Parker Wayde [vs.] Storming Raven [vs.] Alexander Raven

“So, you lied about what a gauntlet matched entailed, to make me seem stupid? Why the fuck?” Alex was annoyed, and he was letting his new manager have it. This man had told him to make himself appear idiotic twice, and made himself seem helpless and hopeless. “Does it make you angry?” “Damn right it makes me angry, you idiot! What the hell do you expect it to make me? Excited?” He was simply met with a chuckle, and a retorting shake of the head, a slight shush escaping the man’s lips. “I fail to see the problem, this being the case. We are here to make you my second coming, are we not? We are here to make sure that you are able to prosper, and that no man, or woman alike can come between you and making the impact you so wish to.”

Alex snarled and slammed his fist down on the table in front of him, which was simply met with a further laugh. Alex was fuming, it was evident. The anger blazed across his eyes like an angry, unforgiving tornado. The docility of the emptiness that he had feigned the week before gone. Giving way to the true anger beneath. “I understand that. But making me look like a fucking idiot every single time I go out to that ring. Every single time I open my mouth, is not going to make me prosper. We’re not going to make me your protégé if you keep having me fuck up. I’m angry, and you’re doing nothing to fix this!” The outburst was merely met with a chuckle, and a sharp backhand to his face, knocking him flat off his feet. “Don’t get smart with Alex. I want you to think, very carefully. We’ve already come to the conclusion, that to make sure that you are an unbeatable force of reckoning, we needed to take a new approach. We needed to take you off the radar for a little while, and breed the beast of fiery rage within you. We’re doing just that. You get relaxed after you begin to win; you begin to become cocky in an ability that was only borne out of your fiery flaming anger to destroy others. You will develop better if you stand true to my routines. If you allow me to dictate when you can show off and win. And when you will be made to look idiotic and confused.”

Alex had risen to his feet whilst he’d been lectured, his foot hooking up into the coffee table kicking it square across the room and against the brick walls of the building they were currently in, ringing out a loud echo. Alex stared at the cloaked figure in front of him. He didn’t know why such measures were necessary when there was no chance of them being seen congregating. When he already knew who he was being controlled and dictated by. Who he was being trained by. Perhaps it was in case somebody did try and stalk them down. Maybe it gave him a sense of empowerment? Maybe the cloak was just really comfortable. “Why do I have to be made to look like an idiot? We’ve already figured out ways of creating a burning flame of anger deep within. We already know how to invoke the fire should I ever get relaxed. Why all these flashy flamboyancy’s? I don’t like it. At all.”[/i] The figure turned on his heel and began to slowly walk away, signalling with a flick of his fingers for Alex to follow in turn behind him. Alex did as he was told and followed on behind him, his hands balled into angry fists.

“Think logically now. You’ve been humiliated twice. Both times outwrestled, and once by looking like a complete idiot. This has awakened a different level of emotion within you. You’re always angry Alex, this I know. But you are assuaged far too quickly, and so it’s important to be able to recreate different levels and forms of the same emotion, yet in different potency. You’re put against Storming and Parker this week Raven. Do you remember the humiliation you felt at the hands of Storming Raven? We will invoke that anger, breached with that rage you’ve felt by the faltering at the hands of the likes of Jack Savage and Flex Johnson. You’ll be at your epitome of ability, and the height of your aggression. The sort that you invoked upon Alexander Remington when you should’ve ended him. That level of anger Raven, is what you need, every week. That level of power and strength. We’re going to make sure that you feel that adrenaline rush, every week. That your veins are filled with the pure power to crush those who stand in your way Raven. We’re going to ensure this. Once this comes with ease, you won’t need to lose. Knowing that these men think they can stand against you will be enough.”

Alex simply grunted, knowing that he was right. He shook his head and punched the wall once, before a rough grip was placed upon his wrist. “I don’t like being like this. I want to be happy. Why can’t we go about this differently? Why can’t we just use my natural ability, and not have to make me angry beyond belief?” This was met with a chuckle, and the release of the hand, the clicking of fading footsteps chorusing with a final few statements. “Do not be naïve Raven. We both know, the only reason anyone succeeds in this business is anger. Don’t waste it on the wall. Save it for the victory. In winning you can be happy, whilst still maintaining the anger to continue winning. Don’t fail me this week Raven. Or I shall find a new protégé.”

Alex simply let out a primal scream, echoing throughout the entirety of the building, coupled only by the cackling laughter that coincided with it. Alex slowly stalked off, to get ready to go for his daily training sessions. He was going to need something to keep him simmered before unleashing the beast at Battlegrounds.

“I often wonder, how’d I get to this point? Where the words I speak, are never backed up by the actions I make. For a day or two, people remember the highlights, the achievements I’ve had. Then for months of come, they laugh and mock the name of Alexander Raven. The Raging Raven. They laugh and simply cast aside my achievements for a mistake. Guess that’s to be expected with the vanity of people. Can’t expect to be respected by those who within themselves cannot be respected. The people, the fellow athletes and those who think they can change, critique me. They are wrong. They’re all wrong. Nobody has the power to critique me. Nobody is allowed to try and beat me down. Nobody. I am in control of myself, and the world around me. I am. Nobody else. The anger I feel is brewed from the inability and idiocy of those around me. It is time I stop allowing myself to become deluded by the possibility that people are able to evolve beyond. That people will bend to my whim with the mere presence of power. No, I must show them their errors. I must show them, what is necessary to do to beat me. Then show them the futility in believing that winning, is stopping the pure force. I will show people the truth.”

The scene slowly began to fade in, the darkness being torn about by pillars of light. The light was piercing through windows, a derelict looking building. A person sitting in the frame of one of the windows, the glass smashed out, littering the floor. There was the whistle of wind, screaming through the air, breaking the silence that sat eerily over the scene. There was a slight grunt from the short-hair, broad-shouldered figure, then the person began to sway slightly in the window frame, before slowly pushing back, swinging his legs over and turning into the house. The blaze of anger flashing across the eyes of the stubbled face of Alexander Raven. His beard had been shaven off, giving him a slightly rougher, more agitated and wild look. His hair still cropped relatively short to his head. A slight smile creasing the face of Raven.

||Alexander Raven||
“Storming Raven. How’ve you been buddy? It’s been a long, long time hasn’t it? How’ve you been? Did your wife ever get back to? I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t. After the nights, I had my way with her I wouldn’t want to go back to a half a man either. What was the threat back then, Storming? Release the Wendigo? Have you changed since then Storming? Have you grown into a bigger and better man? Are you running with a new gimmick? Or are you realising the truth inside yourself? I think you’d be better off being the man you really are. Not hiding the reality of it all. Maybe then she would’ve loved you like she ended up loving me? Perhaps your schizophrenic delusions deluged you any truth of the situation. Maybe I’m just insane Storming, and you’ve already bypassed all these barriers I speak of. Maybe, but I doubt it. Why do I doubt this Storming? Because I know the kind of person you are. I remember the pure anger that flowed through your veins. I know the vanity that you would have felt after beating me in that match when you hung me over the rope. Despite it, you never got your true revenge for the humiliation that was served to you after that match, did you Storming? Now, you’ll be given a chance to fix all that you couldn’t. Now you’ll be given that chance. But, do you see this crumbling house before me, Storming? This house, just like me is collapsing in on itself. Unable to deal with the world, ceasing to be. Whilst the house will become dust, never to be seen again, you Storming know that that my ceasing, that any ceasing and collapse of a person is not of the physical. At least not for those of us fuelled by rage. No, this cease is the anger, being allowed to envelop our minds. Just as this house’s walls are collapsing, so are the mental barriers I’ve put in place to stop myself from destroying those who stand before me. But, there’s a revelation Storming. My dear master, has shown me the truth, is priming me to be otherwise. He’s breaking down their barriers. As these walls collapse, so does my ability to stop the rage from flowing within. The beast calls for the blood of those who have put me in the spotlight as a weakling. As an idiot. The beast demands reprimand, in the form of your destruction. It demands that you fall beneath my boot.”

With this, Alex stomped his foot the glass beneath his foot cracking and crunching, dust falling from the roof, the room itself seeming to shake, almost like an earthquake. After a few moments all settled back to a normal, the cocky grin spreading wide across Raven’s face. His hand moving up into his hair, gripping at it, seeming to struggle between a momentary sanity and a lapse in control over himself, bending down, hunching over. His back heaving up and down, with heavy breathing. The laughter ripping through the wind, bouncing off the empty walls of the shabby brick and wood building. The floor creaking under his feet.

||Alexander Raven||
“See how the world bends and screams to the will of the person? See how the world turns, and continues to turn but none stop to watch the collapse of things that are beaten by the weather? Nobody cares for individuals like us Storming. Nobody cares about what happens to those of us, who cannot keep a sane mask, to show the world. Nobody cares. Why should they, it’s not like it truly matters to them. We are the ones’ who must control our actions Storming. Do we allow the world to continue to mock us, do we allow people to continually place judgment upon us? I don’t think we should. Whereas you may be content, always being second place. Just making cameos against the bigger names, I am not. I will never be content Storming. Not until everyone has experience the true rage of the Raging Raven. Not until the thirst of the unquenchable beast has been quenched. Not until the rumbling thunder that inhabits the very soul of my body is able to move on, able to exist peacefully. Do you see the issue here Storming? Whilst filth like you roams the world, I will never be content. Whilst people hide their true emotions, and seek out to hide from the world, I will never be content. The beast will never relinquish its grasp on my throat while you still stand in that ring Storming. And whilst cheap revenge and shutting me up, might be your goal, mine extends far beyond you and your pathetic existence. I took what you held dearest, and threatened to choke you to an inch of your life. I took what mattered most to Alexander Remington and beat him to within an inch of his life. The father, that I finally parted ways with, was burned to an inch of his life. And like father like son, I was burned to within an inch of my life, by those who you once stood beside. Who is the true beast, Storming?”

He growled lowly within his throat, placing his hands upon his thighs lightly. Standing back up slowly, he closed his eye, moving one hand up to his face, pinching the bridge of his nose between his middle and index fingers. He began to slowly walk forward, away from the window and into what would’ve once been a living area. The faded leather couches covered in a layer of dust, a sad image into what would’ve once been quite possibly a happy home. Raven placed his hand lightly on the back of the couch. Squeezing into the fabric gently, sighing deeply.

||Alexander Raven||
“What was home life like for you Storming? You too Parker, don’t think I’ve forgotten you. I have a special place for you. Just you wait, keep prime and ready. I don’t want you to relax and think you’ve been forgotten about. You’re next. Firstly however, I need to make Storming realise, the futility of the situation he is in. What was home life like? Were things happy and fun? Did you go and play games with the other kids? Were your parents in love, and happy together. Or maybe it was single parenting, and you were raised by your father alone. Did he beat you? Did everyone from society reject your very existence, yet in the same moment fear what would happen if you ever did snap? Did you black out when kids insulted your cheap home done bowl cut? Did you find yourself over a messed up, broken and bloody child fists throbbing and knuckles exposed and white, the skin torn open and bleeding. Children around you screaming, telling you to stop. Did you ever have these problems Storming? Did your father, tell you, he hated you? Blamed you for your mother’s death? Did you find your happiness. Good memories and all warmth fading? The humour you once had, disappearing and the light of the world beginning to fade. I know these feelings Storming. I don’t think you honestly do. I don’t think you understand the agony and rage that wells up in a naturally enraged child. I don’t think you know the brutality of the world. It doesn’t require a bad neighbourhood. It doesn’t require lack of money, or even a broken household. It just requires a bad situation. It just requires one screw-up, one mistake. It just requires anger within a person. It just requires somebody wanting something to the point of wanting to murder another if they don’t. A child’s view on the world being broken isn’t worth that of an adult’s money bet. It didn’t matter, the cruelty of the world needed to be exposed didn’t it Storming?”

Alex slammed his fist on the couch, before slamming his foot into it, flipping it over. A moment later the floor gave way and the couch fell through the floor. Alex spread his arms out and pointed all around the room, spinning in a slow circle.

||Alexander Raven||
“Do you see this broken home, Storming? The walls collapse, and the beasts within are unleashed. I want you to understand that you will experience the rage of the beast. You lucked out, you are a sole focus, a major desire of blood for the assuagement of the creature. You personally are a reason for my initial collapse, and now your blood, flesh and bones will serve as my ladder back. Your own soul will be fed to the rage, to increase the flame. To show everyone that you cannot stand against me. That nobody can stand against me. No one. Not you, not Jack Savage, not Flex Johnson and not Parker Wayde. You will fall by my feet Storming, and I will use you as the first rung on the ladder. I will make sure you understand that you are nothing compared to me. I want you to understand. You are useless in this world. And you Parker. There is a special place in this all for you ‘Dragon Slayer’. Show me rage, Storming. Show me your… RAGE!”

With a bright smile, a flash of anger, Raven flicked his head backwards, and allowed the word ‘rage’ to erupt from deep down in his throat, exploding through the house. The camera slowly fading out, focusing upon Raven. The word echoing in the eventual darkness. The soft dropping of water, followed only by a single word splayed across the darkness in red.

“Rage.”

“Why do we fight, when we know that it will get us nowhere? Why do we continue to have conflict with each other, when deep down, we know. We know that in the end, we won’t be any better off than we started. We’re all just angry men, who are trying to find focus on the long road to nothingness. We’re just upset children, unable to get what they want. And when everything is said and done, and we must pass the torch onto the next generation, we’ll leave as aggressive old men, doomed to spend the rest of our days savagely beating our wives, and destroying all who stand by us. Maybe think of this the next time you go down to the park, and you see that old war veteran. Just sitting there, telling people off who try and talk to him. Maybe, he was just raped of his happiness, and refused of everything he had spent his life trying to achieve. Just another angry man, destined to die, knowing that nothing he had worked to get, is going to be for nothing, and he’s going to pass away, upset and angry, and without purpose. Savage intentions, isn’t it?”

The scene slowly began to fade in. Engulfed the laughter and happiness of people. Children were playing, sun beaming down. People seemingly having fun. Raven was standing, smiling a rather forced smile upon his face, looking over the green grassy of the park, to all the people yelling and shouting and enjoying themselves in the warmth of the sun. Then within a moment, a simple chuckle from Alex’s lips the scene changed. Doused in darkness. Everyone was gone, leaving Raven standing alone, the same, but seemingly more malevolent smile upon his face. It was night-time, all within a moment. His hand moving to the back of his head, gripping at what hair he could.

||Alexander Raven||
“I remember, when I first came to this company, Parker. You were, the top of the tier. The ‘Dragon Slayer’ I remember you dubbing yourself as. The night you beat the almighty, unbeatable Stygian and took the top crown of the business, solidifying yourself as a top player of the business. I remember thinking to myself. ‘When I finally beat down Remington. Beat down all the naysayers of the business and become something more than a joke, I will beat that man. I will take him down and I will make everyone see, who I am. Time has passed since then, and this is what I’m faced with. You, and Storming. My first rival here in IWF, besides the almighty Remington, and the man I was determined to one day get to, to bring down. How quaint, that after it all. After everything that has happened, I’m now placed against the both of you. What does this say? Does this say that Storming and I have far surpassed the level of talent we once had? Or does this put you down as nothing? Just a man who got lucky, and now has nothing. Jobbing it along with the rest of us nobodies? I wonder Parker. Do you sleep well at night, knowing your fall from grace, and seeing the world as you do now, the destruction of the company around you, and your inability to stop it. How do I know, you can’t stop it? Quite easily. You’re being faced off against nobodies. Laughing stocks like Storming and I. People who are going against the likes of Jack Savage, and Flex Johnson. Nobody’s of the business. People who are here, because we create anticipation and time to build hype for those who are worth the money put into them. The Alex Dillinger’s and Corey Bull’s. The Stygian’s. I wonder, how does it make you feel inside, knowing that you were raped of the spotlight, by those who are the new faces of the business here. The new players of the company. How does it make you feel, knowing you’re now facing against people like me? Does it boil you inside Parker? Does it make you mad? You’re probably wondering why I said this place was a special place. Specially chosen for you. Well, we’ll see shan’t we?”

Alex grinned slightly, tapping himself in the back of the head lightly, as he began to walk down a running path. The wind blowing through the treetops, brushing the leaves in murmured whispers. ‘Does he have what it takes?’ ‘Can he do it?’ ‘Who does he think he is?’ ‘He’s way over his head.’ The whispers of the trees taking muttered words, echoing. Alexander’s face softening slightly as he closed his eyes, sitting himself down on a patch of grass, seemingly nowhere special within the park. Just another patch of green amongst all the others.

||Alexander Raven||
“I remember the day I came to IWF. When I attacked Alexander Remington, and made the IWF universe know my face. I came to this park, or one like it and just say. Sat and asked myself ‘What am I doing? Am I truly this obsessed with being better?’ The more I asked, the more confused I became. Until I eventually just, collapsed within my own thoughts. With each question, two more sprung to life. ‘What do I do, if I do beat him? Then what? Do I go back to living life happily? Tell my still recovering father to suck it up? What do I do?’ It seemed, that despite the intentions of actions, there was no respite from the constant brooding anger that lay within. Despite what I intended to do, once it was all settled, I had nothing. I saw, that my entire career up to that point, had consisted of trying to be better than one person. If I was, then what was left for me? Nothing. I almost have to thank Alexander Remington for what he did. For the injustice that was served to me, because whilst I was recovering from the burns in hospital, I had time to think. I thought a lot Parker. A lot. And I watched, the going-ons of the company, and I kept in knowledge of everything that was happening. I saw you rise up, and I saw you take the belt. Then I knew. That if I beat one desire, then another would take its place. I found a realisation within myself, that to be truly happy, I constantly had to challenge myself. I constantly had to find a source to feed the beast that had lay dormant, content with the fuel it had been provided. I had to do something to keep it going. I had to. It was in those weeks, possibly months that I lay in bed, recovering that I learned, I needed to do something. That’s when I was approached. Shown what I needed to do, in order to get what I wanted. A special person showed me that. He drove my hand, and he made me do things I thought beyond my ability. I drove Storming to the brink of insanity. I destroyed both physically and mentally his wife. I broke them. But, I wasn’t ready. There was more than needed to be done before I could start taking down people like you Parker. There were things that needed to be done. I needed to find a central place. A point of evenness, between the rage and desire. An equinox. So I came back to this park, Parker, and I sat here. Thinking. The thoughts raging through my mind again. Finding that equinox. Searching for that equinox. I needed it, to know if I was ever going to stand against you, or anyone that I saw of that calibre, I was going to need to find that source within myself. I needed to find that anger. The intention. Those savage intentions.”

He smiled, more realistically this time. Less anger, less force. His hands linking between his hand at the fingers, as he leaned back, lying out on the grass. A light rift of laughter escaping from his lips. The evident loss in his sanity showing, an almost split personality forming. A deeply aggressive, yet logical Raven. And a calm, relaxed, and retrospective Raven. Polar opposites, yet maintaining the same, edge cutting words.

||Alexander Raven||
“Irony, Parker. Your namesake, and this place of homage for me. A place of thought and return. The irony. I once respected you Parker. As an athlete, and a fellow competitor of the business. In the same way I once respected Jack Savage, Griffin Hawkins and Alexander Remington. However, as I’ve watched, and continued to observe, I’ve lost respect for these individuals. I’ve lost respect for all those who honestly stand in that ring against me. I’ve had it. Deep within, I may one day, allow my respect for you, and others to return, but, I would not count on it Parker. Whereas you may not be the sole focus of my cautions, you’re destruction at my hands will be the sole focus of my assaults. I intend to make you scream in pain. To beg for release that will not come. I want to hear your bones snapping, threatening to break under pressure. I want people to see that Alexander Raven, is no laughing matter. That Alexander Raven is that of which this company now needs. Someone who’ll stand up to the likes of Alex Dillinger, Gordon Fury. Smack the talk and crap out of the mouths of those like Jack Savage and Flex Johnson. Beat down the rapid animals like Corey Bull and Griffin Hawkins. It is necessary. You were once the sole chance this company had, and you failed to live up to the expectations that were set before. So now, you shall suffer in the defeat that you will receive at my hands. You will suffer in the crush you will feel beneath the sole of my shoe. You will beg for fucking mercy, as I threaten to pull your head from your goddamn shoulders. I will break you in two, and leave you lying in the middle of the ring, begging for the mercy that you do not deserve. You failed me, personally. Without knowing it, you failed everyone. I will show you what happens to failures Parker. I’ll set this fucking town on fire, if I need to. I will burn you out, and I will break your pretty little face. Then, and only then, will my anger be assuaged. Momentarily, against you. Just like Storming, your life will amount to nothing more than a rung of flesh, blood and bone on my ladder back to the top of the totem pole. Back to where the legends sit. You will be nothing but a rung beneath my feet. I will show you, the futility of your actions. Yet, you, and Storming, despite the anger I feel. Do not hold the sway of my anger. The true anger. No, that place is reserved for someone special. Who took it upon themselves to personally attack me, and insult me as a person. Savage intentions, aren’t they, Jack?”

The smile slowly faded from his face, disappearing into a frown, a bonfire of flame roaring across Alex’s eyes. In only a moment his entire presence changed. He was burning with a deep aggression, his hands now gripping at his hair again, as he began to slowly sit up, then stand. Bending over, he began to heave slightly, seemingly struggling once more with his grip. A lapse in control over his sanity.

||Alexander Raven||
“We failed to live up to our promises, but yet in were likely to have only have caused more anger in each other. Jack, you and I. We could’ve been friends, we could’ve been nice to each other. But, you took it upon yourself, to make claims. You took it upon yourself to insult me personally, and not only that, but try and tell me you were better than I. At all but one encounter Jack, I’ve bested you. Beaten you down, and stopped you. I allowed you, one victory over me. Something to be proud of. Yet you threw it back in my face. I pity you Jack. I pity your intentions. For the savage nature of my actions that are bound to come, will know no limits. I ask you to watch your back, Jacky boy. I ask you to be careful, for when the raven strikes. He will destroy you. Jack, Parker. Show me your… RAGE!”

With a bright smile, a flash of anger, Raven flicked his head backwards, and allowed the word ‘rage’ to erupt from deep down in his throat, exploding through the open night sky. The camera slowly fading out, focusing upon Raven. The word echoing in the eventual darkness. The soft tap of fading footsteps, followed only by a single word splayed across the darkness in red.

“Rage.”