Post by chase on Mar 12, 2021 23:04:52 GMT -5
Chapter 1:
Why am I seeing you?" Chase asked.
He'd been seeing his friend James for months now. It was one of the reasons he'd left home. He didn't want to lose his mind and possibly hurt Jessica. He'd also been seeing the ghosts of his lost friends. He knew what was wrong. He knew he needed help. So he left. But he hadn't realised that it was him who left.
"No! I don't wanna know about her! She left ME! I needed her but she left." He said to a tree.
His face turned an even paler shade of white. So he lit a cigarette to try and calm himself. It didn't work.
"She's having a baby? That bitch!"
His hands were shaking now and tears began falling from his eyes. He'd always wanted a kid. It would have given him even more purpose and something else to protect.
"No. It can't be mine. She left. There had to be another guy." He told the tree.
"You have to leave me alone. Please. Just leave me alone. I tried to save you. I couldn't." He added.
"James. Wait. How is she?" Chase asked.
He wanted to see her but couldn't bring himself to do it. After all, he thought she'd left him. He wanted to hate her for it. He couldn't of course. He'd loved her since he knew what love was.
"That's a lie. She has to be happy. That bitch was laughing when she left." He said before falling to his knees, holding his head in his hands.
Chase screamed. He screamed as loud as his lungs would let him. It was so loud that it caused nearby birds to fly quickly away. Squirrels scurried away. Afterwards the woods fell silents, save for the whimpering of Chase Blackley.
Chapter 2:
Smoke filled the skies of Afghanistan. This smoke was caused by firebombing Taliban fighters. Chass had called in the air raid himself. His platoon had come under intense fire as they patrolled a nearby mountain. None of his guys were killed, which was quite suprising considering their position to where the shots were coming from.
"Take that you fucking bastards!" James yelled with a laugh.
Chase looked at him and shook his head. They were still in danger. Chase saw the enemy running as soon as they heard the plane. He knew that most of them were killed but the rest could have been anywhere.
"Blackley. What do you see?" Asked Ssgt Henderson.
Henderson was a tall, broad man with red hair and a goatee. He was very intimidating as his voice was so deep it sounded like he was possessed by demons.
"I'm not sure, sir. It looks like about fifteen of them out there but I can't tell." He said, still looking off into the distance.
"Ok. What do you think we should do?" Henderson asked.
Chase briefly had a flashback of the ambush on his convoy. He shuddered to think of something similar happening. He took a deep breath and thought for a moment.
"I think we go after them. We can't let them warn others of our position. I'll take James and Reznick. We can take them out from a distance. We'll be back before you know it." Chase said.
Henderson thought for a moment. It was a good plan but the group being sent was small. He worried that they wouldn't be enough.
"Ok. If anything goes wrong, were raining fire." Henderson replied.
Chase, James, and the enormous Chris Reznick headed out. Chase didn't know Reznick very well. He knew the giant man was brave. The two ran into enemy fire together more than once. Reznick was a capable Marine, and someone Chase knew he could trust if things went south
The three slowly made their way west, over the Rocky terrain. They low crawled some of the way. Chase never took his eyes off of the area that had been fire bombed. He didn't see the enemy but felt them watching.
"You see anything?" Reznick asked with his deep southern accent. He was from Mississippi. Chase thought that being Southern was what made him so brave. Southern boys weren't the kind to ever back down from a fight. They relished it.
"Shh." Chase replied. He needed to concentrate and they needed to be quiet.
"They're watching." He whispered.
Chase took the lead. He always took the lead. He was a protector. He'd always insisted on being the first in and last out.
They went a few hundred more yards. The path was agonizingly slow and methodical. The Rocky terrain made it hard to get through. Chase hated it. They all hated it. They hated everything about that country.
I fucking hate this place" James said just as a gunshot whizzed past. It hit a rock. Chase stopped. He aimed and fired a shot. He didn't see anyone, but fired to draw them out. It worked. Taliban fighter rained down gunshots of Chase's position.
"Reznick! Cover!" Chase yelled.
He turned to see the big man taking cover behind a rock.
"Ok. You see that big one over there, James? Go there. I'll cover you." Chase said, pointing to a large Boulder to their right and further up the mountain.
James ran to the boulder while Chase fired at the enemy.
"We can't get pinned down!" Chase yelled.
Another bullet whizzed past them, hitting nothing but the drab Earth of Afghanistan.
"Ok. Plan is..we make our way close, following that goat trail. We draw them out." He said.
Slowly they made their way up, taking cover when fired at. It was a slow process as they often had to stop for cover. They'd made their was to a good vantage point when there was another group of shots. Reznick was the best shot of the three so Chase called him up.
"Ok. I'm going to shoot. When you see them pop up, take the shot." Chase said.
Reznick nodded and got ready. But before Chass could fire, Reznick fell. He'd been shot through the throat. Blood quirted onto Chase face. He wiped the blood from his face.
"Fuck." Chase yelled out.
That was when he heard the jets. Bombs fell upon their location. Chase grabbed James and started sprinting away as fast as they could. But they weren't quite fast enough. Things went black. Chase felt searing heat and then nothing.
Chapter three.
"Reznick!" Chase yelled as he sat up.
His body was taped at the midsection and he found himself coughing. He quickly looked around to view his surroundings. He was in a white hospital bed.
Standing over him was a brunette woman with honey brown eyes. Her badge read Dr. Gillespie. She was a short but fit looking woman. She looked very tired and had dark circles under her eyes. She seemed happy to see Chase had woken up.
"I need you to calm down, Chase. You're at a hospital in Kabul. You were injured in the field." She calmly told him.
"James?" Chase asked.
"He's fine. He's still asleep but his wounds were no worse than yours. Slight burn but alot of smoke inhalation. You're a hero today.." She said.
Chass thought for a moment. He began remembering what had happened. They were on a mountain when they were fire bombed.
"What about the others? My unit?" He asked.
The doctor looked as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. "That isn't my place." She told him.
Chase knew what that meant. They were dead. Or atleast most of them were. He knew that it was simply the way things went during war. Still...it hurt. It felt as if a mountain had been dropped onto his shoulders. But he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'll be home, Jess. I promise." Chase whispered quietly.
"How long was I out?" He asked.
"Two days." Dr Gillespie replied as she looked at his chart. "You're a tough man. If you hadn't acted so quickly we wouldnt be having this conversation." She added.
Chase took it all in. His squad had been wiped out. He'd been bombed by his own country. But he'd lived and he'd saved his best friend. For a normal man, this would be devastating. But for Chase Blackley, it was dealt with. He closed his eyes and pictured Jessica on their wedding day as he do often did. It calmed him down and put troubles to the back of his mind. He didn't think about the repercussions of his actions. He'd have to deal with everything sooner or later. Even if it would be years down the road.
Chapter Four.
Night had fallen in Louisiana. Chase Blackley sat shirtless under the pale moonlight. The sky was cloudless. Millions of twinkling stars lit a small clearing. In the center of that clearing sat Chase. A cigarette hung from his chapped lips. His eyes held an indescribable madness. He'd seen alot on this day. He'd relived some very tough moments. But he did that every day. He'd done so for years. He tried to put it at the back of his mind as he do often did but he was having a hard time shaking it. His hands trembled as he ashed the cigarette, not bothering to swat at the mosquitos that were biting at his chest
"So this is it, huh? The end of alpha pro." He started with a sigh.
"I can't say that I don't wish for more time. I'd like a rematch with America Jackson. I pushed him to his limit. He pushed me to mine. I have nothing but respect for a man like that. He would have made a great Marine. As far as my final two opponents? I can't say that. Cassidy Hale got tossed around like a tiny puppy during our hardcore match. Sure he kept getting up, even put up a small bit of offense but he fell constantly. He couldn't keep up. And then there is Harvey. I respect Harvey. He's out of his element. He know this to be true. But he still fights. He takes it on the chin and comes back for more. If we had more time, I'd have liked to train him a bit. Make him better. He already has the fighting spirit. He only needs to learn what to do. When to do it. And why. I gave him his first lesson during that hardcore match. You always attack an enemies strength. They don't expect that. They guard their weaknesses but not their strengths. Attack them. But when you have the chance to end it? You do not hesitate. You do it. You made that mistake then. Don't make it twice, though I do appreciate you doing it. I " Chase said flatly.
He took a long draw.
"I often compare wrestlers to things outside of this sport. Harvey wouldn't make a good Marine, but he has potential to be a fairly good military man. To be a Marine, it takes the mental fortitude of a robot. By that I mean that you have to react. You can't stop and think about whether or not you should do something. You make a choice. Right or left. This isn't something Harvey has been able to do. But he does make an ok wrestler. It's just too bad I have to beat him for a third time. And I will. He knows it. I know it. Cassidy Hale knows it. Fuck. Harvey is the only other man in this fight who actually has some fight in him."
Chase took another draw of the cigarette before letting out a long sigh.
"I swear. These things will kill me before any brave but completely outclassed man, animal or robot does."
Chase tossed the butt on the ground before lighting up another one.
"I wish that weren't the case. I don't want to live anymore. The only enemy or opponent I've never been able to best is myself. Once upon a time I would have said that it'd be you, Harvey. But the more I think about it, the more I come to realize that maybe living is simply God's way of punishing me. He's thrown me against walls. He's crushed me under weight no man should be able to live through. But I'm still here, pleading for an end. Still fighting for that end I desperately want. So I continue. Every day is a struggle. Every day is a fight. Maybe I'm just too strong even for the big man upstairs to handle. But if I'm too much for him, then surely I'm too much for a guy like yourself. A guy who has very little actual fighting skill.
" The reality of this is that neither of you have what it takes to beat me. You'd be lying to yourself if you were to say otherwise. I've seen what you both bring to the table. Cassidy. You're a man with an ego. Your mouth writes checks that you body can't afford to pay. You talk as if you're something special. But all I'm seeing is a guy who gets slapped around and does very little to fight it. You talk as if you're the most skilled fighter in the land. But it's all a lie. You aren't. Sure it's good to be confident. A man has to be confident in himself to get ahead in life. But a man also needs to know his limits. And while you've made a bit of a name for yourself in alpha pro, you still lack anything and everything you need to put me down. Maybe it just isn't in you. Unlike Harvey, you think you have an it factor but you don't. Haven't, on the other hand, just have the mindset to do this. He has the fight, but he's weak." Chase said, showing no emotion in his voice.
He took a moment to watch the lights of an airplane flying over head. For a brief moment he heard bombs going off. He wanted to duck for cover, but instead he stood up. He was ready for the fight he was sure would be coming. But no fight came. He put it in the back of his mind and pictured Jessica on their wedding day as he often did.
"Time is ticking, guys. What's it gonna be. Fight or flight? For me? It's always been fight. First in. Last out. The situation never mattered. I was always the first to see trouble and the first to act on it. It's simply my nature. What's yours. Most people would say fight as well, but they'd be wrong. Most people would freeze and wait for someone else in the crowd. The difference is that I've actually been in hostile or life threatening situation and acted swiftly...jumping into action without a second thought. I ask again. Which are you? I'm sure you'd say fight. After all...you're both wrestlers. You have to look tough. It's just what we do. But do you know the truth? Are you living to yourselves? Only time will tell. But what I do know is this. Very soon you'll face your life or death situation and I'll be standing there in front of you. Will you fight?"
Chase ashed the cigarette and stretched his arms up high.
Chapter five:
Rain came down in waves from a pitch black sky. This was no spring storm. Those things didn't exist in the south. No. This was a torrential downpour. The wind blew hard from the west, bend trees and snapping branches. And in the downpour, staring at a tree, was Chase Blackley.
"Why are you here! Tell me! You're dead. I carried your body. I tried to bring you back. I couldn't." Chase said.
"I know. I left. I had to. I was afraid, James. I relive war every day. No matter what I do, it doesn't end. My body may be in Louisiana, but my mind is still in the desert." Chase cried.
He was somewhere between being lucide and completely gone. He was trying as hard as he could to hold it together. He was a fighter and this was the biggest fight of his young life.
"Have I called her? No. It's best that I don't. What could I possibly say? I'm sorry for leaving you? I'm sorry I've worried you? I'm sorry you've spent so many sleepless nights wondering if I was alive or dead? I don't think I could handle that." Chase said, fighting the chill of the night.
It'd been so long since he'd spoken to the love of his life. Chase didn't know what he'd say. For the first time in his life, Chase Blackley was afraid. What if she didn't accept him as he was! What if she never wanted to hear from him again? These thoughts raced through his mind. He shook his head before trying to light a cigarette, but couldn't due to the rain. Frustrated, he threw the cancer stick to the wet ground.
"Are you still there, James?" Chase asked the surrounding darkness.
He hit himself in the head when he seemingly didn't get an answer. Chase began to pace back and forth in the rain. Then he stopped.
"You're right, James. Jess deserves to know."
Chase slowly walked to his cabin. It was lit only by the flicker of a single candle which sat on a table in the center of the room. The walls were bare and the floor was dirty. The only decoration was a picture of Jessica. The frame was broken when Chase threw it against the wall. Glass still covered the wooden floor.
In the corner of the room was a small flip phone. Chase kept it turned off. He picked up that phone and stared at it for some time. Sorrow filled his deep blue eyes. He then turned it on and began dialing.
Chapter six:
"You know, Cassidy. I don't know much about you. I don't know your background. I don't know how and why you came into this business. All I know is from watching you from back stage. You come off as a rich kid who never had to work for anything. You come off as a guy who was given everything and never had to work for anything. You had the best personal trainers. You had the best home chefs so that your diet was always great. You carry an air of unwarranted superiority about you.
Now. Why is that bad? Why would that be held against you? After all. It isn't your fault that your parents are rich. It's simple really. You've never had it as hard as Harvey or myself. You've never had to put in the work, day in and day out, to succeed. You never had to do without the finer things in life. Your parents simply threw enough money at a problem and it was solved. Harvey and myself? We each had to work through things. Harvey had to learn to be better at what he does to succeed. While he learned new techniques, a man like yourself would have had his parents simply buy a crowd and pay them to cheer. No matter how bad the performance was. You're a man who has been given everything. That isn't a dangerous man. This is because he isn't used to fighting for anything. He doesn't know how to react when things get tough.
I'll let you in on a little secret. I won't stay down simply because you'd possibly pay me off. Money won't stop me from sending you to the nearest hospital.
You have to understand that this is a chance for me to cement my legacy in this business. Sure alpha pro is closing, but the videos live on forever. For the rest of time, the world will be able to see that a troubled man fought his own demons and managed to retire not one, but two titles. A double champion as the place closed. Money won't buy that. But I'm sure it will get you the finest doctors to treat your injuries.
Harvey. I've spoken at length about my respect for you. You've earned that respect, Harvey. You have. I hope you find solace in that after this is all over. Respect isn't something that I easily give those who are not or weren't in the military. I know that's a cliche that's often heard from veterans. But I mean it when I say that it's been a privilege to fight you, even if you aren't the greatest fighter. You don't know when to quit. That takes something special.
But, Harvey, even though I have great respect for what you've done, I have to end this. We started this feud many weeks ago when I beat you. And it continued when I beat won the hardcore title. Some say that the third time is a charm. I can't say that this is for you. Maybe years from now you'd be able to beat me. But right now you're far too inexperienced. You're far too weak-minded. In life that isn't necessarily a bad thing. But in a fight it is. In a fight you have to let all of that go. Know only destruction. And that just isn't you.
This fight isn't about Cassidy, Marx and Blackley. No. This fight is about just you and me. Cassidy is simply another body thrown out there to be destroyed for the fans' entertainment. This is really about us. And I'm sure the fans will get what they want. But you won't. And I'm sure you need it. You need the money that comes with a check in the win column. But you won't get it. No matter how many times you get back up. I'll just put you down again. And I'll do it until your body just won't go on. I say that because I know that your mind will keep telling your body to keep going. Breaking you is the only way to do it. And I'm not one to go easy. I'll break you. And I'll win.
Fight or flight, guys. Which ones it gonna be?"
Chapter Seven
Jessica Blackley sat at her kitchen table. It was dark out. In front of her sat her laptop. To her side, a smoothie. She looked received for the first time in as long as she could remember. For so long she'd wondered if Chase was alive. She wondered why he'd left and what he was doing.
She found out a few weeks ago. She'd accidentally stumbled upon videos of Chase. She'd watched his promos, shot via a drone by alpha pro. She'd watched his matches. She'd seen his troubles. Her heart hurt for him. She understood why he'd left but still felt a tinge on resentment. Why couldn't he have just seemed help when she'd asked? Why didn't he talk to her? She would have listened. He knew that...didn't he?
She felt the baby kick and smiled sweetly to herself.
"You're going to grow up strong like daddy. I can tell." She said, smiling.
There was another kick. And another. It tickled her insides. She couldn't help but let out a laugh.
She drank from the glass in front of her, thankful for her mother. Jess's mother had kept the refrigerator full. It was a small thing but Jess appreciated everything.
Her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number. She thought about not answering. It was late. She was only awake because she'd gotten into the habit of watching Chase's videos. It made her both happy and sad to see them.
"Hello?" She asked.
Her eyes grew wide when she heard the voice on the other end.
"Jess. I'm sorry. And I understand if you don't want to talk to me. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for everything." Came Chase's voice.
Jessica was ecstatic. Her heart began pumping faster. The baby kicked.
"Chase?!" She yelled. "Is it really you?" She added.
"Yea. It's really me. I hope I didn't wake you." Chase said.
Jess shook her head
"No. I was just up watching videos of you. At first I stayed awake every night, hoping and praying for this call. But then I saw your videos. Chase...are you ok? She asked.
For a long time there was silence. Then.
"No. I'm not. The war never left me, Jess. James talks to me. I relive battles." Chase said slowly.
Jess closed her eyes. She knew. She wanted to help him. But she didn't know how.
"I understand. You could have talked to me, Chase. You didn't have to leave" she told him.
Again there was a long silence.
"You wouldn't have understood. And I may have done something to hurt you. I couldn't live with myself if I had. So I left. Right now I'm doing the only thing that seems to help me and even that doesn't help as much as I'd hoped." She heard Chase say.
Jessica knew that nothing she could say would help him. She didn't live through the things over there but she would always be there for him.
"I know I wouldn't understand what you've been through, Chase. But I would be there for you. No matter what. I need you here, Chase. Please come home."
There was silence. Jessica held here breath.
"Chase. I'm pregnant." She said.
She wanted Chase home not only for them but also for their baby. She needed him there. Their baby needed him there.
"What?" Chase asked.
"It's a boy. I'm going to name him Chase. After his daddy." Jessica said, big smile across her face.
"Jess….."
"Please come home."
"Jess. I…...Ok."
Tears began to fall from her emerrald green eyes. She was happy but afraid. What if he didn't come home. What if he did come home and left?
"I love you, Jess. I'm coming coming. I'll get help. I'm coming home."
Fade.
Why am I seeing you?" Chase asked.
He'd been seeing his friend James for months now. It was one of the reasons he'd left home. He didn't want to lose his mind and possibly hurt Jessica. He'd also been seeing the ghosts of his lost friends. He knew what was wrong. He knew he needed help. So he left. But he hadn't realised that it was him who left.
"No! I don't wanna know about her! She left ME! I needed her but she left." He said to a tree.
His face turned an even paler shade of white. So he lit a cigarette to try and calm himself. It didn't work.
"She's having a baby? That bitch!"
His hands were shaking now and tears began falling from his eyes. He'd always wanted a kid. It would have given him even more purpose and something else to protect.
"No. It can't be mine. She left. There had to be another guy." He told the tree.
"You have to leave me alone. Please. Just leave me alone. I tried to save you. I couldn't." He added.
"James. Wait. How is she?" Chase asked.
He wanted to see her but couldn't bring himself to do it. After all, he thought she'd left him. He wanted to hate her for it. He couldn't of course. He'd loved her since he knew what love was.
"That's a lie. She has to be happy. That bitch was laughing when she left." He said before falling to his knees, holding his head in his hands.
Chase screamed. He screamed as loud as his lungs would let him. It was so loud that it caused nearby birds to fly quickly away. Squirrels scurried away. Afterwards the woods fell silents, save for the whimpering of Chase Blackley.
Chapter 2:
Smoke filled the skies of Afghanistan. This smoke was caused by firebombing Taliban fighters. Chass had called in the air raid himself. His platoon had come under intense fire as they patrolled a nearby mountain. None of his guys were killed, which was quite suprising considering their position to where the shots were coming from.
"Take that you fucking bastards!" James yelled with a laugh.
Chase looked at him and shook his head. They were still in danger. Chase saw the enemy running as soon as they heard the plane. He knew that most of them were killed but the rest could have been anywhere.
"Blackley. What do you see?" Asked Ssgt Henderson.
Henderson was a tall, broad man with red hair and a goatee. He was very intimidating as his voice was so deep it sounded like he was possessed by demons.
"I'm not sure, sir. It looks like about fifteen of them out there but I can't tell." He said, still looking off into the distance.
"Ok. What do you think we should do?" Henderson asked.
Chase briefly had a flashback of the ambush on his convoy. He shuddered to think of something similar happening. He took a deep breath and thought for a moment.
"I think we go after them. We can't let them warn others of our position. I'll take James and Reznick. We can take them out from a distance. We'll be back before you know it." Chase said.
Henderson thought for a moment. It was a good plan but the group being sent was small. He worried that they wouldn't be enough.
"Ok. If anything goes wrong, were raining fire." Henderson replied.
Chase, James, and the enormous Chris Reznick headed out. Chase didn't know Reznick very well. He knew the giant man was brave. The two ran into enemy fire together more than once. Reznick was a capable Marine, and someone Chase knew he could trust if things went south
The three slowly made their way west, over the Rocky terrain. They low crawled some of the way. Chase never took his eyes off of the area that had been fire bombed. He didn't see the enemy but felt them watching.
"You see anything?" Reznick asked with his deep southern accent. He was from Mississippi. Chase thought that being Southern was what made him so brave. Southern boys weren't the kind to ever back down from a fight. They relished it.
"Shh." Chase replied. He needed to concentrate and they needed to be quiet.
"They're watching." He whispered.
Chase took the lead. He always took the lead. He was a protector. He'd always insisted on being the first in and last out.
They went a few hundred more yards. The path was agonizingly slow and methodical. The Rocky terrain made it hard to get through. Chase hated it. They all hated it. They hated everything about that country.
I fucking hate this place" James said just as a gunshot whizzed past. It hit a rock. Chase stopped. He aimed and fired a shot. He didn't see anyone, but fired to draw them out. It worked. Taliban fighter rained down gunshots of Chase's position.
"Reznick! Cover!" Chase yelled.
He turned to see the big man taking cover behind a rock.
"Ok. You see that big one over there, James? Go there. I'll cover you." Chase said, pointing to a large Boulder to their right and further up the mountain.
James ran to the boulder while Chase fired at the enemy.
"We can't get pinned down!" Chase yelled.
Another bullet whizzed past them, hitting nothing but the drab Earth of Afghanistan.
"Ok. Plan is..we make our way close, following that goat trail. We draw them out." He said.
Slowly they made their way up, taking cover when fired at. It was a slow process as they often had to stop for cover. They'd made their was to a good vantage point when there was another group of shots. Reznick was the best shot of the three so Chase called him up.
"Ok. I'm going to shoot. When you see them pop up, take the shot." Chase said.
Reznick nodded and got ready. But before Chass could fire, Reznick fell. He'd been shot through the throat. Blood quirted onto Chase face. He wiped the blood from his face.
"Fuck." Chase yelled out.
That was when he heard the jets. Bombs fell upon their location. Chase grabbed James and started sprinting away as fast as they could. But they weren't quite fast enough. Things went black. Chase felt searing heat and then nothing.
Chapter three.
"Reznick!" Chase yelled as he sat up.
His body was taped at the midsection and he found himself coughing. He quickly looked around to view his surroundings. He was in a white hospital bed.
Standing over him was a brunette woman with honey brown eyes. Her badge read Dr. Gillespie. She was a short but fit looking woman. She looked very tired and had dark circles under her eyes. She seemed happy to see Chase had woken up.
"I need you to calm down, Chase. You're at a hospital in Kabul. You were injured in the field." She calmly told him.
"James?" Chase asked.
"He's fine. He's still asleep but his wounds were no worse than yours. Slight burn but alot of smoke inhalation. You're a hero today.." She said.
Chass thought for a moment. He began remembering what had happened. They were on a mountain when they were fire bombed.
"What about the others? My unit?" He asked.
The doctor looked as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. "That isn't my place." She told him.
Chase knew what that meant. They were dead. Or atleast most of them were. He knew that it was simply the way things went during war. Still...it hurt. It felt as if a mountain had been dropped onto his shoulders. But he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"I'll be home, Jess. I promise." Chase whispered quietly.
"How long was I out?" He asked.
"Two days." Dr Gillespie replied as she looked at his chart. "You're a tough man. If you hadn't acted so quickly we wouldnt be having this conversation." She added.
Chase took it all in. His squad had been wiped out. He'd been bombed by his own country. But he'd lived and he'd saved his best friend. For a normal man, this would be devastating. But for Chase Blackley, it was dealt with. He closed his eyes and pictured Jessica on their wedding day as he do often did. It calmed him down and put troubles to the back of his mind. He didn't think about the repercussions of his actions. He'd have to deal with everything sooner or later. Even if it would be years down the road.
Chapter Four.
Night had fallen in Louisiana. Chase Blackley sat shirtless under the pale moonlight. The sky was cloudless. Millions of twinkling stars lit a small clearing. In the center of that clearing sat Chase. A cigarette hung from his chapped lips. His eyes held an indescribable madness. He'd seen alot on this day. He'd relived some very tough moments. But he did that every day. He'd done so for years. He tried to put it at the back of his mind as he do often did but he was having a hard time shaking it. His hands trembled as he ashed the cigarette, not bothering to swat at the mosquitos that were biting at his chest
"So this is it, huh? The end of alpha pro." He started with a sigh.
"I can't say that I don't wish for more time. I'd like a rematch with America Jackson. I pushed him to his limit. He pushed me to mine. I have nothing but respect for a man like that. He would have made a great Marine. As far as my final two opponents? I can't say that. Cassidy Hale got tossed around like a tiny puppy during our hardcore match. Sure he kept getting up, even put up a small bit of offense but he fell constantly. He couldn't keep up. And then there is Harvey. I respect Harvey. He's out of his element. He know this to be true. But he still fights. He takes it on the chin and comes back for more. If we had more time, I'd have liked to train him a bit. Make him better. He already has the fighting spirit. He only needs to learn what to do. When to do it. And why. I gave him his first lesson during that hardcore match. You always attack an enemies strength. They don't expect that. They guard their weaknesses but not their strengths. Attack them. But when you have the chance to end it? You do not hesitate. You do it. You made that mistake then. Don't make it twice, though I do appreciate you doing it. I " Chase said flatly.
He took a long draw.
"I often compare wrestlers to things outside of this sport. Harvey wouldn't make a good Marine, but he has potential to be a fairly good military man. To be a Marine, it takes the mental fortitude of a robot. By that I mean that you have to react. You can't stop and think about whether or not you should do something. You make a choice. Right or left. This isn't something Harvey has been able to do. But he does make an ok wrestler. It's just too bad I have to beat him for a third time. And I will. He knows it. I know it. Cassidy Hale knows it. Fuck. Harvey is the only other man in this fight who actually has some fight in him."
Chase took another draw of the cigarette before letting out a long sigh.
"I swear. These things will kill me before any brave but completely outclassed man, animal or robot does."
Chase tossed the butt on the ground before lighting up another one.
"I wish that weren't the case. I don't want to live anymore. The only enemy or opponent I've never been able to best is myself. Once upon a time I would have said that it'd be you, Harvey. But the more I think about it, the more I come to realize that maybe living is simply God's way of punishing me. He's thrown me against walls. He's crushed me under weight no man should be able to live through. But I'm still here, pleading for an end. Still fighting for that end I desperately want. So I continue. Every day is a struggle. Every day is a fight. Maybe I'm just too strong even for the big man upstairs to handle. But if I'm too much for him, then surely I'm too much for a guy like yourself. A guy who has very little actual fighting skill.
" The reality of this is that neither of you have what it takes to beat me. You'd be lying to yourself if you were to say otherwise. I've seen what you both bring to the table. Cassidy. You're a man with an ego. Your mouth writes checks that you body can't afford to pay. You talk as if you're something special. But all I'm seeing is a guy who gets slapped around and does very little to fight it. You talk as if you're the most skilled fighter in the land. But it's all a lie. You aren't. Sure it's good to be confident. A man has to be confident in himself to get ahead in life. But a man also needs to know his limits. And while you've made a bit of a name for yourself in alpha pro, you still lack anything and everything you need to put me down. Maybe it just isn't in you. Unlike Harvey, you think you have an it factor but you don't. Haven't, on the other hand, just have the mindset to do this. He has the fight, but he's weak." Chase said, showing no emotion in his voice.
He took a moment to watch the lights of an airplane flying over head. For a brief moment he heard bombs going off. He wanted to duck for cover, but instead he stood up. He was ready for the fight he was sure would be coming. But no fight came. He put it in the back of his mind and pictured Jessica on their wedding day as he often did.
"Time is ticking, guys. What's it gonna be. Fight or flight? For me? It's always been fight. First in. Last out. The situation never mattered. I was always the first to see trouble and the first to act on it. It's simply my nature. What's yours. Most people would say fight as well, but they'd be wrong. Most people would freeze and wait for someone else in the crowd. The difference is that I've actually been in hostile or life threatening situation and acted swiftly...jumping into action without a second thought. I ask again. Which are you? I'm sure you'd say fight. After all...you're both wrestlers. You have to look tough. It's just what we do. But do you know the truth? Are you living to yourselves? Only time will tell. But what I do know is this. Very soon you'll face your life or death situation and I'll be standing there in front of you. Will you fight?"
Chase ashed the cigarette and stretched his arms up high.
Chapter five:
Rain came down in waves from a pitch black sky. This was no spring storm. Those things didn't exist in the south. No. This was a torrential downpour. The wind blew hard from the west, bend trees and snapping branches. And in the downpour, staring at a tree, was Chase Blackley.
"Why are you here! Tell me! You're dead. I carried your body. I tried to bring you back. I couldn't." Chase said.
"I know. I left. I had to. I was afraid, James. I relive war every day. No matter what I do, it doesn't end. My body may be in Louisiana, but my mind is still in the desert." Chase cried.
He was somewhere between being lucide and completely gone. He was trying as hard as he could to hold it together. He was a fighter and this was the biggest fight of his young life.
"Have I called her? No. It's best that I don't. What could I possibly say? I'm sorry for leaving you? I'm sorry I've worried you? I'm sorry you've spent so many sleepless nights wondering if I was alive or dead? I don't think I could handle that." Chase said, fighting the chill of the night.
It'd been so long since he'd spoken to the love of his life. Chase didn't know what he'd say. For the first time in his life, Chase Blackley was afraid. What if she didn't accept him as he was! What if she never wanted to hear from him again? These thoughts raced through his mind. He shook his head before trying to light a cigarette, but couldn't due to the rain. Frustrated, he threw the cancer stick to the wet ground.
"Are you still there, James?" Chase asked the surrounding darkness.
He hit himself in the head when he seemingly didn't get an answer. Chase began to pace back and forth in the rain. Then he stopped.
"You're right, James. Jess deserves to know."
Chase slowly walked to his cabin. It was lit only by the flicker of a single candle which sat on a table in the center of the room. The walls were bare and the floor was dirty. The only decoration was a picture of Jessica. The frame was broken when Chase threw it against the wall. Glass still covered the wooden floor.
In the corner of the room was a small flip phone. Chase kept it turned off. He picked up that phone and stared at it for some time. Sorrow filled his deep blue eyes. He then turned it on and began dialing.
Chapter six:
"You know, Cassidy. I don't know much about you. I don't know your background. I don't know how and why you came into this business. All I know is from watching you from back stage. You come off as a rich kid who never had to work for anything. You come off as a guy who was given everything and never had to work for anything. You had the best personal trainers. You had the best home chefs so that your diet was always great. You carry an air of unwarranted superiority about you.
Now. Why is that bad? Why would that be held against you? After all. It isn't your fault that your parents are rich. It's simple really. You've never had it as hard as Harvey or myself. You've never had to put in the work, day in and day out, to succeed. You never had to do without the finer things in life. Your parents simply threw enough money at a problem and it was solved. Harvey and myself? We each had to work through things. Harvey had to learn to be better at what he does to succeed. While he learned new techniques, a man like yourself would have had his parents simply buy a crowd and pay them to cheer. No matter how bad the performance was. You're a man who has been given everything. That isn't a dangerous man. This is because he isn't used to fighting for anything. He doesn't know how to react when things get tough.
I'll let you in on a little secret. I won't stay down simply because you'd possibly pay me off. Money won't stop me from sending you to the nearest hospital.
You have to understand that this is a chance for me to cement my legacy in this business. Sure alpha pro is closing, but the videos live on forever. For the rest of time, the world will be able to see that a troubled man fought his own demons and managed to retire not one, but two titles. A double champion as the place closed. Money won't buy that. But I'm sure it will get you the finest doctors to treat your injuries.
Harvey. I've spoken at length about my respect for you. You've earned that respect, Harvey. You have. I hope you find solace in that after this is all over. Respect isn't something that I easily give those who are not or weren't in the military. I know that's a cliche that's often heard from veterans. But I mean it when I say that it's been a privilege to fight you, even if you aren't the greatest fighter. You don't know when to quit. That takes something special.
But, Harvey, even though I have great respect for what you've done, I have to end this. We started this feud many weeks ago when I beat you. And it continued when I beat won the hardcore title. Some say that the third time is a charm. I can't say that this is for you. Maybe years from now you'd be able to beat me. But right now you're far too inexperienced. You're far too weak-minded. In life that isn't necessarily a bad thing. But in a fight it is. In a fight you have to let all of that go. Know only destruction. And that just isn't you.
This fight isn't about Cassidy, Marx and Blackley. No. This fight is about just you and me. Cassidy is simply another body thrown out there to be destroyed for the fans' entertainment. This is really about us. And I'm sure the fans will get what they want. But you won't. And I'm sure you need it. You need the money that comes with a check in the win column. But you won't get it. No matter how many times you get back up. I'll just put you down again. And I'll do it until your body just won't go on. I say that because I know that your mind will keep telling your body to keep going. Breaking you is the only way to do it. And I'm not one to go easy. I'll break you. And I'll win.
Fight or flight, guys. Which ones it gonna be?"
Chapter Seven
Jessica Blackley sat at her kitchen table. It was dark out. In front of her sat her laptop. To her side, a smoothie. She looked received for the first time in as long as she could remember. For so long she'd wondered if Chase was alive. She wondered why he'd left and what he was doing.
She found out a few weeks ago. She'd accidentally stumbled upon videos of Chase. She'd watched his promos, shot via a drone by alpha pro. She'd watched his matches. She'd seen his troubles. Her heart hurt for him. She understood why he'd left but still felt a tinge on resentment. Why couldn't he have just seemed help when she'd asked? Why didn't he talk to her? She would have listened. He knew that...didn't he?
She felt the baby kick and smiled sweetly to herself.
"You're going to grow up strong like daddy. I can tell." She said, smiling.
There was another kick. And another. It tickled her insides. She couldn't help but let out a laugh.
She drank from the glass in front of her, thankful for her mother. Jess's mother had kept the refrigerator full. It was a small thing but Jess appreciated everything.
Her phone rang. She didn't recognize the number. She thought about not answering. It was late. She was only awake because she'd gotten into the habit of watching Chase's videos. It made her both happy and sad to see them.
"Hello?" She asked.
Her eyes grew wide when she heard the voice on the other end.
"Jess. I'm sorry. And I understand if you don't want to talk to me. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry for everything." Came Chase's voice.
Jessica was ecstatic. Her heart began pumping faster. The baby kicked.
"Chase?!" She yelled. "Is it really you?" She added.
"Yea. It's really me. I hope I didn't wake you." Chase said.
Jess shook her head
"No. I was just up watching videos of you. At first I stayed awake every night, hoping and praying for this call. But then I saw your videos. Chase...are you ok? She asked.
For a long time there was silence. Then.
"No. I'm not. The war never left me, Jess. James talks to me. I relive battles." Chase said slowly.
Jess closed her eyes. She knew. She wanted to help him. But she didn't know how.
"I understand. You could have talked to me, Chase. You didn't have to leave" she told him.
Again there was a long silence.
"You wouldn't have understood. And I may have done something to hurt you. I couldn't live with myself if I had. So I left. Right now I'm doing the only thing that seems to help me and even that doesn't help as much as I'd hoped." She heard Chase say.
Jessica knew that nothing she could say would help him. She didn't live through the things over there but she would always be there for him.
"I know I wouldn't understand what you've been through, Chase. But I would be there for you. No matter what. I need you here, Chase. Please come home."
There was silence. Jessica held here breath.
"Chase. I'm pregnant." She said.
She wanted Chase home not only for them but also for their baby. She needed him there. Their baby needed him there.
"What?" Chase asked.
"It's a boy. I'm going to name him Chase. After his daddy." Jessica said, big smile across her face.
"Jess….."
"Please come home."
"Jess. I…...Ok."
Tears began to fall from her emerrald green eyes. She was happy but afraid. What if he didn't come home. What if he did come home and left?
"I love you, Jess. I'm coming coming. I'll get help. I'm coming home."
Fade.
