THE HUNTER
RECORDED EARLIER
“Come out come out wherever you are,” [The fearless Lone Star calls.] “I know you’re here, Scarecrow. Do you know what else I know? I know this cabin didn’t always belong to you, did it?”
[He paces, stepping across the cobweb laden creaky floorboards.]“You stole it from the Kersh family, didn’t you?”
[Suddenly, in the darkness appears The Scarecrow. He thrusts forward, grabbing The Lone Star by the throat and pinning him to the wall.]“You’re beginning to irritate me, little birdie!” [he barks at him.] “Why are you so fearless, huh? Why aren’t you afraid of me?”
[The Lone Star scoffs.] “Why would I be?” [He asks.] “I’m not weakened by your presence, Scarecrow. I know what you’re capable of. I know what you’ve done, but you won’t be able to do that to me; I’m not a Kersh.”“You foolish boy. Do you think my power is limited to the Kersh family?” [He tilts his head.] “It was always but a choice to destroy them. Every single generation, I have been inexplicably linked to their lineage, but that has never harnessed my power, little birdie. It doesn’t live or die with them.”
[Silence.]“You’re trying to hunt me down, trying to save their family and his legacy, but all you’re going to do is end up in the same place as Brent Kersh,” [The Scarecrow reminds him.] “The ground.”
[He lets him go.]“This will be the second time I have shown you mercy, little birdie. There will not be a third. Come for me again and I will destroy you.”
[The Lone Star walks towards the door, then turns and stops, looking back at Crow.]“Why have you spared me?”
[The Scarecrow looks at him with his head tilted.]“I have no desire to enhance the legacy of a man I killed by laying you right beside him.”
[Cut.]JACK JECKEL VS. MARVOLO
SINGLES MATCH
SWALLOWING PRIDE
BACKSTAGE
“I didn’t need your help last week.” [says Kaito through nearly broken English. Bruce Van Chan groans and puts his hands on his waist as Neville Sheldon just smiles.]
“I apologize if we hurt your pride last week, but there was no way that The Knights were going to sit idly by and allow that sort of bullying to go down. We’ve sat idly by for far too long and you see what happened to The Dead as a result. I, myself, would feel personally responsible were the same brainwashing to have occurred to you.”
[Kaito grits his teeth as he looks at both of them. Finally, he sighs.]“Thank you. Know that tonight, I will not go easy on you. Even if it means a tag team championship with that fool. I will not be denied my quest for success.” [Kaito says once more brokenly.] [Bruce Van Chan steps up and slaps Kaito on the shoulder and nods.]
“We wouldn’t want it any other way.”
[“Words of the Youth” by Coldrain begins playing as Kaito’s head turns sideways to hear it.]“Sounds like your music. Better get out there. Good luck.”
[Bruce gives his arm another pat before Kaito turns around and begins walking towards the entrance.] [However, down the hall, three mysterious figures watch with the center wearing a cryptic smile upon his face. He shoots a small fireball as the flame lights up their darkened faces to reveal The Circus momentarily before fading to black.]THE KNIGHTS VS. KAITO & THE BIG SHOT
TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
BRINGER OF PAIN
RINGSIDE
“Greetings, Knights. You may be asking yourselves, why Kaito? Why would Mr. Freakshow target him? Well the matter is simple really, he is gifted in the way of the blade.”
[The Knights look at each other in confusion but continue to listen.]“But right at his inauguration, the two of you slide into the picture. A pair of nobodies, a pair of vanillas, a pair of… ordinary individuals. The most disgusting vermin on this planet. What, might I ask, is special about Neville Sheldon and Bruce Van Chan?”
[Bruce Van Chan extends his hand for the microphone to which Alistair smiles and hands it over.]“You want to know what makes us special, Ali? Our special ability is the ability to take anything dished out upon us and turn it into strength. We roll with the punches and deliver a hard hits of our own.”
[Neville takes the microphone.]“Have you ever had your family targeted? Have you ever had to defend those whom you love more than anything else? It makes you men. It makes you warriors. It makes you… Knights in solemn servitude of anyone being oppressed by these bully tactics. Tonight, The Knights will draw arms to ensure that your oppressive rule is silenced. Once and for all!”
[With that, he drops the microphone as the fight is on! They push Painkiller and Alistair Huxley into Fluffy, knocking him down momentarily before laying in shots on their respective targets. Neville is pounding away on Painkiller as Huxley is taking tons of kicks in the corner from Van Chan!] [CRACK!] [A steel chair is laid out across the back of Neville Sheldon as he falls to the mat. Another wicked shot to the back of Van Chan’s head lays him out. The holder smiles as he brings Huxley to his feet. Alistair Huxley touches his mastodon on the shoulder lightly in thanks before walking over and taking a seat next to Bruce Van Chan. Painkiller staggers to his feet with fury in his eyes.]“My, my. You two seem to surprise me every time we meet. However, at REC, it’ll be the last time we ever see The Knights because you’ll be doing war with My Circus in a Tap Room Brawl.”
[Painkiller grabs Neville Sheldon by the hair and slams him down again. He leans down and his voice is almost like a whisper.]“Here comes the Painkiller.”
THE LONE STAR VS. THE RED EMPEROR
SINGLES MATCH
CHEATING DEATH
BACKSTAGE
“Why?”
[The reply comes promptly in a voice that is familiar.]“You have something I need.”
[The figure steps into the shot. Jack Jeckel. He holds Lazarus’s VHS title, tossing it back to the champion. He rips the mouth gag off and crouches next to him.]“If you want to get your hands on the title, there are easier ways of going about it.”
[Jack closes in on Lazarus.]“You think this is about your VHS Championship? As nice as that would be in my possession, that title is merely a by-product. Oh, this goes so much deeper than that.
You have something I need.”
[Lazarus narrows his eyes, no fear within them.]“What could I possibly possess that would be worth all of this?”
[The Boogeyman stands and turns away from Lazarus. He paces about the small room, reciting words as he does so.]“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
[Suddenly, Lazarus understands. You can see it in his eyes.]“You don’t mean…”
[Jeckel’s recital continues.]“They took away the stone. Jesus looked upward and he shouted in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The one who had died came out.”
[Turns back toward Lazarus]“He had the power to raise the dead. A Phoenix, risen…”
[He then closes in on Lazarus once more, face to face.]“Just as he did with you. Raised from the dead.
You possess the power that I need.”
[Lazarus remains unafraid, defiant.]“I don’t know what you expect. You speak of things that I myself don’t fully understand. I couldn’t help you, even if I wanted – ”
[Jeckel kicks out, knocking Lazarus’s chair over and him with it. The chains rattle as he falls. The Boogeyman snarls from above.]“Liar! Thou shalt not give false testimony. HOW DO I GET JAKE BACK?!”
[Nothing. Silence. He slips the chain off Lazarus’s ankles, giving him a little freedom, then attempts the question again]“HOW DO I RAISE THE DEAD?”
“I… Don’t… Know.” [Lazarus shakes his head.] “Holding me here won’t help that. He’s gone; accept that.
You got what you wanted, his spotlight shining on you. Now you need to face the consequences.”
[The Boogeyman picks Lazarus up by the throat, chair and all until they are face to face.]“I did NOT kill my brother…”
[There is still no fear in Lazarus’s eyes.]“Why would God help you raise the Juggalo? What possible service would that yield? I was raised to serve the will of God. That alone is why I walk this Earth to this day.
What you are asking is impossible. Let me go, holding me here is pointless.”
[A long silence. The Boogeyman lowers Lazarus, slipping the remaining chain from him. Holding his head as if to quell voices within it, he grimaces. Turns back to Lazarus before releasing him.]“For now. But I will be watching you and you will help me, even if I have to destroy you in the process.
Sleep lightly. We’re not finished here.”
THE HANGMAN VS. MOTHER
SINGLES MATCH
A DEAL
BACKSTAGE
“Where’s that punk wannabe ninja!? Where is he!? Those glasses he broke last week were designer!”
[Upon smashing in yet another door he finds himself face to face with a room of darkness. He flicks the lights to no avail, turning around to rage more when he gets caught by a kick to the chest! Big Shot is sent stumbling backwards into the darkness, the lights coming on to reveal an empty room, Kaito standing in the doorway, staring down his tag team partner from earlier tonight.]“Glasses? After the constant need to one up, and the leaving me in the ring alone to deal with that circus, you only care about your glasses? You are a truly conceited man.”
[Big Shot is quick to his feet, getting right in Kaito’s face and barking insults at him.]“Listen here you scrawny twat, I’m not takin’ lip from some whiny punk about honor or any of that bullshit. What you need to honor is my broken property!”
[You can practically see the spit flying out of Big Shot’s mouth as he yells at Kaito, ending his rant and giving Kaito just enough time to respond.]“Fine. You have been a thorn in my side, so I’ll give you your money. But first, you have to beat me in a match. If you win, I pay. If I win, you admit you aren’t as big a man as you say you are.”
[Big Shot cocks his head, still sneering as Kaito and looking to yell more.]“I’m not taking any deal from-” [SLAM! Kaito shuts the door right in Big Shot’s face! Big Shot is too dumbfounded to respond, the scene fading out as he hears Kaito walk away from the situation.]
PAINKILLER VS. THE SCARECROW
SINGLES MATCH
WEAPON OF CHOICE
OUTSIDE
“To what do I owe this unfortunate pleasure” [TRE quips in confidence sarcasm.] “Barbarian.”
[North sneers at the attempted insult.]“Berserker, my liege.” [Viktor responds as he reveals a sword of his own from behind his back.] “I am a berserker.”
[With both swords drawn, The Red Emperor moves to a ready stance. We notice that The Emperor’s sword appears newer, cleaner while that of North looks jagged and chipped; weathered by what can be assumed to be years of use.]“Calm yourself, fool.” [North lifts his sword into the air.] “I did not come to sharpen blades with you.”
[TRE does not seem too convinced.]“Then why did you come?”
“I proved the superiority of my technical tools last week.” [North says with a smile.] “Now I prove the superiority of my physical tools.”
“No chance.” [TRE responds, his guard dropping a bit.] “No sword compares to the Spatha!”
[In an instant, North flips his sword in his hand, grabbing it by the blade and extending it towards TRE.]“I promise you that my long sword would not bow to that pathetic twig that your Spatha wastes its time trimming.”
[A look of frustration covers the face of The Red Emperor as he almost reluctantly takes the blade, sheathing his own sword behind him. As he observes the weapon, North appears to enjoy the sight.]“What do you think” [North chuckles.] “my liege.”
[Suddenly, TRE grabs the weapon with both hands and forcefully brings it down over his knee, breaking the blade in two. Both pieces gripped in each hand.]“I think if you continue to pester me, you will prove yourself once and for all not a fool!”
[The Red Emperor drops the weapon to the concrete ground in pieces as North slowly becomes enraged. He is stunned as if completely unprepared for the consequences of the meeting. As if the sword meant more to him than what anyone could possibly understand. Eventually, nearly heartbroken, North kneels to gather his sword and we fade to black as he retreats back into the darkness, leaving TRE to ponder his actions in pride or is it caution?]ALISTAIR HUXLEY VS. JENSEN CUSSEN
SINGLES MATCH
GUESS AGAIN
OUTSIDE THE ARENA
“So….. you’re here. [He turns around] Nice of you come.”
[With a knowing chuckle, The Hangman finds Marvolo, jr. and a positively petrified Ricardo waiting behind him. They’re surrounded by his decomposing decorations; Junior’s fists are clenched.]“Don’t forget Sackhead, Big Trouble finds you.”
[The corpses hang idle.]“Perhaps.” [He grips his rope tighter] “That all depends on how you play this game of ours. My little girl here wanted to thank you; she had a nice snack on your behave…”
[Junior finches, just a little.]“Never mind. He meant nothing; only an appetizer, really.” [Chuckles] “But now that you’re here, we’re getting closer to main course.”
[The Hangman rises, lifting his heavy hemp high into the air and letting her noose sway like a pocket watch.]“Time’s up. Have you guessed The Hangman yet?”
[The Real Number One almost smirks; Ricardo’s frozen in place.]“Remember this: Marvolo, jr.’s intellect is only one his best features. You purposefully blindsided Big Trouble last week; now Junior’s gonna catch you off guard!”
[He puffs out his chest; The Hangman towers over him.]“……. E!“
[Hearing this, The Hangman pauses before pulling out another card from his gauntlets. He scribbles something down and nods.]“Correct. Guess again.”
[Both Junior and Ricardo are confused.]“You said, one guess per week. This time, Marvolo, jr. beat you!” [Thinks about it] Wait, you just want……. Hold it. That’s not fair!“
“Who ever said I played fair? Guess.”
“Fine….. H!“
[Big Trouble shoots a cocky grin. Again, The Hangman writes, slowly laughing more and more before curtly flicking the card to Big Trouble’s feet… Ricardo and Junior hesitantly glance down.]Hangman-4.png ___ ___ ___ _E_
“We’ll see you next week, boys.”
ETHAN BIRD VS. LAZARUS
SINGLES MATCH
ALL WALK, NO TALK
RINGSIDE
VIKTOR NORTH VS. JACOB PHOENIX
STEEL CAGE MATCH
SOMEONE ELSE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“Jackson.”
[That name echoes for a brief moment, coming to an abrupt stop. The pitter patter of rain is flowing as we arch down from the grey overcast sky to see Jensen Cussen stood outside an Asylum. His soaking wet jet black hair covers his face, and water spews from his mouth as he talks.]“For her.”
[He sneers.]“Do you think you’re owed something for loving her, son?” [He says, still dripping wet.] “Do you think she means that much more to you?”
[His head turns away from the camera slightly.]“She’s my daughter.”
[That shocked everyone inside the Tap Room as Jacob Phoenix slowly comes to his senses.]“Don’t you think I don’t know the real you, kid? I remember you. I remember the plucky rookie with a bowl haircut and ambitions. I remember you before you became something else.”
[Jensen turns to face us.]“You say that I failed her. You say all this is because of me, but what about you? You can shed your name, you can hide in the shadows and on the roof tops but you can’t hide from what you did. You can’t hide from the truth.”
[In the ring, Phoenix has risen to a knee, watching intently.]“She’s locked away in this Asylum because of what you did, Jacob Phoenix. When you became something else and had to save the city you love, you let her fall into the trap of having too much love for a monster like me.”
[The rain drips down his face as he lowers his head.]“And Jonah can’t abide that.”
[Phoenix is finally back to his feet in the middle of the ring as the cage is slowly risen above his head.]“At REC, we’ll meet again, son. At REC, there’s no shadows or overpass. There’s just you, me and the middle of that ring.”
[He grimaces.]“For her.”
[Click.] [Static.]