Post by Declan Prescott on Jun 30, 2010 7:14:18 GMT -5
He tapped three times on the door. Three bangs echoing around his entire world. Swirling into every fibre of his being and flooding his senses with an anxiety that could never be overcome. He didn’t know what was going to happen in the coming moments, but he knew his world would forever be changed. The path of revenge was one that filled him with terror. Yet some things were simply unavoidable.
There was no response from the other side of the door.
“I guess it’s not supposed to be easy,” Declan Prescott thought, sighing to himself at the same time.
With one swift kick, he sent the door flying so far open, it nearly swung completely off its thick hinges. The sight he saw turned his stomach. That pale skinned, narrow eyed, demented monster was sitting on an expensive leather couch. That cruel, violent, sadistic rapist was holding a poorly rolled joint in one hand and a large television remote in the other. The beast dropped both at the sight of Prescott and leapt to his feet. But he was far too slow. Declan was already upon him and shoved him straight back into the cushions.
“Please,” Declan stated. “We’re only just getting started.”
“How the fuck did you find this place?!” Damien Noose spat, sweat seemingly foaming from every pore in his body.
“I had to get a lot of blood on my hands,” Declan responded, seating himself on the coffee table before the couch. “Yet there is still a need for more.”
“You fucker!” he retorted, with a sneer. “My homeboys are gonna be coming through that door any second! And when they do, you’re fucking dead!” The rigid, yellow grin of the beast grew wide and even more sickening.
“I assure you,” Declan replied, adjusting his belt. “Your boys aren’t going anywhere soon, except the hospital. I made sure of that.”
“Mother fucker! You’re lying!” As he blasted the words from his mouth, he reached between the cushions and came flying back with a sleek, sharp, steel blade.
BANG!
Like it was nothing at all, Declan had removed the pistol from his leather belt and punctured a hole straight through Noose’s knee cap. The monster writhed in agony, erupting in a piercing shriek, before tumbling helplessly to the floor.
With two violent twists of his legs, Declan sent both the couch and table crashing into opposite sides of the room. He then slammed his knees into either side of Noose’s trembling body, wrapped his hand mercilessly around the thing’s throat and jammed the barrel of the weapon into his mouth.
“I have this thing,” Declan spat. “Where I can’t take a life. You see, my mother was a whore. And when my father found out, he tried to kill himself. But not just himself. He tried to take my mother and I with him. On Christmas Day nineteen eighty eight, all three of us were in a car, supposedly driving to my grandparents home. My dad drove us off a cliff when I was four years old. But he failed. Only he died on that day. And ever since I vowed to myself that I’d never become like him. That I’d hold onto the voice inside me that separates me from creatures like him… and like you. And that’s why I don’t want to pull this trigger!
“But let me make something clear for you. Something that you may be unaware of. My father was a man. He felt things like compassion and love. You’re a whole new breed of vile. The only thing you care about is yourself. And you’ll kill, torture and maim just to get what you want. When your life ends, it won’t be the end of a human’s life. It’ll just be the putting down of a random animal.
“And yet if I kill you, a person will die. Not you Noose, you’re nothing but a rabid dog. No, no, no. If I take your life, I’ll be killing that part inside of me that makes me a person. That tiny little voice that separates the likes of you, from people like me. And while that thought scares the living hell out of me, if even one hair on her sweet, innocent head has been harmed, I’ll take the plunge! I’ll become a monster!”
Noose’s eyes were overflowing with tears. His face had turned the most pale of whites and his sweat glands had drenched Declan’s hand.
“Now Damien,” Declan hissed, moving his face only inches from his enemy’s. “Where is she?”
He pulled the barrel from Noose’s mouth and the scampering mutt took a deep, quivering breath out, as if sensing the end was upon him.
“The bedroom,” he sobbed. “She’s in the bedroom. Please don’t - ”
“SHUT UP!” Declan spat, smashing the mongrel in the face with the butt of the gun.
Declan then rose to his feet and hurried around the corner and into the master bedroom. He kicked the door in and saw Cara Costello, naked, shivering, bruised and covered in tears, gagged at the mouth and tied to the bed.
It was hell. Nothing but a pit of utter filth and delusional arrogance. Apart from Declan Prescott, only degenerates and animals filled this room. The GIW locker room. Where he was now forced to prepare for his matches, because of that defective penguin.
Sentinel had just come to a close. Declan sat on a steel, foldout chair, lacking even the motivation to undress from his wrestling attire and back into his regular clothes. He looked around the room and saw the wrestlers of GIW congregating in various places. War and Peace, Dredd, The Crimson Ghost, Jack Severino… while they had all separated into their own cliques, they all shared one thing in common. They were laughing at him. Mocking him. He who had commanded respect from every single one of them only a matter of weeks ago was now a joke. His power had gone. Taken from him by a demented bird that couldn’t even fly.
Severino: So Prescott, don’t think you’re too good for us anymore, huh?
Severino smirked with an evil Declan hadn’t witnessed in a long time. But it was a familiar sight all the same. As was the rage that exploded inside Declan’s chest, sending his skin a furious red. He stood up and approached Severino, the two standing face to face. Even though The Diamond In The Rough had a good four inches on The Significant Player, Declan’s face showed not even a trace of fear.
“What do you want from me?” he asked, as the entire room fell silent to observe the confrontation. “Want me to tell you I hate you? That I’ll make you pay for threatening to hurt my wife? For threatening to take my life? You want me to tell you that what I did to Gabrielle last week was nothing? That if anything happens to single hair on Cara’s head, I’ll take your caramel skinned bitch and mutilate her to the point of being unrecognisable? That I won’t stop inflicting pain on her until she begs me to kill her? That the very act of threatening the woman I love makes both Gabrielle’s well being and your sanity entirely forfeit? That by opening up your idiotic mouth, in some moronic display of macho bullshit, to intimidate a defenceless woman, you’ve put your entire worthless existence and everything you hold dear in jeopardy? Is that what you want, Jack?
“Well I’m not going to say anything like that. And you know why? Because talk is ever so cheap.
“See you around, Champ. Wait, that'd be Gabby...”
Declan headed to the exit, though he made sure to catch a glimpse of his adversary on his way out. It seemed a rage burned inside Jack Severino as well.
Declan exited the locker room and found himself in a hallway of the GIW arena. Cara was seated on the ground, her mournful face lighting up with joy, as she saw her husband. She scrambled to her feet and wrapped her arms around him. Declan only stood motionless, as if he were only a mindless zombie.
“Honey,” she said, placing a hand on his chest. “You okay?”
Before Declan could open his mouth, he felt someone collide into his shoulder. Spinning on the spot, he saw Alex Kiseragi moving down the hallway, rubbing his face with a damp towel. Hovering over him like a vulture was the one that had hit Declan. The weasel faced Vince Hawk. It seemed he hadn’t even realised he had made contact with The Significant Player. Walking behind and catching Declan’s gaze was Yasutoki Kiseragi. The elderly man gulped nervously at The Heart And Soul Of GIW’s icy stare, which was sharp enough to put holes through a wall. The trio then entered Kiseragi’s own personal locker room. A room reserved for the Global Heavyweight Champion.
Declan then noticed Randy Boolzian and Mary Joanna heading his way, the Hardcore Title belt draped over MJ’s shoulder. Like Kiseragi, BoolZ was scrubbing his face with a cloth and Mary Jo was running her tainted hands up and down his chest, as if she thrived on the humiliation of others. Declan took a step toward the pair, until he felt Cara’s soft grip take hold of his wrist. He turned back to her, seeing his wife only shake her head slowly, her eyes beginning to water.
“Fine…” he sighed.
BoolZ and Mary Jo made their way past The Prescott’s, Declan’s eyes now so filled with daggers, his pupils threatened to ooze out and dribble down his face. MJ did her best to ignore him, as the pair made their way down the hall.
“How are we supposed to fight this?” he said, turning to Cara. He was met only with a gaze of uncertainty. “Everything The Revolution stood for is falling apart around us.”
“We just have to keep on trying,” Cara responded, slipping her hands around him. “That’s all we can do. Even if things seem bad now, we just have to make sure that we never give up. And that we do everything we can to make things right again. Because like you told me once, it’s better to try to fly and fail, than live your entire life in a cage.”
“Oh Cara,” he smiled, running a finger along the soft skin of her cheek, down to her jaw. “You’re so wise.”
“Well I had a pretty good teacher,” she grinned.
He chuckled and then turned his attention down the hall once more. Now Travis Roberts was making his way backstage, also scrubbing his face with a towel. Declan wrapped an arm around Cara and smiled at the sight of The Blessed One.
“Friends are good to have,” The Significant Player told his wife. “You've given me an idea.”
As he took his first step toward her, an enormous, lumbering frame emerged from the bathroom. The brainless monster let out a deafening roar and charged Declan. He easily sidestepped the beast and used its own momentum against it, tripping it and sending its head crashing right through the dry wall. Declan then ripped Cara’s restraints loose and pulled her still shaking frame into his.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently, pulling the ball gag that was choking her, entirely free.
“He raped me,” she sobbed desperately. “Said I belonged to him. That… that I’d die as a piece of meat. I kept hoping you’d come to save me…”
“But I was too slow. And you blame me for what he did,” he said, staring directly into her large, anxious, waterlogged eyes.
“You promised…”
“Which makes me a liar,” Declan said, pacing across the room and away from Cara. “You gave up everything for me. And I wasn’t there for you. I don’t blame you for hating me.”
“I…”
She trailed off into silence, as Declan directed the barrel of the gun squarely on the blubbering face of the giant, sprawled on the floor before him. Declan’s hand was shaking entirely beyond his control.
“Of all the people I’ve met in this life,” he began. “You are the only one I’ve ever met, who is completely innocent, Cara. And you deserve a life that would make even the heavens themselves envious. You deserve better than a monster.
“But if you ask it of me, I’ll kill this creature. For you. I’ll become what I hate if it’s what you want. But to live with the life blood of another on your hands… it’s something that can never be undone. Never washed clean.”
He turned to her. Still naked, her legs had given out on her and she was kneeling on the floor, sobbing to herself.
“You piece of shit!” the oaf on the ground barked. “You go to hell!”
“You kidnapped, beat and raped the woman I love,” Declan hissed. “If I pull this trigger, the only one who will go to hell is you.”
“Fucking moron! We didn’t kidnap her! She already belonged to us! She’s our property! We were just taking back what you stole from us! She wouldn’t have lived to her teens if we hadn’t taken her in!”
“But she continued on in this world,” Declan replied. “You just convinced her that she didn’t deserve to. That she was just a thing to serve your will.
“I reminded her that she’s a person. That the choice is hers to make. And that I’d protect her. You turned me into a liar.
“You don’t deserve to live.”
He felt a soft, gentle hand rest upon his. Cara now stood before him, her naked, butchered body still stinging with hot scars of abuse. Yet her giant, hazel green eyes shined with innocence that could never be taken from her.
“Don’t…” she mumbled. “I want to be with you… not a demon…”
“Thankyou,” he whispered into her ear, before removing his coat and wrapping it around her icy body. “Now go wait in the other room.”
As she left, Declan met the defenceless giant’s terrified gaze and smiled reassuringly.
BANG!
Without hesitation, he sent a bullet ploughing at top speed into the giant’s crotch. Blood splattered in every direction, as he erupted in a deafening roar. He rolled on the ground helplessly, as Declan slipped the gun between his belt and jeans and entered the main room.
Damien Noose had lost conscious from the pain. Cara knelt before a fifth party, that Declan hadn’t even noticed on the way in. Stephanie Minx. The last time he had seen her, he had urged her to leave Noose’s control, just as Cara had. That facing the world alone was a better fate than a man-manufactured hell. It seemed she had not taken his advice. She had remained here and now knelt on all fours, completely naked, like a well trained dog.
“They crushed her vocal chords,” Cara said, turning to Declan, her eyes filling with tears once more. “She can’t talk anymore… we have to help her.”
“He probably did it so she wouldn’t tell anyone what I did to him the last time we met,” Declan stated matter-of-factly. “We can’t help her, though. But we can take her to someone who can.”
The scene is buzzing with excitement. Camera crews litter the building - both GIW and third party - amongst a large congregation of journalists. Before them is a stage, bearing a podium connected to many microphones at the front. The frenetic whispered buzzing continues building as the moments go on, before finally climaxing with…
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please give a warm welcome for two men that need no introduction… Declan Prescott and Travis Roberts!
The Heart And Soul Of GIW and The Blessed One emerge on the stage, being met with a polite applause. They take up position at the podium, both with arrogant, yet slightly mischievous, smiles on their faces.
Roberts: The Blessed One would thank you good people for coming out here today for this press conference that The Revolution has organised, but he knows it’s actually all of you who should be thanking GIW’s finest two competitors. After all, it’s not everyday you get to spend your time around such greats as The TWiSTeD Icon and The Significant Player.
There’s a polite chuckle amongst the members of the press, which is met with a confused gaze from Roberts. He’s obviously having difficulties locating the supposed joke in what he just said. He shrugs it off and continues on, as confident as ever.
Roberts: Now let The Headliner tell you, ladies and gentlemen, over the last several weeks the landscape of GIW has gone under some extremely significant changes. And not for the better either. The company has been subject to a hostile take over at the hands of an extremely malicious individual. This individual has taken it upon himself to promote violent, destructive behaviour to other people’s personal property, his cigar fuelled addiction is a terrible influence on younger viewers and he has even been responsible for discrimination against his employees. You see, Boss Penguin has displayed blatant favouritism to stupid wrestlers!
There is a stunned outburst at The Headliner’s comments.
Roberts: The Blessed One understands your anxiety. This type of behaviour demonstrated by Boss Penguin is completely unacceptable. The fact he promotes degenerate high school dropouts such as Randy Boolzian in the Horizons main event, actually encourages his employees to accept mental retardation by allowing the likes of Andy Savana and Sean Cyanide to exist in his company, he has provided a clearly deranged and unstable man in Nicolas Cage employment as a referee and countless other bias, reckless and, frankly, dangerous decisions speak volumes of this individual’s inability to control Global Impact Wrestling. However, Travis Roberts and Declan Prescott have spent many hours discussing the issue of Boss Penguin and his usurping of The Revolution’s company.
At this point, Prescott, who has been only nodding in agreement up until this point, raises a suspicious eyebrow. Roberts doesn’t seem to notice.
Roberts: And they have decided on a strategy that will guarantee the security and safety of Global Impact Wrestling’s long term future. And so The Revolution wishes to advise stock holders, fans and any other members of the GIW community, to not be concerned with the Boss P situation. The Revolution assures you that the situation is completely under control and, even now, steps are being taken to assure that Boss Penguin’s reign of corruption and terror will be drawn to a sudden and entirely safe conclusion.
At this point one of the journalists gets to his feet, clears his throat and speaks.
GiP: Mr. Roberts, GLOBAL impact PLAYA here. I have to say that you’ve certainly made a lot of allegations against Mr. Boss P, but you haven’t really given us anything he does that Mr. Prescott and yourself weren’t already doing long before Mr. Boss P arrived in the compan -
Roberts: The Blessed One doesn’t recall asking for questions. Especially from any obnoxious, spineless, unprofessional hacks that are on Boss P’s payroll. It’s people like you that prove how far Boss P’s maliciousness has spread throughout a once proud and noble company. A company that shall be returned to it’s former glory when Travis Roberts becomes GIW’s first ever Undisputed Champion and Declan Prescott wipes the smudge that is Brandon Brown off his boots once and fall. Now why don’t you sit down and go back to making lists about how a dyslexic children’s performer is apparently the best wrestler alive today?
Roberts: Getting back to The Headliner’s main point, the first issue The Revolution has decided to address is the blatant favouritism showed towards Brandon Brown. Boss Penguin has announced Nicolas Cage as a replacement referee for GIW’s largest Pay-Per-View of the year - including the epic confrontation between Brandon Brown and the receiving end of Declan Prescott’s boot. It is a well known fact that Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage share a close friendship outside the ring. In fact, rumours of sexual exploration between the two, under the guidance of Alex Kiseragi, have been running rampant for days now.
GiP: What are you talking about? Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage can’t stand each other! Mr. Cage is just as likely to favour Mr. Prescott as he is Mr. Brown! Mr. Boss P is making the match hell for both of them! And who started these supposed rumours? Was it you and Presc -
Prescott: Can you see, people?! Travis and I are only hear to express our concern at the recent direction Global Impact Wrestling has taken and to reassure the fans and sponsors that we have the situation under control. Yet Boss P is so paranoid of his cruel and unfair behaviour making it to the public, that he’s paying people off every step of the way to stop us! To make sure our message doesn’t reach anyone’s ears! But I say to you, as the owner of the greatest wrestling company in history, we are not going to stand for this! Security, have this man removed! Boss P can’t contain the truth any longer! We won’t allow it!
The PLAYA is dragged from the room, kicking and screaming, as The Revolution shake their heads in insincere disappointment. Prescott rests a hand on Roberts’ shoulder.
Prescott: Go on, Travis. Our message must be heard.
Roberts: The Blessed One will do his best to stand against this injustice… ladies and gentlemen, as Travis Roberts was saying, The Revolution have taken a drastic and… revolutionary step to combating the blatantly unfair behaviour of GIW’s self-proclaimed Enforcer. While Boss P is the main figure head of booking GIW’s matches and cards, the company does still very much belong to Declan Prescott - and rightly so The Headliner may add. And it is most definitely within his ability to eliminate injustice where he sees it.
Roberts now takes a step back, gesturing for Prescott to speak. The Significant Player takes up the main position before the microphone and clears his throat very seriously.
Prescott: Ladies and gentlemen, after much deliberation, Travis Roberts and I have realised that, as GIW’s two most talented and professional performers, we have a certain obligation to the fans. That as the rightful owner of Global Impact Wrestling, it is my duty to make sure that the GIW product is the best it possibly can be. And to accomplish this, matches must be contested with honour and respect. Good sportsmanship should be encouraged. Diligence and dignity should be not only endorsed, but openly promoted. And to that end, knowing that the fans want an honest and entertaining match, I have officially introduced a guest enforcer into my match against Brandon Brown.
There is another excited outburst at this announcement.
Prescott: This is the first step in a series of tasks to return GIW to the proud and valiant promotion it once was. This guest enforcer will be charged with maintaining order during Brown vs. Prescott III. It will be his responsibility to oversee the match - including all officiating - and to ensure that the contest is fought rightfully and fairly. And to make sure that the end result is one free from controversy and one that all fans of GIW will be satisfied with. Now to introduce the man that I have appointed. He is someone that most people will know very well. He is respected by all who have had the pleasure of meeting him and his contributions to sitcoms led by black men cannot be ignored. Ladies and gentlemen… please welcome a very close friend of mind, the guest enforcer for the Horizons match between Brandon Brown and myself… the star of the hit film Hancock… the tallest man in rap… WILL SMITH!!!
There is another round of applause, as Will Smith makes his way from behind the curtain and joins The Revolution. He shares a firm handshake with both men and then takes his position before the podium.
Smith: How y’all doing today?!
The crowd applauds once more, though still showing restraint.
Smith: It’s really good to be here, guys. When Travis approached me and said Declan Prescott needed a favour, well, being the fan that I am of GIW, I was down here like DAT!
Will Smith begins clicking his fingers and bobbing his head from left to right, as The Revolution stare on awkwardly. Before long, both Prescott and Roberts join his deranged dancing.
Smith: Aw yeah! Ya like dat?! Aw yeah! Ya like dat!!
Prescott: Now ladies and gentlemen, Will is happy to answer any questions you might have. But before that, I have one last announcement to make. I have taken the liberty of changing the main event for the final Sentinel of 2008 in order to bring more excitement and star power to our fans - something that Boss P has failed to do at every turn. Instead of a triple threat match, Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage will be facing off against Declan Prescott and Will Smith in a tag team match!!!
Smith: YEAH! Chest thump, dawg! Give it to me!
Will Smith begins leaping up and smashing his chest into Prescott’s. Declan puts on the best fake smile he can and then thumps his chest back into Smith’s. The two then high five, before Smith begins doing spin-a-roonies on the stage. Then something catches The Significant Player’s eyes. Brandon McSkinny has made his way to the front of the crow, his usual over-the-top borderline down syndrome smile has been replaced with a mournful frown.
Something is wrong.
Declan Prescott and Dr. David Hawkins stared through the window, at the patient and the visitor. They both sat on Stephanie’s bed, grinning and playing like children. Stephanie then quickly scribbled something onto the digital chalkboard she now possessed and displayed it for Cara to read. Cara burst out in hysterics, as Stephanie smiled widely.
“Her progress has been remarkable,” Hawkins stated. “With everything that poor girl suffered, I’d expect her to be driven to permanent insanity. Though I think the visits from Cara have played a tremendous role in that recovery. The two seem like kindred spirits.”
“Cara’s like that with almost all the people she encounters,” Declan answered. “It’s just who she is.”
“Or perhaps only those who have suffered similar trauma?” Hawkins pondered, with a raised eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
“The way Cara and Stephanie have bonded,” he began. “It’s obvious that Cara was one of that monster Noose’s victims too.”
“I never said that,” Declan replied, trying to restrain his tone from rising.
“Nor would you,” Hawkins replied. “For fear that I’d want Cara to stay under my care also. But don’t worry, I actually think being with you is the very best thing for her. It’s obvious you care deeply for her and that kind of relationship will be extremely beneficial for her. In fact, if you had a permanent residence, I’d suggest Stephanie live with you as well. But you should know Mr. Prescott, that Cara will probably rely on you for the rest of her life. As sad as it sounds, she doesn’t understand the concept of freedom. To her, she’ll always be yours. And she’ll always need you. That’s a pretty big commitment.”
“And it’s one I’m prepared to make, no matter the sacrifices it involves. I’d do absolutely anything for her. And there’s nothing she could do that I wouldn’t forgive her for.”
“I hope you mean that, Mr. Prescott. And if you do, there are things you should be aware of.”
“What kind of things?”
Led by Brandon McSkinny, Declan Prescott and Travis Roberts arrived in the women’s bathroom of the convention centre. The sight turned Declan’s stomach inside out. The blood. It was everywhere. Spread across the floor, like a punctured hose of death. And then he saw it. The one reason he continued living. The one person that was proof he had a soul. The single love of his life. His wife. His friend. His partner. Cara Prescott was laid out on a stretcher, as medical workers wheeled her towards the trio. Her entire head was soaked with blood. Her eyes closed, an oxygen mask tied over her mouth and nose and the rising and falling of her chest being far too slow.
“What happened?!” he barked, throwing his body toward the stretcher.
“She’s lost a lot of blood, sir,” the paramedic replied. “We’re taking her to the hospital for a transfusion.”
And with that, she had been wheeled from the room and out of sight. Declan charged after them, but slipped on the blood and fell face first to the tiles. He was covered in it now. His entire front side. He could feel it inside his nose. Taste it on his lips. It had the taste of cold fear.
His head was expanding. The blood rushing through his veins, drowning his brain. He couldn’t take it. His body began convulsing beyond his control. His mouth erupted with vomit.
And then he was still.
Four arms took hold of him and dragged him back to a standing position. In the grip of both Skinny and Roberts, he could not support his own weight. He needed to be carried.
Cara was buzzing with anticipation. She hadn’t been able to sit still since they arrived in LA and as the pair now entered the hospital, she couldn’t contain her smile. It seemed she was about to burst at the seems with joy. A rare sight in an asylum. And a rare sight for Cara Costello.
“I can’t believe we missed our flight!” she told Declan. “Stephanie won’t be happy that we’re a day late for our usual visit. She sounded really upset when I told her that we'd be late, on the phone. But she’ll be okay. Because we always have fun together, Declan!”
“Yeah,” he replied, as the pair approached the reception desk. “Seeing you really cheers her up.” ‘And seeing her cheers you up,’ he added at the end, only within his mind.
Cara grinned, nodded and then skipped ahead, wanting to see her friend as soon as possible.
“We’re here to see Stephanie Minx,” she said with a broad smile. At hearing her words, the receptionist frowned mournfully.
“Oh dear…” she responded. “You haven’t heard? I’m very sorry…”
“What?!” Cara snapped, her voice filling with panic and her eyes with water. “I haven’t heard what?!”
“I’m so sorry… Stephanie… last night… we lost her…”
“WHAT?!” Cara screamed, erupting into tears and shaking uncontrollably. “NO! NO! WHAT HAPPENED?! SHE’S ALRIGHT ISN’T SHE?! SHE HAS TO BE! SHE - SHE - TELL ME!!!!”
“She’s dead…”
Cara erupted with an eternally piercing cry, as she fell to the floor convulsing. Declan scooped her into his arms and clutched her tightly, as she shook and wailed in his grasp. She blubbered and begged for it to be a mistake. For her dearest friend to still be with her. It was something Declan never understood. The universe was not one that could be bargained with. Reality needed to be accepted, no matter how horrible it was. But he remained there, with her.
By this time, the receptionist had made her way around the desk and had handed a box of tissues to Declan. He began wiping the tears from her face, as her body relaxed, but she still wept uncontrollably. He then noticed Dr. Hawkins entering the room and ushering Declan to him.
Asking the receptionist to take care of his still moaning girlfriend, he followed Hawkins into the doctor’s office. Declan closed the door behind him and turned to elderly man in the white coat.
“Stephanie killed herself,” he said with remorse. “She didn’t believe Cara on the phone when she said you’d be a day late. She thought her best friend just didn’t want to see her.”
“How do you know that?!”
“It was in her suicide note. Written on the electronic chalkboard we gave her. That the betrayal was too much. That she couldn’t live this life alone.”
Declan felt a hot, uncomfortable feeling swell up in his stomach. He had the same feeling when Cara had been raped. An all too familiar feeling. Guilt.
“Now I hope you understand,” Hawkins began. “The true gravity of the situation you now find yourself in. The roles could have easily been reversed. Stephanie looking for comfort in your arms, while Cara’s life came to an end far too early.”
“I didn’t love Stephanie…”
“No,” he said. “But I hope you’re sincere when you say you love Cara. Because if you hurt her, she’ll follow Stephanie’s fate. For the rest of her life, you’ll be bound to her. She’ll need a life based entirely on routine and constant reassurance that you care for her. That you’ll be there for her no matter what happens. Otherwise she’ll bring death upon herself.”
“I’ll never let that happen. I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care about any of those ‘consequences’ you mentioned. No matter what, I’ll be there whenever she needs me!”
“That will mean putting her needs beyond everything else.”
“I can do that!”
“Everything else, Mr. Prescott. Including this wrestling promotion I hear you’re putting together. All it will take is one single slip-up on your part to push her over the edge. And if anything ever happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
“I need to cut this conversation short,” Declan responded, clearly arriving at the end of his fuse. “My girlfriend is in mourning and she needs me.”
Hawkins smiled and nodded in agreement.
Her head was bandaged, as she lay serenely in the entirely white hospital room. She was sleeping peacefully, as three familiar figures stood over her. Travis Roberts, Brandon McSkinny and Declan Prescott. Alongside them was a middle-aged, sophisticated looking, spectacled woman in a white coat and a gruff looking, younger man in a blue uniform.
“She had lost a lot of blood,” Dr. Sigrid began. “She was assaulted in the women’s bathroom. Took a lot of trauma to the head. And she was bleeding internally from the brain. But we gave her a transfusion and stopped the bleeding. There shouldn’t be any permanently lasting effects… at least not physically. But we’re going to have to keep here for at least the next week. Just to monitor her condition.”
“What kind of beast could do this?” Declan asked, taking a bedside seat and clasping his hands gently over one of hers.
“We believe it was a man known as Douglas Maguire,” Officer Larine answered. “A man you’re familiar with, I believe.”
“Why haven’t you people caught him?!” Declan spat.
“We’re doing everything we can,” the lawman reassured. “Trust me, we want this piece of shit caught just as much as you. And while Cara’s in the high security section of the hospital, she’s completely safe. He can’t get to her now. And we’re willing to take you into police protection until he’s found and caught.”
“Fuck you,” Declan hissed.
“You’re lucky Mr. Prescott,” Larine stated. “Maguire was looking to do a lot more than just hurt your wife. And he would have succeeded if Mr. McSkinny here hadn’t interrupted.”
“Wha?” Declan gasped, as the entire room’s attention turned to a nervous looking Skinny.
“That’s right,” Larine began. “Brandon overheard the commotion and went to investigate. Maguire got spooked by someone walking in on him and took off. Why, if it wasn’t for Brandon, none of us would be standing here right now. We’d be at the morgue. It was a true miracle that he happened to be there.
“Just be careful, Mr. Prescott. He’s after you too. And now that Cara’s out of his reach, he’ll be gunning for you hard. You let us know if there’s anything we can do.”
The doctor and the police officer left the room. Declan rose to his feet and approached Skinny. The kid’s legs were shaking, as Declan, still in his suit covered in crusted blood and vomit, came face-to-face with him. The Significant Player threw his arms around Skinny and began to weep uncontrollably into his shoulder.
“Thankyou Brandon,” he sobbed. “Thankyou.”
“He’s gone too far, Declan,” Roberts interrupted. “He tried to kill her. What are we going to do?”
“We?” Declan said, stepping away from Skinny and turning to Travis. “Nothing. I am going to find him. And I am going to find his weaknesses. I am going to do a lot more than just hurt him. I am going to tear his life apart, just as he’s done to mine. And then I am going to kill him.”
“This isn’t any time to get righteous, Declan!” Roberts barked. “If you face him alone, there’s a good chance that he’ll - ”
“HE NEARLY KILLED MY WIFE!” Declan roared, causing both Travis and Skinny to jump in shock. “MY WIFE, TRAVIS! AND I’M NOT GONNA GIVE HIM ONE MORE SECOND TO HURT THE PEOPLE THAT I CARE ABOUT!” Declan’s tone now turned to one of soft, barely audible malice. The calm before a violent storm. “For too long, I’ve tried to run. To hide from what I always knew was unavoidable. If I had just done what I should have from the very beginning… none of this would have happened.”
“You can’t blame yourself, Declan!” Travis urged.
“I BLAME HIM!… and it’s because of me that he’s still walking this earth. I had the chance to put him down for good when he was lying comatose in a hospital bed. But now Cara is the one in a hospital bed. She's paying for my inability to act. But that’s never gonna happen again. And if I have to die to make sure that happens…
“…then take care of her for me. And never leave her side.”
There was no response from the other side of the door.
“I guess it’s not supposed to be easy,” Declan Prescott thought, sighing to himself at the same time.
With one swift kick, he sent the door flying so far open, it nearly swung completely off its thick hinges. The sight he saw turned his stomach. That pale skinned, narrow eyed, demented monster was sitting on an expensive leather couch. That cruel, violent, sadistic rapist was holding a poorly rolled joint in one hand and a large television remote in the other. The beast dropped both at the sight of Prescott and leapt to his feet. But he was far too slow. Declan was already upon him and shoved him straight back into the cushions.
“Please,” Declan stated. “We’re only just getting started.”
“How the fuck did you find this place?!” Damien Noose spat, sweat seemingly foaming from every pore in his body.
“I had to get a lot of blood on my hands,” Declan responded, seating himself on the coffee table before the couch. “Yet there is still a need for more.”
“You fucker!” he retorted, with a sneer. “My homeboys are gonna be coming through that door any second! And when they do, you’re fucking dead!” The rigid, yellow grin of the beast grew wide and even more sickening.
“I assure you,” Declan replied, adjusting his belt. “Your boys aren’t going anywhere soon, except the hospital. I made sure of that.”
“Mother fucker! You’re lying!” As he blasted the words from his mouth, he reached between the cushions and came flying back with a sleek, sharp, steel blade.
BANG!
Like it was nothing at all, Declan had removed the pistol from his leather belt and punctured a hole straight through Noose’s knee cap. The monster writhed in agony, erupting in a piercing shriek, before tumbling helplessly to the floor.
With two violent twists of his legs, Declan sent both the couch and table crashing into opposite sides of the room. He then slammed his knees into either side of Noose’s trembling body, wrapped his hand mercilessly around the thing’s throat and jammed the barrel of the weapon into his mouth.
“I have this thing,” Declan spat. “Where I can’t take a life. You see, my mother was a whore. And when my father found out, he tried to kill himself. But not just himself. He tried to take my mother and I with him. On Christmas Day nineteen eighty eight, all three of us were in a car, supposedly driving to my grandparents home. My dad drove us off a cliff when I was four years old. But he failed. Only he died on that day. And ever since I vowed to myself that I’d never become like him. That I’d hold onto the voice inside me that separates me from creatures like him… and like you. And that’s why I don’t want to pull this trigger!
“But let me make something clear for you. Something that you may be unaware of. My father was a man. He felt things like compassion and love. You’re a whole new breed of vile. The only thing you care about is yourself. And you’ll kill, torture and maim just to get what you want. When your life ends, it won’t be the end of a human’s life. It’ll just be the putting down of a random animal.
“And yet if I kill you, a person will die. Not you Noose, you’re nothing but a rabid dog. No, no, no. If I take your life, I’ll be killing that part inside of me that makes me a person. That tiny little voice that separates the likes of you, from people like me. And while that thought scares the living hell out of me, if even one hair on her sweet, innocent head has been harmed, I’ll take the plunge! I’ll become a monster!”
Noose’s eyes were overflowing with tears. His face had turned the most pale of whites and his sweat glands had drenched Declan’s hand.
“Now Damien,” Declan hissed, moving his face only inches from his enemy’s. “Where is she?”
He pulled the barrel from Noose’s mouth and the scampering mutt took a deep, quivering breath out, as if sensing the end was upon him.
“The bedroom,” he sobbed. “She’s in the bedroom. Please don’t - ”
“SHUT UP!” Declan spat, smashing the mongrel in the face with the butt of the gun.
Declan then rose to his feet and hurried around the corner and into the master bedroom. He kicked the door in and saw Cara Costello, naked, shivering, bruised and covered in tears, gagged at the mouth and tied to the bed.
* * * * *
It was hell. Nothing but a pit of utter filth and delusional arrogance. Apart from Declan Prescott, only degenerates and animals filled this room. The GIW locker room. Where he was now forced to prepare for his matches, because of that defective penguin.
Sentinel had just come to a close. Declan sat on a steel, foldout chair, lacking even the motivation to undress from his wrestling attire and back into his regular clothes. He looked around the room and saw the wrestlers of GIW congregating in various places. War and Peace, Dredd, The Crimson Ghost, Jack Severino… while they had all separated into their own cliques, they all shared one thing in common. They were laughing at him. Mocking him. He who had commanded respect from every single one of them only a matter of weeks ago was now a joke. His power had gone. Taken from him by a demented bird that couldn’t even fly.
Severino: So Prescott, don’t think you’re too good for us anymore, huh?
Severino smirked with an evil Declan hadn’t witnessed in a long time. But it was a familiar sight all the same. As was the rage that exploded inside Declan’s chest, sending his skin a furious red. He stood up and approached Severino, the two standing face to face. Even though The Diamond In The Rough had a good four inches on The Significant Player, Declan’s face showed not even a trace of fear.
“What do you want from me?” he asked, as the entire room fell silent to observe the confrontation. “Want me to tell you I hate you? That I’ll make you pay for threatening to hurt my wife? For threatening to take my life? You want me to tell you that what I did to Gabrielle last week was nothing? That if anything happens to single hair on Cara’s head, I’ll take your caramel skinned bitch and mutilate her to the point of being unrecognisable? That I won’t stop inflicting pain on her until she begs me to kill her? That the very act of threatening the woman I love makes both Gabrielle’s well being and your sanity entirely forfeit? That by opening up your idiotic mouth, in some moronic display of macho bullshit, to intimidate a defenceless woman, you’ve put your entire worthless existence and everything you hold dear in jeopardy? Is that what you want, Jack?
“Well I’m not going to say anything like that. And you know why? Because talk is ever so cheap.
“See you around, Champ. Wait, that'd be Gabby...”
Declan headed to the exit, though he made sure to catch a glimpse of his adversary on his way out. It seemed a rage burned inside Jack Severino as well.
Declan exited the locker room and found himself in a hallway of the GIW arena. Cara was seated on the ground, her mournful face lighting up with joy, as she saw her husband. She scrambled to her feet and wrapped her arms around him. Declan only stood motionless, as if he were only a mindless zombie.
“Honey,” she said, placing a hand on his chest. “You okay?”
Before Declan could open his mouth, he felt someone collide into his shoulder. Spinning on the spot, he saw Alex Kiseragi moving down the hallway, rubbing his face with a damp towel. Hovering over him like a vulture was the one that had hit Declan. The weasel faced Vince Hawk. It seemed he hadn’t even realised he had made contact with The Significant Player. Walking behind and catching Declan’s gaze was Yasutoki Kiseragi. The elderly man gulped nervously at The Heart And Soul Of GIW’s icy stare, which was sharp enough to put holes through a wall. The trio then entered Kiseragi’s own personal locker room. A room reserved for the Global Heavyweight Champion.
Declan then noticed Randy Boolzian and Mary Joanna heading his way, the Hardcore Title belt draped over MJ’s shoulder. Like Kiseragi, BoolZ was scrubbing his face with a cloth and Mary Jo was running her tainted hands up and down his chest, as if she thrived on the humiliation of others. Declan took a step toward the pair, until he felt Cara’s soft grip take hold of his wrist. He turned back to her, seeing his wife only shake her head slowly, her eyes beginning to water.
“Fine…” he sighed.
BoolZ and Mary Jo made their way past The Prescott’s, Declan’s eyes now so filled with daggers, his pupils threatened to ooze out and dribble down his face. MJ did her best to ignore him, as the pair made their way down the hall.
“How are we supposed to fight this?” he said, turning to Cara. He was met only with a gaze of uncertainty. “Everything The Revolution stood for is falling apart around us.”
“We just have to keep on trying,” Cara responded, slipping her hands around him. “That’s all we can do. Even if things seem bad now, we just have to make sure that we never give up. And that we do everything we can to make things right again. Because like you told me once, it’s better to try to fly and fail, than live your entire life in a cage.”
“Oh Cara,” he smiled, running a finger along the soft skin of her cheek, down to her jaw. “You’re so wise.”
“Well I had a pretty good teacher,” she grinned.
He chuckled and then turned his attention down the hall once more. Now Travis Roberts was making his way backstage, also scrubbing his face with a towel. Declan wrapped an arm around Cara and smiled at the sight of The Blessed One.
“Friends are good to have,” The Significant Player told his wife. “You've given me an idea.”
* * * * *
As he took his first step toward her, an enormous, lumbering frame emerged from the bathroom. The brainless monster let out a deafening roar and charged Declan. He easily sidestepped the beast and used its own momentum against it, tripping it and sending its head crashing right through the dry wall. Declan then ripped Cara’s restraints loose and pulled her still shaking frame into his.
“Are you okay?” he asked gently, pulling the ball gag that was choking her, entirely free.
“He raped me,” she sobbed desperately. “Said I belonged to him. That… that I’d die as a piece of meat. I kept hoping you’d come to save me…”
“But I was too slow. And you blame me for what he did,” he said, staring directly into her large, anxious, waterlogged eyes.
“You promised…”
“Which makes me a liar,” Declan said, pacing across the room and away from Cara. “You gave up everything for me. And I wasn’t there for you. I don’t blame you for hating me.”
“I…”
She trailed off into silence, as Declan directed the barrel of the gun squarely on the blubbering face of the giant, sprawled on the floor before him. Declan’s hand was shaking entirely beyond his control.
“Of all the people I’ve met in this life,” he began. “You are the only one I’ve ever met, who is completely innocent, Cara. And you deserve a life that would make even the heavens themselves envious. You deserve better than a monster.
“But if you ask it of me, I’ll kill this creature. For you. I’ll become what I hate if it’s what you want. But to live with the life blood of another on your hands… it’s something that can never be undone. Never washed clean.”
He turned to her. Still naked, her legs had given out on her and she was kneeling on the floor, sobbing to herself.
“You piece of shit!” the oaf on the ground barked. “You go to hell!”
“You kidnapped, beat and raped the woman I love,” Declan hissed. “If I pull this trigger, the only one who will go to hell is you.”
“Fucking moron! We didn’t kidnap her! She already belonged to us! She’s our property! We were just taking back what you stole from us! She wouldn’t have lived to her teens if we hadn’t taken her in!”
“But she continued on in this world,” Declan replied. “You just convinced her that she didn’t deserve to. That she was just a thing to serve your will.
“I reminded her that she’s a person. That the choice is hers to make. And that I’d protect her. You turned me into a liar.
“You don’t deserve to live.”
He felt a soft, gentle hand rest upon his. Cara now stood before him, her naked, butchered body still stinging with hot scars of abuse. Yet her giant, hazel green eyes shined with innocence that could never be taken from her.
“Don’t…” she mumbled. “I want to be with you… not a demon…”
“Thankyou,” he whispered into her ear, before removing his coat and wrapping it around her icy body. “Now go wait in the other room.”
As she left, Declan met the defenceless giant’s terrified gaze and smiled reassuringly.
BANG!
Without hesitation, he sent a bullet ploughing at top speed into the giant’s crotch. Blood splattered in every direction, as he erupted in a deafening roar. He rolled on the ground helplessly, as Declan slipped the gun between his belt and jeans and entered the main room.
Damien Noose had lost conscious from the pain. Cara knelt before a fifth party, that Declan hadn’t even noticed on the way in. Stephanie Minx. The last time he had seen her, he had urged her to leave Noose’s control, just as Cara had. That facing the world alone was a better fate than a man-manufactured hell. It seemed she had not taken his advice. She had remained here and now knelt on all fours, completely naked, like a well trained dog.
“They crushed her vocal chords,” Cara said, turning to Declan, her eyes filling with tears once more. “She can’t talk anymore… we have to help her.”
“He probably did it so she wouldn’t tell anyone what I did to him the last time we met,” Declan stated matter-of-factly. “We can’t help her, though. But we can take her to someone who can.”
* * * * *
The scene is buzzing with excitement. Camera crews litter the building - both GIW and third party - amongst a large congregation of journalists. Before them is a stage, bearing a podium connected to many microphones at the front. The frenetic whispered buzzing continues building as the moments go on, before finally climaxing with…
Announcer: Ladies and gentlemen of the press, please give a warm welcome for two men that need no introduction… Declan Prescott and Travis Roberts!
The Heart And Soul Of GIW and The Blessed One emerge on the stage, being met with a polite applause. They take up position at the podium, both with arrogant, yet slightly mischievous, smiles on their faces.
Roberts: The Blessed One would thank you good people for coming out here today for this press conference that The Revolution has organised, but he knows it’s actually all of you who should be thanking GIW’s finest two competitors. After all, it’s not everyday you get to spend your time around such greats as The TWiSTeD Icon and The Significant Player.
There’s a polite chuckle amongst the members of the press, which is met with a confused gaze from Roberts. He’s obviously having difficulties locating the supposed joke in what he just said. He shrugs it off and continues on, as confident as ever.
Roberts: Now let The Headliner tell you, ladies and gentlemen, over the last several weeks the landscape of GIW has gone under some extremely significant changes. And not for the better either. The company has been subject to a hostile take over at the hands of an extremely malicious individual. This individual has taken it upon himself to promote violent, destructive behaviour to other people’s personal property, his cigar fuelled addiction is a terrible influence on younger viewers and he has even been responsible for discrimination against his employees. You see, Boss Penguin has displayed blatant favouritism to stupid wrestlers!
There is a stunned outburst at The Headliner’s comments.
Roberts: The Blessed One understands your anxiety. This type of behaviour demonstrated by Boss Penguin is completely unacceptable. The fact he promotes degenerate high school dropouts such as Randy Boolzian in the Horizons main event, actually encourages his employees to accept mental retardation by allowing the likes of Andy Savana and Sean Cyanide to exist in his company, he has provided a clearly deranged and unstable man in Nicolas Cage employment as a referee and countless other bias, reckless and, frankly, dangerous decisions speak volumes of this individual’s inability to control Global Impact Wrestling. However, Travis Roberts and Declan Prescott have spent many hours discussing the issue of Boss Penguin and his usurping of The Revolution’s company.
At this point, Prescott, who has been only nodding in agreement up until this point, raises a suspicious eyebrow. Roberts doesn’t seem to notice.
Roberts: And they have decided on a strategy that will guarantee the security and safety of Global Impact Wrestling’s long term future. And so The Revolution wishes to advise stock holders, fans and any other members of the GIW community, to not be concerned with the Boss P situation. The Revolution assures you that the situation is completely under control and, even now, steps are being taken to assure that Boss Penguin’s reign of corruption and terror will be drawn to a sudden and entirely safe conclusion.
At this point one of the journalists gets to his feet, clears his throat and speaks.
GiP: Mr. Roberts, GLOBAL impact PLAYA here. I have to say that you’ve certainly made a lot of allegations against Mr. Boss P, but you haven’t really given us anything he does that Mr. Prescott and yourself weren’t already doing long before Mr. Boss P arrived in the compan -
Roberts: The Blessed One doesn’t recall asking for questions. Especially from any obnoxious, spineless, unprofessional hacks that are on Boss P’s payroll. It’s people like you that prove how far Boss P’s maliciousness has spread throughout a once proud and noble company. A company that shall be returned to it’s former glory when Travis Roberts becomes GIW’s first ever Undisputed Champion and Declan Prescott wipes the smudge that is Brandon Brown off his boots once and fall. Now why don’t you sit down and go back to making lists about how a dyslexic children’s performer is apparently the best wrestler alive today?
Roberts: Getting back to The Headliner’s main point, the first issue The Revolution has decided to address is the blatant favouritism showed towards Brandon Brown. Boss Penguin has announced Nicolas Cage as a replacement referee for GIW’s largest Pay-Per-View of the year - including the epic confrontation between Brandon Brown and the receiving end of Declan Prescott’s boot. It is a well known fact that Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage share a close friendship outside the ring. In fact, rumours of sexual exploration between the two, under the guidance of Alex Kiseragi, have been running rampant for days now.
GiP: What are you talking about? Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage can’t stand each other! Mr. Cage is just as likely to favour Mr. Prescott as he is Mr. Brown! Mr. Boss P is making the match hell for both of them! And who started these supposed rumours? Was it you and Presc -
Prescott: Can you see, people?! Travis and I are only hear to express our concern at the recent direction Global Impact Wrestling has taken and to reassure the fans and sponsors that we have the situation under control. Yet Boss P is so paranoid of his cruel and unfair behaviour making it to the public, that he’s paying people off every step of the way to stop us! To make sure our message doesn’t reach anyone’s ears! But I say to you, as the owner of the greatest wrestling company in history, we are not going to stand for this! Security, have this man removed! Boss P can’t contain the truth any longer! We won’t allow it!
The PLAYA is dragged from the room, kicking and screaming, as The Revolution shake their heads in insincere disappointment. Prescott rests a hand on Roberts’ shoulder.
Prescott: Go on, Travis. Our message must be heard.
Roberts: The Blessed One will do his best to stand against this injustice… ladies and gentlemen, as Travis Roberts was saying, The Revolution have taken a drastic and… revolutionary step to combating the blatantly unfair behaviour of GIW’s self-proclaimed Enforcer. While Boss P is the main figure head of booking GIW’s matches and cards, the company does still very much belong to Declan Prescott - and rightly so The Headliner may add. And it is most definitely within his ability to eliminate injustice where he sees it.
Roberts now takes a step back, gesturing for Prescott to speak. The Significant Player takes up the main position before the microphone and clears his throat very seriously.
Prescott: Ladies and gentlemen, after much deliberation, Travis Roberts and I have realised that, as GIW’s two most talented and professional performers, we have a certain obligation to the fans. That as the rightful owner of Global Impact Wrestling, it is my duty to make sure that the GIW product is the best it possibly can be. And to accomplish this, matches must be contested with honour and respect. Good sportsmanship should be encouraged. Diligence and dignity should be not only endorsed, but openly promoted. And to that end, knowing that the fans want an honest and entertaining match, I have officially introduced a guest enforcer into my match against Brandon Brown.
There is another excited outburst at this announcement.
Prescott: This is the first step in a series of tasks to return GIW to the proud and valiant promotion it once was. This guest enforcer will be charged with maintaining order during Brown vs. Prescott III. It will be his responsibility to oversee the match - including all officiating - and to ensure that the contest is fought rightfully and fairly. And to make sure that the end result is one free from controversy and one that all fans of GIW will be satisfied with. Now to introduce the man that I have appointed. He is someone that most people will know very well. He is respected by all who have had the pleasure of meeting him and his contributions to sitcoms led by black men cannot be ignored. Ladies and gentlemen… please welcome a very close friend of mind, the guest enforcer for the Horizons match between Brandon Brown and myself… the star of the hit film Hancock… the tallest man in rap… WILL SMITH!!!
There is another round of applause, as Will Smith makes his way from behind the curtain and joins The Revolution. He shares a firm handshake with both men and then takes his position before the podium.
Smith: How y’all doing today?!
The crowd applauds once more, though still showing restraint.
Smith: It’s really good to be here, guys. When Travis approached me and said Declan Prescott needed a favour, well, being the fan that I am of GIW, I was down here like DAT!
Will Smith begins clicking his fingers and bobbing his head from left to right, as The Revolution stare on awkwardly. Before long, both Prescott and Roberts join his deranged dancing.
Smith: Aw yeah! Ya like dat?! Aw yeah! Ya like dat!!
Prescott: Now ladies and gentlemen, Will is happy to answer any questions you might have. But before that, I have one last announcement to make. I have taken the liberty of changing the main event for the final Sentinel of 2008 in order to bring more excitement and star power to our fans - something that Boss P has failed to do at every turn. Instead of a triple threat match, Brandon Brown and Nicolas Cage will be facing off against Declan Prescott and Will Smith in a tag team match!!!
Smith: YEAH! Chest thump, dawg! Give it to me!
Will Smith begins leaping up and smashing his chest into Prescott’s. Declan puts on the best fake smile he can and then thumps his chest back into Smith’s. The two then high five, before Smith begins doing spin-a-roonies on the stage. Then something catches The Significant Player’s eyes. Brandon McSkinny has made his way to the front of the crow, his usual over-the-top borderline down syndrome smile has been replaced with a mournful frown.
Something is wrong.
* * * * *
Declan Prescott and Dr. David Hawkins stared through the window, at the patient and the visitor. They both sat on Stephanie’s bed, grinning and playing like children. Stephanie then quickly scribbled something onto the digital chalkboard she now possessed and displayed it for Cara to read. Cara burst out in hysterics, as Stephanie smiled widely.
“Her progress has been remarkable,” Hawkins stated. “With everything that poor girl suffered, I’d expect her to be driven to permanent insanity. Though I think the visits from Cara have played a tremendous role in that recovery. The two seem like kindred spirits.”
“Cara’s like that with almost all the people she encounters,” Declan answered. “It’s just who she is.”
“Or perhaps only those who have suffered similar trauma?” Hawkins pondered, with a raised eyebrow.
“Excuse me?”
“The way Cara and Stephanie have bonded,” he began. “It’s obvious that Cara was one of that monster Noose’s victims too.”
“I never said that,” Declan replied, trying to restrain his tone from rising.
“Nor would you,” Hawkins replied. “For fear that I’d want Cara to stay under my care also. But don’t worry, I actually think being with you is the very best thing for her. It’s obvious you care deeply for her and that kind of relationship will be extremely beneficial for her. In fact, if you had a permanent residence, I’d suggest Stephanie live with you as well. But you should know Mr. Prescott, that Cara will probably rely on you for the rest of her life. As sad as it sounds, she doesn’t understand the concept of freedom. To her, she’ll always be yours. And she’ll always need you. That’s a pretty big commitment.”
“And it’s one I’m prepared to make, no matter the sacrifices it involves. I’d do absolutely anything for her. And there’s nothing she could do that I wouldn’t forgive her for.”
“I hope you mean that, Mr. Prescott. And if you do, there are things you should be aware of.”
“What kind of things?”
* * * * *
Led by Brandon McSkinny, Declan Prescott and Travis Roberts arrived in the women’s bathroom of the convention centre. The sight turned Declan’s stomach inside out. The blood. It was everywhere. Spread across the floor, like a punctured hose of death. And then he saw it. The one reason he continued living. The one person that was proof he had a soul. The single love of his life. His wife. His friend. His partner. Cara Prescott was laid out on a stretcher, as medical workers wheeled her towards the trio. Her entire head was soaked with blood. Her eyes closed, an oxygen mask tied over her mouth and nose and the rising and falling of her chest being far too slow.
“What happened?!” he barked, throwing his body toward the stretcher.
“She’s lost a lot of blood, sir,” the paramedic replied. “We’re taking her to the hospital for a transfusion.”
And with that, she had been wheeled from the room and out of sight. Declan charged after them, but slipped on the blood and fell face first to the tiles. He was covered in it now. His entire front side. He could feel it inside his nose. Taste it on his lips. It had the taste of cold fear.
His head was expanding. The blood rushing through his veins, drowning his brain. He couldn’t take it. His body began convulsing beyond his control. His mouth erupted with vomit.
And then he was still.
Four arms took hold of him and dragged him back to a standing position. In the grip of both Skinny and Roberts, he could not support his own weight. He needed to be carried.
* * * * *
Cara was buzzing with anticipation. She hadn’t been able to sit still since they arrived in LA and as the pair now entered the hospital, she couldn’t contain her smile. It seemed she was about to burst at the seems with joy. A rare sight in an asylum. And a rare sight for Cara Costello.
“I can’t believe we missed our flight!” she told Declan. “Stephanie won’t be happy that we’re a day late for our usual visit. She sounded really upset when I told her that we'd be late, on the phone. But she’ll be okay. Because we always have fun together, Declan!”
“Yeah,” he replied, as the pair approached the reception desk. “Seeing you really cheers her up.” ‘And seeing her cheers you up,’ he added at the end, only within his mind.
Cara grinned, nodded and then skipped ahead, wanting to see her friend as soon as possible.
“We’re here to see Stephanie Minx,” she said with a broad smile. At hearing her words, the receptionist frowned mournfully.
“Oh dear…” she responded. “You haven’t heard? I’m very sorry…”
“What?!” Cara snapped, her voice filling with panic and her eyes with water. “I haven’t heard what?!”
“I’m so sorry… Stephanie… last night… we lost her…”
“WHAT?!” Cara screamed, erupting into tears and shaking uncontrollably. “NO! NO! WHAT HAPPENED?! SHE’S ALRIGHT ISN’T SHE?! SHE HAS TO BE! SHE - SHE - TELL ME!!!!”
“She’s dead…”
Cara erupted with an eternally piercing cry, as she fell to the floor convulsing. Declan scooped her into his arms and clutched her tightly, as she shook and wailed in his grasp. She blubbered and begged for it to be a mistake. For her dearest friend to still be with her. It was something Declan never understood. The universe was not one that could be bargained with. Reality needed to be accepted, no matter how horrible it was. But he remained there, with her.
By this time, the receptionist had made her way around the desk and had handed a box of tissues to Declan. He began wiping the tears from her face, as her body relaxed, but she still wept uncontrollably. He then noticed Dr. Hawkins entering the room and ushering Declan to him.
Asking the receptionist to take care of his still moaning girlfriend, he followed Hawkins into the doctor’s office. Declan closed the door behind him and turned to elderly man in the white coat.
“Stephanie killed herself,” he said with remorse. “She didn’t believe Cara on the phone when she said you’d be a day late. She thought her best friend just didn’t want to see her.”
“How do you know that?!”
“It was in her suicide note. Written on the electronic chalkboard we gave her. That the betrayal was too much. That she couldn’t live this life alone.”
Declan felt a hot, uncomfortable feeling swell up in his stomach. He had the same feeling when Cara had been raped. An all too familiar feeling. Guilt.
“Now I hope you understand,” Hawkins began. “The true gravity of the situation you now find yourself in. The roles could have easily been reversed. Stephanie looking for comfort in your arms, while Cara’s life came to an end far too early.”
“I didn’t love Stephanie…”
“No,” he said. “But I hope you’re sincere when you say you love Cara. Because if you hurt her, she’ll follow Stephanie’s fate. For the rest of her life, you’ll be bound to her. She’ll need a life based entirely on routine and constant reassurance that you care for her. That you’ll be there for her no matter what happens. Otherwise she’ll bring death upon herself.”
“I’ll never let that happen. I don’t care what I have to do. I don’t care about any of those ‘consequences’ you mentioned. No matter what, I’ll be there whenever she needs me!”
“That will mean putting her needs beyond everything else.”
“I can do that!”
“Everything else, Mr. Prescott. Including this wrestling promotion I hear you’re putting together. All it will take is one single slip-up on your part to push her over the edge. And if anything ever happens to her, I’ll hold you personally responsible.”
“I need to cut this conversation short,” Declan responded, clearly arriving at the end of his fuse. “My girlfriend is in mourning and she needs me.”
Hawkins smiled and nodded in agreement.
* * * * *
Her head was bandaged, as she lay serenely in the entirely white hospital room. She was sleeping peacefully, as three familiar figures stood over her. Travis Roberts, Brandon McSkinny and Declan Prescott. Alongside them was a middle-aged, sophisticated looking, spectacled woman in a white coat and a gruff looking, younger man in a blue uniform.
“She had lost a lot of blood,” Dr. Sigrid began. “She was assaulted in the women’s bathroom. Took a lot of trauma to the head. And she was bleeding internally from the brain. But we gave her a transfusion and stopped the bleeding. There shouldn’t be any permanently lasting effects… at least not physically. But we’re going to have to keep here for at least the next week. Just to monitor her condition.”
“What kind of beast could do this?” Declan asked, taking a bedside seat and clasping his hands gently over one of hers.
“We believe it was a man known as Douglas Maguire,” Officer Larine answered. “A man you’re familiar with, I believe.”
“Why haven’t you people caught him?!” Declan spat.
“We’re doing everything we can,” the lawman reassured. “Trust me, we want this piece of shit caught just as much as you. And while Cara’s in the high security section of the hospital, she’s completely safe. He can’t get to her now. And we’re willing to take you into police protection until he’s found and caught.”
“Fuck you,” Declan hissed.
“You’re lucky Mr. Prescott,” Larine stated. “Maguire was looking to do a lot more than just hurt your wife. And he would have succeeded if Mr. McSkinny here hadn’t interrupted.”
“Wha?” Declan gasped, as the entire room’s attention turned to a nervous looking Skinny.
“That’s right,” Larine began. “Brandon overheard the commotion and went to investigate. Maguire got spooked by someone walking in on him and took off. Why, if it wasn’t for Brandon, none of us would be standing here right now. We’d be at the morgue. It was a true miracle that he happened to be there.
“Just be careful, Mr. Prescott. He’s after you too. And now that Cara’s out of his reach, he’ll be gunning for you hard. You let us know if there’s anything we can do.”
The doctor and the police officer left the room. Declan rose to his feet and approached Skinny. The kid’s legs were shaking, as Declan, still in his suit covered in crusted blood and vomit, came face-to-face with him. The Significant Player threw his arms around Skinny and began to weep uncontrollably into his shoulder.
“Thankyou Brandon,” he sobbed. “Thankyou.”
“He’s gone too far, Declan,” Roberts interrupted. “He tried to kill her. What are we going to do?”
“We?” Declan said, stepping away from Skinny and turning to Travis. “Nothing. I am going to find him. And I am going to find his weaknesses. I am going to do a lot more than just hurt him. I am going to tear his life apart, just as he’s done to mine. And then I am going to kill him.”
“This isn’t any time to get righteous, Declan!” Roberts barked. “If you face him alone, there’s a good chance that he’ll - ”
“HE NEARLY KILLED MY WIFE!” Declan roared, causing both Travis and Skinny to jump in shock. “MY WIFE, TRAVIS! AND I’M NOT GONNA GIVE HIM ONE MORE SECOND TO HURT THE PEOPLE THAT I CARE ABOUT!” Declan’s tone now turned to one of soft, barely audible malice. The calm before a violent storm. “For too long, I’ve tried to run. To hide from what I always knew was unavoidable. If I had just done what I should have from the very beginning… none of this would have happened.”
“You can’t blame yourself, Declan!” Travis urged.
“I BLAME HIM!… and it’s because of me that he’s still walking this earth. I had the chance to put him down for good when he was lying comatose in a hospital bed. But now Cara is the one in a hospital bed. She's paying for my inability to act. But that’s never gonna happen again. And if I have to die to make sure that happens…
“…then take care of her for me. And never leave her side.”
