{Our scene opens inside the hospital, where Roxi is in a hospital gown, bandages wrapped over her eyes. We can see burnt hair on her forehead where they stuck from the sweat and the heat from the fireball. There is also a patch on her forehead of discolored skin, more precisely a 1st degree burn. Roxi lays there in obvious discomfort and completely blind, as one of the nurses comes in. Roxi grips the sides of the bed, unaware of who is in the room.}
Nurse – Hello, Mrs. Johnson, my name is Brandy, I’ll be checking on you tonight.
Roxi – Oh, okay. Just… for future reference, can you please identify yourself when you come in all the way? Sorry for being paranoid and all.
Brandy – I understand. You don’t need to be paranoid though, Mrs. Johnson. All of our nurses are the doctors are here to help you, you will be safe.
Roxi – Just… I get a little jumpy is all.
Brandy – I understand, Let’s just take your vitals real quick.
{Brandy the nurse proceeds to take Roxi’s temperature, blood pressure, and heart rate. She looks at the results and nods to herself.}
Brandy – Okay Mrs. Johnson, it looks like everything is normal right now. But since you were exposed to heat and light of that intensity at such a close range, we just want to leave the bandages on for a little bit. Doctor Howard will be in in a little bit to talk to you and give you a more detailed plan.
Roxi – Thank you.
{Brandy reaches down and places the call button for the nurses in Roxi’s hand.}
Brandy – I’ve just given you the call button, if you need anything, just hit the button and we’ll be in when we can.
Roxi – Thank you again. If you have some water, that would be great.
Brandy – Water? Sure.
Roxi – Also, did you say Doctor Howard?
Brandy – Yes.
Roxi – Is there a Doctor Fine who works here too?
Brandy – Ummm.. .no.
{Roxi snaps her fingers.}
Roxi – Dang.
Brandy – Do you know them or something?
{Roxi sighs.}
Roxi – No. It’s a Three Stooges reference.
Brandy – I don’t think I’ve ever seen that.
{Roxi sighs again.}
Roxi – I didn’t think so. I’m just getting old. Don’t mind me.
Brandy – Okay. I’ll be right back with your water.
{Brandy leaves, and Roxi is once again alone in the dark. She simple begins to listen, until the door opens once again. Roxi again grips the sides the bed, and due to sheer instinct, she attempt to see who’s there.}
Roxi – Hello?
Keira – Hi.
Roxi – Keira?
Keira – Mmhmm.
Roxi – Keira, you know you don’t need to worry about me. I’ll heal.
Keira – You should know me better than that by now. I’m never going to leave your side. You’re stuck with me.
Roxi – It’s just going to take some time Keira. I’ll be back on my feet in no time.
Keira – But you’re not now, and it worries me.
Roxi – I know what you’re about to say.
Keira – And?
Roxi – And it’s not your fault. There was no way of knowing what was going to happen.
Keira – I knew not to trust Amber. If I had been there, she wouldn’t have done this.
Roxi – Maybe. But that’s neither here nor there.
Keira – Yes it is!
Roxi – Keira, I told you at the very start of this whole thing, that it was my fight. It’s always been my fight. I know that with everything we’ve been through, everything we faced, we’ve always done it together. I know that. But this time, it has to be different.
Keira – What? So you can end up like this again? No Roxi. I get that you have your honor and your pride. But dammit, I cannot lose you to someone like that.
Roxi – You won’t. We’ve faced far worse than Amber Ryan, and we’re still here. This is just the opening shot in the war.
Keira – It’s the war part I’m worried about.
Roxi – You just have to let me do this. I promise in the end, it will be okay.
Keira – I can’t. I can’t say that, looking at you right now. I don’t know if it will be okay. With everything that’s happened?!
Roxi – There’s nothing we can control right now. But I need you to stay strong. I can’t have you falling apart. You have to be the glue for right now and hold it together. For me.
{Keira sighs and she begins to cry.}
Roxi – I know you’re crying. Please don’t cry. I need you to hold on. Just a little bit longer. We’ll get through this, like we have before.
{Keira sniffles as she wipes away some tears, and there is a knock at the door.}
Brandy – Hi, I’m back with your water. Oh… are you Mrs. Johnson’s –
Keira – Wife.
Brandy – Oh. Well, she’s doing okay. We’re here to help if she needs anything.
Keira – Good.
Roxi – Be nice, Keira.
{Brandy places the bottle of water in Roxi’s hand}
Brandy – There you go. Just call if you need anything. We’ll check in soon.
Roxi – Thank you.
{Brandy smiles at Keira, who nods and watches Brandy leave.}
Roxi – Don’t glare.
Keira – What?
Roxi – I can tell by the tone in your voice. Brandy has been very nice.
Keira – Fine. Is there anything else you need? Do you need help with that water?
Roxi – I’m only temporarily blind, Keira, not helpless. So long as the food tray is somewhere close.
{Roxi begins reaching for the tray, and Keira swings it towards her. Stopping it so Roxi can touch it, and she places the water bottle on the tray.}
Roxi – Thank you.
Keira – Of course. Is there anything else I can do?
Roxi – Well… since you’re here…
{Roxi points randomly in the room}
Roxi – My phone is somewhere in here with my clothes. I need you to let people know I’m okay.
Keira – Really?
Roxi – Yes. I kinda can’t type.
Keira – Fine. I could have done that for you.
Roxi – Just so people know Keira.
Keira – Yeah yeah.
{Keira gets up and eventually finds Roxi’s phone, and turns it on.}
Keira – I need to unlock it.
Roxi – 2-3-6-8.
{Keira types it in and the phone unlocks.}
Keira – What do you want me to say?
Roxi – Keira, take a letter.
Keira – What?
Roxi – *Sigh* no one gets my comedy from the ‘30’s and 40’s.
Keira – Maybe it’s just not funny anymore.
Roxi – The classics never die.
{Keira rolls her eyes.}
Keira – Just tell me what you want me to put here.
{Roxi begins to tell Keira what to tweet as the scene fades.}
{We flash to the next day where Roxi is still bandaged up, and Keira sits with her, reading tweets and messages Roxi received. After a while, the doctor finally knocks and enters.}
Dr. Howard – Well, Mrs. Johnson, how are you feeling?
Roxi – I’m feeling pretty good.
Dr. Howard – Well, I think we’ve let enough time pass, so let’s go ahead and get those bandages off and see if we can see.
Keira – That’s not funny.
Roxi – Keira…. Be nice.
{Keira frowns and allows the doctor to approach, and with his safety scissors, he cuts the edges of the bandages off.}
Doctor Howard – Now, if you could reach up and hold those bandages for me?
{Roxi does so, as the remnants of the bandages are tosses aside. Doctor Howard then cuts the bandages down the middle, leaving Roxi hold one over either eye.}
Doctor Howard – Alright. Now, slowly, let’s do it one at a time. Can you close one eye and keep the other open?
Roxi – Yes.
Doctor Howard – Okay, so, whichever eye you can keep closed, keep the bandage on that eye and lets see if one eye is okay. We’ll do it one at a time.
{Roxi slides the bandage off her right eye and keeps the left eye closed. She slowly opens it and blinks a few times. And the first thing she sees is Keira.}
Roxi – Keira.
Keira – I’m still here.
Doctor Howard – So, that looks okay, right?
Roxi – Yes. It feels good too.
Doctor Howard – Okay, so let’s try the other eye.
{Roxi pulls the bandage off and opens her other eye slowly. She blinks and adjusts her eyes to the light in the room and now had full depth perception.}
Roxi – I can see. I see pretty well.
Doctor Howard – Okay, that’s good. It’s going ot take a little bit longer to get your vision back 100% I would just have you stay overnight, and make sure your eyes properly adjust to the light and the dark. If all turns out well, tomorrow, we’ll release you and send you on your way.
Roxi – Excellent.
Doctor Howard – And if for some reason you get fire in your face again, then we’ll be happy to treat you.
Roxi – I don’t plan on it.
Doctor Howard – Good. Alright, we’ll be here if you need anything.
{Doctor Howard exits the room as Keira moves forward and hugs Roxi tightly.}
Keira – Welcome back.
Roxi – It was only temporary. I’m back now.
Keira – Good, but I still think you should think about my request.
Roxi – I can’t do that Keira. It’s not me. I have to be myself. I just may have to take it to a different level.
Keira – That’s what worries me.
Roxi – This is unlike anything that’s ever happened, so it’s all about being able to adapt and overcome.
Keira – But what if you don’t? I don’t want to see you back in another hospital bed.
Roxi – I am fully prepared to stay in the hospital again if it means that the problem is handled.
Keira – Please don’t.
Roxi – I have to. But, I do have some help that’s going to be invaluable.
{Keira smiles.}
Keira – I can’t wait to take her down.
Roxi – It’s not you. I don’t want you anywhere near the ring, or the match when it happens. You focus on your match, and I will focus on mine.
Keira – …
Roxi – Just trust me.
Keira – For now.
Roxi – Thank you.
{We cut again to the next day where Roxi is now moving around doing the things she would normally be able to do without an issue, and operating it seems at full capacity. She passes all the sight tests, and is released from the hospital where Keira is there to meet her.}
Keira – Ready to go to the hotel?
Roxi – I’ll meet you there. There’s something I have to do first.
Keira – What?
Roxi – I need to make a stop and visit an old friend.
{Keira sighs.}
Keira – Just don’t take too long, and don’t get hung up on something and put yourself at risk.
Roxi – Trust me, nothing is going to keep me from that boat, and kicking Amber Ryan’s ass. I promise.
{Roxi gives Keira a kiss on the forehead and then the two share a tender kiss.}
Keira – Come back to me.
Roxi – I will. I always do.
Keira – I’ll be waiting.
Roxi – I know. Tell Candy I said hello, and I’ll see her soon, okay?
Keira – You got it.
{Roxi and Keira part ways, with Keira headed back to the hotel, and Roxi headed off to her next destination as the scene fades.}
{We open back up with Roxi knocking on a familiar door. It isn’t long before it is answered. The familiar face of Amy Jo Smyth is behind the door, and she wears a serious look on her face, mixed with concern and relief.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Roxi?
Roxi – Hey.
{AJ wastes no time grabbing Roxi by the arm, pulling her into the house and hugging her tightly. AJ kisses Roxi repeatedly on the head, and all the same time, slaps her on the arms and shoulders.}
Amy Jo Smyth – You damn near gave me a heart attack!
Roxi – I’m sorry, I –
Amy Jo Smyth – Sorry? No! You don’t get to say sorry to me, Roxi! You damn near got your face burnt off!
Roxi – I’m aware of that AJ. It was out of my control.
Amy Jo Smyth – You should never have given her ANY sort of trust! That’s all she wanted, you know that, right?
Roxi – I do now.
Amy Jo Smyth – We’re going to fix that bitch, real good.
Roxi – Wait, what?
{AJ leads Roxi by the arm down into her basement, there’s still plenty of random experiments going and AJ causally turns Bunsen burners down or up, and tweaks things here and there seemingly at random. She escorts Roxi to a chair and motions for her to sit down. She begins to examine Roxi.}
Amy Jo Smyth – You still have burns.
Roxi – It was a fireball.
Amy Jo Smyth – Typical. Fucking Amber.
Roxi – You seem more upset about this than me.
Amy Jo Smyth – Because she tried to BLIND you, Roxi! The bitch tried to burn you worse than you are now. If she could have gotten away with it, she would have! Jesus, give me a second. Don’t move.
Roxi – AJ, I’m fine.
Amy Jo Smyth – I said don’t move.
{AJ walks away, and returns with a cold compress and presses it up against Roxi’s burn.}
Roxi – You don’t need to do this.
Amy Jo Smyth – Yes. I do. Hold that against your head and the burn should stop entirely.
Roxi – I know how a cold compress works.
Amy Jo Smyth – But you don’t know how Amber works.
Roxi – It’s why I came to you.
Amy Jo Smyth – You should have come sooner. I could have told you what was going to happen.
Roxi – She did something like this to you before?
Amy Jo Smyth – I can’t count the number of times the bitch has tried to hurt me. I’m over it, but when she does something like this to someone I care about, she’s got to pay.
Roxi – AJ, Please let me handle this.
Amy Jo Smyth – You did a really fucking good job almost losing your eyesight last time.
Roxi – I healed.
Amy Jo Smyth – Yeah, and how many more times are you going to potentially get your fucking face burnt off?!
Roxi – Hopefully, not any more.
Amy Jo Smyth – Alright, you can let go of the compress.
{Roxi let’s go and the burn shows signs of subsiding.}
Roxi – Are you doubting me now, too?
Amy Jo Smyth – No. I’m not doubting you, I’m going to educate you on everything.
Roxi – I know who she is.
Amy Jo Smyth – But you don’t understand what she’s capable of doing.
Roxi – I think I have a pretty good idea now.
Amy Jo Smyth – No, you don’t.
Roxi – AJ, seriously, I can handle it.
Amy Jo Smyth – When I’m done, you will.
Roxi – What?
Amy Jo Smyth – Look, if you can just wrestle her, you have a very strong chance of beating her.
Roxi – Well, this match is now no disqualification.
{AJ closes her eyes for a moment, biting her lip and she exhales exasperatedly.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Very well.
{AJ walks away again, taking the cold compress with her and tosses it into a wash area. She heads into a room, and returns with some cloth, some scissors, and lighter fluid. She plops them down on a table clearing a place for them.}
Roxi – What are you doing?
Amy Jo Smyth – Amber Ryan wants to shoot fire at people, then we’ll shoot fire at her.
Roxi – Wait what?
Amy Jo Smyth – Just watch carefully.
{AJ begins to cut the cloth into strips, taking one and rolling it into a ball.}
Roxi – What are you doing?
Amy Jo Smyth – Hang on…
{AJ opens a drawer behind her and gets a needle and thread. She plops them on the table.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Just remember that the cloth has to be cotton. Not a blend or polyester. And the thread can’t be nylon.
{AJ loops the needle and thread and begins tying the little roll of cloth together. Once she finishes, she picks up the lighter fluid.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Now, make sure the lighter fluid has Naphtha in it. It’s the only way this is going to work.
{AJ take the lighter fluid and put a small amount on the ball, and then pulls out her lighter, and lights the ball of cloth in her hand. She stands proud.}
Roxi – Did you just…
Amy Jo Smyth – Yup. Fireball. Now, this is going to feel like a hot pizza out of the oven, but it burns over time. So… you make a couple of these babies and just chuck them at her.
Roxi – You literally want me to fight fire with fire…
Amy Jo Smyth – That’s your best option now. I would have told you to just wrestle her, but of course, now you’re in a match that lets her have weapons to use freely. Which is unfortunate. Because she’s a walking hardware store. Fire may be the least of your concerns. There’s also thumbtacks, mist, brass knuckles, spikes, and pretty much anything she can get her hands on if she didn’t already bring it. And she’s going to bring plenty of weapons.
Roxi – Sounds wonderful.
Amy Jo Smyth – Don’t joke. She may do this because the whole “Wrestling” thing isn’t what she’s good at. It’s fighting. She’s good at fighting because for her, it’s survival. You are about to encounter someone who is only concerned with hurting you. And you’ve only given her more motivation to do it because she feels justified now.
Roxi – You’ve been paying that much attention?
Amy Jo Smyth – I’ve known Amber for years, and in a controlled environment, she can be at least slowed down. But you’ve just given her free reign.
Roxi – I’ll be careful.
Amy Jo Smyth – So, how many fireballs should I make?
Roxi – What? You don’t need to make any.
Amy Jo Smyth – What do you mean, not make any?! You’re taking these into this fight. You’re going to need them.
Roxi – I’m going to do things my own way.
{Amy takes the fireball which was still burning, and puts it out forcefully by closing her fist.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Have you not listened to a word I said? You’re dealing with a person who is trying to literally END you. If she could have gotten away with it, she would have done worse. Don’t give her any more of an advantage. You’re going to have to put her down, maybe permanently.
Roxi – That seems harsh.
Amy Jo Smyth – Again… FIREBALL, Roxi. The bitch burnt you with a GODDAMN FIREBALL.
Roxi – I’m aware of that.
Amy Jo Smyth – So, then you understand what you have to do. You need to strike back harder. Maybe these fireballs aren’t enough. But I can make a bigger one. I can make a fireball so big it will burn all her goddamn hair off! That’s what I’ll do.
Roxi – No! No, you don’t need to do that.
Amy Jo Smyth – Roxi, don’t make this difficult. I can make up some other stuff then. I won’t outright maim her, I’ll figure something else out.
Roxi – Don’t… it’s fine. Okay, what you showed me, it’s more than fine.
Amy Jo Smyth – Don’t patronize me, Roxi. If you’re not going to be motivated to fight fire with fire, then don’t bother. But if you wind up in the hospital again because you didn’t listen, I will show up at your show and I will beat the hell out of both of you.
Roxi – It’s not going to come to that.
Amy Jo Smyth – It better not. She hurt you, Roxi, and that makes me upset. She’ll try to hurt you again if you let her. Just don’t give her the opportunity to use any of those weapons and you’ll have a much better chance. And you’ll have an even better one if you just use weapons yourself.
Roxi – That’s exactly what she wants.
Amy Jo Smyth – Fuck what she wants. Who cares? You brain her with a stick in the head, or you smash a chair on her back, it doesn’t make you a malicious person. It makes you a survivor. You’re doing what you have to do to win. And you deserve revenge. Don’t ever think that you’re anything like Amber because you hit her with something. Remember that. Always remember that.
{Roxi finally nods and hugs AJ.}
Roxi – Thanks for the advice.
{AJ removes the hair from her face and looks around. Finally opening a drawer.}
Amy Jo Smyth – All this stress… where is it. Aha.
{AJ produces a small handgun from her drawer.}
Roxi – Um… why do you have that?
Amy Jo Smyth – Protection. Also, I collect them. I need to go shoot something now.
{AJ begins looking in the drawer and she pulls the slide back and locks it, looking for a magazine. She tosses one aside, and then produces a gun in a plastic bag, and places the other gun back in the drawer.}
Amy Jo Smyth – There we go. Come with me.
{AJ leads Roxi to the backyard outside the house, where makeshift shooting range is assembled, and AJ takes the bag and places it down.}
Roxi – Doesn’t anybody say anything?
Amy Jo Smyth – There’s nobody around here for a few miles. Of course, there could always be someone in the woods out there or something. It’s certainly a possibility, but I haven’t hit anything but a target in a long time.
{As long as it took AJ to complete her sentences, she has assembled the pistol, locking the slide back and releasing it, letting it slide in place perfectly.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Like a glove.
Roxi – Well… I’m gonna go ahead and head back to the hotel. And uh… I think we’re going to be moving soon.
Amy Jo Smyth – Moving? Why?
Roxi – We don’t want Nate to get sick. And this place is becoming insane with the virus.
Amy Jo Smyth – Damn. Yeah, these people are fucking dumb. I don’t blame you, but… you know, don’t be a stranger.
Roxi – Never.
{AJ quickly fires off a shot. And peers down the way.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Just remember what I said. Don’t give her any quarter. None.
Roxi – I gotcha.
{AJ fires off another shot, and looks down at her pistol.}
Amy Jo Smyth – I gotta make some sight adjustments. Anyway, just let me know about those fireballs and I’ll get them to you.
Roxi – I will. I promise.
Amy Jo Smyth – And Roxi…
Roxi – Yes?
Amy Jo Smyth – Do what you know you have to do…
{Roxi nods, walking away from AJ as the scene fades.}
{Roxi is now back at the hotel, as she stands on the balcony looking out at Las Vegas. It is pretty quiet, and for just this moment, Roxi has a little bit of peace. There is a quiet serenity with Roxi just alone, enjoying her view. This is eventually interrupted by her wrist communicator going off.}
Roxi – Vision.
Vision – Hey Rox, how ya feeling?
Roxi – Better. I can see.
Vision – Good to hear. Passed all the tests then?
Roxi – Yeah, back to normal. At least… somewhat normal, I guess.
Vision – Keira still having nightmares?
Roxi – Yeah, we’re going to bring her in for an exam. I don’t know what’s going on there, but, recently, she’s been okay. So… I don’t know, maybe it was just a run of bad dreams.
Vision – I don’t know, people don’t normally scream at the top of their lungs about everything and talk to people who aren’t there.
Roxi – Since when if my wife normal? Since when am I normal? I’ve pretty much given up on the whole normal thing. I don’t even know what it is anymore. How do you define normal? Isn’t normal pretty boring?
Vision – I don’t know, I guess that’s for the psych majors to ponder.
Roxi – I guess. Jeez it’s actually pretty out here.
Vision – Vegas? Isn’t it a desert?
Roxi – Yeah, but… even still. It’s something to look at.
Vision – Oh, right…
Roxi – I guess if there’s one good thing that came out of this, it’s the fact I got a chance to actually know what it’s like to not have my eyes. And all the little things I took for granted. All the things I just didn’t ever stop to take the time to look at. And the idea that I may lose something some precious was terrifying. I’m not going to lie to vision, I didn’t actually know if that was going to turn out for the best.
Vision – But, you can heal.
Roxi – Yes, but it was a slow process. It wasn’t like it should have been, and that is worrying to me. Maybe it’s just me getting old or something. Or maybe something else is wrong. Maybe I should get checked out too.
Vision – We can always schedule you both to come and we’ll take care of you.
Roxi – I know that. I just don’t want Keira to worry. I know she will and I want her to not focus on me, but on herself.
Vision – Good luck with that. You know you’re the same way.
Roxi – I can’t help it. That’s who I’ve always been.
Vision – And that’s who your wife is now.
Roxi – Yeah, I noticed. But, since I got you here, have you been keeping tabs on Hamilton?
Vision – Nothing significant since the thing with Warren. He was ousted by the board and power was given back to Heather.
Roxi – Keep looking at it. I wanna know if they make any sort of move. Has anyone been able to get anything out of Warren?
Vision – No. They’re thinking of using the equalizer.
Roxi – That bad… Alright, just keep me informed.
Vision – Will do. You just be safe out there.
Roxi – I will, you have my word.
Vision – And Rox?
Roxi – Yeah?
Vision – Welcome back.
Roxi – … It’s good to be back.
{Roxi ends the call and sighs, continuing to peer out into Las Vegas as the scene fades.}
Slime like you made me. You earned me.
- Batman (Batman Vol 1 0)
Hello SCW.
As you can see, I’m alive and well. Granted, I had no vision for a couple of days, but that has all returned, and now I can focus on the task at hand. I want to thank all of the people who texted, or tweeted, some of you writing on my Facebook fan page and even some letters, wishing for a speedy recovery. It meant a lot to me to hear from me in a time where, I needed to hear them quite frankly. For those couple of days, it was rough. I know Keira mentioned that I would be at Summer XXXtreme, and that was always going to be the plan, sight or no sight. How smart or effective a choice that would have been is another story, but even with fire literally in my eyes, it couldn’t match the fire inside me, and the anger that seemed to want to consume me like a flame.
Mostly, I was mad at myself. I’m mad I allowed myself even for a second to think that maybe, just maybe, that Amber Ryan was being sincere in her attempts at being a decent human being. After everything that happened, I thought that maybe Amber was actually trying, but as I suspected from the very start, there only thing genuine, was the attempt at being genuine. I’ll give credit where it’s due, Amber put on a heck of performance for the past two months. And maybe, if I wasn’t me, it would have been far worse. I can only take a little bit of pride in making her work that much, but in the end, it worked. And I’m angry at myself for not sticking to my guns and keeping her at least at arm’s length.
But I didn’t. I got to close and much like the rabbit from the old story, I got bit by the snake.
For those that don’t know, there is an old fable about a rabbit that was trying to find a hole to sleep in for the winter. And all the other animals there just wasn’t enough room for them, and the rabbit, and then the rabbit, got invited by the snake to come into his hole. And the rabbit, at first, didn’t want to. He knew it was a bad idea. But the snake insisted. He said I’ve got plenty of room and so after some convincing, the rabbit he went down into the hole, to be safe from the winter storms. And the snake kept luring and luring the rabbit closing, until he had the rabbit in his coils, and he bit the rabbit and began to crush him.
And the rabbit said “why are you doing this?”
And the snake said “Because, I’m a snake. You should never trust a snake.”
The rabbit had to learn the valuable lesson about trusting his instincts. It’s the same one I had to learn the hard way. I had to damn near lose my eyesight in order to learn it, but I did. So in a way, I have to thank Amber for opening my eyes to the truth. This entire thing was a masterful piece of deception.
Sleight of hand, really.
You see, we all have seen magic performed before. But we all know there’s a secret to the trick. It’s about making you think about one thing while doing another. David Copperfield really didn’t make the statue of liberty disappear and Penn and Teller can’t telepathically know what number you’re thinking of. There’s a trick to every trick. But in this case, Amber Ryan revealed the whole trick before she even started.
She challenged me to a match. Her first time in front of all of you, she challenged me to a match. That was the end goal all along. But with everything that happened in between then, and where we are now? That was the magic act. That was the deception, the sleight of hand. Because it was that same night, she wrote me a note. And just a week later, where she could have nailed me with a chair, but she chose not to. And everything subsequently after that, was to make us all believe that while Amber wanted to wrestle me, I was, someone she at least had some respect for. A person she saw as perhaps an equal, and heck, maybe, when it was all said and done, that we could be allies, and even a team.
And low and behold, we did team up. We teamed up and we won a tag match. The misdirection.
And while I was true to my word, and I shook her hand, I can’t even really argue that Amber wasn’t true to hers. At the end of the day, she got what she wanted. The sleight of hand.
And by the time I realized it, it was too late. And that’s how I ended in the hospital with flash blindness. She threw a fireball right in my face, because that was the trick the whole time. Because as we all know, magic really only works if the people you’re doing believe. If you can make them suspend their disbelief for just a few moments, you got them. And I feel like a complete sucker for even entertaining the idea that Amber wasn’t who I thought she was.
They warned me, and I didn’t listen. So I have no one to blame but myself for what happened out there. I know that people can and will just simply blame Amber, and while that’s convenient, it isn’t the whole truth. Let’s not give Amber too much credit. I was the one who gave Amber the benefit of the doubt for that split second, and that’s all she needed. The magician can’t trick someone when they know the trick. And I gave her the powers, and it cost me. Almost dearly.
I mean, worst case scenario, she could have ruined my eyesight permanently. Blinded me for life. I wouldn’t ever be able to see the things I take for granted. A sunset, my birds in my yard, my friends, my neighbors, my own family… my son. All of that could have been taken away because Amber Ryan has a problem with me.
Because why not? A lot of folks just have an issue with me. Mostly for calling them out on the carpet when they do the same things they complain about. I don’t like hypocrites. Simple as that. I don’t like liars and I don’t like people who take pride in bringing others down because they just aren’t interesting as they believe they are.
The fact of the matter is that Amber attempted to take away my livelihood. If she wanted to fight, I was ready right when she made the challenge. But no, we had to play this little game, and at the end, it was all for some cheap thrill. And now, to make matters worse, now I’m being blamed for what happened to me.
Yes, it is completely my fault that I have the ability to read people on a social setting. Maybe it’s because I know bad vibes when I feel them. Maybe it’s because of a person’s track record it’s very hard to take them as a completely changed person. Especially when it’s out of nowhere. And especially after that person challenges me to a match right out of the gate. Sorry that my trouble radar picked up trouble the day Amber Ryan walked in the door. It only comes from experience.
A lot of you do not know Amber Ryan like I do. But let me just state for the record that what happened to me, can happen to anyone at any time. Whenever Amber feels like it she can try and take everything away from you. It’s how she has operated for the past 6 years. At the very least. I’ve seen her stab people, try to break bones, use thumbtacks, mist, and obviously, fire. I’ve seen all of it. And simply because Amber took some time away and came back, I’m supposed to believe she’s changed? Sorry, but it’s not an easy thing to just casually toss aside.
I mean, I did for about 30 seconds and I ended up in the hospital.
So, forgive me for not believing a leopard ever changes its spots. And it turns out, I was right. I didn’t drive Amber to this behavior, and to do what she did. Amber was doing it long before she came to SCW. And not batting an eyelash at any of the destruction she caused. Not caring one bit who she hurt, and how many that were hurt. And now, Amber comes here, and she obviously expects to do the same.
And I will not allow that to happen.
I didn’t make Amber the bad guy, she chose that role for herself. If she wants to play villain, I will play the hero. She can the lonely child that never fit in, and is not lashing out at the world. But we’ve very rapidly come past the point of words really meaning anything. We’re past the point of being civil and cordial. Amber threw all of that out of the window when she tried to maim me. And yes, I’ve had my hand in it as well. But there is no butterfly effect style thinking here. Thinking if I had treated Amber as anything other than a threat, then we wouldn’t be standing here right now in the exact same position. It was always going to end this way.
This was inevitable.
I know that now. I’ve always known that the day would come, but I just didn’t know when. And now, I do. Summer XXXtreme, finally, after all this time, we’ve come to this moment. And as much as I should be, making the point of how exciting this is to finally get this match and to finally be able to stand across from Amber Ryan and make this something to be remembered… That feeling is now gone. I don’t care about that anymore.
All I care about, is taking Amber Ryan apart. Piece, by piece.
I chose long ago to be a good person, a decent person. Not to make all the noise, and make myself stand out for the wrong reasons. But then again, any reason one stands out, makes them a target. A target for people who also want to stand out. That’s just human nature. Getting angry and jealous of others, no matter what they do. If a person stands out for being awful, we hate them. We demonize them. But we’re morally superior because we didn’t do, or don’t do, what they did. It makes us all feel like better people.
But when someone stands out for the right reasons, we still demonize them. They’re a “Goody-two shoes” the “Teacher’s pet” so on and so forth. We didn’t do what they did, and now we feel inadequate and inferior. And those who take it to the level that Amber Ryan has taken this, have looked for any reason, any small tiny imperfection to point to and say “Look! Look at this! They aren’t as perfect as you think they are!”
I never claimed to be perfect, just lucky, and a nice person. I’ve got plenty of flaws and imperfections. It’s just a simple case me not being afraid to show them. Not being afraid to embrace them for what they are. I don’t hide who I am from anyone. But if you want to blame me for that, then fine, go ahead and blame me. I will completely accept blame for not being a petty, jealous human being who wants to bring everyone else down instead of lifting them up.
The only thing I do, is tell the truth. And sometimes, the truth hurts when it’s said out loud. It stings to have someone bring up everything that you don’t want to admit about yourself. It stings to have someone lay everything bare. You can either, accept it and make a solid change, or you be willfully blind to it. And deny that it’s you who is the problem. No, it can’t be ME, it has to be everyone else.
And with a fireball, Amber Ryan chose the second option. It’s my fault. Because I didn’t chose to ignore all the pain she’s caused and enjoyed every single second of it over the past 6 years… at least… and accept the new and improved Amber Ryan who is suddenly the sweetest thing you’ve ever seen in your life. I’m sorry, I can’t even really count the number of times people in my life, friend or otherwise, who have done the same thing to prove they have changed, and as soon as it got them what they wanted, they went right back to doing what they’ve always done. So now… it’s going to be really difficult to ever have that be something that gets me ever again.
Amber Ryan came here and called me out, not the other way around. I didn’t start this whole thing by making a judgement of Amber Ryan at all. Right before she signed here, I congratulated her on winning the Carnage championship. Perhaps I should have said nothing, or perhaps called her victory hollow, or assumed she had to resort to the types of things she normally would have to, in order to win. But I didn’t. Because at that point I figured we could at least be on somewhat friendly terms. But as soon as Amber walks into the doors here, she wants to fight me. Which makes this entire silly game we just played, entirely pointless. The only thing is accomplished, was a fireball.
I’m never making that mistake again.
So here we are. And now, I once again face a dilemma. I once again have to deal with someone who simply wants to destroy everything I’ve tried to build. A person who just handle the idea that I stand for something that isn’t tainted. A person who wants to erase my legacy, and add to their own. It’s not a secret that Amber Ryan is good. Very good. And dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Her actions, and reputation, proceed her. Amber Ryan has a legacy, and she’s obviously lived up to it. Now there are those that question whether or not I’m thinking clearly. Whether or not I should have signed up to take on Amber in a match where, there are no rules. I come into her playground. And it’s not a smart thing to do. I’ll be the first to admit, it isn’t.
Knowing what happened to me, and what could happen, I would be much safer simply having a normal match, and beating Amber in the middle of the ring. And while that’s true, that’s not good enough. It’s not even CLOSE to good enough. This has to be handled the correct way. So I step out of my own comfort zone and into Amber’s. Because I’m not afraid to get hurt. I know I’m going to take a healthy share of punishment in two weeks. That’s not something that’s lost on me. I know I’m going to get beat up, but you know what? I’ve been hit with sticks and rocks. I’ve gone through tables and fell off of ladders and crashed and burned more times than I care to remember. I’m not afraid of a little pain.
And by doing this, I can beat Amber at her own game. I can stop everything cold, right here, and right now. And if there’s one thing that I know better than anything now, it’s that Amber Ryan has to be stopped before she hurts someone else.
But I know what this truly has turned into.
By doing what I really want to do to Amber, Amber will take it as some sort of victory. She will take it as me being just like her. And that’s the problem. I’m not like Amber Ryan, I don’t take pleasure in hurting others. At least, not as much as she does. Does it feel good sometimes to shut someone up? Sure. Are there times where I feel like I need to cut loose and just do what needs to be done? Yes. But that’s what Amber wants. Giving her the pain she’s caused me back to her, makes me no better than she is. I keep thinking about this and what it does to me. What does it change? Does it mean I’m just as bad if I burned Amber? Would it be more than poetic justice?
But then I also realize that I have to do, what needs to be done. Sometimes, drastic times call for drastic measures.
I think this qualifies.
I didn’t start this fight, but I will finish it.