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Previously
Taking out the Hardcore
Shadow gets on some Cannabis
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Dallas Texas
There is a loud crashing sound, the sound of wood splintering and metal bending. From a distance no one would hear the sound, not by looking at the nice two story house in the middle of North Texas. The birds in the trees near the house begin to flap their wings and take off. The front door was solid, build out of cedar. The tree that made the door must have been bred for commercial use because it could with stand the first few initial shots. The fifth kick blew the door completely off the hinges which bent and snapped. The deadbolt remained extended, the portion of the door it latched to dangled. Once again we see the sky and surrounding area, its peaceful and quaint. No one is driving by on this Tuesday afternoon. Even though the air is muggy, hot and heavy the world looks beautiful. It’s not always this beautiful after a storm like the one they had in Texas. This storm was like the one rolling across the United States last week. It opened the heavens and rained down upon the earth washing away all that needed to be. Now, on this sweat inducing afternoon something else needed to be cleansed. No one would answer the phone, even if their were guests which, judging by the emptiness of the driveway, seemed unlikely. There was just one vehicle, a black truck with green vanity plates that reads “A.K.A.” in dark green flames on a black background. All the lights were off though and judging by the day no one was in New Jersey. He had to be here. In fact he flew back just hours after Overdrive went off the air. This was bad. Slade’s addiction returned. The door lays on the floor, with cracks splitting the firm piece of wood. Just beyond the threshold Shadow stands, peering into the dark, quiet house. He has come to Slade house to try and talk some sense into his tag team partner. After last week’s fiasco, Slade needed help, just like he did before. If his friends failed him, then who would stand by “The Main Man’s side and keep him from ruining his life.” Shadow knew he could not fail. But eve as he thought this, he could feel the weight of his upcoming match, which Shadow has spent almost no time preparing for, bearing down on him now. Still, the choice was clear. Shadow would not abandon his friend. He continues his silent, brutal stare into the darkness and calls out.
Shadow: Slade?
He steps through the archway into the quiet entrance hall. There is no sign of anyone. If Slade is here, he is either asleep or dead. The idea of both of these sends chills down Shadow’s spine. Then the though begins to run through his head, over and over. “Just how much Slade has been drinking and if he has not been sober since before Overdrive, then what shape would he be in now?” The question leads Shadow do wonder if his tag partner an longtime friend may actually have drank himself to death. In the midst of all this, Shadow takes another step. His eyes gaze around the entrance hall, looking at the three doors in front of him. Only one is open, it leads into a small corridor that inevitably leads to Slade’s kitchen. As he walks in silence, Shadow listens intently. He tries to discern if there is any noise and where it may be coming from. There is nothing, just the sound of blood rushing in the depths of Shadow’s eardrum. He doesn’t know what to say. Shadow walks towards the open door and looks beyond the crack. There is an even thicker darkness swelling over the passageway. Deciding Craven is not in there, Shadow turns his attention to the door that leads to the living room, the just off center door opposite the entrance. Shadow does not worry about the third, it’s the coat closet. Shadow carefully approaches the double doors and presses his ear to the thinner wood. As he listens, Shadow’s hand raises quietly and places itself on the door knob. Then in a slowly sneaky move, he twists the door knob and gets ready to entert the living room. Out of the darkness Slade’s hand reaches out, grabs his tag partner and whips him into the rom and into a wall
Slade- What the hell are you doing here?! Who are you?!
His voice is slurred, and his eyes are glazed over.
Shadow: Dude it‘s me!
Shadow tries to find a light but the room is barely lit. The only remaining glimmers of daylight come from the thick velvet curtains that are pulled shut. It doesn’t light the room enough. Craven, who can see movement very well, even in the thickest darkness, lunges at his best friend. Shadow tries to block the first blow but Craven’s fist slams against his tag partner’s jaw. The force sends Shadow reeling. Craven nearly falls to the ground himself, but is able to keep his balance. Then he leaps back into the darkness awaiting his next attack as Shadow rolls onto his stomach and starts to get up. Craven still does not see his tag partner’s face. He stumbles for a moment before leaping again. This time Shadow is ready, he grabs Slade’s arm and uses his own momentum to launch Craven into the wall behind them. “The Main Man” nearly breaks through the wall, but instead he bounces off the wood and hit’s the floor. When Slade starts to get up and Shadow decks him across the face. After that Shadow shakes his hand and winces in pain. He turns to the curtains and rips them open. Light bathes the room as Slade covers his dilated pupils and screams in pain. He leans forward and puts his head on the ground and howls again. It hurts his eyes, stinging deep into the back of his mind. Shadow rubs his jaw and his hand as he paces around the room, looking over the space that lay in shambles. Empty bottles of Vodka, Rum and Jager lay strew about amongst several empty, crumbled packs of cigarettes, another habit Slade gave up along time ago. He looks like hell.
Shadow: What the hell is the matter with you?!
The voice is piercing. Craven’s mind cannot take it all. He tries to scurry back from everything, not even getting up, just kicking his feet and pushing himself away, up against the wall, out of direct sunlight. He covers his eyes still unable to forma cognitive sentence. Shadow kicks a bottle of Burnets Vodka across the wooden floor.
Shadow: God dammit! After everything after all those meetings you went to. All the problems you’ve overcome, what the hell are you doing? Are you deaf or something? Answer me Craven!
Slade- Ah! I’m not deaf yet!
He continues to push himself up against the wall hoping that it will swallow him whole. Shadow reaches down and grabs his leg and pulls him away from the wall, dragging him towards the center of the room. When he lets go Slade starts to crawl away again but Shadow flips the couch onto Craven’s legs. Again another scream of pain escapes Slade’s lips as he is stuck in a position now where he cannot roll off his stomach to push the couch away or pulls his legs from under the load. Shadow looks down at his fallen friend who is still obviously drunk. In frustration Shadow actually tries to stomp a little sense into Slade.
Shadow: Answer me Slade!
The first kick is to the shoulder blade, the second to Slade’s flailing arm.
Slade- What do you want?
Shadow: Answers!
He puts another boot to the back of Slade. Craven continues to try to move away and Shadow finally realizes that his tag partner is no use to him right now. There is no way to get a definite answer from Slade, he is too drunk, and too hung over at the same time. There not enough water in him to keep his body working. He needs to sober up. There is no way to do that quickly, especially if Slade has drank everything in this room. He steps in front of Slade who struggles with all his might to get free. Then Shadow clenches his fist and back hands his partner as hard as he can, the force sending Slade’s head sideways and making his eyes roll in the back of his head. Craven slumps forward to the floor into unconsciousness.
Hours Later…
The clinking of glass stirs Slade from his slumber. The hangover is killer to say the least. Shadow is tossing a GLAD trash bag full of the empty liquor bottles to the side of the room. Craven realizes he is no longer underneath the couch, although he is still on the floor. The room has been righted, straightened up and lit. Craven’s sunglasses lay next to his head, a present from his tag partner. Slade reaches foor them with squinted eyes and puts them on.
Slade- Shadow?
His friend doesn’t say anything as Craven tries to stand. He can barely get to his hands and knees before he feels how weak he has become from all the alcohol and no food for several days. Slade rolls onto his ass and puts his hands behind him, propping his torso up. He coughs and his voice is hoarse.
Slade- Hey. Dude.
Shadow turns and looks at Slade, a bruise formed along his jaw line. There is a scowl across his face as he looks down at Slade. Shadow cleaned Slade’s room, his hovel which “The Main Man” has been holed up in for the past week. Ever since Overdrive Craven has been a ghost, now Shadow found him, and plans on exorcising him if he doesn’t get his own demons out.
Slade- What’s going on?
Shadow: Intervention.
He does not face his friend.
Slade- What? Why?
Shadow turns and tosses a water balloon in Slade’s face, it erupts and Craven can smell vodka. It stings his eyes as it seeps down his skin behind his shades. He sputters as the alcohol burns him and he tries to get up, Shadow hits him with another water grenade. This time it is full of Everclear. It knocks the glasses from Slade’s face.
Shadow: It’s an intervention asshole. I am here pelting you with what you want because you cannot get your head out of your ass. Its why I am here in Dallas rather than in New Jersey living it up on the boardwalk and getting ready for my big match against Jesse!
Shadow hurls another one at Slade. It hits him in the hand that comes up to protect his face. This is a big mistake because all it does is splash and spray his face, covering it in vodka. Craven coughs as he is breathing when this one hits. Some goes into his lungs.
Shadow: So, while I should be getting ready to face someone I’ve barely heard of, while I should be getting ready for one hell of a match on Overdrive, I am here, in Dallas, with you!
Shadow’s voice gets louder every time he finishes a sentence. Furthermore he launches him with another shot. It does not matter what the contents are. Its alcoholic and it burns him. That’s all that matters.
Slade- Whoa!
Shadow: No! You will listen now! You Slade, you and I have been tag team partners for years! You have been the reason for Jeff calling me and wondering why the hell he signed a drunk who thinks he can show up to a live event, hammered off his ass and get away with it. What kind of superstar do you think you are? Huh? Answer me Slade. What the hell were you thinking? I should be getting ready. All my problems should not be directed at you. They should be at Jesse and here we are! So answer me what the hell were you thinking?
Slade coughs as Shadow reels back and gets ready to throw another one at him. He looks at Slade and gets ready to toss it. He stops, then pulls back again. Finally Shadow lowers his arm, his anger has been let out, for now.
Slade- Stacy.
Shadow’s anger subsides, he knows Slade has done something stupid, but he knows why. Not that it makes any difference. Shadow had his own moment when Dita left. Stacy left a long time ago. She took everything he had and crushed him in the divorce. Slade barely recovered from it. Shadow drops the water balloon on the floor. It breaks like the bubble around the world right now.
Shadow: Slade. You can’t live like this any more man. You are going to throw away your entire career for this bullshit. She’s gone, forever.
Slade- She’s getting married.
He stops dead mid-sentence at the mention of that. Slade looks up at Shadow who cannot think of a response. But Slade knows what he wants to ask.
Slade- To some guy down in South Texas. A banker. That’s all I know.
They never had kids. She didn’t want to bring kids into a life on the road. When the storyline came up for her to split as his manager she decided to announce the real divorce. It added a bit of flavor to the drama on screen. She even got a bonus from ECFW owner Nick for doing it. It nearly cost him his job. That’s when Slade’s drinking became a problem. He cut back significantly a year ago after ECFW closed and Stacy showed up for the final show in his corner. He hoped they would have gotten back together, she bailed, and he found out why, it was for the paycheck. Shadow couldn’t think of something to say. It made his match seem a little less important. Shadow sits down on the floor looking at Slade.
Shadow: We been here before you know Slade?
Craven looks at him, wiping booze from his hung over face.
Shadow: When the gates of hell opened up on us. We held back the war then, we’ll do it again.
They both just sit there. The problems have begun, Slade has lost everything in his world. What does he have left? He hast his friends, Shadow and Assassin, what else. Shadow sees how things have changed. Since coming to A.P.W. he has left his best friend behind. Shadow has risen to the top of A.P.W, even though he may not be World Champion he is still champ unto himself. There is nothing changing that either. Shadow knows that he has taken Slade’s place finally. After all these years Shadow has done what he wanted and he has missed what happened around him. Slade has sunk down, he has fallen. Shadow stands up and reaches down and offers his partner his hand.
Shadow: Come on man. We have to get to New Jersey.
Craven reaches up and take it as Shadow pulls him to his feet.
Shadow: You have to go back to rehab Slade. You have to. If you don’t…
Slade just nods. There is nothing else that needs to be said. They just walk slowly from the room. Overdrive is in less than two days. They have so much to do. And there is so little time.
Overdrive, New Jersey.
Shadow is backstage in the locker room of the Newark Prudential Center. He is alone right now getting ready for his big match with Jesse later tonight when Shane West enters the locker room. Shadow is already in his ring attire, his coat draped across a bench and his elbow pads on top of that. He turns to look at Shane, the man who just walked in without knocking.
Shadow: Don’t you ever knock?
Shane just walks up to Shadow with a microphone in hand. The sight of Shadow on the titantron to all the fans live makes them cheer madly. Its been awhile since Shadow has done a live interview like this, it was scheduled but not for another fifteen minutes. He looks back at Shane West who does not say anything. Something is amidst.
Shadow: Yeah?
Shane: Listen Shadow we all know you have a big match with Jesse later tonight, but there is something the people and fans of A.P.W. are wondering and need you to answer for us before we go on with this interview.
Shadow: And what is that?
Shane: What is going to happen with Slade?
Shadow: Craven is here tonight.
There is a roar of approval from the fans who remember when the beer swilling “Main Man” was twenty one and whipping as. But the years have been hell on him turning him to an alcoholic, and now they still show their support.
Shadow: And his issue is being addressed. Everyone will have their answer by tonight.
Shane: What does that mean?
Shadow: The same thing it did when Nick agreed to let Stacy nearly kill him. Its all about a paycheck.
His words are not upbeat.
Shane: What about Jesse then?
Shadow: What about him? He happens to have been signed to face me at a bad time. This is not a night to get in the ring with me.
Shane: Is your head other places?
The Beast just glares at Shane West.
Shadow: What? No, you miss understand me. My head is here, it never is out of the game Shane. I am ready and 100% focused on what needs to be done tonight. I just told you that Slade’s situation is handled. Why would you ask me something like that now? I am aching to get out there and work, I wouldn’t step in the ring if I wasn’t. No Shane, I say it’s a bad time because of my mood. I am not in a mood to go out there and give Jesse the match of his career like I have for Kid Cannabis, John Green and The Hardcore Kid. No this time I am going out there to get out all my rage and frustrations. I will expel them upon my opponent and do what I was “programmed” top do when I started wrestling. I was know as “The Beast” a man who just cleaned house, wiped out people on the roster who did not belong. Sure Jesse has his past in EWC but this isn’t that place, despite the fact it is made up of most of the EWC roster. They can believe whatever they want and hold their old grudges. But I have a newsflash for them Shane. I was never on the EWC roster and the only two other superstars in this locker room who worked with me in another federation are my stable mates. Grudges mean nothing. Jesse should thank me, I took out the man he probably had problems with in the past. But that was last week. This week he gets to thank me, not by laying down, but by not giving up hopefully and letting me release all frustrations and get myself back to square one. Jesse gets his metal tested, I get a little peace. I think that’s a fair trade, what about you Shane?
Shane: Well, I don’t know Shadow. I mean you were saying in Dallas you didn’t know anything about this man, now you know a little about him.
Shadow: I borrowed Slade’s laptop on the plane. You see Shane, I used to think the world had passed me by. I thought my confidence was shaken and the I prayed I wasn’t meant for more. Those prayers were answered and I thank the fans for never giving up on me. But in that time Slade slipped and I didn’t notice because I was too wrapped up in everything I was doing in my life. I didn’t want to get caught up in the golden road., but I did. I admit it and I am mainly mad at myself. So all that anger it has to be let go. Someone, Jesse, will be the recipient of it. I’m sure he was a good wrestler once, the fans seem to like him and so they will be happy to see this match. Jesse was EWC champion, the youngest, and that’s all fine and dandy, it doesn’t mean a thing now. Everyone always told me the past can be uttered a thousand times, it won’t change the present. All his past exploits don’t measure to this.
He reaches into his travel bag and pulls out the Overdrive Championship. The fans begin to cheer again. The memory of the battle Shadow fought to win that belt flood their minds as he puts the gold and leather on his shoulder. His engraved name might as well be carved in stone.
Shadow: I don’t need to spin yarns about the match I had. I want to tell stories about the match I will have. Jesse versus Shadow. Sure to be voted the fan’s favorite match of the night, not because I was in it, but because we are. I’m giving the man his due. He can fight, and he can run the gauntlet. Lets see what happens when we kick our stones down the road to hell together. I won’t hold back. I need to fight someone. That’s going to happen tonight Shane.
Shane: Are you sure your head is in the game here Shadow? You seem distracted.
Shadow: No,
He is whispering, his head hanging down.
Shadow: No, not tonight. Not ever. Jesse Is about to get a Great Awakening.
Shane: Did you make a reference to American History.
Shadow: It happened right here. This is New England. And I will get biblical on him if I have to. I will rain down upon him a storm that he never expected. He thinks he has had challenges in the past, they are nothing compared to me right now Shane. I am his challenge, he is not mine. EWC Champion? I took one out last week, HCW or not its still the same company, what makes him think he can do better. I want him to bring something worthwhile to the table. Like I said, this isn’t a match for honor, its going to be a standard issue beat down, for the enjoyment of all our fans.
West just shakes his head. Not to mock Shadow, but because he does not usually see Shadow like this. Its usually the same old story. ‘Lets go out there and have a good match, make it one for the record books.’ Shane just decides to quote him.
Shane: “Standard issue beat down.” that’s pretty confident.
Shadow: It’s not about confidence, not anymore. I regained my faith in myself. I know what I am capable of, and could honestly careless what Jesse has to say or what he will do. I just want to hurt someone tonight Shane. Jesse is in the middle of a war path, and he will be mowed down.
Shane: Want me to quote you on that?
Shadow just glares at his interviewer.
Shadow: Don’t be a smart ass. Be a messenger and go send the message.
Shane: And that is?
Shadow: Beware.
He turns around and goes back to getting ready for tonight. Shadow sets his title back into the bag as Shane West turns and heads from the room. The camera stays on Shadow for awhile longer as he starts putting on his elbow pads. He is going to unleash himself tonight. Jesse Nunez is going to have his hands full tonight. Shadow does not speak, whistle or hum while he is getting ready. He reaches down and picks up his coat, slipping both arms into the sleeves. The Shadow picks up his Overdrive Championship again and puts it back over his shoulder. What Shadow said to Slade before, about holding back the Gates of Hell. That’s a challenge, Jesse Nunez is just practice. He leaves his locker room.
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