A single ray of light shone through a blackened sky, casting a glimmering beam of hope to those who dare to dwell below. The Earth welcomes this light with open arms as opposed to the rain which fell along its side, allowing it to touch the areas where beauty grows freely. The light slowly trails across a field, as though God himself were running his hand along over it, remembering past times...better times.

The sigh of a man sounded as that light was covered once again, shutting out the hope it had briefly managed to fill him with. He looked to the sky, placing his hand over his brow in an attempt to block the rain from getting in his eyes. The black clouds taunted him as they floated through the sky, like warships on their way to destroy far off lands.

The man lowered his head and turned, looking back towards his car sitting on the side of the road. He'd stopped himself to come out here and think, not expecting there to be rain just yet, but mother nature can sometimes be cruel. Then again, so could people.

Yet another sigh escaped the man's lips.

"Hard to believe that six months ago I really thought I'd finally be able to do it, that I'd finally become a true champion..." he sighed, making his way back, "I guess I'm just not ready yet...not ready to hold that title high, or read 'Dominic Pericolo' engraved across the name plate. But God damn it, if I'm not ready...why the hell do I feel so ready now?!"

Dominic stopped beside his car, placing his hand on the roof of it as he leaned forward. He rested his head against the roofing as well, feeling the rain against his forehead as it continued to pelt down upon him from the heavens. Everyone was mocking him now...he'd became a joke to the people.

"Fuck Manson..." he said in a low voice, "Fuck the Sharps...fuck everyone."

He grabbed ahold of the door handle, opening the door with a yank and stepping inside. He ignored the uncomfortable feeling of his clothes clinging to him as he sat down and shut the door, wiping rain-drops from his brow as he took his keys out and placed them in the ignition.

Turn the key once...nothing. Again? Nothing. Frustrated, Dominic punched at the steering wheel, letting out a frustrated yell and spiking his fist down on the horn. The sound shot through the air like a rocket, as though daring the very thunder which roared through the sky to try and out-match it.

"Why the hell would they put me in a match to fight for a shot at the North American title? They know I've wanted to go beyond that...they know I'm still fighting to make it back up." he asked to no one in particular, a frown on his face.

Yet something unexpected happened when he asked that question, as 'no one in particular' seemed to answer back.

'They're holding you down, Dominic...they're stopping you from achieving your dreams. The only person even supporting you now is Bradshaw...Suki doesn't trust a man who's trying to give you your dues, Chris is too wrapped up in his own world, and your friends? Your family? They're sitting at home on their asses doing nothing, Dominic...they've gave up hope for you.'

Dominic's hands gripped tight at the steering wheel as he listened to his inner self, his thoughts saying things his mouth dare not repeat. He agreed with his thoughts, however...he couldn't debate them at all. The people had all given up hope, and the only man who held any semblance of hope for him was a man of power. He'd...he'd put away Steve Sharp, didn't he? A man Dominic could hardly stand, and Tony Bradshaw had him taken out.

"He's the only one helping me now..." Dominic mumbled to himself, as realization hit him like a proverbial brick. "I've had my shot all along, but I've ignored it. He must be why I'm in this match, he must be why I've got a shot. He said he'd talk to Inferna...right? In the meantime, I could win that title, and then go on to defeat her..."

Memories, however, were quick to shut that down. Bradshaw had already spoke with Inferna...she had smacked the shit out of him for it. Steve Sharp and his little gang of XCW-ites came along and assaulted Bradshaw just to start a damn match.

"Son of a bitch, they are trying to hold me down...the fucking Sharp's are trying to stop me from going any further!"

A regular fortification of the glass ceiling was going on, or at least that was what Dominic believed. How was he to rise to the occasion when the Sharp's were stopping the occasion from ever occurring?

With a growl, Dominic turned the key one more time, and the car finally started. The rain had slowed to a drizzle by now as the clouds continued drifting along, and that single beam of light broke through once more. Dominic looked towards this beacon of hope with a glare set in his eye as he pulled out onto the road, speeding off.