time: late afternoon, roughly four o'clock.

day: tuesday, january twenty first, 'seven.

place: bailey's bay, bermuda; engel residence..

(Roll the window down)

(This cool night air is curious)

(Let the whole world look in)

(Who cares who sees anything?)

(An afternoon of nothing but work and sweat. The wife and kid have been out all day, running errands and getting Alexia prepared for another week of school. I haven't been around much these past few days; I've been in my gym eight to ten hours a day.)

(Eight to ten...doing nothing except working on my game and getting back in shape. I was sluggish. I was lazy. I was embarrassing.)

(Never again.)

(I finish up my reps on the bench press and take off the weights. Wiping the sweat off my face, I walk up the stairs and back into the kitchen. I start downing a nearby jug of spring water.)

(There's an anger in me that hasn't existed since my AJWF days. An anger against a certain someone.)

(I remember what my sister told me, then I head into the bedroom. After a quick shower and a new set of clothes -- jeans, Favre jersey, and some black New Balance shoes -- I grab a few things and leave the house. Hopping into my oh-seven corvette, I drive off down the road. I find my way to Tucker's Town, and eventually Kelser Estate.)

(The gate opens and I drive down to the house, parking right outside the garage. Going to the front, I ring the doorbell a few times.)

(No answer.)

(I check the garage and notice two cars still in there. I ring the doorbell again, with a few knocks this time. Nothing. I hear some faint music playing; someone has got to be home and it better be the man I'm looking for. I knock on the door, much harder this time. I start yelling for someone to come to the door, but I get nothing. No response, no additional noise.)

(I break in. I'll pay him back.)

(I follow the music noises down the stairs into his cozy, bachelor-pad like basement. I find him sitting down on his couch, liquor bottles and beer cans scattered around him and a two-foot bong on the table. Drunk and stoned, he manages to turn his head toward me and mumble something incomprehensible. I look at him with disgust and anger, pulling myself up a chair next to the couch. I grab a nearby remote for the stereo and I turn off the music.)

VIRUS: Too bad you aren't dead from alcohol poisoning. Maybe the marijuana saved you.

Thunderwolf: What -- what the fuck man? Where, where did you... eh...

(He trails off, grabbing the icy-hot patch around the back of his neck, half-writihing in pain.)

VIRUS: Well, we have one thing in common right now: we both got our asses kicked last week. But -

(I grab his injured neck and put him in a little more pain. He tries to fight back, but he had one too many shots.)

VIRUS: You fucked around on my sister. November did nothing compared to what I should do to you right now. Enika told me to be reasonable, though.

Thunderwolf: Go ahead pal, put me out of my fuh-kucking misery, I'm nothing now... nothing.

VIRUS: You've lost it, haven't you? Why'd you do it, man? You turned your back on her and our family. You fucked the only family that gives a shit about you! Now you're down here pouring your life away with every glass and losing your goddamn mind.

This is ridiculous, Dustin. This isn't you, you're better than this.

(I grab his neck even harder now, but release the grip. He coughs a bit, coughing up some alcohol...and some blood. He grabs his nearby puke bucket and goes right for it. I turn my head in disgust.)

VIRUS: Then again, maybe you deserve this.

Thunderwolf: Htt-glarble...

(He continues his yaking, filling up the bucket some more. I stand up and make sure he's getting it in the bucket and not on himself. He seems okay.)

Thunderwolf: I need my baby.

VIRUS: She's gone, man. She was so upset when she found out what you did to her. You hurt her bad, Dustin. What did you think, you'd get away with it? You could talk her down, get her back on your good side, and life would be fine. No, instead you're here puking your guts out with your best friend about to beat your ass.

Thunderwolf: I did -- didn't wanna, she, I, I was drunk and -- and I was just being honest. She, I couldn't stop her, and I thought -- you know what, fuck it, just fucking go away.

VIRUS: No, I won't go away. You either tell me what the fuck happened or get your ass handed to you worse than anything November could think of.

I'm willing to listen to your side of the story, even in your current condition. I don't care if you're almost dead, Dustin, but you better start talking. I know my sister tends to exaggerate things, and we've been best friends for awhile, so talk.

Or get your teeth knocked out. Either way.

Thunderwolf: Then fucking knock my teeth out, okay? Knock them the fuck out. Kill me.

(I reel back and pop him square in the mouth with a hard jab. It wasn't fierce due to being in a sit-down position, but I'll take it to the next level if need be. Dustin grabs his mouth, writhing in even more pain.)

VIRUS: You want another one? Or do you wanna tell me what happened?

(He mumbles a "fuck you" and I give him another pop to the mouth, this one being a bit harder. I see some blood pouring out from a corner of his mouth.)

Thunderwolf: Misty gave me head.

(He tries to reposition himself on the couch and attempt to stand up, maybe even walk upstairs. He doesn't even get himself upright on the couch. He's still too wasted to do anything, except bleed.)

Thunderwolf: ...go.

VIRUS: Why'd you let it happen, man? Enika is great to you. We all are trying to be good to you and support you during whatever issues you needed to work out with Styx. Then you had to go and cheat on 'nika with Misty? Of all people? I mean, what the fuck? I knew Enika exaggerated a bit with the whole sex session and whatnot, but you still did wrong.

Why can't you be content with what you have? Why are you always running away from the people who truly care about you and into the arms of people who constantly turn on you?

Thunderwolf: ..I -- I don't know Matt.

(Then it happened. Tears started to pour down his face, like he just lost the most important thing in the world. I've only seen him cry once before this and now I felt suddenly saddened and sympathetic, rather than angry and violent.)

Thunderwolf: I don't know what's going on in my head anymore man, I don't. I'm out there, everyone wants me to be this, and be that, and -- and I don't know, maybe I'm addicted to misery. I don't fucking know. I don't wanna be with Misty, I don't. I didn't. I just couldn't stop it. I couldn't.

VIRUS: Be yourself, man. Be who you want to be, not what everyone wants you to be. I know that's hard in the business that we're in, but you can still be yourself. Do what you want to do and stop letting people control your life. You don't want Misty, so be with Enika. If you don't want Enika, then tell her. Fuckin' A, man, you've got to do shit for yourself.

Forget everyone else. Even me. When it comes down to it, it's your life.

And drowning it in alcohol won't solve anything.

(I hear a deep sigh, as if he's trying to appropiate some deep thought together. Maybe he's finally coming out of a drunken stupor; surely, all that puking would have helped. I see a glass of water on the table and hand it to him. He takes a drink.)

Thunderwolf: This is how I deal Matt, the dream's over. Styx is probably dead, Enika's never going to love me the same way, my friends all hate me, and with the way my body's felt lately, I can't even force myself to step into a wrestling ring. I may as well blow my fucking brains out. Everything, it's over Matt.

VIRUS: Ah that's horseshit and you know it. Take a break from wrestling and let yourself heal. You'll be itchin' to step back into the ring in no time. Trust me, I know how that goes.

And you don't know for sure that Styx is dead.

Enika still loves you deeply, Dustin, she's just very upset and troubled right now. I know you and her can work things out if you two give it a shot and really try to mend things. Of course nothing will be the same after this, but just because that's so doesn't mean you should throw away everything you have with her and everything you shared with her. You know? You're giving up, and that's not you. This guy that's in front of me right now is not the guy I grew up with and not my best friend. This is some depressive, loser persona that needs to sober up and get a fucking grip.

It's gonna have to be tough love, because I don't see it any other way. You did wrong with Enika, now fix it. Man up to your mistake and make things better for yourself and for her. Man up.

Thunderwolf: She's gone, he's dead, and you're too fucking optimistic.

VIRUS: And you're fucking drunk. Drink some more water.

Thunderwolf: Fuck you.

(I give a sigh and look him dead in the eyes. You gotta be kidding me.)

VIRUS: I won't hesitate to bust you in your face again if you're just gonna sit here and insult me. I'm the only one around you trying to give you a helping hand and get you back on your feet and you have the audacity to say that to me. You know what, FUCK YOU.

You wanna sit here and feel sorry for yourself, with nobody around to drag you through the optimism screaming and kicking? Fine. I got better shit to do with my time. So drink your fucking water and enjoy some more of that vomit, you idiot. You are missing the big picture.

While you sit there and feel shitty about yourself and what's happening, you're not understanding that's it's not as bad as you make it out to be.

Enika still loves you.

Thunderwolf: How could she?

VIRUS: Well, other than the fact that she told me, her love for you runs deeper than anyone can imagine, as I'm sure it's the same way for you. People are human and will make mistakes, but it's what you do right now that makes a difference. You can get her back, you can take responsibility for your actions, or you can enjoy the rest of your time with Mr. Jim Beam and Jack Daniels, as I'm sure they won't be as friendly as me or 'nika.

My sister can be a forgiving person, Dustin. I don't think that's the problem though. Can you even live with your mistakes? That's the problem. Deal with your mistakes and get Enika back. I know I simplify it a lot, but it's what you gotta do.

And if you don't, then you'll lose her forever.

Thunderwolf: I want her back right now.

(I look around at all the empty liquor bottles and beer cans, once more.)

VIRUS: Then go get her, but I would wait until you're sobered up.

Thunderwolf: ...she's gone Matt, I wouldn't even know where to start looking.

VIRUS: She left me a number to get in touch with her if I needed to. Why don't you give her a call later tonight, or tomorrow?

Thunderwolf: She deserves better than me.

VIRUS: No, she deserves a phone call from you and an apology, don't you think?

Thunderwolf: I tried Matt, I tried to apologize... that's why I'm saying, she deserves someone who would never do this to her.

(Once again, he tries to get up off the couch and stand, but to no avail. I can see a look of nausea over his face. Back to the bucket soon, perhaps.)

Thunderwolf: I love her so much Matt, but... all I've done is hurt her, her entire goddamned life.

(That doesn't sit too well with me.)

VIRUS: Dude, she doesn't want anyone else man. I know this girl and she's been in love with you practically her whole life. You made a mistake and I know you could take it back if you could. All you gotta do is talk to her, man. She wouldn't have stayed with you that long or be madly in love with you if all you've ever done is hurt her. That's the alcohol talking.

Thunderwolf: No, Matt... until a couple years ago, I never truly loved her the way she wanted to be loved by me. That makes me horrible.

(This isn't helping.)

VIRUS: Dustin, you need to sober up and rethink all of this. Maybe you never loved her the way she loved you up until a few years ago, but the fact remains NOW that you both are madly in love with each other. Yes, I was very mad when I heard you cheated on her, but now I know the circumstances and that it wasn't some all-night drunken sex session like Enika made it out to be. I know she can be a bit crazy sometimes, and I know you'd take it all back if you could.

She's your fiance, man. Straighten it out. I'll clean up for you and put on a movie or whatever. Just relax and sober up...I'll clean out the bucket for you so you don't overfill it with...whatever.

I'll get you some more water.

Thunderwolf: Why are you doing all this for me man? All I've done is fuck our family over time and time again.

VIRUS: I don't know about time and time again, but everyone deserves a second chance. You know, I watch sometimes. I watch how happy my sister is around you and our family. I watch how you guys are with each other and I say to myself, that's great. I like seeing my sister happy, Dustin, not miserable.

I know you guys can work it out and move on from this situation.

And we're still best friends.

Thunderwolf: Man, I fucking turned my own brother on you to join the MoA. I committed infidelity on your sister. I don't even have the balls to show up for my own flagship show in less than a week. I'm a horrible person, why are you still standing by me?

(For once, I really didn't have an answer at first. But, something eventually came to me.)

VIRUS: Yeah, I can think about that. I also think about the time you abandoned me in that cage match back in AJWF. But how can this family co-exist if all we think about is the past? My eyes are on the future and on keeping this family together, not tearing it apart by thinking about the past.

I'm a little more grown-up these days, Dustin, and I say let's forgive and forget. You did us wrong in the past as I'm sure I did you wrong, but that's not what's important right now.

What's important is your engagement to my sister and how you're going to fix the broken things in your life...and how I'm going to survive at 'armageddon. The latter I'll need your help with when you're healthier.

Thunderwolf: I'll do what I can. But I'm not what I used to be.

(I let out a little laugh.)

VIRUS: Neither am I, it seems.

I'll clean up around here and then I gotta head back to my house. I'll be back later to check on you and...I'll get someone to repair your window. I had to break in; you should really give me a key.

Thunderwolf: ...should I call Enika?

VIRUS: I would wait a little while, then do it. I'll leave the number she gave me here on the table, along with the house phone.

(I write down the number on a piece of paper and lay it on the table. I clean up the mess around him, cleaning out the puke bucket as well. I throw on a movie for him, Batman Begins. Maybe that'll get him motivated or something.)

(I disappear from the house and get into my corvette, driving back to my own place. I find myself in the driveway, a lot of things on my mind. I go into the house and Mia and Alexia aren't home yet. They should be, shortly.)

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