Post by soulshadow on Sept 29, 2013 17:02:08 GMT -5
AND THE WORST IS, YOU CAN’T EVEN FUCKING SEE IT!!!!
{MPW star Soul Shadow takes a startled step back, narrowly avoiding Shakira’s tresses smacking him square in the face as it flares out from her sharp turn. Mouth agape, he watches helplessly as she storms to the driver side of a nearby black Jaguar. Within moments, the fancy car is screaming down the road, leaving the smell of burning rubber and tire treads in its wake. Soul stands blinking in the bright California sunshine, wondering what the hell just happened.}
Voice: What was that about, Soul?
{The wrestler turns to see a bespectacled man of about forty standing behind him. Dressed in a grey suit, he has a slight build and looks to be a little on the nerdy side with his close-cropped hair. Yet there is a quiet confidence and charisma about him. He watches silently as Soul looks back in the direction his niece left.}
Soul: Nothing I can’t handle, Xavier… though it looks like I might need a ride back to my hotel later.
Xavier: No worries there, man. I can take you there once we finish taping.
{Xavier steps next to Soul, matching his gaze.}
Xavier: Everything okay between you and your niece?
Soul (almost absent-mindedly): Yeah, we’ll be fine. We just aren’t seeing… eye-to-eye on something right now.
{Xavier nods, but doesn’t say anything in response. Appreciating his silence, Soul begins to walk towards entrance of the hotel of which they stand.}
Soul: Come on, man. Let’s get this interview out of the way.
{The double doors slide open, allowing Soul to disappear into the interior darkness. Xavier takes one more glance down the road, then swiftly follows.}
Shakira: You’re infatuated with that bitch, uncle! You are actually in love with that back-stabbing cow!
{In front of the Anaheim Marriott Suites, the heads of several passerbys turn to stare at the beautiful young lady. She completely ignores them, so keenly focused is she on the target of her ire, Soul Shadow. Through his peripheral vision, the ring veteran observes the unwanted attention. The heat of embarrassment colors his cheeks as he tries to calm Shakira.}
Soul: Will you keep your voice down, Shakira? Look, we’ve been over this a hundred… maybe even a thousand times since I returned from Vegas. Aeryn is a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.
Shakira: Really? Just a friend? Your former partner Dread Saxon is the oldest one you have in wrestling, yet when the title was on the line, you kicked his ass without hesitation. Last week, when “pretty little Ms. Ashfield” was about to earn an automatic title shot, you just sat there with your dick in your hand instead of trying to…
Xavier: …stop her from getting the briefcase?
{In a private suite of the Marriott, a single camera rests on tripod to record an interview between the veteran wrestler and the former commentator of one of his previous federations. Soul Shadow and Xavier Fyles sit on two comfortable lounge chairs, angled slightly in each other’s direction but ultimately facing the lens. Between them rests a placard stating this interview is for “The X-Fyles”, a play on the ex-announcer’s initial and last name.}
Soul: Sorry, I lost my train of thought for a second. What was that again?
Xavier: At High Stakes II, Impaler and Aeryn Ashfield were at the top of the ladder, his hand around her throat…
…and ready to chokeslam his opponent to the ground, despite her struggles. Below them, Soul Shadow slides under the bottom rope. Seeing another ladder laying on the mat, he grabs it and instinctively swings. The metallic clang reverberates throughout the arena as the steel connects with Impaler’s spine. The Damned member releases his hold on Aeryn, but Soul does not stop his assault. The next blow sends the big man careening wildly to the canvas, writhing in pain.}
{As Aeryn takes a moment to compose herself before reaching upwards, it would be so easy for Soul to strike her in similar fashion. Perhaps he could slam his ladder into hers, possibly sending her over the top rope and crashing into the floor below. There certainly is even plenty of time for him to simply give it a push to dump her off. However, Soul elects to do none of these. Rather, he watches as Aeryn reaches for the grabs the briefcase from the hook, earning the title shot for herself. As the crowd cheers wildly for their victorious heroine, it is not disappointment which lines Soul’s face.}
{Rather, it is a triumphant smile.}
Xavier: It seemed to me you could have easily prevented her from winning the match, yet you just watched as she claimed victory. What was your thought process there?
Soul (with a tiny smirk): You aren’t the first person to ask me that question…
{Immediately following High Stakes II, while Roxi’s title celebration is continuing unabated in the ring, Aeryn Ashfield is leaning against a wall in the backstage area of the MGM Grand. In her hands, she cradles her treasured prize, the briefcase guaranteeing her a shot against any MPW championship. Despite having decisively defeated five other MPW superstars to deservedly earn this opportunity, her expression is one of incredulity at actually having accomplished the feat.}
{So focused is she on her future, she fails to hear the heavy footsteps approaching her. When the shadow falls upon her, she becomes aware of the person standing in front of her. Looking up, she sees Soul Shadow standing directly in front of her. Despite the warm smile on his face, she takes a wary step back, positioning the briefcase behind her. To her surprise, he offers his hand.}
Soul: Congrats, Aeryn, on winning the title shot. You wrestled your heart out tonight and absolutely deserved it.
{Aeryn stares at his offered hand, but doesn’t budge one inch to take it.}
Aeryn: Why?
Soul: Huh? Why wouldn’t I congratulate you? You won…
Aeryn (shaking her head negatively): You know what I mean. You had the other ladder in your hand. You could have used it to knock us both off, but you only took out Impaler. Why? Why did you only strike him, and not me?
Soul: And I’ll give you the same answer…
Soul: Because it was the right thing to do.
{Despite all of possible answers going through Aeryn’s mind, she never imagined that as one of them.}
Xavier: The right thing to do? I don’t understand…
Soul: Of all the people in that match… me, Aeryn, Radke, Cable, Impaler, and Crow… the two people I least wanted to get the title shot were the two Damned members. The Chris’s were unconscious on the floor due to Radke’s insane move on Cable. Impaler was praying his kidneys still functioned after I targeted them like Hank Aaron seeing a hanging curve. But Crow was starting to make his way into the ring. If I knocked Aeryn off, I probably would not have had time to make my own way up the ladder before that bastard interfered. So I decided it was far better to let my friend take the briefcase than give Crow the opportunity.
Xavier: So you still considered Aeryn to be a friend?
Aeryn: How… how can you say that? When the Damned had you trapped in the cage, I didn’t come to your aid. Just last week, I watched FROM THE RAMP and didn’t lift a single finger as Crow and Impaler beat you bloody once more! I didn’t do anything… and it may have cost you the match!
Soul (shrugging his shoulders): Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. However, we had a deal that we would part ways until tonight. My niece may not have understood what that exactly meant, but I’ve been in this business a long time. I knew the score and I’m absolutely fine with it.
{Aeryn begins a retort, but no words come from her mouth. Instead, she drops her eyes to the floor.}
Aeryn: How can you possibly forgive me…
{The Roll the Dice winner looks to be drowning in shame, but her mea culpa is abruptly cut off by Soul drawing her into a hug. Her eyes open wide in surprise as she finds herself returning the embrace.}
Soul: There’s nothing to forgive. You did what you had to do. Never apologize for that.
Soul: As far as I’m concerned, Xavier, Aeryn and I are good. Always have been. The deal was fair to both sides. It isn’t her fault I had a little more on my plate than she did when it was struck.
Xavier: Not many people would be willing to pass up at guaranteed World title shot, even if it meant preventing a hated enemy from achieving it.
Soul (smiling condescendingly): Then those people don’t have faith in their own abilities. My own title shot will eventually come someday. Maybe not as soon as I would like, but I’m a patient man. When the next opportunity knocks, I’ll be there to answer the door.
Xavier: Do you think there is a chance it could come against Aeryn? Think she has the goods to pull off a World championship in MPW?
{Soul releases Aeryn from his grasp. She still finds hard to meet his eyes as they stand in the hallway.}
Soul: Well, I’m gonna head back to the hotel. Congratulations once again, future World champion.
{Soul claps Aeryn on the shoulder one last time before heading down the corridor. Aeryn watches his retreating back till it disappears around a corner, then leans against the wall, eyes raised to the ceiling.}
Soul: Without a doubt, she can… no, she WILL do it when she finally cashes it in. She is an elite level talent who, in my opinion, is on the verge of monstrous success.
Xavier: Then perhaps it is a good thing you have her as a partner this week against the Damned.
Soul: Well, not everyone sees it that way…
Shakira: I can’t believe Herman actually made Aeryn your teammate for Reloaded this Sunday. You ought to walk out on her as soon as the bell rings.
Soul: You know me better than that, Shakira. I would never abandon a teammate, especially against a pair of sadistic assholes like Crow and Impaler.
Shakira: Too bad that whore doesn’t feel the same.
Soul (exasperation finally creeping into his voice): Will you stop with the name calling? I’m fine with what she did.
{Shakira is ready to unleash another outburst, but Soul cuts her off with a gesture.}
Soul: And you know what else, Shakira? Truth is...
Soul: …I really never wanted her to get involved in the first place.
Xavier (blinking in surprise): Are you saying you don’t want Aeryn as a partner?
{Soul leans forward in his seat, gathering his thoughts as he speaks.}
Soul: Don’t get me wrong, Xavier. It is a definite advantage to having Aeryn Ashfield named as your partner. Though she had a long layoff like me, her veteran knowledge, intense dedication, and exceptional natural abilities have earned her a high level of success in MPW. She’s risen to every challenge put before her, and while she may not have emerged victorious, she never fails to lay her entire heart and being on the line. Aeryn is without a doubt the fiercest competitors I’ve met in years.
{Xavier nods, encouraging him to continue.}
Soul: Not to mention we already have shown great ring chemistry when we first teamed in Los Angeles with Jason X to face Taufik, Emi, and Radke. Granted, Jason didn’t exactly get into the partnership spirit, but Aeryn and I were in perfect sync with our strategies, moves, and timing. We clicked at a professional and personal level as if we had been together for years.
{Xavier raises a curious eyebrow at Soul’s observation.}
Soul: Yet, I never wanted her involved in this battle…
{The Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming. In the center of the ring, Impaler holds a battered Soul Shadow between his legs while Crow speaks directly at their foe. Soul’s face is covered in black mist, having been spewed from Crow’s lips like a frantic octopus inking his pursuer. In spite of the muck, the wrestler’s eyes open to tiny slits, peering between matted eyelashes. Instead of focusing on Crow, they stares at the top of the rampway where Aeryn Ashfield stands.}
{Despite her alleged friend’s predicament, Aeryn makes no move to help. Rather she just waits passively, observing the drama unfold. Soul’s attention never leaves her, despite Crow spouting his usual bullshit directly at his visage. Finally, once his partner completes his speech, Impaler crushes the veteran wrestler hard on the canvas via his Jackknife Powerbomb finisher “Bet Your Life”. The carnage complete, Aeryn turns to take her leave. The camera zooms on Soul’s face watching her depart. One would expect his expression to display outrage, sorrow, or perhaps even betrayal. Instead, it shows an emotion no one would have foreseen.}
{Relief}
Xavier: Wait… you mean you are glad she didn’t come to your aid?
Soul (nodding affirmatively): She doesn’t need to get dragged into this. The war with the Damned is very personal to me, something I want… even need to take care of myself.
Xavier: How do you mean?
Soul: Over the past five weeks, the Damned and I have been entangled in a twisted dance. Connected by our similar tragedies, Crow and his lackey Impaler have beaten me, battered me, bruised me, bloodied me… all in a pathetic attempt to convince me to join them in their pity party. They want me to admit life is futile, that hope doesn’t exist, that the inevitably death is something to base your entire philosophy around. Break me physically, and they feel my spirit will soon follow.
{Soul taps the side of his head as he continues.}
Soul: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a popular expression. Many think it refers to the physical body, but truth is it applies to a person’s mental state. You know what I went through with my wife’s death. After surviving that, there is nothing… NOTHING… the Damned can do to me which would ever make me fall. The universe gave me its best shot, and I stood tall.
{Xavier nods in sympathy as Soul continues.}
Soul: That is completely beyond the Damned’s limited understanding. I don’t know what tragedy visited Impaler’s life. I do know what horror touched Crow. What is true for both of them is mentally, those events killed them. Physically, they are in excellent shape. Their spirits, in contrast, are completely destroyed. They are nothing more than zombies... walking shells utterly dead on the inside.
Xavier: That is an interesting point of view about them.
Soul: It’s why they are so… enamored with me, Xavier. They see me, a man who has faced similar agonies, still smiling every day of my life. My lack of despondency confuses them. In response, they try to instill hopelessness into me through constant brutal attacks and parlor tricks. They believe by breaking my body piece by piece, my soul will soon follow.
{The veteran’s eyes grow every bright as he speaks.}
Soul: And it’s failed every time. They damn near killed me in Denver. Only a week later, I took it to the Impaler during our tag team match in Caspar. Crow then used cheap tactics to blind me and again leave me for dead. Not only did I get up once more, at the pay-per-view I shoved a ladder right up Impaler’s ass and helped cost both of them perhaps the biggest win of their stable. I’ve taken their best and instead of crumbling, my resolve has gotten strong each and every time.
Xavier: How do you think the Damned feels about that?
Soul: You know, I think it scares them. Mentally, both Crow and Impaler are weak. They can’t manage to escape their desperate outlooks. They can’t even fathom how someone like myself was able to reject it. They’ve tried EVERYTHING to crush me, to no avail. At this point, doubt is beginning to seep into their cores.
{Soul leans forward, looking directly to the camera.}
Soul: This week, I intend to hold the long awaited funeral for the Damned’s spirits. At long last, I get BOTH of them in a sanctioned match. Finally, I get the opportunity to clip the Crow’s wings and skewer the Impaler on his own bullshit. The torture, the pain, the beatings of the past weeks... those are nothing but slaps on the wrist compared to what I have in store for them. Like a surging tidal wave, I intend to engulf the weak embers of their mantra and extinguish it atop their fallen corpses. At Reloaded, this war ends when I finally toss those whiny zombies into their graves.
Xavier: And you intend to do this by yourself, without Aeryn’s help?
Soul: As I said, this is my fight. Aeryn, thanks to her win at High Stakes, has other concerns in her future. She doesn’t need to risk them with this.
Xavier: And that is the only reason why you want don’t want her in this match?
Shakira: Who the fuck are you kidding? It’s not because you want to face them alone. It’s because you want to protect her.
Soul: That’s ridiculous, Shakira. Aeryn can handle herself...
Shakira: No shit! She proved that by letting you get broken in half so it would make the Roll the Dice match easier! But you don’t care! You’d take that beating a thousand times if it means that bitch avoids getting hurt! All because you have feelings for her!
Soul: Shakira, we’re just friends…
{Shakira steps into her uncle’s personal space. Despite giving away over half a foot even with heels, the force of her anger drives him back.}
Shakira: BULLSHIT!! YOU’RE SMITTEN WITH THAT HO! IT’S AFFECTING YOUR JUDGMENT AROUND HER. AND THE WORST IS, YOU CAN’T EVEN FUCKING SEE IT!!!!
{Soul stares directly into the eyes of his old friend.}
Soul: Believe me, it’s the only reason.
{Xavier nods while facing the camera.}
Xavier: Tomorrow at Reloaded, it will be Crow and Impaler against Soul Shadow and Aeryn Ashfield… or maybe just Soul if my friend here has his way. Make sure you tune in to watch what is sure to be an amazing main event. I’m Xavier Fyles, and this edition of the X-Fyles has now been closed.
{Xavier extends his hand to Soul to shake it as the two make small talk to close the segment. Graphics hyping Reloaded appear just before the credits as the YouTube show comes to an end.}
{MPW star Soul Shadow takes a startled step back, narrowly avoiding Shakira’s tresses smacking him square in the face as it flares out from her sharp turn. Mouth agape, he watches helplessly as she storms to the driver side of a nearby black Jaguar. Within moments, the fancy car is screaming down the road, leaving the smell of burning rubber and tire treads in its wake. Soul stands blinking in the bright California sunshine, wondering what the hell just happened.}
Voice: What was that about, Soul?
{The wrestler turns to see a bespectacled man of about forty standing behind him. Dressed in a grey suit, he has a slight build and looks to be a little on the nerdy side with his close-cropped hair. Yet there is a quiet confidence and charisma about him. He watches silently as Soul looks back in the direction his niece left.}
Soul: Nothing I can’t handle, Xavier… though it looks like I might need a ride back to my hotel later.
Xavier: No worries there, man. I can take you there once we finish taping.
{Xavier steps next to Soul, matching his gaze.}
Xavier: Everything okay between you and your niece?
Soul (almost absent-mindedly): Yeah, we’ll be fine. We just aren’t seeing… eye-to-eye on something right now.
{Xavier nods, but doesn’t say anything in response. Appreciating his silence, Soul begins to walk towards entrance of the hotel of which they stand.}
Soul: Come on, man. Let’s get this interview out of the way.
{The double doors slide open, allowing Soul to disappear into the interior darkness. Xavier takes one more glance down the road, then swiftly follows.}
Shakira: You’re infatuated with that bitch, uncle! You are actually in love with that back-stabbing cow!
{In front of the Anaheim Marriott Suites, the heads of several passerbys turn to stare at the beautiful young lady. She completely ignores them, so keenly focused is she on the target of her ire, Soul Shadow. Through his peripheral vision, the ring veteran observes the unwanted attention. The heat of embarrassment colors his cheeks as he tries to calm Shakira.}
Soul: Will you keep your voice down, Shakira? Look, we’ve been over this a hundred… maybe even a thousand times since I returned from Vegas. Aeryn is a friend. Nothing more, nothing less.
Shakira: Really? Just a friend? Your former partner Dread Saxon is the oldest one you have in wrestling, yet when the title was on the line, you kicked his ass without hesitation. Last week, when “pretty little Ms. Ashfield” was about to earn an automatic title shot, you just sat there with your dick in your hand instead of trying to…
Xavier: …stop her from getting the briefcase?
{In a private suite of the Marriott, a single camera rests on tripod to record an interview between the veteran wrestler and the former commentator of one of his previous federations. Soul Shadow and Xavier Fyles sit on two comfortable lounge chairs, angled slightly in each other’s direction but ultimately facing the lens. Between them rests a placard stating this interview is for “The X-Fyles”, a play on the ex-announcer’s initial and last name.}
Soul: Sorry, I lost my train of thought for a second. What was that again?
Xavier: At High Stakes II, Impaler and Aeryn Ashfield were at the top of the ladder, his hand around her throat…
…and ready to chokeslam his opponent to the ground, despite her struggles. Below them, Soul Shadow slides under the bottom rope. Seeing another ladder laying on the mat, he grabs it and instinctively swings. The metallic clang reverberates throughout the arena as the steel connects with Impaler’s spine. The Damned member releases his hold on Aeryn, but Soul does not stop his assault. The next blow sends the big man careening wildly to the canvas, writhing in pain.}
{As Aeryn takes a moment to compose herself before reaching upwards, it would be so easy for Soul to strike her in similar fashion. Perhaps he could slam his ladder into hers, possibly sending her over the top rope and crashing into the floor below. There certainly is even plenty of time for him to simply give it a push to dump her off. However, Soul elects to do none of these. Rather, he watches as Aeryn reaches for the grabs the briefcase from the hook, earning the title shot for herself. As the crowd cheers wildly for their victorious heroine, it is not disappointment which lines Soul’s face.}
{Rather, it is a triumphant smile.}
Xavier: It seemed to me you could have easily prevented her from winning the match, yet you just watched as she claimed victory. What was your thought process there?
Soul (with a tiny smirk): You aren’t the first person to ask me that question…
{Immediately following High Stakes II, while Roxi’s title celebration is continuing unabated in the ring, Aeryn Ashfield is leaning against a wall in the backstage area of the MGM Grand. In her hands, she cradles her treasured prize, the briefcase guaranteeing her a shot against any MPW championship. Despite having decisively defeated five other MPW superstars to deservedly earn this opportunity, her expression is one of incredulity at actually having accomplished the feat.}
{So focused is she on her future, she fails to hear the heavy footsteps approaching her. When the shadow falls upon her, she becomes aware of the person standing in front of her. Looking up, she sees Soul Shadow standing directly in front of her. Despite the warm smile on his face, she takes a wary step back, positioning the briefcase behind her. To her surprise, he offers his hand.}
Soul: Congrats, Aeryn, on winning the title shot. You wrestled your heart out tonight and absolutely deserved it.
{Aeryn stares at his offered hand, but doesn’t budge one inch to take it.}
Aeryn: Why?
Soul: Huh? Why wouldn’t I congratulate you? You won…
Aeryn (shaking her head negatively): You know what I mean. You had the other ladder in your hand. You could have used it to knock us both off, but you only took out Impaler. Why? Why did you only strike him, and not me?
Soul: And I’ll give you the same answer…
Soul: Because it was the right thing to do.
{Despite all of possible answers going through Aeryn’s mind, she never imagined that as one of them.}
Xavier: The right thing to do? I don’t understand…
Soul: Of all the people in that match… me, Aeryn, Radke, Cable, Impaler, and Crow… the two people I least wanted to get the title shot were the two Damned members. The Chris’s were unconscious on the floor due to Radke’s insane move on Cable. Impaler was praying his kidneys still functioned after I targeted them like Hank Aaron seeing a hanging curve. But Crow was starting to make his way into the ring. If I knocked Aeryn off, I probably would not have had time to make my own way up the ladder before that bastard interfered. So I decided it was far better to let my friend take the briefcase than give Crow the opportunity.
Xavier: So you still considered Aeryn to be a friend?
Aeryn: How… how can you say that? When the Damned had you trapped in the cage, I didn’t come to your aid. Just last week, I watched FROM THE RAMP and didn’t lift a single finger as Crow and Impaler beat you bloody once more! I didn’t do anything… and it may have cost you the match!
Soul (shrugging his shoulders): Maybe it did, maybe it didn’t. However, we had a deal that we would part ways until tonight. My niece may not have understood what that exactly meant, but I’ve been in this business a long time. I knew the score and I’m absolutely fine with it.
{Aeryn begins a retort, but no words come from her mouth. Instead, she drops her eyes to the floor.}
Aeryn: How can you possibly forgive me…
{The Roll the Dice winner looks to be drowning in shame, but her mea culpa is abruptly cut off by Soul drawing her into a hug. Her eyes open wide in surprise as she finds herself returning the embrace.}
Soul: There’s nothing to forgive. You did what you had to do. Never apologize for that.
Soul: As far as I’m concerned, Xavier, Aeryn and I are good. Always have been. The deal was fair to both sides. It isn’t her fault I had a little more on my plate than she did when it was struck.
Xavier: Not many people would be willing to pass up at guaranteed World title shot, even if it meant preventing a hated enemy from achieving it.
Soul (smiling condescendingly): Then those people don’t have faith in their own abilities. My own title shot will eventually come someday. Maybe not as soon as I would like, but I’m a patient man. When the next opportunity knocks, I’ll be there to answer the door.
Xavier: Do you think there is a chance it could come against Aeryn? Think she has the goods to pull off a World championship in MPW?
{Soul releases Aeryn from his grasp. She still finds hard to meet his eyes as they stand in the hallway.}
Soul: Well, I’m gonna head back to the hotel. Congratulations once again, future World champion.
{Soul claps Aeryn on the shoulder one last time before heading down the corridor. Aeryn watches his retreating back till it disappears around a corner, then leans against the wall, eyes raised to the ceiling.}
Soul: Without a doubt, she can… no, she WILL do it when she finally cashes it in. She is an elite level talent who, in my opinion, is on the verge of monstrous success.
Xavier: Then perhaps it is a good thing you have her as a partner this week against the Damned.
Soul: Well, not everyone sees it that way…
Shakira: I can’t believe Herman actually made Aeryn your teammate for Reloaded this Sunday. You ought to walk out on her as soon as the bell rings.
Soul: You know me better than that, Shakira. I would never abandon a teammate, especially against a pair of sadistic assholes like Crow and Impaler.
Shakira: Too bad that whore doesn’t feel the same.
Soul (exasperation finally creeping into his voice): Will you stop with the name calling? I’m fine with what she did.
{Shakira is ready to unleash another outburst, but Soul cuts her off with a gesture.}
Soul: And you know what else, Shakira? Truth is...
Soul: …I really never wanted her to get involved in the first place.
Xavier (blinking in surprise): Are you saying you don’t want Aeryn as a partner?
{Soul leans forward in his seat, gathering his thoughts as he speaks.}
Soul: Don’t get me wrong, Xavier. It is a definite advantage to having Aeryn Ashfield named as your partner. Though she had a long layoff like me, her veteran knowledge, intense dedication, and exceptional natural abilities have earned her a high level of success in MPW. She’s risen to every challenge put before her, and while she may not have emerged victorious, she never fails to lay her entire heart and being on the line. Aeryn is without a doubt the fiercest competitors I’ve met in years.
{Xavier nods, encouraging him to continue.}
Soul: Not to mention we already have shown great ring chemistry when we first teamed in Los Angeles with Jason X to face Taufik, Emi, and Radke. Granted, Jason didn’t exactly get into the partnership spirit, but Aeryn and I were in perfect sync with our strategies, moves, and timing. We clicked at a professional and personal level as if we had been together for years.
{Xavier raises a curious eyebrow at Soul’s observation.}
Soul: Yet, I never wanted her involved in this battle…
{The Casper Events Center in Casper, Wyoming. In the center of the ring, Impaler holds a battered Soul Shadow between his legs while Crow speaks directly at their foe. Soul’s face is covered in black mist, having been spewed from Crow’s lips like a frantic octopus inking his pursuer. In spite of the muck, the wrestler’s eyes open to tiny slits, peering between matted eyelashes. Instead of focusing on Crow, they stares at the top of the rampway where Aeryn Ashfield stands.}
{Despite her alleged friend’s predicament, Aeryn makes no move to help. Rather she just waits passively, observing the drama unfold. Soul’s attention never leaves her, despite Crow spouting his usual bullshit directly at his visage. Finally, once his partner completes his speech, Impaler crushes the veteran wrestler hard on the canvas via his Jackknife Powerbomb finisher “Bet Your Life”. The carnage complete, Aeryn turns to take her leave. The camera zooms on Soul’s face watching her depart. One would expect his expression to display outrage, sorrow, or perhaps even betrayal. Instead, it shows an emotion no one would have foreseen.}
{Relief}
Xavier: Wait… you mean you are glad she didn’t come to your aid?
Soul (nodding affirmatively): She doesn’t need to get dragged into this. The war with the Damned is very personal to me, something I want… even need to take care of myself.
Xavier: How do you mean?
Soul: Over the past five weeks, the Damned and I have been entangled in a twisted dance. Connected by our similar tragedies, Crow and his lackey Impaler have beaten me, battered me, bruised me, bloodied me… all in a pathetic attempt to convince me to join them in their pity party. They want me to admit life is futile, that hope doesn’t exist, that the inevitably death is something to base your entire philosophy around. Break me physically, and they feel my spirit will soon follow.
{Soul taps the side of his head as he continues.}
Soul: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” is a popular expression. Many think it refers to the physical body, but truth is it applies to a person’s mental state. You know what I went through with my wife’s death. After surviving that, there is nothing… NOTHING… the Damned can do to me which would ever make me fall. The universe gave me its best shot, and I stood tall.
{Xavier nods in sympathy as Soul continues.}
Soul: That is completely beyond the Damned’s limited understanding. I don’t know what tragedy visited Impaler’s life. I do know what horror touched Crow. What is true for both of them is mentally, those events killed them. Physically, they are in excellent shape. Their spirits, in contrast, are completely destroyed. They are nothing more than zombies... walking shells utterly dead on the inside.
Xavier: That is an interesting point of view about them.
Soul: It’s why they are so… enamored with me, Xavier. They see me, a man who has faced similar agonies, still smiling every day of my life. My lack of despondency confuses them. In response, they try to instill hopelessness into me through constant brutal attacks and parlor tricks. They believe by breaking my body piece by piece, my soul will soon follow.
{The veteran’s eyes grow every bright as he speaks.}
Soul: And it’s failed every time. They damn near killed me in Denver. Only a week later, I took it to the Impaler during our tag team match in Caspar. Crow then used cheap tactics to blind me and again leave me for dead. Not only did I get up once more, at the pay-per-view I shoved a ladder right up Impaler’s ass and helped cost both of them perhaps the biggest win of their stable. I’ve taken their best and instead of crumbling, my resolve has gotten strong each and every time.
Xavier: How do you think the Damned feels about that?
Soul: You know, I think it scares them. Mentally, both Crow and Impaler are weak. They can’t manage to escape their desperate outlooks. They can’t even fathom how someone like myself was able to reject it. They’ve tried EVERYTHING to crush me, to no avail. At this point, doubt is beginning to seep into their cores.
{Soul leans forward, looking directly to the camera.}
Soul: This week, I intend to hold the long awaited funeral for the Damned’s spirits. At long last, I get BOTH of them in a sanctioned match. Finally, I get the opportunity to clip the Crow’s wings and skewer the Impaler on his own bullshit. The torture, the pain, the beatings of the past weeks... those are nothing but slaps on the wrist compared to what I have in store for them. Like a surging tidal wave, I intend to engulf the weak embers of their mantra and extinguish it atop their fallen corpses. At Reloaded, this war ends when I finally toss those whiny zombies into their graves.
Xavier: And you intend to do this by yourself, without Aeryn’s help?
Soul: As I said, this is my fight. Aeryn, thanks to her win at High Stakes, has other concerns in her future. She doesn’t need to risk them with this.
Xavier: And that is the only reason why you want don’t want her in this match?
Shakira: Who the fuck are you kidding? It’s not because you want to face them alone. It’s because you want to protect her.
Soul: That’s ridiculous, Shakira. Aeryn can handle herself...
Shakira: No shit! She proved that by letting you get broken in half so it would make the Roll the Dice match easier! But you don’t care! You’d take that beating a thousand times if it means that bitch avoids getting hurt! All because you have feelings for her!
Soul: Shakira, we’re just friends…
{Shakira steps into her uncle’s personal space. Despite giving away over half a foot even with heels, the force of her anger drives him back.}
Shakira: BULLSHIT!! YOU’RE SMITTEN WITH THAT HO! IT’S AFFECTING YOUR JUDGMENT AROUND HER. AND THE WORST IS, YOU CAN’T EVEN FUCKING SEE IT!!!!
{Soul stares directly into the eyes of his old friend.}
Soul: Believe me, it’s the only reason.
{Xavier nods while facing the camera.}
Xavier: Tomorrow at Reloaded, it will be Crow and Impaler against Soul Shadow and Aeryn Ashfield… or maybe just Soul if my friend here has his way. Make sure you tune in to watch what is sure to be an amazing main event. I’m Xavier Fyles, and this edition of the X-Fyles has now been closed.
{Xavier extends his hand to Soul to shake it as the two make small talk to close the segment. Graphics hyping Reloaded appear just before the credits as the YouTube show comes to an end.}
