07-24-2021, 07:40 PM
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July 19th, 2021
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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Sunday was supposed to be a glorious, wonderful day in the history of the Braddock family. Glory’s daughter, Melinda, had accepted a marriage proposal from her longtime boyfriend Archie Van Stanton. This relationship, which at one point had seemed like an impossibility due the raging feud between the two families, had not only blossomed to the point that a wedding would occur but that the feud itself would finally be put to rest. It was a feud that spanned two generations of Braddocks and Van Stantons, and it was the third generation that would bring it to an end. Even Glory Braddock herself, who was one of the most stubborn about the feud, one of the last to let go of the hard and bitter feelings leftover from the feud, was thrilled and relieved that the war with the Van Stanton family had finally ended.
Yes, Sunday was supposed to be an absolutely wonderful day for the Braddock and Van Stanton families. Instead what started out as a wonderfully glorious day turned into an absolute hell on earth. Glory Braddock and her husband Kurt Logan had offered to take Melinda’s future in-laws, Henry and Autumn Van Stanton out on the town in Miami. When they returned home they found police and other emergency medical personnel on the scene. The Miami home of Glory Braddock and Kurt Logan had been turned into a crime scene and the two victims were none other than the future couple Melinda Braddock and Archie Van Stanton.
The British Bombshell sits in a waiting room, in complete denial about what has happened. It was very early in the morning, just a few hours after she arrived home and saw the scene. Police wouldn’t let her onto the scene initially; besides, she wanted to be with her daughter. So she rushed to the hospital, following the ambulance. Braddock still isn’t certain of what happened. It still remains a mystery. Yet as much as she wants answers she wants to know about the condition of her daughter. That is first and foremost on her mind.
Her husband, Kurt Logan, is sitting next to her and has a comforting arm around her shoulder. He is doing his best to maintain his composure and look strong for Glory’s sake but even he is having difficulty keeping his cool. Melinda is his step-daughter, not biological daughter, but he loves Melinda as if she were his own. This is as devastating to Kurt as it is devastating to The British Bombshell.
“What the hell is wrong with Melinda?! Why won’t they say anything?!” Glory exclaims loudly and angrily. This garners the attention of a few passersby. Kurt quietly hushes his wife, despite the fact that he does partially agree with her sentiment.
“They’re doing the best that they can.”
“Bullshit!” Glory exclaims. “They could do more! The least they could do is tell me what’s wrong with her?! Like, why the hell did I come home to see a crime scene?! What happened to my daughter?!”
“I…uh,” Kurt shakes his head “...I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”
“We should know something, damn it! Our daughter is back there fighting for her life!”
“So is Archie!” Kurt points out. “Have you seen or heard from Henry or Autumn?”
“No, no I haven’t. And what about Mason?! He was supposed to be there looking out for them?! Where the hell was he?!”
Kurt shrugs his shoulders, as he does not have an answer to that or any question right now. Kurt squeezes Glory tightly, hoping this will comfort her. He suspects nothing will comfort her right now at this moment. Just then they hear strong, thudding footsteps. They look up to see none other than Mason Van Stanton himself not too far away. He appears angry and is trying to storm off in a huff.
“Mason!” Glory shouts, calling out after him. He stops and turns to glare at Glory and Kurt. The eyes are filled with anger and hatred. What Glory cannot tell is if the anger and hatred is directed at them or not. After last night’s incident, anything is possible. But he was in much brighter spirits before any of this.
Mason Van Stanton then shakes his head and continues to walk away. Kurt is about to go after him but they are stopped when a man in a black suit approaches. “Mrs. Braddock? Mr. Logan?”
“Yes…” Glory answers. The man then holds up a badge.
“I’m Detective Reynolds of the Miami Police Department.” He motions to an empty seat next to Glory and Kurt. “May I have a seat? I would like to talk to you about what happened tonight.”
“Sure.” Glory finally feels a sense of relief in that at least she may finally get some answers from this detective. Detective Reynolds sits down.
“Do you know why this…” the detective cannot even get his question out before Glory begins ranting again.
“I don’t even know what happened, yet! I was just out with my husband some friends and we came home to find my home has been turned into a crime scene! I see my daughter and her fiance being loaded onto ambulances! And when I tried to get answers your police wouldn’t let me in!”
“Well I apologize for that, ma’am. What I can tell you right now is that this was a home invasion. A young woman and a young man were both shot. Some valuables were taken.”
“My god…” Glory’s voice trails off as the worst possible scenario enters her mind “...are they...how they doing?”
“I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet, ma’am. Can you tell me the names of the two victims?”
“Melinda Braddock is my daughter. Archie Van Stanton is her fiance. Do you know who did it?”
The detective shakes his head. “Not yet, ma’am. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm you, your daughter, or Archie?”
“I admit that I have made a few enemies in my business dealings. Matthew Alan has always held a grudge against me for buying his company out from under him. Ronald Duane Kennedy doesn’t like me because I managed to buy out a modeling agency that he wanted all for himself. Meagan Collins probably blames me for her current incarceration. But she doesn’t have the means right now to come after me, and I can’t imagine either Matthew or Kennedy taking the chance to come after me.”
“We will look into them, Ms. Braddock.” Detective Reynolds says as he scribbles notes on his notepad. “Can you think of anyone else?”
“Just…” she sighs and shakes her head “...no one.”
“What? What were you about to say?”
“Nothing, it’s just…the Van Stanton Family and my family had been feuding for a couple of generations now. But we had buried the hatchet. We ended the feud. My daughter is supposed to marry their son. They wouldn’t do a thing like this.”
“We’ll look into all of this, ma’am.” The detective writes some more notes down. “Thank you for your help. We promise to get the people who did this.”
“Thank you, detective.” Glory says. Detective Reynolds turns and walks away. Glory turns back to look at her husband Kurt. “They got shot?”
“It could just be a home invasion gone wrong.” Kurt suggests.
“I hope you’re right. I really do. Over the past couple of years I have been dealing with this crap too damn much; from Matthew Alan and his criminal connections to Kennedy and his manipulations and deceptions, and Meagan Collins who will do absolutely anything to get what she wants. I just can’t handle this anymore.” She shakes her head. “I can’t…”
“Uh, Glory? Something you told the detective got me to thinking; you don’t actually think the Van Stantons had anything to do with this, do you?”
“No way.” Glory shakes her head. “Archie got hurt in this attack just like Melinda. Even if they did still hold negative feelings towards me, would they really risk one of their own just to get at me?”
“I know, I know, it makes no sense. It’s just that...that cold stare Mason gave us earlier...”
“Yeah, I know. I have no idea what to make of that…” Glory shakes her head “...I don’t know what to make of any of this.”
“It’s ok, Glory.” Kurt leans over and kisses her on the cheek. “I’m sure there’s an explanation for all of this.”
“I know, but right now I just want to see my daughter.” Glory says, wiping tears that are forming in her eyes. Then she is startled by the sounds of loud sobbing. She stands up and approaches a door. She looks inside and sees down the hall stands Henry Van Stanton and his wife Autumn. They are holding one another tightly and both appear to crying uncontrollably. Braddock is stunned but doesn’t say anything. She knows that this isn’t a good sign. Not a good sign at all.
“Mrs. Braddock?” Glory turns around and finds a middle aged man in scrubs standing there a few feet away. He must have just entered the waiting room. Kurt stands up next to his wife as the doctor approaches. “I am Doctor Yana.”
“What’s wrong with my daughter?”
“Your daughter is resting right now. She sustained several injuries but she will pull through.”
“Thank God!” This is the first piece of good news that Glory has heard ever since this nightmare began. A sense of relief comes washing over her. But that sense of relief slowly comes to an end when Kurt asks a question she hadn’t even thought to ask…
“What about Archie?”
“The young man…” Doctor Lang sighs “...we did all we could. I’m sorry.”
“That’s...that’s horrible…” Glory says, her voice trails off as she realizes the enormity of what happened. This is why Henry and Autumn were sobbing.
“Can we go see our daughter?”
“Of course; your daughter is just outside that door, to the right, and the fourth room on the left. But just for a little while. She needs her rest.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The doctor turns and walks away. Kurt pulls Glory in close and embraces her with a tight hug. “Melinda is going to be fine…”
“But poor Archie.” Glory says. “This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. Not like this!”
“I know.” Kurt nods his head. “I know.”
Kurt clasps his wife’s hand tightly and guides her slowly out of the waiting room and down the hall. They see that to get to Melinda’s room they have to walk past the grieving Van Stanton family, who no doubt have already been told the bad news about Archie. This is indicative based upon their extreme emotional state right now. They are inconsolable. Glory and Kurt approach Henry and Autumn slowly.
“Henry, Autumn, we are so sorry.” Glory says quietly.
“Yeah, we are sorry. If there’s anything we can do…”
“Thanks but…” Henry is fighting back the tears as he shakes his head “...there really isn’t much to do. We were supposed to be planning a wedding. Now we’re planning a funeral.”
“Do you…” Autumn tries to speak but she is also having difficult to talk through the tears “...do you know what happened?”
Glory shakes her head. “The police aren’t saying much, I will put it that way. If they have any leads, they’re not telling me anything. But what about Mason? I saw him walking out under his own power, completely unharmed. How did he escape unscathed?”
“Mason…” Henry growls with a hint of anger “...I blame him for this.”
“Why?”
“It’s his fault!” Henry exclaims, storming away angrily. This leaves Autumn there alone. Glory and Kurt share confused expressions on their faces, and then they look back at Autumn.
“What’s wrong, Autumn?” Glory asks.
“Henry blames Mason because Mason left them there alone. Mason went out to pick up some beer. When Mason came back the door had been kicked in, the inside of the house ransacked, and Melinda and Archie were in a pool of blood. Mason was the one who called 911.”
“Y’know, Mason and I never got along but even I think Henry is being too hard on him. Melinda and Archie are both adults now. They don’t need a babysitter. And seeing as these intrudgers or whoever it was had guns, if Mason had been there he would have been hurt too.”
“That’s what I keep telling him but…” Autumn shakes her head “...Henry is grieving. Can you blame him? Archie was…” Autumn fights back the tears again “...he was our only son.”
Glory Braddock thinks about how lucky this turned out for her. Melinda will survive. Glory still has her daughter with her. But Henry lost his only son. This entire thing with Mason now looks even more strange. But right now Glory just wants to see Melinda and check on her. Autumn can sense this and embraces Glory in a tight hug.
“Go see your daughter, Glory. I need to go find Henry.”
“Thanks, Autumn. And I’m sorry…”
Autumn nods and then walks away. Kurt and Glory then turns and continue down towards Melinda’s room. They turn left and walk into a room and find their daughter, Melinda Braddock, lying there on a hospital bed with some tubes and other equipment connected to her. Luckily nothing is impeding her mouth or throat so she can speak.
“Hi, Mel…” Glory says, trying to smile even though she wants so badly to cry right now.
“Hi, mom…” Melinda winks at Kurt “...hi dad.”
“That must be some pretty strong painkiller they’re using on you, Mel. You never called me ‘dad’ before.” Kurt says jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Melinda chuckles.
“Yeah, well, maybe it is the painkiller? Or maybe it’s something about near death experiences that make you rethink things. I mean, they did lose me three times.”
“You’re kidding?” Glory asks. Melinda shakes her head.
“Not kidding. Apparently it was close but I managed to make it.”
“I’m just glad you are ok.” Glory approaches Melinda’s bedside before leaning over to kiss her on the forehead.
“I’m sorry this happened, mom. I know you hate distractions like this when…”
“Stop right there, Mel.” Glory says, interrupting her daughter. “You are not a distraction. You are more important to me than my business or my wrestling career. Remember that I love you and I always will.”
“Thanks, mom.”
“The detectives said it was a home invasion.” Kurt states.
“That’s what I told the one detective who spoke to me. Detective Reynolds I think is what he told me…”
“Did you recognize any of the intruders?” Glory asks. Melinda shakes her head.
“No, I haven’t seen any of them. The way they were trashing the place made me think they were just trying to steal whatever they could get their hands on.”
“How many of them were there?” Kurt asks. Melinda chuckles.
“I feel like I’m being interrogated again. It was three guys. Only two had guns and they didn’t even fire until Archie decided to be a hero.” Melinda sighs deeply. “The two with the guns weren’t paying attention so Archie charged them and was hoping he could knock them off balance. He was hoping that if he could cause this robbery to get out of control that they would be scared and run off. He did knock one of them down but the other started firing like mad.”
“My God…” Glory exclaims.
“Mom, have you heard about Archie? How is he?”
Glory freezes up. This is the question she was dreading. She was dreading this moment because she doesn’t want to be the one to tell her daughter that her fiance is now dead. Braddock begins to tear up and Melinda seems to already get the picture as her own face goes pale.
“Mom...please tell me what happened to Archie…”
Glory turns to look into her husband Kurt’s eyes. No words have to be said, they know what the other is thinking. They know how hard this is right now and hard it will be for Melinda. But she has a right to know. Glory Braddock braces herself for the worst as she prepares to tell Melinda the hard truth. She looks back down at her oldest daughter, still lying in the hospital bed and still awaiting an answer.
“I’m sorry, Melinda. I am so very sorry but Archie…” Glory sighs deeply “...Archie didn’t make it.”
“No…” the first word is quiet as a look of shock and disbelief washes across Melinda’s face; she is hoping that Glory is lying but the serious look on Glory’s face tells Melinda that this is all too true. Melinda now shouts out in grief and anguish “Nooooooo!!!!”
Seeing her daughter in such emotional agony is too much for The British Bombshell, and she begins to break down and cry as well. Kurt Logan takes Glory and embraces her in a tight hug to try and comfort her. Even Kurt has tears flowing down his cheeks at this moment. The three are all crying for an unknown amount of time until a female’s voice breaks through the air, interrupting them.
“Mrs. Braddock, Mr. Logan?” Glory and Kurt look up to see a nurse has entered the room. “I’m sorry, but Doctor Yana insists that Melinda needs her rest. You can return tomorrow.”
“Sure…” Kurt says, nodding his head. He takes Glory and tries to guide her out of the room but she stops him. Glory turns back to face Melinda.
“Mel?” Glory quietly says, trying to get her daughter’s attention. But Melinda is inconsolable. She will not even acknowledge her mother right now. Kurt gently tugs on his wife’s arm.
“Come on, Glory. Let’s let Melinda rest.”
“Right…” Glory nevertheless blows a kiss towards her daughter “...see you tomorrow, Mel.”
Glory watches briefly, hoping Melinda will acknowledge her; but Melinda is still shouting in grief over the news of Archie Van Stanton’s death. Tears are flowing freely down her cheeks. Kurt then gives one more gentle tug at her arm and she allows herself to be guided out of the room and back into the hall. The British Bombshell is emotionally distraught, because this was not supposed to end this way. She also is feeling anger. Her daughter does not deserve this. Melinda was going to be happy but now that has been taken from her. And perhaps what is even more outrageous to The British Bombshell is that she wants so badly to make this right, she wants to help her daughter, but she cannot think of how she can help.
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July 24th, 2021
Los Angeles, California
On Camera
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The immense size and scope of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California is the scene that we open to as soon as cameras begin rolling. It is a bright blue sky and a sunny day; seemingly the perfect weather. The cameras show a sky view of the Staples Center for a few seconds before cutting to a ground view right in front of the entrance to the Staples Center. This is where thousands upon thousands of fans will soon be entering in order to bear witness to SCW Rise To Greatness. A few moments later and we see ‘The British Bombshell’ Glory Braddock stepping into view from stage right. The gorgeous blonde is wearing a tight purple dress that hugs her every curve and a hemline that stops just above the knee, strappy sandals, and sunglasses covering her eyes. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders.
“For months now I have been talking about taking on new challenges. I even went to the man himself, Mr. D, and requested new challenges. And he gave me those challenges. Now here I stand right here at the Staples Center where twenty four hours from now at Rise To Greatness I will be testing myself against three top contenders, three of the best talents in SCW today, and if I manage to overcome this challenge, if I pass the test, then my reward is the SCW United States Championship. Now some of you may be asking why I would think that I need to be challenged? Why would I want a challenge? I admit, for someone who at one point claimed to be The Best in the World and wouldn’t hear anyone else try to dispute her, requesting challenge after challenge does seem rather odd. But that was a different person. I am not that person any longer. I am not the kind of person who will shout to the highest of heavens about how great I am and demand that the world blindly worship at my altar. I am the kind of person who earns the respect of my peers and the adulation of the fans by going out to that ring and proving myself each and every week.”
“Last year at Rise To Greatness I defeated Peyton Rice to become SCW Adrenaline Champion. It was my first taste of singles gold in SCW. I held that championship for 184 days until I lost it to Shilo Valiant. And why did I lose to Shilo? I lost because I allowed myself to grow weak. I hadn’t been challenged, really and truly challenged, in so long that I had lost my touch. In the aftermath of losing the championship was when the realization hit me; I needed to harden myself. I needed to toughen myself up with new challenges. In this business you need to be challenged, because without new challenges you grow weak and soft and you begin to lose your spot. That’s what happened to me.” The British Bombshell shakes her head.
“That is not going to happen again. Tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness marks the completion of my comeback story. And it’s appropriate that my comeback story is completed right here in Los Angeles at the Staples Center because there is a commercial painting Los Angeles as a comeback story. But to make this comeback story a reality I have to go through quite possibly the greatest challenge of them all, perhaps even the greatest of challenges in my entire SCW career; Xander Valentine, Christy Matthews, and Gavin Taylor.”
“So why don’t I start with you, Gavin?” Braddock smirks and waves playfully at the camera. “Hi there, Gavin. We are certainly no strangers to one another, now are we? You challenged me for the Adrenaline Championship last year and I choked you out. Here recently you tried once again to beat me but you still couldn’t get the job done. That’s two wins for The British Bombshell and zero for The All Star by my count. You need to bolster your record through spin and propaganda. You introduce fake championships....I haven’t forgotten the so-called Mayhem Tag Titles. You need fake titles to make yourself feel better while I just go out there and WIN legitimately recognized championships. I am a former Adrenaline and World Champion here in SCW and yes, that World Title run was short lived, but at least I was a former World Champion, which is more than what I can say for you. And your greatest achievement in recent memory is ‘surviving Xander Valentine’? I do not celebrate the fact that I survived people. I celebrate the fact that I DEFEAT people. I celebrate the fact that I choke or make people tap out to Shekhinah Glory, just like what I did to you.” Braddock chuckles lightly.
“Now I could keep on rubbing it in if I wanted to, but I’m not foolish. Anyone who overlooks natural talent is foolish and for all of your false bravado and all of your comedic shenanigans, you are quite the talented wrestler. You could be so much more than the idiot trying way too hard to hype himself up. You have the potential to be a true All Star, but instead of using that talent, instead of living up to that potential, you choose to be the joke that constantly hypes himself up and then fails to deliver. The last time you and I went to battle, Gavin, I asked you to prove me wrong. I asked you to prove to me that you were more than just a loud mouth who couldn’t back up his own bravado. You couldn’t prove me wrong and I’m at the point where I no longer believe that you are capable of proving me wrong. Will Gavin Taylor Rise To Greatness and become United States Champion?” Braddock shakes her head. “Not a chance in hell.”
“Now Christy Matthews is another story altogether, because when it comes to Christy you have someone who legitimately can go, who takes everything in that ring serious, and is a verifiable world killer when she wants to be. And much like me, she has goals, she has challenges set up for herself and her challenge is to win the United States Championship and in the process become a Supreme Champion. That’s quite a goal you have set for yourself, Christy. And I heard what you said on Breakdown, how you do not want this to be tainted in any way. That’s noble of you to say. I’d like to think you mean it but you’re right, you do have a reputation for hanging around with the wrong crowd and winning by any means necessary.”
“Hell, I was that same person myself not too long ago. I was the person willing to do anything and everything to get ahead. Last year at Rise To Greatness I broke every rule in the book to defeat Peyton and become Adrenaline Champion. And now one year later I have returned to complete my comeback story. And maybe you’re on a similar comeback trail, Christy? Unfortunately only one of us can cross the finish line first and I’ll be damned if I let you stop me. As good as you are, I am going to be better and I will be the United States Champion when all is said and done. Will you be Supreme Champion one day?” Braddock nods her head. “I don’t doubt it one iota. In fact, I know you will be Supreme Champion one day. But it will NOT be at my expense and it will NOT happen tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness.”
The British Bombshell holds up one finger. “That leaves just one man left...or maybe I should say, just one monster. Xander Valentine, everything they say about you is true; you are a monster, you are the only executioner in SCW, you are the bringer of destruction. You leave a path carnage in your wake. Everywhere you go you leave broken and mangled bodies. You cripple and injure people. You want to be the man feared for your in ring skill and yet you are feared for the monster that you have become.” Braddock takes off her sunglasses and tosses them aside. Her eyes are now full of intensity.
“But I do not fear you! Many have said it, few actually mean it, and even fewer can say that they have backed up their tough talk when facing The Executioner, but you have never fought someone like me before. I am Glory Braddock and I am the person who makes the monsters tap out! And if the monsters refuse to tap out, then I choke them out and leave them unconscious on the mat!” A nasty smirk forms on Glory’s face. “Now how about that poetic irony, mate? How would it be for you to get a taste of your own bloody medicine? You have put people to sleep with Fade To Black so maybe it is time that I put you to sleep with Shekhinah Glory? You have left opponents broken and unconscious, so maybe it is time for The British Bombshell to leave The Executioner broken, unconscious, and thoroughly executed in the center of the ring at Rise To Greatness? Your reign of terror is coming to an end, Xander. That is a guarantee.”
Braddock points to herself with her thumb. “And while I’m busy making guarantees, here is one final guarantee; I guarantee that tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness, I will be the last one left standing as the United States Champion. Tomorrow night I complete my comeback story. Tomorrow night my challenge will be met. That is a guarantee...Sic Semper Tyrannis…” The scene fades to black.
July 19th, 2021
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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Sunday was supposed to be a glorious, wonderful day in the history of the Braddock family. Glory’s daughter, Melinda, had accepted a marriage proposal from her longtime boyfriend Archie Van Stanton. This relationship, which at one point had seemed like an impossibility due the raging feud between the two families, had not only blossomed to the point that a wedding would occur but that the feud itself would finally be put to rest. It was a feud that spanned two generations of Braddocks and Van Stantons, and it was the third generation that would bring it to an end. Even Glory Braddock herself, who was one of the most stubborn about the feud, one of the last to let go of the hard and bitter feelings leftover from the feud, was thrilled and relieved that the war with the Van Stanton family had finally ended.
Yes, Sunday was supposed to be an absolutely wonderful day for the Braddock and Van Stanton families. Instead what started out as a wonderfully glorious day turned into an absolute hell on earth. Glory Braddock and her husband Kurt Logan had offered to take Melinda’s future in-laws, Henry and Autumn Van Stanton out on the town in Miami. When they returned home they found police and other emergency medical personnel on the scene. The Miami home of Glory Braddock and Kurt Logan had been turned into a crime scene and the two victims were none other than the future couple Melinda Braddock and Archie Van Stanton.
The British Bombshell sits in a waiting room, in complete denial about what has happened. It was very early in the morning, just a few hours after she arrived home and saw the scene. Police wouldn’t let her onto the scene initially; besides, she wanted to be with her daughter. So she rushed to the hospital, following the ambulance. Braddock still isn’t certain of what happened. It still remains a mystery. Yet as much as she wants answers she wants to know about the condition of her daughter. That is first and foremost on her mind.
Her husband, Kurt Logan, is sitting next to her and has a comforting arm around her shoulder. He is doing his best to maintain his composure and look strong for Glory’s sake but even he is having difficulty keeping his cool. Melinda is his step-daughter, not biological daughter, but he loves Melinda as if she were his own. This is as devastating to Kurt as it is devastating to The British Bombshell.
“What the hell is wrong with Melinda?! Why won’t they say anything?!” Glory exclaims loudly and angrily. This garners the attention of a few passersby. Kurt quietly hushes his wife, despite the fact that he does partially agree with her sentiment.
“They’re doing the best that they can.”
“Bullshit!” Glory exclaims. “They could do more! The least they could do is tell me what’s wrong with her?! Like, why the hell did I come home to see a crime scene?! What happened to my daughter?!”
“I…uh,” Kurt shakes his head “...I don’t know. I honestly don’t know.”
“We should know something, damn it! Our daughter is back there fighting for her life!”
“So is Archie!” Kurt points out. “Have you seen or heard from Henry or Autumn?”
“No, no I haven’t. And what about Mason?! He was supposed to be there looking out for them?! Where the hell was he?!”
Kurt shrugs his shoulders, as he does not have an answer to that or any question right now. Kurt squeezes Glory tightly, hoping this will comfort her. He suspects nothing will comfort her right now at this moment. Just then they hear strong, thudding footsteps. They look up to see none other than Mason Van Stanton himself not too far away. He appears angry and is trying to storm off in a huff.
“Mason!” Glory shouts, calling out after him. He stops and turns to glare at Glory and Kurt. The eyes are filled with anger and hatred. What Glory cannot tell is if the anger and hatred is directed at them or not. After last night’s incident, anything is possible. But he was in much brighter spirits before any of this.
Mason Van Stanton then shakes his head and continues to walk away. Kurt is about to go after him but they are stopped when a man in a black suit approaches. “Mrs. Braddock? Mr. Logan?”
“Yes…” Glory answers. The man then holds up a badge.
“I’m Detective Reynolds of the Miami Police Department.” He motions to an empty seat next to Glory and Kurt. “May I have a seat? I would like to talk to you about what happened tonight.”
“Sure.” Glory finally feels a sense of relief in that at least she may finally get some answers from this detective. Detective Reynolds sits down.
“Do you know why this…” the detective cannot even get his question out before Glory begins ranting again.
“I don’t even know what happened, yet! I was just out with my husband some friends and we came home to find my home has been turned into a crime scene! I see my daughter and her fiance being loaded onto ambulances! And when I tried to get answers your police wouldn’t let me in!”
“Well I apologize for that, ma’am. What I can tell you right now is that this was a home invasion. A young woman and a young man were both shot. Some valuables were taken.”
“My god…” Glory’s voice trails off as the worst possible scenario enters her mind “...are they...how they doing?”
“I haven’t spoken to the doctors yet, ma’am. Can you tell me the names of the two victims?”
“Melinda Braddock is my daughter. Archie Van Stanton is her fiance. Do you know who did it?”
The detective shakes his head. “Not yet, ma’am. Do you know of anyone who would want to harm you, your daughter, or Archie?”
“I admit that I have made a few enemies in my business dealings. Matthew Alan has always held a grudge against me for buying his company out from under him. Ronald Duane Kennedy doesn’t like me because I managed to buy out a modeling agency that he wanted all for himself. Meagan Collins probably blames me for her current incarceration. But she doesn’t have the means right now to come after me, and I can’t imagine either Matthew or Kennedy taking the chance to come after me.”
“We will look into them, Ms. Braddock.” Detective Reynolds says as he scribbles notes on his notepad. “Can you think of anyone else?”
“Just…” she sighs and shakes her head “...no one.”
“What? What were you about to say?”
“Nothing, it’s just…the Van Stanton Family and my family had been feuding for a couple of generations now. But we had buried the hatchet. We ended the feud. My daughter is supposed to marry their son. They wouldn’t do a thing like this.”
“We’ll look into all of this, ma’am.” The detective writes some more notes down. “Thank you for your help. We promise to get the people who did this.”
“Thank you, detective.” Glory says. Detective Reynolds turns and walks away. Glory turns back to look at her husband Kurt. “They got shot?”
“It could just be a home invasion gone wrong.” Kurt suggests.
“I hope you’re right. I really do. Over the past couple of years I have been dealing with this crap too damn much; from Matthew Alan and his criminal connections to Kennedy and his manipulations and deceptions, and Meagan Collins who will do absolutely anything to get what she wants. I just can’t handle this anymore.” She shakes her head. “I can’t…”
“Uh, Glory? Something you told the detective got me to thinking; you don’t actually think the Van Stantons had anything to do with this, do you?”
“No way.” Glory shakes her head. “Archie got hurt in this attack just like Melinda. Even if they did still hold negative feelings towards me, would they really risk one of their own just to get at me?”
“I know, I know, it makes no sense. It’s just that...that cold stare Mason gave us earlier...”
“Yeah, I know. I have no idea what to make of that…” Glory shakes her head “...I don’t know what to make of any of this.”
“It’s ok, Glory.” Kurt leans over and kisses her on the cheek. “I’m sure there’s an explanation for all of this.”
“I know, but right now I just want to see my daughter.” Glory says, wiping tears that are forming in her eyes. Then she is startled by the sounds of loud sobbing. She stands up and approaches a door. She looks inside and sees down the hall stands Henry Van Stanton and his wife Autumn. They are holding one another tightly and both appear to crying uncontrollably. Braddock is stunned but doesn’t say anything. She knows that this isn’t a good sign. Not a good sign at all.
“Mrs. Braddock?” Glory turns around and finds a middle aged man in scrubs standing there a few feet away. He must have just entered the waiting room. Kurt stands up next to his wife as the doctor approaches. “I am Doctor Yana.”
“What’s wrong with my daughter?”
“Your daughter is resting right now. She sustained several injuries but she will pull through.”
“Thank God!” This is the first piece of good news that Glory has heard ever since this nightmare began. A sense of relief comes washing over her. But that sense of relief slowly comes to an end when Kurt asks a question she hadn’t even thought to ask…
“What about Archie?”
“The young man…” Doctor Lang sighs “...we did all we could. I’m sorry.”
“That’s...that’s horrible…” Glory says, her voice trails off as she realizes the enormity of what happened. This is why Henry and Autumn were sobbing.
“Can we go see our daughter?”
“Of course; your daughter is just outside that door, to the right, and the fourth room on the left. But just for a little while. She needs her rest.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
The doctor turns and walks away. Kurt pulls Glory in close and embraces her with a tight hug. “Melinda is going to be fine…”
“But poor Archie.” Glory says. “This wasn’t how it was supposed to end. Not like this!”
“I know.” Kurt nods his head. “I know.”
Kurt clasps his wife’s hand tightly and guides her slowly out of the waiting room and down the hall. They see that to get to Melinda’s room they have to walk past the grieving Van Stanton family, who no doubt have already been told the bad news about Archie. This is indicative based upon their extreme emotional state right now. They are inconsolable. Glory and Kurt approach Henry and Autumn slowly.
“Henry, Autumn, we are so sorry.” Glory says quietly.
“Yeah, we are sorry. If there’s anything we can do…”
“Thanks but…” Henry is fighting back the tears as he shakes his head “...there really isn’t much to do. We were supposed to be planning a wedding. Now we’re planning a funeral.”
“Do you…” Autumn tries to speak but she is also having difficult to talk through the tears “...do you know what happened?”
Glory shakes her head. “The police aren’t saying much, I will put it that way. If they have any leads, they’re not telling me anything. But what about Mason? I saw him walking out under his own power, completely unharmed. How did he escape unscathed?”
“Mason…” Henry growls with a hint of anger “...I blame him for this.”
“Why?”
“It’s his fault!” Henry exclaims, storming away angrily. This leaves Autumn there alone. Glory and Kurt share confused expressions on their faces, and then they look back at Autumn.
“What’s wrong, Autumn?” Glory asks.
“Henry blames Mason because Mason left them there alone. Mason went out to pick up some beer. When Mason came back the door had been kicked in, the inside of the house ransacked, and Melinda and Archie were in a pool of blood. Mason was the one who called 911.”
“Y’know, Mason and I never got along but even I think Henry is being too hard on him. Melinda and Archie are both adults now. They don’t need a babysitter. And seeing as these intrudgers or whoever it was had guns, if Mason had been there he would have been hurt too.”
“That’s what I keep telling him but…” Autumn shakes her head “...Henry is grieving. Can you blame him? Archie was…” Autumn fights back the tears again “...he was our only son.”
Glory Braddock thinks about how lucky this turned out for her. Melinda will survive. Glory still has her daughter with her. But Henry lost his only son. This entire thing with Mason now looks even more strange. But right now Glory just wants to see Melinda and check on her. Autumn can sense this and embraces Glory in a tight hug.
“Go see your daughter, Glory. I need to go find Henry.”
“Thanks, Autumn. And I’m sorry…”
Autumn nods and then walks away. Kurt and Glory then turns and continue down towards Melinda’s room. They turn left and walk into a room and find their daughter, Melinda Braddock, lying there on a hospital bed with some tubes and other equipment connected to her. Luckily nothing is impeding her mouth or throat so she can speak.
“Hi, Mel…” Glory says, trying to smile even though she wants so badly to cry right now.
“Hi, mom…” Melinda winks at Kurt “...hi dad.”
“That must be some pretty strong painkiller they’re using on you, Mel. You never called me ‘dad’ before.” Kurt says jokingly, trying to lighten the mood. Melinda chuckles.
“Yeah, well, maybe it is the painkiller? Or maybe it’s something about near death experiences that make you rethink things. I mean, they did lose me three times.”
“You’re kidding?” Glory asks. Melinda shakes her head.
“Not kidding. Apparently it was close but I managed to make it.”
“I’m just glad you are ok.” Glory approaches Melinda’s bedside before leaning over to kiss her on the forehead.
“I’m sorry this happened, mom. I know you hate distractions like this when…”
“Stop right there, Mel.” Glory says, interrupting her daughter. “You are not a distraction. You are more important to me than my business or my wrestling career. Remember that I love you and I always will.”
“Thanks, mom.”
“The detectives said it was a home invasion.” Kurt states.
“That’s what I told the one detective who spoke to me. Detective Reynolds I think is what he told me…”
“Did you recognize any of the intruders?” Glory asks. Melinda shakes her head.
“No, I haven’t seen any of them. The way they were trashing the place made me think they were just trying to steal whatever they could get their hands on.”
“How many of them were there?” Kurt asks. Melinda chuckles.
“I feel like I’m being interrogated again. It was three guys. Only two had guns and they didn’t even fire until Archie decided to be a hero.” Melinda sighs deeply. “The two with the guns weren’t paying attention so Archie charged them and was hoping he could knock them off balance. He was hoping that if he could cause this robbery to get out of control that they would be scared and run off. He did knock one of them down but the other started firing like mad.”
“My God…” Glory exclaims.
“Mom, have you heard about Archie? How is he?”
Glory freezes up. This is the question she was dreading. She was dreading this moment because she doesn’t want to be the one to tell her daughter that her fiance is now dead. Braddock begins to tear up and Melinda seems to already get the picture as her own face goes pale.
“Mom...please tell me what happened to Archie…”
Glory turns to look into her husband Kurt’s eyes. No words have to be said, they know what the other is thinking. They know how hard this is right now and hard it will be for Melinda. But she has a right to know. Glory Braddock braces herself for the worst as she prepares to tell Melinda the hard truth. She looks back down at her oldest daughter, still lying in the hospital bed and still awaiting an answer.
“I’m sorry, Melinda. I am so very sorry but Archie…” Glory sighs deeply “...Archie didn’t make it.”
“No…” the first word is quiet as a look of shock and disbelief washes across Melinda’s face; she is hoping that Glory is lying but the serious look on Glory’s face tells Melinda that this is all too true. Melinda now shouts out in grief and anguish “Nooooooo!!!!”
Seeing her daughter in such emotional agony is too much for The British Bombshell, and she begins to break down and cry as well. Kurt Logan takes Glory and embraces her in a tight hug to try and comfort her. Even Kurt has tears flowing down his cheeks at this moment. The three are all crying for an unknown amount of time until a female’s voice breaks through the air, interrupting them.
“Mrs. Braddock, Mr. Logan?” Glory and Kurt look up to see a nurse has entered the room. “I’m sorry, but Doctor Yana insists that Melinda needs her rest. You can return tomorrow.”
“Sure…” Kurt says, nodding his head. He takes Glory and tries to guide her out of the room but she stops him. Glory turns back to face Melinda.
“Mel?” Glory quietly says, trying to get her daughter’s attention. But Melinda is inconsolable. She will not even acknowledge her mother right now. Kurt gently tugs on his wife’s arm.
“Come on, Glory. Let’s let Melinda rest.”
“Right…” Glory nevertheless blows a kiss towards her daughter “...see you tomorrow, Mel.”
Glory watches briefly, hoping Melinda will acknowledge her; but Melinda is still shouting in grief over the news of Archie Van Stanton’s death. Tears are flowing freely down her cheeks. Kurt then gives one more gentle tug at her arm and she allows herself to be guided out of the room and back into the hall. The British Bombshell is emotionally distraught, because this was not supposed to end this way. She also is feeling anger. Her daughter does not deserve this. Melinda was going to be happy but now that has been taken from her. And perhaps what is even more outrageous to The British Bombshell is that she wants so badly to make this right, she wants to help her daughter, but she cannot think of how she can help.
==========
July 24th, 2021
Los Angeles, California
On Camera
==========
The immense size and scope of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California is the scene that we open to as soon as cameras begin rolling. It is a bright blue sky and a sunny day; seemingly the perfect weather. The cameras show a sky view of the Staples Center for a few seconds before cutting to a ground view right in front of the entrance to the Staples Center. This is where thousands upon thousands of fans will soon be entering in order to bear witness to SCW Rise To Greatness. A few moments later and we see ‘The British Bombshell’ Glory Braddock stepping into view from stage right. The gorgeous blonde is wearing a tight purple dress that hugs her every curve and a hemline that stops just above the knee, strappy sandals, and sunglasses covering her eyes. Her long blonde hair hangs straight and unrestrained to past the shoulders.
“For months now I have been talking about taking on new challenges. I even went to the man himself, Mr. D, and requested new challenges. And he gave me those challenges. Now here I stand right here at the Staples Center where twenty four hours from now at Rise To Greatness I will be testing myself against three top contenders, three of the best talents in SCW today, and if I manage to overcome this challenge, if I pass the test, then my reward is the SCW United States Championship. Now some of you may be asking why I would think that I need to be challenged? Why would I want a challenge? I admit, for someone who at one point claimed to be The Best in the World and wouldn’t hear anyone else try to dispute her, requesting challenge after challenge does seem rather odd. But that was a different person. I am not that person any longer. I am not the kind of person who will shout to the highest of heavens about how great I am and demand that the world blindly worship at my altar. I am the kind of person who earns the respect of my peers and the adulation of the fans by going out to that ring and proving myself each and every week.”
“Last year at Rise To Greatness I defeated Peyton Rice to become SCW Adrenaline Champion. It was my first taste of singles gold in SCW. I held that championship for 184 days until I lost it to Shilo Valiant. And why did I lose to Shilo? I lost because I allowed myself to grow weak. I hadn’t been challenged, really and truly challenged, in so long that I had lost my touch. In the aftermath of losing the championship was when the realization hit me; I needed to harden myself. I needed to toughen myself up with new challenges. In this business you need to be challenged, because without new challenges you grow weak and soft and you begin to lose your spot. That’s what happened to me.” The British Bombshell shakes her head.
“That is not going to happen again. Tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness marks the completion of my comeback story. And it’s appropriate that my comeback story is completed right here in Los Angeles at the Staples Center because there is a commercial painting Los Angeles as a comeback story. But to make this comeback story a reality I have to go through quite possibly the greatest challenge of them all, perhaps even the greatest of challenges in my entire SCW career; Xander Valentine, Christy Matthews, and Gavin Taylor.”
“So why don’t I start with you, Gavin?” Braddock smirks and waves playfully at the camera. “Hi there, Gavin. We are certainly no strangers to one another, now are we? You challenged me for the Adrenaline Championship last year and I choked you out. Here recently you tried once again to beat me but you still couldn’t get the job done. That’s two wins for The British Bombshell and zero for The All Star by my count. You need to bolster your record through spin and propaganda. You introduce fake championships....I haven’t forgotten the so-called Mayhem Tag Titles. You need fake titles to make yourself feel better while I just go out there and WIN legitimately recognized championships. I am a former Adrenaline and World Champion here in SCW and yes, that World Title run was short lived, but at least I was a former World Champion, which is more than what I can say for you. And your greatest achievement in recent memory is ‘surviving Xander Valentine’? I do not celebrate the fact that I survived people. I celebrate the fact that I DEFEAT people. I celebrate the fact that I choke or make people tap out to Shekhinah Glory, just like what I did to you.” Braddock chuckles lightly.
“Now I could keep on rubbing it in if I wanted to, but I’m not foolish. Anyone who overlooks natural talent is foolish and for all of your false bravado and all of your comedic shenanigans, you are quite the talented wrestler. You could be so much more than the idiot trying way too hard to hype himself up. You have the potential to be a true All Star, but instead of using that talent, instead of living up to that potential, you choose to be the joke that constantly hypes himself up and then fails to deliver. The last time you and I went to battle, Gavin, I asked you to prove me wrong. I asked you to prove to me that you were more than just a loud mouth who couldn’t back up his own bravado. You couldn’t prove me wrong and I’m at the point where I no longer believe that you are capable of proving me wrong. Will Gavin Taylor Rise To Greatness and become United States Champion?” Braddock shakes her head. “Not a chance in hell.”
“Now Christy Matthews is another story altogether, because when it comes to Christy you have someone who legitimately can go, who takes everything in that ring serious, and is a verifiable world killer when she wants to be. And much like me, she has goals, she has challenges set up for herself and her challenge is to win the United States Championship and in the process become a Supreme Champion. That’s quite a goal you have set for yourself, Christy. And I heard what you said on Breakdown, how you do not want this to be tainted in any way. That’s noble of you to say. I’d like to think you mean it but you’re right, you do have a reputation for hanging around with the wrong crowd and winning by any means necessary.”
“Hell, I was that same person myself not too long ago. I was the person willing to do anything and everything to get ahead. Last year at Rise To Greatness I broke every rule in the book to defeat Peyton and become Adrenaline Champion. And now one year later I have returned to complete my comeback story. And maybe you’re on a similar comeback trail, Christy? Unfortunately only one of us can cross the finish line first and I’ll be damned if I let you stop me. As good as you are, I am going to be better and I will be the United States Champion when all is said and done. Will you be Supreme Champion one day?” Braddock nods her head. “I don’t doubt it one iota. In fact, I know you will be Supreme Champion one day. But it will NOT be at my expense and it will NOT happen tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness.”
The British Bombshell holds up one finger. “That leaves just one man left...or maybe I should say, just one monster. Xander Valentine, everything they say about you is true; you are a monster, you are the only executioner in SCW, you are the bringer of destruction. You leave a path carnage in your wake. Everywhere you go you leave broken and mangled bodies. You cripple and injure people. You want to be the man feared for your in ring skill and yet you are feared for the monster that you have become.” Braddock takes off her sunglasses and tosses them aside. Her eyes are now full of intensity.
“But I do not fear you! Many have said it, few actually mean it, and even fewer can say that they have backed up their tough talk when facing The Executioner, but you have never fought someone like me before. I am Glory Braddock and I am the person who makes the monsters tap out! And if the monsters refuse to tap out, then I choke them out and leave them unconscious on the mat!” A nasty smirk forms on Glory’s face. “Now how about that poetic irony, mate? How would it be for you to get a taste of your own bloody medicine? You have put people to sleep with Fade To Black so maybe it is time that I put you to sleep with Shekhinah Glory? You have left opponents broken and unconscious, so maybe it is time for The British Bombshell to leave The Executioner broken, unconscious, and thoroughly executed in the center of the ring at Rise To Greatness? Your reign of terror is coming to an end, Xander. That is a guarantee.”
Braddock points to herself with her thumb. “And while I’m busy making guarantees, here is one final guarantee; I guarantee that tomorrow night at Rise To Greatness, I will be the last one left standing as the United States Champion. Tomorrow night I complete my comeback story. Tomorrow night my challenge will be met. That is a guarantee...Sic Semper Tyrannis…” The scene fades to black.
![[Image: qyA5u6K.png]](https://i.imgur.com/qyA5u6K.png)
SCW World Champion 1x
SCW United States Champion 1x
SCW Adrenaline Champion 1x
SCW Television Champion 1x
SCW World Tag Team Champion 1x (w/Brittany Lohan)
Supreme Champion
2019 Trios Tournament Winner (w/ Regan Street & Kellen Jeffries)
2020 Trios Tournament Winner (w/ Ace Marshall & David Helms)
SCW Adrenaline Champion 1x
SCW Television Champion 1x
SCW World Tag Team Champion 1x (w/Brittany Lohan)
Supreme Champion
2019 Trios Tournament Winner (w/ Regan Street & Kellen Jeffries)
2020 Trios Tournament Winner (w/ Ace Marshall & David Helms)