Post by The Anarchist on Nov 27, 2017 6:24:30 GMT -5
Backstage at Collision Course…
“It is my pleasure to welcome OUR Lord and Savior, the Pure Class Wrestling World Champion, SEROMINE! And his wife, Destiny Willard!”
The camera shows an attentive (and enthusiastic) Shane Dodge on standby, dressed in his Sunday best as he waits for his guest to appear. For this most joyous of occasions, the long time company man has selected a two piece Navy suit and a pair of black Oxfords. Behind him is the event sign. But not just ANY event sign. The appropriately named COLLISION COURSE depicts Kyle Shane as the likeness of Satan, with snarling teeth and a long, pointy tail, surrounded by the flames of hell.
Facing him from the right, and in a towering position, is the epitome of all that is holy himself, Seromine, imagined as God. A golden aura outlines his being. Shades of blue and white accentuate his heavenly stature. Seromine is holding the world title in his right hand.
LORD AND SAVIOR!
SER-O-MINE!
Competing chants have started out in the arena. Well, when Seromine himself comes into view (to Shane’s left), they go up several notches. Destiny flanks from the right. Seromine smirks, humbled by such a reception. He offers a hand to Shane who is all too happy to oblige. Seromine is shown mouthing “How are you, brother Shane?” to which the charismatic interviewer replies “great!” Seromine is dressed in his 1800’s inspired preacher attire with his championship firmly fastened around his waist. Destiny is in a knee length conservative, black dress. The collar and buttons are white. Her brown hair is tied in braided pigtails. When she decides to wear make-up, Destiny likes the “less is more” approach. Tonight she is wearing none. Shane lifts the microphone up as the chants have finally calmed.
“Seromine, you are here tonight to defend against the latest heathen, Kyle Shane...” boos erupt from the faithful. They actually sound like hissing boos, but boos just the same. Seromine is amused. “A man who prides himself on his way too large ego, false accusations, and well, if I may, clouded judgment. How do you plan to strike him down?”
Seromine nods. A toothy grin isn’t far behind.
“Well Brother Shane, as you and everyone else knows, God ALWAYS has a plan. Yes, Kyle Shane is all that you said and more. He is not the first sinner to determine that attacking my good name and character, is the path to success. He doesn’t have the capability to understand that it’s a road to ruin that awaits him. Many have said the same tiresome things he has. All of them failed. Some have decided the loss was so great, that they had to leave and go re-evaluate their wrongs. I plan on striking him down in notching another WIN...”
Seromine pauses to hear the talk back of AGAINST SIN! He is most pleased.
“Kyle Shane likes to play games. I do not. I have not a precious second to waste on such matters, as my work is far too important. Kyle Shane is nothing more than a troll finding a ray of light cracking through his basement door. He has marched up the stairs to investigate the source, and when he pushed the door open, he saw me standing there. Only I’m not standing there to save his soul. No, no, not this time. God has put me there to make sure he can no longer harm my faithful. And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Kyle Shane is an unsalvageable ship rotting at the bottom of the sea. And like Satan, that’s where he belongs; At the bottom. So Brother Shane, it is time to do God’s work.”
With those final poignant words, Seromine and Destiny depart. Shane Dodge remains standing in reverence.
Let’s head to the ring...
The sound of a pipe organ.
The rise of every man, woman, and child from their pews. In their hands is an open hymn book.
The sight of two clydesdales pulling an open carriage buggy, the riders inside are the preacher and his beautiful wife.
The angelic first verse vocals:
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
The preacher assists his beautiful wife from their ride. They look at one another with deep affection as their arms link. Held close to her heart is a copy of the good book. HOLY BIBLE is etched in gold on the hard cover. They walk in slow stride. The preacher welcomes everyone he sees. He makes sure to touch every hand outstretched on his walk down the aisle, blessing them as he does this greeting. He is proud to welcome HIS faithful, just as God will upon crossing over.
The angelic second verse vocals:
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendor He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
The preacher and his beautiful wife go around the ring now. He continues to shake every hand that reaches out. He does so with a welcoming smile. His beautiful wife matches the emotion. Her right hand extends with a kind wave as they press on. The preacher makes it a point to stop next to the commentary booth, where longtime color commentators, Jerry Andrews and former wrestler, Ace Anderson, receive their blessings. The preacher and his wife continue their journey. When the last of HIS faithful has been met, the preacher assists his beautiful wife up the steel steps. He climbs onto the ring apron and splits the top and middle ropes apart, so that his beautiful wife can enter. When she is safely inside, only then does the preacher enter himself.
The angelic third and (final) verse vocals:
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
With the entrance hymn now finished, the music stops and the preacher requests everyone to “please be seated.” The cheering prevents him from beginning his sermon. The preacher is humbled as he lowers his head. His beautiful wife gently caresses his back. The reception swells her heart with positive emotion. Everything they have ever done is to the benefit of making others lives better. Despite the misconception and outright lie to the contrary.
LORD AND SAVIOR!
SER-O-MINE!
The faithful launch into dual chants. The same that was received backstage. The preacher lifts his head and stretches his arms out. He circles the ring, mouthing “God is good!” as he does. His body language suggests he is hugging HIS faithful in his powerful, championship carrying arms.
“Our lord and savior is deserving of this reception!” speaks Jerry Andrews, his voice on the verge of cracking “Wouldn’t you agree, Ace?”
The former wrestler turned commentator replies in kind, “You better believe he is. Praise Seromine! Praise the Lord!”
The preacher removes his wide brimmed black hat. He presses it against his chest. While he circled around, he was handed a microphone. A pearly white and gold accented one. The preacher stands center ring, takes one more look around as the chants calm, and launches into his opening.
“HELLO BROTHERS AND SISTERS!” his voice his commanding.
In unison, “HELLO SEROMINE!”
“By my side as always is my better half, the love of my life, my beautiful wife, Destiny!”
“HELLO DESTINY!”
She smiles sweetly and returns the greeting.
“It is truly an honor to stand before all of your lovely faces, just as it is truly an honor to be blessed by GOD every single day. Brothers and Sisters, tonight is a very important night for us. All of us. Satan has put forth his latest challenger to our gospel. Kyle Shane.”
BOOOOOO!
The negative reception to his name being dropped is loud enough to send shockwaves through every nation. Obviously that can’t happen, but the magnitude is rocking the arena like an earthquake.
“You have to question the morality of the higher ups.” says Jerry “Kyle Shane?”
“They don’t have any. Time and time again, OUR Lord and Savior has been the victim of persecution.” barks Ace Anderson.
The preacher has his right hand held in mid-air. His beautiful wife has a look of disdain after hearing the challenger’s name mentioned.
“As it is written in Jeremiah, Chapter Twenty-Three, Verse Twenty-two; ‘Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams...They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least.’”
The preacher’s beautiful wife has the good book opened to that very passage. She taps on the crisp paper the words are written on. The preacher nods towards her.
“The devil’s chosen challenger will have you believe that he is making you better. That he plays by the rules. That he continues to raise his game!” The preacher scoffs. “This is coming from the same game player that, in the past, has cost our brother Gabriel a victory against the Underground champion. This is coming from the same game player that, in the past, cost a fellow sinner by the name of Whitey Ford, a match against the prophet Grimm! This is the SAME game playing, deceitful, challenger...” he pauses to deal with the indigestion of his next words. The preacher is trembling now. Anger has been casted.
His beautiful wife offers her support, assuring him that “it’s okay. They have to hear it.” The preacher gives her a quick look and a slight nod. “You’re right” he whispers. The preacher gathers himself and once more, addresses HIS faithful.
“This is the SAME game playing, deceitful, challenger, who took it upon himself to STEAL the financial information of a former competitor, so that he could purchase a gift for a woman who was not only repulsed by him, but thought him a creep. And do you think the man he STOLE from saw his bank issued card again? Do you think the game player ever got punished?”
“NO!” The faithful reply. The preacher nods in agreement. “There is security footage of a discarded wallet, one with butterfly print. But yeah. He claims to be a man of such honest means. Well, brothers and sisters, I say he is a LIAR. Deuteronomy, Chapter Thirty-two, Verse Thirty-five. ‘Vengeance is mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’”
“I don’t know about you, but I say his foot has slipped and TONIGHT! Tonight he shall pay for his transgressions! For the list started the second he signed a contract and has grown every single time he opens his mouth!”
PRAISE SEROMINE!
PRAISE THE LORD!
The chants come loud and fast. The preacher gestures that he isn’t finished.
“My brothers and sisters. You know in your hearts. You know in your minds. You know that he speaks in falsehoods. I stand for all that is morally right. I come not to condemn, but to save. To teach. So that your lives can be made BETTER. The challenger will have you believe otherwise; but when you’re known for having an ego so large, that it could be the tenth planet and rival Jupiter, you tend to fall back on desperate claims.”
“Satan came with Kelli Starr. Satan came with Nathan Saniti.” the magician’s name REALLY draws some boos. One that has the preacher and his beautiful wife interrupted by laughter. “Satan came with Whitey Ford...and now he comes with Kyle Shane. These are just four examples, but they are high profile examples. Three failures before him. A class that is about to welcome a game player to their ranks!”
The preacher and his beautiful wife huddle and together, flip through the good book again. The page turning halts as she points out one. The preacher nods. He moves around the ring, looking at the throngs of HIS faithful. A sold out congregation there to hear his sermon. He thanks them again for being here.
“From the book of John. Chapter Fifteen. Verse Thirty-three. ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”
The preacher has since removed his championship. He raises it in the air at the same time he speaks the final word in the quoted passage.
“That's OUR champion, Ace. One that future generations will be proud to say where they were when they saw him. When they heard him. Children want a role model to emulate? Look no further than SEROMINE!”
“The modern day messiah! This is one game that Kyle Shane will wish he didn’t try playing.”
“Let us pray for his soul.”
The preacher and his beautiful wife join hands. The faithful follow his lead. Everyone lowers their head and closes their eyes.
“Heavenly father...”
The preacher pauses. When he resumes…
“I bet you didn’t see that mist coming. Did you, game player?”
His whole tone changes. He opens his eyes and lifts his head. No longer is he buoyed by delivering religious hellfire.
“No. Of course you didn’t. You can’t figure me out, no matter what false bravado you want to pump yourself up with. I KNOW your kind. You’re fragile and should be handled with care. Only...I have no interest in doing that. You have insecurities. That’s why you overcompensate. You walk around with your mouth flapping way too much, but nothing of value ever escapes...”
...I have defeated some of the very people you have and then some. I have put people on the shelf, only for them to never return. You lie to others. You lie to yourself. You don’t scare me. You don’t impress me. And you won’t beat me. The so-called ‘God of Game’ is going to get beat at his own, and when I have retained MY title, you will be left with trying to find another excuse as to why your plan didn’t work out. Achievement DENIED…
...Praise Seromine. Praise the Lord.”
The preacher’s catchphrase goes into a loop. It gets slower and slower. The arena he had been occupying starts to glitch. There is no one in the pews (now returned to the standard seating). There is no one at the commentary table. There is no ring where he and his beautiful wife are. There is no babyface receptions or praises to be sung.
There is only Jason Willard, professionally known as Seromine, and his devoted wife, Destiny, sitting inside of a psychiatrist’s office. Destiny has just finished putting his hair in the multiple braids he used to sport during his years as The Anarchist. Instantly, she begins to play with them. Everything that he has just heard and said was in his own fractured mind, but being spoken in confidentiality with:
DR. ELIZABETH GARLAND
That’s the name a multitude of awards were presented to, along with the dates she received them. Each honor is framed and hanging on the neutral colored walls behind her neatly arranged work space. She is a middle aged woman. Streaks of grey show amongst her wavy red hair. She was the kind of woman who would greet you in the most approachable way, regardless if you were friend, family, or stranger. There was nothing clinical about her.
This appointment was taking place in Camarillo, California, which was an hour and fourteen minutes away from their home in Anaheim. There was options closer to them (Fullerton for example, a seven minute drive). But both Jason and Destiny have been seeing Dr. Garland off and on for years, and didn’t mind the travel. This was just the first time in a long while. Her notebook was full of scribbled observations from the highly spirited exchange.
“Well Jason, it sure sounds like you are prepared for your upcoming match. I won’t pretend to understand how your profession works though.” she chuckles “But it sure sounds interesting.”
“I suppose it is, Liz.”
“Mmhmm. Well, so long as you love what you do, it really isn’t work. I’m a little amused. This Seromine character is centered around religion, but you aren’t religious yourself.”
“Neither am I.” Destiny points out.
“Are you kidding me? Religion is the biggest crock of shit this side of Donald Trump being elected. It’s just a character I play on television. The fans still love to hate me.” Jason replies wryly.
“He’s won awards for being the most hated.” Destiny interjects.
“I’m proud of those!”
Elizabeth smiles as she finishes her note taking. “Well, that’s a good thing. Listen, our time is just about up, but it was really good seeing you both again. I think I’ll be up all night trying to make heads or tails out of your...”
She flips two pages over to search for something specific. “Promo. As you called it.”
“Don’t strain your eyes.” Jason replies with humor. It’s well received.
“I’ll try not to. I’ll have prescriptions for you both called in and they should be ready in a few hours. Jason, continue to keep up the good work. I hope that you win your wrestling match. Destiny, it was lovely to see you again. I hope that you continue to make progress when it comes to talking about your parents next time. But you did excellent with what you were able to get through.”
Destiny partially smiles. Her hand squeezes Jason’s tight. The topic of her parents was not one she was fond of. With good reason.
Jason and Destiny make their departure and before long are back on the road. He drives.
“I hope that you continue to make progress when it comes to talking about your parents next time.” Destiny mockingly says out loud in a baby voice. “But you did excellent with what you were able to get through.” Her eyes are wide. Her head tilts left to right between sentences. She shares a laugh with her husband. “Yeah and I hope they burn in hell.”
“That makes two of us, my love. That makes two of us.”
“It is my pleasure to welcome OUR Lord and Savior, the Pure Class Wrestling World Champion, SEROMINE! And his wife, Destiny Willard!”
The camera shows an attentive (and enthusiastic) Shane Dodge on standby, dressed in his Sunday best as he waits for his guest to appear. For this most joyous of occasions, the long time company man has selected a two piece Navy suit and a pair of black Oxfords. Behind him is the event sign. But not just ANY event sign. The appropriately named COLLISION COURSE depicts Kyle Shane as the likeness of Satan, with snarling teeth and a long, pointy tail, surrounded by the flames of hell.
Facing him from the right, and in a towering position, is the epitome of all that is holy himself, Seromine, imagined as God. A golden aura outlines his being. Shades of blue and white accentuate his heavenly stature. Seromine is holding the world title in his right hand.
LORD AND SAVIOR!
SER-O-MINE!
Competing chants have started out in the arena. Well, when Seromine himself comes into view (to Shane’s left), they go up several notches. Destiny flanks from the right. Seromine smirks, humbled by such a reception. He offers a hand to Shane who is all too happy to oblige. Seromine is shown mouthing “How are you, brother Shane?” to which the charismatic interviewer replies “great!” Seromine is dressed in his 1800’s inspired preacher attire with his championship firmly fastened around his waist. Destiny is in a knee length conservative, black dress. The collar and buttons are white. Her brown hair is tied in braided pigtails. When she decides to wear make-up, Destiny likes the “less is more” approach. Tonight she is wearing none. Shane lifts the microphone up as the chants have finally calmed.
“Seromine, you are here tonight to defend against the latest heathen, Kyle Shane...” boos erupt from the faithful. They actually sound like hissing boos, but boos just the same. Seromine is amused. “A man who prides himself on his way too large ego, false accusations, and well, if I may, clouded judgment. How do you plan to strike him down?”
Seromine nods. A toothy grin isn’t far behind.
“Well Brother Shane, as you and everyone else knows, God ALWAYS has a plan. Yes, Kyle Shane is all that you said and more. He is not the first sinner to determine that attacking my good name and character, is the path to success. He doesn’t have the capability to understand that it’s a road to ruin that awaits him. Many have said the same tiresome things he has. All of them failed. Some have decided the loss was so great, that they had to leave and go re-evaluate their wrongs. I plan on striking him down in notching another WIN...”
Seromine pauses to hear the talk back of AGAINST SIN! He is most pleased.
“Kyle Shane likes to play games. I do not. I have not a precious second to waste on such matters, as my work is far too important. Kyle Shane is nothing more than a troll finding a ray of light cracking through his basement door. He has marched up the stairs to investigate the source, and when he pushed the door open, he saw me standing there. Only I’m not standing there to save his soul. No, no, not this time. God has put me there to make sure he can no longer harm my faithful. And that’s exactly what I intend to do. Kyle Shane is an unsalvageable ship rotting at the bottom of the sea. And like Satan, that’s where he belongs; At the bottom. So Brother Shane, it is time to do God’s work.”
With those final poignant words, Seromine and Destiny depart. Shane Dodge remains standing in reverence.
Let’s head to the ring...
The sound of a pipe organ.
The rise of every man, woman, and child from their pews. In their hands is an open hymn book.
The sight of two clydesdales pulling an open carriage buggy, the riders inside are the preacher and his beautiful wife.
The angelic first verse vocals:
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
The preacher assists his beautiful wife from their ride. They look at one another with deep affection as their arms link. Held close to her heart is a copy of the good book. HOLY BIBLE is etched in gold on the hard cover. They walk in slow stride. The preacher welcomes everyone he sees. He makes sure to touch every hand outstretched on his walk down the aisle, blessing them as he does this greeting. He is proud to welcome HIS faithful, just as God will upon crossing over.
The angelic second verse vocals:
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
He burns with holy fire
With splendor He is crowned
How awesome is the sight
Our radiant King of light
Be still for the glory of the Lord
Is shining all around
The preacher and his beautiful wife go around the ring now. He continues to shake every hand that reaches out. He does so with a welcoming smile. His beautiful wife matches the emotion. Her right hand extends with a kind wave as they press on. The preacher makes it a point to stop next to the commentary booth, where longtime color commentators, Jerry Andrews and former wrestler, Ace Anderson, receive their blessings. The preacher and his wife continue their journey. When the last of HIS faithful has been met, the preacher assists his beautiful wife up the steel steps. He climbs onto the ring apron and splits the top and middle ropes apart, so that his beautiful wife can enter. When she is safely inside, only then does the preacher enter himself.
The angelic third and (final) verse vocals:
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
With the entrance hymn now finished, the music stops and the preacher requests everyone to “please be seated.” The cheering prevents him from beginning his sermon. The preacher is humbled as he lowers his head. His beautiful wife gently caresses his back. The reception swells her heart with positive emotion. Everything they have ever done is to the benefit of making others lives better. Despite the misconception and outright lie to the contrary.
LORD AND SAVIOR!
SER-O-MINE!
The faithful launch into dual chants. The same that was received backstage. The preacher lifts his head and stretches his arms out. He circles the ring, mouthing “God is good!” as he does. His body language suggests he is hugging HIS faithful in his powerful, championship carrying arms.
“Our lord and savior is deserving of this reception!” speaks Jerry Andrews, his voice on the verge of cracking “Wouldn’t you agree, Ace?”
The former wrestler turned commentator replies in kind, “You better believe he is. Praise Seromine! Praise the Lord!”
The preacher removes his wide brimmed black hat. He presses it against his chest. While he circled around, he was handed a microphone. A pearly white and gold accented one. The preacher stands center ring, takes one more look around as the chants calm, and launches into his opening.
“HELLO BROTHERS AND SISTERS!” his voice his commanding.
In unison, “HELLO SEROMINE!”
“By my side as always is my better half, the love of my life, my beautiful wife, Destiny!”
“HELLO DESTINY!”
She smiles sweetly and returns the greeting.
“It is truly an honor to stand before all of your lovely faces, just as it is truly an honor to be blessed by GOD every single day. Brothers and Sisters, tonight is a very important night for us. All of us. Satan has put forth his latest challenger to our gospel. Kyle Shane.”
BOOOOOO!
The negative reception to his name being dropped is loud enough to send shockwaves through every nation. Obviously that can’t happen, but the magnitude is rocking the arena like an earthquake.
“You have to question the morality of the higher ups.” says Jerry “Kyle Shane?”
“They don’t have any. Time and time again, OUR Lord and Savior has been the victim of persecution.” barks Ace Anderson.
The preacher has his right hand held in mid-air. His beautiful wife has a look of disdain after hearing the challenger’s name mentioned.
“As it is written in Jeremiah, Chapter Twenty-Three, Verse Twenty-two; ‘Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams...They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least.’”
The preacher’s beautiful wife has the good book opened to that very passage. She taps on the crisp paper the words are written on. The preacher nods towards her.
“The devil’s chosen challenger will have you believe that he is making you better. That he plays by the rules. That he continues to raise his game!” The preacher scoffs. “This is coming from the same game player that, in the past, has cost our brother Gabriel a victory against the Underground champion. This is coming from the same game player that, in the past, cost a fellow sinner by the name of Whitey Ford, a match against the prophet Grimm! This is the SAME game playing, deceitful, challenger...” he pauses to deal with the indigestion of his next words. The preacher is trembling now. Anger has been casted.
His beautiful wife offers her support, assuring him that “it’s okay. They have to hear it.” The preacher gives her a quick look and a slight nod. “You’re right” he whispers. The preacher gathers himself and once more, addresses HIS faithful.
“This is the SAME game playing, deceitful, challenger, who took it upon himself to STEAL the financial information of a former competitor, so that he could purchase a gift for a woman who was not only repulsed by him, but thought him a creep. And do you think the man he STOLE from saw his bank issued card again? Do you think the game player ever got punished?”
“NO!” The faithful reply. The preacher nods in agreement. “There is security footage of a discarded wallet, one with butterfly print. But yeah. He claims to be a man of such honest means. Well, brothers and sisters, I say he is a LIAR. Deuteronomy, Chapter Thirty-two, Verse Thirty-five. ‘Vengeance is mine, and recompense; Their foot shall slip in due time; For the day of their calamity is at hand, And the things to come hasten upon them.’”
“I don’t know about you, but I say his foot has slipped and TONIGHT! Tonight he shall pay for his transgressions! For the list started the second he signed a contract and has grown every single time he opens his mouth!”
PRAISE SEROMINE!
PRAISE THE LORD!
The chants come loud and fast. The preacher gestures that he isn’t finished.
“My brothers and sisters. You know in your hearts. You know in your minds. You know that he speaks in falsehoods. I stand for all that is morally right. I come not to condemn, but to save. To teach. So that your lives can be made BETTER. The challenger will have you believe otherwise; but when you’re known for having an ego so large, that it could be the tenth planet and rival Jupiter, you tend to fall back on desperate claims.”
“Satan came with Kelli Starr. Satan came with Nathan Saniti.” the magician’s name REALLY draws some boos. One that has the preacher and his beautiful wife interrupted by laughter. “Satan came with Whitey Ford...and now he comes with Kyle Shane. These are just four examples, but they are high profile examples. Three failures before him. A class that is about to welcome a game player to their ranks!”
The preacher and his beautiful wife huddle and together, flip through the good book again. The page turning halts as she points out one. The preacher nods. He moves around the ring, looking at the throngs of HIS faithful. A sold out congregation there to hear his sermon. He thanks them again for being here.
“From the book of John. Chapter Fifteen. Verse Thirty-three. ‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’”
The preacher has since removed his championship. He raises it in the air at the same time he speaks the final word in the quoted passage.
“That's OUR champion, Ace. One that future generations will be proud to say where they were when they saw him. When they heard him. Children want a role model to emulate? Look no further than SEROMINE!”
“The modern day messiah! This is one game that Kyle Shane will wish he didn’t try playing.”
“Let us pray for his soul.”
The preacher and his beautiful wife join hands. The faithful follow his lead. Everyone lowers their head and closes their eyes.
“Heavenly father...”
The preacher pauses. When he resumes…
“I bet you didn’t see that mist coming. Did you, game player?”
His whole tone changes. He opens his eyes and lifts his head. No longer is he buoyed by delivering religious hellfire.
“No. Of course you didn’t. You can’t figure me out, no matter what false bravado you want to pump yourself up with. I KNOW your kind. You’re fragile and should be handled with care. Only...I have no interest in doing that. You have insecurities. That’s why you overcompensate. You walk around with your mouth flapping way too much, but nothing of value ever escapes...”
...I have defeated some of the very people you have and then some. I have put people on the shelf, only for them to never return. You lie to others. You lie to yourself. You don’t scare me. You don’t impress me. And you won’t beat me. The so-called ‘God of Game’ is going to get beat at his own, and when I have retained MY title, you will be left with trying to find another excuse as to why your plan didn’t work out. Achievement DENIED…
...Praise Seromine. Praise the Lord.”
The preacher’s catchphrase goes into a loop. It gets slower and slower. The arena he had been occupying starts to glitch. There is no one in the pews (now returned to the standard seating). There is no one at the commentary table. There is no ring where he and his beautiful wife are. There is no babyface receptions or praises to be sung.
There is only Jason Willard, professionally known as Seromine, and his devoted wife, Destiny, sitting inside of a psychiatrist’s office. Destiny has just finished putting his hair in the multiple braids he used to sport during his years as The Anarchist. Instantly, she begins to play with them. Everything that he has just heard and said was in his own fractured mind, but being spoken in confidentiality with:
DR. ELIZABETH GARLAND
That’s the name a multitude of awards were presented to, along with the dates she received them. Each honor is framed and hanging on the neutral colored walls behind her neatly arranged work space. She is a middle aged woman. Streaks of grey show amongst her wavy red hair. She was the kind of woman who would greet you in the most approachable way, regardless if you were friend, family, or stranger. There was nothing clinical about her.
This appointment was taking place in Camarillo, California, which was an hour and fourteen minutes away from their home in Anaheim. There was options closer to them (Fullerton for example, a seven minute drive). But both Jason and Destiny have been seeing Dr. Garland off and on for years, and didn’t mind the travel. This was just the first time in a long while. Her notebook was full of scribbled observations from the highly spirited exchange.
“Well Jason, it sure sounds like you are prepared for your upcoming match. I won’t pretend to understand how your profession works though.” she chuckles “But it sure sounds interesting.”
“I suppose it is, Liz.”
“Mmhmm. Well, so long as you love what you do, it really isn’t work. I’m a little amused. This Seromine character is centered around religion, but you aren’t religious yourself.”
“Neither am I.” Destiny points out.
“Are you kidding me? Religion is the biggest crock of shit this side of Donald Trump being elected. It’s just a character I play on television. The fans still love to hate me.” Jason replies wryly.
“He’s won awards for being the most hated.” Destiny interjects.
“I’m proud of those!”
Elizabeth smiles as she finishes her note taking. “Well, that’s a good thing. Listen, our time is just about up, but it was really good seeing you both again. I think I’ll be up all night trying to make heads or tails out of your...”
She flips two pages over to search for something specific. “Promo. As you called it.”
“Don’t strain your eyes.” Jason replies with humor. It’s well received.
“I’ll try not to. I’ll have prescriptions for you both called in and they should be ready in a few hours. Jason, continue to keep up the good work. I hope that you win your wrestling match. Destiny, it was lovely to see you again. I hope that you continue to make progress when it comes to talking about your parents next time. But you did excellent with what you were able to get through.”
Destiny partially smiles. Her hand squeezes Jason’s tight. The topic of her parents was not one she was fond of. With good reason.
Jason and Destiny make their departure and before long are back on the road. He drives.
“I hope that you continue to make progress when it comes to talking about your parents next time.” Destiny mockingly says out loud in a baby voice. “But you did excellent with what you were able to get through.” Her eyes are wide. Her head tilts left to right between sentences. She shares a laugh with her husband. “Yeah and I hope they burn in hell.”
“That makes two of us, my love. That makes two of us.”