Ade was startled by the sudden hand on her shoulder.
“Me?” Adrienne squeaked.
“Sure, I’ve seen you in here for months now.”
That was true. Adrienne Levi had been a quiet fixture of this survivors group for months now. There wasn’t much to say. Being part of a new community, she just wanted to be there to listen. People didn’t come here to be coddled or to be handed empty platitudes. There were real results. The organizer, if that were even the right word, was a woman named Sherry. She had been a Baltimore resident all her life, and by Adrienne’s guess, that was well over fifty years. That’d be rude to ask, though.
“I’m not sure I’d have much to say.”
Sherry, a sturdy Black woman, sat down in the empty chair next to her. She adjusted the sleeves of her festive sweater as she stared Ade down.
“Try us.”
Us being a dozen other women from various walks of life. Throughout the last months, Ade had listened to their ongoing tales earnestly. Three times a month. Always in a conference room in a nearby Residence Inn in the harbor. Wounds new and old alike. Kids or not. All stories were the same and yet all too different. Outside of this, they were one of the many sources of knowledge of this city. And if it wasn’t here, it was from her friends in Carnage. Or her delivery job had her meeting new people every day, even if it was just to hand them a hot meal.
Adrienne sipped at her hot cocoa. For whatever reason, the heat was busted, so all of them were bundled up in sweaters and coats. Ade had her Ravens hoodie on. Her thumbs poked out of the sleeves.
There was a reassuring murmur from the other folks in the room.
“So I’m Adrienne.”
“Glad your name tag is right.”
Ade laughed nervously in response.
“I’m a survivor of domestic abuse.”
Adrienne had shared tidbits here and there with her friends. There was sympathy. Righteous anger. Calls for action. But, there was something impossible about that. Leaving Clearwater should have meant that Daniel Levi stayed there, too.
But that wasn’t the case.
“I’m not sure this matters. I don’t want to take away from anything that has been shared. Cuz my abuser’s dead.”
There was a silence in the room. However, the woman across from her, a redhead with a mole on her cheek, gave her a reaffirming nod. Like she approved of that.
“So everything should be fine, I guess.”
“Doesn’t have to be. This group doesn’t mind.”
Ade laced her fingers around the paper cup as if it were the only thing keeping her grounded.
“I met my abuser when I was fifteen, and I thought he was the only boy for me. He became my husband when I was eighteen. I was in love. I’d do anything for him. ”
Stopping herself, she used her sleeve to wipe the perspiration off her forehead. Adrienne wasn’t sure about this. It wasn’t like any of this was new. It’d been her life.
“For the benefit of his career,” she said before pausing, “I’m sorry, our career, he decided to give me to another man.”
There was no audible reaction. Those were the rules.
But enough time passed that Sherry broke in, “You okay to continue?”
“Yeah. So. For nine years, I served the needs of another. Four hundred sixty-eight times.” Ade said this number with certainty, “Sometimes just him. Sometimes with others.”
Most of those memories were locked away behind solid steel doors.
“Throughout the years, my husband would grow to resent me for what I did to keep us afloat. It started with yelling. And then he started to hit me. I stayed with him because I believed that I deserved it. I deserved his anger. I was doing terrible things. Things I’d rather not say what.”
Sherry shook her head and replied, “No need to.”
“Okay. So after he’d been let go and after all avenues had been exhausted, he blamed me. And while he acted out on that,” Adrienne shrugged her shoulders at the pure dumb luck of it, “his heart gave out.”
“Not the end, though,” Sherry said, circling back around back to Ade’s opening statement.
“No. It has never ended. Even as the bruises faded. Even after the police cleared me after months and months. Even after he was buried and long gone.”
She was cold. Hot. Parched. Scared out of her mind. Even though Ade knew there was a mutual understanding in this crammed little room, it didn’t still make it any better.
“Danny. I’m sorry, his name was Danny. He took a lot from me. Except for my life. At the worst times, I hated him for that.” Adrienne said with a sniffle. That had been the first time in a long time that she’d said such a disgusting word.
“I came to Baltimore for a new life. I walked away from everything. A solid job. My mom…”
One day, she’d have to reach out to Angie. She was her rock. The only person who knew everything. But in a knee-jerk reaction, Adrienne had run away like a scorned teenager who wasn’t getting her way. Making up for lost time seemingly. But it just wasn’t that.
“...and that’s okay. Because what I have now means the world to me. I’m doing something I love. In a city that I love. With people I love.”
Sure, there was this pending ordeal involving thorns and masked monsters, but she’d cross that bridge later.
“But, most of all, I think I might understand who I am.”
“Yeah?”
Sharing amongst those who were all but supportive was tough, sure. But those revelations had been met with a knowing nod. After all, Silvio and Ax had been witness to that little tiny … super important kiss.
But Ade could never exude the confidence of Axton Gunn. He spoke in a braggadocious manner about who he was and what he was capable of. Words and sentiments that she’d never dare repeat. And while she was lost in the woods, Silvio held his hand out to guide her to a clearing.
She knew nothing except that Sylvia Gould conjured up these feelings she’d never had before. Being enamored with Danny ended up being artificial at best. It filled some void to be wanted in a time where nobody gave her a second look.
There seemed to be this innocent schoolgirl crush on the surface, but in the quiet of the night, Adrienne’s mind raced to conclusions that excited her. Made her hunger for the unknown. Made her feel … good.
“Adrienne?”
Telling Silvio seemed like the right path. But until she said the words, it didn’t seem to be real. It was a reality just out of reach.
That second kiss was drawn upon like a deep well.
One that had her counting down the days, less than a week, that Ade could see her. To stop tiptoeing around the truth. To give into those base needs and figure out the rest later.
To be selfish.
To be herself.
To be alive as she confessed to Silvio.
Sherry reached over and put a hand on Adrienne’s arm and brought her back into the room with a question, “Who are you then?”
Ade was one survivor amongst many. A woman. A feminist, as anyone with common sense, should be. Baltimore’s Champion. But in a striking rebuke of those who would dismiss this as a detail that didn’t matter, she’d tell these women anyway. Some probably wouldn’t get it or approve, but that didn’t matter. She was no Jon Willis, Ax, or Silvio. She didn’t possess the bravery, and she wasn’t sure she’d ever say much more. After all, despite living vicariously through the bravado of others, she would never admit that she had touched herself, imagining that maybe Silvie’s fingers were there instead. She was just Adrienne Levi.
In a voice barely above a whisper, Ade spoke the truth into the ether, “I’m gay.”
There wasn’t any grand celebration.
Ade had her turn. It had been the first time in a long time that she had put together what happened. In hindsight, it was like pouring salt into an open wound.
Sherry thanked her, and moments later, the hour was up.
Adrienne walked through the lobby of the hotel, backpack slung over her shoulder. She supposed she could do a few deliveries this afternoon. Tuck away a little more cash for later.
Something strange happened.
She saw Danny. And he was pacing back and forth in front of the entrance.
He was dressed well. The sort of suit he’d wear on the occasional date they’d go on. These were the nights where he’d drink too much and try to make a go of it. Most times, the act would end in violence as he blamed Adrienne for his own impotence.
And she froze in terror as Danny saw her. Their eyes met, and he came running over. Full of fire and fury. She could see the spittle flying out of his mouth as he spoke …
Curious.
Ade couldn’t hear him.
His image blinked in and out of existence, and that very fact seemed to anger Danny even more. Almost if someone were fidgeting with a pair of rabbit ears on an old tube TV.
Removed from all circumstances, he looked ...comical. Adrienne has spent so much energy living in the shadow of what he had done. They were terrible things. Ade knew that. She was naive to think that symbolically throwing him away could do away with over a decade of sustained abuse.
But in all of his blustering and bravado, Danny was a little boy. Never grown beyond the kid who interrupted Ade’s daydream. Took a bet to manipulate and coerce. And for whatever reason, fell in love with her. That’s what she believed for a long time. Nowadays, she would be inclined to believe that he fell in love with the idea of who Adrienne was. And if one were to believe her detractors, she hadn’t changed much.
That couldn’t be true.
So, Adrienne knew that Danny no longer existed. She wasn’t sure if she’d ever be rid of the nightmares of what he had done. And every once in awhile, she’d also imagine Fairman’s wretched fingers on her bare body.
An unfortunate reality but not something that should have the power to paralyze as it has.
As she moved through her deceased husband, Adrienne knew this wouldn’t be the last time he’d be in her thoughts.
Many would consider him to be a monster.
But that would give him too much power. In the past year, she had seen quite a few that would pass as a monster, also. Zane King never claimed as such, but it would be easy to remove his humanity. Adrienne was guilty of such. However, looking in his eyes, she knew that he was just a man.
Markus Raab proudly claimed this status like a gimmick.
A walking talking cruelty machine.
But just a man.
The shot came into focus on one huge blackthorn. A finger apprehensively hovered over the point, the nail painted with a glittery purple hue.
The finger moved forward, and as the thorn drew blood, there was a tight, deep inhale from the owner.
“...ouch.”
The camera zoomed out slowly to reveal Adrienne Levi upon a bed of thorns. Looking knowingly into the camera, she remarked, “I know. I’m being literal.”
She moved with care, very aware of the precarious situation she had put herself in. Perhaps she would have learned her lesson after the steel cage, but this felt necessary. After all, she was taking precautions. The drawn up hoodie and jeans weren’t just because it was chilly inside the shooting location.
The Baltimore City Championship was nestled carefully above her head. As always, the front plate was featured prominently in all of its glory.
“Before I get to the matter of thumbtacks and Chris’ mercenary, I’d like to make a statement regarding past affairs with those who made a concerted effort to poison this company.”
Those who knew Adrienne would understand what her understated smirk meant.
“Looks like the Wild Cards finally folded.”
“Which is unfortunate. So instead, it’s Lord Raab. In a match where I could be made into a human pin cushion.”
Adrienne, that eventually matches like this would come about. While she may have outsmarted Nathaniel Grant and his silly wheel, she didn’t have much of a choice here. Christopher James had taken issue with Adrienne’s initiative. Something just previously James had charged her to have. These contradictory admonishments only led her to believe that she just wasn’t liked by management.
This wasn’t high school. As naive as many thought Adrienne was, she knew that pleasing everyone wasn’t possible.
So she dove into the world of the guy who was simultaneously a monster and an animal. A animalster possibly. Or a monstimal. However, those names were silly; Adrienne concluded that no one would use those in earnest.
Turning her gaze towards the camera, Adrienne smiled.
“What can I say about Markus Raab? Is he even a real lord? I guess he’s my opponent. He’s had matches. Some he’s won. Some he’s lost. Credits roll. I gave it the good old college try. Right, Mark?”
That was accompanied by a wry twist of the lips.
“However, that isn’t good enough for me. I am a student of the game. I’m not the best. The biggest. Or the strongest. I’m no ring general. My talents are far from divine. But what I can do is know my enemy.”
She kept her movements small. The last thing she wanted to do was to get a thorn through the eye.
“Not that you’re my enemy, Mark. I think you say things to just say things. I’d take issue with what you said about Mac or Mitch in the recent months, but they’ve already taken you to task. We could talk about your blatant misogyny. But why bother?”
This wasn’t a matter of being non-confrontational. She was just desensitized to even the most outrageous threats. Addressing Raab’s hatred towards women would be like talking to a brick wall. So, she moved on.
“You’ve been here in Carnage for a long time. You’ve inflicted misery and pain on others without remorse. You’ve been a tag team champion with your fellow … uh, Monstimals. You put my friend in a hospital bed. You made promises to spill blood, and you kept them. But despite your best efforts. And despite your thirst for violence, you, by your own admission, failed to make the impact you wanted.”
The camera followed as she sat up, gingerly crossing her legs. Carefully, she took up her championship and held it close to her chest.
“But here comes that whole accountability thing again. In your global exploits, you never had the epiphany that your penchant for brutality could only get you so far? That stuff like knowing who you’re facing - like really getting to know them would be important for that sustained success you so desire? You’re a scary dude, no doubt. But I had to change the channel to learn second hand from your brother that your future champion status was a foregone conclusion. Big talk considering … well, I’m sorry, your past track record.”
Not usually the note she liked to hit, but these last few opponents had been concerned about their status. It seemed that a little poke here and there took them off their game. Made them overthink. Left them prone to mistakes.
“So I extend you the courtesy I do others that share your sentiments.” She said with a little wave, “Hi, I’m Adrienne Levi, and I’m Baltimore’s Champion. And despite what my last challenger claimed, I represent this city to its fullest. I can’t be everything to everyone, but I can be me. That’s been enough.”
The thorns encapsulated Adrienne. The longer she was in their proximity, the more she feared the results.
“But I’ve never stood alone under the banner of ultraviolence. That’s a huge advantage for someone like you, Mark. And maybe at the irritation of my cohorts, I decided against the counsel of others.”
After all, she had plans. It’d be easy to get swallowed up in the sheer horror of the possibilities.
“I’ve chosen not to heed the plans of gods and men.”
She left it at that. Ade hoped that the good Lord liked surprises.
“And I know this is going to sound weird considering, but 2020 has been okay recently. So forgive me if this sounds harsh, but I’m not going to let a guy who unironically threatens to Raabinate people bother me all too much. I can’t let myself be phased by a boomer sponsored by Monster Energy. One who comes out to a song called Monster. And reminds us he’s a Monster of the Masked German variety anytime he opens his mouth.”
Adrienne took a deep breath. Silly catchphrases or not, Lord Markus Raab was still a dangerous man.
“I’m not going to quibble about how you got here. That sort of talk is reserved for those that make excuses. Instead, I’ll do my best to make sure you leave empty-handed. I’ll tune in next time, and I’d better hear right from your mouth that Adrienne Levi kicked your butt.”
Sensing how ridiculous that was, she could only laugh.
“Okay, maybe not. Just know that stuff might get ...thorny for you.”
Looking blankly at the camera, Adrienne remarked, “No, wait, that’s terrible. I don’t know how to end these darn things. How about--”
OOC: First off, I like to thank the awesome handler of Adrienne for wanting to do this match with me after my doubts of coming back because of the storyline. I wasn't expecting this third match of my return for a title match and if you had said that before I came back, I would've laughed. Good luck.
Henry and Lord Raab discussing going to a social club. Las Vegas, Nevada. Friday 27th November (Off-Camera)
It's a painful job for Henry Losak to get Lord Raab out of the headquarters to meet and interact with other people as he's told to. It was bad enough that when they were all in lockdown, Lord Raab never went out of his room, other than to do training, even then it's been hard for Lord Raab to interact with wrestlers then.
Henry and Lord Raab are sitting outside of the headquarters on the bench they recently got, along with the playground made recently for their younger kids they had. Henry sees Raab covering his head, continuously shaking his head, getting his fist out like he's ready to punch. Henry says this to Lord Raab.
Henry Losak: "Come on, Markus, you need to stop being scared of interacting with other people."
Lord Raab: "Well, I am, alright? You, along with everyone else in this fucking world, are stupid not to understand how happy I am with Samuel and my family. At least I can fucking trust them not to stab me in the back with what I say and not mock me for it."
Henry Losak: "Let me be honest, not once in the entire time I've known you have you made any effort of stepping out that door without Samuel, your kids and your family by your side. You haven't even gone out on your own, apart from when you have to fight. You need to change."
Lord Raab: "I don't care for sob stories of other people or giving a fuck about them. Samuel can go out with his friends all he wants, but it changes nothing."
Henry shook his head on how much resistance Lord Raab had on wanting to go out, even to explore the city by himself. Raab was feeling uncomfortable with him looking on the floor and not listening. Henry knew the reasoning for it and had to address the situation fast.
Henry Losak: "I know it's scary for you to step out of your comfort zone to do new things, but that rape you got from a woman and being attacked by a man in the streets because you opened up happened years ago. You need to move past that and understand; not everyone is like them."
Lord Raab: "I'm a failure; I get it. Yes, I'm afraid of being fucking hurt, alright? I don't know what to say and not feel paranoid that if I say something, I'd be mocked for it, causing me to beat the shit out of them."
Henry Losak: "Fear is what I hear right now. Look at you, tensing up, sweating and shaking on something that will make you feel better. You aren't a failure; you're uncertain interacting with people. Markus, you need friends to survive. Come on, let's give this a try today. I will be with you to help you with your fears."
Markus continues to shake his head, still refusing to go to the German social club, the one place where Henry felt Markus would be most comfortable, but there was something else Henry noticed over the years of knowing Markus that he throws out there.
Henry Losak: "I still don't know anything about you apart from being a fighter and that your married to Samuel because you don't even open up to me. You got to take an interest in things you like besides fighting. I want to know more about you as so does the rest of the world. You aren't happy, and you deserve to be. Being friends with someone will help that."
Lord Raab: "I don't know."
Henry Losak: "Well, I do, and we're going right now. I will sit here, staring at you until you go."
Henry turned to looking straight at Markus and not blink an eye at him, while Lord Raab looks away, shaking his head, placing his head on the ground again, not paying attention to Henry who continues to stare at Markus. Markus covers his head with his arms and growls at himself, shaking his fist, sweat pouring from his body and shaking non-stop. Suddenly, while still shaking and growling, Markus stands up and walks out of the headquarters before Henry follows him.
As he does, he sees Markus walking to the German social club, even some of it was by force, but Lord Raab still moved by himself to go there. He went inside and sat down as Henry paid some money for him and Markus before he went in and Henry sees Lord Raab sitting down, but not near anyone, more on the right-hand corner of the room.
Henry shook his head as he knows no German to help him find friends. However, there were a couple of German guys who walked towards Markus and Henry. One of the guys looks in their mid-forties with tattoos, long black hair, a long beard up to his neck, wearing a biker jacket on and the other was in their late thirties with an AC/DC band on, with short blond hair and got tattoos himself and came to sit down near Markus and the mid-forties guy says this.
Mid forties guy: “Hallo, Wie heißen Sie?”
Lord Raab: “Ich bin Markus Raab.”
Mid forties guy: “Ich bin Jürgen Becker.”
Late thirties guy: “Und ich bin Tobias Schmitz.”
Lord Raab: “Eine Freude, euch beide zu treffen.”
Henry could only sit back, listening to the engagement of the lads speaking to Markus at the moment which is a good thing, considering this was the most time Markus had spoken to anyone as he sees Markus shaking hands. However, the time came for them to address Henry as they looked at him, and Tobias says this in German.
Tobias Schmitz: “Wie heißen Sie auch, herr?”
Henry Losak: "Sorry, I don't understand."
Lord Raab: "He asked what your name was."
Henry Losak: "My apologies, it's Henry Losak."
Jurgen Becker: "Sorry, I didn't know you weren't German. Nice to meet you. What brings you both to the club tonight?"
Markus had a long gulp, knowing he was about to be uncomfortable with what his response would be. However, Henry does see how different and in a way, confident Markus is, while speaking German, which could be a primary factor as to why Markus holds himself back a lot. Henry nudges Markus as he responds to the question.
Lord Raab: “Ich bin hier, weil ich Freunde finden muss, mit denen ich sprechen und mich verstehen kann.”
Tobias Schmitz: "Ja wirklich?" Sie sind an der richtigen Stelle. Sie haben ernsthaft überhaupt keine Freunde in Ihrem Leben?”
Lord Raab: "Nein."
Henry looked lost on the discussion as Markus whispers in his ear on what they were talking about, and Henry nods to respond to the question.
Henry Losak: "Yes, it's true, Markus is here to gets some friends because he hasn't got anyone. He fears social interaction. It seems as though you can relate to him. I'm here to encourage Markus talking to people."
Jurgen Becker: "I can tell Markus isn't very confident in talking to us with how his body language is. We are all nice here and would never take advantage of him."
Henry nods, something he has wanted to hear from someone for a long time as Markus's eyes brightened up, feeling wanted for once in his life and Tobias also nods to agree with Jurgen as well. A few people have looked around to see who Jurgen and Tobias were speaking to. The room had a bar with chairs and tables surrounding them and had German board games.
Tobias Schmitz: "Woher kommst du in Deutschland, Markus?”
Lord Raab: "Koln."
Jurgen Becker: “Oh ja, ich liebe Köln, besonders den Domteil. Wirklich schöne Stadt. Gibt es einen Grund, warum Sie nach Amerika gezogen sind?”
Lord Raab: “Ich bin ein professioneller Ringer für GRIME Wrestling, Carnage Wrestling und Extreme Hardcore Wrestling Federation mit meinem Bruder.”
Tobias Schmitz: “Woah, das ist cool. Ich dachte, ich hätte dich schon einmal irgendwo erkannt. Jetzt mache ich. Mein ältester Sohn liebt Wrestling und redet die ganze Zeit nur mit dir und Konrad.”
Lord Raab whispers to Henry Losak in his ear about the discussions on what's happening, so he understands, although the last part of him saying he was in a previous company with his brother, wholly shocked Henry as he widens his eyes.
Henry Losak: "You never told me you were teaming with Konrad in EHWF."
Lord Raab: "Sorry, I forgot to tell you. Konrad and I had hefty discussions over the phone on teaming together, and I agreed to give it a try. We got a tag win already."
Henry pats Lord Raab on the back, telling something new to the lads before Henry knew about Lord Raab as it seems the confidence has risen for Lord Raab to express something that Henry didn't know about, that somehow slipped under his nose. Jurgen nods as he says this while hearing a name he hadn't heard before.
Jurgen Becker: “Wer ist Samuel?”
Lord Raab: “Er ist mein Ehemann, den ich vor Jahren geheiratet habe, als ich völlig verloren war. Er kann vielleicht nicht sprechen, aber er hört mir wirklich zu und versteht mich und das ist alles, was ich wollte. Es führte dazu, dass wir Freunde waren und ineinander verliebt waren.”
Tobias Schmitz: “Ich hätte nie gedacht, dass ich dich das sagen hören würde. Ich dachte nicht einmal, dass du und Samuel so nah beieinander waren, dachte nur, dass ihr beide Freunde seid, aber das hat mich wirklich überrascht, dass du mit dem Kerl verheiratet bist. Ich weiß nicht, wie ich nicht bemerkt habe, dass Samuel dein Ehemann ist. Daran ist nichts auszusetzen.”
Lord Raab: “Nein, weil ich mit Samuel zufrieden bin und die Dinge nicht besser sein können. Was macht ihr beruflich?
Henry went to get beers during the conversation Markus was having with them as he brought them to the table for each of them as they clung their glasses together and took a sip of them. Markus whispers about the discussion they had, and Henry says this.
Henry Losak: "See, I told you they'd accept you being in a relationship with Samuel. You had nothing to worry about. Sorry, I let you discuss what you guys do for a living."
Tobias Schmitz: "I place carpets in people's homes, and I help people paint their houses now and again as an extra job. I came from Frankfurt."
Jurgen Becker: "I came from Hannover, and I work for JPMorgan Chase & Co bank. Is there any reason why you don't have friends, Markus?
Lord Raab: "Because years ago in Germany, I got sexually assaulted by a woman and brutally assaulted by a guy when I opened up. I've always feared making friends since I was twenty-one years old. When I tried to commit suicide. I heard fans screaming from Koln arena, so I sneaked my way in the arena, and there was this hardcore wrestling match between a couple of guys, including one who wore a Red and Black mask, and he was destroying everyone with weapons."
The guys looked at Markus with a massive shock on their face on someone like him can be sexually and brutally assaulted by a guy and a girl just from opening up. Markus was still afraid to talk, but he decided to go into detail about how wrestling became his life work.
Lord Raab: "I got some training tips from that Red, and Black masked guy when the show finished up as I was so angry that I needed to let off some steam and wrestling helped that and saved my life too, especially using weapons to get my message across."
Tobias Schmitz: "I can understand how that's affected you on getting friends. Trust me, you have me and Jurgen to speak to, and we'll be your friend. We will never assault you or mock you. We can promise you that. We won't tell anyone what you said either."
Jurgen Becker: "I'm so sorry you went through shit like that. Those people you opened up to seemed like pieces of shits. I'm glad wrestling has helped you use anger without being arrested. It's great you using the same design as the guy who trained you. We'll give you our phone numbers so you can chat with us and socialise. You aren't a bad guy, you know."
Henry Losak: "He's not, he's had hard times, that's all. I've never heard him tell that story to anyone apart from Samuel before so that's a strong start of things already on him trusting you both."
Markus placed his head on the table as it still felt pain about the whole day of those attacks happening. Henry rubbed Markus's back as Jurgen and Tobias wrote their number's down and passed the paper along to Markus. Henry got a piece of paper and wrote Markus's number down as well for them to type into their phones. Henry gets Markus's phone out of his pocket and types in Tobias and Jurgen's numbers on his phone.
Jurgen Becker: "Markus, it's alright to feel upset. I can't imagine going through that."
Tobias Schmitz: "Yeah, we're going to help you move on from this, and we'll have fun times together."
Markus lifts his head and wipes tears from his face as he had been crying, an emotion he rarely ever uses. Markus nods at the two lads who were helping him. He looked around the typical German building and saw it was a life he's going to enjoy.
Lord Raab: "I apologise for that. It's just hard for me to tell this story to anyone because each time I have, I get mocked and laughed at. It's caused me to hate the world, especially women. I need to stop hating women because of that one who sexually assaulted me. Henry's right, I need to change."
Henry Losak: "I said this to him before coming here. I don't know anything about Markus apart from what he told me to tell you the truth, and I've known him since two thousand and fourteen."
Jurgen Becker: "Don't apologise. It's good to cry. It looks like this place is closing up, so keep in contact with us."
Tobias Schmitz: "Yeah, we'd love to hear from you again and get to know you more. Oh and good luck on Monday night to win that Baltimore title."
Lord Raab: "Thanks and I'm sure your son is excited to see that match."
Tobias Schmitz: "He is. I'll see you soon."
They finished their beers before all four of them left the table and left the German social club as Markus nodded his head. However, he still had some way to go, telling them more about his interests and other things, but it was a start as Henry and Markus waved goodbye to them and went their separate ways.
Henry Losak: "That wasn't too bad. I wished you talked more about the things you're interested in, but it was a massive leap forward for you, especially telling them your personal life."
Lord Raab: "That was the hardest bit. I feel stupid for crying, but it's so painful when I talk about it, especially to two people I don't even know. That was hard for me, and I don't know why I told them that story."
Henry Losak: "It's because you were trying to heal. Healing by telling people means you want to move forward. I was so proud of you. I need to learn German, don't I? Because to me, you seem more confident talking German than you do with English."
Lord Raab: "Yeah, you do. It's just a language I rarely use apart from my family cos nobody else understands it. Anyway, I need to get back and train my ass off for the Baltimore title match because I need to prepare myself for it. I put the match back of my mind, but now it's on my mind to capture that title I've been begging for."
Henry nods at Lord Raab who seems a lot happier as he gets back to the headquarters and heads straight towards the gym and works out for hours, while Henry goes in the office and gets paperwork done for other companies Raab and Samuel work for.
------------------------------------------
Streets of Baltimore. Baltimore, Maryland. Sunday 6th December (On Camera)
It's strange for Markus Lord Raab to be out in the streets at night, an alleyway at that where it's completely dark with green LED light glaring on him. He doesn't like doing videos out of his own home but knows he has to make changes. It was dripping with water and had sleeping homeless people nearby. Lord Raab has his head down before you can hear him talk.
Lord Raab: "How does it feel Adrienne knowing you're facing the most dangerous wrestler you can face after the piece of paper, stating you have to go through your fears against me? I bet you must be shit scared right now. How that enjoys the pleasure of me beating the living fuck out of you as I stand here in the dark, smelling the raindrops and the awful body odour in the alleyway of homeless stinking like shit."
It still was uncomfortable, but he felt relaxed, which was strange to Henry, who was holding the camera for Lord Raab as there was a breeze.
Lord Raab: "I bet it makes you shiver your entire body, knowing you're fighting me in a bed of thumbtacks, something I love doing as you know. I know what you're capable of with you winning the Baltimore title against The Dragon Lady and going through hell in that cage match which was impressive. I know, me giving a woman praise for her efforts is rare, but I can't discount that from you, more so your team won that match."
Because the mask was covering his expressions, the reality of it was Lord Raab's smiling, although he can switch to being angry quickly, that wasn't the time as of yet.
Lord Raab: "Yes, I'm not stupid to know you successfully retained against that arrogant prick Alex Winters already with your title. I know how you must be feeling after going through hell in that cage match, on top of me being your opponent. The fact is yes, I'm not on a good run currently, but at the same time, nothing can make me happier to beat the living shit out of you. I will do anything it takes to break you with my fists and punish your body in ways you've never experience before, maybe twice as much as the cage match."
Sipping through his voice with just excitement he was about the match, lining himself against the wall with his hand as cars went past and even a sports motorcycle vrooming in the night of the streets of Baltimore.
Lord Raab: "But it's not just violence that satisfies this monster, it's also what you're wearing around your waist, that Baltimore title. There have been champions that don't live here, but my headquarters is only around the corner from this alleyway I'm in. I love being in the cold this time of the year, although I prefer to be in the world of flames. Still, while you've won all of your matches so far which is nothing to take away from, along with being capable of being violent, I've made a living of being violent and do you know why?"
There was a small pause for a minute as he breathes in and out to give himself a break as he signals the cutthroat signal on the camera, closing his eyes to feel the darkness of the alleyway.
Lord Raab: "Because that's what got me into wrestling in the first place. Not the regular wrestling bullshit that sends me to sleep. The hardcore and weapons side of things which is why I like to be known as the master of hardcore wrestling. You aren't anywhere near that league of being a master. I know you must be shivering on the thought I can bust you open without showing remorse for anything I've done. Nobody gave me remorse or gave a shit about me when I was beaten badly by a woman years ago so why should I be remorseful with you? Because I have no reason to, no matter how you look at it."
Lord Raab's body language is showing the anger he feels as bashes his fists together before looking upon the camera with the rain falling on Lord Raab, even with a bit of lightning.
Lord Raab: "Oh, this lightning you see here from this rain, soon this horrible piece of shit will stop you from succeeding. You may have been successful on defending against Alex, but I'm no that arrogant prick, I'm your worst nightmare, and the beatings you will get will be the worst you've ever had, and I know a stupid little girl can cause me pain, but unlike you, I enjoy pain. I thrive off from being in pain. I still have glass stuck onto my body, I still have scars from hell I went through, and I still have burns and why? Because while I feel pain, I enjoy it because it helps me to forget about what that woman did to me and you don't understand it. Nobody does."
Raab stamps his feet, still not feeling right about doing videos in the rain, but it's something he had to do as there was a nose of the bin being lifted upside down, but it was the wind, rattling around with it.
Lord Raab: "So I will beat you so badly that whether you'll get up or not, I will make sure you will be too fucking beaten for you to get up and I'll destroy your fucking leg so you won't get up because if I don't destroy your leg, you will never give up. When I do, you won't be walking from this arena; still, as Baltimore champion, no Ade, it will end up with you being on a fucking hospital stretcher, battered, bruised and not able to walk. I will do fucking anything, even breaking the rules to win the Baltimore title because that's where my passion lies, on a bed of thumbtacks and if you put me through it, sure I will scream in pain, but the reality of my emotion would make me feel happy."
Henry gave Lord Raab a bottle of water, and he drinks it before Raab puts the cap on to talk for the last time with the motorcycle going past again.
Lord Raab: "I will be standing over your disgusting bloodied body with my foot on your chest, and I know I'll be covered with blood as well, but I embrace that shit and so will you when you meet this sick human being that will be the first since you won the title to be beaten for the three count or make you tap out, screaming like a bitch. Tomorrow night, you will wish you never wanted to defend the title against me. I will prove I will be a great Baltimore champion, proving the fuckheads wrong to destroy you in the middle of the ring, gladly taking the belt that you care so much for that it won't mean a damn thing when I'll beat you to shreds. Prepare to be Raabinated by The new Baltimore champion."
Lord Raab laughs, being a lot more confident than before as he signals the title on his waist as Henry cuts the camera off with Lord Raab evilly laughs in the background.