The Pest is sitting in a cold dark basement. The light flickers above him. When it brightens, it reveals there is a mass of blood around him. His face has blood dripping from it.

Pest:Sebastian Duke, we are a lot alike, whether or not you choose to acknowledge it. You may look back on your past with a lack of pride, or so you claim, but you know deep down that you loved the thrill of the hunt. You loved the feeling of ending those lives. Otherwise you would not have continued it. No, Sebastian, you long for the thrill of another kill. And I can assist you in obtaining it. We can go to the high school, or middle school, whichever you prefer, and I will find a target, and you can as well. It will be an interesting day, a day of bonding between two enemies. And no, I do not feel that Eli gives me an edge in the ring, nor have I given that implication. I do hope you followed up on your own statement and researched a bit about why I might hold the opinion that you forced upon me. Should you have done so, you would stumble upon something. I did make those claims to a majority of my other opponents. Because I truly felt they were inferior to me. You, not in the slightest. No, Sebastian, you will be the fight of my life.

Why would you bribe Eli? That is the tactic your brother went to. And why? Jack was no real threat to him or his partner. No, he was simply being lazy. Jack, that was the bigger star holding my hand. Do you know how many matches Jack had won before he came to me for assistance? A total of one. And he had lost to Kendall Sawyer previously. I had taken him to heights he had only previously been able to dream of. I, not he, was the bigger star. I was also the one who had made the pin to win him the titles. Even after I had taken a bribe to remove myself from his match with Jill Lorder and Satoko for his chance at the Tag Titles. No, Sebastian, I did not need anyone to hold my hands. I did not need anyone to hold my hand when I took Doctor D'Ville's eye. No, Sebastian, I need no assistance. Not Eli, not Jack, not a soul. I partnered with Eli, not by choice. Just as you did not partner with David for choice.

You question my motives for entering, if not for a shot at the Universal Title? Should I make it to the end, and should win the finals, we will see if I use my briefcase on the Universal Title. I do believe you will. That does appear to be your route for winning it. You will review that previous sentiments, and notice the use of the word "IF", Sebastian. Please, if you miss it at first listen, I implore you to go back and hear it. The word IF is in there for a reason, it shows truth. No false fronts, no cowardice hiding as courage. No, it is set to let you know that at the end of this, and all days, I do not hold myself above you. Should you visit my grave when I pass, as I am certain to pass from this life before you, I would ask that you remember my for not being foolish enough to ever cast you beneath me. That is the mark of a fool, and that is not a title I like to posses. Fools look at names like Sebastian Duke, and Eli James IV, and fools think to themselves, "Oh, this will surely be an easy victory for me." No, Sebastian, I do not look at you and say that, even in a mocking tone. Do not misinterpret my intentions at all. You are not David Pryce, you are not deserving of that.

No, you are Sebastian Duke, a man who looks at the world much the same way I do. Cold, empty, and ready for the end times. You are a man is ready to bring a reign of hellfire down upon the Catholic Church, and why? Because they exist as a darkened stain upon your view of the world. Should they be removed in your mind, the world might become more. Do not fear, Sebastian, you are not alone in your disgust with the Catholic Church. I hold a disdain for them as well, although I have masked my identity beneath the garb of a Priest. It is easier to attract young girls when they view you as safe, something I am sure you are unfamiliar with. Do not take that as an insult, but you do look like the type of man who would violently rape a drunken date. Not that I look down upon the act, no not at all. We must all do what we must to find pleasure. Perhaps, King, we could find time to spend together? Your family and mine, playing, as you and I discuss the strategies we use to lure our victims, and we should refrain from painting it as anything except them being victims, into a false sense of security before we do as we do.

You with the violent murdering and rape, and me with the rape, and kidnapping. It will be a fun day. Perhaps your father and I can speak of our times in the war together. You can listen in, and perhaps chime in with something. Perhaps a horror you have witnessed, or caused. You can compare your list of kills to mine, we shall see whose is more impressive. Perhaps mine, I had reached over 100 kills before you were born. Do you remember your first? I do, vividly. She tried to fight me off, tried very hard. In the end, I won. Have you seen my family, Sebastian? The boy, Aaron, he is ten. He is a good boy, for the most part.



The girl, "His aunt", Angela, she is a very beautiful young woman.



And the Receptionist, Christine. She is a bit older than I prefer, but she does look so young, and she does enjoy the torture I visit upon her.



Do you like my family, Sebastian? I am sure the women will do as women do, and converse while my boy, and yours play. Do not fret if the boy does not leave his aunt's side, they are rather close. I can tell you how similar we are as well, at this event. I can even tell you how I, too, cling to the past. Or, rather clung. I am trying to break free of that. It is hard. I understand why you choose not to attempt. You are correct, though, I did go to your past to find things to speak to you about. I hold no bones about it, I did this. I did this for a reason, Sebastian. You have spent more time gone since I have been here, than you did here.

Why would I not ask you about things from before, though? Are you ashamed by the loss to Azrael? I apologize, losses. Are you ashamed that you could not hold the Television title as long as he did? Surely you could have wrested it from the clutches of Jacob Woods, especially if you believe yourself enough to remove me from this tournament, and Mister Woods holds no victories over me. Not a single one. In both of the matches he and I have faced each other in, I was the winner. Surely you could have taken your trios title back from Vinnie Lane, or retrieved the tag titles from someone. Or, when Kendall Sawyer and Azrael held them, were you afraid to face off with him again? Perhaps that is why you did not want to ask for a Universal Title match. Cowardice. You were afraid of being rejected, so you thought to not ask for one. Even when you had worn the title belt.

No, Sebastian, you were afraid to step out of Azrael's shadow. It is ok, I had hear his shadow is a nice place to be. Sebastian, perhaps just for you, I shall challenge the good Doctor to a Universal Title match after this event. Just to prove I am not afraid of the challenge. You? You will sit back and not utter a challenge to anyone. Because you are afraid of the challenge. Whether you want to admit it to anyone, or not. No, Sebastian, you are afraid. You are not the clever spider hoping to trap victims in your web, you are only out to prey upon what is given to you. I apologize, Sebastian, you are probably feeling as if I am attempting to belittle you at this point. Which is not the case. I do not mean to belittle you, I only mean to list what I see as facts. You are afraid to step out into the crowd. You are fearing that your name will mean less if people see you more.

You want to preserve a legacy, and you are afraid that your legacy will be lost if people begin to see the real you. The Thirty Two year old man who is afraid to be seen too frequently. The man who had to hide after losing his belt to Vincent Lane. Sebastian, I am honestly ashamed to have drawn similarities between us. I do not wish to be labeled a coward as you are. Perhaps that is why you hide in the Darkness, to mask the urine stains on your pants. Or, perhaps that is why you wear the black, so they do not show up at all. Sebastian, I do hope that I get a better showing from David Pryce than I have from you. Perhaps you should not be so quick to assign number Forty Six to me.

That is, unless you plan on losing another twenty three times between now and then. Perhaps evaluate yourself, Sebastian, before you attempt to evaluate me.

The Pest gets to his feet, and moves to the back of the basement. There is a dog hanging from a chain, its body bleeding, and cut. Fur is missing in places, and where there is fur, it appears matted with blood. The animal lightly whimpers. The Pest moves to the side of the dog, and lifts its head up. The Dog is crying. The Pest twists the dog's neck, and releases. The dog falls limp on the floor. He makes his way up the stairs where the Receptionist and the Girl are cleaning something on the boy's leg. The Pest walks over and looks at them.

Christine:Where were you?

Pest:I went to address Sebastian Duke, and handled the situation with the dog.

Aaron:What'd you do to it?

Pest:I murdered it.

Aaron:Why?

Pest:It attacked you. Is that not what I am to do? Retaliate if something harms you?

Angela:Not killing a dog that bit him! You call the cops and talk to the owners.

Pest:This was quicker, and in truth, more rewarding.