Scorched Earth (Esmur JHW Promo)

[The Nihilists]

"I warned the interloper. I told everyone I was to be taken seriously. I informed you all up front, that I would have my first title back. I delivered on my promise …"

~The room is dark. We hear a series of clicks. Click … Click … Click. Each time a small spark appears in the camera view. Until finally a small flame appears, illuminating the room with a dancing, dull firelight. The shadows move like ink across the face of our Junior Heavyweight Champion. The flame moves away from his face and halt in the air a moment … and when it moves back towards him, a second flame is left where the original stopped. The motion is repeated to the other side of Esmur, and again, the flame leaves a mitotic spawn. Pyro Parthenogenesis. The flames flicker as the original is snuffed out with a metallic snap, as the lid slams on the lighter. The two flames to either side slowly spawn into another … and another. We can see he has laid out a trail of candles in a U shape, circling behind him and concluding with the ones he lit originally. Each candle has a split wick, one going up, and the other pointing towards the previous candle … as the wicks ignite, they light their partner, which in turn proceeds like a doom domino chain to slowly light the next candle.~

"So why is it so hard for this world to maintain its own promises?"

~As the candlelight spreads, the light in the room steadily increases behind him, maintaining his face in the dancing, inky shadows.~

"It has been years since I held a singles title. My partner was briefly champion here in SCCW. But my last title was when I reigned supreme over Fireside. A doomed passion project to one man’s colossal ego. Still, it thrust several big names here in the network into the limelight. Myself, Mistress Discipline, Vodka Fizz, Sam Sawyer. And one name rose to the highest of heights, only to fail in their promise. … MAJESTY …"

~Upon saying the name, Esmur’s face sinks into a sullen, curdled expression. The bile in his voice can be heard for miles, the shadows on his face seem to almost materialize into blackened char on his face and bald head. His eyes ignite with an orange flame of rage as the muted browns fade behind his darkened outlook.~

"Jason Long. Former SCCW star. Icon. A man who has changed more than even my partner and I. Perhaps there is no other man alive who could comprehend the damage done to my soul than you. My reign atop a company, my moment of triumph, handed away to a preferred champion. Someone everyone would talk about after! My career nearly came to an end, my LIFE nearly came to an end … to serve the attention seeking behavior of my supposed boss. Someone who is supposed to defend and support everyone who works under him. Some otherworldly demonic force … using me as a play thing … toying with my livelihood, my struggles, my triumphs … all while the world sits and laughs. That … fucking … cacophony of violent sound, reverberating and resonating in my head for months while I healed. And make no mistake … there was no healing going on…"

~Esmur reclines back on his feet in his kneeling position. The light behind him is becoming more like a standard cathedral or church. The shadows now engulf his entire face, eyes like red beacons in the smoke and shadow.~

"Sound familiar, Jason? Oh we’ve paid attention, ever since we shared AWF together. We’ve observed. How many times have YOU had to reinvent yourself? How many permanent scars reside on your soul? How much red is in your ledger? Oh you understand the struggle. I can see it in your sunken, defeated eyes. I can see it in the way you carry yourself as you try another run at the X*Crown. It burns doesn’t it? It stings … it fucking sucks … living your life at the mercy forces beyond your control. But you … you stared into that abyss … and you didn’t blink. You came out damaged, frayed at the seams, burned around the edges … but you came out yourself. Older, wiser, more determined. And I can respect that drive, Jason. In fact, I take lessons from you in this art of survival. After all, we only have this one life, and while I have long since abandoned the illogical view of some grand prize or punishment after … it has become more apparent than ever to my partner and I that it is time to live this life to the fullest, and for those who actually give a fuck. And the rest can be burned to ash and tossed into the winds of forever, ashes of eternity adrift on the sea of nothingness."

"Still …"

~Gebin walks into frame, stepping over the semicircle of candles and kneeling next to his partner.~

"Maverick … you did take our global tag team titles from us … so it is only fair that my partner here return the favor and end your quest for a global title as well. Business doesn’t always have to conflict with pleasure it seems."

"My first ever title. This belt means more to me than any other. And to see its fortunes rise so high since I held it … no longer an afterthought on the show, but a top tier, highly sought after prize."

"We are honor bound to increase its prestige. At any cost. At anyone’s expense."

~Both men rise and stand back to back, in profile to the camera. The light in the room begins to rise further, no longer do shadows dance on their faces. Clarity is achieved.~

"Jason. This title run shall be my own therapeutic release. I shall overcome the stains on my record and soul. I do not take this lightly. The fire in my soul burns hotter than ever before. And I promise to purge this conflagration across the entirety of the XHF Network and its Junior Heavyweight division. The Nihilists have introduced many to the realization of the futility of trying to escape the end. Embrace eternity and all that jazz, right? Well Jason … you are the rare case that has managed to overcome and emerge … and that doesn’t sit well with us."

"You will be the first to experience the full force of the emissaries of the void. When Esmur releases his true power on you at the Rumble. You will have no recourse but to accept the end. One can only delay it for so long … and you’ve more than cashed in on your extra time."

~The flames on the candles begin to grow … the wax begins to drip onto the floor in rivers instead of drops.~

"It is time for us to embrace eternity ourselves. And go full scorched Earth on this company. A company that puts people like Anthony Caffrey and Mr. Blood in positions of power. A company that supports bears and dogs and pigs overcoming athletes in athletic competitions. A company that puts unearthly horrific demonic entities on a pedestal … Bloodied Fox, Spike Kane, Donzig … MAJESTY … NO MORE! It is time for us to take our place on the pedestal. ALL WILL BURN IN OUR NEW AGE! I will make my title the talk of the company. And send every challenger into the blackest pit of despair and emptiness! For I finally see clearly. And it is my curse to have to share this, my gift to the world, clarity of mind and soul. All that remains is to show you the stairway … and take you to hell with me. Burn like I burn Maverick. Embrace eternity. And see the rise of the Nihilists begin. All … will burn with us, in all consuming fire … and then?"

"NOTHINGNESS!"

~They sweep their arms across the candles as the robes on their arms snuff the flames and send us back into darkness, deep and inky black~