It wasn’t modern before by any means, but now it looked like a derelict old warehouse from a movie. As the sunlight shined between cracks of the boarded-up windows…specs of dust floated in the sun rays. Cobwebs hung in the corners of the ceiling, and as she walked to the old locker room, the sound of dripping water and the stank smell of rust that had overtaken the space was almost comforting.
She stepped on a screw and looked down. The floor was littered with left behind nuts and bolts, pieces of paper and the unmistakable crunch of mice droppings. She smiled looking across the floor towards a steel chair laying on the ground. She grabbed it and unfolded it as it creaked like an old door setting next to a bench in front of where the old ring used to be. You could see the holes in the floor where it had been bolted in. She grabbed her phone and set it on the bench facing her to record.
(Erica): Mira este…we spent a million hours in this place, huh mi amigos? Our blood, sweat and tears are in this place. We became a stars from this place.
Erica scoff’s at her own comment.
(Erica): A star? You guys are stars…I’m like a Kardashian…everybody hates my ass. Do you guys remember the first day I walked in here? Sean, you and Matt were over here in the ring, you hit the ropes and came diving out and I said “damn that white boy knows how to do a plancha.”
Erica smiles at the memory.
(Erica): Matt you had this steeled look about you, and I knew right from the start you were the leader. Sensei gathered you all together to introduce me and instead of a handshake you gave me a hug Michelle. I thought who is this friendly little blonde gringa? Sarah you looked me up and down and saw that I was still wearing my Target uniform. I had just got off work and I probably looked so pathetic you must have known I didn’t have any gear with me and offered to take me to the locker room to borrow a spare pair you kept here. I met you the next day Jeremy, you were still doing your internship at that Elon Musk space company thing.
Erica looks around the old building, its echoes and settling noises the only sounds at the moment.
(Erica): Then there was Butch and Wisdom…man was I intimidated by the two you. Who in this business didn’t know the Parker name, but the two of you couldn’t have been more welcoming to me. You all were, and just like that this place became my home, you all became my friends, and my family.
I showed up like clockwork, and it didn’t matter how tired I was from working Target and the restaurant jobs…I was reenergized when I walked through those doors. I couldn’t get paid because of my immigration status, but you all knew how dedicated I was because I kept showing up, and worked for free. I had been around wrestling all my life in Mexico, but there was so much to learn here. And the Youtube thing…
Erica laughs a bit pointing off camera.
(Erica): Senesi, do you remember my first time? You reminded me to check the camera positioning and I said “Which camera?” and you said “We only have the one Erica!” Not a lot of people may understand but there is something muy importante, muy especial, about being on a limited budget…you appreciate what you have more. This place…this place was everything to me.
December 2022 hit and we are all brought right there, into the ring. Man, we were scared shitless, huh guys. We saw Butch and Wisdom coming and we thought this was it, they were shutting it down, but they dropped a bigger bomb than that. HWA was about to make fuking comeback Ese! We out for drinks and partied our asses off, except for Michelle with her Ice Tea.
Erica laughs again...
(Erica): Jeremy, you remember, you tried to trick her into getting a Long Island Ice Tea…she was like “Oh that sounds yummy” and we laughed our asses off. Michelle, you had this look on your face and then realized it was an alcoholic drink. God damn, that was a fun night. CB-Fukin-S, man…we were on our way.
Erica looks around the building and can tell the sun is setting as the light has all but gone, a few emergency lights were still powered and shining down dimly lighting the space in a few small spots plunging the rest in shadow and increasing dark.
(Erica): To tell you all how excited I was, would be an understatement. Just to be a part of this big comeback, to go to that reunion shows and watch history unfold….I was overjoyed and overcome with emption. Mi madre…mi madre y mi hermano… I was finally going to make it, and there were home watching, glued to the tv waiting to see me, and then the pinche flight was delayed. Michelle, you called me in a panic when Sarah hit her head and couldn’t get cleared for your match and I could feel your little heart sink when I told you I was still stuck at the airport. Mija, mi corazone tambien. I was crushed.
Eric stands up from the chair and starts walking in a small circle.
(Erica): Esta bien! The company made its big return and the world was talking about HWA again, and everything changed. I suddenly found myself feeling so estupida! Each and every one of you played me for a fool and I was too blind to see it. The training session only you got, the away shows only you were booked for, I was never your friend, I was never your family…I was just some poor immigrant b###h you all felt sorry for. I was the goddamn dog you threw scraps to make yourself feel kind, but you really just wanted me to stop showing up at your door.
Erica grabs the steel chair folding it back and smacks it hard on the concrete floor. The sound echoed loudly through the empty space.
(Erica): I almost made the first Havoc, but my papers hadn’t come yet, but by the second show…I was full-fledged in, payroll and all. And then everything changed. I took that steel chair and wrapped it around your goddamn backs Alexis and Sarah, and had you got in my way Michelle I’d have done the same to you too.
Erica’s face has contorted to a hateful glare.
(Erica): I was never part of your little inner circle, your kliq! That CBS deal was the best thing that could have ever happened because it showed each and every one of you for who you were. Liars, users, posers, you never cared one bit about me. The second you got those knew contracts it was “Erica Who?” I stood there with a stupid smile on my face watching all of you celebrate and Butch telling me “You’re time will come!” My time will come? Fuk you pendejo!
Alexis had come prancing in, Miss overconfident. Miss “I’m here to help” pinche pendeja! You all welcomed her and she was a b###h to all of you from day one. I should have let her break your neck Michelle. That would have taken your ass down a notch, you sanctimonious b###h! I wish Fallen had stuck his dick so far up your little pussy the angels would hear you scream. You make me sick with your good girl act. I didn’t need your fuking pity, and I damn sure didn’t need your phony friendship.
Erica tosses the chair to the ground and it clangs loudly.
(Erica): I didn’t need any of you anymore once I got my papers. I didn’t have to suck it all up, I didn’t have to pretend, and the ink wasn’t even dry on my contract when I showed the world what Erica Martinez was all about. I’m the most dominant woman in this fuking business. None of you b###hes could ever come close to being my equal. That old washed up Sensei of your…Mr. Miyagi. You fuking coward. You were too afraid to show me anything useful because you knew I’d shred your precious flock. You held me back and tried to delay my growth, but I already know more than any of them do…I just wanted the same respect out of you, but you wouldn’t give it…fuking bigot. At least Hans had come along. All you cared about was the craft, and you welcomed me with open arms. Other than mi maestro, you’re the only man I trusted…but you took advantage of me.
When you touched me down there, you made my pinche chonies wet, Papi! You said “Sorry” and tried to play it off, but I know what you wanted. I wanted it too. I wanted you, just like you wanted me and now I have you inside me. Just get rid of your wife and we can be together. All this stuff about lawyers and laws and shyt…we can leave all that behind us. It’s important that we’re here for our child. Our son can grow up in a world of loving parents, and we’ll teach him how to deal with people trying to fake friendship, people lying to him and trying to use him. I’ve learned so much from mi Maestro. He’s been where I am, he’s had friends, even his own family stab him in the back and he survived. I’m a survivor too! I was a victim for far too long, but its time we put that all behind us now Hans. It’s time we stop playing this game of hard to get… there’s nothing wrong with two people being in love. Isn’t that right Matt?
Erica grins at the camera.
(Erica): You fuking coward! Tu pinche cabrón! Did you forget the Academy has cameras everywhere?…I saw you on the gym floor cuddled up. You were sucking Jeremy’s face like it was the last rib bone at a BBQ. All this time and you haven’t said shyt since you found out how he felt about. He’s your dirty little secret. How long has this been going on, you playing it on the DL? It doesn’t matter….Fuk the both of you. You wouldn’t even be together if it wasn’t me. Jeremy would still be going home after Havoc to jack off to your picture and you’d be banging b###hes you didn’t give two shyts about. I did that, I brought love to your doorstep, into your miserable existences…and you’re not the only ones.
You too Michelle. I literally gave Sean to you. Yeah, I thought he was hot for a white boy, but he always had eyes for you. I could have had him if I wanted, but you were too naïve and pathetic. Utah, Mormon girl in the big city, you needed a man to punch your ticket. All he needed was a push and who gave it to him…Me! All of you would be leading sad, loveless, single lives if it weren’t for me and I get no thanks for it. Not only do I get no thanks, not one of you congratulated me and Hans. What about our love? It’s just as important as yours, but “No”….self-centered as usual. It doesn’t matter. Hans, our son is months away, it’s time to put the past behind us and start fresh.
Erica walks off camera and comes back with a gasoline can and begins to pour it around the old academy.
(Erica): “Sometimes you have to burn away the past to light the future!”…mi Maestro taught me that. Its more prophetic than any of those goddamn Japanese saying Miyagi throws out there. I can tell you all one thing, I’ll burn each and every one of you for our future…I’ll turn you to ash for Hans, for our son, for our family. You deserve it, and everything else coming to you.
Erica lights a match and the flames ignite spreading quickly. From the walls, to left behind old furniture…the place becomes an inferno. She grabs her phone and begins to walk towards the exit as the fire spreads quickly, ceiling tiles begin to fall and the crackle and popping sounds intensify. She reaches the door and looks back inside as smoke billows out.
(Erica): This was never my home, you were never my friends. That woman you knew never existed, and if she did…she’s in there now. Arder en el infierno, Putos!
The sounds of widows shattering is heard as the fire reaches the roof. Erica gets in her car and notices missed notifications. She sees Stu-E Price’s remarks and laughs out loud. She replies and sends Stu-E a message.
(Erica): Hey Stu-E…been there done that. All they’ll ever do is lie to you and disrespect you. You’re a single father, and I’m soon to be a mother…I know what it means to want the best for your child, but you don’t have to take their bullshit. Like mi Maestro said, you’re not their janitor. Maybe you need to burn away your past too, we can help you with that. You know where to find us!
She starts the car and drives away as the scene fades to black.
Message Thread
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