Post by slappy on Apr 12, 2014 18:23:40 GMT -5
Susannah Frame, investigative reporter for KING5 news, was on hold with Everett city officials. She placed a call inquiring about a notice she found attached to Chase Landon's front door. She had arrived to yet again interview Chase but as she was walking to the house she saw something on the door. She read the notice and immediately called the city.
NOTICE
This building is condemned for occupancy by order of officials of the city of Everett, Washington. Violation of order subject to penalties.
Cynthia McManus, "Hello, this is Cynthia McManus. I've been told you have a question about a condemnation notice."
Frame, "Hello, Ms. McManus. My name is Susannah Frame and I..."
McManus, "I'm sorry to interrupt but did you say Susannah Frame?"
Frame, "Yes."
McManus, "I'm a big fan. I love the investigative reports you do."
Frame, "Oh, well thank you."
McManus, "You are so welcome Mrs. Frame. What can I do for you?"
Frame, "I was wondering if you could tell me about this condemnation notice I found. I was recently at this house and everything seemed fine to me."
McManus, "Sure thing. What is the ID number? It's located at the bottom of the page."
Frame, "31812625."
McManus, "Just one moment while this loads."
Frame, "Alright."
McManus, "Hmm. It seems I cannot access it. I'm sorry, Mrs. Frame. If you'll be as kind to wait a moment, I'll get my supervisor."
Frame, "Sure thing."
Susannah waited six minutes before she was taken off hold.
McManus, "Sorry for the wait, Mrs. Frame. My supervisor gave me access to the case but he wants to know if this is for a story you are doing."
Frame, "No. This is personal business."
McManus, "Alright. He said he wouldn't allow me to share the information if you were going to make a story out of it."
Frame, "As I said, this is personal. I won't be doing any reporting on it."
McManus, "Ok. Well, it seems it was condemned only a few days ago."
Frame, "Can you tell me why?"
McManus, "Yes."
One week ago
Chase is sitting in an interrogation room. Detective Bernard Faber enters the room.
Faber, "Chase, this is Detective Bernard Faber. Can you hear me?"
Chase could hear the Detective but couldn't respond.
Faber, "Chase, do you know why you are here?"
Again, Chase couldn't respond even though he could hear what was being said.
Faber, "You were on a flight from Los Angeles. You were going home. The flight attendants were quite worried about you. They said you were acting strange. The police were contacted about a passenger on the flight and when they found out it was you, they contacted me. I had traveled all the way from Massachusetts to meet with you. I was in your home town waiting for you but when the Seattle police were alerted about your behavior. I told them I would take care of this so they brought you down here to the Everett police station.
You've been avoiding us, Chase. We've been trying to get together and you always have an excuse as to why you can't come in. Work is what you say is keeping you from meeting with me but I know what you do for a living. You go all around for work yet you coincidentally are never in my area. Well, you have plenty of time now to meet with me."
Chase tried to speak but he couldn't. He could barely even move.
Faber, "We contacted your partner, Jayson Garrett, and he said you took a lot of pills. Were you trying to harm yourself? If you were, we can get you help. You just have to tell us."
Chase was shouting 'no' but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth.
Faber, "Well, you are safe now anyway. I want to ask you some questions about your disappearance years back but if you are unable to respond to my questions then it'd be useless to waste my time. Maybe you can't even hear what I'm saying now but we will speak about your disappearance. I'm in town for as long as it takes and I will travel with you to wherever it is you have to work next because you will answer my questions. There is no more postponing. I will be back in a moment and we will get started. Can I get you anything?"
Chase still didn't answer. Faber left the room and Chase remained seated.
Several minutes later Faber returned to an empty interrogation room. He glanced around the room and began to panic. He ran to the front desk asking if they had seen Chase Landon. The desk sergeant said Chase had just left. Faber burst through the main entrance doors and ran out onto the sidewalk.
He looked around and couldn't see Chase. He ran into the street where cars had to suddenly stop to ensure they did not hit him. He couldn't see Chase anywhere. He ran over to another officer and asked if he had seen Chase. The officer pointed towards another street. Faber thanked him and ran to that street.
Chase could not be found.
A police car pulled up next to Faber and asked if everything was alright. He said he was looking for someone who should not have left the station. The officer offered Faber, who was out of breath, a ride to wherever he wanted to go. Faber opened the passenger door and got in.
Faber, "He couldn't have gotten far. Just drive around. I'm sure we'll find him."
5 miles away
Chase arrived at his home, out of breath and looking around to make sure no one followed him. He raced inside, slamming the door shut and locking it. He went to the kitchen and to the fridge. He opened the fridge and the freezer. He opted only for a bottle of water, nothing to eat yet. He closed the doors and there stood his mother and father. Chase's jaw fell open and he started stammering and he spoke for the first time in many hours.
Chase, "Wh..What the hell is going on? How are you two here?" He didn't want to wait for a response. He dashed over to the counter where his bottles of medication were. He grabbed a bottle and took a few pills out.
Mom, "Honey, don't do that. Why are you doing that? Don't be afraid of us."
Chase, "How are you here? What do you want?"
Dad, "Don't ask your mother silly questions. We just wanted to let you know we've patched things up. I know what you think of me and I can forgive that but it saddens me that you made a scene at my funeral. There was no reason to lash out at your brother like that. You should apologize to him."
Chase, "I don't need your forgiveness. And no reason? He was a bastard to mom. Just like you were. I will not apologize for that. I've done nothing that requires an apology."
Mom, "Oh really? Have you apologized to Chase yet? I know he came to see you. He told me he did but then you injured yourself. Huh, I can see the scar. Does it hurt?"
Chase, "What do you mean he told you? How are you talking to him?"
Dad, "We all talk, Victor. That Jacques Fairbanks is a very nice man. He was here earlier but he had to leave. He wishes you well. We all do. We all wish you well. We just don't want you to suffer any more."
Chase, "Mr. Fairbanks was here? Why did he have to leave?"
Dad, "He's getting things ready."
Chase, "For what?"
Mom, "For your arrival."
Chase, "No. I'm not going."
Dad, "Do as your mother says, Victor. You will be coming with us. It's up to you if you come willingly or by force. So which is it?"
Chase, "I'm not coming with you."
Dad, "Force it is then."
His dad lunged at him but he was able to move out of the way. Chase ran down the hall and into his bedroom. He shut the door and wedged a chair under the doorknob.
"Who are you running from?" Mason Dixon asked.
Chase stumbled onto the chair he had just placed under the doorknob.
Dixon, "Can you hear me? I asked who are you running from?"
Chase, "My father."
Dixon, "Terrible man but it's ok. We're here."
Kyle Matthews stood next to Dixon. "Hello Chase."
Chase didn't respond, he just sat there stunned.
Kyle, "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude not to say hello back?"
Chase, "Hello."
Kyle, "That's better."
Dixon, "Chase, we are here to help."
Chase, "With what?"
Dixon, "Your problems."
Chase, "My problems?"
Dixon, "That's what I said. Well, our first order of business is SuperBrawl. Do you think you have a chance at winning?"
Chase, "Of course I do."
Kyle, "Well, you don't."
Dixon, "He's right. You don't. Maybe Jayson will carry you to victory but you won't be winning that match. Jayson defeated myself and that worthless Andrew Carter all by himself. How many matches have you won for yourself? Zero. So as I said, you won't be winning this one."
Chase, "Yes I will. I'll prove you wrong. I'll prove everybody wrong. I will win. I'll climb that ladder and retrieve those titles. Jayson and I will become the new tag team champions."
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Mak said as he and Cam Nitta appeared behind Chase.
Cam, "You haven't faced either of us yet you are so sure of victory. It's a shame you think that. I wouldn't want you getting your hopes up. Oh wait, I would like that. Get them up as high as you can so I can dash them."
Mak, "Oh Cam, be nice to the kid."
Cam, "Do I have to?"
Mak, "Ok, you don't but don't be too hard on him."
Cam, "Who do you think you are, Chase Landon? You've been here for two minutes and you think you can be a champion? The audacity. You know how hard Mak and I have worked? You know what we've accomplished? And you think you can beat us? Why even bother showing up? It'll save you the embarrassment."
Chase, "My second ever match in this company was a ladder match against one of the greats."
Cam, "Yeah and you lost. Is that supposed to intimidate me? Try harder next time."
Chase, "I've learned from my mistakes in that match. I know what I have to do to win. You may already be a legend but this ladder match will cement Jayson and myself as the future. We'll be in your shoes one day but we'll respect rather than demean, we'll encourage instead of ridicule."
"You should be demeaned and ridiculed." Slanted said as he appeared with Enchanted, his arm around her waist. She was trying to hold back her laughter.
Slanted, "You are a real piece of work, Chase Landon. You know, she's laughing at you. We all are. You should just give up. Stop trying to convince everyone how this time you'll win and this time you'll show everyone how good you are. You are only trying to convince yourself. No one believes you are good. No one believes you are worthy of a title shot. You've latched onto Jayson Garrett's coat tails and rode them to a title match. After SuperBrawl when Enchanted and I win those titles, you'll fade into obscurity because Garrett won't want you weighing him down anymore. You are worthless, Chase Landon. The sooner you realize it the better. Leave this wrestling thing to those of us that are good at it."
Chase, "You can say whatever you want but it will not deter me. Jayson may have helped me get here but I will show that I was worth the effort. I will make us the tag champions. I'll win that match and shut up all of you. You won't deride me after SuperBrawl. The ammo you may have now will disappear when I'm sitting atop that ladder holding the tag titles in my hand."
Jayson Garrett tapped Chase on the shoulder. Jayson, "Don't listen to them. You are good. You're better than good. Sure, I may win our matches and I may have, without any help from you, beat Dixon and Carter and I may win singles matches while you don't but...wait. What was I getting at? Oh yeah..." He tilted his head and a big smile came over his face. "You're coming with us."
Chase, "What?" He was taken aback.
Garrett, "Like your father said. You will be coming with us. It's up to you if you come willingly or by force. So which is it?"
Chase, "Neither!" His partner and opponents at SuperBrawl circled him. He ran at Garrett, knocking him over and to the door. He grabbed the chair he had wedged under the doorknob and started swinging it. He opened the door and ran to the bathroom.
Upon entering the bathroom, Chase was mindful of the glass that still remained on the floor from the mirror he punched. He sat on the edge of the tub and put his head into his hands.
Chase, "None of this can be real. None of it. My parents can't be here. They are dead. How would the people from WFWF get into my house and into my room like that? It's not real. None of it is real."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe you're wrong. You may never know, Victor."
Chase stood up, crunching glass under his feet, and looked around. "Who said that?"
The real Chase Landon appeared. Chase, "You don't remember my voice, Victor? I guess after all these years it's been quite easy for you to forget. But you won't be able to go on and not remember. You will remember because you are coming with us and you will be reminded daily of what you did to me."
Victor, "I told my parents, I told my fellow wrestlers and I'm telling you. I'm not going with you."
Chase, "It's the only option you have. You are coming with. It's just a matter of who you go with. If you come with me, I can promise I can try to forgive you. So please, Victor, come with me. Just accept that this is your fate. Come with me and it will all be over. What do you say?"
Outside of the house
Detective Faber arrived and thanked the officer for driving him around town looking for Chase. The officer asked if he should accompany the detective inside, Faber said it wouldn't be necessary and to wait outside in the car. He'd be out shortly with Chase Landon.
Faber knocked on the front door but there was no answer. He turned the handle but it wouldn't open. He banged on the door and demanded to be let inside to no avail. Faber motioned to the officer and asked him to hurry over. The officer jogged to the detective who asked him to kick the door in. The officer questioned the move but Faber ordered him to do it. The officer complied. Faber thanked him and told him to return to the car. He did and Faber went inside.
Faber called out to Chase, letting him know he was in the house but was not armed. He looked down and saw a trail of blood and began to follow it. He noticed the trail went in many different directions and tried to follow it to the source. He found nothing but a pool of blood and not a body to which the blood belonged like he thought he would find.
Faber again called out for Chase but received no answer. He opened a door, which turned out to be the bathroom, and saw the shattered glass scattered across the floor and on the sink. More blood but still no one that the blood may belong to.
He went into more rooms and found nothing. He opened a door that led to the basement. He flipped the light switch and slowly made his way down the stairs. As he was going down, he again called out Chase's name but received no answer. He glanced around the basement and saw no one but he made his way around just to make sure. As he was looking around he found a box labeled Keep Out. Faber didn't listen. He pulled out a pocket knife and cut through the tape.
He opened the box and pulled out some pictures and documents. Pictures of Chase Landon and Victor Danzmare as children and a letter written to Chase from Victor.
Dear Chase,
I'm sorry. I know you will never read these words or hear me say it but I am sorry.
I met Jacques's son online and I hung out with him. That's why I couldn't hang out with you those days. He brought me around his family and we bonded. I spent more time with them and Jacques was the best. It was like I found a father. You know how my dad is. The cold, awful, no good bastard. Jacques was so nice and caring. If I had a problem, he wouldn't brush it off like I deserved whatever it was.
I told him about how awful my dad is and he couldn't stand what dad did to mom and me. I told him about your family. How your family was great. How I wish I was part of your family. He told me I could be part of your family but we'd have to do some bad things. I was willing to do anything, anything to stop being a Danzmare. I wanted to be a Landon.
Well, he hatched the plan and we pulled it off. You and I disappeared. I came back and you didn't. Jacques helped me look like you so when I did go back I could be you. I was on my way to becoming a Landon. When I came back, it was the best. Your parents loved me more than I had thought they would. They had their son back, or so they thought. I wasn't going to tell them any different. As of my return, I was their son. I was you.
I don't have you in my life anymore but I had to sacrifice your friendship and you to be happy. I'm sorry if that sounds bad but it's the truth. You may be gone but Chase Landon will live forever. I will make sure of that.
Jacques is helping me get into wrestling just like you and I dreamed about. I've made the decision to not make up a name for myself. Since I'm Chase Landon now and no one knows differently, I'll be using it as my wrestling name. That way, you will get to wrestle as well even if it is only in spirit.
Thank you for your sacrifice, Chase. It has made me incredibly happy.
Love,
Victor
Detective Faber could not believe what he just read. He put the letter and pictures back in the box. He grabbed the box and ran up the stairs. He made his way out of the house and back to the car. The officer asked what the box was for. Faber said it was what was going to put Chase Landon, or as he's actually known Victor Danzmare away for the rest of his life. Faber then told the officer to call for assistance because of all the blood in the house and that Landon/Danzmare could not be far if all that blood was his.
Present Day
Frame, "That is absolutely insane."
McManus, "So you can tell why it was condemned. I can't imagine what the detective must be going through after seeing all of that. I may have shared too much and I'm sorry if I did."
Frame, "No, no. It's ok. I needed to hear all of it. Thank you."
McManus, "You're welcome, Mrs. Frame. I'm a bit shaken up by that but is there anything else I can do for you?"
Frame, "I understand. I'm a bit shaken up myself. Did the police ever find Chase?"
McManus, "It doesn't look like they have. They're still searching but they aren't hopeful."
Frame, "I can't believe it. Um, thank you. Try to have a nice day. Good bye."
McManus, "You're welcome. And after reading all of that, I don't know if I can. Good bye, Mrs. Frame."
Susannah bowed her head and she wiped away tears.
"Susannah! Susannah!"
Susannah looked around. "Hello?"
Chase appeared, covered in blood.
Frame, "What are you doing here? The police are looking for you."
Chase, "Help me."
NOTICE
This building is condemned for occupancy by order of officials of the city of Everett, Washington. Violation of order subject to penalties.
Cynthia McManus, "Hello, this is Cynthia McManus. I've been told you have a question about a condemnation notice."
Frame, "Hello, Ms. McManus. My name is Susannah Frame and I..."
McManus, "I'm sorry to interrupt but did you say Susannah Frame?"
Frame, "Yes."
McManus, "I'm a big fan. I love the investigative reports you do."
Frame, "Oh, well thank you."
McManus, "You are so welcome Mrs. Frame. What can I do for you?"
Frame, "I was wondering if you could tell me about this condemnation notice I found. I was recently at this house and everything seemed fine to me."
McManus, "Sure thing. What is the ID number? It's located at the bottom of the page."
Frame, "31812625."
McManus, "Just one moment while this loads."
Frame, "Alright."
McManus, "Hmm. It seems I cannot access it. I'm sorry, Mrs. Frame. If you'll be as kind to wait a moment, I'll get my supervisor."
Frame, "Sure thing."
Susannah waited six minutes before she was taken off hold.
McManus, "Sorry for the wait, Mrs. Frame. My supervisor gave me access to the case but he wants to know if this is for a story you are doing."
Frame, "No. This is personal business."
McManus, "Alright. He said he wouldn't allow me to share the information if you were going to make a story out of it."
Frame, "As I said, this is personal. I won't be doing any reporting on it."
McManus, "Ok. Well, it seems it was condemned only a few days ago."
Frame, "Can you tell me why?"
McManus, "Yes."
One week ago
Chase is sitting in an interrogation room. Detective Bernard Faber enters the room.
Faber, "Chase, this is Detective Bernard Faber. Can you hear me?"
Chase could hear the Detective but couldn't respond.
Faber, "Chase, do you know why you are here?"
Again, Chase couldn't respond even though he could hear what was being said.
Faber, "You were on a flight from Los Angeles. You were going home. The flight attendants were quite worried about you. They said you were acting strange. The police were contacted about a passenger on the flight and when they found out it was you, they contacted me. I had traveled all the way from Massachusetts to meet with you. I was in your home town waiting for you but when the Seattle police were alerted about your behavior. I told them I would take care of this so they brought you down here to the Everett police station.
You've been avoiding us, Chase. We've been trying to get together and you always have an excuse as to why you can't come in. Work is what you say is keeping you from meeting with me but I know what you do for a living. You go all around for work yet you coincidentally are never in my area. Well, you have plenty of time now to meet with me."
Chase tried to speak but he couldn't. He could barely even move.
Faber, "We contacted your partner, Jayson Garrett, and he said you took a lot of pills. Were you trying to harm yourself? If you were, we can get you help. You just have to tell us."
Chase was shouting 'no' but the words wouldn't come out of his mouth.
Faber, "Well, you are safe now anyway. I want to ask you some questions about your disappearance years back but if you are unable to respond to my questions then it'd be useless to waste my time. Maybe you can't even hear what I'm saying now but we will speak about your disappearance. I'm in town for as long as it takes and I will travel with you to wherever it is you have to work next because you will answer my questions. There is no more postponing. I will be back in a moment and we will get started. Can I get you anything?"
Chase still didn't answer. Faber left the room and Chase remained seated.
Several minutes later Faber returned to an empty interrogation room. He glanced around the room and began to panic. He ran to the front desk asking if they had seen Chase Landon. The desk sergeant said Chase had just left. Faber burst through the main entrance doors and ran out onto the sidewalk.
He looked around and couldn't see Chase. He ran into the street where cars had to suddenly stop to ensure they did not hit him. He couldn't see Chase anywhere. He ran over to another officer and asked if he had seen Chase. The officer pointed towards another street. Faber thanked him and ran to that street.
Chase could not be found.
A police car pulled up next to Faber and asked if everything was alright. He said he was looking for someone who should not have left the station. The officer offered Faber, who was out of breath, a ride to wherever he wanted to go. Faber opened the passenger door and got in.
Faber, "He couldn't have gotten far. Just drive around. I'm sure we'll find him."
5 miles away
Chase arrived at his home, out of breath and looking around to make sure no one followed him. He raced inside, slamming the door shut and locking it. He went to the kitchen and to the fridge. He opened the fridge and the freezer. He opted only for a bottle of water, nothing to eat yet. He closed the doors and there stood his mother and father. Chase's jaw fell open and he started stammering and he spoke for the first time in many hours.
Chase, "Wh..What the hell is going on? How are you two here?" He didn't want to wait for a response. He dashed over to the counter where his bottles of medication were. He grabbed a bottle and took a few pills out.
Mom, "Honey, don't do that. Why are you doing that? Don't be afraid of us."
Chase, "How are you here? What do you want?"
Dad, "Don't ask your mother silly questions. We just wanted to let you know we've patched things up. I know what you think of me and I can forgive that but it saddens me that you made a scene at my funeral. There was no reason to lash out at your brother like that. You should apologize to him."
Chase, "I don't need your forgiveness. And no reason? He was a bastard to mom. Just like you were. I will not apologize for that. I've done nothing that requires an apology."
Mom, "Oh really? Have you apologized to Chase yet? I know he came to see you. He told me he did but then you injured yourself. Huh, I can see the scar. Does it hurt?"
Chase, "What do you mean he told you? How are you talking to him?"
Dad, "We all talk, Victor. That Jacques Fairbanks is a very nice man. He was here earlier but he had to leave. He wishes you well. We all do. We all wish you well. We just don't want you to suffer any more."
Chase, "Mr. Fairbanks was here? Why did he have to leave?"
Dad, "He's getting things ready."
Chase, "For what?"
Mom, "For your arrival."
Chase, "No. I'm not going."
Dad, "Do as your mother says, Victor. You will be coming with us. It's up to you if you come willingly or by force. So which is it?"
Chase, "I'm not coming with you."
Dad, "Force it is then."
His dad lunged at him but he was able to move out of the way. Chase ran down the hall and into his bedroom. He shut the door and wedged a chair under the doorknob.
"Who are you running from?" Mason Dixon asked.
Chase stumbled onto the chair he had just placed under the doorknob.
Dixon, "Can you hear me? I asked who are you running from?"
Chase, "My father."
Dixon, "Terrible man but it's ok. We're here."
Kyle Matthews stood next to Dixon. "Hello Chase."
Chase didn't respond, he just sat there stunned.
Kyle, "Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude not to say hello back?"
Chase, "Hello."
Kyle, "That's better."
Dixon, "Chase, we are here to help."
Chase, "With what?"
Dixon, "Your problems."
Chase, "My problems?"
Dixon, "That's what I said. Well, our first order of business is SuperBrawl. Do you think you have a chance at winning?"
Chase, "Of course I do."
Kyle, "Well, you don't."
Dixon, "He's right. You don't. Maybe Jayson will carry you to victory but you won't be winning that match. Jayson defeated myself and that worthless Andrew Carter all by himself. How many matches have you won for yourself? Zero. So as I said, you won't be winning this one."
Chase, "Yes I will. I'll prove you wrong. I'll prove everybody wrong. I will win. I'll climb that ladder and retrieve those titles. Jayson and I will become the new tag team champions."
"Not if we have anything to say about it." Mak said as he and Cam Nitta appeared behind Chase.
Cam, "You haven't faced either of us yet you are so sure of victory. It's a shame you think that. I wouldn't want you getting your hopes up. Oh wait, I would like that. Get them up as high as you can so I can dash them."
Mak, "Oh Cam, be nice to the kid."
Cam, "Do I have to?"
Mak, "Ok, you don't but don't be too hard on him."
Cam, "Who do you think you are, Chase Landon? You've been here for two minutes and you think you can be a champion? The audacity. You know how hard Mak and I have worked? You know what we've accomplished? And you think you can beat us? Why even bother showing up? It'll save you the embarrassment."
Chase, "My second ever match in this company was a ladder match against one of the greats."
Cam, "Yeah and you lost. Is that supposed to intimidate me? Try harder next time."
Chase, "I've learned from my mistakes in that match. I know what I have to do to win. You may already be a legend but this ladder match will cement Jayson and myself as the future. We'll be in your shoes one day but we'll respect rather than demean, we'll encourage instead of ridicule."
"You should be demeaned and ridiculed." Slanted said as he appeared with Enchanted, his arm around her waist. She was trying to hold back her laughter.
Slanted, "You are a real piece of work, Chase Landon. You know, she's laughing at you. We all are. You should just give up. Stop trying to convince everyone how this time you'll win and this time you'll show everyone how good you are. You are only trying to convince yourself. No one believes you are good. No one believes you are worthy of a title shot. You've latched onto Jayson Garrett's coat tails and rode them to a title match. After SuperBrawl when Enchanted and I win those titles, you'll fade into obscurity because Garrett won't want you weighing him down anymore. You are worthless, Chase Landon. The sooner you realize it the better. Leave this wrestling thing to those of us that are good at it."
Chase, "You can say whatever you want but it will not deter me. Jayson may have helped me get here but I will show that I was worth the effort. I will make us the tag champions. I'll win that match and shut up all of you. You won't deride me after SuperBrawl. The ammo you may have now will disappear when I'm sitting atop that ladder holding the tag titles in my hand."
Jayson Garrett tapped Chase on the shoulder. Jayson, "Don't listen to them. You are good. You're better than good. Sure, I may win our matches and I may have, without any help from you, beat Dixon and Carter and I may win singles matches while you don't but...wait. What was I getting at? Oh yeah..." He tilted his head and a big smile came over his face. "You're coming with us."
Chase, "What?" He was taken aback.
Garrett, "Like your father said. You will be coming with us. It's up to you if you come willingly or by force. So which is it?"
Chase, "Neither!" His partner and opponents at SuperBrawl circled him. He ran at Garrett, knocking him over and to the door. He grabbed the chair he had wedged under the doorknob and started swinging it. He opened the door and ran to the bathroom.
Upon entering the bathroom, Chase was mindful of the glass that still remained on the floor from the mirror he punched. He sat on the edge of the tub and put his head into his hands.
Chase, "None of this can be real. None of it. My parents can't be here. They are dead. How would the people from WFWF get into my house and into my room like that? It's not real. None of it is real."
"Maybe you're right. Maybe you're wrong. You may never know, Victor."
Chase stood up, crunching glass under his feet, and looked around. "Who said that?"
The real Chase Landon appeared. Chase, "You don't remember my voice, Victor? I guess after all these years it's been quite easy for you to forget. But you won't be able to go on and not remember. You will remember because you are coming with us and you will be reminded daily of what you did to me."
Victor, "I told my parents, I told my fellow wrestlers and I'm telling you. I'm not going with you."
Chase, "It's the only option you have. You are coming with. It's just a matter of who you go with. If you come with me, I can promise I can try to forgive you. So please, Victor, come with me. Just accept that this is your fate. Come with me and it will all be over. What do you say?"
Outside of the house
Detective Faber arrived and thanked the officer for driving him around town looking for Chase. The officer asked if he should accompany the detective inside, Faber said it wouldn't be necessary and to wait outside in the car. He'd be out shortly with Chase Landon.
Faber knocked on the front door but there was no answer. He turned the handle but it wouldn't open. He banged on the door and demanded to be let inside to no avail. Faber motioned to the officer and asked him to hurry over. The officer jogged to the detective who asked him to kick the door in. The officer questioned the move but Faber ordered him to do it. The officer complied. Faber thanked him and told him to return to the car. He did and Faber went inside.
Faber called out to Chase, letting him know he was in the house but was not armed. He looked down and saw a trail of blood and began to follow it. He noticed the trail went in many different directions and tried to follow it to the source. He found nothing but a pool of blood and not a body to which the blood belonged like he thought he would find.
Faber again called out for Chase but received no answer. He opened a door, which turned out to be the bathroom, and saw the shattered glass scattered across the floor and on the sink. More blood but still no one that the blood may belong to.
He went into more rooms and found nothing. He opened a door that led to the basement. He flipped the light switch and slowly made his way down the stairs. As he was going down, he again called out Chase's name but received no answer. He glanced around the basement and saw no one but he made his way around just to make sure. As he was looking around he found a box labeled Keep Out. Faber didn't listen. He pulled out a pocket knife and cut through the tape.
He opened the box and pulled out some pictures and documents. Pictures of Chase Landon and Victor Danzmare as children and a letter written to Chase from Victor.
Dear Chase,
I'm sorry. I know you will never read these words or hear me say it but I am sorry.
I met Jacques's son online and I hung out with him. That's why I couldn't hang out with you those days. He brought me around his family and we bonded. I spent more time with them and Jacques was the best. It was like I found a father. You know how my dad is. The cold, awful, no good bastard. Jacques was so nice and caring. If I had a problem, he wouldn't brush it off like I deserved whatever it was.
I told him about how awful my dad is and he couldn't stand what dad did to mom and me. I told him about your family. How your family was great. How I wish I was part of your family. He told me I could be part of your family but we'd have to do some bad things. I was willing to do anything, anything to stop being a Danzmare. I wanted to be a Landon.
Well, he hatched the plan and we pulled it off. You and I disappeared. I came back and you didn't. Jacques helped me look like you so when I did go back I could be you. I was on my way to becoming a Landon. When I came back, it was the best. Your parents loved me more than I had thought they would. They had their son back, or so they thought. I wasn't going to tell them any different. As of my return, I was their son. I was you.
I don't have you in my life anymore but I had to sacrifice your friendship and you to be happy. I'm sorry if that sounds bad but it's the truth. You may be gone but Chase Landon will live forever. I will make sure of that.
Jacques is helping me get into wrestling just like you and I dreamed about. I've made the decision to not make up a name for myself. Since I'm Chase Landon now and no one knows differently, I'll be using it as my wrestling name. That way, you will get to wrestle as well even if it is only in spirit.
Thank you for your sacrifice, Chase. It has made me incredibly happy.
Love,
Victor
Detective Faber could not believe what he just read. He put the letter and pictures back in the box. He grabbed the box and ran up the stairs. He made his way out of the house and back to the car. The officer asked what the box was for. Faber said it was what was going to put Chase Landon, or as he's actually known Victor Danzmare away for the rest of his life. Faber then told the officer to call for assistance because of all the blood in the house and that Landon/Danzmare could not be far if all that blood was his.
Present Day
Frame, "That is absolutely insane."
McManus, "So you can tell why it was condemned. I can't imagine what the detective must be going through after seeing all of that. I may have shared too much and I'm sorry if I did."
Frame, "No, no. It's ok. I needed to hear all of it. Thank you."
McManus, "You're welcome, Mrs. Frame. I'm a bit shaken up by that but is there anything else I can do for you?"
Frame, "I understand. I'm a bit shaken up myself. Did the police ever find Chase?"
McManus, "It doesn't look like they have. They're still searching but they aren't hopeful."
Frame, "I can't believe it. Um, thank you. Try to have a nice day. Good bye."
McManus, "You're welcome. And after reading all of that, I don't know if I can. Good bye, Mrs. Frame."
Susannah bowed her head and she wiped away tears.
"Susannah! Susannah!"
Susannah looked around. "Hello?"
Chase appeared, covered in blood.
Frame, "What are you doing here? The police are looking for you."
Chase, "Help me."
