Hypocrites...

[Bray]

The light flickers on and off in a small, shabby looking room, only amplified by the somewhat ominous atmosphere that it gives off. The camera focuses on what seems to be a cheap SDTV atop a small DVD player on a wooden stand, sitting parallel to a scruffy looking couch, currently in use by the bRoKeN Bray. Nearby, his little sister Ace grabs a compact disc case from her luggage and brings it over to the player. We briefly see that the cover of the disc has been written on in marker, reading “Wrestlution 12” on it, albeit in elegant handwriting. She grabs the remote from the stand and joins her brother on the couch, curling up and resting her head on his right leg.

 

The DVD begins to play, starting right off at the beginning, where commentators Charles Saggs and Ali Poling begin to hype up the show, in a subliminally annoying manner.

Scaggs: IT’S TIME!!! IT’S WRESTLUTION 12!!!

 

Poling: HOLY CRAP, WE MADE-

 

She fast forwards through the introductions, stopping right in the middle of the match between Cheryl and Valkyrie, right before the DDT on the apron spot. Right after Valk grabs Cheryl for the maneuver, Ace pauses it, focusing on Valk’s exhausted expression. After some thought, she fast forwards to the match’s conclusion, where Valkyrie is devastated by Cheryl’s onslaught of insults and attacks. Seeing Valk’s broken body sends chills down Ace’s spine, reminding her of another competitor’s leg who met a similar fate. She takes a look at Bray’s left leg and goes deep in thought, deep enough for Bray to notice her staring.

 

He flashes her an expression that seems to read “Is something wrong?” She shakes her head in denial, though Bray knows better. As the segment progresses, Ace seems fixated on Cheryl, her face becoming more twisted the longer she looks at her. Nonetheless, she fast forwards again, this time stopping during the confrontation between Bray and CJ.

 

Bray (on-screen): Next season… my first match… I want you.

 

After Bray walks off-screen, the siblings focuses on the comment he makes after he leaves.

 

CJ: I can’t let that fool get in my head.

 

As soon as the word “head” exits his mouth, Bray chucks a bottle of root beer against the wall behind the TV, shattering it. Ace taps him on the chest, as a sort of reassurance before handing him another bottle and continuing the DVD. She fast forwards again, resting on the triple threat tag match. They continue to observe, Ace’s irritation growing at the sight of her old finisher being used by Jackman. That aside, she fast forwards to the conclusion of the match, where Ricky grabs the belts for him and CJ.

 

The crowd cheers, everyone excited at the outcome. Above her, Ace notices Bray’s breathing has become heavier and heavier. The look on his face says it all. His face is hidden in shadow, but his frown tells the entire story. Letting out a final breath, he reaches down to his bag and retrieves his phone.

 

He begins to send a message, the receiver hidden from the viewer. Though, the message is managed to be shown. It reads:

 

Bray: “Tired of waiting. Move match to Turmoil 205. Crush him then.”

 

He drops his phone on the floor, where it lands next to a black headband. It wouldn’t be much of a big deal had the headband not had a sort of ominous, otherworldly feel to it, almost as if it’s calling to someone. Nonetheless, Bray reaches down and picks up said headband and wraps it around his left tricep.

 

The show goes backstage, where Ricky and CJ are congratulating themselves on a job well done. Not to Ace’s surprise, Bray chucks another bottle of root beer, this time hitting the TV, but it miraculously doesn’t shatter the screen. She hands him another bottle and rapidly presses the fast forward button again. Bray grabs the remote from her and pauses it, this time landing on a still image of Austin Lee holding up the CCW Championship above his head. Seeing this, he drops the remote to the floor and takes a deep breath.

 

Ace gets on her phone and goes to the OCW website, where she pulls up Cheryl’s bio. Bray does the same, though with CJ at first, then Austin. The two eventually put their phones away and stare at each other, almost as if they’re communicating through sight alone. Ace breaks the trance, reaching into her luggage again and pulling out a facemask and putting it on.

 

Bray: Hypocrites…

 

Ace extends her hand to Bray, which Bray takes and caresses. Bray forces a subtle grin on his face before the TV shorts out and turns off, engulfing the room in darkness.