Post by Jebediah Crowley on Apr 24, 2021 16:14:04 GMT -5
The locker room that had been allocated to the Koresh Family had been destroyed. On one of the lockers was the words “The Cure" was written in thick red paint. There was also a figure unconscious sat on a chair in the middle of the room. His head was down as he had been brutally beaten. There was a smell of gas in the air. He was positioned in front of the lockers themselves. The figure was showing no sign of life. But then his hand started to twitch, he slowly raised his head and his scaled skin gleamed under the lights. It was Caleb Koresh.
"Why the hell do you still do this?” his cousin Nocturnal said as he walked in front of him. “I think things have changed and then you try and fuck me over again; Caleb, I‘m not blaming you. Well, okay yes I am but where does this leave me? Where does this leave me? What should I do? Should I just let you get away with this disrespect that you bring to my door Caleb? I don‘t know..."
Then a brutal, claret soaked image flashed into his head and he screamed out in pain! He rose back up, but collapsed back against the lockers; he was weak and strength less. He caught something out of the corner of his eye, his cousin moved. He looked at his cousin and embedded into his left shoulder are two thick, deep cuts. Yet no blood was coming out.
"This is it now, the End of Days, the last days of my career as a professional wrestler isn‘t it?” Nocturnal said as he caressed the two cuts. “I was trying to get you to be my protégé Caleb but what did you do? What did you do? Why? Why do you not answer me? I cannot trust you ......"
He slowly tried to get to his feet, leaning on the locker for balance. Nocturnal turned and focused on the mirror in front of himself. He reached up and took off his face mask and revealed his painted face which had run down his face making it look a complete mess.
"Focus hung onto that X-Core Championship belt when I thought you had sold yourself and destroyed Lisa Marie but you lost that chance and what have you done for me? Have you finally done what many have tried? Have you broken the soul of the Sadistic Bastard? You should have beaten that pretender to my throne Brandon Moore ever so easily. I would have in the old days but now when I have passed the baton to you. This can‘t be the end? Maybe..."
Then, all of sudden, two images entered his mind. One was of the Caffeine Mafia. The other was of the OPW World Tag Championship belts, with blood dripping slowly down the fronts of them.
Emily walked into the room; she took a worried look at Caleb for a split second before turning to her brother. She was dressed in a slinky black dress and had a cigarette in her hand. “Noccie? What have you done honey bun? Why is Caleb beaten like that? You can’t do this?”
“Emily? What the fuck do you care?” asked Nocturnal as he suddenly turned. “You’ve betrayed me too. I have nobody with my back anymore. No more Lyre, no more Deathstroke, no more Havok, no more Aurora, fuck Summer seems to be off me too…….”
“But this,” she grabbed Caleb’s head and made sure he was still breathing, “This is bad news. He needs to be in fighting condition if he is to be ready to team with that Violence cat. You have made a mistake Noccie. Let’s get him ready to bring the gold back to the Cure before it gets out of hand.”
“Out of hand?” Nocturnal exploded. “Out of fucking hand? What should I do? Should I just forgive him for his failure and send him back to get ready for this next match? Fuck that, he needs to pay for her sins against the family.”
“Sins? It’s Johnny Stylez who should be in his spot,” she said. “What if it was someone else that had walked in here? What if it was Aurora?”
She turned and looked at Caleb when behind her, Nocturnal’s powerful arm snaked around her throat, tugging into her neck with all the wrenching power of a hangman's noose.
“What you doing?” she screamed. “What the hell? Put me down!!!”
He dragged his sister towards one of the mirrors. His arms were bigger than most men's thighs, and his neck was lost in the huge knots of muscles along his shoulders. His long hair hung across his face while his dark eyes looked ever so more manic than usual.
“Really Sis, do you really care?” he hissed. “Do I really care that he actually lost the match tonight? Do you think I won’t just shank Caleb here and now and let him bleed out in some alley? He doesn’t really matter. Do you think anything is bigger than Nocturnal? I don’t think so. He doesn’t exist in my world other than to do what I want him to do. You want me to make Caleb dance? You want me to rip out his tendons and dance like a marionette?”
“Alex, let me down,” Emily pleaded. “Let’s talk properly.”
Nocturnal's massive left hand pulled Emily towards him. His right hand toyed with a strand of hair that hung across her face. “And now this week he represents me in a championship match against the pathetic tag team of the Caffeine Mafia. How did they ever win those belts? They are a poor excuse for Johnny’s Outlaw promotion. They got lucky to win those belts but there luck is about to run out.”
"Alex; you are hurting me,” Emily screamed. “Why? Let me down so we can sit down and talk this through. Come on Alex. It‘s me Emily, your sister. You don‘t want to do this. Please……"
Nocturnal smiled a sadistic smile as he looked at his sister, "Why? Revenge? For revenge honey; Plain and simple."
His voice became more cold and unemotional.
"I am the only one that counts,” he said. “Not Aurora, not Caleb, not Ezekiel not even you. I am alone my lovely and fickle sister. That’s one of the reasons I don‘t care anymore; and one of the reasons that it will be coming to a head soon. And Emily, you are pathetic."
Emily leaned in and spat directly into Nocturnal's face. He shook his head and managed to smile. Nocturnal's fingers tighten dangerously near to Emily's windpipe.
"We’ve got to get revenge, plain and simple for the sins done upon this family by those that I see as having sinned against us,” he muttered. “They know who they are and I hope they are quaking in their boots. But what do I do, I haven‘t decided to quite yet. Where was I? Oh then some little side note that goes by the name of Aurora Deadwood? Come on do you think I am bothering about her leaving me? She was but a mean to an end Emily. She distracted me from the death of my wife. Emily, do you know that I was robbed of seeing my daughter grow up? I may have her back in my life now but all those years missed. I can never forgive Matt Slater for Lyre’s murder."
Nocturnal stared at the woman for a moment before shoving her aside. She opened her mouth to say something, and then thought better of it.
"Sounds like I giving up right?” Nocturnal said. “Sounds like I‘m throwing it all away?"
“Aren’t you?” as she reached for another cigarette as she looked down at Caleb who was beginning to move
"Am I?" Nocturnal finished coolly, "I‘m sorry? Is that what you want me to say?" Nocturnal gave her a wink and reached across to stroke Emily's cheek.
Emily recoiled from his touch.
"Scared of my touch?” Nocturnal asked. “What happened to the fearless Emily I once knew? Or maybe even you‘ve listened to the hype? Listened to the rumours? Come on Emily. Caleb can beat the Caffeine Mafia with his hands tied behind his back. He needs this more than they do. Not just because he is the better warrior but because of this losing streak he has been on. The Caffeine Mafia are basically transitional champions holding them belts for Caleb but that was inevitable honey. Come on Emily, you know what I‘m talking about? None of the family have ever won a title in this promotion. Maybe it is time for us to bite the bullet, maybe time for us to just hang up our boots and go back to the family business. What do you think?"
“Does it matter what I think?” Emily said.
This news didn't seem to affect Nocturnal at all. He gave a small wink to Emily, who was sat paralyzed in her position by his words.
"Come on Alex; shake yourself out of this little bad patch. Caleb can be the next big thing for our family. You need to give him a chance," Emily seemed completely unconcerned as she reached for her lighter. She shot Alexander a smirk as he lit her cigarette.
"Lots of chances?” Nocturnal said as he moved round and looked at Caleb who was still sat on the chair. “Come on Emily. Come on. Why do you do that?"
“Do what?” Emily muttered as she turned to look at Nocturnal.
"Not believe in the hand that feeds you,” he said. “If it wasn‘t for me you‘d still be living like a whore in some trailer. And I told you, no smoking!"
Nocturnal thrusted her across the room and attempted to snatch the cigarette from Emily's lips. She, however, was too quick and ducked out of the way. Nocturnal landed right on top of her.
He slowly got up, shocked at what he was doing. Emily got herself back up but she was still smoking.
Emily strolled up to her brother, she raised her hand and there was a sudden smack. Nocturnal's face was turned from the impact of Emily's slap, but when he turned to face her again, he looked neither angry nor hurt.
"Nice slap Sis, you sure are a feisty one, eh?” Nocturnal said. “I trained you well."
At this Emily lost her temper. She gave a small scream before thrusting herself at Nocturnal again. This time, her attempt was more successful as she used the cigarette. Half on top of him, Nocturnal grabbed Emily's hand and yanked it towards her. Emily suddenly gave a yell; Nocturnal had thrust the still-burning cigarette into the palm of her hand in order to extinguish it. He rose and Emily fell sideways, unable to balance herself. Nocturnal was still clutching Emily's burnt hand and he followed her; they both hit the floor with a thud. She was the first to recover. He towered over Emily with a different expression on his face from those previously; he was angry now. The look on his face was so intense, for the first time in her life, Emily was truly scared.
"Do you know what you‘ve done?" Nocturnal asked. “Do you?”
Emily said nothing. She simply watched him tower over her; her eyes wide and fearful. She held the hand he had burnt; it is as though she had smeared black coal around a deep cut which was sore and bleeding. Emily felt a small twinge of an emotion within herself; regret? Pleasure? Even Emily didn’t not know at this point.
Nocturnal turned and walked towards the mirror. He looked into it whilst Emily pulled herself together behind him. “Come on, you know what I’m like? I need to make sure the family is on top of everything. This match is going to be where we show the OPW what we are all about. But we need it, I NEED IT.”
Nocturnal lifted his arms up as he ranted; he brought them down against the mirror, smashing it into a thousand pieces.
“Noccie?” Emily said. “What are you doing? Come on, we can sort this. I can help you. They can sort your head out. Come on. What are you doing?”
Blood was dripping from Nocturnal as he slowly turned. He had taken a piece of the glass and had started to cut himself with it. The glass cut deep into his arm.
“Emily, come on I’m sorry,” he said. “You know me. The only way I feel in charge of my destiny is when I’m bleeding, when blood is dripping from my body.”
“You’re sick,” she said. “What would Lyre think of you for doing this? She would be ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of you.”
A woman's face flashed in his mind. The image is vivid, clear. It's the same woman who always came. She's beautiful. He could hear her voice, a sweet voice. She talked to someone. She was telling whoever it was that she loved them, she was proud of them.
She was caressing her belly, she was carrying his child.
She smiled and he could feel it. His heart fluttered and raced. Her hand reached out, cupping someone's face, and suddenly he could feel the warmth of a palm against his cheek. It was him. His skin burned with the intensity of it and his eyes closed.
"I love you Alex,” the voice said. “I love you. No matter what happens, as long as we have each other, we'll be alright. I promise you. Okay?"
He nodded, taking her hand in his own, bending it towards his lips. He kissed it.
"Okay," he said.
She smiled again. He smiled back at her.
"Lyre?" he said.
"Yes?" she said.
"I love you," Nocturnal said.
"I know," his wife said.
"I… I'd be so lost without you,” he said to her. “I'd be so alone. I've got nothing else; nothing else in this world."
"I'll always be here for you Alex," Lyre said.
"Promise?" Nocturnal asked.
She smiled. "I promise."
He looked up and noticed the mirrors cracked; a split and fractured line running up from where his hand was pressed. He pulled it away, and little shards fell to the floor, and then he saw the blood trickling down his palm. He didn't feel it, didn't hear it. He turned back to his sister. Tears ran down his face. He reached down to pick up the lighter. He smiled sadistically at his sister and looked at Caleb who was still not moving on the chair.
“It is time to end this; The Cure got me back for a reason, right?” he asked. “It’s time for it to show itself fully.”
“What?” Emily asked.
He lit the Zippo and smiled as he dropped it on the petrol. The whole room burst into flames. The flames licked at Caleb. Emily screamed as the flames engulfed her and rose to fill the room and then on some unseen signal Nocturnal jumped forward into the flames without a seconds thought, his dark eyes glazed over. He stood with his arms outstretched like a crucifixion; the blood from the wounds dripped down onto the floor. Flames lick around his head and engulf his clothing. He had a twisted sadistic look on his face but it was also a serene look upon it. The flames rose and filled the entire room.
The flames reflected in something, they turned and pulled out. It was an eye. An eye that was familiar. It was the eye that is seen in Nocturnal’s entrance video. It pulled back and it was Nocturnal’s eye. He was sat in his seat on a private jet. Emily was snuggled on the seat next to him. Nocturnal had a sadistic smile on his lips. He laughed out loud. Apathy and Eoin were deep in conversation across from them whilst Caleb and Jayson were strategizing about their upcoming tag title match in Japan.
“You okay Alex?” Apathy asked as she turned towards him with a worried look upon her face.
“Yeah Apathy, it’s going to be an interesting week,” Nocturnal said. “I was just thinking of what was coming up. Caleb and Jayson are the future of the Tag Division in OPW and they are going to destroy the Caffeine Mafia.”
At the mention of their names both Caleb and Jayson turned towards Nocturnal and Apathy.
“What we going to do about Scotty?” Emily asked. “What are we going to do about him? I know with what was announced we could do something special.”
“What are you talking about Emily?” Apathy asked.
“Well I know a guy,” Emily said. “Well he’s family really if you know what I mean. He could do a great job on Scotty, he would get him mounted like one of those wax works they do. Then he could be displayed in the lobby at OPW HQ.”
“Apathy,” Jayson said as he completely ignored what Emily had just said. “Me and the big guy can do this. We reckon that we can target the weak link in the team and utilise that. I think they’ve underestimated not only this team of me and Caleb but they’ve underestimated the Cure as a whole.”
“This is true,” Nocturnal said before Apathy could say anything. “Caleb is ready for this war and I see you seem to be an able warrior Mister Violence so you better bring that gold back to this group.”
“Alex,” Apathy said as she interrupted Nocturnal. “If it was anyone else that seemed to underestimate MY control of this group I would be worried but we have history so you know what I would do to you if I didn’t believe your intentions. I know you came to my corner after I asked for help and I appreciate that but don’t overstep the mark.”
“It’s okay Apathy,” Jayson said. “I can sort of understand where he’s coming from as I used to watch his matches when I was growing up. Me and Caleb just want to represent the group and bring those gold straps back to the group. I know you don’t seem to let the big guy talk much……..”
“Much?” Nocturnal interrupted. “What have you been saying Caleb?”
Caleb looked at Nocturnal with a nervous look upon his scaled face and shrugged his shoulders.
“Jayson,” Nocturnal said. “You have to understand Caleb may be your tag team partner but he has to do what he is told as he is part of the Koresh Family. He may be part of the Cure but his first priority is to please me. You are lucky as part of my agreement with Apathy that is defeating the Caffeine Mafia for those OPW Tag Championship straps back to the Cure. Both Apathy and myself have history with Lisa Marie. She was always this whiny bitch who managed to spend her whole career hiding behind someone with skills to carry her. We know Frank Finelli don’t we Apathy?”
“Yeah,” Apathy said as she nodded. “He had skills before Vanessa got her claws into him but you’ve seen how she has been in OPW, it’s time to bring those belts back to the Cure. AdrenaLynn is not to be laughed at though but definitely the weak link is Lisa Marie. The power of you Caleb will crush her dreams and then the skill of Jayson will be unstoppable. Right Caleb?”
Caleb nodded nervously as he turned to Nocturnal.
“I guarantee that Caleb will bring it,” Nocturnal said. “But it’s down to you Jayson to keep your end up as I think the Cure have got this in the bag. It’s different from when me and Apathy here were in our prime…..”
“What do you me in our prime?” Apathy said as she interrupted Nocturnal. “Bitch, I’m still in my prime old man!”
“Yeah okay honey,” laughed Nocturnal. “But seriously we’ve got this. By the way, how did you afford to get a private jet to take us to Tokyo?”
“Well there was a mouse in the Outlaw front office,” Apathy said with a smirk. She held up a credit card. “And he managed to get me one of Johnny Stylez credit card.”
"Why the hell do you still do this?” his cousin Nocturnal said as he walked in front of him. “I think things have changed and then you try and fuck me over again; Caleb, I‘m not blaming you. Well, okay yes I am but where does this leave me? Where does this leave me? What should I do? Should I just let you get away with this disrespect that you bring to my door Caleb? I don‘t know..."
Then a brutal, claret soaked image flashed into his head and he screamed out in pain! He rose back up, but collapsed back against the lockers; he was weak and strength less. He caught something out of the corner of his eye, his cousin moved. He looked at his cousin and embedded into his left shoulder are two thick, deep cuts. Yet no blood was coming out.
"This is it now, the End of Days, the last days of my career as a professional wrestler isn‘t it?” Nocturnal said as he caressed the two cuts. “I was trying to get you to be my protégé Caleb but what did you do? What did you do? Why? Why do you not answer me? I cannot trust you ......"
He slowly tried to get to his feet, leaning on the locker for balance. Nocturnal turned and focused on the mirror in front of himself. He reached up and took off his face mask and revealed his painted face which had run down his face making it look a complete mess.
"Focus hung onto that X-Core Championship belt when I thought you had sold yourself and destroyed Lisa Marie but you lost that chance and what have you done for me? Have you finally done what many have tried? Have you broken the soul of the Sadistic Bastard? You should have beaten that pretender to my throne Brandon Moore ever so easily. I would have in the old days but now when I have passed the baton to you. This can‘t be the end? Maybe..."
Then, all of sudden, two images entered his mind. One was of the Caffeine Mafia. The other was of the OPW World Tag Championship belts, with blood dripping slowly down the fronts of them.
Emily walked into the room; she took a worried look at Caleb for a split second before turning to her brother. She was dressed in a slinky black dress and had a cigarette in her hand. “Noccie? What have you done honey bun? Why is Caleb beaten like that? You can’t do this?”
“Emily? What the fuck do you care?” asked Nocturnal as he suddenly turned. “You’ve betrayed me too. I have nobody with my back anymore. No more Lyre, no more Deathstroke, no more Havok, no more Aurora, fuck Summer seems to be off me too…….”
“But this,” she grabbed Caleb’s head and made sure he was still breathing, “This is bad news. He needs to be in fighting condition if he is to be ready to team with that Violence cat. You have made a mistake Noccie. Let’s get him ready to bring the gold back to the Cure before it gets out of hand.”
“Out of hand?” Nocturnal exploded. “Out of fucking hand? What should I do? Should I just forgive him for his failure and send him back to get ready for this next match? Fuck that, he needs to pay for her sins against the family.”
“Sins? It’s Johnny Stylez who should be in his spot,” she said. “What if it was someone else that had walked in here? What if it was Aurora?”
She turned and looked at Caleb when behind her, Nocturnal’s powerful arm snaked around her throat, tugging into her neck with all the wrenching power of a hangman's noose.
“What you doing?” she screamed. “What the hell? Put me down!!!”
He dragged his sister towards one of the mirrors. His arms were bigger than most men's thighs, and his neck was lost in the huge knots of muscles along his shoulders. His long hair hung across his face while his dark eyes looked ever so more manic than usual.
“Really Sis, do you really care?” he hissed. “Do I really care that he actually lost the match tonight? Do you think I won’t just shank Caleb here and now and let him bleed out in some alley? He doesn’t really matter. Do you think anything is bigger than Nocturnal? I don’t think so. He doesn’t exist in my world other than to do what I want him to do. You want me to make Caleb dance? You want me to rip out his tendons and dance like a marionette?”
“Alex, let me down,” Emily pleaded. “Let’s talk properly.”
Nocturnal's massive left hand pulled Emily towards him. His right hand toyed with a strand of hair that hung across her face. “And now this week he represents me in a championship match against the pathetic tag team of the Caffeine Mafia. How did they ever win those belts? They are a poor excuse for Johnny’s Outlaw promotion. They got lucky to win those belts but there luck is about to run out.”
"Alex; you are hurting me,” Emily screamed. “Why? Let me down so we can sit down and talk this through. Come on Alex. It‘s me Emily, your sister. You don‘t want to do this. Please……"
Nocturnal smiled a sadistic smile as he looked at his sister, "Why? Revenge? For revenge honey; Plain and simple."
His voice became more cold and unemotional.
"I am the only one that counts,” he said. “Not Aurora, not Caleb, not Ezekiel not even you. I am alone my lovely and fickle sister. That’s one of the reasons I don‘t care anymore; and one of the reasons that it will be coming to a head soon. And Emily, you are pathetic."
Emily leaned in and spat directly into Nocturnal's face. He shook his head and managed to smile. Nocturnal's fingers tighten dangerously near to Emily's windpipe.
"We’ve got to get revenge, plain and simple for the sins done upon this family by those that I see as having sinned against us,” he muttered. “They know who they are and I hope they are quaking in their boots. But what do I do, I haven‘t decided to quite yet. Where was I? Oh then some little side note that goes by the name of Aurora Deadwood? Come on do you think I am bothering about her leaving me? She was but a mean to an end Emily. She distracted me from the death of my wife. Emily, do you know that I was robbed of seeing my daughter grow up? I may have her back in my life now but all those years missed. I can never forgive Matt Slater for Lyre’s murder."
Nocturnal stared at the woman for a moment before shoving her aside. She opened her mouth to say something, and then thought better of it.
"Sounds like I giving up right?” Nocturnal said. “Sounds like I‘m throwing it all away?"
“Aren’t you?” as she reached for another cigarette as she looked down at Caleb who was beginning to move
"Am I?" Nocturnal finished coolly, "I‘m sorry? Is that what you want me to say?" Nocturnal gave her a wink and reached across to stroke Emily's cheek.
Emily recoiled from his touch.
"Scared of my touch?” Nocturnal asked. “What happened to the fearless Emily I once knew? Or maybe even you‘ve listened to the hype? Listened to the rumours? Come on Emily. Caleb can beat the Caffeine Mafia with his hands tied behind his back. He needs this more than they do. Not just because he is the better warrior but because of this losing streak he has been on. The Caffeine Mafia are basically transitional champions holding them belts for Caleb but that was inevitable honey. Come on Emily, you know what I‘m talking about? None of the family have ever won a title in this promotion. Maybe it is time for us to bite the bullet, maybe time for us to just hang up our boots and go back to the family business. What do you think?"
“Does it matter what I think?” Emily said.
This news didn't seem to affect Nocturnal at all. He gave a small wink to Emily, who was sat paralyzed in her position by his words.
"Come on Alex; shake yourself out of this little bad patch. Caleb can be the next big thing for our family. You need to give him a chance," Emily seemed completely unconcerned as she reached for her lighter. She shot Alexander a smirk as he lit her cigarette.
"Lots of chances?” Nocturnal said as he moved round and looked at Caleb who was still sat on the chair. “Come on Emily. Come on. Why do you do that?"
“Do what?” Emily muttered as she turned to look at Nocturnal.
"Not believe in the hand that feeds you,” he said. “If it wasn‘t for me you‘d still be living like a whore in some trailer. And I told you, no smoking!"
Nocturnal thrusted her across the room and attempted to snatch the cigarette from Emily's lips. She, however, was too quick and ducked out of the way. Nocturnal landed right on top of her.
He slowly got up, shocked at what he was doing. Emily got herself back up but she was still smoking.
Emily strolled up to her brother, she raised her hand and there was a sudden smack. Nocturnal's face was turned from the impact of Emily's slap, but when he turned to face her again, he looked neither angry nor hurt.
"Nice slap Sis, you sure are a feisty one, eh?” Nocturnal said. “I trained you well."
At this Emily lost her temper. She gave a small scream before thrusting herself at Nocturnal again. This time, her attempt was more successful as she used the cigarette. Half on top of him, Nocturnal grabbed Emily's hand and yanked it towards her. Emily suddenly gave a yell; Nocturnal had thrust the still-burning cigarette into the palm of her hand in order to extinguish it. He rose and Emily fell sideways, unable to balance herself. Nocturnal was still clutching Emily's burnt hand and he followed her; they both hit the floor with a thud. She was the first to recover. He towered over Emily with a different expression on his face from those previously; he was angry now. The look on his face was so intense, for the first time in her life, Emily was truly scared.
"Do you know what you‘ve done?" Nocturnal asked. “Do you?”
Emily said nothing. She simply watched him tower over her; her eyes wide and fearful. She held the hand he had burnt; it is as though she had smeared black coal around a deep cut which was sore and bleeding. Emily felt a small twinge of an emotion within herself; regret? Pleasure? Even Emily didn’t not know at this point.
Nocturnal turned and walked towards the mirror. He looked into it whilst Emily pulled herself together behind him. “Come on, you know what I’m like? I need to make sure the family is on top of everything. This match is going to be where we show the OPW what we are all about. But we need it, I NEED IT.”
Nocturnal lifted his arms up as he ranted; he brought them down against the mirror, smashing it into a thousand pieces.
“Noccie?” Emily said. “What are you doing? Come on, we can sort this. I can help you. They can sort your head out. Come on. What are you doing?”
Blood was dripping from Nocturnal as he slowly turned. He had taken a piece of the glass and had started to cut himself with it. The glass cut deep into his arm.
“Emily, come on I’m sorry,” he said. “You know me. The only way I feel in charge of my destiny is when I’m bleeding, when blood is dripping from my body.”
“You’re sick,” she said. “What would Lyre think of you for doing this? She would be ashamed of you. I’m ashamed of you.”
A woman's face flashed in his mind. The image is vivid, clear. It's the same woman who always came. She's beautiful. He could hear her voice, a sweet voice. She talked to someone. She was telling whoever it was that she loved them, she was proud of them.
She was caressing her belly, she was carrying his child.
She smiled and he could feel it. His heart fluttered and raced. Her hand reached out, cupping someone's face, and suddenly he could feel the warmth of a palm against his cheek. It was him. His skin burned with the intensity of it and his eyes closed.
"I love you Alex,” the voice said. “I love you. No matter what happens, as long as we have each other, we'll be alright. I promise you. Okay?"
He nodded, taking her hand in his own, bending it towards his lips. He kissed it.
"Okay," he said.
She smiled again. He smiled back at her.
"Lyre?" he said.
"Yes?" she said.
"I love you," Nocturnal said.
"I know," his wife said.
"I… I'd be so lost without you,” he said to her. “I'd be so alone. I've got nothing else; nothing else in this world."
"I'll always be here for you Alex," Lyre said.
"Promise?" Nocturnal asked.
She smiled. "I promise."
He looked up and noticed the mirrors cracked; a split and fractured line running up from where his hand was pressed. He pulled it away, and little shards fell to the floor, and then he saw the blood trickling down his palm. He didn't feel it, didn't hear it. He turned back to his sister. Tears ran down his face. He reached down to pick up the lighter. He smiled sadistically at his sister and looked at Caleb who was still not moving on the chair.
“It is time to end this; The Cure got me back for a reason, right?” he asked. “It’s time for it to show itself fully.”
“What?” Emily asked.
He lit the Zippo and smiled as he dropped it on the petrol. The whole room burst into flames. The flames licked at Caleb. Emily screamed as the flames engulfed her and rose to fill the room and then on some unseen signal Nocturnal jumped forward into the flames without a seconds thought, his dark eyes glazed over. He stood with his arms outstretched like a crucifixion; the blood from the wounds dripped down onto the floor. Flames lick around his head and engulf his clothing. He had a twisted sadistic look on his face but it was also a serene look upon it. The flames rose and filled the entire room.
The flames reflected in something, they turned and pulled out. It was an eye. An eye that was familiar. It was the eye that is seen in Nocturnal’s entrance video. It pulled back and it was Nocturnal’s eye. He was sat in his seat on a private jet. Emily was snuggled on the seat next to him. Nocturnal had a sadistic smile on his lips. He laughed out loud. Apathy and Eoin were deep in conversation across from them whilst Caleb and Jayson were strategizing about their upcoming tag title match in Japan.
“You okay Alex?” Apathy asked as she turned towards him with a worried look upon her face.
“Yeah Apathy, it’s going to be an interesting week,” Nocturnal said. “I was just thinking of what was coming up. Caleb and Jayson are the future of the Tag Division in OPW and they are going to destroy the Caffeine Mafia.”
At the mention of their names both Caleb and Jayson turned towards Nocturnal and Apathy.
“What we going to do about Scotty?” Emily asked. “What are we going to do about him? I know with what was announced we could do something special.”
“What are you talking about Emily?” Apathy asked.
“Well I know a guy,” Emily said. “Well he’s family really if you know what I mean. He could do a great job on Scotty, he would get him mounted like one of those wax works they do. Then he could be displayed in the lobby at OPW HQ.”
“Apathy,” Jayson said as he completely ignored what Emily had just said. “Me and the big guy can do this. We reckon that we can target the weak link in the team and utilise that. I think they’ve underestimated not only this team of me and Caleb but they’ve underestimated the Cure as a whole.”
“This is true,” Nocturnal said before Apathy could say anything. “Caleb is ready for this war and I see you seem to be an able warrior Mister Violence so you better bring that gold back to this group.”
“Alex,” Apathy said as she interrupted Nocturnal. “If it was anyone else that seemed to underestimate MY control of this group I would be worried but we have history so you know what I would do to you if I didn’t believe your intentions. I know you came to my corner after I asked for help and I appreciate that but don’t overstep the mark.”
“It’s okay Apathy,” Jayson said. “I can sort of understand where he’s coming from as I used to watch his matches when I was growing up. Me and Caleb just want to represent the group and bring those gold straps back to the group. I know you don’t seem to let the big guy talk much……..”
“Much?” Nocturnal interrupted. “What have you been saying Caleb?”
Caleb looked at Nocturnal with a nervous look upon his scaled face and shrugged his shoulders.
“Jayson,” Nocturnal said. “You have to understand Caleb may be your tag team partner but he has to do what he is told as he is part of the Koresh Family. He may be part of the Cure but his first priority is to please me. You are lucky as part of my agreement with Apathy that is defeating the Caffeine Mafia for those OPW Tag Championship straps back to the Cure. Both Apathy and myself have history with Lisa Marie. She was always this whiny bitch who managed to spend her whole career hiding behind someone with skills to carry her. We know Frank Finelli don’t we Apathy?”
“Yeah,” Apathy said as she nodded. “He had skills before Vanessa got her claws into him but you’ve seen how she has been in OPW, it’s time to bring those belts back to the Cure. AdrenaLynn is not to be laughed at though but definitely the weak link is Lisa Marie. The power of you Caleb will crush her dreams and then the skill of Jayson will be unstoppable. Right Caleb?”
Caleb nodded nervously as he turned to Nocturnal.
“I guarantee that Caleb will bring it,” Nocturnal said. “But it’s down to you Jayson to keep your end up as I think the Cure have got this in the bag. It’s different from when me and Apathy here were in our prime…..”
“What do you me in our prime?” Apathy said as she interrupted Nocturnal. “Bitch, I’m still in my prime old man!”
“Yeah okay honey,” laughed Nocturnal. “But seriously we’ve got this. By the way, how did you afford to get a private jet to take us to Tokyo?”
“Well there was a mouse in the Outlaw front office,” Apathy said with a smirk. She held up a credit card. “And he managed to get me one of Johnny Stylez credit card.”