Conflicted

[Ghost Spike]

Sometimes people accuse me of not following up my words with actions, but the truth of the matter is that I’ve been doing as such since I hit the big time, since I finally broke into what they call the “Main Event Scene” way back in 2006 when I won the XHF Rumble and began my quest to Night of Champions (which we used before that OTHER company by the way) and defeated on of the most prolific Young Guns to capture the World Title. Some of you might remember the Young Guns, some of you might not, it doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that I said I would beat James Meuller and walk out Champion, and I did. I said I would beat Lex Sense and become the Imperial Champion, and I did.

I said I would beat Mike Laszlo, again.

And I did.

Despite it all, despite having an IWF Record of 3-0 when Laszlo is concerned, the kid did well. He tried hard, and stepped up from last time. It was a marked improvement, and I’m sure the big wigs took notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if Laszlo wasn’t gunning for my title soon enough with the full backing of Simon, or Bertie. However, the fact still remains that I told the world I was going to walk out victorious and I did. Some people think I have a superiority complex, some people think that I have dellusions of grandeur. To those people, I simply say….

Who do you think I am?

~~~

The scene opens up on the house of Rob Diamond once again, this time Spike is laying on the floor playing with Rob’s daughter; Hope. She has a teddy bear that is wearing an InFamous t-shirt and is laughing at Spike.

Spike: Who’s a good gril? Huh? You being a good girl for your uncle Spike?

The laughter of a happy child is what the reply is but it’s broken up when the door slams open and Rob Diamond stands there with a bag of groceries and what looks like baby formula and stuff in his hands, he doesn’t close the door though.

Rob: S’pose you were gonna tell me, huh?

Spike lays on the floor looking confused at Rob, who actually looks a little pissed off.

Spike: Tell yoouuuuu wha?

Rob places the bags down on the table and turns to Spike with his arms folded, if we didn’t know any better you might think they were a married couple or something.

Rob: That you’ve been talking to River behind my back. Going against your own initiative, against the best advice your friends have given you just to hurt Alysson!?

With that Spike slowly makes his way to his feet, avoiding Hopes toys and her herself. He looks a little cold as he makes eye contact with Rob.

Spike: I appreciate your input Rob, I do, and I take your advice to heart…..but this is my kid, and my life. I didn’t stop you from doing whatever it was to get Hope back…..even though I really didn’t want you to do it.

Rob: That’s not the same Mike! She was in league with your psycho Dad man, she manipulated you!

At that moment River walks in through the door, calmly approaching with her hands out to show that she means no harm.

River:: Initially yes, Rob….you’re right….but I fell in love with Mike. Do you think I’d have a child if there was no love there?

Rob: You screwed over my best friend…….I don’t let that shit slide!

Spike comes between the two now, ushering River towards the door a little as he turns to face Rob.

Spike: Look Rob, you’re like a brother to me. You really are, but I have to do this, and I have to go against my better judgement…..but I need you on my side. Are you?

Rob shakes his head slowly as he thinks things over, before making eye contact with Spike.

Rob: I’ve always got your back man…..

Spike: Thank you. I need your help through this.

And with that Spike turns and ushers River outside following her. The two talk amongst themselves but the sound is inaudible as the camera focuses on Rob shaking his head before closing the door. Cut.

~~~

I knew this day was going to come sooner or later, just like everywhere else we’ve both been. We always end up on opposite sides of the ring Joe, no matter what we do, no matter how much we help each other outside of the ring, it always comes down to you versus me. We’ve had the whole master and apprentice thing come up once or twice, but in all honesty, you never were my apprentice Joe. You were just a friend, just someone who I saw struggling, someone who had the ability to be a smash hit but just couldn’t get past that road block. So I tried to help you overcome that road block. Then finally, when IWF came along you had your chance at last….

And boy did you smash it out of the park.

Thing is Joe, there was something I never really taught you. Something I never really had the chance to explain to you, despite everything that we did. Despite the back and forths we had, despite the epic ending to the Xtreme Hardcore Federation, despite being on opposite sides of The Empire versus No Warning Shot…...I knew it, and I knew it quite well….

It’s a long fall from the top.

Don’t get me wrong Joe, I’m not enjoying your torment. Despite what people may think of me, I don’t enjoy watching people I care about suffer. I’ve been around the block, and I’ve seen some pretty nasty things, and I’ve even done some pretty horrible things. I’ve seen families torn apart because of this business, and the effect it has on us all. I’ve seen people locked up, and people committed to insane asylums….the lot. Thing is, still to this day, I don’t like watching them suffer.

I can’t watch your family go through this.

I’m your friend Joe, you know that. I’ve stayed by your side despite it all, and I know everything that you must be going through. The stress of being at the top is something that made me cave too. My drug addiction is quite widely published, so you know that I have had to battle my own demons on more than one occasion; hell even nCw paid for me to go into rehab at one point. I know what it is like to be where you are Joe, to be going through what you are going through…..so maybe, just maybe…

It’s not time for you to be challenging for the Imperial Title.

I’m not trying to tell you that you don’t belong in this scene Joe, nothing of the sort. I’ve always been one of the few people who stood behind you, no matter what the people were saying, no matter what the brass were forcing down our throats….I believed in you, and in true Hipster Fashion, I believed in you before anybody else jumped on that train, and we have tore the house down time after time, on every single continent on this planet, so what is one more, huh? Well I guess it’s time to get down to brass tacks isn’t it Joe….I’ll be brutally honest with you here.

I don’t want to wrestle a drunk.

When I’m in that ring, my life is in your hands. Forget Spike Kane….this is Mike talking directly to you Joe….when I’m in that ring I need to be able to trust you. I need to know that when we do a spot, you’re not going to mess it up because you’re intoxicated. I don’t want you to end my career by messing up because you needed a top up before the match. I’m being serious Joe, if I catch a whiff of alcohol in our watch, I’m bailing. I’m going to take my Imperial Title and walk away and I’ll have nothing to do with you ever again. Because Joe, whereas I don’t agree with the way Roberto Verona has gone about things, I do agree with his point Joe.

Verona is in the right.

Now you made a joke about me waiting until you lost the title before going after it, but it’s totally cool for you to come out during my ceremony and demands a refund? Please continue with your double standards Everyman. It’s not exactly cool that you did that, but you know what? You pushed and you got more than you ever could have asked for. Verona wants me to fight you, he wants me to hurt you, he wants me to punish you, and if I don’t? He’ll fire you.

I’m stuck between a rock and a hard place.

I don’t want to hurt you because you are my friend, but in the same instance, if I don’t hurt you your family will suffer, and I know how much family means Joe. I don’t want to be the reason why your wife and children won’t have money for food, or the basic enmities, I won’t have that darkness following me through my life while you and your family struggle because I tried to do the right thing…..

Tell me, what is the right thing here?

Do I stand my ground and cost you your job? Your livelihood? I mean, let’s be honest who would hire you after being fired from Imperial Wrestling Federation? Being fired because your alcoholism? It’s not exactly right….but then, on the other hand, do I beat the crap out of you for Verona’s enjoyment but to make sure you keep your job? There’s a chance I could end your career without even trying, at the very least put you in hospital all because I’m your friend and I’m actually trying to help you.

I’m conflicted Joe.

However, no matter what the outcome, no matter whether you come at me like a bull, or we lay down our weapons and retreat….there is no chance in hell that you are taking this title away from me. I’ve worked too hard, and too long to have you jump at the chance to sneak a victory over me and steal my hard work. This title is mine Joe, just like the tag team championship…..I worked harder than anyone else, and that is why I am the champion. They say that to be the man, you have to beat the man….well Joe, this belt says that I am the man, I am the best in this company. I understand you are going through some stuff, and I understand that our friendship might not mean as much to you…..but if you want to be the best Joe? If you want to be the man?

Bring it.

I’ll humble you.