Sandtown

Baltimore; It's a beautiful city isn't it?

{Baltimore - Post Chaos}

After the credits have rolled on this latest episode of Chaos and the FBI has filed out of the building. They came supposedly for an investigation and left pretty much empty handed. So, they left in the same way they arrived. My match had ended in the most bullshit way possible. My opponent Jazz got arrested by the alphabet boys. I watch the last of them leave as I grab my kit from where I had dropped it beside me. My phone buzzes, a text message from whoever runs booking….You got The Sandtown Kid next week. Good luck, you’ll need it.

Mac Bane: Whatever.

Without another comment I shoved the phone back into my pocket. The thing that amused me most about this night was not my opponent being arrested during the match. It was the arrival of my brother from another mother. Ken Davison. I laugh remembering his promo he cut in the ring.

Mac Bane: Well shit, Ken will always be Ken. That’s not a bad thing. Brothers to the bone.

I start making my way to the exit for the building, pausing briefly as security says their good nights. I nod, a tip of my hat out of politeness. Now out in the night air of Baltimore I begin to think out loud.

Mac Bane: Not exactly the ending either of us thought we would have. You made yourself a target for the FBI, evidently one of their prime suspects. Either that or someone in the back fed them false info. Either way, doesn’t make a damn to me. I got a victory sure, but it’s tainted and that doesn’t sit well with me.

I draw out a pack of Marlboro, red box, shorts. I tap it momentarily against the box, packing the tobacco. I smile and light it up. Exhaling slowly, I allow the smoke to engulf my face, obscuring it slightly.

Mac Bane: And at the next Chaos, I get The Sandtown Kid. The self appointed hero of the masses. Dumb ass.

I shake my head in dismay and disgust.

Mac Bane: I think I’ll stay in Baltimore this week. Maybe some research will help me to better understand the young man. Maybe by doing that I won’t think he’s such a dumb ass.

I pause for a moment thinking about what I’ve just said.

Mac Bane: Nope, it’s not gonna change a fucking thing. He’s a dumb ass.

I wink at the camera, and then my phone starts buzzing again.

Mac Bane: Oh for fucks sake.

I look at my phone.

Mac Bane: Fucking twitter. Oh, that’s rich, she’s gonna sue the company and the FBI for false imprisonment.

I chuckle mostly to myself and then my phone buzzes again.

Mac Bane: Oh, and a challenge to me as well. I knew that loss wouldn’t sit well with her. Too much fire and too little common sense. Fucking weak sauce.

I respond accepting the challenge. The phone buzzes again almost immediately. I snorted in amusement.

Mac Bane: Look princess, my integrity was never in question. Your sanity however, that’s another story altogether. They do breed some dumb fucks in this part of the country don’t they? I can name my stipulation? Really?! No, Really! Fucking tard. Okay, I’ll take some time and think about it. Expect my answer and the stipulations at the next show.

Fade…

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Hard to believe this is also Baltimore, huh?

{Sandtown-Winchester, Baltimore MD - The next day}

The scene opens in an old run down neighborhood, most of the buildings were mix-matched dilapidated brick buildings. Most of them look as though they were new in the late 1950s or early 1960’s. There was never enough money or people in office that cared enough about these old buildings to keep them up.

Mac Bane: They should have just torn this shit down and started over.

They had tried to care for the neighborhood back in the 80’s but to no avail. The changes they made didn’t stick and it just caused more disrepair in the neighborhood simply known as Sandtown.

Unknown Man: What the fuck do you know about Sandtown!? You sure as hell don’t belong here.

I look over at the old fella who’s glaring at me.

Mac Bane: Yes sir, that would be correct. I’m not from here. I sure as shit wouldn’t admit to it if I was. Your question though, it deserves an answer. I know quite a bit about Sandtown. Nah, I ain't from here. I’m just not stupid. I know that back in the day Diana Ross and Billie Holiday played over on Pennsylvania Avenue. I also know that they used to call this neighborhood the Baltimore version of Harlem.

The old man looks at me with disgust on his face. Probably just because he knows I’m right. Well, that and he underestimated me and my google fu.

Unknown Man: You still shouldn’t be here. You’re a little too salty for your own good.

He continues to cackle as he walks off, I shake my head truly amused for the first time in a long time. I start to say something to him but I’m cut off by the glint. The glint of a knife blade in the sunlight.

Asaliant: I’m surprised that old bastard didn’t gut you. He’s more of a racist than you are slick.

I look at the young man holding the knife. Early twenties, probably five foot ten. He might be one eighty. He obviously knows he’s out of his weight class, the reason for the knife.

Mac Bane: Well, I didn’t come here to fight or to die, so you wanna put that away? Why do you think I’m a racist? Was it my hat that offended you?

He smirks at me and lowers the knife. He looks up at the cowboy hat and shakes his head.

Assailant: You a fool.

I nod at him.

Mac Bane: I am that among many other things.

I take off the black resistol cowboy hat. I wipe the sweat away with a handkerchief and put my hat back on. I watch as he lowers the blade some more, finally giving up on the idea of robbing me I guess. He folds up the knife and sticks it back in his pocket.

Mac Bane: Wise choice young man. Got a name?

He shakes his head and starts walking away.

Assailant: Nope, names have power, see you around.

Fade….

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{Unknown Location - Unknown time}

Pitch black….voice only…..

Baltimore, Maryland….not any different than any other metropolitan area on the map. They all have their areas where good, honest, upstanding citizens should steer clear of. These are considered the dark side of the city they represent.

It’s funny how people are no different. We all have that darkness within us, it just takes something or someone to push that button. To push a person over the edge and cause them to go down a road they never dreamed they would walk. Like people, cities often have redeeming qualities. There are some areas, or neighborhoods where those qualities don’t exist.

I’m sure that there are some great things about Sandtown. If there are, I sure as shit didn’t see any of it. The fact that you’re proud of where you come from speaks volumes to your character, or lack thereof. Everything I’ve been able to find out about you, the only thing in your life that provided any kind of positive momentum is wrestling. Yet you pissed away opportunity after opportunity. You chose mediocrity shrouded in obscurity over fortune and fame. You allowed your hatred for a single man to drive you to these extremes. The man you injured, JC, is someone you could have reached out to for help. Instead, you chose to injure him, nearly ended his career. I hope you come to find out what the term reap the whirlwind really means.

So, you had a plan? No, evidently not. YOLO right? You only live once is a lie. You only die once is more accurate. So, this plan you had? I’m not sure anyone who’s keeping score at home is really up to date on what exactly it was you were hoping to accomplish. No exit strategy, no backup? No fill in test dummy to take a beating for you if it was necessary? So, no plan at all to this point. Now he’s just going to toy with you, he’s going to torture you until there’s nothing left. He’s going to allow JC to beat you until there’s nothing left but a greasy spot on the mat shaped like you. Doesn’t sound like anyone’s idea of a good time to me.

You should always have a plan kid, always have contingencies lain out. Never be without a plan B. I realize you don’t put much stock in the things I’m saying and why would you. I’m a stranger to you, and trust me, the longer I’m around the stranger I get. More to the point though is that I may not have ever stepped into Carnage Wrestling before. Don’t for a second believe that I don’t know anything about Carnage. Every company in this industry that has a television taping and a number that don’t, I have an eye on. I’ve been a student of this game since I was a child, the only way to grow is to study. You’re learning process should be constant.

No one should ever rest on what they’ve done in the past. This is the reason you haven't heard a single thing from me about past titles. I’ve held many, but none of them are important. Not to you, not to the Carnage Wrestling fans. What I do from here and moving forward is the only thing that counts in their eyes. That’s as it should be kid. I’m viewed in a lot of circles as an asshole, a monster, evil and the list goes on and on. Of all the things I am, the fans know that what they see with me is who I am. I’ve never hid behind a mask. I’ve no reason to lie or to pretend to be anyone other than who I am. If you need a point of reference, have a little chat with Trent or Ken. Either of those two men can tell you all about what it's like to get on the fighting side of me.

I could have spent time digging through your past. That’s time better spent on other things that are far more important to me. To be honest kid, I don’t give a shit about ya. You’re just another obstacle placed in my path. I didn’t sign on here to do the dirty work of a filthy piece of shit like the one that runs this damn place. I didn’t sign on to hunt down bounty work on the likes of you. I did the hired gun thing in my past, it doesn’t appeal to me anymore. What does appeal to me is hurting people.

I've been out of wrestling about two years now. If you watch my match with Jazz you'll see no ring rust. It's because even when my wife was slowly fading from cancer, I was still putting in work. I was still making sure that my family was taken care of. I've never worn a mask in my career and I damn sure wouldn't hide behind one now. That's right, I keep forgetting you grew up without parents, so there's no skirt or pants for you to hide behind. I guess that explains the mask. You're a coward and a cur to me. Where I come from natural selection usually takes care of the problem. That hasn't happened here yet though, has it?

It will though, it will. Like my previous opponent, you'll have to rely on speed and agility against me. It's not your size that will cause you to lose. No, it's not that at all. I've waited two long years to get back to what I do best. Two long years to plan, and anticipate kicking someone in the face again. It's what drives me, that hunger, not for gold or fame. I've had that in my life on many occasions. Hell, I'm still one of the top draws in the country. No, that's not what I hunger for.

What I hunger for is the blood of my enemies. Many would argue that you are not my enemy, but they are mistaken. If you stand across the ring from me, you are my enemy. I know that won't stop you from bringing everything you have in your body to be the first to claim a victory over me. As long as you realize that everything you have won't be enough. So come along junior, beat me if you can. You won't survive this encounter, I won't allow it. Enjoy what time you have left Silva, the clock is ticking and I'm hungry.

Fin...