“I can remember.”

[The lights flash around Faith’s body as she walks through a dark crowd of people.  She walks slow to take it all in like it was her first time.  Her hearing is way off almost like she is wearing ear plugs but it is just the adrenaline.  She narrows her eyes while she tries to separate the magnificent colors flashing all around her.  Her purple dreads are tucked back by a black bandana as usual, but her ebony eyes sparkle with the light silvery makeup she is wearing.  She closes them as her heart beats in her ears.]

“I can remember the days of sitting in that sweaty warehouse with him like we were the only two people left on this planet.  It was just us, sweating our asses off, while he showed me the ropes. And the turnbuckles.  And that unforgiving mat.  Y’all didn’t think I was talking about something else now did you?  Damn perverts.”

[She wanders through the crowd, trying to get closer and closer to those lights.  It was all about the lights right now.  People shove into her by mistake and the fireball shoves them right back.  Nobody makes a fool out of Faith without the bitch biting back.  She feels the cold ale running down her back and her face while trying to get to her eyes.  She wipes it away and turns around.  The rest of the world fades away and it is just her, and the man holding the empty cup.  For a second she thought she knew him.  Those blue eyes told the rest of her tale, but it is only her that understands it.]

“He made me who I am today.  Our fighting champion Spike Staggs ain’t some punk like everyone tries to make him out to be.  We ain’t even sure he is our champion because of some bullshit call by a referee who don’t know how to do his damn job.  It was hard to watch what happened last week because Spike is my mentor and people are trying to make him look like a bitch.  If I was anybody in this company, I would set that record straight but who knows me?  I’m the girl who lost my shot at the Roulette title.  I’m that chick that got screwed over by Giani Di Luca and ain’t been heard from ever since.  I’m that Bombshell who got laid out in the Women’s Locker Room on my second show in this business.  They forgot all about me because I never really got a good start here.”

[Part of her wants to run up to this guy and knock the empty cup from his hands and wrap her arms around him in a hug so that she would know everything was alright.  She felt like a scared little girl on the inside, the way Amy Marshall called her out.  She thought maybe Amy was right.  She needed some kind of comfort that only her mentor could give her.  She needed words of encouragement. Instead she got this…]

{Rocker Dude}
“Watch where the fuck you are going you ghetto trash piece of shit.”

“Aww hell no!  He didn’t just call me that, did he?  He got another thing coming if he thinks he is going to get away with that!”

[Faith stands there for a second with her arms at her side. She holds onto her restraint but then she remembers she doesn’t have any.  She pulls her arm back and lets it speak for her while she pounds away at him.  The first one knocks his stupid pretentious fedora off of his head.  The second one knocks that cocky little smile off of his face.  The next one goes right to his crotch and sends him down on the ground.  He looks up at her and begs her to stop.  She does have a heart after all.  She stops herself from hitting him a forth time and puts her hands in her jacket.  She starts to walk away when she realizes she isn’t happy yet.  She pulls a beer from his girlfriends hand and dumps it over his head.  She sets the cup on top of his head where his hat was and she leans down in his face.]

{Faith}
“If I see you again tonight, and that cup ain’t on your head, I’m gonna kick your ass twice as hard.  Think about it next time you decide to come at some black girl for being at a rock show you racist piece of shit!”

[He tries to argue with her but she pulls back her fist and waits for him to make a sound.  He holds his hands up toward her and his girlfriend laughs at him.  She reaches over and gives five to Faith like she just did her the biggest favor in the world.  Faith nods her head appreciating it and then continues on the journey to the front.]

“Always gotta run into some asshole around here don’t I?  Where was I?  Oh yeah, I spent a lot of time with Spike.  In some ways he was like my older brother.  Hell he was more like a brother to me than my own brother.  Every move I know how to do is because of that man.  I like to brawl most of all but I do know my way around the ring because Spike took the time to teach me.  He was a great mentor.  I think that is why I feel so guilty right now.  The fans support him but most of the wrestlers are turning their backs on him.  Everyone wants to talk about how bad the dude is but he been a champion for five months and a double champion for over a month.  He needs back up instead of people who want to make him look like a fool.  His brothers are failing him.  His uncle is the leader of the group of people who are putting him down.  His friends don’t seem to give a damn about where he is.  His wrestling student is at a rock show blowing off steam.  Where is his support?”

[Faith continues to walk down the middle of the crowd weaving in between people and getting knocked around by the loyal fans who all want to get as close to the stage as they can.  With her will, she won’t give up until her hand at least touches the barrier.  She is surprised when the bouncers shove people out of her way to make an easy path right to the front.  That is, she is surprised until she sees Erik Staggs sitting in a chair on the other side of the barricade.  The two look at each other for a minute until Garbage comes onto the stage and the fans go crazy.  The bouncers reach over to help Faith to the other side of the stage.]

“I guess I forgot to tell you all the reason I am here except to see Garbage play.  I am here to commit the biggest act of betrayal I know how to.  I’m so sorry, Spike.  I really am, but a girl’s gotta watch her back and your uncle’s got the Bombshell division wrapped around his finger.”

[Faith listens to the sound of Shirley Manson’s haunting voice and getting lost in the music.  She is stuck in a trance by it even though she can’t help but feel a little guilty for coming to meet Erik here tonight.  Who could pass up the chance to see Garbage play, though?  It isn’t like they ever really tour the USA.  She tries to rationalize it in her head but it feels so wrong.  It feels almost as wrong as sitting in a locker room getting the hell beat out of you by some six foot tall dominatrix, a death Goddess, and a sadistic punk “princess” and then having it repeated a few weeks later with two tattooed chicks and Misty added to the mix.  Everybody stood by and watched it happen.  Vixen, who was supposed to be a friend to Faith, tried a little to help her out against those odds, but if the shoe was on the other foot, Faith would have dragged down every other Bombshell on the roster by they hair if she had to.  Spike always told her to watch her back, and this blur of an amazing concert was about doing just that.

As the crowds began to leave the venue, Faith felt Erik stand up from his chair and put a hand on the small of her back.  She shivered because his hands felt like death on her bare skin.  She slowly turned around to look at Erik and he gets the hint to take his hands off of her. She looks up at his face and those eyes captured her for a minute there.  She feels the chill spread through her entire body but she can’t seem to shake it off. The volume of the venue goes down enough where they can actually hear what the other is saying.]

{Erik Staggs}
“I must admit that I am quite surprised that you agreed to meet with me since you are in good with Spike.  I guess loyalty only goes so far these days huh?”

{Faith}
“You should ask him that.  He the one who got me to come work here and then he just up and leaves me to get gang raped by your band of bitches.  You can’t trust nobody in this business as far as you can through ‘em Mister Staggs.  Thanks for the show.”

[Erik looks even more shocked to hear Faith say this.  His jaw drops to the floor and he tries so hard to pick it back up.  Faith gives him a seductive evil smile and turns away to walk toward the door.  Erik tries hard to catch up with her so she doesn’t have time to change her mind.  Faith likes that he is following her like a puppy, but its time for business and she knows it.]

{Erik Staggs}
“Where are you going?  I didn’t cash in my favor here so that you could just up and run off to leave me here.  I arranged this meeting because I got serious business to discuss with you.  Something that could change your career as you know it!”

[Faith’s ears almost perk up like a dog when the word “treat” is brought up. She turns around to face the man and realizes how ridiculous he looks in a band tee, faded jeans, and spiky hair.  She nearly laughs in his face but then she remembers the whole reason she is here.]

{Faith}
“What you got to offer me, Rascal Flatts?  Some promises of being Misty in a month or two?  Oh, no wait.  You are gonna feed me the same line you feed all of those damn hookers.  If I sleep with you, or join in on these mob attacks, I won’t get my ass beat on the damn daily. Does that sound right to you Mister Staggs?”

{Erik Staggs}
“It would be highly unprofessional for me to agree to either of those ideas, Faith.  If I am successful in taking over this company from these dumb little kids, then I will remember those who helped me get through these tough times.  Sleeping with me would only be one of your perks for signing on.  If you are interested, I have got an extraordinary ‘benefits package’.”

[Faith puts her hands on Erik’s chest and her seductive eyes really get him going.  She lowers her hands to his belt buckle and then reaches under his shirt.  A six pack?  Those suits don’t do the old man any justice.  She smiles and moves closer to him so that she can whisper into his ear.]

{Faith}
“I heard rumors on that one, and the person who told me about it was just raving about it.  I mean, you made their day.  And night.  And then again for breakfast.”

[Erik agrees with her by nodding his head and then he wants to see her velvet smooth caramel covered beauty with his own eyes. They wander around her body before lockin onto her eyes and he licks his lips with anticipation.]

{Faith}
“By the way. How is Giani doing?  I miss his smell of Gucci and meatballs.  Please send him my best.”

[Erik is burning up because of Faith’s spiteful comment but he doesn’t want to show it since he is trying to recruit her on his side.  Faith laughs at her own joke and moves back a little bit to a round bar table close to the back of the venue.  Erik follows her back and sits down in the second seat.]

{Erik Staggs}
“Enough of the bullshit, Faith.  I can tell that you aren’t interested in me sexually and that is perfectly fine.  I’m just going to level with you.  I know you saw the show for this week where you are taking on Joanne Canelli, The Jersey Devil Diva.  Not to mention it is for her Roulette championship.  If you noticed how I tried to recruit her two weeks ago then you know just how well I am running the Bombshell Division right now.  If it wasn’t for me trying to get her to come over to my side by sicking Amanda Cortez and Amy Marshall on Jessie Salco, then she wouldn’t be the Roulette Champion.  Do you see where I am going with this?”

{Faith}
“Ain’t that a little bit sneaky Mister Staggs?  She ain’t joined your team and now you wanna piss off The Don or whatever you call her wannabe Godfather and Scarface ass?  What if I do something you don’t like?  You gonna put them hookers on my scent?  Huh?  You gonna steal the title away from me?  You act like you own them titles, and you probably could if you wanted to.  Wait no, you ain’t got a pussy.  You ARE a pussy!  My mistake Mister Staggs.”

{Erik Staggs}
“Quit calling me Mister Staggs!  You are patronizing me and I will not stand for it.  This is a simple offer, Faith.  Are you with Team Erik, or do you need a little more convincing from Necra, Roxanne, Amy, Amanda, Laura, and Misty?  You already know that nobody gives a shit about you, and nobody is going to stop it from happening.  Aside from showing dominance I wanted my ladies to prove that if you aren’t in NXT then nobody will save you.  Not even our resident superheroine, Roxi Johnson will try to help you.  They don’t know team work and they don’t know how to pick apart a unit as tightly wound as mine.  Those are the facts, and I won’t try to flatter you any more.  Choose.”

[Faith whispers over to the barmaid who writes down a drink order on her tablet.  She quickly runs off to get the drink and Faith thinks it over for a second.  Now that the games are finished and the game has been put out on the table it is time for Faith to decide.]

{Faith}
“You make it sound so black and white, Erik.  I mean it sounds like I need to roll with a crew, and NXT hasn’t asked me to join them.  If I wanted to show my loyalty to Spike, I would have to get my ass kicked every week.  I couldn’t get near any titles.  I would wind up being some broke as bitch sitting on the call list when the big stars need a break off.”

{Erik Staggs}
“That’s about right.  I don’t mean to sound like I am threatening you.  That is just the way it is.  We have a strong bond and I can’t stop these ladies from doing what they want to do.  They are all hungry and they want SCW gold. The men are the same way.  If you notice, we own three or four of the titles if they make the right call on Kevin.  If you brought back the Roulette title for us, you would be safe from the foul play.”

{Faith}
“You are threatening me.  You are telling me that if I beat Joanne and get that belt around my waist that your hookers will come after me and make sure I don’t have it.  That is a threat, because I will walk out of Climax Control with that belt.  Tanya Montana don’t know what is gonna hit her when she steps up to me.  I learned to fight with heart and that’s gonna win the match for me.  So if I don’t join your team, then I should count on losing that belt the week after, is that what you are telling me?”

[The barmaid brings the plastic cup to the table and puts it down in front of Faith.  She pulls out her wallet but Erik stops her by holding her arm.  He reaches into his pocket and brings out a wad of cash.  He flips through and pulls out a few small bills.  He gives it to the barmaid but doesn’t stop looking at Faith.]

{Erik Staggs}
“Keep the change… I can’t promise you anything if you don’t decide where you belong.  I can’t say that Necra won’t hunt you down to get her hands on that gold, especially if you choose to go to the side that is going to keep you at the bottom to make Vixen and Odette look better.  All I can say is that you seem like a smart young woman, and I have faith that you will choose the right side of the battlefield.  Don’t be stupid like the others who refuse me.”

{Faith}
“Okay then.  You got yourself a deal Mister Staggs.  Count me in for the fight.  You won’t be sorry.”

[Erik’s expression is happy when he grabs onto Faith’s hand.  He shakes it in joy of her decision.  She smiles and he pulls her in for a hug.  Erik pats her back because he is just so happy that she decided to go with his side of the battle.  Faith pats him on the back too until she ours her beer all over Erik’s head.  She makes sure to do it slow so that he gets the full effect of it.  When it is done she shakes the cup so that all of the suds pour onto Spike’s head too.  He doesn’t look happy when he wipes at his face.]

{Faith}
“I’m sorry.  Did you think I meant your side?  You ain’t as smart as everyone says you are, Erik.  I don’t care how many of your whores you throw at me because I will take them down with the lights on.  You can’t beat the hell out of me and then expect me to side with you.  Even if I didn’t have loyalty to Spike, I would never join your side because I like to fight fair.  Now do me a favor and pass on a message to them hookers. Now that I am back and ready to win a championship, I got plans for them.  Each and every one of them.  Wanna know what I mean, Erik?  Watch on at Climax Control.”

[With that, Faith walks away from Erik who screams with anger.  She laughs and takes her phone out of her pocket.  She dials a few numbers and can’t stop laughing while the phone rings. She walks towards the exit.]

{Faith}
“Spike?  Hey man!  Yeah, you ain’t gonna believe what just happened to me…”

[Now Faith is at the exit.  She walks out of the venue happy with what she did to Erik.  She didn’t have anything against her opponent for this week, but it was very clear that winning is the only option for Team SCW.  To make her voice heard, she needed gold to make them listen, and unfortunately it has to come at Joanne Canelli’s expense.  Sorry pumpkin but thems the breaks.  Stay tuned to see if Faith is successful.]

 (Faith has a head full of racing thoughts going through her mind, but on the outside she looks as cool as a cucumber.  She is walking down the aisle of the airplane, trying to find her seat. She is wearing a black Rob Zombie hoodie with her long dreads pulled back into a tail and tucked down the back of it.  Her carry on bag is hanging at her side as she runs her fingers across her tattered acid wash jeans, searching for her pocket for that damned ticket.  She is softly talking to herself as she pulls out her purple headphones from her ears. When she finds her seat, she notices someone is sitting in her spot. She pulls out her ticket and checks the number on it. Sure enough someone just decided to sit wherever they wanted. So, Faith puts her hands on her hips and stairs at the person. She thinks to herself that she can handle this. It’s a just short looking middle aged guy who’s as skinny as a string bean, so she just keeps on staring at this guy until he finally catches eye contact with her.)

{Passenger}
Can I help you ma’am?

{Faith}
Funny, I think you can actually. You are in my seat sir and I would greatly appreciate it if you would move so I can sit down.

(The inconvenienced passenger looks up at Faith and stares her up and down. As he’s starting to turn his head back around he lets out a sarcastic chuckle. Then he continues to text away on his fancy looking cell-phone. Noticing that there is no following response, Faith asks the passenger again to move out of her seat.)

{Faith}
Sir..Sir…..Sir…….Sirr, are you kidding me? ……….oh my god.  SIR!

{Passenger}
This flight is not booked, I am sure you can find another seat.  I need this seat because it is the best spot on here for in-flight movies.  I’m sure your kind would understand that.

(Faith’s mouth gapes open and she just can’t believe what he said.  “Your kind”?  Does he mean hoods?  Blacks?  Women?  What the hell does that mean anyway?  She pulls out her ticket and waves it around in the air, looking completely annoyed with the situation.)

{Faith}
Oh, I’m so glad you think so… In that case, I would like it if you would get the FUCK outa my damn seat ya disgusting prejudice nerd!  Text your whore on somebody else’s time and not mine!

{Passenger}
I see how it is. You people just think you can do whatever you want. You can…….

{Faith}
There you go again, honey… You people? Who do you think…..

{Passenger}
IM NOT DONE TALKING SWEET HEART! You know what, just forget it. How about you just go find another seat to sit in. If you don’t like that, then how about you just go back home and get some more free money from the state to support your multiple fatherless kids. Since that is all you people know how to do.

(After hearing this, Faith starts to clinch her fist. In fact, Faith starts to black out and random memories start to flash before her eyes. Just thinking about who  the girls could have been that ganged up on her in the shower, thinking about the girls who teased and made fun of her for being poor back home, and Giani abandoning her in the ring when she needed him. Thinking about all these bad memories, Faith was just one step away from laying this guy on the floor and curb stomp his ass. But then all of a sudden Faith started to remember a good memory that popped in her head. This is when Faith unclenches her fists and looks back at the passenger. Who is still yelling and bitching about something still.)

(Passenger)
Ha! Look at you! Can’t even carry on a conversation. Probably tweaking on crack or something you…

{Faith}
You WHAT! You racist son of a bitch!

(The passenger gets really quiet and just looks up at Faith in shock.  He can’t think of anything to say to her and she looks more than satisfied with herself.  The flight attendants are talking in the background and pointing to the altercation as the old thin businessman silently begs for them to come over.)

{Faith}
I’ll tell yah what. How’s about you get out of my seat so I don’t have to smack your ass around like the lil bitch you really are!

(The passenger just shakes his head puts his head back down, trying not to lose face value in the argument.  At this point, the other dozen or so passengers look over at the altercation, but Faith is blinded by rage and doesn’t even take notice.)

{Passenger}
Yah-Yeah right. What are you really going to do?

(Faith then grabs the top of the guys shirt collar and pulls him up to her so closely, that she can feel the heat coming from the passengers face.  She almost wonders if he is too dense to understand what “Bitch” and “Get the hell outta my seat” means?  His eyes widen and he is on the verge of screaming for help when the stewardess finally starts making her way over to the scene.)

{Faith}
I said, get the hell out of my seat before I give people a reason to call you four eyes, you racist, trashy, snobby, skeezy, piece of shit!

{Stewardess}
Excuse me miss, but we are going to have to call airport security if you two don’t stop fighting.

(Faith then releases him and shoves him back in the seat.  She looks back to the stewardess, angry but aware of her own situation due to her job. Her eyes slowly glance back over to her seat where the guy quickly grabs his belongings and gets out of the area and speed walks down the aisle. Faith then produces this big shit-eating grin, puts her things above her in the case above her seat, and sits down with a look of pure relief. Just then a voice comes on the intercom and announces to everyone to please fasten their seat belts and turn all electronics off, because the plane is getting ready to take off. Faith gets all settled in, lifts up the curtain on the window, and just stares at the sky as the plane takes off. As she stares and stares, she slowly starts to feel her eyes get heavier and heavier. She just thinks to herself, that a short nap would do her some good. As she starts to dream, she slowly opens her eyes looks around to see her old neighborhood. Except something looks different, it looks like a bomb had dropped down here, more so than it already had been looking like. Almost all of the buildings look vacant, and there is a strange looking object lying in front of what seems to be Faiths house. She walks up slowly to this weird object and as she gets closer she then realizes that it’s not an object, it’s a body! It’s not just any body either,because Faith turns the body over and sees that it is none other than her brother! Faith then wakes up with a chilled sweat on her face. When she snaps out of the scare her dream gave her, she then hears the announcer on the intercom saying that they now landed in the Lambert St. Louis Airport. Faith slowly gets up out of her seat and pulls out her carry on bag from the overhead compartment.  She looks around, noticing the skiddish older businessman scurrying  towards the exit of the plane.  She chuckles to herself excitedly over her minor victory.  She slings the bag over her shoulders and gives the man a running start before she slowly strides along. She walks out and walks through the small, narrow hallway leading into the airport. She enters the terminal and looks for the exit out.  As if she was the only person alive, she walks through the crowded terminal and smells that familiar St Louis air, happy to be home.  Once she finally weaves through the crowds and makes it outside, this is where she then hails for a taxi to her house. She sticks her thumb out and one finally pulls up to her. She gets in and the driver starts to take off. Her ebony eyes sparkle while she looks out of the window on her ride home, getting lost in the scenery.  She puts her purple headphones back inside of her ears, blasting “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails.)

(The ride home offers her a lot of time to think about things.  She had been in a position most rookies would dream of.  She debuted in a successful match, impressing the masses.  She had the notoriety of being trained by the SCW Heavyweight Champion and soon to be NWA World Heavyweight Champion for a second time.  She was friends with the Bombshell Champion.  She slapped the ever-loving taste out of Giani Di Luca’s mouth which not many people can say that.  She had earned enough attention to get her attacked by who knows how many people in her locker room.  And now she is facing a second SCW champion in Alexis Morrison, as well as her sister Amy Marshall.  This was going to look good on her if she could come out of this one a winner.  She feels the taxi cab come to a complete stop and it wakes her from her daydreaming of seeing her name in the marquee. After the approximate 30 minute drive, she finally has arrived home. She gets out of the taxi cab and turns around to pay the fair.)

{Faith}
How much do I owe yah sir?

{Taxi Driver}
Don’t worry about it honey, I know your brother. It’s all good Faith.

{Faith}
Thanks brother.  Hey, do you ever get out to Vegas?  I could probably get you some Sin City Wrestling tickets.

{Driver}
Aww, probably not but maybe one day when you gets all rich and famous there, you could hook a brotha up?

(The driver gets a big smile on his face and he just laughs it off.  Nobody from Berkeley ever gets famous after all.  He puts his hands back on the steering wheel and gets ready to drive off.)

{Faith}
Right on, man.  Look I’m gonna find out who you are and one day you can come and chill with me in Vegas.  If we don’t take care of each other, then who the hell will, right?

(Faith then gets this huge grin on her face and a wave of thanks for the taxi driver. He reaches out and fist bumps the other metal bombshell.  She gets out of the taxi, grabbing her bag and gets out of the taxi.  The driver holds out two fingers for her as he pats the side of his taxi, rolls the window up and drives off. She waves bye and starts to head up the steps to her house. She opens up the door and walks in to see her brother sitting in a chair watching some kind of game on TV. She noticed though that the place looked like a wreck. There were dirty clothes all over the floor, there was more trash on the floor then in the trashcan, and there was a weird and rotting sort of smell in the air. Faith then walks into the kitchen to see that the fruit that was kept in the middle of the table was rotten with flies buzzing on top of them. Faith then turns around with disgust to approach her brother.)

{Faith}
Damn Steven! What the hell happened man? Why is this place such a wreck? Why does it smell and look like some homeless dude lives up in here?

{Steven}
Well, you ain’t here as much to keep the place clean. And I work sis, so don’t come up in here telling me how to run MY house. You digs?

{Faith}
You mean our house Steven. Remember I pay half the rent here too and you know I work too, so don’t act like I live here rent free like I did when I was a kid. Dang!

{Steven leans up in the chair, putting his elbows on his knees and looks right up at Faith.  He sets his chin in his cupped hands and just stares at her, kind of like he is waiting for her to start laughing.  When she doesn’t, he makes a noise with his mouth that lets it be knows how he feels.)

{Steven}
“Your job? Yyour job is a joke sis. How long is it going to last? A female wrestler? Especially you! I saw your last match. You got your ass handed to yah. Your career is over, you had a great chance to show everyone what you could do and what did you do? You got yah ass beat is what yah done. You sat there and let that bitch hit up on you because you was “friends”? Oh, and towards the end of that match you just gave up.  You let that cocky ass white boy distract you, but that’s what your music tells you to do, so it ain’t no surprise.

{Faith}
Oh my GOD, Steven!  First off, ewwwww!  Giani smells like somebody poured Gucci Guilty over a spicy meatball! You know? What is your problem Steven? What’s with this attitude, you fuckin grouch. I get home and all you can do is crab at me about losing! Thh. I don’t know what your problem is, but you need to get off your ass and clean this place up cuz I ain’t your mammy! Also, just because I lost, does not mean my career is over. People were actually impressed by me out there and in fact I have another match coming up here next Sunday. So don’t go dissing me, just because you hate your job and quit on following your dreams.  I will NOT do that, brother.

(Steven looks up at Faith and his eyes almost look like he is about to cry.  Given his background, he toughs it up and puts his angry face on once he sees Faith is looking.  She can tell something is wrong but before she can say anything, her brother takes away the opportunity.)

{Steven}
What job? I hate to break it to yah sis, but I lost my job.

{Faith}
You lost your job? How the hell did you do that?

{Steven}
I got caught stealing out the cash register.

(Faith takes a step back and puts her hand up in the air dramatically.  She looks up at the ceiling and asks God “Why?” in a silent way.  She puts her hands on her forehead and slowly turns back to see her brother leaning back in his chair again like he looks satisfied with himself.  She stomps her feet three times and groans.)

{Faith}
“Now why you go do something tha damn stupid? We can’t keep this damn place with just me bringin home the dough. Or is that what you expect?  Instead you have to go taking money from Mrs. Brown?  Momma and poppa didn’t raise us to be that way, Steven!

{Steven}
I needed the extra money for rent and why would it matter? You think you’s a big star now, so let’s see some of that big money sis. You own this shit now coz you the star, right?

{Faith}
You been drinking or something Steven? God help me because I don’t know how much more of this shit I can take!

(Instead of answering her, Steven just remains in the chair without muttering a word and just continues to watch the TV. Faith then storms off and walks into her bedroom. She stands there and then out of a rage she slams door shut and opens up her closet starts pulling out all of her clothes and packs even heavier this time. She even goes to Steven’s room and takes some of his suit cases as well. After she is done packing she heads into the living room and sets her bags down. Just loud enough so Steven will look up her.)

{Steven}
What the hell is all this? You leaving already? Damn, you just got here.

{Faith}
Oh, I ain’t just leaving but I’m NOT coming back to this hell.  I’m done being the only one who does anything around here.  I ain’t your slave!  I ain’t your obedient dog, Steven!  You act like it’s my fault momma and daddy was killed and it ain’t!

{Steven}
But you just got home and I’m going to need help on the rent this month.  I can’t do it alone without a job, Faith. You just can’t leave me here you worthless…

{Faith}
Shut yah mouth! You just listen here. I’m going back alright. I’m not going to sit here and watch you rot, plus I’m starting to like it up there in Vegas. I even made some new friends. So, I’m going back up there and try to establish myself, maybe even start a new life. And another thing, I don’t know who you think you are telling me that I’m worthless when you sit in this mess, drinking your last little bit of money away, blowing kush, and ruining the house they left us. But at least I am living my dream, and that dream ain’t here with you Steven!

(Faith then starts to head towards the door when Steven suddenly gets out the chair and closes the door back shut. Faith then looks up and is about to snap when Steven all of a sudden hugs her. Faith almost doesn’t know what to do until she finally just wraps her arms around him and comforts him. Especially when she notices that he’s about to cry.)

{Faith}
You cryin bro.? What a wuss…

{Steven}
Did they make you that emotionless already? Man you cold girl.

{Faith}
Hey, I;m just kiddin. Take a joke why don’t you.

{Steven}
It’s just that life so isn’t fair right now. I lost my job, I don’t have enough money for rent, you’re probably going to become this big champion wrestling star, and what am I? I’m just below average low life whose just going to rot in this broken down neighborhood.

(Faith then places her hand under his chin and tilts his head up so he’s facing her.)

{Faith}
Look at me Steven. You’re not a low life. And things will only get better. Plus this is something I gotta do. Plus I just got word that I have a match coming up where I’m facing two twin ho’s, named Amy Marshall and Alexis Morrison. That’s why I have to leave, I have an interview I have to attend for the match. If I don’t leave now, I am not going to make it. So you better wish me luck on this.

(Steven starts to crack up laughing and looks at his sister.)

{Steven}
Man, you know what you doin. I wish I was strong like you. Plus you tough, I think you can whoop these two chicks just fine.

(Faith then looks at her brother and picks her bags back up. She goes for the door handle when Steven takes one of the bags and opens it for her. They head to the door and down to the stairs to catch a taxi. As Faith has her thumb out, her and Steven just stare at each other, and for the first time ever, it feels like Steven is more than just her brother, she now feels that he is also her friend. A taxi pulls and Steven starts to pack all the bags for her into the taxi cab. Faith gets and before she closes the door she grabs his arm.)

{Faith}
Hey! You sure you’re going to be fine while I’m gone?

{Steven}
Yeah, I’ll be fine. Now you just go and whoop those girls asses and make me proud sis.

(Faith  just smirks and closes the door and the taxi cab starts to drive off. But too far after the driving started, Faith rolls down the window and yells at her brother.)

{Faith}
Hey! When I come back, you better have a job, or I’m going to bring hell to your ass like I’m going to in this upcoming match!

(Steven just starts crackin up laughing and heads back into the house. Faith then rolls up the window and just sits back in her seat just thinking about this upcoming match. After a few minutes, she sits there and thinks about it, and now know knows that this is what she always wanted. This is what she always dreamed of and that she is going to make it happen. She then looked out the window watched her old neighborhood pass by as the taxi cab drove on. She started thinking how ridiculous it was she was only home for a few hours and is now heading back to Vegas. But this was her career now and making a dream a reality is a once in lifetime thing.  She looks up to the taxi cab driver telling her that they have arrived back at the airport. She gets out, pays the fair, gets her bags and heads into the airport. Before she opens the airport doors she looks at her reflection the glass and mutters a few words.)

{Faith}
Life is too short to sit back and wait for a miracle. This is my dream, and I am going to win this match and show the world who Faith really is.  I ain’t just some metalhead version of a token “black chick”.  I am hardcore.  I am more of a threat than any of these girls will ever imagine.  In my mind, I am the next SCW Bombshell Champion.  These girls just don’t know it yet.  I guess before I get there, I gotta start at the bottom with the dumb girls who think I am just another nobody.  Amy Marshall must think I am in a different level because she can’t even see what sits in front of her.  She’s right though, I’m not.  I’m much better than she could ever dream of being.  And if her sister is anything like what I’ve seen from her, then this match will be a piece of cake.  I got this in the bag.  Sin City Wrestling fans will know that Faith is making a comeback by her own damn self without some arrogant prick to pull me down.  Alexis Morrison is gonna need all the help she can get.  She’s got the power of hell on her side, but I got something much more powerful.  I got Faith.  I am Faith…

(While she takes another quick taxi ride, she puts her purple headphones into her ear once again and plays “Christian Woman” by Type O Negative.  The cab drives off down her street and she leaves it behind for another week as she heads to the airport on her way back to Vegas.  There is a slow fade out with the music)

(The End)

 (Off in the distance, white lights are flashing.  A cross stands alone in the middle of this dark, deserted field.  The sound of thunder races through your eardrums as light trickles of rain start to fall.  A disturbing snippet of music begins playing, tearing away at your ears, implanting fear inside of your head.  The sound of footsteps can be heard crunching over the dead blades of grass.  That is when Faith comes into view.  Her head is bowed and her purple dreads hang over her face.  She stands there for a moment as the rain collects in her hair.  As it pools, the thick droplets prove to be something more disturbing.  As she lifts her head up, her dreads slowly fall away from her face.  As they do, blood is dripping down Faith’s face.  The cross behind her is stuck by lightning and comes on fire.  The background quickly fades to the streets of St Louis as Faith stands there, blood spattered.)

This all started in a ghetto part of St. Louis called Berkley. Me, my brother Steven, and my mom and dad. We had just got done watching a movie at this small theater we liked going to. It started to storm and my dad wanted to cut through this alley that would save us about fifteen minutes. But, my brother and I knew better growing up in the area. So, we told them no and lets just go the long way since it would be safer. That did not fly well with my dad. He started to raise his voice and told us that we was going down that alley. But, my brother wasn’t havin’ it. So, he took me by the hand and told me that we was taking the safe way home. My dad did not like that and was throwing a fit.  Grown ass man looking like a damn fool. Mom was worried like she always was but, like a loyal dog, she just went along with our father.  So they went ahead and started to walk down that alley.  After walking about half a mile down the sidewalk, thunder was making its appearance.

(After revealing all the blood on her face, you’d think that someone would notice. But no, it was like she was a ghost alone in the world, a feeling she has become quite used to. As she continued to walk down the street she starts to pass by nearby alley that reminds her of dark times that changed her life forever.)

Something in my gut was telling me to stop and go back to check on my mom and dad. I tugged on my brother’s arm and told him that we needed to go back and check on them. He looked down at me and told me not to worry and that they would be fine. I was starting to get upset since he wouldn’t listen to me. But then, the thunder got louder and that’s when I jerked my hand away from my brother and I started to run back towards where my parents was walking. I was just starting to go around the corner that was right by the alley they was in and that’s when I heard the first shot. I’ll never forget that feeling.  It made me stop dead in my tracks. Then that’s when the second shot came and it brought me down to my knees. I was begging God that what I heard was thunder and not gun shots.

(Not to mention this dark time helped give her the strength that she has today. She stops to look down this alley and clinches her fists. As anger and rage to rise up, she takes her fists and hits the brick wall so hard that she leaves whole big enough for a truck to drive through. She then looks down at her blood covered fists and smiles.  But as she looks into the big hole, she sees the look of blood curdling terror in her father’s eyes and it reminds her of the darkest day of her life.)

Just seconds later, my brother had come running past me and entered the alley. That’s when I heard him yell. After learning that dark feeling was real, all I could do was throw my hands up in the air and scream as loud as I could. At that moment it started to rain. That was a day that I would never forget. About a week later, the funeral came. Oddly enough, that was and even gloomier day then when the tragedy took place. It was a very powerful moment my brother and I was standing next to each other watching our parents being lowered into the ground. After the pastor was done speaking, my brother dropped my hand and hugged me so hard that I felt like he was going to squeeze the life out of me. The only family I had left was my brother Steven. He took care of me from that point on.

(She looks away from the hole because she knows now that it is time for her to look for the brightest day. She clinches her eyes together to shed one last tear which will say goodbye to that day. She then begins to walk on and passes up the alley. As she continues to walk on she notices that the bricks she knocked on the ground begin to lift up and fly back into the wall.  That also makes her anger disappear.  Thinking that nearby strangers would notice something this bizarre, but they just keep on walking by without a care in the world. After taking notice of the ignorance of these fucked up people around her, she decides to walk in the opposite direction of this grimy city street. This is her trip down Memory Lane.)

Times was hard at first, with such things as Steven having to work full time, barely getting the bills paid, not being able to afford to go to school, me trying to play the role of a house wife, and the hardest one; trying to make a single friend. I guess with my brother being a man and such, he had an easier time getting over that night with my parents getting shot. See, I was only 15 at the time and my brother was almost 21. But I learned to move on though. My brother did a good job at making me strong. But what got me through the hardest times was music. Unlike my brother, who only listened to rap music, I liked metal. My first time hearing that style was this one day… I was cleaning our apartment and they played this song on K-She 94.7 called “More Human than Human.” All I can tell you is when I heard that song I just got this race of energy that shot straight through my body. I just started bopping my head up and down. Then soon enough started throwing my braids all over the place.

(As she’s walking in the opposite direction of the crowd, she starts to notice on her left a place that brings back such fond memories. The music store, that gave her light on her favorite genre of music. She stops for a second to soak in the good times. While she stands there, she sees a young teenage girl, which resembles herself, walking into the cd store. Faith just has a big smile draw upon her face.  )

My brother walked in on me that day and just lost it. He looked at me laughing and told me that only white people wind milled their hair like that. I was thinking hmm, that’s what this called. Well, I didn’t care what he thought on the subject. I liked it and I was going to continue on doing it. Even though, my brother did not care about the style of music I liked, he was still a good sport about it. In fact, he told me if I wanted too, he was going to show where this music shop was on the corner where all they played on the inside was that style of music. The next day while he was at work, I went ahead and decided to go down to that store and check it out. I never forgot that day. When I went into that store, it was like the coolest place I’ve seen in my entire life.  There were music posters just everywhere. Not to mention, rock memorabilia, what looked like glass pipes, used clothes, movies, and cd’s.

(Faith looks down at the girl who is like a kid in a candy store.  She shakes her head but smiles, reminiscing of the day that changed her life, in more ways than one.  She watches the girl fly around the store in excitement, learning of the new bands and the new culture she had not ever been exposed to before.  She places her bloodied hand up to the window, slowly sliding it down, leaving a mark where the girl finally runs out of energy.)

If I remember right, I think I spent about three or more hours in that store.  It sucked since I didn’t have that much money on me. Especially, me and my brother being semi-poor. But, I had just enough saved up where I felt the need to spoil myself. I had about twenty dollars on me to spend in this magical music wonderland. Before I started looking to buy I went up to the clerk and asked him about that song called “More Human Than Human.” He told me that it was by a band called White Zombie.  So I skimmed through their CD’s until I found the one with that song on it. It was under ten bucks too! So, feeling giddy as it was, I went ahead and started looking through their clothes. I had about to twelve dollars I could still spend. As I was looking through, I found this really bad-ass looking White Zombie t-shirt. With luck on my side, it was ten bucks. I had just enough for tax too because the final cost left me with nothing but a quarter for a gumball.  Hell yeah!  I felt so cool with me new shirt and cd, but the damn gumball machine was outta order… Damn.

(Thinking back to this moment, Faith remembers her first fight. As the young girl walks out of the store she encounters a girl much bigger than her who seems to dress like a more upper class person then the young girl is. Faith just starts laughing in a light manner because she watches as the bigger girl points her finger in the young girl’s chest. Faith starts to mutter, “Oh damn, shit is getting ready to go down.” The young girl then lifts her clinched fist and punches the bigger girl in the jaw so hard that it looks as though a gold tooth had flown out. Then without a second’s notice, the young girl pulls the bigger girl forward by grabbing her hair and knees her in the stomach. The bigger girl falls to the ground while the younger girl whips her hair back and just keeps on walking. Faith then looks at the girl and says “Hell yeah, that’s my girl.” )

As I was walking home these girls approached me and started teasing me. They were telling me that I was a freak for liking that kind of music, that their parents told them I was poor, and how ugly I was. Then they started pointing their fingers at me and calling me a freak bitch.  I don’t know what it was , but I just felt this anger rise up in me, and when one of  the girls started to point her finger at my chest, I dropped my bag from the music store and I grabbed her arm and lunged my fist right to her damn jaw. At that next second, I then grabbed her by her hair, and brought my leg up and kneed her in her gut; sending her straight to the ground. The girl’s friends looked at me in fright and just scattered. I picked my bag and looked down at the girl. She was looking up at me and was just speechless. I gave this smirk and said to her “It isn’t so funny when you’re on the ground, is it bitch?” I felt like such a bad-ass after that.

(Faith gives the girl on the ground one last look before moving on.  She walks past a little corner liquor store where she sees a young African-American man talking to a much older African-American man.  She watches on like a curious child would.  She hears the older man chuckling to the younger man who simply shakes his head.  She sinks down lower to the ground to eavesdrop, even though she can’t really hear a word they are saying.)

Of course though, after my brother got home from work he had already heard about the fighting incident. The clerk from a nearby store had saw me and had stopped and told my brother when he was heading his way home. He was explaining to me how usually he would be mad at me for something like that. But, the store clerk made a good suggestion to him. I asked him what the store clerk had suggested and my brother said “wrestling.” At first I was thinking to myself how the hell could I be a wrestler? But my brother made a good point. He told me that I had a good frame and that I had a pretty good build being a girl as short as I was. Also not to mention, I later heard that I broke that girls jaw too! It wasn’t too long after that when my brother started having me watch the wrestling shows that he liked on TV and I just fell in love with it. But I guess what made such a descent fighter was thinking about the anger I held in from the death of my parents and the constant teasing from prissy girls.  It wasn’t until a few months later when I searched and found a coach who was willing to teach me how to wrestle.

(Faith gets up from her crouched position on the ground and keeps walking down the street.  The steam rising from the manhole clouds up the street, causing Faith to wave her hand in front of her face.  She walks through the mist and over to a brick wall.  She finds an opening and quickly ducks into it.  She finds herself in a dark alley once again, only this time she sees a curtain at the end.  As she gets there, curiosity gets the better of her and she pushes open the curtains.  She is amazed at the sight of two women giving it all they got inside of a wrestling ring.  The urban background adds to her excitement as these two ladies go at it harder than any man she has ever seen.  The ring apron reads “Sin City Wrestling”)

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“That is a very intense background.  I assure you we are flattered to hear that you have chosen SCW as your debut organization.  Can I ask what made you choose us?”

(Faith’s concentration is broken as she shakes back to reality.  Her eyes focus more on her surroundings as she looks directly at the well-endowed female sitting in front of her.  She reaches over and picks up a glass of water to take a long drink.  This is her first interview afterall)

{Faith}
“Well when my brother got me into watching wrestling, and then into training, I caught this cool local legend signing autographs outside of the dome.  He didn’t look like anybody I ever seen on TV, so I wondered why everyone wanted his autograph.  Was he a musician because he looked like a fuckin’ rock star.  Trust.”

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“But of all the other places out there, some closer to home, why did Sin City Wrestling appeal to you so much?”

{Faith}
“If you’d hold your damn horses, I was getting there.  In case you didn’t notice, I like to talk, so let me do my thing.  So, this guy was apparently one of the biggest underground wrestlers, and we became acquaintances.  He showed me a couple things and made me realize I couldn’t ever do anything else for a living.  He is kinda a big deal though.  You might know him.”

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“Oh?  I admit my knowledge of wrestling inside and out is pretty extensive, so I probably do know him.  But for the sake of the interview, who is he?”

(Faith smiles as she takes another sip from the glass.  She sets it down in front of her so she could think.  Being put on the spot wasn’t her strongest suit but she was willing to try her best to drop the bombshell.  She tapped her fingers on the table in front of her to start up a drum roll.)

{Faith}
“Dude was a big deal last year when he came out of retirement.  He had a few big matches but then decided to go for gold.  Dude’s a boss!  Like, I don’t even know if I should say his name.”

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“You’ve got to tell us now!  We are all interested to find out who it is.”

{Faith}
“Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, current SCW Heavyweight Champion Spike Staggs!  Yeah baby!  Told you I got you dawg.  He trained me and taught me everything I know.  But I don’t want anyone to think I’m trying to ride off him.  I wanna do my own thing here.  But bitches beware, I was taught by the best.

(Faith points at the camera with an intense look on her face and a smile to contradict it.  She sits back in her chair with a smile plastered on her face but tries to look calm.  Rocky looks surprised by this revelation.)

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“Wow!  So you were trained by one of the biggest men to compete here in SCW.  That’s got to be intimidating to your opponents for your debut match!  Speaking of them, do you have anything to say to them?”

{Faith}
“First off, Danica Jones is a shook ass bitch who ain’t got the lady balls to let us know a damn thing about her, so I can’t say anything on that twat.  At least Angel Kash lets us know what she’s about.  The line in the sand is drawn and she stands on the opposite end of everything I have ever stood for.  She rich.  She “pretty”.  She got cars and clothes and money and power and some fake ass titties to go along with it.  I’m real.  Everything about me is real.  Everything I say is real because that’s me.  That’s why I know I’m gonna school both these bitches.  Real beats fake every day.  Real beats shook any damn time they are matched up.  Since Danica can’t seem to do her damn job and show us anything about her I can’t give her any more of my time.  Angel will find out that beauty can be stained.  She will know what it is like to get God-Smacked straight down to hell.  She in my world.  I eat, breath, and live this shit.”

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“That is a strong statement coming from someone who has never been in a real wrestling match before.  How do you know you will really have that edge over your opponents?”

{Faith}
“I know it because these girls don’t have the amount of determination I do.  I don’t do it for the money.  I don’t do it because I want fame.  I do it because fighting has always been my strong suit.  I grew up in the streets, fighting for meals.  I grew up fighting for my seat on the bus.  I grew up fighting for everything I have today.  I was never handed anything but a raw deal and a piece of government cheese.  So just because I never did a real match before don’t mean I have never fought before because every day of my life has been a fight.  Trust.”

(Faith has grown to be a little angry at this point as her eyes grow like saucers.  She shoves the glass of water onto the floor as she holds a fist up to Rocky.  The busty reporter holds her hands up in surrender and Faith leans back in her chair, pursing her lips with anger.)

{Miss Rocky Mountains}
“Wow, a lot of determination from SCW’s newest Bombshell!  I want to wish you good luck in your match on Sunday and we look forward to seeing you carry this determination over to the ring.  I am glad to be one of the first to welcome Faith to Sin City Wrestling.  I am your SCW Correspondant, signing off!”

(Miss Rocky  Mountains extends her hand to Faith who calms herself down enough to shake hands with the reporter as the screen goes to fuzz.)