Becky Balfour sat in a confessional stall and exhaled a deep breath. Between her and the man that would hear her bare her soul, was a screen and a dark curtain. She ran her hands across her chest that was covered by a T-shirt with the phrase ‘I am the future’, almost delaying her inevitable confession.
“Father, forgive me, for I have sinned.”
Becky now moved her hands to her kneecaps that were exposed through her ripped jeans. She massaged her knees, her eyes haphazardly scanning the tiny, enclosed area surrounding her.
“I take advantage of people.”
Before explaining her words, she goes for a trip down memory lane.
“For all of my life, I have been abused, mentally, physically. I’ve been discarded whenever it was convenient for the world. My thoughts, emotions, and feelings were valued at nothing by most of the people I crossed paths with. Save for a few friends that I trusted, and I was taken advantage of by everyone else.
Why have I ended up doing the same thing? Because it’s my turn.
My Society operates differently from the norm. Seth, Zaylee...me...we have all been wronged, so I bring others down to the level I was at a few years ago. The ones that feel hopeless, they are easy to manipulate, and they would do ANYTHING for me.”
The voice on the other side of the curtain speaks up.
“So why take advantage of them?”
A quiet chuckle escapes the lips of the twenty one year old.
“Because this is about me, Seth, and Zaylee. We deserve the attention that we never received for so many years. We deserve to be loved, respected...followed.”
A cigarette is lit by Balfour, but the smoke quickly filters through the curtain and screen.
“We don’t allow smoking here.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
The reply was cold as Becky took a drag of the cigarette.
“I came here to apologize for what I’ve done, but you know what? I’m making their lives better just by giving them the chance to associate with me, and my Society. Becky Balfour is making a difference...I’m the voice of the forgotten, the vision for the lost...and I think this little session is over.”
Becky drops the cigarette and steps on it before exiting the confessional leaving the smell of smoke lingering in her exit.
The camera was a static tinged black and white as Becky Balfour’s laugh could be heard, although for the moment, she couldn’t be seen. Instead, we were treated to a shot of what has come to be known as ‘The Followers’ standing in the picture. The expression on their faces varies from indifference to anger, not a single smile to be seen among them.
“Izumi Sato...as the days and nights fade away, you grow closer to your inevitable showdown with me and my Society. Tell me, how does it feel? Are you scared? Do you fear the unknown that The Society brings? Are you excited? I bet you want to slap the smile off of my face, don’t you?”
The Followers slowly split just enough to allow the petite blonde to step to the forefront. She stands in front of the crowd as they now reposition themselves behind her. Becky grins arrogantly as she twirls her hair, the camera cutting to static and then back as her icy eyes stare down the camera and command attention even through the black and white filter.
“I’m sure the world wants you to feel bad about yourself. The fact that you have yet to win a match in Union Battleground means you have fallen off a bit. Maybe all of those years of punishment you have subjected yourself to has caught up to you. Do you let the chatter of the fans or your peers get into your head?
Have you heard the people saying Becky Balfour has done what you have failed to do, and she has had only half of the matches in Union as you have? That’s right. I won a match here in my debut. You have yet to win one, and you’ve wrestled twice as many matches as I have here.”
The attempt at getting in Izumi’s head was clear, but would it work? Becky licked her bottom lip before continuing.
“You’re what we call a veteran in wrestling, Izumi, so you should have the answers, right? Tell me, what is it? Why can’t you buy a win in the same manner in which The Followers behind me can’t buy a dream? Their everyday reality is a nightmare, and you can relate, can’t you? Every time you enter a building to compete at a Union Battleground show, you know what is going to happen. You’re going to put on your cutest smile. You might even sign a few autographs for the stalkers that have happened to get backstage passes, those same stalkers who run up to you as you eat your dinner and beg for an autograph. You will put your ring gear on, and then you will make that long walk to the ring.
This time, the ring will be in Hampton Virginia at the Hampton Coliseum. July 7th. Across the ring from you will be me. And before you can wake up from that nightmare, there is a high possiblity that this match, this dream...just like those before it, will end the same way. With you on your back, the loser.
Why do you settle for the same thing over and over, Ms.Sato? Why do you endear yourself to those who see you as nothing more than a piece of meat. Every time you smile for a selfie with the stalkers, you enable them. They go on social media and brag about meeting you, only to have their friends rain on their parade by reminding them that you’re not the same person you used to be.
The honor, the rich history, the second generation spotlight? It has lost its luster. The same people that love you, doubt you. The problem is, you’re just too blind to see it.”
Becky peels her own eyelids open as far as they can go as she laughs. The bloodshot eyes and chipped nail polish from her fingers tugging at her eyes then cut to static as she’s now being filmed from above, as The Followers are hoisting her into the air as she lays flat on their hands. They crowd surf her to the middle of the group.
“Izumi Sato. Accept me and My Society. Let us into your life. Through us, you will no longer hear the words of doubt that your own people shower upon you. But in order for me, for us, to save you, first...I have to break you.
On July 7th, just days after celebrating our independence, I will be hosting a celebration of my own. I will be celebrating a win over you, and the funny thing is, you will have no one to blame but yourself. Much like Trixie, who was her own downfall, your emotions will betray you.You’re going to mentally beat yourself before you step into the ring with me, and all that will be left for me to do is to give you the physical lesson that I’m giving you today, verbally. Raw. Honest. In your face...I will be your nightmare, and then...WE will be your savior.
Become one of them. Follow me. Then, Izumi, you will be free.
July 7th, Ms.Sato.
Liberate yourself...when the Lights go Out.”
Becky lets out a shrieking scream as the camera suddenly fades out to black.
