Callum Ch. 2

“There”

Isaac took a step back, admiring his work. His eyes sank as he smiled, clearly showing his conflicting emotions on his face. It was important to him that he remained positive at all times, but this was a test. Chris turned around on the bench, slowly tossing his legs over and grunting as they moved. Isaac exhaled.

The mask was large, thick, and dehumanizing. Chris’ body was mangled and bruised, but his eyes were still vivid. There was still so much life in them, and that crushed Isaac all the more.

“You really want to wrestle?”

Chris’ eyes stared back at Isaac. He couldn’t speak. He could barely move. Isaac knew this was a bad idea, but Chris was adamant.

“No one will blame you if you decide to take the week off.”

Shifting left and right, Chris’ head moved slowly with the mask fastened tightly.

“Two on one. These guys are going to hurt you.”

Isaac was forced to move to the side as Chris stood, making his way over to the mirror. When he saw his reflection for the first time, he showed no emotion. He couldn’t. The mask covered his entire mouth. It was designed to protect his broken jaw, but what it really succeeded in doing was making him seem cold and distant. He grabbed the red marker that he had been using to communicate over the past few days with Isaac and twisted off the lid. Carefully, he pressed the top against the clean mirror and began to write.

To rise, you must first burn.

Chris twisted the cap back on the marker and left the bathroom of their hotel in Philadelphia. Isaac moved towards the mirror and observed the writing as a lump grew in his throat. Chris had been repeating this phrase for days now. Well, not repeating it, but writing it. It was clear that he took it seriously.

At Exile, Chris Callum lost two of his three titles in Galveston. Alexis Terry had taken the Deep South Championship from him after a hard shot with brass knuckles. The scene after the match was gruesome. Blood and spit were splattered throughout the ring. Aspen Chaud came to his aid and ended up with stains on her brilliant white dress. Chris’ jaw was broken instantly. The crack could be heard by anyone on the island. It was like a gunshot.

Crack. It kept playing over and over again in Isaac’s mind. Crack. Crack. Crack. CRACK. Chris falls to the mat, his title taken from him just three seconds later.

He honestly didn’t expect Chris to make this booking in Philadelphia, but in an odd way, he understood it. Chris was a warrior, through and through. Not only had he made a promise to NGSE, but he also had his pride to uphold. Aspen Chaud wouldn’t allow him on GIW television for two more weeks, but he wanted to show Alexis Terry that she didn’t kill superman. He knew Alexis Terry would be competing on this show, and saw it as an opportunity to prove that to her once and for all.

But then there was the handicap match. The main event of the evening. Fans had already bought their tickets and were expecting to see Chris Callum in action. No matter what his health, or what his situation, he was going to deliver to them what they paid for.

And he had an opportunity to earn a shot at an NGSE Championship. He had his eyes on the Heavyweight Championship, and after a week of being called the walking triple crown champion down in Galveston, he felt starved of gold. Winning a title was never Chris’ motivation, but the fact remained that in this business being a champion was the mark of being a success. Two of his titles were taken from him in Galveston. He wouldn’t be able to immediately get them back, so he needed to fulfill that hunger in another way.

Charlie Ngatai and Tim Stone were coming into this match expecting an easy victory. Two on one are odds that anyone would like. But after they watched Exile, and the death of superman on live pay per view, they would think this match would be a walk in the park. But in doing so, they would underestimate the warrior mentality of Chris Callum. No broken bones, do disfiguring cheap shots, no loss of blood would keep him back from showing the world that he was the best.

He needed an ego boost. He needed to prove it to the world, he needed to prove it to Alexis, he needed to prove it to Ngatai and Stone – but most of all he needed to prove it to himself. For the past two months, he has been untouchable. At Exile, a big, deep gash in his armor was cut. Beating two men at once would certainly be a challenge, but Chris was confident that he could succeed. There simply was no other option. It was adapt or perish at this point.

“Is your bag packed? Are you ready to go?”

Isaac moved from the bathroom into the bedroom. He turned his head to see Chris waiting at the door, bag already over his shoulder.

“You have everything you need?”

Chris nodded, mask and all.

“Alright, then we are all set.”

Chris was quickly out of the door. He was ready. This was his moment, his time to shine. His opportunity to prove to the world that he earned every title he held and that he earned the moniker “superman”. Philadelphia would be the scene of the rising phoenix. Skin scarred by the flames, but still there. Still beautiful. Still strong.

To rise, you must first burn.

Isaac’s mind was racing as he stepped through the hotel door. Above all else, he wanted Chris to be safe. This last week had been hard on everyone, and it wasn’t quite over yet.

Hopefully it was time for Chris to rise, and hopefully the flames were burned out. We would find out sooner than later.

---

The Camera clicked on as Chris came into focus.

When I started out wrestling two years ago, everything was going great. I was a champion within three weeks of my debut. I was touted as the next big thing in Galveston Island Wrestling, and I started to believe it. Every goal, every challenge I set for myself, I quickly achieved. But then what happened? I broke my leg in the middle of the ring. I went from riches to rags, and now I am building myself back up again.

The reason I failed before is because I thought I was something special. I got a little bit cocky, a little bit arrogant, and because of that, I lost everything. Since I came back to wrestling, I have kept myself from getting a big head. I hold three title belts. Everyone in the country is looking at me to become the next big star. But now I realize that everything can come and go in an instant.

Flash forward to next week when I am forced to fight Tim Stone and Charlie Ngatai in a handicap match. These two men are rich with potential – both literally and figuratively. Tim Stone holds a contract for a title match with Carmine Reaper with the Heavyweight strap on the line, Ngatai will get a chance at John Carter for the Five Lakes title.

Charlie and Tim are going to say they earned these opportunities. But it was pure luck. All three of us could have walked out of Homecoming with a Heavyweight title shot, yet I was the one unlucky enough to grab the case with the rags. A lot of men would be disappointed, but I realize that the story doesn’t end there. The odds will be against me this week to be sure, but when I shock the world and beat two of NSGE’s fastest rising stars at the same time, no one will be able to tell me I didn’t earn my chance at Carmine Reaper. That’s right, I’m going for the Heavyweight title.

See I’ve pulled myself up from rags before, and it is time to do it one more time. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We are in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania next week, the city where you work for what you get. You don’t just reach out to the sky and pull down a reward, nothing comes easy in life, and nothing should come easy in wrestling either.

So Tim Stone, you’re probably wondering why I am setting you in my crosshairs. The answer is simple – you are in line to win the biggest championship in the company. Can you beat Carmine Reaper? Yes, I think you can. You’re a talented man, but so am I.

But when I think about the company that NGSE wants to be – a place where the best wrestlers go to apply their craft. Family friendly entertainment, you know the drill. Tim, you aren’t the type of guy that needs to be on the banners. You’re ruthless. You’re brutal.

When we step through the curtain and into the lights in whatever town we decide to visit, we are icons, role models, and inspirations. We have a standard to uphold, and I don’t trust you to uphold it.

The same principle applies to Charlie Ngatai, but he got lucky when he picked up the Five Lakes briefcase. When the time is right, he and I will cross paths, but for this week, my eyes will be on Tim Stone.

Saturday night is coming around quick, and when it does, you’ll see what all the hype is about.