Monday May 18th
Early Morning- 3 a.m
Saxon Hotel and Suites
The First Haunting
Trouble sleeping was not something that O’Malley had to fight in quite some time. With the comfort of his beautiful love sleeping beside him, he found it relatively easy to sleep at night. But something changed tonight. Something was different and he didn’t know what.
It’s the middle of the night, when he opens his eyes. And for no particular reason. He hadn’t had a nightmare that would wake him. Darcy was still sleeping beside him with such a peaceful look on her face. His body had simply told him he needed to be awake. And he didn’t feel like closing his eyes to try and fight it.
Before he sits up in the bed, he pulls the sheet over Darcy, covering her naked back and her shoulder so she would not get cold without him. He leans down and kisses her cheek, then sits up. His pajama pants were still on the floor beside the bed, so he reached down to grab them and slipped them on as he stood up. He headed over towards the door leading to their room’s balcony, and stepped. The moon was shining down on the patio area below them, and he looked down.
It was when he looked down that he first saw her. Or, a form of her. Misty. His late wife. He wasn’t sure if his vision was blurred or maybe he was just hallucinating, but he could see right through her ghostly form, as she glared up at him.
O’Malley:What the...Bloody hell…
He closes his eyes quickly and shakes his head. He had to be imagining things. Misty wasn’t there. She was dead, and she wasn’t coming back. He rubs his eyes and takes in a deep breath before he opens them again. When he does, he looks down at the patio area and is relieved to see that Misty is gone. She was no longer glaring at him. Not that she ever was. His mind was simply playing tricks on him.
As wide awake as he currently felt, he decided to head back inside and get back into bed with Darcy. He needed to wrap his arms around her and hold her close, because the love he feels for her, is now stronger than the love he ever felt for Misty. And to hell with anyone who had a problem with that.
He turns around and gets ready to go back inside, but he nearly jumps out of his skin, as Misty’s ghost had returned. And this time, she’s standing right in front of him, with an angry look on her face and her eyes filled with hate.
O’Malley: Jaysus!
He jumps back and falls into a chair behind him. His mouth drops open, and he loses the ability to speak as he stares at his wife’s ghost glaring back at him.
Misty: Surprised to see me, sweetheart? Oh wait...I shouldn’t call you that anymore, should I?
He closes his eyes tightly again, shaking his head quickly. He refuses to believe this is happening and can’t open his eyes, let alone speak a full sentence.
O’Malley: No. No, no, no, no, no.
Misty chuckles and moves closer to him. O’Malley keeps his voice down so as not to wake anyone else, especially Darcy sleeping just inside.
Misty: Oh yes, baby. You’re not imagining things. I’m here, and you only have yourself to blame.
O’Malley: Yer not here. I...I’m having a nightmare. That’s it. I just need to wake up.
Misty stops just inches away from him. She looks down at him in the chair and smirks, enjoying his breakdown.
Misty: I might be your worst nightmare, O’Malley, but I’m very much a reality right now. Your thoughts...your whore’s words against me? They brought me back. This is your fault. Open your eyes and look at me you coward!
He shakes his head, refusing. This only makes Misty angrier, and he can feel it. He can feel just how real this is, and he can’t hide from it.
Misty: LOOK AT ME!
He finally opens his eyes. He’s looking first at her legs just in front of him then he slowly lifts his head to look at her face. Two years ago, this was all he wanted. To see her again. To hear her voice again. But now? He was back with Darcy, and his love for Misty was in the past.
O’Malley: W-what the hell do ye want, Misty?! Why are ye here now, two years later?! I’ve moved on from ye. Nothin’ is gonna change that.
Misty nods. She crosses her arms and smiles a wicked smile.
Misty: Oh, I’m very much aware of that, O’Malley. I’ve seen everything. I’ve watched you completely trash the love we shared and our marriage by going back to her and letting her take a hold of your balls like some controlling dominatrix. You...you disgust me.
O’Malley: If that’s how ye feel, then why are ye here?!
O’Malley speaks in a hushed voice, fearful that someone would hear him. That Darcy would hear him. And what would they think of him talking to someone who wasn’t there? They’d think he was crazy, of course.
Misty: Because I’m done watching and letting you and that selfish bitch paint me out to be the bad guy, when I’m not even around to defend myself. Then again, by the both of you doing so, it only goes to show how low you really are. Disrespecting a dead woman? Terrible, O’Malley.
O’Malley: I never spoke ill of ye, Misty. I kept me mouth shut the entire time, so don’t go puttin’ words in me mouth!
Misty’s nostrils flare, and if she could punch O’Malley, no doubt she would. But she stood there glaring at him.
Misty: But you never stopped her, did you?! And you let her let you continue to stay away from Owen...Our son! It’s despicable!!
O’Malley now laughs and shakes his head.
O’Malley: Maybe I finally just saw the truth about Owen. Lucky for ye I’m not about to reveal yer dark secret there.
Misty: Oh, right. Here we go with the lie you let the amazing Darcy Donohue feed into your brain. That Owen isn’t your son. That I cheated on you and tried to pin him on you. Do you realize how terrible the both of you are making you look with that, O’Malley?!
O’Malley finally stands up in the chair and stands face to face with her. Or as close to face to face as he can.
O’Malley: Is it really that far from the truth, Misty?! Lookin’ back on our entire relationship and even before, is it really that hard to believe? Ye were with me and two other men in the same year! Ye only hooked up with me because ye couldn’t be with that pretty boy.
Misty: You listen to me, and you listen good, O’Malley. When I went to Ireland after shit with Drake blew up in my face, I didn’t go looking to hook up with anybody. And when I met you, I certainly didn’t want or expect to fall for you the way I did. You were with Darcy for Christ’s sake. But you remember what happened. I know you do.
O’Malley doesn’t say a word. Of course he remembered. His whole battle between loving these two women had caused him enough trouble in his life. Even in Misty’s death it was causing him problems. What the hell was wrong with him?
Misty: My love for you was not a lie, O’Malley. I didn’t want it, especially not that soon. And yeah, I was with two other guys the same year, but shit happens. The universe brings two people together under crazy circumstances, and our relationship was proof of that. I didn’t ask you to leave Darcy for me. You did that all on your own.
O’Malley: What are ye tryin’ to prove, huh? Yer dead! None of that matters now! Did ye just want me to sit back and be miserable the rest of me life after ye died? Everyone else sure as hell did.
O’Malley steps around her, though he could have just stepped right through her. None of this made sense. Why was this happening now? What was the point?
Misty: Of course not, but she could have had a little more respect for what we had. And clearly she didn’t. She doesn’t even know that I was trying to keep my distance from you, but it was YOU who pursued me. I might not have been privy to that information, but I sure am now.
He turns around to face her again. Her anger has subsided, and it has now started to turn to betrayal and hurt.
O’Malley: Ye seem to have everything figured out, then. I still don’t know why it matters, and why yer even here.
Misty: I’m here, because Tony Thorn got under your fucking skin. You won’t admit it, but every word he spoke was right. But you’re letting Darcy speak for you. You’re letting Darcy run the show and it’s making you look terrible. I know what you’re hiding, O’Malley. I know what you don’t want everyone else to know.
He’s taken back by her words and his jaw drops. He wants to respond, but he can’t. Misty just nods.
Misty: Oh yeah, I know all about it. One of the perks of being dead, I suppose. I can see everything, so I know what you don’t want anyone else to know. And it’s fine. I get it. I really do. But everything you let her say about me without even flinching? And knowing there’s not a damn thing I can do about it, it’s like dying all over again. I thought I could count on you to raise our son, but you failed me. You failed him.
O’Malley doesn’t know what to say. He had tried not to think about Owen for so long, and it had worked. But now here Misty was- her ghost at least- bringing up the painful truth all over again. Would Owen even remember him at this point? It didn’t matter, he couldn’t go back to being a father to him.
O’Malley: Yeah well, like ye said, yer dead, Misty. Ye can’t force me to do anything. I’m in love with Darcy and there ain’t a damn thing ye can do about it. Owen isn’t part of my life with her and he never will be.
Misty: Thank fuck for that, because I don’t want that vile woman anywhere near my son. She’s trying to destroy everything I’ve ever accomplished not only with you, but in SCW, too. You realize it’s not going to work, right? She can’t just get people to forget me. You can accomplish anything and everything you set your heart to accomplish, but it won’t erase or outshine anything I did before you.
Even from outside, O’Malley can hear Darcy start to awaken. He looks inside and sees she’s moving on the bed and he looks back to Misty, panicked.
O’Malley: That’s what ye think, Misty. But Darcy’s right. Ye’ve already been outshined and outdone. It ain’t about me doin’ it. The rest of the Bombshells already have. I’m tryin’ to build me out career in SCW, an’ without yer name attached to it all.
Misty smirks and just shakes her head. She stares at her husband, disappointed in the man he has become thanks to the woman in the other room.
Misty: Yeah, well good luck with that. I think you’re kinda stuck living in my shadow, O’Malley. You got me pregnant. You married me. And now, it’s very clear you’re trying to be more successful than I was in hopes it will make my entire existence disappear. It’ll never happen, O’Malley. But keep letting that whore run the show and make you look like a pussy whipped little bitch!
O’Malley: Now ye listen here—
Just as O’Malley is about to defend Darcy to his dead wife(wow that sounds weird), the door to his and Darcy’s room opens up and Darcy steps out, covered in a green silk robe, and joins him. She looks around, not seeing anyone there, as she looks at O’Malley curiously.
Darcy: O’Malley? Who were you talking to, my love?
When O’Malley turns back around, expecting to see Misty still there, she’s gone. Vanished into thin air. Had he imagined her? Was she ever really there? Either way, he couldn’t say anything to Darcy about it.
O’Malley: No one, love. I think I mighta been sleepwalkin’. Go back to bed. I’ll be there in a few minutes.
She shakes her head and walks up to him, wrapping her arms around him tightly. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, and he reciprocates, wrapping his arms around her.
Darcy: Not until you come back to bed with me. We always sleep better together, you know. And you’ve never slept walked before. What is going on, my love?
She keeps her arms wrapped around him, and pulls her head back to look up at him. She can tell something is now bothering him, but she won’t pressure him too much about it tonight.
O’Malley: I just couldn’t fall back asleep is all. But I’m more worried about ye after what happened to ye tonight. How is yer scalp feeling?
O’Malley kisses the top of her head, as if trying to comfort a wound. Earlier in the evening, Tony Thorn’s mother, Victoria, had taken Darcy by the hair and dragged her backstage. After Darcy tried to interfere in the match, that is. Darcy just snarls and reaches up, touching her scalp.
Darcy: It’s feeling much better than it was, but I’m fine. That vile woman will get what—
O’Malley: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Calm down, love. Ye leave the fightin’ to me, alright? Just forget about Victoria Thorn..
Darcy: She tried to rip my scalp away from my head! I didn’t touch her precious baby boy. I didn’t even touch her!
Darcy is growing more and more upset and angry. O’Malley pulls her in close, and when he does, he can hear the faint sound of Misty laughing. His eyes look around suspiciously, but he keeps his attention focused on comforting Darcy.
O’Malley: Alright, love. Let’s...let’s just go back to bed. We’ll worry about everythin’ else later.
Darcy: I don’t know what I’d do without you, O’Malley. My love for you has always been so deep. I’d do anything for you. You know that, right? Maybe I get a little carried away in your matches sometimes, but I do it because I want you to succeed. Because I want you to be better than she was. You’re better than she was.
The sound of Misty laughing again grabs O’Malley’s attention, but not enough to tear him away from Darcy. He pulls back and looks down at her with a serious expression on his face.
O’Malley: I’m not questioning yer love fer me, Darc. I never would. But let’s not make any of this about her, okay? She’s dead. I’m here with ye, and nothin’ is ever gonna change that. Ye understand me?
Darcy stares up at him with sad eyes, but she nods slowly. He leans down and brings his lips to hers, once again expressing his love for her. After a few moments, he takes her by her hand and leads her back into their room, where they head back to bed to get a few more hours of sleep. And as Darcy closed her eyes and cuddled up to him, his eyes remained open. He doesn’t know why, but his mind soon wandered back to when he first started to fall for Misty.
October 2014
Dublin, Ireland
The Pull Grows Stronger…
O’Malley knew she wanted to be alone, but something also told him that she shouldn’t be alone, either. This mysterious stranger. This American woman visiting Dublin by herself for reasons he didn’t know. But he wanted to know. A part of him felt the pain she was feeling, and he wanted to help her.
But would she let him?
She was just ahead in the distance, approaching the large willow tree. It wasn’t in bloom yet, but he could tell she still loved the sight of it regardless. And he watched as she placed a hand on it’s trunk, and just felt the beauty that mother earth had created. Something about her amazed him, but as she turned around and sat down against the tree, she was less than pleased to spot him approaching her.
She rolled her eyes and looked away, refusing to make eye contact even as he stopped just a few feet in front of her.
Misty: You really don’t know how to leave someone alone when that’s all they want, don’t you? Shouldn’t you be chasing after your girlfriend right about now?
O’Malley laughed. He wanted to sit down next to her, but he knew if he did, she’d probably stand up and walk away. This was good enough for him, and he was testing the waters, so to speak.
O’Malley: I’ve come to learn that when she’s pissed like she is, it’s best to not chase after her.
Misty: Word to the wise, most women are the same way…
She looks up at him with angry eyes, not appreciating the unwanted company. She had come to Ireland alone for a reason, but O’Malley didn’t know that. And she wasn’t about to tell him that either.
O’Malley: Now, ye see, I’m not so sure I believe ye do, lass. Ye look like ye got a lot on yer mind, and I’m a pretty good listener.
He gives her a cheeky grin, but she rolls her eyes and chooses to ignore him. He continues to talk to her, though, further proving he’s not exactly a smart Irishman.
O’Malley: Oh c’mon, lass. I’m just tryna help ya. I might be a stranger to ya, but I can tell ye need a friend right now. Can ye really fault me fer tryna be a nice fella here?
Misty: Honestly?
She looks up at him, still irritated with his presence. She folds her arms and nods very matter of factly.
Misty: Yes. Yes, I can. Because I asked you to leave me alone and you didn’t. Because you’re following after me like a male dog chases a bitch in heat, and you’ve got a girlfriend. I’m not interested in pouring my heart out to you. I came here for a reason, and that reason was to be alone. Don’t make me force you to leave me alone, because you might be taller than me, and you might be a guy, but I’m a fucking professional wrestler and I can handle myself just fine.
Misty glares at him and he raises an eyebrow. He smirks at hearing this bit of information about her, and folds his arms, curious to learn more.
O’Malley: Yer a wrestler? Well, color me surprised…
Misty: Why? What’s so hard to believe about me being a wrestler?
O’Malley shakes his head and laughs.
O’Malley: Nothin’, lass. Ye just don’t strike me as the wrestler type, but I guess yer attitude explains—
Misty: My attitude?! Pardon me if I’m trying to have some time to myself but you just can’t accept it. I came here to get away from everything that you represent, so please don’t say one more god damned thing about my attitude.
O’Malley: Everything I represent? What does that mean?
Misty closes her eyes, her frustration growing more and more. It was clear she had said more than she wanted to, but it was too late now. O’Malley still wanted to help her. And the more he stared at her, the more he realized how beautiful she really was..
Misty: It means that I know you’re type. It doesn’t matter what country I’m in. You’re all the same. Involved with someone, yet chasing after someone else. Someone who wants nothing to do with you. So please, don’t make me tell you again.
O’Malley: Whoa, lass. Yer actin’ like I’m tryna get in yer pants or somethin’. Can’t a fella be decent and not be tryna get in yer pants?
Misty lets out a frustrated growl and leans forward. She buries her head in her hands, realizing he’s not going to leave her alone. She throws her hands in the air and finally stands up, looking at him further irritated.
Misty: I don’t need you to be decent, Mr. O’Malley…
O’Malley: Just O’Malley…
Misty: I don’t care. As I was saying, I don’t need you to be a decent guy. I don’t need you to be a friend. I have all the friends I need back home. If I wanted to bare my soul and cry on someone’s shoulder, I’d do it to them. I’m not going to pour my heart out to some handsome Irishman who I don’t want to get to know. Get it through your head…
She quickly turns to walk away but O’Malley reaches and grabs her hand, stopping her. The moment he does, they both feel it. A weird spark. A connection. But neither mentions it. Misty just spins and glares at him, yanking her hand away.
O’Malley: Wait...Hold on now…
O’Malley holds his hands up defensively, and Misty continues glaring at him. He doesn’t notice, but she’s rubbing the hand he had grabbed, as if trying to figure out what she had felt. He felt it, too, but if be mentioned it, he knew it would scare her off.
O’Malley: Look, I’m sorry if I’m comin’ across as a lil’ pushy or anything. I just...I can’t explain it. Ye looked like someone who needed someone to talk to. This has nothin’ to do with wantin’ in yer pants or anything. Ye came here alone, but whatever is botherin’ ye, ye can’t keep it bottled up.
Misty: Yeah, well, I appreciate the concern, but I’ll be fine. I don’t need anymore friends. Especially not male friends. So, please, go back to your girlfriend and let me deal with my shit on my own like I want to.
O’Malley: So this has to do with a fella, eh? Not that I should be surprised..
Misty: Oh my God! PLEASE STOP! You’re making me regret choosing Ireland as my get away place! Fucking Irishman…
O’Malley tries to respond, but she doesn’t give him a chance. She shoves past him and walks away, wanting no more part of this conversation. O’Malley turns and watches her walk away, again, but this time he chooses to honor her wishes and leave her alone. He looks down at his hand, only now acknowledging the spark he felt and he looks up again, grinning as he watches her walk away.
O’Malley: She called me handsome…
He smirks again, and watches as she disappears down another road. After a few minutes, his eyes widen and his thoughts leave Misty and return to Darcy…
O’Malley: Feck! What the feck just happened?!
He stands there, freaking out momentarily before he rushes off in the opposite direction Misty had. He wasn’t sure what had just happened with her, or what it all meant, but he would have to get over it somehow. Because he was with Darcy. And Misty was just a tourist who he would probably never see again.
Tuesday May 26th
Training Day- GO Gym
With less than two weeks now until yet another challenging match for O’Malley at Into The Void IX, he’s getting prepared as much as he possibly can. He’d already been through one ladder match in SCU, and won, but his opponents this time would be much more challenging- with two more added to the mix.
Ladder matches were not his strong suit. They were a risk he tried to avoid since choosing wrestling as a career option. And the reason was because he had suffered a spinal injury five years ago that left him paralyzed for several months. But he overcame the odds and walked again, despite the doctors’ fears it wouldn’t happen.
But he knew they couldn’t avoid these risky matches forever. Especially not in SCW, because SCW was known to put on some of the most brutal matches around. Darcy, however, was not optimistic she normally was. She supports O’Malley in everything he does, but because of his past injury, she can’t help but worry about it happening again.
Darcy: Baby, I know you want to be successful in SCW, and this King For A Day thing is a rather big match to win, but ladder matches are very risky.
The duo was currently walking into the GO Gym ready for his first training session for Into The Void IX. O’Malley had his gear bag slung over his left shoulder, and his right arm around Darcy’s waist as they walked up to the entrance. But he stopped as she voiced her concerns.
O’Malley: They are risky, love, but me doctors have repeatedly assured us that I’m physically fine. I healed better than they even thought I would, so I’m at no greater risk than any of the other fellas in the match.
Darcy: Physically, perhaps not. But they will find out about your past injury and they will try to take advantage of it. If anything happens to you…
O’Malley drops his bag for a moment and turns to face her. He grabs her hands and squeezes them with reassurance.
O’Malley: Nothin’ is gonna happen, love. I promise ye that. Wrestling at all is a risk with a past injury like that, but ye never say nothin’ about it, do ye?
Darcy: That’s because regular wrestling matches don’t come with the risk of climbing a ten foot or higher ladder to the top only to have your opponent knock it over and send you falling down with it. I know you made it through the SCU ladder match, but—
O’Malley: But nothin’, love. I’ll be fine. I just need to start addin’ more areas to me training and Gabriel knows that.
O’Malley looks into her eyes. Darcy wants to believe him, but she was worried about him. More so the last couple of weeks than she had ever been. He reaches down and picks up his gear bag, slinging it over his shoulder again. He takes her hand but when be tries to lead them both inside, she hesitates.
Darcy: If I asked you to do something, would you?
He turns and looks at her, confused.
O’Malley: That depends.
He stares at her, waiting for her to ask whatever it is she wants to ask. She finally takes in a deep breath and lets it all out.
Darcy: Drop out of this match? The prize has nothing to do with anything we are planning.
His jaw drops. She had never once asked him to step back from any match, even the last ladder match, and he couldn’t understand why she was doing it now. Just as he is about to respond, a familiar voice speaks to him.
“Wow. I would never ask you to drop out of a match, babe. She really is trying to control you…”
It was Misty. Again. He hadn’t seen or heard her in almost two weeks and was beginning to think he had imagined it. But, alas, he hadn’t.
O’Malley: Are ye feckin’ crazy, Darc?! Ye want me to drop out of a match, just two days…TWO DAYS!...after ye went on Twitter and pissed off Mark Ward by sayin’ they were smart to add me to it?! No. I ain’t droppin’ out.
Darcy: What else was I supposed to do?! They could find you a different match…
He shakes his head, flabbergasted that she would even ask or suggest he do such a thing. They didn’t fight often these days, but when they did…
O’Malley: Oh, right. Like some meaningless piss break match against a feckin’ nobody! And how can he say the prize doesn’t go along with our plans?! I could book a whole feckin’ show if I win that damn briefcase!
Darcy: Yeah and the SCU Golden Briefcase is a guaranteed shot at the Underground Championship anytime you want it! What good will booking a whole show do?
O’Malley laughs. He drops his bag again and stares at Darcy, amazed that she doesn’t get it. He even hears Misty laugh.
“Here I thought she was supposed to be intelligent. Outsiders to the wrestling world just don’t understand, do they sweetheart? I mean, there once was a time when you didn’t.”
O’Malley does his best to ignore the haunting voice of his dead wife, but if she continued, it would become rather difficult. He places his hands on Darcy’s shoulders, gently trying to explain to her just what this match means to the winner.
O’Malley: Darcy, love...I can’t believe I have to explain this to ye, but if I win that briefcase, I get to book an entire feckin’ episode of Climax Control. I make the damn matches! Meaning, I could book meself a World Heavyweight Championship match! It’s the same damn thing, but with added benefits.
He stares at her, waiting for her eyes to light up in that “aha!” moment, but they don’t. She still stares at him with concern in her eyes and shakes her head.
Darcy: I see your point, my love, but I’m still concerned about this! Sure you could book yourself a title match, but that’s what people expect the winner to do, right? Plus, let’s just say you do go through with this and win...what type of match would you choose to book yourself in for the World Heavyweight Championship? Anything other than a regular rules match, and people think you’d be giving yourself the advantage to win it!
O’Malley: And since when do ye bloody care about what anyone else thinks?!
Darcy: I don’t, but—
O’Malley throws his hands up in the air, now angry more than anything. He reaches down, grabs his bag and glares at her.
O’Malley: But nothin’, Darc. I’m done havin’ this argument with ye. Just go back to the hotel, because ye’ve pissed me the feck off, and I need to focus on trainin’ for this match.
Darcy: You can’t be serious?!
“Oooh, good job, sweetheart! Ordering her around for once! Somebody put his big boy pants on and told her.”
O’Malley hears Misty laughing again, and he’s had it. From the both of them.
O’Malley: Just leave me the feck alone! Both of ye!
O’Malley storms off and into the GO Gym, and Darcy stands there, completely confused. The last words he said had left her more confused than his actual outburst.
Darcy: Both of us?
She didn’t know what that meant, but she couldn’t pressure him to find out right now. She just turned and headed back to their car, and left to return to the hotel. Meanwhile, inside the GO Gym, a now angry O’Malley is storming his way towards the locker room to change into his training gear. Gabriel is trying to approach him, but he’s not even paying attention.
Gabriel: Oi! O’Malley! Wait up, mate!
O’Malley stops, though he clearly doesn’t want to. Between his fight with Darcy, and his dead wife now haunting him, he was not having a good day. But he turns and gives his attention to Gabriel, trying to be as nice as he can.
O’Malley:I’ll be out in a few minutes. Just need to change into me gear.
Gabriel: Yeah, I can see that. But care to explain what all that bloody yelling was about a few minutes ago?
Terrific. Everyone in the gym heard their fight. Because that just made his day that much better. He lets out a sigh and growls.
O’Malley:We don’t fight that often, but I tell ye when we do...shite isn’t pretty. I sent her back to the hotel though so I can focus today.
Gabriel: You mean the two of ya actually fight? I never woulda guessed that.
Gabriel smirks, trying to ease the tension a bit, but it doesn’t appear to work. O’Malley still frowns and rolls his eyes.
O’Malley:Yeah and this one feckin’ came outta nowhere! I did fine in me last ladder match, and physically I’m better than I ever was in me entire life, but now she wants me to drop out of this one for some shite reason!
Gabriel: You’re joking, right? She wants you to drop out of a ladder match that gives you a pretty big advantage in SCW? You’re not gonna do it, are ya?
Gabriel was surprised to find out that Darcy had asked such a thing, and O’Malley is more surprised that Gabriel would question the answer. His eyes widen and he lets out an astonished laugh.
O’Malley:Of course not! People already think she’s got me by the balls, but I ain’t about to prove them right! When I win that ladder match, I can give meself a World Heavyweight Championship match and redeem meself from the shit that happened against Ben Jordan last time.
Gabriel: Well...I’m not sure what else I can say to that, other than it’s good to know you’re not gonna drop out. I’m sure she’ll come around, but after that spat out there, I’d say it’s a good idea to avoid each other the rest of the day. You’re good other than the Darcy stuff, right?
In truth, no he wasn’t. But he couldn’t exactly come out and say he was seeing, and hearing, his dead wife off and on the last two weeks. How could that situation get rectified, other than a trip to the psych ward?
“Oh, do tell him the truth, babe. I’d love to see his reaction to that. Such a shame that no one else can see or hear me but you, right?”
O’Malley closed his eyes and takes in a deep breath. Gabriel stared at him, suspecting there was more, but O’Malley couldn’t admit it. And judging by Misty’s laughter in his head, she got great pleasure out of that.
O’Malley:No. Everything is fine other than that. I just need to get me blood pressure down and get in the ring.
Gabriel: You sure? That didn’t sound too convincing.
O’Malley nods with as much truth as he can muster.
O’Malley:Yeah. It’s fine. Bloody women are more trouble than they’re worth sometimes, ye know?
Gabriel smiled and chuckled. He patted O’Malley on the back with a nod.
Gabriel: Never a truer statement, mate. Though I’d imagine they say the same thing about us. Anyway, be in the ring in fifteen…
O’Malley nodded again as Gabriel turned and walked away, heading over towards the ring. O’Malley took in another deep breath, ready to unleash some of his frustrations the best way he knew how. Inside the wrestling ring.
“Despite your complete disrespect for me and my memory, babe, I really am proud of you. You’ve grown to love and respect wrestling like I did. You’re welcome for introducing you to it, by the way. At least Darcy can’t take credit for that.”
O’Malley:Oh go to hell, Misty. I don’t need yer bloody opinion anymore…
He barks at her under his breath and she laughs as he continues walking to the locker room.
“They didn’t want me. Despite all the shit I did, it was through the golden gates I went. Can’t say the same for you and Darcy, though…”
O’Malley lets out another low growl, as he disappears into the men's locker room. Misty’s ghostly laughter continues, further getting under his skin, but he tries his best to find a way to ignore it.
Back At The Hotel…
An Agreement and a Confession
After a long day of training and getting ready for the King For A Day ladder match, O’Malley is just now getting back to the Saxon Hotel. He had calmed down enough that he felt comfortable with seeing Darcy and having a deeper conversation about their argument earlier, but he wasn’t sure she would feel the same. Their love was strong, that much was very true, but when Darcy got angry or upset, she was hard to deal with. Even more so than Misty ever was.
As he removed his key card from the lock and pushed open the door, he fully expected to see Darcy lounging on the bed waiting for him. But as he dropped his gym bag just inside the room, he looked around and Darcy was nowhere to be seen. Odd, he thought, but not completely surprising. He had texted her when he was on his way back so maybe she was avoiding him. But his eyes soon caught sight of a sheet of paper sitting on the desk across the room. So he walked over to it, seeing it was a note from Darcy.
Went for a dip in the hot tub. Join me if you’re not still angry with me.- Love
Disappointed, maybe. But not angry. But the hot tub sounded like exactly what he needed after a long day of training, and fighting with the love of his life. He opened the top drawer to the dresser and took out his trunks, heading into the bathroom to change.
Meanwhile in the hot tub…
Darcy was the only one around enjoying the comforts of the hot tub. She was leaned back against the wall of the tub, her arms sprawled out along the sides, and her head leaned back as she was completely relaxed. O’Malley was due back in the hotel any second, if not already, and the longer it went without him joining her, the longer she felt that perhaps he was still quite angry with her. And maybe he had every reason to be.
She would give him the proper time to calm down, though. If it was what he needed. Lucky for her, it wasn’t as long as she thought as she soon heard someone joining her in the hot tub. And when she looked up, it was of course O’Malley.
Darcy:I was beginning to think I’d really screwed things up.
O’Malley:Fer a moment, ye did…
He eased his way into the steaming hot water, slowly creeping his way closer to her. She grinned, happy to see him again, and he did the same.
O’Malley:I’m not droppin’ out of this match, love. I know ye—
He goes quiet as Darcy holds up a finger and silences him.
Darcy:I know. And I don’t expect you to. I’m sorry. You were right about everything you said. Things could work out better in our favor if...no, when you win this ladder match. I just...I worry about you. I can’t help it.
He grins even wider this time as he’s now face to face with her, and she places her arms on his shoulders, intertwining and locking her fingers behind his neck.
O’Malley:Well...good to hear ye’ve seen reason. I didn’t mean to get so angry with ye, love. I just...I don’t need anymore reason fer people to trash talk what we have, and what ye’ve done for me. I don’t care what anyone thinks, but it’s getting harder to fight all the criticism. Ye know?
She nods and under the water, he places his hands on her hips. She was wearing the green bikini he loved seeing her in, and he knew why she’d chosen it.
Darcy:I know. Trust me, I do. People still seem to think so highly of her that I can’t seem to be anything more than a vile whore.
O’Malley looks away for a moment. He half expected to hear Misty say something at that point, but she was eerily silent at the moment. When he looked away, Darcy immediately knew something else was wrong.
Darcy:What? What is it, my love?
He looked back to her. He has to come clean with her. He has to tell her what he’d seen and what he had been hearing from Misty. Even if it meant upsetting her or confusing her.
O’Malley:I...I need to tell ye something, love. But I need ye to understand, and not freak out. Can ye do that?
Darcy:Of course. But you’re starting to scare me. What has you so troubled?
He released his hold on her for a moment and drifted away from her. He leaned his back against the opposite side of the tub, and prepared to tell her what was going on.
O’Malley:Ye remember last week when I was out on the balcony early in the mornin’? Ye asked me who I was talkin’ to?
She nods.
Darcy:Yes. You said you were sleepwalking?
Now he nods. He takes in a deep breath then exhales, praying she doesn’t freak out.
O’Malley:Well...I wasn’t. I was talkin’ to...Misty. She was there. I could see her. Well, a form of her, but—
Darcy:Whoa, whoa...Hold on a minute. She was there? Your dead wife? You saw her and spoke to her?
He nods again and then brings his hands up to his head, none of it still making any sense.
O’Malley:Yeah. And not just then, but I heard her today, too. I dunno why. I can’t explain it, but she’s hauntin’ me, love. And she ain’t happy, neither.
Darcy rolls her eyes. She was having a hard time understanding it as well, clearly, and he hoped she would give him the benefit of the doubt.
Darcy:Yes, well, she never was a very happy person, was she?
O’Malley wasn’t sure how to answer that, nor did he really want to. It didn’t change the fact that Misty was dead, regardless of if she was haunting him or not. Why should he care if she was happy right now?
Darcy:I can’t even begin to process exactly what you’re telling me right now. I mean, your dead wife haunting you? Is that what it really is, or is there a part of you that wishes she was alive? So many people are quick to defend her memory, after all.
O’Malley:Now don’t ye go thinkin’ that, love. I told ye what was goin’ on because I wanted to be honest with ye. I don’t know why I’m seein’ or hearin’ her, but it ain’t because I wish she was alive. Don’t tell me I gotta fight to prove me love to ye all over again?
O’Malley stares at her, hoping he doesn’t. He had proven day in and day out how much he loves her, and he didn’t know how he would handle having to start all over again.
Darcy:No, of course you don’t. I believe you. I just...What is it going to take for her to just be forgotten?! I mean, you’re already on to accomplishing more than she ever did. I know you don’t want me to make any of this about her, but how can I not? If you hadn’t met her, you wouldn’t even be involved in this business. I just want people to look at you, and not see just her widower.
He understands what she is saying, but ultimately he knows that may be a losing battle. He drifts himself back so he is closer to her, where he really wants to be. Despite him introducing her to the sport of wrestling, he could tell that all she wanted was for him to succeed.
O’Malley:Nevermind what anyone else sees, love. All that matters is what ye see. I might not have gotten involved in wrestling if it weren’t fer her, but ye were the one to bring me back after I left it. Yer the one here and supporting me. Not her. And ye’ll be the one at my side when I win championship gold. Not her.
Darcy:More championship gold than she ever did…
Darcy grins, and O’Malley smiles back at her, if only to help her feel better. He places his hands on the edge of the pool on either side of her, getting right up against her.
Darcy:It won’t be easy, you know. You’re facing five other men. One of whom is already a former World Heavyweight Champion. I know you can do it, but this will be your toughest challenge yet…
O’Malley:I’ve had a long day trainin’ and focusin’ on the match, love. Let’s not talk about that, or a dead woman, anymore. Yeah?
He grins a wickedly seductive grin at her, and she grins back. She wraps her arms around him and is once again, perfectly happy being in his arms.
Darcy:That...sounds like the perfect plan to me, my love.
And without another word, their lips meet in a passionate embrace. The memory of their fight earlier now settled, all that mattered was that they were together. And on the same page. O’Malley had made it abundantly clear that he was not dropping out of the King For A Day ladder match, and Darcy had wisened up, realizing just what was at stake for the winner.
The camera opens up, focusing on the dark and determined expression on O’Malley’s face, and his lady love Darcy by his side.
Into The Void IX is just a mere nine days away, and with sixteen matches, the show will no doubt prove to be one of the biggest events of the year. Everyone booked wants the night to be their night. They want to walk out of their respective matches with another victory on their record, and major bragging rights. With the return of the King and Queen for A Day ladder matches, all involved in both matches have their sights set on the biggest advantage perhaps anyone can have.
To book all of the matches for an entire episode of Climax Control.
The possibilities are endless. The advantages the winners hold to be able to book every single match for a night are endless. Have an enemy you want to punish or prove a point to? Book them in the most ridiculous match you can think of. And the smartest thing the winner can do? Book yourself in a championship match. That is perhaps the only thing anyone involved in these ladder matches can think of. Except, of course, O’Malley.
You see, this isn’t just about a single match that he could give himself, or the possibilities to the other matches he could book. No, this is about the bigger picture. This is about the message he would send by walking into that match with nothing to lose, but everything to gain. The glory. The reputation. The task of beating one opponent alone in a ladder match is hard enough, but when you have five other people gunning for that briefcase? Your odds go down drastically.
But the odds are in O’Malley’s favor. He’s already been through one briefcase match recently, and while not in SCW, the stakes were exactly the same. Climb that ladder and retrieve the briefcase. And in O’Malley’s case...he won. He knows what needs to be done, and he’ll do everything and anything he has to to win that briefcase, because the other five of you involved...don’t deserve it. Sorry to say, the briefcase was as good as O’Malley’s the moment his name was added to this match. But I’m sure each and every one of you will think you can stop him, right?
What say you, Lachlan Kane? Fellow Irishman? Do you think you have what it takes to stop O’Malley? I don’t think you do. And I don’t believe you even have the confidence in yourself to admit you do, anyway.
It’s no secret Lachlan that you’ve been on a bit of a downward slump recently. You and your soon-to-be wife, Sierra. She, of course, has up and vanished, yet you still remain. Trying to fight your way back to the success you once had. But is that even attainable, Lachlan? No. It’s not. You see, without Sierra, you’re really nothing. Perhaps it’s because you don’t feel comfortable in any other situation. Who really knows. But if you let yourself show your weaknesses, you’ll never get anywhere with a solo career. The potential is there, but your heart...just isn’t anymore.
Where is the fight, Lachlan? Irishmen like you and O’Malley...we know it exists. O’Malley shows it every single match. Yet you don’t. It’s like you’ve given up, yet you just can’t walk away. I promise you that the very second you show weakness in this ladder match, O’Malley will have no problem taking advantage and eliminating you from the equation. Because a man with no drive certainly doesn’t deserve the advantage the prize gives him. My words may be harsh, but you can’t deny they are true. But my congratulations to you on your upcoming marriage to Sierra. That is an accomplishment in itself.
And what about you, Stephen Calloway? Are you confident in your chances going into this match? Judging by the demeanor in your recent promos, O’Malley and I have gathered that you, too, suffer from a major lack of confidence. Though in your case, it seems you just don’t care to be here anymore. So, why are you.
You know what reaction your last promo got after O’Malley and I watched it? Confused laughs, Stephen. For someone employed by one company, you sure do seem to be loyal to another. And you blame lockdown for your inability to leave. Excuses, excuses. We’ve never heard one match moan and groan about a company the way you did, Stephen. And when we went back a little further, almost the same thing. You just...do not care.
How can you expect to get anywhere, Stephen, if you don’t put in one hundred percent effort? Do you really think that by just showing up and half-assing your performance that you really stand a chance at winning? Do you really think your lack of respect for the company you work for means you deserve to win the title of King For A Day and full booking rights for an entire episode of Climax Control? No. It does not. In fact, O’Malley and I are betting on you not even bothering to show up. That’s fine, though. One less person O’Malley needs to eliminate from the equation.
Two down, that leaves three more. Oh the fun times of addressing five opponents for one single match. But that is par for the course in instances such as these.
One might thing we’d save the only former World Heavyweight Champion in the match for last, but sadly, that is not the case, because Senor Vinnie is not worth the hype. I am sure that will receive some backlash for honest reasons, but those words were from O’Malley’s mouth, too, and not just my own.
Senor Vinnie...the man who many are perhaps betting on to win this match. I’d imagine if O’Malley were to contact Daniel Morgan and see where the odds were right now, most would be in your favor, Senor Vinnie. Sadly, all those individuals betting on you, are about to be out a lot of money, because your performance is nothing compared to O’Malley’s. O’Malley was trained at the GO Gym. You...have a pet cactus.
You call yourself the Mariachi of Wrestling, but what does that even mean, Senor Vinnie? Who are you, really, aside from a man who clearly escaped a psychiatric facility. Your actions are proof that must be the case, because you spend too much time talking to a cactus, as if it’s even possible. Sorry to say, Senor Vinnie, there’s just no way possible that O’Malley will allow you to walk away with that briefcase and the booking rights for an entire episode. I mean, we can only imagine what you would possibly come up with!
It baffles the both of us how Austin James Mercer ever allowed himself to be defeated by you in the first place. Because when it all comes down to it, he’s just a better athlete all around, but he must have been having a terrible day. He certainly was after losing to you. The same can’t be said for O’Malley, because he’s watched you and studied you, so he knows what needs to be done to keep an unstable man such as yourself, away from the briefcase above the ring. But good luck trying to stop him…
And then there’s Finn Whelan. The newest of the bunch. A bit of an underdog, from what we hear and learn about him. But- if you want our honest opinion- a possible threat. A big threat? Not exactly, but you, Finn, seem to have your act together more than the rest. You are more accomplished than the rest and you certainly seem more determined than the rest, judging by your first matches here within SCW. But, your matches thus far haven’t exactly been against opponents that are very noteworthy, have they?
You had it rather easy in your very first match, going ho against that mysterious and very non-intimidatinf El Dark. Naturally, you walked away with the win as everyone so far who has gone up against El Dark has, so it didn’t take much, right? You had a chance to prove yourself again when you faced Kris Ryans just a couple of weeks later. Kris Ryans should have been easy for you, Finn. I mean, from what I know about him, he’s rather flaky and there’s nothing about him that is respectable. So, if you can’t even defeat him, how can you expect to defeat O’Malley?
You can’t. While you have the heart, you haven’t found yourself in SCW yet, but O’Malley has. He’s been trained by an SCW legend. He has the goal set, and he’s going to achieve it. He’s not going to let someone who hasn’t even found their footing in SCW yet, stop him and win that briefcase. Sorry, Finn. It’s just the way it is.
And we’ve saved the best, or worst, for last. That all depends on how you look at it. Jack Washington. Fairly newer to SCW, but something about him is just screaming that he’s the biggest threat of them all. We can see the thirst in his eyes to do something with his life, because it seems he has yet to achieve much. Isn’t that right, Jack? You found something within SCW that lit a fire under you and you want to do everything and anything that you can. Why is that?
We’ve heard rumors of a troubled past, but why bother digging too deep? The past is just the past, correct? Your actions prior to joining SCW don’t matter much. It’s all about your actions within this company. And you started out well. You and Tallyn advanced in the Blast From The Past tournament, and you could have won it all. But look what happened. You went and failed against Evie Jordan and Mark Cross. Granted, your partner was the one who was pinned, but it was still your failure!
You could have stopped them, Jack. You know it. O’Malley knows it, and I know it. But after that, you’ve proven to be just as troubled as the rest. Not quite found your footing, and now trying to climb that ladder once again, reaching for success. You want what your partner Tallyn lost you. You want that World Heavyweight Championship shot, and by winning the briefcase, you can give yourself one. But it’s not going to happen. You're young, and you’ve got alot to learn. O’Malle will teach you, and he will fight you with everything he has to deliver you yet another loss. Don’t worry, though, maybe if you’re lucky he’ll give you a different title opportunity on the Climax Control he books. We shall see.
Six men walk into that ring at Into The Void. One briefcase hanging high above the ring, but only one can claim the prize. And the fact remains that it will be O’Malley who does it. He’s focused. He’s ready. And he’s absolutely refusing to be defeated. If you ask me, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him more determined, gentleman. And that...should scare the lot of you.
Good luck, gentleman. You have one week….
The camera zooms in on O’Malley’s eyes, a fiery determination like we’ve never seen, and the scene fades out.
