miscellaneous minds

[STORM]

miscellaneous minds

by Mark Storm

"They say the passage of time will heal all wounds, but the greater the loss, the deeper the cut and the more difficult the process to become whole again. The pain may fade, but scars serve as a reminder of our suffering and make the bearer all the more resolved never to be wounded again. So as time moves along we get lost in distractions, act out in frustration, react with aggression, give in to anger, and all the while we plot and plan as we wait to grow stronger, and before we know it, the time passes. We are healed. Ready to begin anew.."

---

I just know I'm in a better place right now. 

The cavalry ensued with applause as Vincent nodded his head in appreciation, looking at everyone seated around him with a massive smile plastered across his face, his belly hanging out of his t-shirt, bags buried beneath his eyes. Typical of Vincent, who never took any pride in his appearance, and just rolled with it. But I guess you wouldn't take any pride, or have any care in the world if everyone you've ever loved was taken away from you. And unfortunately, this, is what happened to Vincent. 

Thank you, for letting me share. 

He announced once again, another of his usual traditions that he says almost every week - with a tear running down his cheeks afterwards before taking a seat, and clasping his large hands together. The manner of how Vincent had lost everyone was rather upsetting, and to be quite honest with you, you'd most likely not want to have any knowledge of the incident, due to it's touching plot and rather unfortunate end. So to cut it short; the whole of his family had died within the space of six months. 

But this had become his outlet, a support group. He'd engage regularly with support groups, talking about his problems actually helped him, it made him become whole again, made him feel more alive in some sort of way. Despite what pop culture teaches you to believe about shrinks and therapy, this group had actually become beneficial for Vincent, and many others in the room, who were seated in a circle. Each person in the circle had their own story to tell, their own trials and tribulations that they've had, or are going to have to overcome. And one of the people within the circle, was actually quite a well known face - however did well to disguise himself, with a cap covering his hair and a hood slung over his cap, which covered the rest of his face. 

Thank you for sharing, Vincent. 

Said group leader, Lewis, who rose from his seat and looked around at the rest of the members in the group, who had all spoken about their problems, all poured out their misery and their struggles. Except from one, and Lewis's eyes diverted to him, cementing on him. 

How about yourself, sir? Care to, share with us, tonight?

Opening up his arms to indicate everybody in the room, and all their eyes turned to the hooded man, who remained slumped on his seat, taking a moment to contemplate a reply to the proposal. The man nodded his head and rose to his seat, pulling his hood down but keeping the cap on his head. 

Yeah, I don't see why not. 

The man said, his voice deep and recognizable. 

Uh.. my - 

Any chance you could take the cap off?

Lewis interrupted and the man took off his cap, holding it in his hands and looking around the room, with a few faces flaring up as they recognized the man that stood before them. 

My name is Mark. 

And the group replied: 

Hello Mark. 

Silence exasperated for a while...

With Mark still looking down at his cap, he began to wonder whether this was the right idea. Coming to this group therapy session, something he has to, become accustomed to over the last few months. To listen to everybody else's problems makes you feel less crazy, it relieves all the stress and the pressure's that you find yourself in, as you have a realization that you're not the only one who's suffering. We're all suffering, some, just more than others. He looked up again with a stern look in his eyes. 

My name is Mark. And I'm a schizophrenic. 

He stated, taking a pause as he diverted his eyes away from the book and back at his cap. 

I was diagnosed almost two years ago now.. ever since my father passed, I guess.. I guess, I just haven't been the same since then, he died and I blamed his death on myself, and because of that blame, it drove me to insanity.. and I guess, lately, I just haven't been coping very well. 

He admitted.

I guess I'm at the lowest I've been in a while.. I'm in and out with medication, sometimes I feel like taking em and sometimes I feel like not.. but this, this is effecting everyone around me. This selfish act is effecting the people that I care about.. it's effecting the people that I work with. I'm blacking out a lot during the days, something that never really used to happen.. but recently it's been a bitch, with people complaining that I've been doing shit - when in all honesty, I can't remember shit. I can't remember doing any of these things that they're claiming I do.. I just - I..

The words had been rehearsed but we're not escaping his mouth. 

I just.. wanna, change. I don't wanna black out anymore. I don't wanna endure these voices that plague my mind. I don't want any of this. But I guess I'm afraid of the change because I'm afraid. What if it doesn't work out? What if nothing changes at all? What if what I'm able to do inside the four sided ring, won't be the same too? Because there's no shadow of a doubt that this illness, is a curse.. but in so many ways that you guys will not understand, it has been a blessing in disguise. I hate to say it but I've accomplished more now than I ever did before the diagnosis.. I accomplished so much, and there's so much more that I want.. but I know - that in order to do that, I need these demons.. they're what drive me. It's what makes me stronger..

What he was saying was one hundred percent true, without medication it's been recorded that he's one over half of his matches over the passed two years however has suffered an abundance of losses with medication, a pattern which drives him more insane than he already is. 

Uh.. sorry I uh.. I shouldn't have come. 

Placing his hat back on his head, he immediately left the room with everyone looking at him whilst he done so. 

---

The Shoot

---

I'm not going to lie to you. I'm not even going to drop this on you easy.

The scene opens with the words of Mark Storm echoing inside the small room, filled with memorabilia of Mark Storm's past, his accomplishments, accolades, everything to do with the profession, all cramped inside the small rectangular room and standing in the middle was the man himself, with a black trench coat covering his white shirt underneath, his hair slicked back and trousers fitted to perfection, a look of seriousness in his eyes as they fixated on the camera.

Whatever you've said I did, whatever you're claiming that I am - you're wrong.

The imaginary beat drops, and Mark's eyes flare up with anger. 

Someone is pinning this on me. I know, coming from a schizophrenic this sounds crazy, coming from someone so out of it, sounds darn stupid but I promise you Molly Reid and Nero, that I'm telling you the truth. And for you to go as far and call me a pervert, it's pushed a button.. I'm not going to lie to you, it's pushed a damn button and I've had enough. Of the accusations, of the harsh words being said about me in the locker rooms, I've had enough! I came into this promotion to wrestle in an attempt to make my name a global commodity, if I wanted to sniff panties and masturbate over your bra, I wouldn't be in this industry. I'm in this industry because I want to become the best wrestler in the world, you hear that? I'm going to let you digest that. And now I'm going to repeat it, I'm in this industry because I wanna become the best wrestler in the world and I'm never going to get there if I'm sniffing panties! You were quick to pin it on me.. 

Not even for a slight second did you think that maybe this was all a scandal.. immediately, the finger was directed at me, and sure you found it in my bag, but is there any video tape that provides evidence that I went into your bags and put it in mine? Is there any witnesses? No. I won't lie to you girls, I'm considering hiring a damn forensic scientist to analyze your damn panties and bra's because I know it weren't me. But hey ho, I'm the obvious suspect, in my bad, I'm the crazy one and as soon as you found that out, you were both one hundred percent convinced that it was me.

Damn discrimination in the work place.

He laughs. 

But I'm not going to cry about it. What I'm going to do is find myself a tag team partner and face the both of you in a tag team match on Vertigo, and while you may think that there's no one who would wanna team with me Molly, you'd be surprised with the amount of people in the back who wanna see you fall! Personally, I initially thought you were a great humble gal but now you've shown us your real colors, you've shown the FGA world who you really are, and that's an asshole. I know how good you are, and I know what you can do inside that four sided ring, I've watched the video tapes of you in the octagon and inside the four sided ring, and I've experienced first hand on two occasions now.. you're one of the best new talents in this promotion and you've been on a meteoric ride ever since you came into this company. But that meteoric rise, it's coming to an end.. and you should expect to plummet back down to reality, because you've chosen a war with the wrong man. I'm not the bad guy, although you may think I am.. I'm not, but that's what you're depicting me to be. That's what you're forcing these people to believe, shoving these theories down their throats so that they can despise me like you do. I'm not a bad guy Molly, but that's the role you've given me and I've gotta play my part now, right? You created this monster.

Pointing at himself, shaking his head.

And at Vertigo, I'll be unleashed on you and I'll make that you suffer, that you pay for the pain that you've caused me. Nero & Molly, you can't truly believe I'd be stealing your draws and shit? I've gotta honey back home, and she's all I need, and she's all I want.. I don't do sides, I'm fine with the main course. 

He looks at the camera one final time. 

See you at Vertigo, chumps.