Can't Run Away

Heroes Restaurant & Pub Warrensburg, Missouri Friday August 2, 2024

The light blue colored light spelled out "HEROES" on the brick building just above an old-fashioned canopy overhang. On the large window to the left of the glass entrance door, there was the logo of the University of Central Missouri hanging - "UCM MULE NATION" with the head of a mule peeking over the top lettering. On the right-side window, it displayed "WARRENSBURG TIGERS PRIDE" with a block 'W' between "Warrensburg" and "pride" and "Tigers" written in cursive over it.

Inside the restaurant, the waitresses raced from table to table trying to keep up.  At a corner booth in the back, Adam Ellis's hands fidgeted with the laminated menu, the only outward sign of the turmoil churning within him. The restaurant's low hum of conversation and white background noise provided the backdrop to his internal match replaying on a loop the moment when Dawn McGill turned on him in the ring the week before.

Sitting next to him- Ginny Van Lear.  Her petite frame curled protectively around the swell of their soon-to-be-born child. Her red hair—a fiery halo in better times—lay subdued tonight, mirroring the quiet simmering fury burning in her eyes over what happened in Logan, West Virginia.  The Soviet Bloc had kidnapped her and left her in a room so Dawn… brainwashed by the Soviet Bloc and now known as Agent Zarya… could betray Adam and cost him the AMCW title. Now, Ginny’s mind could only think of numerous creative ways she would smite down ‘Agent Zarya’ with her wrath and deliver some old-school, stone-cold Old Testament-style vengeance.

"Evening, folks. What can I get for ya?" Jennie Oliver's voice sliced through the tension.  Her warm hazel eyes scanned the group… and her former high school classmates… with practiced ease.

"Steak, medium rare," Adam muttered without looking up, his voice betraying a hint of his Midwestern twang.

"Salad, please," Ginny said, barely audible.

Adam’s high school friends Charlie Kennedy, A.J. Phelps, and Mike McWilliams each placed their orders and tried to inject some normalcy into the night. Jennie scribbled onto her notepad, nodding, her waves of brown hair bouncing with each movement.

As Jennie walked away, Charlie broke the silence. "Heard you got a coaching gig, Mike. That's great stuff."

"Thanks, man. It's at Warrensburg High. Helping with the wrestling program," Mike replied, a touch of pride lighting up his face.

“I wish MVW would have worked out better for you,” Adam said.

“It’s okay.  I gave it my best shot and I’m good with how my MVW days played out,” Mike replied, content with the path he’d chosen.  “I’m still going to wrestle occasionally for MVW and maybe this coaching thing may lead to something else.”

"Hey, Adam," Charlie ventured cautiously, "about last week at AMCW—"

"Not now, Charlie," Adam cut him off sharply, his usual calm demeanor fractured by the raw edge in his voice. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

"Sorry, just thought—"

"Let's just eat, alright?" Adam's words fell like a gavel, silencing further inquiry.

Beside him, Ginny's voice sliced the air, low and charged with venom. "Y’all don’t worry.  Dawn… or…” Ginny spat out the name full of fire and brimstone and righteous condemnation.  “…Agent Zarya is gonna get what's coming to her.," she vowed, her Kentucky roots evident in the grit of her tone.

The others exchanged glances and wisely let the conversation drift to safer waters… such as A.J.'s accounting tales and Charlie's latest electronic finds.

A few minutes later, the fluorescent buzz of the diner's sign flickered over the parking lot, casting an intermittent glow that highlighted the tension brewing just outside the window. Adam Ellis sat, shoulders hunched, fingers drumming a silent beat on the laminate table- a rhythm punctuated by frustration and impatience. His eyes, usually brimming with a quiet kindness, narrowed as they fixed on a familiar silhouette visible through the glass.

"Where's Jennie with our food?" Charlie grumbled, breaking the silence that had settled over the table like a heavy fog.

"Isn't that-" A.J. started, squinting towards the window.

"Jake Foster," Charlie confirmed with disdain. "Had a kid with Jennie six years back. They've been at each other's throats over custody ever since."

Outside, under the diner’s neon beacon, Jennie stood face-to-face with Jake Foster- the same person who had once made life hell for Adam’s good friend Mike McWilliams back in high school. The same Jake who Adam once slammed headfirst into a locker before slapping on a Crossface Chickenwing submission hold and cost him a detention notice.

"Something's up," Adam said, his voice low but edged with steel.

Adam's gaze remained locked on the scene unfolding outside. He could almost feel the hostility radiating off Jake, even behind the pane of glass that separated them. The conversation outside was escalating, their gestures growing more animated.

Without another word, Adam shoved his chair back with a scrape that echoed through the diner.

"Uh oh," Charlie murmured, recognizing the signs of the gentle giant's rising fury.

“Adam?” Ginny said, but it was too late.  Adam strode briskly past the gawking patrons, his every step deliberate, the door swinging wide in his wake as he marched forward towards the arguing pair outside.

“Adam?” Jennie said, surprised to see him outside the restaurant.

"Jennie, what's going on?" Adam demanded as he approached. The night air carried the weight of their collective breaths.

“Adam, Jake’s trying to take my boy and move out of state!" Jennie blurted, her voice quivering with desperation.

"Ellis, this is none of your damn business," Jake sneered, his eyes narrowing as he faced the towering figure before him.

"Jennie deserves better than your crap," Adam shot back, standing tall like a guardian, an unmovable force rooted in the gravel of the parking lot.

Adam watched as Jake's sneer twisted into a grimace of malice. "Listen up, Jennie," he hissed, making sure to punctuate each word with vicious venom, "I've got myself the best lawyer money can buy. You think you can fight me on this? You're dreaming.  MY son is coming with me."

Adam's blood boiled at the sight of Jennie's shoulders slumping, defeat etching lines onto her usually warm face. He couldn't stand idly by – not when injustice was being served cold right in front of him. He shot a glance toward the restaurant, catching Ginny's eye through the window. With a sharp jerk of his head, he beckoned her outside.

Ginny, caught off guard, blinked rapidly before she got up from her chair and marched out of Heroes Restaurant as fast as her nearly nine-month pregnant body could carry her, red hair a fiery banner against the evening sky.

“Adam, what’s going on?” she asked.

"Write Jennie a check," Adam instructed firmly, his words leaving no room for debate.

“Huh?”

“Write Jennie a check,” Adam repeated firmly.  "Enough to cover a good attorney."

Jennie's protest was swift, "Adam, I can't—"

"Don’t worry about it," Adam declared, locking eyes with Ginny.  “I will take care of this.”

A silence fell over the trio as Ginny retrieved her checkbook from her purse, her hands steady despite the turmoil swirling around them. The pen scratched across the paper in bold strokes, each number a testament to Adam and Ginny's solidarity with Jennie.

Adam snatched the completed check from Ginny and handed it to Jennie with a nod. "This isn't about charity, Jennie," he said softly, "It's about what's right."

He then pivoted to face Jake and stepped closer, so close that Jake could feel the warmth radiating from his imposing frame.

"Jake," Adam began, "If I find out that you continue to bully, intimidate, or gaslight Jennie," he paused, letting the gravity of his words sink in, "you will answer to me. Do you understand?"

“Oh really?” Jake shot back with an arrogant tinge to his voice.  “What are you and your fat cow of a wife going to do about it.”

Jennie’s jaw dropped.  Ginny… on the other hand… took a nanosecond to react.  Instinctively and without any thought, the former MMA prodigy whirled around with a spinning heel kick and drove her foot right into Jake’s testicles.

“OOF.”

Air knocked out of him, Jake bent over at an angle which had the unfortunate side effect of putting his head in range for Ginny to…

*SMACK*

…lift and drive her knee into Jake’s face.  He staggered back and covered his eye… blood pouring out a cut.

Adam glared down at Jake. “That ‘fat cow’ got you bleeding like a stuck pig.”

Jake's comeback was a weak mumbled, garble not helped by the excruciating pain radiating from his groin and face.   With a flustered shake of his head, Jake turned on his heel and stumbled away into the night, leaving behind the scent of his cheap cologne and the echo of hollow bravado. "She won't win," Jake managed to spit out as a final parting shot.

“Yeah, you get the hell out of here,” Adam called out, watching Jake barely getting to his car.  He bundled himself into the driver’s seat and quickly drove away.

“Adam,” Jennie began to say.

Turning back to his long-time friend, Adam's demeanor softened as he saw her trembling hands clutching the check. His voice, a steady timbre that had just put Jake in his place, now held a comforting warmth. "Jennie," he said gently, "I'm sick and tired of watching bullies hurt people and get away with murder.  If Jake threatens you again, you let me know, and I will take care of it.”

Jennie looked up at him, her eyes brimming with gratitude and the strain of a thousand sleepless nights. Adam’s assurance finally permitted her to release the pent-up emotions she'd held back for so long. Her shoulders shook as sobs broke free, each one a shuddering breath that echoed the turmoil within.

Ginny stepped forward, her own fire momentarily replaced by a river of empathy. She wrapped an arm around Jennie's waist, drawing her in close. Her usually sassy voice, with that thick Appalachian twang, now had a gentle lilt to it.  "Honey, we’all got your back. You ain't going through this alone."

***

Pacifica Esplanade Beach Pacifica, California Saturday, August 3, 2024

Bryan arrived to Pacifica Esplanade Beach about two hours earlier before the sunlight crested over the cliffs that guard the secluded beach. After spending most of his childhood near the beaches of Hawaii, any time his travels took him close to the ocean he was naturally more comfortable. The salty air and sand between his toes made each beach feel like home.

A sort of routine had been developed with the help of Dr. Kim, who had now been Dawkins’ therapist for nearly eight months. First, a long, slow walk up and down the beach. The sound of the surf served as white noise and allowed his mind to calm and focus, while the seemingly never ending beach allowed him to focus on the journey, not the destination. There was no finish line.

After clearing his mind, meditation on the sand was next on the docket. Aided yet again by the mesmerizing sound of the crashing waves, he sat cross legged, closed his eyes and focused on his breath. With each exhale, a little bit of stress left his body and helped to clear his mind.

Slowly opening his eyes, Dawkins focused on the horizon and was allowed to just be. No goal, no expectation, no obligations. Just exist and let your mind go where it wants.

Of course, given the events of the past few years, the number of topics swirling around in his brain were many - a career ending injury, a return to wrestling that hasn’t gone exactly as planned, another (albeit minor) injury setback, a new and unproven alliance and a wrong that must be avenged. Needless to say, there was a lot on his mind.

He and Dr. Kim had worked on a very specific exercise to deal with the anxieties that had plagued him for the past eight months.

“Alright Bryan, so when you start to feel that anxiety start to bubble up…you know, that tingly feeling that encompasses your body, makes you sweat, gives you a pit in your stomach, starts to ramp up those intrusive thoughts? Well I want you to imagine yourself sitting by a river…or better yet, sitting on the beach. And when you start to have those thoughts or feel that anxiety, I want you to imagine those thoughts and anxieties being carried down the coast as the waves break along the shore. You’ll see them come and you’ll only give them the time that it takes to come into and then leave your view. When they’re gone, they’re gone.”

It’s possible that Bryan had taken the advice a little too literally but then again, who would pass up a tranquil morning on the beach?

The breeze was cool and refreshing.

The sun was just beginning to crest the cliffs to his rear as Dawkins reflected.

Round one of the tag tournament didn’t go Hawaiian BBQ’s way. Then again, what had gone Dawkins’ way in the past eight months?

He knew there would be an adjustment period. It had been ages since he’d participated in tag team wrestling and let’s face it, he hardly knew his partner.

Now, to further complicate things, the matchmaker in this relationship had now turned her back on his teammate. Could anyone blame Dawkins if he had sudden doubts about Ellis? Then again, Bryan told himself there were nefarious forces at play behind Dawn’s sudden change in alliance.

Not to mention the elephant in the room - whether or not Dawkins trusted Ellis, they still had nearly the entire tag team division to run through in this tournament. Their upcoming matchup against a former 5 Star Champion in Rob Williams and his unlikely ally, Anna Daniels, would be no walk on the beach (pun intended).

Williams and Daniels posed a unique threat to Hawaiian BBQ, a fact that weighed heavily on Dawkins. While Twins? was certainly a challenge, Fuck Your Tag Team would be downright dangerous. Doubly so if Dawkins and Ellis couldn’t get on the same page by the time ReVival 53 came around.

Hawaiian BBQ needed to get on the same page, and fast.

*DING*

At first, he shrugged off the notification - this was me time and given his…fragile?... state of being over the past few months, he certainly felt that he needed and deserved it.

Whatever it was, it could (and would) wait.

He fixed his gaze on the horizon and continued to ponder.

Dawkins had, somewhat unwittingly, taken the leadership role in Hawaiian BBQ especially given Dawn’s untimely exit from the situation. He was so used to being a follower even going back to the days of the Three Amigos with Chandler Tsonda and Tyler Rayne. Those two were clearly the stars of the group - Dawkins was just happy to be along for the ride. Now, his wagon’s been hitched to a young, talented wrestler who brings his own baggage to the equation and Bryan was being relied upon for his veteran wisdom

*DING*

Another notification–no, another interruption.

After a deep sigh, he picked up the phone sitting on the towel as his side and glanced at the message.

“We need to talk.”

Left on read.

There was that damn anxiety again. Dawkins imagined the text message floating along the shore and did everything in his power to will that text bubble down the shore and away from him.

Like Dr. Kim said, let it flow away, right?

A few moments passed.

Serenity and calm returned.

*DING*

“You knew this day was coming.”

Let it go, Bryan.

Breathe.

*DING*

What Dr. Kim didn’t exactly cover was what to do when the sources of stress and anxiety begin to hit you, rapid-fire.

*DING*

*DING*

*DING*

“Can’t run away from this one, Bryan.”

“We’re gonna have to talk about this.”

“Stop avoiding me. I can’t keep this from him forever.”

After reading the last message, Dawkins collapsed, back against the sand and hands over his face as the stress and anxiety washed over him. The sender was right, he knew this day was coming and he wouldn’t be able to run away. But that certainly wasn’t for lack of trying.

***

Backstage Golden 1 Center Sacramento, CA Friday, August 9, 2024

“Bruh, you okay?”

Dawkins found his tag partner in a corner of the third locker room area he had checked. This one was desolate with no other PRIME talent present at the moment.

Adam shrugged and nodded his head.  “I guess I don’t have much choice.  I have to be.”

“Ginny okay?”

“Oh… she will be. “Adam let out an ironic chuckle. “Ginny’s doctor put her on bed rest.  He didn’t take kindly to Ginny spending several hours practicing at the shooting range after what happened in Logan two weeks ago.”

Dawkins chuckled to himself at the thought of the fiery redhead, nearly at term, firing thousands of dollars worth of ammunition at a poor target. He also made a mental note to stay on her good side. “I’m sure she’s thrilled about that, eh bruh?”

“That’s putting It mildly. I don’t know about you Bryan, but I’m ready to take out a whole bunch of frustration on Anna Daniels and Rob Williams tonight.  What about you?”

“It’s not target practice but it’s close. Wish I could say–”

*DING*

Dawkins ignored the notification.

“...uh, like I was sayin’. Wish I could say that the road forward in this tourney got easier but I think we’re gonna be in for the fight of our lives. Between the two of them, we’re lookin’ at a whole bushel of brutality, bruh. These two aren’t exactly playin’ with a full deck of cards but the cards they’ve got are dangerous ones. Gonna have to be on top of our ga–”

*DING*

“S’cuse me for a sec, bruh.

Ellis frowned as Dawkins pulled the phone from his pocket.

“So you’re gonna blow me off for almost a week?”

“He’s not gonna stop asking questions, you know.”

Upon reading the texts, Bryan clenched his jaw while his body became more rigid thanks to the flood of anxiety washing over him. He thought this would just go away.

It was Ellis’ turn to check in on his partner. “Everything okay, Bryan?”

Attempting to shake it off, Dawkins responded “yeah bruh, yeah…everything’s good.”

“We need a win this week to get some momentum started towards ReVival 54,” Adam went on.  “You have no idea how much I want to get my hands on the Red Army and kick their-“

*DING*

Ellis sighed. Dawkins, again embarrassed, turned to the phone.

“Bryan, stop ducking me.”

*DING*

“Your son wants to meet you.”

*THUD*

The sound of an iPhone hitting the floor echoed throughout the empty locker room. Dawkins slowly bent down to pick up the phone, eyes fixed to the latest message on the screen.

“You sure you’re good, man?” Adam asked with more than a little concern.

*DING*

His vision was suddenly blurry and the trembling hands certainly didn’t make it easier to focus on the next message.

“We’re living in the northwest these days. Seattle actually. I know you’re in Cali right now. We need to make this happen.”

“...sorry again, bruh. I…uh…gotta take care of somethin’ quick. I’ll meet ya out there.”

“Yeah,” Adam replied, half-heartedly waving to Dawkins as he made a beeline for the door.

Now outside the dressing room, Bryan clicked on the message and typed his reply.

“Ok…right now’s not good obviously…next week?”

As he hit send, his heart shot up into his throat and he could feel the pulse of his heartbeat inside his temples. As he distanced himself from Ellis, the river of thoughts came rushing in and despite Dr. Kim’s suggestion, they all piled up at the center of his brain.

Can’t run away from this anymore. Then again, can’t run away if Williams and Daniels end you first…