Slaying Old Demons: Part 2

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Off Camera

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Julia Braddock’s return to the UWA has been a rather successful one thus far and is cause for celebration.  She began with a victory over Ryan Watson and Lilith Evens in triple threat action.  And the following Outbreak she participated in a battle royal.  And while she didn’t win the battle royal, coming in third place in a match with as much talent as it had says a great deal about Julia Braddock.  Primarily, it tells the world that she is indeed back, she is focused, and she is ready to take back her spot near the top of the UWA universe.

Her next challenge comes in the form of Gavin Taylor and that indeed will be quite a challenge.  Some may underestimate him due to the crazy things he says and the front he puts on, but the fact is that he is an incredibly talented athlete.  In the now defunct IWC he was a multi-time champion and he came within a hair of becoming UWA World Champion on many occasions.  Gavin Taylor, like him or not, has always been in the discussion when it comes to the world championship.  Defeating him will definitely send a message to the UWA and Julia Braddock knows it.

The mere fact that she gets to face Gavin Taylor instead of some no-name jobber or a lowly, struggling mid-carder is enough to make anyone feel good about their prospects in this rough, cutthroat business.  It’s enough to make them believe that perhaps they have made it.

Julia Braddock should be happy.  She should be thrilled.  It seems that her resurgence in UWA is happening just as she had wanted it, just as she had envisioned it.

Yet Julia Braddock does not appear to be happy as she drives a rental car down the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina.  The frown etched across her face and the dried up tears on her cheek tell a story of a woman who is suffering, who is far from living the carefree life most would expect her to live.

What’s wrong with this beautiful British blonde?  It all boils down to one individual…

…Jacob Samson.

Jacob was Julia’s ex-boyfriend during a time in her life when she was having difficulty with her drug addiction.  Jacob and Julia are no longer an item, thanks in large part to Aphrodite Noel.  She knew nothing of Jacob; but she didn’t have to.  Aphrodite Noel, in an effort to help Julia, ordered that Julia cut all ties with her former life of drugs before the rehabilitation.  So Julia left him without even a word of goodbye.

Unfortunately for Julia, it turns out that Jacob had been keeping track of her the entire time.  Jacob Samson definitely takes the cake in terms of being a stalker and now Julia must find some way to deal with it and deal with this demon of her past, a demon who seemingly won’t go away.

Julia is hitting the streets of Charlotte in this rental car looking for Jacob.  Julia Braddock was a member of the regional federation known as Southeastern Wrestling Conference when she met Jacob Samson for the very first time and got caught up in the drugs.  SWC operated out of Charlotte and that’s how she and Jacob met.  Now she hopes to track him down again.  Why?

Jacob has struck a nerve with Julia by insisting that if the rest of the world knew of her past that they would not accept her, that they would disown her and treat her like garbage.  Julia doesn’t want to believe it but a strong part of her mind does believe it.  Enough of her mind buys into Jacob’s song and dance that she has to see him, at least one more time, to try and put her concerns to rest.

He said he would see her again, he said that Julia would come visit him one last time.  He was right; but Julia hopes that this is the last time she ever sees Jacob Samson.

That’s the plan anyway.

Julia pulls the car into an old parking lot.  The car comes to a stop and Braddock exits the driver’s side, shutting the door and locking it behind her.  Most would be wary of this place but, for Julia, she’s not frightened or nervous.  She is used to this as she has been here before.  It is familiar territory for her.

Braddock begins walking away from the car and towards an alleyway.   In the dim light that oozes through a narrow gap lies the alleyway. It's the underworld of any town: gloomy and unpleasant. The vines that crawl up window sills and the crumbling plaster that envelopes the old stone bricks appear romantic at first but become daunting as the sun sets behind the skyline of chimneys. Darkness is lurking in every corner inside the labyrinth of narrow passages and dead ends. Litter is dumped on the street and birds nest amongst the sprawling rot.  Just then…

“Hi there, gorgeous.”

She is startled at first but as she turns around she spots him…it’s Jacob.  He is wearing a similar attire from the last time she saw him; torn denim jeans and a hoodie.  It’s almost as if he never even bothered to change clothes.  Julia Braddock knows this life; she lived it before.  There is a chance he hasn’t changed clothes since the last time they spoke.  He doesn’t seem to care, either way.  The grin on his face speaks of confidence, borderline arrogance as he approaches Julia.  The blonde just stays firm, refusing to show any signs of trepidation or nerves.

“I knew you couldn’t tear yourself away.” He reaches out and runs his hand through her long blonde hair. “You were just too curious, weren’t you?  Curious about what your boyfriend was up to now.”

“You are not my boyfriend, Jacob.” Julia states, shaking her head. “I told you, I have a boyfriend and his name is JaMarcus Avery.  What you and I had, Jacob, it’s over…”

“Nah, not in my book.” He shakes his head and points at Julia. “YOU never broke it off.  YOU never even bothered to tell me goodbye.  You just never bothered to come back.”

“Take a hint, asshole.” Julia snaps with venom dripping from her voice.

“What can I say, I was never good at guessing games.” Jacob winks with mischief. “Besides, what does that idiot have to offer you that I can’t offer you?”

“Seriously?!” Julia exclaims, stunned that Jacob would actually ask this.  She snickers lightly. “Well let’s see, he’s loving, caring, he has a good, legitimate job…”

She glares angrily at Jacob “…and he could kick your ass.”

“Right, right, you got me there.” Jacob says with a chuckle. “I’ll give you that one.  He does have a legitimate job and he could whip my ass.  And hell, maybe he does care for you?  He must be something special in order to accept a druggie like you…”

Julia wants to strangle Jacob.  She wants to slap him at least.  But she hesitates.  She hesitates because of something Jacob just said.  She cannot honestly respond to him; or at least, she doesn’t want to.  Jacob picks up on the reluctance, the hesitation, and immediately knows why…

“Oh my fucking God, this is rich!”

“Shut up, Jacob.”

“No, no, this REALLY IS RICH!” He points a finger at Julia. “You haven’t even told your precious JaMarcus, have you?”

Julia sighs and shakes her head.  To deny it would be a lie and Jacob would know she’s lying.  He already figured it out.  Jacob is reveling in this as he laughs nastily at his ex-girlfriend.

“You can’t even tell your new boy toy about your dirty little past.  That right there proves that I’m right about you, babe.  You know that he won’t accept you if he knew, you know that everyone else will abandon you if they all knew about your past…”

“SHUT UP!” Julia exclaims again with tears forming in her eyes. “Just shut up…I don’t care what you say, Jacob!  I am different!  I have changed!  I…”

“You don’t get it, do you?” He chuckles. “But then again, you always did need a little guidance.”

He smirks. “I’m not talking about whether or not you’ve changed…though I seriously suspect you haven’t…I’m just saying that if you really did change, you should have no problem telling the world about your past.  Either you haven’t changed as much as you think you did, or you don’t trust those people you claim are your friends and loved ones.”

He stands there, arms folded over his chest, waiting for Julia to answer.  She struggles for the words but can find none.  He’s accusing her, indicting her, and she can’t do anything about it except stand there and take it.  Jacob just nods his head.

“So which is it?  You’re either the same damn bitch you were when you were hooked up with me or those so-called friends of yours are fakes.”

Julia rears back and slaps him across his cheek.  Jacob reaches out and grabs her by the throat.

“Do not do that again!  Whether you believe it or not, you need me!” He releases his grip on her neck. “Let’s face facts, if I’m right and you haven’t changed, and you’re just lying to yourself, then I am the only one who can offer you what you really need, what you want, the drugs that can make your life whole…”

“No!” Julia shakes her head vehemently. “That life is behind me!  I’m through with it!”

“Ok, then your so-called friends and loved ones are just frauds who will abandon you the moment they find out about your past.  I’m one of the few who knows of your past and will accept you regardless.”

A long tense gaze from Julia into the eyes of her ex-boyfriend Jacob is what follows.  She ponders his words yet she knows almost immediately what the answer will be.  She shakes her head.

“No, Jacob…just no.  I told you, I have changed.  And even if you are right about my friends and loved ones…which I doubt, by the way…but even if you are right about them, and if you are right that you are the only one who would accept me, I also know that acceptance isn’t the end game for you.  You always want more than just acceptance.”

She sneers. “You want me to regress back into that life you live.  I’m here to tell you that I am done with that life. I have improved myself and I am a stronger person for it.  I am happy with what I have accomplished in my career as a professional wrestler and what I will accomplish in the future.”

She points a finger at Jacob. “But I will accomplish nothing if I stay attached to you.”

“Yeah, right, the future…” Jacob rolls his eyes “…I heard all about how you want to reclaim your top spot in the UWA and, hey, I’ll admit, you’ve taken  it by storm since returning, but let’s be honest with ourselves, Julia, do you really believe that they’ll accept you if they ever found out about your past?”

He snickers and shakes his head. “Drew Bryant or David Helms one would fire your ass in an instant.  Fleur may fight to keep you around just for the sheer ratings that might come with having a druggie on camera.”

Julia is enraged now and she slaps Jacob a second time.  Jacob once again grabs her by the throat.

“I told you not to do that again!”

“ACK!”

“Listen VERY closely, Julia…I only do this because I am trying to help...are you going to listen?”

She nods her head.  Jacob releases his grip.

“Now listen to me, you say they’re your friends and loved ones, you say they all support you, but you still haven’t answered my charge; what would happen if they were to find out about your past?”

“I don’t know…” Julia shakes her head “…but it doesn’t matter, because they do not need to know!”

Julia Braddock has had enough of Jacob Samson and his games, his intimidation.  She decides to just turn and walk away.  Jacob sneers and calls out after her.

“Just like you, Julia…just like you to walk away from your problems the way you walked away from them years ago…”

“Go to hell, Jacob!” Julia says sharply without even bothering to turn around.

“You can’t run away from this one, Julia!” Jacob shouts after her. “They will find out about your past and they will turn on you!”

“You’re bluffing!” Julia stops momentarily to turn and face Jacob. “There is no evidence of my drug addiction.”

“Maybe not,” he sneers “but I’m not talking just about the drugs.”

“Huh?”

“Dealing in drugs wasn’t the only illegal activity you were a part of, sweetness.  Remember?”

What is Jacob talking about?  Is he just deranged?  Is he reaching?  Julia ponders it for a moment and considers just walking away but then she remembers.  It hits her like a bolt of lightning; or maybe a punch in the gut is the more apt term.  She sighs as she lowers her head in shames and walks back over to Jacob Samson.

“Yes, you do remember.” He sneers. “And you should know I have evidence to prove it.”

“What do you want?”

“See?  That wasn’t so hard.” Jacob says as he kisses her on her cheek. “You’re still my baby girl, you just needed some guidance.”

“I said…what do you want?”

“Eager to get started, I see!” He grins knowingly. “I like that about you.  Now as far as what I want…”

He runs a hand down her cheek “…I just want you.”

“What the…”

“I mean it.” Jacob says, nodding his head. “I miss what we had.  I miss the fun we used to have; the thrill of it all…”

“No, not that!” Julia shakes her head. “I’m done with drugs!”

“Yeah, yeah, you’ve said.” He rolls his eyes. “If you actually mean that then I guess I’ll have your share too, but the point is you are gonna hook me up.  That’s what I want.”

“I…I can’t, Jacob…” she sighs “…I can’t.”

“Is that so?” He smirks. “I’m not a bad guy, and I’m very patient.  I mean, I’ve waited on you to return to my life for damn near five years.  So I can give you time to think.  But don’t take too long to think about this, and remember…I have dirt on you that, if released to the public, would ruin you.   So ask yourself, is staying pure really worth your career?”

Julia watches on in tears as Jacob turns and walks away, leaving her alone to ponder her next move, to think about her future.

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On Camera

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You know, I couldn’t have asked for a better return to the UWA.  Victorious over Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans in a triple threat match and third place in a battle royal, outlasting some of the best UWA has to offer.  One victory under my belt and even despite the fact that I lost, I have proven not only that I can still hang in UWA, but that my road back to the top will be a quick one; not because I’m the end all be all, or that I’m the greatest of all time, some monikers that my next opponent may try to lay claim to…because I’m not one to lay claim to such a title with so great a talent pool, not just in UWA, but all over professional wrestling…

…I know that this road back to the top will be quick because I am determined to make it so; I am determined to make it back to the top and once again be one of the most talked about names in the UWA.  I am going to do everything in my power to earn that spot back and my momentum has not stopped since my return.

Gavin Taylor, you’re not going to stop me, either.

Gavin, you think you really are the end all be all.  You really think that you are the All-Star and that this company needs you, that you are irreplaceable.  Newsflash, Gavin…everyone is replaceable, including you.

No disrespect intended, Gavin.  You definitely have the credentials of a top contender.  You were a multi-time champion in IWC and came damn close to being world champion on multiple occasions here in UWA.  I will give credit where credit is due and state clearly, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you are a legend and I look forward to facing you one on one on Outbreak.

You’re going to find out real quick that you are not the end all be all.  I’m going to push you to your limits and, God willing, beat your ass on Outbreak.  And after I beat you, I’m not going to go around calling myself Best in the World.  I’ll leave that to my sister.  But maybe, just maybe, you’ll have learned a lesson in humility.

What you are, Gavin, is just a used car salesman.  You advertise your material as the best of the best, top quality, and yeah, there is some great stuff there, maybe even some great vehicles, but you also have some lemons in that batch, and lately you’ve been serving up a whole bunch of lemons.

Serve up a lemon against me and I will smoke your ass, Gavin.  Guarantee it.

I’m not one to take anyone or anything lightly and you shouldn’t take me lightly either, Gavin.  I am The Kensington Knockout, a UWA original, I’ve come home, and I’m going to continue my momentum back to the top by having a knock down drag out fight with the All-Star…

…and when it’s all said and done, The All Star’s light will have gone out and The Kensington Knockout will stand tall as the victorious one.