Getting Ready

~ Sitting in the back near a stack of boxes in the backstage area, Payne sits on the floor gently rocking back and forth as he stares almost blankly at the floor in front of himself, his powerful arms flexing and clenching slightly ~

Payne: "Don't... wanna... go..."

~ The camera pans back slowly, focusing in on the white heels and then the white stockinged legs of a woman before panning all the way out to show Payne's nurse, Heaven St. Cloud, sitting on the steel metal crate that is used as Payne's 'home' ~

Heaven: "Now, Payne. This is for your own good. Yes, Mr. Heart put you in the ring against a very strong opponent last time. But he took and slammed you against the table outside to wear you down, then he used that vicious finisher of his to take advantage of your weakened and poor condition. You were doing excellently with your therapy before then, now weren't you?"

Payne:(Nodding) "Yes... I hurt him,... then he hurt me,... so I hurt him more. The pain... will heal all."

Heaven:(Nodding as well) "Yes, that is right. Pain gives you strength. The pain is your friend, the pain will bring back your memories, bring back your life. The pain will heal all and then what? What will happen in the end of it all?"

Payne: "In the end,... there will be... only Payne."

Heaven:(Grinning wickedly) "Excellent. Now let us head to the ring. We can't keep Julito waiting, now can we?"