Apathetic

Outside of a farmhouse, there’s a rather large bonfire. Gabriel Tuck sits in a lawn chair by the fire with a beer in his hand and a heavy revolver sitting in one of the cup holders of the chair. Clowns sit around the campfire, feeding it firewood taken from the stores of the farmhouse...along with parts of a large wooden fence that is taken down section by section.

Gabriel glances toward the house where the man of the house peers at them through the window. The family in the farmhouse has already tried calling “911”, but Gabriel had the cell signals coming from the house rerouted to his own phone. They tried escaping to the car, but Gabriel had it disabled in advance. Now they sit in fear and watch while wondering when their fearsome invaders will leave their home.

Gabriel picks up the heavy revolver and takes a shot at the window. He misses the window, putting a hole in the aluminum siding of the house. He can distinctly hear screams of fear and the man of the house leaves the window quickly.

Gabriel knocks back some of the beer with gusto, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

Tuck: That’ll show him for being fucking nosy. What da ya think, Sticky? Should we just move on to the next house?

Sticky the Clown stands next to Gabriel. He’s a massive clown, standing nearly eight feet tall and nearly four hundred pounds. His face paint is peeling, his gums are black, and his teeth are needle sharp. He grins at Gabriel, a black ooze dripping from pierced gums.

Sticky: Nah. We done the work for this house enough already. The fire is glowing bright, the beer is cold, and the family is cowed. Why move on?

Gabriel raises his bottle of beer to clink it against Sticky’s and then finishes the bottle off. He throws the empty into the fire and grabs another one from the cooler that sits next to the lawn chair. He pops it open and takes a swig.

Tuck: How long of a drive we got tomorrow to get to the city where my next wrestling match is?

Sticky: About six hours to New Orleans, Tuck. If we leave at daybreak, we can be there in time for lunch. You gonna be ready for your opponent?

Tuck: Am I ready for my opponent? Am I ready for my opponent? Well, heck yeah I’m ready for my opponent. Just like I was ready for that security gig at Riot Star Wrestling!

Sticky stares at Gabriel Tuck for a long time while Gabriel lights up a cigarette, blowing smoke into the air. Finally, Sticky breaks the silence.

Sticky: You don’t know who your opponent is.

Gabriel flicks ashes onto the ground with a laugh.

Tuck: I barely know the name of the company that I’m working for now. Edge Pro?

Sticky: Close. Outlaw Pro Wrestling. You are facing Apathy, otherwise known as Elizabeth O’Rourke.

Gabriel nods, taking a swig of his beer.

Tuck: I knew that. I think I knew that, but I forgot. Ain’t she the chick who won the RSW tag team champions with that loser red head guy.

Sticky: Her husband, Eoin O’Rourke.

Tuck: Right. I paid attention to things when I was head of security at RSW.

Sticky: Like where your next beer was coming from.

Gabriel blinks and flicks his cigarette butt at Sticky. It explodes in a shower of sparks against Sticky’s chest. Though, Gabriel does finish his beer and throws the empty into the fire.

Tuck: That’s...accurate.

Sticky brushes himself off with a foul chuckle.

Sticky: Are you ready then to face Apathy?

Tuck: I’ll just put a boot to her ass like I would any other opponent. When I get done with her, she will tap out just like any other opponent.

Sticky: Exciting, I’m sure.

Gabriel lights another cigarette, blowing smoke into the air with a laugh.

Tuck: So, her name is Elizabeth or is it Apathy? Isn’t she that one that was married to that Hunt-

Sticky: She don’t talk about that dark time in her life. Also, her name is Elizabeth, but her ring name is Apathy.

Tuck: Ring name. Bah. Like she’s trying to say that she doesn’t care or some shit. I mean I started that shit. You know...not giving a shit about things.

Sticky stares at him for a time, shaking his head.

Sticky: You know that she’s older than you are and thus came up with the concept first?

Gabriel just shrugs.

Tuck: Then I’m young and vital. I’ll kick her ass up and down the street. Not even her fugly husband will want her when I get done with her.

Gabriel leans back in his chair, drinking from his beer with a laugh.

Tuck: This will be an interesting start to a new career. Did I ever tell you I was XCW World champion once?

Sticky: As your friend...no one cares about XCW.