|
Previously
|
Who was beyond the door?
Shadow is looking at the championship case he has in his gymnasium. There are twelve tag team titles in this case all from different federations, then on its own, at the top is the Overdrive championship. It is the pride of Shadow’s collection, the first ever singles championship Shadow captured. This was the hardest thing for him to ever overcome, and now that he was able to defeat his own curse he has been blasted with another bane on his existence. But there is a light in the darkness. A hand slides over Shadow’s bare chest as he reaches up and takes the slender hand in his. Shadow turns around and looking back at him is the elusive and long awaited Dita Morgan.
Dita: Words cannot express how proud of you I am.
She runs her hand across his cheek. Shadow just shudders, the past week he has been sealed up in his house with her, recapturing lost time. She is wearing a purple and black silk robe. One that Shadow got her in Rome. That was ages ago. Now she was here. As Shadow looks at her he remembers Overdrive.
The scene cuts back to Shadow as he wanders through the halls. Finally in the distance he sees the A.K.A. written on a door. Shadow walks over and opens the door. When the door opens the camera is on his right profile. Shadow’s eyes get wide and the anger washes from his face. Everything seems to be in slow motion.
Shadow: You…
From the other side of the door, as the camera fades away Dita Morgan’s hand comes forth and caresses his cheek. Shadow doesn’t move. He is stunned, almost paralyzed with shock. His mouth moves but no words come out as she emerges from the room, gets on her tip toes and kisses him on the lips. The dull gray of the past months washed away as her lips press to his. All the anguish, the train ride Shadow finding the note in her flat, all of that is wiped off the board as he wraps his arms around her. She breaks the kiss and backs into the room as Shadow stumbles and walks in behind her.
Shadow: Dita?
Dita: You’re not dreaming Shadow. I’m here.
She hugs him tightly resting her head against his chest. A tear rolling down both of their cheeks. Shadow feels like a weight has been lofted from him. All this time, wondering, waiting with no word from her, a doubt that she would ever come home creeping inside his mind. Shadow finally had his answer as they held one another for what seemed like an eternity. Finally Shadow looks into her eyes and asks.
Shadow: Where have you been?
Morgan backs away and has a seat in the chair she brought into the locker room. She does not have any wrestling gear with her.
Dita: I went all over Shadow. I had to find some answers.
Shadow: But where?
Dita: It doesn’t matter. What matters is that I am here, now.
Shadow: Are you staying?
Dita: For now.
He finally takes a seat near her on the bench in the locker room.
Dita: Shadow, I’ve been watching you since I left. Not close, on television, the net. I never abandoned you, I just couldn’t stand back and watch any longer.
She leans over and embraces him again as Shadow just hugs her, silently. He wants to say so much, but he cannot. All the words he tries to find are lost. Shadow just holds her tightly, happy that she has returned after all this time. He remembers his anguish, lamenting over her disappearance. Now, he runs his hands through her hair, thankful that she is here, even if it just for today.
Dita: After everything, I was afraid you were slipping. Like you lost your way.
Finally Shadow gasps the words he has been searching for. A single tear still rolling down his cheek.
Shadow: I was so worried about you.
He shakes his head as they embrace.
Shadow: I went to your place, and you were gone, everything was gone. I found your letter, and I waited. I waited for so long to hear from you with nothing. I did what I could. I buried myself in my matches. Taking my anger out on anyone, everyone who stood in my way. I kept thinking that one day, after every wall was tore town I would find you. And all I had to do, all I had to do was open the door. I thought, I wondered if I should just quit, if I was just wasting my time waiting for you to come back. I wanted to walk away from it all.
Dita just nods.
Shadow: Why did I stay? Why did you come back?
Dita: Because you need me, now more than ever. I am so sorry I left. But you know I had to go. I wanted to bring you, I wanted to tell you but there were things left unresolved. They still are. But you need me here. I watched you fall from what you used to be and you need that person. I am here to bring back the Shadow I met in ECFW, the Seann who stood up for what was right and decimated the people who did the wrong thing. I watched your match with Carl Cage. I watched you achieve your greatest goal, winning a single’s title. I watched you defend it both times, against Strange and against Green. Your greatest challenges and now you were running out of fuel. Your fire, that passion inside you, you need it if you are going to win tonight. You have to be the man, you were when you debuted.
She kisses his lips once more. Suddenly Slade Craven walks into the room. Everything freezes for a matter of moments as Craven’s jaw drops and sees Shadow and Dita together once again.
Slade- Holy shit.
Dita: Hi Slade.
Slade- Dita? Where…
Shadow: Don’t worry about it.
Slade- What is…
Shadow: She is here for us.
Slade- The handicap match? You want in?
Dita: No. I am here to make sure you win?
Slade- How do you intend to do that?
Dita: By giving him a reason to win.
Craven smiles as Dita caresses Shadow’s cheek once again. Shadow feels that wave of relief wash over him once again. After all this time, wondering waiting, Shadow finally had a reason to go on. A reason to fight. He found her. No, she found him. Everything else didn’t matter any more. He found peace. He could fight again. It wasn’t so much as going through the motions. They had stayed one step ahead of him this whole time. Now, no one saw this coming. Tonight, the Axis didn’t stand a chance.
That night changed things. Dita’s return, the A.K.A’s victory. No one knew what would happen that night. Slade and Shadow were willing to walk into a bloodbath just to make a point. Dita’s return, it gave Shadow and Slade the spark they needed. They stood against the odds and overcame. The Beast fell, and everything Biggs and Chris Cyrus worked towards crumbled before their very eyes. After the three count the fans screamed at the top of their lungs, the people couldn’t believe their eyes. No one knew where it came from. They didn’t know where Shadow and Slade found their fire. How they were able to overcome the odds. Now they do. Slade wasn’t needing the boost like Shadow was. But it was all Dita. She gave them what they needed. Now after a week of rest and relaxation, Shadow needed to do one more thing, defeat Biggs.
Dita: So what do you want to do now?
Shadow smiles as he gazes at her, still lost in the moment he saw her at the arena. After a while week he couldn’t tear himself away from her.
Shadow: I want to relax.
Their reflections shine in the title case. Shadow’s name on every belt scream his name loudly in their silence. Dita just giggles, the blonde in her hair shimmering in the light. Shadow doesn’t say anything. He just looks at her as she kisses him once again. Its like the medicine he’s been needing.
Dita: We can’t, not now. You know they are sending someone to interview you.
A shudder runs through Shadow. He doesn’t want to think about that right now. He just wants to be with her. But Dita sees this, she knows that he has to keep his head in the game.
Dita: Come on. We can relax later. You have business to take care of. When you’ve walked out of Shockwave with that belt still around your waist. Then we can relax. But until then, you have work to do. You have to get ready for your match. You know he thinks he will win. In fact Biggs is certain of it. You have to rise above him one more time. Because if not, then everything we have worked for it will be lost. Don’t make me coming back be in vain.
Shadow just nods, knowing deep in his heart that she is correct. He had to admit, that match, that handicap match was his favorite match in a long time. It was a feeling he missed. Wrestling someone, multiple someones and standing against the opposition. Almost the same as Shadow’s early career. He loved fighting more than one person it presented a challenge. That’s what he was missing. Dita reminded him of that. She reminded him of his first match in ECFW after his long hiatus which was almost a handicap match, but it was a match he won. Just like Overdrive, Shadow toppled the odds. It made him feel good inside to know he could still do those things.
Shadow: Who is conducting the interview?
Ms Morgan just giggles.
Dita: Morgan Monsoon.
All relief and happiness pours from Shadow’s face as the blood drains from there as well.
Shadow: No. Of all people. Not him
Dita backs away from Shadow with her face red with laughter. She has to cover her mouth. For those who are in the dark, Morgan Monsoon was wrestling’s answer to John Madden. He just was a living breathing blob of cold cuts. His voice oozed cholesterol and his questions were utterly worse than ones asked by a full blown retard. After Shadow left World Attitude Wrestling he thought he escaped the monster Monsoon. But Dita’s laughter was like a cruel reminder because they always had fun at his expense, despite his irritating presence.
Dita: I’m kidding. I’m kidding. God whatever happened to him?
A sigh of relief escapes Shadow’s lungs as he hangs his head.
Shadow: That’s not funny.
He starts to laugh with her as she hugs him.
Dita: I’m sorry, I had to.
Shadow: That’s not funny. And I have no clue what he is doing these days. And I have no desire to ever see him again. Who is coming?
Dita: Cindy Shannon is coming over.
Shadow: Really? Not Shane West?
Dita: Nope. I figured it would boost your ego…
She presses against him teasingly.
Dita: to be in a house with multiple women. Rather than have another rooster in the hen house.
She kisses his cheek and starts to walk away.
Dita: He will be here in about twenty minutes so we need to get dressed.
She walks out of the gymnasium as we finally see Shadow standing there by himself in front of his championship case. He is wearing black shorts only and has his hair let down. He shakes his head as Dita’s foot steps echo through the empty house. It’s a good day. A damn good day. The storm clouds over his past have broken and the silver lining shines through. He couldn’t wait for Shockwave. Not because of what he was going to do to Biggs, but what he would be doing afterwards.
Thirty Minutes Later
Cindy Shannon is following the lovely Dita Morgan though Shadow’s large Texas home. Dita is now wearing a black skirt with a pink halter top. He her hair is pulled into pig tails and she has them tied with a strip from an A.K.A. T shirt. Cindy is dressed professionally and as they enter the gymnasium Shadow has three chairs set up inside his own wrestling ring. Dita slides under the bottom rope and walks up to the man standing there now wearing an older A.K.A. shirt, not one from A.P.W. Its from another federation. It has Shadow, Slade, Dita and Assassin on it. Shadow is also wearing blue jeans and has his hair pulled back into a pony tail. Cindy walks up and shakes his hand happily.
Cindy: Shadow, you are looking good today.
Shadow: I feel good Cindy. I feel good. So I hear you have come for an interview.
Cindy: Why else would I be here Shadow?
She takes a seat opposite the two chairs as Dita and Shadow sit down side by side and take one another’s hand. Cindy notices this and motions between the two of them.
Cindy: So Shadow, do you want to explain all this?
Shadow: What’s to explain? This is Dita Morgan. She has finally come back.
A look of shock hits Shannon in the face.
Cindy: The Dita Morgan?
Shadow: Yes, so lets skip all those questions you have. Cause I can guarantee you that you’ll ask where she’s been, and why she came back now. I know what I need, that’s what’s important.
Cindy: Was she at Overdrive?
Shadow: Yes. Dita was waiting for me backstage after Slade and I did our in ring promo. She was a pleasant surprise amongst the past month of problems.
Cindy: Why didn’t you come to ringside with them in their match?
Dita: Because I am not contracted to A.P.W. I don’t have any right to be at ringside. It took some phone calls to get me backstage. Jeff didn’t even know I was there.
Cindy: Are you going to be at Shockwave?
Dita: Yes I will
She squeezes Shadow’s hand softly. He smiles at her with his eyes.
Shadow: Yes.
Cindy: So what’s going on?
Shadow: What do you mean?
Cindy: Well, you have been the focus of Biggs for the past month, attacked constantly and now out of nowhere the girl, whom you have been pawning over since before you signed a contract here, returns. What’s going through your mind Shadow?
Shadow: How lucky I am. Dita and I were close a while ago. And when she left I was devastated. For the longest time I fought to see her again, like there would be a reward waiting for me at the end of the road. I kept thinking that no matter what happened as long as I was traveling and fighting one day I would find her. After all this time, I gave up hope. I was going to the ring and making people pay for what I lost. Cursing them for what happened and utterly obliterating anyone in my path. No one mattered, not even my tag partner. Slade knows how I felt. He knows what its like to be on that road. It was becoming really obvious in the ring that my love for the business was gone, like my hope for ever finding her. In the end, she found me.
Shannon listens intently as Shadow goes on. The story though completely irrelevant to his opponent at Shockwave is also equally important. The story is a paradox. It doesn’t involve Biggs but it states why Shadow holds his head higher today than he did before.
Shadow: When I saw her, It all came back, especially the match where Slade and I accomplished a major goal and defeated our most promising challenge. That was along time ago. I knew once I saw her what I had to do. Like a light clicked inside my mind. It showed me everything, even Biggs’ master plan. So when it was done I went to Max Carter and requested a stipulation for the match with Biggs at Shockwave. And before you think that this was all Biggs’ plan, I actually requested a Hell in a Cell match, but Max said that it was impossible to do at the start of a show. Since I have to face a “curtain jerker” like Biggs, he said he would come up with something sufficient for us to square off in. And I have to admit, I am pretty pleased with the result. A steel cage match. Sounds kind of fun.
Cindy: What about Biggs’ quote? That, and I quote, “I’m not locked in there with you, Shadow, you’re locked in there with me.”
Shadow: You know, when I went back to Rome and met with the old friend Fabrizio I sparred against a guy who dressed up as Rorschach. If Biggs wants to be original, he should think of something more intimidating. I’m locked in a steel cage with a five foot ten inch tall Chihuahua whose taste in music is as awful as his taste in clothing? No, not at all. If he thinks that this match is done after the match is over after the bell sounds, he’s wrong. Biggs has been a thorn in my side, just a little problem at first, but how he is a throbbing pain in my ribs. Something has to be done about him and a simple match will not make us square. I am not through with Biggs by damn, sight, I about to go medieval on his ass. That cage is my dungeon, and Biggs will suffer the punishment earned for his crimes.
Cindy: From Biggs’ side, he claims you insulted him first.
Shadow tilts his head and nods, then shakes it.
Shadow: Some people cannot take constructive criticism. I never once insulted Biggs. I only told him exactly what I think of him. In fact if he wants to know something. I would have said something completely different had he defeated Strange at Mayhem, I would have commented on how finally someone won the match, because as I watched the match dragging on I realized both of them sucked so much they just couldn’t lose. And that is possible, that someone is so terrible at something they just cannot fail at it, which as we know is obvious for Strange and Biggs just happened to be the worst of the two since he lost.
Cindy: So you have no respect for Biggs?
Shadow: First, why should I? The man shows no respect to anyone, so why should I show him any? Biggs is a man completely consumed with his own ego. He also is extremely analytical trying to find a reason to attack someone for any action they perform. So no, there is no respect for Biggs, and I could care less what he thinks of me. However he is so wrapped up in what I am ’supposed’ to think of him, he cannot see past his next move. Everything up until this moment has been him plotting to take myself and Slade apart. Then what happened? We took their little plan and turned it on itself. Sure Slade was a little worse for the wear afterwards but we were still standing while the Beast, the driving force behind the Axis was left laying in the middle of the ring. What does that mean Cindy? The only person in the Axis who ever made an impact against Slade or I was defeated and the other two ran away like whipped children.
Cindy: Which brings me to another point. Biggs claimed you have not got your hands on him yet.
Shadow: Oh really? He said that? You’re kidding right? Wow, did that chokeslam erase his memory? I lifted his ass in the air and drove him to the mat with my strength? Then he powdered out. Just as Chris Cyrus did when he hit Cyrus with the spinebuster. They ran and The Beast suffered our wrath. I didn’t need to deliver a flurry of blows to Biggs to make my point all I needed was one move and I hit it at Overdrive. I showed Biggs for his true colors, well color, yellow. Because while he was so passionate so brave the moment I got my hand, yes one hand, on him he fled. Which is why Max Carter made the steel cage, because the whole hit and run bullshit, it won’t happen there.
Cindy: Have you seen Biggs’ First Contact show this week?
Shadow: No, why would I waste my time with that?
Cindy: Well he has addressed this. He said that he could climb faster than you and that with his intellect he would be able to use that cage in ways you cannot imagine.
A smirk cracks across Shadow’s face as he begins to laugh. Dita smiles as well but doesn’t laugh. She knows how he thinks.
Shadow: That’s rich. He can run and climb all he wants. Let me put it this way. Biggs tries going over the cage to escape and I will go through it to meet him on the other side. That cage is going to be more than a weapon in this match, it’s a manifestation of the situation. I want to see what he can come up with, how he plans on using it as a weapon. Because if you ask me, I think I have found a good way of disrupting his plans. This match is going to be violent, brutal and glorious.
Cindy: Speaking of glory, since you didn’t watch ‘First Contact,’ Biggs made some comments about how you holding the Overdrive title has depreciated the value and prestige of the belt, on the account that you have only defended that title twice.
Shadow: Biggs and I share a little something on that. Yes I too am upset I have not defended the title more than twice. But what about his good friend Chris Cyrus? He has only defended his title twice since Rasslemania. But that’s not the point. I too am bothered by the fact I haven’t defended the title two time. But there is a very good reason for that, no one has been worthy enough to take a crack at the belt. Even Biggs does not deserve the chance to take this title from me. I have been used to clean out the new people that Jeff signs to his roster, none of them deserved a title match, and now I finally get a chance to face someone who ahs been on the roster for more than a month, someone whose nails keep raking across the chalkboard. So aside from finally giving Biggs what he wanted, I wanted to put my belt on the line. It needs to be defended, I earned that belt I want to put it on the line.
Cindy: What about the chance of losing your title?
Shadow: Its true, I could say that I only put it on the line because I don’t have a doubt in my mind I will lose it. I could say that, but I cant, because there exists the possibility that Biggs will win, not the way he thinks mind you. Its kind of important for me to say I might throw Biggs through the cage and cost myself the match. Steel is only so strong Cindy.
Cindy: Would you really do that? Cost yourself the match like that?
Shadow: Not intentionally.
He looks a little taken aback. Its obvious Shadow is not going to forfeit his title to destroy Biggs.
Shadow: Just, anything can happen Cindy.
Cindy: That seems a little excessive. I mean you do all this only to lose?
Shadow: It’s not about winning or losing. Biggs thinks I’m his little puppet. That he has made me dance to his little game, he keeps bluffing and raising the stakes, introducing wild cars, but I don’t play poker, this is a chess game. Biggs puts on his little dog and pony show thinking he is one step ahead of me, but a good chess player knows his opponents moves before he makes them, and after you play the game enough times with someone you realize that. Biggs doesn’t know my game plan. He doesn’t know that I am only in this match to exact punishment. This is not about revenge, its not a valid motive Cindy, its just an emotional response. This is about punishing Biggs for his impetuousness.
Cindy: He thinks he knows you.
Dita turns her head to Shadow, her eyes narrowing. She too has watched his matches for the past months. In fact she has watched every match he has had since she left. If anyone knew Shadow better than himself it would be her.
Cindy: Biggs mentioned that he watched tapes of your matches studying you.
Shadow: He can do that all he wants. Because every match recently has been the same. Every match except the handicap match. And then at Shockwave our match. Things have changed Cindy. Everyone is about to see a whole new Shadow. I’m going to love what I do to Biggs inside that cage. He can climb, and fight all he wants, but in the end all I have to do is the same thing I did on Overdrive. I just have to get one hand on him, one good shot and everything Biggs has worked for will topple like a pack of cards.
Cindy: Well Shadow we’ve been talking for quite some time now. We need to wrap this up. I just have one more question. Its about something you said earlier. Biggs was extremely analytical, what do you mean by that?
Shadow: First Cindy, let me say I’m not funny like Slade, I am not witty, I am just me. Biggs analyzes too much. He thinks way too much about everything. Especially when he wants to make a point. I mean who cares about the material why does he have to do that? Its so bleeding boring.
Cindy: Like him questioning your phone call to someone during his match at Mayhem. Talking about how you cannot make a call in the middle of his match in a packed arena.
Shadow: Exactly. And you would think he wouldn’t care about it, he would just take the criticism. But since he wants to break things down into little parts let me explain something. Anyone can make a phone call inside a packed arena that that is bored out of their freaking minds! It was mind numbing sitting there watching Biggs wrestle Strange, it was like watching flies fornicate. So I got bored called in to the Jerry Meadows show. Because the whole while I watched that match I was sitting there thinking, “Man I wish I was doing something productive. You know like fixing a car; building a house for the homeless; or maybe assisting in the fulfillment of capital punishment.” Biggs thinks highly of himself, good I guess someone should. No matter what kind of ‘flaming’ gear the man puts on, the person wearing them still sucks. It all boils down to what I said earlier. Biggs is an annoyance that needs to be dealt with. He has these dreams these ambitions of being the greatest, yet every Pay Per View Biggs has been in has ended the same way, his failure. Just like John Green, just like Mr. Strange, when this is over Biggs will fail.
Cindy: Wow, Shadow, thank you for giving me this interview. And I am really happy to see things going well for you now. And if what you say is true, there are no words to describe how excited I am to see how you intend to shake things up. I wish you luck Shadow, in everything you do. It good to see your heart back in the business.
All three of them stand. Shadow extends his hand to shake Cindy’s.
Shadow: Yes, well I have to say, had Dita not returned, I may not have returned after Shockwave. I found my reason for fighting again.
Dita remains in the ring as Shadow helps Cindy Shannon out of the ring and walks towards the exit of the gymnasium. She watches as he walks away. She smiles as he converses with Cindy off the microphone. Dita still has her secrets, but she is very happy to see Shadow back to his old self. Shockwave is just a few days away. She remembers what he said, how he found his reason for fighting when she came back. She truly missed him while she was away, it pained her so much. Now she is back, and they can be together. Shadow has such a bright future ahead of him. She is very proud of him and glad she could help him once more. Shadow exit’s the gym with Cindy and Dita is left there alone, looking to the door. She whispers as the cameras fades away.
Dita: You’re welcome Shadow, you’re welcome.
|