III

[Cory Steel]

Monster Ball

How could he know this new dawn's light
Would change his life forever?
Set sail to sea but pulled off course
By the light of golden treasure

The Killing Time Saloon was packed on this night, because it wasn't just any normal night it was 'Fight Night' an event Cory started a couple of years ago at his old bar. Cory had brought in over 30 fighters from surrounding states for a weekend long tournament for a grand prize of $250,000! Cory watched the first couple of fights from behind the bar drinking straight from a bottle of Jack Daniels and thinking, watching as The Doug's men flooded the entire bar drinking like savages, and maybe a few were tweaking but Cory didn't care about them as much as he cared about watching The Doug's second in command Piper Harp. She had surprised him because her apperance and ho she carried herself was nothing like the rest of the gang, she was attractive, small, and smart.

-Julie Burnopp- "What are you staring at so hard Cory?"

Julie had snapped him out of his daze and he pointed to Piper.

-Cory Steel- "She looks to young to be in here, maybe you should check her ID."

-Julie Burnopp- "Busy dear! I got three tables that need drinks."

-Cory Steel- "Sorry baby, I'll do it."

Julie smiled and gave Cory a kiss on the cheek as he walked by, his hands rubbing her baby bump which was rather large. In another month their child would be here, Cory quickly pushed this thought a side. FOCUS CORY!. As Cory approached Piper two very fat bikers stepped between him and Piper.

-Fat Biker 1- "Whoa little man what do you think you're doing?"

-Fat Biker 2- "Actually it don't matter fuck off!"

Cory smirked put his hand on the first biker.

-Cory Steel- "My bar fat ass."

The biker looked at his buddy and his buddy returned the look before parting, Cory stepped between them and extended his hand to Piper.

-Piper Harp- "Do I know you?"

-Cory Steel- "The name is Cory Steel."

Piper titled her head a little.

-Piper Harp- "The Bear Cory Steel?"

Cory held his hands up smiling and taking a bow.

-Cory Steel- "The one and only."

-Piper Harp- "Holy shit a PCW celebrity! All of us at the club watch PCW every Tuesday and you're the fan favorite for most of us."

-Cory Steel- "I like to hear that, really didn't know anyone gave a shit about me to be honest."

This made Piper laugh.

-Piper Harp- "Those two fat asses Bert and Randy are your biggest fans."

Cory looked over his shoulder at the two big bikers and noticed them both staring at him and whispering, when they saw him looking they waved and smiled. Cory returned the wave and returned to speaking with Piper.

-Cory Steel- "Creepy, but look can I see your ID? You don't look old enough to be drinking here."

Piper smiled and held up her hand showing a black X.

-Piper Harp- "One more year for me. I'm here for the fights not the drinks."

Now that Cory got a closer look at her drink he noticed it was one his special marked glasses that lets everyone know that only non-alcholic are poured in them.

-Cory Steel- "Have you enjoyed the fights so far? I'll be fighting later."

-Piper Harp- "So far so good! And are you really? I didn't see you on tonights card."

-Cory Steel- "Just before the last fight I go on, an old friend and former trainee of mine from New York came down from New York to box with me."

-Piper Harp- "Well good luck."

-Cory Steel- "Thank you, but I didn't catch your name."

She stuck out her hand and Cory took it.

-Piper Harp- "Piper Harp. Vice President of Demonas."

-Cory Steel- "Well again thank you Piper and let me extend an offer to the VIP section tonight?"

-Piper Harp- "I'd be honored! Just let me tell my goons."

Piper stands up and walks over to the fat bikers and tells them something before returning. Cory takes her hand and leads her around to a set of steps, then up the steps to a large black door that has VIP spray painted on it, and they enter. Once inside Cory sees Pipers mouth drop.

-Piper Harp- "Holy shit is that Aaron Paul?"

She begins to point from Aaron to the next person.

-Piper Harp- "Seth Rogan, Michael Hall, and Will Ferrell?"

-Cory Steel- "PCW attracts a large network of stars Piper, these are just a few I've made friends with. Please make yourself comfortable."

Cory pats her shoulder and starts to walk away but Piper grabs his hand placing something in it.

-Piper Harp- "Oh yeah the other reason I'm here, my boss has a job for you."

-Cory Steel- "Job? Your Boss?"

Piper winks at Cory.

-Piper Harp- "We know what you and your men do Cory, when you are in our town The Doug knows everything. If you want to continue to be allowed to work here you got to pass whatever test The Doug gives you."

She walks away and Cory leaves in a hurry straight to his office where he slams the door behind him. Othello is sitting in front of Cory's desk reading a very large and old book.

-Othello Craven- "Are you ready for your fight tonight sir?"

Cory lays the folder down in the book Othello is reading and sits down behind his desk.

-Cory Steel- "Piper Harp is here."

Othello looks up while thumbing the folder open.

-Othello Craven- "Really? Why?"

-Cory Steel- "Just look at the God damn folder its a job! A JOB FROM HER BOSS!"

Othello is studying the contents of the folder.

-Cory Steel- "She said that The Dough knows what we do and if we want to continue to work in his town then we do this job."

-Othello Craven- "Well sir they don't think we beat up their head dealers, this job is a hit job."

Othello hands Cory the folder and Cory looks it over.

-Othello Craven- "They think that that man their attacked their men."

Cory smiles and closes the folder leaning back in his seat.

-Cory Steel- "Thank god! Get me the details on this man and I'll take him out myself."

-Othello Craven- "Right away sir."

Othello gets up taking the folder with him but Cory claps his hands.

-Cory Steel- "And has Omar made it yet?"

-Othello Craven- "I do believe so sir."

-Cory Steel- "Send his ass in here!"

Othello nods his head and leaves the office. Cory turns his chair around, crossing his arms, and stares out his window into the rainy night air. A smile painted across his face.

A GOD OF LIES

How can I be lost?
If I've got nowhere to go?
Searched the seas of gold
How come it's got so cold?
How can I be lost
In remembrance I relive
How can I blame you
When it's me I can't forgive?

Cory watched the Demonas target from across the street in his black truck. Talon Meade was a former hitman for the Demonas but a bad deal between The Doug and Talon lead to Talon flipping sides, The Doug figured he was the one who took out his drug lords, and Cory wasn't about to argue with that because it bought him time to flip Piper. Talon entered the single level brick building with the same black bag, same uniform, and at the same time as he has done for the last two days. From what Cory had gathered Talon was always alone except when the black van came by but Cory had only seen this once. As Cory waited he got lost in thought.

Time to think Cory, Talon Meade and Loki, what the fuck am I going to do? They both in their own rights are beasts in different fields. Loki on one hand is a PCW legend the Angel od Death, the first Triple Crown Champion, and a two time World Champion! Loki is higly respected and everyone has punched their balot for him to win and move on in the Icemann Invitational Tournament, believe me I've seen the God damn online forums the fucking tweets, and no one has betted on me the God damn DARK BEAR! I'm taking this tournament and I'm going to taint it with the underground. The Angel of Death is no more I heard it my fucking self, Loki is just Loki now looking for a second wind or whatever and he don't even care about the tournament or gold. I have to wonder what is he here for? Squash some old beef with Murdoc, because as far as I can see Murdoc has some business to finish with him.

The van pulled up in front of the building but it wasn't just two men getting out now it was one, Cory leaned over to his bag and pulled out his silenced pistol and custom made Jason hockey mask.

I know nothing about Loki on a personal level nor have we crossed paths in the ring but the storm is at hand and when the calm comes it will be ME standing in the wreckage. In PCW Loki is respected and a force, in the underground Talon and his work is viewed at about the same level as Loki's only when the bell rings after losing to Talon it means I'm dead. Othello got me all kinds of information on the hitman but could not get me any information on his personal life where I could hit him the hardest! Where I could get him at his weakest! Now the time has come for me to have to step into his world and in his ring on my own. Today I gain Pipers trust and step closer to The Doug. As on Tuesday I step into the ring with a PCW legend Loki to take a step towards winning the Icemann Tournament! I need this God damn thing so mother fuckers respect me! I've said its been coming....The Bear is coming and I'm going to be the killer of GODS!

Cory pulls the mask over his face and exits the truck sprinting across the street. Pushing the door open trying to be quiet as possible but as soon as there was a slight crack Cory could hear someone yelling from inside. He steps inside and closes the door behind him making his way towards the screams but those screams seemed to have ceased, Cory ducks behind a wall trying to hear for any noises.

-Talon Meade- "Who is there?"

The voice of Talon was cold and deep for such a little man. Cory cocks the hammer back on his pistol.

-Talon Meade- "I will not ask again friend, I saw you enter through the front door."

That was when Cory heard the door lock.

-Talon Meade- "And now you have no exit."

Cory grunts in frustration and steps around the corner gun drawn. No one was standing out in the open.

-Talon Meade- "Many men have tried to kill me friend, but they have all failed. Tell me who sent you and I will let you live."

-Cory Steel- "Fuck you Talon, today it ends only one way for one of us."

-Talon Meade- "How is that?"

-Cory Steel- "I ki-"

Something hard knocks Cory over the back of his head and he drops his gun when he tries to catch himself on a counter. He is then turned around and Talon lands several blows to Cory's stomach doubling him over, a knee to his face stands him back up, and Talon tackles Cory over the counter! When he hits the floor Cory's mask comes off and he can feel blood pouring out of his nose.

-Talon Meade- "Boy I've been doing this for years!"

Talon kicks Cory in the ribs twice but Cory rolls out of the way before the third kick can land. He jumps up to his feet but Talon isn't in front of him or anywhere to be seen when Cory spins around looking for him.

-Talon Meade- "How old are you twenty four or twenty five? You can't have done this type of work for more than a year! I will not be bested by some punk."

-Cory Steel- "Once I'm done with you Talon I am going to destroy the Demonas my self! Something you couldn't fucking do!"

This makes Talon laugh and it carried through the whole building.

-Talon Meade- "Really now? The Demonas? The Doug will eat you alive!"

BANG! BANG! A gun fired from behind Cory and luckily only one of the bullets grazed him over the top of his shoulder sending him to the ground. When Cory lands he produces a knife that was tucked in his belt loop and he does not move again even when he hears Talon walking across the floor.

-Talon Meade- "Just think friend I saved your life by ending it now, The Doug wouldn't have been as throughtful. He loves to play with his food."

Talon stopped right beside Cory and when he goes down to roll Cory over the Bear rolls over grabbing Talon by the wrist using his left foot to flip the much smaller man over top of him and onto his back! Talon lands hard and a small grunt escapes him, Cory rolls up to his knees still holding Talon's wrist and lands several blows straight to Talons long nose, with the last punch making a sick crunching noise. A sneak from Cory's left side connects with his left eye however Cory just absorbs the hard blow and drives the knife through Talon's arm and into the ground pinning it to wooden floor.

-Talon Meade- "You mother fucker!"

Cory laughs and kicks Talon a couple of times before falling to his ass exhausted. He uses a hand to push his long sweaty and greasy hair from his face.

-Cory Steel- "This is what I don't understand Talon, why does everyone doubt me? EVERYONE DOUBTS ME BUT IN THE END ITS God damn CORY STEEL WHO ALWAYS WINS!"

-Talon Meade- "Ahhhg, shit friend I don't know! We're the type of people who do what we must to survive and everyone has just given up on us along the way. Our failures out weigh our wins, that's what happens in the underground my friend."

-Cory Steel- "Well life sucks then don't it? What the hell do I do?"

-Talon Meade- "The only thing to be done is raise some hell before our time ends."

The Bear closes one nose nostril and blows a wad of snot and blood out of his broken nose before pushing himself up to his feet. Cory then steps on Talons throat.

-Cory Steel- "Its sad you doubted me Talon, now I have to show you different. While you burn slowly in Hell keep a watch out for me because I'll be sending The Doug to you very soon!"

Talon laughs for a brief second before Cory picks his boot up and stomps over and over and over on Talon's throat. Cory stepped away as Talon kicked around on the floor and picked up his pistol walking out of the building Cory embraces the cool rain that must have started falling while he was fighting with Talon. The Bear walks over to his truck where he takes a jug of gas and returns to the building. Inside Talon had stopped moving and Cory began pouring the gas all over the main room of the building, all over Talon, and on through the front door.

No one is going to think I am some bottom feeder anymore.

Cory produces a book of matches.

The Underground will feel the wrath of the Bear.

Cory strikes the head of a match against the back of the book.

All great things eventually fail. Talon failed against me.

He flips it onto the gas.

I can't take away that Loki was a PCW legend or that he is a former Champion.

WOOSH! The fire spreads quickly towards Talon's lifeless body.

I can however prove that I am somebody! Gods and legend fail all the time.

Cory turns away from the quickly flaming building and heads back to his truck.

At Trauma 154 The Bear Cory Steel will PROVE everyone wrong. The former Angel of Death has fallen off.

Monster Ball PART II

Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me not
Forgive me
Forgive me, why can't I forgive me?

Cory sat on a table his head wrapped up in bandages, his left eye was swollen shut, he was also sporting fresh bandages around his ribs, and a doctor was stitching several wounds on his forehead. Omar a long time friend walks into the office of Cory Steel's looking just as bad as Cory but happy and drunk.

-'The Hammer' Omar- "God damn Cory you and that will to never quit! I admire it friend but how is this going to effect your match against Loki?"

The Bear spits out a mouth full of blood and smiles, revealing three new missing teeth.

-Cory Steel- "It won't I promise. If Loki can show up half beat so can the fucking Bear! Plus it will look good when I win against him."

-Dr. Kloin- "My suggestion is to take some time off Mr. Steel."

Cory cuts his eyes at the doctor.

-Cory Steel- "My suggestion to you is to just shut up and stitch me. Tuesday I shut everyone up, if there is one thing about PCW that I know its that all those legends and the ones seen as forces ALL can be beat, and most of them are usually upset by the one they least suspect."

-'The Hammer' Omar- "I believe in you man."

-Cory Steel- "I know but I'm not trying to prove myself to you Omar. Loki is old news and I'm going to prove that he has fallen off! Being a former champion isn't all its cracked to be because at some point that meant someone better than him BEAT him."

-'The Hammer' Omar- "All hail the BEAR! All hail the BEAR!"

-Cory Steel- "Unlike Murdoc I'm not playing head games with Loki, no way I'm going to meet him head on at the fucking MONSTER BALL!"

Cory spits blood on the ground again.

-Cory Steel- "Either way if I don't move on in this tournament I still have the Underground Championship to go after. I'm all underground Omar, you know me."

-'The Hammer' Omar- "I do and I know that no one can really stop you if you put your all into it. The PCW will always remember The Bear man don't worry about that."

Cory slides off the table pushing the doctor aside, he limps his way towards a bottle of Jack Daniels.

-Cory Steel- "Omar I have to go big."