Post by oldprydeaccountdoesnotwork on Apr 4, 2014 14:26:24 GMT -5
“I can’t see, cause it’s burning deep inside.
Like gasoline, a fire running wild.
No more fear, cause I’m getting closer now.
So unreal, but I like it anyhow.”
It is so hard to believe that I began this journey only a month ago.
At the start of March, I started on my way to earn my redemption, putting my past behind me. I crushed Steve Martyn easily, after having my expected fight with Jeremy Santos taken away from me. My reward from Dean? He put me on a team with Mario Maurako in the Lethal Lottery. Was it an attempt to weaken Maurako? Was it in hopes that I would lay down if Dean asked me? Or did our dear President have something else in mind?
Doesn’t matter. I told him it would backfire on him. And look at me now.
Maurako didn’t respect me. But we won, match after match, beating all the teams that were supposed to go far. Maurako didn’t consider me a threat. But his vanity was his undoing. Without Dean’s help, despite the Family trying what I thought they would, I was able to do it. I proclaimed myself the king of the Southern circuit, earning a championship to wear around my waist, as my new allies Scott Syren and The Great One joined me in the ring. As I raised the belt, celebrating, I began to wonder.
In one month, have I already achieved what I started out for?
I spent the midnight hours after the pay-per-view thinking it over. Was it time to reveal myself, now that I’ve climbed to the top of the mountain and defeated a hall of famer? Had I done enough that my past could no longer haunt me?
That all changed the next week. I found out they decided to play a Bifford montage during our post-match interview, covering up my success. Would this have run if Maurako had won, if he and the Family were the ones celebrating? I then came to Massacre to join in a party atmosphere, with the thought of unmasking at the end of the night. That’s where I learned The Great One has been fired. There will be no celebration. There will be no party. The whole show is about The Family facing Brianna’s team at the next pay-per-view. Who cares about Pryde?
But maybe it’s a mistake. Maybe it will all be fixed. Or maybe I will be booked in a match against Drew Stevenson and Richard. One who has only been able to beat a piss poor tag-team partner, and one who is the jobber of the year so far for OCW? From the main event at Black Out 2, facing and defeating a hall of famer, to this contest?
No. I have not earned my redemption yet. I have not earned the respect I crave. Dean would not do this to me if he believed in me. The one man in OCW who knows who I am, and I haven’t gotten his faith.
So be it. I start over this Monday. I beat the fucking hell out of two guys who should not be stepping into the ring with me. I go through anyone and everyone Dean puts in front of me. And if that’s not enough? Maybe Dean will need to be convinced another way.
Until then, the journey continues.
~The dirty, well-traveled car makes its way through the entrance and pulls into the picnic area, parking. The engine cuts out, leaving us with the sound of nature for a few moments. The doors swing open, and Pryde and Grant get out. Pryde is dressed more comfortably today, with a good pair of jeans and hiking boots to go with his shirt and jacket. The mask is still on, clashing a little more with his current wardrobe and the beautiful forest setting. Grant is dressed almost like a park ranger. He might stand out more. Pryde goes to the trunk to pull out a mini backpack to take with them~
Grant: Are we sure we want to do this? What’s wrong with checking in at the hotel and exploring Bozeman the next few days? I hear they have some great museums.
Pryde: I’m tired of being cooped up in hotels. I also have a lot on my mind. “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
Grant: There you go with your quoting again. Who was that? Shakespeare? Aristotle? Babe Ruth?
Pryde: Albert Einstein.
Grant: The guy with the big hair who stuck his tongue out for pictures? I always liked him.
~Pryde shakes his head but he is laughing. Grant doesn’t mind making himself look like an idiot if it can relax the mood. It’s a good trait to have in an ex-brother-in-law, friend, and ally. Pryde shuts the car trunk and heads towards a picnic table, using it to make sure he has everything he needs. Grant is close behind~
Grant: So what are you going to be “understanding better”? Your match this week? Your problems with Dean? Your inability to lose the mask even when we are going miles away from where anyone who knows you might be?
Pryde: The first two. I know exactly why the mask stays on.
Grant: I know you’re still in shock about TGO being fired. But I don’t think Dean is trying to punish you with this match. It’s scheduled to be right behind the main event. At least you’re not jerking the curtain.
Pryde: I might as well be. After winning the biggest match of my career, I’m given a week off, and then put in a match with a guy who’s 1-6.
Grant: Richard. What kind of guy only goes by one name?
~Pryde stops and turns to look at Grant, who doesn’t recognize what he’s just said. Pryde decides to let it slide~
Pryde: He may be a rapper, but he’s clearly not a wrestler.
Grant: When you first started out, would people have thought you were a wrestler? Richard is young. Maybe he’s got a future to him.
Pryde: Not from what I’ve seen, and not when he’s facing me. He’ll have seven losses by the end of Monday. Maybe someday I’ll look back on it and think, I faced and defeated that man before he became a star. But for right now, he’s just a jobber waiting to take the plunge.
~Pryde turns towards the trail, considering the walk up ahead of them. They won’t be camping out, but if they don’t get moving soon, they will be coming back in the dark. That’s never recommended in nature. But Grant is in no hurry. He takes a seat on the bench of the picnic table, casually checking his watch~
Grant: You faced Drew Stephenson before, didn’t you? In the Lethal Lottery?
Pryde: That’s right. He and Damien Payne. I still have a score to settle with Payne for attacking me after that match. Stephenson I don’t care as much about. He says he is a 30-time World Champion. I haven’t seen anything to have earned that reputation. He didn’t wrestle like a multi-time hall of famer.
Grant: Maybe he is past his prime. Nobody can keep going forever.
Pryde: That’s another reason I need to keep moving forward. My time isn’t finite. Matches like these are a waste of my energy, when I should be fighting true stars.
Grant: I don’t see it that way. OCW is still being rebuilt, and crowds are growing at every show. More people will be watching this week than ever before. This is your chance to add some more fans to your watch-list. Defeating two men can never look back on a wrestling resume.
~Pryde thinks about this. It’s true, there will be people out there who have not seen him wrestle yet. The more fans you have, the more power you have in OCW. At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work, although who knows what Dean is thinking. Grant checks his watch again, looking towards the parking lot. Pryde is turned away, but he hears the movement and knows where Grant is facing~
Pryde: We need to get on the way. So would you mind telling me who we are waiting for?
Grant: What do you mean?
Pryde: You tried to take us down the wrong road, and you’ve been stalling for the past 10 minutes. You keep checking your watch. Someone else must be coming.
Grant: I have no idea what you’re, good, she’s finally here.
~A rental car pulls up in the parking lot, going next to where they parked. The door opens, and a woman gets out. Pryde stares in shock at his ex-wife, Crystal, as she smiles and waves at them. Grant waves back, glad to see his sister made it. Pryde doesn’t turn, but he starts talking to Grant. Sometimes the mask comes in handy since she can’t see he’s talking~
Pryde: Grant. What the fuck?
Grant: What did you want me to say? She was already in town, and since you didn’t want to go back to the hotel, she wanted to join us for a hike.
Pryde: I ask again, what the fuck?
Grant: If I had told you, would you have come here?
Pryde: Yes.
Grant: Oh. Then I should have told you.
Pryde: Yes.
Grant: Oops.
~Crystal comes over to them, hoisting up her own backpack. She slows down when she reaches them~
Crystal: Thanks for waiting for me. These back roads are murder.
Grant: Glad you could make it, sis. How was your flight?
Crystal: Uneventful.
~Crystal finally turns towards Pryde. The two nod at each other, but neither knows what to say~
Crystal: So should we get going? I don’t want to be out too late.
Pryde: Lead the way. The path is right up there.
~Crystal moves on, with Grant and Pryde following behind. Grant moves uncomfortably feeling Pryde’s stare into his back. They make progress up the trail, heading for Pryde’s first marked location~
Crystal: Congratulations, by the way, on your title win. I know it’s what you’ve been dreaming of.
Pryde: Thank you. I am very proud of being the OCW Southern Champion.
Crystal: Are you wearing the belt now?
Pryde: No, it’s not built for hiking. It’s locked away in a safe location.
Crystal: But you’re still wearing the mask.
Pryde: Yes, I am.
~Crystal shrugs and keeps hiking up the trail. She has never understood why the mask is now so important to her ex-husband, and she’s not willing to push it. They hike for a while, time passing by only shown by the movement of the shadows underneath their feet. As they come around another bend in the path, Crystal stops, surprised at what’s before them. Grant and Pryde come up on either side, admiring the view in front of them~
Crystal: It’s beautiful!
Pryde: I heard about Palisades Falls on the way over here. It sounded like a great place to visit.
Grant: I wasn’t sure about this hike, but that is a stunning view, bro.
Crystal: I love it. Let’s move closer, there’s a path that goes down near it.
~Crystal smiles at Pryde, a smile he’s seen before. She then turns and starts on her way down. Grant grins and gives Pryde a nudge, before moving off himself to give them some space. It’s clear why Grant arranged this. He’s said for a month now that Crystal still had feelings for Pryde. But Pryde isn’t sure yet. Have things changed? Or is it just that he’s becoming a success in OCW? He moves on after Crystal, watching her make her way down the path to the edge of the waterfall~
Crystal: This is magnificent! I wonder if they let you bathe in the water.
Pryde: Seeing that it’s a popular trail, I doubt they would like seeing that.
Crystal: Are you saying someone wouldn’t like to see me naked underneath a waterfall?
~Flustered by the question, Pryde says nothing. Crystal laughs, knowing that she got to him with that one~
Crystal: I’m just going to sit over here and put my feet in the water. If you want to join me, I’ll see you there.
~Crystal takes off her hiking boots and heads over to the edge. Pryde takes off his backpack, thinking it over. As he does so, his cell phone lets out a loud ping, signifying an incoming message. He pulls it out, mildly surprised to have managed to get a signal here deep in nature. He presses the button and sees the name on the top of the message: Trix. This grabs his attention, causing him to focus on the rest of the text~
Trix: Hi, ‘Pryde’ (I will call you that here because I know you are worried about your identity). Hope you are doing well. I am recovering slowly here in rehab, but I am very happy to still be here. Mom and Dad visit me every day. We’re rebuilding the bonds between us, and I owe it all to you. Thank you again so much for all you did for me. You are a very special person to have in my life. Come visit whenever your busy schedule will allow it. Love, Trix.
~Pryde re-reads the message, and then looks at the attached picture. It shows Trix surrounded by her parents and smiling for the camera. She looks tired but in much better shape than the last time he saw her~
Crystal: Are you alright?
~Crystal calls from the side of the water. She’s got her feet in the cool water, enjoying the feel. Pryde looks up the side of the mountain and sees Grant standing up there. He’s giving him the “OK” sign, gesturing for him to move in. But Pryde instead puts his phone away and gets his pack, putting it back on~
Pryde: So we need to get going shortly. We’ve got a few more landmarks to hit before it gets too dark to see them. How is the water?
Crystal: It feels great. We can’t stay longer?
Pryde: Just for a few more minutes.
~Pryde moves next to Crystal, looking up at the waterfall above. Crystal reaches up and takes his hand, holding onto it. Neither says a word, they just look out at the sight in front of them. Behind them, Grant is pacing back and forth, trying to decide what he should do. He then seems to slip and disappears from sight, without making a sound. Neither Crystal nor Pryde notice. Their attention is elsewhere, as are their thoughts. Fade out~
Have you ever known the perfect woman? Someone who seems to complement you in every way? Have you ever found that woman, but then lost her? Ever wondered if you could get her back again?
Now have you ever had it happen twice, and have both women back in your life in one form or another?
I loved Crystal with all my heart. Even with all the struggles of my past, she seemed to understand. But then it ended. My obsessions got to be too much for her. So what has changed? Why does it seem like the spark is burning again? Could it be that she still does care for me, and wants to give it another try?
On the other side, we have Trix. There were no marriage vows there. Trix didn’t believe in marriage. She called it a weapon of the government, another tool to keep people in line by assigning them titles. I never understood that but I didn’t complain about the time we had together. Now she’s cleaning up her life, getting back on the road to recovery. Does that road intersect with mine? Do I want it to?
I was not expecting this. Things were so bleak a month ago, as I began this quest. This isn’t something I should be worrying about now. I should be focused on one thing and one thing only: getting a victory at Massacre and proving myself once again to those in charge who don’t recognize my talent. This is not the Lethal Lottery or a Hazardous Ladder match, but there’s still a lot on the line. A loss against either of these two would ruin the progress I have made. I cannot let that happen. I will not let that happen.
My love life can stay on the sidelines. My success cannot. Drew? Richard? Prepare for the fall.
