time: sunday evening

day: april sixth

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

(Lounging in the family room with a Landshark in my hand, I turn the channel on the TV to try to find something interesting on. Sunday Night Baseball... Tigers... White Sox. No thank you. I turn off the TV, and take a sip of my beer. My ribs are wrapped up, again, and I've got bandages in different spots on my face and body. Suddenly, my cell phone rings.)
VIRUS: Yeah?

(My brother Joe is on the other line, asking me how I'm doing. I've got some words for him.)

VIRUS: I'm doing fine, how are you doing? I mean, you mustn't be feeling well after what you did on Rampage.

(He tries to play innocent.)

VIRUS: What the HELL were you thinking making Lex referee my match?!

(Control? Lex was there to try to control the situation, to keep us from killing each other. There were two men I would gladly enjoy killing in that ring that night. What was he thinking?)

VIRUS: That's bullshit, Joe. I don't really appreciate it, at all. I mean, Lex of all people? That really could've gotten worse than it did.

(He says he's trying to look out for me. He's my older brother.)

VIRUS: Just stay out of my business from now on.

(Click. I hang up and put my cell phone in my pocket. It starts to ring again, but I throw it in the other room. I hear it smash on the kitchen floor, and the battery popping out of the back of it. Good.)

VIRUS: I can handle this on my own.

(I sit up. I grab the video camera from off the table and set it up in my direction. I hit record.)

VIRUS: I don't know why, but I don't feel fulfilled. I don't feel satisfied. I don't feel justice. Even after the hell Corey and I went through, with me coming out on top, I can't help but want more. Maybe you feel the same way, but I assure you you'll be thinking twice before getting in the ring with me again. I'll always take you past your limits and to extremes that no other man can. I admit you have a niche for hardcore elements, but quite frankly I took you way past your element on Rampage.

It was a matter of who wanted it more, and who was willing to pay the biggest price to win. That was me, Corey. And it will always be me.

You didn't listen before. Don't blame Lex, my brother, or even the MoA. Blame yourself. You fell short and couldn't put me away.

I hope you're listening now.

(I stare into the camera, to the man watching on the other end.)

VIRUS: What I quite can't figure out is why Nightmare is so upset with the booking. Jonathon, do everyone a favor and shut your mouth. You're getting a chance to be in the presence of true superstars; men and women who have been dominating this sport for the last three months, and some of us the last seven years. While I appreciate your tip of the hat in my general direction, my respect for you as a wrestler begins and end with your wrestling abilities.

But, when you go and insult my family, my respect for you withers away by the seconds. Who are you to criticize my brother and our President? You're a nobody to me, kid, but apparently you mean something to the front office because you're across the ring from me, and you're tagging with Trevor.

Hell, even Riona deserves to be in this match. She topped Trevor last week and got herself a title. Circa has been around since the beginning of this version, and has beaten people to be worthy of wrestling in this match.

You?

You beat Methodcobra.

Wow. Congratulations.

So while you whine about how you're siding and fighting against the Masters, I'm too busy trying to figure out why you even belong in this match. You can call it bullshit all you want, I happen to agree with you.

It's bullshit you even got booked on Rampage.You should be fighting Scott Nash Strader on Chaos.

(I chuckle a bit.)

VIRUS: Tell me, Jon, what were the cops going to do about my wife? Nothing, absolutely nothing. If you knew the MoA as well as I do, you would know that they have connections. They corrupt people with money and violence, and they have contacts in police departmants nationwide. You see... going to the cops would have been the dumbest move.

It's hard to find a straight cop these days, and it was even harder five years ago. They wouldn't do anything, so I took action. I got her back, but I never got my chance at retribution with Ridel. Some day, I will, but right now I'll be glad to take it out on Trevor.

You're searching for an answer that's inside yourself, Jon. Didn't you make the same decision as myself years ago?

Don't ask dumb questions, especially when you already know the answer.

(I try to be sympathetic, but I can't. I can't show weakness.)

VIRUS: I wonder what business is it of yours talking about Jamie Flynn. I wonder why you would even care if I turned on my partners and destroyed them. I wonder why you think I care if you're judging me or not.

Wondering won't get you anywhere. Please don't talk to me about things you have no clue about. When you hear the frightening scream of your wife, your mind isn't exactly crystal clear.

I have changed, but I assure you I'm just as deadly in the ring as I was five years ago, when you saw me leap from the top of a cage. Did I or did I not prove that last week against Corey? I'm clearly not burned out, and me being desperate is laughable. I would have to lean toward vicious and cunning, as I've always been. My abilities in the ring and my absolute endurance and toughness have gone unmatched several times, Jon.

You're no exception, and you would be a fool to think you could possibly measure up.

Just like you're a fool to think Corey would show his face during our match. Clearly, you haven't been paying attention. I was delivering vengeance on him, not the other way around. I bested him in an environment he claims to be a god in, and he'll just need to suck it up. He got what he deserved, and if he wants to continue this war, he needs to know that I will go to even greater lengths to put him away.

Maybe this isn't the end for him and me. However, I made a statement last week.

(I take a drink.)

VIRUS: Trevor, win or lose, this match won't make a statement between us. It isn't the one on one we have planned for Revolutions. That's what counts, and that's what matters. This is simply practice. But, I'll bring my A game like I always do, with a side of unmatched aggression. I've got goals, Trev, I really do. Corey is one of them, and it was accomplished. You're one of them, and it will be accomplished on April Twentieth. I won't share my third goal, but rest assured it will be accomplished.

I'm going to make what Riona did to you last week look like a pillow fight. You haven't bled until you've been across the ring from me. Ask Corey about that.

It's a shame there isn't a title on the line anymore. I was looking forward to capturing my first PWA singles title, but that will just have to wait. I really don't care about that at all, I care about destruction. I care about breaking you in half, and I care about retribution.

You've brought this on yourself. I hope you can see that. You entered the PWA the wrong way, and I'm going to make you pay for it for the next two weeks. You were on deck, now you're up to the plate. But, you won't get a hit; struck out swinging.

Or I'll rock you with a wild pitch. Either way, it doesn't end well for you.

(A brief pause. My ribs are in a lot of pain.)

VIRUS: Frost, why should I even care? I faced this man at Who's The Man?! and all he could do was quit. I guess I can't really blame him, he was facing me after all. So, why should I think differently this week? Because he's actually spoken and appeared in public?

I don't think so.

I do not forgive.

I do not forget.

Don't waste my motherfucking time.

(fade.)