Slowly we begin to fill the void of the darkness the screen has given us, a desolate vision of darkness and silence for the viewer. Slowly this void is shook with colors, lights, and the sounds of creaking wood begin to whisper to us as the wind whistles in the distance. Slowly the cracks of light begin to settle in, one by one the light becomes whole and even in the darkness can’t take claim anymore.
Through the broken windows and cracked walls the light of the sun tries to break through and bring life and meaning to this dreary place. But not even if the walls were torn and left for the sun to bask it’s rays on the ruins would it make it feel like a place of love and joy. Each corner tells a story of sorrow and sadness, each corner is haunted by the ghosts of the demons of man, each corner is a reminder of the pain and struggle the people who lived in here went through. Through the wreckage, the shattered glass, the broken boards and the dreary state we find this building in we find ourselves upon the back of the one Raven. Sitting atop a few milk crates he looks calm, almost in a zen like state with his Balor Club hoodie sleeves rolled up and the front zipper left open. His eyes shut and hands locked together for his head to rest on he looks at peace, as if no struggle, no pain could hurt him. But this place of solace, this calmness he had inside his bones quickly begins to fade as he clears his throat and begins to speak.
Raven: I remember a time when I used to have such steady hands; strong and steady hands that wernt afraid of the future. I remember being a kid and trying to prevail just so I could not become another statistic of the foster system and fall to drugs or be found face down in a ditch. Back then I was just happy to be a contender aching for anything if it allowed me a chance to become my own person and not fall victim to the fate written for me.
Raven pauses for a second to collect his thoughts.
Raven: But now I can't keep them from shaking, I can’t remember a night where I could sleep without being haunted by the ghosts of my failures and my past mistakes. There are days where I can’t sleep, where I sway in and out of consciousness and I can’t figure out how I got to where I find myself.
Standing from his seat we watch as Raven opens his eyes and walks around the room, his hands fidgeting before making fists.
Raven:Roman you walk around here thinking that there is cosmic power or a dark art that makes you invisible. You talk about death like you know what it’s lips taste like, a man like all the others who fear it’s name more than you should embrace it.
Raven cracks a sly grin as he shakes his head.
Raven: Death would be a great change of pace for me, it would give him comfort for finally catching me once and for all since I am the fish that got away. I mean do you know what it’s like to be so close to death, to bleed out like a gutted animal and feel death’s icy kiss only to be pulled back to a reality you were trying to escape
A slight pause from Raven
Raven: Because I have; I know the pain of almost finding serenity only to have it ripped away from me because people like you Roman Reigns.
Chuckling under his breath Raven releases his fists.
Raven: Your probably sitting at home thinking about how at Warfare you’re going to make me a distant memory, that you’re going to end Raven because of the atrocities I’ve committed around the world. God I hope you try, I hope you give me all the rage and threats you have because I want to know that your man enough to fight me. I want to see you smear my blood around the ring, painting the canvas with my blood and showing me that I am not the monster I claim to be.
Raven taps his skull with his index finger
Raven: I want this because I know you too well Roman; I know that deep down you’re too much of a coward to dirty your hands and make me suffer like you want me too. So instead you live behind a veil of smoke and mirrors hoping no one see the man behind the curtain playing the tricks to scare and manipulate your opponents.
Shaking his head Raven turns and faces the camera
Raven: You sing chaos but you know of nothing of the word; you sing of wanting me maimed yet can you stomach the smell of blood or are you too scared of the sight of it.
A sick, sinister grin that Raven wears so proudly appears
Raven: Maybe you should not even show up; maybe you should just take up a career making balloon animals and doing card tricks for children. Maybe it would be better if you try to mimic the great Houdini, death and all and just rid yourself of this earth because if you don’t I will make sure I do.
Stretching out his arms with his patented crucifix pose Raven looks up at the holes in the ceiling as we see the skies overhead begin to overcast.
Raven: I am all the things you fear the most Roman. I am your demons and your haunting reminder that no matter how hard you try I am still better. I am the living proof that magic failed you, that you tried to confuse me and it ended with you becoming the object of my fixation. So in due time your number will be called upon and you will receive your fate as simply a lamb led to mine and the Balor Club's slaughter. I will wear your blood like war paint as I drag you from corner to corner, I will smear your blood over every inch of Laramie Wyoming if it means you’re not coming back.
Raven pauses for a moment as he looks back to the camera.
Raven: I will show you what chaos truly is from these shaking hands, so wish those you care most a farewell Roman because Live on Warfare, at least for you it all ends.
Static.......
