It's morning and Ichabod is packing his bag for the big show tomorrow. He packs his black jumpsuit, his boots, and his wrist tape. Ichabod picks up his world title belt and looks at it for a moment. He thinks about how being the world champ is like walking a tightrope without a circus net. At any one moment, if you break your concentration, and look down, you will fall. And without the safety of a net, you won't be getting back up.
This belt is supposed to bring respect, but you work a sweat for the right to be the top dog, and no one cares. They all just want to bring you back down. They wonder why I keep flipping out. I doubt it is solely because of this fuckin' chip in my head.
Ichabod taps his head in frustration.
This career is full of empty promises and broken dreams. I achieved my dream finally, and everyone wants to attack me at every opening. But this is fine, let them come. Let them all come and take their shots. Their are many that hate me, and few that love me, but its the evil that made me this deceitful champion. The rest want the money, the women, the glory and fame, and they wonder why they end up crashing and burning. I've been to the rock bottom, and I don't plan to let people like Judas fool me into thinking that he wants to just be friends. Fuck that, I know he wants this gold. And I'll be damned if he's going to get close. I got the match I wanted, the No DQ falls count anywhere match. I'm going to school him in my game, and he's never going to know what hit him. I'll make...
The all-too familiar pain rips through Ichabod's head as he throws himself upon the bed. He reels from the agony. But this time, he can sense an interference. He struggles to keep ahold of his sanity, but it slips away as Judas' voice rings clear through the chaos. Ichabod stands up and sees nothing but a mist. He smirks as a dark figure emerges from the mist. Judas finally materializes as an image in Ichy's brain,but Ichabod thinks he is just in front of him.
Who the fuck are you?
My name is Judas. I am here to help you.
I don't need help.
Yes you do, you need more help than you think you do. There is something invading your mind, and I am here to help you find out what it is.
I don't know what the hell you are talking about or how the fuck you got here, but I'd advise you to leave.
I'm not leaving until after you've let me help you. I wouldn't be here if you hadn't already let me in.
Last chance, choad. I don't know you, but I'm not prejudiced when it comes to an ass whooping.
If you must fight with me, then I guess you should try your best, but I must warn you, I am not defeated easily, especially in this form.
Now thats what I like to hear.
Ichabod cracks his knuckles and swings into Judas with all his weight. He knocks Judas from his feet, and then piles on top of him, pounding his face again and again. It doesn't faze Ichabod when large red and purple welts begin to swell on Judas' face and neck, nor does he stop when the bruises burst and weep blood onto Ichy's knuckles. Judas puts up no defense, and this only serves to piss Ichabod off even more. Ichabod stands and stomps Judas' head and chest, and he is sure he can hear a few ribs crack sickeningly satisfying under Judas' duster. After a powerful kick to the skull of Judas that should put him in the hospital, Ichabod turns and walks away, pausing only once to turn and spit on Judas' body. He walks through the mist trying to figure out where the hell he is.
Judas' voice comes through the mist.
Ichabod, listen to me, and listen to me well. I'm not here to fight you. I'm not here to destroy you. I'm not here for bloodshed either. Thats why I didn't fight back. Like I said, I am here to help you.
Judas steps out from the mists. As he walks toward Ichy, the wounds on his face and neck stitch themselves together, as globules of blood form in the recesses of the cuts, and then turn into flesh, replacing the damaged areas. The whole scend takes a matter of seconds. Finally, Ichy hears the crack as Judas' ribs snap back into place. Ichabod stares in wonder and half-anger.
See, Ichabod, I told you I wasn't defeated easily in this form. I say what I mean, and I mean what I say.
Don't go spouting maxims and bullshit at me. So you healed up, so what. I know a few tricks too. Ever hear of the Bitch Thump? I don't need your fucking help, now I never want to see you in my sight again, or I'm going to kill you.
If you think you can kill me, then try. I will keep coming back until you let me help you. Besides, it's not that I want to help you. Its something I have to do. If I want to watch the sunset and sunrise, or watch people walk during the day, I have to help you. No if's, and's, or but's about it. You'll get to fight me tomorrow night. Right now all I want to do is talk.
Oh thats so beautiful Judas. I'm hurting in my heart for you. Wah, Wah. Fuck you. I don't care if you can't watch the sunrise and sip drinks on the beach or stare at people walking up and down Wade Hampton Blvd until one of them beats the shit out of you. What do you mean I'll get to fight you tomorrow? I thought I was facing Tim Gorder.
You really are lost aren't you? You have no idea where you are or what time period it is. You truly have no idea what is going on, or who you've become?
You dumbass. I know who I am. I am Ichabod, the evil redneck, leader of the Revelation. I am the rDw World Champion. And tomorrow night I face my brother Reverend and Tim Gorder in a cage match. Nothing you can tell me will convince me other wise.
So you think its still 2000 huh? Well I've got news for you. On Dec. 16 of 2000 you had a five man match, with your partner Wicked D involved. You turned on him, and in turn, he broke your back. Your brother Reverend won that match. Sound familiar?
Ichabod grabs Judas' mouth muffling what he has to say.
Shut your fucking mouth man! You are going to ruin my angle! Don't you know they have cameras on the wrestlers all the damn time?? If Wicked D gets wind of this my plan is ruined. Damn you how the fuck did you know that?
How can I ruin something that has already happened? It is in the past and it will stay in the past. Right now you are in the year 2002. Ichabod, who you are, is the WoW world champion. He has changed his lifestyle, and is starting to be just a redneck, and not the evil redneck. By having these episodes where you come out, you are killing Ichabod slowly, driving him insane. You no longer exist. Why do you persist in returning?
Fuck you man. You are crazy. I don't know what you are smoking, but I'd appreciate you taking your mumbo-jumbo and kindly shoving it up your ass. I'm going...
Ichabod's voice changes and now it is another speaking through him. Judas doesn't know, but the voice is the same as the one that came to Ichabod when he dangled from the ledge at Zill Towers.
Judas, turn around, look away. This is not your place. You are taking on something you have no business in, and even you, a hominus nocturna, a nightwalker, a creature who walks in darkness and feeds upon blood, cannot stop it. Turn away now, before you step into something that you, Ichabod, and Lopez together cannot handle. This is none of your concern.
Well that sounds like a personal challenge to me.
The mists fade as Ichabod comes awake, wondering what the hell just happened. He shakes it off and goes back to packing, laying the belt on the top of his things and zipping up his bag. He walks out of the room and gets in the Monster to drive to the airport.
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