I met Anonymous randomly that evening when I tried to rob a bank. I had a strange feeling he knew I was coming, or maybe it was a wild coincidence. Either way, we talked for a little bit and off we went our separate ways. We'll see each other again on the same team along with Brock Lesnar to fight in this Trio Title match. How did I get myself into this mess with these guys? I feel like I am a lost soul without the guidance of Eli. I didn't use to be this way. I use to be my own man. Do my own thing. Now? I can't seem to get stable. One minute I'm eating the flesh off of animals, dead or alive, and the next I'm wanting a nice double bacon cheeseburger off a grill. Eli's conversation seems to have not been complete. I'm still struggling to find myself. The battle between Elisha and Eric Rex continues. One has to die, and soon or we'll both be gone I'm afraid.

Following the robbery event and my first encounter with the crazy Anonymous, I went back without food or money to Lacey. She also was struggling within herself as to who she was. Deep down inside both of us, we knew who we were to become. We just had to wait for the transformation to finally settle and be complete. When I went to Lacey to break the news I was empty handed and we would probably starve, she was holding the Lacey doll in her right hand and a bloody knife in the other. Lacey Rex was dying and this new Lacey who had raised me as my mother was winning the battle. She put away the knife and reached in her pocket. I wasn't sure what to expect as I was curious whose blood was dripping from the knife. She didn't seem it would benefit me or her to explain, but it kept my curiosity.

What she pulled out of her pocket was a reminder...

Maybe the reminder was good. Maybe it was bad. I knew at this moment I had no choice.

It was my mask. The one that was placed over my head in the barn that rests deep in Eli's second home known as The Village. This was part of the transformation that would remove Eric Rex from the world and usher in his replacement: me.

Lacey held that wrinkled and folded mask in her hand with blood drippings from the knife. It was clinched tight. It almost seemed like she was hesitant to give it to me. Maybe somewhere in her childlike mind is the hope I would be strong enough to refuse the mask. Maybe she was praying that I would destroy the mask, call myself Eric, and tell her she was my daughter now and forever. She stood there staring at me with those beautiful eyes awaiting my response. I wasn't sure what to do. I couldn't just stand here though. She was waiting on me to make the choice that would alter our lives.. for good possibly.


I had to do my best to go back in time in my brain to see which choice I was to make. I had to think about the good and bad that Eric Rex had done. I had to relive those moments where I stuck up for Sal, only to have him turn on me when Eli waved money in front of his face. I had to relive my young days as an orphan when my parents were simply paid employees. I had to think about how I brought Lacey into this whole mess because I craved to hurt Wallace Witasick.

I had to darken the thoughts I tried to push away when Eli attacked me after our tag team victory. The darkness that I felt in the barn. Every innocent person I killed. Every animal I feasted on whether alive or dead. I believe Eric has more good than Elisha. It's not just about me. My choice was going to affect a little girl who I care so much about. This little child deserves a normal life. She deserves a better life. Maybe it's time to leave this place, and just go somewhere to be at peace. To be a father to Lacey Rex, and her to be my daughter. For us to have a 4th of July celebration with fireworks. To dress up and travel to houses to get candy for Halloween. To have a nice sit down dinner at Thanksgiving. For her to wake up early morning on December 25th, walk downstairs and see her face as she opens presents. My decision has been made, and I think it's the best one.

Eric Rex shall live another day. Elisha, it's time to say goodbye.

              "I've made my decision. I choose Eric.

              "What do ya mean your decision?"

              "You know, between Eric and Elisha. I'm going to try to forget all about Elisha and move on. The both of us can leave and go be normal.

              "I'm sorry, but there's no choice to make. You are who you are. And that's my son, Elisha."

              "Lacey. Listen, you are my daughter. I am your father. There's no more Eli James. No more Congregation. We can be free. We have a chance, right now, to run away from the darkness. Drop the mask. Throw away the knife. Rip the doll up. And let's go home.

              "Elisha, we are home. Right here, in the woods. This is our home. This is where we belong. We are a family. You, me, Lacey doll, and even the knife. This isn't goodbye for us, but hello to a great future together. If there is a goodbye that takes place, then we must say goodbye to Eric Rex."

              "This is not your decision. I am your father. And this decision is final. We're leaving..

Those pretty eyes. The way they look into your soul. That smile would make any father do anything to make her happy. She may not see it now, but Eric and Lacey Rex will be much happier in the long run than Elisha and Lacey.

Lacey just smiles at Elisha, or Eric. He reaches to take the mask away from her hand and she frees up her grip for Eric to remove it.


              "Would ya put it on one more time? For me, daddy?"

I didn't think there was any harm in putting the mask back on. It doesn't have any kind of power. It's just cloth, or some type of material that is in the shape of a mask. There's no magical power. Kids wear things like this for Halloween. Luchadors wear them all the time when they wrestle. Of course I can put it on one last time for my daughter. There's no harm... at least I didn't think so.

Eric takes a deep breath and gives Lacey one more look. She gives a little pouty face that no one could resist. Eric begins to unfold the mask and just looks at it for a moment.

All the memories are so real when I hold this mask. Eli's fingerprints are all over it. It's haunted.

Eric places it over his face and looks like Elisha again.

              "Happy? It's on.

Eric starts to take it off, but is stopped by Lacey's request.

              "Daddy? Could you just leave it on for a few more minutes? Please? For me? I just want to remember this moment.

              "Uh, sure. For a few more minutes, then it's coming off and we're leaving. I'll send it in release request to the XWF and we'll go be normal.

Eric looks around the woods and is starting to shake a little. He hears every animal noise you can think of. He turns around to just look around, and so he doesn't have to look at Lacey who refuses to blink. It's kind of freaky.

I wish she wouldn't look at me like that. It's not like her. She won't blink. It's like shes obsessing over this moment. It's stra... oh man look at that deer. Sneaking. Browsing for food I'm sure and hoping no hunters are near. Beautiful creature. And tasty. One of my favor.. no! I can't. I'm so hungry. Lacey and I haven't had a meal in three days. My stomach is growling. I bet she's hungry. We can leave now. I can go get a job and within days we'll have a refrigerator full of food normal people have. I just have to curve my cravings from that tasty little deer. I bet she has family nearby who are just as good. That's a lot of meat. Well, maybe it won't hurt just for one last kill. One last bite. One last taste of fresh blood on my tongue. It can't hurt. She's hungry. I'll do it for her.

Eric leaps and starts tracking down the deer who is fleeing from Elisha. The deer's speed is no match for Elisha's speed, and strange 'sixth' sense of knowing his surroundings. No matter what woods Elisha stays in, it seems as if he lived there all his life. He knows branches, tree stumps, rocks, and water. The deer is caught and Elisha is eating. Lacey can't help but grin as she watches Elisha do what he does.

Elisha comes back with the deer across his shoulders bleeding to death. Elisha's mask and mouth is dripping with blood. He walks all the way up to in front of Lacey and throws the deer at her feet. She slowly pulls out her knife and gets down on her knees in front of the deer. She looks up at Elisha..

              "Thank you... son.

              "Eat M-M-Mommy. G-Good!

Lacey Rex. Lacey. The girl I tried to protect and keep from harm. The girl I brought into Eli's world. She killed Eric Rex much like I killed the innocence of Lacey Rex. I guess we're even.

I had a chance to do something for her, but again I failed. We are who we are now. We need guidance. Together we are in no way stable. Eli kept us in control and grounded in a way. Without Eli... without someone to take us to the right place at the right time... it's going to be a troublesome world.

              "I think this is best for both of us, son. Now we can live how we use to. Just think, son. Tomorrow night, you'll be a Champion again with Anonymous and Mr. Lesnar. My son back home. My son, a champion, and without Eli or the Congregation.