11-02-2018, 02:52 AM
11-06-2018, 12:44 PM
OOC: So here is the last part of the mini-story. Takes place following Under Attack and plays off the plans set in part 2. Yellow font is a flashback, otherwise it is indicated. Enjoy.
Selena gently caressed her daughter's locks of hair – platinum snow-white, just like hers – as the child slept in their hotel room. The little girl barely took up a quarter of the bed. Hell, the Snow Queen wasn't a mathematician, but she was certain the girl took up less than that. In her white and green pyjamas and curled in a ball with a large pillow, Elsianna's position reminded the young woman of a sleeping kitten.
Her daughter hadn't complained a moment the entire time they had travelled. And while, normally, that wouldn't warrant some kind of accomplishment, per say, Elsianna had been a real trooper this time around. The mother and daughter pair had first travelled to Under Attack, allowing the Snow Queen to compete in her match with Owen Cruze – a match Selena had mostly enjoyed, even if it stung to lose. Following that, the two had immediately taken advantage of the week off post-Pay-Per-View, hopped on a plane and flown to... flown to...
Lifting her head, Selena cast her eyes outside the dimly lit hotel room to the windows. Past the glass, within the dark of the night, Selena's eyes caught the sight of rain and snow – both falling to the grounds several floors below. She watched the mixture of precipitation for a few minutes as she sat on the bed her baby occupied as well, the platinum-blonde woman in her silver-silk nightgown.
Winter was coming to Nome, Alaska.
Despite having lived through dozens of such seasons throughout her childhood and early stages of adulthood, it always brought a smile to Selena's face to feel it coming – even in Manhattan, where there was MUCH less snow compared to the “arctic” Nome.
You can take the girl out of the snowstorm... she thought quietly. Her and Elsianna had spent most of their lives here – Selena, here in the general city the pair rested within now, and Elsianna in the orphanage for over five years. It had been the latter fact that had brought some hesitation to Selena when she had told her daughter that they were going back here. At first, as she had feared, the child had been scared.
”Are you taking me back to the orphanage, mommy? Because I fought?”
Closing her eyes, Selena's hands clutched at her heart, her daughter's words a sharp stab to the organ that pumped blood through her system – even if it was just a memory. Her hands felt cold against the bare skin. She had been quick to reassure the child that she and Deanna would never give her up – no matter what. Elsianna was their daughter – and no one could take her from Selena and Deanna.
Sadly, and perhaps Selena blamed herself for what came next due to her choice of words – but Elsianna's next question had caused her heart to shatter all over again.
”But...then why did you give me up when I was born?”
Slowly turning her head, Selena could see her child, still snuggled in bed, clutching her nutcracker, Sir Crackshell, in her arms. As she watched Elsa, her precious snowflake, a small smile formed across her lips.
Her daughter was beyond intelligent. Not just in terms of her eagerness to learn and apply said knowledge, but also by her insight. After the adoption had completely gone through, with no further strings being pulled by Malcolm Scythe, Elsianna had confessed that she had known Selena was her mother the moment the two had met at the Pilgrim Springs Orphanage. She had seen no one, not a soul in all her books or the orphanage that had hair and eyes like she did – until Selena had come through that door. And Selena, perhaps in stupidity, had told her that she was, indeed, Elsianna's mother – not just her adoptive mother but her actual mother as well.
And now, the child had asked the question that Selena had believed she wouldn't have to answer for another four or five years. In fact, she STILL hadn't answered it. She hadn't been able to – she had been caught too off-guard. In an internal struggle, she had settled on a promise. Once we get to Nome, I'll tell you that as well.
Except she didn't know what to tell her daughter. She knew why she was in Nome, a form of punishment and lesson for Elsianna regarding her fighting at school with the young boy, Aaron Stanton. That the Snow Queen was ready to handle. She knew exactly what she was going to do about that.
This new development? She had no idea.
Tell the truth? What was the truth? She knowingly had given Elsianna to a wandering child – a stranger – because everyone believed that the child was dead and Selena had felt it needed to be that way. Then, in her grief and under the medications of her step-mother's warped doctor, Paracelsus, she had suffered a mental breakdown and her mind had stripped the memory away, leaving her only with a child made of snow to believe in...
With a shake of her head, Selena was certain that that particular section of the story would not be told to the child. She wouldn't understand the notion of Selena's brain coping with the loss she had endured. Hell, there were times that Selena could barely believe that she had believed, truly believed, that she had a daughter made entirely of snow. Reaching out, the platinum-blonde gently caressed her baby's cheek. Had she really been that gone? Hearing voices in her head? Her brain creating beings for her to see and speak to in order to survive and function, at least, on some normal level?
Well... how else do you explain her over there?
Turning her head and her torso to further the turn, the Snow Queen's sapphire eyes caught the haunting, demented ones that glared at her from across the room. She was only illuminated by the slivers of the moonlight coming in from the night sky, same as Selena and Elsianna were. Even so, the awake platinum-blonde could still see the inhuman fangs – long, multiple stakes of teeth – line up the woman's face in a sinister grin. It was like something out of a horror movie, something from Selena's deepest nightmares.
And here I was wondering if I was that far gone...
Selena shook her head, casting her eyes around the room. There was no mini-fridge within the hotel room, meaning there was no elixir – oh please... you mean no booze! – to send Sirus away, back to the corners of her mind.
“Great...” Selena muttered, reaching up to rub her temples with the one hand. She spoke that word softly so as not to awaken Elsianna. “Probably won't get much sleep tonight.”
Almost in response to that, Selena heard the sound of hissing and snarling coming from across the room – though she was certain that no one could hear it but her. The phantom had grown more and more grotesque recently, almost as if it was transforming into something that Selena could not identify. Sometimes it would be the teeth, other times the skin or the eyes – the creature before her seemed pleased just to haunt the Snow Queen as much as it could. Sometimes, the ghost would succeed, driving Selena to a breakdown of tears or anxiety until she gave in and took a drink. Other times, the Snow Queen would distract herself long enough to simply ignore the creature. Those were her two options. Ignore or... break down.
Not tonight... Selena finally decided regarding the latter option. Quietly, the platinum-blonde set herself down on the bed beside her daughter, lying on her side so she could reach out and tuck the child close to her form. Though her eyes were closed, she could hear the demon in her mind hissing and snarling and baying, trying desperately to get her attention – to open her eyes and see the monster.
Selena ignored it tonight, even if it would be almost impossible to sleep. Instead, she focused on the little breaths she could hear as Elsianna inhaled and exhaled. On the the little heartbeat she could feel in her baby's chest as the mother held her tight.
Even if she couldn't answer Elsa's question about abandoning her tonight, Selena could still be her mother and protect her from the monsters of this world...
Even if those monsters were Selena's own creation...
**********************************
Years Ago...
“LET ME GO, YOU BASTARDS!” Selena screamed as she kicked and fought against the strong hold of her captors. Her scalp burned and her hands ached to rub and scratch at it – but the hands that held her and dragged her through the halls would not grant her such a luxury.
“Oh come on, Queenie!” came one of the voices – they all were laughing and were filled with mocking tones. “It's last week of school – graduation!” the voice was feminine, but given how Selena was being dragged, she could not lift her head high enough to see who was talking. Having her hair covering her in a wet clump in front of her eyes didn't help things.
“Yeah...” came another voice – this one one of the boys that followed the leader like sheep through the hall – and by that, Selena was referring to the ring leader that kept leading the small group of people – and her by association – through the halls.
The day, one of the last she would have to spend in this hellhole of a high-school, had started out simple enough. The teachers spoke abut the exams coming up and the due date reminder for several projects – Selena already finishing most of hers. She had gone out to her private place, the large drama room where the drama classes were held, to eat her lunch. She often chose classrooms like these for her spare time. Made her harder to find – harder to be seen... harder to be bullied.
Sadly, she had been wrong today. For, just as she had left the room and was heading to her locker – only six minutes left of lunch remained, she was suddenly drenched in hot, cream-filled coffee! She had screamed in pain as the liquid was poured on top of her scalp and no matter how much she scrambled to get out and leave, she was shoved by hands she couldn't see amidst the shower of coffee and wet-hair. Instead, she stumbled into waiting arms that shoved her back to wherever she was. That had lasted several minutes until her assailants had run out of drinks.
“Oh come she didn't melt!” one had said. “That was hot coffee!”
Selena's skin itched at the memory. Because it was at that point that she had heard the voice of the ringleader.
She doesn't always melt... the voice was amused and familiar to the Snow Queen. Ain't that right, your majesty?
Reaching up, Selena wiped the coffee running down her scalp and face, flinging it to the sides. “Do you...” she fought against the burning pain of her scalp. Thankfully, it wasn't that hot anymore. “Do you seriously have nothing better to do than to come down here and bother me? You graduated last year.”
“Yeah.” Smirked the tall, thin boy known as Gavin Scythe, the youngest son of the mayor of Nome, Alaska. “But if they made a course in who make the Snow Queen his bitch? I'd come back for sure!”
Selena had shook her head at her nemesis' antics. It wasn't that Gavin wasn't smart. Far from it, he was very intelligent. It was just... well, he was a jerk. Someone who got his kicks from bothering her – had been the same since they were children. Sometimes, more often than not, he'd get his shots in and Selena would let him, but sometimes, if he pushed the right button, the Snow Queen would be the one who fought back and the one standing.
That was the basis: if Selena fought back, she'd win. If she didn't and simply took the hits...
That seems to be today... the platinum-blonde thought as her mind returned to the present – to being dragged through the halls.
The empty halls...
Through the curtain of wet, coffee hair that reeked of the beverage, a sudden realization dawned on Selena. Why were the halls so empty? Where was everyone? Had the last bell rung and everyone was now in class?
“You get that all of you are going to be late, right?” Selena tried, turning her head to the people that were carrying her – fellow students like her, though just part of Gavin's horde. Some were girls trying to get with him. Others were just people that hated her, Selena recognizing a girl or two from the cheerleader team (one in particular that, Selena remembered, hated her because Selena's hair was natural whereas the cheerleader needed enough peroxide to stain a deck to get the blonde she currently had). The voices of mocking continued and, for the most part, Selena simply sank into the hands of those dragging her, resigned to her fate.
It'll be done in a week... she told herself. One week and you'll never have to deal with them again. You can focus on the mine and working part-time and dating Adrian...
That was enough to give the young seventeen-year-old a moment of peace of mind. She and Adrian had been secretly dating for a few months now – him not wanting his father to know until Selena had graduated and she, not wanting her 'infamy' to bring him down until it was all behind them. But, that didn't stop them from sneaking out to places like the cave where her father believed there was gold...
Selena blushed at that memory, remembering what had happened there earlier this year.... her first time... it had been wonderful with Adrian... fortunately, no one saw her display as everyone was too busy taking Selena to...wherever the hell they were going.
However, as Selena felt her felt suddenly trip over a lining of brass, her eyes opened and she saw the laminated, wooden floors of the school gym that all happy thoughts and feelings flew out of her as fast as the coffee was dripping off her scalp.
“NO!” she begged, her thrashing against her human restraints beginning anew. “NOT THAT, GAVIN! PLEASE NOT THAT!”
The mayor's son smiled at such a reaction – exactly what he had been hoping for. “Aww come on, Selena!” he mocked. “I worked so hard on getting this place cleaned and ready for you! The least you could do is spend a night here.”
With a wave of his hand, the dragging continued across the basketball court, Selena continuing to try and fight for her freedom. Sadly, it was like fighting an octopus. She had two legs and two hands, and what was holding her down? Much more!
Another trip over the brass lining of the door and the lights were instantly diminished. Hell, Selena couldn't really see anything already but the dark made it so much worse. She didn't need to see anything. She knew where she was.
“Right over there, people.” came the inevitable instruction from Gavin and Selena was suddenly hoisted up a little.
“NO! NO!” She twisted and turned, her hands striking out into the dark, feeling something as her palm connected.
“Oww! Shit! She hit me, Gavin!” came something from one of the cheerleaders.
Immediately, more hands than Selena could count were gripping her and shoving her into the confines of something. Despite her brain knowing what it was, her arms shot out to the sides, immediately meeting resistance of a difference kind. Where before it was hands and strong grips, Selena found herself meeting walls around her.
“There we go!” came the triumphant voice of Gavin – her tormentor – as something was slammed shut a few inches above her head. “That's all there is to it, ladies and gentlemen!” There was a brief silence before he added. “Thank you! Thank you! It was a team effort!”
“GAVIN!” Selena cried out, her hands firing forward to slam against the lid over and over again. “Open this damn box!”
“Oh we will!” promised the leader. “But I'm a bit of a procrastinator, Sel. And I can't call my brother cause he's busy. Give me a few hours... a night max, okay?”
Selena wanted to curse at him but her voice died in her throat. The adrenaline of the events had faded slightly, forcing Selena to come to terms with the familiar place she was in.
She was back in the damn chest.
Angrily, she kicked and screamed against the confines as she heard the laughter of the people outside the box. Some were congratulating themselves and their buddies. Others were saying insults at her, leaning into the chest so she could hear them “better”.
It was all a mumble of sound to Selena – the anxiety already building within her. She felt her breathing grow short and her heartrate spike up. She felt like she was drowning and there was no way to stop it. She could hear the roar of water in her ears, though it could have been her own blood pumping through her veins that she was hearing. It didn't matter.
It never mattered when it came to her claustrophobia. It needed so little to be triggered and it always did its best to make as much noise and pain as possible. Closing her eyes, Selena curled her legs up to her chest and held on tight.
“Conceal...Don't feel...” she whispered as she rocked back and forth, as if trying to fool herself that she had much more space than she actually had. She almost didn't hear the the large weight being placed on the top lid above her, a way to secure her and keep her in place.
“Okay, your majesty!” came Gavin's loud voice. “You're all tucked in for the night? Have a good sleep and we'll see you in the morning... maybe...”
The laughter rose a bit and then died as the mass made their way out of the gym, closing the doors behind them, erasing any sign of their time in this place.
There was only silence now. Silence broken every few seconds by Selena's breathing and gasping and cries as she held on through the wave of her anxiety. There was nothing she could do about this. She had to ride it out until either a ) she calmed down or b ) someone came alone and got her out.
She never believed that option b would happen, even when it did sometimes.
“Okay...” she breathed slowly, trying to calm herself. “Where are you?” she asked.
Where are you? her mind repeated the question.
“I'm in the secondary basketball court of my high-school.”
Why are you in a chest?
“Because Gavin knows about my claustrophobia.” came her stilted answer.
The questions continued in that fashion. Ever since Gavin had learned about Selena's greatest fear – thanks to... Selena growled... Anastasia DeCarlo – her step-mother – he had used this place as his 'go-to' to torture Selena the worst. The high-school of Nome had two basketball courts. One main one that was used for school games and big matches and the second, on the other side of the school – the one that no one really hung around in because it was where all the tech and machine classes were taken. Once they locked up, people mostly hung around the sport-fields, the art classes or the music rooms, basically anywhere that didn't reek of oil, gasoline, propane, and the tools of such classes.
In this gym, though, there was a large closet, mostly that held chairs and some gear for the classes. Beyond that, on the far side of the room, however, was one last room, no bigger than bathroom stall. In it was a stepladder and a chest that was supposed to just hold a few cables and wires for management and other things.
Gavin had known about it from his years here before Selena, and it suited his needs perfectly. A cheap padlock purchased at any store was all he needed after that.
Sadly, once the plan had been in play, Selena had often found herself here – at least once every month. She had been stunned today because she had already been locked in her during the first week of the month – Perhaps Gavin got angry – maybe a girl he was dating got wise and slapped him in the face...
Selena froze as she thought that. Her brain had told something of a joke. Quickly, she breathed slowly, repeating her mantra for added effect. She was still in a bit of a panic, but her body was wearing itself out from it – the adrenaline lowering and allowing her time to process where she was and remind herself that, though she was locked in a coffin and hating it and terrified – she had been here before.
“You're going to be okay.” she whispered. “Unless you run out of air- No!” she told herself quickly. “There's a hole at the bottom side, you saw it after the second visit.” she tried to reason as her heartbeat rose up a little again in panic. “Calm down!” she ordered, trying her best to fight through the discomfort.
You'll be free soon... her mind told her. Free of Gavin – if he tries to hurt you, you can have him arrested for assault. Put the mayor's boy in jail! That would be awesome! She did like the idea of that. Yeah, but daddy would bail him out. Who cares? How much would Gavin like that? 'My daddy has to take care of me. Boo hoo'!
Taking a deep breath and exhaling said breath, Selena slowly stretched her legs and r est of her body out as much as she could be allowed. The chest gave her enough room to almost extend her legs fully, allowing her to reach into her pocket and dig out her cellphone. Quickly, she powered it on... and was told there was no signal.
“Dammit.” she whispered, despite knowing from previous sessions in this chest that there was no signal within the full room. Besides, who could she call? Her step-mother? She never would believe her. Friends? “Pfft... what friends?” Selena whispered. Her uncle Liam? No, he was running the bar – he wasn't supposed to babysit her. Anastasia would have his head if he came by and made a fuss over finding her like this.
Well, it didn't matter because there was no signal. Odds were, she'd have to wait until she heard someone come into the gym and hope that if she screamed loud enough, they'd get her out.
Deciding to test the limits, Selena pushed her hands up to the lead and pushed with all she had. Maybe the padlock was crappy (one time, Gavin had just used a piece of wood to keep it locked) and she'd be able to break it. She pushed and kicked with all she had, hearing the grunts and thuds of her efforts as her limbs banged up against the chest. Still, there was no true give. No, Gavin had used a real lock this time.
“Dammit.” Selena whispered, collapsing back into the chest, feeling her shoulders touch the side if she moved too much. Her regular options were officially out the window. She couldn't power her way out. She couldn't shake the box to loosen a bolt and she couldn't use her phone to call anyone.
With a deep breath, Selena checked her phone, activating the 'music' option and turning the music up as loud as her ears could handle. All she could do now was make some noise.
“You are...my fire...
The one desire...”
Her voice carried almost as much as the music as she sang the first song played on her phone, Backstreet Boys “I want it that way”. It was harder with her breathing still on the shallow side due to the anxiety of her claustrophobia but she persevered. The biggest comfort she had, in that moment, though, was that, inside the chest – no one could shut her up or make her stop. They'd have to get her out to do that...
The Snow Queen continued to sing – moreso for herself and her freedom than anything else. And when her voice eventually got tired from singing so much, she simply laid there, listening to her music, her audiobooks, whatever was there.
She would get out of this. She always did. And soon, she would be free. Free of Gavin, free of her step-mother, free of everyone that hated her just because she was “the crazy miner's daughter”.
All she had to do was wait until she was finally let out of her prison...
******************************************
Present time
The doors creaked loudly as they were pulled open. They were rusty and old and stayed in place because of it after Selena had them open.
“In here.” she called out behind her, smiling softly as she saw her daughter bounce and skip to her mother's side. Selena had taken it upon herself to show her baby girl everything in Nome, Alaska. She had Liam, her uncle of sorts, dote on her a little, they visited Jean and Zelda, Elsianna's godparents and “aunt” and “uncle” as well of sorts. They had gone skating at the inside ice rink (the snow hadn't decided to stay between it and the rain).
Now, Selena was here. Where she had wanted to take her daughter from the beginning. Immediately, she felt her child's hand clench hers.
“This place is dark, mommy.” remarked the snow child. “Scary. Like a dungeon.”
“I know.” sighed Selena as she reached over to the wall to flick a switch, instantly lighting up a single, white lightbulb.
Keeping her daughter's hand in hers, Selena walked Elsa around the racks of chairs and through the next set of doors until her eyes settled on the brown, rusty chest that stood before them.
“What's that?” Elsianna pointed. “Is that a treasure chest?!” she asked in delight, instantly excited!
“No, sweetheart.” Selena almost laughed at her daughter's enthusiasm. “That... that was a prison mommy was locked in many times.”
“Prison?” asked the platinum-blonde child in confusion. “Did you do something bad?”
Selena smiled and shook her head. “I don't think so.” she replied before kneeling before the shorter girl and taking her hands in hers. “You know how Aaron Stanton picked on you? You told me how he would make fun of you and threaten you?”
Biting her lower lip, Elsianna remained still for a moment.
“They're miles away.” Selena assured her. “You're safe here with me. You can tell the truth.”
Slowly, Elsa nodded her head.
“Well, when I was in school... I had people like Aaron... people that didn't accept me for who I was. And they threatened me too. And part of their... their actions... was to hurt me and lock me in that chest.” she turned her head to cast her gaze at the box that had confined her so many a time.
“W...why?” asked Elsianna. “Why would they do that to you?”
“I...” Selena turned her gaze back to the six-year old, the question actually making her laugh. “You know I never did find out. Jealousy, maybe?”
“Jealousy? Is that when someone wants something you have?”
“That's right.” Selena nodded, tapping her daughter's nose playfully with her finger. “When someone wants something you have or wants to be someone you are – they can hate you for it. They can lash out and try and take it from you or make you feel ashamed of it or other things like that.”
“That's not fair.” came the pout.
“No, it isn't.” Selena sighed, looking around the room. “I spent so much time here, all I could do was think for hours until I was released.”
“How did you get out?”
Selena shrugged. “Different ways. Sometimes I'd get myself out if I was lucky. Other times, I had to wait for someone else to get me out. Like an adult.”
“Like the teachers and the monitors?”
“Or Mr. Bradley, yes.” Selena added to her daughter's question.
“Were you scared?”
A slow smile and a chuckle came from the Snow Queen as she nodded her head. “Every time.” She admitted. “Elsianna... do you know what claustrophobia means?”
“Claus-” Elsianna tried but then shook her head sadly.
“That's okay, snowflake.” Selena assured. “It means that small spaces, where the walls are close to eachother... they scare me. The make me feel trapped and that scares me. Do you understand?”
Slowly, trying to think about it, Elsianna frowned and shook her head. With a sigh and a smile, Selena ruffled the child's white hair – so like hers. “That's alright.” She replied. “But I wanted to show you this.”
Walking over to the chest, Selena lifted the lid. There had not been a padlock there to hold it together in years, so it opened easily enough. Holding up the lid, Selena leaned forward and pointed at the top curve of the inside of it. “See that?” she asked.
Elsianna, carefully, drew closer, not wanting to be near the thing that had hurt her mommy as much as she had said. But she followed Selena's hand and finger until she could see something scratched into the metal lining.
“Words?” she asked.
Selena nodded. “Can you read what they say?”
Squinting her eyes, Elsianna tried to read the fading scratch. “I...will...be...free... S.F.”
“Do you know what S.F stands for?” Selena bit her lower lip.
Elsa shook her head negatively.
“That's me, little one. S.F is my name: Selena Frost.”
“Oh...” Elsianna realized.
“See...” Selena spoke carefully, taking her daughter's hand and guiding her away from the chest. “The reason I brought you here is because I want you to understand that I went through tough times in school like you did. And I fought back sometimes too. But, in the end, what kept me going was that I knew that I would be free of it all soon enough. And all of that heartache and pain – it made me stronger and want to be better. To be...free.”
“Hero's trial?” Elsianna asked. “Every hero goes through a test to prove themselves.”
“I...I guess so...” Selena replied. “You think I'm a hero?” she asked hesitantly, earning a fierce series of nods from her daughter.
“You've saved me and mom and David and Ami so many times! You fight the bad guys!”
Closing her eyes, Selena took a moment to relish in her daughter's words. They were uplifting and made her want to cry a little. Still, she forced herself to focus. She had a lesson to teach.
“But, Elsa. Just like me, you're going to have your own trials too. I didn't have anyone to turn to and I wish I had. I wish I had friends and loved ones that I could have spoken to and asked for help because I think I would have become a much better hero if I had.”
Selena took a moment to let her words sink in.
“You have such things. You have me, and Deanna, and the teachers and principal. Never – ever – think that you are alone or that you cannot talk to us, okay? Because, no matter what, we will always be there for you.”
Tilting her head slightly, the child gazed into her mother's eyes. “Mom...”
“I know.” Selena smiled. “You want to know why... Elsianna... when you're old enough to understand fully, I'll tell you everything. But for now, let me say it this way:” she took a deep breath. “Remember Sleeping Beauty? The king and queen give up their princess to keep her safe?”
Elsianna nodded.
“That...that is what I did for you. I wasn't the hero you see me as now. I wasn't strong enough then to protect you. Not like I can now. And, though it broke my heart, I chose to hide you away from those that would hurt you. People like the ones that locked me in the chest.”
Elsianna was quiet for a moment, which was disconcerting for the platinum-blonde.
“Elsa? Are you-” her words died as her daughter rushed into her arms, the child throwing her small limbs around Selena's neck in a fierce hug. “I love you, mommy.”
And that was when the tears fell fully, lining Selena's cheeks as she embraced her daughter fiercely. “I love you too, Elsianna. You are everything to me.” she whispered before kissing her daughter's forehead.
The two stayed like that for a few minutes until both were ready to go. But as Selena left her 'dungeon' or 'prison' behind, she cast one more glance at it before turning off the lights and returning it to the shadows. Shadows that seemed to dance and beckon her to return to them.
She knew the truth. She was free of that prison, but not of the one that haunted her mind...
But soon I will be... she vowed, squeezing her daughter's hand as they walked away. Soon we all will be free...
___________________________________
Well, Giovanni...
I know that, usually, I start these letters out with a “dear” or “to”. Sadly, Mr. Aries, there is nothing 'dear' about you and, quietly, honestly, the only thing I am wishing to give you is a swift kick to the head.
How dare you.
Yes, I said it. How dare you! You came down to the ring and assaulted Owen Cruze after he defeated me at Under Attack. In a match that was cast off as a, quote, “piss break”, two superstars came in and stole the show. They put all they had into the match, all their efforts and abilities were put to the test and the audience were enthralled, or did you not hear them?
Better question. Tell me, Giovanni, did anyone come out and take you down when you won the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royale? No. You were given your time to bask in your victory and revel in your accomplishment. You were allowed to embrace it and enjoy it because, no doubt about it, you earned it.
That night in Salt Lake City belonged to Owen Cruze. He earned that victory over me. I don't like losing, who does in this business, but I am more than woman enough to admit that he got me that night. He deserved the praise. He deserved the attention and the applause – all of it. It was my honour to raise his hand and leave the ring to let him bask in his achievement.
But then you took that away from him. You... like a damn coward – that's what you are, Giovanni! A coward! You attacked him from behind just like you attacked me from behind after you couldn't beat me when we last fought!
Is it because you are jealous, Giovanni? You failed to take me down, despite your bragging and mind games and seeing someone like Owen succeed, perhaps as quickly as you did when you first started, makes you afraid that you'll be overshadowed by him in no time. Is that it? You hate that I was better than you and you hate that Owen could be as well? Are you afraid that, along with no one buying your speel about “the Lizard King”, that SCW is moving on past you – like it has since you took time off?
Well, Gio, you can do what you want with me. I would have accepted that had you gone after me at Under Attack. But I will be damned if I simply stand on the sidelines while you play your mind games with Owen. I'll be damned if you ruin such a promising, young career as that man's!
Yes, it was very cute that you hid from the sidelines while you had your associate, Sam, do your dirty work. Haunting Owen, spying on me... all very cute, Giovanni.
But what you fail to realize is that – while you think you're original with your games – I've been there. I've been through that. Worse yet, I was haunted by the best at that game. Someone by the name of Vixen Cain. Ring a bell? Someone that not only could do what you did, but he didn't need to hide behind the mask of 'hero' against a Lizard King to do it. Or behind smoke and mirrors. He did it because he knew he could do it. He kidnapped me and my child just for his own sick, twisted games.
Compared to that? You're just annoying Owen and I – like a kid flashing someone in the eyes with a flashlight. Still, when it all came down to it, all Vixen's games and all his plans to 'conquer SCW', he still had to come into the ring and get through me.
And he failed.
Just like you failed at Apocalypse, Giovanni.
And you and I? We WILL meet in the ring again. I can assure you of that. Because I will say to you the same words I said to Cain: You want to 'conquer SCW'? You want to hurt innocent people with your sense of 'justice'?
Over...my...dead...body!
I won't deny that you've got me irritated, Giovanni. You've easily gotten under my skin. So much so that I don't care whether or not you know what I plan to do in Sydney, Australia as part of the two tours of SCW. Last week, Giovanni, you hid away and sent your associate to work for you.
This week? You're not going to be able to hide. Oh you can try, Gio. You can definitely try. I kind of actually want you to. But there's something you need to realize really quick.
Owen's not around for you to terrorize this time.
That's right, Mad Hatter. He's over on the European Tour. On an entirely different continent! He's safe from you and Julian!
Which means that...for perhaps the only time for the foreseeable future... it's just you and me, Giovanni. The Mad Hatter and the Snow Queen.
So...let me give you a bit of advice for tonight. After your match with Aaron Blackbourne... do what you have become amazing at and hide. Hide in the arena. Hide in the shadows. Hide down the rabbit hole for all I care. Because the Snow Queen is going to go hunting for you. I am going to find you and I am going to get some answers out of you, either by you telling me – or me driving my boot against your throat until you choke out the answers.
Do I sound a little angry? Do I sound irritated? I am – I hate that you're back, Giovanni. I hate that you're trying to corrupt such a promising career as Owen's... but I am also excited. Because I feel tonight is the night to make statements. Statements to Giovanni, or Jules, and, also, statements regarding something, or someone else.
That is where you come in Dante McCaffery. And while you and I have only fought twice – once really one on one – to say that you are not directly involved with my goals would be untrue.
Let me make this clear, Dante, I do not like you. Personally, I never liked how you hid in your numbers – I'd say it's similar to Giovanni's smoke and lights. I'm sure I made that clear last time we faced about a year or so ago. Add to that now that I find your whole notion of wrestling being all about 'power' and selling yourself to the person that pays the most amount of money to be infuriating. You believe that money and power make the wrestler – and basically, I'm not your biggest fan.
But, honestly, I can't blame you for your logic – flawed as it is. After all, you managed to 'buy' the hand of the Executioner, himself, Xander Valentine and own him. You've managed to put him on a leash with the promise of money and power. An SCW Icon, the most dangerous man to ever grace SCW's halls brought to heel by you.
I imagine that's a strong argument to your belief.
But let me remind you of something, Dante. Something that Giovanni Aries hasn't quite figured out yet either. Sometimes it's not about power or money. Sometimes those things aren't what drive us. Sometimes we do what we do out of love. I told you then in 2017 and I'm telling you now: I love SCW. I love being in SCW. I love representing it and I love being part of this amazing SCW Universe.
You? You're only here long as you get the money or the prizes you desire, am I right? Something better comes along and you will be gone faster than any of the fans can blink their eyes. You're in the same horde as Sienna Swann, AJ Helms... and Bree Lancaster.
People with a price. People that sell out or abandon SCW if the price is right.
But here's the thing, Dante. I do have some statements to make in our match before I go out hunting for a Mad Hatter. See, last Breakdown, you came sauntering out, declaring yourself and your Network as the new 'security' of Bree Lancaster and Scott Burnside.
That, Dante, was a mistake.
Because, quite honestly, that just got my attention. Because that tells me that, in order to get Bree's attention, I'm going to have to go through you. And while I have no idea of Xander is with you – did you smuggle him in because I didn't see his name on either list – I don't really care one way or the other. Because before I get to Giovanni, I want to do as I did last time you and I faced.
Beat you down.
Knock you out.
Pin you and leave you in the ring.
And, to be honest, Giovanni has me just angry enough that I think I can do it with some very vicious kicks. I know how opportunistic you are and how much you love seizing the moment of sorts. Imagine me in that ring with you and wanting the exact same thing, but for me, that moment I'm seeking is me kicking you so hard in the head, you see stars.
I am beyond excited to face Bree Lancaster, the United States Champion's, new head of security tonight in Sydney. I am beyond excited to face you and beat you, Dante, because right now, it seems that Bree is so focused on being Tag-Team Champion, she's forgotten about the singles title she carries. The one that she's not defended since Fatal Fortunes? The one that, apparently, will go two pay-per-views if Bound by Blood is to be believed, without being defended on either one?
She seems to have forgotten that title... which is something I am not happy with and something I aim to correct. Because, after our match is done, you can return to your Network and your employer, Bree, and give her a little message for me... Hell, you can use this letter to do it.
Tell her that Selena Frost, the Snow Queen, is coming for her and the United States Championship. It may not be tomorrow or the day after, but, whether she likes it or not and no matter how much of her new security I have to tear through, sooner or later, I will get her and I will get that singles title she carries.
To you, to her, and to Giovanni... Winter may be coming... but tonight – and onward - it's open season on all of you!
Believe it!
Sincerely,
Selena Michelle Frost
I of the Storm
“The Hard Lessons Taught – Part 3”
“The Hard Lessons Taught – Part 3”
Selena gently caressed her daughter's locks of hair – platinum snow-white, just like hers – as the child slept in their hotel room. The little girl barely took up a quarter of the bed. Hell, the Snow Queen wasn't a mathematician, but she was certain the girl took up less than that. In her white and green pyjamas and curled in a ball with a large pillow, Elsianna's position reminded the young woman of a sleeping kitten.
Her daughter hadn't complained a moment the entire time they had travelled. And while, normally, that wouldn't warrant some kind of accomplishment, per say, Elsianna had been a real trooper this time around. The mother and daughter pair had first travelled to Under Attack, allowing the Snow Queen to compete in her match with Owen Cruze – a match Selena had mostly enjoyed, even if it stung to lose. Following that, the two had immediately taken advantage of the week off post-Pay-Per-View, hopped on a plane and flown to... flown to...
Lifting her head, Selena cast her eyes outside the dimly lit hotel room to the windows. Past the glass, within the dark of the night, Selena's eyes caught the sight of rain and snow – both falling to the grounds several floors below. She watched the mixture of precipitation for a few minutes as she sat on the bed her baby occupied as well, the platinum-blonde woman in her silver-silk nightgown.
Winter was coming to Nome, Alaska.
Despite having lived through dozens of such seasons throughout her childhood and early stages of adulthood, it always brought a smile to Selena's face to feel it coming – even in Manhattan, where there was MUCH less snow compared to the “arctic” Nome.
You can take the girl out of the snowstorm... she thought quietly. Her and Elsianna had spent most of their lives here – Selena, here in the general city the pair rested within now, and Elsianna in the orphanage for over five years. It had been the latter fact that had brought some hesitation to Selena when she had told her daughter that they were going back here. At first, as she had feared, the child had been scared.
”Are you taking me back to the orphanage, mommy? Because I fought?”
Closing her eyes, Selena's hands clutched at her heart, her daughter's words a sharp stab to the organ that pumped blood through her system – even if it was just a memory. Her hands felt cold against the bare skin. She had been quick to reassure the child that she and Deanna would never give her up – no matter what. Elsianna was their daughter – and no one could take her from Selena and Deanna.
Sadly, and perhaps Selena blamed herself for what came next due to her choice of words – but Elsianna's next question had caused her heart to shatter all over again.
”But...then why did you give me up when I was born?”
Slowly turning her head, Selena could see her child, still snuggled in bed, clutching her nutcracker, Sir Crackshell, in her arms. As she watched Elsa, her precious snowflake, a small smile formed across her lips.
Her daughter was beyond intelligent. Not just in terms of her eagerness to learn and apply said knowledge, but also by her insight. After the adoption had completely gone through, with no further strings being pulled by Malcolm Scythe, Elsianna had confessed that she had known Selena was her mother the moment the two had met at the Pilgrim Springs Orphanage. She had seen no one, not a soul in all her books or the orphanage that had hair and eyes like she did – until Selena had come through that door. And Selena, perhaps in stupidity, had told her that she was, indeed, Elsianna's mother – not just her adoptive mother but her actual mother as well.
And now, the child had asked the question that Selena had believed she wouldn't have to answer for another four or five years. In fact, she STILL hadn't answered it. She hadn't been able to – she had been caught too off-guard. In an internal struggle, she had settled on a promise. Once we get to Nome, I'll tell you that as well.
Except she didn't know what to tell her daughter. She knew why she was in Nome, a form of punishment and lesson for Elsianna regarding her fighting at school with the young boy, Aaron Stanton. That the Snow Queen was ready to handle. She knew exactly what she was going to do about that.
This new development? She had no idea.
Tell the truth? What was the truth? She knowingly had given Elsianna to a wandering child – a stranger – because everyone believed that the child was dead and Selena had felt it needed to be that way. Then, in her grief and under the medications of her step-mother's warped doctor, Paracelsus, she had suffered a mental breakdown and her mind had stripped the memory away, leaving her only with a child made of snow to believe in...
With a shake of her head, Selena was certain that that particular section of the story would not be told to the child. She wouldn't understand the notion of Selena's brain coping with the loss she had endured. Hell, there were times that Selena could barely believe that she had believed, truly believed, that she had a daughter made entirely of snow. Reaching out, the platinum-blonde gently caressed her baby's cheek. Had she really been that gone? Hearing voices in her head? Her brain creating beings for her to see and speak to in order to survive and function, at least, on some normal level?
Well... how else do you explain her over there?
Turning her head and her torso to further the turn, the Snow Queen's sapphire eyes caught the haunting, demented ones that glared at her from across the room. She was only illuminated by the slivers of the moonlight coming in from the night sky, same as Selena and Elsianna were. Even so, the awake platinum-blonde could still see the inhuman fangs – long, multiple stakes of teeth – line up the woman's face in a sinister grin. It was like something out of a horror movie, something from Selena's deepest nightmares.
And here I was wondering if I was that far gone...
Selena shook her head, casting her eyes around the room. There was no mini-fridge within the hotel room, meaning there was no elixir – oh please... you mean no booze! – to send Sirus away, back to the corners of her mind.
“Great...” Selena muttered, reaching up to rub her temples with the one hand. She spoke that word softly so as not to awaken Elsianna. “Probably won't get much sleep tonight.”
Almost in response to that, Selena heard the sound of hissing and snarling coming from across the room – though she was certain that no one could hear it but her. The phantom had grown more and more grotesque recently, almost as if it was transforming into something that Selena could not identify. Sometimes it would be the teeth, other times the skin or the eyes – the creature before her seemed pleased just to haunt the Snow Queen as much as it could. Sometimes, the ghost would succeed, driving Selena to a breakdown of tears or anxiety until she gave in and took a drink. Other times, the Snow Queen would distract herself long enough to simply ignore the creature. Those were her two options. Ignore or... break down.
Not tonight... Selena finally decided regarding the latter option. Quietly, the platinum-blonde set herself down on the bed beside her daughter, lying on her side so she could reach out and tuck the child close to her form. Though her eyes were closed, she could hear the demon in her mind hissing and snarling and baying, trying desperately to get her attention – to open her eyes and see the monster.
Selena ignored it tonight, even if it would be almost impossible to sleep. Instead, she focused on the little breaths she could hear as Elsianna inhaled and exhaled. On the the little heartbeat she could feel in her baby's chest as the mother held her tight.
Even if she couldn't answer Elsa's question about abandoning her tonight, Selena could still be her mother and protect her from the monsters of this world...
Even if those monsters were Selena's own creation...
**********************************
Years Ago...
“LET ME GO, YOU BASTARDS!” Selena screamed as she kicked and fought against the strong hold of her captors. Her scalp burned and her hands ached to rub and scratch at it – but the hands that held her and dragged her through the halls would not grant her such a luxury.
“Oh come on, Queenie!” came one of the voices – they all were laughing and were filled with mocking tones. “It's last week of school – graduation!” the voice was feminine, but given how Selena was being dragged, she could not lift her head high enough to see who was talking. Having her hair covering her in a wet clump in front of her eyes didn't help things.
“Yeah...” came another voice – this one one of the boys that followed the leader like sheep through the hall – and by that, Selena was referring to the ring leader that kept leading the small group of people – and her by association – through the halls.
The day, one of the last she would have to spend in this hellhole of a high-school, had started out simple enough. The teachers spoke abut the exams coming up and the due date reminder for several projects – Selena already finishing most of hers. She had gone out to her private place, the large drama room where the drama classes were held, to eat her lunch. She often chose classrooms like these for her spare time. Made her harder to find – harder to be seen... harder to be bullied.
Sadly, she had been wrong today. For, just as she had left the room and was heading to her locker – only six minutes left of lunch remained, she was suddenly drenched in hot, cream-filled coffee! She had screamed in pain as the liquid was poured on top of her scalp and no matter how much she scrambled to get out and leave, she was shoved by hands she couldn't see amidst the shower of coffee and wet-hair. Instead, she stumbled into waiting arms that shoved her back to wherever she was. That had lasted several minutes until her assailants had run out of drinks.
“Oh come she didn't melt!” one had said. “That was hot coffee!”
Selena's skin itched at the memory. Because it was at that point that she had heard the voice of the ringleader.
She doesn't always melt... the voice was amused and familiar to the Snow Queen. Ain't that right, your majesty?
Reaching up, Selena wiped the coffee running down her scalp and face, flinging it to the sides. “Do you...” she fought against the burning pain of her scalp. Thankfully, it wasn't that hot anymore. “Do you seriously have nothing better to do than to come down here and bother me? You graduated last year.”
“Yeah.” Smirked the tall, thin boy known as Gavin Scythe, the youngest son of the mayor of Nome, Alaska. “But if they made a course in who make the Snow Queen his bitch? I'd come back for sure!”
Selena had shook her head at her nemesis' antics. It wasn't that Gavin wasn't smart. Far from it, he was very intelligent. It was just... well, he was a jerk. Someone who got his kicks from bothering her – had been the same since they were children. Sometimes, more often than not, he'd get his shots in and Selena would let him, but sometimes, if he pushed the right button, the Snow Queen would be the one who fought back and the one standing.
That was the basis: if Selena fought back, she'd win. If she didn't and simply took the hits...
That seems to be today... the platinum-blonde thought as her mind returned to the present – to being dragged through the halls.
The empty halls...
Through the curtain of wet, coffee hair that reeked of the beverage, a sudden realization dawned on Selena. Why were the halls so empty? Where was everyone? Had the last bell rung and everyone was now in class?
“You get that all of you are going to be late, right?” Selena tried, turning her head to the people that were carrying her – fellow students like her, though just part of Gavin's horde. Some were girls trying to get with him. Others were just people that hated her, Selena recognizing a girl or two from the cheerleader team (one in particular that, Selena remembered, hated her because Selena's hair was natural whereas the cheerleader needed enough peroxide to stain a deck to get the blonde she currently had). The voices of mocking continued and, for the most part, Selena simply sank into the hands of those dragging her, resigned to her fate.
It'll be done in a week... she told herself. One week and you'll never have to deal with them again. You can focus on the mine and working part-time and dating Adrian...
That was enough to give the young seventeen-year-old a moment of peace of mind. She and Adrian had been secretly dating for a few months now – him not wanting his father to know until Selena had graduated and she, not wanting her 'infamy' to bring him down until it was all behind them. But, that didn't stop them from sneaking out to places like the cave where her father believed there was gold...
Selena blushed at that memory, remembering what had happened there earlier this year.... her first time... it had been wonderful with Adrian... fortunately, no one saw her display as everyone was too busy taking Selena to...wherever the hell they were going.
However, as Selena felt her felt suddenly trip over a lining of brass, her eyes opened and she saw the laminated, wooden floors of the school gym that all happy thoughts and feelings flew out of her as fast as the coffee was dripping off her scalp.
“NO!” she begged, her thrashing against her human restraints beginning anew. “NOT THAT, GAVIN! PLEASE NOT THAT!”
The mayor's son smiled at such a reaction – exactly what he had been hoping for. “Aww come on, Selena!” he mocked. “I worked so hard on getting this place cleaned and ready for you! The least you could do is spend a night here.”
With a wave of his hand, the dragging continued across the basketball court, Selena continuing to try and fight for her freedom. Sadly, it was like fighting an octopus. She had two legs and two hands, and what was holding her down? Much more!
Another trip over the brass lining of the door and the lights were instantly diminished. Hell, Selena couldn't really see anything already but the dark made it so much worse. She didn't need to see anything. She knew where she was.
“Right over there, people.” came the inevitable instruction from Gavin and Selena was suddenly hoisted up a little.
“NO! NO!” She twisted and turned, her hands striking out into the dark, feeling something as her palm connected.
“Oww! Shit! She hit me, Gavin!” came something from one of the cheerleaders.
Immediately, more hands than Selena could count were gripping her and shoving her into the confines of something. Despite her brain knowing what it was, her arms shot out to the sides, immediately meeting resistance of a difference kind. Where before it was hands and strong grips, Selena found herself meeting walls around her.
“There we go!” came the triumphant voice of Gavin – her tormentor – as something was slammed shut a few inches above her head. “That's all there is to it, ladies and gentlemen!” There was a brief silence before he added. “Thank you! Thank you! It was a team effort!”
“GAVIN!” Selena cried out, her hands firing forward to slam against the lid over and over again. “Open this damn box!”
“Oh we will!” promised the leader. “But I'm a bit of a procrastinator, Sel. And I can't call my brother cause he's busy. Give me a few hours... a night max, okay?”
Selena wanted to curse at him but her voice died in her throat. The adrenaline of the events had faded slightly, forcing Selena to come to terms with the familiar place she was in.
She was back in the damn chest.
Angrily, she kicked and screamed against the confines as she heard the laughter of the people outside the box. Some were congratulating themselves and their buddies. Others were saying insults at her, leaning into the chest so she could hear them “better”.
It was all a mumble of sound to Selena – the anxiety already building within her. She felt her breathing grow short and her heartrate spike up. She felt like she was drowning and there was no way to stop it. She could hear the roar of water in her ears, though it could have been her own blood pumping through her veins that she was hearing. It didn't matter.
It never mattered when it came to her claustrophobia. It needed so little to be triggered and it always did its best to make as much noise and pain as possible. Closing her eyes, Selena curled her legs up to her chest and held on tight.
“Conceal...Don't feel...” she whispered as she rocked back and forth, as if trying to fool herself that she had much more space than she actually had. She almost didn't hear the the large weight being placed on the top lid above her, a way to secure her and keep her in place.
“Okay, your majesty!” came Gavin's loud voice. “You're all tucked in for the night? Have a good sleep and we'll see you in the morning... maybe...”
The laughter rose a bit and then died as the mass made their way out of the gym, closing the doors behind them, erasing any sign of their time in this place.
There was only silence now. Silence broken every few seconds by Selena's breathing and gasping and cries as she held on through the wave of her anxiety. There was nothing she could do about this. She had to ride it out until either a ) she calmed down or b ) someone came alone and got her out.
She never believed that option b would happen, even when it did sometimes.
“Okay...” she breathed slowly, trying to calm herself. “Where are you?” she asked.
Where are you? her mind repeated the question.
“I'm in the secondary basketball court of my high-school.”
Why are you in a chest?
“Because Gavin knows about my claustrophobia.” came her stilted answer.
The questions continued in that fashion. Ever since Gavin had learned about Selena's greatest fear – thanks to... Selena growled... Anastasia DeCarlo – her step-mother – he had used this place as his 'go-to' to torture Selena the worst. The high-school of Nome had two basketball courts. One main one that was used for school games and big matches and the second, on the other side of the school – the one that no one really hung around in because it was where all the tech and machine classes were taken. Once they locked up, people mostly hung around the sport-fields, the art classes or the music rooms, basically anywhere that didn't reek of oil, gasoline, propane, and the tools of such classes.
In this gym, though, there was a large closet, mostly that held chairs and some gear for the classes. Beyond that, on the far side of the room, however, was one last room, no bigger than bathroom stall. In it was a stepladder and a chest that was supposed to just hold a few cables and wires for management and other things.
Gavin had known about it from his years here before Selena, and it suited his needs perfectly. A cheap padlock purchased at any store was all he needed after that.
Sadly, once the plan had been in play, Selena had often found herself here – at least once every month. She had been stunned today because she had already been locked in her during the first week of the month – Perhaps Gavin got angry – maybe a girl he was dating got wise and slapped him in the face...
Selena froze as she thought that. Her brain had told something of a joke. Quickly, she breathed slowly, repeating her mantra for added effect. She was still in a bit of a panic, but her body was wearing itself out from it – the adrenaline lowering and allowing her time to process where she was and remind herself that, though she was locked in a coffin and hating it and terrified – she had been here before.
“You're going to be okay.” she whispered. “Unless you run out of air- No!” she told herself quickly. “There's a hole at the bottom side, you saw it after the second visit.” she tried to reason as her heartbeat rose up a little again in panic. “Calm down!” she ordered, trying her best to fight through the discomfort.
You'll be free soon... her mind told her. Free of Gavin – if he tries to hurt you, you can have him arrested for assault. Put the mayor's boy in jail! That would be awesome! She did like the idea of that. Yeah, but daddy would bail him out. Who cares? How much would Gavin like that? 'My daddy has to take care of me. Boo hoo'!
Taking a deep breath and exhaling said breath, Selena slowly stretched her legs and r est of her body out as much as she could be allowed. The chest gave her enough room to almost extend her legs fully, allowing her to reach into her pocket and dig out her cellphone. Quickly, she powered it on... and was told there was no signal.
“Dammit.” she whispered, despite knowing from previous sessions in this chest that there was no signal within the full room. Besides, who could she call? Her step-mother? She never would believe her. Friends? “Pfft... what friends?” Selena whispered. Her uncle Liam? No, he was running the bar – he wasn't supposed to babysit her. Anastasia would have his head if he came by and made a fuss over finding her like this.
Well, it didn't matter because there was no signal. Odds were, she'd have to wait until she heard someone come into the gym and hope that if she screamed loud enough, they'd get her out.
Deciding to test the limits, Selena pushed her hands up to the lead and pushed with all she had. Maybe the padlock was crappy (one time, Gavin had just used a piece of wood to keep it locked) and she'd be able to break it. She pushed and kicked with all she had, hearing the grunts and thuds of her efforts as her limbs banged up against the chest. Still, there was no true give. No, Gavin had used a real lock this time.
“Dammit.” Selena whispered, collapsing back into the chest, feeling her shoulders touch the side if she moved too much. Her regular options were officially out the window. She couldn't power her way out. She couldn't shake the box to loosen a bolt and she couldn't use her phone to call anyone.
With a deep breath, Selena checked her phone, activating the 'music' option and turning the music up as loud as her ears could handle. All she could do now was make some noise.
“You are...my fire...
The one desire...”
Her voice carried almost as much as the music as she sang the first song played on her phone, Backstreet Boys “I want it that way”. It was harder with her breathing still on the shallow side due to the anxiety of her claustrophobia but she persevered. The biggest comfort she had, in that moment, though, was that, inside the chest – no one could shut her up or make her stop. They'd have to get her out to do that...
The Snow Queen continued to sing – moreso for herself and her freedom than anything else. And when her voice eventually got tired from singing so much, she simply laid there, listening to her music, her audiobooks, whatever was there.
She would get out of this. She always did. And soon, she would be free. Free of Gavin, free of her step-mother, free of everyone that hated her just because she was “the crazy miner's daughter”.
All she had to do was wait until she was finally let out of her prison...
******************************************
Present time
The doors creaked loudly as they were pulled open. They were rusty and old and stayed in place because of it after Selena had them open.
“In here.” she called out behind her, smiling softly as she saw her daughter bounce and skip to her mother's side. Selena had taken it upon herself to show her baby girl everything in Nome, Alaska. She had Liam, her uncle of sorts, dote on her a little, they visited Jean and Zelda, Elsianna's godparents and “aunt” and “uncle” as well of sorts. They had gone skating at the inside ice rink (the snow hadn't decided to stay between it and the rain).
Now, Selena was here. Where she had wanted to take her daughter from the beginning. Immediately, she felt her child's hand clench hers.
“This place is dark, mommy.” remarked the snow child. “Scary. Like a dungeon.”
“I know.” sighed Selena as she reached over to the wall to flick a switch, instantly lighting up a single, white lightbulb.
Keeping her daughter's hand in hers, Selena walked Elsa around the racks of chairs and through the next set of doors until her eyes settled on the brown, rusty chest that stood before them.
“What's that?” Elsianna pointed. “Is that a treasure chest?!” she asked in delight, instantly excited!
“No, sweetheart.” Selena almost laughed at her daughter's enthusiasm. “That... that was a prison mommy was locked in many times.”
“Prison?” asked the platinum-blonde child in confusion. “Did you do something bad?”
Selena smiled and shook her head. “I don't think so.” she replied before kneeling before the shorter girl and taking her hands in hers. “You know how Aaron Stanton picked on you? You told me how he would make fun of you and threaten you?”
Biting her lower lip, Elsianna remained still for a moment.
“They're miles away.” Selena assured her. “You're safe here with me. You can tell the truth.”
Slowly, Elsa nodded her head.
“Well, when I was in school... I had people like Aaron... people that didn't accept me for who I was. And they threatened me too. And part of their... their actions... was to hurt me and lock me in that chest.” she turned her head to cast her gaze at the box that had confined her so many a time.
“W...why?” asked Elsianna. “Why would they do that to you?”
“I...” Selena turned her gaze back to the six-year old, the question actually making her laugh. “You know I never did find out. Jealousy, maybe?”
“Jealousy? Is that when someone wants something you have?”
“That's right.” Selena nodded, tapping her daughter's nose playfully with her finger. “When someone wants something you have or wants to be someone you are – they can hate you for it. They can lash out and try and take it from you or make you feel ashamed of it or other things like that.”
“That's not fair.” came the pout.
“No, it isn't.” Selena sighed, looking around the room. “I spent so much time here, all I could do was think for hours until I was released.”
“How did you get out?”
Selena shrugged. “Different ways. Sometimes I'd get myself out if I was lucky. Other times, I had to wait for someone else to get me out. Like an adult.”
“Like the teachers and the monitors?”
“Or Mr. Bradley, yes.” Selena added to her daughter's question.
“Were you scared?”
A slow smile and a chuckle came from the Snow Queen as she nodded her head. “Every time.” She admitted. “Elsianna... do you know what claustrophobia means?”
“Claus-” Elsianna tried but then shook her head sadly.
“That's okay, snowflake.” Selena assured. “It means that small spaces, where the walls are close to eachother... they scare me. The make me feel trapped and that scares me. Do you understand?”
Slowly, trying to think about it, Elsianna frowned and shook her head. With a sigh and a smile, Selena ruffled the child's white hair – so like hers. “That's alright.” She replied. “But I wanted to show you this.”
Walking over to the chest, Selena lifted the lid. There had not been a padlock there to hold it together in years, so it opened easily enough. Holding up the lid, Selena leaned forward and pointed at the top curve of the inside of it. “See that?” she asked.
Elsianna, carefully, drew closer, not wanting to be near the thing that had hurt her mommy as much as she had said. But she followed Selena's hand and finger until she could see something scratched into the metal lining.
“Words?” she asked.
Selena nodded. “Can you read what they say?”
Squinting her eyes, Elsianna tried to read the fading scratch. “I...will...be...free... S.F.”
“Do you know what S.F stands for?” Selena bit her lower lip.
Elsa shook her head negatively.
“That's me, little one. S.F is my name: Selena Frost.”
“Oh...” Elsianna realized.
“See...” Selena spoke carefully, taking her daughter's hand and guiding her away from the chest. “The reason I brought you here is because I want you to understand that I went through tough times in school like you did. And I fought back sometimes too. But, in the end, what kept me going was that I knew that I would be free of it all soon enough. And all of that heartache and pain – it made me stronger and want to be better. To be...free.”
“Hero's trial?” Elsianna asked. “Every hero goes through a test to prove themselves.”
“I...I guess so...” Selena replied. “You think I'm a hero?” she asked hesitantly, earning a fierce series of nods from her daughter.
“You've saved me and mom and David and Ami so many times! You fight the bad guys!”
Closing her eyes, Selena took a moment to relish in her daughter's words. They were uplifting and made her want to cry a little. Still, she forced herself to focus. She had a lesson to teach.
“But, Elsa. Just like me, you're going to have your own trials too. I didn't have anyone to turn to and I wish I had. I wish I had friends and loved ones that I could have spoken to and asked for help because I think I would have become a much better hero if I had.”
Selena took a moment to let her words sink in.
“You have such things. You have me, and Deanna, and the teachers and principal. Never – ever – think that you are alone or that you cannot talk to us, okay? Because, no matter what, we will always be there for you.”
Tilting her head slightly, the child gazed into her mother's eyes. “Mom...”
“I know.” Selena smiled. “You want to know why... Elsianna... when you're old enough to understand fully, I'll tell you everything. But for now, let me say it this way:” she took a deep breath. “Remember Sleeping Beauty? The king and queen give up their princess to keep her safe?”
Elsianna nodded.
“That...that is what I did for you. I wasn't the hero you see me as now. I wasn't strong enough then to protect you. Not like I can now. And, though it broke my heart, I chose to hide you away from those that would hurt you. People like the ones that locked me in the chest.”
Elsianna was quiet for a moment, which was disconcerting for the platinum-blonde.
“Elsa? Are you-” her words died as her daughter rushed into her arms, the child throwing her small limbs around Selena's neck in a fierce hug. “I love you, mommy.”
And that was when the tears fell fully, lining Selena's cheeks as she embraced her daughter fiercely. “I love you too, Elsianna. You are everything to me.” she whispered before kissing her daughter's forehead.
The two stayed like that for a few minutes until both were ready to go. But as Selena left her 'dungeon' or 'prison' behind, she cast one more glance at it before turning off the lights and returning it to the shadows. Shadows that seemed to dance and beckon her to return to them.
She knew the truth. She was free of that prison, but not of the one that haunted her mind...
But soon I will be... she vowed, squeezing her daughter's hand as they walked away. Soon we all will be free...
___________________________________
The Royal Letter
Well, Giovanni...
I know that, usually, I start these letters out with a “dear” or “to”. Sadly, Mr. Aries, there is nothing 'dear' about you and, quietly, honestly, the only thing I am wishing to give you is a swift kick to the head.
How dare you.
Yes, I said it. How dare you! You came down to the ring and assaulted Owen Cruze after he defeated me at Under Attack. In a match that was cast off as a, quote, “piss break”, two superstars came in and stole the show. They put all they had into the match, all their efforts and abilities were put to the test and the audience were enthralled, or did you not hear them?
Better question. Tell me, Giovanni, did anyone come out and take you down when you won the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royale? No. You were given your time to bask in your victory and revel in your accomplishment. You were allowed to embrace it and enjoy it because, no doubt about it, you earned it.
That night in Salt Lake City belonged to Owen Cruze. He earned that victory over me. I don't like losing, who does in this business, but I am more than woman enough to admit that he got me that night. He deserved the praise. He deserved the attention and the applause – all of it. It was my honour to raise his hand and leave the ring to let him bask in his achievement.
But then you took that away from him. You... like a damn coward – that's what you are, Giovanni! A coward! You attacked him from behind just like you attacked me from behind after you couldn't beat me when we last fought!
Is it because you are jealous, Giovanni? You failed to take me down, despite your bragging and mind games and seeing someone like Owen succeed, perhaps as quickly as you did when you first started, makes you afraid that you'll be overshadowed by him in no time. Is that it? You hate that I was better than you and you hate that Owen could be as well? Are you afraid that, along with no one buying your speel about “the Lizard King”, that SCW is moving on past you – like it has since you took time off?
Well, Gio, you can do what you want with me. I would have accepted that had you gone after me at Under Attack. But I will be damned if I simply stand on the sidelines while you play your mind games with Owen. I'll be damned if you ruin such a promising, young career as that man's!
Yes, it was very cute that you hid from the sidelines while you had your associate, Sam, do your dirty work. Haunting Owen, spying on me... all very cute, Giovanni.
But what you fail to realize is that – while you think you're original with your games – I've been there. I've been through that. Worse yet, I was haunted by the best at that game. Someone by the name of Vixen Cain. Ring a bell? Someone that not only could do what you did, but he didn't need to hide behind the mask of 'hero' against a Lizard King to do it. Or behind smoke and mirrors. He did it because he knew he could do it. He kidnapped me and my child just for his own sick, twisted games.
Compared to that? You're just annoying Owen and I – like a kid flashing someone in the eyes with a flashlight. Still, when it all came down to it, all Vixen's games and all his plans to 'conquer SCW', he still had to come into the ring and get through me.
And he failed.
Just like you failed at Apocalypse, Giovanni.
And you and I? We WILL meet in the ring again. I can assure you of that. Because I will say to you the same words I said to Cain: You want to 'conquer SCW'? You want to hurt innocent people with your sense of 'justice'?
Over...my...dead...body!
I won't deny that you've got me irritated, Giovanni. You've easily gotten under my skin. So much so that I don't care whether or not you know what I plan to do in Sydney, Australia as part of the two tours of SCW. Last week, Giovanni, you hid away and sent your associate to work for you.
This week? You're not going to be able to hide. Oh you can try, Gio. You can definitely try. I kind of actually want you to. But there's something you need to realize really quick.
Owen's not around for you to terrorize this time.
That's right, Mad Hatter. He's over on the European Tour. On an entirely different continent! He's safe from you and Julian!
Which means that...for perhaps the only time for the foreseeable future... it's just you and me, Giovanni. The Mad Hatter and the Snow Queen.
So...let me give you a bit of advice for tonight. After your match with Aaron Blackbourne... do what you have become amazing at and hide. Hide in the arena. Hide in the shadows. Hide down the rabbit hole for all I care. Because the Snow Queen is going to go hunting for you. I am going to find you and I am going to get some answers out of you, either by you telling me – or me driving my boot against your throat until you choke out the answers.
Do I sound a little angry? Do I sound irritated? I am – I hate that you're back, Giovanni. I hate that you're trying to corrupt such a promising career as Owen's... but I am also excited. Because I feel tonight is the night to make statements. Statements to Giovanni, or Jules, and, also, statements regarding something, or someone else.
That is where you come in Dante McCaffery. And while you and I have only fought twice – once really one on one – to say that you are not directly involved with my goals would be untrue.
Let me make this clear, Dante, I do not like you. Personally, I never liked how you hid in your numbers – I'd say it's similar to Giovanni's smoke and lights. I'm sure I made that clear last time we faced about a year or so ago. Add to that now that I find your whole notion of wrestling being all about 'power' and selling yourself to the person that pays the most amount of money to be infuriating. You believe that money and power make the wrestler – and basically, I'm not your biggest fan.
But, honestly, I can't blame you for your logic – flawed as it is. After all, you managed to 'buy' the hand of the Executioner, himself, Xander Valentine and own him. You've managed to put him on a leash with the promise of money and power. An SCW Icon, the most dangerous man to ever grace SCW's halls brought to heel by you.
I imagine that's a strong argument to your belief.
But let me remind you of something, Dante. Something that Giovanni Aries hasn't quite figured out yet either. Sometimes it's not about power or money. Sometimes those things aren't what drive us. Sometimes we do what we do out of love. I told you then in 2017 and I'm telling you now: I love SCW. I love being in SCW. I love representing it and I love being part of this amazing SCW Universe.
You? You're only here long as you get the money or the prizes you desire, am I right? Something better comes along and you will be gone faster than any of the fans can blink their eyes. You're in the same horde as Sienna Swann, AJ Helms... and Bree Lancaster.
People with a price. People that sell out or abandon SCW if the price is right.
But here's the thing, Dante. I do have some statements to make in our match before I go out hunting for a Mad Hatter. See, last Breakdown, you came sauntering out, declaring yourself and your Network as the new 'security' of Bree Lancaster and Scott Burnside.
That, Dante, was a mistake.
Because, quite honestly, that just got my attention. Because that tells me that, in order to get Bree's attention, I'm going to have to go through you. And while I have no idea of Xander is with you – did you smuggle him in because I didn't see his name on either list – I don't really care one way or the other. Because before I get to Giovanni, I want to do as I did last time you and I faced.
Beat you down.
Knock you out.
Pin you and leave you in the ring.
And, to be honest, Giovanni has me just angry enough that I think I can do it with some very vicious kicks. I know how opportunistic you are and how much you love seizing the moment of sorts. Imagine me in that ring with you and wanting the exact same thing, but for me, that moment I'm seeking is me kicking you so hard in the head, you see stars.
I am beyond excited to face Bree Lancaster, the United States Champion's, new head of security tonight in Sydney. I am beyond excited to face you and beat you, Dante, because right now, it seems that Bree is so focused on being Tag-Team Champion, she's forgotten about the singles title she carries. The one that she's not defended since Fatal Fortunes? The one that, apparently, will go two pay-per-views if Bound by Blood is to be believed, without being defended on either one?
She seems to have forgotten that title... which is something I am not happy with and something I aim to correct. Because, after our match is done, you can return to your Network and your employer, Bree, and give her a little message for me... Hell, you can use this letter to do it.
Tell her that Selena Frost, the Snow Queen, is coming for her and the United States Championship. It may not be tomorrow or the day after, but, whether she likes it or not and no matter how much of her new security I have to tear through, sooner or later, I will get her and I will get that singles title she carries.
To you, to her, and to Giovanni... Winter may be coming... but tonight – and onward - it's open season on all of you!
Believe it!
Sincerely,
Selena Michelle Frost