Post by Ziu Zhong on Mar 25, 2015 18:45:27 GMT -6
The week before Breakthrough 23, Ziu Zhong had a crazy half hour. Firstly, his wife Ling gave birth to their first child, and then he started talking to himself (again). Technically, he wasn’t talking to himself, he was talking to the dark side within him – Mr. X. Many months ago back in Season 1, Ziu Zhong took a Savior X Mili pill to remove his previous three months memory to eradicate Mr. X from existence. It never worked because Mr. X had been around for many years and Ziu was too naïve to think X had simply popped up when the Zhong’s were going through a rough patch. So Mr. X returned at the same time that was supposed to be the happiest moment of Ziu’s life - when he meets his newborn son. For Ziu it was like meeting Mr. X for the first time because he had no idea who he was. All he thought was, ‘why the fuck am I talking to myself’?
Mr. X told him some home truths and the history between them before Ziu tried to be smart by removing X for good. Mr. X was back and made his intentions known. He wanted Ziu to stop being so selfish. He wanted time in the real world. He wanted some fresh air instead of being stuck in the basement of the Asian body. But Mr. X didn’t help himself by revealing that he killed Ziu’s parents back when they were 11 years old. That’s when Ziu had enough and closed the hospital curtain. He decided to ignore it and focus on his newborn son. Unknowingly to him, though, a part of X was growing inside Baby Zhong too. He would soon find this out.
Breakthrough 23 came and went and it was the first time Ziu Zhong had tasted defeat since early November. Over four months full of success and victories finally brought to an end by…cheating. It wasn’t to do with Mr. X returning on the scene, or the birth of his son, or even the end of his Technical training with Patrick Jones, it was all down to Cera grabbing his leg and causing yet another fake victory for The Orphanage. Nobody in VOW could stop Ziu’s dominance so Casanova English had to cheat to victory. Something he had done more often than not in his Wrestling career. So as we head to the Nothing Else Matters PPV, Casanova English takes part in a match to become the World Visionary Champion whereas Ziu Zhong languishes at the bottom, proving once again that Chase Michaels simply isn’t good enough to defeat a VOW Main Eventer. The next 24 hours would go a long way to proving that...
The sun was shining but it was bitterly cold. Another ‘Moody March Morning’ in New York with leaves scattered along the roads and a strong gust of wind attempting to rob Ziu Zhong of his gym bag as he returned home. He had a sudden urge to run down the pathway as his wife, his uncle and two week old son wait for him in the warmth of their home. His Uncle Tye had flown over from London, England last week and was helping out the family whilst Ziu went to work.
Ziu made it through the door (not before a battle with the wind who was trying to join the party), and threw his gym bag on the floor before heading to the lounge.
“Oh Ziu! You home!”
“I am indeed. Where is the little man?”
“He sleeping.”
They still hadn’t decided on a name for the baby. Ziu Zhong approached the baby bouncer in the middle of the room and looked down at his son who was fast asleep. I wonder what he’s dreaming about, Ziu thought.
“He looks so peaceful.”
“Me watch him all day.”
“How have you been?”
“Me still bit sore but me ok.”
“Good. So where’s Tye?”
“He upstairs. He need to leave.”
“Huh? Why? I only see him for a few days before I left for St. Paul, Minnesota.”
“Work need him. Such bad news he leave.”
The sounds of feet descending the stairs can be heard and Ziu leaves the lounge and enters the hallway. Ling remains with the baby, watching him sleep for the umpteenth time.
“Hey Ziu.”
“Ling said you’re leaving?”
“Yeah I’m leaving right now.”
“What…why? Work can wait, surely.”
Ziu’s Uncle Tye – the man that brought him up between the ages of 11 and 18 – walked over to his nephew and took him to one side so Ling couldn’t hear.
“Ziu…I can’t stay here a minute longer. There’s something not right with that son of yours.”
“You what?!”
“I’m sorry to say this but it’s like a devil child. I swear it spoke to me when Ling wasn’t there. It sent shivers down my spine.”
“Since when does a two week old baby talk?”
“Ziu, why would I make this up?”
“Ok then, what did it say?”
“It called my name. It was like some fucked up horror movie. It whispered it to me in the darkness. But I get that vibe from him. Everything gets cold when it’s near. I have not gone anywhere near it since.”
“Stop calling my son it. This is probably all in your head.”
“It called my name Ziu. Something’s not right and sooner or later you’re going to realise that.”
“Are you listening to yourself?”
“I know it sounds crazy but it’s true. Please just watch yourself. If you leave Ling at home with the baby on their own then more fool you.”
Ziu couldn’t believe what he was hearing. After all the problems over the past week, both in and outside of VOW, Ziu had come home to even more problems.
“Bye Ling.”
Uncle Tye grabbed his suitcase and made his way to the door.
“Oh you leave now. Me so sorry you leave now and not spend more time.”
“It was nice seeing you all. Sorry I couldn’t stay longer.”
Uncle Tye gave Ling a kiss goodbye and shaked Ziu’s hand with a worried look in his eyes. He then departed the house and stepped into a waiting taxi and off he went.
“Sorry you not see Uncle Tye much.”
“It’s ok. If he needs get home for work then there’s not much that he can do.” Bullshit. Uncle Tye had bottled it. He had not had much sleep because of the baby crying and he thought he heard something he didn’t. Then made up some lame excuse about having to get back for work and then run off home.
“Me make noodles?”
“Sounds delicious.”
“Me make noodles then. Me so happy!”
“I’ll watch the little man.”
Off went Ling to the kitchen and Ziu entered the lounge and took a seat on the sofa before pulling the baby bouncer in between his legs. All of a sudden Baby Zhong woke up and his eyes were big and wide as if he had been awake for hours.
“Hello little man.”
A part of Ziu wondered if he would get a response, but that was silly. Uncle Tye surely got it all wrong, and if he hadn’t then Ziu would surely be on to some money if he had a two week old who could speak already.
Ling rushed into the room with a teddy bear and handed it to Daddy. “It’s his favourite,” she said, before rushing back to the kitchen to cook her favorite meal.
The teddy bear had a huge mirror on its belly so the baby could see itself. Ziu had been avoiding mirrors and reflections ever since the night in the hospital when Mr. X returned. But before he could throw the teddy across the room he was too late; Mr. X had caught his eye.
“Ah ha! We meet again Ziu.”
“This is crazy. What do you want from me?”
“Just a bit of give and take Ziu. Even though I’m stuck in your body I’m still your brother. I can’t stand in the shadows forever. I need to live a little.”
“Live like when you killed my parents when I was 11 years old?!”
“Our parents. And that was for the better.”
“For the better? They were my Mother and Father. They were the nicest, most kindest people on the planet.”
“See that’s where you’re wrong Ziu. You were young and naïve and all you see was sunshine and flowers. You only see their fake side. The one they would put on in front of you. They were very bad people. Your father was a sick man. He liked playing with little boys. Boys younger than you at the time. Your mother was just as bad. She covered for him. She knew everything and still remained with him. Loyal Chinese Mothers make me sick. Your father had his eyes on Ling too. They were both sick.”
“That’s disgusting. But if you’re my ‘brother’ as you like to call me, then why don’t you call them Mom and Dad?”
“They don’t deserve to be called my Mother and Father. They were sick people who got what they deserved.”
Mr. Selfie continued to stare into the teddy bears mirrored stomach. Baby Zhong was getting no attention but was ‘watching’ Daddy intently.
“It’s just a shock. I don’t see them like that. It’s as if you’re talking about completely different people.”
“I know, I know. But it’s true. I decided enough was enough, because one day… your Father would have got to you too.”
Ziu grimaced.
“Makes me sick.”
“Your Father and Mother were not good people Ziu.”
“Well if that’s what they were really like, they aren’t my Mother and Father either.”
Mr. X smiled and it wasn’t an evil one. It seemed genuine.
“Both on the same wavelength. See…we’re getting somewhere.”
Ziu frowned and switched eye contact from the bear to the unnamed baby and then back again to the teddy’s stomach.
“So what is it you want exactly? I know you want to come out more, but what does that mean exactly?”
“We can both lead a happy life. We can lead one together as a team.”
“Why? Why should I give in to you?”
“It’s not giving in, it’s doing what’s right. I just want a chance to prove myself and gain your trust so that you can see that I’m actually quite harmless. But in other ways I could have your back and be very harmless.”
“Other ways?”
“Yes, like in the ring. When Casanova English has to cheat to win, I can be that second pair of eyes. When Chase attacks you, I can have your back and give you that adrenaline rush to fight back. When you’re down and out and gasping for breath and seconds away from defeat, I can be the one that sparks you into life. I can give you that extra 10%.”
“And in return?”
“Well you’d be giving me life. I’ve been trapped for too long, I just want to be let out now and again.”
Ziu let out a long, dragged out sigh. He waited a few seconds, thought about it and then replied.
“To do what?”
“You just asked me that. I just want to experience the real world just like you have. I won’t hog it. I can come out when you want me to. How about this week I do the promo for Nothing Else Matters?”
“Oh I don’t know about that.”
“Come on, let me prove to you that I can do a good job. I’m not a bad person. I know I explained that I’m evil and you’re the good one last time out but I was just in a bad mood after being trapped for so long. I was trying to scare you but that was the wrong way to deal with the situation. I’m just the darker side. I can handle the things you can’t and you can handle the things I can’t. We bounce off each other.”
Was Mr. X telling the truth this time? Was he genuine? Last time he tried to overtake Ziu mind body and soul. Maybe this time it was for real. Only time will tell.
“I don’t know.”
“We could be a force Ziu. Why would I tell you all about before with the memory loss and getting rid of your parents if I wasn’t legit.”
“They aren’t my parents.”
“That was all in the past and we both made bad decisions. We can be a team now. 50/50. I can do your dirty work. When you need a gritty performance I’m there. When you need to do something you really can’t I’m there to step in. Handicap match, I’m there. We can be a secret tag team. Two great minds and all that. I’ll be ready and waiting at every situation. Let me do the promo this week to prove it. You did the last promo against Chase Michaels and now I could do it this time. We can share the work.”
“Why should I trust you?”
“Ziu, take a backseat and just give me a chance. Let me in Ziu. Let me sort Chase and Adrian out. I will ruin them so that he they are trembling before they enter the ring with us.”
Us. They were an Us now?
“I’ll make it so convincing that you would put your money on Chase not turning up for the match more so than Michael Adrian who appears to have vanished.”
“Hmm...”
Ziu was finally convinced. If he said no then Mr. x could come out anytime anyway. They would soon find out if X was telling the truth or not.
“I promise I won’t fuck it up like I did when you fought Cera back in December.”
”Oh, that was you?”
Whoops. Mr. X slipped up.
“Yeah that was me.”
“I watched that promo back the other week and was baffled by it as I never remembered doing it. I never would have said she had sexy legs, she’s not my type.”
“Sorry I was a bit drunk I think that night. Had one too many in the hotel bar. Trust me this time. I was smash Chase Michael and Co to pieces.”
Slight pause.
“Ok. You’re on trial. But how will it work?”
“Don’t worry about that. When the time is right, the switchover will take place. Just like we’re talking right now, it’s natural right?”
“I wouldn’t say natural. Absolutely head fuck comes to mind but it’s real. It’s happening.”
“It certainly is. And the VOW roster is in trouble now.”
“Just don’t do anything crazy on camera.”
“I won’t. The Cera promo got you the win in the end as Cera walked in to the match thinking she would easily win. I know how to scare the opponent and get the job done.”
“Let’s hope you’re as good as you say you are.”
”I’ll prove myself. Oh but there’s one more thing.”
“Uh huh?!”
“Uncle Tye was right. A part of me is inside your son too.”
“What?! How?! One thing after another with you.”
“I’m apart of you so when you and Ling conceived so did X and Ling. But Baby X is harmless. He is just a baby too so he is learning. We can teach him. I’m sorry he scared your Uncle off but we can rectify that. We can teach him the rights and wrongs, just like you will with your son.”
“What like kill his own parents?!”
“Do you like little boys?”
“Hell no!!”
“Well you’re safe then.”
“Safe?” Ziu scoffed.
“You’re safe with me Ziu. Somebody who isn’t safe though is Chase Michaels. Michael Adrian too. Anybody that wants to get in our way isn’t safe. I’m going to ruin Chase Michaels so much this week. I’ll see you in the morning. We’re going for a little drive.”
Ling started singing a terrible Chinese tune in the kitchen as the smell of greasy noodles wafted in through the door. It caught Ziu’s attention and when he looked back into the mirrored bear Mr. X had gone. But he wasn’t far away. Ziu could feel him in the background. It was a strong, protective feeling.
Ziu Zhong had let Mr. X in. He had latched on to the Asian body with ease.
