one hundred one... one hundred two... one hundred three...

Viktor Crumswell yawns as he rolls out of bed. He scratches his big belly through his small t-shirt. He stands up and yawns again. He grabs a pair of shorts and throws them on. He walks out into the kitchen and pulls out a box of Cocoa Puffs and a jug of milk that they had bought earlier in the week. This was Saturday morning. Viktor and LH had spent the week visiting LH's other family members including LH's children and LH's father. The kiddos hugged their dad and began crying in his arms. They thought they were never going to see their dad again. Viktor hangs his head as he remembers. He feels incredibly responsible for everything that has happened to LH over the last two weeks. His wife is leaving him, his mother died thanks to their kidnapping, and now his kids are going to be kept by his wife. At least she said that she'd let LH visit whenever he could. His dad seemed cold, but understanding of what LH was going through at the very least.

one hundred fifteen... one hundred sixteen... one hundred seventeen...

Viktor pours the cereal into the bowl and pours some of the milk on top of it. He swirls it around with a spoon and walks through the house. He looks in LH's bedroom and it's empty. He checks the living room and bathroom to reveal the same. Did he leave without him, Vicktor wonders. He walks outside to reveal the rental car that is still sitting there. He scratches his belly as he takes a bite of some cereal. He thinks and hears a distant sound.

one hundred thirty-one... one hundred thirty-two... one hundred thirty-three...

Viktor follows the sound and walks around to the back of the house. There he sees LH Harrison with a chain around his neck connected to a five pound weight. Also LH Harrison has his feet lifted on a stool about a foot off the ground. He pushes himself through the pushups in the 100 degree humid weather of Hope, Arkansas. His shirt is absolutely drenched and his face is dripping sweat. All of this and he's still counting...

one hundred forty-six... one hundred forty-seven... one hundred forty-eight... one hundred forty-nine...

LH feels someone's presence and turns his head. He notices Viktor standing there with a bowl of cereal in his hand. LH stops and jumps up. He breathes out deeply and stretches his torso from side to side. He slaps his shoulders and removes the weight. Viktor looks at him and laughs. "You aren't going to finish?" LH looks at him as if he doesn't understand. "You did 149 pushups but you couldn't do one more?" LH laughs and sets the weighted necklace on the stool.

I prefer to keep it a nice odd number. Leaving it as an odd number makes me more inclined to come back and finish it later or, likely, add more to it. Oh and because it'll drive Gator crazy.

LH winks and laughs. Viktor shakes his head and says, " You seem awfully happy for a guy in your situation." LH stops laughing and grows serious. He scratches the back of his head.

What do you mean, Viktor? I should stay around the house mourning my mother for two months? I should walk around the house eating ice cream and watching sad movies because I got kicked out of my own house? I should sit around and lament over this new wound on my chest?

LH takes off his shirt and throws it in the dirt. He rubs a hand over the marks. Viktor frowns at the showing of the mark he felt so responsible for.

Do you know who I am, Viktor? I'm a monster. I'm an always-evolving monster. No matter what the world thrusts in my face, I take it and learn how to better prepare myself for the future. I loved my mother, but she wouldn't want me sitting around the house wasting my time dwelling on her passing. I love my family, but the only thing I can do to win them back is to evolve. I've got to learn how to separate my home life from my work life. As all-encompassing as the XWF is, It's essential that I can separate the two. And I think... the only way to separate them is to become better. To become stronger and better in the ring so they don't become targets. I have to become the man I know I can be. As for this wound... it's now a part of me. It represents the war that I've waged through to get to where I am. I am The Inspiration, and I am The Cleanser of Madness. I have a duty and responsibility to both my family and my fans. I have to be better. I can't keep getting swept up by the workplace.

Viktor looks at him and nods his head. "I will follow you Harrison. I will follow you and help you inspire the world to do better. I just thought you would take a minute to collect yourself." LH shakes his head and places his hands on hips.

Viktor. It's been three days since I was told that my mother passed away and my wife was kicking me out of the house. It's time to get back to business. I can't keep waiting.

LH walks out into the yard and sets up a lawn chair on one side of the yard and sets the other lawn chair on the other side. It's approximately fifteen to twenty yards across. LH sets up in 'preparation to run' stance. He takes off across the yard and touches the bottom of the chair. He instantly takes off for the table across the yard and touches the other chair's leg at the ground level. He bounces between the two for what seems like an eternity as Viktor watches on. LH finally stops as he staggers to the center of the field. He bends over and tries to catch his breath. The sweat is pouring down his face and his chest. He stands up straight and walks back towards the house. He holds a hand up and Viktor gives him a high five. LH stops before he gets to the door and flips open his phone. He goes to the text messaging portion of his new phone.





But first, I have to give a Knight his honorable discharge.