(( The scene slowly faded into Gilman Street, overlooking the Gilman apartments. The night was dark, the moon hidden by a thick set of clouds. The wind was picking up more, cutting cold slashes into anyone who had left themselves vulnerable to the changing climate. The traffic itself had decided to take a break for the remainder of the night, allowing the dark and stillness of the road to remain intact as a single light shown from the Gilman apartments.
The view came closer. It was a single bulb, burning a dull white, as it overlooked the door to apartment #7. The apartment of one Matt Lee. A young man, skateboarder of the Gilman street curbs and frequenter to the club at the corner, who had had a great deal of questions thrown at him in the past week. He had been the one who had heard the loud smashing overhead in Zero's apartment last Wednesday. He had been the one who Dotcom had interviewed in his report on the situation at Zero's apartment. **read "Watching From A Distance"** And still, Matt was being questioned.
At Hell Of A Show, Zero had came out to face Iceman. It had been a hard fought battle, but, ending with Zero once again winning over Iceman. Retribution from last week?
But, after the match, Zero had vanished. He hadn't spoken with anyone during the whole telecast. He had simply arrived determined, went out to his match, and had fought for reclaiming what Iceman had tooked from him in the previous week . . . a victory.
But, after the match, Zero had quickly left, again without uttering a word to anyone. He had walked out to the parking lot, got in his Blazier, and left to the sounds of AFI screaming out of his vehicle. Where he had headed, no one knew. But, there was the definate feeling that something was different. Zero, a man who was respected in the back, did usually stay till the end. He did usually make conversation. But not at Hell Of A Show.
People had been wondering what it all stemmed from. Did it have to do with the previous week's match against Iceman? Did it have to stem from Zero's apartment being destroyed less than a week ago? Or, was it something else, a new virus, that was eating away at Zero? No one was certain, but a few knew that they might be able to get some clues from a certain man . . . one who some people thought was hiding something the last time they had spoken to him.
This, was why Lecompte was now in Berkeley, California. Less than a day after Hell Of A Show, he had went out to the Gilman apartments, in order to seek word with the one man they knew who was connected to Zero more than any wrestler in the locker room would be. Despite the respect, Zero was still solumn and generally reserved from others, never going into great detail on anything unless he had to. This was a moment is which he didn't feel the need to.
Turning onto Christie Road, the train tracks would be coming up soon. Lecompte adjusted his rear view mirror, and turned on his wind shield wipers to clear some of the fog that had rested itself on his windshield in the form of dew. The colder nights were becoming more evident, as the night came quicker, and the warm ground, which had yet to be adjusted to the colder winds, produced a low lying haze of fog. It would probably continue for a few more weeks until nature reached equilibream.
Lecompte adjusted his radio, trying to pick up the local news. All he could find was the Berkeley Community College report radio station, and some local station that played nothing but that fast, obnoxious "punk" music that Zero was known to be listening to.
Lecompte gave up, and focused all of his attention on what of the road he was able to see. The drive over the train tracks should be coming up soon. He knew that that was where the turn on Gilman Street would be. Well, maybe not exactly right past the tracks, but soon after. Lecompte would just be sure to have to pay attention, or else he would be lost amongst all of the people who lined the desolate streets at night. Those who asked for money constantly, or even those who chose to live there.
Slowly, Lecompte spoke to himself while driving. ))
" How could I let myself be talked into this? I had a set of four days off. Four days, just nothing but relaxation at my house. But no, Ringleader had been persistent in trying to get me to come out here. Some story that was happening with Zero, and it could get ratings if used just right. Well, good 'ol Lecompte, you better be getting a good bonus this week.
Lecompte:
" I better be getting a bonus for even having to come out here in the first place. Berkeley? They could at least my trip to a better city than this. Maybe Los Angelos or something. Somewhere where maybe there'd be better looking women. But here, nah-ah, not a chance.
" Even when I scouted the CSWA for a while, I never had to come to some place like this. Some of those guys were a little messed up, but never had to travel to SLUMS to get a scouting job done. "
(( Lecompte continued thinking to himself, occasionally talking out loud, airing a little frustration over having to come this far out. Maybe he'd get a bonus. So maybe he missed a day of his break. But, could this mean more respect and responsibilty was being handed to him? Having to go this far out, to get a brimming story . . .
Or was it merely the fact that no one else wanted the job, and Lecompte was the last on the rung. He had no one to bump the job down to. Maybe that was the reason why HE was driving this far out to get the story. Cause surely Dotcom had had enough after last week.
The train tracks were coming up. Lecompte would have to be on the look out now for the turn onto Gilman Street. Soon, he'd be able to conduct this "interview" with whatever that kid's name was . . . Matt, he thought, and then he'd be able to head straight back to the airport and go home.
Why was he even going, if he wasn't even going to interview Zero? That was something Lecompte couldn't figure out. He was going this far out, just to interview some kid who knew Zero, yet didn't know where he was. No one knew where Zero was. He showed up, fought his match, and then returned back to whereever he wanted to stay at.
Maybe if the interview would be with Zero himself, Lecompte would see more of an importance of going this far out. But, there wouldn't be a Zero interview, because no one knew where he was. That was what had Lecompte hacked, more than anything else.
The tracks were coming up. The fog over them was tremendous. Lecompte started slowing down, easing his way up to them. He would have to be going slow to see the Gilman street sign anyways.
His headlights cut through the lower fog, showing him the tracks. Lecompte almost came to a stop over the tracks as he began to cross them.
And he looked out down the tracks as he went over them. Was that a person? Lecompte thought he could see a figure sitting on the tracks, further down, almost 150 feet from where he was. It was hard to make things out in the darkness and fog, but the burning butt of a cigarette held by the person helped Lecompte make out the figure.
Lecompte slowly rolled over the tracks, looking forward, and yet, out to the person sitting on the tracks. What in the world would some Berkeley idiot be doing out in 40 degree weather, sitting on some train tracks amidst a thick fog?
. . . Lecompte passed the train tracks . . . ))
" I swear, the people here have to be the stupidest. Sitting on train tracks in the cold, smoking their stupid cigarettes. Any life would be better than that. "
Lecompte:
(( Then, Lecompte looked down at himself, driving straight out into the city in which he was talking down. ))
" But look at yourself. You're right in the middle of it, so how far ahead are YOU, Lecompte? "
Lecompte:
(( Gilman Street was up ahead. Lecompte saw the street sign. He put on his blinker, knowing no one was behind him, though. He had to at least show he was at least a decent human, unlike most of the people who lived here. Or so he thought.
He turned onto the street . . . this time, now, keeping his eye out for the Gilman apartments . . . . . . . .
Matt Lee sat on his living room couch. His array of ear piercings were in, but he was set up for a warm night inside of a heated house. A "Geoff Rowley 'Flip'" t-shirt and a pair of long board pants was what he was wearing as he waited.
He was watching the television, but not actually paying attention to what was happening. Matt knew Lecompte was on his way. And he would be coming to probe deeper into the Zero dilemma. A dilemma that Matt knew of, and a solution that Matt that he had figured out. He just wasn't sure if he wanted to say everything he knew . . . yet.
Matt had met Zero a while back, and had been on a see and talk basis with him, but he wasn't sure if he knew Zero as well as the HEW people thought he did. But, at the same time, he knew he knew him better than most people did. He had actually had lengthy conversations with him, with Zero talking about how he felt about life, his childhood, and where his existence was heading.
Lecompte would be here soon. Matt knew it. But what would he have to offer that he had not already told Dotcom? He had told Dotcom pretty much all he knew . . . or was willing to say. Now, he wasn't real familiar with Lecompte. He wasn't sure what to expect. And, he knew he hadn't talked to Zero at all . . . in over a week. So, in all actuality, would he even be stretching the truth to say he had no idea of what was going on?
Matt grabbed the remote, and flipped the channel to HBO. There had to be something to watch, something to take his mind off of what he would say to Lecompte. He pulled a cigarette off of the table, and lit it up. Matt figured he would just sit, and try to go over the lines he would say while he waited for Lecompte.
But, Matt would not be awarded that luxury. As soon as he had taken his second drag from his cigarette, he heard a knock at the door. Matt turned the television off, and took a quick third drag from his cigarette. Taking his feet off of the coffee table, and setting his cigarette in the ashtray, Matt got up to answer the door.
He opened it up . . . and was greeted by Lecompte, standing under the overhead balcony, his hands in his pockets, chattering as a gush of wind snapped by.
Matt let him inside, as Lecompte quickly started to warm up inside of the heated apartment. Matt went back down to his couch, and retrieved his cigarette. He took a deep drag, as Lecompte found a chair to sit in. Lecompte pulled a recorder out of his pocket, and sat it down on the table in order to record the interview in whole.
Matt saw the recorder, and became a little uneasy and nervous by it, but tried not to let it show as he took another drag from his cigarette.
Lecompte looked up at Matt, and tried to surpress his agitation for having to come all the way out to Berkeley to conduct an interview with this kid who sat up on his couch smoking away at a cancer stick. Lecompte tried to hide it, as he looked at Matt, and asked the first question . . . ))
" Ok Matt, let's go ahead and get down to this. You know Zero better than any of us do. And, here lately, especially after Hell Of A Show last week, Zero has been acting rather, hmmmm, anti-social to us at HEW. My question to you is, can you explain this behavior of his to us? Considering you DO know him well . . . "
Lecompte:
(( Lecompte emphasized the fact of Matt knowing Zero real hard. Matt wasn't sure how to take that. Was he suggesting that Matt didn't really know Zero? Was he suggesting that Matt was hiding something? Or was Matt merely playing that emphasis out to be more than what it really was? Was the nervousness of being recorded playing tricks on Matt's mind?
Matt looked at Lecompte. Slowly, he responded. ))
" Well, Lecompte, I wish I could. I've talked to Zero before. I THINK I know him well. But, you know about him like I do. You can never be sure what is going through his mind. All I know is that . . . that . . . he is Zero. "
Matt:
(( Which was not exactly the response Lecompte was expecting. Lecompte was hoping for a quick, question and answer session, with questions answered. Now, he was even wondering if his long trip was even worth it. How much did this Matt kid know, anyway?
Lecompte looked down at a set of notes he had. He had to probe further . . . looking for some clues . . . something to take back with him to South Carolina.
And suddenly, he saw it. The everlasting situation and infatuation of Zero in the alley beside the Gilman apartments. The alley where the triple murder had taken place three years ago. This, was possibly the way to break into Matt's thoughts. What if Matt was trying to protect Zero from something? Could the alley have something to do with it? Lecompte wasn't sure. But, if he was . . . ))
" Matt, you do know Zero rather well, though. Tell me, what do you know of this . . . . alley? This alley that Zero is always said to be in. Do you know anything of it? Do you know anything about the murder charge Zero had a few months back? It is all linked back to this alley.
Lecompte:
" So tell me Matt, what do you know about the connection? "
(( Lecompte leaned forward. He seemed to be staring straight at Matt. His eyes were bearing down like lasers, cutting Matt in half. And Lecompte knew it. He knew he had hit the nail on the button with that question.
Matt started to stir in his seat. The alley?! Why would Lecompte come up with that one suddenly? What would Matt say? Was Zero there right now? He couldn't invade Zero's privacy if Zero was trying to get privacy right now. What would Matt say?
He started going over what he needed to say. He could feel Lecompte staring down at him. He knew the longer he waited, the harder it would become to convince Lecompte of what he would say. What would he say? Matt could feel a drop of sweat begin to run down his back. He had to say something . . . ))
" The alley? Why? What is it about it? Um, I know Zero used to go there. I remember he said he used to go there to relax. But, you know. That was during the summer . . .
Matt:
" I really doubt he would ever go there again. You remember the tape he watched? The one where he had to forfeit the Hardcore title? I think that alley brings back some of the same memories. You know . . . bridges he doesn't want to pass by again. So . . . I think that pretty much sums up the alley . . . pretty much. "
(( But Lecompte didn't buy it. He could see Matt was trying to hide something. He instantly stood up, his voice rising just a step higher. ))
" What is it Matt? Something about the alley that you're trying to keep in? I came a long way out here, just to be lied to. Just to have information held back. Come on, what is it? Do you know where Zero is? You know where Zero is. He's in that stupid alley.
Lecompte:
" I came along way, Matt. I wanted an interview. I see you won't give one. Maybe Zero will . . . I know he's in that alley . . . "
(( Lecompte grabbed his recorder and turned quickly to the door. Matt reached down, grabbing his shoes. He couldn't let Lecompte go to the alley. Matt knew Zero was there. He couldn't let Lecompte get to him. Zero didn't want to see anyone. He was trying to sort some things out in his life right now. With Lecompte trying to get an interview, who knew what would happen.
Lecompte went out of the door, and started heading down the curb, straight to the alley. Matt was close behind him, the wind catching him like a dog on a leash. The shorts and t-shirt Matt had on didn't help block out the now almost 30 degree winds that were blowing. But, he had to try and stop Lecompte from going to the alley.
Lecompte came upon the dumpsters at the entrance of the alley. He slowed down a little, and went pass them cautiously. Matt was right behind him. And, it was then, Matt could smell the smoke coming from the alley. A fire. The metal garbage can. Zero was down in the alley, with a fire lit in the metal garbage can . . . .
Lecompte arrived in the center of the alley. Right where the crates sat against the wall. Where the cracks in the bricks of the dead end wall were. Where . . . the alley where Zero called his home, his true home. And, in the center of all of this, sat the metal garbage can. A fire was lit into it. Burning bright, flashing light throughout the whole area. And, a great contrasting warmth to the biting cold winds.
Matt then arrived, as Lecompte turned around to face him. Matt looked around, but, he realized, he saw no trace of Zero. Only the burning fire. And, before him, a man, Lecompte, who felt as if he'd been tricked. ))
" Where is he? You knew he was down here? Now . . . where is he? "
Lecompte:
(( And, finally, Matt didn't have to cover for anything. He honestly did not know. He looked up at Lecompte . . . ))
" I couldn't tell you if I wanted to now. "
Matt:
(( The headlights were coming closer. They had just turned onto Christie Road. Soon, the driver of the car would be upon the train tracks. Maybe the fog was thick enough. Maybe . . . it didn't matter any more.
The headlights came closer. Closer, they were running parralel to the train tracks. Soon, they would hit the curve in the road, and they would cross the train tracks. But, where were they heading? Who would be out on Christie Road right now?
Unless . . . they were on their way to Gilman. And, who would be on their way to Gilman right now? After his rather show and disappear at Hell Of A Show, it would most possibly be the HEW, trying to find answers that they would never get. How convenient it was to decide to leave the alley for a while.
The car made it's way to the train tracks. And, it almost came to a complete stop, as it passed over the tracks. The driver had to of been looking down the tracks . . . down the tracks, at this person who was sitting on the tracks in the night, amidst a cloud of low lying fog.
The signs were there. The tattoos on his right arm, holding his jacket in his hands. His eyebrow, lip, and ear rings, clearly in view. His hair, spiked and bleached a dull shade of white. Who this was was obvious up close. The man, the man who the person in the car was looking at, whether he knew it or not . . . was the one who everyone wanted to question. It was Zero, sitting alone on the train tracks, slowly inhaling as he took long, deep drags from his cigarette.
Slowly, the car passed by. Zero knew he had went detected, but it didn't matter. It could of been someone from the HEW in that car. It didn't matter. It could of been Karen, coming back to Berkeley to tell Zero how she really felt . . . the same as she used to feel. But, it didn't matter. All that mattered to Zero, was nothing.
Zero looked back over his shoulder, as he saw the car turn onto Gilman Street. Yes, he knew, it was definately someone from the HEW. Trying to talk to Matt, no doubt. Although, Zero knew Matt. He knew he wouldn't tell anything. What could he tell? Matt might try to hide something, but there was nothing to hide, for even Matt didn't know what was going on.
Only one man knew what was really going on. And that man wasn't in the mood to talk to anyone. It was the same man who had become so distraunt, that he had completely destroyed his apartment without thinking. It was the same man who had blindly been stabbed in the back one too many times.
Slowly, Zero spoke softly to himself. ))
" Time calls for a change. And with change, brings in new motives. It is only then, that the motives are revealed, and someone is there to show the way. Show how the motives are a farce.
Zero:
And, only then, will everything be clear. "
(( Zero took one last drag, and then flicked the cigarette onto the ground. Then, sitting there, and put his hands into his pockets, trying to gain warmth by curling up a little tighter.
It was the same man who had been beaten, betrayed, and used. It was the same man who had seeked love, only to be laughed at in the end. It was the same man who had been ridiculed as a child, only to fight his way out. It was the same man who had been almost put out of wrestling for good. And, it was the same man who had returned, seeking retribution. It was this man who had found it . . . only to have lost out in the end.
midi: "Infected" by Bad Religion