching their back.”
He leans down, grabbing hold of Leah’s hair and peeling her off of the ground, throwing her face first into the wall! She collapses to a knee, looking back at Shaw with a fire in her eyes.
“You’re a very, very bad man.”
“And?”
Shaw can’t help but chuckle, reaching into his pocket to grab hold of a pair of brass knuckles!
“I’m bad, and you’re about to be unconscious. We’re both stating the obvious.”
Leah turns from the wall, looking up at Shaw and scowling.
“No, because I came prepared.”
SHOULDER CHECK! ALBERT SHAW HAS JUST BEEN TOSSED BY A MASSIVE TACKLE!
Who is the assailant?
It’s Shooter Landell! The newcomer looks down at Shaw, the criminal scrambling to his feet, Shooter standing between him and Leah.
“Oh what now?”
Landell looks towards Leah then towards Shaw, cracking his knuckles.
“Now? I’m gonna beat the piss outta you, kid. She gets you, I get any cash you got on you. Pretty fair deal.”
Shaw looks at Shooter, then to Leah before backing away. He’s not dumb enough to get into this fight now, and he backs away, keeping an eye on Landell as he escapes down a nearby hallway.
Shooter helps Leah to her feet, straight faced as speaks.
“I’ll get him next time. But you still owe me a fee for saving you, kid.”
Leah nods, pulling a meager bundle of bills and handing them to Landell as the scene fades out.
Cut.
It’s Jessie Williams who breaks it.
“I have to do this,” he says as if he’s said it a thousand times already. “You can’t tell me I can’t beat him. I know I can beat him.”
Ash rolls his eyes.
“If you step into the ring with Luke Storm, he’ll kick your ass, kiddo,” Ash replies. “And then I’ll have to pick up the pieces, just like I did last week.”
Jessie stands up.
“I didn’t ask you to get involved. I could’ve handled myself just fine; I found you, didn’t I?”
That doesn’t sit well with Ash, who joins him as his feet, both of them going toe to toe and nose to nose.
“Boy, you better back up before I put a Boomstick where little girls put lipstick,” Ash warns the younger buck, who cautiously backs away.
“I’m not your little boy anymore, dad. I came here to find you, to save you, and I did exactly that. I can step into the ring with Luke Storm and beat him. At Fists of Rage, I’m either going after The Sandman, or I’m getting revenge on Luke Storm. The choice is yours.”
Ash thinks about it for a minute.
“I’ll take care of The Sandman,” he says with a grimace. “He and I have unfinished business.”
Jessie nods in agreement.
And that’s it set.
Luke Storm versus Jessie Williams and The Sandman versus Ash Williams.
Both matches at Fists of Rage.
A sneak attack by Monty Straight at Game Over has made it clear that there is no love lost–or at all–between the Tag Team Champions tonight, with one of them looking to bury the other alive!
The uneasy alliance comes to a bit of a shambles early on as Redwing lays into Monty with some hard lefts and rights, only for Monty to turn things around with a kick to the gut that opens the door for a DDT, driving the Red Knight into the canvas!
Redwing gets back to his feet, still feeling the effects of that DDT…which sets him up for more failure as Monty sends him over the top rope to the outside! The host is ready to wrap this episode up quick as he continues driving Redwing back toward the burial site.
Crimson Justice still has plenty of fight left, though, clocking Monty with a stiff right hand that sends the Straight Shooter reeling toward the grave. This gives Redwing a chance to turn things around, grabbing Monty by the hand before pulling him in with a knee to the skull! GODWATCH!
Monty’s down by the edge of the grave, but is getting back to his knees when Redwing follows up with a curb stomp! DARKNESS FALLS! Straight is down and out as Redwing rolls him into the grave, shoveling the dirt necessary to fill it up and end this match victorious!
Crimson Justice prevails, making this partnership all the more uneasy as Redwing stands tall!
“Something more important on your mind?”
Monty interrupts, stepping out to ringside, microphone in hand as he beckons for Redwing to come closer.
“Because I know what’s so important, you know. My tag team partner has a criminal to catch, of course. But you can’t quite prove your hunch?”
Redwing frowns, following after Monty as the showman walks towards the exit, not even looking back at his partner who doesn’t seem even the least bit entertained with Straight’s antics.
“With SeeSaw, yes. Now move aside.”
He goes to walk past Monty, stopped in his tracks by a wagging finger.
“Not so fast there, partner. What if I told you attacking you was helping you, hm?”
“And how’s that?”
Monty chuckles, tapping the exit door idly.
“By showing you a taste of what you can learn about your mark. You just have to believe in me, you know.”
Redwing shakes his head, pushing Monty out of the way, his anger slowly turning to annoyance as he opens the exit door.
“Call this reward a freebie. The show never ends, Kirby, and right now, like always, it’s Showtime!”
Redwing walks through the door and it slams shut behind him! He finds himself face to face with an even more confused Mister Andy!
Andy steps back, Redwing’s eyes wide as he turns around, checking the door, realizing he just walked out of a closet! He turns around just in time to see anger welling in Andy’s eyes.
“STOP FOLLOWING ME! JUST LET ME BE!”
Before Redwing can even speak Andy rushes at him, letting out his frustration WITH A SUPERFINE TURBINE BLAST! MASSIVE SPEAR SHATTERS THE CLOSET DOOR!
Andy looks down at Redwing, then checks around himself before leaving the scene, Redwing in a heap as we fade out.
Cut.
Two heated rivalries come to a crossroads as Corvus and Rune face off, with a twist…their rivals in opposite corners, with the match not ending until one of them throws in the towel!
Rune charges at Corvus, who quickly evades the Painted Man before hitting some quick strikes. This only frustrates Rune, who gets back up and starts throwing punches, getting the upper hand until Corvus shoves him away. This really get Rune riled up, and Rune responds with a hard right hand!
This sends Corvus reeling, much to the concern of Ultimo who nearly throws the towel then and there…but Rune berates him for being such a weakling. This gives Corvus an opening when Rune turns around, as the Shadow Walker catches him with a combo! MURDER OF BLOWS TO THE GLITCH!
Corvus stays on top of his target, hitting a few more quick strikes before sending Rune to the ropes, but the Painted Man catches himself on the ropes, using the momentum to run at Corvus with a wide swing of the arm, sending the Crow to the canvas! WOKE LARIAT!
Rune turns his attention to Two-Face, who he catches flipping a coin at ringside. Rune shouts abuse at him, but gets caught from behind by Corvus! MARKED FOR DEATH! The coin flip’s result soon becomes clear, as Two-Face does throw in the towel…but only on his way into the ring!
Two-Face has cost Rune this match because of his obsession with the Shadow Walker, who has to fight off Two-Face with a little aid from Ultimo before Corvus makes a quick escape!
Two-Face makes his way to the back but Ultimo America wants a mic!
“I’m starting to like this Rune. For too long, scumbags like you have looked down on our great country while simultaneously making it worse.”
“It’s about time America stands tall above those that want to destroy it. It’s about time you have to watch us enjoy the way things are.”
“You want to destroy government, your kind wanted to destroy the capitol! Guess what! It’s still standing and so am I! It’s been four long years and it’s finally time for me to enjoy brunch again!”
Rune starts to laugh!
“Brunch? That’s what you call freedom? Enjoy the omelettes made by illegal immigrants. Enjoy the mimosas made by people who don’t make a living wage. Enjoy being blind to what’s going on around you.”
“Practicing your freedom of speech despite how controversial it might be? Wonderful! Don’t you see how great this country is.”
“Sure, freedom of speech until you reveal the government’s secrets. You’re free to talk about how great it is but the moment you reveal it’s dark secrets, you’re on a list.”
“You must be talking about China or Russia. This is America, land of the free!”
“Land of the free yet has the most prisoners, realize it Ultimo, this country has become a joke just like you and your friends. Its a third world country with a Gucci belt.”
“I will not let you talk about my country like that!”
“What? I thought you loved freedom of speech!”
“It doesn’t mean freedom from repercussions, asshole!”
Ultimo charges at Rune!
DTH!
Drop Toe Hold by Rune!
Ultimo lands face first and Rune grabs a towel!
He sits on Ultimo’s back and he’s choking him out with it!
“This is how America really is Ultimo, people who are too proud of this country to realize it’s choking the life out of them.”
“Wake up and see how America is just as pathetic as you, just as fat as Chunky Moses, and just as stubborn as Miles.”
Rune chokes out Ultimo until he passes out!
“Yeah, she has slept on all of us too.”
Rune lets go and walks away.
Cut.
There is no love inside The Slaughterhouse on this St. Valentine’s Night, but there will be blood. The Toymaker, The Reflection of Perfection or The Swamp Witch will make sure of it to win this encounter.
CXDY is the last to arrive in the ring and he’s carrying a CHAINSAW!!! Leah Lincoln and Mister Andy can’t help but glance at each other with “WTF” looks on their faces. CXDY is in the ring now but The Reflection of Perfection is having some trouble getting the engine on the chainsaw to bite. Mister Andy takes advantage…GORE!!!! The Swamp Witch kicks the chainsaw out of the ring…SPINEBUSTER!!! Mister Andy nails the SUPERFINE TURBINE BLAST! on CXDY.
As The Toymaker gets to his feet his head is almost knocked off…DROWNING IN FIRE!!! YAKUZA KICK TO THE BACK OF THE HEAD!!! Lincoln slides out of the ring and folds a steel chair from ringside. She’s back inside, waiting for someone to rise. It’s CXDY. Lincoln swings the chair…MISSED!! The Reflection ducks and unleashes a strike flurry…ROUNDHOUSE KICK….then a big air leg drop to complete PERFECT RUSH!!!
CXDY peels Lincoln off the mat, he’s looking to hit PERFECTING ENDING onto the steel chair….but Mister Andy pulls the chair away and The Swamp Witch is merely spiked into the mat. CXDY gets to his feet and takes a steel chair to the midsection, then The Toymaker slams it into his back.
CXDY rolls out of the ring. That leaves Lincoln. Mister Andy drops the chair and pulls out a pair of brass knux, carefully placing them on his dominant hand. The Swamp Witch gets to her feet, Andy presses her onto the ropes and unleashes a violent flurry of punches to the face, after five or six hammer blows the crimson is flowing down Lincoln’s face and the ref calls for the bell.
The Toymaker is the first to draw blood and pick up the win.
D’Von Chambers is cold.
Freezing even.
Clad in a thick fur coat and hood, Chambers stands atop a tall mountain overlooking a beautiful snow-covered valley. The big man takes a deep breath, sitting down on a rock, drawing something from a knapsack.
Maps.
“The search for Sigil is not going well.” His voice narrates the scene.
He unfurls one of the maps, staring at it and pouring his finger over some unknown destination.
“Knowing what is happening in the States, I believed he’d vanish to somewhere more remote, but every lead has come up with nothing.”
Chambers wipes some frost off of his red nose before pointing his finger directly at a location on the map, one that we cannot see.
“There.” He begins. “Sigil’s hunt for the next crystal took him to places he’d been in the past. The Crypt. Wynona Cartwright’s home. That cabin. Each one once held the key to his next move.”
Rolling the map back up, D’Von replaces it in his sack.
“Sigil is in hiding, so it stands to reason he would hide somewhere that no one would ever want to go, nor would ever think to visit. Diving into his past, I guess it means there is only one logical place to start.”
Standing to his feet, D’Von begins to descend the mountain.
“It’s time to return to civilization.”
He frowns.
“Well, I guess if you can call Gary, Indiana civilization.”
Cut.
Will the snake lure its opponents with the forbidden fruit hanging above the ring!?
D’Von uses his considerable weight advantage to push Voynich into the corner, where he works him over. He overlooks Viper, however, who sneaks behind him with a ladder – CLATTER! Chambers falls forwards, crushing Voynich against the turnbuckles! Always one step ahead, Roberts erects the ladder and hurriedly climbs…
THE 319-POUND BISHOP CHARGES INTO THE LADDER! Snakes and ladders crash and burn. D’Von rights the ladder and ascends it himself. Voynich, however, scales the other side. Chambers throws down, but the archaeologist ducks each shot. ISHTAR GATE ATOP THE LADDER! The static lariat rocks D’Von, but it didn’t have enough steam to exorcise him!
VIPER BRINGS IN A SECOND LADDER! Setting it up parallel to the first, he meets his opponents. He removes his belt, TANNIN’ THE HIDE of Voynich! Best Kept Secret recoils, inadvertently looking down; he’s afraid of heights. The distraction allows Chambers to wrap his belt around Voynich’s throat… BELT OF TRUTH AT THE SUMMIT OF THE LADDER!
THE EIGHTH WONDER, FROM FIFTEEN FEET UP! Voynich counters with the sliced bread! The impact rattles Roberts’ ladder, grounding every combatant. Voynich is up first, followed by Viper – SNAKE BITE—NO! Voynich evades the neckbreaker… MONOLITH BRAINBUSTER! Best Kept Secret resets the ladder—D’Von hoists him up into the Razor’s Edge! CRUCIFI—Voynich drops down—ISHTAR GATE LARIAT! He climbs the ladder, not looking down… HE SEIZES THE KEY!
Voynich looks to unearth the secret in The Key to The Heart match!
A STEEL CHAIR RIGHT ACROSS THE BACK OF THE VIPER’S HEAD!!!
SIMON!!! He came from out of nowhere! And Viper Roberts is down! More chair shots from Simon! This was never a fair fight! A cowardly sneak attack, and now Viper is completely prone.
Simon drags Viper up to his feet. ACE CRUSHER from Simon now!!!
The crowd is booing an unbelievable amount! An almost feverish jeer!
But Simon pays the crowd no mind. He rises to his feet. He climbs to the top turnbuckle!!
A few fans rush over the barricade!!!
Simon leaps!!!
CURBSTOMP!!! NO!!! ONE OF THE FANS ROLL VIPER OUT OF THE WAY!!! SIMON ACCIDENTALLY CURBSTOMPS THE FAN!!!
THE OTHER TWO FANS SWARM SIMON!!!
He fights them off with a series of pristine, accurate strikes!
But a couple of new fans also rush into the ring.
Simon quickly escapes and runs up the ramp.
Why did Simon attack Viper Roberts?
And if we know anything about the Viper, one thing is clear.
This won’t be the last Simon hears of the fork-tongued Roberts.
Cut.
Somewhere Else.
In his doubly-decorated lair, Two-Face is stood in front of his easy chair, his body perfectly framed between the dueling natures of his new home.
Stood before him are four individuals, covered in blood, dirt, and various grime. They’re carrying baseball bats, and have laid a bag at the feet of Two-Face. Inside, we can see crisp dollar bills poking out.
Turning the scarred side of his head away from them, Two-Face seems in thought. His coin appears in his hand.
“Why are you here? Do you think we care about money?”
The man standing in the middle, thick rimmed glasses on his face, stammers as he speaks.
“Sir, we were inspired by what you said in the streets a couple months ago. Especially now, with everything going on. It’s time for us to take back this city, but we need a leader.”
One of the others pipes up.
“We need you.”
No answer from Two-Face, none except the sound of his coin flipping in the air. As it lands in his scarred hand, we can see the curve of a smile in his more “normal” face.
“We don’t care about what’s going on in the streets. All we care about is finding Corvus, and making him pay for what he did to us. His lies and deceit are all that matter.”
Standing to his feet, Two-Face eyeballs the men. He steps up to the leader.
“But we are of two minds on the subject of assistance. Perhaps what we need is one good man to stand beside us.”
He grabs the glasses off the man’s face, dropping them to the ground.
STOMP. THEY SHATTER.
“But we need someone with clear vision.”
He steps back, watching the confused men.
“We said one man.” Two-Face says, as it dawns on the others.
A bloodbath ensues, the four men stabbing and clawing at one another, using their baseball bats as bludgeons. It’s over quickly, with one of the other men standing tall. He nods to Two-Face.
“Very good, you’ll be our ne…”
A KNIFE WHIRS PAST TWO-FACE’S HEAD! IT LANDS RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES OF THE SURVIVOR!
Two-Face whirls around to see Corvus stood in the window.
“You’ll have to do it yourself, Two-Face.” Corvus says. “You like to turn down help, remember? A man gives you good coin, and everyone dies because of it.”
Before Two-Face can rush to the window, Corvus is gone.
And Two-Face is left with a pile of bodies.
Cut.
In this imminent St. Valentine’s Key Match former OSW Champion Luke Storm, Carthian God King Darklord and the loaded shotgun, The Reaper, will try to beat each other to the top of the ladder and retrieve a key to the main event.
Reaper charges at Storm…SHOTGUN BLAST!!! NO!!! STORM DUCKS!!! DOWNFALL TO THE HARVESTER!!!! Stormborn turns to Darklord and unleashes a combination on the Carthian that would destroy most people but the God King is stoic. Darklord grabs the former OSW Champion and launches him into a corner. Storm bounces off the turnbuckles, straight into the iron grip of the Carthian….WARLORD’S HAND!!!
NO!!! Reaper with a double axe handle smash to the back of Darklord’s shoulders. The God King drops Luke Storm and turns around to face Reaper…SHOTGUN BLAST!!!! CONNECTS!!! The Carthian feels it but he’s still standing. Luke Storm with a kick to the gut….GALE FORCE!!! DARKLORD IS DOWN!!!!
Storm and Reaper have the same idea, slide to the outside and bring in their own ladders. Both are climbing, it’s a race to the top…NO!!!! Darklord is up and he pushes over both ladders simultaneously. Both Storm and Reaper hit the ropes, but it’s The Harvester who walks straight into The Carthian…KNEEL!!! VICIOUS SPARTA KICK!!! Storm tries to blindside the God King….LIGHTNING STRIKE!!! DARKLORD FUCKING PARRIES IT!!! WARLORD’S HAND!!! STORM IS ALMOST BROKEN IN TWO!!!
Darklord positions a ladder under the hanging key and starts to climb. Reaper is soon in pursuit, The Harvester climbing the same side as The Carthian. Darklord is trying to fight off Reaper, Luke Storm is climbing the other side of the ladder. Reaper has climbed up Darklord’s back, he’s positioned above The God King’s head, pounding away. The Carthian grabs Reaper…BLACK HOLE!!!! SITOUT POWERBOMB FROM THE LADDER!!! This leaves Luke Storm free to retrieve the key.
Stormborn unlocks the door to tonight’s main event.
Previously Recorded
The world is burning. The sounds of struggle and fighting fill the air, drowned out only by the never-ending cries for help and screaming.
In amongst all of this, Darby Sorrow and Voynich sit.
Both are battered looking, dirty and look like they’ve been dragged through hell and halfway back. Voynich has a wild, fear-filled look in his eyes. A look of almost panic.
“Darby… What the fuck is happening? Everything we’ve worked for has turned to shit. Colin…”
Sorrow interrupts him with a cool stare and a voice that seems as edgy as ever, not wavering in fear like his counterpart.
“Colin made his own bed. We were clear with him, and he ignored us. And now look what a fine mess he’s got himself into. But that, right at this very moment, seems to be the least of our worries.”
This warrants a look around their surroundings from Voynich. The burning buildings, the rubble. The bodies. He shakes his head slowly, not believing what he is seeing.
“Why?”
Sorrow shakes his partner by the shoulders.
“That doesn’t matter right now. What matters is what next. We keep moving forward. We keep trying to make sense of this crap.”
Voynich snaps out of his panic for a moment, nodding.
“How can you be so calm about this while I’m over here looking at the end of the world around us?”
Sorrow shrugs.
“I can dig any grave, this might be a way to dig my own…”
Voynich tilts his head sideways.
“What about your son? Your grandchildren?”
“…”
Sorrow falls silent. Voynich helps him to his feet.
“This is all screwed, Darby. What do we do?”
Sorrow comes back to life, his plan falling out of his mouth easily. Obviously something he had been pndering ahead of time.
“We divide and conquer. Blood Money Inc are powerful because of their resources and Zero’s technical savvy. We cut the knees out of the operation.”
Voynich thinks for a moment, then nods in appreciation.
“I’ll go after Zero. You can take down BEG.”
Sorrow smiles, patting Voynich on the shoulder.
“I was thinking the same thing. I’ll cut off the head and you hit ‘em where it hurts.”
Cut.
Who will leave this match heartbroken!?
Jessie pounces on The Judge, and the two duke it out – overlooking Alice. The Dreamer retrieves a ladder from ringside and slides it under the ropes. Order and The Prince turn around… ALICE FLATTENS BOTH OF THEM WITH THE LADDER! She rests it on top of Judge, then hops into a split-legged drop – TERRIBLY LATE ON THE LADDER!
She sets it up and starts to climb, reaching for the key – but Williams is scaling it, too! They trade blows at the top; ALICE DUCKS A BOOMSTICK! Wait—THE JUDGE TIPS THE LADDER OVER! Jessie and Alice fall awkwardly into the ring ropes! The superheavyweight resets the ladder and cautiously climbs it…
HIS FINGERTIPS BRUSH THE KEY – HE’S GOING TO UNHOOK IT! Here come Alice and Williams, though! Climbing the same side, they drill Judge in the gut. He doubles over, and they each grab an arm… DOUBLE SUPERPLEX OFF THE LADDER! All three competitors crash onto the canvas. The impact topples the ladder.
They struggle to their feet. The Judge delivers Alice’s VERDICT with a Sparta kick! She falls into the ropes, which toss her back into him. He hoists her up for the RESTORATION powerbomb… DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE – ONTO THE LADDER! Alice counters with the sitout facebuster. She sets the ladder up – BOOMSTICK! Jessie cold-cocks her, then scrambles up the ladder, uncontested… HE UNHOOKS THE KEY!
The Prince progresses to The Key to The Heart match!
Reaper had been hiding beneath the ring! The Harvester is in a fucking rage as he stomps on the downed Judge! The Law has been knocked silly and he’s trying everything to get to his feet!
“STAY DOWN!”
SWIFT REVENGE! SINGLE ARM DDT TO JUDGE!
Metal clanks into the floor as Reaper continues his rampage, picking up Judge and flinging him head first into the steel steps! They clatter across the ground and Reaper moves in, squatting down over the battered Judge.
“You and I? We got some unfinished business.”
Judge tries to find out why Reaper attack, but a hard right shuts him up before he can even speak!
“Four weeks. Four fuckin’ weeks you and I followed that banana suit wearing fuck and you know what that got me? It wasted my time.”
Another hard right! No reason behind it, Reaper is just blowing off steam at this point!
“He may have been the one who caused all this shit to happen, but as far as I see it, you couldn’t just do your fuckin’ job right and it cost me everything. Every. Fuckin’. Thing. And now? Four weeks later? You couldn’t do it again. We tailed him, found him, and all we’ve got to show for it is a few minutes of ass kickin’ and no fuckin’ results.”
Reaper stands up, spitting on Judge as he walks away, leaving Judge with a message.
This is gonna be a long four weeks.
Cut.
Materialism challenges Idealism in an age old philosophical battle with Logic looking to gain supremacy among these opposing ideologies. Who can climb and kick away the ladder and take their place among the sweethearts in tonight’s Slaughterhouse Spectacular?
Straight up Simon and BEG charge at Banzan but The Indestructible Mountain gives short shrift with a double clothesline. BEG strategically rolls out of the ring, Simon is up…DUKKHA!!! SUFFERING EXISTS FOR THE TASKMASTER!!! The Saito Suplex has bent Simom in half but here’s BEG…LADDER SHOT THE HEAD OF BANZAN!!!! THE MOUNTAIN HAS CRUMBLED TO RUBBLE!!!
Berkshire is heading up the ladder…OUT OF NOWHERE…SIMON…GAMBIT!!!! Jumping spinning backfirst from The Taskmaster sends BEG crashing to the mat. Now Simon is climbing…and Bazan too on the other side! Simon reaches for the key….BUT BANZAN HAS CAUGHT UP WITH HIM!!! SAMUDAYA!!!! SHINING TRIANGLE OVER THE BRIDGE OF THE LADDER!!! SIMON IS TAPPING!!!
But it means nothing in the context of this match. CRACK!!!! BEG WITH A CHAIR SHOT TO BANZAN!!! AND ANOTHER!!! SIMON THIS TIME!!! Both slide down the ladder leaving BEG with a seemingly free climb, but he’s stopped by Simon who has grabbed his ankle. BEG is stomping on The Taskmaster but he won’t let go….ONE-TWO-THREE-FOUR…….FIVE POINT PALM STRIKE!!!! Banzan drops BEG with the TIGER CLAW!!! He bounces off the ropes and straight into a SIMONPLEX!!!
Now Banzan and Simon face-off. Banzan tries to repeat TIGER CLAW but Simon COUNTERS with a DROP TOE HOLD!!! Then follows up with a SHINING WIZARD on The Indestructible Mountain. Simon climbs the ladder but as he grabs the key BEG pushes away the ladder. Simon is swinging now, he unhooks the key and drops to the mat, nailing BEG with a missile dropkick as he does so.
The Taskmaster has solved the puzzle to tonight’s main event!
The Tron lights up!
Static.
The video cuts in and Pyre and Bishop have smiles plastered that would make the Cheshire Cat jealous.
Pyre smirks and begins to speak.
“Did you really think you were my target Banzan?”
Banzan tilts his head towards the screen as BEG and Simon quietly make their way to the back.
“You should know by now I don’t really give a damn about you. I simply said that to make you relax and not pay attention to your pupil too much.”
Banzan shakes his head.
“Don’t try to deceive me, you almost made me join the ancestors.”
Pyre starts to cackle.
“You really think that was my attempt at murdering you? No, I knew it wouldn’t be successful, I knew Alice was nearby. No if I tried to kill you, I’d do it in a place where no one else is around, a place like this. ”
The camera pans to an empty field.
Banzan looks confused.
“Oh… looking for Alice? Sorry that’s my bad, she’s over here.
The camera pans to a chair.
Alice is tied up with a bag on her head!
Banzan looks enraged!
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what? This? ”
Pyre lights Alice on fire!
Her screams echo throughout the Slaughterhouse!
Pyre’s laughter joins the screaming!
The tron goes off and the lights turn back on.
Banzan’s eyes are open wide but he blinks as he realizes what’s happened.
A single tear rolls down his cheek!
Thwack!
Before he can gather himself, Bishop hits Banzan from behind with a chair!
He goes down hard and Bishop keeps swinging the chair on him!
“Did you think that was live?”
Pyre comes out on stage laughing.
“No, that was recorded days ago, you’re just so predictable, we knew what you were going to say and responded accordingly. ”
Bishop speaks up.
“We’ve been one step ahead of you this entire time and that’s not going to change anytime soon. Here’s a lesson from us, expect the unexpected and never relax. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be blindsided like this.”
Banzan is down but he is glaring daggers at Pyre!
He shouts!
“A few days ago!? She just competed. Who was that?”
Pyre shrugs.
“Someone in the wrong place at the wrong time, just know it could have easily been her.”
Pyre smirks, winks, and walks off stage. Bishop hits one last chair shot for good measure and walks off himself.
Cut.
Love is in the air tonight as Cupid spies the perfect couple to shoot his heart shaped arrow. Will the Sandman be what Zero dreams of tonight or will the Dream Demon be riding that big black train all night long?
The bell sounds as Zero rushes forward with a huge right from that bionic arm that staggers Sandman slightly back, the Dream Demon trying for a right of his own that’s ducked under as Zero handstands on the Bionic Arm before taking the Sandman down with a headscissors. The World Champion quickly gets to his feet as Zero bounces off the ropes with a huge FIREWALL BIONIC CLOTHESLINE!
The Sandman crashes to the mat as Zero rushes over, trying to lock in a chokehold but he’s easily thrown off before an attempt at a running clothesline to a kneeling Sandman is batted away. Zero rolls to his feet again as he rushes forward into a hand around his throat, Sandman trying for a Chokeslam but Zero pounds down on his neck with hard Bionic hammer firsts, forcing him to let go.
The Sandman swings hard, levelling Zero with a hard right but he’s up on his feet lighting fast with a huge Bionic European Uppercut that stuns the Sandman enough for Zero to grab him by the throat, ABSOLUTE ZERO! BIONIC CHOKESLAM! The Sandman gets driven into the mat as Zero quickly drops down, locking in a Bionic Arm Choke! The Sandman stays in it for a few moments, Zero using all the strength of his augmentations to sap the strength from Sandman before the Dream Demon reaches back and easily tosses Zero off him!
Zero stumbles to his feet into a massive Big Boot that had to chip some teeth before stumbling right back up into a DEEP SLEEP! The End of Days plants Zero into the mat but Sandman isn’t sure he can choke the enhanced warrior out as he pulls out a bag of very familiar dust. Zero stumbles up once more, ZERO KICKS THE BAG INTO SANDMAN’S FACE OUT OF NOWHERE! The Golden Sand flies into The Sandman’s face, the Dream Demon slowly fading as he stumbles into the PUNK CITY KILLER! Raise your middle fingers high as Zero drops down, locking in the Bionic Arm Choke once more but Sandman is out cold as the referee quickly calls for the bell
Zero-1-0 picks up a huge victory over the World Champ, turning the Sandman’s own tricks against him as he puts a Dream Demon to sleep here tonight
Zero-1-0 makes his way up the entrance ramp after his match to return backstage. But no sooner had he walked through the curtains, is he practically accosted by a wild BEG.
“Zero, we have a problem.”
Zero says nothing, allowing BEG to conntinue. BEG holds forth a tablet, an app loaded on the screen but with an error message blaring in a pop-up screen across the top that reads ‘Warning: No Signal’. BEG, in his worry, states the absolute obvious.
“It’s not working…”
Zero shoots him a look.
“I can see that, genius. With everything going on out there, we’re lucky the Slaughterhouse is still standing. Pass it here.”
Zero doesn’t wait for BEG to pass him the tablet but takes it out of his hands. In an instant, the screen is filed with green text that he proceeds to sift through. Moments later, Zero takes the tablet and throws it against the concrete wall of the Slaughterhouse, where the screen shatters and the tablet falls dead. BEG, if he is shocked, doesn’t let it show. He simply allows Zero to vent his frustration.
“What does that mean for all of your plans, Green? We rely on those cell signals. We rely on data. Without that much, I’m flying blind here.”
BEG grabs him by the shoulders.
“We’re flying blind. We’re in this together. After Game Over… After everything that has happened since, we’ve come too far. There has to be another way.”
Zero breathes deeply, holds it, then exhales audibly.
“Man… I hate doing things analogue.”
Cut.
This is it!
One of these four men will take the key hanging above the heart shaped ring and enter it into a panel on the apron to receive their prize.
It’s Simon, Jessie Williams, Luke Storm and Voynich!
The bell sounds and Jessie makes a b-line towards Luke Storm, with both men taking up one section of the upper right love heart.
That leads Simon and Voynich to locking up. The Best Kept Secret whips Simon into the ropes and runs straight into him with a Clothesline. With The Taskmaster down, he quickly pulls Jessie Williams away from Storm, only to receive a kick to the gut for his troubles… DDT! The Prince drops Voynich, who rolls under the ropes.
He turns his attention back to Luke—double-leg takedown! The Tempest tackles Jessie to the mat, then rains down with thunderous lefts and rights! Williams covers up, but the mixed martial-artist breaks his guard. Jessie uses his weight advantage to throw Storm off – sending him through the ropes and onto the concrete!
Simon, having grabbed a breather, swoops in for the kill. He stalks Williams, who gets to his knees, none the wiser…
SLEEPER HOLD!
Jessie thrashes around as the bloodflow to his brain is shut off, and his vision gets cloudy. This is, of course, a ladder match, but Simon doesn’t need to make Williams submit – he’s simply looking to put him to sleep! The Michigander’s arms fall limply to his sides, and Simon nods with satisfaction. He dumps him through the ropes.
All alone in the ring, The Taskmaster gazes up at the key which dangles above his head…
He darts outside and grabs a ladder. Voynich, however, also gets his hands on the hardware. Both men wrestle over the ladder, to and fro, as Luke climbs onto the apron—
THUNDEEERRR!
LUKE STORM HITS THE ASAI MOONSAULT!
HE CLATTERS INTO THE LADDER AND INTO BOTH MEN!
HOLY SHIT, HOLY SHIT!
The crowd pops for the daring, high-risk move.
Shaking off the cobwebs, Jessie Williams blinks in disbelief. He wades through the field of steel and bones, snatching the ladder off the ground. He slides it into the ring and follows suit, erecting it in the shadow of the key.
THE PRINCE CLIMBS THE LADDER!
The people stand up from their seats, willing him on!
CLIMB THE LADDER, KID!
MAKE YOURSELF FAMOUS!
He reaches for it—
LUKE SCALES THE OPPOSITE SIDE…
HE SLUGS JESSIE IN THE GUT!
Williams doubles over, and Storm locks horns with him, the ladder wobbling under them—
SIMON PUSHES THE LADDER OVER!
HE SENDS STORM AND WILLIAMS CRASHING TO THE CANVAS!
The audience groans as they wipeout.
The tactician claims ownership of the ladder – BUT VOYNICH HAS ONE, TOO!
The archaeologist slides into the ring with a second ladder.
LOOKS LIKE WE GOT US A WILD WEST STANDOFF!
Both men circle each other, daring the other to make the first move. Sweat trickles down the temple of Voynich, while Simon’s eye just visibly twitches—
THEY CHARGE INTO EACH OTHER!
STEEL CLASHES WITH STEEL!
THEY PARRY ONE ANOTHER, SWASHBUCKLING WITH LADDERS TO A RAUCOUS OVATION!
Wait a second – what the hell is Luke Storm doing!?
He has in his possession a third ladder. He slots it between the top and middle rope, interjecting it into the ongoing duel…
Simon and Voynich reach a ceasefire, both looking down in bewilderment—
LUKE DROPS AN ELBOW ONTO THE END OF THE LADDER!
THE OPPOSITE END SPRINGS UP VIOLENTLY – INTO THE FACES OF HIS OPPONENTS!
HE JUST FUCKING SEESAWED THEM!
The spectators gasp at the dangerous display of ingenuity.
Voynich is disarmed—his ladder resting against the ropes—as he slumps into the corner, his face in his arms. Though stunned, Simon still clutches onto his ladder – perhaps owing to his mask—
NOT FOR LONG, HOWEVER, AS HERE COMES JESSIE WILLIAMS…
BOOMSTICK! BOOMSTICK!
SPARKS FLY AS THE GAUNTLET CRACKS AGAINST THE STEEL LADDER!
Simon drops his piece, his wristbones surely reduced to dust, and falls into the ropes. They bounce him back—
HAIL TO THE FUCKING KING!
SPINNING GOTCH PILEDRIVER!
Simon rolls outside.
Jessie Williams is on his feet, and he’s on fire! He pounds his chest as The Slaughterhouse crowd come unglued for him.
As he turns around, however, he locks eyes with Luke Storm. The two share a tense staredown, before Jessie smirks, raising his gauntlet.
HE FIRES THE BOOMSTICK AT STORM!
BOOYAH!
BOOYAH!
BOO—LIGHTNING STRIKE!?
LIGHTNING FUCKING STRIKES!
LUKE SUPERKICKS THE AIRBORNE FIST!
The people lose their damn minds!
HE’S COMING FOR JESSIE!
Williams braces himself—
DOWNPOUR!
HE EATS A CODEBREAKER!
Storm isn’t finished, though – oh, no. He grabs one of the felled ladders and drags it over to Jessie. Opening its hinges, he rolls The Prince inside…
CRACK!
CLACK!
CLATTER!
LUKE OPENS AND SHUTS THE LADDER ON JESSIE, SANDWICHING HIM BETWEEN THE STEEL RUNGS!
The fanbase ooh and aah with each bone-shattering strike, as the ladder buckles and bends—
HE BREAKS THE DAMN HINGES!
Only when the ladder is rendered functionally useless does Storm relent in his assault. The Tempest grabs one of the spares and, glancing up at the key dancing above their heads, he sets it up.
LUKE ASCENDS THE LADDER, ONE STEP AT A TIME…
Simon looks on from ringside; he can’t get there in time to stop Storm.
In the ring, Voynich comes to – his face a crimson mask.
The two meet eyes, and read each other’s minds.
STORM REACHES FOR THE KEY TO THE HEART—
SIMON SHOVES VOYNICH’S LADDER OFF THE ROPES…
IT RESTS AGAINST LUKE’S – CREATING AN IMPROVISED RAMP!
VOYNICH SAYS TO HELL WITH HEIGHTS, AS HE RACES UP THAT BAD-BOY—
ISHTAR MOTHERFUCKING GATE!
HE KNOCKS LUKE’S DICK STIFF WITH HIS SIGNATURE LARIAT, ATOP THE DAMN LADDER!
BOTH MEN PLUMMET TO THE MAT!
HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
The rabid fans reach a fever pitch for the live decapitation.
Voynich appears to have tweaked his knee upon landing, as an EMT tends to him.
Having freed himself from the steel jaws which swallowed him whole, Jessie Williams looks up at the key with longing in his eyes.
SCRATCHING AND CLAWING, HE MAKES HIS WAY UP THE LADDER…
Simon says, however, that it isn’t his turn! The mastermind rolls into the ring. Still intact, he scrambles along the makeshift ramp.
JESSIE SWAYS PRECARIOUSLY AS HIS FINGERS GRASP THE AIR—
SIMON IS GAINING ON HIM!
WILLIAMS LOOKS UP…
THEN DOWN!
SIMON STOPS IN HIS TRACKS!
HE SHAKES HIS HEAD – “NO!”
SIMON SAYS “NO!”
JESSIE SEEMS TO HAVE MADE HIS CHOICE—
HE MAKES A PHONE GESTURE AT HIS EAR!
NO WAY!
HE STEPS ONTO THE TOP RUNG!
HE’S GOING FOR IT – THE CALL OF THE CHOSEN!
THE SWANTON BOMB—
LUKE STORM HAS CLIMBED UP BEHIND HIM!
HE’S AT HIS HEELS!
WITH ONE LAST GASP, HE PUSHES HIM!
SIMON TUCKS AND ROLLS OUT OF HARM’S WAY…
JESSIE WILLIAMS TUMBLES HEADFIRST THROUGH THE AIR!
HE LANDS BACKFIRST ON THE TILTED LADDER!
IT CRACKS AND FOLDS UNDER THE IMPACT!
HOLY SHIT – ONCE MORE, WITH FEELING!
The crowd has a meltdown, as the referee and medics check on The Prince.
Luke holds onto the ladder with everything he has left. Simon stares up at the key, mere feet away from Storm’s grasp. He climbs the opposite side hungrily.
Storm buries the pain and summons the wrath. He awaits Simon at the top…
THEY TRADE BLOWS!
THE LADDER TEETERS AND TOTTERS AS THEY THROW DOWN…
LUKE TURNS AND CRADLES SIMON’S HEAD—
GALE FORCE!?
NO!
SIMON BLOCKS THE STUNNER!
STORM TURNS BACK—
GAMBIT!
THE SPINNING BACKFIST CLOCKS HIM IN THE HEAD!
LUKE HANGS ON WITH ONE HAND…
SIMON PULLS HIM IN—
HE DRAPES THE ARM AROUND HIS NECK AND HOOKS HIS LEG!
SIMONPLEX!
SIMON-FUCKING-PLEX!
FISHERMAN SUPLEX OFF THE GODDAMN LADDER!
HOW IS THIS CANVAS NOT A CRATER ALREADY!?
Both men land in a heap, knocking the medics off-balance. Yet more ringside personnel emerge to check on the latest casualties.
Wait a minute – VOYNICH IS UP!
The bloody Best Kept Secret leans against the ropes for support. Surveying the human devastation all around him, his eyes travel upwards to that infernal key.
It’s ripe for the taking!
The archaeologist limps over to the ladder, blood dripping in his wake—
JESSIE WILLIAMS IS ON HIS FEET!
HOW IS THIS KID STILL STANDING!?
Against the advice of EMTs, he steps towards Voynich and motions for him to bring it!
THE TWO SCRAPPY UNDERDOGS GO TOE-TO-TOE!
WHOA – LOOK OUT!
THE BOOMSTICK HURTLES THROUGH THE AIR LIKE A BOOMERANG!
VOYNICH NARROWLY DUCKS IT!
It clicks back into place on Jessie’s wrist—
BOOMSTICK!
NO!
VOYNICH EVADES IT ONCE AGAIN!
UPPERCUT!
Third time’s the charm for Jessie, who drops Voynich to his knees – the injured knee. Williams tears into the ropes, looking for the follow-up torpedo dropkick…
GROOVY ECLIP—
ISHTAR GATE!
VOYNICH HEADS HIM OFF WITH THE LARIAT!
Jessie barely hits the mat, when Voynich hauls him right back up—
HE LIFTS HIM UP, BUM LEG AND ALL!
MONOLITH! MONOLITH!
BRAINBUSTER ONTO THE FRICKIN’ LADDER!
It wasn’t the prettiest, but my god was it effective! Voynich, however, still isn’t done. He heaves Jessie up one more time, cradling his head in the crook of his arm. Punching his knee and flexing it, he points to the turnbuckle—
THE EIGHTH WONDERRR!
SLICED BREAD #2!
VOYNICH DROPS JESSIE FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT TIME!
WILLIAMS IS DOWN. STORM IS DOWN. SIMON IS DOWN.
HOBBLING TO THE LADDER, VOYNICH DRAGS HIS ASS UP!
THERE IS NOBODY TO STOP HIM!
IT’S HIS FOR THE TAKING!
THE FANS ARE ON THEIR FEET, ROARING THEIR APPROVAL!
HE REACHES FOR IT…
IT’S HIS!
HE TAKES IT!
VOYNICH GRABS THE KEY!
Best Kept Secret clutches the key to his heart as camera flashes erupt all around him. He carefully makes his way back down the ladder, still unsteady on his feet.
As the other competitors receive varying degrees of aid, Voynich heads to the outside. He approaches the ring apron, which itself contains the prize he has fought so hard for. Wiping his blood off the key, he inserts it into the heart-shaped keyhole and turns it. Opening the container, not sure of what to expect, he reaches inside cautiously.
He retrieves… An envelope!?
Opening it with trembling hands, he reads its contents – shielding it from the prying eyes of the referee.
Saying nothing, he tucks the envelope back into his gear, thanks the fans, and makes his exit.
What did the envelope contain!?
He’s barely hanging on.
“Sandman,” he whispers.
As he does, out from within the shadows steps The Dream Demon.
“Can you feel it?” He asks, reaching out.
The Sandman takes his hand weakly.
“I can,” he mutters.
“The Sands of time are ebbing away and you know what means, don’t you?” He offers, closing his eyes. “The end is nigh.”
The Dream Demon begins to glitch.
His figure begins to cut in and out, as if he too is fading away.
“You mustn’t wait for Luke Storm to join Lucid Falls. You capturing him will take time that we simply don’t have. Ash Williams must be returned to captivity; we must bring him home.”
“How long until your final sleep?” The Sandman asks.
“I’m hanging on, dear friend,” Sandy replies patting his hand. “I’m hanging on. Just find a way before its too late. To power Lucid Falls and maintain my immortality by syphoning their life-force, our community needs citizens.”
The Sandman nods, carefully letting go of Sandy Rogers hand and vanishing into the dark.
Cut.