QUESTIONS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Click.
Static covers the screen as a Play ► symbol appears in the bottom right-hand corner.
“What’re you- what the hell are you doing here?”
We are welcomed to a scene of Candy Kane, the gumshoe surrounded by three members of security, all of who are knocked out cold. She adjusts her hat and lights a cigarette, ignoring the question as she steps over one of the knocked out guards.
“That isn’t important, Curtain.”
The camera pans around to reveal a man dressed in all black attire, from his hair to the shadow under his eyes to the suit he wore. To the people of this world, many would know this as an illusionist. Curtain Black. The once famed magician backed towards the wall of the relatively small venue, looking for an escape route.
“Who I am is none of your business. But as for why I’m here? That’s something that only you can answer.”
The stage magician scowled, knowing he had no where to go.
“The year was 2010, a young man named Bobby Finnegan came to your show and entered a sword box as part of your act. What came out was the boy, but not the boy that society knew. What do you know about this?”
Curtain’s eyes went wide as he knew he had been found out.
“Oh, that.”
He looked away for a moment, sighing as he relaxed his shoulders.
“I made a deal. Something I had to pay up on if I wanted to remain a star. I needed to give a soul to a demon named Archerus. Once he got one I would be free to preform. But he backed out of the deal and once he was free he took my powers with him.”
Candy blew more smoke into the air, looking unfazed by this information.
“That I already knew, Curtain. And that’s not why I’m here. I found Bobby… or Archerus. I don’t care about what you did, but I do care about you helping me.”
“Help you? How?”
Candy smirked.
“You have information on Archerus. So you must know how to preform a second trick, correct? Simply put, Curtain. You need to help me make Archerus disappear.”
The illusionist nodded slowly, the scene fading out as Candy took him by the arm and walked away.
Cut.
THE REAPER VS. THE BLOOD RED SHARK
HARDCORE MATCH
Hardcore Rules – staged in the ring we have a barbed wire baseball bat, a hammer, a few scattered light tubes and two tables set up on either side of the ring.
Reaper goes right for the barbed wire bat swinging savagely at Sharkie, who skillfully evades with good footwork and head movement – Reaper goes for a huge smash! He misses! The barbed wire gets stuck on the turnbuckle! SMASH! Shark grabs a light tube and cracks him square on the temple!
The Harvester is flat on his back and Shark approaches! He smells BLOOD IN THE WATER! THE CHIKARA SPECIAL! Sharky winds and squeezes Reaper whos flailing his available limbs to break the hold. He’s scratching and clawing! HE GRABS THE HAMMER! WHACK!! One shot square to the back of the head sends Sharkie crashing face first into the mats!
Reaper stomps on Sharky’s head but he’s fixated on the table outside. He puts Shark in a powerbomb! RUNNING POWERBOMB THROUGH THE TABLE OUTSIDE THE RING! Shark is lifeless outside the ring and Reaper intends on finishing this match.
He yanks Shark back inside the ring and Shark is wobbling, Reaper sends him into the ropes – SHOTGUN BLAST! It misses! BLOODY MARY!! Blood Red Shark ducks the clothesline and drops Reaper with an enziguri!
Shark maintains control of the match with a few boots to the head. He looks to be ending this! BLOODMONEY!! Shark applies the Hammerlock DDT! Blood Red Shark covers! ONE! TWO! THREE!
Blood Red Shark is victorious – he beats The Reaper live on Octane!
INFLUENCE
RINGSIDE
The match is over. A showcase of predatory instincts and bloodlust. And we find ourselves in quite a bizarre predicament.
When the dust settles, the Blood Shark retrieves his half of the Tag Team Championships. His opponent, Reaper waits patiently for him in his corner. An opponent that The Blood Shark has under his own influence thanks to the Red Mist.
“Reaper…”
The Shark’s voice hisses almost serpent-like across the ring.
“I have but one belt. You know who has the other. Doesn’t it sicken you to see such gold glistening in the arms of somebody who doesn’t deserve it?”
Reaper does not respond, but his stares back at his foe with understanding eyes, eyes that have seemed more dead than alive in the past month. Eyes without soul. The Shark comes closer, putting his arm on Reaper’s shoulder.
“You know what must be done. Redwing must not walk out of Invasion with that belt. That means…”
Reaper finishes the sentence for him, his voice sounding as soulless as his eyes.
“I must lose so you can win.”
Shark pats his, thumps him across the back with a laugh that seems more like a snarl.
“You’re a quick learner. Do that, and I will help you in my own way to squeeze some answers out of that Judge of yours. Clearly, he knows more than he’s leading on about your family. You know he blames you for their death, don’t you.”
Reaper nods. Shark closes in, almost whispering now.
“I know that you’re not the one to blame Reaper… Do you?”
His voice is laden with the silvery tongue of manipulation. He extends his hand out toward Reaper.
“What say you, Reaper? Do we have a deal?” He barely even gives Reaper time to hear the question. “Who am I kidding? I know what is coursing through your veins right now. Of course we have a deal.”
Again, the snarling laugh sounds. Only, Reaper hasn’t shaken his hand… He hesitates.
Reaper hesitates and pauses for a moment. A moment that the Blood Shark doesn’t notice in his exuberance. Reaper blinks, and for a moment, his eyes uncloud ever so slightly.
Then they return to their beady, black, predatory state.
And he shakes the hand.
What does that moment’s hesitation mean? Is Reaper in there somewhere? Is the Red Mist wearing off?
And The Blood Shark has no fucking idea.
Cut.
WHAT I NEEDED?
BACKSTAGE
Suddenly, a door appears out of thin air right outside the locker room door. After a slight pause, the door explodes open and the Plague Rat dives out. Once outside the door, it vanishes.
As Plague Rat gets to his feet, we see that he is covered in blood! As he begins to wipe his face, a microphone drops from the ceiling and Monty Straight appears out of nowhere.
“Welcome back ladies and gentlemen to the Show That Never Ends! This week, we get to hear from our fine contestant if he received everything he ever wanted. So, Mr. Rat, how was it,” he questions, turning and smiling towards an invisible crowd.
“Are you fucking kidding me? What was behind that damn door was nothing I wanted,” Plague Rat screams.
Monty Straight smiles. “So, it was something you never knew you needed then,” the game show host asked.
“I ended up in a church with a bunch of crazy ass motherfuckers handling snakes and talking about the return of God, you bastard.”
“Well, we can all stand a little religion in our lives, right ladies and gentlemen? So what happened,” Straight questioned.
“Let’s just say that I gave them reason to believe the devil was real,” Plague Rat quips and smiles.
“No more tricks funny man,” Plague Rat yells and quickly charges towards Straight. He easily dodges the enraged Plague Rat and in a quick motion smashes him in the head with the microphone.
SMACK!
Without missing a beat, Straight grabs the mic and smiles towards the “crowd.”
“Be sure to tune in next week for the Show That Never Ends, goodbye everyone,” Straight states, waving bye.
Cut.
REDWING VS. THE PLAGUE RAT
HARDCORE MATCH
Hardcore Rules – tables set up on each side of the ring, a kendo stick, and a chair in the ring.
TPR wastes no time wielding a kendo stick at the head of the Red Knight WOOSH! – who dodges each attempt. Plague Rat STOMPS on the foot of Kirby who grimaces in pain and one of TPR’s wild shots lands square in the temple sending Redwing crashing to the mat.
Plague Rat chuckles out a good bit before attempting a headkick – REDWING has him by the foot! GODWATCH! RIP CORD KNEE! Redwing picks up the steel chair, he tosses it to him – TPR catches it! HE YAKUZA KICKS THE CHAIR INTO TPR’S FACE!
TPR is out, Redwing exhausted from the action – on his back. The Plague Rat stirs too and Redwing can’t believe it! Redwing ducks a mammoth clothesline, he grabs the chair! DOOOOOOM! Redwing swings the chair at TPR’s head with such velocity, it dents the chair in half!
Kirby says its table time! He strings the table diagonally across the turnbuckle! He has TPR in the headlock! THE KILLING JOKE!! Redwing rides TPR face first through the table! He wisely slides under the ropes to avoid the impact! Redwing slides back in the ring and peels TPR out of the splintered mess! ONE! TWO! THREE!
Humanity restored! Redwing saves the day!
WAR…
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Underground Bunker.
A bit of a clubhouse for the boys.
Malice and Bishop sit around on a couple of metal chairs, shoot the shit with each other.
Malice grins, “We pick up the win at Overlord, together, and then at InVasion, I pick up the victory over you and retain my title.”
“Is that right?” Bishop says, a coy smile spreading across his face.
“Yeah,” Malice nods. “That’s right.”
“Well,” Bishop says, standing to his feet, pulling on his belt loops. “I reckon after I take the win, I’ll finally take your woman’s virginity since you’re so slow about it.”
Malice’s grin quickly fades. “The fuck did you just say?”
“Come on man,” Bishop replies. “Take a fucking joke.”
Malice throws a towel at Bishop, “Don’t joke about that shit, fucker.”
A metal door swings open, and Major Thom walks into the room.
“Alright, alright, quit arguing about pussy.” The boys roll their eyes and sigh, relax in their chairs.
“You can’t let that kinda shit come between us. We are a brotherhood, gentlemen, and we are brothers by blood, though not of our own. That’s what war makes of men, isn’t that right? Brothers?”
Malice nods. Bishop does to.
“And war… well, that’s what you two are going to have to do at InVasion. And war brought us together. We aren’t going to let it tear us apart.”
Bishop and Malice look at each other, neither man willing to look away.
Cut.
LUKE STORM VS. MONTY STRAIGHT
SINGLES MATCH
It’s a battle of wills as it’s Monty Straight going up against Luke Storm in a submission match!
The bell sounds as Luke quickly goes for the leg of Monty, but Straight dodges off to the side before going for a kick to the head. Luke dodges away from that before catching him from behind with a chop block! Monty falls to his knees as Luke hits the ropes.
LIGHTNING STRIKE! But Monty catches the boot and sends him around. He catches his head and turns him into a Russian legsweep! He rotates over and hooks his fingers around the face of Luke! TERMS AND CONDITIONS! The crossface is locked in tight as Luke is reaching out in agony!
Monty rears back on the hold, and that’s enough to give Luke an opportunity to shift his weight and roll over into the ropes! Luke grabs the ropes as the referee pulls Monty off of Storm. Monty shakes his head at the referee before setting himself up for something. Luke stands up.
LIGHTNING STRIKE! The superkick connects this time as Monty ran right into it! Both men hit the mat before Luke grabs the bottom rope and begins pulling himself up. He hits the ropes and leaps off of them for a moonsault! THUNDER! He grabs the arm of Monty and begins turning it over in a painful armbar! Monty struggles for a second before tapping!
Luke Storm rises to his feet, but he’s clutching his jaw in pain as Monty brought the pain.
DREAMING
BACKSTAGE
Sat in a rocking chair backstage, Sandy Rogers thumbs through a thick book. He barely spares a glance above its rim to acknowledge the man who has joined him.
Banzan.
“Can I help you, Mr. ah…” Rogers pauses. “Mr. Zan?”
“Banzan is my name.” The Mountain states, regarding the calm man with malice. “I am searching for one you know much about. He calls himself Mr. Sandman.”
Rogers chuckles.
“Does he?” Sandy closes the book. “How often are we allowed to name ourselves? Names come from others, do they not?”
Banzan shakes his head.
“I did not come to debate naming conventions with you. I came to confront the monster that killed Gabriel Drake.”
Finally, Sandy stands, still having to look up at the Indestructible Mountain.
“This creature you speak of is known to me.” He says after a moment. “He’s killed many, how would he remember a single victim.”
“He was a vampire.” Banzan retorts. “Killed in the very halls we stand in now.”
Rogers thinks for a moment.
“You have been led astray, my friend. The undead cannot dream, thus Mr. Sandman spares little thought for them. He has no interest in those who only exist in the physical world. His power derives from greater planes of existence, ones where people are thought to be content, but find themselves at his mercy more often than not.”
“There are no other monsters here.” Banzan says, growing impatient.
“The most dangerous monster is one who does not appear that way.” Sandy fires back. “The young Jessie Williams has rejected my advice for that of the brigand Brent Kersh. There is a book the Prince has knowledge of that may help us discover your friend’s murderer. If we work together, we will find your answers, Mr. Banzan.”
The Mountain shakes his head, but walks off with a sigh.
What game is Sandy Rogers playing here?
JUNKRAT VS. CANDY KANE
Will facing off with a destruction loving maniac bring Candy Kane any closer to avenging her father’s death? We’re about to find out.
The bell rings and Kane comes out quick with a series of boots and kicks to the midsection of Junkrat! He’s stunned! Backed into the ropes and the assault continues! Kick after kick before Kane heads to the ropes. On the return AND JUNKRAT SIMPLY TOSSES HER TO THE OUTSIDE!
An act of desperation there by Junkrat to save himself, but now he’s in control and to the outside he goes. From the apron, DOUBLE AXE handle across the back of the neck of Candy. KNEE to the lower back! And now Junkrat is delivering his own flurry of kicks to the torso of The Canary.
He pulls her to her feet and with an irish whip SENDS her head first into the steel post. Candy Kane is in trouble and Junkrat is on the prowl. He’ll roll her back into the ring now. He’s following her in. No! He’s going to the ropes. Junkrat to the top as Kane tries to recover.
Flying double axe handle, BUT CANDY KANE CATCHES HIM WITH ANOTHER KICK TO THE GUT!
Kane turns to LOOK OUT! A small explosion in the face of Kane forces her backwards! Junkrat to the ropes and THE CONCUSSION MINE! This could be it. ONE… TWO… THREE!!
Junkrat gets the win, proving too difficult a case for The Dick to solve on this night!!
VOYNICH VS. ANONYMOUS
SINGLES MATCH
Will Voynich discover some clues about his father’s disappearance or will they remain Anonymous?
We’re under way as Voynich moves in with an elbow, BUT ANONYMOUS ducks the shot and counters with an elbow of his own! Another to the gut of Voynich and The Best Kept Secret is reeling. Voynich backed into the ropes and sent away with an irish whip.
On the return and Anonymous with a clothesline, BUT IT’S DUCKED BY VOYNICH! Anonymous turns and MONOLITH! This is it. ONE… TWO…NO! Anonymous somehow reverses the pin and rolls to his feet. He’s on the attack, but Voynich with a hip toss and into an arm bar.
The technical specialist is in control with Anon on the mat. WAIT! HEADSCISSORS take down by Anonymous and he’s back in control. LOOK OUT! Heel right to the head of Voynich. Anonymous goes for a cover. ONE… TWO… NOT YET! Voynich shoves his way out of the pin.
Both men working to their feet now. BIG right from Anonymous and Voynich matches. Anonymous stunned. Another right from Voynich, a counter strike from Anon! Back and forth they go!
They move to the corner. Anonymous with a spinning heel kick! MISSES! THE EIGHTH WONDER! Voynich capitalizes! Anon is down, but is he out? ONE… TWO… THREE!!
Voynich doesn’t any answers tonight, but he does pick up a hard fought victory!
ANSWERS
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Smoke fills the air as the cinders of a cigarette float in the breeze. We are once again welcomed to the site of one Candy Kane. The detective walks through a warehouse with Curtain Black, watching as the illusionist moves through old boxes, pushing them to the side.
“We don’t have all day, Curtain. You told me to meet you here after my match, I’d have thought you would have been prepared for this.”
Curtain side-eyes Candy, shaking his head.
“I know, I know. I didn’t want to be in here alone, there’s a lot of my former life that I’d rather keep in the past.”
“I’m sure. Now, show me the trick that could be the answer to Mefisto.”
After a few more feet of walking Curtain pushes away a few more boxes of old merchandise and props before coming across what he was looking for.
A massive black sword box, a slew of obsidian blades hanging beside it.
“The Devil’s Greatest Trick. This was the box Archerus gave me to switch out his soul with the kid’s.”
Candy inspects it, rubbing some dust off of it before turning to Curtain.
“Is that so? And are you certain it could do it again?”
“Positive. He didn’t create the box, he supplied it. If we can get him back into this box then I can preform the trick again. Even you could preform it, all the magic is in the box itself.”
Candy snuffs out her cigarette beneath her foot and smirks.
“Good, then just do as I say and after Invasion next week you’ll be free to continue as you were.”
She places a hand on the box, feeling it beneath her finger tips.
“I’ve solved what happened to Bobby. And this case isn’t closed until I get him back.”
Cut.
GOULDERN© & SEESAW VS. WILLIAMS & ROGERS
TAG TEAM MATCH
Enemies team up tonight in the Slaughterhouse in tag team action! It’s SeeSaw and OSW Champion Mark Gouldern, taking on Jessie Williams and Sandy Rogers.
The bell rings, and it’s SeeSaw and Jessie Williams kicking things off! Williams locks up with SeeSaw, but Mr. Make Believe is on the ball with a quick knee to the gut! He whips Williams into the ropes! Williams bounces off, returns, BIG CLOTHESLINE by SeeSaw! Williams writhes on the mat.
So far it’s all SeeSaw here, and he grabs Williams by his hair and drags him over to his corner. He tries to tag in, but Gouldern leaps off the apron before he can make the tag. What the hell? SeeSaw yells at Gouldern to get back on the apron, but doesn’t notice Williams back to his feet! BOOMSTICK!
Gouldern tags himself in now! The OSW Champion being an absolute prick, and Williams tags in Sandy Rogers! RUTHLESS INSPIRATION BY GOULDERN! NO! ROGERS SIDESTEPS IT, AND LOCKS IN A CROSS FACE CHICKEN WING!!! IS HE GOING TO MAKE THE WORLD CHAMPION TAP!?!
NO!!! SEESAW WITH A STOMP TO ROGERS’ FOREHEAD! Jessie Williams charges in the ring, A CLOTHESLINE TAKES HIM AND SEESAW OVER THE TOP ROPE!! Gouldern and Rogers both reach their feet at roughly the same time! THE DISRUPTION! GOULDERN WITH THE SUPERMAN PUNCH! COVER!!! ONE!!! TWO!!! THREEEEEE!!!
Despite their differences, SeeSaw and Gouldern pick up a big tag team victory.
INVASION!
RINGSIDE
The match is over!
Gouldern and SeeSaw both make their separate ways from ringside, while Jessie Williams plays to the fans a moment. Rogers watches him while sat in the corner.
WHAM! JESSIE GETS HIS HEAD TAKEN OFF BY BANZAN!
The Mountain towers over the fallen Prince.
“Tell me all you know!” Banzan roars, lifting Williams up by the collar of his jacket. “Tell me about the book!”
Williams looks past the enraged Banzan to lock eyes with Sandy Rogers, who has found some lint on his sweater to focus on.
POW! BANZAN DROPS JESSIE AND FALLS TO A KNEE AS HE GETS CLOBBERED IN THE BACK BY BRENT KERSH!
The Enforcer pushes Banzan aside, and helps up Jessie.
“Let’s get out of here, kid.”
They turn towards the aisle, but two new figures are on the stage.
Moirai and Junkrat.
Except Junkrat is unconscious, held up by his hair by Moirai. Kersh shakes his head at her.
“You think it’s that simple? You just manipulate everyone against each other, then swoop in and take the briefcase?”
Banzan, now back to his feet, glares up the ramp at that accusation. Moirai drops Junkrat to the ground, and shakes her head.
“You, of all people, should be able to see the power of the fates unfolding here. You form alliances, but only one can stand as the victor. I refus…”
Darkness.
Everyone pauses as the Slaughterhouse is taken by shadow.
Light.
Everything looks the same. Well, except for one small change. Sandy Rogers no longer stands in the ring.
But Mr. Sandman sure as hell does.
40 WINKS TO BANZAN! CAUGHT HIM BY SURPRISE!
ANOTHER TO BRENT KERSH!
DEEP SLEEP TO JESSIE WILLIAMS!
The Night Terror has decimated the competition in the ring.
But he’s no longer alone.
Moirai has joined him, regarding him with a curious hunger.
“You hold the fates of many in your hands, have you not?” She queries. “You do not hold mine, for I do not dream.”
She holds a smile as the lights go out once more.
When they come back on, Mr. Sandman is gone. Just Moirai standing in a ring with her fallen foes.
Oh, and Junkrat has vanished as well.
What the hell?
LEGACY VS. WAR MACHINE
TRIOS MATCH
It’s a big trios match here as Jay Jeckel is starting for his team against Malice for the other side.
The bell sounds as the two lock up in the center of the ring. The bigger Malice gets the better of the exchange as he just brings Jay to the mat with a stiff sideslam. He follows with a knee strike right into the ribs of Jay. He stands up only for Jay to nail him with a chop block to his injured knee!
Jay hits the ropes where Sanctus tags himself in. Jay nails a big boot as Sanctus follows him with a springboard double boot stomp! TERRA TREMUIT! Bellator goes for the pin. ONE…TWO…TH-BROKEN UP! Major Thom breaks it up, but Tank Kersh rushes in and takes him out! TANKED! The two of them roll out of the ring.
Bellator rises to his feet only to see Bishop pulling Malice to his corner and tagging himself in. Bishop enters the ring and begins lighting up Sanctus with a series of punches to the midsection! He grabs Sanctus and whips him around before nailing him with a forearm to the back of his head!
Bishop lifts up Sanctus and drops him face first onto the top turnbuckle! He goes into the ropes to complete it! CROSS-TANKED! Tank just came out of nowhere and speared the hell out of Bishop! He rises only to take a bicycle kick to the face! SABOTAGE! Major Thom is standing tall before he’s nailed with a low blow from a smiling Juggalo! J.U.G.G.A.L.O.! Jay grabs Bishop and pulls him into the center of the ring so Sanctus covers! ONE…TWO…THREE!
Jay Jeckel smirks as Sanctus and his hands are raised. Tank slowly recognizes the victory from the corner.m>
BOUNTY
SOMEWHERE ELSE
Earlier this week…
Voynich is at the dig site above Wonderland, he is trying to repair the damage he has created when a familiar voice is heard in the distance.
“You don’t think we’ve tried that?!”
It’s the Queen of Hearts!
“You’re like a child, aren’t you? Fascinated by things others could care less about and trying to clean a mess entirely too late.”
“I’m sorry for everything I’ve done. When I ask permission to dig from local authorities, I do so with utter respect for the culture of the land. If I had a clue a world had existed under me especially one with living creatures, I wouldn’t have touched a single tool.”
“It’s a little late for apologies child, but you probably won’t believe this, I do consider myself a forgiving soul. Sit down, let us discuss how you can help pay me back.”
A ten of hearts and a four of clubs bring Voynich a chair and a footrest while a nine of spades and a three of diamonds carry the queen’s throne. Lastly, a two of spades brings a table while a six of hearts brings some treats.
“Would you like some Turkish delight while we talk? I see your hesitation, I understand. I’ll eat one to show they’re safe.”
The queen eats hers and is looking she is having the most delicious treat of her life. Voynich shrugs and goes to try one. Upon the first bite, he is in a trance-like state, it is one of the best things he ever had in his life, certainly the best Turkish Delight!
“Exquisite right? I wish I could take credit for it, but these were passed down to me from an old friend who passed away recently. Might sound like a weird question but you’re not friends with a lion, right?”
Voynich looks confused and shakes his head no as his mouth is full.
“Good, good. Well to forgive you, I have one small favor to ask of you.”
Voynich is feeling ecstatic and very agreeable due to the delights.
“I’m willing to do anything!”
Voynich nods his head fervently.
“What I was hoping for, now kill Alice and everything will be forgiven. I’ll even give you a nice bounty on her head.”
“If I must.”
“Good, here’s a blade, you’re halfway there.”
The Queen and the cards march away with the tables and chairs leaving Voynich with a sharp knife that has a heart-shaped hilt. He shakes his head to pull himself out of his trance.
“Did I just agree to that? What’s in those Turkish delights?”
Cut.
POWER
FLASHFORWARD
The night after Octane.
Dark countryside roads blur past the window as Alton Whitlock pilots a black SUV through the dead of the night.
He’s in the middle of nowhere, but he knows exactly where he is going.
The manila folder resting on his passenger seat contains all the details: the carefully hidden personal information. Addresses, numbers, dates. An absolutely exhaustive effort to be off the grid. Untraceable. Unknown.
But you can never kill the past. No matter how hard you try.
When Alton’s private investigator brought the information to him, he knew exactly what he needed to do.
Like most things in the world–and especially like most things in politics and OSW–it comes down to power.
He needs to seize it. Chase it down. Regain it, and never let it go again.
His vehicle flies over low hills and wide, expansive prairies. The stars are bright in the sky.
Eventually, Whitlock spies a small dirt road, leaking off the main route into a dark forest of pine trees. He turns down it, but he doesn’t stop accelerating. Branches scrape against the SUV and gravel flies up behind it as it careens through the woods.
After a few moments–the SUV reaches a clearing.
Illuminated by moonlight, a modest log cabin sits next to an oval-shaped pond. A single window pane shines with a warm, golden glow.
Whitlock’s SUV roars across the ground and stops abruptly in front of the cabin’s only entrance. He slams the vehicle into park, shuts off the engine, and leaps out. Then strides intently across the grass as crickets chirp in the night.
As he climbs the short set of stairs leading to the cabin’s porch, his eyes are focused dead ahead.
Power. It would soon be his once more.
Alton Whitlock feels nothing but stone-cold fury as he reels back to kick in the cabin’s door.
Cut.
SWEET ALICE © VS. ALTON WHITLOCK
DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP
Tonight’s Main Event, the man who is quite possibly going to be the next President of the United States, Alton Whitlock, takes on the woman who is quite possibly going to be the next Queen of Wonderland, our OSW Double Feature Champion, Sweet Alice.
It’s a Ladder Match. Whoever climbs the ladder and retrieves the gold, takes it home. Let’s get it on!
DING! DING!
It’s the comparably diminutive Sweet Alice who charges across the ring with a CROSS BODY BLOCK to open things up! But Alton Whitlock catches her in thin air!
SPINNING POWERSLAM RIGHT OUT OF THE FUCKING GATE!
And The Candidate wastes no time here, mounting Sweet Alice, grabbing a fist full of hair, and giving repeated rights to her forehead as she tries to guard her face! Right after stiff right rains down on Alice! Finally, Whitlock stands to his feet and brings Alice up to hers.
GORILLA PRESS!!!
No… No, don’t do it Whitlock!
CRASH!!!
JESUS CHRIST!!! HE JUST THREW SWEET ALICE OUT OF THE RING AND INTO THE GUARD RAIL FROM THE GORILLA PRESS POSITION!
Whitlock shakes his head. He doesn’t feel good about hurting a woman like that. Nonetheless, he rolls out of the ring and immediately folds up one of the many ladders that surround ringside!
Without hesitating, the Candidate displays his immense strength and tosses the ladder with ease over the top rope and into the ring. Alton quickly pursues by rolling under the bottom rope.
He sets up the ladder, and begins that long ascent. Rung by rung, he climbs until he reaches the top! He grabs the Double Feature Championship!
BUT ALICE SHOVES THE LADDER OVER!!!
…
…
…
BY GOD, ALTON IS HANGING ON TO THE DOUBLE FEATURE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT IN MID-AIR!!!
Sweet Alice is infuriated! She sets the ladder back up, but far enough away from Alton so he can’t regain his footing. She climbs to the very top of the ladder!
SWEET ALICE LEAPS!!!
JESUS GOD!!! JESUS FUCKING GOD!!! SHE SPEARS ALTON WHITLOCK AND THEY BOTH FALL 20 FEET TO THE FUCKING MAT BELOW!!!
…
AND THE TITLE REMAINS SUSPENDED IN AIR!!! THE MATCH CONTINUES!!! BUT BOTH CONTESTANTS ARE SEEMINGLY OUT COLD!!!
Alice, having taken less of a spill, is the one who slowly begins climbing to her feet first. The Dreamer grabs her Storybook. She stalks Alton from the corner as he very deliberately begins climbing to his own feet. Just as he reaches a knee, she charges!
SHE TOSSES HIM THE STORYBOOK!!! WHITLOCK CATCHES IT!!! SHE YAKUZA KICKS THE BOOK INTO ALTON’S FACE!!! HIS NOSE IS BUSTED WIDE OPEN!!! HER BOOK’S COVER, STAINED WITH THE CANDIDATE’S BLOOD!!!
She picks the book up AND STRIKES HIM OVER THE HEAD!!! WELCOME TO WONDERLAND!!! WHITLOCK DROPS!!! HE’S OUT!!!
Alice looks up at the sky to her Double Feature Championship. She quickly moves to set up the ladder beneath the dangling championship belt!
She starts to climb!
But Alton catches her from behind, scoops her up onto his shoulders!
ELECTRIC CHAIR DROP!!!
ALICE’S HEAD BOUNCES OFF THE MAT!
Whitlock can see the light at the end of the tunnel as he begins the slow climb back to his feet. He feels it. It’s his time! All he has to do is seize the advantage.
Alton folds the ladder back up, picks it up. He points the top of the ladder straight down at Alice’s knee! NO, DON’T DO IT WHITLOCK!
CLANK! JESUS CHRIST!!! ALICE SCREAMS IN PAIN AS THE LADDER COMES DOWN ON HER KNEE!
CLANK!!! AGAIN HE DRIVES THE LADDER INTO HER KNEE!!!
CLANK!!! CLANK!!! CLANK!!! CLANK!!! HER KNEE MUST BE FUCKING JELLO BY NOW!!!
Whitlock tosses the ladder to the ground. Then, he thinks better of it, and lays the ladder on top of Alice.
Alton runs, bounces off the ropes, returns…
SENTON ONTO THE FUCKING LADDER!!! WHITLOCK ARCHES HIS BACK IN PAIN!!! BUT HE MAY WELL HAVE JUST BROKEN ALICE IN HALF!!! THE LADDER IS DENTED IN, COMPLETELY FUCKING DONE FOR!!! AND ALICE LIKELY IS TOO!!!
Alton rolls out of the ring, once again grabs a ladder and folds it up, once again tosses it into the ring over the top rope. This time, however, Whitlock is covered in sweat–some might even say sweating with sweat. He rolls back into the ring much more slowly than before, and the ladder as he sets it up feels like much more of a chore.
Whitlock places one foot on the bottom rung, and quite deliberately begins to climb the ladder.
But the broken ladder with a potentially broken Sweet Alice crushed underneath it moves to the side. Alice is bruised, Alice is tired, but it takes more than this to break the Dreamer! She gets to her feet and begins to climb the other side of the ladder!
Whitlock nears the rop rung. His fingertips BRUSH the Double Feature Championship! But he has no time to unhook it from the cable it’s suspended to, as Alice is right there on the other side of the ladder, and sends a chop to his chest that makes the entire crowd yell “WOO!” She punches Whitlock in the jaw! He nearly falls off the ladder! He punches her back!!!
The two start trading punches! Right from Whitlock! Left from Alice! Right from Whitlock! Left from Alice! Right, left, right, left, right, left!!! BUT WHITLOCK TAKES THE UPPER HAND!!! FIST AFTER FIST RAINS DOWN ON ALICE!!! AND A HEADBUTT FINALLY SENDS HER OFF THE LADDER!!! WHITLOCK UNSTRAPS THE TITLE!!! HE’S DONE IT!!! HE’S USURPED ALICE!!!
Alton Whitlock is the NEW OSW Double Feature Champion after one hell of a ladder match!
FIVE
RINGSIDE
As that match ends, Sweet Alice and Alton Whitlock make their exists from the ring respectively.
That’s when Edward Newton makes his way out onto the stage with the OSW Championship draped over his shoulder.
If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was the OSW Champion.
He gets into the ring with a microphone in hand, looking rather pleased with himself.
“Next week at Invasion, I will fight to reclaim something that has eluded me since Nightstick stole it over a year ago,” he proclaims proudly. “The OSW Championship.”
Edward begins pacing.
“Mark Gouldern, I can only imagine how you’re feeling since I stole this-“
Just then, Luke Storm appears on the stage.
“Hang on brother,” he says to a roar from the crowd.
Newton’s eyebrows raise as his older brother makes his way towards the ring.
“This has been quite the situation, hasn’t it? SeeSaw and D’Ville demanded you steal that title to retrieve me from their possession and you did it,” he reminds everyone. “My brother saved my life.”
The Riddler doesn’t smile, he doesn’t frown – he just stares.
“But I can’t help but think you didn’t steal that belt for me; you did it for you.”
The two brothers get closer now, standing opposite one another.
“You did it to once again worm your way into a position for a Championship match because that piece of gold means more to you than anything.”
Before Edward can respond, Mark Gouldern clears his voice.
He’s on the ramp, making his way to the ring.
“I’ve been the Champion for nearly a month and I’ve had that belt in my possession less than two minutes. Everyone wants a piece of it. Everyone!”
Gouldern enters the ring, a three-way conversation now in our midst.
“I’ve had to hand out title opportunities like candy,” he growls angrily. “Because you see Newton, I know whenever I’m in the ring with you, the odds are stacked. When you toss SeeSaw into that mix, the odds of retaining my title become slim.”
“What did you do?” Newton demands of them both. He still doesn’t know how much this match has grown.
“I enhanced my odds,” Gouldern announces. “You see, one might that by adding more people to the match, I decrease my chances. What was one in three, now becomes one in five.”
Edwards eyes widen in shock.
“Five?” He yells.
“That’s right. The way I’ve worked it out is that whilst you’re pre-occupied with your brother, who’s also pre-occupied with SeeSaw; who again, is pre-occupied with you, I only have one opponent to contend with.”
Suddenly, a figure flashes by into the ring – it’s SeeSaw!
He stormed down the entrance ramp as quickly as he could and he dove into the ring, tackling Newton to the ground.
Instinctively, Storm attacks Mr. Make Believe from behind, dragging him off of his brother and tossing him aside.
Both Luke and Edward quickly go to work on SeeSaw as Gouldern backs away.
Flash.
It’s Sigil!
The former World Champion appears through a portal in the middle of the ring, turning to face Gouldern.
THE DISRUPTER!
LEAPING PUNCH TO SIGIL!
HE ALMOST TOOK HIS FUCKING HEAD OFF!
SIGIL IS SENT STRAIGHT BACK THROUGH HIS PORTAL!
Mark grabs the OSW Championship, sliding to the outside as quickly as he can and walking fast back up the entrance ramp.
THE LIGHTNING STRIKE!
SUPERKICK TO SEESAW
NEVERMIND!
IMPLANT DDT BY NEWTON!
HE’S DOWN AND OUT!
But Gouldern has done exactly as he said he would. He’s taken his title back whilst everyone else was preoccupied with one another.
What a match this is going to be at Invasion!
Cut.