A lot of weird and wild shit happens in Vegas on a daily basis. There were plenty of sinful cities on this planet but for the US? Vegas might take the cake overall. I think it's because nobody really talks about what happens in Vegas and that's usually the point.

Marriages, Murder, disorderly conduct, partying with as many varieties of impersonators as you can hope to have in one location. Drugs, Alcohol, women, men, the lines to cross are often faded in Las Vegas, Nevada and part of me wanted to hate this town with a passion.

Yet I kept coming back..

Now though? I was heading away from the lights. Getting out of the town of gambling that often kept time from passing or made it seem so. I had to leave. I had a show in LA that I couldn't miss. A title to defend because as a Champion, a fighting one, that's what the fuck you do!

That was the plan anyway..

The drive down I-15 South wasn't a long drive but it was long enough to give a man time to think. Most of it was empty highway with a sprinkle of gas stations or little worn down gift shops along the way. I let my eyes drift to the right, seeing a place that sold fools gold.

Checking the time on the touch screen of the rental, it said it was 3:47 AM and I was out here seemingly alone on the road. A road sign informed me that the next gas station wasn't for another 2.5 miles. Suddenly, I had to urinate.

“I guess we're stopping at the gas station..” I informed me and myself.

Didn't take long before I was pulling into the gas station. A few 18 wheelers parked on the side, there wasn't much activity going on at this hour. Most people who stopped here either needed Gas, the bathroom or something to drink. I was here for the latter of the three options.

Piss, Coffee, and something to snack on.


“Aurora. I can't say I’m deeply familiar with your work but I’m told that you USED to be something to see!

A broken record of description of someone's past. It's like when someone dies and everyone suddenly has nothing but good things to say about them like they never did no wrong. Sure, don't speak ill of the dead but who made that fucking rule?

You’ve been out of the ring for what? Three years or so now? Not just away from the ring but away from society as a whole ain't that right? Out in the desert working at a tattoo parlor, correct? I bet you got all kinds of experience doing that and you chose that life instead of this one?

For what?

Maybe I missed the finer details but for someone who is riddled with battle scars and enjoys a good old fashion FIGHT? You sure seem to have run away and hid yourself from one..

Really, the more you hear Jimmy Stars tell it, the more you begin to feel the hype of what you bring to the table! You seem disconnected though a d I imagine you have a thick layer protecting yourself from whatever mental depression or guilt you have run away from these past few years. Now faded, you feel comfortable coming back to the world, the life that you left behind.

And you want me to believe that you can beat me? For the better part of this year, I have held the Television Title. For the better part of this year, I have looked across the ring and found a struggle in a fight with former Universal Champions and contenders for every other Title this company has to offer.. You? Like Garcia before you, you are just walking through the front door.

Fresh meat but knowing that you are a name from years past, maybe not so fresh, huh? Let's call it Used and Abused.

Remodeled?

No.. Hmm… Refurbished!

The new you but is it a new lease on your purpose in this sport or were you so fucking bored out in the desert that you said fuck it and have an itch you want to scratch? Grease up the joints, strap on the boots and march your ass down to the ring on Monday.

I’ll help you figure it out.”


I wanted to drive away. I had done what I came here for. Peed, got snacks and a refill of coffee. I was set but yet.. I was tired. It didn't help that I hot boxed the rental after coming out of the gas station. My eyes were heavy and I felt a desperate need for some shut eye. Trying to find a thought as to when I last had some sleep, it had to be at least a day or two now.

Laying my head back against the headrest of the driver seat. I let my eyes close but no sooner as I do, I flinch awake in a jolting manner. Now I was wide awake but my body was wanting to rest. I felt sluggish in movement.

“Fuck it..”

I reach into the backseat and pull my duffel bag up front. Tossing it into the passenger seat, I unzip the bag open. My Television Title sitting on top, I shove it to the side and dig down deep.

“Ahh ha! Found it!”

Pulling my hand free, I had a golden bracelet held in its grip. My grip. I still had no idea what this thing was. Maybe it was a false idol that my mind has just fallen into believing but it held no real magic? I wasn't sure but anytime I have kissed it while wearing it, I fall to sleep immediately. To someone like me?

That WAS magic. I believed in it solely off that alone. So that's what I did.. Laying my head back again, I slip the bracelet onto my right wrist but as it turns out? I wasn't gonna be taking a nap right now..

TAP

TAP

TAP

A light blares into the window blinding me as my eyes squint at the bright beam. What had I done to attract attention? I parked on the side of the building but maybe that in itself was suspicious to a Police Officer. Hitting the button to roll down the window, I knew they would be hit with a cloud of marijuana.

“Yes, Officer?” I asked but as I asked, I realized I didn't actually see who was standing outside of my rental.

It wasn't a cop.

I knew that as I felt the barrel of a gun reach into the car and press against my head. When they say your life flashes before your eyes as you face death? It's a lie, at least for me. My final thoughts were simple: I wasn't sure I would make it to LA so I could defend my Title.

Really, what else do I have these days other than the Television Title? It has yet to leave me behind. It has yet to show its true colors and I have yet to feel betrayal or distrust with the process of defending it each and every show. Now what might be my final moments? It was all I had left.

“I’m ready..” I managed to mutter as I felt them pull the trigger.


“Match one. You faced Dionysus. Sure, I didn't beat him THIS last time but count the tallies and you’d see that in the overall of him and I inside that ring? I’ve beaten him twice before and he has this one draw to count for something.

How did you fare?

I get it! You don't like introductions but in those moments, you either impress or get pressed and by the looks of that match, you found contact with the latter.

It's fine. We all have our shortcomings. I’ve lost plenty. The first time I tried winning the TV Title, a weirdo named Charlie Nickles had the belt. I came up short then. I came up short on Anarchy as well. I claimed I would do this or do that and did not do a single thing I sat out to do..

Dark days have found me on plenty of occasions. Like you, I ran away. I left XWF but what I didn't do was stop altogether. I didn't run away and hide my head like a weak fucking ostrich..

You did that.

I fought, clawed, bit and squeezed nuts if it needed to take place in order to climb out of my own hole and return to where I wanted to be.. XWF.

Dio might have given you your first match but this, with me? I give you your first real WELCOME to the dance..

Fuck where you been, it's about where you're at and right now, you are my next challenger to a Title too heavy for you to carry as I have.”


A Few Days Ago..

“Sister!!” I shouted as I found her in a crowd of people at the arcade. It felt like playing ‘Where’s Waldo’ with as many people as there were here. Still, I knew my Sister.

Spinning around upon hearing my voice. Echo Layne lights up with an expression of joy as she barrels through people and plows into me with a hugging embrace. Giving her a squeeze, she squeaked like a cat toy. It suited her.

She was why I came to Vegas. My baby Sister. Not by blood but just as well, she was the very small number of people past or present that I considered family. It had been a while since we last saw each other and I knew after coming back from Italy that I needed to make time to do that.

“What do you want to play first?” She asks with a bubbly tone. “They got pinball..” She turns and points in one direction. “Oohhh! Air Hockey!”

I didn't have much of a choice anymore. Dragging me along with her, Echo leads us to a beautiful air hockey table.

“My Brother and I got next!” She proclaims as she slaps down some quarters onto the side of the table. Turning, she smiles at me and waves me to watch the match taking place.

For a while, that's what we did. We played games. Won tickets and she got to pick out a prize and of course she chose a stuffed pink cat. She was destined to become a Cat Lady when she got older but I think she was planning for that.

After the arcade, we grabbed something to eat and caught up. She told me about how her Marriage was going and poured on the details about all of her cats and their personalities. It was a lot actually but she was so alive with joy telling it..

I wasn't complaining.

I dodged my own stuff as best as I could. Not wanting to tell her about my ‘Fan’ from months ago. He was dead and her along with anyone I ‘cared’ about were no longer in harm’s way so what was to even tell?

“Hey, do me a favor?” She pops the question with a serious nature to her voice.

“Yeah?”

“Stop acting like you aren't having fun!” She nudges me with an elbow as she devours more fries. “Cause I’ll kick your butt if you're not!” That part was almost incoherent as she chomped and chewed on a mouthful of french fried potaters.

“I’m having fun..” Shrugging, I was enjoying myself. Echo was a blast to be around but her perkiness was very familiar. That and I knew I had another match coming up. One with an opponent I still needed to study up on more.

“Sounds like a ‘but’ is coming.” She stops chewing and looks over at me.

“N–”

Cutting me off, she returns to chewing and talking. “Doesn't matter because we're going swimming and Candice is meeting us at the pool.”

“.. Candice?” I didn't recognize the name.

“Yeah, my friend I wanted you to meet?”

I had forgotten. To be fair, I wasn't in the mood to meet new people. I didn't want to make friends because those were more often than not just another side story to tell later when things go bad. As I watched Echo guzzle up soda from a straw to wash down the salty fries, I found myself unable to make a case for why meeting this Candice chick might be a bad idea. I left it alone. Maybe my Sister knew best..


“What's fucked is that you don't even have to PIN me! You don't have to submit me or truly defeat me to take MY belt from me!

You just have to climb a ladder and reach for the stars that will take you to stardom! Can you reach high enough? Have you climbed out of the hole you have been in for the past three years and truly believe you can reach for the red belt of gold that hangs from the ceiling?

You like to fight, right? You like a good scuffle? A well placed scrap? Then they found you the best place for it because that's what the fuck I do! I scrap, my action is scrapping and it's by the skin on your teeth or with me standing tall over you with my hand raised and a belt in its grasp.

I love the fight so if you can bring it..

Bring. It. On.

It's not an over compensation of ‘hardcore’ or Extreme as they call it here. I don't need the use of tables, chairs and chainsaws to do what I do but rest assured, the shit still hits the fan. The necks still leave with an X-Ray required. Bodies go on stretchers if you do it right and that's with or without the use of weapons.

Not that I’m against them, if you want to swing, let's con-chair and toe each other until one can't stand. Bitch ass Dionysus wants that from me at Relentless.. Ironman match, 30 mins. Can you spoil that stage for us? Take away the Championship that would no doubt be on the line for a match at the biggest PPV of the year around these parts?

I don't believe you can but I say that wanting you to fucking try! I beg of you to try and tear down the foundation I have made with this title on MY shoulder! Bring some boulders, you’ll need them to just get started.”


I heard no BANG. I felt nothing hot enter my body nor were the lights of life cut off. What happened? Opening my eyes to see the world again, I found a man outside of my car. A gun in hand but he was shaking it and looking at it with a confused stare.

“Ha! Your gun jammed, didn't it?!” I said almost mockingly to the man. What cause did he have to just try shooting me?

Tugging at the gun, hitting it, it was clear he had no idea what he was doing. Part of me wanted it to be as simple as the safety being turned on. That would be a riot in this situation and I chuckled out loud at the predicament I was in.

“Hey, buddy? Can we hurry this up? I have a show in LA on the 2nd..”

All he was doing was mumbling and cursing under his breath. Finally the sound of a click is heard and fills both of our ears with a surprise. “Ahhh haaa!” He says with a clamoring cheer. Re-aiming the pistol at me, I throw the driver side door open and he goes flying back!

“Lemme ask you..”

I begin to say as I step out of the rental. I was no longer tired. My body and mind were both actively awake as I looked down at the man on the ground. The gun was on the pavement having slid a good few feet away. It was out of his reach which made me feel so much more comfortable.

“What were you trying to accomplish? Other than to shoot some stranger in the head? Did you want to rob me? Steal my car?”

“I.. I…” He was stuttering. Lost for words as the tables had turned against him. “I just want to go home!” He blurted out. It was more whimpering? He was crying.


“A future star is what Jimmy Stars said you can be! How exciting! But with you being from the past, does that make you a Back to the Future Star?

How does that work?

Doesn't matter, I wonder if it is YOU that will be the focus or will it be Jimmy who stands tallest in the spotlight? A spotlight that you will gain scars from. That you will take beatings to obtain. For who will it be shining on though? You for whatever success you have or him when you fail one too many times and end up back in the desert before anyone notices you left?

It doesn't make any difference to me. I will STILL be the Television Champion! I will STILL be the Premier Television Provider in this area and like those that came before you, it's the first part of the month and the bill is due..

Will Jimmy put you in the line of fire because of the noise that spews from his mouth or will you be able to back up every exaggeration or upsell that he makes in your name?

I think you have people around you that you can't truly trust and that makes every step you take risky. It's like walking on thin ice on the surface of a large pond. You won't find those in the desert but trust me that if you step down in the wrong forward progress, it might be the last step you take before your whole fucking opportunity sinks below the surface..

I don't have to pin you or make you tap either. I just have to put you down long enough so that I can climb up the ladder and pull down the title that as of late, BELONGS to me!

Mine!

Mine!

I’m the fucking Seagull in Finding Nemo when it comes to this Championship!

You want to be a Champion? Find that success AFTER this match like Ryan Garcia did. In another promotion because here, in this opportunity, you are in there with someone who will do literally anything I need to do to keep you from winning.

Poor Jimmy..

He wants you to be his Future Star but the fall is far from the top of the ladder and upon landing, you’ll no doubt see stars. A few floating and one holding the Television Title still at the top of the mountain.

Me.

I’m not the brightest of stars but my shine will burn bright as it stays lighting shit up with my hand held high!”


What was I doing? This at random shit just seemed risky at times and this was one of those times.

“When my Dad got sick, I split.”

The kid begins to explain his situation. The person who tried to shoot me was just a kid. Seventeen years old and struggling to find his way not just in life but to find his way back home.

“How long have you been out here on your own?” Sitting behind the wheel, I glanced over at the kid as he was chewing on what snacks I bought from the gas station.

“Three years.” Saying as he hard gulped down some partially unchewed candy. “I left when I was 14.”

It struck me. Caught me in my own head a bit because I was only a year older than him when I left home. When I stumbled into a job that led me into this world of Professional Wrestling. I found my way and have lost it time and time again since then but I knew his struggles to a degree.

This wasn't a face turn. Don't get it confused, fuckers..

I drove and he talked. He cried, he got angry and I was halfway annoyed by all his emotions. Explaining every aspect of his life and the hard times he has had to manage through while living on his own. Trusting nobody but himself. It was a hard road to travel at any age.

“Where is ‘home’ anyway?” Wondering just how far he had run away when he was 14.

“Silverdale, Washington.”

“So you far, far from home then.. Geez.. And you hitched the whole way or what?”

Nodding. He looked like shame had been a big part of that time. I couldn't imagine what he had to do just to get down the road at that age. After we got all the details out of the way of how we got to where we are, I came to a decision.

“So after we get to LA.. You can take the car..”

“Really?! A.. Are you sure?” He seemed reluctant.

“Positive.” Passing a pre rolled cone to him, I added to my answer. “I was meaning to take a trip down the coast but.. That fell through, I guess.”

“Ohh man! That's.. I don't know what to say..”

There was nothing he needed to say. Sure, he tried to shoot me and his gun jammed. If I was that desperate, I’d kill too. No hesitation. Been there, done that but prove it or just think of me as a liar.

“When you get to where you need to go, ditch the car. After you ditch it, call me. I’ll handle the rest. No worries.”

“Why?” He says under his breath.

“Why what? Ditch the car?” I ask, turning briefly to look in his direction. Truthfully he reminded me of Elm. My former protege who I beat down and has since disappeared. I wonder where he ran off to..

“No, why help me? I.. I tried to kill you..”

Shrugging. I wasn't sure of the entire reasoning behind it.

“Won’t be the last to try. We all have to travel down some bad roads to get to a destination sometimes. I’ve been there..”

“Thank you.. You're a good man!”

“No. No, I’m really not..” I said with as much honesty as I could place in a voice. “Get some rest.”

Eyes on the road. I began to wonder what made me a bad guy as opposed to a good one. Seeing the bracelet still on my right wrist, I wondered if the magic was influencing my good nature?

I contemplated throwing it out the window just on the idea that wearing it might make me.. Nicer? Fuck that. I scoffed and groaned, growled a bit as I drove along I-15 South. I knew with LA there could be even more shenanigans. Warfare or even going to see Rae.

She swung swords like Conan and could probably kick every Ninja Turtles ass. I didn't know where my road, my highway was taking me anymore but that was just part of life.. And I was set on living it until it decided to punch my ticket.

My phone vibrated. With my left hand on the wheel, my right brings my phone to eye level. It was times like these, I wish I had a crooked eye. I got a text.

“Speak of the devil..” It was from Rae.. An address and a pin for the room she was in. I sighed but a grin filled my face as I put both eyes back on the road and headed to my destination.