The day I was born, I didn’t know much of the world. But as I was growing up, I kept on thinking that maybe the sun would embrace me with comfort. Some days, that would be true. In other days, however, it greeted me with malice.
Up until the age of ten, my parents were with me. I was their only child, no siblings came after me, so all the attention was put on me. I spent as much time with them as possible, because I knew they were the secret of a good person and all the lessons they would deliver to me would be good ones, but also harsh ones to face. I had a lot to offer in this world and my parents strongly believed in me and wanted to make sure that I went out into the world with a strong sense of justice and pride within myself. Back then, before I turned into the horrible monster I eventually transformed myself into, I was a good kid. I immersed myself in the world of videogames and tuned out the realistic landscape through various pieces of music. I had a lot of friends and was considered to be a popular guy, known to be the nicest guy out there. I also had a strong sense of right and wrong and believed that God would take care of me. After all, my religious upbringing, though not strict, allowed me to believe that God would take care of things for me and that everything would be all right.
Everything was perfect.
Then tragedy struck. I still remember that horrible day.
It was April 10th, 2000, sometime after my birthday.
I walked home from school to find my home being surrounded by yellow tape. Bodies littered the floor and I found my world turned upside down. Living a sheltered life, I was never exposed to this amount of violence before in my life. Typical cops and detectives were conversing with each other, trying to piece together the events that happened. I eventually walked up the steps to my home, thinking it wasn’t my business to be around what was going on at the time. But then, something caught my eye and I stopped dead in my tracks. Although two bodies were already covered with a white cloth, I saw a golden ring strapped around a woman’s finger. I’ve seen that ring a thousand times before and I saw it again - that’s when I discovered the horrifying truth, even when no told me what happened before I saw that item. It was the wedding ring that my father gave to her in his proposal a few years after they met in high school and began dating each other.
“Alex!!!â€
I turned around and saw my Aunt Laurie, a tall, blond-haired woman with striking blue eyes and an attractive figure, rush down the steps and hugged me tightly. I cried into her shoulder.
“What...what happened, Aunt Laurie?â€
“I’m sorry, Alex, but your parents died in a gang crossfire. Everyone in the house is devastated and worried for you. Come inside...you don’t need to see this.â€
But I shook my head stubbornly and released myself from her grip, now yelling at her, even though I didn’t mean to. But the rage, the anger came out in full-force.
“But why? Why did they do to deserve this???! Why, why why why, WHY!!!!!!!!â€
I broke down in tears as the rain continued to drop at a steady pace. My aunt took my hand and lead me into our home, closing the door behind us. I dropped my book bag and sat on the living room couch, crying hysterically. For the first time in my life, I had lost something precious and dear to me. The future, from this day forward, not only changed, but now remained uncertain for me. All around me, members of the rest of my family were weeping, in total, utter shock. This was a devastating blow to us all and I was uncertain as to how I am going to handle myself without the love, smile, and care of my beloved parents. Aunt Laurie tried to held me close, to comfort me in this dark time, but I shook my head and got up. Walking over to a nearby window, I saw a few ambulance workers lift the bodies of my parents on a stretcher and put them in the back of an ambulance van.
"If I could have only been there to stop all of this from happening…."
Even though I muttered that under my breath, my Aunt Laurie seem to have amazing hearing power or perhaps I didn’t say it out loud and placed it inside my mind and she had powers of a Jedi or Dark Sith to read my thoughts, I wasn’t sure. She crossed over to placed a hand on my shoulder as I looked down into the gloomy rain. Detroit would never be the same again for me, tears flowing down my cheeks. Why is it that two people, who did nothing wrong to others and was given the best praise possible by a lot of people that knew them in intense detail, forced to die at the hands of corrupted, unmotivated gangsters who profited from blood and death? Granted, millions of people die in horrific circumstances in the past and that trend continues to happen today, but this? How could He or She allow this to happen? I didn’t understand it. But my aunt seemed to have the right answers at the time, as she turned me around and was on one knee, with her hands on my shoulders as her strikingly blue eyes gazed into my dark, hazel eyes.
"No, Alex. You were at school and knew nothing of the events that happened before-hand. You did nothing wrong and you could have not prevented this. Remember, everything happens for a reason."
Although I nodded in response, I didn’t believe her. That was the day when everything changed for me. Not for the better, but for the worse, and I felt a growing sensation of anger that began to grow inside of me. Gently disengaging myself from her, I rushed up the steps, entered my bedroom, and slammed the door behind me.
* * * *
Another door was slammed behind me, but it wasn’t from the bedroom of my youth this time, rather a passenger door from a limousine. My wife, Lisa, our four kids, and I arrived at a local movie theater.
So you got the tickets, didn’t you?
I nodded to my wife, Lisa, and held up six tickets. It’s been awhile that we did something as a family and decided that going to see Home was the best choice. This also allows me to keep my mind off a little bit from Kris, the man who I am challenging for the title. Dressed casually for today, I knew that the cameras would be on us, since I am considered to be one of the most popular celebrities in the world. It’s not hard for members of the press or even the tabloids to keep tabs on stars like me, but I’m comfortable with it. Best way to deal with it is just continue on what you’re doing without saying a word or not doing anything bad at all.
Lisa was already holding hands with Arthur and Rose, already two-year olds and blabbing away in their own worlds as I placed Cecil and Rose in their child strollers, tucking in the seat belts tight as they were crying their heads off, their freedom pulled away for a little while. Getting behind the stroller, I pushed it forward as Lisa walking towards the entrance doors of the theater, with the press flashing their cameras and asking us multiple questions. Ignoring the masses, we opened the doors and walked inside the AMC theater. I haven’t been here in awhile, but I’ve heard the stories of how they rearranged everything from top to bottom, including getting our seats assigned so that we don’t have to go around scrambling for a seat, like how we used to back in the day…
I was trying to calm down the younger twins as I handed my tickets over to Lisa, who showed them to the female attendant that worked behind the counter that day and chose our assigned seats. Then we brought ourselves inside to where Home would be playing and sat down on our assigned seats. For the next hour and thirty-six minutes (and that’s after the preview trailers are coming and going), we embroiled ourselves in the family fun. For once, I was like a small kid again, laughing like the crazy hyena in The Lion King, and I could feel the pressure of the oncoming match lift from my shoulders a bit. Even though it’s not going to last, I’m going to enjoy the moments that I share with my family and that’s far and few between. With the way work has been for me in terms of hours and appearances, I’m more than willing to nab up those free days and weekends where the family is concerned.
At one point during the movie, Lisa tapped me on my shoulder. I looked at her with a smile, which she gladly returned with one of her own.
Take a look at the kids. They are having so much fun right now.
I glanced over at my four children and they were having a good time. This is the kind of thing that I envisioned myself to be - a good father that knows not only how to take care of his children, but to make sure they are happy and content with what they see and what they got at the moment. This is the main reason as to why I fight for a living - to feed my children and to give them an education that I never received as I was growing up.
Home finally ended on a good note and the movie was over. As the wife was getting the kids ready so that we could exit the theater safely, one of the movie attendants came over to my aisle and tapped me on the shoulder. I looked at him, unsure if I wanted to hurt him or spare him from the beating. He saw the look in my eyes and bowed quickly, trying to apologize fast before I could lay my hand on him.
Sir, there’s a young man outside that won’t leave the premises until he sees you. Can you please come with me and see what this man wants?
I nodded and faced my wife, who looked at me.
Lisa, I don’t know what’s going on, but for the kids’s safety, stay with them here. I’ll be back.
It pisses me off that this person has to ruin our family time together. Please be careful Alex!
Nodding to her, I exited the room and left the theater, encountering the man outside. I sized him up as a crowd circled around us. He was a young man, shirtless as his chest displayed various tattoos, with red hair and blue eyes to match. Dancing in his black pants, I couldn’t help but stare at him with stupidity in mind. He stopped midway in his dancing and spoke to me directly.
I know all your moves, asshole, and once I beat you down, I’m going to be made famous!
Normally, on a day like this, I wouldn’t have minded a challenge. But because he pissed off my wife, I’m gonna have to put a hurting on him. I folded my arms and shook my head at the poor bastard.
Don’t make me laugh, boy. I don’t know if you’re brave or stupid, but I’m offering you one last chance to walk away peacefully.
His answer came in the form of a rush, screaming as he tried to thrust the knife home into my ribs. A weapon is only as good as the person that is expertly skilled with it and this time shows how little he knows. I easily side-stepped the move, used my right foot to kick the weapon out of his hand, which spun in the air before emitting a clanking on the ground. Then I quickly grabbed his wrist, spun it hard enough to hear the bones about to possibly snap, and the stupid man was down on the knees. The “fightâ€, if you call it that, was over.
Do not ever cross my path again. Do you understand me, boy?
The young man shook his head up and down, crying out in agony. With nothing but pity in my soul for the fragile, I let him go and he ran away and disappeared into the crowd as the press took multiple pictures of him. I turned away from the crowd and entered the theater to check on my family as the scene slowly fades to black.
* * * *
My name is Kain. I am The King Of Kings and I want my SCW Internet championship belt BACK!
In the midsts of my preparation for our second encounter, Kris, I actually sat down and discovered what the entire world had to say about our upcoming match. Some say it’s going to be an epic match that will steal the show and others view it as a generic battle on the card, meaning it’s nothing special. And then the critics crawled out of the woodwork and sounded off their insignificant opinions like bullets rapidly ejecting from an AK-47. What their voices told me, Kris, was nothing but pure speculation, yet many of them believed either you or me could be the victor to walk away with the SCW Internet championship belt. Fair enough, if you ask me. After all, if anything, our last battle proved to be devastating and hard for the masses to watch, with you getting the prize at the end of the night. Now, as I enter our second clash with you, I promise that the results will be far more different than last time. That being said, I hate to tell you this, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed. Here you are, bragging about a one-time accomplishment that may have been yours for one night. But then the real question begins to surface in my mind, Kris, and it’s a question I wish to ask of you. Exactly how long do you plan on keeping that title? I don’t think it will be for one month, let alone one year. Do you honestly think the confidence that you claim supposedly lost and then how somehow regained itself will HELP you in our battle, Kris? No, all I see is a story of lies coming out of your mouth and I intend to expose the truth, the things you need to hear, so that reality creeps on you like a ghost hiding in the closet and then scares you when you least expect it. You don’t have to like it, Kris, and honestly? I don’t give a fuck for your worthless views on yourself, the world, or anything that concerns you. Most importantly, asshole, I don’t care about your opinions of ME. Guys like you are common, average Joe, trying in a futile attempt to knock me out of my game and yet, YOU FAILED. I want you to understand that point and keep it in the back of your head as I truthfully destroy your arguments one by one. After I’ve laid everything else on the line, there is honestly no going back for you and me. All I desire is the SCW Internet championship belt and the chance to create history by becoming the first two-time SCW Internet Champion!
First, allow me to begin by confronting you with the first part of the truth - Amy Marshall has NOTHING to do with what’s going on between you and me. Why is she even involved in the first place? It’s not like she spoke out against me and I have nothing bad to say about her in the slightest. If you consider yourself to be that intelligent and perhaps better than everyone else on the roster, then why in the unholy hell are you wasting precious air-time speaking of a beating that she supposedly gave you? I understood immediately the point that you attempted to get across to me and honestly, it’s pointless Kris. To stand there and mention how she put through you hell and back means little to me, no offense to her powers as a Bombshell wrestler. Trying to psyche yourself by having your brains beaten up constantly by a woman in order to deal with what I had put you through was not just reckless, but a pointless endeavor to undertake in your own body. Amy Marshall is a great champion and I have high hopes that she’ll walk away with the SCW Bombshell title in her hands at Mayhem In Morocco. But the truth is, we don’t need to sit here and speak praises or possible criticism of her, do we? No, Kris, this is all about you and me. What I put you through was hell and somehow, you survived. Good for you, man, because you managed to edge me in the final seconds of the bout and walked away with a clean win. I won’t begrudge you from that win. But I also saw, first-hand, what you are capable of and what you can accomplish in the ring. You may have defeated me once, but you gotta remember, kid, this is only one battle that we’ve had as a collective so far. This will be another match that will ultimately decide the fate of the SCW Internet championship. So I ask you, I implore you to answer the following questions - how far are you willing to go to keep the title? Will you do just about ANYTHING to keep it around your waist or will you hold back, let your limits take control of you, and enabling me the win that I desire? Make no mistake, Kris, I’m going at you full-force this time. I’d like to think that I was the one who didn’t have it in him that night and due to that loss, I’m not blaming it on anyone else BUT MYSELF. That’s what a true winner does - he accepts his fate, good or bad, learns from his mistakes, and makes sure he never repeats them again. I assure you, Kris, when that bell ring, I will NOT be the man that allowed you to annihilate me. I don’t care if she or anyone dissects or scouts you, because it’s unimportant at this point in time. You are going to find out, first-hand, as to exactly why NOBODY can kill me in the ring. Oh, sure, they can WIN a battle or two, but I ALWAYS win the war. ALWAYS. That’s a fact in life, Kris, and that’s a lesson you’re going to devour within your mind and soul first-hand at Mayhem In Morocco.
Now, all that being said, here’s another question that I’m going to throw at you - do you really honestly know me that well? Do you know all of my moves and tactics to the point of where you can anticipate everything? Don’t be stupid! Every opponent that I’ve faced in my previous arena and the life that I currently lead have tried various tactics on me and while I’m able to scout them in advance and see what they will mostly do, they can be surprising sometimes. You, in fact, are proof of this. That’s why I sometimes like rematches, Kris, because it forces my opponents to see the truth - I’m a quick-learner and I’ve studied the best and the worst in the world. You are no exception to the rule Kris, for the arsenal that you possess is impressive. But I know just as much about you as you supposedly claim about me and that’s a lot and then some. That’s why I’m good at what I do - I study my opponents constantly and make sure that I gain much information as I can before the fight even begins. Then, come battle time, I use all the wisdom and knowledge I acquired beforehand to deliver and I know you’re going to counter with this generic bullshit line by saying that you once again know how hard I hit, what I’m capable of, blah blah blah. But that was then, Kris Halc, this is now. Two weeks removed from our first confrontation and I’ve trained a lot harder than ever for this clash. I expect to be given full punishment from your hands and feet. I expect you to cause an open wound somewhere on my body and to break my mental and emotional spirits in half. Even if you can achieve one goal, you’ll fail to lose on the other. My confidence continues to rise in each fight, whether I emerge victorious or walk away as the loser, Kris, because I’m a man of belief and the faith that I carry for myself is greater than anything else that I’ve felt, with the exception of the love and allegiance that I hold for my family and for the fans that have stayed by my side since day one. Tell me, Kris, are you TRULY that confident in the match ahead, in YOURSELF? That’s the one answer that I’m going to unearth out of you, because I honestly believe, within my heart and soul, that you don’t have the courage to propel yourself onwards to great heights in the Sin City Wrestling organization. This is a legitimate wrestling federation, Kris, and while you’ve gone on to do impressive things, INCLUDING taking the SCW Internet championship away from me in a one-time deal, you still have yet to unleash your full potential around here. That hurts you now, doesn’t it? That’s why the confidence that you strongly speak of in your promo landed in the realm of overconfidence, Kris - you like to think of yourself as King Shit around these parts when you have yet to defy the odds and show everyone else around what you are truly capable of. Do I believe that you have potential to be one of the all-time greats? Possibly, but not right now. All you are to me is a lying sack of shit that cowers in his filthy lies and places a shield to cover up those words of false convictions. And that’s something else that I’m looking forward to proving against you - that you are not indestructible, not as invincible or omnipotent as you claim to be, Kris, but a human being that loses, like how I did. I, on the other hand, feel like I can go through the roughest patches in life and survive on the other side clean. I have no regrets in life, for they are fragile to consume on. But I’m VERY SURE, Kris, that you losing to me at Mayhem In Morocco will be a painful, bitter regret that you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life and you’re going to hate it. Every second of it, you know? The great thing about it, man, is that I won’t care and I won’t give you any pity over it. My job will be a success while yours will end in failure. That’s going to be on YOUR head, Kris, not on mine!
And when the loss finally occur, how will you feel when all those cameras on you then? I got the huge impression that you want everyone’s attention to revolve around you. Let me hit you with another splatter of truth that you will no doubt deny - that’s your selfish ego talking. I’m sure that you give two shits for the brother you that converse with or any important member of your family, but I believe that you are one of those egocentric fools that believes that everything should be handed to you in a silver platter. Life doesn’t work that way, Kris - you have to work hard at it to get what you want and again, you’re going to come right back at me by saying “I beat you.†Guess what? I don’t care. In this day and age, Kris, you either win the battles that count or you don’t, run away, and live to fight another day. But already, I can see how you are going to react after I destroy you for the SCW Internet championship belt. You’re going to appear on the cameras, call me a cheap, unoriginal bastard that took away your title without any fairness from my side of the street. I know this based on your chosen words against me - you act like you’re neutral, but deep down inside, you’re nothing but a small duck in a big pond with a huge chip on his shoulder. All the cameras in the world are going to capture that feeling out of you, so no matter what you say or do after the contest has concluded for the world to see, people are going to discover that you are indeed a man that promises so much, but offers so little for the rest of the world to even notice. Honestly, I don’t even know how you managed to get this far and survive, but I am personally looking forward to ending your journey as the current SCW Internet champion. When I accomplish that feat, the cameras that you so eagerly love right now are going to turn on you, while all the love and attention in the world is going to be placed back right where it belongs and that’s an image of a man that’s strong and believes in himself more than anything in the world. You’re not going to like that, are you? You’re going to be seething with rage, Kris, because I’ll be the one to end your reign so quickly you won’t even know what hit you, boy. I’m sure you won’t swallow my words and take them to heart and that’s fine, because I’m going to back everything that I’ve said to you for the past two weeks in the ring, as best as I can. That’s when you will discover, Kris, that you should have never crossed my path in the first place. Why should anyone in the first place? If anything, Kris, you should take note of this one lesson when it’s all said and done - that I’m better than you in every way possible. You were merely lucky in our last duel and what skill you acquired aided you at the right moments. At Mayhem In Morocco, you will have NO CHOICE but to stand and face the music and sing to me a thousand praises after I have totally destroyed you and take back what’s rightfully mine - the SCW Internet championship belt!
Do you really want to see my vision of the match? Let me lay it out for you then! When that bell rings, you and I are going to be facing each other, blood lust possessing our eyesight. We will then dance with the devil, you and me. You and I are going to put each other through so much hell that not even the crowd can withstand and yet they still want to see more! Bodies will be damaged, bones will be broken, and perhaps our spirits will slowly diminish as the violent combat unfurls before the eyes of the world. Eventually, Kris, one of us will push it to the limit and make the other submit or be pinned for the championship belt. That’s what I currently envision, Kris, but it’s the outcome that remains to be determined. You and I, however, can agree upon one thing and that’s the victor, because both of us are convinced that either one of us will walk out. In your case, you, but in my case, me. So this match is going to be everything that the card and the promotions that’s currently airing on TV and elsewhere said it would be, Kris. You and I are going to be involved in one of the biggest matches in not just our individual careers, but in both wrestling and SCW history! Which brings me to another truth that begins with a question forming on everyone’s mind - what’s at stake? Not just the SCW Internet championship belt, of course, but what it will do to us! For me, this is my opportunity to regain my honor, earn my shot at redemption from our last exchange, and to show the world why no one should have to continuously doubt me. You, on the other hand, have more to prove than I do, don’t you? This is the first championship belt you attained in Sin City Wrestling, so you have to prove not just to yourself, your brother, Amy Marshall, the bosses, or anyone that can not only retain, but step up your game and lay valid claim to your status in the wrestling world. Can you really accomplish that, though? Can you really push me out of the way, Kris, and scream out to all that hear you “I am Kris Halc and I’m the one worthy of being something awesome?†In my mind, I know you won’t and you can’t. Not this time around, Kris, for I intend to add another chapter to my incredible legacy by throwing you off my throne and taking it back. To achieve this, I have to push myself farther beyond ANYTHING I’ve gone through in the past and if you wish to see this matter through for yourself, you may as well do the same, man. Because I’m not stopping until I get what I want and that’s two things - your total destruction and the belt that you’ve been patiently holding for me until I win it back legitimately!
So let me offer you my final words, Kris Halc. After I’ve said this, I’m fully ready for whatever you are willing to dish out on me, verbally and physically. When you took the title away from me, you swore an oath, as all past and present champions do, to defend it against all comers, both old rivals and new challengers. This is going to be the last time you will ever protect what you hold in high regards to be yours. I’m done playing games. You want to write me off as something unoriginal? No, sir, I’m not, for I already see it right in front of me - that’s you. A bland, uncreative, diminutive soul that tries to throw me off with annoying excuses and lame advice that’s better off used for someone else that’s beneath you and that individual certainly ain’t me, Kris! And speaking of your advice, I chose to reject it! What I use on the battlefield, both in our verbal arguments and physical beatdowns, has mostly worked well for me and I don’t intend to change for ANYONE. My advice is sound! My promos, boring to you as they may be, are full of insight and wisdom that’s far beyond your comprehension! And most importantly, everything that I threw at you in the past will be nothing like what I’m about to deliver at your doorstep, Kris Halc! You’ve been talking this big game to me, telling me the same line of horseshit that my old enemies and new rivals have been spouting from their mouths for YEARS. Do you really think it’s going to hurt me? By writing me off in the history books as someone unoriginal or pathetic? I don’t think so! Mayhem In Morocco, Kris, is going to be another glorious moment in the sun. It’s going to be the day when I dispel all the rumors, when I silence all the critics, and prove myself that I’m worthy of something greater than a belt, greater than all the money in the world and that’s ME! The SCW Internet championship belt is coming back home, Kris, and I’ve studied your tapes and doubled my time in the gym. The acceptance that I have in myself is placed at an all-time high. Last time, you made it out of the fire and survive. This time? This time, Kris, I’m going to drown you deep within those flames, allow you to taste inevitable defeat, and be forced to watch in horror as the referee raises his hand in the air and declares me victorious and the man to be the NEW SCW Internet champion! So keep boasting your mindless sentiments, keep trying to kill my confidence, and especially keep trying to kill me in the ring. You can beat me down many times, Kris, but I will come back up stronger than ever. You cannot hope to defeat a demon that doesn’t quit and I intend to rise from the ashes with not only certain victory, but the ultimate prize in itself and everything that I’ve said and done will come true and the best part of it?
There’s not a damn thing you can do to stop what’s coming next!
For I am Kain...The King Of Kings!
And I….HAVE SPOKEN!!!!!!
