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Rowan Vance · **03-10-2026, 05:33 AM**

January 3rd, 2026…

The doors hiss open on the Greyhound bus just after it pulls into the depot in Miami, Florida. Slight winter sun is shining down on a beat-up luggage cart holder as a couple of kids on bikes trail along slowly, a leash-less dog running behind and jumping up occasionally to the kid at the back.

The last few people climb off the bus as the driver hands them their luggage from the underside compartment. Last to disembark is Rowan Vance. He’s carrying his phone with him as he takes his suitcase from the driver, thanking him and tossing his backpack over his shoulder. He turns the phone around in a three-sixty motion, then points it back at his face.

”Well, there you have it, guys, the last part of my trip to Miami, and I’ve made it! I’m going to let you go here while I find my hotel and get settled in before checking out my itinerary. I also need to let the promotion know I’ve arrived. Oh, hey, that guy has the same name as me, that’s cool!”

Rowan turns his phone around as he leaves, and we see a man in a suit holding a sign that says “R. VANCE” on it. The scene quickly transitions to black as Rowan clicks out of the livestream.

The scene comes back to life, but via the usual visual method this time, not live or recording via Rowan’s phone. He’s just finished unpacking his suitcase and laid everything out. His phone is on the bed, loudspeaker on, and his sister June is on the other end.

”I can’t believe that you left mom and dad’s at like two Saturday morning, I left Saturday afternoon, and you were still travelling when I walked into my dorm later that night and went to the bar too!”

”I know, that’s insane. But I’m here now… Just unpacking, although I’ve got a couple of apartments here to look at during the week. But hey, guess what!”

”You found a chest full of gold bars under the bed in the hotel room?!”

”Yep! Tons, now I don’t have to actually destroy myself for other people’s pleasure, flying around a ring every week! No, obviously, I did not find a chest full of gold bars under the bed. BUT! I did get my first official text message from eWo giving me my debut details!”

”Ah no shit?! What is it, what is it?!”

Rowan chucks the last item of clothing into the wardrobe and shuts it, picking up the phone and taking it off speaker, as he unlocks and opens the sliding door leading out to the balcony. He walks to the edge and looks out over a marina.

”I’m in a four-way match, which I think is typical of debuts these days, but what would I know? It’s my debut.”

”Hah! Dork… Who’s your opposition?”

”Well, that’s the interesting thing… My opposition is a smorgasbord of talent, names I’ve read about on social media or even seen at some of the shows we attended as kids in the past, I’m sure. People like Betsy Granger, The Mad Prince, and Daron Smythe.”

”Hmm, I’ll be honest, big brother, I don’t think I know any of them, probably came along after I stopped watching the big burly men and scantily clad women rocking it up inside the ring!”

”Fair enough, but you'd better get your ass back in the game now I’m about to make it big!”

”Oh, of course, Rowan! I’ll make sure to come visit for your first big Pay-Per-View event or something ok?”

Rowan doesn’t respond, he’s watching the water bubble around one of the Marina docks, his thoughts well away. He clears his throat.

”I miss you, Juney…”

”Ro, we spoke less than forty-eight hours ago.”

”We did, but can’t a guy miss his sibling? We may not be twins but we share that bond still! You know?”

”I know, I know… And I miss you too, boogaloo. Listen Vicki wants to go to this New Years market thing that’s doing the rounds on the Upper East Side. Give me a call during the week before your match ok?”

”Sure thing… Have a good one, oh and if you see anything you think I might like, grab it for me. Like maybe another of those mini dragon figurines you got me a few years back!” Oh someone’s at the door gotta go. Love ya Junebug!”

”Will do, love ya too Ro…”

Rowan hangs up the phone as the door knocks for what’s now the second time. He looks through the peephole and then opens it. Standing on the other side, dressed in a red and gold button-down and black slacks, is one of the hotel staff members. His name tag reads Jacob, and the other badge, this one stitched on, states the name of the hotel, The Kimpton Epic.

”Good morning, sir, I’m sorry to disturb you as I’m sure you’ve just had a long ride in… But, you’re The Curious One on YouTube aren’t you?”

”Uhm, yeah… Yeah I am.”

Rowan had to chuckle at this, because he’s never been recognised outside of Harpers Ferry before, okay, granted he’s barely travelled out of Harpers Ferry before; one of the reasons he was sure his mom would freak out about moving to Miami, but the fact remains.

”I thought it was you! I didn’t want to bother you, but I’m a huge fan. Please don’t worry, I wasn’t knocking on your door for a photo or autograph. It’s about what you do.”

”What I… Do? Sorry, are we talking about my YouTube videos or?”

”Yeah, what else would..-”

”Oh, you’ll see soon enough, but come in, sorry man, I’m being rude.”

”Oh no, I can’t, I’m still working. However, not many people are aware that the Kimpton Epic has had several reports in the last year or so. Paranormal stuff…”

Rowan’s ears have now perked up, he thought, until he got an apartment, he’d be staying in a luxuriously plush but wholly boring hotel, down by the Marina. Judging by the way this conversation is going, not a chance!

”Okay… Like, what? Noises, shadows, that type of thing?”

”All that plus, footsteps, full body apparitions, EVP’s on top of disembodied voices, the usual bangs and bumps too. Primarily on the ground floor which is our service area for staff.”

”That’s really interesting, man, thanks for letting me know! Hey, maybe if your staff have had incidents, they can write them down, doesn’t have to be pages and I’ll do a video of it while I’m staying here.”

”Hey that would be cool… Or…”

”Or…?”

Jacob’s eyes light up, and he gets a little grin on his face… He fishes into a pocket and pulls out a small set of keys.

”I’ve already told my manager you’ve checked in, she’s also a huge fan! And she said, if you want to, of course… I can give you our spare keys, and you can, like, do an investigation down there, being as you’ve no check out date yet?”

Now it’s Rowan’s eyes’ turn to light up as he takes the keys from Jacob. He turns them in his hand.

”Are you sure? I mean, what time would I be able to go down there?”

”Well, the kitchen shuts at like 11:30pm until 5am. We do have some housekeepers come in early, but not much earlier than that. So, between say 11:45pm and 4:30am would very likely be your window to investigate without issues.”

Rowan can barely believe he’s only just arrived in Miami, hasn’t even visited the local gym or eWo training centre yet, and here he is, already being given the chance to produce his content in his accommodation! He thanks Jacob and drops him a twenty before closing the door. He chucks the keys in the air and catches them as the scene slowly fades to black…

The LIVE flashes on YouTube screens across America and some internationally as one of the double doors leading to the service hallway opens. We can’t see Rowan’s face, but we know it is him behind the camera. He places down a small bag and turns it towards himself…

”Alright, guys, it’s just after midnight, and I’ve just made my way down to the basement area, if you will, of the Kimpton Epic hotel, where I’m staying until I can get an apartment here in Miami. I see there are already several of you in the chat, hey guys! So earlier today, Jacob, one of the staff here, gave me a set of keys, told me this place was haunted, so here I am!”

Rowan takes out a cell phone and switches on a “Spirit Talker” app it spits out some weird words, just calibrating, as he sets it down and switches off the light switch at the wall, plunging him and us into darkness.

”Never been here before, honestly, hotels in general are a brand new environment for me. Much like the eWo and wrestling on the big circuit is a brand new experience for me, I guess. Two for the price of one. But this place already has me on edge… I thought I’d heard footsteps creeping on the stairs behind me, as I was coming into this area… Much like the footsteps of my opponents creeping up on my momentum, come, Redemption XVII…

I’m facing something different in this place, just like I’ll be facing something different in Smythe; all this time, and I still can’t figure out if it’s Smith or Sm-Eye-Th? But in any case, him… Granger and The Mad Prince… But regarding Daron, this is a guy I look up to, if nothing more than he showed me how to navigate. He was born and raised in a place not even five hours' drive from me, and he raised himself right, something I’ve always maintained I did with some handbook help. Now, Daron Smythe isn’t ancient like some of the entities I’ve come across while doing this, but he is older than me, so much so that he could almost be my dad. But with age comes experience, and his wall of titles speaks for itself! He’s held belts in the AWS, PMLL, UWL, and ECWF, among others… I mean Christ, the man is brutal, he’s a beast, and I’m not entirely sure I’m pleased being put in a match against him first… And he’s not the only one there!”

Suddenly, the Spirit Box flashes and a word appears on the screen, followed by a metallic female voice, saying the same word… SCARED. Rowan looks directly into the camera and nods.

”Yep! Chat, I’m definitely scared right now; it’s eerie. And I’m not going to lie, I’m scared about setting foot in the eWo Arena on January 14th, too. I said there were others in the match I’ve been booked in, two more in fact, including another former belt holder in places past, the Wayward Wanderer, Betsy Granger… Another individual who knows her way around a ring and knows how to get the best out of an opponent. Her tenure in many places, most notably for some, the XWF, is nothing to be sniffed at either.”

Rowan begins to walk down the hall slowly, hearing what sounds like shuffling in an off-room. He spins his flashlight in that direction.

”Hello? Anyone in there? I’ve got permission from the hotel manager to be down here. Whether you’re a living person or, erm, former living person, I don’t mean any harm or to intrude!”

As Rowan makes his way into the room, just a peek, he (and we) hear three soft, faint knocks on the wall. This makes him jump slightly, and he spins the camera to where it came from.

”Three knocks… Just like the sound of a referee's hand slapping the mat three times, when one of us is pinned at Redemption! Hopefully that’s not me, but when I’m in the ring with the likes of Smythe, Granger, and of course The Mad Prince… You just never know. This man, too, is another whose name is on the lips of wrestling fans across the globe. Another who’s shown his hand in other promotions and held onto their belts for dear life. A man who I wonder would want to make people his shadow slave… But I digress. The Mad Prince is more than likely who I’m looking for both inside and outside the ring given this hustle.”

Suddenly, the Spirit Box comes to life again, and another word, no a phrase this time, is spat out. DON’T BE NERVOUS . A chuckle escapes Rowan’s lips.

”Chat, it said ‘don’t be nervous,’ how the hell can I not be nervous? Either in here or for when I set foot inside the eWo Arena on January 14th to face off against three individuals who’ve been doing this for some time? Three people, who for all intents and purposes, regardless of what side of the fence they sit on, may very well get a bigger reaction than me because nobody knows me?!

I’m going into the match not only as the underdog, but also the unknown! Unless you’re a fan of wrestling who’s been watching me here for however long, you’re not going to know who I am. I’ve got no belts, no match of the year awards, or even nominations…

But all three of my opponents have these things, at least that I've seen, in abundance. They’ve all appeared in arenas nationally and otherwise. They’ve all held titles and been respected and feared in equal measure in the ring…”

Another word pops up on the Spirit Box as Rowan begins to move down the corridor again… CURIOUS. He stops, shows it to the camera, and laughs.

”It just said curious! Hah! That’s right, that’s me. The Curious One! Rowan Vance… I am very curious, I’m curious to know who you are, but I’m also very curious to know and learn more about my opponents at Redemption! I’m very curious to know what actually makes them tick, not just what I’ve seen watching these guys and girls on television.

Whether you are “The First Son,” “The Impossible Traveller,” or “#1,” it doesn’t matter; to me, you’re all the same. You are all destined to become the ones who didn’t win when you faced Rowan Vance. You’re all destined to be the downfall of the Debutant. But I mean, aren’t we all new in some form or another? Yes, but I’m the only one who’s never done this before this coming Redemption, I’m the only one who’s never held a title, I’m the only one who’s never had a crowd chant his name while he places somebody in “The Long Night” or “The Vanishing Point,” hell I’m the only one of us that’s never had someone in their finisher that wasn’t just seeing if it hurt enough…

I am that guy who is walking into nothing… Walking into the ominous silence that surrounds you. I am the one who is curious at everything he sees and has to find out how it works, how it can be curated… I am the guy who wh…-“

Rowan is cut off by the Spirit Box talking again. Three words. FOLLOW THE SHADOW. Ryan looks up and ahead of him as if a person is peeking around the corner, is a darkness within the darkness.

”Chat I’m not sure if you can see this in front of me, but it looks like a wisp of black smoke just poking itself around that corner, it’s dark on dark… The Spirt Box literally just said follow the shadow, so that’s what I’m going to do.

Just like at Redemption XVII, I’m walking into the unknown. If you’ve enjoyed this guys walk with me! Like and subscribe, that includes you too Smythe, Granger, and Prince! I know you’re watching! Now I’m gonna step into the darkness and see what comes of it!

I am Rowan Vance. And I am The Curious One!”

With that, Rowan stands and begins to walk towards the shadowy thing in the corner. Suddenly the YouTube live feed cuts and we fade — to — black.

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