Crimson Skull [vs.]Tails

Being out of the wrestling world has allowed me to focus on family. When I left NLWF I had no attention on returning to the ring. When I left the game, I fully understood my career never reached the level of legends. Let’s face facts, I was the butt of many jokes and was never taken seriously

So I was more then happy to leave that life behind me

I haven’t even thought about getting back into the ring, since the Hall of Fame show a few months back. It was a one night only deal and I was finally able to get the monkey off my back after I defeated Johnny Styles. My whole career I was always pushed into his shadow, but on that night I was the guy everyone was talking about. I had a multi – year deal on the table with IWF. It was the biggest contract offer I had received in my entire career.

But I was happy away from the ring

I had a one year old son, and I was engaged to the love of my life. Something I thought would never happen again after my first marriage ended in an ugly divorce. Another victim my wrestling career destroyed. To me ever since I left the wrestling game behind me, my life has finally started working out.

Until tragedy struck

My name is Tails

This is a True story about the worse week of my entire life

…

Saturday Afternoon … Two Weeks Ago
Logan International Airport, Boston MA

I was flying out from Miami to Boston. Johnny Styles was having the whole family get together for some sort of family reunion thing. I brought Kristen and Jaden; with SB’s involvement with IWF he has never really had the chance to spend time with my son. Rumor had it he even managed to get are middle brother James to attend.

James never followed the same career path as SB and I. Johnny even got him signed to JWF right around the time he broke out. But it wasn’t his cup of tea. Instead he got himself mixed up with the wrong people, and was just released from prison after facing 15 years. I haven’t spoken to James for almost 2 years; Johnny said he sounded like he was finally done living his life inside a cage. Even said James would be staying with him until he got back on his feet.

Stepping out of the Logan Airport terminal, I was excited to see everyone. For the first time in years, my mother was going to see her three children together under the same roof. It was going to be like we were kids again.

Kristen: “First time I’ve been to Boston”

Tails: “Best city in the whole fucking world”

Kristen: “Is Johnny picking us up?”

Tails: “He’s busy getting everything together for tomorrow. I heard his daughters are coming in for the reunion”

Kristen: “Wow! He really is getting the whole family together. Is Jessica coming with the girls?”

Tails: “That’s one person who isn’t coming. The girls are flying in by themselves.”

Kristen: “Is Alex coming?”

Tails: “I doubt it. He was never close to our side of the family, and when Sam died there relationship never really fix itself”

Jaden was doing everything he could to get himself free from his stroller. He wanted to look out the windows at the planes. Looking down at Jay, I couldn’t help but remember being a kid and sneaking on to the shuttle busses with Johnny just to spend the day at the airport. We would watch as different types of people got off and onto planes. We would sit and look out at the planes, eyes filled with envy.

It was good to be back home

Tails: “Why don’t you take Jaden to watch the planes. I’ll go grab are rental car.”

Kristen: “We’ll be right over there.”

She strolled Jaden to the giant windows; I stood there watching them stuck in a haze of de ja vu. I grabbed our bags and headed to the Car rentals.

Tails: “Hello, I made a reservation for a car pick up today.”

Clerk: “What’s the name?”

Tails: “It’s under Mark, Eric”

As the clerk typed away at her computer screen, I felt my pocket vibrating. I pulled out my phone and saw who was calling

Tails: “Calling to make sure my plane didn’t crash?”

Johnny Styles: “Something like that.”

Tails: “It didn’t. I’m in the middle of picking up the car”

Johnny Styles: “Sorry I couldn’t come pick you and the wifey up. Jessica got the girls flying into Rhode Island; I’m on my way there to pick them up.”

The clerk handed me the keys, as I put the phone down against my chest

Clerk: “Here are your car keys Mr. Mark, you can find your rental inside are garage. Just tell the guard your name and he’ll escort you to it.”

Tails: “Thank you.”

Clerk: “Enjoy your visit, sir.”

I smirked and heard SB yelling into my chest

Johnny Styles: “YOU COULD HAVE TOLD ME TO HOLD ON!”

Tails: “My bad bro, I told you I was finishing up with the car rental.”

Johnny Styles: “Don’t forget to take mom out for dinner. She’s been busting my balls ever since she got here, she’s dying to meet little man”

Tails: “I was going to head over there after we dropped are shit off at the hotel.”

Johnny Styles: “Told you, there’s plenty of room at my place.”

Tails: “I know, but with the girls coming into town and you already have Jimbo Jones crashing at your place. Kristen and I just figured we’ll stay at a hotel. By the way, how’s James looking these days?”

Johnny Styles: “He looks good, he moved the rest of his shit in last night. Seems like he really wants to stay out of trouble. Kids been kicking himself in the ass for missing so much time with the kids.”

Tails: “Good to hear, where’s he at now?”

Johnny Styles: “He was at the house when I left, said he was gonna link up with mom and then go out with some of his friends.”

Tails: “Maybe I’ll run in to him, then I can take both of them out for dinner”

Johnny Styles: “Sounds like a plan. Listen I gotta go before one of these State Troopers feels like giving me a ticket for driving while talking on the phone.”

Tails: “Alright bro, give me a buzz when you’re back from Rhode Island.”

I hung up the phone and look over at where I left my family. Kristen and Jaden were still looking at the planes. Jaden was jumping all over the place, while Kristen worried about his every move. I pressed the camera button on my phone and snapped a picture of the two of them. The flash got there attention

Jaden: “Dada!”

I scoop him up and handed Kristen the keys.

Tails: “Ready to go champ?”

He put his head down on my chest; I leaned over and gave Kristen a kiss. We headed for the parking garage like one big happy family. The only thing running through my mind was how perfect this weekend was going to be, and how nothing could ever ruin my happy family…

…

Saturday Night … Two Weeks Ago
Johnny Styles’ condo in the North End, Boston MA

It was late Saturday afternoon when SBK and his daughters finally made it back home. They pulled into the garage of his condo, and put the all black BMW into his spot. SB was exhausted after the drive to and from Rhode Island. He put the car in park and took a long look at his oldest daughter who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Johnny Styles: “We’re finally home.”

Gianna Styles: “This get together was a good idea dad.”

Johnny Styles: “Let’s hope everyone feels that way.”

Gianna Styles: “It’s our family, I’m sure not everyone is thrilled to be getting together”

Johnny Styles: “Too bad your mother didn’t want to make the trip. How is she doing?”

Gianna Styles: “We tried to get her to come, but you know mom old wounds never heal with her.”

SB nodded, before reaching to the back of the car to wake up his other two daughters. They were a lot younger then Styles’ oldest. They pretty much slept the whole ride, they looked peaceful and Johnny hated that he had to wake them.

Johnny Styles: “Girls, wake up. We’re here.”

There eyes opened, but it was clear they were half awake. They rubbed the sleep from there eyes, but couldn’t rub off the Jet lag. Gianna and Johnny both exit the car, and they both opened a rear door to help the girls out of the car. SB helped his youngest out before grabbing there bags from the trunk, and the four of them made there way to the elevator.

Styles pressed the button for the elevator, but nothing happened

Johnny Styles: “What the fuck…”

Jazmine Styles: “If momma was here, you would owe the swear jar a buck”

Jaz who was only 9 years old, called Johnny on his choice of words. SB didn’t have anything to say, instead he reached into his pocket and handed her a buck. He then once again tried to press the button.

Security Mode in effect, please use your key to reach your floor

That was odd; Johnny never used his security system. He was the only one who lived inside the building; really there was never any reason to set it. He dug through his pocket for the keys

Gianna Styles: “You sure we have the right house? You are getting up there in age.”

Johnny Styles: “I see someone inherited there mother’s sense of humor.”

Gianna stuck her tongue out at her father, as he slips the key into the lock and the elevator came to life. They stepped out of the elevator and into the living area of the condo. The girls quickly took off to there bedrooms, they were dying to see how they looked, the whole ride back from the airport Johnny hype up the remodeling on there personal spaces.

SBK dropped the bags down on the floor, and tossed the keys into the jar next to the elevator doors. He walked around to the security center that was hidden in the wall next to his home office. He couldn’t believe what he saw. The entire system was set to lockdown. He quickly entered his code and disabled the system.

Styles walked toward the room his brother James was staying in. The door was closed, he hesitated opening the door. His brother was fresh out of county, and could be making up for lost time. Then he thought about a half naked girl walking around his house while his daughters were here, and he quickly walked right into the room

He didn’t find any naked strippers in the room, just his brother. SB took one look at him and knew something wasn’t right. James was sweating like he was sitting in a sauna, his pupils were dilated to new levels and the kid couldn’t sit still. He was bouncing all around the room, his TV was set on the security cameras, and every ten seconds James was jumping up to check the windows.

Johnny Styles: “What the fuck bra?”

His brother didn’t say anything to Johnny; it was almost as if he didn’t even hear him. He just kept bouncing from window to window. SB spotted a few plastic vials scattered all over the floor.

Johnny Styles: “I thought you were done with the nose candy”

James Styles: “It’s all legal bro!”

Johnny Styles: “Bullshit! The girls are dying to see you and your tweaked out of your fucking head”

James Styles: “I’m good bro, I’mma calm down in a second.”

Johnny Styles: “Lets hope so. The last thing I need is Jessica finding out you were high as a fucking kite while the girls are here.”

Johnny stormed out of the room pissed and disappointed. He slammed the door behind him, and Gianna was coming around the corner.

Gianna Styles: “Take it he’s having a hard time adjusting?”

Styles nodded but didn’t say a word to his daughter. She put her arm around her father, and walked him to his room.

Gianna Styles: “Why don’t you go take a shower, I’ll make us some dinner.”

Johnny Styles: “Since when did you learn to cook?”

Gianna Styles: “Who said anything about cooking, I was ordering out.”

SB ran his hand through his daughters head.

Gianna Styles: “Go clean up, I got this!”

He nodded before walking into his room, Gianna closed the door behind him and he was left standing there stunned about how his baby girl was turning into a women. Running the shower, he decided he wasn’t going to let his brother’s actions kill this moment. He stepped into the shower and was instantly taken back to the time when Gianna was conceived. He remembered the shower, the passion, and love he had for Jessica.

He let the water run over his body, the water outlining the scars SB earned over his legendary career. Styles always used the shower to not only wash away the dirt of a long day, but also the stress that comes along with this life. But his moment of peace was quickly shattered, when there was a knock on his bathroom door.

Gianna Styles: “Dad can you cover up? We have a serious situation going on here”

SB cut the flow of the water and quickly wrapped himself up in a towel, and not a moment to soon as Gianna came bursting through the door.

Gianna Styles: “It’s uncle … He’s freaking out the girls. He’s acting real funny, and there scared dad.”

Johnny didn’t even take the time to put on clothes, he slide on his sandals and followed his daughter out of the bathroom wrapped in his towel. He spotted his brother and totally understood why the girls were freaking out. He took his paranoia out from his room and took it to a whole different level. He was pacing around every window, checking if every door was locked. He was even listing to the police scanner over his phone.

Johnny Styles: “Dude what the fuck!?”

He pays Johnny no mind

Johnny Styles: “What kind of shit did you get yourself into?”

James Styles: “It’s not even like that, I’m just tripping balls man. It’s this new shit called Bath Salt”

The girls huddle behind there father, Styles checks his towel

Johnny Styles: “You can’t stay here. You’re scaring my kids! You need to leave before I make you leave!”

James didn’t say another word; he just walked out of the condo. The girls hugged there father as Gianna made sure the door was locked behind James. Styles had a world of emotions going through his head, he understood his brother was having a bad trip, but he couldn’t allow him to have it around his kids. Johnny looked up at his oldest daughter

Johnny Styles: “Everything’s alright, but I need my phone. I need to call Uncle Eric make sure he’s prepared for him.”

She nodded before running into SB’s bedroom to grab his cell phone. Without even taking the time to put on clothes Styles calls his younger brother

Johnny Styles: “Hey bra, listen Jimbo’s in bad shape. He was tweaked out and scaring the shit outta the girls.”

Tails: “Where is he now?”

Johnny Styles: “I kicked him out, I didn’t know what else to do. The kid was all over the fucking place. He’s been sniffing bath salt for the last five days and he’s paranoid to hell”

Tails: “I’m still at dinner with mom. They just brought out are food, listen I’ll give him till I’m done here to reach out to me, if not I’ll drop Kristen and little man off at the hotel and go look for him.”

Johnny Styles: “Give me a call when you’re done, I’ll pick you up. We’ll take my car to look for him”

Tails: “The girls are scared enough, they need you. Don’t worry I’ll find him, and we’ll laugh about this Monday night during the reunion.”

Johnny Styles: “Keep me posted”

SBK hung up the phone and flipped open the key board to drop a text

Quote :

SB: “Listen bra, try not to do anything stupid”

He pressed send, and dropped his head into his hands.

Gianna Styles: “You did the right thing Dad”

He hugged his daughter and put the phone down on top of the table.

It was the last time SB saw his brother alive

…

Monday Night … Two Weeks Ago
Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston MA

He never reached out to me, or Johnny. It was going on two days since the last time anyone heard from my brother. Growing up with the kid you grow accustom to his benders, but he would never go days without leaving some sort of message. I dropped the wife and son off at SB’s place. She wanted to keep busy, so Johnny had her helping him get everything in order for the party.

I walked into the Park Plaza hotel lobby; I got a tip from an old girlfriend of my brothers that James was held up in a room here. She didn’t give me a room number or anything helpful. I walked up to the front desk.

Tails: “Yes hi, I was looking for my brother. He told me to come pick him up here, but he didn’t leave me a room number.”

Font Desk Clerk: “What’s his name?”

Tails: “It’s James Mark.”

The clerk typed in his name, and in seconds he wrote down the room number.

Front Desk Clerk: “He’s in room 321, its on the 3rd floor.”

Tails: “Thank you”

I grabbed the piece of paper and took off running towards the elevators. Once inside I was prying that he was at least in decent shape for the party. It seemed like the elevator took forever to get to the 3rd floor. The doors opened and I rushed down the hallway and found his room. There was a ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign posted on the handle. I knocked on the door and waited.

Knocked again

And waited

Knocked again

And waited

After the 3rd knock, I got a bad feeling in my stomach. Call it what you would, but I could almost sense I wasn’t going to like what I found behind this door. I went back to the elevator, missed it by a few seconds. I couldn’t shake the uneasy feelings I was having so I took off down the stairs. I rushed to the front desk.

Tails: “Hey, please tell me you have another key to his room?!”

Front Desk Clerk: “Of course I do, what kind of hotel do you think this is?”

Tails: “I need that key”

Front Desk Clerk: “I’m afraid I can’t give it to you”

I lost my cool and grabbed the guy by his shirt. I felt myself losing control, but I needed to get inside that room.

Tails: “My brother is in that room, I have reason to believe he’s strung out and could possibly be in some serious trouble! Now you can give me the key, or so help me I will jump over this desk and take every fucking key you have back there!”

The clerk was scared shitless; he reached over and grabbed the spear key off the hook. I snatched it out of his hand and took off running for the stairs. The clerk however called the police as soon as I turned the corner to the stairs.

I ran nonstop to his door, and again I banged on his door

Tails: “Hey bro, its me Eric … Open the fucking door man”

Again no one answered on the other side

I slide the key into the door and stormed into the room. The entire place was wrecked. There was a mirror broken out on top of the desk, dollar bills were rolled up into makeshift straws, and there were packages of Bath salt all over the floor. The drapes to the room were closed, and the whole hotel room was dark.

Tails: “James! Where you at bro?”

I brushed through the piles of beer bottles that lined the floor, and came around the corner. That’s where I found him. My brother was lying on the floor, with a straw hanging out of his nose. His eyes were wide open, but his skin was cold. I quickly ran to his side, the first thing I realized was the fact that he wasn’t breathing.

Tails: “Holy shit man! Come on bro, wake up!”

I started to beat on his chest, and followed it up by blowing short breaths into his mouth. But he wasn’t responding. I started to pound on his chest, and shaking him as if I was trying to wake him from his internal sleep.

Tails: “Wake up damn it! You can’t be ….”

I was straight punching his chest, time slept away. Everything went silent and I broke down with every punch I delivered. It didn’t take long for Boston PD to come storming the room. They pulled me away from his body, I tried to break free from them, and all I wanted to do was try to bring him back.

But even I knew he wasn’t coming back

EMT’s where right behind the police, they quickly put my brother onto the stretcher, and there was a sign of hope until they covered him up with the sheet. That’s when it all hit me. I crashed down on to my knees, and begun to ball my eyes out. My phone was ringing; it was Johnny checking in to see if I found him.

Tonight was the family reunion

And we were a member short