Post by thewhiterose on Sept 28, 2021 21:46:47 GMT -5
CONTINUED FROM - LIVE BY THE LIGHT
The sight comfort I felt from this darkness feeling safer than in the closet... with him outside... faded rather quickly as I began to realize the severity of what had happened. I had lost track of when the cave collapsed trapping me. Had it been mere minutes? Perhaps an hour, or two -
...
Or more. It was impossible to tell, and in the only reaction feasible for a youth, I began to panic. I dug at the rocks and clawed at the debris until my fingers stung and warm blood dripped unseen to the soil beneath me. I was trapped... in the darkness again.
Eventually realizing my persistent clawing was futile and only expending energy that was fading fast - I did the only thing I could do. Using the wall to feel my way forward, I slowly made my way down the hall, swimming through the inky darkness like a fish at the bottom of ocean. Every time the surface below me would dip our debris would get in my path, I'd stumble and almost lose hold of the wall - my only guidance I had - but I pushed forward.
I think, even at young as I was, I knew there were only one of two outcomes to traveling deeper and deeper into the cave.
I'd find a way out.
Or.
I'd find a spot deep enough that they'd never have to find me when I died.
And frankly, after everything?
I was fine with either option.
I was tired. My mouth was dry and my stomach was a pit of pain. My legs felt as though they'd abandon me at any moment. Again, I was young, but at this point... I expected death. Maybe I welcomed it. I knew it was only a matter of moments before I collapsed, and would ever be consumed by the darkness.
Then - I heard it. The rustling, the moving of debris bellow my feet... the flapping. I strained my eyes as hard as I could, and I swear I saw a white flash dart around the corner of a cave wall. In retrospect following it was the stupidest decision I could have made in the moment, but that stupid decision saved my life. I recklessly rounded the corner and as I did, I was blinded. As my eyes adjusted, I saw the two most beautiful sights of my life. The cause of the flapping I heard was the most beautiful white dove I'd ever seen. It radiated, and I swear, even if just for a moment, it was looking directly at me. And the other thing I saw? Was the reason I could see the bird. The reason I could see a whole just big enough for maybe a beach ball in the side of the cave about ten feet up. The most beautiful and glorious sight I'd seen in my life.
There... was the light.
The quote lights up the screen, but only for a moment as it fades away into darkness. There's a pause, quiet and long, before finally we see a compilation of the past few months for Jason Long.
We see him being stabbed by Redd - only to somehow come back fighting.
We see Redd revealing himself as Arik Holt, and the shock and betrayal in Jason's eyes.
We see him being set on fire by Elena DeDraca, and losing his opportunity at the Legacy Championship.
The scene then changes to black and white and plays the slow motion image of EMT's tending to Jason Long, his beaten, bartered and burnt body - the look of pain doubled on his face. Pain from the fire that licked his flesh - and the pain of knowing that he has lost again, and the hell that had been his life for months has yet to come to and end. The camera lingers on that look, the look of anguish, anger... the look of defeat...
There's another pause, but this time it's interrupted not by visual, but by a familiar voice.
"And roll credits. That brothers and sisters of The Light, was the end of the Jason Long saga you've been subjected to for the past few months."
The darkness of the scene is quickly eradicated by a bright flash of light, something we've come to expect when being... blessed by the presence of Lesley Adora. He sits in a red velvet chair inside of a now illuminated yet still empty movie theater, the scene of Jason's torment paused on the big screen. Lesley stares at the screen for quite the while, looking as if he's getting ready to choose his next words very carefully.
"Jason's life over the past few months has been nothing more than the weird byproduct of what would happen if Syfy and Lifetime produced a love child. To the viewers at home - Jason has been the tragic hero. Sure not always correct in his methods, but his intentions have been good.
...
Right?"
Adora leans back in his seat, lifting his leg provocatively over the left arm of the movie chair and playfully flipping his flowing hair to the side of his face. Lesley never breaks eye contact with the camera as his serpent like tongue slithers across his bottom lip. "No. No... no I don't think that's the case now is it Jason? I've been very vocal about how I feel about the handling of Fallout. I've made it very clear that I think the majority of this roster, including those who are supposedly 'in charge', are nothing more than homicidal psychopaths who will stop at nothing to make a dollar off of shock value TV. People have asked me over and over again what I think of the entire Redd, DeMarco, Holt debauchery -
and frankly I don't think anything about it anymore. I had your back, Jason. I stood in that very ring and I shouted to the farthest reaches of The Light that what happened to you was wrong. It was barbaric. It had no place in our industry and I'll stand by that to this day. But I will not pity you for staying in a locked burning building, when willing hands were passing you the key to get out - and your pride halted you from accepting the solution. Because I had the key for you Jason. I told you - I told the world EXACTLY what sort of 'redd complexion' I knew Arik was sporting. I told the world not to trust him, and not to trust DeMarco because neither of them have good intentions. Arik Holt has made his crystal clear, and Christian DeMarco does not get points for good will just because he hasn't showed his attentions yet. I gave you the answer Jason...
But what do I know? I'm just a fraud. A crackpot on the side of the street screaming conspiracy theories. And what's so... what's so incredibly frustrating is the fact that you're not just hurting yourself Jason. Clearly you are, and if you don't believe so take a look in the mirror at your torn, stitched, and burnt flesh. But here's the real question Jason -
How many more people have to get hurt because of your ignorance and unwillingness to put your ego aside?" Dramatically Lesley rips his leg off the arm of the chair and sits up, his hair falling dramatically over his piercing eyes as the stare daggers through the camera lens.
"How much longer are you going to keep thrusting those important to you into the line of fire? People are getting hurt... Jason. YOU... are getting hurt, Jason. And all because you've filled your head with such bravado and false confidence that I'm surprised it hasn't burst yet. You know I'm surprised that you'd be so gallsy to call Elena DeDraca an 'attention seeking... B', then go on to tout yourself as some grandiose being. You unapologetically call yourself every false royalty and deity under the sun, even going as far as telling people to bow down to you? You're known to call yourself a lot of things Jason, but delusional has to enter the repitoir soon of you're honestly going to attempt to say you don't bring what happens to you down on yourself.
You're the only person on this entire roster minus the few I've spoke of in the past who isn't being targeted by a sick circle of psychopaths. You're putting yourself in the cross hairs to prove you can... and they keep proving that you can't. That's why after Night of Honor you're walking away significantly lighter on the shoulder and waist than you wanted to be - because you're proving to everyone that you're not God. Nor an emperor. And I don't see a crown on that perfect little head of yours. You're none of that.
You're not special, Jason." After a deep breath, Lesley slowly sits back in his seat, crossing his right leg gingerly over his left. "Not in the grand scheme of things, that is. Now don't get me wrong, this entire time I'm talking about the Jason Long that we see outside of the ring - not inside. Because inside the ring? I'd be a fool to say you're anything but special. For over 120 you've held the Project Honor Prime Championship - and I'll be the first to admit you've defended it valiantly against all comers. You've beaten almost everyone there is to beat in this company, and despite the devastating loss you almost... ALMOST beat the untouchable Elena DeDraca at Night of Honor. When you're in that ring at 100% and you check your ego at the door before stepping in between those ropes? You're remarkable.
It's just... -" Lesley sighs, his head hung slightly but his eyes raised to stare deviously at the camera. "It's just a shame you won't be heading into Fallout at 100%, isn't it?" That sickening tongue flicks quickly across Lesley's top lip now, looking up at the frozen image on the screen of Jason Long, pained and disappointed.
"It's an unfortunate coincidence that you've yet again run your mouth and found yourself in a scenario that doesn't favor you in the slightest, isn't it Jason. You and I both had a rough night at our respective Night of Honor shows, but someone who didn't is the man who defeated me at that very event.
Slade Castle. Now, before we go any further I'd like to point out that I in no way condone the way Slade goes about his business either. I think a man who lives life using his past as a crutch is never going to walk straight again. However, I have no qualms admitting when I've met my match in the ring - and Slade has certainly proven on multiple occasions now that I underestimated his resolve since his arrival. The difference between you and Slade, Jason, is Slade may be lost in a world of violence and self hate - but that is far less dangerous then your delusional false prophet world. However, I understand that you are both suffering in different ways - you're both in perpetual pain - and while the human side of Lesley Adora wants to turn the other way and allow you two to keep walking the dark path you've found yourself in... the guidance of The Light would never allow me.
For your both not broken. Neither of you are destroyed beyond repair... for if you take my hand I will walk both of you to The Light myself, and with my bare hands I'll help fix you both. I truly believe that the three competitors entering that ring come Fallout are three of the best wrestlers that Project Honor has to offer - it's just unfortunate for Mr. Long that two of them are on one side. However, my true, genuine hope is that you do something you seemingly haven't done since your debut Jason.
I hope you learn from this failure. I hope this loss destroys any harmful idea that may still be floating around in your head that you're some sort of higher power. For there is only one true guide we must follow in life that can end all the pain you're both feeling. It's not a religion. It's not political. It's certainly not Jason Long...
It's The Light.
I will see you both... my future brothers... on Fallout. Oh and Jason? The little cinematic world you've living in, staring in your own little movie? It's over. This isn't a horror movie Jason.
It's a wrestling company." Lesley stands, slowly raising a remote to the screen and pushing play. His footsteps echo as Adora exits the scene, and we get one final shot as Jason Long squirms in pain under the hands of EMT's, before it fades to black.
It's a wrestling company." Lesley stands, slowly raising a remote to the screen and pushing play. His footsteps echo as Adora exits the scene, and we get one final shot as Jason Long squirms in pain under the hands of EMT's, before it fades to black.
End.
