The diner looked cheap from the outside but Vincent was hungry and the place seemed like a quiet place where nobody would bother him and he could eat alone in peace.

Over the door gave a tired chime sound as he stepped inside, the waitress smiled at him unbeknownst to the fact that she had actually served his family earlier that day and he wouldn't be the last member of the family to arrive in the diner that day either.

Of course each of them gave the waitress a different experience, and Vincent definitely didn't give off the same warm feeling that Eddie and Sabrina had earlier.

His aura was more uncomfortable and left a feeling of uneasiness throughout the diner as he found his own little table in the back corner to sit alone.

The waitress came by giving him the same smile she gave every customer.

“Names Mindy, Can I  get you some coffee?” she asked.

Vincent just nodded, and the waitress poured him the cup and left, vanishing without a second glance, he stared down to the blackness of his coffee. The first sip burned his throat and that was just how he liked it.

He could still see Carter's stupid grin in his head in that moment after the match was done and all that was left was a white blur, the taste of his own blood and the smell of humiliation. He could feel them all looking at him after looking at him like a lion who lost his teeth.

He clenched his jaw tightly.

People just saw him as the volatile member of his family, but nobody ever saw what came before the anger. The hours were he bled in silence so when the lights came on he could survive in the ring.

And still he was forced to watch someone like Carter get his hand raised.

It was enough to make him sick. He was better than HB Carter and he knew it. He was the one that they had chosen to be one of their champions. They had handed him a championship, and said we want you as our champion. Nobody else had that honor except Vincent Lyons Jr.

His mind shifted to Brandon Hendrix, the next sacrifice. The name he would carve into memory to show the world that he wasn't done yet.

He took another sip of coffee, still hot, still delicious.

“They think I've gone soft…” he muttered quietly to himself. “But I'll make Brandon Hendrix an example to show them how wrong they are.”

He looked up as the waitress returned to his table.

“Just coffee tonight hon’?” she asked politely “Or can I get you something to eat as well.”

“Steak.” he muttered “Rare. No sides.”

“Just a steak by itself?” she asked

Vincent glared at her as if to say -did I stutter-

She gave a nervous nod, refilled his coffee and took his order to the kitchen.

He took another sip of coffee, every sip stoking something inside of him. A burning fire that nobody could feel but him.

The waitress reappeared before he realized it, setting down his plate with a cautious smile.

“Rare and bloody for you sir.” she said. “Can I get you anything else?”

“More coffee.” he said.

She nodded, and quickly got him his refill and left him alone deciding it best to avoid any small talk.

Vincent grabbed his knife and pressed it through the meat, watching it open up underneath the blade bleeding slightly onto the plate. A grim satisfaction came across him.

The steak tasted cheap but that didn't matter it was just something to keep his hands busy as his mind tore through past memories and future plans.

That grin of HB Carter just wouldn't leave. That smug tilt of his mouth when the bell rang looking at Vincent not with pity, but with certainty like figured him out.

He sliced through another piece of steak and pictured Brandon Hendrix. He couldn't wait to get his hands on him to make him.  To make him flinch and show him the reality of what it meant to get into the ring with Vincent Lyons Jr.

He stared at the blood collecting on his plate. It wasn't enough, it never was.

Vincent finished off the steak and wiped his mouth clean with the napkin. When the check came he left his money and neatly stacked his dishes, in that politely creepy way, before quietly making his exit.

He got into his car,  and with no music playing drove off down the road, allowing Brandon Hendrix to remain the only thing on his mind amid the quiet.

_________

The camera opens on a dimly lit area with black curtains and a single light that only picks out the planes of the face of Vincent Lyons Jr looking at the lens like it owed him an answer. The roulette championship on his shoulder shining brightly through the darkness.

“I listened to you talk, Brandon.” Vincent said “I listened to you talk and talk and talk. Every word out your mouth sounding like a therapy session that nobody asked for.”

He keeps his expression calm and focused.

“Whatever you were in this company before doesn't matter to me.” said Vincent “What matters is what you are now and what I see is a crybaby who refuses to hold himself accountable for his own failures.”

A cold, calculated grin grows across his face.

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?” said Vincent “Because if that's what you think you really don't know who I am. I'm not out there looking to meet the expectations of others. I'm looking out there to meet the expectations of Vincent Lyons Jr.”

He pauses shortly.

“And you know what? I failed those expectations on Climax Control when I let HB Carter beat me.” said Vincent “That primadonna little piece of…”

He clinches a fist and exhales heavily in frustration.

“No no NO!  I can't let them do that to me. said Vincent “I can't let that family get under my skin. That's what they do to people you know. The Kasey's.”

His lip quivers, the name Kasey rolls off his tongue with the utmost disgust.

“Now Brandon I have this rage. This rage building inside me.” said Vincent “I can hear the Kasey's. Their smug voices mocking me. I need to let this rage out, and unfortunately for you, you find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

He laughs smugly.

“Because the truth is what I've already told you." said Vincent “I don't care. Whatever sob story you want to wine and complain about, means nothing to me. Your daughter, means nothing to me. Your failing heart, means nothing to me.  If you want to paint yourself as a victim I have no problem making you one.”

He pauses.

“You want to complain about being told you weren't good enough.” said Vincent “All the critics, all your doubters. Did you never stop to think that maybe they weren't wrong?”

He raises an eyebrow.

“Respect isn't something you cry about.“ Vincent said “It's something you take. You stand tall when the smoke settles and everyone else is broken. That's what I do. That’s why I was chosen to hold this championship because I don't ask for anybody's sympathy.”

He probably pats his championship.

“That's what truly makes us different.” Vincent said “You think the world is unfair and against you. But I know it is. But unlike you I don't complain about it, I feed off it.”

There's a slight quiver in Vincent's lip.

“You think you're the only one that's bled under those lights?” [/color]said Vincent "You think you've got the monopoly on suffering? Because you don't. You just don't know how to shut up and live with it.”

He gives a heavy annoyed exhale.

“You're tired of people looking at you like a joke.” said Vincent “But the thing is Brandon, when you spend all your time screaming for validation what else can people call you? You're not fighting for respect,  your auditioning for pity and pity doesn't win championships. You say you'll be damned if I take your spot? What spot is that exactly? Because last I checked one of us is a champion around here and one of us isn't.”

He motions to his championship drawing attention to it.

“You think this championship is going to fill some empty void in your life.” said Vincent “That's not drive, that's desperation.”

He pauses, taking in a breath.

“You're all upset because I questioned if you were ready?”  said Vincent. “Your goddamn right I did. All your whining and complaining only tells me that you're not because the man who has to convince himself that he's ready, truly isn't.”

He pauses shortly again.

“You don't need to worry about me taking your spot." Vincent said, “Because I already have. You just haven't realized it yet. You don't understand that I'm not looking to go as far as I need to win this match, I'm going as far as I want.”

He smiles, but it's anything but friendly. His eyes never move, remaining fixated on the camera, unblinking.

“I'm not looking for people to love me.” Vincent said “I'm looking to make them remember me. They're going to remember me as the man who rips people apart. The man who turns every match into an autopsy.”

He exhales, keeping the cold grin on his face.

"I'm not just going to beat you Brandon. I'm going to instill fear in you I'm going to make you wish you never came back. I'm going to send you home to your daughter with a chill that crawls up your spine every time you hear my name.” he continued

He laughs.

“I want you to remember everything Brandon." Vincent said “Every broken rib, every cracked bone, because it's going to be proof that you're crying and excuses need to stop. Proof that Vincent Lyons Jr showed you what happens when pain evolves into purpose,  rather than pity.”

He takes a few steps closer to the camera.

“You say you're going to fuck me up?” said Vincent “Well, challenge accepted Brandon. I mean, somebody's going to be getting fucked up in this match, but it's not going to be me. I'm going to be the one fucking you up. Understand there will be no respect,  there will be no mercy. Just cold, cruel calculated violence. I'm going to walk out of High Stakes still the Roulette Champion, and I'll send you home with something to truly cry about.”

He laughs to himself again as the light flickers above him, then slowly dies to the sounds of a violin, leaving everything in darkness.

The home of Vincent Lyons Jr is impeccably neat, almost sterile. If one didn't know better it would appear that nobody lived here at all. Vincent sits on a lounge chair staring at the roulette championship on the table in front of him.

“They're about to realize who the true dominant champion in SCW is.” Vincent said to nobody. “I already dropped Miles Kasey on his fat head, now I'll get to take his better half out as well. The so-called world champion who doesn't even have his championship.”

Vincent smirks and laughs to himself.

“They've labeled me as unstable.” he continued speaking to himself “But that's a fairy tale they created. I'm the only one who tells the truth. Now the Kasey Brothers get the sympathy, and Alexandra Calaway gets to be seen as a heroine and everyone cheers them for it.”

He scoffs and shakes his head, disgusted.

“Now they're putting me against HB Carter.” said Vincent “I should have seen this coming, that family is desperate to get one over on me  But they don't realize they've made their biggest mistake because now I'm going to take out Carter and show that whole damn family that none of them are on the level of The Chosen.”

He runs his fingers along the gold plate of his championship.

“This is where you send your biggest message of all Vincent.” he continued speaking. “You take out Carter and you can shut that whole family up for good, and leave the scraps for the raven to feast on."

He chuckles to himself, finding his own analogy amusing.

“They really have no idea what they've done.” said Vincent. “They've given me the perfect stage.”

Then he heard the voice, and rolled his eyes.

“Hello father.” Vincent grumbled. “So what is it this time?”

“You tell me.” his father replied from his perch on the couch “You're the one who calls me when you walk too close to the edge.”

“I'm not close to any edge.” Vincent said “I'm right where I belong.”

“Confusing vengeance with purpose?” his father said with an eyebrow raised “Because you have a match with the world champion and you should look at that as a privilege, not an excuse to settle your personal scores.”

“I don't give a damn about privilege.” said Vincent “This is about finishing what I started and putting down the last of the Kasey's.”

“You're letting your obsession cloud your mind, son." his father said. “It's not healthy.”

Vincent stands slowly looking at the vision of his father on the couch with calm eyes.

“What do you care anyway?” he said “Victoria was always your favorite. What would you understand about what I'm going through?”

He folded his arms and shifted his gaze away from the couch.

“I told you before.” his father said, “That's not true.”

“Is it not?” Vincent snapped back “If Victoria stumbled, you were there to lift her up. If I stumbled you told me I had to stand up on my own!”

“That's because you never needed me the way she did.” his father said “Your sister has always been headstrong and reckless. So maybe I did give Victoria a bit more of my attention than I should have but don't act like your mother didn't balance it out with her baby boy.”

“Mother has nothing to do with this.” said Vincent.

“She loves you.” his father said “Maybe she was too easy and I was too hard on you, and we created something unbalanced with you and your sister, but none of it was meant to break either of you.”

Vincent scoffs.

“Whatever.” Vincent said “All I know is right now, my goal is to take out HB Carter for good.”

“Vengeance isn't the way son.“ his father said

"Oh you're one to talk." said Vincent "Don't act like you didn't build your reputation on fear. You left people broken and humiliated. You know exactly where my violent streak comes from. Don't sit there on my sofa pretending you're some saint.”

“You're not wrong,  I did terrible things." his father said. "I had a darkness that consumed almost everything I built, but I pushed past and learned from it.  I want the same for you. You asked me earlier, what do I know about what you're going through? Well it sounds like you've answered your own question. It's because that used to be me.”

“So what? You want me to be tame and polite?” Vincent said in a mocking tone

“I want you to be better.” his father said. “Nobody said you had to be polite, look at your sister she's far from polite but she's not out there holding on to any vengeance or old grudges.”

“There you go putting her over me again.” Vincent said

“I just don't want you to repeat my mistakes.” his father said “You should fight for respect, not fear. You have the chance to build something stronger and something better than I did.”

“You asked me to be better.” Vincent said in a low voice “But you were never better, you just learned to hide it better. Maybe I like it, maybe I like the chaos.”

“That's what I'm afraid of..” his father said.

“Well I'm not afraid.” said Vincent “Embracing the chaos inside me has helped me grow. I am better because of it.”

“Is that what you truly believe?” his father asked.

“It's what I know..” said Vincent “And I don't need to hear any more from you. The chaos will guide me and you are nothing but a figment of my own imagination.”

Vincent closed his eyes and when he opened them moments later his father was gone, this was the silence preferred, letting the chaos in his mind speak the loudest and it had one face on its mind.

Helluva Bottom Carter.

__________

Vincent sat in his favorite little corner of the Lyons Den wrapping his wrists, preparing for a training session, his gears thrown about on the floor half spelled out of the gear bag next to him.

The sound of a door opening behind him caught his attention but he didn't turn to face the person.

“So this is where you're hiding.” the voice of Cleo Phillips entered his ears.

He laughed to himself.

“I'm not hiding, I'm training,” he said, still not looking in her direction. “And I prefer to do it alone. Got a problem with that?”

“Nope.” said Cleo “But I do gotta problem with you.”

That caught his attention and he turned to face her, standing to meet her gaze.

“Oh don't step to me little lion boy.” she said “You know I ain't the one, you going to sit down and listen.”

“I'll stand thank you.” Vincent said not backing down

Cleo smirked at him.

“You're lucky I'm trying to control my temper.” she said “Cause there was a time you'd get your jaw cracked for stepping up like that.”

“So what exactly is the problem?” Vincent said.

“You are the problem.” Cleo said “You got people walking on eggshells when you're around. Your hostel nature is leaking into this school and it needs to stop. I'm the one that had to calm Alexander down after your fight last week. You're supposed to be the heir to this place, you need to start acting like it.”

“What's it to you?” Vincent said crossing his arms

“What's it to me?” Cleo replied firmly. “This place is the reason I ain't sitting in a jail cell right now. The Lyons Den is what helped pull me out of the mud, and the way you're acting you're dragging that very name right through it.”

“Don't preach to me like you know anything about the Lyons name.” Vincent replied.

“Yeah well maybe it means something more to those of us here who don't carry the name.” she said. “You, Victoria  hell, even Eddie can walk around like it's just another gym. But for people like myself this is a place that saved us. So I take it a little personally when you walk around poisoning the air with your vengeance. You're not going to make the den your little war zone every time you feel someone disrespects you.”

“So what you're supposed to be some moral compass around here now?” said Vincent with a laugh. “That's rich.”

“I ain't trying to be nothing.” Cleo said “I just know what it's like to lose yourself to anger. You think I don't understand what you're doing?  I might understand it more than anybody else around here. You think vengeance gives you control, but you can trust me that it don't. It's going to eat at you piece by piece until there's nothing left.”

“Look I don't need life lessons from a convicted felon.” Vincent said with a sneer.

“Yeah?” said Cleo with her own sneer “Well, this convicted felon is trying to help you not become one. You know I got a year for an assault charge, broke a girl's leg because she had been running her mouth about me. So I hunted her down and took care of business.”

“Well that's your story.” he said Vincent “I'm not a reckless thug looking for revenge I know exactly what I'm doing.”

“That's what they all say before they lose control.” Cleo said.

‘The difference is..” Vincent grinned “I am control. You let your own rage control you. I harness mine, that's what makes us different.”

“You can tell yourself that.” Cleo said “But you sound like me ten years ago. When all I really cared about was making sure nobody made a fool out of me.”

“You think your little redemption arc makes you wise?” Vincent said “To me you're nothing but a thug with a lucky second chance.”

“So it's really like that…” Cleo said nodding her head “You know what good luck to you. It's a dangerous road ahead of you, if you continue doing what you're doing. All I can really say is don't say I didn't try to warn you.”

“Are you done preaching?” Vincent said arms still folded, raising an eyebrow "Because I'm done listening.”

“See that's the problem with you.” Cleo said, shaking her head “You think every piece of advice is someone trying to keep you down.”

“Maybe because every time someone gives me advice…..” said Vincent “They try to tell me to be more like Eddie or Victoria, or even Alexander these days. I'm tired of people telling me who I should be. Now I answer to myself.”

“I don't give a damn about none of your family drama bullshit.” said Cleo “What I care about is this place. I care about The Den and I care that you're running people off with your outbursts.”

“If they leave, they weren't good enough to train here in the first place.” Vincent said.

“Naw.” said Cleo “You ain't taking this place down with you, not on my watch.”

“Whatever.” muttered Vincent.

“Yeah whatever…” Cleo said, rolling her eyes and turning to the door.

“You walk away and you prove me right.” Vincent said

“No.” said Cleo “It proves that I still got control. Walking away ain't weakness.  It's one of the strongest things I've ever learned how to do. Sometimes you need to just let things go.”

“What you think you're better than me or something?” Vincent snapped

“I'm just done being my own worst enemy.” Cleo said, stopping at the doorway looking back at him. “One day all your chaos and control is going to burn out and you're going to be left with nothing.”

With that she left through the door and it shut behind her.

“I'm not going to burn out…” he muttered to himself “I'm just getting started.”

With a frustrated exhale, he grabbed his gloves from his bag and began angrily wailing on a nearby punching bag.

__________

The cameras come to life at dusk in a forgotten churchyard, slowly following the cracked path to an old altar where three candles rest. Two sit extinguished, their wax still dripping down their sides, the last one still burning bright. Sitting right in front of the candle is the SCW roulette championship in full display.

Behind the altar stands Vincent Lyons Jr, keeping his head bowed, letting the silence linger just long enough to become uncomfortable when he finally speaks, it comes in a low unsettling tone.

“The funny thing about faith is…” he begins “People only cling to it when they're scared. When things start falling apart that's when they begin to pray.”

He lifts his gaze to the camera, an unsettling look of confidence rests in them.

“So what happens when there's no one left to pray to?” he says “When your idols crumble and your saviors run, then you're left with men like me. Ones who don't beg for mercy, but ones who take it.”

He walks around the stone altar, running his fingers across it circling it like a predator.

“I've been watching things real closely.” he said “Watching my family continue to claw for scraps, I've been watching cowards play hero and I finally see it for what it really is. Greed.”

He stops behind the altar once more, a faint smirk on his face.

“HB Carter's the latest to wear the mask.” Vincent said “The big hearted world champion who wants to stand tall and defend his family's honor.”

He shakes his head with a soft arrogant chuckle.

“I probably should have seen this coming.” he said “That's how it is with the family like the Kasey's. There's always someone trying to step up and be the hero. L.J. Kasey tried to make his statement and I silenced him. Miles tried to step up and I ended him. Now here comes Carter puffing his chest with something to prove not realizing he's just another lamb walking straight into the slaughter.”

He shifts his gaze slightly to the single lit candle.

“Have you already forgotten Carter?” Vincent said “Have you already forgotten what happened the last time? When I cracked your skull and quite possibly gave you a concussion? I'd let you off easy that night. This time I won't be so forgiving.”

He smirks.

“But you haven't forgotten have you?” he said “You remember exactly how it felt. You remember exactly how loud that crack was when that chair connected with your skull, and deep down it scares you, because you know part two is coming.”

That smirk on his face grows to grinch like proportions.

“You probably think this match is going to be some sort of redemption for you.” Vincent said “You're coming to stand up for your family, it's a real cute story but to me it's more than a story, it's just worked unfinished.”

He pauses shortly.

“I already broke one half of your little happy home.”  he said “Now I'm coming to finish the other. They say things come in threes, so I guess this is where I complete my trinity. L.J., Miles, and now you. I will expose you as the holy family of failure.”

He laughs slightly to himself, somewhere in the distance a crow caws.

“Raven…” he said “Now there is a man who gets it. See, Alexander Raven didn't ask for help, or beg for anybody's approval. He just took what he wanted without remorse and that's something I can respect.”

He laughs again.

“And you just let him, didn't you?” Vincent said “You let him take your championship and expose you as the little punk bitch you are. If someone dared to try and steal my championship, they wouldn't be walking anymore.”

He exhales heavily.

“When Raven took that championship I laughed.” he continued “Because it reminded me what it looks like when someone refuses to bow. It reminded me what separates men like us from the men like the rest of you, we don't fight for acceptance, we fight because we we know destruction is the only honest thing left in this industry.”

He looks to the candle on the altar for a moment.

“Raven punked you, plain and simple.” Vincent said “And I'm not about to let you get any redemption against me. When I crack your skull open for the second time, you'll finally understand, all the applause and adulation you fight for are worth nothing.”

He continues looking to the candle as he speaks.

“I am more than just your challenger Carter.” Vincent continued “I am the standard, this company chose me to be one of its champions. I beat LJ, and then I beat Miles,  and now when I beat you, I'll be the man who beat the entire Kasey family in a matter of weeks. Who else can really say that?”

He smirks again, keeping a gaze on the single lit candle.

“You're all that's left, Carter.” Vincent said “The last ember, you've got heart sure, but heart won't be enough when the air runs out. That's what I am Carter, the wind that will take your fire away.”

With those words he blows out the candle.

“I will complete the trinity.” he said “I will extinguish the final flame of the Kasey family that's plaguing this company. I have to wonder how long it will take Alexandra Calaway to come protect you as well.”

He pauses for a beat watching the smoke of the candle dissipate into the air.

“You hear that?” he said “The silence. That's what it will sound like when the Kasey's are finally gone and the noise fades. Until all that's left is me. Then everyone will realize that Vincent Lyons Jr didn't just win. They will realize that…”

His voice drops to a more unsettling tone.

“He erased a bloodline.” he grins.

He lifts his championship off the Altar and rests it on his shoulder before looking at the camera one last time.

“HB Carter…this is your final warning.” he says in a low, almost whisper

With that he walks away from the altar down the stone path into the darkness, the camera zooms to focus on the single extinguished candle, sending its final wisps of smoke into the atmosphere.

It was a quiet night at the Lyon's Den, none of the usual suspects were here tonight other than Vincent. Eddie was off being a boring family man, Victoria was spending all of her time with that fat boy, Cleo was off talking to some future felons at a detention center in Baltimore, and nobody really knew where the hell Alexander was. Save for a handful of young trainees, it was just Vincent sitting on a crate in the corner his Roulette Championship laid next to him.

But it was the voice of someone who truly wasn't supposed to be here that truly took him by surprise.

“Hey there son.” his father's voice cut through the silence.

He shook his head and smacked himself. That was impossible, his father had passed years ago.

“You look tired kiddo.” The voice came again

Vincent let out a soft guttural sound with a heavy exhale, snapping his head up and scanning the room.

And then he saw him, his father leaning against the wall near the punching bags looking directly at him with that stern look on his face.

“No.” said Vincent "You can't be here, you're not real, you're dead.”

“And yet here I am.” his father replied

“But that's impossible.” Vincent said “Maybe I've taken too many bumps. Maybe I have too much stress pressing on my mind.”

“You've been pushed hard before.” his father replied "But this? This is your guilt speaking louder than reason son.”

“I'm not guilty!” Vincent said, slamming his fist against the nearby wall “I'm doing what I have to do, not that you'd understand.”

“Is that what you think?” his father replied “You know I taught you better.  You know you've crossed the line not just with your opponents, but with your own family. You pushed Victoria away. I raised you to protect her and keep her safe.  But you've let your own anger take over and drive a wedge between the two of you.”

“All Victoria wanted to do was control me and I don't want to be controlled anymore” Vincent said sternly as he stood up and took a few steps toward his father. "And Logan he deserved what I did to him, nobody can tell me otherwise.  Now I intend to teach L.J. the cost of getting into my business and trying to play the hero.”

“And you call that clarity?” his father asked "Because it sounds like fear disguised as control. You're just trying to ignore the cracks inside your own soul by punishing others without mercy.”

“Why should I show anyone mercy?” Vincent replied “Mercy is weakness and weakness gets you hurt and betrayed.”

“You sound scared." his father said “You sound scared of being weak and losing control, so you hide behind anger and cruelty. But that's not real strength, that's a prison and you've trapped yourself in it.”

Vincent's lip quivered and he tightened hand into a fist.

“I'm not scared.” he said  "This is who I am now. I chose this and I don't need anybody's approval.”

“But you can choose differently Vincent. ” his father said, taking a step closer to him, “You can choose justice, real justice instead of punishment.”


“I'll choose to handle my business however I see fit!” Vincent said “You know as well as I do that this business doesn't reward heroism. Doing things the proper way is what makes you weak. To be strong you need to take matters into your own hands and not be concerned with what anybody else thinks of you, even family.”

“And what happens if you're wrong?" said his father, "What happens when those you pushed away are truly gone forever?”

For a moment thoughts of Victoria crossed through his mind, but he shook his head, shaking the thought away.

“No.” said  Vincent “This is the way this is the only path that makes sense. I don't need to show mercy and I don't need to be a hero.  This is the path I'm destined to be on father and I'm not turning back.”

“Are you sure about that?” his father replied. “Don't lose yourself to the darkness you embrace.”

“I am." said Vincent “I know who I am. I'm stronger and better than anybody else and if you were really here you'd understand and you'd see it. But you're not here because you're DEAD.”

He exhaled heavily with frustration, closing his eyes for a moment before another voice interrupted him but it wasn't his father.

“Vincent?” the voice said nervously “Are you okay? Who are you talking to?”

When his eyes reopened he saw a young rookie had walked up to him.

“Mind your business kid.” he scoffed with a dismissive roll of the eyes

He looked over to where he had seen his father standing and nobody was there. Without saying anything, he grabbed his championship, pushed past the young rookie and left out the doors of The Lyons Den disappearing into the night.

_________

The streets outside the Lyons Den were quiet and Vincent tried to chase the faint echo of his father's voice lingering in his mind as the cold air slapped him in the face.

But the turmoil didn't cease, the words of his father continued to haunt him, threading themselves throughout his own thoughts. He pushed back against those thoughts letting the anger mask the sting of guilt.


…You did the right thing. Logan deserved it, and now you will give LJ what he deserves. The Roulette Championship on your shoulder is yours, that's all that matters…

As he walked the faintest flicker of doubt lingered at the edges of his mind he saw Victoria's face with concern in her eyes, a look of hurt as he pushed her away.

…You think she was really that concerned about you? Look how quickly she replaced you with that fat boy…

He kept walking at a steady pace matching the post of his thoughts.  The thoughts of LJ Casey saving Logan continued to prick at him.

…LJ thinks he can walk in and play hero on my watch? He wants to protect the weak? Then he'll have to learn the hard way. He will learn the cost of stepping into my world, and he'll see what his heroism really gets him…

He thought about that vision of his father leaning against the wall watching him with that steady gaze and just as fast as it came it was gone. Vincent exhaled heavily.

…Whatever Dad. This is my life, my rules, and I'll follow my path…

Even as he tried to convince himself there isn't uneasiness tugging at the corner of his mind. It always tried to keep certain thoughts suppressed and compartmentalized but something about the quiet of the Lyon's Den and absence of the usual chaos made him realize how lonely he really was. After pushing Victoria away he truly had nobody.

…Loneliness is strength. I've survived and endured what nobody else could. I'm stronger than everyone, including my own family….

…But maybe I don't have to push everyone away….

He stomped a foot angrily into the pavement below.

…No when you have to care about people, that brings about weakness and that's not me. I don't need approval. I choose my own path, I'm in control and I choose strength…

And as he tried to convince himself he still couldn't shake the image of Victoria's face when he had pushed her away the subtle hurt in her eyes.

…I still protect her but I protect her in my own way. I do what must be done and that's all she needs to understand…

… if that fat boy hurts her, then he and I will have a problem….

… no there's that weakness again you need to let her solve her own problems. If she needs help now she can get it from that fat boy…

He continued down along the sidewalk,  he may have been alone but he felt powerful he didn't need forgiveness or approval. All he needed was the path he had chosen and nobody was going to sway him from it.

But has he continued his pace beneath the glow of the street lights scattered across his path the echo of his father's voice returned.

..Don't lose yourself to the darkness you embrace…

Vincent shook his head rejecting the memory, a devilish smile creeping across his face.

“I know who I am.” he said to himself “I'm stronger and smarter than anyone. If that means I have to walk this path alone then so be it.“

And continue on he did. He wasn't sure of his destination, and it didn't matter. He just needed to walk. The weight of his choices and the lingering echoes of his father's words remained and they would continue to follow him like all truths do. But for now Vincent Jr. had chosen his path and he wasn't going to turn back.

__________

The cameras open on Vincent Lyons Jr. sitting alone in a folding chair in the middle of a dimly lit room. He has the roulette Championship over his shoulder and hangs his head down, slowly lifting it so his eyes meet the camera with that familiar sadistic grin on his face.

“Do you know what I love about all this LJ?” Vincent said with a low voice that was laced with venom, “It's the predictability. You really think there's something new or something different but you're not. You're just like my cousin Eddie, the same tired old story on repeat. The same boring cookie cutter hero that always stands up for what's right.”

He scowls and spits at the ground disgusted.

"Your mistake was involving yourself in my business." Vincent continued, “Do you think yourself noble for protecting somebody like Logan Hunter? The same man that dragged you around the arena on a motorcycle? That's not being noble, that's just being stupid. That man tried to end your career and you chose to save him when I punished him for his crimes? Why? To make yourself feel special so Alexandra Calaway can run up to you like she's Olive Oyl running up to Popeye crying out ~~my hero~~? Oh don't worry we'll talk about what you've done to her in a bit.”

Vincent smirks.

“I don't see a hero when I look at you LJ." Vincent said I see prey. "I see a blind fool wandering into the woods thinking he can scare off the wolf.”

With a smirk he taps the faceplate of his Roulette Championship.

“This championship is proof.” he said “Proof that I know how to thrive in this business. Logan and Liam thought they could take it from me and they failed. But you, you won't even get the opportunity because this isn't about you getting a chance at my championship. This is about me getting revenge on you for playing the hero.“

He lets his words linger and gazes at his championship for a moment.

“You're going to understand the cost of stepping into my world LJ.” said Vincent. “You're going to wish that you had chosen to mind your own business, and let me handle mine with Logan. You may not understand the cost of the decision you made but I'm certainly going to enjoy teaching you.”

He laughs to himself.

“The funny thing is you could be so much more.” said Vincent “But you choose to stay in your little family motif. That's why you will always remain Miles Kasey's little brother. You're not even the main event in your own dinner table are you? Sadly that will never change unless you're willing to take proper action like I did.”

He pauses for a moment and there's a slight twitch in his eyes and face.

“They all laughed at me.” he said “They all looked at me as Victoria's twin brother,  like she was supposed to be above me because she was the one with the championship. Well who's a champion now? They all laughed at me because I was trying to be a good brother and support her. Well who's laughing now? I'm the Lyons family member on top now,  and Victoria is scrambling to make herself matter again.”

Vincent laughs.

“Trust me.” said Vincent “Break yourself off from Miles because all he's ever going to do is hold you back you need to worry about one man and that's LJ Kasey. You really want to step out of your brother's shadow? “Then stand up and push your way out of it like I did with my sister.”

He laughs again.

“The sad thing is, you know I'm right.” said Vincent "But you won't do it because you're too proud. So at the end of the day you're never going to be more than a discount Miles Kasey continuing to trip over his shadow instead of rising out of it.”

He glares into the keeping that creepy grin on his face.

“I mean you already know how to ruin somebody.” said Vincent “Look at what you've done to Alexandra Calaway. This is a woman who went to war with my sister. They bled together and every drop of blood was a testament to who Alexandra Calaway was, a warrior who demanded respect. But the key word is that you Alexandra Calaway was before you slithered into the picture.”

He gets a disgusted look on his face.

“Look at her now.” Vincent said “That warrior is gone, her bloodlust has been tamed. You give the impression that you're lifting her higher but what you've really done is clip her wings. You turned Alexandra Calaway, one of the most dangerous women to step in this business into a lovesick puppy standing by your side.“

He shakes his head in disgust, and stands up as he begins slowly pacing in front of the chair.

“I'll be honest with you L.J., You've got talent and you've got heart.” said Vincent “But you seem to think that heart matters in this business. Your need to be the good guy is going to be your prison, and I'm going to use it to break you.”

He continues a slow pace back and forth in front of the chair a few steps in each direction, like he's just unable to keep still.

“You want to keep your morals and do the right thing.” said Vincent “But the truth is the right thing doesn't win championships. Doing the right thing doesn't make you dangerous. So go ahead and keep pretending your morals make you powerful because in reality they make you predictable and they make you weaker.”

He suddenly turns and glares directly into the camera.

“My cousin Eddie is a lot like you, so I know your type." said Vincent “You're the type who needs to be seen as noble. You need that validation that you stood tall and did the right thing. It's like a drug to you.”

He laughs slightly again through the cold expression on his face.

“You may call it strength but I honestly think it's pathetic.” Vincent continued “The difference between us is I don't need anyone to clap for me or validate me. I don't need to be anybody's hero. I know exactly who I am and how far I'll go to get what I want. You've seen first hand that it's a lot further than you'll ever go. So when it comes to it and we have to cross that line between what's considered right and wrong, you're going to stop and I'm going to cross the line.”

He adjusts the championship on his shoulder.

“That's the reality people like you and Eddie can't accept.” said Vincent “The world doesn't reward good men. The world lets people like me chew them up and spit them out. You come with your noble intentions and sense of honor and I gut every last piece of it. I will shatter every last moral you have and leave you with nothing left.”

He pauses shortly.

“The truth is being good makes you vulnerable and I'm going to expose that vulnerability.” said Vincent “Because nobility isn't going to win you any fights. You’re just a sheep walking into the woods thinking your righteousness is going to save you, until you hear the howl of the wolf.”

He lets a soft howl escape his lips.

“That's me.” said Vincent "I'm the wolf, I'm the sound you should have ran from but instead walked closer to, hoping your morals would protect you and now you'll find out what happens when the Predator sinks his teeth in.”

That strange unsettling laugh exits his lips again.

“The Roulette Championship is mine because I'm willing to do what others aren't.“ said Vincent “I'm willing to cross that line and take things as far as I need to. I don't need to be good like you, I don't need the spotlight to shine on me in a way that makes me look pure. But I am going to pull you out of that light and drag you into the darkness and enjoy every second watching you choke on it.”

He lets out a quick exhale.

“So you can keep your morals LJ.” said Vincent “But know this, when the bell rings you're going to be standing across from reality. I will be the end of your illusions because I don't give a damn about right or wrong, the only thing I care about is pain. When I leave you lying gasping for air on that mat you'll finally come to realize that your righteousness wasn't enough. You want to play the hero LJ, The truth is, heroes die on their shields and I'm going to be the one that makes sure you die on yours.”

With a short pause has he smirks and gauges into the camera he gives a slight nod before walking off into the darkness leaving only the empty chair and the weight of his words in the as everything fades out to black.

__________

The entire world was full of hypocrites. Hypocrites who judged him for what he did to Logan Hunter when all he was trying to do was take out the trash. Logan Hunter was not a good person and he needed to be punished but just because Vincent was the one to do it suddenly he was the maniac.

These are the same type of people who would watch shows like Dexter or The Punisher and cheer those antiheroes along in their quest to rid the world of scum.  They wished someone out there would take out the real scum that actually existed in reality.

That is until they saw it happening before them. Then suddenly they didn't want it anymore. Suddenly that was going too far.

Vincent wasn't the bad guy. He was the hero he was trying to save this company from the stain that is Logan Hunter. Nobody really wanted Logan around, Vincent was just the only one willing to actually do something about it, and actually wipe the scum away from this company.

He wasn't a bad guy he was The Chosen and he was chosen to rid this company of scum like Logan Hunter.

He was the chosen deliverer of justice not Liam Davis.

Most importantly he was the SCW roulette champion.

And he was ready to outshine everybody including his stupid needy sister.

__________

Vincent walked into the Lyons Den, with a proud look on his face, SCW Roulette Championship resting on his shoulder.

“Hello, your champion has arrived!” he said “Please don't everybody swarm me at once.”

The trainees collectively rolled their eyes, everyone doing their best to ignore him.

“Oh it's like that?” he said,  “I am the ONLY champion around here now. Not to mention MY father started this school and since I carry his name I am the most important talent here now.”

When he continues to get ignored a scowl appears on his face, he stomps up to a young student of about 18 and gets in his face.

“Do you know who I am kid?” he said “I run this place. You need to show me respect because I could end you in an instant and you'd be gone from here.”

“...sorry I didn't mean…” the kid began.

“What's your name?” Vincent asked

“....Flash Flores” the kid replied. “I started training a couple weeks ago.”

Vincent laughed with the ridiculous name like that, this kid would never find himself a contract. Just more father coach Kaiser brought in to fill in the gaps in between the actual signed contracted talent, like himself.

“Well Flash.” Vincent said, stepping closer to the kids face, “Next time you see me, you shake my hand and you show me respect because I am the top talent around here, do you see anybody with a championship?”

“Well Alexander…” started Flores

“Alexander has no company anymore.”, said Vincent “Any championship you see him is irrelevant now. I am the ACTIVE champion.”

“I'm sorry… I didn't mean to offend..” said Flores

“You're new around here.” said Vincent “So you don't know the ropes yet, but next time you disrespect me like that I'll break you. Do you understand me? I will make sure your career is over before it can even begin.”

Vincent gets even closer truly face to face with the young student now.

“I…I understand…” said Flores nervously

They were getting eyes from some of the other students and then a voice came cracking through, Coach Keevee Kaiser.

“VINCENT LYONS JR.! LEAVE THAT STUDENT ALONE.” Kaiser said clearly not thrilled with Vincent at the moment.

With a smirk Vincent raised his hands and stepped back as the student went off to train in the opposite corner of the gym.

“My office.” said Coach Kaiser

“No.” said Vincent.

“No?” replied Coach Kaiser eyebrow raised

“That's what I said.” Vincent replied “No. I know you're just going to give me the third degree about my actions and how I'm out of control. But you don't understand, I don't care and I'm the one in control here.”

“You think you're in control?" Coach Kaiser replied "I control your contract, just as I control Victoria's, just as I control Eddie's. If I'm displeased with your performance, I can pull you anytime and have you replaced with any one of these students around here.”

“But you won't.” Vincent said with a smirk.

“And why won't I?” Coach Kaiser replied curiously.

“Because I'm making things exciting,"said Vincent “And I'm your only champion. You're not going to drop the contract of your only champion. Deep down you love your champions too much and deep down you know there's nobody that can replace me right now.”

“Is that what you think?” Coach Kaiser replied.

“It's what I know. The most you'll do is put me on leave.” said Vincent “You are too proud to actually pull any contracts. You will let the company close before you actually pull anybody's contract. If you want to use somebody new you'll just find a new company for them instead.”

“That's not true.” Coach Kaiser replied.

“Oh it is and you know it.“ Vincent replied “You're not changing any SCW contracts, it's going to be myself, Victoria and Eddie there until the place closes its doors or you fall into a situation where you need to step away for a while and have to pull all contracts.”

Coach Kaiser only listened.

“Yeah see, you know the truth.” Vincent smirked “Like it or not, I'm king around here now and everything within The Lyons Den will revolve around me, as it always should have with me being the son of the founder.”

“Well if you truly believe that.” said Coach Kaiser “Maybe you should think about how you're representing us, maybe you should think about how you're representing The Lyon's Den.”

Vincent just rolled his eyes.

“Yeah sure thing.“ Vincent said “Now if you'll excuse me, your champion has a match to prepare for.”

Vincent pushed past Coach Kaiser and found a nearby spot to begin his own training for his Violent Conduct match against Logan Hunter and Liam Davis.

__________

The cameras open and what looks to be an office of sorts perhaps at a Precinct, they focus on a cork board that has pictures of Logan Hunter and Liam Davis stuck on it like one might see when they're solving a case on some sort of CSI type show. The word wanted rests beneath each of their pictures with a list of crimes.

Next to the board stands Vincent Lyons Jr dressed rather nicely. Slacks, button up shirt, nice shoes, but there's still that creepy aura of insanity about him and that look of instability in his eyes. The roulette championship rests proudly on his shoulder.

“If my name was Frank Castle all you nerds would have loved what I did to Logan Hunter.” said Vincent “Because you all know he deserved the punishment I was giving him.  You know this world would be a better place if it was rid of scumbags like Logan Hunter so why am I being labeled the villain when I'm actually trying to do something about it?”

He motions over to the board at Logan Hunter's picture.

“Logan Hunter has a laundry list of crimes he needs to be punished for.” said Vincent “Dragging a man via motorcycle, drunk in public, and just being a general douchebag to name a few. Is that the type of man you want as your Roulette Champion? An alcoholic who's had his balls removed by his girlfriend?”

Vincent pauses for a moment.

“People like him need to be dealt with.” Vincent said "And if nobody else is going to do it, I will if that makes me a bad guy then whatever. But I'm doing my part to make this world a better place for the greater good and that means cleansing it of filth.”

A dark sinister grin grows on his face.

“And rest assured Logan you are filth.” Vincent said, “Just like the rest of you from the Go gym or whatever your stupid little school is called. Newsflash if you're not from Wolfslair nobody gives a damn about you around here. But that doesn't bother any of us at the Lyons Den because we know that we are the superior school.”

He exhales.

“So as the champion of the Lyon's Den.” Vincent said “I am its leader and I'm the one that will show that we are better than Wolfslair,  we are better than the Go Gym and we're better than the Heroes Academy. It's just the truth and you know what else is the truth Logan you walked right into my trap.”

He laughs to himself.

“Did you really buy that 'am I a champion' act?” Vincent said with a grin “The moment this championship was put in my hands, I knew I was The Chosen. I knew I was the one that deserved to be champion because they picked me, not you, not Liam, Davis me.”

He raps his finger against his chest twice.

“I knew they needed me to step up and be a leader.” said Vincent, “They needed my help making SCW a better place so what did I do? I set out a trap to attract the flies.”

He takes a short moment to pause.

“I knew all the scum desperate to prove something would jump at an open challenge.” said Vincent “And since I'm the best I wasn't concerned about who answered.  But I knew it would be you. You've been crying about getting the championship back ever since you lost it to the guy in a cape. But you didn't realize what you accepted was your own execution. You didn't have to accept but your selfish nature made you do it and now you're going to get what's coming to you.”

He looks over at Logan's picture on the board again.

“All I'm doing is holding you responsible for your own crimes Logan.” said Vincent “You brought this upon yourself by being a piece of shit. A no good low life who's wasting oxygen. You don't deserve this championship, you never did. That's why Christian Underwood didn't give it back to you. Because you don't deserve it and nobody wants you around.”

He exhales again.

“You need to learn to mind your own business Logan.” Vincent said “You had no business interfering in my match with that wannabe hero LJ Kasey. You should have stayed in the back where you belong licking the wounds that Liam left you with earlier in the night. But you had to poke the bear and not look what happened to you had a real rough night that night didn't you and that was only the beginning because at violent conduct there will be no L.J. Kasey to save you from what you have coming, there will be no L.J. Kasey to save you when I finish the job and put you down for good.”

He exhales and drives his attention to the image of Liam Davis.

“And don't think I forgot about you, badge boy.” Vincent said “You've got your own little list of crimes that you need to be punished for.”

He makes a motion at the picture of Liam on the cork board.

“I'm sure you've seen a lot of these in your day.” said Vincent “Bet you never thought you'd see yourself on one, but the fact that you can't mind your own business, the fact that you chose to impede upon my execution of Logan Hunter, and failing to actually do your job and insert some sort of authority are just a few of the reasons you've landed yourself on my board. Because you're not the order of authority anymore I am.”

He pauses, giving me the stern look at the camera.

“You know what happened to Logan Hunter is kind of your fault too.” said Vincent “You should have put him down earlier in the night, and you tried, but you allowed him to get back up. I was just trying to finish the job that you couldn't. Had you done your job properly when you defeated him, he wouldn't have been able to walk out there and ruin my match so yeah this is on you too.”

He lets his words linger with another pause.

“But that's okay I'll show you how it's done.” said Vincent “I'll show you what real authority looks like. I'm sure you think you've got all the momentum right now since you defeated Logan and I lost my match, and overall you have the best win-loss records of all of us. But what you don't have is a championship.”

Vincent motions to his own championship the SCW roulette championship slung over his shoulder.

“Just like Logan Hunter, you took the bait.” said Vincent “All I had to do was set the trap of an open challenge and let my victims come to me. It was your greed that forced you to take the bait. You know you don't deserve a shot at the championship and yet you accepted anyway. Logan Hunter at least has the claim of being a former champion but what do you have you have nothing but that little badge of yours.”

Vincent laughs to himself.

“Your boys in blue aren't going to be able to save you any more than LJ Kasey is going to be able to save Logan.” Vincent said “There is going to be an officer down at Violent Conduct and no backup is going to come.”

Vincent laughs again.

“Next time when Logan and I are handling business, you will mind your own, and wait your turn.” said Vincent “You say you have aggression to let out? Cupcake, you know nothing about aggression. If you did, Logan Hunter wouldn't be walking right now. I will take you to a level of aggression you've never seen before, be it in the ring or on the beat.”

He pauses shortly.

“You're supposed to be a man of law.” said Vincent “But you were nowhere to be seen when I was trying to cleanse the world of Logan Hunter. LJ Kasey had to do your job for you. But when Logan and I were handling our business about it, suddenly there you were whining like a baby because we forgot about you. Even though it was never about you to begin with, you're just a third wheel in this whole thing and that's what pisses you off.”

Vincent takes a few steps away from the cork board toward the camera itself.

“Logan Hunter is a man who stands behind his woman,” said Vincent. "They used to tell me I stood behind my sister but they can't anymore because I have removed myself from her,  however how much of your talking is Brooke going to do for you Logan?”

He smirks.

“And you Liam, Mr. Notice Me Senpai.” Vincent said “You're just going to learn what real authority is, you're going to learn what it really means to deliver justice. Neither of you are ready for what's coming for you and neither of you are going to be able to walk out with my championship. When that final bell rings I will still be The Chosen and I will still be the SCW Roulette Champion and the two of you will be put back into the dirt where you belong. I dim you both guilty and now it's time to face your judgment.”

He glares intently into the camera making sure to readjust his championship, reaffirming who it belongs to as the scene fades to black.

__________

He hated Miami. It was too busy, too many people and there was this constant smell of cheap alcohol in the air. The sooner he could get out of this shithole, the better.

He walked along the sidewalk on South Beach with his roulette Championship over his shoulder drunk tourists stumbling past him somewhere he knew Logan Hunter was probably doing the same thing, perhaps drinking himself to death before he faced his execution.

He caught a few glances from people who looked at his championship, likely even recognizing him but nobody said a word. They just hurried past like cowards. Too blind to see the hero right in front of them.

Logan Hunter and Liam Davis, the names that wouldn't leave his head, they needed to pay for all their crimes and sins The sins that Vincent had personally judged them for.

He made his way on to the beach and stopped at the edge of the water letting his toes dig into some of the sand as he stared out into the horizon.

This was the beginning of his time, the Vincent Lyons Jr era. His sister had her turn and Eddie was never able to capitalize on any of his.

“Chosen.” he said to himself, he just like the way the words sounded on his lips. He thought about how Victoria would have just rolled her eyes at him and tried to take his glory for herself or how Eddie would tell him to get his head on straight but he didn't need their approval. He was a champion now. He didn't need anybody.

“They have no idea.” he muttered to himself “But they'll find out they'll learn, all of them will learn. You don't need to be the champion they like, you need to be the champion they need and that's exactly what you're going to be.”

He exhales and continues just staring across the ocean, the storm in his head brewing like the waves crashing on the shore.

“The Chosen.”

__________

Summer Xxxtreme did not end well for any member of the Lyon's Den. All three of Coach Kaiser's students ended up on the losing end of things.

The only real bright spot from the Lyons Den during the Princess Cruise was Eddie's wedding which Vincent and Victoria had viewed from a distance, and received a quiet but respectful nod from their cousin.

But when it came to their matches all three of them had lost. Eddie failing to capitalize on yet another opportunity. Victoria losing her championship, and in a reign that had lasted just over a year.

And Vincent had lost the Lyon's Den, once again failing to defeat Jayden Harris.

He could do nothing but admit that Jayden was the better man.

He was troubled to find where he would go after this loss and what his next move would be and then it came to him in the form of an unexpected gift. One he wasn't quite sure he even deserved. A championship match against Guy with a Cape.

Truth be told he didn't feel his though he earned it, but as the old saying goes he wasn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth. And what better way to rebound from a losing streak than winning yourself a shiny new championship?

It might even ignite the spark he needs to get on the winning side of things.

__________

Vincent looked across the room at his sister.  He was a bit inspired because his sister Victoria had not let her huge loss get to her like everyone, himself included, had expected.

Instead she seemed calm, as if ready to face the next challenge and she had been going on about becoming the hunter instead of the hunted.

Her calmness helped him get over his own loss. He was unable to defeat Jaden Harris but he still managed to stand up and fight for what he believed in and maybe that was something.

Now he had the opportunity to become a champion himself.

But why?

He had done nothing to deserve this. He had won no major matches. Surely even Eddie deserved it more than him.

It was Victoria's voice that broke his train of thought.

“You have that look again Vin.” she said "I told you don't worry about what you do or don't deserve. Accept what you're being given and take it.”

“I know… I know..” Vincent said “I just don't understand is all.”

“Then stop trying to make sense of it. TAKE IT. ” Victoria said. “Clearly you must have impressed someone even in defeat which isn't uncommon for any member of the Lyons  Den. We may not always be the premier talent, but our hard work and dedication is appreciated, and that's why we all keep getting opportunities. I've already been told there's one in the pipeline for me, and I'm sure they've got something lined up for Eddie as well but this week is about you Vincent.”

Vincent took the words in with a nod. Victoria was right as usual. This was his time to rebound, become a champion and put everything with Jayden Harris behind him.

“I just wish we both could have been Roulette Champions together.” said Vincent.

“Yeah me too.” said Victoria “But I can't take anything away from Harper Mason. She did everything she was supposed to do. She did everything I knew she could do, everything I molded her for ever since I planted that first seed by putting her in that handicap match. She may have taken my championship but it's because I made Harper Mason into something."

“So what is your next move?” Vincent asked

“Well I plan to make a statement on Climax Control.” Victoria said “Beyond that I'm going to see what Underwood was hinting at on X. But like I told you Vincent, you worry about yourself and winning the Roulette Championship.”

Vincent nodded again.

“Guy won't even see it coming.” he grinned.

He wasn't even sure if he believed his own words, because he knew Guy had a dangerous mind. But so did Vincent. He was starving for a major victory, and a starving lion is a very dangerous thing indeed.

__________

It's dark as the cameras catch up to Vincent Lyons Jr standing alone overlooking a lone cliffside. He glances to the camera as they approach and says nothing for a moment, turns to them to speak.

“If you had told me the result of me losing to Jayden Harris in the Lyons Den would be a championship match I wouldn't have believed you.” he said. “But here we are and maybe I don't deserve this opportunity but I can't worry about that. I'm going to take it nonetheless and use it as my rebound to get myself back on track. Winning a championship is the exact motivation I need right now.”

He nods as if reassuring himself.

“So I'm going to do what I have to do and expose the fabricated chaos of Guy with a Cape." he continued. "If that is your real name, I mean it might actually be Guy, you know like Guy Fieri.”

He chuckles.

“That kind of changes your name doesn't it ?” he said. “You're not just some guy with a cape, you literally are GUY with a cape. Either way after Climax Control you will no longer be Guy with a championship. Don't worry I'll let you keep the cape.”

He smirks at the camera.

"But it's time for your fabricated chaos to come to an end." Vincent said "Because that's all it is. Chaos is just a show for you it's not something you live in not something you Revel in like I do and you're going to find out exactly what that means when I take your championship away. Kekekekekeke."

He smirks again.

“I'm going to bring your little reign of terror to an end so I can begin my own reign of terror,." he said "A real one,  one that will show SCW exactly what Vincent Lyons Jr can really do. My sister held her own roulette championship for an entire year, now it's my turn.”

He pauses shortly.

“I mean look at you, you want to be just like her.” said Vincent. "You saw what she did as Queen so when you won your second crown you tried to bite off her style didn't you?”

He shakes his head slightly.

“You wanted to be edgy so you made Miles Kasey and LJ Casey fight each other. Brother versus brother looking to knock the other one out.” he said. “But Victoria did it so much better when she put lover against lover in a knockout match of her own. What pisses me off is that little bastard Miles Kasey played along with you, but they pulled a fast one on my sister but that's for another day.”

He pauses shortly.

“You parade around calling yourself King.” Vincent said “Just as she called herself Queen, yet everybody seemed okay with letting it happen for you but when she did it it was a problem. That sort of thing pisses me off. How dare you pinch off her style.”

A scowl grows on his face.

“You don't get to copy her and wear a crown and call yourself a Roulette Champion.” He said “I'm going to expose you for the fabrication you are. It's time for the Roulette Championship to go on the shoulder of a real man and I assure you I am much more of a man than you are Guy.”

He pauses shortly.

“I'm sure there's people out there like Logan Hunter who will be upset that this opportunity went to me.” Vincent continued “But I really don't give a shit.  This is going to be my time. I'm going to take the championship away from Guy with a cape and if Logan Hunter or Aiden Reynolds or anybody else has a problem with it, then I'll deal with them too. I was chosen for the opportunity this time and I'm going to capitalize on it. The rest of you can fucking deal with it.”

He exhales heavily.

“You're not going to punk me like you did Artie.” said Vincent “I'm going to be the one doing the punking this time, and maybe I'll rid this company of the guy with a cape problem for good. The thing is once I'm done with Guy with a cape and I win myself a championship then SCW is going to have a much bigger problem then a clown with fabricated chaos. They're going to have to deal with me.”

He laughs a hideous laugh to himself.

“So prepare yourself SCW.” he said “Prepare yourself for the worst, because I'm going to take the Roulette Championship and my reign is going to be the bloodiest one SCW has ever seen.”

He pauses.

“You have been warned.” he sneered.

With that he turns to look back over the cliffside brooding as the camera fades to black.

___________

Vincent Lyons Jr sat in the kitchen of his childhood home as his mother placed the apple pie in the oven. The smell of her home cooking sent a relaxing and nostalgic aroma into Vincent's nose, as he sat at the table sipping hot cocoa from his Disney villain mug. It was Scar because of course it was.

“The pie should be done in a little while sweetheart.” Miss Lyons said "Look at you all skin and bones you can't go into your championship match like that.”

“I'll be fine Ma..” said Vincent

“No you're going to eat some dinner too.” she insisted, "No pie till you do. You don't think I watch your matches and see your pacing? You don't think I see the new bruises on your arms? You've been working too hard again sweetheart.”

“I got to stay ready.” he said, "For myself and for Victoria.”

“Your sister will be fine.” Ms. Lyons said “You need to focus on you right now.”

“Victoria said the same thing.” Vincent nodded.

“And your sister is absolutely correct.” said Ms. Lyons "You would do well to listen to the women in your life.”

“I mean I lost to Jayden.” he said “I lost in the Lyons Den, our family specialty.”

“Your father once lost in the Lyons Den too.” his mother said “But he didn't lose himself, and neither did you. You're still standing ready to push forward.”

He nodded silently.

“I'm serious Vincent Jefferson Lyons Jr. .” she said “Shooting him a look you've been through hell this past year the island your return to wrestling a string of losses but you still stand up and you still lace up your boots if you were given a championship match it's because they see something in you. Something that you need to see in yourself.”

She had used his full name. She wasn't joking.

“I don't know.” Vincent said “What if I'm not that guy anymore? “The one who is hungry and sure of himself, what if that guy's gone.?”

“He's not gone, he's growing.” his mother told him “And sometimes growing hurts. But you can't be the same person forever. You went through something that most people couldn't even imagine going through. You were stranded alone for weeks but you came back and you survived.”

“But surviving isn't the same as winning.” Vincent said “Just surviving is not winning me any matches.”

“Perhaps.” Ms. Lyons said “But don't confuse one chapter of your story for the whole thing. This championship match is a test to see if you believe you're worthy of winning again.”

Vincent looked at the image of Scar on his cup.

“I guess even the villains get their songs.” he said

“Of course.“ she said “Remember, everybody's the hero in their own story, and you're no villain either. You're still my perfect little angel.”

Before he realized it he had a plate in front of him and his mom was dumping mashed potatoes, green beans and a big ol’ piece of roasted chicken on it.

“And don't you dare protest.” his mother told him "You eat you're still my baby boy.”

“Yes Ma.” Vincent said that knowing he couldn't argue as he stuffed a bite of the chicken into his mouth.

Of course it was delicious. It always was.

He had to do it he had to bring home a championship his mother believed in him his sister believed in him and he couldn't let the two most important women in his life down.

But that would be after dinner.

And pie.

__________________

The cameras open on Vincent in a dark room highlighted by a chair dimly late in the center where he sits with fire in his eyes.

“I'll say it bluntly.” Vincent began “Jayden Harris beat me. No excuses, no smoke and mirrors, no complaints.  I went in with fire in my chest and Jayden sent me packing with ash in my lungs.”

He paused nodding as if accepting the fact.

"But that kind of loss it also carves something in you." Vincent said "It puts something back in. Something even more dangerous and now that I've been given a second chance this is not something I'm going to squander Guy.”

A scowl appears on his lips.

“This is more than just the gold for me.” said Vincent “I'm going to take your gold, and show everybody that no matter what Vincent Lyons Jr is the man you can't put down completely. Vincent Lyons Jr is the man that somehow, someway, will always find a way to come back and after Jayden, Guy you get to be my comeback. You get to be my second chance.”

There's a sinister smirk on his face all too uncomfortable.

“You want to see real evil Cape Boy?” Vincent said “Good. Because you're about to, so bring your cape, bring your jokes, your dumb little laugh,and all your antics because when the bell rings you'll find out real quick that all I care about is delivering pain. And you will feel pain. If I have to choke you out with your own cape, I will walk out the roulette champion.”

He pauses, keeping his intense gaze eerily locked in.

“I'm not going to come into this match with any swagger or any other sort of glitz or glamor.” Vincent said “I'm not coming in to make this a show. I'm coming in cold and I'm coming to make it a fight. I'm coming to make myself a champion and put an end to this little facade once and for all. Then whoever wants to try to take the championship from a real man can try me, but you you will be nothing but a forgotten memory.”

He laughs to himself again.

“So fly around all you want Guy.” Vincent said "But when reality hits you, when I hit you you're going to fall hard and you'll be forced to look at them raising my hand as you're new SCW roulette champion. I’m catching this rebound and I’m going to dunk on Guy With A Cape.”

He keeps staring at the camera firm, sure and full of confidence as everything fades to black.

_________

What started with Vincent being upset over some passing comments made about his sister had become a full on war between Jayden Harris and Vincent Lyons Jr. And I boiled over to the point and wasn't even about those comments anymore. Vincent just hated Jayden. He hated his face, he hated the sound of his voice, and every stupid comment that came out of his stupid mouth, really he hated the entire fucking Harris family.  Maybe that Aiden Reynolds guy was on to something when it came to that stupid fucking family.

But he hated Jayden the most. He hated that he couldn't figure out how to defeat Jayden Harris.  He had left Jayden laid out on more than one occasion but between bells Jayden Harris always got the better of him.

Not this time. This time he was in control. This time he would win. This time he had to win. This time would be the victory that would be the sweetest because it would be the final victory, the victory everyone remembered when it came to the war between Jayden and Vincent.[/i]

__________

It was lunch time at Alexander Graham Middle School when the young Vincent Lyons Jr heard the commotion in the hall, all the students were gathering into a crowd and like any preteen he too became curious what the commotion was all about.

Of course it became all too personal when he saw it was the Eighth grader. Blake Webber arguing with Victoria, really getting in her face,

“You got me in trouble earlier!” Blake barked at her.

“Yeah. Well you didn't have your hall pass.” Victoria replied to her credit she didn't back down.

“Control freak Vicky.” Blake said “At it again, thinking she runs AG.”

“Hey asshole, why don't you shut the fuck up.” Vincent said approaching Blake.

“What your sister can't fight her own battles?” Blake said turning into Vincent.

“Just get out of here Blake.” Vincent said.

“No!” said Blake “I'm tired of her patrolling these halls like she owns the place. She just likes being a bossy little bit…”

The word didn't even finish exiting Blake's lips before Vincent's fist hit him straight in the nose, and the scuffle was on fists being thrown at both sides before they ended up mostly rolling around on the ground, the chants of fight fight fight from the surrounding kids, it took several seconds for staff to finally separate the two.

“What the fuck? You're crazy man!” Blake said blood dripping from his nose.

“You watch your mouth about my sister!” Vincent yelled back at him.

They yelled more obscenities at each other before being taken back to the school office so their parents could be called and suspensions could be handed out.

__________

The young Vincent sat on their couch arms folded not looking his father in the eyes.

“So what happened Vincent?” his father asked

“He was being mean to Victoria and I didn't like it.” Vincent replied “So I punched him in the face.”

“What did he say to her?” his father asked.

“He was calling her a control freak.” said Vincent “He was mad because she caught him without a hall pass and then he was going to call her the B word.”

“Well  that wasn't very nice of him.” Vincent senior replied.

“He's a jerk.” Vincent said.

“Well, your mother and I aren't mad.” Vincent Sr said “You did right protecting your sister.”

“I'm not in trouble?” Vincent said finally actually looking at his father.

“You were looking after your sister.” his father said “That's what a brother is supposed to do.”

“I'm not going to let anyone disrespect her dad.” Vincent said “Not ever.”

“Good.” his father nodded “That just means you're a good brother because you will always defend her honor.”

“I will Dad. I will.” Vincent replied.

“Now let's go see if Mom is finished with the cookies.” yet his father smiled.

“Oh yeah! Cookies!” the young Vincent smiled back happy about his reward.

That was the moment of Vincent's first fight the first time he found himself forced to stand in and defend the honor of his sister a lesson that had been taught to him since he was very young and instilled throughout his life a lesson that he carried into his adult life. He had to always stand by and protect his sisters honor.

__________

The cameras open on a darkened Lyon's Den, the training school that is owned by the Lyons Family.  He sits on the edge of a ring with the ropes removed everything dimly lit around him by a single light bulb.

He looks into the camera with pure malice and hatred in his eyes his wrists wrapped up with bloodied tape. A quiver of the lip and then he begins to talk with pure venom in his voice.

“You think you're better than me Jayden Harris.” Vincent began with slow breath “You have built yourself up into a false sense of confidence because you have a couple victories over me. But what you fail to realize is you left me standing. You've never broken me.”

He exhales.

“You know this all started because you made some sideways comments about my sister.” said Vincent “But it's not about that anymore, because you've already bled for that. Now it's just about you and me, and the fact that I hate your fucking guts and I hate everything that you stand for.”

An affirming scowl appears on his face.

“I hate the fact that tomorrow how many times I drop you on your skull you're the one that gets the W every time the bell rings.” Vincent hissed “It's like the world's playing a trick on me,  some sort of sick joke making you the thing that I can't beat.”

He exhales more heavily this time, his frustration clear.

“That changes at Summer Xxxtreme” Vincent said “Because you're going to enter the Lyons Den and it's not just a match. This is going to be a war, no rules and no excuses. No matter how much confidence you have with your past victories over me  this is not going to be a fight you simply walk out of. See now you have a lion backed into a corner with nothing to lose and that makes him more dangerous than he's ever been.”

A confident smirk grows on his face.

“You've always managed to get one over on me Jayden.” Vincent said “I can't deny that, but now you've got it into your head that you will continue to walk over me each and every time and that's just not the way it is. Because this is the Lyon's Den. It's not your world, it's mine and if you enter my world I decide when you walk out, and when it comes to you Jayden I've made the decision that you don't walk out.”

A sick laugh exits his lips.

“You can whine and complain all you want about me taking away your championship opportunity.” said Vincent “But the reality is even had you won that match you wouldn't be the world champion right now. If you won that match our world champion would still be Alex Jones.”

He rises from the edge of the ring standing on his feet now.

“You're at the point now.” Vincent said "Where all you're going to be able to talk about are your victories over me. You’re going to tell me how stupid I am for wanting another fight against the man who's defeated me twice but I don't measure myself in wins and losses.  I measure myself by action, and my actions have left you laid out like a little bitch every time.”

He laughs again.

“And what did you choose to retaliate with?” Vincent said “Dumping sewage on my sister and myself like some Great Value Jackass bit? At the time it pissed me off but then I came to realize all it meant is that you have nothing left. You're forced to resort to childish antics and games. In your mind you have it all wrapped up and that is exactly where I need you to be.”

He pauses shortly.

“Because you're going to be going into this match over confident” said Vincent “You're going to assume that your two victories over me means that this is going to be a walk in the park for you. It's allowed you to create this illusion of yourself that isn't real. The illusion that you're somehow better than me.”

He shakes his head, scoffing.

“Even if I fall again Jayden and your hand gets raised.” Vincent said "You won't be able to forget me, you won't forget the fight and I will live in your head forever. But I'm not going to fall this time Jayden that I fucking swear to you this time you're the one who stays down.”

He slams a fist down on the mat next to him.

“This is this going to be a message to every little punk out there who thinks they can run their mouth and not face consequences.” said Vincent “Because make no mistake about it Jayden, that's all you are. Just a little punk and people like you need to be put down.”

Another heavy exhale.

“I'm not walking into Summer Xxxtreme just looking for a victory.” said Vincent "I'm walking in to end the rivalry. I'm walking in to dismantle the wall I can't seem to break because I'm done living in the shadow of my own potential.”

He pauses but keeps his gaze steady on the camera.

“Your overconfidence has allowed you to step into something you're not ready for.” said Vincent “Each and every time I left you laid out was a warning. A warning of what's really coming for you. Now you're stepping into something where the end result for you is going to be your body hitting the mat like a sack of potatoes and not getting back up.”

He laughs, relishing the idea.

“You're a piece of shit Jayden.” Vincent said. “An arrogant little prick who doesn't know when to shut his mouth. That's why I'm going to have to shut it for you because I'm sick and tired of hearing you whining about me taking your world championship opportunity as if you ever had a chance to win the damn thing anyway.”

He shakes his head in disgust, truly showing his disdain for Jayden.

“This is going to be your reckoning Jayden Harris” said Vincent “Your ultimate humiliation because when your body goes crashing into that mat and your vision begins to fade you'll realize that none of your victories over me meant anything. You will realize that all along I was always the better man and then you'll be forced to watch me get all the opportunities that you wish were yours. The only thing you'll be able to do about it is the same thing you always do, whine and complain.”

Vincent pauses to take a breath.

“You're not going to be fighting the same man that you hold those two victories over that you love boasting about so much." said Vincent “You're fighting the man you created because of those victories. Every time your name was called as the winner every time I lost I learned and I evolved. But you're still the same loudmouth little prick you always were.”

He pauses again.

“This ring doesn't belong to the loudest man.” Vincent said “It belongs to the last man standing. The one who stands tallest at the end of the war and when our war comes to an end at Summer Xxxtreme, this time it's going to be me. Be prepared Jayden be very prepared. It's the only shot you're going to have because no matter how much you prepare you're not going to be ready for the monster that I've become the monster that you helped create.”

He laughs.

“The worst part is you'll ignore all of these warnings.” said Vincent "You'll tell me my words don't matter because you've already proved yourself against me. You'll call me things like a punk bitch and say that I'm not a real man. You'll probably make some gross implications about my sister and myself to help feed your own weird fetish.”

He pauses again with a quiver of the lip.

“When they remember our war.” Vincent said “They'll remember this night, and they'll remember that at the end of the day Vincent Lyons Jr may have lost some battles along the way but in the ultimate battle he finally put Jayden Harris down.  They will remember that Vincent Lyons Jr was the one who ended up winning the war, because Jayden Harris didn't have the stamina to play the long game.”

He takes another short pause.

“You've had your wins and you had your laughs," said Vincent "You got to pad that precious record of yours. But there will be no more games or jokes when we clash on the Princess Cruise. Only fists and me making you realize that you are never in my league to begin with.”

Vincent lunges forward and punches the camera, the lens cracks and the camera falls to the ground still working as it gets a shot of Vincent's feet walking out of frame before it fades to black.

__________

Vincent sat crossed legged on the floor of his room surrounded by his wrestling gear and a half zipped duffle bag in front of him, when he heard Victoria walk in.

“You packing your entire wardrobe?” she said jokingly.

“Just the stuff that matters.” Vincent replied, "I need to make sure I have everything I need to beat Jayden Harris.”

“And that includes your old wrestling gloves? You hardly ever use those why are you bringing them out this time?” Victoria asked, motioning to the pair of gloves on the bed still stained by the blood of a war past.

“They're a reminder of the wars I had in the past.” Vincent said “The victims I bloodied before Jayden, I intend to add his blood to the collection.”

“You mean you never even washed them?” Victoria said.

“I like the reminder."  Vincent said "I like to remember my fallen victims, the special occasions when I really had to punish somebody and now it's Jayden Harris's turn to earn a spot next to all of them.”

“So those stains are like trophies?” Victoria asked

“Something like that.” nodded Vincent “This one here near the wrist that one's from your ex-husband.”

“Yeah I don't need to be reminded about Ace.” Victoria replied “I was so young and stupid.”

“I warned you I was a bad idea.” said Vincent “But you went and married him anyway.”

“I was young and stupid.” Victoria said, a slight shift in her tone “But we're divorced now and I haven't thought about him in years.”

“Well I'm sure he didn't forget me.” Vincent said “You break my sister's heart, I break your face.”

“I remember the first time you punched someone on my behalf.” Victoria said “You punched that kid in middle school.”

“Blake Webber.” Vincent replied “I remember.”

“You broke his nose Vincent.” Victoria said with a laugh.

“Well he shouldn't have been in your face like that.” Vincent said “And maybe he should have had his hall pass.”

“Yeah maybe he should have.” Victoria said and the two of them laughed together.


“I really need to win this one Vicks.” said Vincent “This time I need to really make an example out of Jayden Harris.”

“Just don't overthink it then.” Victoria replied “You've already gotten into his mind. Just the thought of you is driving him crazy. He's completely obsessed with the idea that you screwed him out of winning that elimination chamber and the very thought of you just throws him off his game. If you ask me you've already won.”

“I just need to make sure he never forgets.” Vincent said “And the Lion's Den is the only way to do that.”

“You know this will only be the third one in history.” Victoria said “Dad won the first one against his old rival Adam Simon, and the second one…..”

“The second one dad lost.” Vincent said “Against Coach Kaiser I remember. The teacher and the mentor. Dad was beginning to wind down because he was raising us, but coach was still at the height of his career being the little shithead that he was.”

“Dad wanted to bring him down a few pegs.” said Victoria “Back then coach was as callous as they come and he ended up smashing a brick into dad's skull.”

“Amazing they were able to become friends again after that.” Vincent said.

“Yeah Dad could be very forgiving like that.” said Victoria.

“Either way I won't be losing this one.” said Vincent “I am going to beat the fuck out of Jayden Harris.”

“Well I believe in you.” said Victoria.

“Sometimes I feel like you're the only one that does.” Vincent said

“Well I'm your sister.” she said nudging him with her elbow. “It's kind of my job.”

“I have to win this one.” Vicks he said.

“Then go win it.” she said looking at him in the eye “Because Jayden Harris is expecting the same Vincent he faced off the last two times. This time he has no idea what's coming.”

They sit in silence for a moment before he looks up at her with a confident smile and a nod.

“Now come on. Mom said dinner is going to be at 6:00 , so if you don't get to the main house soon I'm going to eat your steak “ Victoria said.

“You wouldn't dare.” Vincent said, grinning at her.

“Watch me.” she said, grabbing the gloves and throwing them in his face before escaping out the door with him chasing after her.

“Hey wait up!, don't eat my steak!” he called out.

__________

The camera springs to life in a darkened locker room. Vincent Lyons Jr sits among the shadows on a wooden bench, shirtless and sweaty with a towel around his neck, the camera catching his expressionless gaze.

“Congratulations Jayden. You've beaten me twice.” Vincent said “I'm sure you'll hammer that point right into the ground, and talk about how that makes you the favorite, the safe bet because you've got the winning record.”

Vincent laughs a hideous laugh.

“But people like you don't understand some of us don't care about records.” Vincent continued “Some of us don't care about the headlines, or who the fans want to be next up. Some of us only care about the pain.”

He holds up a pair of old blood stained gloves to the camera.

“You see these Jayden?” Vincent said "I only bring these out for special occasions. Because each stain on this is a reminder of blood I had to spill, bones I had to crack, and hard lessons I had to teach. Now I'm going to add one more name to the collection.”

He pauses for a moment.

“Yours.”  he says with a sinister grin.

Keeping his eyes on the camera he rests the gloves down next to him.

“You ever wonder why you can't stop thinking about me.” said Vincent “Because even with your wins I still live in your head. My name still rots at your brain. You can't get over the fact that I took a potential World Championship opportunity from you. It's eating you alive. It drives you crazy that you can't get rid of me so now this is going to be your opportunity to try.”

Vincent laughs.

“But don't make the mistake of thinking you've seen everything I've got.” said Vincent “Because you've seen nothing yet. But you know what I think?  I think I've taken everything you've got to give. I don't think you have anything left in you either other than your insults and your constant reminders of your two victories over me.”

Vincent smirks confidently.

“So Jayden “I have two victories over you.” Harris” Vincent said. “Are you going to continue that broken record bit when I beat you at Summer Xxxtreme? Will that be how you convince yourself that you're loss didn't matter because you still have a two to one lead over me?”

Vincent pauses for a moment.

“I mean you're going to have to think of something.” Vincent said “You're going to have to think of some sort of excuse to make yourself feel better after the beating that I'm going to give you. After the humiliation that you're going to endure at the hands of Vincent Lyons Jr,  after the trauma I'm going to inflict upon you inside of the Lyons Den.”

He pauses again for a moment.

“It's been fun, Jayden Harris.” Vincent said “But it ends here. The best part is when I win this, maybe I'll move on to capture a championship and you'll be forced to continue waiting. Wouldn't it be great if I became a champion here before you?”

Vincent laughs to himself.

“You have no chance at survival this time.” Vincent said "Because I will sink the entire Princess Cruise if that's what it takes to put you down. This will be the end of Jayden Harris, and I'm going to be the one standing tall at the end of the war.”

He picks the gloves up and looks at them with a twisted smile, looking back up to the camera one more time with the dark smile still on his face as the scene feeds to black.

Before time claimed it in silence and decay the old Lilyons family greenhouse had been a living dream. Sunlight filtering through the arch glass ceiling casting golden ribbons across the vibrant rows of plants and flowers. The air had an earthy scent of soil and the sweet perfume of roses. A small koi pond shimmering in the center reflecting the two young faces peeking over its edge.

Vincent and Victoria were only 8 years old, leaning side by side on the stone edge of the pond laughing at the fat fish swimming beneath the surface.[/i]

“Okay but if the koi could talk which you think would have the coolest voice?” Vincent Jr asked.

“That one.” said Victoria pointing to a big white one with an orange spot on its head “He'd sound like a wizard.”

“No way.” said Vincent “That one's totally the heel! Look at his eyes!”

“You're just mad I picked the cool one first.” she said elbowing him playfully.

“Am not.” he replied.

“Are too.” she said sticking her tongue out at him.

This was their favorite place, a secret kingdom tucked behind the estate where they came to escape lessons, pressure, and the weight of their family name. Here they could just be kids.

“You think we'll live here forever Vin?” said Victoria.

“Not if I win fifty championships and buy a mansion on the beach.” Vincent replied.

“You'd hate the beach," she said “All the sand in your socks and the salt water in your eyes.”

“Yeah you're right.” he groaned “Forget the mansion.”

The kids watched the koi swim around for a while sharing a bond only twins could share, not needing to fill every silence, their bond deeper than that.

“I want to be a champion too.” said Victoria “Not just because of father, I want people to know me. To know the name Victoria Cadney Lyons."

“Yeah.” Vincent agreed.

“But we're going to do this together right?” said Victoria “Rise through the ranks, win championships, make our names mean something?”

Vincent reached out and wrapped his pinky around hers.

“Promise.” he said.

The sound of the greenhouse store creaking open interrupted their moment has strong measured footsteps echoed across the tile and their father Vincent Lyons senior stepped into view his face softening has he noticed the twins.

“I thought you two might be hiding in here." he smiled.

“We weren't hiding dad.” said Vincent Jr, straightening his posture.

“Yeah” Victoria added “We were thinking.”

“Oh?” Vincent Sr said raising an eyebrow “And what were you thinking about.?”

“Wrestling” they both said in unison.

“Wrestling.” their father nodded “Of course.”

“We want to be champions someday.” like you and Mom.” said Victoria.

“The best.” said Vincent Jr, flexing his arms and puffing out his chest.

Vincent Sr pulled both his children into a side hug.

“Well it's not an easy road.” he told them “You'll fall, you'll bleed, you’ll lose friends, you won't even trust yourself sometimes.  But if you hold on to your heart, and you hold on to each other you'll be just fine.”

“We're going to train real hard.” said Vincent Jr

“I know you will.” said Vincent Sr “But you won't train just your body. It'll also be your mind and your loyalty. Everything in this place grows because it's nurtured and the same goes for your bond, don't let anything or anyone ever poison the bond between the two of you.”

The twins looks at each other with a nod.

-They wouldn't.-

“Come on you two." said Vincent Sr “Let's go back to the house. Someone's here to visit you. Any guesses who it might be?"

The twins looked each other with a smile and again spoke in unison.

“EDDIE!!”

The excitement sent them scrambling toward the door, Vincent's shoelace coming undone halfway as he tripped and then laughed  as Victoria grabbed him and pulled him forward.

“Careful don't knock him over.” their father said “He just got here.”

But they were already gone scampering down the path to find their cousin, their best friend.

The three were inseparable back then with no championships, no grudges, no family fractures, just dreams of the future waiting to be shaped.

_________

The twins were unsure of what kept bringing them back to the old greenhouse. Something about it just felt welcoming to them. Though what once bloomed was now brittle,  and the koi pond in the center was empty with the cracked stone basin filled with blown leaves and childhood memories.

Victoria stood near the old pond with her arms crossed.

“I had Frankie.” she said sharply “I had her.”

Vincent stood nearby leaning back on an old trellis but letting her speak, she understood his silence meant he was listening.

“And then Harper Mason sticks her dumb little nose in my business and costs me everything." she continued "And for what? A Moment on somebody else's highlight reel?”

Victoria scoffed.

“I just wanted to help her.” said Victoria “And now she wants to make a name off mine? Then I have Kate still taking shots at me on X? Like they take my crown and I lose  couple matches and suddenly they think I've fallen off. They think I'm weak or that I'm finished.”

“You don't sound finished to me.” Vincent finally spoke.

“I'm not.” said Victoria “I was the queen. That wasn't a gimmick, it was a fact. Alexandra only gave the crown back because she couldn't handle the pressure of being a true queen like I was. They could have taken the crown for me at any time, but they didn't. Because they knew the truth, that I deserved to keep it.”

Victoria exhaled heavily.

“Frankie beat me.” Victoria said “It wasn't clean though, Harper stuck her hand into the mix. It's like they forget who the hell I am. They forget that I'm still one of the most dominant Bombshells in this division and these little girls keep taking their shots at me.”

“They never learn.” said Vincent “Jayden Harris is still out there running his mouth and now he's dragging his sister into the mix, crying to Mikhalia like she's going to solve his problems.”

“Pathetic. “ said Victoria with a smirk that mirrored Vincent's. “You and  need to beg for backup because our bond is bigger than that.”

“Exactly” said Vincent with a low voice “We don't have to ask  and we don't have to check in because no matter what match, what feud, or what war we show up for each other.”

“Twins just have a stronger bond.” Victoria said.

“Exactly.” Vincent nodded.

“Let them think Harper's the future." Victoria said. “Let them think that Kate Steele is relevant, or that Mikhalia is going to save Jayden from the beating that he's been owed for years. Everyone is going to learn that just because I lost the crown doesn't mean I forgot how to rule.”

“And Jayden's going to learn that crying to your little sister doesn't save you from an execution.” said Vincent.

Everything around the greenhouse may have been forgotten,  but the energy growing between the twins was very much alive.

“They can talk all they want.” Victoria said “They can tweet and they can run their mouths, they'll all get their turn in the ring Harper, Kate, Frankie, Mikhalia.”

“Jayden.” said Vincent.

They both nodded to each other with laughter.

The air remain quiet for a moment and then the sound of footsteps approaching entered their ears.

“This is the old Greenhouse..” the voice of Eddie Lyons came through. “It used to be our favorite spot as kids. We spent hours in here, lots of stories in this place.”

The twins gave a collective sigh and rolled their eyes as Eddie with Sabrina around his arm appeared into view.

“..Oh..” said Eddie finally noticing them “Didn't know you two would be here.”

“Well we are” said Victoria.

“I'm just showing Sabrina around..” said Eddie “She wanted to see some more of the place.”

“We were kind of doing something out here..” said Vincent.

“Right.” Eddie said, "Well, don't let us bother you.”

“We won't.” Victoria muttered with much snark.

“Come on Sabrina.  let's get out of here there's a lot nicer places we can check out anyway.” said Eddie. “I'll show you the old oak tree. You'll like it.”

And then Eddie was gone almost as soon as he had arrived.

“We used to be excited to see him you know” said Victoria.

“We used to be excited for a lot of things.” Vincent replied “But things break.”

“Not everything.” Victoria said.

Vincent nodded back at her

“Not everything.” he said in agreement.

Much like the warmth of the greenhouse, the bond between the twins and Eddie had faded and decayed, but what remained strong was the bond between twins. A pinky promise made as children, and now that bond was stronger than ever as adults. Together they were ready to make sure Jayden and Mikhalia understood what it meant when they didn't need to ask for each other, that they simply were.

__________

The scene opens in silence in the old Lyons greenhouse, the camera panning over the dried soil, ceramic pots, and withered roots before stopping on Victoria Lyons sitting cross legged near the edge of a cracked koi pond her eyes locked into the camera with a calm madness.

Behind her stood Vincent Lyons Jr, like a phantom waiting to strike folding his hands neatly in front of him.

“Once upon a time there was a scared little boy named Jayden.” said Victoria “He thought he was strong, and he thought he was clever, but when the Lions roared at his door he cried for help.”

She tilts her head.

“Not from the boys in the locker room.” she said “Not from his friends, no Jadyen cried to his baby sister.”

Vincent takes a step forward folding his arms.

“You called Mikhalia, Jayden." said Vincent “Drug her out of whatever quiet clean little life she was living, and dropped her into our war. You dropped her into this.”

He sweeps a hand across the greenhouse.

“Rotted glass and shattered ground.” he said “This is where we were born, where we played, fought, and bled this is where innocence died and something better took root.”

“You want to make headlines Jayden?” said Victoria “You want to prove something to yourself? Then why bring her?”

She leans forward and her voice lowers to a whisper

“Because you're not strong enough alone.” she said “Because you know what happens when you're left with us.”

“So here comes Mikhalia.” said Vincent “One night only, the heroic baby sister pulled out of obscurity to fight a war that never belonged to her.”

He grins slightly.

“She is right though.” he said “It will be one night only, because she won't survive it.”

“You say it's family.” said Victoria “But we are a true family Jayden.  We're twins, not partners, not allies, not strategy on a chalkboard. We don't have to call each other and we don't have to ask. We just are.”

“Always.” Vincent said “Every moment, always in rhythm. There is no separation between her and I, just a different face on the same soul.”

“Jayden brought a visitor into a cage of lions.” said Victoria “And you're hoping your shared blood will mean something in the end.“

“It won't.” said Vincent

“It never does.” said Victoria ”Because we don't just break bones, we unravel people, their thoughts, their confidence, and their identity.”
“
“Mikhalia is just a new thread in the tapestry we're going to tear apart.” Vincent said “So Mikhalia, let me be clear. You should have said no.”

“You should have stayed where it was safe.” said Victoria “Where the lights weren't so hard, and no one spoke in riddles or tore each other with smiles on their faces, but now it's too late.

“You've walked into a twisted house with no exit.” said Vincent “And the floor is cracking under your feet.”

“We didn't ask for this match.” said Victoria “But we'll make it unforgettable.”

“You don't really want this war Jayden.” said Vincent “But you sure as hell need it, because deep down you know you're not the main character anymore and the reality is you never were.”

“But you begged  guy with a cape for this match.” said Victoria with a laugh “Sure, give the Lyons twins a spotlight, stir up some family drama, throw in a feel-good sister act the crowd will eat it all up.”

“But fairy tales don't end well in our world.” said Vincent

“This isn't a moment of family therapy.” said Victoria “This isn't a moment of redemption. This is judgment.”

“And we are the executioners.” said Vincent.

“Every time I close my eyes I see Alexandra Calaway holding my crown.” said Victoria “I see Harper Mason smiling like a hero who didn't earn a damn thing, I hear Kate Steeles indignant  yapping trying to claw at me like a hungry rat.”

She exhales heavily.

“They think I'm broken.” she said “But the truth is, im ascending, I’m evolving, I'm burning and I'm going to bring that fire into the ring.”

“And I'm ready to continue this war with Jayden.” Vincent said “He may have won one battle, but this war is far from over.”

“You wanted a partner to protect you Jayden.” said Victoria “We brought each other to destroy you. I don't need to wonder if Vincent will catch me if I fall because I never fall.”

“Jayden, Mikhalia.” Vincent said “You will not leave the same, you will not leave together, and you will not forget us.”

“Because we are the nightmare no one wakes up from.” said Victoria “We are the cracked mirror, you look into and see your worst self looking back.”

“Once that bell rings Jayden.” said Vincent “Don't look at your sister, because she can't save you, and you can't save her. This isn't just a match, this is a massacre wearing a smile.”

“And we're the ones smiling all the way through it.” said Victoria “Two monsters. One soul.”

“We are inevitable….” said Vincent.

“…And we are…” said Victoria

“Stronger together.” they both said in unison.

There's a hollowing of a haunting wind has the twins cleared to the camera then silence then suddenly black.

Vincent stood near the window of the hotel, arms crossed watching the lights of Paris dance beneath him. His jaw switched tightly as he stood there in thought.

Victoria was pacing around behind him when he turned to her.
[/i]
“I'm going for a walk.” he said in a firm quiet voice.

“Now?” she said stopping to look at him “At this hour.?”

“Yeah.” he said grabbing his hoodie “I just need to clear my head.”

She made no attempt to stop him she only nodded slightly in his direction.

“Yeah, fine, whatever.” she said “I need to call our lawyer anyway, see if we can't take care of this Queen for a Day situation.”

“Good luck with that.” Vincent said

“Thank you.” she said “And you be careful out there, watch your temper I don't want to have to bail you out of a French jail.”

He smirked slightly and walked out the door without a word.

The breeze was light has he walked the streets of Paris hands in his hoodie pocket, Hood put up.

This city was still awake, late closing cafes, the murmurs of tourists, the rumble of mopeds moving between cars, but Vincent moved through it all like a ghost detached and observing.

The loss to Kevin Carter for the Internet Championship hung in his memory. That match WAS meant to be his redemption arc, internet champion, spotlights, another box to check.


He kept walking, letting his mind wander thinking about the loss to Aiden Reynolds, another L on the record books. Then against Helluva Bottom Carter he had made a decision. Cave in his pretty little skull.

He didn't care about the DQ. Not really. what mattered was the moment, the impact, the memory that split second when the fans realized -oh he doesn't care about winning, he just wants to destroy him.-

That moment taught him more than any title ever could, he didn't need to be a champion he needed to be unforgettable.

Now people were whispering when they saw him backstage, moving out of his path remembering what he did and now it was Jayden Harris in the crosshairs.

Jayden had confidence and fire. Vincent couldn't deny that, it was a little too much confidence and that's what made it fun. Jayden thought he was fighting a man, he didn't realize he was fighting a monster that came back from the dead.

Jayden wouldn’t leave Paris the way he came in it, not after he dragged Vincent's family's name through the mud, and if he really thought the management rules and safety he'd learn otherwise just like Carter did.

Jayden wasn't all that rested on his mind. He had his concerns about Victoria as well, something was off with her she was still doing her job, moving the pieces, and staying ahead but her edges weren't as sharp lately.

The whole queen for a day mess had her hands full, she had strings to pull and people to silence, but Vincent saw what others didn't. That the pressure was eating at her and he owed her more than loyalty.

She was the one who pulled him out of the spiral after the island, after the multiple weeks of isolation she didn't flinch when he came back more animal than man. She had brought him back to himself and now she needed him.

He would stand beside her not has a Lyons, not as a tag partner, but as a brother. As a twin. If she started to slip, he'd be the one to catch her before anyone else noticed or anyone tried to take advantage.

This match with Jayden wasn’t about championships, it was about revenge. Revenge for the transgressions against his sister and his family and it was about reminding the world that Vincent Lyons Jr survived hell, and came back sharper and better.

He was here to hurt people until they remembered his name when they closed their eyes at night. That's what Jayden Harris was going to find out when Vincent made him bleed in Paris and not only would Jayden bleed, but Vincent would make sure that his screams echoed long after the bell.

Into The Void was right around the corner and he intended to drag Jayden into the void itself kicking, screaming, and begging for the light that would never come.

__________

The cameras open on a familiar but eerie silence with that thick clinging fog coiling through a ruined landscape. The camera moves slow and deliberately, creeping pans to reveal Vincent Lyons Jr amid the mist cloaked and a tattered black coat his eyes burning with fire.

“It's easy to forget people like me exist.” he said “When the world is loud and the stage is bright and everyone's screaming someone else's name they forget until the silence comes.”

He tilts his head to the side with a smile.

“Jayden…” he said “You stand in the light and act like a boy who's finally being told he matters.  Like the world is waking up to what you always thought you were. But I've been awake Jayden. I didn't sleep not when my boat cracked against the reef, not when that island swallowed me whole, and not when the voices stopped talking. I stayed awake long enough to die and come back again.”

He exhales softly.

“You think what I did to Carter was cowardice?“ he said “You think the chair shot was some betrayal of sportsmanship? No it was survival. It was purpose. I hit him because it was the first time in years I felt clarity. The island stripped me of weakness and the silence taught me things you can't learn in locker rooms and training gyms. Besides you know damn well he deserved it and you can't tell me that you didn't like seeing it happen at least a little bit. Because like I said if there's one thing that you and I can agree on it's that Helluva Bottom Carter is in fact a piece of garbage."

He pauses again mostly for effect

“I crashed Jayden.” he said “My boat, my life, and my sanity out there beyond the noise beyond the chairs and the promos and the championships. I died and I came back with only one voice in my head and it told me to -make it matter-. So you think this is just a match? Just another notch on your rise to relevance? No. This is an execution Jayden and you're the one on the chopping block.”

A short pause.

“You say I should blame Victoria and that I should be angry at her?” he said “You think loyalty is weakness, and that if I was strong I’d turn my back on the only person who ever believed in me without condition. You don't get it Jayden. My sister is the last thread of my humanity. You try to cut that I become something else.  Maybe you're just angry that I'm a better brother to her than you are to Mikhalia.”

He laughed slightly to himself

“And then you made your little incest comments.” he said. “Is that the thread you really want to leave dangling? Because I'll tell you now Victoria and I have heard it all before. We heard every Jamie and Cersei Lannister joke and every twincest comment thrown our way in the past.”

He shakes his head.

“It's all just childish remarks from people who think shock value makes them clever.” he said, "You just mock what you can't comprehend Jayden. You laugh because you're too small-minded to understand what real royalty looks like and what devotion sounds like. But when you're choking on your teeth in that ring we'll see how funny you still find it.”

A twitch of the eye and a quiver in his lip.

“My sister didn't beg me for help. She didn't need to.” he said “Because I'm not here to protect her, I'm here to avenge her. I'm here to deal with all the weak men who want to disrespect her, who want to disrespect us. I'm the response nobody saw coming.”

He pauses again and a soft wind powers through

“Do you know when it's like to talk to the wind?” he said “To scream into the waves and get nothing back but your own echo? I do and I'll never stop hearing it; that's silence lives in me now it's part of me. You live in noise and camera flashes, you've never faced silence Jayden. Not the kind that rips you to shreds.”

He keeps his tongue sharp and direct.

“I want you to understand something Jayden Harris.” he said “When you step into the ring with me, you're not facing a man you're facing every second I spent alone. Every night I spent remembering how people forgot me, how they moved on like I never existed. You're facing the storm that raised me, and you're facing what comes after everything dies.”

He takes a few deliberate steps towards the camera the fog curling around him like a shroud.

“You won’t win Jayden.” he said “Not because you're weak, but because I'm inevitable. Because I'm the shadow that follows every step you take to the top to let you feel safe and let you feel victorious, but it's always there lurking, watching, waiting to strike.".

He laughs to himself.

“So bring the fire Jayden. Drench the world in gasoline.” he said “Say my name one more time. Once that bell rings and the fog creeps around you, just know I'm already there and you are not going to face the same Vincent you're mocking. You're facing the ghost that came back wrong.”

Which one final glance he turns and walks back disappearing into the fog his voice echoing through.

“I'll see you at into the void Jayden Harris.  Be prepared.”

Then the camera's fade to black amid the howl of the wind.

-then silence-


__________

The key card unlock the hotel door with a beep has been sent Lyons to Junior stepped inside the room was quiet the kind of quiet that felt wrong the walk had been long and slow giving him time to clear the debris that collected in his mind but the Silence of this room felt louder somehow.

It didn't take him long to come to the conclusion Victoria wasn't here the room felt as if it had been holding a breath of its own as a sense of absence hit him in the chest harder than it should have. His eyes scanned around the room.

A jacket was draped over a chair and her boots resting near the bed and on the night Stand rested her cell phone.

That was unusual, Victoria was normally not without her phone. Has he stepped closer to the phone he saw it a glass ashtray with the hotels logo waxy with fingerprints and two cigarette butts inside both bent and crushed into the glass.

But Victoria didn't smoke she had a rebellious face as a teenager, and there was a couple weeks when she divorced that Ace Michael's guy shortly after WWH closed.

That's why he knew that this was desperation frustration and presser a moment she didn't want anyone to see but she had left evidence and Vincent knew her well enough to pick up on it.

That ashtray told him everything he needed to know the Queen for a Day pressure the Fatal four-way match the eyes on her to see if she could continue to dominate as everyone expected,  or if she was going to fall in spectacular fashion like everyone wanted.

But where had she gone Vincent racked his brain she was his twin where would she go to quietly keep in her thoughts.

The Rooftop.

He quickly made his way to the hallway and into the elevator, magic road its way up to the roof the elevator doors pulled open and a breeze pushed into his face and there she was perched on the ledge with her back to him in a single cigarette between her fingers its tip glowing in the night was Victoria Lyons.

He said nothing to her and she didn't turn he stepped forward and just stood behind her without speaking the two standing there like statues for a few moments supporting each other without demand.

He didn't ask what she was thinking he already knew, he just waited because he knew she would eventually break the silence.

And then she did.

“What?...” she said.

“I didn't say anything.” he replied “Not yet…”

__________


The wind came steady off the sea as Vincent stood watching. Charlie was gone, and there was no effigy left to converse with. Nothing to make him feel like he wasn't alone. He was and he wondered if he would ever make it off this island.

His mind drifted back through the years, moments, people, things that had gotten here to this point.

He saw his father again, Vincent Sr was a true symbol of pride back before the Lyons legacy fractured into rival bloodlines and bitterness. Vincent had been the unbreakable spine of the Lyons family and after his passing everything had begun to fracture.

He remembered the news of the car crash, the dullness in Victoria's voice when she told him.

The funeral felt like a blur of black disappointment, the first time he learned grief could ride in your chest like a stone that never passed.

He'd always look to his father as a hero when he was a kid back when it was just the three of them Vincent, Victoria and Eddie.

The Pride.

They used to say it was such wide-eyed hope when they were kids. The Three Lyons, bound by legacy, strength and ambition. They were to take the rest of the world by storm. Win every championship, nobody with more gold than them.

But dreams can be fickle, Vincent curled his fingers slightly with a soft exhale the memories still circling.

WWH came and went. He had actually made history there, as the first Affliction champion. Victoria in his corner as his support before she laced her own boots up. He kick-started the new generation ofLyons Den Talent under Coach Kaiser. Vincent Jr was the prodigal son. But then like everything else WWH crumbled.

So did Coach Kaiser procure new contracts for Vincent and Victoria after WWH?

No. Instead he went with the former felon Cleo Phillips. Some street kid from The Bronx snatching the opportunity he and Victoria had bled for.  PWS wanted her not them. He was told it wasn't personal that it was part of some sort of rehabilitation program and part of Cleo's probation deal.

Fine let that be as it may. But then appeared Alexander Lyons from the unknown. His uncle Zachary's son. He grew up knowing his Uncle Ray, Eddie's father, quite well. But as far as his Uncle Zachary, he was out traveling spending time with  ring rats and apparently they making more babies than Nick Cannon.

So Alexander arrived, angry brooding and desperate to matter, he was given the second PWS contract.

But again, everything crumbles and this time it was PWS. So when SCW was reaching out to the Lyon's Den for contracts, it should have been finally their opportunity he and Victoria would finally stop being sent to mudshow companies that failed before they even started they would finally go to a company that knew what they were doing. SCW would be their return.

But this time Eddie and his sunshine smile was the one that got the deal with SCW came knocking. There must have been no space for VLJ  anymore in the story. The Golden Boy, the favorite son.

He was even starting to resent Victoria and that was the final crack. He had to go so he got on the boat with Charlie.

He didn't remember much about what they said on the dock the day they set sail they drank and laughed and we're looking forward to the open sea and then Charlie was gone…

Then he felt a way in his chest his knees began to buckle slowly he wasn't even sure how long he had been here anymore but he had became part of this island and the world had passed him by.

He had become a ghost and no one even whispered about him anymore then he felt a dizziness and the ocean twisted into shapes that didn’t make sense. Vincent felt a faint taste of salt water on his lips as everything went black……

…….
…..
…….
…….


When the light returned it came like static over a broken television. A clatter of an engine somewhere and the smell of fish and boat fuel drifted into his nostrils.

He blinked once, twice, three times. A silhouette appeared before him. A man in a jacket leaning against the edge of the boat with a cigarette burning beneath his lips.

Vincent didn't move he just looked and then saw the man look over at him and speak.

“Dimitri! He's awake!” the man said.

“The American?” another voice called back.

______

The cameras open on a cold empty room with Vincent Lyons Jr sitting on a wooden chair in the middle of this space amid the silence he leans forward slightly with his hands clasped together.

“You had a lot to say about family Jayden.” said Vincent “You made a cute fast and the furious reference, but the truth is you don't know my family at all. There is no history of the Lyons family in SCW pre Victoria, Eddie, and myself. Many in SCW know your father but I can count how many knew mine on one hand. Myself, Victoria, Eddie, and Aaron Asphyxia."

His words come calm and measured.

“That's the nature of this business I suppose. Our name was bigger elsewhere in a place where the Harris name was unknown and didn't mean shit.” he said. “Your father has you stated was an underhanded asshole, a real piece of shit the whole nine yards.”

He takes a short pause

“My father..” he said “My father had his own demons. He helped build an empire but few got to see his dark side. His other half, the one he called Syth. That was his shadow. It was a man who didn't care and only wanted blood and sometimes I feel perhaps Syth still lives somewhere inside me. It was like I could hear him knocking when that chair cracked open Carter's skull."

He lets his words linger about the air.

“Do you really think my family is built on applause and standing ovations?” Vincent said “No we're a fractured dynasty. Just look at the facts, let's take a look at Eddie. Eddie Lyons is a man too busy shining his own halo to notice how many people he steps on. He calls it righteousness, Victoria and I call it a delusion. He thinks that he's the hero of the story but he's just another narcissist convinced the sun shines out of his spotlight.”

He shakes his head.

“And my other cousin Alexander?” he said “That guy?! He hates everybody. He hates the family. He's over in PWS following Alexandra Calaway around like a sick puppy holding their tag team championships with her. He's nothing more than a black cloud trying to scream his way into mattering.”

He scoffs in disgust.

“And then we had some new arrivals this year. Matthew Zayvion and Nayeli.” he said “More of my uncle Zack's mistakes wandering and hoping to find meaning in a name they don't understand. They don't even know what they are or what they want they're just lost little cubs in a forest fire.”

He stands up now with an exhale.

“So who really is rooting for me?” said Vincent “My self righteous cousin? My other cousin who won a tag title out of spite toward Victoria? My deceased father? My uncle who choose to favor their own children? It really only is Victoria and I, and my mother I suppose.  If I’m fighting for any dynasty, it’s MY line of the family. Not Eddie’s, and not any of my uncle Zacks mistakes. That means Victoria and Me. That’s it.”

He begins to move toward a wall has the camera follows him.

“So you want to burn my family tree to the ground?” said Vincent  “Go ahead.  You're only adding gasoline to a fire that was already burning. However since you want to send a message to me about burning my family tree to the ground, I'll send you a message how I feel about your family name as well.”

That's when the camera sees it on a chunk of raw ruined concrete spray painted and red the name Harris. His back to the camera Vincent stands in front of it and unzips.

The piss hits the Harris name and trickles to the ground between Vincent's legs. Vincent moving and wriggling around to cover the entire name, careful not to step in his own mess on the floor.

He finishes, his arm shakes twice, he zips back up and turns to the camera really cocky grin on his face.

“I'm not coming into this match for the sake of legacy.” Vincent said “I'm coming for the end, and I'm coming for the execution of Jayden Harris. You have been warned.”

Then there was a sharp cut to black and then....

-silence-

The surf crashes against the shore of the island in a rhythmic pattern as gulls fly high overhead but never land, and the wind just never seems to stop.

There at the makeshift camp he and Charlie had been living at for the past month and a half is Vincent Lyons Jr, but now he's alone. Sort of.

He's hunched beside a crude figure of sticks date into the earth of the beach, and effigy built from driftwood tied together crudely with some vines, draped over it is a weather stained and bloodied Blink 182 t-shirt, Charlie's shirt.

Vincent had found it when he went back to the site where the incident occurred, Charlie fell and the wolves came.

That was just two or three days ago, he had retrieved the shirt and built the effigy himself.

He had rescued his friend.

Reaching out he adjusts the effigy slightly straightening it to be more upright.[/i]

“There you go buddy.” Vincent said “Is that better? I know you like looking out over the water.”

He crouches down and sits next to it.

“I don't know if you remember when it happened.” Vincent said as he looked out across the waters. “You fell and I tried to get there and pull you out, but the wolves and they came and I ran…., but I didn't run away. I came back for you Charlie. I came back for you.”

He looks at the effigy with a smile.

“You're here now though.” Vincent said “And you're okay. I saved you I saved you from those wolves. Terrible vicious beasts. Bad…. wolves…. bad…..”

There's a slight twitch in Vincent's eye but he keeps most of his composure at the moment.

“Yeah I saved you. You're here.” Vincent said. “We're going to get out of here man both of us together.  I won't run again Charlie..run ran hide.  run ran hide.”

There's another slight twitch in Vincent's eye.

“No, I don't think they'll come back.” Vincent said “They know you're protected now because you've got me. They won't bother us again."

There's a short pause has Vincent just blankly stares off across the sea

“Yeah we're smarter than them too.” Vincent said. “You're right about that Charlie. Big dumb dogs.”

Vincent laughs.

“I was worried I'd never find you, you know. Thought the wolves had dragged you away he said but here you are.” Vincent said. “You're safe now.”

Vincent gives the effigy a careful pat on the “back.”

“You ever wonder if this is meant to happen to us?” Vincent said “Like maybe we needed to leave the world behind for a bit? Strip everything down to just this? The real stuff?”

There's a lingering silence only broken by the sounds of the wind the sea and and the gulls above.

“I'm glad you're still here Charlie.” Vincent said “It's going to be okay. We have each other.”

He sat there for some time next to the effigy just watching the waves still waiting for a sign of anything to come to the rescue of him and “Charlie.”

__________

The Danish Skyline stretches out through the antique windows of the hotel room Vincent stairs out the window in a brooding fashion as Victoria casually relaxes on one of the beds with a half finished glass of red wine.

“You're stewing…” Victoria said, breaking a lingering silence.

“I should have finished him at Climax Control.." Vincent said “I should have finished Jayden Harris.”

“We both knew Mark Ward wouldn't let that happen.” Victoria said “He's as predictable as ever. A no contact clause, as if that ever stopped any real violence.”

“It stops me from taking Jaydens head off in catering.” said Vincent.

“All it does is buy Jayden some time.” Victoria said “Now Jayden gets to strut around for a few more weeks without consequence until Into The Void.”

“Into the void..” Vincent muttered to himself.

“Exactly.” said Victoria “Jayden Harris will get his, for now your focus shifts. At least with this clause he won't be able to interfere in any of our business.”

“Helluva Bottom Carter…” Vincent muttered.

“A walking joke and a spotlight addict.” Victoria said “Him and Miles both mocked me for months. Little Twitter comments, little promo jabs, always something to say.”

“I heard it all.” Vincent said “They thought they were clever. All you wanted to do was help them make their relationship stronger.”

“Now you get to correct him.” Victoria said “Not just beat him, but embarrass him publicly. Drag him out of that theater he calls a career and show him what real consequence looks like.”

There's a short silence as Vincent listens.

“Let him dance and let him play to the crowd and think he's safe, then tear it from him.” Victoria said between a sip of wine, “Show him what happens when you disrespect the queen.”

“What about Harper Mason?” Vincent asked “Do you really think we'll be able to pull her in?”

“Harper Mason will realize her full potential.” Victoria said “She already knows of the truths I've been telling her she just needs to learn to admit them to herself. I'm sure more will become clear to her after Christian Underwood and I discuss the Queens Gambit.”

“I hope you're right Vicks.” Vincent said.

“We’ll get her.” said Victoria “But the trick is to make sure that she believes it was her idea. You just worry about Carter and making sure he regrets ever even mentioning my name.”

“And I can send a message to Jayden Harris in the process.” Vincent said with a grin.

“That's the brother I know." Victoria said with a grin of her own and another sip of wine.

“It looks like Alex Jones will be getting a present from the Lyons Twins” Vincent said “Because Carter is going to be delivered to him at Into The Void in a box.”

As the night rolled on, Vincent continued to brood out the window, Victoria finished a couple more glasses of wine. Both mentally preparing and strategizing for whatever came next.

__________

The cameras flicker to life in a basement a bunker the location itself is hard to tell but the concrete walls drip with condensation has that familiar overhead bulb swings on its frayed wire casting shadows across the scene,  in the center of it all sits Vincent Lyons Jr knees spread resting his elbows, shoulders hunched over, hands clasped as he stares into the camera with cold distant eyes that are focused like a sniper's scope.

“Jayden Harris….” Vincent began “I'm going to start with you for a moment because I know you're watching, waiting behind your little legal bubble. Protected by Mark Ward and his no contact rule how convenient.”

Vincent shakes his head slightly.

“You're scared Jayden…” Vincent said “And you very well should be because every day that passes between now and Into The Void is another day I get sharper and meaner and the worst part of it? You know Mark Ward can't keep me away forever. Eventually he's going to run out of ink and paper, and when he does you're going to drown in all the things you tried to escape."

Vincent smirks and chuckles to himself.

“But you're not the man of the hour right now are you?” said Vincent “No the man of the hour is actually someone we share agreeing opinions on. If there's anything you and I can come to terms on. it's that Helluva Bottom Carter is a piece of garbage.”

He pauses for a moment keeping his lingering gaze on the camera.

“You hate the fact that he allowed me to do what I did to you in the elimination chamber.” said Vincent “But do understand the reason why he didn't stop it? It's because he too is afraid. He saw what was happening to you and was worried the same could happen to him. As todays kids say, he did not want that smoke. But everyone's time comes sooner or later and now that time has come for Helluva Bottom Carter.”

That unsettling unstable smile grows across his face again.

“I want you to watch this match closely Jayden.” Vincent said “I want you sit there cozy with your immunity and watch what happens when the leash comes off. Watch what happens when someone doesn't have Mark Ward to protect them, I want you to watch what's coming your way at Into The Void.”

He takes a short pause letting his words linger.

“So what about you Carter?" Vincent said with a venomous hiss. “You've been coasting for years on charmed and cringe. Constantly on X throwing your annoying relationship in everybody's face like anybody cares who you're sleeping with.”

He keeps his tone slow and deliberate.

“I've seen the way you and your little clique talk about her.” Vincent said “My wonderful, kind, magnanimous sister. You and all your little bully friends are the worst of them. You, Miles, L.J., Calaway, Bella Madison. You all thought yourselves funny but you always reap what you sow and now it's time to pay the piper.”

Vincent rubs his fingers together the well-known symbol for money.

“You were too busy bedazzling your boots in a room full of mirrors.” Vincent said, “While Victoria was busy being royalty, busy making herself the greatest Bombshell Roulette Champion of all time. She was able to take care of Calaway, she was able to take care of Bella Madison, but she could do nothing about the weak men that continued to ridicule the queen. But now Carter, now the queen’s executioner has arrived.”

He laughs to himself amused.

“You should have known someone would come for you.” said Vincent “Someone always does. But you need to listen to me close I'm not just going to win I'm going to ruin you. I'm going to expose you and I'm going to show everyone that you're not climbing any ladder, you're just hallucinating the rungs, standing on smoke and calling it solid ground and the people around you that are too afraid to tell you the truth are what keeps you from falling.”

He paces slowly slightly but deliberately.

“You're just a distraction dressed as a contender a parody a parody in rhinestones.” Vincent said “The only reason you are number one contender is because of me. I suppose Jayden and I can agree on that much as well.”

He took a heavy breath, fogging the air.

“But this is about your treason.” he continued “How you tried to drag my sister's name through the mud like she wasn't the greatest bombshell of all time.Like she isn't out there fighting and grinding for everything she's ever earned. I have nothing much to lose in this match so it's all about retribution for you insulting someone I care about, and it’s about sending a message to Jayden Harris."

There's an uncomfortable twitch of his lip.

“So I'm going to make it crystal clear in case you don't understand.” Vincent said “I'm going to hurt you, you’ll feel it in your ribs, your spine, and in your lungs when they all stop working. You won't be able to tell up from down anymore you'll cry, you’ll beg, and if you're smart you'll run away but whatever you choose you will pay.”

He continues his subtle pacing.

“My sister is a queen and she will be treated as such.” Vincent said “And you you're just the court jester and I'll do what royalty always does to jesters.  I'll cut your tongue out and hang your balls on a pike. When it's all said and done you will regret all of it, and you will never mock her again."

He keeps his home firm and strong.

“The end is coming for you Carter.” Vincent said “And if Miles is smart he'll start the funeral preparations now. I'm sure he'll get you the most shiny, bedazzled, glitter covered coffin of your dreams. I'll see you soon Carter and you will be made an example of for Victoria, for Jayden and you will be exposed to all the fans as the fraud you truly are.“

With a hideous gaze, as he lets his glare linger into the camera has everything fades out to black

__________

Vincent really wasn't one for sightseeing but he could admit there was something oddly suited about the little toy houses lined up across the Copenhagen harbor. He walked alongside his sister Victoria in silence, neither of them with any particular destination in mind. Sometimes Victoria just like to walk before an incoming storm. She said it was something about helping with clarity and control. They were walking for a few minutes when they saw a familiar face.

Eddie Lyons. From the looks of it he was snapping pictures and taking some sort of cute little video to send back to his fiancee Sabrina.

“Well would you like who it is.” Victoria said pointing Eddie out.

“So?” Vincent said “What? You want to talk to him?”

“I mean we might as well say hello to family right?” she said with a grin.

“Your idea of hello usually ends with a hospital visit.” Vincent said.

“Only when it's warranted.” she said as her smile widened “Come on let's go.”

They approached casually Eddie turning just as he heard his name called, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as soon as he saw who it was he straightened up his posture and the smile on his face vanished.

“You've got to be kidding me…” Eddie muttered.

“Is that any way to greet family?” Victoria said with a mocking tone “We happened to be walking, you happened to be here, I think fate wants us to talk.”

“Well then fate hates me.” Eddie said unamused.

Vincent let his silence do the talking standing beside Victoria studying his cousin's face still seeing that same smug self-assurance, that little moral glint in Eddie's eye like he figured out the world and can judge everyone accordingly like some self-righteous bastard.

“We just wanted to have a conversation.” Victoria said “We haven't seen you around for a few weeks we were wondering how you've been.”

“I'm fine.” Eddie said bluntly “I'm just waiting for my next round of blast from the past and in the meantime taking pictures and videos for Sabrina is that what you want to hear?”

“Well I'm sure that will make Sabrina very happy.” said Victoria.

“Is that all?” said Eddie.

“So dismissive.” Victoria replied “You dismiss your family so quickly.”

“What about Alex?” Eddie said “Was he family when you had Vincent break his wrist?”

“He aided and abided a criminal.” Victoria said.

“He defended his friend.” replied Eddie.

“He defended Alexandra Calaway.” Victoria replied taking a step forward “You know what she's done and you know what she is. Yet you still act like there's some noble cause and shielding her.”

“Look they may not be innocent.” he said “But neither are you you want to accuse everyone else of their transgressions but never admit to your own.”

Vincent took a slight step for it but felt Victoria's arm just out in front of him to stop him.

“You know there's been certain times when you said some not so nice things about your queen.” said Victoria “And treason is even worse when it comes from your own bloodline. But I can forgive, if I feel you've earned it.”

“And what's that supposed to mean?” Eddie said.

“You mention your Blast from the Past tournament.” said Victoria “You got past round one, good on you but with our help we can take you all the way. You join us and we reform The Pride, you win the whole thing you cut through the brackets like butter and then you go on and you will actually win the world championship this time.”

“You can't possibly believe I'd ever go for that.” Eddie said.

“Why not?” Victoria asked “You and I already proved we can be tag team champions. Imagine the three of us together. We could take over SCW in a fortnight."

“I don't need your help and I won't stand with people who poison everything they touch family or not.”  Eddie retorted

Finally Vincent had heard enough.

“You think you're better than us?! She's offering you everything, but you'd rather struggle for scraps and pretend it's some sort of integrity." he snapped

"I would rather lose with honor." Eddie said "Than win with you."

Vincent wanted to strike but he could feel Victoria’s gaze. she wanted to leave this alone so with a heavy breath he took a slight step backward.

“So you're still going to let pride stand in the way of power.” she said.

“No.” Eddie replied “I'm letting integrity stand in the way of corruption.”

The words pierce through Vincent's ears he was really tired of this sanctimonious idiot, always so sure of his own moral superiority and convinced that the world would bend for him if he smiled hard enough.

“Forget about him Vincent.” Victoria said “Leave him for now to his pictures and recording his little love letters for his fiancee. Let him continue to chase his fairy tale one day he'll see the truth. We'll be seeing you Eddie good luck in the tournament.”

With a wink and a smirk Victoria turned and Vincent followed as they continued their walk down the harbor leaving Eddie behind them knowing that if he didn't come to turn soon perhaps his dream would also turn into a nightmare.

The living room in the main house of the Lions estate was decorated with pictures of the family of their father their mother and the twins themselves throughout the years.

Vincent Jr sat on the armchair propping his feet up on the coffee table look his head down lost in thought.

Nearby Victoria relaxed on the couch watching him before breaking the silence. [/i]

“That Kevin Carter has a lot of nerve doesn't he?” she said.

Vincent didn't respond immediately but he shifted a gaze to her letting her know that he was listening.

“The way he talked about you Vincent he has no idea about your history, about your struggle, and what it cost for you to be here.” Victoria said. ”He doesn't know what we did years ago in World Wrestling Headquarters, he doesn't even know that The Lyons Den almost closed when dad passed away, how close all this came to crumbling down.”

That caught his attention more he looked up at her and narrowed his eyes.

“Aaron Asphyxia had to convince coach Kaiser to keep The Lyons Den open and send you to World Wrestling Headquarters.” Victoria said “He was ready to call it quits himself, but he took a chance on you and you kickstarted a new generation and then I joined you and together we brought The Lyons Den back to life.”

He continued to listen watching his sisters every move letting every word sit on his ears.

“He doesn't understand that if you had not been successful in World Wrestling headquarters there would be no new generation.” Victoria said “None of this exists, no Eddie Lyons, no Cleo Phillips no Alexander Lyons, none of it exists without the foundation you started.”

He stayed quiet, only listening.

“He wants to be all pissed off about you getting this opportunity then let him be pissed off that's his problem. You know what you are but clearly he doesn't know who you are so you need to go out there and show him that you're no hand-picked little corporate soyboy.” Victoria continued.

He watched that she took a few steps closer to him.

“So tell me brother are you going to keep letting Kevin make all these assumptions about you?” Victoria said “Or are you going to go out there make Kevin Carter eat crow, take away his Internet Championship, and start a legendary reign all of your own just as I have with Rue?"

Visions stood up from the chair and looked at his sister in the eyes.

“I take it.” he snarled.

Victoria's smile deepened and Vincent noticed the satisfied glint in her eye he was not going to let his sister down and if Kevin Carter had any brains about him he had better start taking Vincent seriously.

__________

The camera flickers to life on a near empty street a desolate landscape with nothing but a few scattered buildings and an old neon sign flickering off in the distance the late afternoon sun cast a shadow across the cracked pavement that's the sound of footsteps were heard we see the approach of Vincent Lyons Jr.

Dressed in dark jeans and a leather jacket his eyes remain sharp and focus and fixed on the camera there was an air of purpose around him as though he was contemplating something significant.

“I heard your words Kevin.” he began his words wrapped in a layer of confidence  “I heard the speeches about mountains and crushing careers like you've got the whole world figured out, but let me make one thing clear you're wrong about me. You are wrong everything you said about me and when it's all over I am going to make you eat crow..”

Vincent paused for a moment briefly scanning the empty street before looking back to the camera with an unflinching gaze.

“You think I'm some sort of shadow?” Vincent continued his voice rising “That I'm just a kid trying to live up to some legacy? But understand this Kevin, I'm chasing nobody's shadow and I'm nobody's echo I'm building my own damn legacy within my family and I don't need to rely on anything my family did in the past. I carve my own destiny."

He takes a few steps forward the camera catching the intensity radiating off him.

“That whole “black cloud” thing that you brought up?” Vincent said “That label you really think I came up with that? I'll be honest I think it's a stupid as you do, it's just some dumb marketing gimmick that the people in charge tried to throw on me because they thought it was a neat little moniker to jump up mystique, but you're right it's a joke. But in that ring I am anything but a joke.”

Vincent exhales heavily letting the words linger about in the air.

“All names aside Kevin.” Vincent said “I'm coming for you and I'm coming for that championship .so they can call me the black cloud they can call me whatever they want I really don't care because at blaze of glory I'm still coming for that championship and I'm still the one you have to face in that ring and no stupid nickname is going to protect you from that.”

Vincent takes another short moment to pause.

“And all this talk about climbing Mount Scumbag.” Vincent said “Here’s a reality check for you, I'm not interested in climbing any mountains. I'm not interested in measuring myself against your past. All you’re doing is clinging to something that's been done. It's old news, your reign, your career, the mountains you climbed, they're behind you now. No matter how many times you tell people that you're untouchable, the fact is you're slipping and you're on your way down."

He took a couple steps more forward with a more commanding presence.

“I didn't ask for this match Kevin. I didn't beg the face you at Blaze of Glory” Vincent continued “But I got it  and that's all the confirmation I needed. I guess people see something in me, they see the hunger, and they see the fire that burns and that's something you can't comprehend. I'm sorry your feelings got hurt because this new guy gets a championship match but if it makes you feel better I can bring some extra tissues."

Vincent pages with a slight nod in exhale this time.

“And as far as  experience.” Vincent said “Believe me that this isn't my first rodeo. I've been in other companies before SCW and I am the foundation of the entire The Lyons Den.  You can have all the doubts about me you want but you will find out you will find out exactly what I'm capable of Kevin Carter.”

A confident smile grows across his face.

“Keep painting that new guy narrative.” said Vincent “It's such an easy narrative to paint and it's kind of sad because I know you're smarter than that Kevin. Perhaps you probably know exactly what I'm capable of and you're trying to get under my skin. It's a fair play if that's your game but it won't work.  Your Internet Championship is coming to The Lyons Den and there's nothing you can do to stop it.”

He takes two slight more steps forward.

“I'm going to walk into Blaze of Glory.” said Vincent “I'm going to stand at the base of Scumbag Mountain and I'm going to climb all the way to the top and plant the flag of The Lyons Den where it belongs.”

He keeps his intent gaze on the camera

“You want to talk about my bulldog mouth?” said Vincent “You're the one that spoke with a lot of bravado about how easy this match is going to be for you so what happens when I take that internet championship? Are you going to go cry to J2H about it?"

Vincent laughs to himself.

“You brag all about your accomplishments and what you did with Goth and Mark Ward.” said Vincent “And good on you, I told you before you did some good stuff. Like you dropping Mark Ward on his little pumpkin head. Victoria showed me that and we had a good laugh about it.

He exhales heavily.

“But that's not important right now.” said Vincent “What's important right now is me winning a championship. I have nothing personal against you Kevin, I just want the Internet Championship and you happen to be the man that carries it. So be as braggadocious as you want because I'm not afraid of Scumbag Mountain and I'm certainly not some new rookie trying to find my way in this business. Scum but can you survive The Lyons Den? I suppose we'll find out at Blaze of Glory.

The camera lingers on Vincent for a moment before he turns and walks off camera back down the street the camera watching him has he disappears around the corner and everything fades to black.

__________

The harsh win card through the island reminding Vincent and Charlie of their isolation they had been on this God forsaken place for about three weeks now, twenty one days since their shipwreck marooned them on his place in the Bering Sea, each day was starting to blur into the next.

Vincent scans the shoreline, a tight grip around his makeshift spear has he scanned the water surface searching for any sign of life.

Not far away Charlie stood nearby a spear of his own with a composed look at determination on his face. That annoyed Vincent. How could Charlie maintain such a composure in this dire situation.?

“It’s pointless…” Vincent muttered “We're wasting energy we don't have there's nothing here.”

“We need food Vincent.” said Charlie “The supply we had in the cabin ran out, and mussels and seaweed aren't enough. We need something substantial."

“I've never been a fisherman Charlie I don't know how to do this.” Vincent exhaled sharply.

“I'm not much of a fisherman either Vincent.” Charlie said “But we have to try. You just have to be patient watch the water move slowly and strike with intent.”

Patience… in the beginning Vincent had held on to hope believing rescue was imminent but days became weeks and I hope had withered replaced by desperation.

He tried to focus narrowing his eyes looking through the shallow water and then he saw it, a flicker, a silver shape darting beneath the surface.

Slowly he adjusted his stance like a predator preparing to pounce. The fish flitted about oblivious to the danger above as Vincent counted silently to three and thrust  the spear downward.

One. Two. Three

The water erupted in a spray as the spear pierced through, but when Vincent lifted it the spear was bare and the fish had vanished, leaving only a few ripples behind.

“Motherfucker!” Vincent shouted across the barren landscape

“Patience Vincent…” Charlie reminded him.

But the cycle repeated. Waiting, spotting, striking, and missing Each failure chipping at Vincent's composure.

The sun was dipping lower when finally the spear connected Vincent lifted it triumphantly A modest fish struggling on the end. There is a sense of relief coming through that gets interrupted by a sudden screech from above.

The seagull plunged talons extended, snatched the fish from the spear and flew back off into the sky with its prize.

“Sunuvabitch!” Vincent shouted as he watched “You thieving bastard!! That was ours!”

“It's okay Vincent…” Charlie said “Resting a hand on his arm, we’ll just catch another.”

But Vincent had had enough. He pushed past Charlie in a futile attempt to apprehend the avian thief. He stumbled over the uneven terrain keeping his eyes locked on the speck in the sky.

“Get back here!!" Vincent shouted “You can't take what's mine.”

But the seagull was long gone. Breathless and trembling Vincent sank to his knees and pounded his fist into the cold earth.

“Fucking dirty seabird.” he muttered.

Charlie approached him cautiously

“Vincent we can't afford to lose ourselves.” he said calmly not now.

“I'm not losing myself”. Vincent said “I earned that fish and that dirty bastard just comes along and steals it. That seagull is going to pay. It better not come back.”

“Vincent it's a bird…” Charlie said “There's nothing we can do about it.”

There was a sort moment of silence.

“You ever feel like this island is consuming you?” Vincent said with a heavy sigh.

“Everyday Vince. But we have to hold on we have to believe we'll make it through this.” Charlie said.

Belief…. that was becoming a distant memory to Vincent he wanted to cling to it, to find solace in Charlie's optimism. But the edges were slipping through his grasp as the night descended the two men sat in silence with only a few shellfish to sustain their empty stomachs.

He could have been wrestling with Victoria back home. But he was here because he had been selfish but he knew he would be back soon and he would be back by her side where he belonged.

__________

Vincent sat alone on the stone ledge of a secluded garden within the Lyons estate. Back hunched over, forearms on his knees. This was his quiet place, where even in his youth he often came for solace, and to just get away for a little while.

He had been thinking about that day on the island he can still hear the sound of that seagulls wings cutting through the air as it stole from him. Back then it wasn't just about the food, it was about control, the moment the bird took that fish it mocked him, laughed at him and told him it without words that he wasn't in charge and he wasn't powerful.

Vincent exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair he didn't know why that moment haunted him so much maybe it was because it was the first time he truly felt powerless or maybe because with all the fight and all his effort he still lost.

And the worst part was he saw it happening again not with any seagull or with a fish but with Victoria.

His sister's obsession was eating her alive and she didn't even see it. Alexandra Calaway burning the throne should have been nothing more than a message scrawled in fire and smoke but to Victoria it was a declaration of war and she latched to it like a curse like something sacred had been stolen from her.


He watched how she spoke about it how her lips curled when she mentioned Alexandra's name. It wasn't about beating her anymore it was about destruction and obliteration and he was nervous at his sister was on too dangerous of a road.

He had to keep his faith in her though because he couldn't afford to be distracted not with his own path to walk with Kevin Carter and the Internet Championship.

It wasn't the biggest prize in the company but that wasn't important to Vincent. He wanted it, he needed it. He needed something tangible, something real something to hold in his hands and say that it belonged to him.

The irony wasn't lost on him either he was here stewing on his own obsession while condemning Victoria for hers maybe he he was a hypocrite and just as consumed as he was only with a different target. He just wanted her to remain as successful as she had been. She had done so much while he rotted on that island and he didn’t want to see that taken from her. He wanted to become a champion so that they could be champions together and show the entire SCW Universe that The Lyons Twins were the new threat and they were in fact

STRONGER TOGETHER.

_________

The cameras flicker to life in a dimly lit vague location, indistinct but clearly intentionally so. It is here that Vincent Lyons Jr stands with an unreadable expression but I sharp full of focus and something Kevin Carter would be a fool to dismiss

“Kevin Carter listen up.” Vincent began “You said your words would fall on deaf ears, but I promise I heard each and every word. I can tell you've already decided I'm nothing more than an afterthought, but I'm here to tell you the reality you clearly refuse to face reality that this match will change everything."

His eyes never leave the camera lens as he takes a slow step forward.

“For the last month and a half or so you've been spreading around like winning that Championship has made you untouchable” said Vincent “But you and I both know it only takes one moment for everything to change. One moment for someone to climb a ladder grab a belt and make the story their own.”

He pauses shortly for effect.

“I'm not the type of guy who waits for the world to hand him glory.” Vincent said “I'm not going to live in the shadow of what my cousin or my sister have done here. I'm here to carve my own path and prove that I am a contender and I am the future of SCW.

He exhales heavily.

“I'm no fool Kevin. I know what you're capable of.” said Vincent “I know the tricks you use. The mind games you've played, the braggadocio that fills every corner of your persona. You talk about your words falling on my deaf ears, but I have to wonder with how dismissive you were of me are you going to listen to anything I have to say?"

He pauses again just for a moment.

“But if you are listening you need to get ready Kevin.” Vincent continued “Get ready for the moment when I climb that ladder rung after run leaving behind every fake assurance you've clung to. Get ready for the moment when I snatch that belt away and raise it high for the world to see, the moment when your reign ends as quickly as it began, replaced by a champion who refused to be underestimated and wasn't satisfied with mediocrity.

He takes a deep breath his eyes narrowing as if he's watching the scene unfold before his eyes.

“Your time as champion ends soon Kevin.” Vincent said “Not even because I'm more talented, but because fate intervened and you underestimated me. You underestimated the hunger I have inside and the fire that refuses to die out. The will that will push me to fight even with the odds stacked against me.”

He lets the words linger in the air for a moment.

“If you listen to anything Kevin.” Vincent said “Listen to the sound of your impending downfall because when I reach the top and the belt is mine there won't be a moment for regrets or excuses it will only be the cold hard truth that Vincent Lyons Jr claimed what was always meant to be his and your so-called supremacy will be nothing more than a memory of a time when you believed yourself invincible.”

He takes a few calculated steps forward.

“So be prepared Kevin Carter.” Vincent said “Be prepared for the fall you never saw coming. The ladder awaits and so does your reckoning. When I'm done your name will be remembered as a cautionary tale, a man who was overthrown by the relentless force of ambition and when that title is finally mine the world will see I knew standard of true champion."

The screen darkens as Vincent keeps his eyes intently on the camera.

“You should have never underestimated me Kevin.” Vincent said “You have nobody to blame but yourself for what happens at Blaze Of Glory when your reign ends just as fast as it began.”

And then darkness.