“Denial. Anger. Bargaining. Depression. Acceptance.”

Heavy footsteps could be heard walking to the forefront out of the distance. It wasn’t the one everyone thought it would be. Instead it was the voice of the old man who graced Carnage Wrestling on the last episode of Chaos that needed the world to join “them”. As the sound of his breathing crescendoed he began to speak more.

“Those are the five stages of one, Calvin Harris. A man who seems to seek some sort of acknowledgement in his career. A man who came up just that bit short of becoming the World Champion of Carnage. But yet, he failed to even put a dent in Jack Michaels. We can see through the recent weeks and days that it has been eating him alive and he wants answers. He wants revenge. He wants to be the one on top. Spouting off words that wouldn’t even cut into a baby’s feelings to have them crying. All because Paragon is the end all, be all. It drives him mad and he is losing all of his self control. Deep down Calvin has to already know the truth and just have to accept it. He knows that he is not the one to be the rightful bread winner of his family. Poor pathetic man.”

The older gentleman just shook his head and clasped his hands together. He began to hum as he moved around a bit. Slowly pacing back and forth. What was his purpose for being here?

“Calvin, you see you are just like everyone else that is employed by Carnage Wrestling. A pot calling the kettle black. Everything that someone else is not that you claim to be, is false. Everything that others complain about, you do. You want to try and deny the fact that Jack is better than you on every day of the week? Take a long hard look in the mirror and ask yourself, why can’t you be more like Jack Michaels? Why can’t you beat a man who’s basically your grandfather. You’ve got to feel pretty low about yourself in more than one way. And that takes us to what angers you the most.”

He smirked a bit before continuing.

“Angry that you are now looked at as a laughing stock of Carnage. You could not do what so many thought that they could do. You are angry with yourself on many levels that you want everyone else to feel your pain so you lash out and talk down upon those you see as lower than you. When you feel the need to degrade someone else when you are on the same level, that makes you the poorest person on Earth with a wannabe rich attitude. You, Calvin are master of ignorance who can blame others for your declining success in Carnage. The fact that you can throw a tantrum and not question what is next for you and not give a damn anymore is tired and played out.”

“You’re bargaining with your own feelings of maturity on how to handle the loss you took from Jack Michaels. Haven’t you realized by now that Paragon is always going to rule Carnage, no matter how much you try and bring them down, you WILL FALL EVERY TIME. You will continue to be in denial though. So where did you go wrong Calvin? Did you ask yourself that? Do you have to keep confronting the demons inside you to try and mend a broken spirit? You were humiliated and made to bow down to the kings of Carnage. There is no need to try and make it out to be anything other than that. You want everyone around you to feel the misery that you do. But what good does that do you when everyone else is already on that level? I guess you fail at that as well. Get a grip of reality of Calvin, you are no threat to no mere mortal. You’re just a placeholder for a spirit who needs to find someone better to latch on to that can back up the shit that comes from their mouth.”

“Your depression shows from your inner self. Let me guess you were a kid with big dreams who wanted the world to see how talented and amazing you are and then they turned on you. The world turned cold. You seen just how maniacal people can be. This is a harsh cruel world and it just took you until recently to realize that. Now you want to be a big bad wolf to mask those inner feelings and brush off the mistakes you have made in your past. Brush off all of those abrasive slurs and sayings to those around you. Sit in your corner and continue to pout like anyone gives a shit. The world owes you nothing. Carnage owes you nothing. Consider yourself lucky that you even have a job that can pay your bills and provide for your children. Speaking of… Calvin, does it depress you that you made all these promises to your children that you would be the big man on campus and then you completely fail? How do you tell a kid that they can be anything they want to be as long as they put their heart and soul into it and fight to win, when you can’t even do that yourself? Lead by example much? I think not. Now your children have to look at you like the failure that you are. But yet, no one is better than you? Tuh, could have fooled me because Paragon has you wrapped around their pinky finger because that is all that clouds your brain and it has messed up your judgement pretty poorly. I pray to the heavens that your children don’t become obsessed with a human being that it drives them to insane asylum because they couldn’t cut it. You better start letting your children know that there will ALWAYS be someone better than them and to watch their words wisely.”

Laughing a bit, the older gentleman stepped backwards a little. 

“You need to learn how to accept things for what they are Calvin. You can’t do that, but someone who can do that is your opponent for this Season of the Witch tournament. Ever since you’ve been here you’ve had a mouth on you and you have written a lot of checks that your ass just can’t cash. Coming up short when it is supposed to matter. Regardless of whether your terror or rampage you are on to end Paragon ends well or not, things will still be the same for you. The only satisfaction you get out of this is if you ever become the World Champion. But that doesn’t make the people of the faction go away anytime soon. You need to accept the fact that whether you are the savior of Carnage or not, whether you stay or go, no one cares. You can climb to the mountain tops to scream you’re the best, but Melody Lennox can testify. So could Jack Michaels. You’re only as good as your mouth and children say. Reality sets in to show that you’re a punk ass little spoiled brat with a hidden agenda. Have fun belittling those who have worked harder than you to get to where they are. Ignore the ones who paved the way for you here in Carnage. You are disrespectful and unappreciative. The spineless slime of Carnage should be your name.“

Then he stops. Another shadow appears behind him. 

“You know I have done all of this talking and have yet to introduce myself. How rude of me. Especially to talk about a man who has no idea who I am. To you Calvin, my name is Mr. Grayson. To the world I am George Grayson. You can call me the mastermind behind the new and approved man that I’m sure you have already wrote off as an easy win. This man right here…“

At that point the smokey allure clears and Isaiah steps forward. 

“I know look at this new creation. The new and improved man standing here is going to produce the best of the best from now on. The season of the witch tournament is just where this new beginning is going to take place starting with you Calvin. May you place your eyes on Michael Isaiah. For far too long has he been overlooked and will no longer bow down to the likes of someone like you or anyone else. You want to know where the little hiatus was taking place? I’m sure the world wants to know? It’s not because he needed to take his ball and run home, it was not because his run as a champion was short… it was simply because it was time to reinvent and re-imagine himself in a new lighting. Get more focused on becoming just pure perfection. Call everything what you see fit, but Calvin the thing is you are just like everyone else. A naysayer. All of this mans life has he had people like you try and tear his name down but what difference does it make at the end of the day when you are the one who loses?”

“A man that has not much else to lose doesn’t fear anything. You think you are going to be the first person to strike some fear into this man’s heart? No, no, no. You are not even the person who can even bring up the world respect for any other individual when you don’t respect yourself. You see Calvin, we chose you are our opponent because the paths are like one in the same. Big headed, too much pride and then shut down by the most simple of things. Yours, Paragon. Ours, a partner that was only holding us back from our full potential. This man right here has the powers to be the biggest star in the world and what do you have? A broken soul and bitch made heart who cries about what the world has to change to benefit you. It takes a lot to break a man like Michael, but no not you Calvin. That is why you being axed from the tournament will do Carnage some good and then you can go bitch about how it should have been you even more. You’re just a man who is so desperate to be a company man that it is eating your soul alive and you need the attention to try and make your case valid. Try again on another.”

“You along with the world will not continue to play Isaiah as a joke. Your hurt anything going for you with the amount of bitching that you do Calvin. And it has been that way since you walked through the doors of this place. You might as well tuck your dick between your legs and pretend you have a pussy because that is all you will ever be, A bitch made little boy playing in man’s game. Don’t try and come for my client because when it is all said and done he is going to be the one that walks right over you and goes on to do the same to everyone else and win the tournament. You know what happens after that? He is going to do something you could not do and that is beat Jack Michaels for the World Championship and then you’ll really be crushed. It may be the time when you take your shit and go elsewhere and complain about how you weren’t given the opportunity you deserved. No one likes a sore.”

“I will tell you this though Calvin, you are too focused on the wrong things, and that is going to be your downfall. You don’t care, neither do we. So whatever happens, happens. The luck is there no more and who needs it besides you? Just know that Michael Isaiah is quote on quote… better than you!”