I’ve grown used to Kittie ignoring me from time to time. At least when I was still an asshole and she was pissed at me for one reason or another. I could probably deal with that if it was Kittie who was mad at me right now, but it’s not. Before my match last night I accidentally said something without thinking, and now Ember is not only hurt by what I said, but she’s pretty angry with me. I can’t say I blame her though, because thinking back to what I said, it didn’t come across the way I had intended it to.

Ember wanted to come out to ringside with me and Kittie. I get that she wanted to be there to support me and she wanted to have a good time, but having my ten year old daughter at ringside would not have only been stupid, but a major liability. I stupidly called her a distraction, but she took it in a way that I just didn’t mean. And I’ve been trying to get her to talk to me ever since.

But she’s better at the silent treatment than anyone I’ve ever met, Kittie included.

She hid backstage the rest of the show and she wouldn’t speak to me when we returned to our room to gather our stuff and leave, instead choosing to cling to Phil and Maddie as much as she could. And she made it clear that she was not happy about having to return home to Las Vegas, either. Simply put, she’s throwing a tantrum at the worst, and quietest, level and I have no clue how to handle it. But now that we’ve just gotten home, I have to try.

Jake: Alright, Em. Enough is enough. You can’t keep ignoring me like this.

I set out bags down on the floor as I step inside the house behind Kittie and Ember. Ember tries to head straight upstairs, making a beeline for her room but I try to stop her.

Kittie: Maybe you should give her some time, Jake. She’s--

Jake: I have given her time, Kittie. It’s been almost twenty-four hours and she hasn’t spoken a word to me. Em, don’t head upstairs just yet, alright?

She either acts like she doesn’t hear me, or she flat out ignores me because she grabs a hold of the bannister and tries to head upstairs, and I take a step forward.

Jake: Em, stop! I’m trying to talk to you here, kid.

She stops on the second stop and slowly turns around and glares at me with the meanest look I could imagine her ever giving me.

Ember: I DON’T want to talk to you! Ever again!

I find her words pretty funny for some reason, and I let out a laugh. She folds her arms angrily as she glares at me, waiting for me to give her permission to go upstairs.

Jake: Well, that’s gonna be kinda hard to do considering you’re living here now. Look, I get that you’re upset with me and I’m sorry what I said came out the way it did, but I didn’t--

Ember: I don’t care! Leave me alone!

Jake: I’m not leaving you alone, kid. Not until we talk about this.

She stomps down the two steps and towards me, letting her arms drop to her sides.

Ember: My name is EMBER! Quit calling me kid!

Kittie: Jake, just let her--

Jake: Kittie, please let me handle this.

I quickly glance to Kittie and hold my hand up. She rolls her eyes, but holds her hands up in defeat and walks into the living room, taking a seat on the sofa. I turn my full attention back to Ember, hoping I can get somewhere with her.

Jake: Ember, I’m sorry. Okay? This has been an adjustment for all of us, especially me, alright? I’m new to this whole dad thing, and I’m trying my best not to make any mistakes. I didn’t mean for what I said to sound the way it did, but I need you to understand something.

Ember: I told you I don’t care. You think I’m a distraction!

Jake: Not in a bad way, Ember. If you were out there--

Ember: I DON’T CARE! I don’t want to talk to you anymore! I don’t want to live here anymore! I want to go back to Michigan!

I take a step towards her, understanding how hard this is, but she takes a step back, growing more upset.

Jake: Em, I know--

Ember: No! You don’t! I want my mom! I want my dad! I want to go back home!!!

Jake: I’m right here. This is your home.

Ember: YOU’RE NOT MY DAD! You never were and you never wanted to be! And this isn’t my home! Danny was my dad! He raised me! I’m a Blaze! I’m not a Sullivan! I HATE IT HERE! I WANT TO GO BACK HOME!!!

I try to reach out to her, but she smacks my hand away. She’s apparently done fighting as she turns around and I watch her storm upstairs. The sound of her bedroom door slamming shut follows and I look to Kittie, who has been watching the entire time and I’m left speechless and completely...lost.

Kittie: I tried to tell you to give her some time.

Jake: I had to try and explain it to her, Kittie. I didn’t mean to come across as an insensitive asshole last night. I was just trying to keep her safe! You know that!

Kittie nods and stands up from the sofa. She walks around it and up to me as I walk over to the stairs and just sit down on the third step, burying my head in my hands.

Kittie: I know you were, but she’s been through alot this last month. You shouldn’t push her like that, because it will only make things worse.

I shake my head and let out a frustrated sigh.

Jake: I just...How could she say all of that to me, Kittie? Especially after everything I’ve done for her this last month. Especially after giving her the chance to say goodbye to Electra and Danny...

I lower my head again and to my surprise, and I think Kittie’s, tears start to fall down my cheek. She sits next to me and wraps her arms around me as I feel myself starting to fall apart for the first time in...well...ever.

Kittie: That funeral wasn’t just for Ember, Jake. I think we both know that.

I turn my head and look to her and close my eyes. She was right, as hard as it was to admit. And, again, for the first time ever, I’m actually crying on Kittie’s shoulder as my mind fades back to that day...to the day we said goodbye to Electra and Danny.

******************************
>[OOC Note: Before anyone says anything, you’ll notice Jake is referred to as Rage in this scene. If you read my previous RPs, you’ll know that is because he doesn’t say he wants to be known as Jake until after he, Kittie and Ember get to Las Vegas, a few days after this scene takes place. Just clarifying that ]

Friday June 2nd
Ann Arbor Michigan

I don’t know who, if anyone, is going to show up this afternoon. For Ember’s sake, I hope Danny and Electra were friendly with someone in the area so it makes it easier for her to deal with. It’s just fifteen minutes before the start of the visitation and the three of us are in the funeral chapel alone. Ember is sitting on a chair at the front of the chapel, her eyes glued to the Electra and Danny in their caskets. I tried to sit next to her, but she insisted on being alone for a little while so I’ve given her some space without leaving her completely alone.

Rage: This is weird, Kittie. It’s all so damn surreal. I don’t even know if anyone is going to show up and if they don’t, I don’t know how the hell I’m gonna be able to help her or make her feel better.

Kittie rubs my back and takes in a deep breath as we both watch Ember head up to the two caskets and kneeling in front of them.

Kittie: We’ll just have to figure it out if we have to, but don’t worry, alright? Either way this isn’t going to be easy for her to deal with.

I give Kittie a quick hug, at a loss for anything else to say. I watch Ember stay where she is, looking back and forth between Electra and Danny, when suddenly, I hear feet shuffling into the chapel. I turn towards the door to see a familiar face. A face I hadn’t seen in quite some time.

Rage: Roxanne? What the hell are you doing here?

I keep my voice down as I ask her through gritted teeth. Roxanne was not someone anyone was particularly fond of at any point in time. Her fiery red hair was pulled back and she was dressed very appropriately in a simple black dress. She frowns at me with my choice of words and she glances to Ember at the front of the funeral chapel before turning her attention back to me.

Roxanne: It’s nice to see you again, too, Rage...

Rage: How did you find out about this? No one has spoken to you in how long? At least a couple years?

She looks to Kittie and then back to me. I get the hint and I look down to Kittie, wide-eyed.

Rage: You called her?

Kittie: Yeah, I did. I’ll never understand why, but she was close to Electra, so I thought she should know. And I knew you were worried about no one showing up.

Roxanne turns her attention back to Ember. She’s returned to her seat away from the caskets and she has her head lowered.

Roxanne: Even from back here I see so much of Electra in her. I really can’t believe she’s gone.

Roxanne goes to walk up to the caskets to pay her respects, but I grab her by the arm and pull her back for a moment. A thought just hits me and I have to call her out on it.

Rage: Wait a second. I need to talk to you for minute, Roxanne.

Roxanne stares at me and pulls her arm away.

Roxanne: Oh, please, Rage. If you’re still bent out of shape about everything Electra put you through a couple of years ago...

Rage: That’s not what this is about. But I am curious about something. The two of you grew...close.

Roxanne chuckles and rolls her eyes at me.

Roxanne: I thought I made it clear there was nothing sexual, if that is what you are trying to get at.

Rage: Again, no.

Kittie: Rage...what are you doing? Now isn’t the time...

Rage: There’s a reason for this, Kittie. I’m not trying to start anything. And now is the time because I’m fairly sure that after Roxanne leaves, we won’t see her again so I have to know.

Roxanne lets out a sigh and shakes her head.

Roxanne: Know what, exactly?

I glance to Ember and then back to Roxanne.

Rage: Did you know about her? Did you know about Ember?

She stares blankly at me for a few moments, probably trying to figure out what to say. Her silence is answer enough, but I do my best to keep myself from getting angry. Which is unusual. I’m half expecting her to lie to me, but she had to have known. To my surprise, though, she tells me the truth.

Roxanne: Honestly? Yes, I knew. Not in the beginning but after some time I found out about her.

I furrow my eyes at her and feel my nostrils flare.

Rage: And you didn’t tell me? I guess that just proves how much of a bit--

She holds her hand up and I stop myself before I can finish saying what I really wanted to say. Though it’s fairly obvious what I was about to call her.

Roxanne: As if you would have believed me? Besides, it was not my business to tell you and she assured me she was going to tell you.

Rage: Only she didn’t. She went psycho and kidnapped Kittie in some twisted plan to win me back. Jesus Christ...

Kittie: Rage, come on...

She grabs a hold of my hand, squeezing it and trying to get me to calm down. I’m as calm as I’m going to be under the circumstances.

Roxanne: She wasn’t well, Rage. I understand that now. I tried to look out for her as best as I could, but--

Rage: But nothing! You knew she wasn’t right in the head yet you still used her in your twisted fetish world...

Roxanne: Look, I didn’t come here to bring up the past or open old wounds, Rage. I came here to pay my respects to my dear friend and to offer my condolences to her beautiful daughter. I’m terribly sorry about everything that happened in the past and that has happened since. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go pay my respects.

I turn away from her as she turns around and heads up to the front of the chapel. To my surprise, more people start filtering into the chapel now, but no one I recognize. I stand back for a few moments as I watch Roxanne introduce herself to Ember and the two talk for a few minutes. I try to avoid going up near the caskets, but Kittie nudges me and urges me to be near Ember to support her, and I realize she is right. I have to do what I have to...for her.

******************************

Back to the Present

Kittie: You never actually went up to the caskets that day.  Why?

I take in a few deep breaths as I pull away from Kittie running my hands over my head. I honestly wasn’t sure why, but I came up with the only explanation I could think of.

Jake: She kept my kid from me, Kittie. For ten years, she had more than enough opportunities to tell me she never actually had that miscarriage and that we had a kid, but she didn’t.

Kittie: Well...I kind of understand why. I mean, it doesn’t make it any less shitty, but...

Jake: How fucked up is it that despite everything that bitch put me through...put us through...I never actually wanted to see her dead. Last year I made it seem like I didn’t believe she had changed, but honestly? I knew she did. I saw that much, and I knew she finally wanted to be there for Ember. Maybe I would have eventually given in and tried to be a part of Ember’s life, but I didn’t want it happen this way, Kittie. Not this fucking way, because she’s upset and I don’t even know how the hell to make her feel better.

I start to lose it again, as the events of the last month finally start to take its toll on all of us. As Kittie tries to comfort me on the steps, I hear Ember’s followed by her walking out. I turn around to see her standing at the top of the stairs, her eyes red and puffy from crying.

Ember: I’m sorry, Daddy...

I manage to crack a smile as she walks down the steps and sits down next to me and hugs me. I wrap my other arm around her.

Jake: It’s okay, Em...We’ve both said things we didn’t mean.

Ember: I miss Mom and Uncle Danny...

She starts crying again, burying her head into my side and I run my hand along her back trying to comfort her. I can’t even find the words to say, and neither can Kittie, so we just let her cry it out, and hopefully my next couple of weeks off from SCW will do all of us some good.

TBC…

 Evolution of Rage Part 5: I Am Jake

---

Monday June 5th
Las Vegas
Home Sweet...New Home
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What a long week. Too long, actually, but we’re almost home. All three of us. Kittie, Ember and I. The original plan was to just go to Michigan, pick up Ember, pack some of her things and fly back to Las Vegas. Two days, tops. But because Electra and Danny had no other family that could be found, I took it upon myself to handle the funeral arrangements for the both of them. And I only did it for Ember.

It wasn’t easy. I can’t deny it. I never had the best relationship with Electra as it was, and I really didn’t know her brother very well, but I just couldn’t take Ember home to Las Vegas without taking care of this for her. And, as little time as I’ve known Ember and spent time with her, it wasn’t easy watching her have to deal with that either.

That was three days ago, and she’s ben quiet ever since. I don’t really know how to handle this, or to get her to talk, but I’m not going to pressure her right now. And neither is Kittie. I’m just pulling my car into the driveway, and I see Ember finally looking up and out the window at our house. Her eyes widen at how big it is. Her jaw drops open a bit and I can’t help but let a grin cross my face as I put the car in park, shut the engine off and turn around to look at her.

“Home sweet home.” I say, and Kittie turns around to look at her, too.

“This is where you live??” She asks, moving her eyes to look at me and Kittie.

Kittie and I nod. “Yep. For a few years now, but you live here now, too. You ready to head inside and check it out?”

She looks out the window again, in awe at how big the house really is. She leans back a few seconds later, takes in a deep breath and then slowly nods. Kittie and I both open our doors and get out of the car, as I push my seat forward to let Ember out of the backseat. She grabs her backpack from next to her and squeezes herself rom out of the backseat. I let her step ahead of me, taking her time, and worry about our luggage in the trunk later.

“Why’s it so...big?” She asks as we walk towards the house, and she turns around and looks at me. “Do more people live here, too?”

Kittie chuckles and shoot her a glare and she immediately goes quiet. “Nope. It’s just the three of us. Your Uncle Phil lived here for a bit, but he lives with his girlfriend now.”

“I have another uncle?” She asks excitedly as her eyes light up.

I nod, and I’m pretty sure I can feel myself smiling a bit. “Yep. You’ll meet him soon, too. Along with the rest of our...family.”

We finally walk up to the front door of the house and she stands back a little bit, still reluctant. I open the door and hold it open for her, wanting her to step inside first. She looks at Kittie, who nods to her with a reassuring smile and then she turns her attention to me. I smile back and nod my head towards the inside of the house. She takes in a deep breath and finally steps inside.

“Woooow…” She says slowly, in complete awe of the interior of the house. She looks around every inch of the kitchen and then our living room, left speechless.

“What do you think?” I ask her.

“It’s so...so…” She can’t think of the right way to describe it as she continues looking around. Her eyes then fall on the patio door leading to the pool and patio area and her eyes go wide. “WE HAVE A POOL?!?!” She jumps and spins around, staring at me with her jaw dropped.

Kittie laughs. “Well, I think that sold her.” She says and I nod in agreement.

“We sure do, kid.” I reply and before I know it, she drops her backpack and bolts right towards the patio door. I can’t even call out to her as she unlocks the door and bolts out to the patio. “This is gonna be fun, isn’t it?” I ask Kittie.

“Fun is one way to put it.” Kittie replies with a laugh.

We quickly head over towards the patio door to meet back up with Ember. As we step out onto the patio, Ember is walking slowly around the pool, again marveling in the size and overall, just the entire property. She walks up to the edge of the pool, reaches down and puts her hand in the water and laughs as she quickly pulls it back out. “It’s cold!”

“It’ll warm up soon.” I say as Kittie and I approach her.

She stands up and frowns as she looks at the pool and then back up to me. “You don’t have any floaties! Or toys! How boring is that?!” She folds her arms, disappointed, and Kittie again laughs.

I look to the side at Kittie and frown at her. She shrugs her shoulder, indicating Ember has a point. “Well,” I say as I turn my attention back to Ember. “I’ve never really had a reason to have any of that stuff. But, I’ll make sure to go and get all of that tomorrow if it’s that big a deal.”

Kittie snorts. “And so it begins…” She says under her breath, thinking I can’t hear her. I turn my attention to her again and she just smirks before looking back to Ember.

“What do you say we head back inside the house and you can go check out your room?” I ask, trying to steal her attention away from the pool. I really have no idea how her room is set up, but the last time I spoke to Synn he assured me her room was finished and ready for her to move in. She still seems more interested in the pool as she slowly looks up at me.

“I guesssss….” She draws out the word, showing her disappointment and turns and heads back towards the door. As she walks back inside I grab a hold of Kittie’s arm and stop her for a moment.

“We’re gonna have a hard time keeping her out of the pool, aren’t we?” I ask.

She shrugs and runs her hand along my arm. “Maybe, but who cares? She needs something to keep her occupied and happy so if it’s a pool, then let her enjoy it.”

I nod and we both head back inside where Ember is waiting for us. She’s standing by the steps, wondering if she should go upstairs and downstairs first and I point upstairs. “Our rooms are upstairs, kid. We’ll show you the downstairs in a little while, but let’s go check out your room.”

“Okay!” She says, her tone switching at the drop of a dime. She grabs a hold of the bannister and quickly skips upstairs as we follow behind her. “Hey, how did you get my room ready if we were in Michigan?”

She gets to the top of the stairs before we do and she turns around to stare at us. “You can thank your aunts for that. They all pitched in and helped set it up and decorate it for you.”

She smiles brightly and jumps up and down excitedly as Kittie and I finally get to the top of the stairs. I look down the hall to our left, immediately seeing which room they chose to decorate as Ember’s as a large E is painted in pink on the outside of the door. I point towards it and she turns around, spotting it, even more excited than she was before. I don’t even have to tell her to check it out before she bursts inside her new room, and her jaw drops even more than it already was. When Kittie and I approach the door, even we’re left in awe of what we see inside the room.

“OH MY GOSH!” Ember says loudly as she looks around her brand new butterfly themed bedroom. “This is...MINE?!” She turns around, staring at me in utter disbelief.

“Well I’m not going to be sleeping in here. And neither is Kittie. So...it must be yours.” I say back, trying to be funny. It works, though, as Ember giggles and turns around to take it all in.

Kittie stands in the doorway, nodding slowly in approval. I look around, taking in a deep breath as I stare at so much...girlie stuff. The walls have now been painted a faint shade of pink. A variety of sizes of butterfly wall sconces or whatever the hell they are called are scattered throughout the room in shades of blues and purples. She even marvels at her simple white twin size bed with pink butterfly sheets and a matching bedspread. And, they couldn’t forget the butterfly pillows. I won’t even get into the rest of the furniture this kid now has.

“With Melody pitching in I thought for sure we’d walk in to see unicorn vomit all over the place or something.” I whisper to Kittie as Ember slowly walks around the room, touching all of her new stuff. “I never could have gotten this done.”

“Neither could I.” Kittie says, turning to face me. “It’s all a little too girlie for my taste, but it’s Ember’s room anyway.”

“Do you...I mean, we...have any pets?!” Ember suddenly asks.

Our eyes go wide as we slowly turn to face Ember. “Uhhh...not anymore. We used to have a cat named Aggie, but Phil has her now.”

“Oh.” Ember frowns. “Why?!”

“Well, she got sick after Phil moved out. I tried to take care of her with my work schedule, but I couldn’t, so Phil took her to get her better.” This whole situation is new to me, but I feel everything coming so naturally to me. I have a feeling I know where that question is going to lead to, but at this point, I don’t even think I could say no to her if she asked.

“That’s too bad.” She says, frowning again. She runs her hand along her bed, walking slowly. “I love cats. And Daddy...I mean...Uncle Danny...He wouldn’t let me have one.”

Aaaand there it is. She asked without having to say it as a question, and somehow, just the tone was like a shot in the gut. Danny raised her, sure, but how could he say no to this kid? How could...Oh hell, it’s already starting! I turn my focus to Kittie with a panicked expression on my face and she just shakes her head. “Uh huh. I’m not gonna be the bad one here. It’s your decision.”

“I know that!” I bite back through gritted teeth. “But how can I say no when we’ll have more time on our hands now to make sure the cat is taken care of?!”

“What the hell does that mean?” She asks, trying to be as quiet as possible so as not to attract attention from Ember. “We’ll still have to travel for--”

“Kittie, do you really think I’m going to continue wrestling now that I took custody of Ember? There’s no way I’m going to travel and leave her with a babysitter or something.” I reply. Before I know it, I hear Ember running up to me.

“You’re not going to quit are you?!” She asks, surprised. I knew she was a fan of SCW already, but I didn’t think she’d actually be okay with me travelling.

“Look, Ember…” I start, honestly lost for words. She looks up at me with puppy dog eyes, which I’m not used to being given at all, but I do my best to not let them affect me. “My main concern right now is making sure that you get adjusted and settled in here. I’m not gonna lie to you and say that I’m gonna be good at this whole being a Dad thing, but I gotta try. And right now, you’re my number one priority. I’m not the champion anymore. SCW doesn’t need--”

“YOU CAN’T QUIT!” She shouts at me, even going as far as to ball of her fist and punch me in the stomach. It’s harder than I expected to as I let out a slight ‘Oof’ before looking to Kittie, who is once again chuckling. “Tell him, Kittie! Tell him he can’t quit!” Kittie seems surprised that Ember is already asking for her help in this situation. I look to Kittie, who now has her attention focused on Ember.

“I wish I could help you, Em.” Kittie says to her, taking in a deep breath and glancing to me for a brief second. “But it’s really up to him. He has a valid reason for wanting to call it quits with SCW. I think it would be good--”

“No!” Ember shouts, interrupting her. “He can’t quit! You can’t quit, Daddy! Especially not because of ME!” Her eyes quickly start to fill with tears and she’s full blown crying a few seconds later. I look to Kittie in a panic, but she has no idea what to do either, so I guess it’s all up to me to figure this one out.

“Ember...Ember, calm down.” I say calmly to her, trying to get her to stop crying. But she won’t, and I finally have to kneel down to her eye level and put my hands on her shoulder. “Look, if it means that much to you, I won’t quit. I just want to make sure that you’re taken care of, and SCW could get in the way of that.”

She slowly starts to calm down, but she continues to sniffle as she wipes the tears away from her eyes and stares at me, still looking completely heartbroken. “You have to get the title back though! And I don’t want to be the reason that you don’t. I’m not a baby. I’ll be fine!”

I won’t lie. That actually made me smile, and I could tell Kittie was smiling behind me, too. “Look, we’ll figure everything out in a few days, okay? Right now, let’s just take the rest of the day to get you situated and just...relax. It’s been a long week for all of us.” I say to her, gently rubbing her shoulders. This dad stuff really isn’t that hard...yet.

She sniffles and nods, wiping away the last of the tears from her eyes. “Okay…”

“Okay. I’m going to go get the rest of the stuff out of the car and I’ll be back in a few minutes.” I stand up and she turns around, walking around her room once again. I stop next to Kittie and take in a deep breath. “Stay here and keep an eye on her while I go get our bags.”

Kittie nods. “Don’t forget...well, you know what.”

“I won’t. I probably should have brought them inside to begin with, anyway.” I then take in a deep breath as I head towards the stairs and then make my way downstairs.

It takes me a couple of trips to get everything out of the car and back inside, but once I’m finished I’m finally able to relax for the first time in over a week. Mine and Kittie’s lives have officially changed, and from here on out...I have no damn clue what to expect.

---

“Ember has been living with us for almost a month now, and things aren’t as crazy as I thought they would be. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go from it being just Kittie and I in the house to adding my ten year old daughter to the mix, but so far so good, I guess. I was hoping to have a conversation with Mark or Christian at some point after that and find a way out of my contract, but leave it to Ember to change my mind. Hell, I really wasn’t expecting that.

Who’d have thought that mine and Electra’s kid would actually beg me NOT to quit. Sure, travelling for SCW isn’t as often as if I were in a much larger promotion, but I still can’t expect to drag a ten year old to every show. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to deal with that, but I made a promise to Ember, and I’m not about to go back on that.

I think this is what I was afraid of from the beginning. This is why I was afraid to ever be a part of her life. It’s why I was reluctant to take custody of her after finding out about Electra and Dannying dying. I was afraid to get attached, because I knew...I knew that if I ever had kids, I couldn’t let them have the same rough upbringing I had. And, even know, I’m not one hundred percent sure how to prevent that.

But I think a good starting point is doing whatever I have to do to make her proud that I’m her father. I lost out on ten years of her life because Electra lied and said she had a miscarriage. And I very well could have lost out on the rest of her life because of my own stupidity. I’ve got a lot of making up to do, and I don’t care what it takes...I will do everything I can to get back to the top of SCW and get the World Heavyweight Championship back.

I never imagined this change happening as fast as it did. I didn’t see this almost immediate need to do everything and anything I can to make her happy and keep her safe, but it did. I saw how her world was turned upside down because Electra and Danny died so suddenly, and I just felt this need to take all of her pain away.

But...something else also happened. Something I knew even before then that was slowly happening within me. Even before then, I felt Rage fading away. He wasn’t even fighting to stay around or stay in control. But me? Jake? I was fighting to stay in control and take back the life I never even really had to begin with. For so long I was consumed by Rage...the identity, but also the emotion. I don’t even know how or why it really started.

But it all officially ended that day Kittie and I took Ember from child services. I didn’t tell Kittie that day. I didn’t even tell her the rest of the week, either. Too much was going on, and I couldn’t figure out how to talk to her about it.

So I waited until we were back home in Las Vegas to bring it up.

But how do you tell the woman who married you as one person, that you no longer want to be known as that person? It was a conversation I really had no clue how the hell to bring up…”

---

Later That Night…
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To say that we’re all tired is an understatement. We’re all completely exhausted, especially after the last week that we’ve had, and Ember just couldn’t fight through the exhaustion anymore. She finally passed out about thirty minutes ago and I had to carry her from the living room to her room. I don’t think the poor kid was ready to try and fall asleep in a new room. Not that I blame her, but I could tell she was doing everything she could to stay awake.

After tucking her into bed, hopefully for the night, I headed out of Ember’s room, leaving it open a crack just in case. I walked just down the hall to mine and Kittie’s bedroom where Kittie has already gotten comfortable in bed, and looks like she’s already asleep. I quietly walk to our master bathroom to change out of my clothes, even though I’m tempted to just crash in bed with my damn clothes on. I’m that exhausted. I’m in the bathroom for only a couple of minutes as I take off my shirt and jeans, tossing them into the dirty laundry and then do my business before I head back into the bedroom and over to the bed.

I crawl into bed, only covering myself with the sheet and put my hands behind my head as I look up at the ceiling and close my eyes, but Kittie rolls over a few moments later, and shows that she’s still awake. “I’m still surprised she fell asleep when she did. I thought for sure she was going to stay up all night.” She scoots closer to me and puts her arm over my chest.

I take in a deep breath and then laugh as I open my eyes. “Wouldn’t have surprised me, but she had to crash sooner or later.” I reply back, wrapping my right arm around her. “And I thought you were already sleeping, too.”

“I thought I was going to pass out as soon as my head hit the pillow.” She runs her finger along my chest and we both just lay there, refusing to move otherwise. “But is it weird that I don’t think I’m gonna be able to get much sleep tonight?”

I shake my head. “Nah, because as tired as hell as I am, knowing that my kid is now sleeping just down the hall is a weird feeling.”

“Yeah tell me about it.” She says, finally putting the palm of her hand on my chest. “This whole last week has just been weird, hasn’t it?” My thoughts start to drift, and I’m not really paying attention to anything Kittie is saying. I’m thinking about the events over the last week. From finding out that Electra and Danny had been killed in a car accident, leaving Ember with no other family to live with. To flying to Michigan to save her from the foster system that would have surely screwed her up. “Rage? Rage are you even listening to me?”

Kittie props herself up on her elbows and looks at me. She doesn’t get my attention until she snaps her fingers right in front of my face and I turn to look at her. “Rage? You ok?”

Rage...that’s supposed to be me, isn’t it? I blink, shake my head and take in a deep breath. “I don’t know, Kittie…” I say and this causes her to sit straight up and look down at me.

“You don’t know? What’s going on?” She asks, concern written all over her face, and I shake my head again.

“I mean, I am okay, Kittie.” I reply, confusing her even more. But before she can question me on it, I sit up and turn to face her. “I just don’t think I’ve ever been...better? I don’t even know how to describe it, Kittie. As soon as Ember ran up to me back in Macintosh’s office in Michigan and wrapped her arms around me, it was like this crazy weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was like I was a whole different person…”

She raises an eyebrow and nods slowly, trying to understand where I’m going with this. “Oookay…”

I hold my hand up, stopping her before she can say anything else. Not that she was going to anyway. “Kittie, for so long...for as long as I can remember, I’ve only felt this deep seeded anger...this...rage. And not just outwardly by calling myself Rage, but just deep down, I was angry with everything.”

She laughs and nods. “Yeah, tell me something I don’t already know. But, even despite all that you had your good moments.”

I shake my head. “Hardly.” I say. “I was still a miserable bastard, and usually for no reason at all other than because I wanted to be seen that way. But..”

“But what?” She asks.

“I don’t remember a time where I ever actually tried to be just...me.” I finally say.

She scratches her head and tilts it, staring at me confused. “Just you?”

I nod and say very simply, “Jake.”

Her mouth opens just a little and she nods, very slowly, finally understanding what I was getting at. She takes in a deep breath and tries to process that, but before she can say anything, I continue talking. “I always thought that Rage was stronger and taken more seriously, but now? Looking back on everything a lot of people have said throughout the years, he wasn’t strong at all.”

“Sooo…” she says, trying to find the right words to say. “You’re saying…”

“I’m saying that I can’t be called Rage anymore. Because it’s not who I am anymore, and it’s not who Ember...or even you...need me to be. I know I made a promise to Ember earlier that I wasn’t gonna quit SCW, but I can’t be known as Rage there anymore, either.” This is a lot for Kittie to process. That much is very clearly by the look on her face and her occasional deep breaths, but I’ve never been more certain about anything in my life.

“I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by any of this.” She finally breaks her silence a few moments later, turning to look at me. “The past several weeks I could tell something was changing in you, especially when you were the one who suggested we get married back in New York.”

“I don’t regret us getting married, if that is what you’re trying to say…” I say quickly, trying to put her mind at ease.

She shakes her head and smiles. “Dude, relax. That’s not what I think. But it’s good to know anyway.” She replies, and it immediately puts both of us at ease. “I’m just saying, I’m not as surprised by this sudden change as you seem to think I was going to be. I mean, I was watching the two of you when she threw her arms around you. As terrified as you might have looked, you didn’t back away at all, either.”

“I wasn’t expecting that at all, Kittie. I really wasn’t.” I say very honestly as I take in another deep breath.

“I wasn’t either, but I’m glad it did. I think it finally put to rest any doubts you had about bringing her here to live with us.” She says, and I nod in agreement. “Anyway, if you want to just be known as Jake from now on, that’s your decision. I can’t say I’ll catch on right away, because it’ll be an adjustment…”

“It’s ok. If you call me Rage I just won’t answer.” I say and we both share a laugh.

“Oh so nothing will change as far as that goes, then.” She grins at me and I just roll my eyes. “But you know, I’m not the only one who will have a hard time in getting used to calling you Jake.”

I raise an eyebrow, confused. “Well it won’t be Phil, because he never called me Rage as it was.”

She shakes her head. “I wasn’t talking about Phil. I was talking about the Sins.”

I shake my head and before I can get a word out in response, we’re both quickly surprised by the sound of footsteps running down the hall and then Ember appears in our doorway, with a scared look in her eyes. “I...I had a nightmare. And it’s really dark in my room.”

I glance at Kittie and take in a deep breath. We both shrug our shoulders and Kittie scoots over, leaving enough space between the two of us. “Alright, kid.” I say, motioning her over to the bed. “Come here.”

She doesn’t even hesitate as she runs over and jumps onto the bed and makes herself comfortable between me and Kittie. This is a whole new experience for me, and for Kittie, but after everything Ember has been through, we’re going to let her adjust in her own way and on her own time. “When do I get to meet my aunt’s and uncles?” She asks, followed by a big yawn.

Kittie and I glance to one another and I just shake my head. “Soon, Ember.” I say as she snuggles in closer to me. “Things can be kind of hectic with everyone else, so I want you to get adjusted here first and then we’ll plan something for you to meet the whole family, ok?”

I get no response. “Ok, Ember?” I say again and Kittie just taps on my shoulder and points down to Ember. When I glance down, Ember is already fast asleep once again and I can’t help but crack a bit of a smile as I leave her there.

Kittie reaches over and turns off the the light on her nightstand, and a few moments she closes her eyes, trying to follow Ember and drifting off to sleep. It was a strange feeling...a new feeling...but as I looked at Ember sleeping, again, and I watched as Kittie drifted off to sleep, I knew in that moment that I had made the right decision.

And I wouldn’t change it for the world…

---

“No regrets. Not a single one. The rest of the week was spent relaxing and letting Ember settle into life in Las Vegas. She had her ups and downs. There were plenty of laughs, but there were also many tears as she was hit with the waves of grief over losing Danny and Electra. Kittie and I did our best to comfort her and be there for her, but I gotta admit, it wasn’t easy.

And it wasn’t easy asking Phil and Maddie to watch her for a day while Kittie and I headed to Fort Defiance in Arizona for Climax Control that weekend. I didn’t have a match, but I had an entirely different reason for wanting to go to the show. Ember wanted to go with, and looking back, I probably should have let her, but it gave her the chance to meet Phil and Maddie.

You see, if I was going to stick around in SCW and try and work my way back up to the top of the mountain, there was something I needed to do. And sooner rather than later. I had already taken care of the conversation with Kittie. I already told her that I wasn’t Rage anymore...that I couldn’t be called by that name if Rage was gone and never coming back.

But SCW had to be told. And not just Mark Ward and Christian Underwood. The entirety of SCW and it’s fans. I wasn’t sure how people would react, or what they would think, but in all honesty, I didn’t care. I was putting it all out in the open. I was ready to show everyone in SCW just how serious I was about this change. Some people would probably take me seriously, and I had a feeling a select few others wouldn’t.

But it had to be done. And there was nothing holding me back.

And, again, I had not a single regret. After all, I didn’t just do this for myself...I did this for Kittie and Ember, too. I did it for my girls...for my family.

Speaking of family, I knew Ember was anxious to meet the rest of the Sins. The people who, even though she hadn’t met them yet, were already her aunts and uncles. And as anxious as I was for her to meet them, too, I was also hesitant and taking my time.

Anyone who knows the Sins, even solely on camera, knows just how crazy things can get. As tight knit as we are...or were up until I made the mistake of siding with J2H back in October...there just is never a dull moment in this group of people that has been my family for the last ten years or so. But I’m not complaining. I really wouldn’t trade any of the chaos I was ever involved with in the Sins for a much for relaxed family setting because that is what makes us so unique. That’s what makes us so close knit.

But I wasn’t ready to just toss Ember to the wolves, so to speak. She wouldn’t let me take time off from SCW, so she already had to deal with me needing to be at the shows every week. So I couldn’t add one more stressful moment in her life so soon after her world was turned upside down.

Maybe it was a mistake, waiting so long to introduce her to the Sins. Who knows, maybe if she had met them sooner, it would have helped her adjust that much quicker, but if it hadn’t? If it had done the complete opposite and made it that much more difficult to deal with, I would have kicked myself in the ass more than I am now.

That’s all about to change, though. After Ember begged me to take her on the cruise with Kittie and me, I found out that not only would the three of us be there, but so would everyone else. Yep. I found out that Gabriel and Despy had been asked to host Summer XXXTreme, and naturally when they were there, so would Odette, Synn and the rest of the gang.

The Sins...back together in one place! And on a cruise ship, no less. Which meant that I had to introduce Ember before the cruise set sail…

Well...there never was anything better than a good old fashioned Sins party…

---

Wednesday June 28th
A Family Reunion of Sorts…
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If you had asked me a few months ago if I’d be standing in my house, about to be surrounded by the rest of the Sins again, I probably would have laughed in your face. After I joined sides with J2H back in October, they all made it very clear what they thought of me, and not a single one of them wanted to talk to me. I had already accepted that fact when the situation with Ember fell onto my lap, and it actually changed everything.

But here I am now, heading towards the door following the first ringing of the doorbell. Ember is standing back, next to Kittie with Phil and Maddie next to them. I grab the doorknob, ready to open the door, but I look to my girls first. More specifically, I look to Ember. “You ready?”

She looks up at Kittie for a moment, and Kittie just nods to her and she takes in a deep breath before she looks back to me. “Ready! Open the door!”

I didn’t need to be told twice. I opened the door, allowing the first of the Sins to step inside. It’s Gabriel, Odette, Lucas and Melody. Gabriel is holding Lucas in his arms but he hands him off to Odette as the girls have their eyes on Ember after greeting me. With Ember distracted, Gabriel takes the moment to smack me hard upside the back of my head.

“Ow! What the hell was that for?!” I say through gritted teeth, trying not to be loud and grab any attention. Ember is smiling as Odette, and Melody greet her, along with Lucas who already seems smitten with Ember.

“You bloody well know what that’s for, peanut head!” He snarls back, pointing out the obvious. The two of us hadn’t been face to face since before the J2H crap.

“Alright, fine.” I say, rubbing the back of my head. “I probably deserved that.”

“Probably?!” He raises his hand again, acting as though he’s going to smack me again and this causes me to flinch.

“Alright, alright! I did deserve that!” I back away a couple of inches. “But you of all people can’t blame me for doing what I had to do to get close to J2H and the Heavyweight title. You are the Sin of Greed after all…”

He folds his arms and glares at me. “That might be true, but a heads up would have been nice. And there were other ways to get to the damn title, but you had to go the stupid route.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” I say as we both turn our attention over towards the girls, and Lucas. “But today isn’t about me. You ready to meet my daughter?”

Gabriel laughs and pats me on the back. “Your daughter. Never thought I’d hear those words, but yeah, I’m ready.”

Gabriel and I then walk over towards them. Ember actually has Lucas in her arms, and she must have said or did something funny, as he’s just gotten done laughing. “Lucas seems to like you alot already.” Gabriel says as we walk up to them.

Ember looks up to Gabriel with a smile on her face. “He’s so adorable. I always wanted a little brother.”

Cue the awkward looks in mine and Kittie’s direction. Gabriel pats me on the back again and Kittie and I both go silent. But that doesn’t stop Melody from adding in her two cents. “You heard the girl, RageFace! You better get to work!”

The doorbell suddenly rings and I let out a sigh of a relief. “Saved by the doorbell. And Melody, about the RageFace thing. I told you guys to call me Jake, remember?”

“Well calling you JakeFace isn’t going to work, now is it?!” She relies back, making a very good point and eliciting a few laughs, including from me.
I then walk away as Gabriel introduces himself to Ember before she hands Lucas back to him. Everything seems to be going pretty smoothly, and Ember is taking it all well, thankfully, as I head back over to the door, letting the next to inside.

“Shane...Fantasia. Good to see you two--”

WHACK!

Like Gabriel, Shane smacks me right upside the back of the head, maybe even a little harder.

“Seriously?!” I growl at him as I rub my head again, and offer Fantasia a quick hug.

“You deserved it and you know it.” He replies back with a smirk.

I let out a sigh and nod. “Yeah, yeah.” I say.

Both of them look over towards Ember and it’s Fantasia who makes the first comment. “She looks like Electra. She’s beautiful, Rage. Sorry...Jake.”

Shane, too, pats me on the back. “Well, at least she doesn’t look like baldy here. That would be bloody unfortunate.”

I shake my head and walk the two of them over towards the others, and steal Ember’s attention away. “Em, this is Shane and Fantasia.”

“Hi!” She shouts as she runs up to Fantasia first, offering her a hug and then she does the same to Shane, which I think catches him off guard. I’m about to openly wonder where Synn and Despayre are, but my answer comes a few moments later as Despayre announces his presence the only way Despayre knows how.

“Hey! Where are all of her gifts?!” All eyes turn towards the door where Despayre has just let himself in, and Synn and Theresa follow just behind him.

“And now the real fun begins.” I say outloud, drawing a few laughs.

I head over to Despayre, Synn and Theresa and as soon as I walk up to Despayre, he rears his foot back and swings it forward, kicking me right in the shin! I quickly hop on one leg, holding myself back from shouting out a few obscenities in front of everyone, including Ember. “Ow! Despy...what was that for?!”

“I just had the urge to do it.” He says very matter of factly and with a shrug. “Now...where are Emmy’s presents?!”

I rub my shin and trying to shake the feeling back into my leg. “Presents?” I ask. “What presents?!”

“You can’t have a party for her and not have presents!” Despayre states.

Ember then appears behind me. “I’m getting presents?! Where are they?!”

Synn and Theresa share a laugh as I close my eyes and take a couple of slow deep breaths. I open my eyes and immediately focus on Ember, trying to figure a way out of this mess that Despayre has now gotten me into. “Uh..Well you see, Em..”

“Pfffft...What an amateur!” Despayre says with a wave of his hand and everyone lets out a laugh. Despayre then turns his attention to Ember, as she smiles excitedly at finally getting to meet him. And not only meet him, but be a part of his extended family. “Hi! I’m Despayre! And this is Angel, but I’m sure you already knew that. Everyone knows who Angel is!”

Ember nods excitedly. “You guys were my favorite in SCW!”

“Where is your protector?” Despayre asks with a frown.

“Protector?” She asks and then looks up and points to me. “Oh! You mean my Daddy! He’s right here!”

Everyone shares a smile and I grin proudly, but Despayre shakes his head and laughs. “Nooo...I mean, your teddy bear protector! All kids are supposed to have one! But I’m sure Uncle Rage knew that and made sure to get you one, right?!”

“Despy, I’m not Rage anymore.” I point out.

He looks at me, confused. “I thought you looked different...in a familiar kinda way! But...who are you?! I’m not supposed to talk to strangers!”

“Joshua.” Synn interjects and Despayre looks behind him to Synn. “Remember the talk we had last week? Rage is going by his birth name now. He’s Jake.”

Despayre stares at Synn for a moment, and then back to me, and then back to Synn, clearly confused. Quiet laughs go around the room before Despayre just shakes his head, not ready to wrap his head around this situation just yet.

“Whatever!” He says. “Hey Emmy, this is my Dad!” He turns around and points to Synn. Synn steps forward a little bit, looking directly at Ember. He didn’t intend to come across as intimidating, but as soon as Ember lifted her head to look up at him, her eyes went wide and she darted behind me nervously.

I let out a snort as I look to a confused Synn and then down to Ember. “It’s ok, kid. He has that effect on everyone.” I tell her and she peaks her head out from behind me.

“I’m sorry, Ember.” Synn says calmly. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, but I assure you I mean you no harm. I’m Synn, and this is Theresa.”

Theresa steps forward. “Hello, Ember. It’s so wonderful to finally meet you, hija.”

Ember finally steps out from behind me and offers the both of them a hug, catching Synn off guard more than anyone else. “Well...that’s everyone. The whole bunch. Are you guys ready to get this party started?”

Ember excitedly looks back to Despayre. “Race you to the pool?!”

And before anyone can even object or stop the either of them, they dart of and run towards the patio door. I shake my head and look back to Synn. “That...that scares me.”

“Did you really expect that they wouldn’t get along?” He says with a laugh.

“Well...you have a point there. Thanks for everything, by the way.” I say, and not only to Synn, but to everyone else. I look around the room at the others...at my entire family. “To all of you, actually. Odette, Melody, Fantasia and Maddie for decorating her room. Gabriel, Shane...for smacking me upside the head. And just to all of you for being here after putting up with my bullshit from the past several months.”

“Bloody hell. I need a beer.” Shane says. “I’m too sober for this emotional bollocks.”

I point to the fridge with a laugh. “It’s all stocked up. Help yourself.”

He and Gabriel don’t need to be told twice as they start to raid the fridge and we all head out to the patio to enjoy some pool time. I didn’t admit it at that moment, but I really missed all of this. Chaos or not, there was nothing better than being surrounded by all of these people, and adding Ember to the fold just made it that much sweeter. And in just a few days, we’d all be setting sail on the Summer XXXTreme cruise for a week of unpredictable laughs and fun.

And then it would be time to focus on Calvin Harris, and the challenge that was ahead of me...Oh the adventure this will be!

---

“I know what most of you must be thinking. What has been the whole point of me sitting here, recounting to you all the emotions and events of the last month in this entire promo? What does any of it have to do with Summer XXXTreme and my upcoming match against Calvin Harris? Don’t lie, because I know a fair few of you are thinking just that. And I’ll be honest with you.

Directly, it has nothing to do with my match against Calvin Harris, but if you really listen...if you really pay attention, you’ll understand why I’ve done things the way that I did. You see, Calvin Harris and I faced off earlier this year. Well, sort of, anyway. He faced me as Rage...as who I used to be...who I no longer am. And I’ll admit it now, he was a bigger challenge then than I was ready to admit at the time.

A lot was on the line in that match. For those of you that don’t remember, it was the King of The Hill ladder match at Inception where I walked away with the briefcase in my possession. I know Calvin wanted it. I know Calvin fully expected he was going to walk away the winner, and looking back, a part of me wishes that he had.

Don’t get me wrong, I ended up cashing in that briefcase and becoming the World Heavyweight Championship, but look at how much grief it caused me? Look at the circumstances surrounded how I cashed in that briefcase and what everyone thought of me, and probably still thinks of me to this day. No doubt Calvin will have a few choice words about that over these next couple of weeks.

It’s ok though. I’ll take every damn word that is said against me, not just by Calvin but by everyone else, because I know how shitty it looks, and I know how worse I look even now considering my World Heavyweight Championship was basically an embarrassment. Go ahead, Calvin. Say it all you want, because I know you’re just dying to say it, and say it a few times, I’m sure.

But I’m not the same person I was six months ago, Calvin. I’m not the guy that won the King Of the Hill briefcase. I’m not the guy who cashed in on Drake Green following his match against J2H at the following supercard. I’m not Rage anymore, so don’t you make the mistake of thinking that I am.

You’re the same arrogant S.O.B that you’ve always been though, aren’t you Calvin? I know they kept you in the title picture following that ladder match, all be it for the Internet Championship, but we all saw how that turned out, didn’t we? You couldn’t get the job done, and what happened? You disappeared from SCW for a couple of months. You remind a lot like a few guys who used to be in SCW, Calvin. Kevin Carter. Damian Kingston. Kain. Just to name a few...

Do you want to know why, Calvin? Why do you remind me of those three? Because you guys all share the same mentality that you’re better than everyone, and the second that you lose a title match, you piss off and spout of some crap about needed personal time, that no one believes. Don’t try and deny it, Calvin. I know guys like you, because they’re a dime a dozen.

I may have been an asshole up until recently, Calvin. I might have been this anger fueled jackass, but you want to know one thing I never did? Not once? I never cried off and quit like a little bitch just because I lost a title match, or I lost a title. I mean, I could have. I could have tucked my tail between my legs after losing the World Heavyweight Championship to Jeremiah Hardin, but what sort of message would that send? I didn’t want to be lumped in the same category of guys like you.

Guys like you say they’ve changed. You try and get so many people to believe that you’ve better yourself once you make your return, but you never do. Am I going to sit here and exude this confidence that I’m positive I’m going to beat you at Summer XXXTreme? Hell, no, because after watching you since you made your return, I know how determined you are, Calvin. I know you’re trying to get yourself back in the World Heavyweight title scene, and honestly, you may have already done just that.  

But I know exactly what is going to happen the second you fail. You don’t think you’re going to, but sooner or later, Calvin, that arrogance...that ego...it’s going to get the best of you, and you’re going to fail. And then you’re going to do what you always do...what the guys before you did...and you’re going to disappear again. For a few weeks maybe. For a few months, but if you want my opinion, I hope the next time you pull that crap, you stay gone because guys like you give guys like us a bad name.

We work our asses off just as hard as you Calvin, if not more. And to piss off the way you do when you lose, makes it look like we’re not worth it. That you’re better than any one of us. That you’re God’s gift to everything and anything.

But you’re not, Calvin. You’re no better than anyone else, no matter what you think, and come Summer XXXTreme, I’m going to prove it. Win or lose, Calvin. I know I’m up for a fight, but you’re up for a fight too, and you’re up against a side of me that you’re not even familiar with. You’re going into this with a disadvantage, Calvin, because like I said earlier...I’m not the same guy you faced back at Inception.

I’ve changed, and for the better. I’m thinking a lot clearer than I was back then, which says a lot considering I walked away the winner during our last encounter. If I beat you then, just imagine what I’m capable of now as I’m finally able to embrace who I am.

You want the World Heavyweight Championship pretty bad. I can tell that much, but guess what, Calvin? That’s not gonna happen as long as I have anything to say about it. I’m looking forward to the fight, though, because at least I know you’re not going to be an easy win like some have been in the past. Bring your absolute best, Calvin, because nothing will satisfy me more than knocking you down a few notches when you’re at your best.

You have eight days, Calvin. Eight days to get ready for this fight, because I’m not going to be like Jeremiah Hardin...or Joshua Acquin...or Dmitri. I’ve got a lot more to prove than Dmitri. And I’m a lot more motivated than Hardin and Acquin ever have been. You can count on that. The man...the opponent...you knew as Rage is long gone, Calvin.

Come Summer XXXTreme V, for the very first time you’re gonna come face to face with Jake Sullivan. The man who, as long as I have anything to say about it, will serve you up with your very first loss since your “shocking” return several weeks ago.

Good luck, Calvin. May the best man win.

 May 28th
Gold Coast Casino
Las Vegas, Nevada
Following Rage’s Loss to James Tuscini

He lost. To James Tuscini, no less. But it wasn’t just an loss. It was an embarrassing loss that Rage will not soon forget as he had been pinned by a simple Backslide. Had anyone ever lost by a backslide before tonight? He has no idea, and he ultimately doesn’t care. All he wants to do is leave the Gold Coast Casino and head back home.

As he walks through the curtain following his loss to Tuscini, he’s quickly met by his wife of just two weeks, Kittie. She’s staring at him with a look of sheer shock on her face, and she’s holding his cell phone in her hand. She goes to say something to him, but he holds his hand up and shakes his head.

Rage: Not now, Kittie. I know what you’re going to say, but you can save it for later. I really don’t feel like talking about it right now, alright?

He brushes past her and she quickly turns around to follow after him.

Kittie: Rage, that’s not what--

Rage: I get it, Kittie! Alright?! I lost to a damn Backslide. It was embarrassing and people will be pointing it out to me for the rest of my life. I don’t care. Let them. But, please, don’t you join in on it because I can handle--

As Rage stares at Kittie, continuing to speak, he trails off as he studies the look on her face. She was in shock, yes, but there was something more to it.

Rage: What? What is it?

She takes in a deep breath and holds his phone out to him. He reluctantly takes it from her.

Kittie: You...need to call that number back.

Rage: What? Why? Kittie, just tell me what the fuck is going on.

Kittie: Just call the damn number, Rage.

Rage stares down at his phone for a moment and then glances back up to Kittie. She nods and he shakes his head, letting out a sigh before he unlocks his phone and dials the number back that had tried calling him earlier. He starts walking back down the hall, heading towards the locker rooms when a person on the other end answers, and he immediately stops, frozen in place.

Rage: Yeah someone from this number tried calling me earlier...Ra--Jake...Jake Sullivan….Alright, fine.

Standing just outside of the locker room, Rage turns around to face Kittie. She’s standing behind him quietly as he is put on hold, but he raises an eyebrow at Kittie.

Rage: Department of Child and Family Services in Ann Arbor? Kittie, what the fuck aren’t you--

He’s suddenly cut off as someone returns on the other end.

Rage: Yeah, this is Jake. Can you tell me what the hell is going on?

His eyes grow wide as he looks back to Kittie with the phone still to his ear.

Rage: Wait...what? You’re joking, right?...What the hell happened?!

As the person on the other end answers Rage’s question, he leans against the wall, sinking down slowly. He shares in Kittie’s shock and he runs his hand over his head, at a loss for words. Kittie takes a few steps towards him, but remains quiet.

Rage: Y-yeah, I’m still here...Look, I’d like to help out, but...I can’t, alright?!...I didn’t even know I had a kid until like eight months ago!...She’s better off without me. Just find somebody else. I’m sorry...

He quickly ends the call and shoves his phone back in his pocket as Kittie stares at him, her jaw dropped even further now.

Kittie: Did you just really hang up on them?!

Rage: What did you expect, Kittie?! You could have told me the truth! You couldn’t tell me that Electra and her brother were killed in a car accident, but why? Did you really expect things to suddenly change and me change my mind about being in Ember’s life?

Kittie: Look, I know I was never a fan of Electra’s or anything, but you gotta think about this, Rage. Ember just lost her mother, and her uncle- who she thought was her father until just a few months ago. She’s in foster care for fuck’s sake!

Rage closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath. Like earlier, he looks as though he is trying to channel some kind of anger, but again, it’s just not there. He slowly opens his eyes and looks at Kittie, still shaking his head.

Rage: Look, not to sound like an ass here, but are you really trying to talk me into being a father when you gave up your own son and are letting that asshat, Jame, raise him?! Like I told that DCFS woman...Ember is better off without me. End of story.

Kittie: Fair argument, but is this because you think she’s better off without you as her father or because you’re too scared to even give it a shot because you might actually be good at it?

Rage’s jaw drops and Kittie folds her arms across her chest. He thinks for a moment and then quickly snarls at her.

Rage: She’s better off without me! Just drop it, Kittie!

Rage then turns towards the locker room door, shoving it open and slamming it right in Kittie’s face. She stands there for a moment, shaking her head when a thought hits her. She turns around and walks a few feet away from the door, taking her cell phone out of her pocket. She dials a number and starts pacing as she waits for the other person to answer. Much to her relief, they do just a few moments later.

Kittie: Synn! Thank God you answered...No, everything is not okay. Look, I wouldn’t be calling you if I absolutely didn’t have to, but it’s about Rage...Synn, his daughter needs him. And he needs your help...

Kittie turns around to glance at the locker room door before she goes on to explain the situation to Synn. She walks a little further down the hall in case Rage were to step out of the locker room, and the scene fades away.

---

About an hour later, Rage and Kittie were just down the street from their home. The whole ride from the Gold Coast Casino, short as it was, was quiet and full of tension. Kittie stared out her window as Rage drove through the streets of Vegas leading to their home. Every once in a while Rage would turn and glance at her, expecting her to be looking at him. But she wasn’t.

Rage: I can’t believe you’re seriously going to be pissed off at me over this, Kittie...

He finally broke his silence as he turned down their street. Their house was just up ahead, and Kittie just shook her head, refusing to speak. The truth was, she was saving it for what was going to go down when they finally got home. But she was surprised when he pulled the car over, just before their driveway.

Rage: Look at me.

Kittie shakes her head as she continues to stare out the window. Rage grits his teeth, trying not to get angry with her. He closes his eyes and takes in a deep breath and when he opens them, he reaches towards her, taking her hand.

Rage: Kittie, would just just fucking look at me? Please?!

He doesn’t see her roll her eyes, but she slowly turns her head to face him with a scowl on her face. And she remains absolutely silent.

Rage: Why are you trying to push me into this? This whole marriage thing is a two way street, Kittie. I gotta support you in your decisions, and you need to support me. But apparently, that ain’t how it works with you, is it?

Kittie pulls her hand away and folds her arms across her chest.

Kittie: I would be supporting you. If the decision you were making wasn’t a stupid one. I supported you before, when there was actually someone close to Ember to take care of her, but now...

Rage: Now she’ll go to a family that will be better than me or even Electra could ever give her! Don’t you fucking get it?!

Kittie shakes her head, letting out a frustrated laugh.

Kittie: You don’t know that, Rage! Haven’t you heard the horror stories of the way the foster care system works?! Do you really want that for her?!

Rage turns and grips the steering wheel, gritting his teeth and growling under his breath. He closes his eyes, trying to find the right words to say, but Kittie continues to speak.

Kittie: You’re just scared and you know it. It’s not like she’s a baby, Rage. She’s ten. And she just lost the only family she’s ever known. Try and think about her instead of about yourself, because you’re lying if you say you are thinking about her.

Rage growls again and shakes his head. He puts the car back in drive, finally turning into his driveway. He’s about to say something else, when he spots the other cars in his driveway. He pulls up next to Phil’s car and when he puts the car in park, he turns and glares at Kittie.

Rage: Why are they here?!

Kittie turns and grins at Rage as she opens her door.

Kittie: You’ll find out once you head inside now won’t you?

Rage: I’m still behind the damn wheel, Kittie! I can leave right now if I want to!

Kittie: But I don’t think you will.

She doesn’t say anything more as she steps out of the car and starts walking up to the front door. She leaves her bag for Rage to carry inside, but he doesn’t follow behind her right away. He watches her disappear into the house as he grips the steering wheel hard enough that his knuckles turn white. He contemplates doing exactly what he threatened to do by backing the car out of the driveway, but he quickly changes his mind as he spots his brother step out of the house, staring directly at him behind the wheel. He closes his eyes and growls as he removes the keys from the ignition and then opens his door.

Rage: Whatever she put you guys up to, Phil, it’s not going to work!

Rage shouts to him as he slams his car door shut and starts walking towards his house, and his brother. Phil just smiles and stands where he is, keeping his eyes locked on Rage.

Phil: You say that now, but something tells me you’re wrong, bro.

Rage finally approaches his brother, standing toe-to-toe. Neither speaks a word for a few moments as Phil stares at him, quietly speaking with his eyes. Phil breaks the silence only when Rage looks away from Phil.

Phil: What are you doing, man? Why are you here and not on a plane to Michigan right now?

Rage laughs and shakes his head.

Rage: This doesn’t concern you, Phil. This is my decision. You of all people should understand why I’m not on a plane right now.

Phil shakes his head, disagreeing.

Phil: But I don’t. Maybe I would have two years ago, but now? I really don’t. And this does concern me because she’s my niece.

Rage: If you’re so concerned about it, why don’t you and Maddie go and take her then?! Jesus Christ, you people just don’t understand!

He walks around Phil and storms inside the house where he’s met with glaring eyes not only from Kittie, but the man who has refused to speak to him in over six months...Synn! Rage takes one look at Synn and just shakes his head, attempting to make his way upstairs and towards his bedroom.

Rage: Well isn’t this just a lovely sight. Now you’re ready to talk to me, Synn? You wasted your time coming over here. You and Phil both.

Synn walks around Kittie when he sees Rage has his sights set on the stairs. He quickly blocks Rage’s path, and shakes his head.

Synn: Now is not the time for this sort of attitude, Rage.

Rage: Oh, I think it is, Synn. For months I tried to approach you to talk shit over and you ignored me every chance you got! You expect me to talk now? Over something that none of you really should be trying to pressure me into?! Get out of my way, Synn.

Synn stands his ground. He shakes his head, keeping his arms crossed in front of his chest, refusing to be intimidated by Rage. Not that he would be either way.

Synn: No. You need to talk about this situation with your daughter, because as much as it is your’s to make, it’s a selfish decision your choosing.

Rage rolls his eyes and laughs. He turns around and walks away from Synn, throwing his hands up in the air in frustration.

Rage: It’s not a selfish decision, Synn! Don’t you get it?! When Electra told me about Ember last year, I told you why I couldn’t be a part of her life! She’s better off without me! She’s better off without the fucked up baggage I’d bring into her life. So tell me how the hell that is being selfish?!

Synn: Because you’re refusing to even try, and instead allow her to be thrown into the foster care system. Which, I might add, could potentially cause her more harm than you think.

Kittie: Seriously think about this, Rage. Regardless of whether or not you think she’d be better off without you, she stands a better chance at a better life with you...with us, than being thrown into foster care. You have to know that!

Phil approaches Kittie, standing next to her, nodding.

Phil: And it’s not like you’d be alone, Jake.

Synn: Ember needs you. I think it’s time you get over your fear of actually being a father and get on a plane to Michigan and go get her. Before you regret it.

Rage laughs and shakes his head. He spins back around and glares at Synn.

Rage: Why the hell do you even care, Synn?! You don’t think I can do it!

Synn: That’s not true. Quite the opposite, actually. I don’t know what gave you that impression, but I fully believe you can be a father to Ember if you just try.

Rage is shocked to hear Synn say this and he’s left speechless. Synn takes the few steps towards him, getting right back in Rage’s face, but remaining calm as can be.

Synn: And that anger of yours...that temper?

Rage: What about it?

Synn: Lose it. Now.

Rage grins and laughs.

Rage: Yeah, I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that. I couldn’t even punch a damn wall if I wanted to right now.

Synn: Be that as it may, should your temper suddenly return, keep it at bay. For her sake. And for your own.

Rage lets out a sigh and nods. He closes his eyes and thinks for a moment as he grips at his head, still struggling with his decision. When he opens his eyes, all three are still staring at him.

Rage: This house isn’t even ready for a ten year old girl! I’d have to get--

Phil: Let the women handle that. I’m sure Maddie would love to help decorate.

Synn: And I’m sure Odette and Melody Grace could lend a hand as well. It will all be handled while you’re gone. Just go to Michigan and bring your daughter home.

Rage looks back and forth from Synn and Phil. Phil just nods slowly at him, urging him to do the right thing and Rage finally gives in. He takes his phone out of his pocket, going to call the airport.

Synn: What are you doing?

Rage: I need to call the airport and book a flight...

Synn: No, you don’t. I already handled it. Your flight leaves in two hours.

Rage raises an eyebrow.

Rage: You booked a flight before I even decided to go get her??

Synn smirks.

Synn: I knew you would give in and do the right thing. Now you best get a move on it. Everything for Ember’s room will be handled by the time you get back.

Kittie is already heading towards the door and Rage looks at both Synn and Phil one last time.

Rage: Thank you both. I’ll call you guys to let you know when we’ll be back or to let you know what’s going on.

Phil: Anytime, bro. Just take your time and go get Ember.

Rage and Synn just exchange looks, Rage quietly thanking Synn once again. Synn nods and Rage turns and follows Kittie out the door. Phil turns to Synn, and runs his hand through his hair.

Phil: So...you really think he can do this?

Synn nods.

Synn: I have no doubt, Phillip. I think that once he spends time with Ember, there won’t be a thing he wouldn’t do for her or to keep her safe.

---

The Next Morning

By the time Rage and Kittie had made it to Michigan, it was too late to do anything about getting Ember for the night. The two had booked a hotel room at least for the night, potentially longer depending on how the situation with Ember panned out. Rage had barely gotten any sleep, for obvious reasons Kittie didn’t need to question him about.

They made sure to be up and ready bright and early so they could head over to the Department of Children and Family Services in Ann Arbor. Rage has just pulled the car into the parking lot of the building, and after finding a parking spot, he doesn’t turn the car off right away. Kittie goes to get out of the car, expecting him to follow suit a few seconds later, but he reaches his right hand over towards her, gripping her arm and stops her.

Rage: Kittie, don’t. Just...wait.

Kittie looks down at her arm in Rage’s grasp, then lifts her head to look at him. He’s staring out the window at the building, and just stays frozen in his seat.

Kittie: What? Why? Please don’t tell me you’re changing your damn mind?! Rage, we’re already---

Rage: No, I haven’t changed my mind! I just...need a few minutes.

Kittie nods, without saying a word in response. Rage loosens his hold on Kittie’s arm and then moves it down, taking her hand in his, squeezing it. She stares down at it for a moment before she looks back up to him.

Kittie: Dude, your hand is a sweaty mess. Relax, alright?

Rage shakes his head, still squeezing her hand.

Rage: I can’t relax, Kittie. I really can’t. This whole situation is fucked up. I never wanted kids, Kittie. I’m fucked up. I can’t fuck up a kid’s life with my baggage.

Kittie can’t help but crack a smile as she shakes her head.

Kittie: You think her life wasn’t already somewhat fucked up before this? Electra was her mother for Christ’s sake. We all have baggage, Rage. Just because you’ve got a shit ton of baggage from your childhood, doesn’t mean that you’ll fuck her life up. Hell, you could make it a lot better.

Rage turns his head and looks at Kittie. Sweat is starting to drip down his forehead as his panic increases and he takes in a few deep breaths.

Rage: She just had to have a girl, didn’t she? This would have been a lot easier to deal with if we’d had a son and not a daughter. Jesus Christ, I don’t think I’m ready for this...

Kittie: Is anybody ever really ready to have a kid? People can say all they want that they are, but I think it’s bullshit. And honestly, if the two of you had had a son, I think I’d be more afraid of that than anything. A mini Rage? Yeahhh...

Kittie cracks a smile and Rage frowns at her. She lets out a laugh and nudges him.

Kittie: It was a joke. Seriously, relax.

Rage takes in another deep breath and looks back out the window.

Rage: So that means you’re not ready for this either?

Kittie: Fuck no, I’m not ready.

She lets out another laugh.

Kittie: But we’re married now so we’ll just have to experience and deal with all of this together. And like I said, I may have hated Electra with a passion, but I didn’t want her dead. Not really. And I sure as shit wouldn’t want to see her daughter…your daughter...end up in foster care when she has a family she can grow up with and be a part of.

Rage: I won’t lie, Kittie. I’m fucking terrified right now. About this whole situation.

Kittie returns the favor and squeezes Rage’s hand this time, trying to reassure him but also comfort him.

Kittie: I’d be surprised if you weren’t terrified, honestly. This isn’t supposed to be easy. She’s going to have a hard time coming up because she just lost the man she grew up thinking was her father, and her mother, who she thought was her aunt. It’s going to be a confusing time, but I think together we can do the best we can to make it easier for her. And so will everyone else. Gabriel and Odette. Shane and Fantasia. Despy. Melody. Phil. Maddie. This girl is going to have one hell of a family now. You know--

Rage suddenly takes Kittie off guard as he takes her face in his hands and brings his lips to hers in an intense kiss. They kiss for a few long moments and when Rage finally pulls back, Kittie is staring at him, blinking her eyes slowly.

Kittie: That was...

Rage: Thank you...

Kittie tries to speak, but she can’t find the words. Rage kisses her again, but this time just a quick one.

Rage: I love you. I know I don’t say it enough, but I do. And honestly, I couldn’t go through all this shit without you. I can’t guarantee I won’t be an ass from time to time from here on out, but...I’ll try not to be.

Kittie: Well..that’s all you can do. But, we both know that when you’re being an ass, I’ll just be a crazy bitch right back to you. And I love you, too. Asshole.

They both manage to crack a smile and laugh.

Rage: You know what us taking custody of Ember now means, right?

Kittie raises an eyebrow and shakes her head.

Rage: I’ll either need to take some time off from SCW or just call it quits all together. I can’t deal with the shit in SCW and focus on her.

Kittie shrugs and just offers him a smile in return.

Kittie: That is completely up to you then. And I’ll support you in whatever decision you make, because right now, she’s more important than anything.

Rage nods and finally turns the engine off, removing the key from the ignition. He takes in a deep breath and then looks at Kittie.

Rage: Alright...let’s do this. It’s now or never...

Kittie: Ready whenever you are...

Rage then gives the ok with a single nod, and he and Kittie get out of the car. And for the first time that Rage can remember, he and Kittie walk hand in hand up to the building.

TBC...

---

“It’s crazy how so much can change in just the span of a single month. Changes for the good and some...for the bad. It’s already been a month since I walked into Into The Void VI as the World Heavyweight Champion, but I walked out with nothing. I’m not gonna lie and say that was an easy pill to swallow, because it sure as shit wasn’t.

But, a lot has changed for me outside of SCW, too. Shit that is way more important than the World Heavyweight Championship will ever be. Now, I’m not going to sit here and talk about all of that, because honestly, what goes on in my personal life is really no one’s business. And like I said on Climax Control last Sunday...I almost called it quits. I came pretty damn close to hanging up my boots and retiring for good, but a little voice told me not to. Begged me not to.

So here I am.

And here I am once again being put up against Jeremiah Hardin. I don’t know how many times I have to prove myself against him, but I guess I have to do it once more, don’t I? But, here’s the thing…

I’m not the same person that I was the last four times I’ve faced you, Jeremiah. I’m not going to deny it. You might think that you stand a better chance at beating me this time because of that fact, but let me tell you right here and now, you’d be wrong in thinking that, Jeremiah. And I’m not going to sit here and hash out a bunch of bullshit that happened in the past, because I’m not going to do that either.

You, Jeremiah...You have nothing to prove going into this last match between the two of us. But me? I’ve got everything in the world to prove, because all the other encounters between the two of us? You were up against Rage. You faced the part of me that couldn’t control the anger...that couldn’t control his temper. You faced a part of me that, for the most part, did more damage than good in the time he existed.

But I’m not Rage anymore, Jeremiah. I no longer feel that uncontrollable anger building at the drop of a dime. I’m much more relaxed. Much calmer than I was before, and I have to say...it feels damn good. And it’s going to feel even better walking into the ring and getting what I will consider the most important win of my career this Sunday.


Yeah, more important than any title match we’ve ever had. You want to know why, Jeremiah?

It’s because people don’t know me as Jake Sullivan. They don’t know what I can do as my true identity. They’ve only ever known me as Rage. Hell, I’m sure that most of them, including you, probably think that he’s all I’ll ever be. But, again, that’s just not true.

I’m Jake now. I’ll always be Jake from now on, because I just can’t be Rage anymore. I have to learn to control my emotions and as Rage...I wasn’t able to do that. It didn’t matter how angry I got, I was always looked at as a joke...as weak. And maybe they were right then.

But everyone better get a different opinion of me now, because I’m looking at this as not just a much needed change of pace. I’m looking at it as a whole new beginning. A beginning I’ve needed for longer than I can remember.

I honestly don’t know what to expect from you, Jeremiah. I really never do. One minute you can act like you don’t give a shit about the match you’re heading into, the next you’re doing what everyone should be doing and just giving it your all. And you stay quiet the entire time. It makes it pretty damn difficult to face you most of the time.

But I’m not underestimating you. Not one single bit.

And I won’t be holding back. This may be just an ordinary match. A non-title bout touted as the final one between the two of us, but I have to win, Jeremiah. You managed to defeat me as Rage once before, and maybe that was my own fault.

But you won’t beat me as Jake. I am lot smarter than Rage ever was. And I’m a hell of a lot more determined.

So get ready, Jeremiah. Get ready for the fight of your life, because I’m not letting myself lose this one. You and everybody else is going to see a whole different side of me...the real side of me and I plan on sending a message that I still have what it takes to be here…

And I’m not giving up.”

 (OOC note: So the first part of this would have been in my 2nd RP for ITV if I had found motivation and inspiration to write anything...which didn't happen until last night. Anyway..enjoy, as there is more to be told after this!)

---

The sun begins to peek in through the bedroom window, shining right in Rage’s face. He wasn’t ready to get up and out of bed. He was still more than exhausted, even considering last night was the best night’s sleep he remembered having in years. Kittie is still sound asleep next to him, and he would stay right where he’s at if the early morning piss call hadn’t suddenly hit him. A low grumble escapes him as he shoves the sheet and the blanket from off of him and throws his legs over the side of the bed, placing his feet flat on the floor. He stretches his arms and lets out a bear like yawn and pushes himself to his feet.

Shit, something doesn’t feel right. Why are his bones so damn achy this morning? That four corners match must have taken more out of him than he thought. No big deal. He’s got time to bounce back on the week off. He finally takes a step away from the bed, heading towards the bathroom, and when he unexpectedly lets out a loud fart!

Okay, being a guy or not, he’s not used to that happening. He let’s out a chuckle though as he heads into the bathroom and towards the toilet. He flips the seat up, positions himself and starts to relieve himself as he another fart rip loose!

Rage: Okay...what the fuck is with the gas this morning?! Seriously?!

He finishes doing his business, flushes the toilet and then heads over to the sink to wash his hands. He doesn’t look into the mirror at first, but when he shakes he excess water from his hands after rinsing the soap off, he looks up into the mirror for a split second. He glances down, but when his reflection finally hits him, he looks up at the mirror again quickly, in a panic!

Rage: What the fucking fuck?!

This isn’t possible. This can’t be possible. How’d he age that much overnight?! And more importantly, how the fuck did he grow a clean shaven beard and mustache like that?! And hair! He had hair again!

Rage: What the fuck is going on?!?!

He touches the mirror, thinking this can’t be real, but it is. He brings his hands up to his head and pulls at his hair, in full on panic mode now. When he turns around to storm out of the bathroom, Kittie is standing there, looking at him in confused horror.

Kittie: Jake? What’s wrong?!

Jake? Did she just call him Jake?!

Rage: W-what did you just call me?! Kittie, what the fuck is--

Wait a minute. Something was off. He’s not in the bathroom of his and Kittie’s hotel room like he thought. He knew where they were, but...how? They were just in New York so how could they be back home in Las Vegas?!

Rage: H-how did we get back home?!

Kittie raises an eyebrow and takes a step towards him, concern written all over her face.

Kittie: Jake, what are you talking about? We’ve been home! Are you feeling okay?

He starts shaking his head furiously before he storms past here, back into their bedroom. A strange sound coming from the room just down the hall causes him to freeze in place and listen carefully. Now that...THAT definitely isn’t possible! Kittie stands behind him, staring at him still concerned and a few moments later a little boy, only a few years old at most, runs into the room and right up to Rage, throwing his arm around Rage’s leg!

Boy: Daaaaddddyyy!

Da...WHAT?! Rage looks down at the little boy, unable to move. Who is this kid? Why the hell is he calling him Daddy?! Rage looks behind him at Kittie, but she walks up to the little boy, scooping him up into her arms and a few moments later, a flame-haired teenage girl walks into the room, holding a younger little girl, less than a year old, in her arms.

Rage: E-ember?!

Rage immediately recognizes her. She’s older, yes, but that was definitely his and Electra’s daughter standing there...in his house...with a baby in her arms!

Ember: Ugh. Kittie, has Dad been on the sauce again?

Kittie: Hell if I know. Jacob, sweetie, calm down!

Jacob? She just called the little boy in her arms Jacob. So...whose baby is Ember holding?

Rage: I...What the...WHO?!

Rage points to the baby in Ember’s arms.

Ember: Dad, are you high?! If you are, I’ll just put Sarah back in her crib, but she prefers you in the mornings…

Rage: Sarah? Jacob? Ember???

This is all too confusing for him. Kittie adjusts Jacob in her arms as he squirms and fidgets, fighting to get put down. But she knows the second she does, he’ll take off like a bat out of hell, and she’s too concerned with Rage...er, Jake, right now.

Kittie: Jake, why are you looking at the kids like you’ve never seen them before?

Rage spins and stares at Kittie, and little Jacob in her arms, who is reaching out towards Rage.

Rage: Because I haven’t! This...this isn’t real! Kittie, we were just in New York last night for Into The Void! And now you’re telling me that we have two kids?! And what is Ember doing here?!

Ember stares at her father, trying not to laugh.

Ember: Riiiiight. This is my cue to head back to my room. Dad, you really need to lay off the sauce. You make yourself look like a fool.

Ember then walks away, laughing, as she takes baby Sarah back to the nursery and then disappears into her own room. Kittie stays behind, but Jacob is giving her a hard time so she finally puts him down.

Kittie: Alright, Jacob. Fine! Go get Ember and play with her for a little bit while I talk to Daddy.

Jacob then takes off running out of the room, squealing and laughing. A few moments later, Ember can be heard shouting as Jacob runs into her room. Kittie walks over to their bedroom door, closing it so they can talk privately.

Kittie: Alright. What the hell is going on with you?! You’re acting really strange right now.

Rage grips at his head as he looks around the room. This was definitely their room. In their house in Las Vegas, but the entire situation was not familiar to him.

Rage: I’m telling you, Kittie, I don’t know what the hell--

Kittie: Ok, you mentioned Into The Void in New York. Jake, that was four years ago!

Rage: Why do you keep calling me Jake?!

Kittie stares at Rage, mouth gaped open and eyes wide. She runs her hand through her hair, trying to wrap her head around his behavior.

Kittie: Uhh...maybe because that’s your name? We’ve been calling you Jake for a while now.

Rage: It is NOT my fucking name!

Kittie takes a step towards Rage, sending him a warning glare.

Kittie: Would you keep your voice down if you’re going to swear like that again?!

She speaks through gritted teeth and Rage backs up, shaking his head. He collapses down onto the edge of the bed, still gripping his head.

Rage: Wh-what...what happened to me? Did I get hit over the head too hard or something? I..I can’t figure out what the fuck is going on!

Kittie: Jake....Rage...

He looks up at her, still in a complete panic. Beads of sweat start to drip down his head and he slowly starts hyperventilating. Kittie walks up to him, placing her hands on his shoulder, trying to calm him down.

Kittie: Look, I guess I have to remind you about what happened, but...J2H won the title back that night, Rage. You tried to stay in the game, but...you couldn’t. You retired a couple of months later and we came back home. Good thing, too, because we found out I was pregnant with Jacob not long after that.

Rage closes his eyes. He tries to remember, but he can’t. The last thing he remembers was walking out of Into The Void without the title and then waking up here. Four years later?

Rage: Four years? Four years?!

He looks up at Kittie and she nods.

Kittie: I don’t know what is going on, but yeah. Four years. This is what you wanted, though. I didn’t force any of this on you, and we’ve been pretty damn happy actually. Things are great.

Rage points towards the door as if pointing out to the hall.

Rage: And Ember?

Kittie: You...you really don’t remember any of it?

Rage shakes his head and stands up quickly, smacking his head, trying to jog his memory he thinks he lost.

Rage: No! None of this makes sense, Kittie! I...We...TWO KIDS?!

The room starts spinning, and he lurches forward, feeling like he’s going to be sick. Kittie runs up to her man, placing a concerned hand on his back but it all becomes too much for the big man to handle and he passes out right then and there, his head smacking against the floor with a loud THUD!

And just like that his eyes burst open, and he’s staring up at the ceiling of the darkened room. He bolts upright in the bed and looks around in a panic. Kittie is sound asleep next to him, somehow not woken up by his night terror. He’s breathing heavily, but as he looks around the room, realizing it was all a dream, he starts to quickly calm down.

Rage: A dream...It was all a fucking dream.

He takes in a deep breath and swings his legs over the edge of the bed, planting his feet on the floor. He places his hands on his knees, breathing slowly as he looks up and out the patio door at the New York City Skyline.

Into The Void VI wasn’t the night that Rage was expecting or hoping for. Once again he walked in as the World Heavyweight Champion, but walked out with nothing at all. J2H had done it. He had regained the World Heavyweight Championship, now making him a two-time champ and Rage a further embarrassment to all champions. He didn’t know what was happening. He felt himself going on a downward spiral and his career quickly fading into nothing, making everything that J2H had said about him right. And, of course, it just made him angry.

But not at J2H. Not at anyone else. No, it made him angry at himself. For allowing this to happen to him. For only having himself to blame as he grows into a bigger disappointment and embarrassment to everyone around him and everyone in SCW. And he had no idea what to do about it. His anger this time left him stark frozen.

In the back of his mind he wanted to go nuts. He wanted to storm backstage and destroy everything like he had done a few weeks ago after losing the title to Jeremiah Hardin. But he didn’t. This time he was left almost catatonic. He was left speechless for the most part, that much was clear. Kittie had followed closely behind him after the match and she was surprised when all he wanted to do was head back to the hotel for the night.

Instead of heading back to Las Vegas right away, he opted to stay one more night in New York City. And far be it from Kittie to try and persuade him to do otherwise. She was in no hurry to get back to Las Vegas, either. So they went back to the hotel and to her surprise, Rage had actually fallen asleep before she did. He passed out cold...practically dead to the world.

But here he is now, wide awake at three o’clock in the morning, staring out at New York City. He closes his eyes and tries to process everything running through his mind right now, but he can’t. And that dream...or was it a nightmare? Whatever it was, it gave him even more to think about as at least one aspect was a reality.

J2H recaptured the World Heavyweight Championship, and he had no idea what to do about his future in SCW. Not that he had to make any decisions right away. As he continues to think, he turns around and stares at Kittie fast asleep in the bed. He glances down to his left hand, and the wedding band now placed on his ring finger. It was something he never thought he’d ever see. But he wouldn’t change it.

He walks back over to the bed and crawls in under the covers again, getting as close to Kittie as he can. But he’s not about to wake her up for a late night(or is it early morning?) roll in the hay.

Instead, he just wraps his arm around her and closes his eyes, trying to fall back asleep…

TBC...

 I told you so! What did I fucking tell you people?! I said I was going to walk into that rematch on Climax Control and take back the World Heavyweight title, but still certain people doubted. Especially Jeremiah Hardin. He really thought he was going to beat me a second time, this time without help? Fucking idiot! And you know what that makes me now?

A three-time World Heavyweight Champion! Only the second guy on the roster to do that and the first that really matters, because Drake Green does what so many others have done. He comes back and sets his sights on the Word Heavyweight Championship. Somehow, he ends up winning the damn thing because the fucker that he faced was too worthless to let Drake lose and you know what happens? Drake goes on to lose the fucking belt not long after and he fucking disappears again.

That shit ain’t gonna happen this time. The circumstances surrounding how I won, lost and then won the title back in the first place might be a little hectic and controversial in their own way, but that shit doesn’t matter to me. The fact is that I AM a three time World Heavyweight Champion and I’m NOT going to lose the title so soon after I just got it back from Hardin.

I still have my doubters. That’s is pretty fucking obvious, but let people think what they want to think because I don’t give a shit if you doubt me. Doubting me only motivates me to prove all you fuckers wrong, because I’ll stand back and just fucking smile when I crush the predictions you have. Especially if you’re one of the FEW people who still put your faith in Jeremiah Hardin.

Let me break it down for you people, if you didn’t get the hint last week. Jeremiah Hardin can’t win the title on his own. That much is VERY fucking clear. He tried last week and he failed. So, unless you people know something I don’t, Jeremiah Hardin is not a person you want to be betting on. I’d tell you to bet on Drake or J sooner than I would tell you to EVER put money on Jeremiah getting the title back.

But, those two assholes aren’t going to win either. I’m not letting this title go. I refuse to let the title slip away to a washed up retired has-been, an annoying past his time little prick, and a cheater. Just ain’t happening.

They’re gonna have to pry the title from my cold, dead hands.

---

Sunday April 30th
Boston, MA
After Climax Control

What a fucking night! Not that I had any doubt that it would happen, but my World Heavyweight Championship is back where it belongs. And it’s going to stay that way. And let me tell ya, what a difference two weeks makes, because Jeremiah Hardin was lacking a bit this week. Gee...wonder why that could be?

It’s pretty fucking obvious. The douchebag didn’t have any help from J2H and he wasn’t as strong as he was in that last match so I’m guessing the voo-doo vibes were in the back where they belong. And it fucking paid off! I’m a three-time World Heavyweight Champion! I’m fucking going to the main event at Into The Void which is where I fucking belong.

I’m not one to celebrate very often, if ever, but tonight just calls for it. It’s just me and Kittie, as it has been for a while now, and as much as shit gets too quiet at times without being around Despayre or the others, it’s really how I prefer it to be. I don’t know what we intend to do tonight, but considering I’m not a fan of Boston as it is, I’d much rather just go back to the hotel and celebrate there.

Kittie is carrying my World Heavyweight title proudly for me, and I’m carrying our bags as we are walking out of the arena. She’s blabbering away about something, but I couldn’t tell ya what the hell she’s saying because I’m tuning it out the entire walk to our car. Just as we’re a few feet away from the car and I hit the unlock button on the key, I hear a voice behind me that stops me dead in my tracks.

“Jake?” She says. And by she, I mean someone I never wanted to see again. Her voice sounds older and frailer than I remember, but like I give a shit.

Kittie turns around, but I keep my back to her. I glance at Kittie from the corner of my eye and her eyes are wide as she stares at the woman standing behind me. Kittie elbows me, but I don’t move. I can’t, because I don’t want to face this bitch behind me.

“Jake, please turn around and talk to me.” She says and I close my eyes, still refusing to turn around.

I drop mine and Kittie’s bags on the ground and feel my hands clench into fists. Everything in me is telling me not to turn around. Not to face this woman, but Kittie elbows me again, harder this time and my eyes shoot open. I take in a deep breath and let out a quiet growl as I slowly turn around to face her. For the first time in just about two years, I come face to face with my mother, and the reunion is not a pleasant one. Not for me anyway.

“The fuck are you doing here?” I snap at her. The truth is, I don’t give a shit why she’s here. The fact is that she’s here, but this little conversation won’t last long, because I’m not interested in anything she has to say.

“I heard your company was in town,” she says and takes a step closer to me. I hold up my hand, warning her not to walk any further and she stops. “I wanted to see you. I had hoped Phillip would be with you.”

My eyes narrow angrily at her. How fucking dare she bring up Phillip after what happened last time she saw him. I shake my head and keep my fists clenched at my sides. “Well he’s not. So you can hop back in your car and fucking leave.”

She shakes her head. “I can’t do that. Not yet. I’d really like to talk to you.”

“He has nothing to say to you, lady.” Kittie chimes in before I can respond. She takes a step forward in my defense, and my bitch mother turns her attention to her. “You may have given birth to him, but you’re not his mother. You’re not his family, so just leave us alone.”

My mother smiles. The bitch actually SMILES, but almost in a mocking way. “You must be the woman who has stolen his heart?” She asks, unimpressed. “Kittie, is it?”

Kittie snarls at her. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes, I am.” She adjusts the title over her shoulder and offers my mother a smug grin. “And you’re the bitch who gave birth to him and treated him like shit before tossing him in a psychiatric ward when he was a kid. Let’s place bets on who he loves more?”

My mother shakes her head. She opens her mouth to speak, but I take a step forward, standing between her and Kittie, and glaring at her. “I’d choose your words carefully, Mother, because if you even think about insulting or threatening my fiancee in any way, I won’t hesitate to have her permanently break your hips.”

She turns her attention back to me and frowns. “I wouldn’t dream of insulting someone I don’t even know, but clearly you have found your perfect match.” She states, and I’m fairly sure it’s a backhanded compliment. I’ll let it slide for now though. “I was actually hoping to talk to you about Ember.”

Kittie and I both go wide-eyed and my hands quickly unclench as I just blink for a few moments. I look to Kittie, and neither of us knows what to say but I end up turning back to my mother, trying to figure out what to say to her, if anything. “Ember?’

She nods. “Yes. Ember. Jake, were you ever going to tell me I had a granddaughter?”

I let out a loud laugh and bring my hand up, running it over my head. “You don’t have a granddaughter. So let’s try not to make a bigger deal out of this shit than it is.” I reach down and pick up our bags, ready to leave. She sees this and immediately takes a step closer to me.

“It IS a big deal, Jake!” She shouts at me, almost pleading with me. “That beautiful little girl has my blood running through her veins. She IS my granddaughter whether you want to admit it or not.”

I let out a loud growl and she jumps back. “FUCK YOU!” I shout, unable to hold my anger in any longer. “I don’t know how you fucking found out about Ember, but I don’t really give a shit. I’m not her father. You’re not her grandmother, so don’t try and try and spin the family bullshit on me, because I’ve never been a part of the Sullivan family. Not really. So again, fuck you!”

“Electra came to see me.” She admits, and I shouldn’t be surprised. I’m pissed off, but I should have known Electra would do something like that. “She’s a lovely woman, and from what I’ve been told, Ember is an amazing little girl. Why you would refuse to be a part--”

“ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?!” I shout even louder this time, dropping our bags again in the process. “What the fuck are you getting at, lady?! What the fuck are you trying to do here other than royally pissing me off?!” She stares at me, growing terrified. She’d never seen me this angry before, but I won’t hesitate to let her witness my anger in all it’s dangerous glory, because maybe it’ll keep her the fuck away from me in the future.

“I...I’m not trying to do anything, Jake!” She says, taking a step further back from me. “I just don’t want to see a little girl suffer because--”

“Because of the mistakes YOU and my piece of shit father made?!” I snap at her. I can feel Kittie’s eyes watching me the entire time, and if it weren’t for the fact that she is here right now, I probably would have done something I’d regret later. “That kid is better off not being a part of this fucked up family of yours, lady. She’s doomed as it is have the Sullivan blood running through her veins, but being introduced to you? I wouldn’t torture her like that.”

Her eyes well up and I can see she is about to cry. “Well...it’s going to happen. Next week, actually. Electra is bringing her here to Boston to meet Ashley and I.”

I close my eyes, feeling the rage building even more. I feel like I’m about to go fifty shades of postal on this bitch, but a few moments later Kittie reaches her hand towards me and grips my arm. I immediately feel myself relaxing just a little bit, but when I open my eyes to look at my mother again, I just feel like being sick.

“Do whatever the fuck you want to do, lady.” I finally tell her. “Just keep me the hell out of it. And keep Phillip out of it, because he doesn’t need your shit either.” I warn her.

“It doesn’t have to be this way.” She pleads again. But, sadly for her, no amount of pleading is going to change my view on her. Ever. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Jake. I won’t stand here and deny that to you, and I wouldn’t deny it to Phillip if given the chance. I just want a chance to make things right before…” She chokes up and her voice trails off as a tear rolls down her cheek. I don’t even bother asking her what she meant by that, because I don’t fucking care.

“Almost thirty years is a little fucking late for that.” I snarl at her. “You have no one to blame but yourself, so do us both a favor and quit wasting both our time trying to get me to forgive you, because it ain’t gonna happen.”

She starts crying now. Full on bawling as she turns to Kittie, taking a pleading step towards her. “Kittie, please. Help me here. He loves you. He listens to you.”

She lets out a laugh and shakes her head. “Loves me, sure. Listens to me?” She grins. “Not so much. And why should I do anything to help you? He’s my fiancee. I’m not going to force him to do shit he doesn’t want to do. Especially where you are concerned.”

For a second, I think the bitch is going to pass out right in front of us, and a part of me is hoping she does. She brings her hand up to her forehead and just takes in a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself, and I look at Kittie, quietly telling her to head towards the car.

“I’m sorry, Jake.” My mother says again, but no amount of apologies will matter. “I failed you as a mother, I know. I failed Phillip. But I’m so proud of you for finding a strong woman to stand by your side.” She looks to Kittie again before looking back to me, running out of things to say.

“Well I’m just soooo glad you’re proud of me, Mother.” I say very sarcastically. “Now, why don’t you go ahead and turn around and disappear from my life for good?”

“I can see now that it really is too late.” She finally gives in as I reach down and pick up our bags again. “Congratulations on your championship win and on your upcoming wedding. Despite the circumstances, as I said before, I’m really proud of you, Jake. You’re my first born son and you’ve made a life for yourself that your father and I clearly couldn’t give you.”

I roll my eyes and say nothing back as I turn my back to her. I hear her sniffle a few times and nothing else is said between the three of us. I listen as she walks away, followed by the sound of a car door closing and a few moments later the car drives off out of the parking lot. But I can’t move. Seeing her again just brought on this deep rooted hatred and anger towards her...towards my father and my sister. I feel myself start shaking as I close my eyes, and the anger starts to grow unstable.

Kittie suddenly wraps her arms around my midsection, embracing me. It’s as if she could sense the anger just dying to be unleashed and she wants to calm me down before I do anything stupid. I take in a few deep breaths and start to relax, but not fast enough.

“Don’t let that shit bother you, Rage.” She tells me, trying to calm me down faster. “And don’t let it ruin your good mood.”

“A little late for that.” I respond, breathing slowly.

“Well I think I might know a good way for you to unleash some of that pent up frustration you have going on.” I can tell from her tone just where she is headed with this, and I couldn’t agree more. Not that it wasn’t already planned for tonight, but when one of us is angry, it’s a good indication of how the night is going to end.

“I don’t know, Kittie.” I say as I turn around to face her with a wicked grin on my face. “You think you can handle me unleashing all of this on you?” As if I needed to ask that. She grins right back at me, but says nothing as she walks around me and heads to the car with a shrug of her shoulders. I quickly follow behind her, knowing she’s just teasing me, again. Trying to piss me off even more.

At least this night will end on a high note...literally.

---

The more I think about it, the more I’m glad and relieved that I let Kittie stick around with me not only on this tour but in SCW as a whole. It’s a damn good thing I have her in my life, especially the last few weeks, because if I didn’t, I’d probably be in some major shit right now. Other than the really great angry sex, I don’t know how she has managed to help bring my anger back down to a manageable level.

I never saw myself as the type of guy to ever get married. I know shit can change, but I’ve never had the patience to deal with a woman long enough to consider spending the rest of our lives together. I figured it would lead to one of us murdering the other with a pillow at night or some shit. But...shit with Kittie is just different. As much as she likes to push my damn buttons, and I do the same to her, things would just be weird as hell without her, and I think she’d say the same about me if you were to ask her.

She also supports me in SCW and makes sure I focus when I need to, because she knows how much I’ve wanted to succeed. She knows how hard I’ve worked my ass off for this place. Kittie might not be one of those vocal cheerleader valet types you’ve seen standing at ringside screaming and yelling and causing a huge scene just for attention, but her quiet support is enough.

And it will be enough. She’s also a huge reason why I’ve been fighting so damn hard. Not just for myself and to make myself proud, but to make her proud too. To make her look better for being with an asshole like me, because I know people find it strange that she’s with me. But, fuck them. Let them think what they want. For whatever reason, Kittie and I just click, and that’s how it’s gonna be.

No offense to Melody Grace, but at least Kittie doesn’t beg me to take her on all these extravagant trips every damn week. At least Kittie is not like the blonde bitch Drake is married to and trying to convince people every damn day on Twitter that her marriage is so perfect, when Drake is probably somewhere drinking himself into oblivion because his wife is so annoying. And at least Kittie isn’t like that voo-doo crazy bitch Diamond or Darknyss or whichever the fuck member of the Fallen Jeremiah Hardin is engaged to. Not that it fucking matters, because they’re all weird as shit and not worth paying attention to anyway.

I’m not worried about being part of a “Golden Couple” status like J2H. I couldn’t give a fuck about making movies or some stupid shit like that like Drake does. And I certainly don’t hang around a bunch of uninteresting idiots like Jeremiah Hardin does. I’m only worried about one thing.

Keeping this damn World Heavyweight Championship around my waist. And at Into The Void VI, I plan to do just that, by any means necessary.

---

Monday May 1st

Considering how late Kittie and I were up releasing some “steam” and “celebrating” last night, I don’t know how the hell either of us managed to get out of bed this morning. Me specifically. Kittie was able to fall asleep at some point, but I’ve pretty much been awake for over twenty-four hours, with no time to sleep anytime soon. Our flight out of Boston is in a few hours as we’re getting ready to leave Boston, but before we do, there’s one stop I want to make, and not only does it surprise me, but it surprises Kittie, too.

I’m driving our rental car through the front gate to Forest Hills Cemetery. I hadn’t been here in about two years, but given the confrontation I had yesterday with my mother, I needed a little satisfaction in visiting the grave I was here to visit. But Kittie is more than confused.

“What the hell are we doing here?” She turns her attention from her window, to me behind the wheel. “We have a flight in a few hours you know.”

I nod as I try to remember where at he is buried. And by he, I mean my piece of shit father. “Yeah no shit. But I need to stop here just for a few minutes. Just don’t give me shit, alright?”

She lets out a laugh and shakes her head. “Alright, fine. I just don’t see the point. The guy has been dead for almost three years and he meant nothing to you anyway.”

“I know he didn’t.” I say, turning the car down one of the smaller roads in the cemetery. “Maybe I just need to make sure he’s still fucking dead? Maybe I just need to stare at his headstone for a bit and actually feel a sense of relief for a bit?”

She shakes her head again, but she doesn’t say anything in response. I finally stop my car along the edge of the grass, looking just out the window. I spot the large headstone marking my father’s grave. If I had any say in it, that bastard wouldn’t have even gotten that shit. He would have been buried in an unmarked grave. Hell, he might not have been buried at all.

I leave the engine running as I’m not planning to be here very long, and I turn to look at Kittie. She’s about to get out of the car, but I grab her arm and stop her. “Stay in the car. I won’t be long.”

“What?” She asks, confused. “You don’t need to do this alone, Rage.”

“Yeah, I do.” I respond with a nod. “Just stay here, alright? There’s no reason for you to come with me.”

“Whatever.” She says, sitting back in her seat, folding her arms and pouting.

I roll my eyes and let out a sigh before I open my door and get out of the car. I walk the few hundred feet before I stop just over my father’s grave, staring down at his headstone.

MICHAEL SULLIVAN
DEVOTED HUSBAND, BELOVED FATHER

I let out a laugh as I put my hand on the headstone and squat down. I can feel Kittie’s eyes watching me the entire time, but I don’t turn around to acknowledge her.

“Heya Dad.” I say out loud as if I am speaking to him. My voice is full of contempt and hate, even after now that he has been dead for almost three years. “Are ya proud of me, old man? Are ya watching down, smiling with pride like a father should?”

I let out another laugh and shake my head. “No. Of course you’re not.” I say. “My guess is that you’re down below, getting some special treatment from Satan himself like you should be. The fact is, I don’t give a shit if you’re proud of me or not. I’m glad you’re dead, you son of a bitch. It gives me great joy to be standing over your grave while I’m up here living my life like you tried to stop me from doing when I was a kid.”

I stand back up, but I keep my eyes on the headstone. I stop speaking for a moment as I close my eyes and take in a deep breath, feeling the light breeze hit my face. I open my eyes a few seconds later, and stare at his name. “I’ve made a name for myself. I’ve made a successful career in SCW. I’m the champ now and I’m even engaged to someone a million times better than your slutty wife is. And I did it all on my--”

“What the hell are you doing?!” A voice cuts me off quickly and when I spin around, surprised, I come face to face with yet another woman I had no desire to ever see again. My bitch of a sister, Ashley.

“The fuck does it look like I’m doing?!” I snap back at her. Kittie is prepared to get out of our car but I hold my hand up, stopping her. Ashley turns around for a moment, glaring at her, and when she turns her attention back to me, she’s even more angry.

“Well it seems to me that upsetting our mother wasn’t enough to you, but now you have to stand over our father’s grave and speak ill about him, too!” She shouts, taking a few steps towards me. “I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to get some help. A serious amount of it, if I’m honest.”

I laugh at her, feeling the anger start to rise in the pit of my stomach. “Well if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black, then I don’t know what the fuck is.” I say and I turn my back to her. I can hear her walking towards me, but I stand where I’m at, hoping she dares to lay a hand on me. I hear the car door closing a few moments later, but when I glance back, Kittie is just standing against the car, watching on carefully.

“You’re almost thirty-eight years old, Jake.” She says, not needing to remind me. “Grow the fuck up. Mom was just trying to apologize to you. Trying to make things right with what little time she has left and you treated her like shit! And then you felt the need to come here to our father’s grave? For what reason?!”

What little time she has left? I spin around and face Ashley again, keeping my temper under control for the moment. “First, I don’t need a reason to visit his grave, Ashley. It’s his fault my childhood was as fucked up as it is, and he’s dead, so I just needed to feel a little better at the moment. And what the fuck do you mean with what little time she has left?”

Ashley rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “Oh please. Don’t act like you care now.”

“I don’t.” I say with an amused grin that she doesn’t return. “Color me curious, though.”

She folds her arms and glances back to Kittie behind us and shakes her head before she turns her attention back to me. “Not that you care, but Mom is dying. She doesn’t have but a few months to live and she was hoping that your company being in Boston this weekend was a sign that she could fix things with you and Phillip. She’s absolutely heartbroken right now, and you and your wretched fiancee don’t even care!”

Kittie takes a step forward, but I secretly signal her to stand back. She does so reluctantly as I turn my focus back to Ashley, glaring at her angrily for her choice of words. “Watch what you say about Kittie, because you have no room to talk about being wretched. Spoiled little bitch.”

Her jaw drops open and she lets out a laugh. “You clearly know nothing, Jake! You and Phillip weren’t the only ones who had it bad when we were younger, but you’re certainly dead set on keeping up this woe is me bullshit attitude you have going on. You need to move on. You need to learn to forgive, especially our mother because the only one who was really to blame for what happened to you was our father.”

“And you’re standing here giving me shit for speaking bad about him right over his grave?!” I shout back, shaking my head. “You’re really something else, you know that?”

“Look, even if you don’t want to let our mother make things right with you, can you at least talk to Phillip?” She pleads with me, and I roll my eyes. “Even though you’re my brother, too, I can’t convince you to do something you don’t want to do because I didn’t live with you all those years. I lived with Phillip.”

I shake my head. “I’m not saying shit to Phillip.” I growl at her. I wish they’d just forget about Phillip already, but I guess they won’t. “After what happened last time you saw Phillip, I’d suggest you just forget ever having any contact with him ever again. I’m not going to risk having him have a setback because of you or that old hag of a mother of ours. I don’t give a shit if she’s dying.”

“I can’t believe how unbelievably selfish you are!” She throws her hands in the air. Kittie takes a few steps towards us, but I again signal her to stand back. I want to handle this situation, even though I can feel my blood pressure starting to rise.

“Selfish?!” I ask, shocked she even had the nerve to suggest I was being selfish after what I just said. “I’m the one who has helped Phillip the last two years! I was the one who got him out of that fucking hospital after he tried to kill himself because of what your fucking family put him through! ME! NOT YOU!”

“He needed to be in that hospital, Jake!” She snaps back. “He tried to take his own life and he needed doctors to help him! Taking him out of the hospital could have set him back and just caused him to actually attempt it again only succeed the second time!”

I take a threatening step towards her. “Shows what you know, bitch! He was happier the second he got out of Boston!”

“Where is he?” She asks me, looking back to our rental car and Kittie. “Where is Phillip? Doesn’t he normally come to these shows with you?”

I clench my fists. This bitch is relentless and she’s worse than our mother. “That’s none of your fucking business. Leave Phillip the fuck alone, because if you don’t, you’ll just have me to deal with and when you piss me off, things get really fucking ugly. Which you’re close to finding out.”

“I’m not giving up on this.” She warns me and I snarl at her. “I’ll go to Vegas myself if I have to. I was able to find you, so trust me when I say it shouldn’t be that difficult to find Phillip. He needs to know about our mother.”

Kittie finally ignores me and starts walking over to us. Ashley turns around and sees Kittie heading towards us, and she apparently wants no part of a confrontation with her. She turns her attention back to me for a moment. “This isn’t over, Jake. If you don’t tell Phillip about our mother, I will. And don’t think I’m lying. But go ahead and concern yourself with your silly career and some worthless title to try and make yourself feel better. All I care about is helping our mother.”

Kittie walks up and stands next to me, glaring at Ashley. Ashley doesn’t even acknowledge her as she turns around and walks away, heading back to her own car. I’m shaking with anger once again as I watch her get into her car and drive away. Once she’s out of sight, I let out a frustrated growl as I spin around, bring my leg forward and kick my father’s headstone with one angry and powerful kick. It breaks in half and Kittie jumps back, shocked at what I just did.

“Dude…” Is all she can say, at a loss for words.

I bring my hands up and grip my head, starting to lose control again. “I knew coming to Boston was a fucking bad idea, Kittie! I knew it! It just brings up a lot of bullshit that I can’t fucking deal with!”

I start pacing back and forth over my father’s grave and Kittie tries to grab my arm, but it doesn’t work. She tries a couple more times before she’s able to get a grip on my wrist and stop me. I turn and stare at her, breathing heavily from the frustration.

“Look, I wasn’t going to suggest this because I wasn’t sure if it would work or not, but I think I have a way for you to unleash a serious amount of that anger.” She tells me, and I can see the concern on her face.

“This ain’t exactly the place for that shit, Kittie.” I say, immediately thinking she’s suggesting our normal way of letting off some steam, but she rolls her eyes and shakes her head.

“I’m not talking about sex, idiot!” She yells at me. “There’s this place in Dallas called The Anger Room that I think would really help you out a lot. I heard about it a while back and was waiting for the right time to suggest it to you. And considering I don’t want you trashing our house anymore, this might be a better idea.”

“The Anger Room?” I ask.

“Yeah.” She replies. “Basically, you pay so much for a certain amount of time and you get to just fucking destroy the room with no consequences. You can set the room up anyway you like, too. And, I think I have a pretty interesting idea for you.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Now you WANT me to destroy a damn room? Make up your mind!”

“This is a cheaper way to do it, asshole!” She barks back at me, slapping my chest. “I haven’t even seen what you did to the trophy room at home yet and we haven’t gotten a bill for the damages you caused back in Phillie. This will only cost like a hundred bucks. If even that!”

I think about it for a few minutes as my breathing slows and my blood pressure starts to return to normal. I let my hands drop down to my sides and I let out a sigh as I look back to her. “Alright, fine. I’ll fucking try anything at this point.”

“Good.” She says as she puts her hand on my back. “Now let’s get the fuck out of here before someone sees you and what you did to your father’s headstone. Your bitch of a sister might have you arrested and I don’t really feel like dealing with that shit.”

“Just get me the fuck out of Boston, Kittie.” I feel defeated as I shake my head and start walking towards the car.

Kittie follows behind me and I’m so ready to get the hell out of Boston, but depending on what happens at the airport, we could be stuck here for several more hours as it seems we’ll be making a detour to Dallas before heading back to Las Vegas for the rest of the week.

---

Well Boston lived up to its expectations, both in and out of SCW. I knew I’d be walking into Boston with nothing but that I’d be walking out with my title back in my possession and I was right. But, from the moment I heard I was being booked in that shithold city, something told me I wasn’t going to escape the city without some reminder of my fucked up family.

And I was right.

You see, my birth mother and sister would like to MAKE you believe that they have good intentions. That they feel horrible about what happened when me and Phil were kids. Well...at least my mother would try and spin that shit. Ashley just doesn’t give a fuck apparently, and yet she calls me the selfish one. So leave it up to them to try and ruin my fucking moment. Leave it up to the fucking Sullivan women to try and bring me down from the high I was feeling over winning back my title.

Hate is a strong word, I will admit, but I really fucking hate those women. Just as much as I hated my father. If Kittie weren’t around, I’d probably be sitting my as in jail right now with no possibility of being bailed out, and my life and career would be fucking over. All because of those two bitches.

And if it weren’t for Kittie, I also wouldn’t have found out about this Anger Room thing. I didn’t even know this shit was a thing, but I guess it is. And, against my better judgement, I’m going to give it a shot and see what it’s all about. Kittie said she’s taking care of the entire set up for me, which if I’m honest, fucking scares the shit out of me, because fuck only knows what she’s come up with. But I trust her, and she knows that.

I just don’t like the fact that we have to make a stop in Dallas just to test this theory of her’s, but apparently Dallas is the only place that has this Anger Room. I fucking hate Texas about as much as I hate Boston. I just want to get back to Las Vegas to relax for a few days before heading off to New York to focus on all the promotional shit that comes with a supercard...and with being the World Heavyweight Champion.

---

Tuesday May 2nd
Dallas, Texas
The Anger Room

“Kittie, is all this really fucking necessary?” I stop as we’re heading up to the entrance. I’m referring to the outfit she’s told me to wear. Dark jeans, a black leather jacket and a white shirt underneath. I’m pretty sure who I’m made up to look like, the exception being I have no hair.

“Yes it is.” She turns and looks at me with a laugh as she keeps walking. “Now quit being such an ass and let’s go.”

I roll my eyes and let out a growl as she stops by the front door and opens it. As much as I trust her judgement, I look like a fucking dumbass as I sulk my way into the building dressed like a fool. She follows behind me with a laugh and we head up to the front desk, where some young kid is standing by a computer. He takes one look at me and grins.

“You must be here for The Walking Dead special.” He says.

“Gee...what gave that away?” I snarl. Kittie elbows me in my side, but it has little effect on me as I just glare at her out of the corner of my eye.

“I’d say it was the lackluster Negan costume.” He quips back as he starts typing something into the computer. “Looks pretty close minus the being bald thing.”

My nostrils flare out and I ball my hand up into a fist where he can see it. Kittie clears her throat and he turns her attention to him. “You’ll have to forgive my bald-headed eternally angry fiancee.” She tries to be as polite as possible.

The kid laughs and shakes his head. “It’s not a problem, miss. Dealing with anger is part of the job description here. It’s why we offer these services anyway. It really does help, though.”

“Maybe for other people.” I chime in. “But I’m fairly sure ya never had to deal with someone like me before. Trust me when I say you don’t even know the half of it, kid.”

He laughs again and then reaches underneath the counter and pulls out a bat. He places the bat right in front of me, but it’s no ordinary bat. It’s covered in barbed wire- an exact replica of Lucille from The Walking Dead. I take one look at it and then slowly look to Kittie and then back to him. “This is a joke, right?”

He shakes his head. “No, it’s not. She said the experience had to be as authentic as possible, and we’re only happy to oblige. You’ll have forty-five minutes to go absolutely bat shit crazy. Pun intended.”

I grab the bat and hold it up, staring at it carefully. I have to admit, it felt oddly empowering holding this thing in my hand, but I don’t know what destroying a room made up to look like a scene from The Walking Dead will do to help me one bit. The kid walks around the desk and over to the door just a few feet away and he opens it for me. “You can follow me to the back.”

“This shit better work, Kittie.” I look to her quickly before I head over to the door leading to the back. Kittie laughs and then walks over to one of the chairs in the waiting room.

He leads me down a long hall towards the back. As we pass one of the doors, I hear several loud crashes and shatters, followed by frustrated yelling and growling. Huh...guess this is my sort of thing. We walk all the way to the end of the hall to the very last door and he opens it, stepping aside.

“There is a timer inside the room. Even if you’re not paying attention to it, it’ll go off once your time is up. Don’t hold back, because this room was set up specifically for this purpose. Oh, and you may need this.” He reaches over to a hook on the wall, grabbing a splash cover of some sort. I stare at it with a raised eyebrow.

“Uhh...what for?” I ask, shaking my head and refusing it.

“Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you. You’ll find out soon enough what it’s for.” He returns it to the hook on the wall. “Have at it.”

I peak inside the room trying to get a view before I commit to it, but once I step inside, he closes the door behind me. I look behind me quickly, tempted to just leave right now, but once I get a closer look at how the room is set up, my jaw drops.

I don’t know how many people watch The Walking Dead, but I get a sick fascination out of the show myself. There’s a little bit of everything in this room for me to destroy. Tables. Chairs. Lamps. Things you might see in the Alexandria community or something. I don’t know.

But the mannequins. Oh the fucking mannequins are brilliant!

There’s a few zombies, or walkers as they are referred to on the show, but the five others catch my eye more importantly. Their faces are made to look exactly like my mother, my sister, Jeremiah Hardin, Drake Green and J2H.

“Oh this is going to be fun.” I say quietly as I twirl the bat, heading over to the first mannequin. The one made to look like my sister.

“Oh hello, Ashley. My sweet innocent older sister!” I raise my voice as I bring the bat up above my head and then bring it crashing down against the “skull” of the mannequin. As soon as I do that, a thick red liquid splatters from out of it, sending some of it spraying against my face and jacket. I look down at my jacket and then bring my hand to my face, wiping some of it off.

“Fake blood!” I should with a sick smile on my face. “FUCKING BRILLIANT!”

And before I know it, I swing the bat against ‘Ashley’s’ head again, knocking it right off the top of the mannequin. The fake blood goes flying everywhere, including against the wall and I let out a roar and a sick laugh as I move on to the one that looks like my mother.

“Can’t forget about you, bitch!” I shout and with one powerful swing, I decapitate that bitch. “Fucking bitch! How dare you fucking abandon me like you did! And you want to apologize now?! You want to make up for it now just because you’re sick and dying?! GO TO FUCKING HELL YOU CRAZY BITCH!” I stomp on the decapitated ‘head’ for good measure, covering my boot in the fake blood before I kick the mess away from me and move on to the next.

“Jeremiah Hardin…” I say slowly, twirling ‘Lucille’ in my hand. “The worthless piece of garbage who thinks he deserves to be in the main event for MY fucking title?! The one who cheated me out of it in the first place?! FUUUCK YOU, ASSHOLE!”

I swing the bat hard across the midsection of the mannequin and the fake blood oozes out of it. I laugh wickedly before I swing the bat across the face, spraying more of the ‘blood’ across my face, but it doesn’t even phase me. I’m enjoying this way too fucking much to even care. I move on to the Drake Green mannequin, decapitating that one quickly as well before I walk over and stop right in front of the J2H mannequin.

“And I had to save the best for last…” I say slowly as I stare at the face of J2H on the mannequin. That smug grin is enough to get me fuming as I bring the bat up, holding it just over the head. “You want your title back, J? You want to take your place on top of the mountain again, you little prick?”

I shake my head as I bring the bat up, holding it there for a moment. “Ain’t gonna happen shithead! This is MY time now! FUCK YOU!” And I bring the bat swinging down hard against the skull, caving it in almost immediately.

At that point, I unleash every bit of pent up anger and frustration as I completely bash in every inch of the mannequin that looks like J2H until there is nothing left but a ‘bloody’ mess. Once I’m finished, I go absolute bat shit all over the room, destroying every piece of furniture..every piece of equipment and the rest of the mannequins made to look like the zombie walkers. The fake blood is splattered everywhere. There are ‘bodies’ strewn all over the place and before I know it, the buzzer is going off indicating my time is done.

I look around the room at my handy work and I can’t help but smile a sick smile. It wasn’t the real deal, but it was enough. Fuck, was it ever enough. The door opens a few seconds later and the kid from the front desk appears in the doorway, staring at me with an amused smile on his face. I’m covered in the fake blood.

“I told you you should have used the poncho.” He laughs and looks around the room, nodding with an impressed grin. I hold up the ‘blood’ covered bat and stare at it, letting myself smile and before I know it, I’m laughing. Full on busting a fucking gut because I didn’t think this shit would even work.

“Fuck that stupid poncho. This was worth it!” I prop ‘Lucille’ over my shoulder and head out of the room with a spring in my step and feeling a bit of sick pride. I’m well aware that walking out in public like this will look really bad, but fuck if I care. This shit was all worth it, and I can’t wait to head to Into The Void to face those three assholes!

---

Damn! Talk about a fucking rush! I really didn’t think that The Anger Room would help me any, but holy shit, did it ever. They really need more of those around the states, because that shit does wonders, and let me tell you, I’m more focused than ever.

After I walked out of the room and Kittie saw me covered in that fake blood, she was lost for words. She knew it had helped calm me down and relaxed me because of the smile on my face, but I think the fake blood was a little off putting to her. As a way to thank her I tried to walk up to her and give her a big sloppy kiss, literally, but she threatened to use Lucille on me if I came anywhere near her.

I’m sure once people get wind of what I did, and the fact that the mannequins were made to look like Hardin, Drake and J2H, will cause a bit of concern in some people, and to be quite honest. I don’t give a shit. This was just a fantasy. None of it was real, so if people want to throw a fit and accuse me of something that isn’t the case, they can kiss my ass. I’m not gonna go postal and turn it into the real thing, because I know what I need to do.

I need to use what I did in The Anger Room as fuel during my match against those three idiots. I need to envision what I did to all of those mannequins and act as though I’m playing it all out for real, but in the ring. I need to do whatever the fuck I need to do to keep my World Heavyweight Championship in my possession, because I know that walking into this match not the favorite to win it. I know more people are putting their money on J2H to regain the title, and that’s fucking fine.

Because I’m going to prove them wrong.

The odds are stacked against me, I know. The odds are stacked higher against Jeremiah Hardin and Drake Green, but that’s beside the point. This match is going to be one hell of a fight. It’s a fight I’m ready for. It’s a fight I’m ready to win, because I have to win. Any other outcome just isn’t acceptable. This is a fight I don’t intend to lose.

New York...here I fucking come!

---

Saturday May 6th
New York City
Hilton New York- JFK Airport

We didn’t plan on coming to New York earlier than sometime tomorrow, but because I want to get a jump on training and my scheduled promotional shit for Into The Void VI, we decided to move our flight and hotel reservation up by a day. I figured it would be quieter that way as typically all the crazy fans start stalking the airport and hotels on Sunday as most of the others start making their way to New York then.

Boy was I wrong.

As soon as we arrive to the hotel just near the airport, there is a group of fans just outside the front entrance. They don’t even know for sure if any of us are going to show up, or who for that matter, but they don’t care. They’re die-hard fans and that’s a chance they take every fucking time there is a supercard.

As soon as our rental car pulls up into the parking lot, the group of fans turns all of their attention to us. They’re trying to get a view of who we are, if anyone, and I’m not looking forward to this. I grip the steering wheel, refusing to get out of the car right away and I see one of the girls in the group jump up and down excitedly as she points our way. She’s apparently figured it out, which is just fanfuckingtastic.

“You might as well get it over with now, Rage.” Kittie says, grabbing the handle to open her door. “This is shit you have to deal with anyway with being the top champion. Just pretend to enjoy it at least.”

I shake my head and grip the steering wheel tighter. “This shit is crazy!” I shout as all eyes in the group are now on me, waiting for me to get out of the car. “Don’t they have a fucking life?! Stalking wrestlers is fucking insane!”

“They’re loyal fans. You know that.” She replies.

“Loyal and fucking crazy! Can’t we just check into our damn hotel room without making a fucking scene?” I growl through gritted teeth. I’ll never understand it. “I get that I’m the top champion, but that’s what my scheduled appearances are for, Kittie. This shit is just over the top and pathetic.”

She laughs and finally opens her door before I can stop her. “The sooner you get it over with, the sooner we can just head to our room and relax for the night. Come on. There’s only a few of them anyway.”

Kittie steps out of the car, with her back to the group of fans at the front door. I hear some of them squeal and cheer as they realize it’s Kittie, and she looks down at me in the car, waiting for me. “Yeah and before you know it, there will be an entire crowd flocking up there if I just enlighten them and give them what they want. I don’t have the patience for this shit, Kittie!”

“Well you can either walk up there with me right now, or I’ll just give them all permission to flock over to the car.” She says with a grin.

“You wouldn’t dare.” I say slowly, glaring at her.

“Oh yes I would.” She replies with a smile.

I punch the steering wheel and let out a frustrated growl before I open the door and step out. The fans cheer and squeal more as they see me, and I prepare myself for the onslaught that is about to happen. I walk around to the trunk to get our luggage and once I slam the trunk shut, I take in a deep breath, ready to get this shit over with. The group of fans jump up and down as they see me approaching them. They have their cell phones and wrestling memorabilia out, ready for autographs. One of the girls in particular catches my eye, but not because of her innocent excited wrestling fan demeanor. Oh no. She’s definitely what we would refer to as a ring rat, because she’s dressed the part, ready to throw herself at me.

Short black skirt that leaves nothing to the imagination. Mid drift top that shows off plenty of cleavage, complete with the hooker heels. Fucking desperate as all hell. Kittie is the first to approach the group and she signs a few autographs, but the ‘ring rat’ keeps her eyes all on me. Once Kittie is done signing autographs and taking pictures she turns to me and smiles.

“All yours big guy. I’ll go check us in.” I can’t even get a word out in protest before she heads inside to go check us into our room and I’m quietly cursing her under my breath.

As soon as she is out of sight, and ear shot, the ‘ring rat’ shoves her way to the front of the group and right to me. She’s holding an SCW magazine in her hand, with a picture of me holding the World Heavyweight Championship after I cashed in on Drake Green at Blaze of Glory just on the cover. I grin just a bit, thinking this girl is not in this for the love of wrestling. If I had to guess, she’s probably a notch on Drake Green’s belt, but I’m sure he’d deny that.

“Oh em gee, you’re so much bigger in person!” She exclaims and grabs my bicep without even asking. I glare down at her hand, which she quickly snatches away. “Oops. I’m so sorry. I should have asked. My name is Delani. Your biceps are so huge!”

This chick really knows how to spout off the sexual innuendos doesn’t she? I’m secretly laughing on the inside, because as tempting as she may be, I ain’t that desperate to get involved with that shit, because I ain’t ready to be exposed to the long list of diseases she might have.

“Yeah, that kinda comes with the territory of working out ya know.” I say, trying to be as nice as possible. I take the magazine and the sharpie from her. I quickly sign my name on the cover and hand it back to her, ready to move on to the next eager fan, but she shoves her way into the picture again.

“Do you think I can get a picture of you with the World title?!” She asks as a seductive smile starts to grow on her face. “I’ve never had my picture taken with a champion before and this would just be the coolest!”

I run my hand over my head, shaking it. “The title is in one of my bags right now, sorry. Look, can I just--”

“Oh, that’s ok.” She says, faking disappointment. “Can I just say that you’re so much more attractive in person? I mean, I know people like to make fun of you because you’re bald and because of the goatee and all, but I think it’s really sexy.”

Some of her friends start to giggle, while others just shove things for me to sign towards me. I take the sharpies and quickly sign each of their items as they snap pictures with their cell phones. I want nothing more than to ignore this ring rat, but she’s relentless.

“Uh...thanks.” I honestly have no clue what else to say. I’m hoping Kittie hurries up and can save me from this chick, because I’m fairly sure if she doesn’t, she’s going to just throw herself at me, right in front of her friends.

“I’m totally going to be rooting for you next week.” She says, slyly running her hand up my arm. Again with the God damn touching! “There’s nothing I like root for more than the well built clearly superior wrestler. And you look to be far superior. In every way.”

I look down at her and she winks at me. Alright, seriously?! This chick needs to back the fuck off, because I may be a male in every way that matters, but I don’t go for this desperate fuck me bullshit she’s got going on.

I don’t even know what to say to her at this point so she keeps on talking. “Say, are you going to be training anywhere near her? I’d love to come watch. It would give me such a thrill. You don’t even have to tell Kittie.”

“Alright, look.” I finally say, having had enough. “Enough with this shit, ok? I’m not going for this shit, alright? I’m engaged to Kittie, and I’m not going to be a notch on your ring rat belt so just give it up. Jesus Christ!”

She pouts her bottom lip out but takes a step closer to me. The rest of her friends have backed off at this point, clearly letting her try to work her way into my pants, even though it’s never going to happen. “Oh come on,” she says, running her hand up my arm again. “It’s really not a big deal. All the wrestlers do it. Kittie never has to find out. I promise you it’ll all be worth it.”

I laugh and shake my head. “Trust me when I say, no it won’t. I guarantee Kittie is a better lay than you are, but hey, if it helps you sleep at night, go ahead and think otherwise. Now, get out of my way slut.” To my surprise, she steps in front of me as I go to walk inside. I glare down at her, but I’m left dumbfounded at her sheer bravery at taking such a move.

“There’s only one way to find out. Don’t try to deny it, sexy. I know you haven’t been able to take your eyes off of me.” She then reaches into her cleavage, pulling out a small piece of paper and she slides it into my pocket. “For when you change your mind.”

I shake my head. “Your pathetic.” I say. “And if there is a reason I couldn’t take my eyes off of you it’s because of how ridiculously desperate you’re coming across as. Once a slut, always a slut I suppose. I’m not into that shit, so I won’t be changing my mind.”

She chuckles and shrugs her shoulders and before I know it, she reaches her hand around and grabs my ass, giving it a squeeze! The fuck?! I swat her hand away, but Kittie clears her throat behind her and the girl jumps back, caught red-handed.

“Thanks again for the autograph and picture, Rage. You’ve made this fangirl extremely happy!” She squeals and then skips off to join her friends back in the parking lot.

Kittie watches her walk away, unimpressed and once the girl is out of earshot, Kittie snarls at me and punches my arm. Is she seriously blaming me for what just happened?! “Ow!” I shout, looking down at my arm. “The fuck, Kittie?!”

“What the fuck was that?!” She shouts, pointing towards the ring rat with an angry scowl. “I leave you alone with them for like five damn minutes and you’re flirting with some whore?!”

“I wasn’t flirting with her!” I shout back, adamantly defending myself because it was the truth. “That fucking ring rat was clearly out for one thing, and if you had been here, you would have seen that I wasn’t having any of it! You’re the one who left me out here to deal with that shit!”

She reaches into my pocket and pulls out the little piece of paper the girl had left me. She looks at it and rolls her eyes before shoving it in my face. The girl’s phone number was written on it, as I had suspected.

“Her fucking phone number?! Let me guess, you were going to sneak out of the room in the middle of the night and make yourself a notch on her slutty belt.” She shoves the piece of paper back in my pocket and everyone in the general vicinity turns and stares at us. Again with making a scene and airing our shit in public…

“I didn’t ask for that shit, Kittie.” I say calmly, and as quietly as possible. “You know how ring rats are. All they care about is which wrestler they’re going to fuck next, but I’m telling you, THAT is definitely not happening. She’s probably got herpes or some shit. Not to mention, I don’t really feel like fucking someone that Drake Green probably has.”

Kittie can’t help but let out a laugh, but I can tell she’s still agitated. She looks past me at the ring rat, who is watching us argue with a proud smile. Kittie flips her off, causing me to smile, and the girl just rolls her eyes and looks away. “Fucking nasty bitch.” She says under her breath.

“I told you I didn’t want to deal with that shit. I signed autographs and I let them take their pictures, but dealing with that broad? That’s what I fucking hate.” I glance back at her. She winks and waves towards me but I roll my eyes and turn my attention away from her again.

Kittie lets out a growl of her own before she turns around and storms off back into the hotel. I follow behind her, following her as we head up to our room to get settled in for the night.

 Sunday April 16th
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
After Climax Control Went Off Air


I’m gonna kill him! Straight up gonna wrap my hands around his throat and choke the fucking life out of him! I don’t give a shit if it’ll break Melody’s heart or make me look like a big pile of shit, but that sonofabitch is going to pay for what he just did. I just have to fucking find him!

He hightailed it backstage pretty damn quick. I’ll give him that much. He ran like the coward that he is, because he knew I’d be more than pissed off at him getting involved where he shouldn’t have, and because of it, Jeremiah Hardin stole my damn title from me! I should be pissed off at myself, but fuck that shit. I’m directing my anger at the appropriate pieces of shit and once I’m dealing with J, I’ll handle Jeremiah Hardin and get my damn title back.

I didn’t even pay a single second of attention to Jeremiah Hardin celebrating in the ring after Jasmine handed him my title. I couldn’t focus on that shit, so I chased after J. I’ll admit, that’s where my damn size put me at a disadvantage because J is a quick little fucker so once I burst through the curtain and to the backstage area, he was nowhere in site. Everyone is staring at me. I’m sure half are still shocked at what just happened and me losing the title to Jeremiah Hardin, and the rest are probably wondering what the hell I’m doing.

“J!!!! YOU LOUSY SONOFABITCH! WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!?!” I clench my fists and shout at the top of my lungs. I feel my face going beat red as I look around, trying to see where J could be hiding. “James...Huntington...Hawkes...the third!!!! COME OUT AND FACE ME ASSHOLE!”

Figures he would be hiding like the damn coward that he is. People are still staring at me as I storm around the backstage area, tossing shit as I go. I don’t give a shit what I break in the process. I don’t give a fuck who I hurt in the process. It’s all collateral damage, because once I get my hands on J, it’ll all be worth it. FUCK why didn’t I see that shit coming?! J has been an even bigger pain in my ass the last few weeks than he was last year before I made the mistake of joining up with that bullshit J2Hism.

“Where the fuck is J2H?! Where did he go?!” I shout to anyone and everyone directly around me. Some shake their heads while others scurry off and run away like the pussies they are. “I know someone saw where he went! Answer me God damn it!”

But no one answers me. Seriously, it’ll be easier for everyone else if they just tell me where the fuck he is, because them protecting that piece of shit just makes them just as guilty in my eyes. They just refuse to tell me, and it pisses me off even more as I kick a large equipment box and it flies back into the wall.

I let out another roar. I really can’t fucking help it. I can’t remember a time where I’ve been this damn pissed off, and I take a steel chair, whipping it across the hall. It crashes against the wall, breaks into pieces and to my sheer fucking delight, takes a chunk out of the brick wall. I let myself grin for just a second and let out a quick chuckle but I have to get back to looking for J. I feel my knuckles go white as I’m beyond frustrated. As I stand where I’m at for a moment, it suddenly hits me.

“Fuck. I know where the little shit is!” I shout out loud as I look at my surroundings.

I storm off down the hall, searching for the right locker room, passing the Men’s and Bombshell’s locker rooms. Sharing a locker room with the other guys on the roster is beneath him and he doesn’t have his own locker room anymore since he’s not the World Champ anymore, so I know exactly where to find him. I finally stop just outside the door labeled “Melody Grace”, close my eyes and take in a deep breath. My eyes shoot open a few seconds later and I kick in the door.

When I burst into the locker room, expecting to find an unsuspecting J2H and Melody Grace, I instead find an empty locker room. Melody and J apparently got out of there pretty damn fast as their shit is already gone. Fucking figures. I let out a frustrated roar as I bend down, grab the bench just in front of me and toss it across the room. It crashes against a TV monitor, breaking it, but I don’t give a shit.

“AHHHHHH! SONOFABITCH! MOTHER FUCKER!!!” I can’t hold anything in. I start tossing shit around the locker room, demolishing every fucking thing in my way. “Fucking piece of shit coward!!!!”

I’m aware that people are passing by the locker room, some shrieking and in shock of what I’m doing, but let them. At this point if anyone tries to stop me from unleashing all this anger and rage I’ve got going on, they’re bound to get hurt. I continue kicking and throwing shit across the room and the sweat starts to pour down my head. I’m running out of breath, but I fight through it because I literally can’t stop myself. I can’t hold it all in. I bring my hands up to my head, wiping all the sweat from off the top of my head and when I spin around, letting out another angry growl, my eyes stop on Kittie as she’s standing in the doorway.

“What the FUCK are you doing?!” She yells at me, her jaw dropped as she looks around at the mess I’ve caused. “Do you realize how much all this is going to cost you in damages?!”

“I don’t fucking care!!!” I roar back, fuming. “He fucking cost me the title, Kittie! He stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and Jeremiah Hardin beat me! FUCKING JEREMIAH HARDIN!” Another roar and I grab another chair, whipping it across the room. Kittie ducks as it comes close to hitting her and I collapse down to the floor, rocking back and forth.

“Yeah no shit. I was watching the entire thing!” She screams. She steps around the broken chair and into the locker room, stopping just a few feet in front of me. “You got distracted and it--”

“DON’T PUT THIS SHIT ON ME!” I snap my head up and glare at her. “Even if J hadn’t come out there, Jeremiah was clearly on some shit because he was a lot fucking stronger than he was the last two fucking times I faced him! Fucking bullshit!” I kick at the broken pieces of...something...in front of me and I start breathing heavier. My heart and head are both pounding and I soon feel Kittie’s hands on my shoulders.

“Calm the fuck down, alright?” She says as calmly as she can. She runs her hands up my neck and grabs my face, forcing me to look at her. “Shit happens, but destroying a whole god damn building isn’t going to make matters any better. Mark and Christian could suspend you for this shit!”

I shake my head and swat her hands away. “I don’t fucking care, Kittie! I’m...I’m...I’m fucking furious right now!” I start rocking back and forth again, shaking my head. I don’t think I’ve ever acted this way in one of my fits, but my blood is boiling right now. I can feel it.

“No shit, Sherlock.” She snaps back, sitting on the floor next to me. I wish she would keep distance between the two of us, because I really don’t want to hurt her, but Kittie is nothing short of persistent and aggravating at times. “Look, it’s just a damn title, Rage. You can get it back. Same shit happened when you had the Internet title and faced Dmitri. Just...calm down and focus.”

I shake my head. “I can’t, Kittie. It may be just a fucking title, but that loss...that was fucking embarrassing! It was my first god damned defense after the controversy of how I won the damn thing in the first place! I’ll never be able to recover from that shit.”

She shakes her head and nudges me. “Oh quit the fucking woe is me bullshit, Rage.” She tells me. I look up at her with a frown. “Everyone knows that wasn’t the normal Jeremiah out there tonight. Even if J2H hadn’t gotten involved, he probably would have found a way to beat you.”

I snarl and push myself away from her. Did she seriously just say that shit to me?! It doesn’t matter. I don’t care what the fuck she just said. I don’t give a shit if Jeremiah was on something or possessed by a fucking demon of some sort. I had him beat until J walked out when he shouldn’t have.

“Don’t get all mad and try to deny it, Rage.” She says, scooting back closer to me and closing the space between us. “Everyone saw it. Everyone has been talking backstage about that shit. They saw something was off, and honestly if I were you, I’d go to Mark and Christian and demand Jeremiah be drug tested or something. They could just make that victory null and void and the title will come right back to you.”

I laugh and shake my head. Yeah, like that shit would actually happen anyway. “Fuck that, Kittie.” I say, taking in a deep breath. “It’d be pointless because my suspicions or anyone else saying the same shit wouldn’t be proof enough to them. I’d be wasting my time.”

“So then demand your rematch for next week!” She raises her voice and I look at her. “Get your damn title back and quit being this way.”

I close my eyes, bring my hands up and gripping the top of my head. I let out a sigh and shake my head again, feeling completely lost, but my blood is still boiling and I feel like exploding again at any second. “Fuck Jeremiah Hardin.” I snarl at her. “He’ll get what’s coming to him soon enough. No, I need to focus on getting my hands on J and breaking every fucking bone in his God damned body! Little bastard is going to regret this!”

Kittie takes in a deep breath and lets out a sigh, shaking her head. I know she’s just trying to help, but with the current mood I’m in, even angry sex with her wouldn’t be able to help like it normally does. I just want her to leave me the fuck alone, but she won’t.

“Rage, listen to me.” She speaks calmly, placing her hand on my arm. She squeezes it gently, which is weird even for her, but I’m doing my best not to explode and hurt her in the process. “This shit with J isn’t over yet. Everyone knows it, so it’s best if you just not focus on that shit and worry about going after Jeremiah again and getting your title back. Besides, I’m pretty damn sure J is going to stay hidden for the next week. Melody was waiting for him and they hightailed it out of here as soon as the show ended.”

I turn my head slowly and look at her. My eyes are narrowed and my nostrils are flared out. I clench my fists again until my knuckles are white and I furiously kick at the broken shit in front of me again, screaming at the top of my lungs. Kittie pushes herself up to her knees and brings her hands up to my shoulders as she starts massaging them, trying to calm me down.

“Breathe, Rage.” She says calmly. “I know you’re pissed off and I don’t blame you, but just...breathe. Relax. Calm the hell down.”

She continues massaging my shoulders and I let myself close my eyes and do as she says. I take in several slow deep breathes, unclenching my fists and letting the blood flow through my knuckles again. A few minutes later, Kittie stands up back to her feet and stares down at me. “Get up.”

I look up at her, confused. “What? Why?”

“Because I said so.” She bites back. “Just get the fuck up.” I roll my eyes and shake my head. I take in a deep breath before I push myself back up to my feet, towering over her once again.

“Look, let’s just get out of here, okay?” She runs her hand down my arm, shaking the sweat off her hand with a slightly disgusted look on her face. “Let’s go back to the hotel. You can take a shower and just relax for the night. Or...we can find a better way for you to let off some steam.”

And there it is. Her ulterior motive. I look down at her and she winks at me and I take in another deep breath, looking around the room at the mess I created. I’m actually quite proud of myself for it, but I’m pretty sure I won’t be getting my next paycheck because of it. I shrug and look back to her.

“Alright, fine.” I lie. The truth is, I’m not fucking fine, and I won’t be fine. “Why don’t you head back to my locker room and start getting our shit together. I’ll be there in a second.”

She looks confused as she folds her arms. “Why don’t you just come with me?”

“Just go to the locker room, Kittie.” I order her. “I’ll be right there. I just need a minute or two to myself to gather my thoughts, okay?!”

She stares at me for a moment, reluctant to do as I ask, but she shakes her head and shrugs, throwing her arms up in the air, defeated. “Fine.” She gives in. “But don’t go destroying anything else. Otherwise you’ll be without a paycheck for months.”

I can’t help but grin as she turns around and heads out of the locker room. Once she’s out of view and the coast is clear, I give in to the rage again. I crack my neck and feel my fists clenching again as I head over to the door. I look out, making sure she’s nowhere in sight, and snarl at a few people staring at me and the damage I caused. But I can’t take it anymore. I can’t take being in this building anymore so I turn to the left and storm off towards the exit. I don’t even bother taking any of my shit. I just want to get the hell out of here and out of Philadelphia.

---

I won’t lie. That loss hit me a lot fucking harder than any loss I’ve ever suffered so far in my career. It was embarrassing. It was maddening. It never should have fucking happened, and I’m not going to sit here and blame myself for shit that wasn’t my fault to begin with.

The first defense is always the most important. It was even more important for me because nobody was happy with me cashing in the King Of the Hill briefcase on Drake Green after he beat J2H at Blaze of Glory. I got a lot of flack for that shit, and I’ll probably get a lot of flack for the rest of my life, but as I’ve said in the past, I don’t give a shit. But...this match was my first chance at proving I deserve to be the damn champion. Sure it was just against Jeremiah Hardin, but unlike some people, I treat every opponent the same. I don’t slack off. I don’t hold back just because I’m facing a midcarder or rookie.

But from the start, I knew...I fucking knew something wasn’t right. I could feel that things weren’t going to go my way. I could feel that, even though I was giving it one hundred percent that night, that I would have to give just a little bit more if I wanted to keep my title. Even then it wouldn’t have been good enough, would it? Even then, like Kittie said, chances are Jeremiah still would have walked out as champ because the bitch had the strength of two or three guys.

It was one of those moments I just knew I couldn’t win. I didn’t want to accept it. Didn’t want to admit it, but it sure as shit was. I can normally deal with a loss no fucking problem. It’s not about wins or losses to me. It never has been. It’s about beating the shit out of my opponent and making a statement. And I was trying to do just that against Jeremiah Hardin.

And then J got involved.

I was on my way to trying to finish off Jeremiah...maybe prove myself wrong that he could be beaten that night...and then J’s music hit. I knew that Ward warned him not to lay a finger on me or Hardin in this match, because he knew J was up to something and that he would try something. But, FUCK, Ward should have just warned him not to get involved at all! Leave it to that spoiled little piece of shit to find a way around anything and do something to piss me off even more.

But that didn’t just piss me off. That didn’t just make me fuming angry.

It fucking HUMILIATED me. And that set off a side of me that I’m just not even used to. It set off a fury of emotions that right now...I just can’t fucking control no matter how hard I try. And believe me, I’ve fucking tried.

Every time I think I’ve finally calmed down and that my head is clear, a thought creeps into my head and sets it off all over again. I yell. I scream. I roar louder than a fucking bear for Christ’s sake. And I break shit. A lot of shit. Nothing seems to be helping me keep this rage under control, and honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get it under control again.

And that’s not a good thing. Not for me. Not for Kittie. Not for J2H, Drake Green or even Jeremiah Hardin. I’ve never experience this anger before so when I’m this uncontrollable to the point I’ll flat out admit it...well, anything can happen.

Shit can and will get broken. People can and will get hurt. Careers can and WILL be ended. And you know what? I...don’t...fucking...care!

But I guess I have to deal with all of that next week in DC, won’t I? I’ll get my chance to confront J at Climax Control. Maybe even Drake Green and probably even Jeremiah Hardin. As for right now...there’s a few other people that I need to confront because all of this shit just set off a completely different set of emotions. Emotions that I need to confront. And there is only one place that I can confront those emotions...those feelings…

Back in Las Vegas…

---

Monday April 17th
Las Vegas
**OFF CAMERA**

It’s been weeks since I’ve been back to my house. When SCW is touring, I really don’t find much of a damn reason to travel back and forth like most people do. The travelling gets to be too much and it makes no sense to go to one place, stay for a day or two and then have to head to the next city. I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t do well on living on little to no sleep. It makes me that much harder to deal with. As if it matters right now considering how fucking unstable I’ve been the last twenty-four hours.

The flight back home I was stuck being seated in front of some annoying little kid, constantly kicking the back of my seat. I tried to ignore it. I really fucking did, but that little shithead just wouldn’t stop! So I turned around, glared at the little bastard without saying a single word. I think I scared the little shit pretty good, because he went stark rigid in his seat, gripped the armrests and stared at me with a panicked look in his eyes. His skanky mother was seated next to him, staring out the window not paying attention, so I didn’t have to deal with her bitching to me, thankfully.

After leaving the airport I hailed a cab to take my back to my place. Traffic took a little longer than I expected, or wanted it to and once the driver pulled into my driveway, I tossed a few bills at him and quickly went up to my front door. I unlocked the door and stepped inside as the cab disappeared back down my driveway and away from my house.

Normally I’m used to walking into a quiet empty house, but I really could have used Aggie to greet me at the door right about now. I don’t even know how she’s doing, considering Phil took her out of here and to Synn’s when she got sick. I could have fucking took care of her, but whatever. She clearly preferred him over me anyway.

I’m only here for one reason. I’m not here to sulk. I’m not here to wallow in self pity or some shit like other people do. No. There’s a room downstairs I need to spend a little time in right now and that’s exactly where I’m headed.

I storm my way downstairs, flipping the switch at the bottom of the stairs so there is light. I’m half tempted to just bypass my whole original plan and go to the workout room, but I quickly shrug off that thought saying fuck it and walking to the room just next to it.

My “trophy” room.

All athletes have one, right? I personally didn’t want one, but not only did Kittie bug me into getting one, Despayre thought I should have one, too. I don’t know how the fuck I always let them talk me into doing shit I didn’t want to do, but I guess it doesn’t matter now, does it? The only one who will be bugging me from now on is Kittie anyway, and in the end, I rarely listen to her so whatever.

I turn the knob and push the door open, standing in the doorway. I close my eyes, preparing myself because I know as soon as I turn on the light, I’m going to lose it. I’m going to lose my shit and go apeshit, without anyone here to stop me.

“Don’t fucking do it, Rage.” I say out loud, surprising myself. I rarely try to talk myself out of doing something, but destroying more shit in my house might not be the best idea. “Turn the fuck around and just..leave.”

I reach inside the room and to the right, putting my hand on the lightswitch. I don’t turn it on right away as I keep my eyes closed and keep my hand on the lightswitch. I stand there for a long while, almost unable to move, but then that dark voice deep inside me whispers to me. My eyes shoot open as I flip the switch and turn the light on, gazing around the room.

“Fuck it.” I step inside, my eyes darting around the room at all the reminders of my accomplishments in my career from GXW and now SCW. It might not be as many accomplishments as others, but it’s enough to at least be slightly proud anyway.

I feel myself start to shake as I stand in the center of the room, turning around and just looking at everything. My blood starts boiling almost immediately and I shake my head, quickly losing my grip on reality. When I lift my head again, I can’t keep it in any longer and I let out a loud growl before I rush over to one of the trophy cases containing my very first SCW Tag Team championship belt...the one I won and held with that dipshit Jamie Staggs.

I swing my leg forward with one forceful kick, breaking the glass, but I don’t stop there. I keep kicking at it until it’s completely shattered, then reach down, picking up a piece of the metal edge, spin around and whip it across the room. It shatters against another another trophy case, this one holding the very first SCW Heavyweight Championship I held. The one that I defeated Nick Jones for. I don’t give a shit.

I move to the last case holding the second tag team championship that I held with Despayre and repeat the process, destroying that one as well, but I keep going. Pictures, awards...anything and everything that reminds me of my entire wrestling career I pull down off the walls and slam then down on to the floor, demolishing them. This whole room can piss right off. But as I stand over the mess I’ve created, and my ruined reminders of my achievements, I feel a burning desire to just set everything on fire.

It’s the only way…

“No...No!” I shout, shaking my head and trying to hold myself back.

“Do it, Rage. You know you want to.” The dangerous voice says inside of me. “Better yet. Call Electra. She’ll have no problem doing it for you.” And the damn voice then laughs! It fucking LAUGHS at me!

“NO! I WON’T DO IT!” I shout back, even though I’m clearly having a psychotic break and just shouting to myself. I grip my head, nearly convulsing from the anger. “I...I can’t do it!”

I storm out of the room. I can’t be here anymore. The longer I stay in this mess, the more likely I am to just set my entire house on fire and then I’ll really be screwed. And not only that, but Kittie will be screwed as well, but at least in her case, she’d be allowed to crash at Synn’s for a while.

Synn’s…

Shit...I really need to try and sort shit out with Synn and the other’s. But I’ll need a little liquid courage before I deal with that shit storm.

---

I don’t know how I did it. I don’t know how I managed to stop myself before I walked out of the room, went and got some lighter fluid and a lighter and just set that bitch on fire. I wanted to do it. Hell, a part of me still does. I never wanted that house. I never needed a house that big, but Despayre thought it was my style when he was helping me pick out houses and he got me a good deal so…

DAMN IT! Everything leads back to that shit, doesn’t it?! Every fucking thing reminds me of what a big fuck up I am. Everything! I should have just set the damn thing on fire and burned the bitch to the ground and disappeared, because it would have made some people’s lives a hell of a lot easier.

But, that didn’t happen, did it? No, I was able to fight through the urges and leave before I made yet another huge mistake. I don’t know how, but I’m not ready to find out, because chances are if I go back to the house right now, I’ll be tempted all over again. But, I went from almost making a huge fucking mistake, to making a stupid fucking mistake.

Before I get into the details, let me just point out that I don’t usually drink hard liquor. I’m more of a beer kinda guy. It’s simple and it’s what I know. Anything else and shit gets fucked up. I get fucked up. So of course knowing that shit, my first thought was to go to the nearest liquor store, buy the biggest bottle of whiskey I could find and start downing the entire bottle. Well…almost the entire bottle.

It probably wasn’t the wisest decision I could make. But it was a decision I made anyway. I needed to talk to Phil. I need to talk to Despayre...to Synn...to everyone. If they were even there. I need to see them and speak to them face to face.

Turning up shitfaced drunk probably wasn’t the best way to do that, though…

---

Later that day…
Synn’s Home
Las Vegas, Nevada
**OFF CAMERA**

Damn. I really need to drink this whiskey shit more often. It’s pretty damn good. Goes down smooth. Not exactly doing the best job at masking my problems, but fuck it. I’ll still drink it.

I called a cab for the second time today. I don’t know why, because I fucking hate paying the cab drivers their ridiculous fare to drive me around Vegas, and I have a perfectly good car, but it was probably a smart decision considering I just got my license back not the long ago and I don’t need to go wrecking another car and getting in even deeper shit for driving drunk.

“You can’t drink that shit in here.” The cab driver had warned me once I opened the bottle and started downing the contents.

I took a few giant gulps and then glared at him from the backseat. “Just shut the fuck up and drive.” I say, taking out more cash from my pocket. “Extra trip for ya if ya keep your mouth shut and just drive.” He was reluctant to listen to me, but the big wad of cash in my hand was too tempting to pass up so he put the car in drive and started heading the distance to Synn’s place.

Once he made it to Synn’s neighborhood, I had him stop at the end of the driveway and just drop me off there, as I didn’t want anyone to see the cab pull up closer to the front of the large mansion. I paid him his money, plus the large tip, exited the car with my booze in hand and he drove off. I stood at the edge of the driveway for a long while, drinking the whiskey while I thought about what I was doing. Phil’s car isn’t in the driveway, so either he doesn’t live here anymore or he’s just not home.

“Fantastic.” I think, taking another big swig of the whiskey. The whole bottle is nearly gone by this time, and I’m trying to build the courage to just walk up to the door and get this shit over with.

It takes me awhile to do that, though. Longer than I thought it would. I don’t even know how long either, as after about half an hour, I think, the whiskey started to kick in and the earth started spinning. I closed my eyes and shook my head, trying to fight through it but as soon as I open my eyes again, everything is spinning again. More than before, actually.

“Nooope. Didn’t work.” I say outloud, surprising myself. I take in a deep breath and start walking the steps up to Synn’s front door, nearly losing my footing a couple times. “Fuuuck. I forgot how to...walk.” A giant unexpected hiccup escapes from my lungs and I can’t help but chuckle as I continue stumbling up to the door.

As I get closer to the door, I see the curtain to one of the windows move, so I know someone is home. It was probably Despy looking out to see who was here, and I’m not paying attention to where I am walking. My foot hits the bottom step and I trip forward towards the door but I catch myself and walk up the few steps and stop right in front of the door. Do I knock? Do I ring the doorbell?

“Doorbell!” I say outloud, feeling a grin appear on my face.

I put my finger on the doorbell and push it, hearing the sound on the inside of the house. I chuckle as I ring the doorbell again and again and again, finding it amusing, but I don’t even know why. Fucking doorbells. I hate them. But...this ain’t my house, so I’ll just…

“Despy!” I actually feel myself smiling but that fades pretty damn quick because as soon as Despy sees me, he starts to close the door.

“Oh come on Despy,” I think I say as I place my hand inside the door, but I could be slurring my words because I’m fucking trashed. “You and I both know you won’t--”

*SLAM*

“SONOFA!!!” He did it. Little bugger ACTUALLY slammed the door ON my fucking hand! I hear him yell “Rage is here!” to Synn from inside the house as I stumble around and then collapse down to my ass, holding my hand in pain.

“Fucking hell I think he broke my hand!” I let out another growl as I stay seated where I fell and shake my hand, trying to get feeling back into it. It only causes another jolt of throbbing pain to shoot right through it, but I fight through it. I’m not some pussy bitch that whines about something as little as a paper cut. But...I’m also drunk so that adds to it too.

I wait for Synn to open the door and step out and approach me, but he doesn’t. He obviously wants nothing to do with me, but that’s not gonna stop me from waiting. I sit and wait for what seems like hours and just when I’m about to stand up and pound on the door again, a car pulls into the driveway.

“Oh fuck,” I say, shaking my head. “He called the--” I squint my eyes to get a closer look at the car and finally realize once the driver gets out that it’s Phil. My younger, and much more good looking than I am, brother.

“Phil! Heyyyy brosef!” The fuck did I just say? I laugh as I can’t even comprehend my words any longer and I struggle to get back to my feet.

Phil shakes his head as he walks up to me, stopping just a few feet away. “Jake, what the hell are you doing here?” He folds his arms and asks me. I stand up and stare at him, confused.

“Jake? Who the fuck is Jake?” I ask, scratching my head. A moment later I remember and I snap my fingers. “Ooooh, right. I’m Jake. Or I was. I don’t know!” I stumble back down the steps, nearly falling forward but Phil is able to somehow catch me.

“You’re fucking plastered right now!” He growls as I stand up straight, but wobbly as shit.

I smile and nod proudly. “You fucking bet I am!” I chuckle. “Ya know I don’t even know why I hadn’t drank whiskey more often before today. I’m feeling pretty damn good right about now.”

He shakes his head as he stares at me with an annoyed expression on his face. “Except for your hand.” He says and I’m reminded of the throbbing pain in my hand again.

“Fuck!” I shout, bringing my hand up to stare at it. “He slammed the door on my hand, Phil! Despy! Despy did it!”

Phil laughs and nods. “Yeah I know.  Synn called me. He was tempted to call the police but I told him I would handle it.”

I snarl and turn around, looking to one of the front windows. I spot Despy for a quick second just before the curtain moves and he disappears. I wave my hand and turn back around to face Phil.

“I ain’t doin’ nothin’ Phil! I just wanna talk to the guy!” I shout, not even realizing just how loud until he sighs and shakes his head.

“And he doesn’t want to talk to you, Jake.” He replies. “Just...give up, alright? He’s not going to forgive you. You’re not going to be welcome back here. Leave them be for Christ’s sake!”

I roll my eyes, unable to control my actions thanks to the large amount of alcohol in my system turning my the filter in my brain off. Any thoughts that run through my head, I immediately put to action and this includes dropping down to the ground right there and sitting down, burying my head in my hands.

“Fuck! I went and fucked up my life big time, Phil.” I say out loud, vaguely aware of my eyes starting to water. The fuck is that shit?! “I went and joined up with that little piss...piss...MOTHER FUCKER...and look where it got me? And now I lost my damn title to Jeremy Hard-On!”

Phil raises his eyebrow and lets out a laugh. “You mean Jeremiah Hardin?” He asks.

“Whatever! I was close enough!” I shout at him. “Fucking worthless cocksucking fool has my title!”

Phil laughs at me again. “Karma is a bitch, isn’t it bro?”

I snarl at him. “Hey fuck you, bro! I don’t give a rat’s dick what I did, I didn’t deserve to lose to that asshole! You can hate me all ya want, but I’m fucking humiliated, Phil! And the people who were supposed to be my family don’t give a shit!”

“I don’t hate you, bro.” He replies and to my surprise he sits down on the ground right next to me. “But I think you need to open your eyes a bit and see just why all of this shit is happening.”

“Because I was a dumbass and betrayed the only family I’ve ever known?” I respond quickly as I turn and look at him. Fuck, all this emotional feelings bullshit is not something I’m familiar with. I don’t like it.

He shakes his head and says, “Well, that’s part of it, but look at the bigger picture. When’s the last time you really did anything independently? For or by yourself?”

I scratch my head and lead out a snort. “Fuck if I know. Synn always handled shit. Or Kittie. Shit. If I didn’t have Kittie right now I’d really be fucked. And not in the good and pleasurable way, obviously.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “So maybe all of this happened for that reason. Think of it as a wake up call like I got two years ago when you and Synn helped me get out of Boston. Just..less suicidal.” He manages to crack a smile and laugh at that last but I don’t.

“That shit ain’t funny, Phil.” I snap at him. “Don’t be joking about you trying to fucking kill yourself.”

“Why not? I’ve moved on and healed from it. I’ve got Maddie now and I’m in a much better place.” He says. “And I’ve got you and Synn to thank for that, too.”

“You still living here?” I quickly ask, wiping that wet shit coming from my eyes.

He shakes his head and says, “No. Maddie and I finally got our own place. But this isn’t about me or Maddie. This is about you.”

I take in a deep breath, lift my head and look towards his car. I can’t even sort out all the shit running through my head. “I don’t know, Phil.” I say, shaking my head and letting out a sigh. “Shit just got way too complicated too fucking quick. I can’t control anything right now. You could just breathe wrong and I’ll fucking snap.”

“You don’t like change. That’s your problem.” He replies and elbows me lightly on my arm. “You just need to be open to change for damn once.” He then pushes himself back to his feet and looks down at me.

“Fuck change.” I growl. And I meant it.

“Look I can’t figure things out for you, bro.” He says, throwing his hands in the air. “You gotta do that for yourself. But what I do need to do is get you the hell off of Synn’s property before he does call the cops. Now stand up.”

“Let him call the fucking cops!” I shout, refusing to stand up but I’m not entirely sure why. “He’s being a stubborn pig-headed asshole, and all I want to do is talk!” Not really, I don’t. Not anymore. So why the fuck did I just say that? Stupid whiskey talking!

Phil lets out a frustrated sigh and with little warning, he smacks the back of my head. “Dude, get the fuck up. Quit acting like a five year old throwing a damn tantrum and get up so I can take you home.”

“Uh, OW!” I say, rubbing the back of my head. “Don’t boss me around, Phil! I’m bigger than you!”

He rolls his eyes. “Jesus Christ! How damn old are you?!”

“Almost thirty-eight..” I respond quickly. Fuck! I just admitted my age out loud!

He smacks me on the back of my head again. “Then start acting like it! Do you WANT Synn to call the cops and get your ass thrown in jail? Because I’m not bailing you out and I’m pretty sure Kittie will be pissed if--”

Before he can even finish that sentence I quickly push myself back to my feet, nearly falling back on my ass in the process but I manage to save myself. The earth starts spinning again and I almost feel like the whiskey is going to make its way back up from my stomach but I just let out a loud belch right in Phil’s face. He waves his hand in front of his face and I let out a laugh.

“Hahaha, sorry bro.” I say, looking around.

“Yeah, whatever.” He replies back. “I’ve never seen you move that fast. Kittie must scare the shit out of you.” He says with a laugh.

“You HAVE met Kittie, right?” I ask back.

He laughs and nods. “Yeah I have and you’re lucky as hell to have her. Don’t fuck it up because she does love you. You love her right?”

I nod quickly. “Yeah I do! Would I have asked her to marry me if I didn’t?!” Damn I’m just spilling all sorts of touch feel bullshit. Now I know why I stay away from the hard liquor.

“I don’t know. I’ve never actually heard you say the words so..” He shrugs. “Look, it doesn’t matter right now, ok? Let’s just get you back home so you can sleep this shit off and get back to being the selfish angry asshole that you normally are.”

He pats me on the back and although it wasn’t that hard I nearly lose my footing. “Thanks, Phil. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry I’m such an asshole. I guess I’m more like our piece of shit father than I thought.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “You might think so, but you’re not. Just shut up and let’s get out of here. And no getting sick in my car either! I just had it detailed!”

“I know how to hold my liquor!” I say as another belch escapes from my gut. “I won’t ruin your precious car.”

“Good because if you do, you’re cleaning it up.” He responds as we start walking to his car, slowly.

The earth is spinning too much for my liking but he lets me take my time as I take the several steps towards his car. I’m pretty sure I’ll end up passing out in a few minutes, but maybe not. I’m too intoxicated to give a shit and I let him lead the way the entire time. I just hope that Kittie doesn’t hear about this. Then again maybe she should hear about it because she’ll be pissed. And when she’s pissed that leads to one thing.

Some damn good angry sex!

---

 Confessions of A Rageaholic: Part 2

---

Monday March 13th
3 A.M
Hilton Stockton Hotel
**OFF CAMERA**

Rage has had a lot on his mind over the last week, ever since the less than successful interview with Pussy Willow. The sitdown interview was his idea to begin with as he had expected to give not only Pussy Willow, but the fans and viewers an insight into his mind once all was said and done. Sadly, that’s not how things went down. Pussy Willow had called the interview a complete waste of time and walked out before Rage even expected the interview to be over. It left Rage more angry and more than a little confused. And then just a couple of days following that interview, Kittie had showed up at his house...their house?...with a suitcase in tow stating she wanted to go to Stockton for Blaze of Glory with him. All in all, it was one of the more eventful weeks he’s had recently, and he’s had a lot to think about.

It’s the main reason why he’s wide awake at the moment, when he should be snoring quite loudly next to Kittie. He laid in bed for the past couple of hours trying to fall asleep, but he just couldn’t. And he was tired of staring at the ceiling while Kittie slept soundly next to him. So he quietly climbed out of bed and walked over to the door leading to the outside balcony, in nothing but his boxer briefs. Before he opened the door, he turned and looked back to Kittie, making sure she was still asleep. She remained comfortably where she was and Rage opened the door leading to the balcony and stepped outside.

The air was cool, but nothing he couldn’t handle. He walked over to the ledge, leaning against it as he looked at the courtyard surrounding the hotel, and the city just beyond. Staring at the sights was not something he was used to doing, even on nights like this when he couldn’t sleep, but the fresh air, in a way, did him some good. And he wasn’t worried about anyone of the other hotel guests seeing him in just his underwear, as all the lights were out and everyone was, as far as he could tell, asleep. He stands outside for a long while, trying to sort through the thoughts in his head that are continuing to keep him awake. After being outside for about thirty minutes, his attention is drawn behind him as Kittie slides open the door and joins him outside, though she’s covered in a robe.

Kittie: What the hell are you doing out here? Aren’t you cold?

Rage glances at her as she walks up next to him. He shrugs quickly before he looks straight ahead again and shakes his head.

Rage: It isn’t that cold. I couldn’t sleep so I came out here for some fresh air. Go back to bed.

Kittie scoffs and rolls her eyes. She shakes her head at him as she scoots in closer to him.

Kittie: Dude, your arm is freezing. Don’t try and give me that bullshit that it isn’t that cold. Just come back inside.

Rage: I said I’m fine, Kittie. Please don’t start fucking nagging me, alright?

Kittie glares turns slightly and glares at him, annoyed with his attitude. He pays her no attention as he stays right where he is, refusing to admit that he’s getting colder now. Kittie leans against the ledge on her right arm and stares at him.

Kittie: I’m not nagging you, I’m just pointing out the obvious. Are you going to tell me why you can’t sleep, or do I have to guess again?

Rage turns his head and looks down at Kittie. She gives him a pressing glare as she waits for him to open up to her, even though he clearly does not want to. In the end, he shakes his head and lets out a sigh as he looks away from her.

Rage: I just have a lot of shit on my mind, okay? That damn interview with Pussy Willow last week didn’t go the way I had planned it would. I wasn’t expecting you to show up at home and actually want to come to Stockton with me, and I’ve got this damn match against Jeremiah Hardin to focus on. My fucking brain just won’t shut off.

Kittie lets out a slight laugh and shakes her head. Rage is a little surprised that she actually laughed at him, but he doesn’t call her out on it.

Kittie: Dude, you just need to focus on one thing at a time. Forget about that interview with Pussy Willow because it’s done and over with. You can’t change how it all went down. As for me being here? Well, you obviously don’t have a problem with it, otherwise I wouldn’t be here and we definitely wouldn’t have that little make up session earlier.

Kittie grins, hoping to get the same reaction from Rage. For a moment it works as he glances at her and the corner of his mouth turns up, but only briefly before he turns his attention away from her again.

Kittie: And don’t be so damn worried about Hardin.

Rage’s head suddenly snaps in her direction and his jaw drops open as he looks at her.

Rage: You’re fucking kidding me, right? You were giving me just the other night telling me no to underestimate him. Now you’re telling me not to be so worried?

Kittie grins again as she shrugs.

Kittie: What can I say? I felt like pissing you off about something other than this bullshit with you and J2H and the golden briefcase. It got you focused on Hardin didn’t it? Maybe I was a little harsh the other night. I mean, Hardin has been pretty damn quiet this last week. He tends to be that way around the supercards, so I’m pretty sure he won’t be a problem. Does that mean you should underestimate him? No, but you shouldn’t overestimated him either. If that makes sense.

Rage lets out a bit of a laugh and sighs. He goes quiet for a long while, not quite sure how to respond anything Kittie has just said. The truth is, he’s not worried about Jeremiah Hardin. Not at the moment anyway. His mind is consumed with so many other thoughts and worries, he can’t even focus on Jeremiah Hardin at the moment. Kittie scoots in closer to Rage again, gently nudging him with her elbow.

Kittie: Seriously, dude, can you just tell me what else is bothering you? I know you’ve never been one to open up and pour your heart out, but I’m not asking you to do that. I’m asking you to pour your fucking brain out, because keeping shit bottled up won’t help you. It’s clearly not anything that you can use in the ring, because it’s not pissing you off.

Rage lets out another sigh and he turns his head to look at her again. She was right. He knew that much. If what he was focusing on pissed him off, he could at least use it as fuel in the ring. But, it didn’t piss him off. It just...bothered him. It bothered him in a way things normally didn’t bother him. He looks away again and tries to figure out a way to say what was on his mind, and Kittie just waits patiently.

Rage: They’re never going to forgive me for this shit, are they Kittie?

Kittie raises an eyebrow and cocks her head to the side.

Kittie: Huh? What are you talking about? Who isn’t going to forgive you?

Rage turns again and the look on his face is unfamiliar to Kittie. It was very serious. Almost sad and remorseful.

Rage: You know who. Synn. Gabriel. Everyone else. They really want nothing to do with me anymore because I sided with J.

Kittie takes in a deep breath and nods just once, getting the picture. She looks around the courtyard as Rage had done for so long before she had joined him out here and he is now the one staring at her waiting for a response.

Kittie: Honestly, Rage? I have no fucking idea. I know you say you had your reasons, but you completely blindsided all of us. Especially Synn. I’ve tried gently bringing it up to him, but he doesn’t seem interested in even speaking about it. As for everyone else? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

Rage: And what about you? They’re just as much family to you. Do you honestly think they’d accept you being with me after what I did? I’m not asking you to pick fucking sides in this shit either. It’s been almost six months and this shit still bothers me. Synn wouldn’t even let me explain.

Kittie: No, but I gave you plenty of opportunity to explain and you didn’t. If I had any understanding of the shit you did sooner I might have been able to--

Rage laughs and shakes his head.

Rage: It wouldn’t matter, Kittie. Synn needed his explanation from me, and he wouldn’t even hear it. We’ve been family for the better part of ten years, and he just refused to hear me out. It’s fucking bullshit. Not to mention Phil packing his bags and going to stay at Synn’s place and he’s my own flesh and blood. That alone should be enough to piss me off.

Kittie: Phil will come around. Trust me. You should know how sensitive he was considering what he went through in Boston. I can’t say I blame him for freaking out and getting upset. I’m still a little pissed that you went and sided with J2H after wanting nothing more than to choke the damn life out of him and take the title from him. Seriously, how the hell can you stand to be around him?

Rage lets out a laugh and shakes his head.

Rage: He’s really not as annoying as I once thought, Kittie. Call me crazy but he makes a lot of sense. He’s held the title for over a year now so why not take advice from him? I can’t be one of those dipshits that is so focused on winning one title after the other, getting so consumed by that shit and failing every time and then bitching and moaning when I fuck up my chance. You’d have to call me Travis Nathaniel Andrews and that is not someone I want to be lumped in the same category as. I’d rather just beat the shit out of people with nothing on the line and succeed that way. Be seen as a threat that way.

Kittie: You know what I think?

Rage stares at Kittie and shakes his head.

Kittie: You try way too damn hard sometimes. For as big an asshole as you can be most of the time, who says he doesn’t give a shit about anyone else’s opinion of him, you’re constantly doing or saying shit that proves otherwise. Even now you say you’re finally doing shit for yourself, but in the back of your mind, you know that’s bullshit. I know it’s bullshit. You can come across as selfish all you want any day of the week, but when it comes down to it, you usually do pretty unselfish things. You usually do everything else for other people and not yourself. Prime example, your match against Drake Green last week.

Rage raises his eyebrow and stops himself from snarling at her.

Rage: Don’t even try and say that I wrestled Drake for J, Kittie. That match against Drake was for me because I wanted nothing more than to bash his skull in myself. I wanted nothing more than to end Drake Green.

Kittie: And yet he walked out with another win over you. You held back on Drake because you wanted J2H to finish him off at Blaze of Glory. Look, I’m done trying to understand your friendship or whatever it is with that kid, because in the end, you can do whatever the hell you want. I don’t want to be standing here bickering with you about J2H at almost four o’clock in the morning. I’d actually like to get some sleep and you should, too, because whether or not either of us thinks Jeremiah Hardin is a threat, you need to get ready for this match on Sunday.

Kittie turns and starts to head back inside, but before she opens the door, Rage turns and stops her.

Rage: Hey Kittie...

Kittie turns her attention back to Rage.

Kittie: What?

He looks like he’s about to say something. Like he really wants to say something, but he can’t find the words. Kittie stands with her arms folded, waiting for him to say what it is he wants to say, but in the end he just shakes his head.

Rage: Nothing. Nevermind. Go on back to bed. I’ll be in there in a couple minutes.

Kittie shakes her head slowly and shrugs before she turns and opens the door and walks back into the hotel room. Rage lets out a sigh before he turns and looks out to the city surrounding the hotel for a few more moments. He doesn’t stay outside for long as he is forced to finally give in to the cold air and head back inside to warm up and then try and get at least a few hours sleep. Time for rest would be over soon, because starting later in the day, he needed to focus on preparing for his match against Jeremiah Hardin as well as his promotional appearances for Blaze of Glory. And after Blaze of Glory he could finally head back home to get some much needed R&R.

 OOC: Apologies for the crappy RP this week.  Major writer’s block as far as CD scenes goes, and also had very little motivation to get much written.  This doesn’t happen often, and I didn’t want to just no-show either.

---

No matter how hard some people try to paint themselves to be the good guys, or the man of the people bullshit, deep down, you just know who they really are. Drake Green is one of those people. Drake Green is like a fucking cancer to SCW. Just when we’re finally rid of that disease, it rears its ugly head again and we have to deal with it all over again. Yeah, I just likened Drake Green to cancer. Don’t like it? Fuck you, I don’t care.

Drake Green is hands down, the biggest attention seeking jackass I’ve ever come across. Maybe that’s why him and his whore wife make the perfect pair, because they both beg for attention any chance they can. He feeds off of the attention he gets from the fans and acts like he gives a shit, and the fans are blinded by the bullshit to see that he really doesn’t give a shit. He just likes being in the spotlight, yet how many times has he “retired”? How many times has he given up this career he claims he loves so much, only to come swooping back in eventually, attacking the current champ and trying to snake his way back into the title picture? Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It should because it’s exactly what he’s done right now.

Isn’t that right, Drakey boy? Just when the fans had forgotten you and stopped giving a shit about the name Drake Green, you came running back into the ring and attacked J2H from behind, and what was your reasoning for it? Oh, right, because he was supposedly running his mouth so you had to shut him up. You really think that anybody believes that shit? I sure as shit don’t, but if that is the excuse you want to go with, go right ahead. It doesn’t make you look any better.

I already know what you’re going to say about me, Drakey boy, if anything really. You’re probably going to run your mouth and say a few words, but saying you don’t want to waste words on someone as “boring” as me, because that’s the only shit you think you have against me. Face it, Drake, you’re “insults” are just as old and washed up as you, so maybe you shouldn’t try. Either way, it doesn’t change what I’m going to do to you in that ring come Sunday night.

We’ve faced off in the past, Drake. I know you remember, and I know you’re going to try and use that little ego boost of a victory you hold over me from before and try and hold it against me now. Go ahead and try, but you’re not going to get the same outcome as you did before, because I’m not the same Rage as I was back then, and even if you try to deny it, you know it’s true. I don’t have the Sins holding me back like I did back then, and I’ve got the ways of J2Hism in my corner. What do you have, Drake? I’ll give you some time to think about it, but we all know the answer.

Nothing, Drake. You don’t have a God damned thing anymore, except your boring marriage to that dumbass blonde wife of yours. Why don’t you just go knock her up already so you can be the family man that she wants you to be, because that’s all you’ll ever be good for anymore, Drake. You’re wrestling career is over, and you know it. As much as you THINK you’re going to take that title from J2H, there’s not a chance in hell that will happen, because he’s been defending that title for the past year while you’ve been off drinking away your boring life as you fade into obscurity. Funny how the tides have turned, eh Drake? You used to call me boring all the fucking time, but that’s what you’re life has turned into, hasn’t it.

If there’s one thing you should be thankful for, Drake, it’s that I’m not going to be able to do all the damage I really wish I could do to you on Sunday. I can’t, because if I were to do everything I wanted, there wouldn’t be anything left for J2H at Blaze of Glory. And he still has a lot more revenge to unleash on you, asshole. You’re gonna wish you hadn’t attacked J2H at Inception, because it’s going to come back at you a million times worse.

Two days, Drake.  You’ve got two days to shake off that ring rust before you step into the ring against me. You might think you’re going to pin my shoulders to the mat, or somehow make me tap out, but I guarantee you, that shit ain’t gonna happen. You’ve got a world of hurt coming for you, Drake. Once J2H and I are through with you, there will be nothing left of Drake Green.

The devil is out for your blood, Drake. And he won’t stop until he gets it…

 January twenty second.  Inception II.  Four men step into the ring in what will no fucking doubt be a battle of the ages.  Sure there’s no title on the line, but there may as well be.  It’s still a golden opportunity, because hanging high above the ring will be a golden briefcase with a guaranteed title shot at any time throughout the year.  Pretty big opportunity, huh?

You’re damn right it is.  But you see, not exactly all of the men that will be fighting tooth and nail in this ladder match exactly deserve to be in this match.  But regardless of that sad reality, one man will still walk away with the golden briefcase in hand, and their guaranteed shot at the title whenever they see fit.  

Will that man really be you, Jeremiah Hardin?  Do you really believe that, out of the four of us, YOU will be the one to climb to the top of that ladder, grab a hold of that briefcase and be declared the winner?  I really hope that you don’t, because when it comes to the four of us, I think the general consensus is that you are the underdog in this situation.  Yeah, I said it.  YOU are the underdog, Jeremiah.  How does that make you feel?

I get it, Jeremiah.  You’re not new to SCW.  You’ve been around a time or two and even held a couple of titles, but you know what else you’ve done?  You’ve disappointed everyone, Jeremiah.  Including yourself.  You’ve up and disappeared.  You’ve come back, and then disappeared again.  Not exactly deserving of a championship opportunity such as this, is it, Jeremiah?  

Don’t say it is, because it’s not.  And don’t you fucking dare come back and say that you’ve changed, because from where I’m standing, you damn well have not changed.  You had all week last week to run your mouth and share your thoughts on this match.  You had all week to grovel and thank the bosses for giving you an opportunity such as this when you failed to win that battle royal at Climax Control.  You had all week to PROVE that you deserve to be in this match, but did you?  No, you didn’t.  You were rather quiet the entire time and I find that rather...irritating.

You have your work cut out for you Jeremiah.  You’re going up against three other men, in just one week’s time and I don’t think even the stupidest people would put money on you walking out with the briefcase.  They would have to have an amazing amount of faith in you to pull it off, because going against the three opponents you will be?  Well, the odds are really stacked against you.  And that’s saying alot, considering two of your opponents are relative newcomers to SCW.  Newcomers who have apparently impressed a hell of alot more than you have if they are getting the same opportunity as you so early on in their time here in SCW.

And how does THAT make you feel, Jeremiah?  I know how it makes ME feel.  It pisses me off.  I can feel the rage building inside me just thinking about it, but you see I intend to do something about it.  I intend to be the one walking out of Inception with that briefcase, because I sure as shit refuse to let the likes of you three walk out with something that belongs to me.  But, you’re first on my list, Jermiah.  

You see, I’m done watching you play the same old song and dance routine that you do.  I’m going to make it so you can’t pull this shit again.  I’m going to DESTROY you in that ring, because I’ll be damned if I sit back and let you “impress” the bosses enough to get a title opportunity after losing not only the battle royal at Climax Control, but this match, too.  Now isn’t your time, Jeremiah, and after this match?  You won’t even have a future in this business.

You shouldn’t be afraid of Xander or Calvin.  Oh, no.  They’re NOTHING compared to what I’m going to do to you in that ring.  From the moment that bell rings, your time in that match is going to be over, because I’m going to take you out of the equation.  You’ll either be in a pool of your own blood on the outside of the ring, or they’ll be forced to wheel you out on a stretcher.  Either way...you won’t last very long in this match.

Say goodbye to your wife and kid...or girlfriend.  Whatever the fuck that freak is to you.  I don’t really care.  If she was smart she’d beg you not to go through with this, because you’re just setting yourself up for failure and you’re walking into your own demise.  

The devil is out for your blood, Jeremiah.  And he ain’t stopping until he gets it…

---

Scene 1
Time To Reflect..and Confront a Brother
**OFF CAMERA**

You’d think with perhaps the biggest match he’s faced in a long time that Rage would be using any and all time to prepare and get ready to face not one, not two but three opponents in the King Of the Hill ladder match.  Yeah, you would think, but that is not what the big man is doing.  Ever since making the decision to turn his back on the Sins and join J2H to follow J2Hism, Rage’s life has been much less...eventful.  And a large part of that has to do with the fact he is no longer around Despayre and the shenanigans he was used to being a part of.  It’s funny, because one could say that Rage’s life is now exactly how J2H had insulted him many times over the last year.  

Boring.  Yes, Rage’s life is, for the most part, boring.

The decision to follow J2Hism has cost Rage pretty much everything.  The only family he had really ever known.  His brother, and his cat.  And, of course, for all he knows, his relationship with Kittie.  Though that is still up in the air at the moment.  

So what is Rage doing to fill his time?  He can’t possibly just stay holed up in his house all the time.  Well, he could.  And, most of the time he has, but not tonight.  Tonight, he’s actually decided to get out of the house because the silence is becoming quite deafening to him.  And, whether he likes it or not, he needs a little bit of noise.  

He’s been walking around Las Vegas for a while now, trying to decide where he wants to go.  Because of his less than affinity for being around people, nothing really strikes his fancy so he ends up on settling on a place that Sin City Wrestling has performed at at least once before, and a place he had a feeling he shouldn’t be going to anyway.

Club Rain.

As he walked up to the door, he told himself he was only there to get a drink or two and then leave.  There would be no interactions with drunken women looking for a one night stand.  Due to his nature, that happened very rarely as it was, but he wasn’t out for that tonight.  The bouncer recognized him and immediately let him inside, much to the disappointment and annoyance of some standing outside waiting to be let in.  

But Rage didn’t care.  He headed straight for the bar to order his first drink.  The club was pretty busy tonight.  Most tourists no doubt, and due to the capacity, there were at least three bartenders on hand.  And the one on the farthest end of the bar was someone Rage knew quite well.

His brother, Phil.  Rage knew Phil worked as a bartender here, but he didn’t know for sure if he would be working tonight.  He hadn’t spoken to Phil in a few weeks now, ever since Phil had decided to crash at Synn’s until he and his girlfriend, Maddie, figured out a more permanent living arrangement.  It pissed Rage off knowing that his own flesh and blood could do something like that, but he wasn’t about to beg for Phil to come back.  

He hoped Phil didn’t see him there, and he was relieved when another bartender walked up to take his order.  He ordered from the beer on tap and the bartender quickly grabbed a glass, filling it up to the brim and sliding it to Rage.  Rage pulled some cash out of his pocket and handed it over to the bartender telling him to keep the change before he made his way through a crowd of people towards a secluded part of the club.  To his relief there was an empty table that was calling his name, as most of the other people in the club were out on the dance floor or at the bar.  

Once Rage sat down all he could do was just look around the club.  Watch people dance and make a fool of themselves.  Watch the bouncers have to get involved and toss a couple of drunken and unruly frat boys out.  And, every so often, turn and glance towards his brother working behind the bar.  Before he knew it, his first glass of beer was empty and just as he was going to go up to the bar and get another, a friendly face walked up to him.  A friendly and familiar face.

Maddie: Can I get you a...refill?

Maddie...as in Phil’s girlfriend Maddie...was one of the many servers walking around the club tonight.  Rage had no idea she worked here, and she was more than surprised to see him sitting there.

Maddie: Oh...Hi, Jake.

Rage: When did you start working here?

Maddie: Not that long ago.  I was looking to get out of my old club so Phil put in a good word for me here.  W-what are you doing here?  Does Phil--

Rage quickly shakes his head before Maddie can finish asking her question.

Rage: No.  And I’d like to keep it that way for as long as possible.  I’m not looking to cause any trouble at his job.

Maddie: Then why are you here?  I mean...you knew he worked here.  Besides, I’ve never known you to be the nightclub type.

Rage lets out a laugh and shakes his head.

Rage: You’re right, I’m not.  And to answer your question, the only reason I came out here tonight is because I need to be around some noise.  Anything.  It’s been too fucking quiet lately.

Maddie nods as she folds her arms across her chest.

Maddie: It might not be my place to say this, but you only have yourself to blame for that, Jake.  Phil didn’t want to leave when he did.  I was trying to get him to move in with me sooner, but he wasn’t really ready to move out of your place yet so he decided to stay there a little while longer.  You didn’t directly hurt him, but it had it’s effect on him, you know.  He still has his days where he’s not quite himself.

Rage leans back in his chair and just stares at her, raising an eyebrow.  She nods and he folds his arms across his chest.  He thinks for a few moments before he narrows his eyes and glares at her.

Rage: You’re right.  It’s not your fucking place to say anything.  You might be dating my brother, Maddie, but outside of that, you don’t know anything about the situation other than what they’re telling you.  Don’t believe everything you’re being told.

Maddie: This has nothing to do with what I’m being told, but it has everything to do with what I’m seeing from Phil.  He told me how you and Synn helped him when he was still back in Boston.  You and Synn.  And for you to do whatever it is you did to those people who have been your family for so long?  I don’t know the full story, nor do I particularly want to know it or you reasons.  But the fact is that you still did what you did, and it hurt Phil and I’ve had to be the one to help him through it.  I hope whatever it is was worth it, because he’s a pretty terrific guy.  But, I’m sure you already knew that.

After speaking her peace, Maddie turns on her heels and gets set to walk away.  Rage holds up his empty glass and clears his throat loudly.

Rage: Care to bring me another beer?

Maddie turns back around and with the most polite smile she can muster, she looks directly at him and responds.

Maddie: I’m sorry, sir, but I have the authority to cut you off when I think you’ve had enough.  And, I think you’ve had enough.  I suggest you leave willingly and without a scene, otherwise I’ll be forced to get a few of our security staff involved.  Have a nice night.

Maddie then turns and walks away, getting back to her job and finding someone else to help.  Rage rolls his eyes and just leaves the empty beer glass on the table before he stands up and starts shoving his way through the crowd and towards the door.  He is blatantly ignoring Maddie’s warning and as people shout at him as he shoves them on his way out, Phil looks up from the bar and spots him.  He narrows his eyes and shakes his head as Rage storms out of the club.

Meanwhile, outside, Rage is slowly walking away from the club, clenching his fists at his side and trying to keep his anger under control and he has to stop, close his eyes and take in a few deep breaths.  Just as he does this, the voice shouting from behind him catches his attention.

Phil: Is there any particular reason you decided to come out to where I work tonight and be a complete asshole and make a scene like you did?  What the hell is your problem?

With his back still facing Phil, his eyes narrow sadistically and he laughs and smiles wickedly.  He slowly turns around to face his younger brother, his fists still frozen at his side.

Rage: Oh, hey Phil.  Good to see you, too, little brother.

Phil rolls his eyes.

Phil: Don’t make me ask you again, Jake.

Rage: Oh, I’m sorry.  I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to go out every now and then, Phil.  I didn’t know you were working tonight, otherwise I would have went somewhere else.  Fucking relax.  Damn.

Phil shakes his head as he takes a couple of steps closer to Rage.

Phil: You’re allowed to do whatever the hell you want.

Rage lets out a laugh.

Rage: Is that so?  If that is the case, why the fuck does everyone still have their panties and boxers in a twist over my joining sides with J2H?  Clearly I’m not allowed to do whatever the fuck I want.  At least not where you all are concerned.

Phil: There’s no point in trying to explain it to you again, Jake, because you just don’t get it.  And you never will.  I’m guessing things aren’t quite working out for you the way you had hoped, otherwise you wouldn’t have come out here to stalk me or whatever the hell you’re doing.

Rage laughs again and shakes his head.

Rage: Oh things are working out for me just fine, Phil.  Better than fine, actually, because now that I’ve sided with J, I’ve got my golden opportunity at Inception.  And all I have to do is take the golden briefcase and that’s it.  I’ll have a guaranteed shot at any title any time I want it.

Phil shakes his head.

Phil: Well congratulations.  That sounds pretty terrific, bro.

Phil’s voice is just oozing with sarcasm and Rage can’t help but let out a laugh again.

Rage: I wouldn’t expect you to understand, so that’s alright.  Just so long as you know that I’m not as miserable as you people seem to think I am.  I’m making decisions and living my life as I see fit.  I’m not going to let any of you bring me the fuck down anymore.

Phil: Good, then don’t.  But if that’s how you really feel, don’t come out to this club ever again.  You want to do whatever you want to do, go ahead and do it.  But, don’t expect to have any interactions with me anymore.  You fucked up big time, and sooner or later, you’ll realize that.  If you already haven’t.  My guess is that you already have, but you just refuse to admit it.

Rage takes a step towards Phil, almost threatening him.  Phil stands his ground, refusing to be intimidated.

Rage: There’s nothing to admit, little brother.  There’s nothing holding me back any longer.  My eyes are fucking opened big time and it feels...great.

Phil does a slow clap for his brother.

Phil: Again, congratulations.  But you’re lying to yourself.  You see, there is something holding you back.  Or...someone.  Whether you think so or not, J2H is holding you back in some way or he will.  I’ll have all the proof I need should you actually win that golden briefcase.

Rage: What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

Phil shrugs and shakes his head.

Phil: It doesn’t matter.  I’ll watch the show and find out for myself if I’m right or not, but something tells me I’m right.  I have to get back into work.  Like I said, don’t come around here again.  You won’t be allowed back in at this point, unless SCW does another show at some point in the future.

Phil doesn’t give Rage a chance to say anything else before he turns and heads back inside.  Rage stands there for a few moments staring straight ahead.  A couple of people walk past him and slowly turn their heads to stare at him as his hands are shaking.  He shoots his head in their direction as they walk by.

Rage: WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT?!

The couple quickly scurries away as other people turn and stare at him.  He lets out a growl before he turns and storms off down the street and away from the club.  

---

Xander Bishop.  Xander...Bishop.  You know, I try to say your name without rolling my fucking eyes, but I just can’t seem to do it.  I can’t seem to not shake my head and wonder just what the hell Mark Ward and Christian Underwood were doing signing some dumbass piece of shit like you.  And not only that, but they’re throwing you right into the title scene and the ink on your contract isn’t even dry yet.

So...you beat Alex Rush.  Big...fucking...deal.  That’s not exactly something to brag about and it sure as hell isn’t worthy of being put into a ten man battle royal to determine the next challenger to J2H’s title in your second match.  Granted, you failed, but what happened after that?  You apparently “impressed” Mark and/or Christian so much, they’re giving you another shot in this King of The Hill ladder match.  Well guess what?  I can’t let that happen.  I WON’T let that happen.

I’m not going to sit here and lie and say that I actually paid attention to you before this match was maid.  Aside from the little bit of noise you made on Twitter, I had no desire to pay attention to someone who pisses me off just by saying one word.  But, once I heard about this match, I had to force myself into scouting some of your material.  Man, I regret that.  But, at the same time, I don’t because all it’s done is fuel my need to beat you that much more.

You talk a big game.  You like to run your mouth and spout of words that the majority of the roster probably doesn’t understand.  I can’t even waste time trying to decipher the shit you say, it’s that bad.  You’re trying to get people to like you, and for some messed up reason, some people actually DOlike you.  But, you certainly do a crap job of trying to be likable.  I think you’re confused, Xander.

Maybe you got dropped on your head one too many times as a baby.  Or maybe you were born without a brain to begin with, judging by the way you talk, but running your mouth the way you do?  Spewing that ghetto garbage you do, that ain’t gonna fly around this place for long, and it sure as shit ain’t gonna make you many friends...if any.  

I’m sure you’ve got all the confidence in the world going into this match, Xander.  I bet anything you think so damn highly of yourself because this is your second opportunity to get a title shot, so that little ego boost is giving you a bigger high than those blunts you’ve no doubt been smoking.  Yeah, don’t think you’re fooling anyone by saying you don’t do that shit.  Sooner or later, a little random drug test will come up and you’ll be outta this place faster than you can say ni...Nope.  Not going there.

Don’t let this opportunity fool you, Xander.  Don’t let it get to your head, because you don’t stand a chance either.  You might fair a little bit better than Jeremiah will, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let some ghetto piece of shit get that golden briefcase from above the ring.  In fact, I have one mission to accomplish against you, Xander.

Break your fucking jaw.  If I never have to hear you speak another word after this match, I’ll be just fine with that.  I’ll probably be doing everyone a favor because I’m sure everyone is just as annoyed as I am listening to you talk.  Hell, I’ll probably be doing even YOU a favor because once I break your jaw, the only way you’ll be able to speak again, is by LEARNING to speak again, and let’s just say...You could use more than your fair share of English classes.  Ya hur. Man?

Fuck I can’t believe I just say that, even mocking you.  I don’t like you, Xander.  In fact...I really fucking hate you.  Don’t take it personally though, I hate everyone, but just the idea that you’re even a factor in this match about sends me over the damn edge.  If anyone is going to win this match, it’s going to be ME, Xander.

You may have fought nine other guys in that battle royal, Xander, but I wasn’t in that match.  I don’t think you’re quite ready to deal with me, but let me tell you, I’m more than ready to give you the beating of a lifetime and send you to the back of the line, because the only one that’s going to impress in this match, is ME.  You’re going straight to the back of the line with Jeremiah and that’s a fucking promise.

Do your scouting.  Do your researching and preparing, Xander.  None of it will help you.  Nothing you do will be able to stop me from climbing that ladder and taking that briefcase into MY possession, because no one deserves it more than I do.  As a follower of J2Hism, that briefcase BELONGS to me already.  You three idiots just don’t realize it yet.

But you will.

Take your best shot.  Throw a few punches....a few kicks.  Whatever the hell you think you need to do, but whatever lessons you took from the “hood” won’t be enough to stop the devil from taking what’s his.  

The devil is out for your blood, Xander.  And he ain’t stopping until he gets it…

---

Scene 2
Lovers Quarrel
**OFF CAMERA**

Following his confrontation with both Maddie and Phil at Club Rain earlier, Rage has finally made it back home.  He went out to be around some noise, and he got more than he bargained for.  He storms into his house, slamming the door behind him and tossing his keys on the counter.  He’s still obviously wound up from everything that Maddie and Phil said to him and he heads over to the fridge to grab a cold beer.  He twists the cap off and takes a huge gulp as he walks over and heads upstairs.  He really needs a hot shower to clear his head, so he heads up to the master bedroom.  He’s taking another gulp of his beer as he notices the light is on from just down the hall.  He slows his pace, wondering who is in his house as he knows the light was off when he left.

Rage gets his answer when he stops in the doorway.  Looking inside his room, he sees that Kittie...his fiancee, or former fiancee...is sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for him.  She has almost a blank expression on her face as she looks directly at him.  He finishes off his beer as he steps inside, setting the empty bottle on the dresser.

Rage: This night just keeps getting better and better.  What are you doing here, Kittie?

Rage opens a drawer to the dresser and pulls something clean to sleep in.  He turns around, and stares at Kittie, waiting for her to answer.  She seems to be thinking her answer over carefully.

Kittie: What the hell is going on, Rage?

Rage looks at her with a baffled look on his face.

Rage: I’m sorry, what?  What the hell are you talking about?

Kittie: You heard me.  What is going on?  With us...with everything.  Do you want this ring back?

Kittie holds up her left hand, still wearing her engagement ring.  Rage shakes his head with a laugh.  That seems to be the trend for the night.

Rage: That’s not for me to decide, Kittie.  I already told you that.  It’s your damn decision on what you want to do.  If you came all the way over here just for clarification on that--

Kittie: I’m asking you what the hell you want!  I don’t even know if you really wanted to get married in the first place.  I just want to hear the words from your mouth, asshole.

Rage: I’m not in the mood to deal with your shit tonight so you might as well head on back to Synn’s.  I’d like to take a shower and get some fucking sleep.

Kittie: When are you going to be in the mood, Rage?  Huh?  Because, every time I try and fucking talk to you, you just blow me off and say you’re not in the mood to deal with it.  Shit needs to get sorted out, because I’d like to know what the fuck this is anymore.

Rage laughs, but he says nothing.  Kittie narrows her eyes at him but he refuses to say anything else as he walks past her and into the master bathroom.  Her jaw drops for a moment and she sits there, shocked, and a few moments later, the shower turning on is heard.  She stands up from the bed and stands there for a moment, thinking her next move over carefully.  She takes in a deep breath and pulls her shirt up over her head and tosses it on the floor as she disappears into the bathroom behind Rage.

The bathroom is already steamed up pretty good from the heat of the shower.  The top half of Rage’s body is all that is visible through the door to the walk-in shower and Kittie stands back, removing her clothes.  Rage is completely oblivious to this as he has his hands pressed against the wall of the shower and his head under the shower head letting the water just hit his face.  He only becomes aware of Kittie completely naked when the door to the shower opens and Kittie steps inside.

Rage: What the fuck, Kittie?!  Can’t I shower in--

Before Rage knows it, Kittie reaches up, putting he hand around his neck and pulls his head down, bringing her lips to his in a passionate kiss.  He doesn’t fight it, though, as both have been dealing with the frustration of being apart for the last several weeks and neither could hold back if they even tried.

Later on that night, after their steamy session in the shower and another session after, the two are laying in bed.  Rage is drifting off to sleep, thinking Kittie is doing the same with his arm tucked under her head.  But she’s not.  She’s just laying there, staring at him, wide awake and the longer this goes on, Rage eventually can tell without even having his eyes open.

Rage: Are you going to go to sleep or are you just going to lay there staring at me all fucking night.

Kittie: No...I’m just thinking...

Rage turns his head and looks at her.

Rage: Well could you think a little quiet.  I’d like to get some sleep.

Kittie: Fine.  Get some sleep.  But you’re coming with me back to Synn’s place in the morning.

Rage quickly slides away from Kittie and sits up in the bed.  Kittie sits up as well, pulling the sheet up to cover herself as Rage glares at her, shaking his head.

Rage: I don’t know what gave you that idea, Kittie, but no I’m not.  Synn and everyone else made it very clearly where they stand.  Two rounds of angry sex between us ain’t gonna change that.

Kittie shakes her head and lets out a sigh.

Kittie: You can’t honestly tell me that living in this house by yourself is what you want or that following J2H around like some glorified bitch is what you want either?!  You two have hated each other for so long and you honestly think this J2Hism bullshit is something to believe in?!  Come on, Rage.  Even I know you’re smarter than that shit.

Rage: You clearly have no idea what the hell I want, Kittie, because if you did, you wouldn’t be asking me to go back to being a fucking joke to the rest of the Sins while it got me nowhere.  NOWHERE!  Fuck that.

Kittie shakes her head disappointedly again.

Kittie: So now what?  You’re just going to continue doing what J2H tells you to do, when you’re sitting here saying that you hated when the Sins supposedly did that?  You’re fooling yourself if you actually believe he’s going to help you any.  Especially if you win that briefcase on Sunday.

Rage: IF?  There’s no fucking IF about it, Kittie.  I’m winning that briefcase.

Kittie: And do you honestly believe that if you do, you’ll be able to use it to get your shot at J?  He won’t fucking allow it.  He laughed in your face and flat out denied you your shot more than once!

Rage growls and lets out a sigh.

Rage: The briefcase says I’d get a shot at any title, Kittie.  Not just the World Heavyweight title.

Kittie’s jaw drops open and she stares at Rage, shocked.

Kittie: You’re fucking joking, right?  You’d actually waste it on the roulette title?  Or...are you actually considering cashing it in for a shot against Despy?!

Rage: I don’t know what the fuck I plan to do with it, Kittie!  Damn!  All I know is J is the champion, and he’s the champion for a fucking reason!  He’s going to stay the champ for a while, so the briefcase won’t fucking matter.

Kittie: I...I can’t believe what I’m actually hearing you say.  He’s got your head so fucking twisted and you can’t even see it!  You’ve let him make you believe that the Sins were holding you back, but it seems like he’s---

Rage turns his back on Kittie and then pulls on a pair of boxers.  He stands up and turns around, glaring at her as he points to the door.

Rage: Get the fuck out.

Kittie: What?

Rage: You heard me.  Get the fuck out.  Shower sex and an angry fuck afterwards doesn’t mean that I’m suddenly going to turn back into your pussy whipped bitch.  I told you, I’m making the decisions and doing what the fuck I want, but none of you seem to understand that.  When I win that briefcase on Sunday I’ll be able to do what the fuck I want with it, and not what you, Synn, Gabriel, Shane or even Phil thinks I should do with it.  ME!  WHAT I FUCKING SAY!

Kittie rolls her eyes before she reaches down and picks up her clothes.  She starts getting dressed as Rage stands next to the bed, watching her.  Once she’s dressed, she turns around and looks back to him, but he doesn’t seem to have changed his mind on wanting her to leave.

Kittie: I don’t know if this is some mid-life crisis or what, but you need to get over it and quick before it’s really too late.  You’re throwing all your hard work to shit for that little bastard and I don’t think I’ll ever understand why.  For your sake, I hope you know what the fuck you’re doing, because I sure as shit don’t.  No matter how hard I try to wrap my head around it.

Rage: Maybe if you’d fucking listen to me for once instead of trying to get me to listen to you, you’d understand.  But, it’s all falling on deaf ears so it doesn’t even fucking matter.  Now just get back to Synn’s because I’d really like to enjoy some peace and quiet tonight.

Kittie closes her eyes and sighs, shaking her head.  She opens them a few moments later and looks at him, disappointment written all over her face.

Kittie: Fine.  If that’s what you want, I’ll leave.  But just understand that the longer this shit with you following J2H around and being fooled by him goes on, the less likely it is that Synn would welcome you back to the Sins once you’re eyes are opened to what he’s been doing to you.  But...whatever.  Believe what you want.  Not much fucking problem anymore.  Enjoy your nightly dates with your right hand, because what happened tonight won’t happen again.

Rage: I don’t need my right hand when there are plenty of whores all around Vegas...

Rage grins wickedly at her and she glares back at him viciously before giving him the finger and quickly turning and walking out of the room.  Rage laughs to himself as he listens to her storm downstairs and then slams the door behind her as she leaves, and he’s once again left in complete and utter silence...

---

Calvin Harris.  The man who my guess is everyone is putting money on in winning the gold briefcase.  They no doubt probably think you have the most potential...are the biggest threat.  Or...at least that’s just what I could be hearing through the grapevine.  I hate to burst everyone’s bubble, especially yours...Wait, no I don’t.  I really fucking love it.  But...this match isn’t yours to win, either.  I’m sure you’ll put up one hell of a fight, and I fully expect you to, but it won’t be enough.

Word has it you’re walking into this match with a banged up knee.  It may be near one hundred percent by the time the bell rings, but...do you really think it a wise decision to compete in a ladder match at such a clear disadvantage.  Word gets around quickly, Calvin.  Whether you want it to or not.  Whether you make it public knowledge or not, that bum knee of yours?  Puts you at a big disadvantage….and that is something I plan to take full advantage of.

I know exactly what I need to do to take you out, Calvin.  I know just what I need to do to cripple you and stop you from climbing that ladder, and guess what?  You only have yourself to blame, pal.  A dumbass like you doesn’t deserve to carry that briefcase around with a guaranteed shot at the title at any point throughout the year.  You don’t deserve it, so you won’t get it.

That knee of yours is going to be much worse off than it was before walking into this match, Calvin.  You see, before I climb that ladder and retrieve what is MINE, I’m going to use it for its other purpose in this match...as a powerful and painful weapon.  And I’m going to target that knee right from the start.

You’ll be begging me to stop.  You’ll be crying out for mercy and trying to crawl away, but do you think that will help you?  Do you think I will show you mercy?  Fuck...no.  That will only fuel my desire to inflict even more pain on you.  That’ll just make me even more determined to cripple that knee once and for all, because I’m not going to let you stand in my way of grabbing that briefcase and having the referee raise MY hand in victory.

You’ve been in this company a little while longer than Xander, and for all intents and purposes, longer than Hardin because that jackass has up and disappeared more times than I can count on my hands and feet.  You may have been around a little while longer, but you haven’t earned this opportunity.  You haven’t done shit to deserve this shot.  Not when I’ve been busting my ass time and time again and have had to sit back and watch guys like you...guys WORSE than you, get their shot and fail.  

You’d fail, too.  If by some miracle you managed to get that briefcase.  You, Xander and Jeremiah...any one of you would fail from the moment you decided to cash in.  It’s why I can’t let any of you win that briefcase.  That and do you really think YOU have what it takes to be greater than J2H as a champion?  I sure as shit don’t.  Not a damn person on this roster can do what he’s done this last year, so I need to protect that title from guys like you.

Once this match is done, Calvin, the bosses will realize that you don’t quite have what it takes to be a top tier champion.  They’ll reassess their opinions once they watch the beating I give to you, Xander and Jeremiah, and if you’re lucky, the might toss you in the Internet title scene, but the World Heavyweight Title scene?  You can forget that one.

I know you want to win, Calvin.  I know you want to do whatever you have to do to make a bigger name for yourself here in SCW and be successful and impress the bosses, but going up against a guy like me?  That’s a pretty big problem for you.  You three don’t just have to climb a ladder to get that briefcase...you have to topple a fucking mountain.

And don’t let my size fool you.  Don’t think for one second that I’m slower and that puts me at a disadvantage.  All it takes is one wrong move from you three and you’re done.  I’m not holding back because this is my match to win and yours to fucking lose.

I’m not settling for second best.  I’m not letting some assholes like you three take MY moment from me.  And if you are really that hell bent on stopping me?  Well...then I’ll have no fucking problem sending you straight to hell.  No regrets.  No remorse.  Nothing.  I’m out to inflict pain, and there’s nothing you can do about it.

The devil is out for your blood, Calvin.  And he ain’t stopping until he gets it…

---

Scene 3
An Understanding
**ON CAMERA**

With Inception II fast approaching, now is the time that the excitement really begins leading up to a supercard.  The superstars and Bombshells are taking part in their scheduled promotional events and interviews, as is usually mandatory for these shows.  Rage has his own schedule to follow as well, but that’s later.  Right now, Rage is waiting for the World Heavyweight Champion, J2H, to finish up a scheduled appearance.  He’s standing back, trying to stay hidden from everyone else while the champion does his thing.  Unfortunately for Rage, it doesn’t quite work out as planned, as Pussy Willow walks up next to him.  He towers over her, of course, and he tries not to pay any attention to her.

PW: Hey there, big man.  Looking forward to Sunday?

Rage glances at her from the corner of his eye and just lets out a laugh, but doesn’t speak a word.  He folds his arms across his chest as she takes in a deep breath.

PW: Big opportunity for you, ya know.  It’s not going to be easy though going against the likes of Jeremiah, Xander and Calvin.

Rage lets out an annoyed laugh and then turns and looks at her.

Rage: Are you fucking kidding me, big tits?  Those three are not a problem for me and if you think they are, you’re living up pretty damn well to the reputation of a fucking dumb blonde.

PW: Some things never change, do they?  I think you’re underestimating just what those three will bring to the match, but what do I know, right?  I’m just a reporter...

Rage: You’re right, you are.  So stick to your fucking job and just ask questions instead of voicing your damn opinion.  You’re getting awfully fucking brave these days, aren’t you?

Pussy shakes her head.

PW: Not really.  I’ve just grown used to being treated like this from those who don’t like me.  And as I recall I asked a simple question and you just shrugged it off and ignored it.  It’s not my fault the smallest things send you over the edge.

Rage: You want a real answer?  Here it is.  Yes, I’m looking forward to this match on Sunday because I’m looking forward to making easy work of three assholes that shouldn’t even be given this chance.  I’ve busted my ass for years in this company and gotten fucking nowhere while guys like them are here for two seconds and handed title shots without fucking earning them.  It’s not just about the briefcase to me anymore, Pussy.  It’s about sending a message that I’m not going to stand back and let shit like that continue to happen.  Satisfied?

Pussy Willow nods slowly as she stares at him.

PW: That works I guess.  This isn’t an official interview so it’s not going to go on record or anything.  I was just asking out of curiosity.

Rage rolls his eyes.

Rage: Of course you were.  Everyone asks out of curiosity and not because they like pissing me off.

PW: I don’t think anyone likes pissing you off.  You can be quite...despicable...when you’re pissed off.

Rage: Oh, there are certain people who like pissing me off, I can promise you that.  Now, are you done, because I wasn’t exactly planning on dealing with an impromptu interview...

Pussy holds her hands up and just smiles.

PW: Don’t worry, no more questions from me.  And for what it’s worth, I’ll be pulling for you to win that briefcase.  I think it will make things quite...interesting.

Rage raises an eyebrow as she says this and before he can question her on what she means, Pussy Willow turns and walks away just as J2H walks up to Rage.  He glances at Pussy Willow as she’s walking away, then turns his attention back to Rage.

J2H: What was that all about?  I thought your interview or whatever wasn’t until later?

Rage: It’s not.  That was just her being annoying as ever, but I don’t care.  Look.  We need to talk, because something is really bugging the fuck out of me and it has been all week.

J laughs.

J2H: What else is new?  But, what is it this time?  Who pissed in your cornflakes this time?

Rage: This ladder match on Sunday...the King of The Hill shit for the gold briefcase?

J2H nods.

J2H: Yeah?  What about it?

Rage: I don’t want it.  Fuck it, J.  Xander or Calvin can have it.

J2H bursts out laughing but as he stares at Rage, his laughter subsides and he just looks at the big man, confused.

J2H: The fuck?  You’re serious?!  Like hell you’re going to let one of those three morons win that briefcase when it’s your’s for the damn taking!  Mark and Chris practically gift-wrapped that damn briefcase for you.

Rage shakes his head.

Rage: Maybe so, but not for the reason you think they did.  People actually expect me to cash it in on you, but I’m done doing what the fuck people want or expect from me.  So, I’m gonna do something none of them will expect and just sit this shit out.

J quickly pulls his hand back, balls it into a fist and then punches Rage hard in the arm.  It actually manages to slightly hurt the big man, but J stares at him very seriously.

J2H: Like fuck you are!  You winning that briefcase would be a good thing.  And don’t just fucking win it easily like I know you can.  Break those three assholes in half and take that damn briefcase.  Don’t fucking hold back just because people want you to cash it in against me.  You winning that damn briefcase just means that none of them can use that briefcase when it suits them.  You can use that briefcase the way its meant to be used, but still on your own damn terms.  Fuck the rest of them.

Rage: I just don’t see the fucking point, J.  I’ve got no interest in that worthless roulette belt.  I’ve held the Internet belt twice before and you’re the World Heavyweight Champ.  I don’t give a shit about titles anymore, J, so why the hell should I lug around a damn briefcase?

J laughs but Rage doesn’t see the humor in any of this.

J2H: You don’t have to decide when you want to cash in that briefcase overnight, dude.  Don’t let the bullshit that everyone else likes to talk influence what we both know you’re capable of.  Yeah I’m the World Heavyweight Champ, but do you know what will happen if Calvin Harris or Xander Bishop win that briefcase?

Rage doesn’t even move a muscle.  He stands there, quietly, staring at J2H.

J2H: They’ll fucking do what cowards do and try and cash in when they think I’m most vulnerable or some shit.  It’s what people do.  You get that briefcase for yourself, and that ensures that won’t happen.  You can use it and prove you don’t need to be a fucking pussy and cash it in on some sneak attack.  Cash it in on a real fucking match.  I’m not going to let you sit this damn match out because this is the perfect opportunity to take three guys out of the equation at once.

Rage: You do realize that no matter who wins this match on Sunday, any one of us could still get a title shot?  It was already announced that the three losers still might get title shots if they impress enough.  I don’t fucking get it, but whatever.

J laughs again.

J2H: So you automatically assume that they’d get a shot at my title?  I’d say they’d probably get tossed down to the lower tier titles where they belong.  Which is another reason you need to win this damn match, because do you really want to be stuck fighting someone like Ryan Keys or Steve Ramone for the roulette title?  Let Hardin, Bishop and Harris deal with those dickheads.  You’re capable of a lot worse than any of them could dish out.

Rage: Look I want nothing more than to destroy those jackasses, but what’s the fucking point if even if I do people still won’t take me seriously?!

J2H: The point is you MAKE them take you seriously.  You have a fucking ladder at your disposal.  You have free reign to hurt them as much as you want without any consequences.  Let the fucking devil out and get the fucking job done.  Stop trying to make this seem like a bad thing when it’s not.  Everyone will know how much power we have as soon as you grab that briefcase and then stand over their broken bodies and hold that damn briefcase high above you.  It’s that simple.

Rage: Shit’s gonna change after Sunday, J.  Once I really unleash on all those morons, there is no turning back.  I’m gonna make everyone’s life a living hell, because I’m telling you...Once I feel a bone crack...I’m gonna want more...

J smiles wickedly and pats Rage on the arm.

J2H: That’s what I’m talking about, Rage.  You want to feel bones cracking?  Have at it, big man.  You want people to fear you?  That’s the fucking way to do it.  Not by some temper tantrum that a five year old would throw.  Inflict some serious pain and then they’ll know.  Make an impact.  Do whatever the fuck you have to do.  I’m not going to stop you.  I’m just going to stand back and encourage you, because this is the Rage everyone needs to see.  This is the exciting Rage.  This shit isn’t boring and it’ll never get boring.  I want to see the evil in your eyes as you end them.

Rage’s nostrils suddenly flare and his eyes narrow as the look in his eyes turns exactly that...evil.

Rage: I won’t be held accountable for my actions, J.  Just remember that.  I’m not holding back.  I’m not going to show them mercy if they fucking beg for it.  I’m going to break their bodies and then I’m going to take that briefcase because I deserve it.  Not them!  ME!

J2H: Just remember that in your head during your match, and there’s no way you’ll lose.  Just remember the mission...the ultimate goal...and that briefcase is yours.  You’re not the Sin of Wrath anymore, Rage.  You’re the devil, remember.  And the devil doesn’t take it easy on anyone.  The devil does what he wants, when he wants.  I’d tell you to make the people watching scream in fear, but you know what would be even better?

Rage slowly shakes his head.

J2H: Silence.  Having them watch on in absolute silence at the destruction you cause.  You can do it.  You WILL do it.

Rage: No holding back.  No fucking mercy...

J2H shakes his head and smiles wickedly as does Rage.  The camera zooms in and you can almost see the fire in Rage’s eyes.  And that..that isn’t a good sign for Jeremiah, Xander or Calvin come Sunday night...  

---

In just two days, the former Sin of Wrath and now self-proclaimed Devil of SCW, Rage, will be walking into the six-sided ring in Las Vegas to go up against three other men for the opportunity of a lifetime.  The opportunity that, until recently, he had been waiting for for a very long time.  You see, the moment he joined J2Hism, and followed the longest reigning World Heavyweight Champion’s way of life, it all seems that things have changed.  J2H is the World Heavyweight Champion for a reason, after all.  

“Look at you standing there.  You’re pathetic.  Even YOU don’t deserve to be in this match.  Not with the attitude that you’ve had lately.  You’re weak!  You’re a pathetic piece of shit!”

He should be training, he thought.  He should be in a gym or wresting ring somewhere letting off some steam and getting ready for this match, but he’s not.  No, instead here he is standing in front of the full length mirror staring at the man he’d become.  And the voice inside him...the “devil...wasn’t helping any.

Rage: Shut the fuck up.  You’re just trying to drag me down.  Make me fail.  It’s not going to happen!

A low malicious laugh follows and Rage furrows his eyes as he stares into the mirror.

“You know I’m right.  You let that worthless group you call ‘family’ turn you into this.  You let them drag you down.  You put me into hiding all those years in an attempt to take all the credit for everything I did.  You really think you were capable of such despicable actions as I had to take?  Hell no.  That was all me.  And the longer you try and keep me locked away, the less you will achieve.  Don’t try to deny it.”

Rage couldn’t believe it but the devil almost came to life right before him in the mirror.  The image of himself began to move differently than he was, and it spoke directly to him as he backed away.

Rage: You’re full of shit and you know it.  I’ve done terrible things, too.  I’m just as dangerous as you are, and I’m going to prove it in this ladder match on Sunday.  You’re staying right where you are.

The devil laughs again and the image of him shakes his head in the mirror.

“I can stop you, you know.  I’m a lot stronger than you, so I can take over any time I want.  I’m just giving you the opportunity to go willingly, but once again you’re proving what a pussy you really are.  You don’t want to be held accountable for what I do, so you’re trying to stop me.  You’ll never going to be able to stop me from handling business, Rage.  You’re turning yourself into a fucking joke with that childish ‘temper’ of yours.  It’s all just an act because we know who the REAL dangerous one is.  We know who the TRUE evil one is.  And here’s a hint...it’s not you.”

The devil grins back at Rage, folding his arms.  Rage stands frozen in place, glaring at “himself” with his fists clenched at his side, but he can’t speak.  He can fill the rage (pun intended) building up inside of him, but this was what the Devil wanted.  This was the reaction he was hoping to get.

“Look at you.  That’s all the proof I need.  Do you REALLY think I’m going to sit back and allow you to be the one to get that briefcase?  You don’t stand a chance.  I mean, I guess I could sit this one out and let what happens happen, but like hell if I’m going to do that.  You’re the one that needs to get put on the back burner because you’re floundering, Rage.  You’ve turned into a laughing stock that no one takes seriously and they never will unless *I* take care of business.  Why the fuck do you think J called you boring for so long?  Because, without me, that’s exactly what you are.  Old.  Washed up.  A fucking snoozefest that nobody fears.  But me?  I could snap a motherfucker’s neck if I really wanted.”

Rage: Not that I give a shit about any of the pieces of shit that I ever face in the ring, but if you did that shit intentionally, it would end my fucking career!  You think I’m gonna let that happen just so you can get your--

The Devil laughs again and shakes his head, causing Rage to stop before he can finish his sentence.

“You see, that’s why I need to be in control.  You’re not exactly the smart one either.  There are ways around these things.  Ways that only *I* know and understand.  How exactly do you expect to beat Jeremiah, Xander and Calvin on Sunday, Rage?”

Rage: How the fuck do you think?  Beat the shit out of them, climb the fucking ladder and take the briefcase!  And you think I’m stupid?  Fuck!

“Such a damn fool.  You’re gonna have to do MUCH worse than that if you intend to win on Sunday, but clearly you don’t realize that.  Clearly you won’t do what needs to be done to take that briefcase.  One by one you need to CRIPPLE them, Rage.  This is the perfect opportunity to do just that, because there will be more than one ladder at your disposal.  But...as I said.  You don’t seem to realize that, so, I’ll need to take care of this one for the both of us.  The devil wants to come out and play Rage.  Unlock the cage willingly or I’ll just break it myself.”

The Devil shrugs his shoulders just a bit, and it’s enough to piss Rage off even further.  He takes a step closer to the mirror, fuming.

Rage: No!  You’re NOT handling this one, asshole!  I NEED this.  I’m going to be the one in charge.  I’m just fine without you!

The Devil laughs again and stares straight at Rage.

“Oh really?  Excuse me if I don’t agree, because *I* am not the one who lets that fiery little minx boss me around.  You make the term ‘pussy whipped’ quite literal with her, let me tell you.  Not to mention all the chaos your special little friend...Despy?...got you into all the time.  And you just always put up with it.  Had *I* been in charge, poor little Despy wouldn’t have even--”

With a loud and ferocious growl, Rage lunges, first forward, right at the mirror!  He shatters the mirror without a care, bloodying his fists in the process.  But a few seconds later, he brings his hands up to his head and his eyes close as he backs up towards the bed.  He’s breathing heavily and he lets out another growl as he hunches forward, still grasping his head.  A few moments later, his breathing relaxes and he slowly lowers his hands.  They’re still bleeding, but he doesn’t seem to care.  He stares over at the shattered pieces of the mirror and slowly stands up to his feet, stepping towards them.  He reaches down and picks up a large shard of the mirror and stares back at the partial reflection in the mirror.  A wicked smile grows on his face as the reflection staring back at him starts pounding away from “inside” the mirror, full on beast mode and screaming back at him.

Devil: It’s like I said, Rage.  I can take control whenever I want.  And if you REALLY want to win this ladder match on Sunday...You and I both know that *I* need to be in control.  So that is exactly what is going to happen.  The Devil is going to have some fun.  Watch and learn, big fella.

In the mirror, ‘Rage’ backs up, but his fighting relaxes.  He’s still fuming but the look on his face says he knows what has to be done, yet he’s powerless to stop it.  But the Devil is not.  The Devil is out and he’s out for blood.  He’s out for pain.  He’s out for the souls of those who stand in his way.

And this Sunday he gets a three for one deal with Jeremiah Hardin...Xander Bishop and Calvin Harris.

 Sunday December 4th
What You Didn’t See On Climax Control
**ON CAMERA**

For weeks J2H and Rage had made everyone wait for an answer.  An answer to the question “Why Rage?  Why?”  Well, that answer came tonight as the self proclaimed God and Devil of Sin City Wrestling had walked out to the ring and spoke their minds.  And now?  Now Rage is following behind J2H as they walk backstage.  They get a few stares along the way, but for the most part, both ignore them.  A few moments later, their walking slows down and the camera pans back to see Rage’s fiance, Kittie, standing there with her arms folded.  J2H has a smirk on his face, but Kittie is focused entirely on Rage.  She doesn’t speak a word as she stares at him, clearly not pleased with him.  As the silence continues, J2H just steps around her, prepared to walk away and as Rage tries to follow behind him, Kittie steps right in front of him, blocking his way.  J2H spins around to see the two engaged in a heated stare down.

J2H: Dude, just pick her up and move set her to the side.  You’re about twice her size.

Kittie shakes her head, still focused on Rage.

Kittie: If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t put so much as one finger on me.

She turns around and glares at J2H.

Kittie: And maybe you should let me and my fiancee talk in private for a second?  Or...is he not allowed to do that as he’s somehow become your little bitch?

J2H laughs at Kittie before he looks at Rage.

J2H: Shit I hope you break that chain she clearly has you on.  Do what you gotta do, man.  You know where to find me.

Rage nods.

Rage: Yeah.  I’ll be there in a sec.

J2H then turns and continues walking down the hall and Kittie turns her attention back to Rage.  He now has his arms folded in front of his chest, glaring down at the woman he is supposed to marry, but he doesn’t speak a word.

Kittie: You do realize that everything you said out there was complete bullshit, right?  And you’ve gone from being an integral part of a family to a glorified lackey and bitch to J2H.  And I still don’t understand why.

Rage rolls his eyes.

Rage: Is that why you’re here?  Just to bitch at me some more about why I sided with him?  You all had your chance to hear me out.

Kittie: Oh we heard you loud and clear just a little while ago.

Rage shakes his head and drops his arms back to his sides.

Rage: Are you done?  Or is there something else you’d like to bitch to me about?

Kittie: I’m done...For now.

She shrugs and an awkward silence falls between the two.  After several moments, Rage has finally had enough and he tries to walk away, but Kittie steps in front of him again, obviously having more to say to him.

Kittie: I wanted to check on you.  See how your Thanksgiving was...

Rage looks at her very seriously for a moment and then lets out a loud laugh, shaking his head.

Rage: You want to know how my Thanksgiving was?  Why the fuck do you care?  You spent it over at Synn’s.  You couldn’t even so much as call me.

Kittie: Look, I’m sorry, alright?  Things are just pretty fucked up right now, and it’s all because of what you did!  I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Rage: The ball is in your court, Kittie.  It must not be too difficult for you because you’re still wearing that ring I gave you.  And as for my Thanksgiving?  Oh, it was just peachy.  Nice and quiet all by myself...

---

**Flashback**
Thanksgiving Day
Rage’s Home
**OFF CAMERA**

Quiet.  Almost too damn quiet, actually.  For the last several years, Rage had spent most Thanksgiving Days at Synn’s home, except for the one year where he actually hosted here at his home.  Those times were never quiet, as cooking for such a large brood as the Sins was an all day affair most times.  That and Despayre would always try and sneak into the kitchen to sneak a snack or two before dinner was even ready.

This year, though?  After recently joining sides with J2H, and basically turning his back on the only family he’d ever known, Rage was now spending Thanksgiving Day alone.  His brother, Phil, had gone to stay at Synn’s place until he and Maddie found a place to live together.  And Kittie had been spending most of her time there as well, causing some serious strain on their relationship...if there was even anything left, that is.  

He’s now sitting in his large living room, drinking yet another beer.  He’d lost count of how many beers he had consumed today, but he didn’t care.  He just sat on his sofa, propped his feet up on his coffee table and searched for something to watch on TV.  There was no turkey cooking in the oven.  No pies or desserts already made and waiting to be enjoyed after dinner.  Nothing.  There wasn’t much to be thankful for in Rage’s home this year it seemed.

And it was all his fault.

After finishing off his beer, and not being able to find anything interesting on TV, he slowly starts to fall asleep.  His eyes flutter and his head starts to drop to the side.  This would never have been possible at Synn’s house.  The empty beer bottle falls to the floor, and his eyes open for a quick moment as his clatters against the floor.  

As he drifts off to sleep, his doorbell suddenly rings.  His eyes open for a moment and he looks around, thinking he imagined hearing it.  Who would possibly be ringing his doorbell on Thanksgiving Day?  He ignores it and starts to fall back asleep, but moments later a loud banging is heard on the door.  That finally grabs his attention as he jumps up from the sofa, nearly stumbling forward in the process.  His shin bangs against the coffee table and he lets out a pained bellow before he spins around and looks towards the door.

Rage: Who the fuck is it?!

But there is no answer.  The doorbell doesn’t ring.  No one knocks.  This is enough to anger the big man as he storms off towards the door.  He yanks the door open to find that no one is there.  He opens the storm door and when he steps out, he accidentally kicks something.  He looks down to see a small box with a ribbon wrapped around it.  When he picks it up, he looks around, trying to find any sign of who left the package, but there’s no one in sight.  He shakes his head and takes the box back inside, setting it down on the center kitchen island.  He’s tempted to leave it there for a while, but his curiosity gets the best of him and he decides to open it.

He removes the ribbon, dropping it on the counter and opens the box.  Inside it he finds a small teddy bear, holding a note.  He removes the note, and what he reads is enough to warm even the coldest of hearts.

“Angel sent me to protect you since he’s not there to watch over you anymore.”

Rage stares at the note for a long while, his jaw slightly dropped.  After a few moments, he sets the note down next to the box, and removes the teddy bear.  He looks down at it, and takes in a deep breath, shaking his head.  He walks over to the refrigerator and grabs another beer before he heads back into the living room, and sets his new teddy bear guardian down on the coffee table.  He twist the cap off of his beer tossing it on the coffee table and just...stares at the bear as he drinks his beer slowly.

---

Rage suddenly snaps out of his trance and becomes aware of Kittie snapping her fingers right in his face.  He looks down at her as he shakes off the memory of his less than exciting Thanksgiving.

Kittie: You’re lying...

Rage: What?

Kittie: I know sarcasm when I hear it, Rage.  Your Thanksgiving wasn’t peachy, and judging by you staring off into space like that just now, I know something is up.

He rolls his eyes at her and lets out a laugh.

Rage: Again, what the hell do you care?  You and my brother had a good old time at Synn’s house.  Look, I don’t have time for this shit anymore.

Kittie: Good old time?  It might have been better than spending Thanksgiving alone, but just so you know, none of this has been easy on Phil.  He’s crushed that you did what you did!

Rage narrows his eyes.

Rage: Oh, yeah.  Sure he is.  He’s the one that fucking decided to pack his bags and go stay at Synn’s place!  What I did didn’t affect him in the slightest, but he sure as shit thinks it did.

Kittie: That’s what you think, but you’re just too stupid to see just what it did.  If you could turn your back on us when we’ve been the only family you’ve ever known...Think about it and then you might figure out just why it bothers him so much.

Rage: Whatever, Kittie.  If he has a problem with it, he’s more than welcome to face me.  But, it’s cool.  I only saved his fucking life by inviting him to come live with me only for him to do this shit.  I’m done trying to explain my actions to you people.  If you don’t like it, I really don’t give a shit anymore.

Kittie: Clearly.  If you want to run along and be seen as J2H’s lackey, by all means, don’t let me stop you again.  Just remember, all the shit people are giving you because of this?  You brought this on yourself.

Rage narrows his eyes and lets out a evil laugh.  He takes a step towards Kittie and looks down at her.

Rage: You’re right, I did.  For once, I made a decision for myself and there’s nothing holding me back now.  You’re gonna want to pay attention to everything I do from here on out, because the fucking devil has been unleashed, babe.

He does a kissing motion with his lips and then steps around Kittie, walking off in the direction that J2H had gone.  Kittie turns around and watches silently as he disappears down the hall, and she just shakes her head disappointedly before turning and walking off in the opposite direction.

---

The Next Day
Rage’s Home
**OFF CAMERA**

Rage had stayed overnight in Primm following Climax Control.  Not because he needed to, but because he just felt like it.  Primm was within driving distance of his home in Las Vegas and as he pulls his car into the driveway late the following morning, the car belonging to the woman he had hired to stop by to take care of his cat, Aggie, while he was away, was still in the driveway.  Odd, he thought.  He parks his car just next to hers and kills the engine, before walking up to the door.  

When he walks inside, he finds the woman sitting on the kitchen floor with Aggie in his lap, looking pretty bad off.  She’s lethargic and clearly in bad shape as the woman holds some wet food in front of her, trying to get her to eat.  Rage drops his bag on the floor and stares at the woman.

Rage: Claudia, what the hell happened?!

The woman, now identified as Claudia, looks up at Rage, shaking her head.

Claudia: I can’t get her to eat.  Or take her medicine.  I’ve tried everything.

Rage: How long has she been like this?

Claudia shrugs.

Claudia: I don’t know.  I came here to check on her last night and she seemed fine, but this morning when I got here, she was clearly sick.  I don’t know what to do.

Rage walks up to her and takes Aggie from her lap.  Aggie lets out a raspy meow as Rage walks her over to the counter and sets her down, putting the food in front of her.  Aggie all but snubs it as she turns her head away and just lays it down, refusing to touch it.

Rage: I’ll take it from here.

Rage reaches into his pocket and pulls out some cash, handing it to Claudia.

Claudia: You need to get her to a vet, and soon.  Would you like me to--

Rage: I said I’ll take it from here, Claudia.  Just take the cash and go.  Thanks for your help.

Claudia reluctantly takes the cash from Rage’s hand.  She gently pets Aggie on the head before turning and heading out the door.  Rage takes his phone out of his pocket when he hears Claudia’s car drive away from his house, and he dials Phil’s number.  He doesn’t expect his brother to answer, but to his surprise, and relief, he does.

Phil: I’m not sure why you’re calling but--

Rage: You need to get your ass over here, now.  Aggie is sick.

Rage quickly cuts Phil off.  Phil is silent for a moment before he speaks up.

Phil: What?  What’s wrong with her?

Rage: She won’t eat or take her medicine.  Look, she’s not doing very good Phil.  Just get your ass over here.

Phil: What the hell, bro.  Take her to the vet!

Rage: I’m going to, but I thought you’d want to see her just in case...

Much like his brother, Phil lets out a growl.

Phil: Just get in the car and get her to the vet.  I’ll meet you there, alright?

He doesn’t want to, but Rage leaves Aggie on the counter for a moment and quickly goes to get her carrier.  She’s still in the same spot when he returns and he carefully puts her inside the carrier and walks out to his car.  Moments later he speeds away from his house to meet Phil at the vet.

A little while later, he carries Aggie’s carrier into the vet clinic where Phil is already waiting for him.  Rage checks in with one of the veterinary technicians and they are brought into a room where they wait for Aggie’s veterinarian.

Phil: How long has she been like this?

To both Rage’s and Phil’s surprise, Aggie perks up a little bit upon seeing Phil.  He gently pets her as they wait for the vet, but she’s still too weak to even purr.

Rage: Dude, I don’t fucking know.  I paid someone to come check on her while I was gone and when I got back this morning she was like this.

Phil: This doesn’t just happen in a day, bro.  Have you been giving her her medicine?

Rage narrows his eyes and glares at Phil.

Rage: What do you think I am?  Stupid?  Of course I’ve been giving them to her!  Not exactly an easy thing to do since you moved out.

Phil: Has she actually been swallowing the pill?

Rage’s eyes widen and he’s about to come back with another annoyed response, but the door leading to the clinic area opens and the vet walks in.  She’s a middle aged woman with her long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail.  Rage is temporarily speechless as he stares at her.  Phil notices and he rolls his eyes, but the vet, whose scrubs read Dr. Morgan Miller on the front.  Dr. Miller looks at Phil with a smile on her face.

Dr. Miller: Hello, Mr. Sullivan.  What seems to be going on with Aggie today?

Rage seems to be distracted by Dr. Miller’s beauty, even in her work scrubs.  Phil elbows him as Dr. Miller starts to check on Aggie.

Rage: If we knew what was going on with Aggie, we wouldn’t be here, would we?

Rage seems surprised with himself that he sounded so rude, but Dr. Miller just manages to laugh it off.

Dr. Miller: I can’t say I haven’t heard that response a time or two before.

Phil: Don’t mind my brother.  He’s an asshole, as his fiancee would agree.

Phil emphasizes the word fiancee as he senses the immediate attraction his brother has towards the veterinarian standing in front of them.  Rage glances to Phil and rolls his eyes.

Rage: She’s not eating anything, and a caretaker I had looking after her yesterday said she won’t take her medicine either.

Dr. Miller nods as she looks Aggie over completely.

Dr. Miller: Well, she also seems to be pretty dehydrated at the moment.  That could be a big part of the problem, but I’d like to draw some blood to find out for sure.  We’ll also give her some fluids subcutaneously to get her hydrated and then we’ll go from there.  It’s going to be a little while, so you two just sit tight and I’ll be back in a bit.

Dr. Miller carefully picks up Aggie, who looks right at Phil and lets out a quiet and weakened meow.  Once Dr. Miller disappears into the back with Aggie, Phil turns to Rage and punches him right in the chest, but apparently not hard enough to affect Rage much.  Rage glares at Phil, confused.

Rage: Uhhh, what the fuck was that for?

Phil: I don’t know.  Maybe the fact that you were drooling all over Dr. Miller when you’re supposed to be engaged to Kittie?  Or, has that kind of loyalty been thrown out the window, too?

Rage rolls his eyes and lets out a laugh.  He turns around and takes a seat on the bench against the wall as they begin the wait for Dr. Miller to return with Aggie.  Rage folds his arms and looks up at his brother with a grin on his face.

Rage: Like I told Kittie last night, that ball is in her court.  But the longer she decides to ignore me and stay away, the more likely it is that I’m gonna have to go elsewhere to get what I want.  And excuse me for noticing that Dr. Miller is kinda hot for a damn veterinarian.

Rage lets out a laugh and Phil just shakes his head.

Phil: Man if Kittie knows what’s good for her, she’ll throw that ring right back in your face.  You’re really showing your true colors now, aren’t you?

Rage: Yeah I guess I am, Phil.  Finally thinking about myself for once and not doing shit you guys think I should.  I’m doing what the fuck I want, when the fuck I want.  And if that includes getting a little ass on the side because--

Phil: Dude, just shut the fuck up alright?!  We’re not here to talk about you being a cheating asshole or a big bitch to James or whatever his name is.  We’re here because you let Aggie get sick!

Rage glares at Phil, not too happy that he’s been blamed for Aggie falling ill.  Rage slowly stands up and takes a step towards his brother.

Rage: This isn’t my fault, bro.  I made sure someone was there when I was gone to take care of her, so I’ve done everything I could!  You moved out, remember?  You’re lucky I even called you!

Phil: Yeah but apparently you couldn’t even make sure she was taking her medicine properly.  Face it, bro.  Since you turned your back on everyone, it’s showing that you aren’t capable of doing a lot of shit for yourself.

Rage is about to respond, but the door opens again and Dr. Miller returns with Aggie.  They both turn to face her and see that Aggie has noticeably perked up in Dr. Miller’s arms.  She sets Aggie down on the exam table and Aggie immediately prances over to Phil, rubbing against his arm and purring loudly.

Dr. Miller: She seems happy to see you.  So I took some blood, which we’ll send off to the lab, and we gave her those fluids, but I think what we have here is just a severe case of dehydration.  Phil, she really is happy to see you.  Has it been awhile since you’ve seen her?

Phil nods and he pets Aggie as she continues to love up on him.

Phil: I, uh, recently moved out and she stayed with my brother.  I guess it’s pretty obvious who she favors between the two of us.  Isn’t that right Aggie?

She purrs loudly and lets out a meow.

Dr. Miller: Well, this may not be my place to recommend this, but is there any way you could perhaps take Aggie to whereever you are staying?  She could go through the separation anxiety again and land right back here.

Rage is about to shoot down that idea, but Phil speaks before he can.

Phil: That won’t be a problem.  I’m going to make sure she’s taken care of.

Dr. Miller smiles and nods.

Dr. Miller: Great.  Well, I’m going to give her an antibiotic, just in case something else is going on until we find out the results of the blood work, but I think she’ll be fine.  Get her home and get her back on her medicine, and if anything changes, don’t hesitate to bring her back.  I’ll have everything ready for you up front in just a few minutes.

Phil: Thanks Dr. Miller.

Dr. Miller then walks in the back.  Rage turns his attention to Phil, who is putting Aggie back in her carrier and getting ready to leave.

Rage: You really think you’re taking Aggie with you?

Phil nods.

Phil: Yeah, I do.  You clearly can’t make sure she’s taken care of, and I’m not going to let her die because she’s not around me.

Rage laughs and shakes his head.

Rage: Synn will never let that happen, you know?  It’s the reason I adopted Aggie in the first place.  Because Despy wanted to adopt her but Synn didn’t want another cat in the house.

Phil then looks at Rage with a smile.

Phil: You’re right.  Synn might not allow it, but Despy will.  And we all know that Despy won’t let Synn say no if Aggie’s health is on the line.  You can go back home now.  I’ll pay for this visit, and I’ll make sure she’s taken care of from now on.

Before Rage can object to this at all, Phil takes Aggie’s carrier and walks out of the exam room.  Rage stands back for a few moments, at a loss for words and when he walks out of the exam room, all it takes is one serious glance from Phil as he’s paying for the vet visit and he knows this isn’t a winning battle.  Rage shakes his head and growls quietly as he storms out of the clinic and to his car, while his brother takes the last interaction Rage had in his home.  And now...he’d really be completely alone.

---

Rage had spent most of the week going from enjoying the complete silence in his home, to brooding and pissed off.  Typical mood swings for Rage, actually.  He’d spent very little time doing what he should have been doing in preparing for his match against Jason Halc, but if you ask him, he’d probably tell you he had no fucks to give at the moment.  Well, World Heavyweight Champion, J2H, is about to bring up that issue to try and light a fire under Rage’s ass and get him to focus.

The tell it like it is twenty-two year old world champion is currently waiting for Rage in the VIP section of a high end club.  Not exactly a place Rage would ever be seen in, but when J2H called and told him to meet him, he grumbled for a few moments before heading straight here.  And the big man had very little trouble being led into the club as J2H had already made sure there would be no problems.  The perks of not only being a champion, but also well known and wealthy.

J2H is just taking a sip of his drink when Rage is led into the VIP area.  Rage looks around awkwardly and then to J2H who leans forward on the sofa with a grin.

Rage: Really?  You had to meet me here?

J2H: Don’t bitch about the location.  Sit your ass down.  We need to have a bit of a chat.

J2H points to the chair directly facing him.  Rage raises an eyebrow, quietly not enjoying being ordered to have a seat, but he sits down anyway and just stares at J2H.  A beer is promptly placed down on the table next to him, but he doesn’t touch it right away.

J2H: I’ve given you all week to do your brooding or whatever the fuck it is that you do when Kittie pisses you off, but it’s time to get down to business.  You’ve gotta get that shit out of your head because you have a match against Jason Halc on Sunday and something tells me if you let the Sins continue to get inside your head, things aren’t gonna go your way.

Rage growls and shakes his head.  He leans forward in the chair, ready to put that thought out of the argument, but J2H holds his hand up and continues speaking.

J2H: Don’t try to deny it.  You were fuming after Kittie cornered you like that.  Now, normally, you fuming isn’t such a bad thing, but in this case?  Wrong kind of fuming, big man.

J2H leans back and folds his arms.  By the look on his face, Rage doesn’t agree, but he stays quiet for a moment as he takes his beer and takes a huge gulp.  He sets the bottle back down on the table and gives J2H his full attention.

Rage: Look, whatever it is you’re thinking, I’m over that shit.  I’m pretty sure Kittie and I are done, so you don’t need to worry about that shit getting to me.  She tried to get under my skin and I set the record straight.

J2H: Bullshit.  You know damn well that if she were to show up this week, the same shit would happen.  You need to forget about the Sins.  Every last one of them.  They’re the past.  They only held you back, and from the looks of it, they’re still holding you back even when you’re not around them.

Rage narrows his eyes and glares at J2H.

Rage: So this is why you called me here then?  To piss me off?

J2H shrugs and nods slightly.

J2H: In a way, sure.  Whatever the hell needs to be done to make sure that you keep true to everything you said on Sunday.  Jason Halc isn’t exactly a guy you want to be losing to after making a statement like that.

Rage: I’m not gonna lose to him!  I’ve beaten tougher guys than him on my worst day!  Jason Halc isn’t gonna be a problem.

J2H: You sure about that?  Or are you gonna keep running around trying to explain to Synn and the rest of the Sins why you gave them the middle finger and made a decision that will actually get you noticed.  That will get people talking and keep them talking.

Rage closes his eyes and takes in a breath.  He knows what J2H is saying to him is true, but damned if he is going to admit it.

Rage: I’m done beating that dead horse, J.  The Sins don’t understand and they never will.  They turned their back on me just as much as they think I turned my back on them, so that shit is done and over with.  I’m fucking done with that shit and I’m ready to get back to being seen as a fucking threat in SCW.

J2H nods and smiles.

J2H: Good, because I gotta be honest with you.  If you walk out to that ring and lose to a worthless piece of shit like Jason Halc?  That’d be pretty damn embarrassing.  You wouldn’t just embarrass yourself, you’d embarrass me, and I’d like to keep that shit from happening.  I’ll be out there making sure Kris doesn’t stick his nose where it doesn’t belong, but you just make sure you focus on bringing that asshole down a few notches.  Remind him who the real number one is in this place.

Rage: Yeah, that’s the plan.

J2H: Make it happen, Rage.  When guys like that embarrass guys like you, they never let you forget it.  He’ll keep running his mouth all over Twitter and backstage and you’ll never live it down.  He might hold half of the tag team titles, but you’re the real threat in this situation.  Unleash some serious pain on him, dude, because we both know you’ve got it in you.

Rage’s nostrils start to flare as J2H continues to speak and bring up the possibilities.  Rage doesn’t want to lose to Jason Halc.  He couldn’t lose to a guy like that, and J2H is doing everything in his power to get him to see that.

Rage: You can chill out now, J.  Tone it down a few notches, because I’m not gonna let that dumbass get the best of me.  He’s not going to win this one.

J2H: I’m not quite convinced, Rage.  Because you’re sitting here pretty damn calm considering a guy like Jason Halc is trying to embarrass you.  He’s trying to make you feel like you’re the insignificant one in SCW, but come on.  You got about eighty pounds on the guy and a hell of a temper.  Now’s the time to start letting this shit get to you and break a few of his bones if you have to.

J2H hides a grin as he can tell that his plan is working.  His words are having an affect on Rage.  They’re getting his blood boiling, and that is just what needs to happen.  Rage needs to focus on beating Jason Halc and doing whatever it is he has to do in the process.

Rage: Look, can we stop fucking acting like I’m not going to beat his ass?!  I know he likes to run his mouth, that much was pretty damn clear on Twitter last week, but I’m going to be the one to shut his ass up!  Assholes like Jason Halc are all bark and no real bite in situations like this.  His brother is gonna have to carry his ass out of the ring once I’m finished with him.

J2H: I hope so.  You want everyone to believe you’re the devil like you said on Sunday?  Well, now is your chance to prove it.  And keep proving it, because the second you slip up?  Someone will use it to their advantage.

Rage: Are you done?!

J2H shrugs and just stares at Rage.

J2H: I guess for now I am.  Just get the job done on Sunday, because I won’t be able to come up with an excuse if you lose this one.

That finally sends Rage over the edge.  He grabs his half empty bottle of beer and slams it against the floor, shattering it and spilling beer everywhere.  He gets back to his feet, glares at J2H, fuming with his fists clenched at his sides.

Rage: I’M NOT GOING TO FUCKING LOSE TO THAT PIECE OF SHIT!  You want me to prove it to you?!  Hearing his bones snap will be proof enough, J!  I’m the fucking devil of SCW and Jason Halc is going to be the first one to experience just what I’m fucking capable of!  Do you hear me?!

Rage then kicks the table that was next to him and knocks it over.  He starts causing a scene as J2H smirks and people in the club look in their direction at what is going on.  Rage storms out of the club moments later as the manager comes rushing into the VIP area, looking directly at J2H.  J2H waves it off as not much damage had been done, but he knows that this Sunday...plenty of damage will be done to Jason Halc.

---

Six weeks.  That’s how long it’s been since I made a statement and joined forces with J2H...the most dominant World Heavyweight Champion Sin City Wrestling has ever seen.  You’d think after six weeks that people would just learn to shut up and accept what I did, but apparently they haven’t.  Even after giving them the explanation they kept begging for, they’re still running their fucking mouths!  

Love him or hate him, there is a reason J2H is the world heavyweight champion ten months after winning it.  There is a reason he’s gone through every damn person he’s been put up against since he won that title back in February.  Because he’s that damn good.  He went from being a worthless spoiled bratty kid to being the BEST that SCW has seen.  Yeah, I just fucking said that.  J2H is the best.  J2H is number one in SCW.  

Not some piece of shit tag team champion that felt the need to try and make himself more significant than he is or ever will be, by changing his twitter name.  Jason Halc.  Or Jason Halich.  Whatever the fuck your last name is.  Pieces of shit like you make me laugh, because you try to make yourself more important than you really are.  Seriously, J1H?  Is that supposed to make people think you’re actually better than J is?  

You might be a champion in SCW, but let’s get one thing straight.  Ya ain’t a singles champion.  You’re a tag team champion.  With your junkie brother no less.  That’s not something to brag about or be so happy about.  But, hey, if it helps you sleep at night giving yourself high praises for that shit, go for it.  But don’t try and run around acting like you’re hot shit in this place, when you’re not.  

I know you tried to get under my skin last week with all that shit talking on Twitter.  You were trying to point out that you’re the one that holds a title and not me, but you see, I don’t need a fucking title to make an impact.  I don’t need to have gold around my waist to try and get people to take me seriously.  Nothing I fucking said was me saying anything against J2H or the fact that he has the World Heavyweight title.  Even if he didn’t have the title, he’d be making a statement because that’s just who he is.  

You’re gonna learn a real tough lesson, Jason.  And you’re gonna learn it the hard way.  You can run around and make a fool of yourself all you want, but running your mouth the way you did last week?  That shit ain’t gonna fly.  Pissing me off like you did?  That also ain’t gonna fly.  I hope you’re ready for a serious amount of pain, dude, because what I’m going to do to you this Sunday?  It’ll be the worst pain of your life.

You don’t fuck with the devil and expect to walk away, Jason.  You don’t piss off the beast and not expect some sort of consequences for that shit.  I’m about to bring a little piece of hell to that six sided ring.  If you’re lucky, maybe you can bum some painkillers off of your brother, but trust me when I say even those won’t help you.  

You know, I actually just got a better plan.  Something that will help us both out.  You like running your mouth, but running your mouth seems to get you in shit all the time so here’s what I’m going to do.  I’m going to break that fucking jaw of yours, Jason.  That way, you won’t be able to talk anymore and I won’t have to listen to that shit!  I’d be doing everyone else a fucking favor, too.

And I’m going to use you as another message, Jason.  A warning, if you will.  People don’t want to take me seriously?  People don’t want to believe or acknowledge just how dangerous I am?  All they’ll have to do is watch what I’m going to do to you on Sunday.  They’ll watch as you beg me to just put you out of your fucking misery, but oh no.  That won’t happen.  I’m going to beat you within an inch of your life all while your brother watches.  And if he tries to stop me?  Well, if J lets him in the ring, I’ll just have to do the same shit to him, won’t I?  And then your time as tag team champions will be done and over long before you’ve even had a chance to make a statement.

There’s nothing you can do to stop me, Jason.  You can try, but once you’ve pissed off the devil, there’s hell to pay.

See you Sunday, fucker!