Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come

[Joe Everyman]

Before I draw nearer to that stone to which you point, answer me one question. Are these the shadows of the things that Will be, or are they shadows of things that May be, only? Men's courses will foreshadow certain ends, to which, if persevered in, they must lead. But if the courses be departed from, the ends will change. Say it is thus with what you show me. I am not the man I was. I will not be the man I must have been but for this intercourse. Why show me this, if I am past all hope. I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone...

- Ebenezer Scrooge -

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The scene opens up inside of a dark and damp graveyard. There is a light drizzle coming down, making it difficult to see but not completely making it a horrible sight. The wind is lightly blowing through the grass, creating a spine chilling feeling to anyone around. As the camera moves across the grounds, it slowly pans up into the sky, showing a full moon and a night filled with stars. It pans down towards the ground again, showing a large group of people. The camera moves around to where a single man is standing. He is dressed in a very expensive looking suit, dark blue tie, polished shoes. It is almost like the rain isn't even touching him. The camera pans around the group, but none of their faces can be seen. Vails and hoods cover them, making them all anonymous to the camera. The camera finally centers over the center of the frame...a newly dug grave, with a closed casket over it. A picture of Lance Ryan sits on top of it, with a replica World Heavyweight Championship belt just below it.

Here lies the once great, Lance Ryan.

The camera begins moving up from the grave, showing the man in the suit. It is none other than Joe Everyman. The National Championship belt is now clearly seen around his waist. A testament to the feats that are about to be set before him.

Joe Everyman: Ladies and gentlemen...here lies the great Lance Ryan. The Icon as so many stated him. He was the first and only two time nCw World Heavyweight Champion. He was also a one time nCw Tag Team Champion with another former World Champion, Adam Knite. But, this is a more solemn occasion. Lance Ryan, has sadly passed away. His death is still a mystery, but many say it was because his heart just couldn't take it anymore. Many of his family members and fans are here today. Please, let us all take a moment in silent prayer as we remember the Icon, Lance Ryan.

Joe and the others bow their heads for a moment. After a few seconds, the men and women around the grave begin to disappear into thin air. One after one, they vanish, leaving only Joe to stand alone about the grave site. He then begins pacing around the grave, looking into it and staring deeply into the thick wood of the coffin.

Joe Everyman: This is what it has become, Lance. This match of ours has simply become a matter of life and death. A normal match wouldn't do, because this is no normal feud. The matches between Angel and Xavier Williams. Dave and Milo Holland. Spike Kane and Brad Kane. None of these hold a candle to what is going on in our minds this week. They wanted to destroy their opponents. They wanted to make them bloody. They wanted to make it so they could never walk again. But for us...nothing short of a fresh grave will do for our bloodthirsty hearts. But in all truth...that's what we really want. He have promised great things this week, and the one, big constant is that we want...blood. We not only want to be able to hang the National Championship on our mantles, but we want it caked in the blood of our victims. Lance, that victim will be you.

Joe continues to talk around the grave, and eventually pulls out a lighter. He flips it open and ignites the flame, before quickly shutting it so the rain does not damage it.

Joe Everyman: A barbaric claim to make. We simply want to hurt the other enough that they will not be able to look at the other without breaking down and crying. And I would like nothing more than that to happen. So many in the locker room respect you, Lance. So many of them will run up to you and ask for your support or your training. A long time ago, I did the same. When I joined nCw in September of two thousand and seven, I didn't know what to expect. But there was this guy everyone was talking about. Everyone wanted to meet him, because he was the first man to win the World Heavyweight Championship. In a new company like this one was, that is a huge feat. And I wanted to see what it was like. I went up to you, looking for a friend and a mentor...and you gave it to me without any second thoughts. But Lance, as you know, that is deep within our pasts now. It only breaks the light of day when it truly needs to be said.

I believe now is one of those times, because not very many pairs of wrestlers in this company's history has this many memories as Lance and I. Even when we weren't hanging out or fighting together, we would still stay in touch. And yet...these memories burned up as quickly as a candle does. A symbol that not all things last forever. Eventually the greatest thing come to a close. And Lance, it is your turn for this unavoidable feat. You had one hell of a run. But eventually oxygen runs out and the flame smolders out. Eventually that last bit of air leaves the lunges and the body falls into a heap. in my very own lifetime, I have seen this happen thousands of times. Great men, great nations, great friendships, great loves...destroyed in the matter of seconds. So many things can put out a fire. And so many things can extinguish a human life. We will be pushed to the brink, Lance. We may not be able to stop ourselves. And the only thing that will stop us...is when he finally extinguish the other.

Joe circles the grave one more time before stopping between the camera and the grave. He then flicks on the lighter again, and throws it over his shoulder. In a matter of seconds, the grave and casket are set ablaze, causing a large ploom of smoke to rise, quickly followed by ten foot tall pillars of fire.

Joe Everyman: This, Lance, symbolizes your end. For many months now, people have wondered if Lance Ryan would be able to stay up with his old self. And now it is finally time to prove to all of them the truth. These things you see before you, are not exactly what will happen this Sunday, Lance. They are simply exactly what our futures hold for us. I am wearing the nCw National Championship. I am still wearing it because I have no intention of losing it...ever. I will hold onto it until I am dead. There is no rule here about holding two championships at once, which is my next goal. After the destruction of Lance Ryan, only the World title stands in my sight. A title you once held. A title you promised would be yours upon returning. And yet, the only thing big you've done since returning is losing to me. You were all hype, just like you always were.

All of these things are already set into motion, Lance. These are not visions of what may be, but of what will be. Death's boney finger will cast upon you this Sunday. He can see what your future holds. He sees into your soul, and will show you the end. He will make you repent for all of your sins. He will make you burn in righteous fire for everything you did in your past. For killing your dog. For injuring helpless people. For poisoning your body with drugs. But most of all...he will make you feel the pain of all of the lies you constantly spread. You say you are consistent in the wrestling business, and I always falls short of consistency. But Lance, this is true...but your consistency is the lies and bullsh*t you spread around every damn week. I never lie when it comes to this business. I know when I cannot win. But I know when I will. I can detect a lie from a mile away in this business, and those signals have been going off all week. These promises you make are filled with hypocrisy. I can see it in your eyes. I can hear it in your words.

...death knows all...

Joe walks away from the camera for a moment, walking up to the gravestone sitting at the base of the fire.

~Lance Ryan~
'The Icon'
DoD - November 22nd, 2009

Joe Everyman: These actions are already set into motion. There is no returning from a journey this vast. There is no turning back now. There will be no quitting. There will only be blood. Countless things are on the line in this match. Championships, pride, respect, blood, tears, sweat, determination, glory. All of these things fuel our lives, Lance. But after this Sunday, there will only be enough to go around for one of us.

Slowly, a shadowy figure, twice the size of Joe, appears behind him. This figure, cloaked in black, holding a sickle, looms over the grave.

Joe Everyman: Death will be my friend this Sunday, Lance. You were once my friend...you were once my mentor...but it has all since been replaced with the next model. Icons will last until they are overtaken. Legacies, like my own, will stand the test of time. They will stand as the great pyramids have. They will stand stonewalled as the Great Wall of China has these thousands of years. These legacies are still shown and talked about thousands of years after they served their purpose. It is only right for myself to be set into these relics. The great wonders of the world can be saved for grand structures and overly buff women. But legacies as special and unique as mine will stand in a category on it's own. Everyone once said I was a failure. It turned into everyone saying I was the dark horse of this business. It then turned into doubts. This turned into beliefs. And now finally...people will realize that I AM everything I have said I am. I am the future of this business, Lance. You are all but a footnote on my career.

Take all of your stories of your past drug addictions and shove them right up your ass, Lance. Getting high from drugs and getting high from the sight of blood are clearly two, vastly different things. I have felt the high you get from seeing the blood shed from another person. And the fact that you created this pain is...relieving. But the high you get from drugs is a waste of money, time and human existence. I never corrupted myself with these things. No...instead, I let other things corrupt me. I let the darkness corrupt me. These things will stay with me forever. When you career is dead and buried, I will stand proud, with Death itself standing behind me, leading me on my way. Nothing, I mean NOTHING, will stop me from walking out of Mind Games as the nCw National Champion. I will wear it proudly as your career is burned to the ground. I will wear your blood as my trophy as your name is engraved into this symbolic statue. Your Era is coming to a close. My legacy is about to take full force. Your iconic statue will fade into the night as quickly as it began. Lance...your last rites have been prepared. Death...awaits...

The lights around Joe fade as he slips into darkness. The camera then pans down to show the gravestone again. A chilling reminder of things to come. The broken picture frame of Lance's sits on the ground, the picture set on fire from the embers. The scene then fades to black.

Came the last night of sadness
And it was clear she couldn't go on
Then the door was open and the wind appeared
The candles blew then disappeared
The curtains flew then he appeared...saying don't be afraid