02/20/2024
✨️✨️✨️✨️FULL STORY✨️✨️✨️✨️
-BEYONDTHEBIGTOP-
THE OFFICIAL RIKA WILDLEE STORY-
Editedby: Referee Ember Nightshade
✨️✨️✨️CHAPTER ONE✨️✨️✨️
(Where It All Began!)
Many years ago there was a man named Richard Wildlee. He was raised like any other warm blooded american, he was a fine upstanding hardworking man. He was just another average joe trying to make a living for his family. He had a beautiful wife named Kelsey and a colorful son chalked full of personality named Rika.
One night in December, after finishing a delicious meal with the family, Richard was feeling worn out after a long hard day of work. With a full stomach and blood shot eyes Richard decided to go to bed early that night. He told his family goodnight, yawned and headed to the bedroom. He flopped down on his side of the bed and hugged the blanket tight. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Richard entered into a beautiful state of dreamland... One that would soon be disturbed by absolute horror.
Around 4 in the morning, his beautiful dreamland was interrupted by the sound of smoke alarms buzzing throughout the whole home. A sound that would forever haunt him. Richard scrambled out of his bed, his vision was still blurred from just waking up. He flung his door open, ran into the hallway, almost tripping over his own feet in the process. Once outside of his bedroom he could see down the long hallway, at the horror show that awaited him. The glowing inferno red light down the hallway made his eyes fill up with tears. The smoke from the fire danced around the entire house now. The smell made his stomach turn. He screamed out for his wife and son but they were nowhere to be found. This memory will forever be burned into his head... it was the horror show that he never wanted to be a part of and yet, he stood there holding the golden ticket to the live show happening before him. Half in panic, half in disbelief he somehow managed to make his way down the hallway, realizing the fire was bursting out of his son's room. Richard let out a bloodcurdling scream "RIKA"!!? By this time the whole house was engulfed with flames. Richard had no choice but to run outside of the front door even though every inch of his body told him to stay. Once he took a single step outside of the front door, the house started to collapse, not even thinking Richard jumped to safety. That fall was only a few feet but to him it felt like it was miles away. The instant that his body touched the cold snow from jumping out the front door Richard became instantly numb. His whole body was in shock. All he could do was lay there hugging the cold snow covering the earth. The only movements coming from his body were his shallow breathing and the endless shimmy tears dripping down his face falling on the snow. He wanted to scream but when he opened his mouth, nothing came out. Maybe it was from the smoke or the shock or both but his voice box just wouldn't work. However, on the inside all he could do was scream so loudly that it gave him a headache. Richard laid on the ground silently as the fire burning behind him raged on.
When daylight broke the night's sky, firemen and policemen had finally arrived at the pile of embers and ashes of the remaining skeleton of what was once a beautiful happy home. Unfortunately, the fireman had discovered that Richard's family had perished in the fire. They learned that the fire was caused by a faulty nightlight that was plugged up in Rika's bedroom.
You see soon after Richard had gone to bed, his wife went to read Rika his favorite bedtime story: Beyond The Bigtop, The Carnival Awaits. Kelsey had dozed off with Rika snuggled in her arms while they were laying in the bed. The firefighters had found the mom and young boy curled up together, her arms were wrapped around Rika's head trying to protect him from the unforgiving flames.
After finding out that he had truly lost his family, his home, his life, everything and yes, even himself. He searched high and low looking for something, really anything to help fill the void. Despite all his efforts that emptiness, that guilt, that damn buzzing sound would forever haunt him. Always remaining intact like a gnat that just won't go away. Nothing made the pain leave, nothing even seemed to come close to easing it. Day in and day out the pain seemed to grow stronger and deeper within himself. With his heart plagued by grief, it now beats at a different pace. He felt so lonely, so empty. Hallow. Everything he had was now gone all due to the unforgiving and heartless thief in the night.
A few months later, Richard had found a new home. Although, it isn't as comfortable, roomy... and happy as his last, it is still good enough for him. It's small but cozy and it has all of his basic necessities that he needs. Richard had rebuilt as much as he could with the hand he was previously dealt.
One day Richard decided to go browsing at a local store close to his new house. It was a thrift shop that sold antique and unique odds n' ins. While walking around the shop, out of the corner of his eye something grabbed his attention and pulled him in. Almost as if it was controlling him, Richard's feet glided across the floor. He had no control over them. When Richard's feet finally stopped, he couldn't believe what was in front of him... It was a book. He picked it up and gently rubbed his hand across the cover, wiping off the thick dust that was built on top of it. Richard couldn't believe that he was holding a copy of his son's favorite bedtime story again. Memories rushed back to his mind of all the times, they would sit down and would read that book together as a family. Happy memories of his family laughing and smiling. For the first time in a long time a huge smile became painted upon his face but only for a brief moment. As he flips through the pages something falls out of the book...
it's a red ticket which reads:
Come One, Come All!
To The Carnival Of Curiosities!!
Come See THE WONDER In All Of His Amazement!!
-Admit 1- 🎟️
Peculiar, Richard thought. Not giving the ticket a second thought, he shoved the ticket in the front pocket of his jeans, bought the book and made his way back home. While sitting in his chair in his new home, he starts to read: Beyond The Bigtop, The Carnival Awaits but for some reason the words are a little different then the one he remembers having. As he reads he starts to become very sleepy. Eventually he drifts off to sleep thinking of all the happy times Rika and he had while they read this story together...
As Richard sleeps, he dreams of wonderous things. He sees lights coming from behind a tent of some sort.
Very peculiar, he thought. As he walks closer the lights become brighter and the images become clearer....
'Welcome To The Carnival Of Curiosities! Witness The Wonder That Is The Sid3ShowFr3aks!"
As he steps up to the entrance of this magical wonderland, he sees a ticket booth. He remembers the ticket that he had put into his pocket earlier that day. When he takes it out a blacked out figure appears inside of the ticket booth. He hands over the ticket and is instantly transported to someone named 'The Wonder: A Magician of Amazing & Astonishing Abilities'
-Admit 1- 🎟️
Before Richard could say anything the magician told him that he knew why he was there. He told him that he could feel the horrible pains stewing inside of him, that there were dark haunted memories that had planted themselves deep down into the very bottom of his inner core. How they were feeding on him, like how a parasite would to an animal. That his soul was broken, dark and empty. He confirmed that of what he already knew himself, that it couldn't be cured... Then The Wonder grinned and said: "BUT it might possibly be returned..."
Richard's whole body went cold. Richard felt like he was about to fall down but instead he remained firmly planted into place. The Wonder spoke to Richard telling him about a way that he could regain the light back into his life... If he needs only accept the deal he had to offer... His beautiful loving wife... his bubbly sweet innocent son... he could have it all back... he could have THEM back and all of it for just a small fee...
Richard then cried out: "ANYTHING!! NAME YOUR PRICE, I'LL PAY IT!!!!! Do you want my soul?! Take it, it's yours!!! Whatever you want, take it! I'll give you whatever you want, if it means getting my family back, please, I beg of you, take anything you so desire."
Tears stream down Richard's face.
In return The Wonder halfway chuckled and then responded: "No! I don't want that broken beaten shell you call a soul... If you want your family back all I need is for you to help me keep this sideshow runnin'!! Don't dim a single light!!!!"
Richard thinking back to the faulty night light: "Yeah?? Is that all? I am not an electrician so, how do I go about doing that!?"
The Wonder smiles and says: "All you have to do is retrieve a piece of the essence from each of the wonderous colorful characters you come across for me to collect and put on display at the sideshow!!! Forever keeping the power of the carnivals lights shining bright... Always shinning. Forever shinning."
The Wonder's face turns serious as he asks: "Richard, do you accept this task of calling the lost freaks home?!!"
Richard responded: "Yeah, it's a deal but don't call me Richard... call me RIKA... Rika Wildlee."
With the shake of his hands and the flickering of lights Rika wakes up to the TV static roaring. The echo of The Wonder's laugh still bellows in the background. He turned off the TV and stared at his reflection. He checks himself out for a moment, slowly turning his head back and forth. He takes a hard look at himself. He thinks about how his life didn't pan out the way he thought it would. He thinks about how his once beautiful happy life was tarnished by unforeseen tragedy.
Still looking at his reflection in the TV, Rika isn't entirely sure why but he speaks the words out loud
"The Barker Of The Bizzare."
Rika didn't know if it was just a strange dream or if it was real but he was willing to try to find out. IF it was real he knew that from this moment here on out he was now indebted to The Carnival Of Curiosities. Striving towards his ultimate goal of regaining the lost love of his wife and son...
For they await
-Beyond The Big Top-
✨️✨️✨️CHAPTER TWO✨️✨️✨️
(Where Do You Go From Here?)
Rika thinks to himself:
How am I to collect these essence? Where do I start? Was it even real? Was it even possible to have my family back if I could somehow complete this task? It almost felt impossible. Am I going crazy?
Rika ponders this as he lays back looking up at the ceiling....
Rika watches the ceiling fan spin in circles. He can't stop thinking about this new found magic land and all the wonders and possibilities it holds... Bittersweet memories of his family flashes through his mind.
My life has fallen apart in so many ways when everything was stripped away from me that fatal night... is there a way to truly get them back??
How do you even go about collecting the essence of someone?
Rika fades into a deep sleep that night.
The next morning Rika awakes feeling excited for the new day, he jumps out of bed with a mission on his mind. Rika felt determined to get answers. He Immediately gets online and starts doing research, he doesn't find much however he does find a couple of recommended books that should be stored in the restricted section.
Rika decides to visit his local old town library where only the "high society types" go to read and do thier research. This place houses books going back hundreds of years. He sits in his car for a few moments trying to muster up the courage to go inside of the building. Rika sees a group of people getting ready to walk inside of the building, he sees his opening. He walks up casually behind them, trying to be inconspicuous as possible. Once he makes his way inside, Rika starts lightly browsing through the first row of books.
He makes his way towards the end of the row and he hears
"Hello Sir, how are you doing today? May I please see your library card?"
At first he doesn't realize that she is speaking to him then the librarian repeats herself. Rika turns around and looks at her confused. The librarian smiles at him
"Can I please see your library card, sir?"
Rika reaches his hand into his pocket then he looks her deep in the eyes and says with a sadden voice: "I must've lost it in the fire...."
*ALL OF A SUDDEN*
The lights got extremly bright and a few toward the back of the library flickered.
One bulb of the lights above the back door explodes and without missing a beat the librarian reachs down and undoes the clasp on her keychain and gives Rika her set of keys. Then she turns around and walks away as if nothing happened.
He looks down at the keys not understanding what the hell just happened but he knew that he didn't have time to dwell on it.
Rika begins to make his ways back through the study around the bookcases until he sees the back door. Above the doors a sign that reads "Restricted Section."
Not giving it a second thought he reached for the keys and started testing them one by one until finally he heard the loud crack of the key turning in the lock as it rang across the silent library.
Rika froze, his hair stood up on the back of his neck.
He stood there for a moment half expecting at any time he could be thrown off the property for trespassing... But when that doesn't happen and all seems clear Rika opened the door, it was heavy and made a loud creaking noise as he pulled it open. He hurried up and entered the room. He was determined to find out what secrets the room held. Rika started frantically pulling the books off of the shelves. Rika thinks to himself Nothing will stand in my way of getting them back!
Then out of the corner of his eye Rika sees two books, it's the books where recommend online. One is called "Spiritual Canning" and other one is "Energy Absorbing 101". He then quickly stuffed them under his jacket. Rika exits the room and makes a beeline towards the front door of the library.
But right before he can reaches the front door the librarian stopped him, smiles and asks: "Hello Sir, may I please see your library card?"
Rika feeling stunned and confused says: "Ma'am, I'm sorry, I must've left it at home. I'll go get it and come back later on today."
He exits the library, ran to his car and drove off as fast as he could. His heart pounded as though it was about to beat right out of his chest. When he finally turned home, Rika kicked off his shoes, took the books out of his jacket and placed them on the coffee table then he melted into his recliner while he tried to recollect himself.
Rika's mind swirled thinking of the strange events that just happened.
Was that The Wonder? Is he watching me?
After contemplating for a while Rika's stomach growled. He decided to fix himself a nice meal. After doing the dishes, Rika began to settle in for the night.
He grabs the books and makes his way to his bedroom.
He props his back against his pillow and cracks open one number one and begins to read. His mind opens to the wonders of how you can transfer the energy of spirit into dry electricity.
He thinks to himself: How am I gonna grib something that I can't physically grab? Who am I even going to collect from? Will it hurt them? Will it kill them!? I need to understand!!
As he thinks this over his eyes begin to get heavy and he slowly drifts off to sleep...
As he sleeps a darkness consumes his dreamstate. A long tunnel appears with millions of mirrors littered everywhere- all shades, shapes and sizes.
Like a deep echo in the night he heard a voice loud as thunder that shook him to the bone. It was a voice and a laugh that he knew in his soul that he better get used to hearing.
Rika yells:
"IS THAT YOU WONDER??? WHERE DO I START? WHO DO I COLLECT FROM?"
In that moment visions began to appear on of all of those mirrors. Bright lights and colorful characters doing all kinds of amazing things inside of a wrestling ring.
Rika yelled after realizing what he is now seeing "What does this have to do with anything!!?"
And from down the long mirrored tunnel came a reply...
The Wonder: "They are all freaks, Rika... They all belong here, just as you do. They have never known normality. Step between those ropes and all your worries will be over... All of your questions will be answered. You need to collect from each character you defeat. Once you do then we will forever have displays for the our glorious sideshow. Their essence will keep the lights bright... Forever."
Rika hesitantly asked: "And If I don't win!?"
The Wonder responsed: "Your pathetic existance will then be no more and you will meet with your family again... just not in the way you desire."
The Wonder now starts to yell:
"SO GO RIKA, GO NOW!! BRING THEM ALL HOME!!!"
The Wonder laughs as the mirrors start to shatter.
One by one the mirrors collapse in on Rika... he starts feeling the burns of the shattered glass cutting his skin.
(BREATHING HEAVY) He then wakes up in a cold sweat...........
The TV static fills his bedroom. Just as Rika reaches for the TV remote the station becomes clear.
A local commercial beings to play:
**WELCOME FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE UWE ACADEMY!!
HI, I'M DAPPER DAN AND WE ARE THE UNITED WRESTLING ENTERTAINENT PRO WRESTLING ACADEMY AND THIS IS YOUR WAKE UP CALL!! ..
DO YOU WANNA MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR LIFE!? ..
DO YOU WANNA SEE YOUR NAME UP IN LIGHTS!? ..
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO GO FACE TO FACE WITH THE BEST PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HAS TO OFFER!?..
WELL CALL NOW AND JOIN THE UWE WRESTLING ACADEMY AND SEE HOW PRO WRESTLING COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE... 1.768.324.7698!!..
He mutes the TV...
WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN GLUED TO THE TELEVISION HE SAYS OUTLOUD....
"I KNOW WHAT I HAVE TO DO NOW!!"
Rika grabs his phone and dials the number slowly, each beep loudly echoes inside of his head...
*Ring*......*Ring*......*Ring*.....
A male voice answers: "Hello, UWE Wrestling Academy!?"
Rika Replies: "Yes. Hi, um, I'm calling for information about the academy. I'd like to try out to join the wrestling business...."
The male voice respondes: "Certainly! Well son, come on down to our next try outs and let's see what you got!"
Rika: "Thank you, Sir and don't worry I'll be there!!"....
✨️✨️✨️✨️CHAPTER THREE✨️✨️✨️✨️
(The First Step Is The Hardest.)
Rika's mind races wildly thinking of the dream and the commercial. After that Rika couldn't go back to sleep. His mind was too busy thinking of everything that he would have to do to regain his family. He knew that he would stop at absolutely nothing to achieve this. Rika would stop at no limits to achieve this. Rika tossed and turned in his bed unable to get comfortable. Finally he sits up. He grabbed the book that sparked so many emotions within him: "Beyond The Bigtop, The Carnival Awaits" Rika stares at the cover for a few minutes. He rubs his fingertips over the cover of the book. He then flips it open to the first page. He begins to read silently to himself. He gets lost in the pages and eventually in his thoughts again. With each turn of a new page Rika's eyes become heavier and before he even realizes it, he dozes off but his slumber was anything but peaceful. Constantly tossing and turning while catching glimpses fading in and out of bright carnival lights. The lights begin to appear faster and faster until eventually he is transported into a strange room that almost seemed like a huge never-ending warehouse. He sees endless rows of jars of all shapes and sizes with mirrors behind each of them. He sees flickering lights trapped inside of them buzzing around like trapped fireflies inside. Some lights were brighter than others but each one serving it's own purpose, shining in it's own unique way. Rika begins to walk down the rows of the flicking lights. He stares at them, trying to take each one of them in, appreciating each of their unique beauty. His head fills with curiosity with each new light he sees. He does this for what seems like an eternity. Then suddenly behind him the strobe of the carnivals lights starts to slowly appear again. As he turns around to look at the colorful lights, the jars of the flicking lights slowly fades away. Until eventually he awakes from his dreamstate. The warm sun fills his bedroom. Restless, Rika sits up and yawns. He sits on the edge of the bed and listens as the world starts the day. Birds singing their sweet good morning songs, people talking, children laughing, car doors slamming. Cars passing in the street... Rika then realizes that if not for these noises his home would be deafeningly silent. He frowns a little at the realization of that thought. He stands up and stretches. Tired but feeling determined Rika thinks to himself: "Today is the day... The day that everything changes." Rika feels something that he hasn't felt in a very long time... Hope. He smiles, stands up and looks down at his feet. The book he was reading had fallen on the floor and was flipped open to a certain page. He was taken back by what he saw. It was opened to a page that read: "We all have a part to play inside of the carnival, you just have to find out what yours is. What suits you best!? Who are you!?"
A single tear fell from his face onto the page. Rika picked the book up gently closed the book and put it carefully on his bed. He stared at it for a second then collected his thoughts. Rika decided that he needed a quick cold shower to help wake him up. He jumped in the shower, letting the cool water run on him. The cool water felt good on his face. After he was done with his shower, he hurried up, got dressed in some workout clothes and headed out the door to the training academy. When Rika stepped outside the sun embraced him with a warm hug and he just smiled. Driving towards the academy his mind became consumed with so many different thoughts. Worry, nervousness, fear, doubt, excitement... Oh, what wonders this new adventure awaited for him!! All the possibilities swirled around in his mind dancing around like the fireflies that were in the jars. As he drives he starts to question himself and his ability to make this whole thing happen BUT he knows in his heart that this is the only way to make it all right again!! He will stop at nothing to make it happen!!
As he gets closer to the training academy the clouds slowly swallow the sun. A light drizzle falls down for the sky. With each passing mile the rain becomes heavier and heavier. Making it difficult for his windshield wipers to keep up with the heavy rain and also making it difficult for him to see. When he finally arrives at the training academy the sky opens up all the way with a loud thunderous crack across the sky. The rain pours down so hard it almost blocks out the view of the building completely. A huge lightning bolt lit up the whole sky! In that moment he could see the training building perfectly. It was there waiting for him to come inside, waiting for him to find out what possibilities it has hiding inside of it.
He sat in his truck for awhile, waiting for the rain to let up a bit. Glued to his seat, Rika watches as the angry sky rains down mother nature's green earth. Just waiting and thinking. A huge crash of thunder makes him snap him out of his thoughts. In the flashes of lightning he can swear that he can see a carnival tent within the dark clouds. He knew that it was The Wonder telling him to go inside of the building!! The rain finally slowed down at that moment. He hopped out of his truck, stepping in a puddle of water, he ran towards the door! As he grabbed the door handle, he paused for a second, took a deep breath and pulled it open.
He stepped inside and shook off the rain droplets from his body. He was greeted by two guys that were standing off to the side of the room. "Hello!" they both said simultaneously. "Oh, um, hi!" Rika replied back to them nervously. Two young guys were inside of the wrestling ring training while another older gentleman was standing on the apron watching the two men. Rika walked towards the ring. He stood there observing their footwork. He waited until the two men inside of the ring were ready to take a break then he nervously walked behind the older gentleman and introduced himself.
Rika: "Hello, Sir! My name is Richard. Richard Wildlee but you can call me Rika Wildlee... Or just Rika. I was wondering how do I go about joining this academy?"
The gentleman turned around, jumped down from the apron and said: "It's nice to meet you, Kid. Rika? Hmm!! My name is Dap! Dapper Dan.. It's great to see a fresh face here! Before we talk further about signing you up, let's see if you're prepared to take all that pro wrestling can give!!" Dap smiled and said: "Step into the ring!" Rika slowly walked up to the ring. He touched the canvas for the first time, it felt differently than he had imagined. He nervously slapped the mat feeling how tough the ring truly was. He thought to himself: And they said it was all fake!? He chuckles softly to himself as he takes off his wet shoes. He climbs onto the apron, he wipes his feet then slowly steps inside of the ropes, feeling a rush that overcomes his whole body!! A sense of electricity rushes through him!!
The two guys that were previously inside of the ring take turns showing Rika the basics of wrestling. They tossed him around for about an hour teaching him how to take different bumps and how to work the ring. While Dapper Dan watched silently from the ring apron. While he ran the ropes Rika felt more alive than he had in years... It was unlike anything that he had felt before. His mind was clear, his adrenaline was pumping, he was coved in sweat. He felt amazing. He felt alive. Then he hears Dap say: "Well, I think I have seen enough. With a little polishing... I think we can work with you! After you get cleaned up we will do some paperwork."
Rika's nerves are completely gone. He's so excited he feels like a kid again. He can barely contain his composer. He thanks the other wrestlers for all of their help. He grabs the ropes tight one last good time before he climbs out of the ring. Despite feeling completely exhausted, all he wanted to do was get back inside of the ring. He puts back on his shoes and walks down a dimly lit hallway to the back office that's tucked off behind the training center he knocks on the door. "Enter!" Dap calls out to him. "I have all of the paperwork ready to go! All you have to do is sign it but before you do I just want to make sure that you are 100% sure about joining. This business is a lot of hard work, it takes a lot of your free time away. It demands your full attention and dedication, Rika."
Rika thinks to himself: Well, I can't tell him why I HAVE to do this, he would think that I'm crazy.
Rika simply responded: "Yes, Sir! I know it'll be a lot of hard work but I assure you that I am 100% dedicated to making this happen. I want this more than anything. I need to do this, I have to do this."
Dapper smiled at Rika:
"Okay, Kid! I see something great in you, Rika. I don't know what but there's something there. I think you'll be great one day!! I can see big things, yes, big things in store for you. I just have a gut feeling. Ya know? But don't let me get your head too big." Dap laughs. "There's much to be done, there's much for you to learn. It won't be easy but with a lot of hard work and heart, I think you'll be great... Maybe even amazing!"
Dap clears his throat: "Welcome aboard, Rika, sign here! Oh and Rika, try to invest in some good gear. Something that you can move comfortably in."
After Rika writes his name he looks out of the window, it's now night, the rain has cleared up and the fireflies dance around outside of the window seal. Rika smiles and walks outside to his truck. He sits there for a few moments staring at the academy building. He soaks in this feeling, taking in every bump. An overwhelming sense of calmness washes over him. Rika smiles. "Today is the day! The day that everything changes... For us, I will give this my all. I will not fail, I cannot fail. I have to make this work."
✨️✨️✨️✨️CHAPTER FOUR✨️✨️✨️✨️
( The Journey)
After what seems like the longest drive in his life, Rika finally makes it home after an eventful day at the academy. Every bump he took and every word he heard were still rattling fresh in his mind. He blows out a long winded breath. He begins to take off his shoes, as he does this a new part on his body starts aching on his beaten up body. Rika starts reminiscing on every bump he took. Almost as if he is studying every single one of them in his mind. Playing each of them on repeat. He sees the canvas burns and the bruises scattered along his body. His knees are already a purplish red color. His shoulders and back look as though an artist has painted them. Beautiful painful art was created on his body. A form of art that he already carved more of. Although, Rika's body is hurting and he is completely exhausted Rika knows that this is only the beginning. A start of something magical. So much more pain, more bruises, more burns, more cuts and scrapes is yet to come because he knows that's what makes the warrior strong.
Rika finally snaps back to life. Finding the strength to pull himself out of the depths of his mind. Stumbling at first, Rika finally finds his footing, each step hurting more than the last. He goes into the bathroom and starts to run a bath of scalding hot water to help his aching muscles. As he stares into the bathroom mirror and it slowly starts to fog up. Distorting his reflection. He turns back to the bathtub and manages to climb in.
As he sits in the tub he watches as the water rises slowly to the top. As the water fills up the steam fills the bathroom. He shuts off the water faucet and lays back into the tub trying to submerge as much of his body under the water as he possibly can. Just as he is about to close his eyes to relax, he hears a voice speaking through the steam...
Voice: "Rika, I see your will to do this. I feel passion and determination burning inside of you. It's radiating from your very core. But will this be the thing that finally brings your family home?"
Despite the scolding hot water he immediately receives chills all over his body. His breathing speeds up, his heart races. But as fast as the voice appeared it seemed as if it disappeared just as fast. The room grows eerily quiet. Suddenly, the intense silence is broken by the loud drips from the excess water falling into the tub from the water faucet.
Thinking to himself:
I have never heard the voices while I'm awake, am I going crazy?! Get a hold of yourself.
He nervously calls out. "Hello? Is there somebody here??" He listens for a minute, looks around the bathroom not seeing nor hearing anything.
"Get it together, Rika. You're just exhausted." Trying to brush it off after not gaining a response, in efforts to try to clear his mind and relax he dips his head underneath the warm water. But as soon as his head becomes fully submerged the voice he heard echoes through his mind as clear as day!
Again the voice returns...
Voice: "Rika, you must find a fire inside yourself to succeed. A drive beyond the simplistic reason of returning your lost family's love. This push must be for more than your own hearts desires! It must become your purpose! You may have accepted the task with the ultimate goal being the return of the love you once had. The love you tragically lost! The love that was stolen from you from the unforgiven flames! BUT there is so much more that this new found world of wonder you've yet to discover has to offer! A world of possibilities. OH, such wonders that are here, Rika!! All you have to do is reach out and open your mind. Don't let lost love be the blindfold that makes you fail. Don't let lost love be the reason that makes you lose them forever!"
Rika raises frantically from the water, choking on water, gasping for air. It seems like he had been beneath the surface for hours. The water that was once hot and relaxing is now freezing cold. Rika's head swirls with a million questions. He jumps out of the tub, dripping with water, he quickly grabs a towel and wraps it around himself. As he looks up into the mirror, which is still somehow distorted with fog. He sees a clown face. He quickly wipes the fog away only to see his own reflection looking back at him. Goosebumps covers his body, and a shiver runs along his spine. He looks at the beaten, broken shell of the man that looks back at him. He was once a husband and father, now he is only a confused lonely shell of a man. A man who would do anything for just one more moment with his family...
As he looks into the mirror he sees what he has become and how he has let himself go. As he stands there it all just comes flooding back like a dam that has just been released in his mind. All the beautiful memories, all of the sweet moments, come crashing down like waves crashing on an ocean's sand bank. It all just seems like it's been a lifetime ago now. As he looks In the mirror thinking of all the cherished moments; like teaching his son how to properly wash his hair, how he should get his towel and clothes laid out and ready before getting into the bathtub. How his son would stand by his side watching him as he shaves, studying his father's every movement.
*Richard looking down to Rika: "Against the grain, son. Always."*
Then he would put a little shaving cream on Rika's face, letting him "shave" with a plastic toy razor from the playskool shave kit he got for Christmas when he was 5 years old. As Kelsey peeked through the doorway watching her boys as they bonded and made memories that would last forever. Richard never realized just how important these small little moments would become. He felt insanely guilty for not truly living in these moments and appreciating them as they were happening. At the time he just viewed it as just another nightly routine before going to bed. He thought about how a family built on love is now nothing more than just a distant memory carried on by one.
Rika snaps back to reality, rubs his chest above where his heart is. He brushes his teeth then gargles some peppermint mouthwash afterwards. He grabs some shaving cream and his razor. He turns his head to get a good look at just how grown out his beard has gotten.
He signs. Then he begins to shave his overgrown beard that he has used to help hide his pain and tears for so long. On the last stroke, a single tear rolls down his cheek and Rika mumbles the phase...
"Against the grain, Rika. Always."
He turns on the faucet and washes his face. He turns off the light and leaves the bathroom. He heads down the hallway and heads towards the closed door to his bedroom. He stops dead in his tracks when he sees a bright colorful light shining from underneath the door frame. When watches as the lights move on the hard wood floor. The lights sway almost as if they're moving in a pattern at first, then chaotically the next.
Rika thinks to himself: Did I leave the TV on? No, it wasn't on... or was it? What the hell is happening? I'm going crazy. I have to be... Right!?
Then he slowly starts hearing the muttering of people speaking, games being played such as people would play at the carnival and the old-timey jingles of amusement park music. The noises grow louder as he slowly walks up to the door. The music becomes clearer each step he takes. As he stands right outside of his bedroom door he can now hear everything as clear as day. The noises are those of people who are playing carnival games. They cheer and chant as they win. Their friends around them all celebrate in their victory. Feeling highly confused and slightly scared, he extends his hand for the doorknob. His hand trembles uncontrollably. He grips the doorknob tightly. The lights continue to flash at his feet. Nervously, he decides to open the door slowly not being entirely sure if he's really ready to find out what awaits him on the other side. But he has to see if he is losing his mind. He needs answers, he needs to find out if he is going crazy or not.
He takes a deep breath, he turns the doorknob slowly, he carefully pushes the door open and takes a big step back. A bright light fills the once darkened hallway with beautiful bright lights in the front of him. The lights blind him. They completely engulfed him and yet somehow the hallway behind him becomes completely engulfed in darkness...
✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️CHAPTER 5✨️✨️✨️✨️✨️
( Blinded )
Blinded by the flashing lights he steps into the doorway. He immediately tries flipping off and on the lightswitch but it aids no effect. He focuses in on the blinding light and suddenly, all of his nerves are washed away by a warm feeling of comfort... by the feeling of home. A feeling that he has been searching for ever since he was reminded of it by the book. Unsure why but he feels a strong connection to the light. He fully steps into the light and absorbs it all. As the light fills his pores and shines all over him a feeling of home washes over him. He let's out a sigh of relief and let's the light transport him back to a familiar place. As the light fades away he finds himself transported back to his old home, where him and his family used to live together. He stands inside of the bedroom where his wife and him once shared. He stands there for a few moments taking it all in. While appreciating where he is at, confusion starts to set in. After fully realizing where he stood fear started to set in. He stood there scared to move even a muscle, scared that it might all fade away. He steadies his breathing. Then he hears a faint sound of talking coming from down the hallway. Carefully, he walks out of the bedroom into the hallway and listens carefully as to where the talking is coming from. He stands there as he laser focuses in where he hears the sound coming from. He suddenly realizes that the sound is coming from the bedroom that was once his son's. He quickly and quietly makes his way down the hallway and stops immediately at the door way. The door is half way cracked open, allowing him to slightly peek inside. As he stands there listening to the sweet heavenly sound coming from the room, tears began to wet his eyes. With both of his feet planted dead in his tracks he stands there motionless listening to that sweet sound that he has longed to hear for so long... The sound of his gorgeous wife, Kelsey, reading to their son fills the atmosphere, as she reads 'Beyond The BigTop, The Carnival Awaits' to their son. Rika can't exactly see them but he can hear both of them clearly. Rika can even smell Kelsey's shampoo, coconut, spilling out from the room. He can't help but to let out a small gasp. Then the sound of his son's sweet laughter begins to pour out of the bedroom as his mother reads him a funny line from the pages of the book. Tears now stream down his face and fall on the floor around him. Not even giving it a second thought Rika reaches to push the door open, eager to see his family once again but just before his finger tips can even touch the door, a cold shiver travels down the middle of his spine and goosebumps invade his body.
He lowers his hand and stands there listening intently as his sweet wife's voice changes from being sweet and angelic to completely deadpan. He hears Kelsey say: "We must embrace this world of the bizzare. Collecting them all to keep the lights ever so bright. That's the goal, Rika. That's the goal, isn't it?"
As he hears this he knows this isn't from the book. They have read this book so many times that he knew the book by heart and he knew that wasn't in the book. He knew that wasn't apart of the story that him and his family knew and loved. Suddenly, a bright beam of light shines out of the room and it blinds him momentarily; forcing him to shut his eyes and cover his face with is hand. When he finally manages to reopen up his eyes, the sight before him makes his knees weak. The blood from his body rushes to his feet all at once. He becomes ghostly pale white. The sweet aroma that had just filled the air is now replaced with an overwhelming pungent smell that seems to just slaps him in the face of burnt flesh, smoke and burnt caramelized wood. He can't believe that he is back there, reliving that dreadful night again... That he has lost his family yet again. Rika's stomach drops and turns sour. The room that once held his son's imagination of a creatively painted bright world now only holds a world gone grey and the charred remains of his family on a spring fielded metal bed frame. The only light remaining is that of the still warm glowing embers radiating from the ash covered wood. His son's door lays in a pile of ashes at his feet, his toys lay melted and destroyed. His bed is just a grave of ashes, metal and bones. Sitting on the edge of the metal bed, next to his families remains is a cloaked figure looking down at the smoke rising up off of them. As Rika watches the smoke twirl up into the air, he can't help but to feel as if the smoke is going right into his lungs filling them with their toxic poison, making it difficult for him to breathe. As Rika begins to choke on the toxic fumes, the cloaked figure begins to speak. He slowly turns to look up at Rika: "You must not forget."
The cloak figure then begins to slowly take off his hood revealing what he truly looks like underneath it all.
Rika instantly knew who was underneath the cloaked hood it was none other than The Wonder.
Feeling completely frustrated with the events that he cannot control Rika screams at The Wonder: "Why must you do this to me!!? What's the purpose of bringing me back here and making me relive this horror!!?"
The Wonder replies in a very matter of fact tone of voice: "You see, Rika, we are all born with a destiny. Sometimes they can be devastating, sometimes they can be happy. Some of them you never get past but overall, you must go through these lessons to find your true purpose in this life." After listening to the wonders cold reply Rika lowers his chin and begins to sob. He whispers under his breath: "All I wanted was to keep them happy... Keep them safe." Standing in the doorway with his eyes blurry from the tears trickling down his face, Rika then hears his wife's soft sweet voice say: "We know you did, Richard." He then feels a soft touch of her hand gently lifting his chin up. She gently wipes the tears away from his eyes. Rika becomes absolutely speechless as he realizes that it's his wife, Kelsey, standing before him once again. All the way from her shoes, to her waist and up to her beautiful long brown hair, it's HER! Her beautiful face and her dark chocolate brown eyes stare back into Rika's. Rika stared at her in pure disbelief. Rika: "It's you!" Rika's face is so puffy and swollen from crying that he can't help but to blink a few times. Through the blinks he sees Kelsey's face contort and reconfigure into another. When he tries to refocus in on her gorgeous face that was just before him, it is now just turned into the face of The Wonder.
He then begins to speak in a thunderous voice: "RIKA, THEY'RE WAITING!!!!!!!" He suddenly feels a cold rush to the middle of his chest, as if he had just got kicked right in the middle of it and thrown back into the hallway. Everything that was just around him vanishes. As the darkness overtakes everything, Rika, slips into a state of unconsciousness.
*BEEP*BEEP*BEEP*
A loud alarm seeps into his subconscious, jolting him awake. He finds himself lying on the floor right outside of his bedroom door with a smoky haze filling the air. He jumps to his feet and rushes it to the kitchen where the sound is coming from. He opens the oven and pulls out the pizza that he had in oven. Which is now a perfect shade of charcoal black. He turns the oven alarm off and cleans up the mess. He checks the clock and to his surprise it had only been an hour. Although it seems like he was sleeping for days. Surprisingly, there wasn't a fire. He sits on the barstool trying to make sense of all this craziness. Finally shaking back into reality, Rika feels a sense of determination wash over him and a sense of urgency to head to the gym. He grabs his keys and his gear bag and heads towards the door. He throws his gear in the back seat of his truck and rolls down all of his windows. He turns the music all the way up and peels out of his driveway.
