Post by oldprydeaccountdoesnotwork on Mar 14, 2014 9:35:38 GMT -5
“I escaped my final moment, but it's turning back at me
On every corner I can feel it waiting.
Just a moment, no awareness, I could easily slip away
And then I'll be gone forever.”
Have you ever thought about the hypocrisy of attributing things in your life to God?
Yes, it’s a touchy subject, but bear with me.
When something good happens in a religious person’s life, I always hear them thanking God for helping them. He came through, blessing them with reward or helping them avoid catastrophe. “The Lord provides”. He’s all-knowing and all-powerful and He’s on your side.
But when disaster strikes, when a person loses their job or gets in an accident, can they blame God for letting it happen? No, says the church, it’s not God’s fault. Our own choices lead us to what happens, or maybe it was just meant to be. The closest they come is talking about how God is “testing” you. If something bad happens, you’re not supposed to curse His name, you’re supposed to pray to Him again to help you, and expect a different result.
If a person decides to get off the plane and it later crashes, he thanks God for sparing him. Anyone who survived the plane crash is supposed to thank him as well for letting them live, no matter what condition their bodies are in. But why didn’t He get them off the plane as well? What about the people who died? Should their surviving relatives be thanking God for taking them away?
I have talked to priests about this. They rarely have any answers other than to keep the faith. It’s not that easy. It’s difficult to think that all the things that have happened to me in my life up to this point were pre-ordained and that I should be thankful for being where I am. I’m told I should be grateful for my life.
But when I was faithful, I was destroyed. When I believed, I had that belief taken from me. That seems to be God’s way. He pushed Abraham to kill his own son. He had Joseph thrown into prison for a crime he didn’t commit. He took everything from Job on a bet.
And he put me through hell for pursuing my dreams, and is now teaming me with one of the darkest wrestlers in OCW for one more match. And that’s supposed to make me believe again?
No, now I believe in myself. I’ve made myself over in a new image. I have changed my fate. My current path is my own, no one else’s.
Maybe God had a hand in that. Maybe this is just another big test to see what I do. Will I pass? I don’t know. Because faith isn’t something you can easily regain, and my faith was lost long ago.
I’m on the line between darkness and light. Let the testing commence, and we will see where I land.
~Open to a shot of the open road. The old car that Grant and Pryde are using to get from show to show appears as it comes down the highway. They pass by, allowing you to see the sign next to the road: New Orleans, next right. The shot changes to inside the car, where Pryde is driving. Grant is trying to get a low-end GPS to work correctly~
Grant: I can’t believe we’re going to New Orleans. We have the biggest match of your return to prepare for, and we’re taking a side-trip? This is not what you do when you have a strict gas budget.
Pryde: We’re fine. Getting a win in the tournament gave us a cushion to work with.
Grant: But Mardi Gras ended weeks ago, it’s back to being a boring tourist attraction anyway.
Pryde: We’re not going for the attractions.
Grant: Are we at least going to see if any girls there want to flash us?
Pryde: No, not that either.
Grant: Does this have something to do with those two messages you received? You never told me what they were.
Pryde: Do you have the address put in yet?
Grant: If you hadn’t cracked your phone’s faceplate, this would have been a lot easier.
~Pryde doesn’t bother to respond, so Grant fools with the GPS until it finally comes on. A strange old-man voice talks, telling them where to go. Pryde follows the directions. Grant watches where they’re going, listening to the strange voice and half-expecting that they’re being directed over a dam or to a serial killer’s house~
Grant: I know I agreed to come with you and help you on your quixotic quest, but it would help if you could open up and tell me where we’re going.
~Pryde doesn’t talk at first but he knows he has to trust Grant. Pryde has so few friends left, he can’t afford to lose another~
Pryde: I got a message from someone I used to know, a long time ago. She’s had some ups and downs in her life, and now she’s needing some help.
Grant: Is this another ex? How many do you have?
Pryde: We were never married. It would have never worked between us, and she knew it. Two different worlds.
Grant: But when she sends you something, you immediately jump to her aid? You want me to believe there wasn’t anything there?
Pryde: I didn’t say that. I just said it wouldn’t have worked out, and she knew it.
Grant: Okay, so why does she need us? And don’t tell me she’s coming with us to Cuthbert, unless she also has money to buy her own food along the way.
Pryde: She may, she may not. The shining river of the future could part either way.
Grant: I hate when you do that. Damn self-help quotes. At least you seem less angry now after a few days.
Pryde: The anger is still there, I’ve just got a little better control of it, for now.
~Pryde remembers what happened. He had his biggest moment in OCW so far, teaming with Mario Maurako to move forward in the tournament. He even got the pinfall, a triumphant victory that was quickly marred by Maurako leaving him alone in the ring and Payne ambushing him like the sore fucking loser he was. The memory is a painful one showing that he still has got a ways to go to reach his redemption~
Grant: So while you’re driving us to who knows where, do you want to talk about the match we should be preparing for?
Pryde: What is there to talk about? It’s my final time partnering with Maurako. If we win, the next time we meet it will be for the championship.
Grant: But you have to get past Danny B & Amber Ryan first.
~Pryde pauses while he makes a turn. The streets are starting to get smaller the further they go into New Orleans~
Pryde: Those two make a surprising team. I did not expect them to beat Noah Mackenzie and the Great One but they worked together better than I thought.
Grant: Danny B also cheated which is something you need to watch out for.
Pryde: Yes he did, but I might expect the same from Maurako, maybe Ryan, and maybe even myself. I have said I will do whatever it takes to earn my redemption. I do not think it will be a completely clean match on either side. At the end, all that matters is who gets the victory to go to the final match.
~The GPS badly mispronounces the next street but Pryde is able to figure out where to go. They are almost at their destination. Maybe. They will find out when they get there~
Pryde: It’s clear the two do not get along. They managed to work together for one week, just as Mario and I did. But will they be able to trust each other for two weeks in a row? I know it must be hard for Amber to have her back turned on Danny. Mario and I did not bring any animosity in when we first teamed up. That makes us a stronger team, if only for one more match.
Grant: You were a little annoyed that he left you to get ambushed, though.
Pryde: At least he acknowledged me. I don’t think either of us remembered the fact that Payne was a colossal shithead who has to throw a temper tantrum when he loses. I won’t forget that. But we’re moving on. Mario and I can work effectively as a team still. I can’t say the same about the hatred between Amber and Danny.
Grant: Teamwork is important, that’s for sure, with so much on the line. Can you believe it? You could actually have your first OCW title shot in your third match back! I knew you would make it, but I didn’t expect it this fast.
Pryde: It hasn’t happened yet. Ryan & Danny are beatable but so are we. Anything can happen on any given night. My goal is to make sure it happens in my favor, on my terms.
~The GPS gives a weak-sounding “You have reached your destinaaaa” and turns off. It has overheated. Grant looks at the building they have parked in front of~
Grant: A church? It brought us to a church? That can’t be right.
Pryde: This is it. She should be inside.
Grant: Can you still enter a church? I know it’s been years. Should I go first, in case you burst into flames? Although all I’d have to put you out would be holy water, and that would just make things worse.
Pryde: Funny.
~The two get out and go up the steps. Pryde takes a moment at the door as if pondering what Grant had said but he goes inside. No flames erupt, so Hood can be satisfied that Pryde is not a vampire or a demon. Alien is still on the table. The older priest inside turns and sees them. The mask does not distract him. He must have been told it was coming~
Priest: Hello my sons. Welcome to the house of the Lord. I assume you are the ones I was expecting?
Pryde: Yes. Where is she?
Priest: She is resting in the back confessional. There were some tough-looking thugs here earlier looking for her but I convinced them she was already gone.
~Pryde takes a closer look at the priest and sees the black eye and bruise on his cheek. The priest also has an arm protectively over his ribs. The anger starts to grow again, evident by how Pryde’s hand starts forming into a fist over and over~
Pryde: Are you alright, Father?
Priest: I am fine. I have endured worse.
~Pryde pulls out a wad of bills and gives it to the priest, causing a groan from Grant~
Pryde: For your troubles. Use them for good.
Priest: Thank you my son.
~Pryde walks to the back confessional and opens the door. Inside, asleep, is a blonde lady wearing shabby clothes. The needle marks on her arms stand out in the light coming through the door, telling a story all their own. She stirs and looks up at who has opened the door, blinking a lot~
Pryde: How is it going, Trix?
Trix: I always hated when I was called that. You always made me think of that dumb rabbit. Trix are for kids my ass. I hate kids.
Pryde: Can you stand?
Trix: I’m not an invalid. I’m fine.
~Trix gets up but almost falls. Pryde catches her arm and helps her out. It’s clear that she’s not fine. Her speech is slurred and her eyes are having trouble focusing. She’s either been drinking or shooting up. Neither is a happy option. There is a smell in the confessional that Pryde knows all too well. He should have given the priest more money to help with the clean-up~
Pryde: You called for my help. Now I’m here. What do you want to do?
Trix: You always wanted to do me, didn’t you? But we didn’t. Why didn’t we again? I don’t remember.
Pryde: Focus, Trix. Try to focus.
Trix: That mask is hiding your cute face, isn’t it? What a drag.
~Trix tries to reach up towards the mask but Pryde gets her arm to stop her~
Trix: I know your secret, tee hee!
~Trix giggles but then almost goes down again. Pryde gives her a shoulder and brings her out of the confessional~
Pryde: I think we should get you somewhere you can rest.
Trix: Rest? No, I can’t rest. I have to, have to get away, get away, get away!
~Trix is suddenly more alert and looking around realizing she is no longer hidden. Pryde holds onto her and continues to help her towards the door where Grant and the priest are waiting~
Trix: I can’t go out! They’ll find me! They’ll put me back in, and I don’t want back in! I want out!
Pryde: Calm down, Trix! You are with friends! You called me, remember?
Trix: You don’t understand. They could kill me! Or they might keep me alive! I need to hide, and I need another dose!
~Trix tries to pull away but Pryde won’t let her go. He has seen this before and knows what needs to be done~
Pryde: I’m sorry, Trix.
~Trix suddenly gasps and looks down at the needle that just went into her arm. She smiles at Pryde~
Trix: Thank you! You’re so good to me! I so needed this, it will feel so, so, sssss
~Within seconds, Trix is collapsing into unconsciousness from the sedative that Pryde just gave her. The priest doesn’t approve, but Pryde doesn’t care~
Pryde: Get her other arm, Grant. Let’s get her out to the car.
Grant: I’m not aiding and abetting a kidnapping, am I?
Pryde: She will thank us for this later, trust me.
~The priest watches as they take Trix out the door and to the car. As they put her in, another car pulls up nearby and three men get out. All are armed. They were watching the building~
Man: You there! That’s private property! Hand her over and you don’t have to bleed.
~Pryde turns to the three men, and two of them look startled at the sight of the masked man. The third one laughs it off and waves them forward. Grant backs away, scared, but Pryde reaches into the backseat. As the more confident man gets close, Pryde pulls out a small baseball bat and smashes the man in the kneecap. He screams and the first two men stop. Pryde bashes the man again, knocking him out and stopping the screaming~
Pryde: I’m not as easy to beat on as a priest or a small woman, am I? I’m not a wimp like others you’ve dealt with before. I’m the fucking badass that you guys wish you could be! Now take him and get the fuck out of here. Consider this girl’s debt as a write-off.
~The first man steps forward as if to grab Pryde, but Pryde immediately grabs him by the finger and twists, breaking it. To the man’s credit he doesn’t yell, he just groans and swings his other fist. Pryde dodges and gets a knee to the groin that puts the second man down. The last man backs up, not wanting an injury of his own. He just watches as Pryde gets in the car~
Pryde: You coming, Grant?
~Grant breaks out of his paralysis and runs for the other side, jumping into the back seat with Trix. The car backs out and leaves, with the one man checking on his friends. Pryde drives off, with Grant watching, scared, out of the back window~
Grant: That was insane! Who were they?
Pryde: Perhaps part of the slave trade here, I don’t know. Trix said in her message she had come to party over Mardi Gras, and they weren’t letting her leave. I hate to think what they made her do.
Grant: She’s out cold. What are we going to do with her?
Pryde: We’ve got to get her cleaned out and then we will figure out our next move. I know a few places that can help.
Grant: Thank God we got ourselves out of there in one piece. That would have been just great, you getting beat up or worse before your match.
Pryde: God had nothing to do with it. Trix called for help on her own, and I chose to travel here on my own.
Grant: I’m going to be scared every time you get a phone call now.
Pryde: That might be a good reaction.
Grant: But wait, didn’t you get two phone calls? The first was this girl, but who was the second? Pryde?
~Pryde does not say. He is back, lost in thought, as he considers what is to come at Massacre. Grant gives up and waits in the back seat, sometimes looking out the back to make sure they are not being followed. Fade out~
I have spoken of how I feel about God. But what about the other side of the coin? Amber Ryan thinks that I am selling my soul by partnering with a devil like Maurako. But sometimes you don’t have a choice about the devil you’re dancing with.
The ironic point is that Amber did something remarkably similar, teaming with her worst enemy, when she could have chosen a different partner and fought him in a different way, at a different time. But she decided that the fight would mean more if gold ended up being on the line. To me, her choice is worse than my situation. Dean did this to me. She did it to herself.
Have I made a deal with a devil? Maybe. I won’t know for sure until the night is over. It is the price I pay for the success I seek. Someone like Amber can’t understand what my life has been like, why my craving for being redeemed is so overwhelming. She’ll never know what drives me, through the dark and the light alike.
The Lord may be guiding me. The devil may be controlling me. Buddha might be chanting, Jupiter might be rising, Zeus might be cheating on his wife again with a slutty human whore. All of it is immaterial.
I don’t recognize anyone controlling my destiny but myself. I wear this mask because it’s needed, not because some force made me do it. I will not walk away. I will not lay down. I will not give up.
Pryde commeth before the fall. Prepare for the plunge.
