There the boy stands.
Alone.
The winter air bites his skin.
The rain is pouring down at night.
Yet he can only hear his heartbeat.
Thump-thump.
He stares down a lonely road.
A car traverses away from him.
Thump-thump.
A couple is within the vehicle.
A man in the driver’s seat.
A woman in the seat next to him.
Thump-thump.
They are talking to one another as he drives.
She’s smiling.
Her heavenly smile.
He’s laughing.
His heartfelt laughter.
Thump-thump.
Then a shadow casts over them.
Bright lights suddenly blind the couple.
The boy’s earth-colored eyes widened.
He lets out a muted scream.
CRASH!
Their vehicle is struck.
It spins and turns over.
Out of control.
Glass everywhere.
Destroyed car parts were strewn about.
The couple hangs upside down.
Caught in their seatbelts.
The airbags deployed.
Blood drips down from their lifeless bodies.
The sound of the rain comes to life.
He tries to run towards them.
But he’s not moving.
He’s running in place.
Trapped.
Helpless.
Alone.
And he screams out…
“CALEIGH!”
Nathaniel’s body jerked up and his earth-colored eyes opened wide. Upon his bed that’s fit for a king, he gasped for precious oxygen to fill his lungs. A chill ran down his spine and his body was covered in a cold sweat. His raven hair was slightly damp with the same essence. His chest rose and fell, his body nearly heaving, and he trembled. He raised a bare hand to cradle his head and slowly he began to regain his composure.
“...it’s always the same bloody dream…”
The Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing
I will save you from yourself.
Time will change everything about this Hell.
Are you lost? Can't find yourself?
You're north of Heaven,
Maybe somewhere west of Hell.
It must be jet lag.Over two months in the Land of the Rising Sun… and now I find myself in Manhattan, New York. It’s a city I only ever visit for business, but I made a promise to my oldest niece, Ami.
“We shall celebrate Christmas in your house.”Oh, yes. My entire family is here. Every single member of the Dixon bloodline. They’re all within their respective rooms and suites at the Michelangelo Hotel. The sun has risen over the city that never sleeps. I’ve been staring at myself in the mirror for a minute or two now.
Not for the sake of narcissism.
Not now anyway. Look at me, I’m a mess.
Six o’clock in the morning in Manhattan is nine o’clock at night in Tokyo. Fifteen hours difference, a thirteen-hour nonstop flight, and now it’s Christmas morning. Of course, my youngest sister, Ryleigh, Ami, and I arrived here yesterday morning. We called for an Uber with two separate destinations: first to Ami’s house and then to the hotel. We wanted to see her home safe and sound.
She’s the only child of our late older sister, Caleigh.It aches.An untidy, unbuttoned white dress shirt, a pair of black briefs, and nothing else adorn me. Looking at myself, it’s come to my attention that I am
so bloody tired. It’s not only jet lag. It’s the same dream -- the only dream I ever have. If I’m not dreaming? My sleep is completely sound. This only happens when I’ve completely exhausted myself or I’ve found a blissful way to fall into my slumber.
At a moment’s notice, there was a knock on my door. I was inclined to ignore it, but then--
“Nathaniel, may I please come in?”--I heard my younger brother, Maximillian Dixon, on the other side. Softly, I sighed and made my way towards the door. No need for words; opening the door was my answer.
“Oh, you’re… not ready?”
He stood before me in a form-fitting suit, black and white, his hair brushed and styled so neatly. Even with the black cotton mask over his nose and mouth, I was able to read him. Shock didn’t begin to describe it. I leaned against the doorway with a loose smile on my face.
“Our dear niece is hosting Christmas
dinner, not breakfast. Unless the arrangement has changed?”
“No, but it is Christmas morning. Did you forget Mother wished to go on a tour of the city?”
“Ah, that… Well, as you can see, I’m nowhere near ready for such an occasion.”
Honestly, I had forgotten. I knew it was brought up during supper, but I was exhausted from the flight and the drastic shift of time. Walking behind my brother in the hallway were two young women -- college students from my brief observation -- and they were gazing upon me.
Me in my almost nude glory. I offered them a smile and a playful wink, of which they giggled and blushed on their way. Maximilian glanced over to see them before he turned towards me with a roll of his eyes.
“You’ve no time for Mother’s wishes, but you’ll make all the time for your games.”
“Rude…” I scoffed at him. “Who said I wasn’t going to comply? You assumed.”
I turned away from him and made my way back into the room. I heard him sigh and softly close the door after he entered. Making my way to the walk-in closet, I began to shed myself of the dress shirt and left it on the floor behind me. A glance over my shoulder revealed my brother removing his mask and leaning back against the wall with his hands at his sides.
“Care for a mimosa?” I offered while I searched through the arrangement of my clothes.
“I’ll wait until breakfast,” he simply answered.
I let out a chuckle and began to dress. First the white dress shirt, then the red slacks, followed by the matching suit jacket. Walking out of the closet, I seated myself on the edge of the bed and opened the bottom drawer of the nightstand. I retrieved a pair of black socks and pulled them on over my feet. After that, I put on a pair of black Oxford’s and finely tied the laces. I rose to my feet and turned towards my brother who seemed perplexed.
“Red?” He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s Christmas,” I smiled. “Besides, Gwendolyn warned me that Little Serena bought me a green tie as a gift. I might as well become more festive.”
“Oh, dear…” Maximilian pinched the bridge of his nose. “Now I’m worried about what she bought for me.”
“I know nothing of that.”
Actually, I did know what his present from our youngest niece was. It’ll be humorous when he unwraps the gift himself. I made my way into the bathroom to properly brush and style my hair.
“How was your time in Japan?”
It wasn’t an unexpected question. I smiled softly. “Eventful. I caught up with some old friends. I made some new friends. Dixon Corporate Enterprises has a couple of new partnerships, so more resources. I like to believe I represented myself well enough in New Frontier Wrestling.”
“I… still don’t see why you persist in being a professional wrestler.” He moved into the mirror’s view and shook his head. “What good does it do to be a part of the wrestling industry?”
“It’s fun to legally hurt people,” I chuckled. “Besides, this is a wonderful outlet for me. In the ring, I can be technically sound and perfectly violent. Whether they like me or not, the fans enjoy the things that I do. I bring something unique to the industry. My genius, my skills, and my desires.”
“Certainly not modesty…” He looked away for a moment. “Now you’ve gone and signed yourself up for this… Excellence Invitational?”
“Absolutely.” My smile grew. “The more exposure, the better. An opportunity to capture the gold is not something to waste. I accepted the invitation with open arms.”
“You’re starving for a leather and gold championship belt.”
Once I finished with my hair, I looked at him through the mirror. His remark was callous. He made it sound like I was a desperate glory chaser. He noticed the way my eyes slowly narrowed and he visibly swallowed. He straightened his black tie and moved back to lean against the wall. I stepped out of the bathroom and softly closed the door behind me, a faint smile on my face.
“Perhaps I am. All my years in and out of the business, I’ve never won a championship. Not a single title. No accomplishments aside from co-running a short-lived wrestling company.”
I paused and tilted my head. I should save this kind of talk for my introduction to Pro Wrestling Excellence. Maximilian looked at me with apologetic eyes and said nothing. I simply patted him on the shoulder and made my way past him to collect my wallet. Sliding it into my right slacks pocket, I turned towards him with a smile.
“Relax. We must not worry Mother when we join the family.”
“Of course,” he slightly bowed his head. “Forgive me, brother. That was rather uncouth of me…”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” I chuckled and made my way towards the door. Opening it, I held the door handle with one hand and gestured to the hallway with the other. He moved without me saying another word and, after putting our masks on, we both left my hotel room.
Meeting in the lobby was a part of a tradition. Our Father, Arthur Dixon, was prim and proper as always. Our Mother, Annabelle Dixon, was a little more relaxed. Our younger sisters, Gwendolyn Dixon-Williams and Ryleigh, simply contrasted each other in styles. Our brother-in-law, Jack Williams, was nicely groomed. Serenity Williams, or as we like to call her, Little Serena, was very festive, indeed.
It was rare for all of us to be together in the same place at the same time.It was dangerous.“Good morning and Merry Christmas to my wonderful family.” Maximilian aimed to please.
“Merry Christmas, Uncle Nate, Uncle Max!” Little Serena hugged us with a squeal.
“Hi, Nate.” Ryleigh covered her mouth when she yawned. “Hi, Maxy. Merry Christmas!”
“Good morning, boys.” Gwendolyn teased with a smile. “Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas, sirs.” Jack saluted. He was always so formal.
“Merry Christmas, my boys.” Mother smiled before we embraced her.
“Nathaniel.” Father was staring right at me, his eyes stern.
“Father.” I bowed with such eloquence.
“Thank you for your assistance, Maximilian.” Father acknowledged him while keeping his eyes on me. “Next time, your older brother will be the first one ready -- as he should always be.”
Get the bloody North Pole out of your arse, old man.Oh, it was tempting to say that out loud… But I just smiled. “Next time, I will be prepared.”
Father hired a professional tour guide. The VIP treatment included a private limo tour of Manhattan and Brooklyn, a reservation at Balthazar New York for a scrumptious brunch, and all of the Christmas-themed sightseeing a person could stomach in the span of six hours. Father was always with his daughters and granddaughter. Mother was always with her sons and son-in-law. Jack and Gwendolyn were right next to each other, even with the divide. Some things never change.
After the tour, we were dropped off at the Fitzsimmons Residence. Oliver and his twin children, Chris and Claire, were swift to welcome us inside. It was the first time my parents were meeting their great-grandchildren in person. Of course, I expected Mother to be ever-so-jovial, but I was caught off guard by the way Father softened up to them. He was even willing to sit down with them and watch the modern take of The Grinch by Dr. Seuss. It was rather… unnerving. I took it upon myself to help Ami and Oliver with dinner. She tried to protest, but I insisted.
When the movie was over, dinner was ready and everyone gathered in the dining area. I offered to say grace, we said “amen”, and we savored the meal in each other’s company. To my surprise, it truly was enjoyable. There was actually no tension between myself and my Father. My oldest niece surprised us with a little Christmas performance on her violin. Then, at last, the opening of the presents -- with the children going first. For the first time in a long time, this holiday evening with my family was genuinely peaceful. Naturally, once we return to the hotel, I expect Father’s impossibly high standards to resurface, but for now… I am at ease.
If only Caleigh and Henri were here. . .Chapter I: Finally, the Introduction!
We will, we will, we will…
Rise again.
We will, we will, we will…
Rise again.
Hey, hey,
Say a prayer!
(Ooooo…)
Hey, hey,
Say a prayer!
(Ooooo…)
This is a fight to the death!
“They call this a promotional video… or a promo for short.”Before the camera, Nathaniel Dixon stands within the master bedroom of his penthouse suite. Through the large windows, the viewers are treated to the beautiful scenery of Coronado Island of San Diego, California. The island is lively on the Eve of the New Year. It is nearly time for 2022 to begin. From this floor, Coronado’s coastline is visible even at night. The wide, sandy beaches with sparkling sand, the elegant gardens, the old-world mansions, quaint shops, and oceanfront dining.
“In Spanish, Coronado means
the crowned one. How fitting for a paradise.”
Nathaniel smiles as the camera’s visual changes to a wide panoramic view. His bedroom is a lovely twist of classy and modern. The California king-sized bed is perfectly made, the black carpet is soft and clean, the furniture is ultra-modern, and the decor is of the highest class. Speaking of class, he’s sharply dressed to the nines tonight. He places his right hand over his heart and politely bows.
“Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nathaniel Elijah-Alexander Dixon, Owner of Dixon Corporate Enterprises and, more importantly, the Intellectual Evolution of New Frontier Wrestling. To be precise, I am a wrestler for their blue brand, Trauma.
Now I know what you’re thinking.
What in the world is going on? Well, it was back on the fifth episode of Victory, the biweekly program of Pro Wrestling Excellence. After Annihilation, their retaining Excellence Champion, Damian Ayla, has been left without a challenger. He doesn’t believe anyone in his own company is worthy of becoming the number one contender for his title. Such arrogance is to be
praised. However, he seemed displeased by the guest wrestlers on the company’s very first pay-per-view. He claimed the following.”
He snaps his fingers and, right on cue, the visual is overtaken by a specific video clip on Victory V.
“Sure, those people were guests, but they wanted adoration at our expense. I cannot have that. I believe I speak for the entirety of this company -- outside from some profuse individuals -- when I say that their actions were unacceptable. Pro Wrestling Excellence isn’t a vehicle for other companies to gain some prestige.”Then the visual returns to the Lord of Charisma who chuckles softly.
“Do you know what that tells me, Mr. Ayla?
You’re afraid. Your words bleed insecurity. You fear someone outshining you. But wait! There is something else that you said.”
Another snap of his fingers. Another clip from the same part of Victory V.
“Open up the doors, invite anyone who thirsts for opportunity, and have them compete in whatever match you see fit. Let them eliminate each other until one last person is standing. And then…you have my new number one contender.”Back again. A smile on the verge of wickedness grows on Nathaniel’s face.
“A little backpedaling, but regardless, you opened up the dance floor, and I do enjoy the tango of the squared circle. It is as I said
on the social media known as Twitter: I am not underestimating or undermining anyone in PWE or any of the invited. I really am looking forward to this.
We’re en route to Victory VII: Reach Heaven. Quite a name for the show, don’t you think? It’s poetic. Seven. Heaven.
Haha. The Excellence Invitational is set and the matches are as follows.
Alice versus Ernie Spencer. Curious.
Vhodka Black versus Delia Black. Any relation? Perhaps, perhaps not.
Yours truly versus Jensen Kidd. I’ll get back to you momentarily, dear.
Chris Page versus Taylor Blazer. Fascinating, really.
Allen Chaney versus Wraith. No, he’s not a
real wraith.
No, he’s not a real comedian.Ten participants. Five will leave the seventh episode victorious. How does it narrow down from there? I suppose we’re all in the dark, without the answer to the question.”
A thoughtful look surfaces on his facial features.
“I do enjoy a good mystery.”
He smiles a genuine smile.
“So then, Miss Kidd… no, wait. That sounds odd. I shall address you as Miss Jensen, then. I hope you don’t mind. The Geektress from Miracle World.
How cute. I’ve done a little research. Your achievements are… rather vague. You’ve won gold everywhere you have been and yet there are no companies listed, no information on the titles…”
He raises an eyebrow.
“Is the information redacted? Is this a joke? What does your résumé look like? Or… and in my opinion, this is the biggest possibility…
Are you a liar?I know, I know. That’s a bold question. I’m not trying to devalue you, Miss Jensen. I want to know the list of companies and the names of the titles you’ve won in them. Simply put -- I want evidence. Without it, it makes you look…
fake. Anyone can conjure a false list of achievements and reanimate it to be vague. Do you have something to hide? Are you ashamed?
I, myself, have no real accomplishments in the wrestling industry. I was once the co-owner of a short-lived wrestling company, East Coast Wrestling Alliance, ECWA for short. It was an old-school traditional sort of federation. The men wrestled the men. The women wrestled the women. Oh, believe me, that was
not a part of my design. The old-timer, the majority holder of the company, was the one who decided this was how ECWA was going to function.”
Disappointedly, he shakes his head with a soft
tsk.“He wonders why the company failed. But I digress. Beyond co-ownership, I have never held a single championship. Not once. I was a contender for the NFW Undisputed Championship at Sudden Death II, but alas… I was bested by the Demon King in a stipulation match of my choosing. This is something I fully intend to change in the new year.
You know the saying
‘all good things come to those who wait’? I refuse to wait, Miss Jensen.
Don’t get me wrong, I am biding my time. I am observant of everything that goes on around me. But similar to a game of Chess, I am moving my pieces very carefully, setting up for the perfect opportunities with the best-case scenarios. My strategies are created for the sake of victory. My genius knows no bounds. My set of skills is quite pristine.
You are simply the first in my way.
You’re the pawn of this round.Oh yes, this is outside of your element. This is no video game; you don’t have access to cheat codes for unlimited lives. You don’t have the luxury of pressing the reset button if everything goes wrong, and believe me…
This is already going horribly wrong for you, my dear.Mr. Ayla described it as ‘thirst’, but that’s far too simple for my personal taste.
I am starving for my first-ever championship.Young lady, I wish you the best of luck.
You’re going to need it.”
There’s a fire in his eyes and a leering grin on his face. A snap of his fingers and everything is dark.
Chapter I: End
