Post by Mark Hunter on Jun 30, 2021 18:27:40 GMT -5
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ALPHA VS BETA
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ALPHA VS BETA
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“Revenge may be wicked, but it’s natural.” - William Makepeace Thackeray
Unaired Footage
San Jose, California
June 21st, 2021 - 22:09
She was under the light brown sheets, the air conditioning easing the tension in the room as she clicked onto youtube. She saw the pain in Mark Hunter’s eyes as he did the honorable thing and handed the belt over to Ozymandias, a pain probably less visible to those that don’t know him so well; she had watched that moment along with Mark’s attempt to save Indy Darling over and over again. Jelena tugged the soft sheets up against her slim caucasian thighs and over her baby bump. She leaned back against the soft green pillows, closed the book she was reading and placed it on the bed side counter. Jelena was feeling lonely, rubbing her right forearm as she kept looking out the window waiting for her prince charming to save her ass. She clicked the remote, changed the channel to anything else but the pain of Mark Hunter’s failed night at Hell On Earth. Jelena looked out the window again then saw a yellow taxi drive away from the front of her house. She unraveled her body from under the sheets, got up out of the bed in her small gray shorts and looked outside to see the man she waited so long for. With cheerful glee, she rushed out of the master bedroom, bolted down the stairs and broke through the front door running into the arms of the father of her future children. She hugged him tightly. Mark leaned his head against her cheek, eyes closed and took every second enjoying her company as they both missed each other a lot.
“I thought you wouldn’t return after the shit way I treated you over the last couple of weeks. And after Hell On Earth, I thought you would go to ground for a while.”
“I will never leave you. Remember that.”
She slammed her soft red lips against his and the two kissed each other passionately. Jelena was so happy to get the man she loved back home at least until his next adventure. Mark set her down gently on the path and carried his suitcases inside. She closed and locked the front door, set the alarm system and both of them turned to enjoy the confines of their home.
Mark took off his black leather jacket and hung it up on the coat rail. Jelena on the other hand set his suitcases aside as Mark went into the kitchen and took out a bottle of water. He rubbed the bruises on his face and even the bandaged cut on his right cheek from the war against Ozymandias and Lil Petey, everything came with a price. Jelena sat on the wooden stool before the white counter watching the man she loved open the counter. He was fixing a simple ham sandwich because he felt too bone idle to do anything else this late. Mark paused, noticing Jelena staring at him with those blue eyes, those pearly whites in the smile and the casual leaning of her cheek against her right fist. He arched his right eyebrow then chuckled; Caught off guard by the romantic gesture like Jelena studied The Notebook. It was a little too much for a reunion.
“What?”
“Nothing. I can't look at my fiancé?”
“Sure. Of course you can, I'm just wondering why you are so happy to see me. A little too mushy, don't you think?”
“How did you get the cut?”
“One of Petey’s elbows. It's over now so I don't want to talk about it that much. I have other problems I need to take care of.”
“Like what?”
“Hmm?”
“What's bothering you? What's on your mind? You look a little off tonight, you okay?”
Mark placed the knife down he used to cut the crust off. He turned his eyes away and Jelena leaned forward against the counter edge. Mark exhaled heavily, the upcoming match against Lance Williams plus the chance to fight for the Legacy Championship had made him realize something.
“I want to hurt Lance Williams more than I want a title shot, don’t get me wrong, I want to be the champ and I want a match versus Elena, but I’m not consumed by the business anymore, I know I have more important things in life and I want to protect those, that’s why for the very first time at Proving Ground, I’m entering a wrestling arena and fighting as Markus Lee Huntington. You, me, the twins. Lance tried to invade our safe little world and destroy everything. I can't allow that. After everything we've been through, I have a choice and the choice is to have peace for once in my goddamn life! I get that by ending LANCE FUCKING WILLIAMS!!”
He impaled the white cutting board with the knife and it stood up on his own. Jelena didn't twitch at his rage getting the better of him, she knew where he was coming from. She got up from the stool and walked around the counter to hug her boyfriend from behind. Mark leaned over the made sandwich and kept looking down at the table top; Those hazel eyes piercing through the material. Slight heavy breaths, her arms around his waist, she leaned onto him, her right cheek pressed down against his back
“You're gonna be fine Markus. You're a fighter, you're a father to be. You won't let anything harm your world. You do what you do best. You be fucking relentless for our family and continue to inspire the fans who watch you.”
“Yeah, Lance is something else. He’s jealous, he wants my career but doesn’t understand he would have had it years ago if he had the same talent. I'm not going to let him take my world with bullshit and shortcuts. He won't make it past Proving Ground when I'm done with him. I'm going to hurt the barstard, I’m going to remind him of his fucking place. I won't let you all down, I promise.”
“Good cause I'll kick your ass if you don't kick his.”
“Oh really?”
“Yeah. Also, what are we doing tomorrow?”
“I figured we could go out to eat. Enjoy the day as a family, maybe even invite Steve and Lucy?"
“Sounds good to me, I’ll see you upstairs in a bit.”
She lifted her head up from his grasp and instantly let go before almost bouncing up the steps. Mark rolled his eyes and took a huge chunk out of the sandwich. He wrapped the half eaten meal in a paper towel before putting it in the fridge then carried his suitcases up the stairs to the master bedroom. Jelena was already in the bathroom, while Mark took off his grey T-Shirt, unbuckled his Crystal Michael Kors Watch then placed it down in the jewellery box on the counter. He sat down on the edge of the bed removing his shoes and socks, he then laid down on the bed as he heard the click of the bathroom light.
“The more you give life, the more you'll have life.” - Abhijit Naskar
Unaired Footage
San Jose, California
June 22nd, 2021 - 18:54
He's been going to this restaurant ever since he moved to San Jose, it’s almost identical to a place he used to go in England before moving to America. His first date, first kiss, it was all in that restaurant, this place gave him those feelings, such great memories. Mark, Jelena, Steve, and Steve’s partner Lucy were sitting down at the eastern section of the restaurant enjoying the second best table in the restaurant thanks to the reservations he made earlier. He sat at the table, wearing a black buttoned shirt with blue jeans and black dress shoes to complete the look. Steve and Lucy were sitting on the other side of the table while Jelena sat next to Mark. Jelena was really happy, she couldn't stop smiling. This is what she wanted: The family together under a peaceful family friendly environment, safe from their troubles.
Mark opens up the conversation “I remember when I was thirteen, I had my first date in a place almost identical to this. It was terrible.”
“How bad was it?” comes from Jelena.
“Oh my god. It was with this blonde girl, the cheerleader of my school. I was just another average kid who was doing pretty well in academics, and played a little soccer. The usual stuff.”
Lucy raises a smile “You were a jock and a nerd? They have those now?”
“Times are changing and yep, I didn't like labels. I just love what I do so she came and I was really excited to be on this date except when she brought her friends over to the table. I was the only guy surrounded by a bunch of beautiful cheerleaders and felt intimidated; They were some huge gossipers and I wasn't really on their good side due to my nature of defending others at school.”
A long silent pause took hold after he boasted that statement. Everyone took a sip of their waters and never batted an eye. Mark cleared his voice garnering their attention.
“...As I was saying, we cut loose. Well, I did. I ran out of the restaurant scared out of my life. I was so embarrassed that I almost peed my pants. Moral of the story is…”
Lucy interjects “Run away every time the odds are against you?”
Steve’s turn “Gossip back?”
Jelena however makes the most brutal point “Cheerleaders are evil and they need to be cleansed by Holy Water?”
“No, no and what in the world Jelena?”
The other three looked at Jelena who shrugged her shoulders. Lucy spoke up next.
“Weren't you a cheerleader Jel?”
“Ew no.”
“Alright, I'm going to use the bathroom for a moment.”
Steve jokes “Just don't pee your pants before you get there bro.”
The three at the table chuckled. Mark rolled his eyes as he stood up from the chair and strolled down the aisles to the men's bathroom where he pushed the large wooden door to the side. He stood in front of the mirror, washed his hands in the sink and dried his hands with a paper towel. Another man entered into the premises and stood beside him, also washing his hands. The young adult looked pretty as if he was feeling terrible. Mark saw his hands shaking, head tilted down and assumed he just came from a funeral. Mark wasn’t being clever with that assumption, it’s just the best table in the restaurant was booked out for one, and the young man was dressed in black. He didn't want to say anything but something inside him was telling him to be a good samaritan that moment.
“Dude, you alright?”
“Not really. We just came from a funeral. My mother passed away.”
“Oh, oh I'm so sorry.”
“She was all I ever had. The only person that ever supported me, I don't know what I'm going to do now.”
“If I may ask, how did she die?”
“A couple of weeks ago. She was knocked down by a drunk driver.”
It must have been terrible for this young man, Mark nodded his head, pursed his lips and patted him on the shoulder. He felt the pain resurface of his own mother’s passing. The young man's eyes were tearing up, he sniffed and rubbed his head eyes trying his best to be strong.
“Hey. I'm sorry. I know what it means to lose someone you love. Trust me, you can be strong now. She clearly raised you to be a very strong independent man. Now it's your time to carry on her legacy and wishes, okay? You can go on to be all the things she dreamed for you.”
“You're right.”
“Life is a steaming pile of shit sometimes… but you'll be okay.”
“Thank you. Mark.”
Mark looks bemused at the lad knowing his name. The guy clearly reads Mark’s reaction perfectly.
“You wrestle for Project Honor, I love wrestling.”
He nodded then left Mark alone in the bathroom who leaned forward against the sink. That was pretty eye opening. Mark stared at himself hard in the mirror, he thought about his family at the dinner table. Lance Williams had tried to shut all of that down, make his world implode then spit on the ashes of what remained. It wasn't going to happen like that. Not on Mark’s watch, he slammed his hands on the sink then left the bathroom carrying that angry demeanor until switching up the moment he sat down at the table. Jelena noticed something was going on with Mark and she stroked his arm.
“You okay?”
“Yeah...ugh. Just had to use the bathroom, stomach felt a little off but I'm good now.”
Lucy smiled “Must be thinking about that first date. Did you run before or after her friends came?”
They all laughed again.
Lucy went on “Sooo, revenge against Lance and a chance at the Legacy title if you win, that’s a real chance to be the man in Project Honor.”
Mark looked at Lucy but Jelena answered for him.
“Mark hates that line, I said it earlier and he pulled me up on it, he believes it’s insulting to top talents like Elena DeDraca, Emmanuelle, and Savannah. His words were, it’s as disrespectful as judging people based on race and sexual orientation. Discriminate against people for being pricks and having over inflated egos… but gender, race, and sexuality are completely unacceptable subject matter.” Jelena looks toward Mark. “That’s what you said right?”
“I wasn’t that blunt, but yeah that's the point I was getting at.”
Mark smiled hesitantly before looking over Steve's shoulders at the young man’s family. He thought hard about what they were going through and looked back at each and every person around the table, more specifically the young man looking alone and lost. Life was more than titles, life was more important than losing the Grand Championship, life was more important than a chance to compete for the Legacy Championship. Why would Lance Williams try to destroy everything?
Mark kept staring into the menu he had expanded before him looking through the different meals he could order. While the others were conversing about their lives, Mark kept thinking about Proving Ground and getting in the cell with Lance. His world being contested under the mind of a mad man who wants what he thinks he deserves. Isn't it just like ants? They see waves of food, delicious food they believe they can devour but the reality is, that food is for the Queen. Why? Because the Queen has the mind for the future of the colony. They are just worker ants, they don't know how to lead, only to follow. Mark saw Proving Ground, Mark saw people like Lance Williams and saw the lack of hard work and symbolism abandoned by the newcomers who think it's all about them.
They are all the same. Holding belts and wrestling matches with short term goals of boosting their career while Mark has levitated the Grand Championship to a whole new level. Mark has led the Proving Ground roster unselfishly through a period of continuous cry babies running away and others thinking of only themselves, it’s for this reason the fans have been so willing to accept him as a favourite they can respect, he always turns up and leads from the front for them and the roster, whether that roster deserved it or not is immaterial. Mark Hunter main events show after show because others either can’t or won’t lead, championship belts, and sick bastards can’t change that.
Mark eventually looks over the menu and at Steve Martyn.
“You decided what to do with the plot the bar was on?”
“Yeah, the foundations are fine, I’ve been given clearance to rebuild.”
“Another bar?”
“No!” Steve intently looks at Mark. “A wrestling school, that’s if I can get the right business partner.”
Mark smiles but his attention keeps drifting toward the young lad over Steve’s shoulder.
“That wasn’t very fucking subtle… Jelena… you got any pen and paper in that bag of yours?”
Jelena, as if by magic, pulls both out in no time and hands them over to Mark, Mark quickly scribbles a phone number on the back before writing a short note.
“To please others you often have to follow the ideas in your head and concentrate on doing what others perceive as the right thing. If you wish to be the free and happy person you deserve to become… you’ll have to listen to your heart instead, those that really care for you will be pleased to see you smile, those that ridicule your choices should be banished from your life, they don’t deserve you.” Mark finishes the note with a final line. “If you need ANYTHING... my number is on the back, Marcus.”
Mark gets to his feet and wanders toward the recipient of his note whilst the other three look somewhat bemused.
“A man with no enemies is a man with no character.” - Paul Newman
Aired Footage
Unknown Location
June 29th, 2021 - 22:15
Mark Hunter is leaning in a relaxed manner against a brick wall, he’s dressed in a white t-shirt, black jeans, and black trainers. The scene is literally void of anything else, it therefore forces you to concentrate on Mark himself.
“Shame on you Lance. I thought you out of all people would have ascended to greatness. You were given the opportunity to rise above the average when you first entered into Project Honor. I knew you as a young pup with the rest barking madly in the box, you were just as common as others. You never really stood out in your career as I have. A shame really Lance. How you did everything you could to bring the spotlight on you just for a moment but every chance thrown at your feet was blown away by the mere winds of those with actual talent, a shock win against MYOJIN and a free pass to the X-Factor Title doesn’t change that.”
“I saw that greed, that desperation build up deep inside you. It's a rather all too nasty odor that Project Honor has been sprayed with. Repulsive really but even now we both find ourselves on common ground. A wolf looking to return to his rightful spot and a young pup now bearing his fangs. However Lance, there's always that moment when the young pup has to challenge the Alpha to see if he is ready to lead the pack. The time where he proves his mane isn't just for showing off, it's a rarity for that pup to shed. The time where the pup grows into that ferocious night wolf howling for all beasts to hear and bow to the blinking shadows of his presence under the moon.”
“Do you hear that Lance?”
“The howling?”
“You know what it sounds like?”
“Failure.”
Mark smirks.
“That's what you've always been destined for. You're the runt of the litter. We look at you and already define you as the competitor who can have just a tip of success but will ultimately fail when it matters most. You Lance, you're not a man I have to worry about. I've bested you in every step of our careers, I've beat you in Project Honor already, and it will continue to be nothing but a marathon showing how easy it is to put down a wayward bitch just like yourself. I'm sure you may have tried to present yourself as this desirable talent that must be respected at all times; Can we really do some soul searching? When I publicly humiliate you worse than you ever felt possible, will anyone really believe in this façade that you are truly the future of this company? Come on Lance. I may bullshit sometimes but you take it to a whole new level young pup.”
Mark shrugs slightly but still hasn’t moved from against the wall.
“For a moment, a small moment when you joined Project Honor, I...I was starting to believe you were finally breaking out from your shell. After spending so many years searching for who you really were, I thought you were actually… just for a second… gonna become The Alpha, smiling and working with Big Drip, working on proving yourself. Maybe that was the Lance Williams we were all looking for in the first place. The Lance Williams no one would turn their channels away from, that version of Lance was possibly the guy that wouldn’t be every pay per view buyer's piss break chance, that Lance Williams we all came to share hope with and be entertained by. The future, the real Project Honor Alpha, and yet here you are still a broken forgettable man. I had hope for you Lance, we all did. Everyone had hoped you would help lead the new generation to be strong, courageous, intelligent and fearless of whoever stood in their way. You were given challenges beyond your imaginations. Despite all of this, what did you do best in your times of glory before buying help and accepting handouts?”
“Failure.”
“Oh how that must hurt you deep inside. That word becoming your greatest trait. Failure. You need to understand Lance that the hands of God weave your destiny to be what you were always greatest to do. You are a failure Lance Williams. No matter how hard you try, no matter how easy the shortcuts are, you cannot win. You were born to be a failure like it was your birth right. You've tried so hard to grow your crops in the futile fields of your career but we've all seen how plagued they were. You could never truly aspire to be more than the trash you are; It hurts to know but who am I to lie to such a poor soul? The truth is exactly as what you've always been. A strong failure who keeps trying so hard to grasp what could never be his, a formidable Professional Wrestler.”
“There's a special award for people like you - you know? People who always fail to become a leader. As the old saying goes, if you cannot command, you must obey. What is the perfect thing for people like you who fall in line, and look down when their masters have come to handle the big boy business? It was a special kind of thing they would always use to ensure that the second best would not feel left out. It's a participation award.”
“Ah, of course Lance! You were never the Alpha, your role was truly being the Beta. I like that. Lance Williams, The Beta of the wrestling business and Project Honor especially. It kind of has a nice roll off the tongue, a good ringing to the ear. The Beta. After all Lance, second place? Seems fitting for a man who cannot even win Gold without being given a pass.”
“Fuck Lance Williams. The Beta who tried to be the Alpha and without any shadow of a doubt, failed. Damn. That must really suck to know how bad you really tried to put on this façade, this illusion you ever had a chance to be quarter the champion Indy Darling was. This isn’t why Indy fought hard to put prestige on that belt. You know what's really funny. Our boss vacated and set up a tournament to crown a champion that would continue his admirable work, Lance, this could have been your breakthrough moment, you could have surprised us all with how much of a great wrestler you are yet when given the opportunity to face the best. You though chose to concentrate on terrorizing my family and bullshitting your way to an equally bullshit title win. The Alpha opportunity definitely became the proof of Beta.”
The look on Mark’s face is certainly more serious now.
“Lance. There’s no hope for the weak in this Cell match and you fall into that category. I’m yet to be defeated by anyone one on one since signing for Project Honor back in November and I am yet to be humiliated by anyone in this company inside the ring. Even if I’m fighting as Markus Huntington the man rather than Mark Hunter the wrestler, why should I have to fear you Lance? You offer me nothing. I remember when we faced off just recently and I was the victor. You can’t handle that can you? You felt the need to take your chosen path because you will never be Mark Hunter!”
“Such a selfish path to take. Always thinking about yourself, if only you spent just as much time as you do jacking off to your own reflection and put that time into your training to win, you would have been a worthy champion. That's what separates you from me. You do not have that warrior mentality to keep fighting after getting kicked to the curb. An example? When I watched Petey get beaten for my title, I had to fucking get off my ass and continue on my drive to be the best in the world. Now I have the chance to end you and go on to be Legacy Champion. You have to go through me first for that Legacy chance which is kind of cruel, you know that you beating me can never happen in the reality that is Project Honor. It's almost a death sentence for you, this match is Indy Darling’s ultimate revenge for what you did to him and the stain you have put on HIS belt.”
“Honesty is the best policy right?”
“I don't give a flying fuck about you anymore Lance. I don't honestly care whether you end up in the hospital and the doctors have to pull the plug. I don't care about anything that involves you. You are never going to be the man, you are a child still shitting in the sandbox. It's very unfortunate that Indy put you in this match,, it's your day of reckoning. You better pray you’re lucky enough to escape with your life because I can promise that the next time we face off in the ring and you're still breathing, I, Markus Lee Huntington, will end your fucking life right there.”
“Lance. You're a fucking fraud, a fucking wannabe and you're the typical common worm hidden under the rock of parasites that continue to suck the life out this company because you're, one, boring, two, just like everyone else, and three, a barely fucking one hit wonder. Nothing about you possesses any quality that has the company down on its knees to give you the heads up and the ultimate push of a lifetime. I'm sorry Lance but I have to tell the truth. You will never be Indy Darling, Dickie Watson, Elena DeDraca, or Mark Hunter. You will never join the list of wrestlers who came in and took Project Honor by storm. You're a fucking weak wrestler and a crippling mental bitch. Your mind is so easy to twist and bury down into the ground.”
“And what's ironic is that you're a man who portrays himself as an intellectual, you try to twist and devour minds with your words and here I am exposing the fraud deep within you? No Lance. You can't allow this to happen. It must really tear your ego apart for me, Mark Hunter, to completely destroy everything you worked so hard for especially given how little it is.”
“You're not going to get past this Hell In A Cell match, but I damn sure will. I'm going to destroy you,”
Mark stands up straight and glares at the lens. Delivering a last message to Lance Williams
“For the love of my family… I’M GOING TO FUCKING DESTROY YOU!!!”