Solace Tatum
Full Member
First Class General Manager
"Don't Take It Personal..."
Posts: 117
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Post by Solace Tatum on Dec 11, 2021 14:43:42 GMT
RP RULES:
3 Roleplay MAX, 5K Word Limit per RP.
(5001 words = Disqualification)
FIRST NIGHT (December 26th, 2021)
Soft Deadline: 11:59 PM EST, December 19th, 2021.
-Must RP or will only get 1 RP Total
-Must be cold open (No response to opponent's First RP)
-Failure to post Cold Open/RP before Soft Deadline results in 1 RP max.
Hard Deadline: 11:59 PM EST, December 25th, 2021.
-If you RPed a cold open before soft deadline, you can now post a 2nd and 3rd at any time before hard deadline.
-Remember, if you go over 1 word, your RP will be discounted. |
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Post by Ethan Rivers on Dec 14, 2021 20:18:35 GMT
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Post by Marcus Van Clarkus on Dec 20, 2021 4:15:14 GMT
Breaking and Remaking
---------------------------------------- Dallas, Texas 3 weeks ago ----------------------------------------
Grimacing, a forced exhale squeezed its way through clinched teeth as he lowered himself into the leather recliner and waited for the shooting pain in his lower back to subside. Slowly releasing his grip on the well-worn arms of the chair, the white on Teddy Shaw’s knuckles faded to flesh tone again, his eyes eventually returning to the expansive glass cabinet before him. Surveying the vast collection of shimmering gold belts, he began his daily ritual of revisiting the past.
So many moments…
Vivid memories of triumph and glory turned like film reels in Teddy’s mind, the feeling of elation dissipating as quickly as it washed over him with each recollection of victory. His prolonged stare went blurry momentarily, finally coming into focus on the reflection of a broken man robbed of something precious. Archived highlights were all that remained of his formidable talents now – a career quickly shrinking in the rearview mirror of his memory.
Not exactly how I pictured retirement.
Daisy Shaw watched her husband of 17 years from the kitchen, a look of growing concern upon on her pretty face. She had noticed Teddy’s visits to his trophy room were more frequent and prolonged lately. Trips intended to bring some mild degree of comfort were mere pathways to a rapidly deepening depression.
He’s getting worse.
She was startled by the sharp ringing of the phone on the counter beside her and moved quickly to pick it up.
“Hello?”
---------------------------------------- Madison Square Garden 3 years ago ----------------------------------------
Furious cheering erupted throughout the arena as the two competitors simultaneously pulled themselves atop the immense steel enclosure doming the ring. The exhausted rivals found one another’s gazes and began to stumble their way across the chain-link fencing, which flexed beneath their feet.
Chuck: Just when you didn’t think things could get any wilder folks, these two ring warriors ratchet it up another notch by taking the match to the roof of the Battledome!
Barry: They’re not even supposed to be up there, Chuck! And they wouldn’t be if Teddy Shaw hadn’t superkicked Ronnie Reynolds through that cage door! And you know he did that on purpose to get out!
Chuck: Of course, he did, Barry! He’s giving these fans what they want. That’s why he’s “The Big Draw!”
The two finally clashed right above the center of the ring, with Teddy blocking Ronnie’s haymaker attempt and countering with a swift knee to the gut. Throwing a quick forearm uppercut, he followed it with a cascade of vicious alternating knifechops to Ronnie’s chest. Clutching his upper torso in pain, Ronnie turned momentarily, before walking straight into a double-leg missile dropkick that sent him hard onto the fenced roof of the dome. Immediately springing to his feet, Teddy’s arms shot up into the air, his hands forming a circle above his head and motioning a slow descent.
Chuck: And Teddy’s calling for the Texas Sunset! If he hits this it’s over, Barry!
Barry: He better hope that fencing doesn’t give out, Chuck… those steel steps Ronnie tossed into the ring earlier are right underneath them!
As Ronnie struggled to stand again, Teddy took three swift strides and in one perfectly timed fluent motion grabbed Ronnie’s head and executed a cutter face drop. As Teddy’s body landed the piece of fencing burst beneath him and the brackets holding it in place exploding off the piping, sending him plummeting in a 20-foot freefall before awkwardly landing on his back upon the edge of the steel stairs. There was a collective gasp as fans looked on in horrified shock at the motionless body of Teddy Shaw on the ring canvas.
----------------------------------------
“Sweetheart?”
The soft drawl of a familiar voice pulled him from his daze, and he eventually came to notice Daisy’s outstretched arm holding the phone towards him. Without even looking at her, Teddy took the phone, sighing as he brought it to his ear.
“Howdy.”
“Good morning, Mr. Shaw. How is your back feeling today?”
Teddy paused before answering, glancing up at Daisy with a forced smirk, wondering who exactly was on the other end of the call this time. He cleared his throat before answering in his deep, raspy voice.
“The back’s fine, thanks. Not sure who I’m speakin’ with tho’.”
“Forgive me. My name is Jacob Nissim, and we both know your back is… not fine. But I’d like to change that, Mr. Shaw.”
“I’m sure ya do. But I ain’t interested in whatever wraps, creams or fancy support suspenders yer sellin’ this week, so I’ll save ya the spiel.”
A mild chuckle filled Teddy’s ear.
“I’m not a vacuum salesman, Mr. Shaw. I own Zion Pharmaceuticals and I’ve developed a drug I believe can improve your condition… a great deal.”
Teddy’s skepticism gushed unapologetically. “I’m on a good half-dozen rainbow candies already there, compadre. I ain’t lookin’ to add one more to my diet.”
“How about one that could return you to the ring? Would that interest you, Mr. Shaw?”
Teddy fell silent as a sensation pulsed through his body from head to toe, one he had not felt for a long time – the raw offering of hope. But as quickly as the feeling of possibility had rush over him an ambush of doubts shouted he was being teased with a cruel offer too good to be true.
“Sure, I’d be interested… if there were such a thing.”
“I understand your skepticism. Specialist after specialist has told you there is no procedure to fix your back. And they’re right. The doctors cannot fix you, Mr. Shaw. But I can. If you come see me in New York I promise to answer all your questions. My question for you is, Do you want your life back?”
There was another brief silence before Teddy answered as Jacob’s question had touched his deepest ache.
“When do ya wanna meet?”
“How about this afternoon?”
“You know I live in Texas, right?” Teddy asked sarcastically.
“There’s a car waiting in your driveway to take you to the airport where a private jet will fly you out. You’ll be home in time for your wife to tuck you in, Mr. Shaw.”
Teddy’s eyes glanced up at a perplexed looking Daisy who had only been hearing one side of the conversation the entire time. He would have some questions to answer when he hung up.
“It’s Teddy. And tell your man in the car I’ll be out in 5 minutes.”
---------------------------------------- Zion Pharmaceuticals HQ New York City 4 hours later ----------------------------------------
The pristine white and sophisticated, yet simple, design of everything in view gave the Zion Pharmaceutical building a utopian feel, yet it left Teddy with a lingering numbness. The chair he now sat in was also white, the spotless surface making him wonder if he were the first person to ever sit in it. The door into the excessively large office quietly slid open and the light clacking of dress shoes echoed off the tile floor as a handsome young man with olive skin entered the room bearing a very pleased expression.
“Mr. Shaw, we meet at last!”
Teddy began the arduous process of getting up to greet his host.
Jacob raised his right hand. “Please don’t trouble yourself. As my guest I want you as comfortable as possible.”
“Alrighty then,” Teddy replied with a short nod and eased back against the cushion in noticeable discomfort despite his best effort to hide it.
“I appreciate you making the trip on such short notice. I’ve been eager to talk to you for some time, but timing is everything as they say. And the time has now come.”
“The time for what exactly?” Teddy said rather bluntly.
“For you to get back where you belong, of course.”
“So why do I have this feelin’ there’s more to it than that?” Teddy asked with a squint.
Jacob was unphased. “You sound awfully skeptical for a man who just jumped into a stranger’s plane and flew across the country at a moment’s notice.”
“Beg yer pardon, amigo, but the world’s kinda in a spot these days and there’s a lot of questions floatin’ ‘round ‘bout who ya can trust. So, when a stranger calls ya up and says he’s got a new magic pill to fix all yer problems, it does sound a tad suspicious don’t ya think?”
“And yet… here you are,” Jacob smiled.
They stared at each other a moment before Jacob continued, casually strolling over to the massive window displaying the Manhattan skyline.
“Most of my life I’ve been fascinated by the possibility of science and medicine to heal the human body. The advances we have made in the last decade alone are remarkable. For a few years now I’ve working on a drug that could successfully halt the effects of Alzheimer’s disease so people could keep their memory… and in doing so keep their lives. But then… I started wondering if instead of simply making a drug that could make the brain maintain communication between the neurons and keep the synapses firing and memories intact, what if we could better activate the brain’s ability to actually heal the body?”
Jacob turned on his heel to face Teddy.
“The human brain is a living computer exponentially more powerful than any processor developed by humankind. And we know that it is grossly underutilized by all of us. What if we could ‘turn on’ as it were parts of the human brain that in essence would send stronger signals to the body to heal itself – to regenerate itself even?”
“That’s what this magic pill of yours does?” Any hint of sarcasm had disappeared from Teddy’s voice.
“In principle, yes. The drug flips a switch in the brain to reprogram the body and put the genetic code back in a specific order – the result of which is regeneration. I’m sure you can begin to see how this would change medical science forever.”
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Teddy commented with a half-smile.
“Only if you refuse my offer, Mr. Shaw.” Jacob tilted his head slightly and raised his eyebrows while smiling again.
“What about side effects? How can ya be so sure this drug of yers doesn’t flip any of the wrong switches upstairs?” Teddy asked, tapping his temple twice.
Jacob smiled again having anticipated the question. “The drug is designed to tell the brain to send particular signals only – to target the damaged cells in the body and repair them. We’ve been running lab tests for several weeks now without any signs of concern. The cellular regeneration we’ve seen at the micro level is astonishing! The next step is clinical trials, but that could take months and even years of bureaucratic red tape and delays. This drug is far too important to wait for the approval of government officials with partisan interests. We need to move NOW! Imagine what this drug could do for people suffering with long-term effects of COVID-19? Imagine what a greater hope it holds out than a moderately effective vaccine?”
“I get it yer some kinda idealist then?”
“No, Mr. Shaw. I’m an optimist. I believe in possibility and the pursuit of possibility.”
Teddy was nodding with his bottom lip stuck out. “So why me?” he asked, shrugging his shoulders.
“Your name was on a list with a select few other well-knowns. But in the end, you were chosen because to me you’re the epitome of the hard-working man whose life has been stolen by happenstance. No one should lose everything ‘just because’. Second chances should be possible.” Jacob paused. “I’m offering you that second chance.”
Teddy looked down at the floor, carefully considering the wager before him. After a prolonged moment he grunted painfully as he stood and awkwardly made his way over to join Jacob at the window.
“Not a day goes by I don’t feel cheated by fate or destiny, or whatever the hell you wanna call it... As far as I’m concerned, I’ve got unfinished business to attend to. So how about I get to signin’ whatever needs signin’ so I can get back to doin’ what I do best and make y’all look good in the process?”
A triumphant grin began to spread on Jacob’s face. “I’ll have my assistant bring in the paperwork, Mr. Shaw.”
Jacob offered his hand and Teddy shook it firmly.
“It’s Teddy.”
“Just one more thing… part of our deal will require you to sign a non-disclosure agreement. I’m afraid you can’t tell anyone about the drug yet, not even your wife. The matter needs to stay confidential as we complete the process of your own body’s regeneration before making any kind of public announcement. I’m sure you understand.”
“You get me back in that ring, boss, and my lips’ll be tighter than your accountant’s ass cheeks.”
---------------------------------------- 6 hours later ----------------------------------------
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been standing at the sink staring down his reflection in the mirror, but it had been while. Teddy hated the man looking back at him. He was weak… incapable… compromised. Even in defeat he had always picked himself up, walked out of the ring in his own strength and got back to work. But that night in the Garden… he was carried out. Like a carcass.
You are nothing now.
Teddy held up the pill and examined it again. Its smooth, flawless white surface promised to cleanse away the stain of the last three years – to render his present condition extinct. This drug meant wiping away these hollow days like dry erase marker so he could rewrite the end of his career properly. Hesitantly he brought the pill towards his mouth and then stopped.
What if this don’t work…
He peered down his nose at the tiny circle mere inches from his mouth.
You’ve got nothin’ to lose and everything to gain…
Before he could change his mind Teddy popped the pill into the back of his mouth and washed it down with quick gulp of water. His heartrate quickened as he looked down at his body, anxiously awaiting a physical effect of some kind that never came.
“Well… that was a letdown.”
Picking up the unmarked bottle of pills he carefully tucked it in behind the large assortment of other pain killers in the medicine cabinet and closed the mirror door. He shuffled out of the bathroom and made his way to the bed, where Daisy was already lying under the giant duvet cover.
“You gonna tell me what today was all about or just make me lose sleep over it like usual?”
“Oh that… uhh… just a business opportunity that was super time sensitive. Somethin’ too good to pass up.”
“If it gets you out of this house, I’m all for it. You’ve been cooped up in here for weeks, sweetheart. It’s really starting to worry me!”
“I’m fine darlin’, really. Just been doin’ some soul searchin’ that’s all.”
“Oh yeah? And what did you find?”
Teddy stared up at the ceiling, his mind still reeling from the bizarre and unexpected happenings of the day.
“That sometimes... you gotta believe in second chances. Tomorrow, I’ll be a new man.”
---------------------------------------- 3 weeks later ----------------------------------------
The metal plates rattled against one another as Teddy racked the barbell with a satisfied grunt and stepped out from under it.
“Been awhile since my legs sizzled like that I tell ya!”
“All right that’s it for the B-roll footage. Catch your breath and then we’ll cut the promo,” said the cameraman, fiddling with a few buttons on his unit while Teddy emptied the contents of his water bottle.
Just then Daisy entered the home gym, peering around at in confusion at the cameramen before locking eyes on Teddy, who was holding the ends of a towel that hung around his neck.
“Teddy… what’s going on?”
“The show’s going on darlin’! And you’re just in time for the big moment.”
“Tell me you were NOT just lifting that,” she said pointing to the barbell.
“Liftiin’? Try crushin’!” Teddy smirked.
“Teddy, you’re gonna destroy your back again! You can’t be doing that!”
“Relax, Dais. My back’s fit as fiddle.”
Daisy opened her mouth, but she was stopped short by Teddy stepping in real close to her, his eyes sparkling like she hadn’t seen in years.
“I know it’s crazy to believe, but my back’s been healed. Ain’t that what you and the ladies at church been prayin’ for the last three years?"
“Well… yeah, but…” she said shaking her head still at a loss for words.
“What’s with all the doubts then? Shouldn’t we be all full of faith and gratitude and stuff?”
“Ready to roll when you are Teddy,” interrupted the cameraman.
“Why are these camera crews here?”
“For the big announcement.” Teddy turned to the cameraman and nodded.
Before Daisy could respond the cameraman started the countdown and then pointed to Teddy.
“Well, hello there world. Been a few years since I spoke to y’all through a camera. If ya thought the show was over, shame on ya… cause one thing “The Big Draw” never does is disappoint. Yeah, I was gone for awhile, but not by choice. Turns out the universe felt my hiatus was long enough because I’m all healed up and ready to dance. And since the holidays are comin’, I thought I’d give y’all a gift and announce my return to wrestling.”
“WHAT?!?” Daisy burst out offscreen.
“That’s right, “The Big Draw” is back and I’ve officially entered the Ice Crown Tournament that starts Boxing Day. It’ll be Christmas all over again when I enter that ring. WOO!”
Teddy swung the towel about his head a couple of times.
“Some of you are thinkin’, ‘Isn’t Teddy done? Didn’t he wreck his back and retire? I thought he couldn’t wrestle no more.’ Well guess what? Sometimes miracles happen. Sometimes things you can’t explain open doors you thought were closed. Sometimes you get a second chance. The truth is my back is mighty fine and I’m comin’ to this tourney to remind everybody I’m not just top dog in one company, I’m the alpha of ‘em all!
So, who exactly is my lucky dance partner for round one? That’d be Ethan Rivers. Ethan, you prob’ly thought ya won the lotto when ya drew me to kick things off. ‘Sweet! I got the geezer with the bad back. Cake walk!’ But let me explain how this works, son. What you think is good luck I call damn fine marketing. See, the higher ups can’t have “The Big Draw” eliminatin’ one of the bigger names in the first round of the tourney. So they give me you. And ya should be grateful ‘cause I’m ‘bout to give ya the finest hands-on instruction you’ll ever get, amigo. So pay attention and ya might learn a few things.
I can already hear what you’re gonna say: I’m old, you’re young; I’m slow, you’re fast. I’m yesterday’s news; you’re tomorrow’s headlines. Let’s get one thing straight: I was at the top of my game when I got hurt. No steady decline, no string of losses, no hangin’ on too long. Last time I walked into that ring I was the champ. I rolled the dice and paid the price as they say. And if the universe decided to heal me so I could get back in the ring it sure as hell wasn’t to fall to you in the first round."
Sure kid, you’ve won a few matches and you seem to have some talent too. I ain’t disputin’ that. Ya came flyin’ outta the gate and you may just get yer hands on some gold soon enough. But don’t think for a minute that puts ya in the same class as me. Not even close. Potential ain’t the same as performance. Ya can only measure one of those things, and my track record speaks for itself. I’m the measuring stick in this tourney and yer gonna fall short like everyone else. You haven’t a clue what I’m rockin’ with!"
“The Big Draw” Teddy Shaw is back, and this is just the first of many moments y’all can thank me for later."
“And that’s a wrap! Great job, Teddy. So good to have you back man!” The cameraman started packing up his gear.
Daisy immediately strode angrily over to Teddy.
“What the HELL are you doing??? You weren’t gonna talk to me first?”
“I wanted it to be a surprise.”
“A SURPRISE?!? Teddy if you get hurt again, you might never walk!”
“I ain’t gonna get hurt again!”
“You don’t know that! Why did you- I just don’t understand you!” She said defeated.
Teddy pulled her in tight and got nose to nose. “This is my chance.”
“Chance for what?”
“To go out the way I want to and ride off into the sunset.”
“Teddy this isn’t the movies! You had a great career. You’re a legend to these people. Isn’t that enough? Aren’t I enough?”
He simply looked unwaveringly into her eyes and spoke quietly. “Come on darlin’, we can’t go out like that. I want ya by my side for this one. Just one more ride.”
She closed her eyes and sighed, resting her head on his sweaty chest.
“For what it’s worth… I can’t wait to see ya ringside in that push-up bra of yers again, Mrs. Shaw.
---------------------------------------- Washington, D.C. 3 minutes ago ----------------------------------------
Special Agent Keaton Finch exited the FDA Office of Criminal Investigations building and took a quick drag of his newly lit cigarette before letting a car pass as he crossed the street to the hotdog stand. The vendor, a stocky man in his mid-50s wearing a faded Boston Red Sox ballcap, saw Finch approaching and smirked.
“Lemme guess… Sausage with extra fried onions?”
“You realize you ask me that every time right, Frank?” Finch replied flatly, digging into his trousers pocket for some cash.
“Ya… I’m just hoping one day you’ll stop being so boring and try somethin’ else.” Frank handed him his order on a napkin and took the crumpled dollar bills.
“People are predictable, myself included” Finch replied, smothering his sausage with mustard.
“No kiddin’. I predict I’m gonna run outta mustard before the days over.”
Finch glanced at the small black and white TV and antenna resting on a milk crate behind Fred and pointed. “And I predict they’re going to make color TVs one day.” He took a big bite as Frank scoffed and gave his attention momentarily to the screen.
“…Sad news in the world of professional football today as former star quarterback Tony “Primetime” Klein was found dead in his Manhattan apartment earlier this morning. The 2-time Superbowl Champion reportedly overdosed in what police are calling a suicide and no foul play is suspected. Klein will forever be remembered for his larger-than-life personality both on and off the field and his love of the spotlight before a career ending back injury forced him into retirement at the early age of 29.”
“Primetime offed himself… can you believe that?” came Frank’s reaction as he adjusted his cap and shook his head in disbelief.
“In other breaking sports news, “The Big Draw” Teddy Shaw announced he will come out of retirement to compete in the upcoming IIW Ice Crown Tournament starting on Boxing Day. The news comes as a major shock to wrestling fans as the legend’s career ended very suddenly after severely injuring his back during a match.”
“Hot damn… both these guys break their backs, one guy punches out and the other’s making a comeback. Crazy world we live in, huh, Finch?”
Finch finished chewing and swallowed, before wiping mustard off his chin, his eyes remaining fixed on the tiny screen.
“Crazy world indeed.”
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Post by Ethan Rivers on Dec 23, 2021 4:59:51 GMT
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Post by Marcus Van Clarkus on Dec 23, 2021 16:40:43 GMT
Phantoms and Shadows
-------------------------------------------------- FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Washington, D.C. --------------------------------------------------
Special Agent Keaton Finch was staring deep in thought at his computer monitor, clicking his pen lid up and down with his thumb like a metronome. His internet browser had more than two dozen tabs open, all of them assorted news articles around the career-ending back injuries of Tony “Primetime” Klein and “The Big Draw” Teddy Shaw.
Where’s the thread…
A tall gangly man carrying a paper cup of fresh coffee filled dangerously close to the brim walked by Finch’s desk but then backtracked when he noticed the growing stack of files that had begun accumulating on the edge of the desk.
“You going to do something with those files, Finch? They’re starting to pile up buddy.”
Tom Feldman had been Finch’s colleague at the FDA the last 8 years and had acquired a reputation around the office as someone who stuck his nose in his co-workers business far too often. Finch wasn’t a fan.
“Worry about your own files, Tom,” he replied coldly without looking over. Tom scowled and walked away shaking his head. The phone on Finch’s desk lit up and he took one more glance at his computer screen before answering. “This is Finch.”
“Agent Finch, this is Derek Fuller, coroner with the NYPD. You called a couple days ago about Tony Klein?”
“Yeah, thanks for calling me back. You find anything interesting?” Finch asked leaning back slightly in his chair.
“That’s one word for it. Everything checked out pretty typical of a drug overdose in regard to his vital organs, but when I was examining his brain tissue, I noticed something… odd. Some of his neural pathways were noticeably more developed than normal. They looked… enhanced.”
“Enhanced?” Finch was now leaning forward and placed both elbows on his desk.
“That’s the only word I can think for it. They were more robust than his other pathways, which would indicate to me they were functioning at a much higher level to send stronger signals to the body, not sure what for. Can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like this before, or even heard of it.”
“No kidding…”
“I also found faint traces of phantom pathways, which are basically pathways with no identifiable source or purpose. They just… happen at random. Very sporadic and markedly intense.”
“Sounds like there’s a lot more going on here than too many sleeping pills.”
“Without question. But there was something else… I examined his spinal column, which isn’t a normal procedure for an autopsy, but I remember watching the game when Primetime got hurt and I just wanted to see what the surgeon had done-” He cut himself off and hesitated with his next statement.
“And?” Finch was now on the edge of his chair.
“And his spine was perfectly healthy. There was no sign of any prior injury at all. No vertebrae damage, no scar tissue on his discs. Nothing. It was flawless. I can’t explain it. I felt like I was seeing…”
Finch’s head turned to the right and stared again at an image of Teddy Shaw on his computer screen.
“A miracle.” Finch said, finishing Derek’s sentence.
--------------------------------------------------
The camera fades in upon a figure decked out in a heavy-duty snow suit and ski goggles hanging perilously from what appears to be the side of an icy mountain. A furious wind blows snow into his reddened face and clumps of ice have gathered throughout his now frozen beard. A close-up shot reveals it to be none other than “The Big Draw” Teddy Shaw. Swinging his ice pick in a high looping motion he drives the blade deep into the wall and pulls himself up another couple of feet before desperately reaching for the mountain summit.
“Must… get… to… the top!”
Teddy continues to struggle, willing himself up with one final pull. Exhausted, he rolls over and staggers to his feet, raising his arms in triumph while bellowing to the skies.
“Ya see that Ethan Rivers?! I reached the Summit! I scaled the Pinnacle! I climbed the mountain no other wrestler has managed to climb! Because “The Big Draw” ALWAYS delivers what no one else can!”
Suddenly the shot cuts to a wider angle that reveals Teddy standing atop a mere six-foot-high pile of snow labeled ‘Mount Rivers’ located in what appears to be a sunny local hockey arena parking lot. Several large industrial fans blow artificial snow around to mimic a blizzard. Teddy’s arms slowly drop to his sides as he takes in his less than epic surroundings.
“Welllll…. not exactly much of a trek now was it?” Teddy said with a frown. “Ethan Rivers, yer blowin’ so much hot air I’m startin’ to think I oughta train in a wind tunnel!"
“The truth is yer no mountain to climb, Ethan. Not even close. That ole’ weasel, Joshy Peckerwood, has ya believin’ after just 4 matches that ya’ve already arrived in this business, like the rest of us might as well not bother showin’ up to the tourney. The Pinnacle of Professional Wrestlin’… ya gotta be kiddin’ me! Ya looked at that undefeated streak of yers and made a mountain outta a molehill, son. Hell, that kid’s popsicle over there is gonna last longer than yer career has so far."
The camera cuts momentarily to a random boy looking on from the sidewalk, struggling to slurp up what’s left of his quickly dissolving frozen treat as it crumbles and falls to the ground.
“Awww that’s a shame. Tell ya what, kid… I’ll buy ya another popsicle if ya can tell me one reason Ethan Rivers don’t stand a chance against “The Big Draw.”
The boy’s nose scrunched up. “Ethan who?”
Teddy erupted into laughter. “For that answer, kid, I’ll buy ya a new bike!”
A look of pure excitement overtakes the boy’s face.
“Ethan, for a guy who watched me a bunch growin’ up, ya sure didn’t pay attention none. Ya, yer right, I won a whole lotta titles over the years. And ya, there were moments I lost those titles, after some good long runs I might add. The part ya seemed to miss is how I got right back to winnin’ again. Right back to climbin’. And I’ve made that climb maaaany times. See unlike you, I’ve been to the top. I know what it takes to get there again and again and AGAIN. That’s why I’m a MULTI-time champion and yer just a title hopeful. During a 16-year career yer gonna take some losses. Yer gonna have some bad nights. But how ya bounce back is what defines ya, which is why it’s water off a duck’s back when a greenhorn like you starts comin’ at me about somethin’ ya know nothin’ about. Ya don’t know the first thing ‘bout losin’ and since it’s Christmas I’m gonna give ya the greatest gift of yer career: defeat.
“I learned long ago that losin’ is the best teacher. It makes ya ask questions. Shows yer weaknesses. Teaches ya to make changes. But only if yer teachable. Every time I lost, I came back better, won bigger, and was champion longer. So ya can stop lecturin’ me ‘bout wins and losses ‘cause yer opinion reeks worse than a Thanksigivin’ turkey fart! My fear is ya ain’t so teachable, compadre, no matter how badly I beat yer ass on Sunday. Shame too… ‘cause yer pretty darn good already, but nothin’ keeps a man from becomin’ great like thinkin’ he’s already great. And ya sure seem to have a whole lotta that goin’ on. Youth has a way of makin' ya think yer invincible and that ya gotta try to convince everybody ya are. But on Sunday I'm gonna show the whole world yer not.
“See, kid… ya been plenty hungry, but ya ain’t been desperate yet. Ya don’t know what it’s like to lose it all… to lose the ability to compete and battle and achieve. To fight for what’s yers in life and hold nothin’ back. Ya ain't lived long enough to know life takes things away sometimes. Ya don’t know ‘bout second chances and how damn precious they are. Ya got no sense of knowin’ ya can’t afford to screw somethin’ up. Come Sunday, yer skill just won’t hold up against my will.
Ethan, just face it… in this tourney yer a dinky lil’ snow pile and I’m EVEREST! I don’t gotta climb you, kid… YOU gotta climb me. And that just ain’t gonna happen.”
Teddy walked down off the snow hill towards the boy.
“Alright kid, let’s go get ya that bike.”
--------------------------------------------------
Daisy Shaw emerged from the walk-in closet with a small stack of various colored leggings and added them to the meticulously folded piles already packed in her suitcase. Flipping the lid closed she zipped it up and set it beside her carry-on bag near the bedroom door.
“Oops! Almost forgot the toiletries…” she said to herself, making her way to the bathroom.
Opening her side of the medicine cabinet, Daisy transferred a couple handfuls of personal hygiene items into the beige case. Moving to Teddy’s side, she reached for his toothbrush but stopped short when noticing the numerous bottles of prescription pain killers lining the top shelf. Picking one up she began to recollect the pain of the last three years since Teddy’s injury – the first weeks at the hospital, the agonizing physio treatments, the long sleepless nights. And then the moment the doctors told Teddy he’d never wrestle again. It had been a kind of hell for both of them up until recently.
She was still struggling to come to grips with his sudden miraculous recovery. Teddy was right. She had been asking God for years to heal him, but like many people, was surprised to actually have her prayer answered. Teddy had come full circle from where he’d been a few weeks ago. Not only was his body restored, but he had also bounced back full of vigor. Wasn’t this what she wanted? To have him back?
“Guess he won’t be needing these anymore.” She began emptying the top shelf onto the counter, pausing momentarily to look at the last pill bottle, which strangely was unlabeled. Scooping up all the bottles between her hands she carried them out and tossed them on the bed.
“Daisy?” echoed Teddy’s voice from the hallway.
“In the bedroom, sweetheart,” she called back.
“There ya are!” he said grinning as he entered the bedroom. “I tell ya, I near outdid myself today with that promo I cut, darlin’. We went to this arena, and I was pretendin’ to climb a mo-” Teddy fell silent when he noticed the bottles and his expression and voice grew dead serious. “What are ya doin’ with those?”
“Oh, I was gonna drop them off at the pharmacy since you don’t need them anymore.” Daisy picked up the unlabeled bottle. “This one isn’t labeled though.”
“Gimme that right now, Daisy” Teddy said, striding towards her and reaching out to take the bottle from her.
She turned away playfully with a smile, holding the bottle out away from him. “Not until tell me what these are.”
“I said gimme the bottle!” Teddy said with clenched teeth, the smile disappearing from Daisy’s face.
“Teddy, what are these?” She insisted with growing concern, seeing he was now starting to shake angrily. “Tell me what these are!”
He simply reached his trembling hand out to her and nodded.
“You’re taking these aren’t you?” Daisy uttered.
He stepped even closer to her. “I just need you… to give me… the pills.” There was a growing rage in his eyes.
“Teddy, you’re scaring me!” She said desperately. “You’re talking like an addict!”
“I’M NOT AN ADDICT!” He erupted. “I’M A WRESTLER! I NEED THOSE… TO WRESTLE!” In his anger he’d said too much.
She began to nod with her mouth agape. “I knew it... I knew something was off about this whole forsaken thing! There’s no miracle! You lied to me!”
“Who cares if it’s some damn miracle, Daisy! All that matters is that it gets me BACK IN THAT RING!”
“ALL you care about is that STUPID ring! All you’ve EVER cared about is that ring! And I’ve stood by and played the part of the supportive wife while YOU chased your dreams, thinking that one day you’d finally come around and love me more than those belts in your trophy case. But that’s all I am to you isn’t it, Teddy? Just another trophy in your cabinet to make YOU look good!”
“This is WHO I AM, Daisy! I laid around for three damn years like some crippled NOBODY! I was NOTHING! I HAD NOTHING!” he screamed.
“You had ME! And you could've had a family if you could see past your own pain and self-pity! I stuck around when everyone else stopped calling, stopped visiting, stopped caring! I took care of you, Teddy! Even now, I put my life on hold for this “miracle” comeback of yours, lying to myself again that this time you might notice me!” The tears were flowing steadily down Daisy’s cheeks. “Maybe this will finally get your attention...” Before Teddy could react, she darted to the bathroom and dumped the pills into the toilet.
“NO!!!” He lunged to stop her, but she had already flushed the drugs away. He stared panicking at the empty bowl as she exited the bathroom. Teddy chased after her, his temper exploding into a fury. “THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU WOMAN!!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU’VE DONE?!?” Teddy grabbed the nearby nightstand and launched it against the opposite wall, smashing their enlarged wedding photo to pieces.
Terrified, Daisy clutched her hands to her chest. Teddy panted angrily as he stared at her a moment, his eyes slowly beginning to clear while he peered at the gaping hole in the wall and the shattered picture frame on the floor, realizing what had just happened.
“I… I’m sor- I’m sorry, Daisy…” He shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. “Are you okay, darlin’?” Teddy stepped toward her but she pulled away from him.
“DON’T TOUCH ME!”
“I said I’m sorry. I just… lost control. I dunno why I did that…”
The tears continued down her cheeks as she looked upon him in disbelief. “I don’t know who you are anymore…” With that she wiped her eyes and grabbed her bags.
“Wait… where ya goin’, Dais? Our flight’s in-”
“Your flight. I’m leaving.”
“What?!” But I need ya there, darlin’!”
Daisy stopped and turned to face him one last time. “What you need… is help, Teddy. And you won’t get that while I’m around.” She turned and left the bedroom.
Teddy Shaw stood stunned by what had just transpired, his mind reeling as he tried to salvage the situation. His eyes darted back and forth around the room before he finally dug his phone clumsily out of his pocket and struggled to pull up his contact list with quaking hands. Finally locating the number he was looking for he dialed.
“Come on, pick up!”
The phone rang three times before a voice answered. “Mr. Shaw, what can I do for you?”
“Uhh, yeah, hi… Jacob… I’m uhhh… gonna need some more pills. I was uhh… tryin’ to open the bottle today and the lid slipped off all of a sudden and uhhh… a bunch fell in the toilet…” Teddy laughed nervously. “Total fluke… Murphy’s law, ya know!” The anxiety was quickly coiling around his chest and neck.
“These things do happen,” Jacob reassured him.
“I don’t need many… just uhhh… enough to finish the final cycle is all.” He took a deep breath, attempting to relax and slow his heart rate.
“Of course. Are you able to come to New York by any chance?”
“Yeah, no problem! I fly out from Dallas shortly with uhhh… 3-hour layover in New York on my way to Manchester. I could drop by the building there between flights.”
“Perfect. Are you okay, Mr. Shaw? You sound a bit… rattled.”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine uhh… just a little thrown off by the whole thing. Nothin’ I can’t handle.”
“I understand. I look forward to seeing you.”
“Same here.” Teddy ended the call. He surveyed the damage again and stressfully ran his hand through his hair. “What the hell is goin’ on…”
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Post by Ethan Rivers on Dec 25, 2021 21:36:25 GMT
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Post by Marcus Van Clarkus on Dec 26, 2021 4:57:22 GMT
Rabbit Holes and Terrors
--------------------------------------------------
Manhattan, NY Christmas Eve --------------------------------------------------
Detective Harvey Lopez of the NYPD turned the key in the lock and shoved the oversized penthouse door open, motioning flippantly for Special Agent Keaton Finch to enter first.
“After you, Spe-cial A-gent,” Lopez jabbed.
Finch could already tell Lopez didn’t like him and was unapologetic about showing it. Stepping inside the late Tony “Primetime” Klein’s Manhattan apartment, Finch took in the expansive open-concept layout, complete with 20-foot-high ceilings. The entire far wall was nothing but windows, providing a breathtaking view of the cityscape.
Walking slowly through the spacious kitchen, Finch did his best to take visual inventory of the room and flag anything out of the ordinary, but the counter was clear and the sink empty. Moving into the living room he noted the couches were rather crammed together and that’s when he saw the reason why. Filling the rest of the space was a large area packed full of top-of-the-line gym equipment. Scattered dumbbells littered the floor beneath a racked barbell loaded with several large plates on each side. Finch stopped and stared.
“Is this how you found the place?” he asked over his shoulder.
Lopez rolled his eyes. “Yeah. Not much to look at… as you can see,” he added condescendingly.
Finch approached the barbell and ran his fingers over the textured machine-etched pattern on the steel surface. “These weights look brand new.”
“How can you tell?”
“The grip pattern on the barbell is still quite rough. Hardly any wear. They smooth over time with frequent use.” He glanced over towards a puzzled looking Lopez, who had a rather sizeable gut hanging over his belt. “I take it you don’t get to the gym much?”
Lopez shrugged. “I got a bad back,” he retorted defensively.
“So did Tony Klein.” Finch turned back and quickly took note of the shiny black framing of the pull-up rig and bright colored weight plates. “So why would a guy with a mangled back buy a brand-new home gym… and be doing 300-pound backsquats?”
“The guy’s dead! Who cares how much he was squatting, or not squatting? “Primetime” Klein was a cocky prima donna. He probably bought the stuff just to make it look like he was working out.”
“Not a very sound theory in light of the evidence, Detective.” Finch replied matter of fact.
“What are you, Sherlock Holmes?” Lopez quipped.
Just then the movement of a figure passing by the still open penthouse door caught Finch’s eye and he quickly jogged over and out into the hallway. “Excuse me?!” A middle-aged woman in a stylish matching red skirt and jacket stopped and turned to face him with a rather annoyed expression. “Yeah hi, Miss. Special Agent Keaton Finch. Are you Tony Klein’s neighbor?”
“Yes, and I already gave my statement to the police. I’m running late for a Christmas party.” She turned to leave.
“Just one quick question, that’s all,” Finch pleaded, enough to make her stay a moment longer. “Did you ever hear any noise coming from the apartment? Any banging? Like someone was exercising?”
“There was plenty of banging the last few weeks, but it was the screaming in the middle of the night that was driving me crazy!”
“Screaming?” Finch was intrigued by this new revelation. Lopez finally joined Finch, breathing heavily.
“Yes, crazy loud screaming that woke me up almost every night last week. He must have been having night terrors or something. I told your partner here all of this the other day.”
Finch just glared at Lopez. “He’s not my partner. Thank you, Miss.” With that Finch turned and started making his way back to the apartment. Entering again he headed straight towards the stairs leading to the loft bedroom.
Lopez hurried after him. “Listen, ain’t you way outside your jurisdiction here D.C. boy? This was a clear-cut suicide. The guy popped too many sleepers and didn’t wake up the next morning. What does it matter if he was having nightmares? I don’t see how the FDA’s involved in any of this.”
“Just following a hunch.” Finch called back.
“Oh, that’s profound.” Lopez mocked.
Finch walked into the bedroom and stood at the foot of the bed, giving the room a quick once-over. Lopez entered, breathing even heavier having just tackled the stairs.
“He was lying on the left side of the bed when we found him… for the record,” Lopez said sarcastically.
Moving over beside the king-sized bed Finch looked curiously at the nightstand for a moment. Bending over he pulled open the drawer to reveal a worn brown leather Bible. Taking it out, he noticed something had been tucked in between its pages near the middle. He opened it up to discover an empty blister pack.
Lopez was on his tiptoes looking over Finch’s shoulder. “I’m guessing that’s the package for the sleeping pills...”
Finch smoothed out the punctured foil backing of the blister pack with his thumb, revealing the stamped words, ‘Zion Pharmaceuticals.’ He soon noticed a section on the page that was highlighted in bright yellow marker.
May the LORD answer you on the day of trouble; May the name of the God of Jacob defend you; May He send you help from the sanctuary, And strengthen you out of Zion. ~ Psalm 20:1-2 ~
The last line left Finch’s eyebrows raised.
“Are we done now? Or you gonna start preaching?” Lopez asked with mild exasperation.
Finch eyed the blister pack one more time. “Just one more stop if you wouldn’t mind, Detective.”
-------------------------------------------------- Rockefeller Center About the same time --------------------------------------------------
The image of an enormous brightly lit Christmas tree in a large square fills the screen, and the slight movement of the camera indicates someone is most likely filming on a cell phone.
"Ain't she a beauty?" comments Teddy's voice off camera. "People came from all over to see her at Christmas, all big, bright, and shiny. Quite a spectacle to behold. Ya might even say she's a big draw. Kinda like me." Teddy flips the camera and his trademark grin fills the screen.
"There's somethin' to be said about reputation and the skill required to deliver quality over and over again. Providin' moments so glorious it keeps people comin' back for more. Somethin' I always prided myself on was puttin' on a show for whoever bought a ticket. And night after night I delivered BIG! The fans chanted and cheered and we all went home happy. For sixteen amazin' years I did that in the Alpha Wrestlin' Empire, creatin' piles of moments and them stories'll be told for years to come.
"But as y'all know, all that moment makin' ended in the blink of an eye one fateful night. And for three loooong years, there was no "Big Draw" anymore to put on a spectacle and leave the fans in awe. Until now. So why return for the Ice Crown Tourney? Why not just go back to AWE where ole' Teddy is so beloved? Why not just go 'home'? Well, that would be easy right? Just slide right back in and do the familiar thing. Oh fans would love it like always, and it would be one helluva blast. All sentimental and nostalgic. But one thing I've always wanted was to test my metal against the other greats in this business. To find out who the BEST really is. Everyone knows my career lands me in that conversation whenever the question is raised, but the Ice Crown Tourney, well... that will pretty well answer it. Inter-promotional... Inter-gender... the greatest wrestlers on the planet fightin' for ONE CROWN. Marshall... Capello... Rayne... and a handful of young talent rewritin' the face of pro wrestlin'. Now that's somethin' worth tossing my hat in the ring for.
"So here we go then. Round one on Boxing Day. And once again I gotta address the broken record known as Ethan Rivers. Kid, ya really oughta learn to respect yer elders. Here I am makin' the greatest comeback in wrestlin' history at the ripe age of 40 and you got me dead and buried already, thinkin' you're deliverin' the eulogy and nibblin' egg salad sandwiches at the reception. Won't ya be surprised when my 'geriatric' boot busts yer pretty little teeth out and yer snivelin' rat manager is stuck bookin' yer dental work. Ethan, I ain't got a damn thing to prove to ya. I'm "The Big Draw"! Everyone already expects greatness when I step in the ring Sunday night. Despite what ya think, the pressure ain't on me to muster up anythin', it's on YOU to prove ya can actually tango with the big boys in this industry.
"See unlike you, I didn't bestow some savvy 'title' on myself to convince people I'm more than I am. "The Big Draw" was a name given to me because I sold out arenas all over the world and was the show of all shows the fans came to see. I put butts in the seats. The only butt ya ever put anywhere was your own, and that was in Attwood's face so he could kiss it some more. So stop talkin' like people are turnin' out Sunday to see if ya can keep that overblown win streak of yers in tact. They're showin' up for one reason, and one reason alone: to see Teddy Shaw take his rightful place at the TOP. And maybe just maybe when they're all chantin' my name before and after the bell, you'll finally realize you who I am and who YOU are compared to me. If yer runnin' scared from some kid's hack of a dad in the street over spilt ice cream, what the hell ya gonna do when you finally stand across from me?
"So since the sun is 'bout to set on yer win streak, and yer spot in this tourney, I suggest you go rub your pathetic little pecker off yer 2021 Newcomer of the Year Award one more time before the shit hits the fan, kid."
Teddy smiled to himself as he stopped recording and took a moment to post the video on his social media accounts.
--------------------------------------------------
"So lemme get this straight..." Lopez began. "You think there's some kinda miracle connection between "Primetime" Klein and Teddy Shaw... and now you're on some wild goose chase to expose Big Pharma in time for the evening news? Did I get that right? That's the most ridiculous thing I ever heard!"
Finch sighed under his breath in the passenger seat of the unmarked police sedan. "How else do you explain two of the greatest athletes in their sport sustaining career ending back injuries suddenly making impossible comebacks at basically the same time?"
"Who said Klein was even making a comeback? The guy's doing a few reps in his penthouse and suddenly that's a comeback?"
"Did you even TALK to the coroner at the NYPD?" Finch said, slightly appalled.
Lopez scoffed. "Look not everything is connected. There are things called coincidences ya know. And there's other things we real detectives like to call 'conspiracy theories' where quacks like you take a bunch of random facts and play connect the dots. Twenty-five years on this job has taught me chasing rabbit holes is a waste of time." With that Lopez pulled over to the side of the road and parked the car. "Here ya go," he said harshly, motioning to the building across the street.
Finch exited without another word and walked around front of the car, his gaze fixed on the large red lettering of the Zion Pharmaceuticals building. Just as he was about to start across the street his eyes fell on the familiar face of Teddy Shaw emerging from the front entrance, quickly making his way to the sidewalk. Finch rapped loudly on the driver's side window of the sedan.
Lopez lowered it, now very irritated. "What now?!"
Finch directed Lopez across the street where Teddy Shaw was flagging down a taxi. "I'd say that's one hell of a coincidence, wouldn't you, Detective?"
-------------------------------------------------- LaGuardia Airport
1 Hour Later --------------------------------------------------
Teddy gave his gym bag one final shove into the overhead compartment and flopped down wearily in his aisle seat in first class.
"Something to drink before the flight, sir?" the flight attended asked politely.
He gazed up at the women's welcoming face and shook his head. "Just some water please," he said thinking of the tiny pill in the palm of his hand. She turned away a moment and soon returned with a bottled water.
"You going to see family for Christmas?" she asked.
"No, I'm uhhh... headin' to a tournament actually," Teddy replied, forcing a smile.
"All by yourself on Christmas Eve?" She asked furrowing her brow.
Teddy glanced momentarily at the empty seat beside him and bit the inside of his mouth. "All by myself..."
"You look tired honey. You should try and get some rest." Her words expressed genuine care.
He simply nodded as she moved on to the next row. Opening his hand he wasted no time in popping the pill into his mouth and washing it down with a swig of water. Returning the cap on the bottle he tossed it on the seat to his left, feeling a huge relief before suddenly realizing he hadn't even bought a Christmas gift for Daisy to bring along. Teddy let out a low growl as he was confronted with how self-absorbed he'd been lately. Everything seemed like it was going sideways.
Reaching into his pocket he pulled out his phone and dialed. After several rings the recorded message of Daisy's soothing Southern voice played in his ear before the beep. "Hey Dais, it's me... I miss ya darlin'... Just don't feel right being on this bird without ya, especially with it bein' Christmas and all... Hope ya change yer mind and still come for the tourney.. I'd really like ya to be there. Call me when ya get this."
Teddy ended the call and let the phone fall into his lap. Leaning his neck back against the headrest he closed his eyes and took a long slow breath before drifting off to sleep.
--------------------------------------------------
Exhausted, Teddy resisted the hold Ethan Rivers was attempting to put him in. Realizing he wasn't getting anywhere with the move, Ethan led him over to the ropes and bouncing off sent Teddy across the way, clobbering him with a vicious clothesline upon his return. Standing over Teddy, Ethan was seething with anger.
"You're a dinosaur old man!"
Ethan's boot slammed down like a sledgehammer on Teddy's chest.
"And I'm the meteor come to wipe you out!"
Another stomp to the chest that drove the air from Teddy's lungs.
"You can't beat me!"
Ethan started unleashing kick after kick, his leg pumping up and down relentlessly upon Teddy like a piston.
"You're FINISHED!"
He paused, allowing Teddy to grip his sternum in agony. Grabbing a fistful of Teddy's hair, Ethan pulled him into a sitting position, driving his knee firmly into his back.
"You're no legend... You're NOTHING!" He leaned right close to Teddy's ear. "I told you... I would BREAK you!"
Grabbing Teddy's head with both hands Ethan gives a single vicious tug with all his strength and snaps Teddy's neck.
--------------------------------------------------
His sudden screaming startled everyone sitting in first class, waking up half the passengers who had also been asleep. A wave of terror and paranoia swept over Teddy's body and his arms were flailing about in the darkened cabin as if fending off an attacker.
"HE'S GONNA KILL ME!! HE'S GONNA KILL ME!!" came desperate cries for help.
The cabin lights flicked on as the flight attendant ran over.
"It's okay, sir! It's okay! You're safe!"
"NOT FROM HIM! HE'S GONNA BREAK MY NECK!!!" Teddy's eyes were bulging with fear as he grabbed at the flight attendant in desperation.
"Please, sir! Please try to relax!" she said wincing from the pain of his vice-like grip on her arms.
"Don't let him get me!!! PLEASE!!!" came more of his cries although not as loud.
Managing to slip one of her hands free she grabbed a cup of orange juice off the nearby food trolley and threw it in Teddy's face. The blast of cold liquid sent him reeling back in his seat and he let go of her, gradually return to reality. Blinking a few times, he looked up at the flight attendant's rattled expression.
"What happened?! ...What di- what did I do?"
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Houston, TX
30 minutes later
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Daisy sat on the toilet seat of the hotel bathroom, listening to Teddy's voicemail message playing on speaker phone from the counter beside her. A single icy tear slowly made its descent down her cheek before falling to the floor below as she stared in disbelief at the pregnancy test in her hand. |
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