My mother knew that ever since Into the Void, I was feeling glum. She knew that this was especially so since the calendar turned to June. But as we were taking a stroll through some of the vortexes that Sedona was very famous for, she knew something was very wrong especially since the vortexes usually helped me pull through the dumps but that doesn’t always work.

It’s especially worrying for her since the last time that didn’t work, was of course, 2020, with the infamous summer of hell where I went on a complete downward spiral. What she didn’t know, however, is that the gloominess that I was going through wasn’t even because of the outcome of that world title match.

“It’s okay to talk about the loss if you want to…” my mother said with a sigh. “You know how I feel about that place and I don’t ever want to think you can never talk about it with me.”

I paused and turned toward my mother, not sure what to say at the moment.

“I know that match didn’t go the way you wanted it to and I know you’re tired of the hard luck when it comes to the world title over there…”

“Mother, I’m not even upset or even down in the dumps about the outcome….” I admitted.

“Why are you so glum, then?”

“It was some certain words… the way I was treated. I think it’s so clinically psychotic that someone can interpret words the way Kayla interpreted mine. I think it’s so fucking trippy that something so little as not saying a certain thing on social media at a certain time gets you compared to Crystal and gets you buried in a bunch of lies. I know Roddy and I talked about how things are supposed to be different this time but it really just feels like dealing with you know who all over again.”

My mother didn’t know how to respond when I finally admitted that things weren’t exactly okay.

“It’s just… I don’t get it. I don’t understand it. I do what I have to do. I am just… you know… me out there. I don’t try to force anything. I don’t even try to make people like me. Yet, I’ve taken notice since I went back there about how all these people are like ‘she’s exactly the same’ and saying that I’m ‘arrogant’, and I’m this lie and that lie and…”

I gave a bit of a defeatist sigh at this point. Even in my first run in SCW before my father had passed away and I had gone off the rails, I was dealing with this same crap. Even then, I wasn’t TRYING to be disliked. I wasn’t necessarily going out and seeking the approval of other people then either, but it’s basically gotten to the point where I was basically fed up all over again with the slander and the garbage the other Bombshells threw my way.

“...I don’t need to tell you how toxic that culture is in the locker room.”

“Andrea…” my mother says as she approaches me. “In a weird way, and by no means am I EVER going to condone your behavior all those years ago or the person you allowed that company to turn you into, you were actually kind of justified in turning that leaf.”

“...I was?!?!?!” I asked, clearly feeling a bit tripped up because my mother of all people was saying this. “I treated people horribly. You realized the monster that I turned into, right?”

“You did nothing to deserve the mistreatment that you got at the beginning. We’re talking about the same place where tweeting that your first loss was a ‘delay of the inevitable’ was spun into ‘she’s arrogant and she needs to be humbled’ when that was clearly not what you meant to do. Now you take one promo where you didn’t even say anything BAD about Kayla and it turns into ‘you’re another Crystal Hilton’. Tell me, Andrea. How does something so insignificant get blown up out of proportion? How does not tweeting a certain thing at a certain time to someone else’s liking turn into ‘you’re disrespecting me’? You know, it’s crazy. You’re not a social media person at all anymore and this type of crap is exactly why…”

“But the moment I tweet anything anyone can take out of context, I’m getting it right down the fucking throat in an opposing promo…”

I let out a sigh coming to the realization that I was about to reveal to my mother.

“That locker room is never going to accept me, mother.”

My mother actually smiled at this, much to my surprise.

“I’ve been waiting 5 years for you to say that and again, your feelings are purposely justified and the way you turned that leaf then? Justified. You went WAY too far, as you know. You can only help yourself and focus on yourself, Andrea. At the end of the day, they’re just empty words by shallow people. You shouldn’t pay them any mind at all. I can tell you’re far happier and much more into your other place…”

“You know, the five year anniversary of my dad dying looming in the clouds doesn’t help either…”

“Maybe this is a time to honor him by remembering something that might help you here…”

My mother gave me a reassuring embrace at this point.

“He’s the only one that can really pull you out of a situation like this since he knew the wrestling business far more than I ever could. You talk about your other company and you’re passionate and into it. Whenever you talk about SCW, you come off like you’re burdened.”

“Well, my other place… it has cancers like everywhere else does, but not like this…”

“I’ll leave you alone for a minute. I think you need to figure this out on your own. All I can tell you is, don’t let any of it get you down: your father’s unfortunate anniversary, the locker room you have to deal with, none of that crap. I’ll be back in a bit.

My mother assured me once more that things were going to be okay. But as I sat down on the large, flat rocky area that we were chatting in, that gloominess was really getting to me. The combination of my father’s passing anniversary as well as the unfortunate realization that the other Bombshells were never going to accept me had me going through a bender. All I could do was take my mother’s advice and sifted through many of the lessons that he taught me when he was bringing me up in this business. I could remember the first time we ever had a serious conversations about peer interaction in the business…

2019, months prior to signing with SCW.

For all the disdain that I have personally held toward the SCW Bombshells locker room for basically most of my career there, the truth of the matter is that Sin City Wrestling has never had the absolute worst locker room environment for me. That would be the company that I had wrestled at BEFORE I was even there. For a while, that perspective helped me pull through some struggles, but at the same time, that wasn’t necessarily working anymore.

I remember sitting on the couch with my father as we were just having a conversation. He then brought up my career out of nowhere as he was prone to doing when he felt like he needed to spice up the conversation and the fact that I was in the dumps like I was in the current day drew his attention.

“So what’s the name of that place again? The one that you hate being in?”

“That’s not even important anymore, Dad. They just closed shop.”

“Oh did they?” he asked and I nodded. “Thank god.”

My eyes widened with surprise considering my father was against changing promotions. I could still remember when he got on my case for leaving one back in 2016.

“What do you mean ‘thank god’? You’ve never wanted me to change promotions.”

“This one that you were in was fucking garbage, Andrea. It’s a bunch of ass clown nutjobs stock in the 90’s who rely on poking fun at ‘woke’ than actually putting in a good product. They’re very chauvinistic and you have a bunch of jackasses that don’t evolve with the times. I don’t know how the hell you even had success there.”

“Grown ass men reducing me to a damn sex object…” I said with an angry sigh. “...grown men stuck in 20 years prior trying to dictate what that company should be and always getting in my way saying I don’t deserve this or that I am incapable of that. When I had my one and only world title shot and lost, that was basically a spirit breaker for me because it felt like all of those old blowhards were right all along.”

“I don’t know how you could find a worse locker room than that. But, there’s something that I need to drill in your head right now…”

My father grabbed my hand and when I turned to look at him, I could tell that he was very much serious. The look in his eyes definitely had that aura that he wasn’t fucking around at all.

“There are two things that you can be in this business, Andrea: a victim or a champion…”

My eyes widened some as I wasn’t expecting him to say that nor did I even understand what he was getting at.

“Take this promotion you were in that just closed with all their He Man Women Hater bullshit, okay? You’re in a hell of a situation here. Someone of your youth and caliber who still has the whole world ahead of her should have no issues finding a place to work at all. You can be the champion and find that other place and you can succeed a hell of a lot more than they were ever going to allow you to succeed in that place that just closed. You can win your first world title and then go right back to those people and shove it up their ass and show them what they fucking missed out on… or… you know… just let them be right about you and prove that you don’t have what it takes. There’s no in between here, Andrea.”

“...so….um… what is the victim path exactly?”

“Giving up and not going anywhere else and letting their stupid sexist nonsense define the rest of your career, that’s what. That’s why I didn’t want you to quit your first company when you did because you were letting those idiots define you. You can go down the dark path, say ‘fuck the world’ and sell out every moral fiber of who you are so that you don’t get pushed around anymore… but that’s still letting those bastards define you. You’d still be their victim. You admitted yourself that when you had your one world title match in the place and didn’t win, you basically gave up.”

I sighed, knowing all too well how true that was.

“You decided to be the victim and decide that you were done dealing with that place and by the grace of god, that place didn’t last much longer after that. It’s a tough business, Andrea. I warned you about that for years and I never wanted you to go through this type of thing. Really, the choice is yours. You can fight through this and you cn just be happy with yourself and be the best that you are capable of being as you move forward or you can just lie down, give up, let the haters win and let them be right about you. This isn’t worth being in the dumps about for so long, got it?”

“Yeah, I do…”

“So what’s it going to be? Are you going to fight through this and move forward or are you going to just let everyone else be right about you even though you know in your heart that they are wrong?”

I knew what the answer was, especially since the choice that I made to be the ‘champion’ and not the ‘victim’ in this particular instance led me to signing with Sin City Wrestling back in 2019 to begin with.

I snapped back into the present moment as I looked out into some of the wilderness that was right in front of me. I could almost hear my father repeating the same questions all over again.

“I never thought I would be in the same cross roads I was five years ago…” I reflected. “I have three choices: I give up, go home and just let Kayla and everyone else that has ever said a negative word about me to be right…

Easy call, right?

I say ‘screw everyone’ and cave in, give them exactly who they think I am even though it’s not REALLY me and just sell my values down the river… AGAIN…

And then what? Prove I really am no better than Crystal Hilton?

Or I can take the road I should’ve taken five years ago: Move forward, stay true to who I am, don’t give in to the bitches, the critics, the bullies, the slanderers with nothing better to do. I find a way through this metaphorical forest and I overcome this and eventually get to the place I want to be in this company. I can be the victim and do the first two things I mentioned… or I can be the champion in this case and just soldier along… everyone else be damned.

I’m not going to go on a ‘fuck everyone’ rampage and do the same thing that I did five years ago when I was in this same situation after that cruise ship…

But the truth is, I’ll never be accepted in that Bombshells locker room and I am always going to be a target of derision, slander, lies, and so forth just because… well I don’t know WHY exactly this has always happened to me in SCW.

It’s like Myra always says: the only one that really knows the truth about you… IS you…”

The tears that just strolled down my face, a physical manifestation of just how pained and tired I was of how I generally get slandered and mistreated by any given opponent in SCW, got wiped away quickly.

“I know it’s hard to accept that truth…” my mother said behind me, having overheard my entire reflection. “...but you’re better off just focusing on being who you know you are, who you know you can be and never worrying about making anyone else that isn’t you happy. Alright? They can interpret things about you, twist things about you, exaggerate things about you and so on, but that’s THEM… not you, alright? You can push back and push through this and keep this darkness from invading your heart and soul again. I believe in you and you may be the only daughter I ever had, but you’re the best one I could ever want. Don’t forget that, alright?”

“Thanks mom…”

“”If your father were still here…”

“He’d want me to keep fighting this. I made the mistake five years ago of giving up… and I’m not about to make the same mistake again…”

“Good…” my mother said as we stood up and then finished the rest of our leisurely stroll.

June 13, 2025

A cabin near Pikes Peak near Colorado Springs was probably the perfect getaway from things considering all of the emotions that were completely going through me at this point. I wasn’t fully out of the glum mood I was in just yet, but by the time the camera came on me, I had recovered enough to be able to pull through and find the light at the end of the tunnel. I wasn’t exactly fiery as I had been known to be, but I knew that going into this Sunday, I had to make a statement of some kind.

“Let’s get the obvious out of the way. Into the Void didn’t go my way. It’s shitty. Yeah, I admit it. It’s shitty. It’s very fucking familiar to me. But one thing that I know now that I didn’t know five years ago is that it’s not the adversity, it’s how you react to it and five years ago when I was in the situation that I was in: a tailspin to say the least, when everything that could go wrong, DID go wrong, when I was sitting on that damn cruise feeling sorry for myself and feeling like I proved someone very overrated and unimportant in the grand scheme of things right, when I felt like I had let everyone down, I was presented with a choice: I could fight my way through this and somehow pull through to be even better than before or I could just lie down, take it, let everyone else win and just raise hell on everyone else because of my own insecurities becoming someone that I never truly wanted to be in the first place. Five years ago, I made the worst fucking mistake of not just my SCW career, but my entire professional wrestling career period: I let everyone else that ever had a negative thing to say about me win.

So this time around when I am faced with the same choice, I know better now and I know that I am NOT going to make that same fucking mistake again so if you expect me to eat those words whatever Kayla had to say about me going into Into the Void and that entire title match and allow a bunch of gross, exaggerated, unrealistic, truth twisting of whatever I said or did or whatever I didn’t say or didn’t do be true…

I got only one thing to say to you…

Get a hobby.

I get it, okay? Whatever my reputation is, I’ve earned that. I’m not fighting it. The hardest part of that whole ordeal wasn’t losing that world title match but basically having to come to terms with the fact that this locker room is… well… for lack of a sugar coat honestly… they’re never going to accept me. Some will always root for me to fail or they’re just randomly name drop me and throw a barb at me and say ‘oh she’s just the same’. I am who I am, alright? You don’t have to like who I am. You can take what I say and you can twist it to the most unreal bullshit that you can think of but it’ll NEVER be true because the truth of the matter is, NOBODY in this locker room knows me. Part of that is because, yeah, I’ve been distant. I don’t use social media nearly as much as I do. I don’t engage in the drama nearly as much as I used to and I sure as fuck don’t ignite it. I already know what to expect going up against Necra. I know how she operates based on how she acts and her supercilious arrogance that goes into every single opponent that she faces. I saw that self-negligence going into the chamber match where she was acting like she was going to be queen shit and that everything ran through her.

You were what? The second elimination in that thing, Necra?

And I’m sorry, I have nothing against Candy… anymore… but you expect me to be impressed with you beating her at Into the Void? Candy’s a sweetheart, but she also hasn’t been someone that people ont his roster have feared in many years and has barely moved the needle since she lost the SCW Bombshells Roulette Championship…”

I paused and bit my lower lip in a minor fit of realization knowing exactly how that comment was going to be interpreted. As the camera rolled on, I winced a bit and for a brief moment, I was left to my own internal thoughts that Necra, nor anyone, would hear.

“...fuck, the bitches are going to take that and twist it so far up my ass. Seriously. I can already hear them saying something about it. I can already picture my next opponent saying ‘oh this is proof of how ARROGANT you are and how you haven’t changed’....”

“Fuck it…” I said out loud. “I said what I just said because it’s the truth and I don’t see why I should have t sugar coat that to make anyone else in the locker room happy. I am who I am, Necra and if you don’t like that, it’s a you problem. So yeah, I’m going to straight up say it. You might be a Hall of Fame member, but the truth of the matter is that your comeback swing that you’ve had this year is not even close to a Rolling Stones epic and more along the lines of the Who putting people to sleep at the damn Super Bowl many years ago. Four Roulette Championships and a tag title are nothing to sneeze at, but since you’ve came back, I haven’t seen one match or remembered one moment from you that has wowed me or made me think ‘shit, I should watch out for her’. I won’t give you the lecture of how this is a far different division than what you left many years ago, but the fact that even all the way back when, when you were at the peak of your powers, you still weren’t a world champion at any point says it all. You’re someone that seems to coast on reputation and seems like she’s too fucking stubborn and stuck in her ways to ever evolve or be any different. That’s what I think of you, Necra. You do you and that’s fine. I’m not out to change you and I’m not out to make you change what you’re about, but that doesn’t mean that I am going to lie down and accept the fate that happened to me at Into the Void. Hell, let me be REALLY fucking honest with you, Necra…

I am coming into this match completely fucking pissed off.

I’m going into this knowing that I have to have this and that I have to make a statement. For as much as I am not impressed with your return run in the slightest, you’re STILL a Hall of Fame member and I am not going to overlook that. I went into my last match stating that I was confident enough to talk about being one of the best wrestlers in the business and being one of the best this division has ever had in spite of all the shit that I’ve been through and while the result of that match doesn’t necessarily SUPPORT that, that doesn’t mean that it’s a lie either. I am going to stay true to that belief and I am going to continue to grow, to overcome, to get better, to find a way to push through and achieve everything I could ever want to achieve in this company and in this business. I’m angry because the truth is, I am beyond tired of the toxicity of the locker room sometimes. It’s not even necessarily or even exclusively the slander that is said about me. You look around and you see a whole bunch of narcissism and shit like that. Sure, you’re going to have your people that are going to say that I am arrogant or that I’m a narcissist or whatever the fuck they want to say. I’ve heard it so many times that I’m just numb to it at this point. It’s a damn good thing I am distant from it all because the constant negativity, the constant nonsense that goes on around here, the constant egomaniacs that are running around and feeling like they need to run down other people and make up the wildest fucking bullshit about them that is not true, never will be true and never WAS fucking true… it’s just EXHAUSTING really.

YOU are one of the biggest offenders of everything that I just said in my interpretation because it seems like no matter what happens, especially if you lose, you’re able to just dismiss it as a fluke occurrence or you’re just acting like it never fucking happened. If that’s not narcissistic behavior then, I don’t even know. So yeah, you are damn fucking right I am pissed because really, I’m tired of having to hear vapid, empty people acting as if they know me from front to back and thinking that they’re suddenly my damn therapist or something. You’re an outlet that I have to take my anger out on because as far as I’m concerned, on this particular instance, you are more than just another opponent to me and you mean a hell of a lot more than just another win over a Hall of Fame member. You are the outlet that I am going to unleash my anger on because for me, our match is me saying goodbye to all the fucking bullshit that I have ever endured in this company from all the other Bombshells in the locker room and even, in one instance, a couple of times when I wasn’t even HERE! This match for me is a PURGE… of all the negative, toxic emotions I’ve ever had to hold in my heart because of my time here, of all the poison that I’ve carried in my soul for years because of this thing that went wrong, this bitch that should’ve gone to court for some of the lies levied against me, that thing that didn’t go my way, that cunt that took every fucking little thing that I did or didn’t do like a fucking insult that she had to be a two faced hypocrite and DO THE SAME GOD DAMN THING SHE SAID I DID…

And if any of you hear this and THINK that I am talking about YOU… you BETTER look in the mirror before you go off on your shady little subtweet shit and say “NOW THE REAL ANDREA HAS COME OUT”....

FUCK that… and FUCK YOU because NOBODY knows the real Andrea Jayda Hernandez except ME, got it? You get that, Necra? Of course not. You’re too old fashioned and stuck in your ways thinking that you don’t have to evolve or change a fucking thing to be successful. You can say whatever the hell you want, but you’re the vessel that’s about to be on the other end of this purge that I am about to unleash. This is a one shot deal. This is my way of flushing Into the Void, flushing the chamber, flushing High Stakes and hell, let’s just say flushing every ounce of bad vibes I’ve ever had to deal with in this company. Where I go after Sunday? That’s not exactly clear in the immediate moment. I know that I WILL have that world championship again sooner rather than later and when I do, I will have that reign that I’ve always wanted and I’ll be DONE with that one and done supercard shit but that’s for the near future. Sunday, I let it all out on you, Necra because the truth is, I am done with it all. No more poison in me. No more worrying about what someone else said about me. No more feeding into that shit. Sunday, I entertain it this ONE last time and then I go on my own way and do me. As long as the people that are behind me in the stands, in my family, in my life are behind me, fine. That’s great. I’m done seeking approval of other people so to everyone in the back that watches this, just know that you’re not going to throw your jabs at me and shade me like a little bitch behind my back without getting a receipt for it.

If you’re with me, you’re with me. If you’re not? So be it. I know most of you in the locker rom will never accept me and that’s fine because those in the audience? They do. My family? They do. My friends? They do. And to me, that’s all that matters. It just took me way longer than it needed to in order for me to come to that realization and I’m definitely not sorry about being in my own cabin or being a wallflower for the cruise this year. Necra, it’s really NOT personal against YOU, specifically… even though I know you’re going to say something VERY stupid about me and be just like so many others in the locker room have been when they go up against me. You just happened to be the person I wrestled against when I decided to purge all the poison I’ve carried with me for years.”

Finally, after saying that, I could calm down. I shut the camera off and the first thing that came to mind was knowing that the wrong people were probably going to dissect that and twist it into something it’s not.

Then I felt a sense of relief knowing that I accepted that was going to happen and that after I defeat Necra on Sunday, I wasn’t going to give a fuck about that anymore.

Act 1: I beat her



The scene opens on the beautiful Georgian countryside. The camera moves along the long stretch of road that wound itself along the countryside. The smell of flowers lingered in the air, as a gentle breeze moved among the trees that lined either side of the road. The camera soon picks up a lone road that seemed to disappear under the heavy magnolia and willow trees that lined either side of the road. We soon see the massive home that belongs to the Goddess of Death herself. The sound of dogs barking echoed through the quiet afternoon. The camera moves to the interior of the mansion, and toward the kitchen, where we see Necra looking over sketches. Ex sits next to her and Aries sits beside them with a piece of cake in front of him.

Ex: You're in a good mood.

Necra: And why shouldn't I be happy? I beat Candy.

Ex: No you didn't…

Necra: Yes I did. I mean did you see the match? I beat the hell out of her.

Ex: No, Malice did.

Necra is taken back and leans back in her chair.

Necra: No, I was in charge of my body the whole time.

Ex: Yeah, but Malice gave you the power to defeat Candy right?

Necra: Yeah, but I was the one that beat Candy…

Ex: But you didn’t…

Necra gets to her feet, and walks off, leaving Ex and Aries together.

Aries: (Pacifier noises) Why did you do that?

Ex: I guess I shouldn’t have said that huh?

Aries: (Pacifier noises) Ya think? She was happy, and content.

Ex sighs, as he leans back. Necra walks out of the kitchen and heads toward the stairs. Her bare feet padded along the floor, as she moved in silence up the polished wooden stairs and reached the upper floor. She walks into a massive room with what appear to be glass cases with snakes and other creatures within. She walks by the cases and stops in front of one that holds a python with  light patterning along its body. She smiles softly as it slithers up to the top as she slides the top open and picks it up. She smiles as she moves through the room, with the snake on her shoulders.
Necra: I did beat her… I made her suffer and when it was all over I had my hand raised in the middle of the ring. Candy couldn’t even stand in the end! I did it, and no one is going to take that away from me in the end. And now I have a match against Andrea Hernadez. I’m not even sure where to start with you Andrea… Have we ever faced each other? I’m not even sure if we have. If we did then you can’t be that impressive in the ring, because I would remember you if I did.

She smirks as she sets the python on the floor letting it slither along beside her.

Necra: From what I understand Andrea you’ve been having a hard go at it. Does that mean you just can’t cut it in the SCW or are you not worth the time and the effort that I’m willing to put into this match? You see after I beat the holy hell out of Candy I’m not going to take it easy on anyone that I face. I will destroy you just as easy as I did with her. I’m not going to underestimate you. I mean that would be stupid of me to do so. No, I’m going to make sure that I am ready for anything that you can throw at me, which won’t be a lot.

She soon stops in front of an aquarium with what appears to be rather large beetles. Their shells shimmered in the dim light as they moved about. Necra pulls one out of the case and smiles as it moves along her hand.

Necra: Do you know what this is? This is a scarab beetle. Those of the ancient world believed that these little creatures were the symbol for rebirth. These were placed within the deceased to keep them safe from the things that are on the other side. They also bring good fortune, and protection and that just means I’ll have even better luck when I face off against you. You have yet to say anything about our match, and have not even bothered to understand the trouble that you are in. I will not stop until I have another win under me, and you are left in the middle of the ring wondering where you went wrong.

She places the little creature back in the case and continues to walk along.

Necra: I really don’t want to spend too much time on you Andrea. I mean why should I? I already know that I have this match won and once again, you will walk away with nothing in the end. I was taught by the best in the world, and plan on doing everything that I can to win this match, and leave you with nothing once again. See I will always be better than you and everyone else that I face off against and there is nothing that you can do to stop me. I am the Goddess of Death, The Queen of the Dead, The Lady in Black, The Angel of Death, The Alpha and the Omega, The Child of Heaven and Hell. Fear me; for when you look upon me you will see your end. See you soon and good luck, you’re going to need it.

She smiles as she turns and walks out of the room with the snake slithering behind her as the scene fades to black.

“I remember…”

Seattle, Washington -
June 13, 2012

It was strange to admit that the memory of his thirteenth birthday was a distant one, but the fact that he recalled it with such clarity and fondness . It was June 2012, on a Wednesday afternoon, and school had just let out. (I know, I know! Going to school on your birthday of all days just reeks of epic sucktitude!) It was the last week of school before summer break was set to begin, which made this birthday adventure something even more wonderful to look back and reminisce on. And it wasn’t just because classes were nearly over for the school year, but because The Avengers had hit theaters and the worldwide phenomenon was quickly catching its full momentum over the last two months without a hint of slowing down. Carter had multiple chances to see the movie since its opening, his Dad having offered a time or two to take him personally, but Carter had found the inner fortitude to wait it out and see it on his birthday. It made it all the more special. A decision that in later years he would have looked back with regret in his heart.

How much more special would it have been to watch such a movie with his Dad and only his Dad?

But at the given time, to make things even better, Carter had been allowed to bring along three of his closest school friends with full approval from their parents; Randy Coppler (Yes, the very same one Carter had been caught with a year later, which effectively outed him to his family). Chloe Morgan and Jessica Ryan. Of truth be told, neither Chloe nor Jessica had any real interest in seeing the Avengers but it was their friend’s birthday and they were also in on the little mission of distracting Carter for what was to come after.

The movie theater lobby smelled like hot, buttered popcorn and melted chocolate, and Carter felt like a VIP just walking in with his friends. His Mom and Dad had given him an envelope with enough funds to treat him and his friends not only with the movie tickets, but also their hearts desires behind the concession stand. And for four hungry teens, that included everything from fresh, hot popcorn to mountainous sodas, nachos with extra cheese and candies like Sour Patch Kids and M&Ms of which Carter had added to his popcorn much to the surprise - and later delight - of his friends.

And after the movie, they couldn’t stop talking. They mimicked the action scenes in the parking lot, throwing invisible shields and fake punches until Joanna, Carter’s mom, yelled, “Alright, Avengers, get in the car!” It wasn’t just a birthday. It was a memory. Carter still remembered the glow of the marquee, the feeling of being young and invincible, and the joy of sharing something epic with people who mattered. Plus, there had been so much more to follow on that day.

Carter watched with a curious surprise as his Mom drove him and his friends not to their respective houses but to their own home and to the small get-together that she and Carter’s Father had chosen to throw in honor of his thirteenth birthday. And while his immediate family was present, Jessica, Randy and Chloe were his only friends from school that had been expressly invited. Much like now, Carter had a very small circle of friends rather than a large number and those three specifically topped the list.

His family home had been gloriously overdone with everything from streamers and confetti to the obligatory rainbow array of helium balloons. The dining room table had been laden with all manner of tasty treats, from his Grams’ homemade marmalade candies and birthday cake fudge . And as far as the main course was concerned? Where the vast majority of kids would want pizza for their birthday dinners, Carter - as you would come to realize later in life - was anything but a normal young man. His favorite birthday meals were served for everyone to enjoy - Sloppy Joes and Taco Pasta casserole. And of course, one could not forget the obligatory Funfetti birthday cake with buttercream frosting and Oreo ice cream to cap the day off.

And to bring the evening to a perfect conclusion - presents! Despite their comfortable life, Joanna and Cillian had never overdone it where their son was concerned. They didn’t flaunt money to the point of spoiling him on a whim. But Christmas and birthdays? That was a different story where they could indulge their son freely and feel no remorse. Among other much desired items, he had been gifted with the video games the Darkness II and the Silent Hill HD Collection, a much coveted Haunted House Lego set and the Gramophone docking station for his brand new IPad. All in all, a birthday collection to look back with fond remembrance. But it was one gift, smaller by comparison, that had always stood out in his mind.

Carter’s birthstone was the moonstone, and his Dad had bought him a moonstone choker, where the bright blue jewel had been set in place and the band was crafted of a perfect tanned leather. Carter loved it, and wore it every single day - until a year later when he had accidentally outed himself and his Dad left the family, seemingly abandoning him. Carter tore the choker off in his grief and hurled it against his bedroom wall, breaking the jewel’s inlay beyond repair. And yet, despite all anger and animosity, he had been unable to bring himself to dispose of it. Even now, the remnants of the choker was kept tucked away in a jewelry box he kept on his nightstand.


“You remembered?” Carter’s mother Joanna asked from her side of the video chat that she had initiated less than an hour ago. It had broken her heart to have to tell him that she and Grams would be unable to fly into Las Vegas as planned for his 26th birthday celebration, but she had been unable to get the time off of work and Grams was a touch under the weather so better as not to risk the trip. And of course, despite his initial disappointment, Carter more than understood.

“Of course I remember.” A weary Carter answered from where had curled up on his and Miles’s living room sofa, talking to his favorite lady from his laptop. “I still rank that as maybe my favorite of birthdays.”

“More so than Dollywood?” His Mom teased, knowing somewhat jealousy that somehow, fate played a hand on her son’s 24th for him and Miles to have accidentally met the “Queen of Country” herself when Miles crossed Carter’s desire to visit Dollywood off of his bucket wish list.

Carter pretended to think it over and shrugged, answering noncommittal “They’re neck and neck.” Bringing a soft smile to his Mom’s face. Then as quickly as Carter had jested, his mood was replaced by a sombre, melancholy tone. He added, “And it was the last birthday I had with Dad.”

And this reminder just made Joanna’s heart break for her son, knowing his heart and soul was filled with regret for all of those lost years he had spent hating the man over what had proven to be machinations on the part of the paternal side of his family.

“Oh Carter…” She started to say in a whisper, but Carter shook his head and spoke up, “No, it’s okay. I just sometimes still have trouble remembering that he’s gone. Like something good happens to me - like when I won the championship - and I feel like a little boy all over again. I want to pick up the phone and call him and tell him all about it and then it dawns on me. I can’t do that any more.”

“Your Father is watching you, Carter.” Joanna nodded, all doubt removed from her mind. “He knows how you feel.” To which Carter could only nod in agreement, even though times sometimes proved hard for him to truly believe. It was then a sound from further in the condo he shared with Miles drew his attention away from the chat. The sound of their front door opening and shutting closed, and Ms. Thang hopped from her perch at the side of his lap to go greet her dad.

Carter looked into the camera and sighed, “I guess I know where I stand in the grand scheme of things.” Much to Joanna’s amusement. And a moment later, in walked Miles carrying a shopping bag which got Carter’s hopes up. Miles did not share his love for shopping, so if he went out for something then that must mean….

Joanna then added, “Good afternoon, Miles.”

“Hi Mum!” Miles leaned into the camera, gifting her with a smile and a wave, and using the affectionate name she had insisted on from the moment he had married her son - the same that Mora had bestowed Carter with the very same day.

Joanna then looked between them and offered, “Okay, I am going to let you boys go. Carter, Grams and I will call you on Friday. Love you!”

“Love you too.” Carter smiled, with Miles adding his own loving wishes as the call came to an end.

“Everything okay?” Miles stood in front of his husband as Carter closed the laptop, answering Miles with a silent nod. Carter then added, “Just some upcoming birthday blues I guess.”

“You’re about thirty years too early for those.” Miles joked, before he noticed where Carter’s eyes had strayed. “You can stop with your oh-so-subtle glances, love.” Miles smirked in a way that just got to Carter. As if his husband was paying him back for his deft hiding of Miles’s presents and the ensuing hunt for said gifts this past Christmas. “Your present isn’t in there.”

“Present?” Carter’s eyebrow rose. “As in singular?”

“Nice try.” Miles said as he set the bag down - away from Carter’s grasp or sight before he took a seat beside him, Ms. Thang promptly hopped up and took a seat on his lap like her throne. “So where did that dirty little mind of yours go to put you in such a mood?”

Carter sighed before he shifted the laptop over to set it on the coffee table before turning to look at Miles. He rested his left arm on the back of the sofa as he tried to decide how best to approach the topic until he finally decided to just tear the proverbial Bandaid off.

“Miles, I was thinking. I don’t think it’s a very good idea to have a birthday party on Friday.”

“What?” Miles frowned, clearly caught off guard. Of all the things that could have been bothering Carter, this was the last thing that he had expected. “I thought you were all excited for a party?”

“I thought so too.” Carter admitted. “But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's not a good idea right now.”

“Why?”

“Because the first person on the guest list would have to be LJ.” Carter said. “And because he’s there, you know we have to invite Alexandra. And ..  Bobbie is one of my friends and I'd have to invite her and that would mean…”

“Artie would have to come.” Miles sighed, finally understanding.

“Yeah,” Carter sighed. “And Artie is a friend too. And I admit I am not happy with the way Alexandra treated him. And if they were both at the party and things spilled over…”

“You don't think you could be impartial between the two.” Miles observed.

“That's part of it.” Carter admitted. “The other part is I just wouldn't want them fighting in the first place. So I'm thinking maybe it would be best if we canceled the party plans and just spent it together, just you and me?”

“Well, lovely company as I am..” Miles joked. “You had your heart set on a party. Hell! I had my heart set on throwing you a birthday party!

“You always throw one for my birthday and I've yet to be able to throw one for you.”

Carter nodded. “That's just another reason why I feel lousy right now. Even though it's my birthday I feel like I let you down.”

“Hey, you listen to me…” Miles snaked his arm around his husband’s shoulders and drew him close enough that Carter could smell that smoldering sandalwood cologne that he wore - and knew drove Carter crazy. “You could never disappoint me. I understand what you’re saying and why you feel that way.”

“Thanks.” Carter smiled, meaning every word. Miles slowly stood up, stating, “I’ll let everyone know we’re going light this year. I had to call Artie anyway.”

“Why?”

“Well, I have to explain to him that I can’t help him get ready for the match on Sunday.” He shrugged, as if everything he said made the most sense. “It is against my husband after all…”

“No.”

“No?” Miles raised his own brow.

“No.” Carter emphasized. “I would rather you and Kristjan still help him.”

“Babe, did that hair lightener eat through your scalp?” Miles frowned. “You want me to actually help Artie try to beat you?”

“Miles, what I want is for you to help Artie be at his best.” Carter stated. “I mean, I know you and Fenris have done your best training him but Artie has never gone through the same formal training that you and I have. You’ve pretty much just put him through boot camp. I’m going to look like a right, sorry ass champion if he doesn’t give me a fight.”

Miles just stared at his husband seemingly forever before drawing him in close once again and kissing him deeply and lovingly. Once separated, he stated, “You’re an amazing man, love.”

“Yeah and you better not ever forget it, either.” Carter smirked as he turned he snuggled back up against Miles’s muscular torso.


What else did you expect for Carter to have for his birthday dinner than his favorite food; sushi? Miles had taken painstaking measures to research where the best sushi could be had in the famed “City of Sin” and discovered none other than Sushi Roku within Ceasar’s Palace. Carter sat across from Miles at the sleek, modern restaurant, the gentle hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses filled the air as a server placed an artfully arranged platter of sashimi between them. Carter grinned as he picked up a piece of toro with his chopsticks.

"How have I never known about this place?" Carter wondered aloud, popping the delicacy in between his lips and savoring its rich flavor. "And how did you find out about it?"

"I'm just amazing that way." Miles quipped, sipping his sake. “Plus, it is your birthday. If you're not getting a party, then I'm damn sure making sure you get the next best thing."

After a virtual feast of sake, uni, yellowtail, and crispy rice with spicy tuna - then more sake, Carter leaned back in his chair and sighed with contentment. "This was perfect."

"Night isn't over, love." Miles started to fish around inside of his suit jacket pocket, both men having wanted to dress up for the occasion. "I have something else for you."

"Another present?" One of Carter's eyes popped open. "Shouldn't I unwrap that when we're alone?"

Miles just winked at him as he slid the small, cobalt blue box across the table to Carter's waiting hand. He watched as Carter carefully unwrapped the present as a familiar glint caught his eye. Nestled inside was the moonstone choker, his father’s gift from years ago. He lifted it gently, noting the delicate repairs made to the broken band and setting. The stone shimmered faintly under the restaurant lights, just like it used to. Carter’s eyes glistened as he looked up to meet Miles' eyes, and he swallowed hard.

"You fixed it." Carter said, finding it hard to speak. Miles nodded, "It was time you had that part of your Dad back."

Carter stood up and moved to kiss Miles, not caring who saw. He set his forehead against Miles' own and he whispered, "Thank you."

---

And there it was, the most coveted prize in the entire Superstars’ division of Sin City Wrestling. The World Heavyweight Championship. The camera was focused on a closeup shot of the gold and jewel encrusted central plate of the championship title, and slowly drew back to showcase the prestigious title in all its glory. Housed in a trophy case that Miles Kasey had taken the liberty of installing in their home the moment Carter had first won the championship, it served as a prominent reminder that not only did hard work and perseverance pay off, but dreams really did come true. Sappy as the cliche sentiment sounded. And, as the camera drew back completely, standing there staring at the title he had worked so hard for to prove he truly did belong in the upper echelon of his dream sport, was the champion himself. Carter Kasey-McKinney, or known in the six-sided ring of SCW, Helluva Bottom Carter.

Wearing a cream colored dress suit, Carter had his arms folded across his upper body as he stared through his glasses at the championship that had eluded him for so long.

“I know it’s only been three weeks but I am still having a pretty tough time believing that I finally did it. I spent so long chasing the dream that after a time it felt like the dream had started to chase me. When I was down in Sin City Underground, I thought I was on the fast track to success. I thought because I wrapped up the number of championships that I did down there, that when I got signed to SCW, all the pieces of the puzzle would fall into place in the same success I enjoyed in SCU I would enjoy here.”

Carter shook his head derisively.

“I was wrong. SCW proved to me that I was a little fish in an ocean filled with sharks. And those sharks were hungry for my blood. The established stars were not ready to give up their spots to this plant buoyant rookie who just walked into their locker room, expecting success to fall easily to his feet. They were my wake-up call. Men like J2H, Bill Barnhart and Austin James Mercer were just a few of the veteran names who effectively put me in my place. They taught me that the road to success here was filled with speed bumps and potholes and that there would be no smooth coasting along due to past success.”

“I am not ashamed to admit that I was effectively humbled a number of times by men as great as these and a few more. And well I did manage to score some wins to my credit, I've learned, or should I say I was taught, that success in SCW was a thing far easier said than done. That's why when I won the Internet championship, I started to truly believe that things were looking up for me. And when I lost that title to Kevin Carter, I logically thought the next step up for me would be the world championship.”

Carter laughed heartily at his own self-confidence.

“If only I knew then what I knew now! Every single opportunity I had at that championship slipped through my fingers. The Elite Eight tournament. Directly challenging Finn Whelan. After so many failed opportunities I was beginning to wonder if it was simply not meant to be and that the Internet Championship was my peak. I was ready to pack it in and be satisfied with a midcard role were it not for a number of loved ones that believed in me and would not let me limit myself. That is why I was able to overcome the odds and win the Elimination Chamber. And that is why I was able to take Alex Jones's foot and stick it right in his mouth for everything he did or threatened to do at my expense in an effort to either humble me or get me to back off.”

“And that's why sometimes I still wake up, wondering if it was all some sort of cosmic joke. A dream where I have to get up in the middle of the night and look for this very belt…”

Carter shook his forefinger at the world title belt on display.

“... And make sure of the differences between dreams and realities.”

“And you know what the first thought that ran through my mind was? I was wondering who the higher reps were going to schedule to be my first defense against. Oh I knew well enough that I had J2H on the horizon for Summer XXXtreme since he won Blast From the Past, but I didn't want to wait that long to establish myself as a champion. I did not want to wait to prove to everyone that my win over Alex wasn't a win well-earned. I wanted to be a fighting champion. So I sat back and I waited. And it was well worth it because I did not have to wait for long. But it wasn't Mark Ward or Christian Underwood who booked me in my first defense. It was a royal decree from none other than King Guy. And the lucky recipient?”

Carter turned around and had a warm, genuine smile of affection on his face.

“Artie. A man that I am proud to call a friend. A man who sat there as a guest and watched me marry the love of my life, supporting me for all that I am.”

“Now I am going to be the first to admit that Artie was not the first name that came to mind when it came to who would be challenging me for this title. I was thinking of names like Alex Jones, because he's the former champion and if anybody deserves a title opportunity, he does! There's also Eddie Lyons and Jayden Harris and the list just goes on and on. But Artie? I admit that was a surprise, and I don't mean that in a negative way. When one first takes a look at your overall record inside of the ring, I've heard some critics say that your win-loss record on paper is hardly spotless. My response to those armchair experts?”

“We wrestle on a mat. Not on paper. And when I started to come into my own and flourish, my record was no more impressive. Which leads me to believe that you are just that one decisive victory away from proving who you are and who you can be.”

“You're a sweetheart, Artie. I'll be the first to say that and say that Bobbie is truly a lucky lady to have a man like you at her side. Everything that darling friend of mine has been going through? You stood by her without question. And you did even more than that. You took up her mantle so she did not have anything to worry about in her own absence. At this time went on, you started to blossom and take yourself more seriously for one reason and one reason alone.”

“You started to believe in yourself. It became more than just you wanting to fulfill your wife's contractual obligations. Dare I say it, the wrestling bug bit you hard. And you got more involved in more dangerous situations than anybody could have ever expected! I mean, look at how you even first started inside of the ring!"

“You accidentally signed yourself up for Blast From the Past tournament last year, and a number of people got a laugh at the situation. And I admit I am ashamed to admit, I was one of them that got a few chuckles out of it. Not because I thought it was funny that you were in a situation where you could get hurt because you were inexperienced, but because I just saw the comedic nature of the lunacy behind it all. I mean, I didn't understand how such a mistake could be made, and I fully understood why you try to initially get out of it. And when it was pretty obvious that Christian was going to be a butt about it, you did the smart thing. You poor man enough to admit that you were in over your head and you went out and got the help that you needed. You got Miles. You got Fenris.”

“Willing or not, you could not have chosen any better than those two men to help give you a crash course in the art that is our sport. And even though I heard a few horror stories about what went on and that gym, like Fenris having to chase you down and drag you back kicking and screaming, I am proud of you man because it all paid off. You are here. You are real. And you don't give a damn what anybody has to say about your involvement inside of the ring!”

“And that is exactly where you and I are the same Artie. Because like me? All you want to do is prove yourself and prove to everybody else that you belong. I know how that feels man. I thought against every critic in my way to get to where I'm standing right now, and where I'm standing? It's going to be right across the ring from where you are. Because I'm willing to bet more than likely you were not expecting to be my first challenger. Especially considering who are lovely guest referee just so happens to be!”

Carter drew in a deep breath and exhaled sharply while looking upward, shaking his head in faux disbelief.

“King Guy. I thought everything that he booked last year took the cake. I never expected him to be in this year's King For A Day match, let alone win it. And the moment he did, all I could do is wonder what he was going to try to do to top 2024. And when you and he got into that verbal joust on X, that's when I started to think that everything was about to go straight to hell. And I was right. Not because he put you against me, but because he had to insert himself into the equation and that left more questions unanswered.”

“Why?”

“You're my friend Artie. And I don't use that word very often. I've always kept a close circle around me, and you just happen to be one of the special few in my life that I cherish. And deep down, maybe that's why Guy booked this match. He's not normal.”

Carter tapped his head with a finger.

“He has a twisted mindset when it comes to people who cross or disagree with him. He will want to get even, he will want to teach a lesson by his own admission. The problem is, which one of us is he going to want to take to school? I mean, it’s a given that both of us have called him out in the past. So does he want to see me lose the title so soon after winning it, or does he want to see you in what he hopes is an embarrassing situation?”

Carter shrugged.

“Who knows? But, what I do know is what I want to see. I want to see his face filled with disappointment when nothing he wants to see happens. I want to see you and me bring the house down in my first defense and the biggest match of your own career to date! I want to see Guy pout and complain when you and I give him a front row seat filled with disappointment when we don’t try to kill one another but we do put on a kick ass display for the people that do matter!”

"Artie, we've been through a lot together, inside and outside of this business. And I value our friendship. I’ve learned the hard way to keep those close to me, close. But when we step into that ring, everything changes. The Artie that I know, he's gone. In there, you're the challenger who’s out to take something that belongs to me. And I'm the champion who's not going to let it happen. Our differences, the fact that only one of us can walk out with that title, that's going to overshadow everything else. I'm going to do whatever it takes to retain what's mine.”

Carter took that one step forward and clasped his hands together.

“So, this is it. This is the last thing that I'm going to say before I face somebody that holds such a special place in my life. Someone who has become a favorite of both the fans as well as the locker room. You, Artie. I need you to listen and to understand something.”

He leaned in closely toward the camera, beckoning it forward with a wave of the finger.

“I am not going to drop this championship so easily after everything I went through to win it! I am not going to lose this championship a mere two weeks into my very first reign! I am not going to lose this championship one week after that momentous celebration and making a fool of myself!”

“I am sorry Artie, truly. I love you like a brother but it just is not going to happen.”

Carter walked off camera and the last thing seen was one final shot of the World Championship belt before the screen faded to black.

---

“Yiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis!”

Guy practically screaming at the top of his lungs in pure excitement. It was onlya few hours following the King for a Day match. Here he stood with the golden King’s Crown in hand. Holding it up in the air like it was a child. Basking in its glory. His excitement poured out of him a little more.

[ G U Y ] -- It was always going to be just yew and Guy. No one was ever going to keep us apart. No one was ever going to stop our ruling. No one was ever going to take over Guy’s Kingdom. Long live King Guy for-evah!

He couldn’t help himself bringing the crown down. Specifically bringing it down to place it on his head. Making sure it was fitting just right. Guy turned himself to the mirror there in the locker room. Checking out his reflection and how good he looked in his crown. His large black painted lips curled into a smile. Clearly a fan of what he saw, but all of the sudden the reflection in the mirror changed to a more demonic version of himself.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Aren’t you playing to say thank you?!

Despite it not reflecting in the mirror. There was nothing but a puzzled look on Guy’s face as he stared at this odd ‘version’ of him. 

[ G U Y ] -- Thank yew? For what?

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- For the crown? For the win? For helping you get back on the right track as silly as this whole ‘King’ thing is.

[ G U Y ] -- Woah! Woah! This isn't silly at all! This is life! This is Guy’s life! It’s the life of his minions. They need him as their ruler. SCW needs him as their King!

His tone made him sound very offended. Guy letting his fingertips brush along the edge of the crown. Being able to feel it made the entire situation feel real to him. Continuing on with his defense.

[ G U Y ] -- And thank yew? We had a plan. I agreed to let yew have input, but you broke the plans. That’s not what Guy said he wanted to do. Not at all!

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Your plans are why you have not held a championship. They are why you haven’t been able to compete at a high level against some of the best names this place has to offer.

[ G U Y ] -- I told yew...

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- And I told you! We’re doing things my way now!

That angry voice seemed to boom throughout the entire locker room. Instantly silencing the two-time King. The rage in the reflection’s eyes seemed to really come outy when they narrowed. His voice is still booming with that hint of anger.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Tonight. I did what needed to be done!

[ G U Y ] -- But you could have really hurt Artie. There was no need for the mist! Do you know how bad that makes Guy look?!

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Who the hell cares?! That idiot doesn’t deserve any respect. He doesn’t deserve anyone looking out for him. He doesn’t give a damn about you. You mean nothing to him. So why protect him?!

[ G U Y ] -- Guy isn’t protecting him. Artie is a nice...

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Shut the hell up! This is why I had to take over. This is exactly fucking why! You’re never going to make it on your own!

Again the anger was enough to silence the reigning king.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Since I secured that stupid crown for you. Since I got you right back on track. Since I made sure Artie didn’t make a bigger embarrassment out of you. Every decision you make for King of the Day is going to come from me.

[ G U Y ] -- Nu! Nu! That’s not going to be needed. Guy has some very big plans for that night. Something all of his minions are going to love!

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- I don’t think you are understanding me here, Guy. This wasn’t up for debate. This wasn’t up for discussion. Every decision. Every match. Every outcome. It’s all going to come from me and you’re going to follow the plan to a tee. Do I make myself perfectly clear?!

[ G U Y ] -- Listen. Guy has this under contr----

All of the sudden he felt like there was a hand around his throat. Finding himself struggling to breathe within an instant. Gasping for air as he was forced to look into the glowing eyes of the reflection.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Last time I am going to ask you. Do I make myself clear, Guy?! Do I make myself fucking clear?!

In a panic state and to the best of his ability. He nodded his head in such a vigorous manner. As soon as he gave the response this alter ego version of himself was looking for. Guy found himself able to breathe again. Dropping down to his knees gasping for air as he could hear the voice again.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Artie needs more punishment brought his way. I got just the thing in mind for that. This fake World Champion. Also needs to be punished. Carte needs to understand that he isn’t universally loved and adored like he thinks. He needs to understand that the only people that give a shit about him are the same five people he surrounds himself with. His yes man crew.

Guy still struggling to breathe. His eyebrow arched up a little bit. This couldn’t be good. Not even close to it. For it seemed he was trying to target all the wrong people -- or were they actually all the right people. Guy was starting to feel himself becoming more conflicted by the moment.

[ G U Y ] -- Wait... wait... That’s a fren.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- A friend? You call someone that mocks you the second your outlook doesn’t align with theirs.

[ G U Y ] -- Mmm. Maybe perhaps it was a misunderstanding of Guy? The Bottom Carter wouldn’t do something like that on purpose.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Like he wouldn’t just sit there and watch Jayden get attacked? Like he wouldn’t take an easy win just to have a shot at the world championship in the first place? It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee Guy. That freak is one of the worst human beings to ever exist.

Hearing the words being said. Guy’s facial expression was becoming softened and more hurt. Like he was starting to realize that maybe what was being said was true. Only for the alter ego to pile it on even more.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- If you aren’t kissing his ass, like he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. Then he is going to mock you. He is going to laugh at you. He’s going to do whatever he can to bury you. Because that’s just who he is. He will hold others under water. Just to keep himself a float. So punishment is also coming his way.

[ G U Y ] -- I guess... if that’s what really needs to be done. Guy isn’t sure, but maybe. Yew see something Guy doesn’t see. He always thought they were friends, but he did say a lot of bad things about Guy...

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- Exactly. Which is why he must pay. After all, ruling with an iron fist is the only way that you are ever going to prove a point, but that’s something we will get to when the time is right. You see as much punishment that I am going to make you dish out to them. I’m also going to reward you all the time.

[ G U Y ] -- Reward? Like a present?!

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- That’s one way to look at it. We both know that Logan Hunter should have never been able to say he’s a champion. He damn sure shouldn’t have ever been in a position where he was a champion before you. That’s just down right spitting in the face.

[ G U Y ] --  Eff the Logan Hunter. Massive tool. No one likes him. No one wants to be his friend or even his fan. He’s the doo-doo water!

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- And yet somehow he can call himself a champion here before you ever did. Do you see where you have failed and made some unforgivable mistakes to the point that you need me?!

Little did Guy realize, but this alter ego of his was breaking him down mentally. He was destroying him from an emotion standpoint. It was all done to be able to take full control of the mind, body, and spirit of the Caped Warrior. Something he just didn’t understand the concept of and therefore it was working. Guy was questioning himself now more than ever.

[ A L T E R . E G O . G U Y ] -- But there’s no need to fear. There’s no need to feat at all Guy. The plan worked tonight. The plan will work in a couple of weeks. When it is all said and done. You’ll be able to call yourself a champion. Then when that happens. You’ll have no other choice but to admit that I’ve been right and you’ve been wrong this entire time. I am always a man of my word.

That smirking expression of the alter ego was highlighted in that mirror. Guy still remained silent as he was questioning everything. He felt lost and defeated by some of the words that were said to him. Yet on the flip of it. His disdain and dislike for Logan was making him have a clouded judgement. Maybe just maybe this alter ego did have his best interest in mind. It was a lot to process and only time would tell in whether or not this was all going to be a dream come true or a nightmare just waiting to happen.

---

This was not a sight Calvin wanted to see. Not even close to it. Holding his hand over his eyes trying to shield himself from the pale backside of Guy. He was roaming around this office in nothing but a hospital gown. Putting all the cheeks out on display.

[ C A L V I N ] --  Tell me again. Why the hell I had to tag along to your doctor’s appointment?!

Guy was focusing on one of the jars sitting on the table. Pulling out the cotton swaps a little bit at a time. Seemingly no issues with his backside being all exposed, especially exposed to his friend.

[ G U Y ] --  So Guy has someone that can back him up! Everyone is talking crazy to Guy about his acid reflux condition. Yew are here to hear the doctor, so yew can confirm what Guy has already said when he gets reupped on his medication for it!

[ C A L V I N ] --  If we are just here for acid reflux... What is the point of the gown?!

[ G U Y ] -- Oooh! Guy just likes to be comfortable, silly.

[ C A L V I N ] --  Well comfortably sit down so I don’t have to see your ass anymore. For fucks sake. I didn’t know skin could get that pale!

[ G U Y ] -- Oopsie!

Following behind called out. Guy quickly tucked his hands under the gown to hide his backside while he shuffled over to take a seat right on the table. Thankfully this nightmare might be ending soon for Calvin. Thanks to a simple knock on the door followed by a redhead doctor walking inside. She looked over at to Guy and smiled wide.

[ D O C T O R ] -- Well if it isn’t my favorite patient!

[ G U Y ] -- Huzzah Doc!

[ D O C T O R ] -- What brings you in today, sir? Been a little while since I’ve seen you.

[ G U Y ] -- Guy has been a very busy bee!

[ D O C T O R ] -- Not exactly a bad thing I haven’t seen you. Just means you’re in good health and that’s what we want.

[ G U Y ] -- That was until Guy’s acid reflux came back to haunt him.

[ D O C T O R ] -- Oh no! That’s terrible to hear.

There was quite the gasp from the doctor. Calvin just sat there shaking his head from side to side. This is why Guy was the way that he was. So many people played into his shenanigans.

[ G U Y ] -- Oh no indeed. Guy thought he would be okay without the meds for just a little bit. But that wasn’t the case. He had a very-very bad flare up in a match recently. It got messy!

[ D O C T O R ] -- Messy? This doesn’t sound good at all.

[ G U Y ] -- Nope! Wasn’t good at all. It all came up in one of Guy’s opponent’s faces. The big yuck. Caused him to fall down and go boom. Guy felt terrible about it, but before he could even apologize after the match. They all said Guy cheated and used mist. They were very mean and nasty towards Guy for his condition. Isn’t that right Calvin?

[ C A L V I N ] --  Don’t drag me into all of this. I am already regretting coming along to all of this.

[ G U Y ] -- He’s a big grump, but soft as a teddy bare. Don’t take nothing he says seriously doc.

[ D O C T O R ] -- Trust me. I won’t. I deal with people like that all the time. Sometimes even worst than that. No harm done.

Quickly, the doctor found herself pulling her pen out of the little pocket of her scrubs and started to jot down on the clipboard she had in her lap.

[ D O C T O R ] -- I can tell you Guy. I am terribly sorry to hear that people were rude and nasty to you over something that you cannot control. Acid reflux is common and most people should know that.

[ G U Y ] -- Yiiiiiis! Yiiiis they should, but the thing is. Guy deals with a lot of... erm... not so smart people almost every single week. They call Guy the big dumb, but most of them don’t even know what two plus two is. Can’t expect them to know about serious medical conditions like this.

[ D O C T O R ] -- That’s why doctors exist, but have no fear. I’m writing this prescription for you for a reup on your medication to help control it. Going to even bring the dosage up just a little more. Once you start taking it again. Give it a day or two. Then you should feel a lot better.

[ G U Y ] -- Huzzah! The best doctor on the planet!

There was another excited yell that came from Guy. Before the doctor ripped off that piece of paper and decided to hand it over to him. Guy taking it, folding it up, and then tucking it under the hospital gown.

[ D O C T O R ] -- Anything else I can do for you, Guy?

[ G U Y ] -- Newp! Not at all. This will get Guy back on track and now he can prove all those rude nasty people to be wrong.

[ D O C T O R ] -- I wouldn’t pay too much attention to them. Just get yourself right.

She then pushed herself up from her chair and found herself walking back out of the office door. She came in. Guy reached for that piece of paper and pulled it back out shaking it in Calvin’s face.

[ G U Y ] -- Nana BooBooo!

[ C A L V I N ] --  You know you aren’t helping your case right?

[ G U Y ] -- Pffffft!

Calvin once again shook his head with Guy just beaming from ear to ear. Thinking that somehow this was going to make everything right. That wasn’t the case at all.

---