The scene opens inside of a hallway.
The camera pans down the hallway emphasizing the gothic architecture. The long bricks and the arcs of the hallway represent a style long forgotten.
A figure in a long black hooded robe made of sackcloth walks slowly down the hallway, starting at the far end. As he walks down the hallway he runs his hand down the wall feeling the distinctness of the texture, appreciating the hard work and dedication that went into designing this place.
As he walks down the hallway ever closer towards the camera his hood continues to cover his face.
: It is funny how so many people surround themselves with distractions. Most of society has one distraction or another to keep their minds off the true harshness of reality. Some would choose television, others like to hide in video games, some even hide by spending hours on teh internet. All of them though are trying to avoid the ugliness of the world that they were born into. In one way or another there is something wrong with their life and they are trying to hide from it.
I saw your promotion shawn mich....I mean showtime. I saw how you tryed to use my past against me. Oh I got a spanking?
Sickle stops for a moment, leans against the wall, and begins to laugh but only slightly. Then he sits down on the floor, crossing his legs indian style as he lights a cigarette.
: Firstly you may make fun of my name all you wish. I am no longer attached to that name. I do not remember what my birth name was but yes my adopted name is Ariel James. They named me Ariel and told the adoption agency and the courts that it was because I was so innocent. But, in truth they did it as a form of twisted torture. You see my adopted parents got their kicks off on the suffering of my sister and I. If your background check was thorough you would more than thoroughly understand that I did not get spankings, I got beatings. You would also know that I am not some rich kid who was told to take out the trash too many times like you seem to be. I didn't run from my problems, and if I truly felt I had anything to be ashamed of then my history would be a lot more difficult to find than just going to a website now wouldnt it?
The camera readjusts as Sickle puts out his cigarette and continues to walk down the never ceasing hallway.
: You said it yourself you were a petty little thief as a child. Who are you to place judgement? What do you know of the call of the darker hall? You know nothing about the true harshness of life. You were some kid who's family was probably lower middle income, hell lets just say for the sake of argument poor. Sure, I technically lived in a nice house. But, I never saw the nice side of it. I never saw a dining room table, a sofa, or so much as a black and white television. My sister and I lived in the basement. We ate rats for food, we played with their bones for fun. Am I a freak? Perhaps I am, perhaps I am truly a twisted freak.
The lightbulbs in the fake candlesticks all blow out one by one starting from the farthest end of the hallway. A fog begins at the end of the hallway at the exact same time. As one bulb blows the fog is there, and continually following. They stop right before reaching where Sickle is standing, and continue to follow him as he walks further down the hallway only not once has the camera actually seen his feet touch the ground, and his robe does not exceed the limit of his ankles.
: You see showtime I do not think you fully grasp the seriousness of the situation. I told you that you would come out here and try to pan me for a fraud. You are no different than any other that has come before you. You claimed that you saw nothing dark about me, that you saw nothing dark? Do you see the wind or the air itself? No, but it is still there none the less. Have you ever personally witnessed the devestation of a tornado? The terror in the people's eyes as the wind picks up speed and tears through everything in sight. Likewise you say you cannot see the darkness but soon you will see the devestation. Soon you will see what I am capable of doing.
Did I not openly predict what you would say? First you insult me by calling me names. Then you try to attack my past. You also try to put me down for my taste in music. Then you try to stay somewhat on my good side by openly admitting that you would not do what I do, that you would not tread where I tread but you knew that this showed weakness. So, you tryed to compensate for it by taking the self-defense stance. Then you tryed to go back to staying on my good side by trying to compare history but once again you realized that you were showing weakness. So, once again you tryed to compensate. Only you decide to try insults, and verbally buffing up.
You made some mistakes though Showtime. You showed that you were afraid through your words. Everyone that saw that promotion saw the fear. They heard what you said but they also heard the fear underneath your words.
As I told you before doubt me all you want. The more that you doubt me the greater my victory will be. My statements before were nothing more than anologies but clearly your intellect is low and it was above your head. This shows that when we get in that ring together you will be hoping and praying and depending upon nothing but your training. You do not have the mental capacity to think on the spur of the moment. The few I have faced in the AWF although they were losses I can assure that they would tell you that Sickle is no joke.
I implore you though to continue your mindset as I rather enjoy it. I shall enjoy watching your next promotion where you try to convince the rest of the world as well as yourself that you hold no fear in regards to me. We both know that your words however strong sounding are as hollow and empty as this hallway around me.
Continue to use your little monkey boy to build your confidence. Continue to listen to those that distract themselves from the real world by hiding in their jobs and in the past of others. You yourself are hiding showtime. You are trying to hide from me. You are trying to hide the way you feel from the world. You are trying to hide your doubt. But make no mistake, showtime, none of these will make any difference in the end. Sooner than you realize, you will know what I am capable of doing. You will still have to face your fears.
You will still have to face ME! Embrace the darkness or be engulfed by it.
The scene fades out with the fog engulfing Sickle, and when the fog disappears Sickle is nowhere to be seen.
The scene reopens outside of whats left of a small apartment complex.
It used to be a nice looking, hacienda-style set up, nothing too fance, but still nice. Now it lights the night sky with incredible fires, although the firemen are trying ever dilagently to put it out. Suddenly there is a huge explosion and a door comes flying out of the complex, as it slowly collapses.
The scene fades out as the camera zooms in on the door now sitting on the asphalt road, the number on the charred door reads twenty-four.
