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 Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 5:06 pm
Matt's head turned as the arena began to rumble, his eyes dancing about, trying to find an answer to the sudden interruption. Confusion riddled his face, until the bright light blasted on through the curtain, illuminating the room to be even brighter than it had before. He lifted a hand to cover his eyes from the blinding rays.
"Well, if I had to guess under normal circumstances, someone's about to make an appearance... but I highly doubt THAT is the answer this time."
Matt's hand slowly lowered, and he tried to squint his eyes to look directly at the light. "Perhaps it's Purgatory demanding your presence. After all, I doubt we both belong in this ring... surely your afterlife at least has some form of alcohol."
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 11:14 am
Joey continued to look puzzled as Matt spoke to him. Turning towards Matt, he shook his head.
"No... no, that's not for me. I don't think it is. I know why I'm here, done it a couple of times. I'm here to help the transition. Ease you into death. Always helps to see a friendly face once you've kicked it, y'know? But this is new. I haven't seen it before."
He took a step towards the light, approaching the ropes. He was simultaneously compelled towards it, and yet repulsed by it; he knew it wasn't for him. This was Matt's story, and his destiny was waiting for him behind that light. But where did it lead? Heaven? Valhalla? Perhaps back to Earth, to walk once again among the living? Joey had no idea. He knew where Matt was to go, where Joey had gone before, but this wasn't it. It was unnerving.
As he reached the ropes, Joey looked back towards Matt, away from the light.
"I guess this is your choice to make. I don't know what's beyond this point. Not that way. The way I see it, you've got two options: you can stay with me here, and I take you where you are supposed to go. Or you go there... wherever that is. It's your call, Matt."
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 11:41 am
Matt gazed at the radiant light for some time, taking it in while hearing Joey's words of wisdom. This light was for him, whatever it was. Follow the light, or go with Joey, to where he's supposed to be. Both ideas intrigued him, he had to admit. The afterlife, perhaps with his best friend for all time. Maybe there, they'd finally have that beach and a cooler of booze.
There's one thing that prevented him from siding with that option entirely, though. The fact that he was supposed to go with it. He was supposed to ignore the light.
"You know, Joey... when was the last time I went with the plan?" He responded with a half-hearted chuckle to his voice. There was truth to the question though. He was never one to go with the grain, and death wasn't about to change that. Whatever was beyond that light was winning his favor.
"And who knows, maybe it's nothing... but we won't know if I just stand around..." Matt murmured as he began to step through the ropes of the ring, setting his boots firm on the apron. He stopped short of falling to the mats below, however. He stopped, to look at Joey with an amused look on his face.
"However... now that we're here, I'm reminded of something; we never did get to have match, did we?"
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 2:22 pm
Joey chuckled along with Matt, looking to the ground. He felt a profound sadness that his friend was leaving, but there was a strong hope in his heart that it was for the best. This was Shanahan's destiny, and he wore it well.
"Heh. Go on. Go do whatever it is that needs doing. I'll be here when you get back. Hopefully not for a while... no offense meant."
He headed towards the center of the ring. He called out to his brother.
"Oh, and Matt? When you do get back, we'll have that match. It'll be a doozie. And you won't stand a chance. Because I'm the Grim Reaper's pen pal! The ultimate macho man! The one, the only..."
Joey burst out laughing, his demeanour anything but threatening. He smiled warmly at Matt.
"Saint ******** Joey."
He winked at his ally, before slowly fading away into nothingness. With Matt's choice made, his duty was done.
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Posted: Sun May 31, 2015 4:05 pm
It was a sight that no one would see, not even Joey, as his best friend faded away from him once again. It broke Matt's heart to lose sight of the man who had traveled with him so much in previous years. Once again, he was leaving. Matt's face broke into a wide grin, and it took all of his might to fight the tears welling in his eyes.
"Saint ********' Joey... I'll see you soon."
Matt choked a bit as the final farewell was spoken. The words he never got to tell Joey before. In the end, that's all he had ever wanted. He didn't want to be angry and hate Joey for taking his life. He didn't resent him. He only wanted to say goodbye. He hated that he never got to give Joey that send-off. One day, he would be back in this ring, fighting his best friend, the match they never got to have. They'd drink their beers on the beach, and shoot the s**t like they always did. One day, things might actually go their way.
But for now, Matt had business to attend to.
After some time, Matt turned back to face the stage and jumped off of the apron. He stared ahead at the bright, white light, ushering him to what he perceived as the backstage area. His steps slowly took him to the base of the ramp. His right hand reached up to wipe the tears from his eyelids, refusing to let them stream down the sides of his face. He didn't cry. He couldn't, no matter how he wanted to. There was work to be done.
"Alright, mysterious light..." He murmured to himself as he began to stroll of the ramp, his black pupils locked onto the source of the illumination. The closer he got, the brighter it was; but that didn't deter him from pressing on. "You and I have something in common... we're not part of THE plan, are we? So... let's see what plan you ARE a part of."
He continued to press on, until he reached the source of the light. He stepped into the backstage area, letting the light absorb him...
[End?]
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