I do not own WWE the wrestlers or Divas just the storyline plot and any oc character who may show up within the story.
Author's note: This is a new story much like how my other WWE stories are, and are not connected to any of them in any way. Instead I thought I would take this in a somewhat of a new direction while still adding in Bray Wyatt and the Authority. For those of you who have read my WWe stories please let me know what you would like to see happen next. If you want Roman to have his powers like he does in Lockdown Asylum for example, or if you want this one to be a little more realistic then please let me know. I would love to get your feedback. It is greatly appriciated.
Bold underlined – Chapter Titles/Character's Perspective
Bold Italics – Memories
Bold italics underlined - Song lyrics
Italics – Thinking (In thought)
Italics underlined - Dean hallucinating/Bray inside his brain
Previously on Shadow of Darkness -"That's just like you Roman. Always the sensible one who like to play by the rules. The powerhouse, The big dog and yet when I needed you where the hell were you? Oh yeah you and Seth decided to leave me behind and leave me in the fucking dust." There was the voice again whispering in my ear as I looked around calling out, "It's Bray again. I can hear him. Do you see him?"
"See I told you Roman he obviously needs a reality check." Seth's voice came out harsh and angry and all I could do was just shake my head and mutter out, "No no it's not me. It's Bray. He's here he's in my head making me say these things. Please believe me."
Seth rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Yeah sure he is Ambrose. Maybe the WWE is right about you, maybe deep down you really are a lunatic fringe."
"No, no Seth please I'm telling you the truth. This isn't me I would never say those things."
"Forget it Dean. As far as I'm concerned from now on it's every man in the Shield for himself."
"No Seth wait!" I cried out frantically as I watched my brother turn his back toward me and started walking out the door as I turned to Roman who just stared at me for a second not saying a word but the look in his eyes shone with hurt and confusion.
"You really need people around you like them? You really are as pathetic as I thought."
I sat up in bed like a bolt of lightning eyes darting around the room searching for a sign of Bray.
"Where the hell are you coward? Show yourself Bray I know it's you messing with me."
i heard the sound of deranged laughter and let out a growl of frustration.
"Knock it off Bray I know it's you messing with me and it's not going to work anymore."
Just then A silhouetted shadow caught my eye as I turned my head and saw the appearance of someone suddenly standing at the foot of my bed.
"Hello Dean." The voice said as I suddenly let out a soft gasp of shock as I now recognized the figure standing before me.
It was me!
"I'm you. The part of you that you've been keeping hidden locked away. I'm the shadow of darkness that lives inside you. I suppose you can say that I'm the real Dean Ambrose. You? Your nothing but a pathetic coward who needs to rely on your friends to make it to the top."
"Nothing wrong with that is there?" I asked. "Friends have your back."
"Doesn't seem like that from where I was standing." The imposter replied.
"Seems like Roman and Seth really don't need you after all. Maybe Bray was right this entire time. Guess you should've listened to him when you had the chance."
"It won't matter." I said. "Because there's no way in hell that you are me. I would never say things like that to Roman or Seth."
The imposter laughed and his blue eyes shimmered. "So you say and yet the words came out of your mouth did they not."
That's when it hit me. Everything I had said to Roman and Seth had come from him first. It felt as though he had somehow taken ahold of me and made me say those things to them.
"I'm guessing by your reaction that your starting to put two and two together aren't you?" The imposter asked with a laugh.
"Although, taking over your body isn't the only thing I plan on taking."
"Like I said before, I'm the shadow of darkness that lives inside you and now it's time for the world to see who the real you truly is. The real lunatic fringe I suppose you can say."
"What makes you think that I'm just gonna allow you to do that?" I asked my eyes flashing momentarily to the blade in the imposter's hand.
"Because you don't have a choice." The imposter raised his hand above me and the next thing I felt was a sharp piercing pain that felt like my entire body was on fire. Black spots began to fill my vision and all I saw was nothing but darkness unaware of what was going to happen next.
NOW...
Chapter 3 - Hidden Darkness
All I saw was nothing but pure darkness when I woke up after what seemed like hours. I found myself floating and for a second or two I could have sworn I was dead, but if that was the case why did it seem like my body was somehow moving?
I looked around and saw nothing but darkness until I heard a voice say, "Mr. Ambrose, what are you doing up? you should be resting."
I opened my mouth to try to speak as I recognized the voice belonging to one of the doctors that was taking care of me.
The doctor's blue eyes were staring at me in both shock and confusion as i opened my mouth and replied in a deep voice, "I'm signing myself out of this hell hole doc."
What the hell? Did that really just happen? I couldn't believe those very words had tumbled out of my mouth. What the hell was happening to me?
"I don't believe that's a wise move Mr. Ambrose you should be resting."
"I'm fine doc. Now where the hell are the damn papers so I can get myself out of here?"
The doctor looked taken aback as well as he blue eyes still shone with shock as he then handed me a clipboard he had been holding in his left hand along with a pen and I signed the papers with my signature then forced the clipboard back into the doctor's hand and began walking down the hallway. I was almost at the front doors of the hospital when I suddenly found myself being stopped by Roman.
"Dean, listen to me what Seth said was way out of line okay? He didn't mean it."
"Out of my way I don't have time to listen to your bullshit. Besides thought you said we needed a break from each other for a while." I tried to move out of his way but felt his hand clamp down on my shoulder pulling me back to look at him.
"Dean come on man stop shutting us out. If you really believe that Bray is doing this to you then let us help you okay? Please bro."
"My name isn't Dean and I'm not your bro anymore." Was all I heard myself reply while I mentally screamed inside my head, "Don't listen to him Ro ! I swear to god it's not me! Something is seriously wrong with me please help me!"
I heard Roman let out a sigh of frustration and moved out of the way to let me past. I took a final glimpse of him over my shoulder at him as I walked out the hospital doors and managed to flag down a taxi.
"Where to?" The driver asked looking at me from the mirror. I gave the cabbie the directions to my house and immediately began texting Renee to let her know I was okay and what had happened but she didn't respond back or even try to call me.
Man she must be pissed. I thought taking in a deep breath I turned my phone off and laid my head back against the seat and closed my eyes my mind feeling like a jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings swirling through me like a hurricane. Nothing was making sense and I didn't know what to feel or think anymore. My body began to feel numb to everything around me as if I was starting to become detached to everything inside me. Thoughts of Roman and Seth swirled inside my brain but I didn't feel anything. No guilt for how I treated them, No sense of accountability for my actions toward either of them, no emotions whatsoever. Was this really how I felt deep down? Did I really not need them anymore?
Just then I felt myself being jolted back to reality by the sudden vibration of my phone. Staring at it in confusion as I'd thought I had turned it off, I looked at the caller ID and saw that it was from an unknown number. Realizing the number could possibly be coming from either Vince or even Hunter I decided to answer it anyway.
"Hello? This is Moxley." I said gruffly as I cleared my throat as the voice on the other end replied, "Moxley? I thought I was speaking to Dean Ambrose."
Realizing the person speaking to me was neither Vince nor Hunter I immediately let out a sigh of frustration and quickly said, "Sorry this is Ambrose I'm just not really feeling like myself today who is this?"
"My name is Tony Khan I'm the President and CEO of a new Wrestling promotion known as All Elite Wrestling and I was wondering if you had some time on your hands that we could maybe talk some business deals with you if your interested."
I thought about it for a brief second just as the driver pulled up to my house and I got out paid the cabbie before responding, "Yeah sure I got some time to talk, by the way, how did you get my number exactly?"
"A man by the name of Cody Rhodes gave it to me," Tony replied. "He said you would be a great addition to our growing roster."
As I fumbled with my house keys for a moment, It took me by surprise to find the house empty with only a note left on the counter in the kitchen which read, I'm sorry Dean, but I don't know if I can take this anymore. I don't even know who you are anymore as a person. Below is a list of numbers for mental health facilities recommended for you to check out to get your issue with Bray sorted out. I still love you but I don't know if us being together is going to work out. With love Renee.
At that moment as I placed the note back on the counter, I realized I had truly lost everything I held close to me and now it was time to start over and find myself. Find who I really was deep down inside. Was I this rough and tough street kid who didn't need anyone or anything, or was I this scared insecure guy who needed his friends and family by his side to make it to the top? I had no clue which side of me I was or who I wanted to be, but maybe there might be some light at the end of this long dark tunnel.
"Where is your office located?" I asked.
"1 TIAA Bank Field Dr, Jacksonville, Florida," Tony Khan replied. "I could have a private jet pick you up if your not currently in the area."
"I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my messy dark blonde hair. "Yeah, I'm currently in Las Vegas Nevada." I said as Tony replied, "No problem I can have the jet ready anytime. Just say the word when your ready, and we can meet as early as tomorrow morning if you like."
"That would be great." I said. "Tomorrow sounds perfect."
"Alright then we'll see you soon then Dean, I promise you this will be the offer of a lifetime and one you won't regret if you decide to sign with All Elite."
I hung up with Tony and immediately fell back against the couch, everything swirling in my brain like a roller coaster. Was I really going to do this? Was I really going to consider leaving everything I knew and loved behind?
TOO BE CONTINUED...So So Sorry this took me so long to update I finally got some inspiration for Dean/Moxley again so I hope to continue this story without anymore delays or hiccups. Speaking of which now is a question for all of you still following this story, If you would like me to take a break for the next chapter and focus on another character's POV instead like maybe Roman starts looking into Dean's medical history or something and starts finding out that what's happening with Dean isn't Bray's doing at all but an undiagnosed mental disorder or something like that please let me know and I will make that happen. Or if you want me to continue with Dean/Moxley's POV that's fine too I can work with either choice but it's up to you to decide what you want let me know as a review or message me and let me know you thoughts and feelings on the story. Chapter 4 will be coming as soon as I can get it hope you all enjoyed reading! :)