It was a clear black night, a clear white moon when Zayvion Lyons got the call from Cleo Phillips. He was just enjoying time spent with his siblings he had been away training so hadn't seen them in at least a month, so his kid brother Malik insisted on running some Duos in fortnite.
“NO!" cried Malik “Sniper downed me!”
‘I got this, hang tight.” Zayvion replied, eyes focused.
Locked in, Zayavion stayed focused the game they only had one or two left and while he was unable to revive his brother it only took a few minutes for Zayvion to finish the round.
“Get wrecked. ” Zayvion said turning to his brother as the words VICTORY ROYALE appeared on screen. “Told you we'd win.”
“I got most of the kills.” replied Malik. “And I had to revive you like five times.”
“I know, I know.” Zayvion laughed “You did all the work, and I coasted us to victory off your hard work.”
It was at that moment his phone rang.
~...They not like us…They not like us.~
“Give me a sec little bro.” he said “I gotsta take this.”
~...They not like us…They not like us.~
He set his controller down and stepped aside to answer the call.
“ Yo Cleo!, what's good?”
‘......’
“Just hanging out with Malik.” he said “Big Momma took the girls and Baby J to the store.”
‘........’
“What do you mean a spot opened up in SCW?” he asked “I thought the den was at their contract limit with them.”
‘........’
“Whoa whoa whoa slow down…” he said, "What are you talking about? What happened to Eddie?”
‘.........’
“Holy shit..that's fucked up….” Zayvion said
‘........’
“ I don't know….I can't take Eddie's spot.” He said “I don't wanna start my career like this…”
‘...........’
“It's not fair to Eddie though…” said Zayvion
‘.........’
“I just think….”
‘........’
‘..........’
“Yeah but….”
‘............’
‘Aight….aight.” he said “You right, I get it, it's not ideal but I have to seize my opportunity when it presents itself.”
‘......’
“Yeah, I'll see you then.” he said, hanging up the phone.
A real contract was everything he wanted, it's what he had been working hard for the past year at the Lyons Den and now it was presented to him.
But at what cost? Eddie Lyons was a leader at the Lyons Den, and Zayvion held a great deal of respect for him. Now because of Vincent Eddie had everything he worked hard for taken from him. Zayvion just wasn't sure he could fill the void left behind by Eddie and he certainly didn't want to be seen as anybody's replacement.
Even worse he felt he may have been partially to blame. He had quietly asked someone to find him a way, any way to get a contract. He didn't know who he was asking, maybe God, but he couldn't help but feel like perhaps he put some bad mojo in the air.
He knew she was right though as unfortunate as it was what happened to Eddie he couldn't look past this opportunity. He had to seize it and make the best of it. Most importantly he had to prove to everybody that he is not a replacement.
__________
The energy around the Lyon's Den felt heavy when Zayvion arrived, many were still reeling from the incident with Vincent and Eddie. Coach Kaiser himself had caught some slack for it, and decided to take a leave for a few weeks. Many of the students had complained to him about the danger Vincent was becoming, now Eddie who many considered the heart and soul of the Lyons Den had suffered as a result.
He found Cleo going hard at one of the punching bags.
“Yo.” he said upon approach.
Cleo stopped her exercise and turned to greet him.
“Yo.” She said. “How we doin’?”
“I'm doing aight.” he said “Just trying to take everything in, what happened with Eddie, my contract, it's all just kind of happening so fast."
“Well, things happening fast is something you have to get used to in this business.” said Cleo “It's not going to slow down for you.”
Zayvion nodded, he knew Cleo was right he was just getting used to it all.
“So how's he doing?” Zayvion asked.
“Eddie?” Cleo replied “He's all right, already thinking bout how quickly can get to rehab. The man's a soldier he'll be all right, you don't got to worry about him you've got to worry about Zayvion. Eddie himself would tell you the same, trust me I'm the godmother of his child.”
Again, Zayvion knew Cleo was right. He didn't know his cousin Eddie as well as she did, but he knew enough to know that Eddie would wish him the best and tell him to make the best of the opportunity presented before him.
“So this is it then..” he nodded “They're going to put me in the game, so it's time for The Flyin’ Lyon to step up to the plate."
“That's the spirit Youngblood!” said Cleo playfully punching him in the shoulder.
“Let's get to work.” then he said.
Cleo nodded in agreement and stepped aside allowing Zayvion to take his turn on the punching bag. He had a huge debut ahead of him and he needed to make sure to show the world what to expect from Zayvion Lyons.
_________
The camera picks up on a neighborhood playground at night with a single street light humming overhead, a few swings creak lightly in the breeze, and Zayvion Lyons is found sitting on one of the steps of the play structure. Cleo Phillips leans against one of the play structures metal posts nearby.
“Imma keep it real with you guys from the jump.” Zayvion began “I already know what people are going to whisper about me. That I'm only here because of what happened to Eddie, and there may be some truth to that. But I didn't plan for my big break to come like this, Nobody in their right mind would want it this way. I wasn't even sure I wanted it, but Cleo here convinced me that I need to seize the opportunity that's given to me because it might not come again.”
He shrugs.
“Now Eddie Lyons is somebody I respect.” he continued “Eddie is family, and what happened to him ain't something you celebrate. But I need to make this loud and clear that I am not a replacement, and I'm not here to fill some vacancy left behind by Eddie Lyons.”
“Preach” adlibbed Cleo
“See I realize that opportunity don't come with instructions.” he said “It just shows up and asks you what you gonna to do with it ,and I've been working hard this past year to show exactly what Zayvion Lyons is going to do with his opportunity.”
He pauses.
“So they got me up against Bill Barnhart in my debut.” he said “Seems like that's the norm around this place, but if it's Billy B I have to take out and that's exactly what I'm going to do.”
He grins.
“I can call you Billy B?” right he said “If not, well, I'm going to do it anyway.”
A playful grin creeps across his face.
“Now I know you a big boy Billy B.” he continued “But you ain't quick like me, you can't move like me, you going to have to look up because when you turn around The Flyin’ Lyon going to come straight out the sky and bust your ass.”
He pauses again.
“I'm afraid you're nothing more than a welcoming mat Billy B.” said Zayvion, “That's all you've ever been, just someone for the new guys to test their mettle against before the real challenges arrive.”
He shrugs.
“And I guess it's my turn to come knocking.” he continued “The only thing is I don't intend to knock, I intend to kick the fucking door right in.”
“If y'all sleep on this kid..” said Cleo “Then he going to be the alarm clock that wake yo’ ass up.”
“Bet.” nodded Zayvion “See I know everyone going to be looking at my last name, but understand I ain't grow up with that family. I grew up with my family, my real family. My moms aint, with us no more, so I got to be a man and step up and help out the family.”
“Real shit.” Cleo said.
“So don't get it twisted when you see that last name." Zayvion said “That last name didn't raise me, or make sure my lights stayed on. It was my people that did that, and I had to learn early how to move and adapt because where I come from, if you weren't quick on your feet life would run you over.”
He pauses again.
“It was places like this I was raised in.” he said “Concrete, noise and pressure. You either figured it out or you didn't, and trust me I figured it out. That's why I'm different. So when I stand in that ring, I'm not carrying some hand-me-down legacy. I'm carrying responsibility. I'm fighting because I want better. I fly because I have to, and I make jokes cuz if you don't the world might eat you alive.”
Another pause.
“But make no mistake about it when that bell ring.” he said “I'm going to be dead serious. So Billy B, do what you do big man. Try to bully me and slow me down. Just know, every second you spend reaching Imma already be gone, and when you finally are able to catch sight of me it'll be too late.”
Another grin flashes as he rises and takes a step to the camera.
“See for me Billy B.” he continued "This is survival, I've survived being counted out, folks thinkin’ I was just some punk kid who would never amount to nuthin’. This ain't just a debut for me, this is my statement. I'm not just out here to test the waters. I'm coming to make waves so Billy B, you about to get introduced to scws newest problem.”
He grins again.
“I'll show everybody that I'm not a replacement or a fill in.” he said “I'm the next big thing in SCW and you're all welcome to come along for the ride. You can roll with me if you want to and if you don't whatever, that's cool too. But I promise it will be one hell of a ride, and if you're not riding with me then get the hell out of my way.”
“Bet.” said Cleo
The camera stays focused on Zavion for a few more moments before it all feeds to Black