Post by Admin on Jun 24, 2023 9:30:29 GMT
Christian Cain’s Farm
Florida
June 6th, 2023
“Christian! Where are you?!”
Veronica falls to her knees in front of the rural farmhouse, the headlights of her black 1977 Chevrolet Silverado light her shadow up onto the house. Her face in her hands, she can’t believe that Christian is actually back and alive. She was the one who found his dead and bloated cadaver in the back of his bastard son’s RV. This shouldn’t be possible, but she knew she shouldn’t be possible either, so it makes sense the two are soulmates.
“Where are you, baby? I thought for sure you would come here….”
Veronica gets up slowly to turn around and sit down on the front stoop. A warmness fills the air surrounding her. She looks behind herself and sees a tall figure walk out from the light. Veronica recognized the strut that had a certain glide look to it. The icy blue eyes behind the raven hair. It is her mother. Not a digital copy either, the real deal.
“Mom?!”
Veronica embraces the ethereal spirit of her dead mother, her tears absorbed into the black gown Meghan is in.
“Oh, baby girl, mama has missed you too.”
“Not that I am complaining, but what are you doing here?”
“Oh, well, the powers above were nice enough to let me keep my eye on the family, and saw that Christian did the impossible: redemption from Hell and back into the living. It doesn’t happen very much. Hardly at all. But he’s got a problem….”
Meghan motions forward with her hand toward the steps on the front of the house. When they sit, Veronica has Meghan’s hand in hers, not wanting to let it go, but she knows it’s not possible, right? Christian came back after all….
“Before you ask, no, I can’t come back, sweetheart. My end of days weren’t premature, like they were for Christian.”
“... You said he was in trouble?”
“While by the Rules of Lucifer, Christian did what was needed to return, but it’s Hell, and not all the demons and hellspawns listen to him. Take your grandfather, my old man. He’s never listened to authority, and after gaining Hellspawn powers, he took over the 6th Layer of Hell… and he agreed to help you and Christian out.”
“What’s the catch?”
“Love is the catch. Your heart, while dark like any Strader alive or dead, and your father’s side too… It's pure love for Christian and your baby girl. He needs your help. I am sure I don’t even need to ask- - -”
“- - - I’ll go.”
The Strader Sneer burns strongly across both of their faces, and Meghan puts her arm around her eldest daughter.
“Are you coming?”
“I can’t. I was granted past the Pearly Gates. I can’t cross back over to go into Hell as an angel. Rules. I was lucky they let me contact Scott.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Think about Christian and mom will do the rest. I love you, Veronica. Give my love to your sister and her soon to be married partner. Tell Tamika that I understand.”
“I will… I love you too, mamabear.”
Veronica closed her eyes. Christian’s ruggedly handsome face filled her vision. The next time our anti-heroine opens her eyes, she definitely won’t be in Kansas anymore.
6th Layer of Hell
Hellscape, Hell
Temperature 666C
“Oh, my….”
The movies didn’t do the place known as hell any justice. The screams of souls imprisoned rattle her slightly when she hears Screaming Eagle tailpipes. They are attached to what looks like a bike from hell: wheels ablaze, a skull where the headlight would be. Sat upon it is a colossal figure, around 7 feet tall in all leather. Chains wrapped in an X around his torso and his head was a skull set ablaze. It disappears, revealing that it’s her grandfather, the late Scott Nash Strader. The infamous family sneer is across his face.
“Scott? Didn’t recognize you. New hairstyle?”
“The flaming skull throws people off.”
“No, I meant I didn’t recognize you without you being inside of Maxine.”
Scott chuckles and shakes his head. Maxine “Mad Max” Riggs is Victoria Strader’s ex-girlfriend and had an affair with Scott before he was killed.
“I deserve that. I got a message from your mom. She’s asked for me to help rid Christian of the demon that won’t let him go.”
“You are the last person I would ask for help, but I love Christian and our baby girl deserves a father.”
Hitting the throttle on his Helly Davidson and with a snap of his fingers his skull ignites with fire and another bike appears.
“Aw, for me?”
“Didn’t think you were one to ride bitch, so here ya go.”
Veronica nods in agreement. Moments later, they are riding down a decrepit, old looking highway. The unsettling sounds of screaming souls fill her ears and she does her best to stay focused on the road ahead. Demons dance along the fiery walls in the distance as what looks like molten lava flows beneath.
“The demon giving you problems…. he’s a real prick. He’s known as The Denominator, The Violator, The Harasser, and many other stupid names.”
“Why is he going against the rules?”
The flaming skull head of her grandfather looks over to her with a half shrug.
“The Devil follows the rules so his minions don’t have too. They want your man’s soul in their army of hellspawn, like they did mine.”
The duo dodges a rather large hole in the road, and Veronica looks over at the large being that is her grandfather.
“Is that why you are the way… you are?”
“Well, kid, I did a lot of awful shit in my life. I’ve lost track of all the people I have wronged or even killed in my biker career. I hurt my own children and theirs… I am just doing what I can do to prevent the war from happening and that involves taking the 6th layer over like I have.”
“Kudos to your ambition for redemption,” she says, watching him closely. “How much farther?”
Before Scott can answer, a flaming spear goes through the back wheel of Veronica’s Helly Davidson. She goes ass over teakettle, somersaulting across the asphalt of damnation. Scott turns swiftly, skidding to a stop beside his granddaughter. The flames surrounding his head burn brightly in anger.
“Veronica!”
“She’s tough, Strader. Would be perfect for the army.”
SNS turns and sees the fat ugly clown with blue and white face paint that makes his red eyes glow bright. Long hanging wads of saliva drip from the corner of his short and rotten sharp teeth, and capped with a smile that would make Tom Savini shit his pants.
“The Devil's right hand….”
“You remembered! How sweet of you! This delectable young soul at your feet looks delicious. Have you come to offer her in place of you?”
Veronica pulls herself up, straightening out her grey hoodie, wiping debris from her purple jeans. Her feet clad in her late mom’s snakeskin cowgirl boots click as she walks, approaching the beast. She looks up at the monster that has to be twice the size of her grandfather, no fear showing in her eyes.
“You want Christian Cain?”
“Abso-fuckin-lutely.”
“You’ll have to get me through me first, you fugly son of a bitch.”
“HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! My pleasure!”
The ground shakes violently as the Clown swipes down at Veronica. She baseball slides between its hind legs and hops back to her feet quickly. She directs a sharp heel kick to the back of the demon’s kneecap.
“ARGH!”
“Kid! CATCH!”
She sees what looks to be a Hell-powered sawed off, like the one her Uncle John keeps in his saddlebags.
CLICK-CLICK!
With the shotgun getting cocked like a badass one arm pump in the air, Veronica takes aim and fires at the same kneecap she caved in from behind. The demon is down to his right knee.
BAM-BAM!
Two rounds to the fat clown’s skull splatters his brain matter everywhere.
“Watch out, kid! You’ve pissed him off!”
The parts of the skull and brain liquify, and pool back together in a gross Hell Blob, similar to the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
“What the fuck is happening?!”
“He’s taking his true form.”
Out of the pool rises a long jawed grey beast. A spike curves down, coming out of the top of its skull, and two more on either side of its jaw. It has the same red eyes, just larger and reminiscent of a fly. It is like burning a hole through her.
“Now I will take your soul as well!”
With a large swipe of its claw, it connects with Veronica, sending her over the side of the decrepit highway. SNS wastes no time, hitting his throttle, and sparks are flying everywhere as he drags his chain behind him.
“Eat this, shit bag!”
Heading full force toward the demon, Strader whips the chain upward, catching the beast under its long jaw!
TWHACK!
Scott turns his head to see a pair of hands pulling themselves up back onto the asphalt.
“Goddamn, kid! You really are a Scorpion, aren’t ya? Hard to fuckin’ kill like the rest of us with a vicious sting.”
“Pretty sure I killed you pretty easily, old man.”
Flames shoot out the skull's nose cavity with a laugh.
“Glad we aren’t gonna let that cause awkwardness. ARGH!”
Veronica looks up to see The Demonator drooling above her and her grandfather tossed off to the side like a rag-doll. It swipes her up by the waist and holds Veronica over his head, dangling like a piece of food. The sneer is burning across her lips.
“Well? What the fuck are you waiting for, asshat?”
“Just admiring my dinner and soul.”
Just as it goes to drop her in its mouth…
WOOSH-WOOSH-WOOSH!
Veronica extends her arm, catching her grandfather's chain out of the air. The flames engulf her into a ball of fire. The demon lets go, as its claw is blown apart. As it heals, the revving of Scott’s bike can be heard, but sitting upon it is Veronica. Engulfed in flames, but not burning. She lassos the chain in the air above her and swings it forward, catching the beast by its top horn.
“Imma show you how we do it downtown, bitch!”
She hits the throttle and sees a small pile of garbage that she can use as a ramp. The Helly Davidson’s tires catch on the fiery walls as she drags the enormous beast behind it. Chain still in hand that’s attached to the beast’s horn, Veronica lets out a guttural roar. Using all her strength, she whips the creature over her head and into the molten pit below. The explosion is massive, and the last thing Veronica sees is her grandfather’s skull extinguishing, his words echoing in her head….
“You got’em kid. You got’em!”
Ranch Strader Estate
Houston, Texas
June 7th, 2023
Veronica sits straight up in bed, looking around, confused. She pulls herself out of bed, shaking her head.
“That felt… so real. I can still feel the heat… at least I am home… I wish Christian was here.”
Veronica walks to the crib at the foot of her bed and enters a panic when the little one isn’t there.
“WHERE IS SHE?!”
Veronica bursts through her bedroom doors and stops dead in her tracks as the fear leaves and its place is relief and joy.
“Oh my God…. Christian!”
Outcast sits upon his knee, a ring box in his hand, a purple amethyst with a dozen 12 carat diamonds sitting around it.
“Veronica, my darlin’… will you do me the honour of being my wife?”
She runs into his arms and looks to her right at the baby in the bassinet beside them
“Yes! A million times, yes!”
The reunited lovers and their child celebrate the moment together. From the reflection of the mirror above the fireplace in the living room, Scott Nash Strader watches, trapped between worlds.
Dear Allen,
I am Veronica Strader, soon to be Veronica Cain. I am sure you remember my mom and my auntie from your days wrestling for the company Pioneer Wrestling Association. Now, I can’t talk to my mom about anything that could help me gain the extra advantage, but I know her spirit will be with me when we step into the squared-circle.
Auntie Tee, had some words about you. Care to hear them? I am kidding. I wasn’t actually asking you for permission. I know you were a stand-up comedian. Maybe you still are. Plus, a lover of hardcore wrestling.
You know… I actually don’t like the hardcore stuff, but just like my mother and grandfather, I enjoy hurting people that think they are better than me.
I know, I know. Everyone is asking: why do you work for CU:LT? I don’t take the comfortable route. I like to challenge myself. Get out of my comfort zone. It’s why I signed on the dotted line this past Monday in the WGWF. Where I will wear this SNUFF Championship with pride as I look to claim the company’s Intercontinental Championship. I am usually a one company kinda gal, but with the lax schedule of CU:LT, I wanted to branch out a bit, and again, leave my comfort zone.
I bring up the comfort zone point for a reason. According to my aunt and from what I have seen, once you have lost a handful of matches in whatever company you are employed by, you bounce to a new promotion. Or take some sort of leave”
You couldn’t get the job done against the man that is technically my dad in the IWF. The dirt sheets are saying you are taking a leave of absence. Looks like Auntie Tee was right.
Here’s how it’s gonna go down, Allen. You are gonna step into the ring with a Strader for the first time in your career. Once inside that ring, I am sure you are gonna get some knocks in. I am not so damn full of myself to say I am gonna walk all over you, but I have the confidence to know you won’t be taking my SNUFF Championship away from me. Just like the name suggests, you are gonna have to pry it from my cold, dead hands.
After I have successfully defended my championship, I’m going to marry the man of my dreams. My baby girl will grow up with a father and a mother, and be shown more love than one could ever possibly imagine.
I am going to be known as the best damn Strader that has ever stepped foot into the ring, and you are one of my stepping stones. I want you to remember one thing…
God forgives.
I don’t.
Sincerely,
The Scorpion Veronica (soon to be) Cain.
Hasta luego, Chaney
