Post by shanemitchell on Sept 12, 2019 9:10:20 GMT -5
Groggily she opens her eyes and discovers that it's either pitch black darkness or she's gone completely blind. She winces at a sharp pain in the back of her head that feels like needles being drilled into her brain. Even in the darkness she feels like she's spinning. Nausea makes her quietly groan as she almost throws up but she manages to hold back. She can feel wetness between her thighs, her tight jeans clinging to her skin, skin that feels sore and chafed. That's when Ellie remembers - Kintaru.
She had been so scared. So, so scared and vulnerable. She had known death was seconds away and was helpless to prevent it. It's impossible to describe the emotions of knowing your life is over. Futile to even try and articulate the desperation of that moment when she realised it was no bluff. As the fuse on that firecracker fizzled away to nothing she had broken. The tears came, the regrets, the what ifs, all the ambitions and dreams that would never be fulfilled were tormenting her final moments. Even the normal life goals were to be extinguished. She had pictured the husband she would never have, the children she wouldn't love, the places she would never get to see. Ellie had been so scared she had literally wet herself.
All of that terror generated for what? So Kintaru could torment her father. Really? How could he do that to someone just to make a point? What sort of an animal has such a lack of compassion and empathy as to put anybody through that? It's only a wrestling match for God's sake. Ellie had long since learned that wrestlers are like magpies when it comes to shiny things but surely anybody in their right mind doesn't treat another human being this way just to win a championship belt - even THE championship belt.
Just when she had expected the exploding firecracker to blow her brains out it stopped. Just like that. The hissing of the fuse inside her mouth that had sounded as loud as anything she had ever heard was gone, replaced by silence. Even the sound of her breathing was absent, she had held her breath in anticipation of the impending explosion but then, remembering her need for oxygen she had breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then came a laugh, a cruel, taunting laugh. Kintaru stepped behind her. Ellie had no idea what was going to happen now. Was it over or was her torment only just beginning. That was the last thought that Ellie can remember before her world turned to black.
The throb of her head tells her what had happened. Whatever Kintaru had hit her with had rendered her unconscious for who knows how long. All she knows now is that wherever she is it is dark and she feels every bit as alone and vulnerable as she did in Kintaru's presence.
She tries to sit up but her already pulsating head hits something above her. Reaching out with her hands she feels hard wood above her, to the sides, beneath her, all around her. She's encased in what appears to be a wooden box - a coffin!
Ellie panics. She pushes against the wood above her to no avail as there is no movement. She begins to hyperventilate, unable to catch her breath as a panic attack takes a firm grip over her. She thrashes her arms and legs as wildly as such a small space permits before scratching the lid of the coffin, breaking a nail in the process.
Something catches her attention, it’s a sound. It’s faint, very faint but it’s undeniably the recognisable roar of a crowd. A large crowd by the sound of it but it’s noise is so dulled by this almost sound-proofed box that it’s impossible to tell what’s going on.
Ellie screams but the shrill yell seems dull and subdued like there is no air and wind to carry the sound. She screams again as she tries once more to batter the lid of the coffin with her fists but then she stops. She stops - and she cries.
x x x x x x x x x x
The white ceiling is spinning in ever quickening circles and the long strobe light is blinding in it's piercing yellow glow. A regular beeping sound is immediately as annoying as the disorientation he feels as Shane slowly regains consciousness. Shane has no idea where he is but feels that sickly sweet nausea he has learnt to associate with morphine. Such a regular patient in accident and emergency rooms the length and breadth of the country Shane has come to recognise the smell and the feel of a hospital long before he even has to open his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye Shane sees a middle-aged homely looking nurse approaching and smiling down at him.
“Welcome back Mr Mitchell,” she greets.
“Where am I,” croaks Shane, surprised at his own sound. He hadn’t realised just how dry his throat felt until trying to speak, all of a sudden he feels extraordinarily thirsty.
“Here you go,” says the nurse as she holds a glass of water to Shane’s lips as though reading his thoughts.
Shane takes a sip of water before resting his head back onto the hard, uncomfortable pillow.
“You’re in hospital Mr Mitchell, that was quite some tumble you took.”
“Tumble?” Shane sighs. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember? Well this is a night Minneapolis won’t forget in a hurry Mr Mitchell. This Night of Champions event has been the talk of the town for weeks and it lived up to all expectations from what I’m hearing. Apparently you won your match too Mr Mitchell, not that you’d know it to look at you.”
Shane concentrates. Night of Champions - Minneapolis - Yes! Kintaru! Shane remembers. He remembers the giant pyramids, the title belt hanging high above the ring, the roar of the crowd as he approached it. He remembers looking up at Kintaru as he climbed towards the belt. He won, the nurse had already told him that but why doesn’t that make him happy? Why is Shane still restless and feeling as though the victory wasn’t complete somehow? What was the fight about anyway, he remembers the feelings of hate and bitterness towards Kintaru but can’t imagine why this long term RSW mainstay who had never really crossed swords with Shane had found himself so bitterly despised by the champion... Ellie!!!
He’d taken Ellie. He said he’d killed her. The grief hits Shane again, every bit as hard as it did the first time when he initially thought he had lost her. That grief quickly turns to panic as the full recollection of the nights events come back to him. Shane can see Kintaru’s cold heartless face as it uttered the words he had been so desperate to hear ‘She’s still alive - just. Don’t worry, she’s packaged up for you perfectly. By the time you find her it will be too late, she’s in an air tight coffin. Tick tick Mitchell, you’ve got about three hours to find her.’
Shane sits up startled. Three hours, he has to find her NOW. Shane swings his legs from the bed causing the nurse to try and restrain him.
“No Mr Mitchell! You’re in no fit state to leave the hospital. Best case scenario you must be concussed after a bang on the head that leaves you unconscious for two hours!”
Shane brushes her aside and then stops.
“What did you say? I’ve been unconscious for two hours?”
Shane feels sick to his stomach. He’s been laying here for two hours while his daughter suffocates to death.
“Yes Mr Mitchell, you…”
Shane doesn’t wait for her to finish. He pulls on his pants and quickly slips his shoes on before darting from his hospital room. He runs as fast as his legs can carry him towards the exit, grabbing one of the patients that are stood at the entrance smoking.
“Which way to the XHF Network Arena?”
“Hey aren’t you…”
“Just tell me!” interrupts Shane.
“Please?” prompts the patient.
Shane reaches beneath the mans robe and grasps a handful of hairy testicle and squeezes.
“Two blocks that way,” he squeaks, pointing to his left.
Shane runs as though his life depends on it but it’s worse than that, his daughters life depends on it!
x x x x x x x x x x
Ellie had screamed until her voice was hoarse. It had been to no avail. Wherever she is, nobody can hear her. She can hear noises but they are faint. Occasional bangs and distant shouts were barely audible but she could hear something and even if it isn’t discernable at least it gives her hope. What is destroying that hope and worrying her the most though is that her breathing appears laboured. She feels short of breath as though she’s breathing but her lungs are still not getting the oxygen they require. It feels like a mild asthma attack but having never suffered with such a thing before that gives Ellie cause for concern. Is this thing air tight? Is she running out of air. With renewed vigour she screams once again.
Ellie’s yelling is interrupted by a welcome sound. Finally, instead of distant noise there is something closer - her phone. It isn’t in her pocket, she had checked that already. She had assumed it to have been taken by Kintaru but perhaps it has just fallen from her pocket. Yes, there it is! As her phone lays by her feet she has to gradually maneuver it towards her, shuffling it with first her foot and then the side of her leg until she can reach down with her hand to grab it.
“Dad?” Ellie says as she answers the call.
“Ellie, thank God. I’m at the arena.”
“I’m in a coffin Dad, please help me, I think the air is running out!”
“I know, don’t panic. Kintaru has told me you’re right here in the arena, I just don’t know exactly where yet.”
“I knew it, I thought I could hear a crowd earlier.”
"I've explained everything to the arena staff, there's at least a dozen people looking for you. We'll have you out of there is no time."
"Dad, I'm scared."
"I know sweetheart. Just try to relax and stay calm. You said you could hear something That’s good, what can you hear now?”
“Nothing, just the occasional bang or shout but it sounds so far away. I’ve tried screaming but nobody has heard me.”
Shane turns to one of the two security guards whom he has already relayed the situation to on arrival at the arena, “Where are the controls for the speaker systems?”
“Follow me,” one replies and leads the way.
Overlooking the arena Shane enters the control centre where the lighting and sound are operated from.
“Ellie, I need you to listen very carefully. I want you to turn my volume down so you can’t hear anything through your phone and then listen. If you hear my voice I want you to tell me ok.”
“Yes Dad, please hurry, I can’t breathe.”
Shane speaks into the tannoy system, “Ellie, can you hear me.”
“Yes, I heard something Dad.”
“Great.”
Shane turns to one of the workers at the arena who is looking on in confusion. “Can the speakers be isolated so I can speak to just one area of the building?”
“Yeah sure,” he replies.
“Ellie, the minute you hear my voice again you tell me okay?”
“Yes, please hurry....I...can’t...breath...”
Shane speaks through the loudspeaker, moving his voice throughout the building. The offices, the changing rooms, the corporate suits, and then…
“Dad! I heard... you...”
The sound of her phone dropping from her hand is followed by complete silence.
“That’s the speaker directly above the ring!” yells Shane in a panic.
The road team have packed up the announce table, the lighting and most of the specialist equipment by now. The ring ropes have been untied and it’s time to lift the ring canvas.
“What the fuck?” Comments one of the crew as he spots a coffin placed centrally below the ring.
“She’s there!” yells Shane as he throws a chair through the glass separating him from the main arena seating. He jumps down to the gangway and sprints towards where the ring had been situated moments ago.
“Ellie, stay with me, I’m coming right now!”
There’s no response.
Shane reaches the coffin and fumbles desperately with the clasps that hold the lid closed. After a few seconds he manages to unclasp them all and lift the lid. A few of the crew have wandered over, intrigued by what’s going on and they look down at the lifeless body inside the casket.
Shane reaches in and hoists her up into his arms before placing her on the floor.
“Ellie...Ellie...can you hear me?” Shane pleads.
One of the security guards who had initially assisted Shane on arrival at the stadium kneels beside the girl. He feels for a pulse, there isn’t one. He immediately begins administering chest compressions, alternating with breathes into Ellie’s dry mouth.
Shane watches, his own heart on the brink of giving up on him.
The other member of security rushes over with a defibrillator and rips open Ellie’s shirt in order to apply the paddles to her chest.
“Clear!” calls the security officer.
Shane winces as Ellie’s body leaps at the force of the shock to her heart. The man delivering CPR listens to her chest. Time stands still for Shane. Never has one moment in time that is in fact only the moment between heart beats lasted so long. If Ellie has breathed her last breath then Shane’s life is over too. There will be no secretive stalking of Kintaru, no covering his tracks in what he does to him, Shane will simply find him and kill him. Killing that evil fucking scumbag will be worth an eternity behind bars. That is Shane’s future. If Ellie dies, so does Kintaru.
The kneeling security guard solumnely shakes his head. Shane falls to his hands and knees in despair. His heart feels like it’s bursting out of his chest. The pain is all consuming and the rage makes his head throb painfully.
“Clear!”
A second shock is delivered to Ellie’s chest almost unnoticed by Shane in his all consuming grief.
“She’s back!”
Shane looks up at his daughter as the security officer smiles at the presence of a pulse. Seconds later Ellie takes a huge intake of breath and then wakes up with wide eyes and panicked expression. Her breathing is fast and heavy as her lungs desperately try to replenish her oxygen levels.
Shane crawls over to his daughter and instinctively embraces her with a relief like he’s never felt before. He cries tears of relief as the crowd of onlookers give the security man a well deserved pat on the back. She's fine. No thanks to Kintaru she's going to be just fine.
x x x x x x x x x x x
Ellie sits on the porch overlooking a gloriously tranquil lake. She’s been sitting here thinking. She’s done a lot of that lately. Since her ordeal at the hands of Kintaru she’s done little else. Her father brought her to this place where time seemingly stands still. The two of them had become recluses in this tiny log cabin on the edge of the lake. No TV, no radio, no internet, they were truly cut off from the outside world and that’s exactly what Ellie had needed.
She had become nervous and jumpy since Night of Champions. A bird’s take off or a raccoon dashing across the porch were enough to nearly cause cardiac arrest. She had become everything she despised in herself, she had become a victim. Kintaru had made her this way, he had traumatised her into this constant nagging fear that he would come for her once again. Her life may have been saved but was it truly worth it if this was to be her new reality. Living in fear is a curse like no other. Sometimes fear is worse than reality. Would death be any worse than this stomach churning existence? If living is worse than death is there really anything to be afraid of anymore?
She can’t live like this. She knows it but at the same time finds it hard to accept. Running away was the cowards way out but maybe that’s what she is, a coward. After what happened to her and what happened to Tiffany before that there can only be one sensible decision to be made and as excruciating as it is, she had made that decision.
Shane emerges from the cabin and sits beside his daughter. He doesn’t say anything, he knows she’s enjoying the peace and quiet so instead just offers a smile and then looks out onto the lake view that Ellie has been absorbing for the past hour.
“Dad,” says Ellie.
Immediately Shane turns to her.
“I’m going home.”
Shane looks delighted.
“Are you sure you’re ready? I’ll get the mopolytes to prepare your room right away, we’ll leave for the compound first thing in the morning.”
Ellie shakes her head.
“No Dad, I’m going home, home.”
Shane furrows his brow in confusion for a second but then grasps what she means.
“You mean England?”
She nods.
“But…” Shane stutters, he can feel his daughter slipping away. Getting to know her had been the greatest privilege of his life and one he has cherished every single day since she came into his life. The thought of losing her now is like a dagger through his heart.
“I’m sorry Dad, I can’t live this life with you. How many times have you nearly been killed, how many times have psychopaths come after the ones you love. I’m scared Dad.”
Shane wipes his eyes discreetly, already readying himself with the claim that he’s been chopping onions in case Ellie notices.
“I don’t want to lose you,” explains Shane with sadness permeating every syllable.
Suddenly Ellie perks up and sits forward. She grabs her fathers hand.
“Come with me!”
“To Huddersfield? Oh I’m sure I’m welcome there. My behaviour over the last few years hasn’t exactly been the sort to make my hometown proud.”
Shane had resolved many years since that he would never return to his place of origin. How could he? After everything he’s done, all the lives he’s ruined and people he’s hurt how could he ever face the people who knew him before RSW ever came into his life. How could he look people in the eye when they know what he’s done. He’d probably be lynched, maybe even Ellie would take the brunt of their hatred.
“Since when did you care what people think?” Asks Ellie incredulously.
“You really think…”
“Yes!” Ellie yells.
Shane looks at his daughter with a genuine smile of warmth on his face. Maybe he could simply keep a low profile. If it meant being in his daughters life then all the abuse and vitriol would be worth it.
“Let’s do it!”
x x x x x x x x x x x x
The taxi ride from Manchester airport to Shane’s hometime is a rollercoaster of emotions. Speeding along the M62 through the eerie moors, past the strange but infamous little house in the middle of the motorway, and eventually laying eyes on Emley Moor mast, the ever faithful beacon that tells travellers away from Yorkshire that they are nearly home.
“It’s gonna be great Dad, don’t you worry.”
Shane smiles, despite Ellie’s reassurance he doesn’t expect a warm welcome home.
“I can’t believe you missed Anarchy 52 Dad, Esmeralda must be furious!”
“Esmeralda can go fuck herself. RSW can fuck itself too. I’ve never missed so much as one match before now but now it’s time to prioritise me. It’s my time now, mine and yours. RSW can go to hell.”
“Don’t be stupid Dad, you’re a fighter, that’s who you are.”
“Well maybe it’s who I was. Perhaps I don’t want that to be me anymore.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I’ve had enough. I’m officially retired.”
“What? When I suggested coming home with me to England I never meant for you to give up on wrestling.”
“And yet here I am.”
Shane sits back and admires the view as the vehicle exits the motorway close to home.
“You’re the main event at Shadow Wars Dad. You’ve got to go.”
“No I don’t. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, not anymore.”
“Come on, one more match. You’ve beaten Marcus Anderson with ease in the past, why not just go to Shadow Wars, fight one last time and go out on top. Be the man who was never defeated for his World Title. I know you’re the best Dad, I just want to make sure the world knows it too. Go to Shadow Wars and protect your legacy.”
“You said it yourself. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. I’ve beaten Marcus, I’ve even beaten his Dad. I don’t have anything left to prove. The highlight of Marcus Anderson’s career was a mediocre tag team, he has no place in a world title match but that’s the position RSW finds itself in. There really is no one else. Morcant Davis, PT Merciless, Rob Riot, D, they were challenges. They were guys I had to raise my game to compete against. They are the people that made RSW the battleground that I wanted to be a part of, and now the best challenge they can find for me is Marcus Anderson. I can’t get excited for a match like that, even if it is a pay per view event for the world title.”
“So find a new challenge,” suggests Ellie. “Join GCW!”
Shane looks his daughter in the eye and smiles.
“One day perhaps...”
Ellie sighs, shaking her head in despair.
The taxi pulls up in front of the home that Ellie had inherited from her deceased mother’s estate. It’s been empty for quite some time but even if it wasn’t in its current dilapidated state it’s far from the opulence Shane has become accustomed to. He looks at it with thinly veiled disdain. Ellie notices her fathers expression.
“Come on, it isn’t that bad,” reassures Ellie as she leads the way to the front door.
There’s a damp smell as they enter. Shane’s face is one of clear dismay that this is the home his daughter was raised in despite his own personal wealth.
“It really isn’t that bad you know. Besides, if I’d have grown up wealthy perhaps I’d have turned out to be entitled, unresilient and as soft as a bag of feathers - basically I could have been Marcus Anderson.”
Shane sighs as he runs his fingertip along the windowsill and finds a thick coating of dust on his middle finger.
“Still, I wish we’d brought a few mopolytes with us to help with the clean up campaign.”
Ellie plants her luggage down on the sofa and makes a suggestion.
"Dad, let’s go to the pub. We’ve had a long journey. the clean up can wait until tomorrow.”
“You know I can’t do that. No-one round here wants me anywhere near them.”
“Screw them, lets just go and show them we don’t care what they think.”
“Another time perhaps,” replies Shane.
“Well do you mind if I go? I know we’ve just got back but I haven't seen my friends in ages."
Shane has barely let her out of his sight since Minneapolis and the thought of her going out alone terrifies him. That being said he's perfectly aware that he can't watch over her forever.
"Of course - just be careful ok."
Ellie gives Shane a peck on the cheek before quickly making her exit leaving Shane with the improbable job of finding somewhere clean to sit down. Eventually he gives up and starts Googling for local cleaning companies.
A few hours pass and the sun has long since made its regular retreat beyond the horizon by the time Shane hears from Ellie again. He answers his phone on the first ring, he’s been keen to hear from her, particularly since darkness fell.
“Hi Dad, can you come and pick me up?”
“Where are you?”
“The Grey Ox, it’s on…”
“It’s ok, I know where it is,” Shane interrupts.
Shane is far from comfortable going out. Going to a pub he knows to be a busy establishment makes it even worse. He’ll probably be lynched after all the humiliation he’s heaped on this town over his actions throughout his years in RSW. That being said he isn’t going to risk Ellie walking home alone at this time of night.
“I’ll be ten minutes.”
“Thanks Dad.”
It’s actually nine minutes when Shane arrives at the front door of a pub that he himself used to frequent on a regular basis during his teenage years. He takes a deep breath as he pushes the door open and enters.
There must be sixty, maybe seventy patrons drinking and having fun as Shane walks in. The first thing Shane notices is the music playing from the jukebox is no different to the last time he was here nearly twenty years ago. Suddenly the music stops. The assembled crowd fall silent. The people seem to almost part as Shane walks into the bar and he finds a hundred eyes staring straight at him. Shane has experienced bigger crowds than this staring daggers at him but this is different, this isn’t a faceless crowd in another unfamiliar city, this is his home, faces he remembers, these are his people.
Shane scans the sea of faces trying his hardest to find Ellie amongst them. Finally he sees her step forward through the masses and his heart lifts at her smile. It’s then that a single clap can be heard to his left, then another, and another. Finally the entire drinking establishment is rocking with applause and smiling faces. Folk that he doesn’t even recognise step forward and pat him on the back or shake his hand. This is the opposite welcome to the one Shane had expected. It’s as though they are proud of him and respect his achievements in the ring. The prodigal son returning triumphantly. Could it be that he’s actually done some good in this town and spread a little happiness with the way he’s represented him.
Shane notices a wall that’s filled with posters of past RSW events in which he’s been the main event. Among the posters there’s a photograph of Shane with his childhood friends, taken years ago in this very bar like an advertisement that this is the pub that spawned the RSW world champion. They’re not ashamed after all, they’re proud of him!
Ellie leaps up onto a chair and gestures for quiet. The crowd quickly acquiesce and soon the room is silent. Ellie suddenly shouts.
“Who’s the greatest wrestler to ever set foot in an RSW ring?”
“MITCHELL, MITCHELL, MITCHELL…” chant the throng of locals.
“Well I’ve got some news for you guys,” continues Ellie. “My dad says he’s retired.”
“Booooooooo,” comes the disappointed reply.
“Exactly. He’s not going to fight Marcus Anderson at Shadow Wars. What do we think of that?”
A cacophony of disapproval is yelled from all around.
“So do we all agree, my Dad should fight one more match. He should go out as the final champion of Riot Star Wrestling?”
“ONE MORE MATCH, ONE MORE MATCH.”
As the crowd continue it’s chanted demand of ‘one more match’ Shane stares at his daughter who smiles down at him. He looks around at a hometown people who are proud of his successes he realises what he has to do.
Shane raises a fist high in the air and yells at the top of his voice.
“ONE MORE MATCH!”
Shane is hoisted onto the shoulders of the locals as the chant continues “ONE MORE MATCH, ONE MORE MATCH.”
Shane is home. He isn't lost anymore. He's found Ellie, he's found himself and he's found his way home. Most shocking of all, after all this time and all the trauma he is finally happy. One more match and then - THE END.
She had been so scared. So, so scared and vulnerable. She had known death was seconds away and was helpless to prevent it. It's impossible to describe the emotions of knowing your life is over. Futile to even try and articulate the desperation of that moment when she realised it was no bluff. As the fuse on that firecracker fizzled away to nothing she had broken. The tears came, the regrets, the what ifs, all the ambitions and dreams that would never be fulfilled were tormenting her final moments. Even the normal life goals were to be extinguished. She had pictured the husband she would never have, the children she wouldn't love, the places she would never get to see. Ellie had been so scared she had literally wet herself.
All of that terror generated for what? So Kintaru could torment her father. Really? How could he do that to someone just to make a point? What sort of an animal has such a lack of compassion and empathy as to put anybody through that? It's only a wrestling match for God's sake. Ellie had long since learned that wrestlers are like magpies when it comes to shiny things but surely anybody in their right mind doesn't treat another human being this way just to win a championship belt - even THE championship belt.
Just when she had expected the exploding firecracker to blow her brains out it stopped. Just like that. The hissing of the fuse inside her mouth that had sounded as loud as anything she had ever heard was gone, replaced by silence. Even the sound of her breathing was absent, she had held her breath in anticipation of the impending explosion but then, remembering her need for oxygen she had breathed a huge sigh of relief. Then came a laugh, a cruel, taunting laugh. Kintaru stepped behind her. Ellie had no idea what was going to happen now. Was it over or was her torment only just beginning. That was the last thought that Ellie can remember before her world turned to black.
The throb of her head tells her what had happened. Whatever Kintaru had hit her with had rendered her unconscious for who knows how long. All she knows now is that wherever she is it is dark and she feels every bit as alone and vulnerable as she did in Kintaru's presence.
She tries to sit up but her already pulsating head hits something above her. Reaching out with her hands she feels hard wood above her, to the sides, beneath her, all around her. She's encased in what appears to be a wooden box - a coffin!
Ellie panics. She pushes against the wood above her to no avail as there is no movement. She begins to hyperventilate, unable to catch her breath as a panic attack takes a firm grip over her. She thrashes her arms and legs as wildly as such a small space permits before scratching the lid of the coffin, breaking a nail in the process.
Something catches her attention, it’s a sound. It’s faint, very faint but it’s undeniably the recognisable roar of a crowd. A large crowd by the sound of it but it’s noise is so dulled by this almost sound-proofed box that it’s impossible to tell what’s going on.
Ellie screams but the shrill yell seems dull and subdued like there is no air and wind to carry the sound. She screams again as she tries once more to batter the lid of the coffin with her fists but then she stops. She stops - and she cries.
x x x x x x x x x x
The white ceiling is spinning in ever quickening circles and the long strobe light is blinding in it's piercing yellow glow. A regular beeping sound is immediately as annoying as the disorientation he feels as Shane slowly regains consciousness. Shane has no idea where he is but feels that sickly sweet nausea he has learnt to associate with morphine. Such a regular patient in accident and emergency rooms the length and breadth of the country Shane has come to recognise the smell and the feel of a hospital long before he even has to open his eyes. Out of the corner of his eye Shane sees a middle-aged homely looking nurse approaching and smiling down at him.
“Welcome back Mr Mitchell,” she greets.
“Where am I,” croaks Shane, surprised at his own sound. He hadn’t realised just how dry his throat felt until trying to speak, all of a sudden he feels extraordinarily thirsty.
“Here you go,” says the nurse as she holds a glass of water to Shane’s lips as though reading his thoughts.
Shane takes a sip of water before resting his head back onto the hard, uncomfortable pillow.
“You’re in hospital Mr Mitchell, that was quite some tumble you took.”
“Tumble?” Shane sighs. “I don’t remember.”
“You don’t remember? Well this is a night Minneapolis won’t forget in a hurry Mr Mitchell. This Night of Champions event has been the talk of the town for weeks and it lived up to all expectations from what I’m hearing. Apparently you won your match too Mr Mitchell, not that you’d know it to look at you.”
Shane concentrates. Night of Champions - Minneapolis - Yes! Kintaru! Shane remembers. He remembers the giant pyramids, the title belt hanging high above the ring, the roar of the crowd as he approached it. He remembers looking up at Kintaru as he climbed towards the belt. He won, the nurse had already told him that but why doesn’t that make him happy? Why is Shane still restless and feeling as though the victory wasn’t complete somehow? What was the fight about anyway, he remembers the feelings of hate and bitterness towards Kintaru but can’t imagine why this long term RSW mainstay who had never really crossed swords with Shane had found himself so bitterly despised by the champion... Ellie!!!
He’d taken Ellie. He said he’d killed her. The grief hits Shane again, every bit as hard as it did the first time when he initially thought he had lost her. That grief quickly turns to panic as the full recollection of the nights events come back to him. Shane can see Kintaru’s cold heartless face as it uttered the words he had been so desperate to hear ‘She’s still alive - just. Don’t worry, she’s packaged up for you perfectly. By the time you find her it will be too late, she’s in an air tight coffin. Tick tick Mitchell, you’ve got about three hours to find her.’
Shane sits up startled. Three hours, he has to find her NOW. Shane swings his legs from the bed causing the nurse to try and restrain him.
“No Mr Mitchell! You’re in no fit state to leave the hospital. Best case scenario you must be concussed after a bang on the head that leaves you unconscious for two hours!”
Shane brushes her aside and then stops.
“What did you say? I’ve been unconscious for two hours?”
Shane feels sick to his stomach. He’s been laying here for two hours while his daughter suffocates to death.
“Yes Mr Mitchell, you…”
Shane doesn’t wait for her to finish. He pulls on his pants and quickly slips his shoes on before darting from his hospital room. He runs as fast as his legs can carry him towards the exit, grabbing one of the patients that are stood at the entrance smoking.
“Which way to the XHF Network Arena?”
“Hey aren’t you…”
“Just tell me!” interrupts Shane.
“Please?” prompts the patient.
Shane reaches beneath the mans robe and grasps a handful of hairy testicle and squeezes.
“Two blocks that way,” he squeaks, pointing to his left.
Shane runs as though his life depends on it but it’s worse than that, his daughters life depends on it!
x x x x x x x x x x
Ellie had screamed until her voice was hoarse. It had been to no avail. Wherever she is, nobody can hear her. She can hear noises but they are faint. Occasional bangs and distant shouts were barely audible but she could hear something and even if it isn’t discernable at least it gives her hope. What is destroying that hope and worrying her the most though is that her breathing appears laboured. She feels short of breath as though she’s breathing but her lungs are still not getting the oxygen they require. It feels like a mild asthma attack but having never suffered with such a thing before that gives Ellie cause for concern. Is this thing air tight? Is she running out of air. With renewed vigour she screams once again.
Ellie’s yelling is interrupted by a welcome sound. Finally, instead of distant noise there is something closer - her phone. It isn’t in her pocket, she had checked that already. She had assumed it to have been taken by Kintaru but perhaps it has just fallen from her pocket. Yes, there it is! As her phone lays by her feet she has to gradually maneuver it towards her, shuffling it with first her foot and then the side of her leg until she can reach down with her hand to grab it.
“Dad?” Ellie says as she answers the call.
“Ellie, thank God. I’m at the arena.”
“I’m in a coffin Dad, please help me, I think the air is running out!”
“I know, don’t panic. Kintaru has told me you’re right here in the arena, I just don’t know exactly where yet.”
“I knew it, I thought I could hear a crowd earlier.”
"I've explained everything to the arena staff, there's at least a dozen people looking for you. We'll have you out of there is no time."
"Dad, I'm scared."
"I know sweetheart. Just try to relax and stay calm. You said you could hear something That’s good, what can you hear now?”
“Nothing, just the occasional bang or shout but it sounds so far away. I’ve tried screaming but nobody has heard me.”
Shane turns to one of the two security guards whom he has already relayed the situation to on arrival at the arena, “Where are the controls for the speaker systems?”
“Follow me,” one replies and leads the way.
Overlooking the arena Shane enters the control centre where the lighting and sound are operated from.
“Ellie, I need you to listen very carefully. I want you to turn my volume down so you can’t hear anything through your phone and then listen. If you hear my voice I want you to tell me ok.”
“Yes Dad, please hurry, I can’t breathe.”
Shane speaks into the tannoy system, “Ellie, can you hear me.”
“Yes, I heard something Dad.”
“Great.”
Shane turns to one of the workers at the arena who is looking on in confusion. “Can the speakers be isolated so I can speak to just one area of the building?”
“Yeah sure,” he replies.
“Ellie, the minute you hear my voice again you tell me okay?”
“Yes, please hurry....I...can’t...breath...”
Shane speaks through the loudspeaker, moving his voice throughout the building. The offices, the changing rooms, the corporate suits, and then…
“Dad! I heard... you...”
The sound of her phone dropping from her hand is followed by complete silence.
“That’s the speaker directly above the ring!” yells Shane in a panic.
The road team have packed up the announce table, the lighting and most of the specialist equipment by now. The ring ropes have been untied and it’s time to lift the ring canvas.
“What the fuck?” Comments one of the crew as he spots a coffin placed centrally below the ring.
“She’s there!” yells Shane as he throws a chair through the glass separating him from the main arena seating. He jumps down to the gangway and sprints towards where the ring had been situated moments ago.
“Ellie, stay with me, I’m coming right now!”
There’s no response.
Shane reaches the coffin and fumbles desperately with the clasps that hold the lid closed. After a few seconds he manages to unclasp them all and lift the lid. A few of the crew have wandered over, intrigued by what’s going on and they look down at the lifeless body inside the casket.
Shane reaches in and hoists her up into his arms before placing her on the floor.
“Ellie...Ellie...can you hear me?” Shane pleads.
One of the security guards who had initially assisted Shane on arrival at the stadium kneels beside the girl. He feels for a pulse, there isn’t one. He immediately begins administering chest compressions, alternating with breathes into Ellie’s dry mouth.
Shane watches, his own heart on the brink of giving up on him.
The other member of security rushes over with a defibrillator and rips open Ellie’s shirt in order to apply the paddles to her chest.
“Clear!” calls the security officer.
Shane winces as Ellie’s body leaps at the force of the shock to her heart. The man delivering CPR listens to her chest. Time stands still for Shane. Never has one moment in time that is in fact only the moment between heart beats lasted so long. If Ellie has breathed her last breath then Shane’s life is over too. There will be no secretive stalking of Kintaru, no covering his tracks in what he does to him, Shane will simply find him and kill him. Killing that evil fucking scumbag will be worth an eternity behind bars. That is Shane’s future. If Ellie dies, so does Kintaru.
The kneeling security guard solumnely shakes his head. Shane falls to his hands and knees in despair. His heart feels like it’s bursting out of his chest. The pain is all consuming and the rage makes his head throb painfully.
“Clear!”
A second shock is delivered to Ellie’s chest almost unnoticed by Shane in his all consuming grief.
“She’s back!”
Shane looks up at his daughter as the security officer smiles at the presence of a pulse. Seconds later Ellie takes a huge intake of breath and then wakes up with wide eyes and panicked expression. Her breathing is fast and heavy as her lungs desperately try to replenish her oxygen levels.
Shane crawls over to his daughter and instinctively embraces her with a relief like he’s never felt before. He cries tears of relief as the crowd of onlookers give the security man a well deserved pat on the back. She's fine. No thanks to Kintaru she's going to be just fine.
x x x x x x x x x x x
Ellie sits on the porch overlooking a gloriously tranquil lake. She’s been sitting here thinking. She’s done a lot of that lately. Since her ordeal at the hands of Kintaru she’s done little else. Her father brought her to this place where time seemingly stands still. The two of them had become recluses in this tiny log cabin on the edge of the lake. No TV, no radio, no internet, they were truly cut off from the outside world and that’s exactly what Ellie had needed.
She had become nervous and jumpy since Night of Champions. A bird’s take off or a raccoon dashing across the porch were enough to nearly cause cardiac arrest. She had become everything she despised in herself, she had become a victim. Kintaru had made her this way, he had traumatised her into this constant nagging fear that he would come for her once again. Her life may have been saved but was it truly worth it if this was to be her new reality. Living in fear is a curse like no other. Sometimes fear is worse than reality. Would death be any worse than this stomach churning existence? If living is worse than death is there really anything to be afraid of anymore?
She can’t live like this. She knows it but at the same time finds it hard to accept. Running away was the cowards way out but maybe that’s what she is, a coward. After what happened to her and what happened to Tiffany before that there can only be one sensible decision to be made and as excruciating as it is, she had made that decision.
Shane emerges from the cabin and sits beside his daughter. He doesn’t say anything, he knows she’s enjoying the peace and quiet so instead just offers a smile and then looks out onto the lake view that Ellie has been absorbing for the past hour.
“Dad,” says Ellie.
Immediately Shane turns to her.
“I’m going home.”
Shane looks delighted.
“Are you sure you’re ready? I’ll get the mopolytes to prepare your room right away, we’ll leave for the compound first thing in the morning.”
Ellie shakes her head.
“No Dad, I’m going home, home.”
Shane furrows his brow in confusion for a second but then grasps what she means.
“You mean England?”
She nods.
“But…” Shane stutters, he can feel his daughter slipping away. Getting to know her had been the greatest privilege of his life and one he has cherished every single day since she came into his life. The thought of losing her now is like a dagger through his heart.
“I’m sorry Dad, I can’t live this life with you. How many times have you nearly been killed, how many times have psychopaths come after the ones you love. I’m scared Dad.”
Shane wipes his eyes discreetly, already readying himself with the claim that he’s been chopping onions in case Ellie notices.
“I don’t want to lose you,” explains Shane with sadness permeating every syllable.
Suddenly Ellie perks up and sits forward. She grabs her fathers hand.
“Come with me!”
“To Huddersfield? Oh I’m sure I’m welcome there. My behaviour over the last few years hasn’t exactly been the sort to make my hometown proud.”
Shane had resolved many years since that he would never return to his place of origin. How could he? After everything he’s done, all the lives he’s ruined and people he’s hurt how could he ever face the people who knew him before RSW ever came into his life. How could he look people in the eye when they know what he’s done. He’d probably be lynched, maybe even Ellie would take the brunt of their hatred.
“Since when did you care what people think?” Asks Ellie incredulously.
“You really think…”
“Yes!” Ellie yells.
Shane looks at his daughter with a genuine smile of warmth on his face. Maybe he could simply keep a low profile. If it meant being in his daughters life then all the abuse and vitriol would be worth it.
“Let’s do it!”
x x x x x x x x x x x x
The taxi ride from Manchester airport to Shane’s hometime is a rollercoaster of emotions. Speeding along the M62 through the eerie moors, past the strange but infamous little house in the middle of the motorway, and eventually laying eyes on Emley Moor mast, the ever faithful beacon that tells travellers away from Yorkshire that they are nearly home.
“It’s gonna be great Dad, don’t you worry.”
Shane smiles, despite Ellie’s reassurance he doesn’t expect a warm welcome home.
“I can’t believe you missed Anarchy 52 Dad, Esmeralda must be furious!”
“Esmeralda can go fuck herself. RSW can fuck itself too. I’ve never missed so much as one match before now but now it’s time to prioritise me. It’s my time now, mine and yours. RSW can go to hell.”
“Don’t be stupid Dad, you’re a fighter, that’s who you are.”
“Well maybe it’s who I was. Perhaps I don’t want that to be me anymore.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I’ve had enough. I’m officially retired.”
“What? When I suggested coming home with me to England I never meant for you to give up on wrestling.”
“And yet here I am.”
Shane sits back and admires the view as the vehicle exits the motorway close to home.
“You’re the main event at Shadow Wars Dad. You’ve got to go.”
“No I don’t. I don’t have to do anything I don’t want to do, not anymore.”
“Come on, one more match. You’ve beaten Marcus Anderson with ease in the past, why not just go to Shadow Wars, fight one last time and go out on top. Be the man who was never defeated for his World Title. I know you’re the best Dad, I just want to make sure the world knows it too. Go to Shadow Wars and protect your legacy.”
“You said it yourself. I’ve been there, I’ve done that. I’ve beaten Marcus, I’ve even beaten his Dad. I don’t have anything left to prove. The highlight of Marcus Anderson’s career was a mediocre tag team, he has no place in a world title match but that’s the position RSW finds itself in. There really is no one else. Morcant Davis, PT Merciless, Rob Riot, D, they were challenges. They were guys I had to raise my game to compete against. They are the people that made RSW the battleground that I wanted to be a part of, and now the best challenge they can find for me is Marcus Anderson. I can’t get excited for a match like that, even if it is a pay per view event for the world title.”
“So find a new challenge,” suggests Ellie. “Join GCW!”
Shane looks his daughter in the eye and smiles.
“One day perhaps...”
Ellie sighs, shaking her head in despair.
The taxi pulls up in front of the home that Ellie had inherited from her deceased mother’s estate. It’s been empty for quite some time but even if it wasn’t in its current dilapidated state it’s far from the opulence Shane has become accustomed to. He looks at it with thinly veiled disdain. Ellie notices her fathers expression.
“Come on, it isn’t that bad,” reassures Ellie as she leads the way to the front door.
There’s a damp smell as they enter. Shane’s face is one of clear dismay that this is the home his daughter was raised in despite his own personal wealth.
“It really isn’t that bad you know. Besides, if I’d have grown up wealthy perhaps I’d have turned out to be entitled, unresilient and as soft as a bag of feathers - basically I could have been Marcus Anderson.”
Shane sighs as he runs his fingertip along the windowsill and finds a thick coating of dust on his middle finger.
“Still, I wish we’d brought a few mopolytes with us to help with the clean up campaign.”
Ellie plants her luggage down on the sofa and makes a suggestion.
"Dad, let’s go to the pub. We’ve had a long journey. the clean up can wait until tomorrow.”
“You know I can’t do that. No-one round here wants me anywhere near them.”
“Screw them, lets just go and show them we don’t care what they think.”
“Another time perhaps,” replies Shane.
“Well do you mind if I go? I know we’ve just got back but I haven't seen my friends in ages."
Shane has barely let her out of his sight since Minneapolis and the thought of her going out alone terrifies him. That being said he's perfectly aware that he can't watch over her forever.
"Of course - just be careful ok."
Ellie gives Shane a peck on the cheek before quickly making her exit leaving Shane with the improbable job of finding somewhere clean to sit down. Eventually he gives up and starts Googling for local cleaning companies.
A few hours pass and the sun has long since made its regular retreat beyond the horizon by the time Shane hears from Ellie again. He answers his phone on the first ring, he’s been keen to hear from her, particularly since darkness fell.
“Hi Dad, can you come and pick me up?”
“Where are you?”
“The Grey Ox, it’s on…”
“It’s ok, I know where it is,” Shane interrupts.
Shane is far from comfortable going out. Going to a pub he knows to be a busy establishment makes it even worse. He’ll probably be lynched after all the humiliation he’s heaped on this town over his actions throughout his years in RSW. That being said he isn’t going to risk Ellie walking home alone at this time of night.
“I’ll be ten minutes.”
“Thanks Dad.”
It’s actually nine minutes when Shane arrives at the front door of a pub that he himself used to frequent on a regular basis during his teenage years. He takes a deep breath as he pushes the door open and enters.
There must be sixty, maybe seventy patrons drinking and having fun as Shane walks in. The first thing Shane notices is the music playing from the jukebox is no different to the last time he was here nearly twenty years ago. Suddenly the music stops. The assembled crowd fall silent. The people seem to almost part as Shane walks into the bar and he finds a hundred eyes staring straight at him. Shane has experienced bigger crowds than this staring daggers at him but this is different, this isn’t a faceless crowd in another unfamiliar city, this is his home, faces he remembers, these are his people.
Shane scans the sea of faces trying his hardest to find Ellie amongst them. Finally he sees her step forward through the masses and his heart lifts at her smile. It’s then that a single clap can be heard to his left, then another, and another. Finally the entire drinking establishment is rocking with applause and smiling faces. Folk that he doesn’t even recognise step forward and pat him on the back or shake his hand. This is the opposite welcome to the one Shane had expected. It’s as though they are proud of him and respect his achievements in the ring. The prodigal son returning triumphantly. Could it be that he’s actually done some good in this town and spread a little happiness with the way he’s represented him.
Shane notices a wall that’s filled with posters of past RSW events in which he’s been the main event. Among the posters there’s a photograph of Shane with his childhood friends, taken years ago in this very bar like an advertisement that this is the pub that spawned the RSW world champion. They’re not ashamed after all, they’re proud of him!
Ellie leaps up onto a chair and gestures for quiet. The crowd quickly acquiesce and soon the room is silent. Ellie suddenly shouts.
“Who’s the greatest wrestler to ever set foot in an RSW ring?”
“MITCHELL, MITCHELL, MITCHELL…” chant the throng of locals.
“Well I’ve got some news for you guys,” continues Ellie. “My dad says he’s retired.”
“Booooooooo,” comes the disappointed reply.
“Exactly. He’s not going to fight Marcus Anderson at Shadow Wars. What do we think of that?”
A cacophony of disapproval is yelled from all around.
“So do we all agree, my Dad should fight one more match. He should go out as the final champion of Riot Star Wrestling?”
“ONE MORE MATCH, ONE MORE MATCH.”
As the crowd continue it’s chanted demand of ‘one more match’ Shane stares at his daughter who smiles down at him. He looks around at a hometown people who are proud of his successes he realises what he has to do.
Shane raises a fist high in the air and yells at the top of his voice.
“ONE MORE MATCH!”
Shane is hoisted onto the shoulders of the locals as the chant continues “ONE MORE MATCH, ONE MORE MATCH.”
Shane is home. He isn't lost anymore. He's found Ellie, he's found himself and he's found his way home. Most shocking of all, after all this time and all the trauma he is finally happy. One more match and then - THE END.
