Post by Lachlan Kane on Aug 6, 2023 22:57:49 GMT -5
He didn’t know how much time had passed, or even where he was. All he knew right now was darkness. He was finally awake, having collapsed following his match in Puerto Rico once the adrenaline of the night wore off. But surprisingly, for all the punishment his body had endured, he was in no residual pain. In fact, he almost felt better than he had in weeks. The gentle sound of lapping water was the only thing he could hear, and a peculiar scent punctuated the air that he could not place. The water he was floating in was cool and refreshing against his skin, and he swirled his hands around.
He didn’t panic, despite not knowing where he was or the fact that he was completely enveloped in darkness. It was only when the voice rose up to greet him in his mind that he drew the conclusion - he must be in the Hotel California, as this was the only place that his dark passenger was strong enough to unshackle himself without Lachlan’s intervention.
Hello, boy.
It was like a hot knife being driven through his temple, and he winced in pain. The voice was the loudest it had ever been, and had a sinister edge that echoed in his mind. For some reason, this voice seemed different than any other time it had appeared, and that gave him pause.
It’s because you’re too damn righteous and stubborn for your own good. I tried to warn you before that last match that you needed me, and you denied me. And look what happened to you. Beated, bloodied, and nearly killed by - of all things - a runaway car with no driver. You can’t tell me that you don’t see the curiosity that this little tournament has become. Even you aren’t that thick.
He shook his head, the water sloshing around in his ears. He wanted to fight with honour and integrity. There was no reason for him to resort to any of these tactics to try and get an advantage.
I told you, Kane. You’re pathetic and weak compared to everyone else. Even your own teammates are far superior to you. You need me.
He tried to tune out the voice now, instead choosing to float in the strange watery concoction that seemingly had healed his broken body. But the next sentence the passenger spoke sent a chill creeping down his spine.
What would your family think if they could see you?
Images flashed in his mind, the backyard of his home. His two little girls playing on the lawn without a care in the world. Sierra holding their infant son, sitting in the shade of the covered patio. It was an innocent-looking scene, but Lachlan felt the dread rising in him. He knew that this was a thinly-veiled threat. He had seen it enough times to recognize it.
What a beautiful little family. Far more than you deserve. Would be a terrible shame if anything were to happen to them.
And there it was. The direct hit. He might have been intimidated if this same thing hadn’t been tried by so many others previously. The fact that it was coming from the dark passenger residing in his mind made no difference to him. After all, once they left the grounds of the Hotel, Lachlan took back all the power and the passenger would be banished back to the recesses of his mind.
You really think so? This Hotel is a curious place, Lachlan. I seem to have a certain amount of power here, power that you couldn’t begin to imagine. I could take full control over your mind right now, walk right into that house and no one would suspect anything. I know you, Kane. Inside and out. I could ruin your life without anyone suspecting a thing.
It was quiet for a moment, the passenger letting the weight of his threat hang in the air. Lachlan didn’t know exactly what kind of power he held over him while they were in the Hotel, and he had a feeling that he wanted it that way. It set him on edge, but he didn’t see a way out of the power imbalance for the time being. So he figured it would be better to play along, if only to keep his family safe.
Now, that’s a good lad. I knew you would see things my way in time. So, if you’re as smart as I believe you are, perhaps we should work together a little more during the rest of these Trials…starting in Bermuda.
He had been in his mind for so long that he didn’t notice when the door creaked open softly. A soft light began to fill the room, and with a start Lachlan sat up. Some of the water splashed out onto the floor, and when he looked down at himself he saw that he wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing.
“Oh, you’re awake, Mister Kane.”
His head whipped around to the doorway, where one of the attendants of the hotel stood. She held an oil lantern in one hand as she entered the room clutching a stack of towels. He tried to cover himself, but it wasn’t really necessary as she deftly averted her gaze away from him. She placed the towels on a nearby table, along with a medium-sized box. “When Madam Penelope brought you here to our care, you were in such a terrible state. We were worried we would have to go to the second stage of our healing processes, but by the looks of things you seem to be in excellent shape. Perhaps even better than before.”
She turned to look towards him, but respectfully kept her eyes on his face. “You’ll find fresh towels here, as well as a change of clothing. We had to guess at your size, but just let me know if anything is ill-fitting and I’ll find a suitable replacement.”
“Is Penelope here?” His voice sounded somewhat hoarse in his ears, and his throat felt dry.
“She is an extremely busy woman, I’m afraid,” the attendant said. “She’s currently entertaining a…guest.”
Just as she said that, a blood curdling scream echoed through the hallways, and Lachlan felt every hair stand up on the back of his neck. The attendant seemed completely unphased, however. “And after that, she has some other matters to attend to that will take her away from the Hotel. But I’m sure you’ll meet up with her down in the Bahamas, no?”
“I guess so.” Lachlan sat back in the strange tub, the water sloshing some more.
“Excellent. Well, whenever you’re ready, Mister Kane. Dinner shall be served shortly.” She took her leave of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Dragging his hands down his face, Lachlan let out a heavy sigh. “What have I gotten myself into?”
—-----
The night was calm and clear and the moon was just beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a soft light across the picturesque beach. The water lapped against the shoreline, the soft white sand stretching out for miles as far as the eye could see. It was like something out of some romance film, and maybe at any other time Lachlan Kane would have enjoyed the scenery with his beloved wife.
But for now, he had business to conduct. Currently, he stood ankle-deep in the water, staring out across the horizon with his arms folded across his chest. His face was carefully neutral, his blue eyes shining and reflecting the image of the moon in their depths. For the briefest moment, it almost seemed like they flashed a deep crimson, but he blinked and the illusion was shattered and he turned his attention to the camera slowly creeping towards him.
“Well, I can’t say that I’ve done as well as I’d like to have in these Trials so far, but we’re a long way from over. There’s still two more events to happen before the big main event, so to speak. And there’s plenty of opportunities to keep my team in the lead. Opportunities that I plan to take full advantage of. Gone is the ‘white meat babyface’, as I’ve been so referred to. I realize that the stakes are getting higher and higher with each event, and with that the danger factor has been turned up exponentially. I mean, we all saw what happened in Puerto Rico, right? A lot of near-misses and close calls, and I’m not even talking about the matches themselves. I have a feeling that things are going to get a lot more interesting around here the closer we get to the Devil’s Triangle.”
He uncrossed his arms and slid them into the pockets of his loose white shorts. “But the show goes on, so they say. Twelve warriors battle on to secure the Triad and etch our places in the history books. And this week, I face off with an old foe and a brand-new face. I have no doubt this is going to be a tough challenge, but I’ve never been afraid of a little hard work before. And I’m not starting now.”
“Let’s start with the devil I know. Mister Raven. I would think that by this point you and I should consider ourselves old friends, should we not? Even without taking other companies into account, we had one hell of a battle on the first night of the Trials. I can honestly say I haven’t had a fight like that in a long time. You certainly made me feel it, even days after the event. My back felt like an 80 year old’s. It definitely put a target on my back for night two, and I have no doubts that my lingering pains played a part in my downfall that night.” A dark look overtook his face as he glared down the camera lens. “So now, I’ve got even more motivation to take you out and put you down for good. You’ve got quite a few receipts coming your way in Bermuda, and I’m ready to cash in every single one of them.”
“And then we have the unfamiliar to me but extremely interesting Helena Handbasket. But the question is…which one will we see on Tuesday night, hmm? You’ve certainly got a unique advantage in this shindig, having a twin and all. But it really hasn’t been all that much of an advantage, has it? Two matches, two pinfalls against you. I almost feel pity, especially after night one. As a father myself, I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same thing in Matthew’s position.” He shook his head ruefully. “But there’s no room for pity in the Trials. Especially not for opponents. You’re standing in my way of earning two points, and I will do whatever I have to to ensure that I pick up the pinfall in this match.”
He took a few steps towards the shore, the water rippling around his feet. “The way I see it, I’m the odds on favourite going into this night. After all, out of the three of us I’m the only one with a point on the board. And I’m not saying this out of conceit or pride. It’s just a fact. Then again, I’m not arrogant enough to believe that I’ve got a complete lock on this match. After all, it’s got a bit of an interesting stipulation attached to it, doesn’t it? Anything we can fit in the pockets can be used in the match. You both can bring near anything to this match to turn the tides in your favour.” He slowly slid his hands out of his pockets, his fists tightly clenched. He looked down at them for a moment before his eyes flashed back up to the camera lens. Once again, it looked like they flashed a deep red as they locked on, but this time the colour lingered. As he spoke, it almost seemed like his voice took on a deeper tone, edged with something more sinister. “But I won’t need much more than what I’ve got right here. We’ll see you both on Tuesday night.”
With a final devious smirk, Lachlan slid his hands back into his pockets and with one final scarlet-eyed glare towards the camera, he turned and walked off down the beach, his feet leaving prints in the sand as the camera turned to focus on the moon, now coloured a deep blood red before it faded out to black.
He didn’t panic, despite not knowing where he was or the fact that he was completely enveloped in darkness. It was only when the voice rose up to greet him in his mind that he drew the conclusion - he must be in the Hotel California, as this was the only place that his dark passenger was strong enough to unshackle himself without Lachlan’s intervention.
Hello, boy.
It was like a hot knife being driven through his temple, and he winced in pain. The voice was the loudest it had ever been, and had a sinister edge that echoed in his mind. For some reason, this voice seemed different than any other time it had appeared, and that gave him pause.
It’s because you’re too damn righteous and stubborn for your own good. I tried to warn you before that last match that you needed me, and you denied me. And look what happened to you. Beated, bloodied, and nearly killed by - of all things - a runaway car with no driver. You can’t tell me that you don’t see the curiosity that this little tournament has become. Even you aren’t that thick.
He shook his head, the water sloshing around in his ears. He wanted to fight with honour and integrity. There was no reason for him to resort to any of these tactics to try and get an advantage.
I told you, Kane. You’re pathetic and weak compared to everyone else. Even your own teammates are far superior to you. You need me.
He tried to tune out the voice now, instead choosing to float in the strange watery concoction that seemingly had healed his broken body. But the next sentence the passenger spoke sent a chill creeping down his spine.
What would your family think if they could see you?
Images flashed in his mind, the backyard of his home. His two little girls playing on the lawn without a care in the world. Sierra holding their infant son, sitting in the shade of the covered patio. It was an innocent-looking scene, but Lachlan felt the dread rising in him. He knew that this was a thinly-veiled threat. He had seen it enough times to recognize it.
What a beautiful little family. Far more than you deserve. Would be a terrible shame if anything were to happen to them.
And there it was. The direct hit. He might have been intimidated if this same thing hadn’t been tried by so many others previously. The fact that it was coming from the dark passenger residing in his mind made no difference to him. After all, once they left the grounds of the Hotel, Lachlan took back all the power and the passenger would be banished back to the recesses of his mind.
You really think so? This Hotel is a curious place, Lachlan. I seem to have a certain amount of power here, power that you couldn’t begin to imagine. I could take full control over your mind right now, walk right into that house and no one would suspect anything. I know you, Kane. Inside and out. I could ruin your life without anyone suspecting a thing.
It was quiet for a moment, the passenger letting the weight of his threat hang in the air. Lachlan didn’t know exactly what kind of power he held over him while they were in the Hotel, and he had a feeling that he wanted it that way. It set him on edge, but he didn’t see a way out of the power imbalance for the time being. So he figured it would be better to play along, if only to keep his family safe.
Now, that’s a good lad. I knew you would see things my way in time. So, if you’re as smart as I believe you are, perhaps we should work together a little more during the rest of these Trials…starting in Bermuda.
He had been in his mind for so long that he didn’t notice when the door creaked open softly. A soft light began to fill the room, and with a start Lachlan sat up. Some of the water splashed out onto the floor, and when he looked down at himself he saw that he wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing.
“Oh, you’re awake, Mister Kane.”
His head whipped around to the doorway, where one of the attendants of the hotel stood. She held an oil lantern in one hand as she entered the room clutching a stack of towels. He tried to cover himself, but it wasn’t really necessary as she deftly averted her gaze away from him. She placed the towels on a nearby table, along with a medium-sized box. “When Madam Penelope brought you here to our care, you were in such a terrible state. We were worried we would have to go to the second stage of our healing processes, but by the looks of things you seem to be in excellent shape. Perhaps even better than before.”
She turned to look towards him, but respectfully kept her eyes on his face. “You’ll find fresh towels here, as well as a change of clothing. We had to guess at your size, but just let me know if anything is ill-fitting and I’ll find a suitable replacement.”
“Is Penelope here?” His voice sounded somewhat hoarse in his ears, and his throat felt dry.
“She is an extremely busy woman, I’m afraid,” the attendant said. “She’s currently entertaining a…guest.”
Just as she said that, a blood curdling scream echoed through the hallways, and Lachlan felt every hair stand up on the back of his neck. The attendant seemed completely unphased, however. “And after that, she has some other matters to attend to that will take her away from the Hotel. But I’m sure you’ll meet up with her down in the Bahamas, no?”
“I guess so.” Lachlan sat back in the strange tub, the water sloshing some more.
“Excellent. Well, whenever you’re ready, Mister Kane. Dinner shall be served shortly.” She took her leave of the room, closing the door softly behind her.
Dragging his hands down his face, Lachlan let out a heavy sigh. “What have I gotten myself into?”
—-----
The night was calm and clear and the moon was just beginning to rise over the horizon, casting a soft light across the picturesque beach. The water lapped against the shoreline, the soft white sand stretching out for miles as far as the eye could see. It was like something out of some romance film, and maybe at any other time Lachlan Kane would have enjoyed the scenery with his beloved wife.
But for now, he had business to conduct. Currently, he stood ankle-deep in the water, staring out across the horizon with his arms folded across his chest. His face was carefully neutral, his blue eyes shining and reflecting the image of the moon in their depths. For the briefest moment, it almost seemed like they flashed a deep crimson, but he blinked and the illusion was shattered and he turned his attention to the camera slowly creeping towards him.
“Well, I can’t say that I’ve done as well as I’d like to have in these Trials so far, but we’re a long way from over. There’s still two more events to happen before the big main event, so to speak. And there’s plenty of opportunities to keep my team in the lead. Opportunities that I plan to take full advantage of. Gone is the ‘white meat babyface’, as I’ve been so referred to. I realize that the stakes are getting higher and higher with each event, and with that the danger factor has been turned up exponentially. I mean, we all saw what happened in Puerto Rico, right? A lot of near-misses and close calls, and I’m not even talking about the matches themselves. I have a feeling that things are going to get a lot more interesting around here the closer we get to the Devil’s Triangle.”
He uncrossed his arms and slid them into the pockets of his loose white shorts. “But the show goes on, so they say. Twelve warriors battle on to secure the Triad and etch our places in the history books. And this week, I face off with an old foe and a brand-new face. I have no doubt this is going to be a tough challenge, but I’ve never been afraid of a little hard work before. And I’m not starting now.”
“Let’s start with the devil I know. Mister Raven. I would think that by this point you and I should consider ourselves old friends, should we not? Even without taking other companies into account, we had one hell of a battle on the first night of the Trials. I can honestly say I haven’t had a fight like that in a long time. You certainly made me feel it, even days after the event. My back felt like an 80 year old’s. It definitely put a target on my back for night two, and I have no doubts that my lingering pains played a part in my downfall that night.” A dark look overtook his face as he glared down the camera lens. “So now, I’ve got even more motivation to take you out and put you down for good. You’ve got quite a few receipts coming your way in Bermuda, and I’m ready to cash in every single one of them.”
“And then we have the unfamiliar to me but extremely interesting Helena Handbasket. But the question is…which one will we see on Tuesday night, hmm? You’ve certainly got a unique advantage in this shindig, having a twin and all. But it really hasn’t been all that much of an advantage, has it? Two matches, two pinfalls against you. I almost feel pity, especially after night one. As a father myself, I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same thing in Matthew’s position.” He shook his head ruefully. “But there’s no room for pity in the Trials. Especially not for opponents. You’re standing in my way of earning two points, and I will do whatever I have to to ensure that I pick up the pinfall in this match.”
He took a few steps towards the shore, the water rippling around his feet. “The way I see it, I’m the odds on favourite going into this night. After all, out of the three of us I’m the only one with a point on the board. And I’m not saying this out of conceit or pride. It’s just a fact. Then again, I’m not arrogant enough to believe that I’ve got a complete lock on this match. After all, it’s got a bit of an interesting stipulation attached to it, doesn’t it? Anything we can fit in the pockets can be used in the match. You both can bring near anything to this match to turn the tides in your favour.” He slowly slid his hands out of his pockets, his fists tightly clenched. He looked down at them for a moment before his eyes flashed back up to the camera lens. Once again, it looked like they flashed a deep red as they locked on, but this time the colour lingered. As he spoke, it almost seemed like his voice took on a deeper tone, edged with something more sinister. “But I won’t need much more than what I’ve got right here. We’ll see you both on Tuesday night.”
With a final devious smirk, Lachlan slid his hands back into his pockets and with one final scarlet-eyed glare towards the camera, he turned and walked off down the beach, his feet leaving prints in the sand as the camera turned to focus on the moon, now coloured a deep blood red before it faded out to black.