Thankfully, for the time being.. it seems nothing else has decided to rear it’s ugly head and distract Michael Sommers from focusing on the task at hand.  Arriving in Dallas, and quickly finding a motel to crash at, Michael tosses his gym bag into the small chair by the bed and sits on the edge.  Fishing the remote out of the drawer by the side of the bed, he pauses and stares at the bible inside.  With a grunt, he slams the drawer shut and turns on the TV.  With  a little effort, he finds a station airing an HiC event and catches up on recent promos for both Twister and Tempest. 

 

While the show airs, he walks into the bathroom and runs cold water in the sink. Splashing his face, he blinks to clear his vision of water and stares into the mirror.  Moments pass, and reaching down for one of the plastic cups, he unwraps it and fills it with water.  Splashing the water on the mirror, he watches as it distorts his image.

 

“Is this who I am now?  A distorted visage of what I once was?”

 

He’s interrupted by the sound of the TV and the name Chance.  Peering out into the room, he catches the beginning of Chance’s last promo.. and he leans against the door frame with his arms crossed and listens.

 

When it finishes, Michael walks into the room clicks off the Television’s power button.  Standing in front of the TV with one hand resting on top, he takes a deep breath.

 

“Chance, to paraphrase your question; Did it ever occur to you that you have no fucking idea WHAT I’ve done in my past? Who I am, or what sins I’ve committed?  Don’t even begin to PRESUME that these events have anything to do with anything bad I may have done…. “

 

“No, what seems to be going on.. not that it really is any of your concern.. is that the Darkness is jealous of me.. jealous that I can leave it behind and find peace and happiness without it’s influence.”

 

“It’s not that much different then five years ago.. when I left the New Age Panzies because I knew I could fair better on my own.. and Panzadise never could get past that.”

 

“It’s all about jealousy.. XIII seeks to destroy me for leaving the darkness… because I didn’t need it.. Panzadise causes me grief because he never got past what I supposedly did to him in the TWSN……”

 

Michael turns his face our way.  His eyes glinting cold, as water drips from his chin.

 

“I don’t think I ever figured you to be frightened of me? And if I gave you that impression, then perhaps it is you who’s vision is distorted…. When I looked into the mirror, I wasn’t sure what I saw.. did I see Michael Sommers, or did I see Raizzor?  That question is mine, and mine alone to discern.  The only thing you should consider worrying about, if what would happen if you did seriously piss me off.”

 

Moving to the bed, he sits on the side, rubbing his thighs and trying to keep his mind on the here and now.

 

“I’m not saying ‘be afraid of me’, Chance.. but I’m giving you an honest piece of advice, be very careful about how you go about talking to me… don’t consider me a ‘tired old man’ just yet… I have faltered in the past, that is true.. but I have surprised the non believers on more then enough occasions to be a continuous threats to upstart jerk offs such as yourself.”

 

Raising his head, and brushing his long black hair aside, he glares angrily at us.

 

“And I’ll tell you right now. I do have a choice.. I can choose to wrestle you, teach you the game the way it’s meant to be played…one lesson at a time.. or I can choose to outright try and deliberately break you in two.  While you will struggle to avoid that, and have about as much ‘chance’ to succeed as the next man.. ask yourself this; is it wise to play with the lion’s tail when he’s hungry?”

 

Sighing and letting his shoulder fall, he slides up onto the bed the rest of the way.. trying to get comfortable….

 

“In less then one week’s time, you will have stepped into the ring with two ‘legends’ in this sport… at least to what the general consensus of the word ‘legend’ means anymore… and should you best both of us, you will have secured yourself a very valuable spot in the wrestling community.. you will have made a name for yourself in a very short time… and whether people would want to admit it or not, you will become ‘feared’.”

 

Propping a pillow up behind his back, Michael cracks his neck and reaches again for the remote control.

 

“Each of us wants that… but as Sirus once told you how important it is to understand the difference between one angle to stand, and so many to which you can fall,  let me teach you one other very important aspect about all of this….

 

Power flows to the one who knows how!  Desire alone; is not enough.”

 

“Even now, with all that goes on in my life.. I have that power… AND that desire… and whether I use it to remain in control or let my rage out against you Monday.. is something I will have to consider in time… you don’t have to fear the test, Chance… just understand that no matter how you approach it.. you will have to take the Final Exam… and deal with the consequences of a failing grade!”

 

Clicking the TV Back on, Michael eases himself in for the night… and for what he hopes will be a somewhat restful experience before going to Twister.

 

End