Marie Jones vs. Waylon Creek

[The Matt]

2 of 2
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August 10th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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No one expects life to be easy. Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, failures and successes. Just when you think everything is going your way, just when you begin to feel comfortable, life has a way of keeping you on your toes, reminding you that nothing is ever comfortable or easy about life. The same can be said of professional wrestling. Marie Jones had made her return to SCW several months ago and had made a slow but sure climb back up the ladder, earning a Television Title reign, earning the trust of her fans and the locker room, and even earning a victory at Rise To Greatness. The Phoenix had even heard rumblings of another opportunity to regain the SCW Television Title, and perhaps even make history by winning the title for a record fourth time. Defeating Waylon Creek will be no easy task and she knows that victory is far from a guarantee. But just having this opportunity was enough to make The Phoenix feel proud of herself and proud of her accomplishments. Everything seemed to be going just great. What could go wrong?

What could go wrong? The second night of Rise To Greatness, the main card itself, that is what went wrong. Things went from strictly professional to being very personal when the Television Champion Waylon Creek decided to take it upon himself to assault Marie’s identical twin sister, Kimberly Williams, during the SCW Underground Title Match. This isn’t just a championship match for The Phoenix. This isn’t just an opportunity to make history or add another victory to her already impressive list of accomplishments. This is personal. Creek has essentially declared war on Marie’s family by targeting her sister. This is a challenge, an offense, that she cannot let go unpunished. Kimberly has had Marie’s back so many times in the past and has defended Marie’s honor so many times that Marie feels a duty, dare say an obligation, to fight on Kim’s behalf and stick it to Waylon Creek. What better way to make him pay, to punish him for his actions, than by taking away the Television Title that he has had an iron grip on for so long now?

Her professional career isn’t the only aspect of her life being unfair at this moment. Marie Jones also finds herself in an unenviable situation where she must confront the demons of a past she would rather forget, where she must risk her own future, all for the sake of a woman who had betrayed her on three separate occasions. Julianne Buchanan was once Marie’s lover and lured her into the seedy clutches of a cult known as Inner Peace. Three times Julianne used her wiles to manipulate Marie into sticking around with the cult and nearly ruined Marie’s relationship with her family. Lucky for Marie, she did manage to escape the cult before it came under investigation by the authorities. Its charismatic leader, Raul Alfaro, is at risk of going to prison for a long time, and is attempting to drag Julianne along with him. Marie knows she can rescue Julianne from this by confirming Julianne’s story that Raul was the mastermind, that Raul brainwashed them all and that Julianne was herself a victim, turned insane by Raul’s charm. To do so puts Marie at risk of being placed in the spotlight. Her own reputation could be ruined, or worse. Any ordinary person would have left Julianne for dead and Marie had long considered doing just that. Except The Phoenix feels that helping her former friend is the right thing to do, even if it does come at a risk.

This is what brings her to the office of Kevin Hayden, the district attorney whom she will be speaking with this afternoon. The district attorney’s office around her is quiet, the only sound being the faint ticking of a wall clock and the occasional shuffle of papers from behind the receptionist’s desk. Marie takes a deep breath, mentally preparing herself for the meeting ahead. Her posture is straight, almost rigid, as if bracing herself for whatever comes next, but there’s an undeniable strength in the way she carries herself. Marie herself is dressed in a tailored dark navy blazer that fits snugly over a crisp white blouse, the delicate ruffles at the collar adding a touch of softness to her otherwise sharp appearance. Her skirt, a matching navy, falls just above the knee, hugging her figure without being too tight. She wears black pumps with a modest heel. Her striking red hair falls just below her shoulders in soft waves. Marie’s hands rest on a simple black leather handbag perched on her lap, her fingers occasionally fidgeting with the strap as she waits.

“Ms. Jones?” The voice startles Marie as she looks up. She sees a black man of average height and build standing there. His face appears stoic, showing little emotion. He is all business. He extends a hand. “My name is Kevin Hayden.”

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hayden.” Marie stands up and accepts his handshake.

“Follow me, please.” He turns and motions for her to follow him. Marie nods and follows in stride as he leads the way past the receptionist area and into a door which leads into what Marie assumes is Kevin’s personal office. It certainly has the look and feel of a cold, all business space. Not much decor, not much color, just a solid oak desk, brown, the colors of the wall are neutral, and there are a few filing cabinets. The district attorney makes his way behind the desk and sits down. He points to two chairs across from the desk.

“Sit down.” Marie nods her head and again finds herself doing as she is told. “Thank you for coming to see me, Ms. Jones. I imagine this must have been quite difficult for you.”

“Uh, yeah, it was…” Marie’s voice trails off. Despite her best efforts she cannot conceal how difficult this is for her. The shakiness in her voice betrays her. Kevin nods his head and, for the first time, appears to show at least some compassion.

“It’s quite alright. I have dealt with cases such as this many times and I can understand your fear and anxiety. Just understand that all I want is justice. I want to ensure that whoever is responsible for the heinous actions at Inner Peace is brought to justice and that the victims are taken care of.”

“That’s what I want as well.” Marie nods her head. “And that’s why I came.”

“Then we are on the same page. Hopefully this won’t be difficult for either one of us, will it?”

“No, it won’t.”

“Great.” Hayden takes out a recording device from his desk and sets it down. He presses play. Marie quickly realizes that as of now everything is being recorded. He takes out a pen and paper to take notes. “Now, just a few items that I must say before we proceed. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.”

“Huh?” Marie’s eyes grow wide. This is beginning to sound more and more like an interrogation.

“Do you understand these rights, Ms. Jones?” Kevin asks. His stoic appearance returns. “This is standard procedure, nothing more. I must ask this of everyone I interview involving such cases.”

“Uh, yes…yes I understand…” Marie says uneasily as she nods her head.

“Good. Now then, I understand you were a member of Inner Peace Enlightenment Retreat, that you were one of Raul Alfaro’s followers. Is this true?”

“Yes.”

“And Julianne Buchanan, is she a friend of yours?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me about how you came to join Inner Peace, specifically how Mr. Alfaro and your friend Julianne Buchanan were involved in your recruitment?”

“It goes back a few years, actually.” Marie’s voice cracks a little. This memory is particularly troubling as it is one of the more painful ones of her life. “I had been engaged to a wonderful man named Arthur. But he…he…” she reaches up and wipes some tears from her eyes “...he killed himself. I was devastated, I was suffering from depression, there were times that I wanted to kill myself. I never truly got over his death. But then Julianne came into my life and she introduced me to Raul and to Inner Peace.”

“How would you describe your relationship with Julianne?”

“She was a close friend. She helped me to move on from Arthur to accept his death.” Marie sighs. “We eventually became lovers at the behest of Raul.”

“Raul encouraged your romance?” Kevin asks, his brow arched.

“He encouraged frivolous love amongst all the girls at Inner Peace.”

“And did he engage in this?”

“Yes.”

“So you and Raul were partners?”

“No…” Marie shakes her head “...within Inner Peace, Raul had no equals. We all had to do what he said.”

“Julianne and Raul were not partners?”

“No.”

“What about you and Julianne?” Kevin asks. “Would you consider your relationship with her an equal partnership?”

“Uh…no…” Marie sighs and shakes her head “...not really.”

“Is it true that Julianne tried to convince you to stay away from your own family?”

“Yes…”

“I understand you tried to leave Inner Peace, that you actually DID leave Inner Peace, but Julianne managed to convince you to return. Is that true?”

“Yes, but…” Marie is cut off by Kevin Hayden who immediately interrupts her.

“Ms. Jones, you see where I am going with this? Raul Alfaro certainly exhibits the characteristics of a manipulator, a con artist, a cult leader. The state is not prepared to let him off scott free and I understand you are here to try and help your friend. But the state is NOT prepared to accept Julianne’s please of insanity when she seems to exhibit the same kinds of characteristics and traits as Raul does.”

“I understand…” Marie nods her head slowly, painfully. She wipes tears from her eyes.

“So, Ms. Jones, please tell me, how is it that, in your opinion, that Julianne was simply a brainwashed victim of Raul and not an equal partner in crime?”

“Look, Mr. Hayden, all I know is what I have observed and I have observed what I believe to be a glimpse of the real Julianne Buchanan. I wasn’t the only one being kept away from my family during my time in Inner Peace. Her brother, Brandon, never heard from her. She would write letters to him but Raul made sure those letters never got mailed. By the time she was fully brainwashed Raul didn’t have to worry about Julianne contacting her brother any longer. Raul knew that he had full control over Julianne and she would do anything he asked without question. Did it ever strike you as odd that Julianne tried to keep Inner Peace afloat by herself despite the fact that Raul was in custody and Inner Peace was under investigation? What sane person would do that?” Marie shrugs her shoulders. “Yes, she did try to keep me from my family. Yes, she treated me like a second class citizen. Yes, she manipulated me into returning to Inner Peace. But she was still under the control of Raul.”

“But you trust her now?” Kevin Hayden asks curiously.

“No.” Marie shakes her head. “How can anyone trust someone who has been brainwashed like that? How can I be sure that she is still not under Raul’s control? Even she admits that Raul’s voice might still be speaking to her subconscious. That’s why I truly think that instead of prison time what she really needs is psychological help.”

“I must admit that you make a compelling case for Ms. Buchanan.” Kevin says as he leans back in his chair. “And I am inclined to agree with you and drop charges against her in favor of an insanity plea. However…” he points a finger at Marie “...you were heavily involved with Inner Peace. If what you say about Ms. Buchanan is true, who is to say that you yourself are not also brainwashed and in need of psychological help?”

“What are you suggesting?” Marie asks.

“It doesn’t look good to send one prominent member of this former cult to a psychiatric ward while another walks free. If this insanity plea deal goes through, then you may have to face some blowback of your own, Ms. Jones.”

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On Camera
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The camera begins to roll. Immediately the scene before us is a weathered brick wall and the figure standing confidently in front of it is Marie Jones. The Phoenix wears a fitted black leather jacket that hugs her frame, the material soft and slightly worn, hinting at frequent use. The jacket’s silver zipper is partially undone, revealing a striking red silk blouse beneath. Her black miniskirt is sleek and falls mid-thigh, accentuating her long legs. The skirt is paired with sheer black stockings that give her legs a smooth, polished look, while also adding a hint of sophistication. On her feet are classic black high heels.

“Ever since I made my return, my focus has been on redeeming myself through competition. That’s what we do, right? We are wrestlers and we come go these arenas and march to that ring with the pomp and the circumstance, the pyro and the fancy theme songs, but the point of it all is to compete for the great fans of SCW and for this great company who gives you a chance to show the world what you have to offer. I had forgotten about that. I had gotten lost in my own ego. I thought the entire world revolved around me. Quite frankly, I was an entitled brat. When SCW didn’t give me what I wanted, I took my ball and I went home. So when I returned I knew that I had a lot of work to do in order to rebuild what I had tried to tear down. I knew that I would have to work from the bottom up and I had accepted and embraced that. I was proud when I worked my way up to winning a record tying third SCW Television Championship. And even though I didn’t win all of them, I was proud when I wrestled three times in one night, silencing any and all possible doubters or critics. And then at Rise To Greatness, when I stared across the ring at Ryan LeCavalier, someone who reminded me a lot of myself during my own self-centered entitled bratty days, it was so damn satisfying to put her down and teach her a little bit of respect. And as I was leaving that night, I no longer thought about my redemption. I no longer thought about the past. I was looking forward to the future. Hell, I was eagerly anticipating the news about the next challenger to the SCW Television Title. For the first time in a long time I felt as if I had nothing to prove, no grudges to settle, it was just my hope that I had maybe done enough to prove to SCW management, to prove to CHBK, that I was deserving of another shot at the Television Title. It was my hope that I could test myself against someone who had been a dominant Television Champion and maybe, just maybe, end his reign and become a record breaking four time champion in the process.” The Phoenix pauses for a moment to let her words sink in. Then she shakes her head.

“I guess we can’t have nice things, can we? And I guess we can’t have just a normal, sensible test of wills against two great competitors to see who is worthy to carry the gold? I suppose that is too much to ask. We have to go and make things personal and you, Waylon Creek, have made it personal by going after me.” The Phoenix nods her head. “Yes, you went after me. You targeted me. Play dumb, play ignorant…although you probably don’t have to PLAY at being dumb and ignorant, knowing you…but here are the facts; when you go after my sister, you go after me. And that right there is a big mistake on your part. I mean, it isn’t smart to go after Kim in the first place. Do you realize how god damn insane she is? Do you know how damn violent she can get? She isn’t known as the Queen of the Death Match for no reason. But you don’t just have her attention, you now have my attention because Kim and I watch each other’s backs. An attack on one of us is considered an attack on both of us. And now, because you stupidly went and attacked Kim at Rise To Greatness, you have now given me added motivation to kick the crap out of you on Breakdown.”

“Hell, becoming Television Champion for a fourth time was motivation enough. I love that championship. It means a lot to me because it is the workhorse championship and that is why I returned to SCW. I returned to be the workhorse, to put in the effort, to work hard for the fans. Each and every time I held that title I have defended it with honor and pride. And to win it again, to have another opportunity to be the workhorse champion this great company deserves, it would mean the world to me. But to make history by becoming the first person to win it four times? That would be oh so sweet. That right there was enough motivation for me to walk into Breakdown and spike your head with an Ave Maria and pin your shoulders to the mat and take home the title. That right there was all the motivation I needed just to simply beat you.” Marie shakes her head.

“But now? Now I have further motivation. I have motivation not just to beat you but to humble you, just like I humbled Ryan at Rise To Greatness. I have motivation to make you pay for attacking my family. I have motivation to do something that hasn’t been done to you since your arrival on the scene in SCW…” she pauses for a few moments “...I have motivation to HURT YOU…and trust me when I say that this is no empty threat. This isn’t just emotion talking. This is a promise. I will hurt you. You think you are imposing and intimidating? All I see is a schoolyard bully. I have faced down bigger and more intimidating threats than you. I have stood up to that smoke and mirrors bitch The Enigma. You? You are nothing. You are nothing except the little pissant who went and tried to make a statement at the expense of the wrong damn family.” A sinister grin forms on Marie’s face.

“You think the chaos and violence all went to Kim? You’re wrong. We all have a bit of psychotic in us and you just gave me motivation to bring mine out to dance even if for one night only, even if just to have a chance not to merely beat you but to maim you in the process. But don’t worry, Waylon, unlike Kim I am CONTROLLED CHAOS…and I will not let my emotions get the best of me. I know that the best revenge, the perfect revenge, isn’t just hurting you and humbling you, but to defeat you and take the Television Championship away from you. And that is what is going to happen on Breakdown. Controlled chaos.” She winks.

“Thanks for the motivation, you dumb son of a bitch.”