Salem was about ready to tag Hiro with a lethal bite from his cobra, but the champion opted to make the cowardly exit, fleeing through the angry crowd rather than face the wounded warrior who wanted his title back. But once again, "The Copperhead" was unable to give chase, not willing to run through a mob of people with a venomous snake just to make Hiro pay. Turning back to face the ring, then the ramp, unable to mask the defeat he felt as he trudged through the rain back towards his burlap sack.
By now, all Hiro's fans had fled the scene, eager to take their cake and run rather than try enjoying it in such a hostile environment. It was just Salem and several thousand of his closest friends, ones who hadn't cut him in the back, kicked him in the groin, or struck him in the back of the head while he was being choked. No, these fans were loyal. That's why Salem called them the "BBW Faithful", and it was why they continued to chant and cheer for the defeated wrestler, even though he'd just lost his belt. "The Copperhead" was still a champ in their eyes, and that wouldn't change, even if Salem put the cobra back in the sack and started up the ramp like he didn't notice. Like he couldn't see the children around him who'd felt let down that Salem couldn't prevail like he so often did. He acted as if it was only the rain falling off his chin, and not the blood, sweat, and tears of a man who'd done all he could to come out victorious, but for once found himself faced up against an enemy that didn't care how good he was or how bright his future would be. Killman, Freak, AJ, and now Hiro...they were all men of a special breed of wickedness, ones who wouldn't think twice to using whatever means necessary to ruin Salem's life.
Midway up the ramp, Salem paused from the sound of his theme music hitting the speakers, a gesture of respect by the stage crew for the young man who'd endeared himself to so many in the company, in his brief stay with BBW. But "The Copperhead" only shook his head, and continued on up the ramp. Even though his shoulders were lighter without the burden of his title adorning them, it felt so much harder to move his feet as he slowly labored his legs back and forth, just wanting to get out of the rain and into a dark hole for the night. He hadn't just let the fans down - Salem had let himself down, and that may have been the biggest defeat bearing down on his mind as he passed through the black curtain, vanishing from the audience's eyes for the last time of the night.
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