The Cell.

[Obi]

"The Cell"
Diabolik

“The Patient seems to not feel any type of remorse for his actions nor emotional ties of any kind. In my professional opinion, Jonathan Collard should remain in the care of this facility. He is a danger to himself and to the public. Setting him out into the public, and into a violent profession no doubt, will only bring about the same results. Mr. Collard is nothing more than-”

“His name is Diabolik.”

“Right..”

Two men stand on the other side of a thick metal door. Dressed in long white coats, they both glance through an opening in the door that is no more than 7 inches on all sides. To the left, one of them chews upon a pencil, his thick mustache twisting as he does so. He carries himself casually, even foregoing the need to comb his own hair based on his appearance. Across from him, the other man is the complete opposite. With heavily greased back hair, he glances down at his clipboard before speaking once more. “You can refer to Mister Collard as Diabolik if you wish, but all it does is recognize this alter ego that has formed in the young man. Professional Wrestling is fake, a sport meant to bring entertainment to it’s viewers. The things Mister Collard had done in that ring was nothing other than committing murder on a promising young talent.”

“Eddie Laurel knew the risks when he entered the ring.” answered the other man. “I still insist on being left to conduct my own investigation upon Diabolik. Yes, I said Diabolik. Alter ego or not, we must respect his wishes to be referred to as such. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to begin the process. You are welcome to watch through the safety glass should you wish.”

Grabbing the door knob, the man nods at a nearby video camera and enters what looks to be a cell. He leaves the other man in the hallway as he shuts the door behind him with a loud clank. Seated upon a thin mattress, glancing down at his fingertips through randomly placed strands of hair, is Diabolik. His clothing is tattered, revealing peaks at his strong physique. Thick scars run the course across his forearms, memories left behind by years in the ring.

“Diabolik?” speaks the man as he approaches the bed. “I am Victor Lansing, your personal Doctor.”

“I know.” answers Diabolik dryly. “I was supposed to be released this morning. This is Bullocks.”

“No.” answers Victor. “This.. Is an interview. You see, before we can release you into society we have to go over what your chosen profession will be. Where will you live? What are your goals? Lastly, how do you feel about your.. past?”

“My past?” laughs Diabolik now. “Fuck my past. I have thought enough about those days and to be honest, I really don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

“Well, I am afraid we have to.” continues the Doctor. “I have been told that you will be stepping in the ring once again. That must be both exciting as well as frightening for you. Why not try something else out, perhaps?”

“What happened with Laurel was an accident.” snapped Diabolik now as he rose from the bed. Walking across the length of the cell, he leans over a rusted porcelain sink and splashes water on his face. Looking up into the scratched mirror before him, he wipes the water off of his mouth with the back of his hand. “When you step into a hardcore match, that is the risk you take. I am guessing that is what you want to hear about, right?”

“Yes, John.”

“Don’t call me that.” snaps Diabolik once again. “You know, all of my life people have been trying to judge me. Hell, I can’t remember a time that I had an easy way of things in anything I have chosen to do. From the day I walked into the EUW, people have looked at me as the guy who could be great one day, but not much else. Perhaps it was my fault. Maybe I just didn’t pour my energy into my career like everybody expected. Or, maybe I put just enough effort out there to the extent that I was happy with things…”

“Which one was it?” asked the Doctor as he sat upon the bed. “If I recall correctly, you held the championship. Was it the Hardkore Title?”

“I invented that title, Doc’. As a matter of fact, I was once a tag team partner to Chris Sabora at one time. We went undefeated. That is what happens when I care. I get the job done. I know this as a fact, so why bother to exert myself? Fuck what everybody else thinks. The night I was scheduled to face Eddie Laurel, things were different. I guess I had grown tired of people telling me that I always let them down. I needed to remind the world as to who I am!”

“Who would that be?”

“DIABOLIK! A man who has stood by the EUW banner with an intense loyalty. A man who has seen countless people rise to the top.. And then fizzle out shortly after! I am the constant around here. That ring that you see on television is where I conduct my business. Laurel needed to know that. Hell, the world did! So, I showed him.”

“You killed him, John.”

“Yeah well, shit happens.” answers Diabolik as he places his hands upon a nearby book shelf. “ All I know is, I need to return to the ring. I don’t know how many more years I have left in me. I been at this a long time. I figure, it would be nice to wear some gold before I go out. You know, retire in style?”

Smiling, the Doctor nods. “Then why schedule a match with Titan? You do realize the mind frame that your opponent will be in? Titan has been well documented as a mentally imbalanced individual. I would not be surprised if I had this same talk with him one day, right in this very room.”

“Exactly. That is why I must face him.” answers Diabolik now. “My Daddy used to tell me that if you wanted to be known as the toughest man around, you had to walk into a room and challenge the biggest mother fucker around. You have to find the guy that no one would dare step up to, and put him down for the count. Well, Titan fit’s the bill if you ask me. I don’t have time to waste and I certainly don’t have time to fuck around. I am going to drop that big son of a bitch to the ground and make a damn statement in the EUW. 2011 will be my year.. It’s about time.”

“..and after that? What next?” asks the Doctor. Running his fingers through his hair, he watches as Diabolik leans against the wall adjacent from him. “What happens if Titan decided to cross the line? He hardly plays by the rules.”

“Then they dig a hole right next to Eddie Laurel, and drop Titan right in it.” answers Diabolik with a cold stare. “You know, I once wore a mask. I hid behind it, not wanting to admit what I truly was. Those days are over. If you are wondering if I am a killer.. Well I am not. You don’t have to worry about me running around town, doing stupid shit. When it comes to the ring though, my place of business, anything is possible. Titan or not.. I will get the job done. Now, why don’t you be a good man and set my release in motion? I need time to prepare.”

Rising from the bed, Doctor Lansing glances down at his clipboard. He strides over to the door before turning around to speak. “If you get carried away in that ring again, you will return here. There will be no further releases. This.. Will be your eternity.”

“Fine.”

The Doctor then turns and exit’s the room. Glancing at the person still standing in the hallway, he nods and speaks. “I am ordering the release of Jonathan Collard. I see no reason to keep him here.”

With an incredulous glare, the voyeur tightens his eyes while answering. “You are making a big mistake..”

Inside the room, just on the other side of the door, Diabolik plops down upon his mattress with a sudden bounce. He vigorously begins to rub his hands together as he concentrates on his breathing. A voice begins to be heard in the room, originating from nowhere and yet clearly hear-able. It is the voice of Eddie Laurel. The sound is sharp, disappointed. “You will never get them to forget me, Diabolik. You may have killed me off, but people will always think of me as the superior man.”

“You’re wrong.” smiles Diabolik in response. “I was here first.. And now it looks like I will be here last. You were nothing but a copy of me.. And nothing more. I will prove it. Titan hung you above the ring like a little bitch when you two squared off. Let’s see what happens when he steps in the ring with me.”