Slipping

[Ghost Spike]

Two weeks in a row we have shown up and delivered exactly what we said we would. I said that I would kick Mike Laszlo in the face, and I did exactly that. I said I would shut him up for at least five minutes, and I did exactly that.

Your welcome.

How does it feel Mike? That sting? It’s your pride dude. I told you that it would happen this way, explained exactly how it would go down, and as per usual InFamous left with their heads held high and the arms following suit. You had the horrible sting of defeat by a team featuring the family name of Kane two weeks in a row.

That has to suck.

But, I’m sure you’ll bounce back Mike. I’m sure you’ll shrug it off and start flapping those gums again, ignoring what happened and driving head first towards your next target. Yet you’ll always have that nagging thought in your mind, that you had the chance to put me away, you had the chance to “measure up” as you said.....but you failed.

You failed.

Talk the talk Mike, make your excuses, throw it away if need be, just know that I will always be ready to kick your teeth down your throat a second time, in any way shape or form you like.

~~~

My head is pounding, the sound of little feet pattering around seems so annoying right now that I want to shout out loud. I feel my muscles in my body tighten as I’m about to, then I realise why my head hurts. I was partying with Rob so much after our victory, that I forgot to take my medication.

“Ah....fuck...”

I roll to the side of the bed and open my eyes, the empty space where my wife was sleeping let’s me know that she’s already up and looking after Xander, Rob’s probably up with his daughter too. My fingers fumble across the dresser draw as I manage to get it open and grab the meds. I curse at myself even more, I’ve been taking these ever since Dr Riley Griffiths committed me back in nCw, back when I had a drug problem. They’re supposed to balance out the chemicals in my brain. Keep me from going to.......that place.

“Mike, you up?”

I hear my wife call from downstairs, and I grumble something back at her that’s barely audible as I slide the capsules into my mouth and wash them down with the water left on the side. I can hear her coming up the stairs now, I can’t quite tell if she’s pissed off with me or if she’s excited. The noise all sounds the same. However, when she bursts through the door and dives onto the bed with a huge smile on her face, I can tell she’s not pissed.

“Hey gorgeous, how are you feeling?”

I don’t manage to say anything back to her just yet, my throat is still stuck in that ‘just woke up’ mode, but I smile and nod before opening my arms and embracing her. There’s nothing I love more than laying here with my wife and just letting things go from my mind, making her be the focus of it all, her smell, her warmth, everything.

“I love you so much.”

I manage to mumble to her, and she nuzzles into my neck, just for the briefest of moments I close my eyes and the rest of the world melts away, it’s just us and I could stay like this forever. I remember the words to a Bruno Mars song, something completely out of my reportour but it fits with her.....that’s until he arrives, the door kicks in.

“Wakey wakey motherbitches!”

Rob. God dammmit Rob. He’s there, full of life as usual, grinning from ear to ear, with his child in one arm, and my child in another arm, and he’s got these bottle holster things across his chest. Nothing I can do but burst out laughing, he may be an annoying sod, but he’s my best friend and he’s family dammit.

“Right, I’m up. I’m up!”

I throw my hands into the air, which makes Rob and Alysson laugh, Rob places Xander down and he crawls quickly up into my arms, giving me a kiss on my forehead. I love the little tyke so much, I squish him with a little bit of strength and he squeals.

“Ok, so.....breakfast on me.....what we having?”

Xander jumps up, right on my private area forcing me to groan, and of course making Rob and Ally laugh even more. I’d be angry, but he doesn’t understand, so I just russle his hair as he shouts out.

“Pancakes!”

Pancakes it is then. Seems like today is going to be a good day afterall. I wonder if Rob’s ever seen the Pacifier....

~~~

Mr Kingsley, it seems that the last time we met - which was when I destroyed you by the way - I may have hit you harder in the head than I thought possible. For you to even begin to entertain the thought that I fear you, is just outright laughable. I mean I literally had to stop, go outside, catch my breath and try not to keel over from laughing too much.

You’re a joke Kingsley.

I’ve come up against Criminal Intent a few times now, hell even Rob and I came up against you, and every single time I’ve walked out victorious. Every single time we face of I come out at the other end with my hand held high, so please for the love of God can you explain your complete pile of crap words? Honestly, I don’t think you can. I mean, look at me Stephen, look at the man who will be standing across the ring from you this week, well, one of them anyway, and you will see a superior in every single way. I am faster than you, I am stronger than you, I am more athletic than you, I am more talented than you, and by sure I’m more intelligent than you. I am the complete package Kingsley, and you just don’t compare.

Then you never did though did you?

In the past you’ve always just kind of “been there” you’ve never actually made anything of yourself, never pushed yourself past the limit of being just somebodies tag team partner. You rely on Cyrus far too much, and that, my friend will be your major downfall. You my friend, are co-dependant, you NEED Cyrus to be able to function in the ring, and without him you just seem to freeze. Don’t get me wrong dude, you are talented. When we gave you that complement a few weeks ago, we meant it. You can wrestle, you do have some talent, but you are by no means a threat to InFamous, and you are by no means a threat to The God of Xtreme. I’m a beast Stephen, I’ve absolutely crushed and destroyed people. I’ve ended careers and ruined lives, I don’t NEED my tag team partner, but I do know that he will always be there to have my back, he will always do what needs to be done to make sure we come out on top.

This week though? Oh boy, this week IWF gets to see Spike Kane, The Spiked One, The God of Xtreme go into singles action for the first time, and whilst on one hand we do have yourself Stephen, on the other hand we have Jake Keeton. Now Spike versus Jake is pay per view levels of buys, but with you involved it kind of drags everything down. I know you might feel like I’m being a bit too harsh on you, but let’s face it......you know yourself that you are not at the level capable of taking on Jake and myself. Maybe you could put up a good fight one on one, but in a triple threat?

You don’t stand a chance.

I know that deep down inside you already know you’ve lost, and trust me when you show that in the middle of the ring I’ll pounce on that and use it to tear you limb from limb, I’ll give you something to fear Kingsley. I’ll show you exactly why one of the most dangerous men to ever step foot in a wrestling ring will never be scared of you. For crying out loud, my last nCw match was a Dragon’s Den match against Angel.....please tell me that you think you are more intimidating and scary than him, please...I could do with a good laugh, I imagine the roster could too. I’ll give them something to laugh at though, when I kick your hypocritical ass all over the ring, when I force you to face the one force in this world that all men SHOULD fear.....

The God of Xtreme.

Batman has his Scarecrow, Stephen....and you’ve got me.

Heh heh hehehehe......

~~~

It’s not often that I get much time to myself these days. It’s split up so much between spending time with Allysson and Xander, training with Rob, training my students at my school, cutting promo’s and just spending time with Rob too. So when I do get a few moments to myself, I cherish them. Today I have one of those, and it’s time to indulge in one of my nerdy activities. Time to read some comic books.

‘’I stumbled across this Thunderbolts one.....let’s see if it’s worth the cash’

I usually read them on the road when I’m not driving with either Rob or Ally, we usually take it in turns, but a lot of the time I can’t sleep, so I read instead. Been reading them since I was a kid, and they really help me grow as a performer I believe. I think I take a lot of them into myself and put it into my work, regardless, today I’m reading something just because it had Deadpool in it. Deadpool is my favourite character and has been for a good while, I’ve read pretty much everything he’s in. It’s led to a few arguments between me and Rob, but sometimes I think Rob antagonises me for fun.

‘Stand up’

Wait......what? What the hell is going on? I didn’t......my legs move and I don’t.....what the hell?

‘Go to the draw’

I feel my body moving, but I don’t seem to be the one in control. It’s like I’m the passenger in my own mind, like I can see through my eyes like someone would look through the window of a car, or a plane.

‘Take out the medication’

The draw opens and I see the little tray where I keep my medication, clearly labelled, “Monday” “Tuesday” “Wednesday” “Thursday” “Friday” “Saturday” and “Sunday” my heart leaps for a second when I see that Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are full. That doesn’t make any sense. I know I took Monday’s tablets late, but I took them. What in the hell is going on?

‘Get rid of them’

I slam my eyes shut, this can’t be happening, maybe I’m just dreaming, this isn’t right. It has to be a dream, I must have been so tired from training that I’ve fallen asleep in my chair. Yeah, that’s right I was reading a comic and then I fell asleep. I manage to sum up the courage to open my eyes, and my heart beat slows down, the tray is still there and I’m still standing, but the slots for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday are empty. I didn’t feel myself moving, so I couldn’t possibly have done anything with them.

‘Maybe you slept walk?’

I think to myself, and it does make sense. I’ve been stressing over taking those meds late after Sacrifice. It must have been taking up a more larger part of my subconscious than I remember. Anyway, I shrug it off....I’ve done worse things in my sleep. I spot the Thunderbolts book on the side with my bookmark in it, shrugging again I sit down and pick it up, and read the page before I put the bookmark in just to refresh.

‘Weird....I don’t remember this’

~~~

It’s been a while Jake.....and I can honestly say that I’ve actually missed being in the ring with a wrestler of your calibre. Last time we locked up it was my honour to do so, but now? Man, I’m fairly sure the honour is at least swinging both ways. A shame about the Aussie though, right? I mean we both know that a match with both you and myself in it should be headlining a pay per view somewhere. It should at the very least be a match people should be paying to see.

Not that many people can do nowadays, peasants.

I can say though Jake, that I look forward to being in the ring with you, I like to test myself and push myself to be the best I possibly can, it’s why I try to take the best that are out there head on so that I can raise my own limits, keep myself sharp, if you will. Keep myself as the motherloving best in the world. That’s right Keeton, you might have your head in the clouds firmly believing that YOU are the best wrestler alive today, but we both know that you are spouting that to try and convince yourself.....we both know that when the chips are down, monikers put aside, accomplishments laid out for all to see.

I’m better than you.

Last time we locked up, one on one, I proved that to you and the entire world. It wasn’t something that took you by surprise, and it wasn’t something that stung your pride either. It was simply the better man taking away the victory on the day. Don’t get me wrong Keeton, I’m well aware that every dog has it’s day, and I’m an advocate of the mindset that anybody can beat anybody on any given day. All it takes is that one slip up, that one mistake, or just that one bit of luck that can kick start you on your way to fame.

But people like you and me have already got that fame.

So maybe the Aussie is more of a threat than we realise? I mean....I could have you beaten, ready for the pin, and he could come in and steal it.....right? Triple threats are made of this type of drama right? Hell the IWF brass were pretty clever putting this together. Two well travelled veteran roster members who will give you exactly the kind of match that you would want on your show to attract attention, and then throw a wildcard in there, someone desperate to prove himself, someone with a grudge against at least one of the contenders. Bam! Instant ratings. Clever, no? Personally I tip my hat to them, it’s the kind of thing I used to do way back when I used to run my own federation, when I was giving guys like Jake “The Ace” Conway, and Dave Holland their big breaks. IWF has the makings of a huge federation Jake.....and we stand here, the kind of men who can make or break a federation, the kind of men who can carry a federation on their backs. In another lifetime I could see us standing side by side, forging forward as a totally unstoppable team, because no matter what gets said between us, no matter what we may do to each other in that ring, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you Jake. You are a phenomenal wrestler.

Second best in the world.

So I look forward to Monday Night, when we can lock up again, and show the world what a wrestling match really can look like. Set the tone for the boys in the back, and raise the bar, demand that they measure up to us, and we drag Stephen Kingsley kicking and screaming into the limelight. Hell we can even play a game of “anything you can do, I can do better” at his expense, but I know that’s not how you work Jake. You’ll try and take the honorable road and legitimize Kingsley as a threat, I won’t exactly ignore him, but I can guarantee right now he will not leave this match as the victor, I’d almost bet my house on it, if I was a gambling man. Hell, I’m sure my buddy The Ace would take that bet, in fact....I know Jake likes my house, he’d snap that bet up in an instant. However, I expect this to me a dangerous match, and I’m dripping with anticipation, with this match comes chaos, I.....thrive on chaos....I always have....

It’s my home.

See you Monday boys.