Origins #8

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Rick
Wake up Dan.

Dan felt someone slap his face. He recognized the voice as Rick's immediately. Suddenly some water was splashed in his face. Dan shook his head and tried to wipe it off his face but when he tried to use his arms he couldn't. He tried pulling them. He realized they were tied behind him. He was tied to a chair. He looked around. It was a dark room only lit by a desk lamp that was pointed straight at him. He could feel the heat coming off of it.

Rick
Wake up. We have some business to attend to.

He was seated in front of a desk which the lamp was on. Oddly there were no windows in the room and he could only make out the figure of Rick standing there.

Rick
So. Mr. Alexander. That is your name right?

Dan
...What the fuck is this...?

Rick
Answer the question.

Dan
....Yes it is....

Rick
Good. And you are employed by IWF correct?

Dan
Yes. What the fuck is this about? How did I get here?

Dan realized he didn't even remember how he got here or what had happened to him. The last thing he remembered was going home after his match with Johnny Morbid. Then nothing.

Rick
That doesn't matter right now.

Rick then placed a piece of paper on the desk and slid it in front of Dan.

Rick
I'll give you a minute to read it.

Dan
What is it?

Rick
Fifty seconds left.

Dan looked down at it. His vision wasn't the best right now. He was still groggy and confused and this wasn't the best lighting for his eyes either.

Rick
Thirty...

Dan focused on the text. He focused on keywords. He spotted his name several times in the document. And at the bottom was a signature line.

Rick
Ten seconds left.

Then Dan saw the all important word: resign. He didn't have to be a genius to figure out what this was about. Then Rick abruptly reached for the paper and snatched it away.

Rick
So... here's the deal Dan. You sign this piece of paper.

He held up the paper.

Rick
Or I will make your life a living hell.

There was a long pause.

Dan
Haven't you already done that?

Rick's authorative smug demeanor slowly crawled away leaving only anger.

Rick
Listen you dumb piece of shit. I'm giving you a choice. You should thank me for giving you any kind of choice at all. So stop screwing around. What will it be?

Dan
You know what my answer is.

Dan glared at Rick. Rick glared right back.

Rick
Fine.

Rick takes the paper and rips it up.

Dan
So now wh--

Before Dan could finish he went unconscious.

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His run in GWC was going great. The fans loved him and he was loving it, but in the back of his mind was a lingering thought. What about Christie? What about Christie and the baby? He still didn't decide what he was going to do yet. He didn't know what to do. In a few months that baby was going to be born. A baby with his blood. A baby that was his responsibility. He thought of how his life would change once he had the baby. He would have to take care of the baby and Christie. He would probably have to find a bigger place to live. His small run down apartment wasn't going to do it. Then he would have to make sure the baby was in good health. Take care of it. He really didn't want to be away from the baby. But he had to. He had to work to earn money. Christie probably wouldn't work anymore. Not in the pro wrestling business atleast. He would have to take care of everything pretty much. But deep down inside he didn't want that. As much as he loved the idea of having a child he was not ready to give up his single lifestyle where all he had to worry about was himself. Besides, he wasn't even sure he had the same feelings for Christie that he once had before.

One day Christie called him back. It was the first time she had called him since he had gone over to her place. She said she was going to have an ultrasound for the baby and she wanted him to be there. At first Dan was hesitant. He had to stop himself for a minute on the phone and think about it. He didn't want to say no and hurt Christie's feelings but at the same time he didn't want to get attached to the baby. He figured that was Christie's plan to get him back. He finally said yes. As soon as he put down the phone he started to resent Christie for doing that to him. She was using the baby to gain sympathy. To Dan that was a despicable tactic. If she was this way now, how would she be as a wife? How would she be as a mother? Dan didn't want someone like that raising his child, but it was too late. He had already impregnated her. He couldn't believe he was so blind during their relationship. Was she always this way?

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Dan woke up in his bed. He looked at his watch. It was already ten. He got up and made himself some coffee. He turned on the television. He skipped through some channels and ended up on the sports channel.

**************News**************

Reporter
Brian Hunt AKA Chuck Matthews has dropped out of the IWF Briefcase Tournament due to his interest in taking on the Tag Team Champions at the Violent Impulse Pay Per View.

Dan turned up the volume.

Reporter
Johnny Styles will be taking his place in the tournament. He will be facing Ninja this week at Battlegrounds.

Dan shut it off. He felt the back of his head. It had been days since he had been kidnapped by Rick. This was starting to go too far. And by the looks of it, it was only going to get worse. He hadn't agreed to sign the papers so he knew Rick was planning something. So he did the only thing he could do. He decided to call the only man that could do anything at this point.

Dan
Jason.

Hawk
That is my name! Wanna buy it? Actually no. I like my name and I don't want yours. What is your name by the way?

Dan
Dan.

Hawk
Dan what?

Dan didn't say anything.

Hawk
I'm just kidding. I know this is Dan Alexander! What do you want?

Dan
Look, Rick kidnapped me a few days ago.

Hawk
Really? Why would he do that?

Dan
I don't know. I'm still struggling to find out what had happened.

Hawk
Well that sucks but I can't do anything about it. It is not like I can fire Rick. You know, since he is my boss and all. Maybe you should talk to the police.

Dan
I don't care to have the police involved. I just need to know what Rick is planning.

Hawk
I don't know. I'm just the Battlegrounds GM. The best one there has ever been, I might add. Besides what did he even do to you when he kidnapped you. You sound okay.

Dan
He was forcing me to resign.

Hawk
That is weird. Since it is actually my job to sign people contracts and shit. But I guess Rick can do it too. Anyways, I know nothing about this at all. So I am not a part of this

Dan
I hope you are not.

Hawk
Really. I am not. Look I think you should just focus on your tournament match with Bryan Blaze this week. I don't think Rick and do much worse than what he did to you.

Dan
Well I don't think---

______________________________________________________

At this point the phone went silent.

Hawk
Dan? Hello? YOU DON'T FUCKING HANG UP ON ME!!!!!

Hawk put down the phone and thought to himself. He picked up the phone again. There was no tone.

Hawk
The fuck?

Hawk decided to take a walk to see what had happened.

Hawk
Hey, anyone elses office phone working?

Everyone else said there's was fine. When Hawk went back to office he noticed the door was ajar. He knew he had closed it when he left. He always did. He curiously went back to his desk and tested the phone again. It was working.

______________________________________________________

Dan
Hello? Hawk? Where did you go?

Dan put down the phone.

Dan
Dammit.

What was going on?

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Dan arrived at the hospital about five minutes late. He couldn't make up his mind whether or not he should go or not. He made the conscious decision to do so. It was rude not to show up when he said he would. As he entered the room she was already in a gown and laying down. The technician was there getting the equipment ready.

Christie
Dan! You made it.

Dan
...Of course I did.

He was scared. In his mind this is how it was going to start. He would fall in love with this child. And fall back in love with her. Then they would immediately get married. There wouldn't even be time to think about it. Then the child would suddenly be there. Needing, wanting. Dan would have to provide someway somehow. His life would forever be changed by this child, and he was about to sign the lifelong contract by attending this ultrasound. The technician put some jelly on Christie's stomach and started looking for the baby. On the screen the black and white insides of Christie showed. Eventually the technician stopped moving and pointed to the screen. It was the baby. She showed them the distinctive parts such as the head and the body. She showed them that the baby was healthy and indicated the steady heartbeat. Christie's eyes lit up and this was what Dan feared. As he looked into her eyes full of joy he realized he was falling in love with her again. He couldn't stop loving her smile and her voice. It was all too familiar and he wanted to go back.

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Dan went to wipe his face. He couldn't. Everytime he moved his arm he couldn't move it that far. Everytime he moved his arm he heard a metallic clanking sound. Evertime he moved his arm he felt a cold metal brace around his wrists.

Rick
What's wrong? Having some trouble there Dan?

Dan slowly opened his eyes. Below him was Rick. Dan was on a platform. They were in a warehouse. Dan was secured to two perpendicular beams meant to support the building. The shackles held Dan in a crucifix position. The only positive was that his feet were on the platform.

Dan
...What the? WHAT THE FUCK RICK?!

Rick
What's the matter Dan? Didn't you always see yourself as the martyr? Now you can literally play the part.

Dan
What the fuck Rick?

Dan tried his hardest to break the chains with pure strength but his attempts were futile.

Dan
Rick. Let me go right now.

Rick
Or else what?

Dan
I didn't report you to the authorities last time. But I definitely will this time if you don't let me go right now!

Rick
Really now?

Dan
Yes!

Rick
How are you going to do that if you are dead?

Dan looked confused.

Rick
Dan look to your right.

Dan looked.

Rick
That silo is filled with basically molten lava. They use it to melt down metals. Today I will use it to melt you.

Dan looked back at Rick.

Dan
WHAT THE FUCK RICK!?

Rick
Look, I said I would make your life a living hell if you didn't resign from IWF. I keep my promises.

Rick walked over to a control panel and pressed a button. The silo started moving towards him.

Dan
RICK! STOP! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! STOP THIS NOW!

Rick
Kinda wish you signed the paper huh? Oh well too late. Maybe next time you will. Oh wait... there won't be a next time for you.

Dan
RICK!!

The silo was almost underneath him.

Dan
RICK PLEASE! STOP THIS!

Rick
Goodbye Dan. I'll make sure we do some sort of memorial show for you at BattleGrounds.

With this Rick pressed a button and the platform folded beneath Dan leaving him dangling only by the iron shackles. With another button the shackles were released.

Dan
NOOO!!!

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Dan
I love you.

Christie
I love you too Dan.

They were in bed together. Dan put his hand on her growing belly. On his growing child.

Dan
Hey there. I love you little baby.

Christie giggled. Dan wasn't quite sure if it was because of the hilarious spectacle or if his hand was tickling her.

Dan
You know, I got some cool stuff already planned that we can do.

Christie giggled again.

Dan
But you know what? You gotta rest in there first alright? You can come out whenever your ready. I will be waiting for you.

Christie
He kicked.

Dan felt the baby kick.

Christie
He likes you.

Dan kissed Christie's stomach. He turned to Christie.

Dan
What should we name him?

Christie
...How about Dan?

Dan
Dan?

She nodded.

Dan
I never really thought of giving a child my own name.

Christie
I like it.

Dan went down to her stomach again.

Dan
How do you like that name?

Christie
He kicked!

Dan looked at her.

Dan
Yeah.

They smiled at each other. Dan knew the baby didn't kick. He had his hand there the whole time.

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Dan sat up. He held his head. He went to the edge of his bed. After a few minutes he got up and walked to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. He had some more water. Then even more. That dream seemed so real. It was horrifying but he wanted to recall every bit of it to make sense of it. Now that he was awake everything in the dream seemed ridiculous, but at the time it seemed so real. He almost smiled because of the relief that came to him after finding out it was just a dream. Before getting back into bed he looked at his laptop. He checked the date. It was October 3rd. He realized he had dreamt the whole week. He quickly picked up his cell phone and dialed the only person he can trust.

Hawk
Listen, you are lucky that Kat has kept me up all night, or else I would probably be pissed at you for calling me at such a late hour

Dan
HAWK!

Hawk
Who is this?

Dan
It's me Dan.

Hawk
Man, its like three in the morning. What do you want?

Dan
Hawk did I call you about something involving Rick.

Hawk
......Nooooo..... what happened?

Dan
You mean to say I didn't tell you I was kidnapped or anything?

Hawk
....No. Get some rest Dan. Seriously. I think you were hit on the head too many times. Morbid did a number on you.

Dan
Okay then. Bye.

Hawk
Bai.

Dan put the phone down. He had dreamt the whole thing. He sat on his bed still thinking about the dream. Finally he laid down and went to sleep.

The next few days were pretty normal. Dan rested up since he didn't have a match that week. He decided to attend BattleGrounds where he talked to BC about joining some group that he had. Dan didn't think much of it. He didn't really want to get into any more trouble than he already was. Then something caught Dan's attention. Brian Hunt dropped out of the tournament to be in a tag team match against the champs at Violent Impulse. Just like his dream. Fear reared it's ugly head in Dan's mind. What are the chances that he had dreamed of this almost a week ago? If this had come true would he be in danger of being murdered by Rick Christian soon just like his dream? Then Brian Blaze won his match. He remembered Hawk had told him in his dream that Blaze was his next opponent. Dan worried even more. This wasn't good at all. He decided to take it up with someone who knew of Rick's plans.

Chris
Really Dan? You are going to believe this stupid dream of yours?

Dan
This is serious. Two things already came true from the dream.

Chris
I can assure you Rick Christian is not going to drop you into lava. As much as he wants you gone he would never do that. This is irrational thinking. He wouldn't be able to get away with that. And now that you told me, there really is no way he will get away with it.

Dan
This better not happen.

Chris
It won't.

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Ryoko called him. Dan rushed to the hospital. He ran in and asked for her room. He ran up several flights up stairs to avoid the busy elevator. His heart was racing as he finally got to the right floor. He ran in and brushed up against many nurses and hospital staff. He almost ran people over as he struggled to find the right place. He finally reached the emergency room when someone stopped him at the door. No one was allowed in. Dan paced back in forth but it wasn't long before the doctor himself came out. He shook his head. Dan stood there in disbelief. Then after a second he started bawling on the floor. Everyone left him alone for a few minutes.

Christie was in a car accident. She and a friend were driving around town picking up supplies for her and the baby. A speeding car sped past a red light and ran straight into their car. Christie was hit directly. They were in critical condition as they went into the emergency room. The baby was gone. That much was known and Christie was quickly fading as people tried to save her life. In the end it was too late. Christie and their unborn child Dan died that day. Dan died too but in a different way. He wished he was there with them. He wished he had died with them.

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So Brian Blaze? Interesting. You know I actually like you kid. I like your style. You already won a few matches. Impressive. I have no doubt that you are going to be a star. Unlike most newcomers you've paid your dues. You fought in tough matches. You've won. You've lost. You won gold. You lost gold. All in all you are a tough opponent. I admit that.

But there is a dilemma.

You are destined to fail Brian. As successful as you are, your most distinctive feature is that you come up short when it matters most. And this match? Is where it matters most.

What compelled you to be in the tournament anyway? Well sure there is the prize. The IWF Briefcase within it containing a document that can alter matches and when cashed in will earn you a title shot. Also it has Rick's Playboys but that is besides the point. Why did you enter it? Knowing that you would just fail? Sure you win matches. You win sometimes. Your win against Vagabond was impressive, considering no one really expected him to win anyways. I am not saying you have any skills. I am not saying you don't have experience. All I am saying is that realistically you don't have a chance.

Me? I've been to the top. Multiple times. I've also been in the bottom. More than once. This is not my first rodeo kid. This is not the first time someone has told me that they will beat the living hell out of me. I've seen it all before. I've heard it all before. I've been loved. I've been hated. I've had people way scarier than you come at me in the locker room and try to intimidate me just like you are doing now. But guess what? That shit doesn't phase me. This BattleGrounds is just another day on the job for me. It's what I do best. Because I am the best. Now like most people you will deny that. But I've heard it all before. It's nothing new to me. You can say I will lose. Rick can say I will lose. The other tournament participants can say I will lose. The fans can say I will lose. But that doesn't make it true. You know what is true? What I do in the ring.

I step into that ring everynight and put my life on the line. Not for IWF. Not for Rick. Not for you. But for myself. This is what I do. This is what I am good at. This is what I am the best at. This is what I live for. This is what I stay alive for. This is what I get out of bed for. The greatness that I achieve in that ring is uncomparable to anything else. I put my heart out in that ring everynight. I don't think you are willing to do the same.

I may not be the biggest. I may not be the strongest. But I have more heart than anyone else in that locker room. I can assure you that. I have made seven men tap out in IWF alone. I have made them give up. I broke their very will. While they go on about how they are passionate about this. About how they live for this. How this is their calling. Well as I trap them in my armbar I make them tell the truth. I make them reveal what they really are. I make them tell the whole world that they don't want anymore. That they don't want to continue. That they don't want to have another second in that ring with me.

The question is will you do the same?

Will you beg for your life. Will you beg for your well being? Will you plead for me to stop as I lock in the armbar this weekend? Will you? Oh how I will love to get that armbar applied on you. And don't think I won't. Don't think you can escape. It will happen. What will you do then Bryan? No psycho personality will help you escape that. In the end I will purge of that sickness. The person that will be tapping is you. No one else. You can't blame that on a different personality. It will be you Brian. Not the stupid facade you put up to confuse people and to make yourself believe you're someone special because you're not. You are just another one that bites the dust. Another one of the status quo.

So on second thought you are not impressive at all. In fact you are just another number on my record. Another stepping stone on my way to success.