One thing that was always annoying with me around the Holidays....shopping. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind getting presents for my family, they are important to me. It's the Holiday rush that gets me. It's hard to get the perfect present when a mob of people viciously cut in front of you. This year I decided to get my start early. After going from store to store in the Mall, it was time for me to go home. I started bringing the gifts and wrapping to my car, then I hear Aiden's voice.
Aiden Ravencroft: Griff! Griff wait up!
I turn and see him running up to me, looking out of breath.
Griffin Hawkins: Aiden, whats going on?
Aiden Ravencroft: We need to talk.....somewhere private.
Griffin Hawkins: ....Fine.
I get in the car as he gets in the passenger's side. I roll up the windows to make sure no one hears us.
Griffin Hawkins: What's going on?
Aiden Ravencroft: I want out...you have to get me the fuck out of here!
Griffin Hawkins: But I thought you liked working for the mob as a bartender.
Aiden Ravencroft: I did...but then I found out something...
Griffin Hawkins: What?...
Aiden Ravencroft: I just witnessed someone get taken out in the back alley of the restaurant.
Griffin Hawkins: ...Holy shit, were you seen?
Aiden Ravencroft: No...they didn't see me. I just saw the big guy load three bullets in his chest. I had never seen anyone get killed before.
Griffin Hawkins: ....Somehow I knew something like this would happen. Their whole operation is crooked...I tried to tell you this before.
Aiden Ravencroft: I know and I should have listened to you....I just got so swept up in the approval of my bosses that I forgot I was actually working for the mob.
Griffin Hawkins: So what do you want me to do about it? Just tell them you quit.
Aiden Ravencroft: I can't do that Griffin...then they'll know that I am onto them and then I'll be the one who gets taken out. Maybe you can talk to him...
Griffin Hawkins: Me? What do you want me to say?
Aiden Ravencroft: I don't know! You got a way with words, I figured you could try and talk him out of having me work with him.
Griffin Hawkins: It's not gonna be that easy......unless....
Aiden Ravencroft: Unless what?
Griffin Hawkins: You just got yourself a job offer...
Aiden Ravencroft: From who?...
I smile at him
Griffin Hawkins: From me.
Aiden Ravencroft: You? What do you do?
Griffin Hawkins: Some call it a detective agency...what I do is help the helpless...no matter what problems they have, I am always there to lend a hand. How about I give you a job?
Aiden Ravencroft: Um...I...guess. But you think Vito will go for that?
Griffin Hawkins: Just let me talk to him and things will be fine. As a matter of fact, we'll go talk with him right now.
Aiden Ravencroft: No Griff..we don't have to do that now...
Griffin Hawkins: Just trust me...okay?
He sighs and sits back as we drive off. I didn't realize that I had came up with a great idea, I should've thought of it sooner. I just hope I know what I'm doing..
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~Flashback~
It had been some time before me and Maquis had talked about things. I started to see things his way, why he wanted to protect me from his former friends. Days later I decided to go out into the city to clear my head and see other parts of LA, after a pretty decent eventful day, I took the Subway train home. I sat on the train, waiting for my stop....not paying attention to the fact that I'm the only one on there...
or so I thought...
I sat to myself relaxing until a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Enjoying the ride?"
I turn and see Gideon smiling as he steps on through the door of the train. I immediately get up, not wanting anything to do with him.
Griffin Hawkins: Get the hell away from me....
Gideon Blackwell: Now is that any way to greet a friend?
Griffin Hawkins: We are not friends...I know what you are..Marquis told me.
Gideon Blackwell: Really? And what bedtime story did he tell you?
Griffin Hawkins: That you and your friends were a bunch of bloodthirsty killers who murdered innocent people.
He just laughs at my remark.
Gideon Blackwell: There's no such thing as innocent people..if you want something in life, you gotta take it.
Griffin Hawkins: What do you want from me?...
Gideon Blackwell: I just want to get a good look at the stray that Marquis decided to take in.
Griffin Hawkins: Look..I want nothing to do with you, so just stay the fuck away from me alright?..
I did not want to stay in the same room with this guy...he was creepy enough face to face. I headed for the door to the next train car, but some words that came from his mouth made me stop dead in my tracks.
Gideon Blackwell: You really think Marquis cares about you?
I slowly turn and look at him grinning arrogantly.
Griffin Hawkins: What did you say?...
Gideon Blackwell: He had to have told you everything kid...tell me you're not falling for that big brother routine.
Griffin Hawkins: Whatever he was..that's a long time ago, that was then, and this is now.
Gideon Blackwell: You really think he's your knight in shining armor? Please...deep down inside he's a killer, and you're dense as hell if you're falling for this nice guy act.
Griffin Hawkins: Get over it Gideon..it's over. Now get out of my face.
Gideon Blackwell: Oh look who's suddenly got bass in his voice. You wanna step on up junior?
I didn't really want to fight him, but he was getting me angry.
Griffin Hawkins: I just want to get far away from you as I possibly can, and go home.
Gideon Blackwell: That's right, run home to Marquis like the little nancy boy you are..
I don't know what it was...but letting all my anger out, I deliver one punch in the face, I figured it'd knock him down, but it didn't. The blood on his lip starts dripping down as a twisted smile comes across his face.
Gideon Blackwell: Look who finally found his balls...you wanna step on up and try me?..
I go for another punch, but he grabs my arm and knees me in the stomach. I still get in a fighting stance, putting my fists up.
Gideon Blackwell: Care to try again?...
I throw another punch, only this time he catches it with his hand, he uses the other hand to punch me in the stomach, lift me up and throw me to the floor. He goes over to taunt me, but thinking fast, I punch him right below the belt. As he's reeling I climb on his back, trying to get him in a sleeper hold type hold...but back then I didn't really know much moves as he simply threw me off. He was stronger than me, but I didn't care. I swung at him, only he ducked and hit a turning kick to my stomach and stiff lefts and rights, sending me reeling. I was stunned as blood was starting come out of my nose and mouth as he grabbed me, and pinned me to the wall.
Gideon Blackwell: I could kill you right now if I wanted to....nobody would care, Marquis wouldn't give a damn about you...he'd probably think you ran away. You know why? Because you're nothing...he only took you in because he felt sorry for you..you're nothing more than a charity case to him that'll never amount to anything. Get in my face again..and maybe next time I won't be so charitable..got it?
With that he drops me to the floor as the train stops. He leaves it as I still remain on the floor of the train...hurt. It wasn't the beatdown he gave me....it was his words that cut me like a knife, every horrible thing he said reminded me of the same thing my father and other people throughout my life tried to tell me. I had went up against someone I hated...and was defeated. It wouldn't be the last time that happened..
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I sit in a very familiar place...the ring. But it's not the same place where the show is going to start. This is in Stateline Nevada...I sit in the middle of the ring, dressed in a leather jacket and black leather pants. I sit in the middle of the ring on a steel folding chair. The Internet Title rests on my lap.
"In my career....I've had a few victories...a few losses. I've been knocked down many times....but I always found a way to get back up. Whenever I have gotten a setback, I do one of two things...I either suffer in silence....or I seek redemption. When James Tuscini beat me in that ladder match some weeks ago, I'll admit, I wasn't happy with it. But I didn't whine or cry or throw a tantrum like our World Champion does whenever things don't go his way, I just picked myself up and got back in the game. You know what happened? I beat James Tuscini in the rematch, hell I beat him so bad I sent him running to the Tag Division with his tail tucked between his legs, it's obvious he doesn't want to fight me again. But that wasn't the first time that I was defeated. In my second match here in SCW, I was beaten by Samuel Deveraux. That's why I chose this venue here. This was the exact place where I suffered my first loss. I use defeat as a learning experience...and in this second encounter with Samuel...I'll be well prepared."
I know it seemed I was too focused on Tuscini...but in reality, Deveraux had my full attention.
"This is the second time we meet Sammy....a lot has happened since last time we first met eachother. Our careers took different directions....I went on to thrive, winning the Internet Title, while you would go on to challenge for the Roulette Title.....and things didn't work out for you. It was inevitable that you and me meet up. After all it was you who handed me my first loss here in SCW. I'm gonna be straight with you, I want this match more than you...I need this win for me. Not just to prove that I am the real deal and not a transitional champion like the last owner who held this belt. I need this win for me. Because the last time nothing was settled between us, the only reason you got the win over me was due to Steve Ramone sticking his nose where it didn't belong and ended up costing me the match in the process. But as you can see...things are different now. Steve Ramone is ancient history...why? Because I retired him. Now there is nothing and nobody to get between us. We're gonna see once for all who is the rightful champion."
I adjust the title on my shoulder.
"It was right here....right in this very spot Sammy that you pinned my shoulders to the mat. I have not forgotten that defeat. It has hung over my head since, and I have waited months and months to get my rematch against you. If I want to become Sin City Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion one day, I want to eliminate all doubts...all bumps in the road. I have a point to prove, and that is I can beat you. I've been watching you since you beat me in our match, studying you...waiting for the day that we eventually will have our rematch once again...and now it's finally happened. Only this time, there is something bigger on the line, the Internet Title. How ironic it is that my first title defense is against a man who is the only man in SCW to pin my shoulders to the mat. Now is the time to right the wrong and prove that I am a fighting Champion when I beat you right here in this very ring."
I wanted to beat Samuel...I needed this win more than anything.
"Before we faced off last time Sammy...you said that you were an enigma and people have a hard time trying to figure you out.....funny...because I think I had you figured out in our first match. I was tuning up the band, waiting to hit you with The Shot in the Dark, and there was no way that you would get up from that. I watched our match back and forth...front and backwards...and the whole world knows that I indeed had you beat. If Steve Ramone hadn't interfered, I would've beaten you in that ring. That's why I want this match..so I can prove to the world that I can beat you. This isn't person Sammy....it's just business. You want my gold and I have to defend it against you. This is my first defense as Champion and I have a lot to prove to you, to the people, and especially Christian Underwood who doesn't think that I deserve this championship belt."
I get up and make my way to the other turnbuckle.
"I hope you're not taking me lightly Samuel...I don't want your victory over me to go to your head, the last person who did that...well, he's no longer the owner of this belt over my shoulder. You seem like a respectful man from last I saw, but you need to understand one thing, just because you get one win over me, it doesn't mean you are better than me...and it doesn't mean it will happen again. On any given night anyone can have a bad night, anyone can slip on a banana peel and it takes only 3 seconds....to lose the match. I know that better than anybody. This time around Sam....I'm prepared for you. I've been studying our match since you beat me because I knew it wouldn't take long until we fought again. Even when I became Internet Champion, I knew you would be one of the people knocking on my door for a shot at this title..."
A smirk comes across my face.
"Now that I think about it Samuel...I think you need this win just as bad as I do. Because ever since you've come back...you've done absolutely nothing. Yeah you had some damn good matches and you had chances at the Roulette Title....but you came up short. And now....here you are looking to get the success that I have reaped so you can make your return mean something. Because as of now...you have nothing to show for your recent run in SCW but a bunch of disappointment. After I lost to you months ago...I didn't allow it to define me, I kept fighting, beating superstar after superstar until I got my opportunity. My career seemed to flourish...while yours...just seems to flounder. But this is your chance to make it all worth it. If you can pin me in the ring one two three...you're the new Champion."
The demeanor on my face than changes.
"But I'm not gonna let that happen. You see Samuel....if there is one thing I learned in my 15 year career, it's that you learn more from failure than you do from success. After I lost to you I knew one day I'd face you again, and on that day i'd be ready. You may be odd and unorthodox...but you can be beaten. Many have proven again and again that you can be defeated...the only one who hasn't is me. There is dispute between who is the better man between us...and in just a matter of days, all truth will be laid to rest. You may have beaten me once....but it's not going to happen again. This time things are different. There is no one to stand in my way of victory. Sunday December 3rd will be the night that I get my win back over you. It will also be the night....that the King...gets rocked."
I smile before walking past the camera man and making my way out of the arena.
