Post by Rated R on Sept 1, 2022 12:15:31 GMT -5
Trace Demon Presents
Enemies At The Gate
“You know in all the years that I’ve known, or knew I suppose I should say, Trace Demon I’ve heard plenty of names thrown around to describe him, some kind but most… well, considerably less so. In all that time though there was one word I never really associated with him, at least not until towards the ends. Looking back I think my view on that was tainted because of how I feel about Trace, about my personal connection to him, you never want to think of someone close to you as being anything other than the best version of themself, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth. The word I’m talking about is a simple one.
Irredeemable.
Trace Demon has done an immeasurable amount of harm over the years to an unimaginable number of people, but I always wanted to believe that it was a means to an end, that he did it to build a life for his family, for the people he cared about. But that simply isn’t true, because the truth is Trace Demon does what Trace Demon wants, and if you’re on the right side of that then good for you, but if you’re not then you can’t imagine the potential pain heading your way. Trace Demon is not a good person, he is not a good father, a good husband, a good friend or a good sibling, because the truth is that he would give it all away if it was getting in the way of something that he wanted, and he’d find a reason that in his own mind would make it all make sense.
It’s odd then, isn’t it, that we think of Trace as some sort of gripping figure, somebody entertaining, somebody who people support or at least follow because of the terrible things he does. He isn’t a hero, I don’t think anybody would call him that, but what does it make of you or me that we can’t wait to see what Trace Demon will do next when the last thing he did was throw a fireball in the face of an innocent woman?
Ask yourself, why would you support somebody like that? Why would I? I hope you can think of a better answer than me, because I’ve been coming up empty for a long time now.
I wish that I could say that the worst had happened, that there is no possible way that he can stoop any lower, but then I’d be lying, because the things that are to come in the coming months… well, I’m sure you’ll soon begin to question just how long that you can follow a man like Trace Demon before realising that he truly is irredeemable. The saddest part is though by the time you realise that it might be too late.
It’s certainly too late for him.”
< *** >
Then
Weeks Ago
02:32
The pieces are all in place, and we’re nearing show time. I hear Shuggy won’t be in attendance for the big moment, which is such a shame, but Eddie tells me he’s doing an interview of his own from home, that he’s going to be watching the show with his and Poppy’s little girl and he’s gonna do a little video promo. The whole thing just gets better and better.
02:24
Do you ever wonder whether you’ve gone mad, whether you’re taking something too far? No, me neither.
01:58
Driver: Just pulling in now Mr. Demon.
Trace Demon: Do another lap round the block.
Driver: Excuse me Mr. Demon? You sure, you not meant to be out there soon?
Trace Demon: Just do another lap!
01:23
Phone rings, send it to voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Where you at Trace? You’re meant to be on air in five minutes and nobody has seen you. Come on, give your boy Eddie a call back would ya, I got questions I can’t answer unless you let me know what’s going on.
01:17
Driver: Mr. Demon, you want me to pull in yet?
Trace Demon: Just keep driving until I tell you to stop.
Driver: Sir if you don’t mind me asking-
Trace Demon: I do. Keep driving.
01:01
2 new voicemails.
1st new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Right they’ve pushed back the interview to after the next match, so now would be a wicked good time to call your pal Eddie and let him know when you’re getting here.
2nd new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: You are getting here, right?
00:49
You ever wonder, if God is real how you’ll be judged when your time is up? Whether the very worst things you’ve done will be just that little bit too far for the all-forgiving God to forgive, or is he just a smug smite-loving b*****d? Yeah, me neither.
00:35
1 new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Look man, they’ve said they can push the interview back a bit longer but you need to give me something. Call, text, email, snail mail, carrier pigeon, y’know we’ve not really spoke about your preferred method of communication so if you wanna fill a golden chalice with blood and do some ritual and speak to me that way, well whatever works best y’know. Just give me something.
00:29
One ring, two rings, thr-
Eddie Myers: Trace? That’s you right? Thank god mate, I thought you’d vanished like, well, half the people who were meant to be on this tour. Look, spoken to the producers, if you get here in the next ten then we can still get your interview in before the last match and-
Trace Demon: The main event.
Eddie Myers: Yeah, right, before the main event and -
Trace Demon: No, I want it, the main event. I’m going on last.
Eddie Myers: I don’t think that’s an option mate.
Trace Demon: Good thing I’m not giving you options, I’m telling you what’s going to happen. I get the closing segment, or I don’t show up at all. You go ask them if they’ve got something to fill the time if I don’t show.
Eddie Myers: Trace I-
End of call.
00:17
1 new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: You’re on Trace, if you get here in time then you can go on last. Hope you’re proud of yourself because they are not mighty pleased with me right now I’ll tell you that. Reminds me of that time in Sunday school when the nun caught me with my hand in-
Let’s cut that right there shall we.
Trace Demon: Now.
Driver: Excuse me sir?
Trace Demon: I’m ready, let’s head in.
Driver: Thank god for that, fuel’s expensive right now.
I glance down at the bottle sat beside me.
Trace Demon: You’re not wrong.
00:13
We pull up in the loading bay of whatever s**t tip of a venue the once mighty WFWF have gotten their hands on this time. There’s a camera crew watching and that woman who’s always hustling the ring crew is stood with a microphone. It’s nice to know that your attempts to hold the show hostage are being noticed, you know what I mean?
00:11
Eddie’s waiting in the corridor, his face looking extremely punchable as per usual. He’s fidgeting so much that he’s almost hopping from one foot to the other, clearly the effect of too much caffeine on such an incapable man.
Eddie Myers: You really like the drama don’t you man, had me feeling a little hot under the collar I’m not gonna lie, but don’t you worry I got you sorted, got you the headline slot just how you like it.
I walk right past him, and he walks after me, still talking the entire time. This has nothing to do with Eddie, I knew this new WFWF regime wouldn’t have anything lined up to replace me if I didn’t show. They’ve proven that over the past two shows, whenever somebody doesn’t get a flight or makes some poor excuse they just brush it off with a line or two and cut the show shorter. It’s rookie s**t, but it works for me tonight.
Eddie Myers: So look Poppy’s just headed out there so she’s gonna run a little recap of what happened with DGX and Shuggy then call you out. That work for you?
We’ve reached the curtain that separates people like me from the ungrateful masses that come to watch this s**t show. I could burst out there, just do what I’m here to do, but I can’t help myself, I’m a showman, if you’re going to do something you’ve got to make it memorable, otherwise what’s the point?
Eddie Myers: You alright man, anything I can help with?
I glance at him and shake my head in disbelief, after a few years away you forget about the assortment of misfits and freaks that the WFWF seems to pull into its orbit. A few moments later and I hear my music hit, and I ready myself to step out through the curtain.
Eddie Myers: You want me to take your bottle or something?
Trace Demon: I’m taking it out with me, feeling parched.
00:07
I’ve never been the type of person to ignore when somebody is good at their job, and while that kind of talent is in short supply around here right now I’ll admit, Poppy is good at her job. That’s why it’s such a shame that she’s such a poor judge of character. Still, I suppose we’ve all lowered our standards once in a while, Poppy must’ve just thrown hers out the window and got unlucky by letting the wee Scot knock her up.
Trace Demon: Tell me Poppy, do you respect me?
Still, just because you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time doesn’t mean you aren’t there, and so Poppy has found herself caught up in something she couldn’t possibly have thought she would when she made such poor life decisions.
00:02
Poppy Yates:As a competitor, yes, I do, but...
Trace Demon: Do you know who doesn’t respect me Poppy? Your best friend Shuggy. See that wee Scot seems to have gotten it into his head that he’s more important than he really is, that he doesn’t need to show respect to the people that paved the way for the likes of him, namely me. And the more he disrespects me without being put in his place the more other people are going to think that’s acceptable, do you think that’s acceptable?
I shouldn’t judge, I’ve made plenty of bad decisions of my own, spent years barely knowing what was real and what wasn’t because I was too drugged up to know the difference. Even now, at this very moment, I don’t know whether returning to this hovel was a good idea or not. I spend every moment I’m here bubbling with rage over the lack of respect I’m shown, having to waste breath talking to the likes of Eddie Myers, or to the fans, or dealing with people like Shuggy. I spend my time questioning what it was about this business I ever found enjoyment in.
Poppy Yates: I…
Trace Demon: Of course it isn’t, so something needs to be done, a message needs to be sent. Poppy, do you remember earlier tonight I said that me shoving Shuggy was part of what he deserved?
Poppy Yates: I do y...
Trace Demon: I said part because it wasn’t close to being everything. You see Poppy, Shuggy needs to learn his lesson, in fact all of you need to learn the lesson, and it’s a simple lesson to learn. You do not disrespect Trace Demon. Poppy, did you know that I personally requested to be on your little interview show tonight? Don’t worry Pops, I’m not asking you to send Shuggy a message.
00:01
But then, as I unscrew the lid off of the bottle and feel the vile bitter taste of the ethanol solution I got from a very shady former acquaintance fill my mouth, I feel a familiar chill run over me. As I flick the contraption in my jacket sleeve and see the flame flicker out I feel a buzz that I’ll never get used to. As I spit the ethanol out and watch it ignite, engulfing Poppy’s face in a cacophony of pain and burnt skin, I can’t help but remember that this is where I belong. And as her screams fill my ears like the most beautiful music I could ever imagine and the smell of charred flesh fills my senses I know that right now…
00:00
Trace Demon: You are the message.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
< *** >
Then
Weeks Ago
Plenty of things have changed over the past few years and between the coma and the recluse from society bit I had going on for a while I can’t say I’ve paid all that much attention. The one thing that hasn’t changed however is that if you’re rich enough and white enough you can bet that you're going to get favourable treatment from the police.
Given what happened you’d think I’d have been thrown in one of the holding cells with the rest of the common folk, but money talks so instead I get to wait inside a nice cosy little holding office, feet propped up on the table, eyes closed, savouring the memory of Poppy’s scream, of the horrified look in the faces of the crowd, the fury of all those nobodies from the back trying to get their hands on me as I was ever so kindly and safely escorted out of the building. And yes Alex Sean, I’m including you on that list of nobodies, makes a lot of sense they stuck you in section C now given you’ve had the most depressing return imaginable.
Me however, well three shows into the WFWF’s great big return and there’s not one person in or out of this company that won’t be talking about Trace Demon. All publicity is good publicity baby, and I’ve got a damn good publicist on my payroll. I also have a moderately passable lawyer in my contacts who happens to work for the WFWF legal department, one who also is well aware of the clause in my contract that states the WFWF accepts all culpability for any actions that occur inside a WFWF ring as long as it involves a contracted WFWF employee. Poppy Yates is employed and insured by the WFWF so, some legal mumbo jumbo later and I’m pretty sure I’ll be out of here any second-
Cop: You’re free to go.
Now.
Trace Demon: So soon officer, I was just getting comfortable. Oh well.
He scowls and I get the feeling he isn’t much of a fan. I hop up out of my seat, approaching the cop. He bares a glaring resemblance to Erik Estrada, which is not a reference I thought I’d be taking in 2022 but here we are.
Trace Demon: There a problem officer?
He says nothing, but makes a point of not making eye contact as he stands holding the door open for me to pass.
Trace Demon: Oh come, I can tell you’ve got something to get off your chest. Confession is good for the soul.
Officer Ponch: Just ain’t got time for no man who puts their hands on a lady.
Trace Demon: Well that’s sexist officer, equality is all the rage now, and if you don’t recognise that then I’m afraid you just aren’t woke enough.
His scowl doesn’t fade and it’s a shame that I have to end my day being disappointed in the NYPD’s lack of belief in equality, but that’s the world we live in nowadays. You just can’t throw a fireball in a woman’s face without the incels coming out to b***h about it. Thankfully I don’t have to spend any more time with this sexist as I walk past him and march triumphantly through the police station and right out the front door.
I’m expecting to find my ride waiting for me outside, and while I do find a white man with bad dress sense and an insufferable need to be useful there waiting for me it isn’t the same white man with bad dress sense and insufferable need to be useful that I was expecting.
Trace Demon: Where’s Anders? I told him to pick me up.
Eddie Myers: Oh, he was kinda busy.
I look at him, my eyes piercing into his twitchy little soul.
Eddie Myers: Okay, he said he didn’t want to be anywhere near you and since I’m your talent representative it kinda fell on me to come and get you.
Trace Demon: I’d rather walk back to the hotel.
Eddie Myers: Well, here’s the thing, the boss man was a little bit concerned that if you were wandering the streets after what you did that somebody might recognise you and maybe form some kind of angry mob.
Always with the angry mobs nowadays.
Trace Demon: Fine, you can drive me back to the hotel.
Eddie Myers: Well, about that, Mr. Abadi also thought that if certain members of the roster found out where you were staying that there might be some kind of altercation-
Trace Demon: Which I would win.
Eddie Myers: -and that it would look extremely bad for the WFWF and given that the whole Poppy Yates business is probably gonna bring some pretty rough publicity that we should avoid anything else.
Trace Demon: So?
Eddie Myers: So I’ve been told to take you straight to the airport for an early flight, all paid for obviously.
What’s the world come to where you can’t throw one tiny fireball into a woman’s face without having to get whisked away to the airport to escape the city? Still, I’m nothing if not a company man and I would hate to do anything that would look bad for the WFWF so I accept defeat and let Eddie drive me to the airport.
I regret it almost the moment we’re on the road, because if there’s one thing I’m swiftly learning about Eddie Myers it’s that he does not know how to shut up.
Eddie Myers: So that was pretty intense tonight eh? They did warn me, they said taking Trace Demon on was a risky play, unpredictable they called you, among other things, but I thought no, Trace Demon’s a star, and if I’m the guy handling him, so to speak, then that’d mean a big payday.
Trace Demon: What’re you talking about.
Eddie Myers: What? You thought it was just blind luck that ol’ Eddie here was assigned to bring you back into the fold. No man, I volunteered. Nobody wanted ya, y’know? But I’ve watched wrestling for years, and I know that controversy creates cash, and who brings more controversy than Trace Demon?
I’m surprised at the thought that maybe Eddie isn’t as stupid as he seems. He’s certainly annoying, and I want nothing more than to rip his tongue out so I don’t have to hear him speak, but maybe there might be some use for him after all.
Trace Demon: So that’s why you do… whatever job it is you do, for the money?
Eddie Myers: I mean money, success, that’s what life’s all about right? The big house, the nice cars, the girls, I get the whole saying that money can’t buy you happiness, but it can certainly buy you a whole lot of stuff and in my experience, stuff can bring you plenty of happiness, and if I do a good job being the in-between man for the WFWF and you, well not only is that good money but I figure I’m line for some bonuses, right?
Trace Demon: So you don’t care about what I did to Poppy Yates, that’s not putting you off working with me?
Eddie Myers: Man you’re Trace Demon, I get that you’re gonna do some crazy s**t sometimes, but I don’t got to agree with it to make money off of it. That’s what capitalism is all about. And look, I get the feeling that we maybe didn’t get off on the right foot, y’know, not everyone reacts well to people climbing through their window I guess, but if you’ll work with me, I’ll make us both a lot of money.
Trace Demon: I already have more than enough money.
Eddie Myers: Well you name it, you tell me what you want, what you need more than anything, and we’ll make it happen. You work with me, and I’ll work with you, so what’ll it be, what do you need from your pal Eddie?
Trace Demon: Legacy.
He glances at me from behind the wheel of his s****y rental car, confused.
Trace Demon: I didn’t come back for the money, or the love of the business, I came back because there’s too many people who think it’s okay to disrespect me, and I can’t have that. I came back to cement my legacy, to ensure that there is no future in which you can talk about the WFWF without talking about Trace Demon. That’s the only thing I’m interested in, don’t matter to me who gets caught in the crossfire on the way to it.
Eddie Myers: Legacy, huh? Never thought much about that, but if that’s your thing then that’s what we’ll do. You get your legacy, I make my money, everyone wins. We got ourself a deal?
It’s rare to find someone so stupid that they offer themselves up to a deal with the devil, but if Eddie Myers is willing to go all in just for the sake of making money then he might be useful.
Trace Demon: You’ve got yourself a deal, just know that I’m not about to let anything get in my way. I’m going to cement my legacy…
…or I’m going to die trying.
< *** >
Then
Two Months Ago
It should come as little surprise that I have no love for hospitals. There are few good things that ever happen in such a sterile, haunting environment, and none of them have ever happened to me. Well, there was the birth of my daughter, but then even that’s a little bit debatable sometimes. Oh don’t judge me until you get puked and s**t on at the same time alright, there’s plenty of people that’ll pay for that kind of s**t, like Obo for instance, but I’m not one of them.
And then there was my last trip to the hospital, you know, that classic time I got my head bashed in by a barbed wire bat and was in a coma for six months? And you know the worst part about all that? It happened in America, so I had to pay a not so small fortune for people to keep me alive when they didn’t even ask if that’s what I wanted in the first place. Land of the free and home of the brave my Canadian ass.
That’s why I go private.
Trace Demon: So are you gonna sign this thing so I can get the f**k out of here?
Doc Brown has been my personal doctor for years. He keeps telling me that’s not his real name but for the amount I pay him he can get it legally changed or stop complaining about it. Right now he doesn’t look very amused, which is nothing new.
Turns out when you have such a severe injury people won’t just take your word for it when you say that you’re good, they make you go get all these tests and s**t to prove it. So for the past week I’ve been in and out of hospitals, Doc Brown’s office and seeing all sorts of other specialists all for the sake of getting a box ticked and a signature to say I can get back in the ring.
Doc Brown: Trace, we spoke about this… what, two years ago now? About the long-lasting repercussions of such a serious injury? You remember that, yes?
Trace Demon: Doc, I’ve not got any memory loss if that’s what you're worried about. I remember you saying a load of pretty depressing s**t but it’s been two years and I’m perfectly fine. Fit as a f*****g fiddle.
Doc Brown: Would you mind not swearing so much, there are other doctors and patients in the practice it isn’t just us.
Trace Demon: Wait, these offices aren’t sound proof?
He shakes his head.
Trace Demon: Wow, so me and your secretary the last time I was here…
He nods his head.
Trace Demon: I apologise for that.
In my defence surely she should’ve known better?
Doc Brown: Look, Trace, I’ve gone over all your test results and while you are for the most part physically fine-
Trace Demon: That sounds good.
Doc Brown: We need to talk about your brain.
Trace Demon: That sounds less good.
Doc Brown: I warned you when you first came out of your coma that there would likely be a lasting impact to the injuries you suffered. During the… assault, I suppose is the best way to describe it, you suffered severe damage to your skull as well as swelling and fluid on the brain. While the brain is a miraculous thing and can heal itself of many terrible injuries there are some things that leave lasting scars.
Trace Demon: I’ve already heard this speech Doc.
Doc Brown:And yet here you are, trying to get medically cleared to return to the same sport that put you in that situation in the first place.
Trace Demon: You’re signing off my physical well being Doc, not my mental well being.
Let’s be honest here, if the WFWF was concerned with peoples mental health then the majority of the roster wouldn’t even be allowed near a wrestling ring.
Doc Brown: What I’m trying to say is that while your injuries have healed there is still clear scarring on your brain due to the attack you suffered. And while this wouldn’t cause me any immediate concerns in a normal patient it is a major red flag for anybody who wants to be involved in any kind of contact sport or other heavily physical activity where the head is at risk.
Trace Demon: I mean I don’t intend to get my head caved in again if that’s what you’re worrying about.
Didn’t exactly plan on it the first time either.
Doc Brown: You’re not listening to me, due to your history any serious impact to the head has the possibility of exasperating the harm already done.
Trace Demon: What are the odds?
Doc Brown: The brain is such a complex creation that I couldn’t possibly predict that, it could be as little as one in a million, it could be as much as ninety-nine percent, but in my medical opinion which might I add you value enough to pay me for, the risk you run getting back into professional wrestling is enormous. We are talking memory loss, potential paralysis, even brain death.
Well s**t, that’s not what you want to hear.
Doc Brown: I’m not clearing you, and you’d be hard pressed to find any doctor in the country with any sense who would. My advice to you is to let this go and-
I don’t hear anything after that, because what he’s talking about it quitting. It’s retiring with the last true image of me being laid out in the middle of the ring, a mess of blood, flesh and skull fragments. Is that my legacy? A decade of pain and success and what? Now just nothing? I sit at home and I let the next generation move on up? That’s what he wants me to do?
Doc Brown: Did you hear what I said Trace?
Trace Demon: Sign the paper.
Doc Brown: Excuse me?
Trace Demon: Doc, we both know that this wouldn’t be the first… shall we say dishonest thing you’ve done for me? I’m not stupid, I keep records, meetings, deals, the lot, you think the medical board won’t want to investigate you letting me into a patients room to threaten them? Or that you won’t get caught up in the scandal when I let it out the bag that your partner in this place runs a steroid ring? Hell, you think I don’t pull my funding from you if you don’t do what I want? Sign the papers and let’s just keep going on with our lives.
Doc Brown: If I sign that paper your life will be considerably shorter than you’re planning on. Is it worth it?
I have a lot of things going for me in my life, and that isn’t me trying to boast, it’s just a fact. I have enough money that I don’t need to do this anymore, a beautiful daughter, the freedom to do whatever I want, but does any of that matter if I’m in the ground with no real legacy? People will remember the WFWF, and they’ll remember me, but I won’t have that memory tarnished by my end being at Tyler Draven’s feet.
Trace Demon: We’re all gonna die someday Doc, just sign the damn papers, alright?
He does, because what choice does he have. He’s making the logical decision to put his own life and comfort ahead of mine, and I won’t blame him for that because it’s the exact same thing I’d do. We all do what we have to do to survive and thrive, anyone stupid enough not to be on board with that are the type of people sitting on the internet b******g and moaning about the people that are.
Doc Brown: If you start noticing anything unusual about your behaviour, hallucinations, aggressive behaviour, memory loss, anything like that, then I need you to come in for further tests, understand?
Trace Demon: I’m gonna be honest with you Doc, everything you’ve just listed, it’s all just a normal week for me.
He slides the papers across to me and I check them over. All signed off, I’m officially medically cleared to compete inside the WFWF ring again.
Trace Demon: Nice doing business with you again Doc.
Doc Brown: Are you really going to risk your life for the sake of stepping foot back inside a wrestling ring of all things?
Trace Demon: Oh come on, don’t you know who you’re talking to? I’m now Shawn Malakai Doc, I’m not some dead man walking. I’m Trace Demon, I’m f*****g invincible.
Doc Brown: If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this job it’s that death catches up to everyone eventually Mr. Demon, and with a brain like yours I fear that it is going to be sooner rather than later.
Trace Demon: Let it try.
< *** >
Now
Lila Sleater: You know I actually liked Poppy.
I don’t usually do pillow talk, even with women that I actually like, and I most definitely do not like Lila Sleater. F**k, when you really look into it the only reason I had my head caved in and my brains permanently f****d up was because she got inside Tyler Draven’s head, and who knows where else. Yet here she is, getting dressed at 2am in my bedroom and not for the first time.
Trace Demon: It’s not like she’s dead you know.
Lila Sleater: Oh sorry, did you somehow miss the fact that you threw a fireball into the face of a woman who works on national television.
Trace Demon: I’d hardly call it national anymore, let’s be honest.
She sighs, and I can tell that she hates herself for doing this even more than I do. Over two years back she thought she’d sorted her life out, that all her demons were out of the bottle, and then she lost someone close to her and she started hitting the bottom of one. Somehow that led her to me, and whatever the f**k this is.
Lila Sleater: You know I actually hired her, back before everything happened, I’m the person who brought Poppy Yates into the WFWF.
Trace Demon: Are you trying to make me feel guilty because you’re doing a s**t job of it.
My excuse? Take your pick. Hate f*****g is fantastic, I like the power trip, I want to punish myself in some way or form, there’s a dozen more reasons where they came from.
Lila Sleater: I’m not stupid enough to think you’re even capable of experiencing guilt Trace, or most basic human emotions if I’m honest. I’m just saying that I liked Poppy, and that I hate you for what you did to her.
And yet she hates herself more for still coming over here, even if she did manage to hold off for a month to make herself feel better about it.
Trace Demon: And I hate that you got my head bashed in, yet here we are. Funny how the world works.
Lila Sleater: You deserved it, Poppy didn’t.
It’s a funny concept, that only people who deserve it deserve bad things to happen to them, because who gets to decide that? You? Do you think you’re God, or are you just a judgmental piece of s**t?
Trace Demon: It’s called collateral damage, think you should probably be used to hearing that in America by now, should be your slogan.
Should write that down, I could make another T-shirt. Sales were sky-high on the last one, oddly all from Canada and overseas.
Lila Sleater: Have you ever considered not being a sociopath?
Trace Demon: I think you’ll find sociopathy is a recognised mental health condition so what you’re actually doing by asking that is being ableist.
Lila Sleater: Why am I doing this to myself?
Trace Demon: Because you’re lonely and have nowhere else to go.
She glares at me and I shrug because I’m not wrong. I sit up at the edge of the bed, pushing my sweat-soaked hair back. It’d probably slick up real nice right now.
Lila Sleater: You’re one to talk about being alone. Don’t exactly see people flocking to be close to you. Doesn’t it bother you that you’re public enemy number one?
Trace Demon: Why should I care who likes me and who hates me? I don’t care about people Lila, their tools, what happens to them doesn’t matter, what happens to people I don’t care about doesn’t effect me in any way. People destroy the planet and vote in f*****g Nazi’s, you can’t trust people.
Lila Sleater: You’re still as alone as me Trace.
Trace Demon: There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely, such as the fact that I don’t care.
Lila Sleater: Even if you did you wouldn’t have a choice in it Trace, people don’t like being around you and it isn’t even because of your personality or how self-absorbed you are, it’s because everyone who knows you knows that sooner or later being close to you means getting hurt, physically, mentally, emotionally, and usually it’s because of some purposeful decision you’ve made to advance your own twisted agenda.
Trace Demon: Again, you directly caused me to get my brains splattered inside a wrestling ring.
Lila Sleater: It’s called a public service, I should’ve got a f*****g medal.
I laugh at the thought as she pulls on her jeans.
Lila Sleater: Oh you think that’s funny? Answer me this Trace, how many people do you think would care if you were gone? More importantly, how many people would jump at the chance to make that a reality? Because I promise you the numbers on the latter get higher every single time you pull a stunt like you did to Poppy.
I leap out of bed, anger bubbling up. I realise how damn easy it would be for Lila Sleater to just suddenly not exist, right here, right now, and nobody would ever know.
Trace Demon: A stunt? You think that was a stunt? No, that was important, that was something that needed to happen so that Shuggy and everyone else could-
Lila Sleater: Learn their lesson? I’ve heard the speech Trace, time and time again. We all have, because all you ever do is repeat yourself, over and over and over, all about how disrespected you are, about how people have to learn, it’s the same old s**t every single time and guess what? You’ll never change, because you’re too damn self absorbed to realise that nobody cares about what you think the same way you care about what everybody else thinks.
We stare at each other, just for a moment, and then she grabs her shoes and heads for the door.
Lila Sleater: Oh and next time you want to argue with someone put your f*****g c**k away.
Trace Demon: You wouldn’t ask Jimi Hendrix to put away his f*****g guitar!
She storms out the bedroom door and downstairs and I follow into the hallway, forgetting that sound travels. As the front door slams shut I turn to see Kady, the live-in nanny I hired to look after my little girl, staring at me with shock from her now-open bedroom door.
Trace Demon: Oh f**k off!
I storm back into the bedroom and slam the door shut, realising that I’ll need to get dressed and go downstairs to set the alarm system. As I bend down to pick up my boxers something drips onto the carpet at my feet. A familiar red viscous liquid I’m all too familiar with. I wipe the blood from my nose and quickly realise that it isn’t stopping.
That can’t be good.
< *** >
There’s been a lot of talk the past few weeks, and the focus seems to be on making me out to be the bad guy in this whole situation. That somehow it was my fault that Poppy ended up in the hospital feeling a little hot under the collar, what can I say, I have that effect on people. So I’m here to set the record straight, was I the person who threw a fireball in the face of Poppy Yates? Sure, of course, I’m not going to lie about it, am I? But was I responsible for that? Is it my fault that Poppy ended up screaming in agony? No, it’s not, there are plenty of people to blame for the state that Poppy Yates ended up in, and I’m not one of them.
You however are. All you snivelling little rats who call yourselves fans, all the people in the back who think they know how to run a wrestling company, all the press and wannabe journalists who claim to have the latest scoop, and yes, even the rest of the roster. You walk around acting like you care about this company, that wrestling means something to you, but when you’re faced with a living legend like Trace Demon what do you do? You show nothing but disrespect for a man who has done everything there is in this business. How do you justify that? How do you call yourself a wrestling fan when you refuse to acknowledge the very basic detail that I am the most important professional wrestler in this business?
And then there’s the person who is most at fault, the person who represents all you common people, Shuggy. See Shuggy makes out that he’s all angry and filled with a white hot rage for what happened to Poppy, but that’s simply because he can’t accept that he’s responsible for it. Shuggy, you disrespected me at the press conference, then you disrespected me again on the very first night of the new WFWF, but I could’ve overlooked all that as the folly of youth, not to mention your clear stupidity. But no, then you had to get involved in my business, in my first match back no less. You brought that band of drunks with you knowing full well what they would do, how they like so many before them would try to make themselves famous. You did that without so much as considering the impact that it would have on me, you did that without even caring about how it would quite clearly spoil my moment. Either that, or you did the whole thing on purpose.
Not sure which idea p****s me off more, but the end result is the same, you’ve disrespected me, you cost me a clear victory over DGX, and therefore retribution needed to be taken. And sure, I could’ve taken it out on you, it would’ve been easy, but then would you really have learned your lesson? Would the world have learned it’s lesson? No, I don’t think so, I think for this lesson to truly sink in it needed that emotional connection, and that’s what Poppy provided. But what is it enough? Have you learned to show the proper respect for a man of my calibre? I suppose we will see, won’t we. If you haven’t… well, there’s other messages that can be sent, other people in your life who can and will suffer from your stupidity. Lovely little girl you got there, shame about her dad but I know as well as anyone you can’t pick your parents.
Now I’ve seen the talk online. Why is Trace Demon vs. Shuggy not on the Scars & Stripes card, and the answer is simple, because I said no, because I think it’s only fair to give Shuggy the opportunity to be a man and apologise before things really get out of hand. And also… it’s simply not worth my time. See my contract does indeed say I have to wrestle to get paid, but it doesn’t say anything about wrestling two matches in one night, and there are far more important things for me to contend myself with when I step foot in that arena. I am of course talking about the Scars & Stripes Rumble, and my path back to my rightful place as WFWF World Champion.
See as far as I’m concerned it’s a damn travesty that EBR, a man I can’t help but respect for the pure willpower it must’ve taken to drag the likes of Alex Sean, DGX and even Dan Bennett to relevancy, to be challenging for the World title in such a tarnished fashion. Come on, you can’t believe for a second that EBR, or anyone else for that matter, can be proud of the fact that the title is hold by Josh Dean, a man whose title win actually led to the WFWF folding financially because of how damn bad it makes the company look. Not since the days of Dex has there been such a poor excuse for a champion, and now he’s going to headline the first pay-per-view of this so called new era? It’s laughable, hell, it's down right offensive, and something needs to be done about it.
Now I recognise that this is the WFWF, and that just because we’ve got a grand reboot doesn’t mean that anything is going to change, the man in charge is still gonna play favourites, he’s still gonna make stupid decisions like let Josh Dean keep the WFWF World Championship or headline the debut show with Mr. Section C and Handlecatch. No, it’s all gonna stay the same, so I’ll just have to do what I’ve always done and change it myself, take matters into my own hands. See at Scars & Stripes thirty men are going to step foot in that ring and they’re all going to want to win, they’re all going to attack anything that moves, but unlike the rest of them I’m used to that, after all I’m public enemy number one, right?
I’m under no illusions that when I step foot inside that ring that everybody and their f*****g dog is going to want a piece of me with ideas of being some avenging angel, but let’s face it, everybody here has done terrible things, I’m just man enough to own them, so I’m not going to worry about what everybody thinks is right and wrong, or what they’re planning to do. I’ll step foot in that ring with one intention and one intention only, and that’s to outsmart, outmanoeuvre and outfight everyone in my way en-route to winning the rumble and earning my rightful shot at the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship, at earning my shot to save this company before it crumbles again. And then I’m going to take that title, and I don’t care whether I have to take it from an actual wrestler like EBR or a joke like Josh Dean, it’ll be mine.
Being public enemy number one isn’t new to me, it’s not something that phases me, I’m built to be the bad guy, I was made to be the villain, I am The Final Boss of the WFWF. So line them all up, bring every person you can find who has an axe to grind because I’m sure the list is long and I’ll go through them, because that’s all they are to me, obstacles, things in my way. I don’t care what I’ve done to them, I don’t care how they feel about me, they’re nothing, nobodies, they don’t matter, so bring them all and I’ll end the lot of them so I can take back my title before anyone else can ruin this company, because as far as I’m concerned the only man who gets to kill the WFWF is me.
And I will kill it, when I’m ready, when I’m done with it, I’ll burn it all down to the ground. After all, I’m pretty good with fire.
Enemies At The Gate
“You know in all the years that I’ve known, or knew I suppose I should say, Trace Demon I’ve heard plenty of names thrown around to describe him, some kind but most… well, considerably less so. In all that time though there was one word I never really associated with him, at least not until towards the ends. Looking back I think my view on that was tainted because of how I feel about Trace, about my personal connection to him, you never want to think of someone close to you as being anything other than the best version of themself, even if that couldn’t be further from the truth. The word I’m talking about is a simple one.
Irredeemable.
Trace Demon has done an immeasurable amount of harm over the years to an unimaginable number of people, but I always wanted to believe that it was a means to an end, that he did it to build a life for his family, for the people he cared about. But that simply isn’t true, because the truth is Trace Demon does what Trace Demon wants, and if you’re on the right side of that then good for you, but if you’re not then you can’t imagine the potential pain heading your way. Trace Demon is not a good person, he is not a good father, a good husband, a good friend or a good sibling, because the truth is that he would give it all away if it was getting in the way of something that he wanted, and he’d find a reason that in his own mind would make it all make sense.
It’s odd then, isn’t it, that we think of Trace as some sort of gripping figure, somebody entertaining, somebody who people support or at least follow because of the terrible things he does. He isn’t a hero, I don’t think anybody would call him that, but what does it make of you or me that we can’t wait to see what Trace Demon will do next when the last thing he did was throw a fireball in the face of an innocent woman?
Ask yourself, why would you support somebody like that? Why would I? I hope you can think of a better answer than me, because I’ve been coming up empty for a long time now.
I wish that I could say that the worst had happened, that there is no possible way that he can stoop any lower, but then I’d be lying, because the things that are to come in the coming months… well, I’m sure you’ll soon begin to question just how long that you can follow a man like Trace Demon before realising that he truly is irredeemable. The saddest part is though by the time you realise that it might be too late.
It’s certainly too late for him.”
< *** >
Then
Weeks Ago
02:32
The pieces are all in place, and we’re nearing show time. I hear Shuggy won’t be in attendance for the big moment, which is such a shame, but Eddie tells me he’s doing an interview of his own from home, that he’s going to be watching the show with his and Poppy’s little girl and he’s gonna do a little video promo. The whole thing just gets better and better.
02:24
Do you ever wonder whether you’ve gone mad, whether you’re taking something too far? No, me neither.
01:58
Driver: Just pulling in now Mr. Demon.
Trace Demon: Do another lap round the block.
Driver: Excuse me Mr. Demon? You sure, you not meant to be out there soon?
Trace Demon: Just do another lap!
01:23
Phone rings, send it to voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Where you at Trace? You’re meant to be on air in five minutes and nobody has seen you. Come on, give your boy Eddie a call back would ya, I got questions I can’t answer unless you let me know what’s going on.
01:17
Driver: Mr. Demon, you want me to pull in yet?
Trace Demon: Just keep driving until I tell you to stop.
Driver: Sir if you don’t mind me asking-
Trace Demon: I do. Keep driving.
01:01
2 new voicemails.
1st new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Right they’ve pushed back the interview to after the next match, so now would be a wicked good time to call your pal Eddie and let him know when you’re getting here.
2nd new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: You are getting here, right?
00:49
You ever wonder, if God is real how you’ll be judged when your time is up? Whether the very worst things you’ve done will be just that little bit too far for the all-forgiving God to forgive, or is he just a smug smite-loving b*****d? Yeah, me neither.
00:35
1 new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: Look man, they’ve said they can push the interview back a bit longer but you need to give me something. Call, text, email, snail mail, carrier pigeon, y’know we’ve not really spoke about your preferred method of communication so if you wanna fill a golden chalice with blood and do some ritual and speak to me that way, well whatever works best y’know. Just give me something.
00:29
One ring, two rings, thr-
Eddie Myers: Trace? That’s you right? Thank god mate, I thought you’d vanished like, well, half the people who were meant to be on this tour. Look, spoken to the producers, if you get here in the next ten then we can still get your interview in before the last match and-
Trace Demon: The main event.
Eddie Myers: Yeah, right, before the main event and -
Trace Demon: No, I want it, the main event. I’m going on last.
Eddie Myers: I don’t think that’s an option mate.
Trace Demon: Good thing I’m not giving you options, I’m telling you what’s going to happen. I get the closing segment, or I don’t show up at all. You go ask them if they’ve got something to fill the time if I don’t show.
Eddie Myers: Trace I-
End of call.
00:17
1 new voicemail.
Eddie Myers: You’re on Trace, if you get here in time then you can go on last. Hope you’re proud of yourself because they are not mighty pleased with me right now I’ll tell you that. Reminds me of that time in Sunday school when the nun caught me with my hand in-
Let’s cut that right there shall we.
Trace Demon: Now.
Driver: Excuse me sir?
Trace Demon: I’m ready, let’s head in.
Driver: Thank god for that, fuel’s expensive right now.
I glance down at the bottle sat beside me.
Trace Demon: You’re not wrong.
00:13
We pull up in the loading bay of whatever s**t tip of a venue the once mighty WFWF have gotten their hands on this time. There’s a camera crew watching and that woman who’s always hustling the ring crew is stood with a microphone. It’s nice to know that your attempts to hold the show hostage are being noticed, you know what I mean?
00:11
Eddie’s waiting in the corridor, his face looking extremely punchable as per usual. He’s fidgeting so much that he’s almost hopping from one foot to the other, clearly the effect of too much caffeine on such an incapable man.
Eddie Myers: You really like the drama don’t you man, had me feeling a little hot under the collar I’m not gonna lie, but don’t you worry I got you sorted, got you the headline slot just how you like it.
I walk right past him, and he walks after me, still talking the entire time. This has nothing to do with Eddie, I knew this new WFWF regime wouldn’t have anything lined up to replace me if I didn’t show. They’ve proven that over the past two shows, whenever somebody doesn’t get a flight or makes some poor excuse they just brush it off with a line or two and cut the show shorter. It’s rookie s**t, but it works for me tonight.
Eddie Myers: So look Poppy’s just headed out there so she’s gonna run a little recap of what happened with DGX and Shuggy then call you out. That work for you?
We’ve reached the curtain that separates people like me from the ungrateful masses that come to watch this s**t show. I could burst out there, just do what I’m here to do, but I can’t help myself, I’m a showman, if you’re going to do something you’ve got to make it memorable, otherwise what’s the point?
Eddie Myers: You alright man, anything I can help with?
I glance at him and shake my head in disbelief, after a few years away you forget about the assortment of misfits and freaks that the WFWF seems to pull into its orbit. A few moments later and I hear my music hit, and I ready myself to step out through the curtain.
Eddie Myers: You want me to take your bottle or something?
Trace Demon: I’m taking it out with me, feeling parched.
00:07
I’ve never been the type of person to ignore when somebody is good at their job, and while that kind of talent is in short supply around here right now I’ll admit, Poppy is good at her job. That’s why it’s such a shame that she’s such a poor judge of character. Still, I suppose we’ve all lowered our standards once in a while, Poppy must’ve just thrown hers out the window and got unlucky by letting the wee Scot knock her up.
Trace Demon: Tell me Poppy, do you respect me?
Still, just because you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time doesn’t mean you aren’t there, and so Poppy has found herself caught up in something she couldn’t possibly have thought she would when she made such poor life decisions.
00:02
Poppy Yates:As a competitor, yes, I do, but...
Trace Demon: Do you know who doesn’t respect me Poppy? Your best friend Shuggy. See that wee Scot seems to have gotten it into his head that he’s more important than he really is, that he doesn’t need to show respect to the people that paved the way for the likes of him, namely me. And the more he disrespects me without being put in his place the more other people are going to think that’s acceptable, do you think that’s acceptable?
I shouldn’t judge, I’ve made plenty of bad decisions of my own, spent years barely knowing what was real and what wasn’t because I was too drugged up to know the difference. Even now, at this very moment, I don’t know whether returning to this hovel was a good idea or not. I spend every moment I’m here bubbling with rage over the lack of respect I’m shown, having to waste breath talking to the likes of Eddie Myers, or to the fans, or dealing with people like Shuggy. I spend my time questioning what it was about this business I ever found enjoyment in.
Poppy Yates: I…
Trace Demon: Of course it isn’t, so something needs to be done, a message needs to be sent. Poppy, do you remember earlier tonight I said that me shoving Shuggy was part of what he deserved?
Poppy Yates: I do y...
Trace Demon: I said part because it wasn’t close to being everything. You see Poppy, Shuggy needs to learn his lesson, in fact all of you need to learn the lesson, and it’s a simple lesson to learn. You do not disrespect Trace Demon. Poppy, did you know that I personally requested to be on your little interview show tonight? Don’t worry Pops, I’m not asking you to send Shuggy a message.
00:01
But then, as I unscrew the lid off of the bottle and feel the vile bitter taste of the ethanol solution I got from a very shady former acquaintance fill my mouth, I feel a familiar chill run over me. As I flick the contraption in my jacket sleeve and see the flame flicker out I feel a buzz that I’ll never get used to. As I spit the ethanol out and watch it ignite, engulfing Poppy’s face in a cacophony of pain and burnt skin, I can’t help but remember that this is where I belong. And as her screams fill my ears like the most beautiful music I could ever imagine and the smell of charred flesh fills my senses I know that right now…
00:00
Trace Demon: You are the message.
I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.
< *** >
Then
Weeks Ago
Plenty of things have changed over the past few years and between the coma and the recluse from society bit I had going on for a while I can’t say I’ve paid all that much attention. The one thing that hasn’t changed however is that if you’re rich enough and white enough you can bet that you're going to get favourable treatment from the police.
Given what happened you’d think I’d have been thrown in one of the holding cells with the rest of the common folk, but money talks so instead I get to wait inside a nice cosy little holding office, feet propped up on the table, eyes closed, savouring the memory of Poppy’s scream, of the horrified look in the faces of the crowd, the fury of all those nobodies from the back trying to get their hands on me as I was ever so kindly and safely escorted out of the building. And yes Alex Sean, I’m including you on that list of nobodies, makes a lot of sense they stuck you in section C now given you’ve had the most depressing return imaginable.
Me however, well three shows into the WFWF’s great big return and there’s not one person in or out of this company that won’t be talking about Trace Demon. All publicity is good publicity baby, and I’ve got a damn good publicist on my payroll. I also have a moderately passable lawyer in my contacts who happens to work for the WFWF legal department, one who also is well aware of the clause in my contract that states the WFWF accepts all culpability for any actions that occur inside a WFWF ring as long as it involves a contracted WFWF employee. Poppy Yates is employed and insured by the WFWF so, some legal mumbo jumbo later and I’m pretty sure I’ll be out of here any second-
Cop: You’re free to go.
Now.
Trace Demon: So soon officer, I was just getting comfortable. Oh well.
He scowls and I get the feeling he isn’t much of a fan. I hop up out of my seat, approaching the cop. He bares a glaring resemblance to Erik Estrada, which is not a reference I thought I’d be taking in 2022 but here we are.
Trace Demon: There a problem officer?
He says nothing, but makes a point of not making eye contact as he stands holding the door open for me to pass.
Trace Demon: Oh come, I can tell you’ve got something to get off your chest. Confession is good for the soul.
Officer Ponch: Just ain’t got time for no man who puts their hands on a lady.
Trace Demon: Well that’s sexist officer, equality is all the rage now, and if you don’t recognise that then I’m afraid you just aren’t woke enough.
His scowl doesn’t fade and it’s a shame that I have to end my day being disappointed in the NYPD’s lack of belief in equality, but that’s the world we live in nowadays. You just can’t throw a fireball in a woman’s face without the incels coming out to b***h about it. Thankfully I don’t have to spend any more time with this sexist as I walk past him and march triumphantly through the police station and right out the front door.
I’m expecting to find my ride waiting for me outside, and while I do find a white man with bad dress sense and an insufferable need to be useful there waiting for me it isn’t the same white man with bad dress sense and insufferable need to be useful that I was expecting.
Trace Demon: Where’s Anders? I told him to pick me up.
Eddie Myers: Oh, he was kinda busy.
I look at him, my eyes piercing into his twitchy little soul.
Eddie Myers: Okay, he said he didn’t want to be anywhere near you and since I’m your talent representative it kinda fell on me to come and get you.
Trace Demon: I’d rather walk back to the hotel.
Eddie Myers: Well, here’s the thing, the boss man was a little bit concerned that if you were wandering the streets after what you did that somebody might recognise you and maybe form some kind of angry mob.
Always with the angry mobs nowadays.
Trace Demon: Fine, you can drive me back to the hotel.
Eddie Myers: Well, about that, Mr. Abadi also thought that if certain members of the roster found out where you were staying that there might be some kind of altercation-
Trace Demon: Which I would win.
Eddie Myers: -and that it would look extremely bad for the WFWF and given that the whole Poppy Yates business is probably gonna bring some pretty rough publicity that we should avoid anything else.
Trace Demon: So?
Eddie Myers: So I’ve been told to take you straight to the airport for an early flight, all paid for obviously.
What’s the world come to where you can’t throw one tiny fireball into a woman’s face without having to get whisked away to the airport to escape the city? Still, I’m nothing if not a company man and I would hate to do anything that would look bad for the WFWF so I accept defeat and let Eddie drive me to the airport.
I regret it almost the moment we’re on the road, because if there’s one thing I’m swiftly learning about Eddie Myers it’s that he does not know how to shut up.
Eddie Myers: So that was pretty intense tonight eh? They did warn me, they said taking Trace Demon on was a risky play, unpredictable they called you, among other things, but I thought no, Trace Demon’s a star, and if I’m the guy handling him, so to speak, then that’d mean a big payday.
Trace Demon: What’re you talking about.
Eddie Myers: What? You thought it was just blind luck that ol’ Eddie here was assigned to bring you back into the fold. No man, I volunteered. Nobody wanted ya, y’know? But I’ve watched wrestling for years, and I know that controversy creates cash, and who brings more controversy than Trace Demon?
I’m surprised at the thought that maybe Eddie isn’t as stupid as he seems. He’s certainly annoying, and I want nothing more than to rip his tongue out so I don’t have to hear him speak, but maybe there might be some use for him after all.
Trace Demon: So that’s why you do… whatever job it is you do, for the money?
Eddie Myers: I mean money, success, that’s what life’s all about right? The big house, the nice cars, the girls, I get the whole saying that money can’t buy you happiness, but it can certainly buy you a whole lot of stuff and in my experience, stuff can bring you plenty of happiness, and if I do a good job being the in-between man for the WFWF and you, well not only is that good money but I figure I’m line for some bonuses, right?
Trace Demon: So you don’t care about what I did to Poppy Yates, that’s not putting you off working with me?
Eddie Myers: Man you’re Trace Demon, I get that you’re gonna do some crazy s**t sometimes, but I don’t got to agree with it to make money off of it. That’s what capitalism is all about. And look, I get the feeling that we maybe didn’t get off on the right foot, y’know, not everyone reacts well to people climbing through their window I guess, but if you’ll work with me, I’ll make us both a lot of money.
Trace Demon: I already have more than enough money.
Eddie Myers: Well you name it, you tell me what you want, what you need more than anything, and we’ll make it happen. You work with me, and I’ll work with you, so what’ll it be, what do you need from your pal Eddie?
Trace Demon: Legacy.
He glances at me from behind the wheel of his s****y rental car, confused.
Trace Demon: I didn’t come back for the money, or the love of the business, I came back because there’s too many people who think it’s okay to disrespect me, and I can’t have that. I came back to cement my legacy, to ensure that there is no future in which you can talk about the WFWF without talking about Trace Demon. That’s the only thing I’m interested in, don’t matter to me who gets caught in the crossfire on the way to it.
Eddie Myers: Legacy, huh? Never thought much about that, but if that’s your thing then that’s what we’ll do. You get your legacy, I make my money, everyone wins. We got ourself a deal?
It’s rare to find someone so stupid that they offer themselves up to a deal with the devil, but if Eddie Myers is willing to go all in just for the sake of making money then he might be useful.
Trace Demon: You’ve got yourself a deal, just know that I’m not about to let anything get in my way. I’m going to cement my legacy…
…or I’m going to die trying.
< *** >
Then
Two Months Ago
It should come as little surprise that I have no love for hospitals. There are few good things that ever happen in such a sterile, haunting environment, and none of them have ever happened to me. Well, there was the birth of my daughter, but then even that’s a little bit debatable sometimes. Oh don’t judge me until you get puked and s**t on at the same time alright, there’s plenty of people that’ll pay for that kind of s**t, like Obo for instance, but I’m not one of them.
And then there was my last trip to the hospital, you know, that classic time I got my head bashed in by a barbed wire bat and was in a coma for six months? And you know the worst part about all that? It happened in America, so I had to pay a not so small fortune for people to keep me alive when they didn’t even ask if that’s what I wanted in the first place. Land of the free and home of the brave my Canadian ass.
That’s why I go private.
Trace Demon: So are you gonna sign this thing so I can get the f**k out of here?
Doc Brown has been my personal doctor for years. He keeps telling me that’s not his real name but for the amount I pay him he can get it legally changed or stop complaining about it. Right now he doesn’t look very amused, which is nothing new.
Turns out when you have such a severe injury people won’t just take your word for it when you say that you’re good, they make you go get all these tests and s**t to prove it. So for the past week I’ve been in and out of hospitals, Doc Brown’s office and seeing all sorts of other specialists all for the sake of getting a box ticked and a signature to say I can get back in the ring.
Doc Brown: Trace, we spoke about this… what, two years ago now? About the long-lasting repercussions of such a serious injury? You remember that, yes?
Trace Demon: Doc, I’ve not got any memory loss if that’s what you're worried about. I remember you saying a load of pretty depressing s**t but it’s been two years and I’m perfectly fine. Fit as a f*****g fiddle.
Doc Brown: Would you mind not swearing so much, there are other doctors and patients in the practice it isn’t just us.
Trace Demon: Wait, these offices aren’t sound proof?
He shakes his head.
Trace Demon: Wow, so me and your secretary the last time I was here…
He nods his head.
Trace Demon: I apologise for that.
In my defence surely she should’ve known better?
Doc Brown: Look, Trace, I’ve gone over all your test results and while you are for the most part physically fine-
Trace Demon: That sounds good.
Doc Brown: We need to talk about your brain.
Trace Demon: That sounds less good.
Doc Brown: I warned you when you first came out of your coma that there would likely be a lasting impact to the injuries you suffered. During the… assault, I suppose is the best way to describe it, you suffered severe damage to your skull as well as swelling and fluid on the brain. While the brain is a miraculous thing and can heal itself of many terrible injuries there are some things that leave lasting scars.
Trace Demon: I’ve already heard this speech Doc.
Doc Brown:And yet here you are, trying to get medically cleared to return to the same sport that put you in that situation in the first place.
Trace Demon: You’re signing off my physical well being Doc, not my mental well being.
Let’s be honest here, if the WFWF was concerned with peoples mental health then the majority of the roster wouldn’t even be allowed near a wrestling ring.
Doc Brown: What I’m trying to say is that while your injuries have healed there is still clear scarring on your brain due to the attack you suffered. And while this wouldn’t cause me any immediate concerns in a normal patient it is a major red flag for anybody who wants to be involved in any kind of contact sport or other heavily physical activity where the head is at risk.
Trace Demon: I mean I don’t intend to get my head caved in again if that’s what you’re worrying about.
Didn’t exactly plan on it the first time either.
Doc Brown: You’re not listening to me, due to your history any serious impact to the head has the possibility of exasperating the harm already done.
Trace Demon: What are the odds?
Doc Brown: The brain is such a complex creation that I couldn’t possibly predict that, it could be as little as one in a million, it could be as much as ninety-nine percent, but in my medical opinion which might I add you value enough to pay me for, the risk you run getting back into professional wrestling is enormous. We are talking memory loss, potential paralysis, even brain death.
Well s**t, that’s not what you want to hear.
Doc Brown: I’m not clearing you, and you’d be hard pressed to find any doctor in the country with any sense who would. My advice to you is to let this go and-
I don’t hear anything after that, because what he’s talking about it quitting. It’s retiring with the last true image of me being laid out in the middle of the ring, a mess of blood, flesh and skull fragments. Is that my legacy? A decade of pain and success and what? Now just nothing? I sit at home and I let the next generation move on up? That’s what he wants me to do?
Doc Brown: Did you hear what I said Trace?
Trace Demon: Sign the paper.
Doc Brown: Excuse me?
Trace Demon: Doc, we both know that this wouldn’t be the first… shall we say dishonest thing you’ve done for me? I’m not stupid, I keep records, meetings, deals, the lot, you think the medical board won’t want to investigate you letting me into a patients room to threaten them? Or that you won’t get caught up in the scandal when I let it out the bag that your partner in this place runs a steroid ring? Hell, you think I don’t pull my funding from you if you don’t do what I want? Sign the papers and let’s just keep going on with our lives.
Doc Brown: If I sign that paper your life will be considerably shorter than you’re planning on. Is it worth it?
I have a lot of things going for me in my life, and that isn’t me trying to boast, it’s just a fact. I have enough money that I don’t need to do this anymore, a beautiful daughter, the freedom to do whatever I want, but does any of that matter if I’m in the ground with no real legacy? People will remember the WFWF, and they’ll remember me, but I won’t have that memory tarnished by my end being at Tyler Draven’s feet.
Trace Demon: We’re all gonna die someday Doc, just sign the damn papers, alright?
He does, because what choice does he have. He’s making the logical decision to put his own life and comfort ahead of mine, and I won’t blame him for that because it’s the exact same thing I’d do. We all do what we have to do to survive and thrive, anyone stupid enough not to be on board with that are the type of people sitting on the internet b******g and moaning about the people that are.
Doc Brown: If you start noticing anything unusual about your behaviour, hallucinations, aggressive behaviour, memory loss, anything like that, then I need you to come in for further tests, understand?
Trace Demon: I’m gonna be honest with you Doc, everything you’ve just listed, it’s all just a normal week for me.
He slides the papers across to me and I check them over. All signed off, I’m officially medically cleared to compete inside the WFWF ring again.
Trace Demon: Nice doing business with you again Doc.
Doc Brown: Are you really going to risk your life for the sake of stepping foot back inside a wrestling ring of all things?
Trace Demon: Oh come on, don’t you know who you’re talking to? I’m now Shawn Malakai Doc, I’m not some dead man walking. I’m Trace Demon, I’m f*****g invincible.
Doc Brown: If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this job it’s that death catches up to everyone eventually Mr. Demon, and with a brain like yours I fear that it is going to be sooner rather than later.
Trace Demon: Let it try.
< *** >
Now
Lila Sleater: You know I actually liked Poppy.
I don’t usually do pillow talk, even with women that I actually like, and I most definitely do not like Lila Sleater. F**k, when you really look into it the only reason I had my head caved in and my brains permanently f****d up was because she got inside Tyler Draven’s head, and who knows where else. Yet here she is, getting dressed at 2am in my bedroom and not for the first time.
Trace Demon: It’s not like she’s dead you know.
Lila Sleater: Oh sorry, did you somehow miss the fact that you threw a fireball into the face of a woman who works on national television.
Trace Demon: I’d hardly call it national anymore, let’s be honest.
She sighs, and I can tell that she hates herself for doing this even more than I do. Over two years back she thought she’d sorted her life out, that all her demons were out of the bottle, and then she lost someone close to her and she started hitting the bottom of one. Somehow that led her to me, and whatever the f**k this is.
Lila Sleater: You know I actually hired her, back before everything happened, I’m the person who brought Poppy Yates into the WFWF.
Trace Demon: Are you trying to make me feel guilty because you’re doing a s**t job of it.
My excuse? Take your pick. Hate f*****g is fantastic, I like the power trip, I want to punish myself in some way or form, there’s a dozen more reasons where they came from.
Lila Sleater: I’m not stupid enough to think you’re even capable of experiencing guilt Trace, or most basic human emotions if I’m honest. I’m just saying that I liked Poppy, and that I hate you for what you did to her.
And yet she hates herself more for still coming over here, even if she did manage to hold off for a month to make herself feel better about it.
Trace Demon: And I hate that you got my head bashed in, yet here we are. Funny how the world works.
Lila Sleater: You deserved it, Poppy didn’t.
It’s a funny concept, that only people who deserve it deserve bad things to happen to them, because who gets to decide that? You? Do you think you’re God, or are you just a judgmental piece of s**t?
Trace Demon: It’s called collateral damage, think you should probably be used to hearing that in America by now, should be your slogan.
Should write that down, I could make another T-shirt. Sales were sky-high on the last one, oddly all from Canada and overseas.
Lila Sleater: Have you ever considered not being a sociopath?
Trace Demon: I think you’ll find sociopathy is a recognised mental health condition so what you’re actually doing by asking that is being ableist.
Lila Sleater: Why am I doing this to myself?
Trace Demon: Because you’re lonely and have nowhere else to go.
She glares at me and I shrug because I’m not wrong. I sit up at the edge of the bed, pushing my sweat-soaked hair back. It’d probably slick up real nice right now.
Lila Sleater: You’re one to talk about being alone. Don’t exactly see people flocking to be close to you. Doesn’t it bother you that you’re public enemy number one?
Trace Demon: Why should I care who likes me and who hates me? I don’t care about people Lila, their tools, what happens to them doesn’t matter, what happens to people I don’t care about doesn’t effect me in any way. People destroy the planet and vote in f*****g Nazi’s, you can’t trust people.
Lila Sleater: You’re still as alone as me Trace.
Trace Demon: There’s a difference between being alone and being lonely, such as the fact that I don’t care.
Lila Sleater: Even if you did you wouldn’t have a choice in it Trace, people don’t like being around you and it isn’t even because of your personality or how self-absorbed you are, it’s because everyone who knows you knows that sooner or later being close to you means getting hurt, physically, mentally, emotionally, and usually it’s because of some purposeful decision you’ve made to advance your own twisted agenda.
Trace Demon: Again, you directly caused me to get my brains splattered inside a wrestling ring.
Lila Sleater: It’s called a public service, I should’ve got a f*****g medal.
I laugh at the thought as she pulls on her jeans.
Lila Sleater: Oh you think that’s funny? Answer me this Trace, how many people do you think would care if you were gone? More importantly, how many people would jump at the chance to make that a reality? Because I promise you the numbers on the latter get higher every single time you pull a stunt like you did to Poppy.
I leap out of bed, anger bubbling up. I realise how damn easy it would be for Lila Sleater to just suddenly not exist, right here, right now, and nobody would ever know.
Trace Demon: A stunt? You think that was a stunt? No, that was important, that was something that needed to happen so that Shuggy and everyone else could-
Lila Sleater: Learn their lesson? I’ve heard the speech Trace, time and time again. We all have, because all you ever do is repeat yourself, over and over and over, all about how disrespected you are, about how people have to learn, it’s the same old s**t every single time and guess what? You’ll never change, because you’re too damn self absorbed to realise that nobody cares about what you think the same way you care about what everybody else thinks.
We stare at each other, just for a moment, and then she grabs her shoes and heads for the door.
Lila Sleater: Oh and next time you want to argue with someone put your f*****g c**k away.
Trace Demon: You wouldn’t ask Jimi Hendrix to put away his f*****g guitar!
She storms out the bedroom door and downstairs and I follow into the hallway, forgetting that sound travels. As the front door slams shut I turn to see Kady, the live-in nanny I hired to look after my little girl, staring at me with shock from her now-open bedroom door.
Trace Demon: Oh f**k off!
I storm back into the bedroom and slam the door shut, realising that I’ll need to get dressed and go downstairs to set the alarm system. As I bend down to pick up my boxers something drips onto the carpet at my feet. A familiar red viscous liquid I’m all too familiar with. I wipe the blood from my nose and quickly realise that it isn’t stopping.
That can’t be good.
< *** >
There’s been a lot of talk the past few weeks, and the focus seems to be on making me out to be the bad guy in this whole situation. That somehow it was my fault that Poppy ended up in the hospital feeling a little hot under the collar, what can I say, I have that effect on people. So I’m here to set the record straight, was I the person who threw a fireball in the face of Poppy Yates? Sure, of course, I’m not going to lie about it, am I? But was I responsible for that? Is it my fault that Poppy ended up screaming in agony? No, it’s not, there are plenty of people to blame for the state that Poppy Yates ended up in, and I’m not one of them.
You however are. All you snivelling little rats who call yourselves fans, all the people in the back who think they know how to run a wrestling company, all the press and wannabe journalists who claim to have the latest scoop, and yes, even the rest of the roster. You walk around acting like you care about this company, that wrestling means something to you, but when you’re faced with a living legend like Trace Demon what do you do? You show nothing but disrespect for a man who has done everything there is in this business. How do you justify that? How do you call yourself a wrestling fan when you refuse to acknowledge the very basic detail that I am the most important professional wrestler in this business?
And then there’s the person who is most at fault, the person who represents all you common people, Shuggy. See Shuggy makes out that he’s all angry and filled with a white hot rage for what happened to Poppy, but that’s simply because he can’t accept that he’s responsible for it. Shuggy, you disrespected me at the press conference, then you disrespected me again on the very first night of the new WFWF, but I could’ve overlooked all that as the folly of youth, not to mention your clear stupidity. But no, then you had to get involved in my business, in my first match back no less. You brought that band of drunks with you knowing full well what they would do, how they like so many before them would try to make themselves famous. You did that without so much as considering the impact that it would have on me, you did that without even caring about how it would quite clearly spoil my moment. Either that, or you did the whole thing on purpose.
Not sure which idea p****s me off more, but the end result is the same, you’ve disrespected me, you cost me a clear victory over DGX, and therefore retribution needed to be taken. And sure, I could’ve taken it out on you, it would’ve been easy, but then would you really have learned your lesson? Would the world have learned it’s lesson? No, I don’t think so, I think for this lesson to truly sink in it needed that emotional connection, and that’s what Poppy provided. But what is it enough? Have you learned to show the proper respect for a man of my calibre? I suppose we will see, won’t we. If you haven’t… well, there’s other messages that can be sent, other people in your life who can and will suffer from your stupidity. Lovely little girl you got there, shame about her dad but I know as well as anyone you can’t pick your parents.
Now I’ve seen the talk online. Why is Trace Demon vs. Shuggy not on the Scars & Stripes card, and the answer is simple, because I said no, because I think it’s only fair to give Shuggy the opportunity to be a man and apologise before things really get out of hand. And also… it’s simply not worth my time. See my contract does indeed say I have to wrestle to get paid, but it doesn’t say anything about wrestling two matches in one night, and there are far more important things for me to contend myself with when I step foot in that arena. I am of course talking about the Scars & Stripes Rumble, and my path back to my rightful place as WFWF World Champion.
See as far as I’m concerned it’s a damn travesty that EBR, a man I can’t help but respect for the pure willpower it must’ve taken to drag the likes of Alex Sean, DGX and even Dan Bennett to relevancy, to be challenging for the World title in such a tarnished fashion. Come on, you can’t believe for a second that EBR, or anyone else for that matter, can be proud of the fact that the title is hold by Josh Dean, a man whose title win actually led to the WFWF folding financially because of how damn bad it makes the company look. Not since the days of Dex has there been such a poor excuse for a champion, and now he’s going to headline the first pay-per-view of this so called new era? It’s laughable, hell, it's down right offensive, and something needs to be done about it.
Now I recognise that this is the WFWF, and that just because we’ve got a grand reboot doesn’t mean that anything is going to change, the man in charge is still gonna play favourites, he’s still gonna make stupid decisions like let Josh Dean keep the WFWF World Championship or headline the debut show with Mr. Section C and Handlecatch. No, it’s all gonna stay the same, so I’ll just have to do what I’ve always done and change it myself, take matters into my own hands. See at Scars & Stripes thirty men are going to step foot in that ring and they’re all going to want to win, they’re all going to attack anything that moves, but unlike the rest of them I’m used to that, after all I’m public enemy number one, right?
I’m under no illusions that when I step foot inside that ring that everybody and their f*****g dog is going to want a piece of me with ideas of being some avenging angel, but let’s face it, everybody here has done terrible things, I’m just man enough to own them, so I’m not going to worry about what everybody thinks is right and wrong, or what they’re planning to do. I’ll step foot in that ring with one intention and one intention only, and that’s to outsmart, outmanoeuvre and outfight everyone in my way en-route to winning the rumble and earning my rightful shot at the WFWF World Heavyweight Championship, at earning my shot to save this company before it crumbles again. And then I’m going to take that title, and I don’t care whether I have to take it from an actual wrestler like EBR or a joke like Josh Dean, it’ll be mine.
Being public enemy number one isn’t new to me, it’s not something that phases me, I’m built to be the bad guy, I was made to be the villain, I am The Final Boss of the WFWF. So line them all up, bring every person you can find who has an axe to grind because I’m sure the list is long and I’ll go through them, because that’s all they are to me, obstacles, things in my way. I don’t care what I’ve done to them, I don’t care how they feel about me, they’re nothing, nobodies, they don’t matter, so bring them all and I’ll end the lot of them so I can take back my title before anyone else can ruin this company, because as far as I’m concerned the only man who gets to kill the WFWF is me.
And I will kill it, when I’m ready, when I’m done with it, I’ll burn it all down to the ground. After all, I’m pretty good with fire.
