From the Ashes

The scene opens inside the same small shed that we left Jeremiah Christianson in last week. He's sitting in the same chair, fiddling with the same ropes on the chair. His head is down and you can hear him softly singing the words of “Amazing Grace” in a psychotic whisper. His fumbles a small, pocket sized Bible around in his hands.

Christianson (still singing in a mumbled tone): I was one was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind...but....now...I....see

With the word “see” Christianson's head snaps up and he looks into the camera with a sadistic smile. There's still a noticable gash on his forehead from last week's brutal fight with Demartinos. His left eye is purple and mostly swollen shut and the red eye has no white, it's simply filled with blood. His bottom lip is fat and there are scratches and scrapes all along the bridge of his nose.

Christianson: Thou may tear this temple down, but in three days, I shall raise it up again. Demartinos, I give you credit. Last week, you damaged my temple. Last week you pushed me more than I've been pushed in a long, long time. Last week, you took me to a place of physical agony that I haven't endured since the days of my youth, setting in this chair being beaten into submission. I commend you for what you managed to do; you took me back to a place in my mind that I've not visited in quite some time. Physically, you tore down this temple; but the spirit inside of me has quickened this body, and I have risen from anything that you could do to me. So Demartinos, I give you honor; I believing in giving honor to whom honor is do. You did well, but you couldn't seal the deal. My spirit was willing though my flesh was weak.

And now I find myself in a triple threat match. I've said since the very onset of this tournament that I'm not concerned with chasing a golden belt. You see, bad things happen to men who chase gold. I refuse to chase something that is soon going to melt away with a fervent heat. I'm not here to win titles, I'm only here to save you poor wretched souls. For the first time since my arrival, I finally have the opportunity to save more than one soul at a time. Finally I am being given the chance to take my redemption method to multiple souls at one time. This week, my congregation will be made up of Maxwell Lord and Miseria. The congregation may change, but the message remains the same. You can both be saved from yourselves.

Christianson opens up the small Bible in his hand and begins to read.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 says, "Vanities of vanities; all is vanity.” Maxwell Lord, men like you have existed since the very dawn of creation. Constantly in need of someone to stroke your precious ego, someone to make you feel as important as you believe yourself to be.

His voice begins to raise as he slams his hand down on the table.

At the very dawn of creation, the first family in the history of this world was destroyed by the same pride and vanity that consumes you. Eve was deceived by the serpent when she sought to fulfill the vain desires within her. Cain snapped into a murderous rage and slew his own brother because of the jealousy that vanity birthed into his life. Vanity has a history of making people do stupid things, and you're nothing more than vanity's latest victim.

Jeremiah calms himself and returns to his seat.

And Miseria, don't think that I've left you out of this message. Your big idea is to introduce me to misery? YOU are going to introduce ME to misery?! I've experienced more than my fair share of misery. The write of Ecclesiastes didn't forget you either Miseria.

Jeremiah looks back down into the Bible in his hands and begins to read.

Because to every purpose there is time and judgment, therefore the misery of man is great upon him. Your time has come. Thine judgment has come, Miseria. And now, because of that fact, YOUR misery will be great upon you. I will not be the one experiencing misery like never before. Much like Demartinos last week, you cannot possibly introduce me to more misery than I experienced in this chair. You cannot possibly take me to a place that I've not already been to inside of the walls of this building. But you see, Miseria, much like the phoenix rises from the ashes, I've risen above the misery that this building held for me.

On that note, Christianson strikes a match against his own blue jeans and holds it up in front of his bruised and battered face. He smiles his sick smile again and tosses the match over his shoulder. The back wall of the building immediately bursts into flames.

And when the ashes are all that remains, I shall rise again.

Christianson begins to walk out of the now burning building, stretches his arms out in the middle of the large grassy field as it burns.He looks into the camera once more.

I'm excited about our match, brethren. There's something holy about a trinity.

Christianson goes back to singing “Amazing Grace” as the camera fades to black with him standing in front of the blaze.