THE VOID, PART ONE
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“What is this place? Why have you brought me here?”
[The Hayman seems amused by the confusion of Hawk’s face.]“You wished to walk with the dead and commune with them, did you not?” [Crow taunts.] “They surround you now, but you will find their voices are not what you expect.”
[His eyes narrowing with distrust, Tommy Hawk steps away from the placid Scarecrow to walk around the edges of the rock. The yellow swirls all seem to move quicker as he steps closer, their forms slowly seeming to make sense to Hawk.] [Spirits.] [Before Hawk’s eyes, several forms all seem to coalesce into something recognizable. From a bearded man in a trucker hat to a blonde lady with a look of fear on her face. They all seem to be wordlessly speaking to Hawk.] [Tommy turns to look back at Scarecrow.]“You mock me, Hayman.” [He spits.] “I do not draw from your apparitions. Whatever this desolate place is, it is not what I see in the fires. This is some sort of trick.”
“Is it?” [Crow responds.] [Hawk snorts and turns back to the whirls, watching as they slowly form more people. One very persistent whirl seems to be fighting to the surface of the red void around him. It continuously seems to be teleported to and fro by the void, as if the red doesn’t want it to speak to Hawk. Yet the red persists. And as it slowly begins to take form, Tommy slowly seems to come to understanding.]
“Perhaps you intended to cloud my vision, but instead you have broken the clouds like a full risen moon.”
[Scarecrow cocks his head and chuckles to himself.]“What makes you say that, Spirit Walker?”
[Hawk turns back to the forming whirl as a person seems to form out of it. Its mouth is open as if screaming, but its form is unmistakable for many. The star of Texas on his arm, a young man seems to fight against the very red void he has been trapped within. His eyes are that of youth; youth washed away by the might of the Scarecrow.] [Yet he now speaks to Tommy Hawk.] [Trevor Kersh.]“I will show you another.”
[The sky turns red as the pounding some of blood is heard pulsating through our ears. Suddenly, he appears, grin spreads across his face. He opens his cloak as there stands… Wes Warhammer? No one has seen or heard from this vampire since the first Red Snow. He died there, but now he exists here, in the void?]“You cannot kill the undead, and that sucks for you, Scarecrow.” [The fanged mouth of Wes Warhammer contorts into a smirk. The Scarecrow doesn’t seem to find it as funny.] “Because I’ve been fighting in your void, day after day, year after year.”
[The Scarecrow doesn’t move anything but his mouth and hand as he speaks.]“Where your eyes don’t go…”
[YELLOW FLASH!] [Wes Warhammer rushes across the rocky gravel with a huge big boot! THE WARHAMMER! Only The Scarecrow saw it coming a mile away. He dodges around to the side and connects with a huge lariat that floors the Vampire. The Hayman waits for him to get to his feet before throwing hay into the eyes of Warhammer! Wes is desperately trying to remove the hay from his eyes, but The Scarecrow kicks him in the gut… YELLOW FLASH THAT BLINDS US! THE PERCH! Wes Warhammer is laid out as the lights return. His gloved hand wraps around the throat of Wes Warhammer as he lifts him up straight from the floor. BYE…BYE…BIRDIEEEEEEE! Wes Warhammer is thrown forcefully into the GROUND as The Scarecrow stands with a boot placed upon his chest. One…Two…THREE!] [The Scarecrow defeats Wes Warhammer inside the void!]“…Fear The Scarecrow.”
[At Bad Moon Rising, it’ll be The Scarecrow versus Tommy Hawk in Scarecrow’s 100th match at Old School Wrestling!] [That’s if Tommy can escape the void.] [Cut.]LYRA STARCHILD VS. MAKENA JAKANDE
SINGLES MATCH
THE SECOND OFFER
BACKSTAGE
“It must’a been around here somewhere.”
[Finally, he seems to give up, turning and leaning against the opposite wall. He runs his hand through his hair, sighing as he does so.]“I like doing the huntin’ but this guy’s a ghost.”
[As he lays his head back to try to find a moment of solace, he suddenly falls through the wall!] [And onto the top of a skyscraper.] [Cross rises to his feet, trying to adjust his eyes to the bright moonlight bearing down on him. Before him, the city of Miami sprawls out. Cross seems slightly perturbed by being up so high, but he could also be in shock from ending up here.]“This is the land that was promised.”
[Cross turns with his hands in fists as Lux Bellator stands on the roof with him. The masked man ignores the threat from Cross and walks over to stand beside him.]“It was promised in an oath long ago to men who came before. If men like us walked with the Lord and kept our covenant with him, then we would receive entry to the Promised Land.”
[Bellator takes a moment to gauge the reaction of Cross, who snorts.]“You still believe that, man?” [Cross asks.] “Cause I sure don’t. Wait til you start losin’ to men you condemned.”
[Bellator laughs.]“Your focus is too narrow, Desmond. God’s people have suffered since Creation. The men of this world have persecuted them to the ends of the planet we stand on. Men like you and Pedro El Salvador crack under that persecution and break the covenant you formed with God.”
[Desmond snorts.]“Somethin’ broke, alright.”
[Bellator ignores the comment and continues.]“God has commanded that you not be allowed to cross over into his Promised Land, just as Moses, yet he and his brother were both allowed to continue to lead the Children to that Land. I asked you, one week ago, if you would return to the side of God and stand by my side as I bring about his wrath.”
[Cross snorts again, but Bellator cuts him off.]“I am not a fool, Desmond. I know that you do not wish to join me. Yet I must do as I was instructed. You are to be given three opportunities to answer me. The first of these was one week ago. The second of which is tonight, and the final opportunity will be next week.”
[Cross finally interjects.]“You can offer all you want, man, but there ain’t no way in hell I join you.”
[Bellator lowers his head, sadly.]“That is the second denial, my friend. But even with that denial, I still must show you what I have prepared for you.”
[The warrior of light points out into the horizon, and Cross’s eyes follow. We keep our focus on Cross as his eyes slowly seem to hone in on what Lux wants him to see. Shock and awe cover his face as Lux speaks.]“This is what awaits the broken rock we stand upon, Desmond. This is what you began in breaking us of our bondage. You were the vessel that awoke the old powers, and I am the instrument of the world’s destruction. The seals are breaking. The bowls of wrath are being unleashed.”
[Desmond Cross seems to be overtaken with emotion as he sees utter destruction before his eyes. We may not be able to see it, but Lux is showing him the future. The future if Lux Bellator is successful in unleashing the wrath.]“Think upon this, Cross. For next week, either justice will be served upon you for breaking with the Lord or you will be forgiven to stand by my side for what is to come. We will enter combat, but the real war looms in the distance.”
[His iris returning to normal, Desmond Cross looks over at Lux Bellator with what could be a tear in his eye.]“You’re the crazy one, man.” [He looks back out to the empty horizon.] “What the hell was that?”
[Lux steps back from the seemingly angry Cross.]“The future.”
[Cross reacts angrily, rushing forward to get Lux…] [SMACK!] [Desmond has run into a brick wall backstage at the Tap Room. He sits on the floor regaining his bearings as he looks around. The voice of Lux Bellator echoes through the hallway.]“Ponder what you have seen, Desmond Cross. The choice is yours.”
[Cross has no idea what to make of what has happened.] [What did he see?]SMILEY VS. VOODOO
SINGLES MATCH
BLACKWATER
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“For a long time, this was our home.”
[Hysteria shares, splashing gasoline against the wall.]“You invited us in and it became our temple. The screams of our victims still echo within the walls of my mind. It’s almost poetic.”
[He stops.]“But Blackwater has always had a special meaning to you, Lee. Hasn’t it? As the years have drifted by, this place has been like a life raft to you. I’m just not sure what you’d do without it.”
[The Mad Mastermind drops the gasoline can and heads towards the door. With a heavy push, he opens it, stepping outside. On the ground below his feet, gasoline puddles into the building.]“However, I think it’s time we found out.”
[He reaches into his jacket and pulls out a lighter, flicking it open and tossing it down onto the gas. It immediately sets ablaze, making a whoosh sound as the trail lights up, travelling down the halls.] [Smoke begins to bellow, and Hysteria backs away.]“At Bad Moon Rising, everything you are goes up in smoke. You wanted to end me last week, and you should have. Your failure is the reason why I’ve returned, Smiley. I’ve burned down your home; I’ve taken your sanctuary and next week, I will take your life.”
[He laughs hysterically.] [Cut.]VIKTOR NORTH VS. LUX BELLATOR
SINGLES MATCH
SUNBURNT
SOMEWHERE ELSE
“A Sun God controls such a powerful force, looming over Earth. Without it, life would cease to exist on this planet. Within its grasp, it controls everything.”
[She smiles.]“But not me.”
[Starchild looks up at the sky.]“Because I live beyond this world, beyond those clouds in the sky. I bow to no God, and I seek only the chosen. Tonatiuh, you send your rays down to Earth and people bask in your glow, but not I. That agitates you, doesn’t it? For someone to stand before you with no gift, no love and no desire to see you burn.”
[Suddenly, a large flash happens across the sky – almost like a flare. Lyra shields her face, turns around and there before her stands Tonatiuh.]“You still refuse to bend a knee before your God?”
[She stands, stoic in her stubbornness.]“You have seen my power before you, looming in the sky above. You can feel the heat burning your sour flesh as it pounds down upon you. Yet you still refuse to bow before a God?”
[He folds his arms, clearly unimpressed.]“You derive your power from the very thing these people worship. At night, when the sun has sunken into the abyss and darkness reigns, you are weakened. At Bad Moon Rising, there will be no such power for you.”
[They come together, staring at each other with intensity. She whispers to him.]“And on all the stars, all the moons and all the suns, I promise you will fall.”
[Cut.]DESMOND CROSS VS. HYSTERIA
REWIND CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
WILLING SACRIFICE
BACKSTAGE
“Tell me more” [Makena speaks to her side.] “I wish to know about this malevolent spirit named Ogun!”
[Voodoo shakes his head and as we pan out we see that the room is candlelit by a circle of flames. Beyond the flames, massive iron shields of medieval times along with swords and chains surround Black Magic.]“Not a malevolent spirit my friend” [Voodoo looks up as if to give respect to the subject.] “A Loa. A warrior! An intermediary between Bondye and humanity that left us with a single promise!”
[Jakenda’s interest is peaked at the utterance of the word.]“The promise to aid any” [Voodoo pauses, but only slightly.] “Who might call upon his name!”
“And this is how we make the call?” [Makena questions.]
“This is only the beginning” [Voodoo declares.] “For soon, the sacrifice will be prepared. The sacrifice of the blood of willing warriors!”
[Voodoo lowers himself to the floor, retrieving a goblet and taking a long drink of the unknown substance within.]“Take this! Drink it!” [Voodoo demands.] “It will prepare you for the return of Ogun for the challenge to Viktor North and Doubt is nigh!”
[And suddenly…]“Fè Ogou Fè, Ogou Fèray o… Fè Ogou Fè, Ogou Fèray o…” [Both Makena and Voodoo begin to chant almost as if in a trance while Makena pauses to drink from the goblet.] “I am an iron… I am covered with iron.”
[Voodoo and Makena begin to move about the circle now in odd movements. A form of dance as they continue their chant. Distancing themselves from this reality.]“Fèrè Fèray tout ko Fèray sé kouto… Fèrè Fèray tout ko Fèray sé manchèt.”
[BAM!] [Without warning Jakande is laid out by a chair shot to the back of the head. Voodoo comes out of his near trance just in time to be too late.] [SLAM!] [Another sickening blow smashes into the forehead of Voodoo and he goes crashing to the floor. Panning out…] [It’s Doubt!] [And Viktor North!]“Malevolent spirit?” [Doubt mocks Black Magic.] “You’re looking at a man who wants nothing more than to dine with the gods and I? I’m far more spirit than I am man anymore!!!”
“You need us to accept your challenge?” [North snarls with a scoff.] “Consider it done! At Bad Moon Rising, you’ve got your willing warriors!”
“You bring your spirits!” [Doubt says as he points a damning finger at the fallen.]
“And we’ll bring our blood!” [North growls as Black Magic just now begins to stir at his feet and that of his partner.]
JACOB PHOENIX VS. DOUBT
VHS CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
THE VOID, PART TWO
[This week.]
[Tommy Hawk still stands within the red void he has been imprisoned in by The Scarecrow. The Hayman stands as still as a statue in the center of the floating rock. His amusement seems to have gone away, replaced by fury.]
[Fury raised by the form of the fallen Trevor Kersh, now a yellow whirling spirit that floats in front of Hawk in communion with him.]
“The spawn of the Enforcer rises again?” [Crow asks.] “Even in death, they continue to persist.”
[He takes a step forward in his fury, but the spirit flies through the World Champion to stand between them.]“Yet still just as foolish.” [Scarecrow mocks.] [With a brush of his hand, the Hayman sends the spirit of the Lone Star back into the red void.]
“Your power is weakening, Scarecrow.” [Hawk proclaims as he turns to face his foe.] [The Spirit Walker speaks true, it seems. Seeing the act of rebellion from Trevor has spurred on more of the yellow broken spirits that populate this void. With silent agony, they whirl onto the rock itself, forming human-like forms to stand between Scarecrow and Hawk.]
“This is not possible.” [Scarecrow says, refuting the words of Hawk.] [Their strength growing, even more of the yellow whirls come rushing out of the void to this time surround Tommy Hawk. They seem to merge within him, walking in stride with him as Tommy breaks through the ranks of the barrier between he and Scarecrow.]
“You may be correct,” [Hawk begins, his body empowered by the yellow whirls.] “I do not know what you are. But I do not come to understand you, Scarecrow.”
[Fighting his way out of the void, the luminescent spirit of Trevor Kersh flies down to join with Tommy Hawk. Scarecrow seems taken aback by the open rebellion in his void.]“I come to defeat you. The spirits of those you have slain now walk with me.”
[He stops right in front of Scarecrow, whose anger looks unparalleled. Hawk’s eyes burn with yellow fire as the red void seems to cease containing any traces of yellow. Tommy speaks clearly and with the voices of many.]“You have failed.”
[Triumphantly, Tommy Hawk stands before Scarecrow, having liberated the spirits trapped in his domain.] [Yet the Scarecrow only laughs.]“You are like none other that I have faced, Spirit Walker. Yet your heroics are ill advised.”
[Scarecrow holds his arms out in his perch pose and laughs a hearty laugh as the void and rock around them disappear.] [Black.] [Darkness.] [All Hawk can hear are the fluttering of crows.] [Then light.] [Hawk falls to a knee, suddenly with more weight than he is accustomed to on his person. He is no longer in the red void. He is inside the Tap Room. He is back on VHS. And instead of just the Scarecrow, he now faces both of Genesis.]“A week has passed, Spirit Walker. Your body has not slept. It has not eaten.”
[Hawk looks down at his hands, seemingly realizing the truth of it.]“You may have taken those spirits, but soon your own will join them as your body fails you. Tonight, you face Mother, and if you survive this encounter, I will finish you off in a week’s time. And take the gold that is rightfully mine.”
[Hawk stands up to his feet, ready for battle. He looks directly at Scarecrow as his eyes still burn with the yellow whirls of the rescued spirits.]“Those spirits will soon find themselves back where they belong, Spirit Walker. Perhaps you will enjoy walking with them as a spirit yourself.”
[Crows fluttering fill the ears of all in attendance, and Tommy Hawk is left standing across the ring from Mother.] [It’s time for our main event. But will Tommy Hawk survive it?]TOMMY HAWK VS. MOTHER
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
FOR HER
RINGSIDE
“Why do you hate your mother?”
[The girl covers her mouth, terrified as Mother turns to her, looming over, the shadows of the candle flames flickering across her face.]“Tell me. Why do you hate your mother?”
[The girl tries to pull away, but Mother’s grip refuses to break as she tightens around her arm.]“I’ll ask one more time. Why do you-”
“Let her go.”
[Mother is cut off, turning towards the darkness, Jacob Phoenix himself walking out. Mother glares at him, Phoenix refusing to back down.]“Take your hand off her, Mother. Or I’ll pry it from her myself.”
[She grits her teeth, a wind seeming to come through the room. Jacob watches as the candles flicker and HE LUNGES TOWARDS MOTHER!] [Darkness.] [Cameras cut to Phoenix as he careens into Mother, the two having appeared elsewhere backstage, Mother slamming into a wall as Phoenix backs away, looking for the children. Mother claws for Jacob, the hero blocking her attacks, fighting back with blows of his own.]“Where are they!?”
“Where their mother wants them to be!”
[BLACK MIST! HAPPILY EVER– HE DUCKS IT! FOR HER! Mother’s head slams into the ground, Jacob Phoenix wiping the mist from his eyes as he stands over her.]“They’re not safe with you. They’re children that you abuse and torment, making them listen to your every word and never questioning you. It may be too late to persuade most of them, but I’m going to find them. I’m going to do it for them. For her.”
[Mother looks up at Phoenix, barely getting to a knee as she looks into his eyes.]“They’ll never want to leave their family, Jacob. Just like Stephanie, you’ll never be able to save her.”
[Darkness.] [When the lights come back, Phoenix is still, a look of shock in his eyes as he silently stares at where Mother once was. The scene slowly fading to black, focused on his expression.]