Prelude To Mayhem, Part II: The Nest

PRELUDE TO MAYHEM, PART II: THE NEST

01.26.2010
Home of Mr. & Mrs. Terrence Thompson
Indianapolis, Indiana
20:56 local time

Daniel Pollaski watched as the emerald-green Ford Focus in front of him turned into the driveway. Between that, and the blood-red modified '71 Charger the Fusion was pulling in next to, there wouldn't be any room for him to park.

Damnation, it was a pity to have to put this beauty curbside.

Still, he parked the 2010 Camaro he was driving next to the curb, and shut the machine off. Climbing out of the car, he looked up at the house that he hadn't seen in over a year.

The house was nowhere near as big as Terrence and Wendy's last home, a massive antebellum mansion that resided on Sixmile Lake in Southern Louisiana. The WhirlyBirdz' retirement from wrestling, along with the house suffering extensive damage during Hurricane Katrina, had sent Terrence and Wendy back north, having sold the land to the Louisiana Department of Parks and Recreation. The last he heard, the house was to be turned into some kind of historical museum, or something.

Its a shame they never solved the mystery of the ghost in the computer room, Pollaski mused.

After abandoning Louisiana, Terrence and Wendy returned to their hometown of Indianapolis. Realizing that they had put of the prospect of marriage off to the point of ridiculousness, the two were married in a quiet ceremony on October 15, 2005. Only Pollaski and Terrence's Uncle Steve had attended the ceremony, and Steve had given half-ownership of his auto repair shop as a wedding present.

Dan was sure they had also enjoyed the toaster he had gotten them. Don't judge, the damned Birdz should have paid him more!

After a nice honeymoon in Hawaii, the Thompsons returned home and bought this house. It was a bit larger than the standard 3 bed, 2.5 bath, with an oversized family room and a deck off the back, complete with a Whirlpool hot tub. It was a large, yet cozy abode, and Dan found himself referring to it as The Nest.

You know, because that's where the Birdz lived. Because he was clever like that.

Dan noticed that Wendy had gotten out of her car, and stood waiting for him, so he began the short walk up the driveway. The front lawn was on a slight slope, but not too bad. In front of him, Wendy smiled, and walked to the door, throwing it open.

"I'm home!" She announced, Pollaski walking quickly to follow behind her. Dan saw a little girl running towards her, and Wendy bent down to pick her up, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

"And how's my little angel?" Wendy asked as she tousled the girls brown hair. The girl had recieved her father's brown hair color, but it was her mother's piercing green eyes that stared at him in wonder.

"Who's that, Mommy?" The little girl inquired.

Theresa Thompson had grown considerably in the year since Pollaski had last visited. The three-year old (and Dan found it silently hilarious that she was born nine months to the day after the Thompson-Briese wedding, especially given Wendy's rumored premarital purity), was full of vibrant energy and wonder.

Inwardly smiling, Pollaski did his best to look hurt and offended. "You mean you don't remember me?"

The three year old vigorously shook her head, and Pollaski had to fight from bursting out in laughter. He normally hated kids, but this one was as charming as brats could get!

"This," Wendy said, tousling Theresa's hair again, "is Daniel Pollaski. He's a good friend of mommy and daddy"

"Danoo Powaski?" the little girl repeated.

Now Pollaski found himself laughing. "Close enough," he grinned. Theresa began fidgeting, so Wendy set her down, but the little girl continued to stare at him.

This figured to be as good a time as any.

The rotund manager sank down to one knee, and conspiratorially leaned towards Theresa. "I've got a present for you." He said in a stage-whisper "But you gotta answer a question to get it."

The little girl nodded. "Okay..."

"Who..." Dan paused for dramatic effect. "Lives in a pineapple under the sea?

"SPONGE-BAWB SQUAW-PANTS!"

Dan laughed, reached into his duffel bag, and pulled out a stuffed Spongebob. Elated, Theresa grabbed the toy, turning to run off to play.

"What do we say, Theresa?" Wendy reprimanded sharply, hoping the words hit her daughters ears before the energetic toddler reached light speed.

"TANG-OO!" Theresa was already around the corner, and Wendy smiled and shook her head.

"Cute kid" Pollaski smiled at Wendy.

"She's a handful," Wendy confessed. "Especially when you add on my job at the theater, and Terrence dividing his time between the shop and his team. We had to get a nanny to help watch her some days. But she's the brightest, sweetest girl one could ask for."

"She'd have to be, if shes your daughter." Dan replied, and Wendy blushed.

"Daddy! Daddy!" They could hear Theresa in the living room, and both Dan and Wendy began walking towards her voice. "Look what Dawoo Powaski gave me!"

"Did he now?" The voice of Terrence could be heard. "Did you say thank you?"

"Of cowse, daddy!"

"Good, because Pollaski's really a monster who eats ungrateful little children, and I'd hate to lose-"

"Terrence!" Wendy scolded. "You'll give her nightmares!"

As Dan entered the living room, he could see Terrence, like Wendy, hadn't changed too much. Two months shy of his 31st birthday, the six foot former world champion's short brown hair was still unruly, and although he had let some of the muscles built up from his career in the ring go, it was obvious that he was in great physical shape.

Terrence was wearing that mischievous grin that Dan knew all to well. In the three plus years Dan ran with the WhirlyBirdz, he and Terrence had gotten in all kinds of mischief, while Wendy would generally stand to the side, her head in her hands, always worrying about how much trouble they'd be in.

Ah, memories.

"Sorry, hon," Terrence's apology was obviously disingenuous, but Wendy merely shook her head, smiling. Theresa, for her part, was staring at Pollaski again.

"Do you weely eat chidwen?"

Pollaski grinned. "Only the naughty ones. You're too adorable."

Theresa nodded, as if this was all the logic in the world she needed.

"Well, naughty or not, I think its time SOMEBODY went to bed." Wendy said, apparently relieved that her daughter wasn't likely to wake up screaming tonight.

"Okay. Where's my room?" Pollaski asked, drawing laughter from Terrence and Wendy.

"Come on, Terr-Bear, lets go"

"But I'm not tiwed!" The little girl protested as Wendy picked her up. With a nod to both Dan and Terrence, she carried the girl (who, despite her protests, had broken into an enormous yawn) out of the room.

Leaving Dan and Terrence alone.

"Dude..." Terrence began.

"Dude." Was all Dan replied.

Suddenly, the two men stepped towards each other, laughing, and quickly embracing.

"Its good to see you, Dan," Terrence said, beckoning to one of the two recliners in the room. Pollaski took the hint, and sat down, while Terrence plopped in the other chair.

"How was the drive?" Terrence asked his former manager.

Pollaski shrugged. "It was alright. Chicago traffic was a bitch, of course, but once I got out on 65, it was smooth."

Terrence nodded. "How's it feel to be back with the alliance?"

Another shrug. "Actually, pretty weird, especially without you two. And I'm not really back. I'm just a columnist."

"A damn good columnist," Terrence replied. "I've been reading your shit. Sure as hell better than the incessant rambling you were uttering at the PWX show."

"Wendy said that you thought I was boring." Dan replied, looking hurt for just a second, before grinning. "Blame the material, not me."

"Well, other than your ten minutes of bullshit... that wasn't too bad a show. But what the fuck was up with all that dead air?"

"Stretcher match. Technical difficulties prevented it from airing, I guess."

Now Terrence was upset. "I missed a damn stretcher match, and got to stare at a blank screen for twenty minutes? I'm calling the cable company tomorrow!"

"Don't." Pollaski commanded. "It was a good enough show without it. Besides, the way things are right now, former WWA champions demanding refunds on regional pay-per-views are the last thing the WWA needs. They're working out a way to make it up to you."

Twister shrugged. "If you say so. Hey," he said, turning towards Dan. "Is it true Eric Danes running the southern region?"

"Like a goddamned dictator. Ugh, I hate that crippled motherfucker. And Wolfington wants me to cover their show on the ninth."

"You're going to be walking into THAT hornets nest? After all the shit you said?" Terrence shook his head sadly. "Well, it was nice knowin' ya, dude."

"Yeah," Dan replied glumly. "And I thought Mr. Wolfington was starting to LIKE me." He paused for a second. "Maybe I can get some of the DREAM or AW guys to come with, and give me some protection."

"That's probably a good idea." Terrence was thinking. "Tell you what, dude. I gotta be in Texas on the eleventh for car testing at TMS. Why don't you watch the game here, then I'll give you a ride on my way? It'll be just like old times."

Pollaski thought for a second. "That could work," he responded.

"Just one thing... you're for the Colts, right?"

Pollaski laughed. "As if I'd be dumb enough to wear black and gold in this house."

Terrence grinned. "Just making sure. And sorry I cant help you with this Defiance problem. They'd get pissed if I did anything to jeopardize my health this close to the season starting."

"Eh, no worries." Pollaski shrugged. "I'm a big boy. How is the race team going?"

"Good." Terrence nodded. "They saw my 16th place finish in the points as a positive, and they got me a new crew chief. I just hope I can finally net a win this year."

"Hell, now that I'm traveling, I should be able to catch some of your events. Get me a schedule."

"No problem. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Sleeping in, for one. I still got a damned column due tonight... and I got a shitload to talk about. After that, I'm open to any suggestions. I figured I'd leave for the DREAM show Thursday morning."

Terrence nodded. "Wanna swing by the shop? Uncle Steve would love to see you, and you should see what we've done with the place."

"I'd love to," Pollaski agreed, noticing out of the corner of his eye as Wendy walked into the room, holding a baby monitor.

"She asleep?" Terrence asked, also noticing the redheads appearance.

Wendy nodded, then turned to Dan. "Are you hungry? I never got dinner, and I was thinking of making some spaghetti."

Pollaski blanched. "You... cooking?" He remembered at least five occasions where Wendy had started a fire with her culinary inadequacies.

Both Thompsons laughed. "I've gotten better, I swear." Wendy affirmed. Dan nervously looked at Terrence, who nodded.

"Fine. I'm game" Dan stood up. "But where is your bathroom? I'll need to.. uh... make room"

Wendy rolled her eyes, but Terrence snickered. "Down the hall, second door on the left."

Ten minutes later, Dan was washing his hands. Drying them on some hanging towels (he hoped those were the ones he was supposed to use) He reached into his pocket. The chilly Indiana air was making things a little uncomfortable for him, and he needed a hit of Chapstick.

Instead of a small plastic tube, however, his hands closed around something paper.

Oh shit, he had forgotten about that.

Dan pulled out the envelope, and stared at it. It was an old-fashioned looking thing, more suited to the thirteenth century than the twenty-first. That didn't bother him. The ornate wax seal pressed on the letter did.

The contents of the letter, which he had practically memorized, terrified him.

It couldn't be a coincidence that Victor Mandrake had sought him out within a fortnight of his return to the WWA. He said he wanted to bury the hatchet, but the last hatchet Dan had ever seen him touch had taken the head of Sorrel Rydel off her shoulders, and then slammed into the front lawn of Sixmile Plantation.

He didn't trust Victor Mandrake any more than he could jump over the 7'4 freak.

Worse, Mandrake knew of little Theresa's existence. Pollaski shuddered at the thought of little Theresa, chained to a dungeon wall, forced to starve and listen to lies about the ones she loved.

Just like her mother had been.

Part of him wanted to warn Terrence and Wendy, to let them know that Diablo was interested in them again. But they were so HAPPY. How could he infringe upon that? How could he drag the demons of five years ago back into their lives?

With a sigh, Daniel Pollaski held the envelope in his hands, and ripped. Again, and again, until all he held in his hands was confetti. He dumped the shards into the toilet, and pulled the flush lever again, watching Diablo's letter swirl around the drain.

And then down it. Pollaski walked out of the bathroom to the smell of pasta boiling, and blissfully the silence that indicated every smoke detector in the house wasn't going off.

No, in this case ignorance WAS bliss. He wasn't going to ruin the Thompson's happiness.

And if Mandrake wanted to find other avenues... he was just going to have to close them