Did you ever hear about the vampire of Barcelona? Well let me tell you a little story. A story that is believed to be true.

Of course, this happened where we will be fighting this week on Warfare, it’s in the name. Barcelona. It happened many years ago, late in the 19th century and early on in the 20th century.

Despite this, it’s not the typical sort of vampire. Not one that feeds on the blood of other human beings, not literally at least.

There are different meanings of the word vampire.

1. (in European folklore) a corpse supposed to leave its grave at night to drink the blood of the living by biting their necks with long pointed canine teeth.
• a person who preys ruthlessly on others.
• "the protectionist vampires in the Congress"
2. a small bat that feeds on the blood of mammals or birds using its two sharp incisor teeth and anticoagulant saliva, found mainly in tropical America.

The type of vampire I am referring to is the sort of person who preys ruthlessly on others.

In the case of the vampire of Barcelona this could not be truer. This story is based on one of the most famous serial killers that Spain has ever seen, Enriqueta Marti. A lady who started by selling herself to the rich people of Barcelona in hope that she would one day become rich. She was not satisfied with the money that she was bringing in and decided to open her own brothel.

She studied the men. She tantalized them herself while seeking what they desired the most. What did the rich men desire? Well these wealthy men did not just acquire an obscene amount of money, they also had the most warped tastes that you could imagine. As I tell you this story it makes my blood boil, my spine curdle and sick reach the tip of my tongue.

Enriqueta learned that these twisted men desired youth. They wanted to feel young again and the way that they would seek this out was by finding young women and paying them to sleep with them. I know, disgusting right?

Well the money came flying in for Enriqueta. She would search the streets, pretending that she was homeless and she would capture orphans under her black cape. The cape is what gave her the name of vampire. These children were usually no older than 14 and could be as young as 3. She did the most sickening things. Training these children to please these vile old men.

Her business was discovered by the police. Corruption overpowered justice. She was so wealthy that money exchanged hands and she went on unpunished. She was free to run her despicable business and it only grew larger. She bought apartments around Barcelona and then ran several brothels from these locations.

Do you know what was worse? Do you know what happened to the ugly children? The children that could not perform to her standards? The children that would not do as they were told? They were butchered. Brutally murdered, sometimes awake and sometimes asleep. This went on for years.

Those that she murdered would have their limbs crushed. Their bones would be turned into powder and sold at the black market while their fats were sold as machine grease and moisturizing oils. The blood would be used in the potions of apparent witches and all kinds of disturbing people.

She continued to scout for children by dressing as a beggar by day then dressed up at night to sell her children to the wealthy.

Eventually the day of reckoning came.

She accidentally kidnapped a child who had family instead of an orphan. The shocked and stunned family went looking for her and informed the police.

The remains of 12 children were found that day. Enriqueta had been doing it for over 20 years though. No one could find her. Eventually she was found in Ponent Street which is just a stone’s throw away from where Warfare will bet his week. It was not the police who found her but rather it was her neighbour who brought her to justice.

She was jailed. Her inmates were so disgusted by her that they lynched her.

Do you know why this is important?

The police ignored her. Corruption so often overcomes justice. In the end though, justice always comes back. Always. I will bring justice to the corruption that is the CCWF.

Enriqueta and Shane have more in common than he might realise. No he would never do anything this sick, in fact I don’t think anyone alive today would. At least I hope not.

Do you know the key similarity they have?

Greed.

She claimed through all of this that it was just business. That she desired wealth and she merely gave the people what they want. She claimed that she was not warped. She was not twisted. She was normal. She was simply ambitious. That’s what she believed. She claimed the truly twisted ones were the clients who bought these orphans and their services. Even worse, she claimed that society had allowed this to go on for far longer than it should have.

The police knew after all.

That’s part of the reason I have got to take down the CCWF. I cannot stand and watch while these sycophants take over my beloved home. Not while I know what they are doing.

I am calling for the roster to stand by me. We must do what the police of Barcelona failed to do. We must take down corruption for we are far greater than the CCWF and we shall prove this by knocking them back to the gutters from which they came.

End of Prologue.

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“Another disappearance,” Ambrose said as he sat down at the table putting his left leg over his right knee and shoving a slice of toast into his gullet.

The radio began to describe another child who had gone missing in London overnight.

“That’s three within two weeks,” Ambrose continued before finishing off his toast and taking a sip of orange juice.

“Are the police doing anything?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“Of course not, and I know exactly who is doing it,” Ambrose said, I raised an eyebrow at him. This ought to be good.

“You don’t think, do you?” Clive said as he entered the room in his golden silk dressing gown and red striped pyjamas.

“I’m just saying. They said this wasn’t the end and they are obviously going to try and get our attention. This is the perfect way to do so.” My dear friend Ambrose was of course referring to Catholic extremists who had taken Clive hostage just a week before. Clive is my Godfather who welcomed Ambrose and me into his home in exchange for our services. We were both more than happy to grant them to him. Partially because we needed somewhere to live but mostly because he was an inspiring man and we both enjoyed him.

“Yes, it is the perfect way to draw us out again but are they really capable of this? Is anyone capable of this?” I asked.

“They will do ANYTHING!” Clive bellowed as he slammed his mug down onto the work top. It almost shattered.

Ambrose turned and held in a nervous giggle. My eyes widened and I pouted ponderously.

“They were going to crucify me. These men are capable of anything because they think that what they are doing is what is right. They are not ordinary Catholics. These people are extremists. If you commit any sin then they believe that you do not belong on this earth. It’s outrageous, yet that is what they believe. And when men like that believe such awful things they will go to the end of the Earth to insure that their beliefs are met. This is far from over. Ambrose, do some investigating into these families. See if there are any ties. Steve, haven’t you got a match to prepare for? For a certain championship? It is 9 AM now let’s get to fucking work!” Clive finished off whatever remained of his coffee and stormed to his room to prepare for the day.

“Somehow I don’t think that he has forgiven us for letting him get captured. Even if we did save him,” Ambrose said as he looked up at me with stern eyes.

I nodded with a glisten in my eyes.

“You heard the man, let’s get to it.”

So we did. Ambrose dashed off to his office where he did all of his studying. He was a bright man for many reasons. He could hack into mainframes of the highest security and he could fight harder than most. He had all the attributes that Clive required.

I left him to it and headed down to the basement. There was a half melted candle on a small wooden table next to an old wooden rocking chair. I picked up the rocking chair and slung it into the wall, forcing it to smash to pieces.

Then I picked up the camcorder that was always in the corner of the room and placed it on the table just in front of the candle. I pressed record and looked into the lens.

“Choices. We all have to make choices. I chose to compete on Wednesday Night Warfare this week. What a choice it was. I was rewarded with the opportunity to compete for the coveted Xtreme Championship. The title where it all started. The championship that allowed me to become the Universal Champion. You see, I am not more proud of becoming Universal Champion than I am the Xtreme. The Xtreme title is precious. It takes a ridiculous amount of skill to defend it. You cannot forget that you always have an X on your back.

Reverend. I hope you do not think that you are the master of pain. You do not enjoy pain as much as I. More importantly, you are not as capable as I of inflicting pain. I will torture you. I will torture Dominic and I will torture Justice. Torture. Pain. Agony. Prepare for the worst. Because I will make you suffer Reverend. So you can continue to go on and on about how you love pain but no one is listening. You won that title cheaply but I will not do such a thing. I shall take that from you by any means possible because you have disgraced that belt. That prestigious belt. People like you transform the golden title into a piece of dirt. Well from the dirt, gold shall arise… Stronger. Just as I did. Like a phoenix from the ashes.

Do not fear the barbed wire or the C4. Explosions are a simple way of life. Ahahaha.”

I pick up some barbed wire that I used in one of my previous promos and wrap it around my neck. Blood begins to ooze from it while I laugh.

“You see Reverend. It’s all just fun and games if you know how to play. Do you want to play? Dom? Do you want to play? Justice? Let me know if you want to play. It really is good fun.”

The room comes to light for a moment but then I pick up the candle and clap the flame away.

Darkness.

End.

3x Xtreme Champion
1x Briefcase Holder
1x Television Champion
1x Universal Champion