Post by Alyssa Daniels on Jul 13, 2018 22:51:04 GMT -5
“We all lose sometimes.”
The hospital room is currently vacant. The sheets and blankets on the bed are made in preparation for the next patient who will occupy it. The floors, cabinets, seats, everything is spotless and clean the way a hospital room should be. Light cascades in from the window, giving the room life. The camera pans to show a view of Dallas, Texas, the site for Lights Out #26. Alyssa Daniels, sitting on the couch beside the window, takes in that very view herself. Her magenta hair is tied back into a bun. She wears a plain heather gray t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Her face displays an equal mix of deep thought and sadness as she looks out at the city.
“If she could’ve gotten to a hospital, got the help she needed both physically and psychologically… I don’t know. Maybe things would’ve been different. Dick, what happened to your sister was… I don’t even know the right word to use. Terrible just doesn’t seem to cut it. I’m sure it probably doesn’t matter much to you, but I have prayed that her soul find comfort and peace in its newfound freedom. I know what it’s like to lose someone so close right before my eyes. The pain is indescribable and I’ll be honest, I don’t really know that there’s anything anyone can say that will help with the pain. That takes time to fade and, if I’m being honest, it never goes away. That’s not the important part though, Dick. There are many versions out there of basically the same quote from who-knows-where: it’s not what happens to you that matters, it’s how you react to it.”
Alyssa grimaces as she looks away from the city and into the camera.
“I’m thinking that’s something we have in common. I remember watching as my mother died. I remember feeling numb about it. Next up to the plate was my reaction to it. That reaction took me away from my father. For a decade and a half, I made that man cope with his daughter’s death when I was still alive. My reaction cost others much. I ran from everything I was because of one terrible moment, because I saw her die.”
Alyssa shakes her head as she looks away. Her jaw clenches and unclenches with the tension of her thoughts.
“But I was just a kid, Dick. I hadn’t even seen a dog die yet. Through pets, children are taught the lessons of death and how to cope with it. This was how I had to face death, and I wasn’t ready. Does it wipe my slate clean? Excuse the next fifteen or so years of my life? Years of withheld truths? No. I’ll always carry that with me. But I’ve learned now. It’s why I fight Salvation every step of the way, why I’ve been here every single night Union Battleground airs. It’s why I ask for another night, another match. It’s why I, despite coming up short in the War Horse Championship match, fought my way through Guerrilla Warfare to be in this position right now.”
Her eyes narrow as she looks back at the camera, her tone scathing.
“I’m responsible for how I react to what happens to me.”
Her eyes shift down as she turns her head away, her expression severe.
“When we lost at War of the Worlds, I didn’t run away defeated, not like you did for the better part of a year. Any time there was a setback, I didn’t disappear. I lost, then came back and won the most massive match of the year the same night. But you, every time you couldn’t overcome Salvation, you disappeared to let them continue rotting away the core of the Battleground. There was no one here to truly fight them. Emery could’ve done something and didn’t, the Outliers joined late, and Flash Kassidy was overwhelmed. But I showed up, I took my lumps, and I came right back. It’s no coincidence that every Salvation member I’ve beaten is either gone or has since been kicked out. Devin. Diemos. Legion. Even Nemesis needed an ace up his sleeve to emerge from War of the Worlds victorious.”
Alyssa nods in thought.
“Resilience, Dick. That’s what defines me, motivates me, sustains me.”
Beat.
“And now, due to hard work and new allies, Salvation is fading. That’s not just because you took the championship away from Nemesis. No, they limped into Guerrilla Warfare. Viduus had to face the Outliers, arguably the greatest team to ever step into a Battleground ring, alone because his partner abandoned him. Nemesis was more desperate than he’s been since he arrived and overextended himself, made too many mistakes. You stepped in and delivered the final blow - dare I say the coup de grace? - but those of us that show up every single night? We were the ones that put in the work that lead to that moment. And sure, maybe Emery Layton cashed in and took the belt from you but your mission was accomplished. Nemesis paid in blood and was left on the hook...”
Brief chuckle.
“... for his transgressions. If there was ever a time to step away, Dick, that time is now. Making funeral arrangements, saying your last goodbyes to a girl who died way too young, you have plenty to keep you occupied. On top of that, you need time to come to terms with everything that happened. Nemesis was dethroned and defeated. You made your point. But for once, for once, you come up short and watch someone else leave with the Union Battleground Championship and you’re still here. I mean, maybe that could mean you’re continuing to fight on for Amanda. Maybe you’re doing this because you know she wouldn’t want you to give up, but no. The first reaction is always the most telling.”
Alyssa turns to the camera with a look of disgust.
“The first thing you do is take to Twitter to complain about losing your championship. You make it clear that it is your number one priority. It’s hours after that when you finally acknowledge Amanda and that what happened to her motivates you. When we teamed up at War of the Worlds, I didn’t know too much about you aside from your Union Battleground history. I didn’t realize the type of human being you were. But this… This is telling. And yeah, I completely understand that you don’t need my approval. I didn’t say all of this for some big ‘I’m disappointed in you’ moment.”
She shakes her head slowly, her lip twitching in anger.
“I just want you to understand why.”
She turns away from the window, stands, and walks slowly toward the hospital bed. She runs her fingers gently along the fresh blanket on top.
“I’m going to bring a fight to you that I’m sure you’re not going to expect. Sure, maybe you’ve been in some brutal matches in your career here, in Death Trip Wrestling, and all these other places. I’m sure you don’t call yourself the Butcher for kicks. Let me be very clear with you: you will damn sure feel it when I hit you. You will hurt when I drill you with high velocity strikes. Just because this isn’t your standard nuclear bomb match or whatever other ludicrous matches you’ve been in doesn’t mean I won’t beat you. Maybe you’re used to having various weapons used on you but I won’t need any extracurriculars. I am my own weapon. I bring enough ferocity that fit within the confines of the rules to put you down and believe me, Dick, I am enough to land you right here in this hospital room!”
Alyssa closes her eyes and takes a deep breath trying to reign in her anger. She opens them again and turns to face the camera.
“We all lose sometimes, Dick. Sometimes, we lose more than others can plainly see. You lost your sister, then jumped on Twitter to promptly lose your dignity. Maybe your heart truly is heavy with her loss. Or maybe your one true love is that Union Battleground Championship. Only you know which it is. But when I gauge Dick Devereaux the man, not the Butcher,” she states mockingly, “I see a man overcome by a need for power. It’s why you reach for the championship first and your sister second. It’s why you only come back to the Battleground when you’re set up for a championship opportunity. It’s why you’re just an attraction, not a true mainstay. It’s why you’ve won only a few more matches than I have and have been here a year and a half longer. And if you’re here now for power and not for the righteous ‘bring down Salvation’ speeches you give, you’re going to be disappointed yet again. I know you want that championship back but Dick, I’m coming for it. You may have some right to a rematch, but I earned my way to Coup De Grace. When the time comes, will you be able to say the same?”
Alyssa walks back to the window to look out at the city of Dallas.
“The day is almost here where you have to face the Beating Heart of the Battleground. You will face your own insecurities, you’ll answer the tough questions swimming around inside that shiny head of yours, then you’ll face the rightful number one contender to the Union Battleground Championship. One of us will be fighting for the right reasons.”
She turns her face to the camera.
“And one of us will be left figuring out how to react to another loss.”
With that, she turns and walks out of view as the camera turns to look out the window and upon the city.
Post by Dick Devereaux on Jul 14, 2018 1:17:55 GMT -5
[Blinding brightness opens up the scene as we see the moon lighting up the night sky. The wind blows gently as the trees rustle in the cool breeze. The night is quiet, almost silent. We pan down to see a park surrounding the camera. Trails and a small playground line the park as we notice a body laying on a park bench. The camera pans to him slowly as we notice he is holding onto a bottle in a paper bag. The figure sits up from the bench as he notices the camera. We can now see it is Dick Devereaux, still dressed in the same clothes from Guerilla Warfare. The blood has now dried and we see his wounds are wrapped in cheap toilet paper and paper towels. He looks at the ground as he lifts a picture from his side and stares at it with sorrow in his eyes.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: I'm so sorry Amanda... It should never have happened. You should never have been involved in this...
[Devereaux sobs as he tips the bottle back, letting the booze pour down his throat. The tears continue to fall down his face as he turns his attention to the camera. He holds the picture up as he snaps in anger.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: LOOK AT HER! SHE WAS AN ANGEL! THE ONLY GOOD THING LEFT IN MY LIFE! Nemesis, you did the worst thing you could ever do. YOU CAUSED THIS! YOU MADE HER DO IT! And all I have left in the world is gone...
[Devereaux stares at the picture again as he wipes the tears from his eyes. This is a very different Devereaux. Not one who is screaming and spewing venom. A saddened Butcher who has lost it all. Devereaux continues, not looking up from the picture.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: I've lost everything now. I have nothing left to live for. I've sat here since Guerilla Warfare, contemplating doing the same thing that Amanda did.
[Devereaux pulls a gun from his pocket and shows it to the camera. He places it against his temple as he plays with it.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: I thought it would be so easy. Bite the barrel and pull the trigger so I could join Amanda again. It would be that simple. But then I sat back and I thought about it. I had two options. I could end it all and join Amanda again. Or I could use Amandas death as a weapon. An adrenaline shot that pushes me towards what I need. So I took Amandas death and used it as my strength. At Guerilla Warfare I did what I could never do before. I defeated Nemesis and regained my Union Battleground Championship! Everything was right again in the world! I avenged Amandas death and finally beat Nemesis! But then not even five minutes later Emery FUCKIN' Layton had to stick her nose where it didn't belong. SHE STOLE MY CHAMPIONSHIP! She cashed in her shot and STOLE the Union Battleground Championship from me!
[Devereaux tosses down the gun and the picture as he stands to his feet, still holding the bottle of booze. He takes a swig before eyeing the camera again this time with anger shown on his face.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: EVERY FUCKIN' TIME! I reclaimed MY throne and once again someone runs in and STEALS IT! And instead of getting my rightful rematch I'm thrown into a match with Alyssa Daniels? WHY?! And on top of that Nemesis gets his rematch before I do?! So I'm fighting the Guerilla Warfare winner while the guy I beat for MY Championship gets MY shot! BULLSHIT! This is a fuckin' conspiracy!
[Devereaux chucks the bottle of booze before we hear it shatter on the ground. He grabs the camera and pulls it in close as he begins to spew from the mouth in anger.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: Alyssa Daniels, you walked out of Guerilla Warfare with a shot at MY Championship. Unfortunately it's been stolen from me, but that won't stop me from tearing you limb from fuckin' limb and paving my way back to MY Championship! You've got the opportunity to face the Champion at Coup De Grace, but I have no intentions of letting you make it that far! Lights Out Twenty Six, I'm seeing red. From here on out, every single person I step in the ring with is a sacrifice in the name of Amanda. Union Battleground will run red with the blood of every single opponent from here on out! Amanda was my everything, and now she's gone. At Lights Out, Alyssa, I'm coming to end your dream of a Coup De Grace victory. And after I end the myth of Alyssa Daniels...
[Devereaux grabs the gun again. He points it at the camera as he snorts.]
DICK DEVEREAUX: I'm coming to put a bullet in the head of the Union Battleground Champion!
[Devereaux fires the gun at the camera, shattering the lens and cutting the feed to static.]
