Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

=WWX Axxess=
=New York City, New York=
=8:30 AM=

|Cameras open up to the set of WWX Axxess. WWX reporters Gary Lane and Mike Hart can be seen sitting behind a large desk with the WWX logo on the front of it, behind them a large flat screen television can be seen, the television currently has the Fury logo spinning in a clockwise rotation.|

Lane: Welcome to WWX Axxess! I’m Gary Lane and alongside me is Mike Hart! 

Hart: Gary, we’re getting closer to this week’s Fury, a Fury that could change the entire landscape in the WWX. This week we will find out who the finalists are for the James Ranger Invitational!

Lane: That’s right, Mike! The war of the words is underway as eight men prepare for a chance to advance to the finals and compete at Aftershock against Blaine Evans for the right to become the next number one contender.

|As Gary Lane mentions Aftershock the image on the flat screen television changes, slowly the Fury image fades away and two separate images fill the screen. On the left of the screen an image of Apocalypse, Sucio, Apostle and Tommy Lipton appears, on the right of the screen an image of Lance Invictus, Max Siegel, Darkness and Gunnar Granderson appears. In the middle of the screen IWA World Heavyweight Champion Krimzon Blaze and Blaine Evans can be seen, appropriate as those two men could ultimately decide the outcome of both of the James Ranger Invitational Semi-Finals.|

Hart: James Ranger has found a way to challenge each and every wrestler in the WWX, this week will be no different. All of the semi-finalists will be competing in a fatal four-way no disqualification match with special guest referees. 

Lane: It makes you wonder what Ranger has planned, he’s allowed the IWA World Heavyweight Champion Krimzon Blaze and Blaine Evans the chance to pick the fate of these remaining competitors.

Hart: Let’s get real Gary, we know both men are going to call it right down the middle.

Lane: Do you really think Blaine Evans will be fair? He’s received a bye to the finals! Now he gets to choose one of the man that he faces! Come on!

Hart: What I find more interesting about that semi-final are the competitors. You have rookies Lance Invictus and Max Siegel alongside two thousand eleven rookie of the year Gunnar Granderson and a two-time world heavyweight champion in Darkness.

|The image on the right becomes the focus point on the flat screen television as it fills the entire screen. Lance Invictus, Max Siegel, Gunnar Granderson and Darkness are standing shoulder to shoulder as Blaine Evans can be seen in the background.|

Lane: As much as I hate to say it you have to think that Darkness is the favorite going into this match.

Hart: One would think but you can’t count out Gunnar Granderson, he’s a guy that since his arrival has found a way to climb his way up the ladder.

Lane: Lance Invictus and Max Siegel are the real wildcards in this thing as neither man are expecting to do much, that’s exactly what will make them so dangerous. This is the semi-final I’m looking forward to calling, with the uncertainty of Invictus and Siegel you know something big is going to happen. Granderson and Darkness are the favorites but I’ve learned you can never count out an underdog.

|Mike Hart looks at Gary before shaking his head, Gary catches Mike looking at him from the corner of his eye and turns in Mike’s direction before blowing a kiss at him.|

Hart: You’re just saying that because you are a fan of Lance Invictus!

Lane: Not true, Mike. I’m just stating facts, I mean seriously, did anybody expect the New York Giants to defeat the New England Patriots back in two thousand eight? We could see that type of upset at Fury, remember Lance Invictus and Max Siegel did get this far. Lance Invictus just defeated the Lost Soul and Krimzon Blaze in a handicap match!
=======================================================
=Unknown Location=
=Unknown, Unknown=
=10:00 AM=

|Cameras open up to darkness, not the wrestler but actual darkness. A single light is shining in the middle of the room but the strength of the single bulb is weak and struggles to light half the room.|

Voice: Darkness…

|The light bulb moves from left to right as the shadow of a man can be seen.|

Voice: For ages darkness has scared little kids into submission. The thought of sleeping without their nightlight has scared children into sleep, a sleep where the boogeyman would haunt them and take them away from their parents. Yes, this is truly scary. This is what causes children to see a psychologist, the fear of the dark.

|As the light stops swinging, the shadow of the man becomes a bit clearer, a man in a mask can be seen standing behind the light bulb, it is unclear what he is wearing but the black and white mask appears to be the mask of Max Siegel.|

Siegel: Darkness is a funny thing, it scares so many children, but eventually they grow out of that fear. But it’s not just children that fear the dark, the elderly and their loved ones often fear total darkness. That descent into the afterlife is something that not only scares many but haunts them, the thought of that dark light at the end of the tunnel, oh it’s frightening.

|The light in the room dims to a near black as Max Siegel steps in front of the light bulb.|

Siegel: Darkness can be such a frightening thing, but the man who calls himself Darkness *pauses* oh he’s anything but frightening. He has no super natural powers he is just a man, a man who has slowly began his descent into the darkness. A once intimidating figure in the WWX, Darkness has become nothing more than a stepping stone for wrestlers looking to make their way up the ladder of success. He has been able to reach the top of the mountain in the WWX only to lose his spot within weeks.

|Max takes a step back allowing the light to show his face, his straight brown hair parted straight down the middle.|

Siegel: A former WWX Unified World Heavyweight Champion *pauses* for what, two weeks? Congratulations Darkness! You were able to show the world that your victory over Nate Rodgers was not a fluke but an absolute miracle! It’s sad to think for a man that has won so many championships that over the past year your greatest accomplishment was winning the North American Championship!

|Siegel stops to stare at the camera, he pushes the light bulb with his right hand forcing the bulb to move from left to right, Siegel becomes a shadow as the light bulb moves out of his direction.|

Siegel: Darkness, such a frightening figure that he was the King of the opening match. Congratulations Darkness, what was once such a bright career has become nothing more than a distant memory. You are a former WWX, Unified World Heavyweight, International, Triple A, North American, Television, and World Tag Team Champion. You have had a successful career here in the WWX but the problem is all of your accomplishments, they are nothing more than a memory. A distant memory of a man that was once so much more than what he is today, those wars alongside and against Heartbreaker have really taken their toll. As have the constant struggle you have had with James Ranger, each day you are getting older and weaker while the WWX gets younger, faster and stronger.

|With the light bulb still swinging from side to side, Max Siegel reaches his hand out and catches the cord the bulb is on, forcing the bulb to come to a standstill.|

Siegel: We are in a profession that has always been about survival of the fittest. You are looking at the man that embodies the present and future of the WWX. Darkness, your time has come and gone, you are no longer the man you once were, it’s time for you to begin your own descent into the Darkness. I am not afraid of the dark, but Darkness I must ask, are you?

***CRUNCH!***

|Max Siegel covers the light bulb with his right bulb before breaking it in his right hand.|

|End Scene|