SCW Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal

[Braddock]

2 of 2 for Religious Wright
======

When we last left our spiritual leader, Religious Wright was hoping to hear good news about a brand new James Evans Monster Truck that he wants to use for the church. Why would a church need a monster truck? Who knows? But he wants it and what Religious Wright wants, Religious Wright gets. We now find Religious Wright in a black and white suit with an orange power tie walking alongside Brother Douglas who is dressed in denim overalls and a plaid shirt.

“So tell me something Brother Douglas…is my precious prize ready?”

“It is, Religious Wright.” Brother Douglas says, enthusiastically nodding his head. “I ordered Porn Wars: the entire ‘Thighlicker Saga’ for you and my sister to binge watch tonight.”

“That’s not what…” he pauses “...wait, the entire saga?”

“Yup! All 69 movies!”

“Good man, Brother Douglas! You get a raise!”

“Does that mean I actually get paid now?”

“No…but I will start sending you a yearly steak. Now where is my REAL prize?”

“You mean the Mr. D Effigy that we’re going to send to Selena Frost so that she can burn it?”

“No!” He shouts angrily. “But that’s a good idea. What I want to know about is the monster truck! Where is it?”

“Oh, it’s just outside.” Brother Douglas leads Religious Wright out of the doors and into the parking lot. They watch as they see a giant monster truck that would put gravedigger to shame come rolling up. There is the effigy of someone’s head at the very top of the truck…only this giant head on top of the truck isn’t James Evans’s image…no, unfortunately Brother Douglas messed it up.

“That’s not Brother James Evans!” Religious Wright turns and slaps Brother Douglas. “That’s CHAD Evans!”

“Chad?” Brother Douglas furrows his brow in confusion. “There’s another Evans?”

“Yes you dipshit!” He sighs as he gazes at the Chad Evans Monster Truck that comes to a stop before him. “I was going to ride this to the ring at Taking Hold of the Flame! Everyone would be in such awe at Brother James’s greatness that they would willingly eliminate themselves and I would be declared the winner by forfeit! But now what will happen if I drive this Chad Evans Monster Truck to the ring at Taking Hold of the Flame?!”

“Uh…” he shrugs his shoulders “...eat cauliflower?”

Religious Wright slaps Brother Douglas. “Shut up! Where’s the camera, I need to film my promo?!”

“It’s right here.” He points to the camera. “We’ve been filmed the entire time.”

“Oh…right…” Religious Wright turns to face the camera…

[BEGIN PROMO]

“I WILL WIN!”

[/END PROMO]

[TheOne]

OOC Note: This is the culmination of The One story arc and hopefully tells the final chapter well.  I've had this story ending in my head for over a year, and had to try to find the right story to tell to get me to this point.  I hope everyone enjoys reading it as I have enjoyed putting the pieces together to get it written.  Good luck to all, and from Taking Hold of the Flame forward, The One actually has a name!


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{THE ONE: The Final Chapter}

There comes a point in everyone's life where everything comes to a head.  Everything you have faced, the trials, the tribulations, the goods, the bads, everything leads to the moment at hand, and that is where I have finally come to.  And this head is one that signifies either the greatest accomplishment of my life, or the moment where my life takes the ultimate turn for the worst.

Why the worst?

One simple word, failure...

I made a promise, long ago, to defend and protect The Oracle until my final breath, and the idea of failing at that would feel just like I took my last breath because there would be nowhere else to go.  I would have no more ways to protect or save the one person I was charged with doing so with because the extremes would have been exhausted, and I wouldn't know what punishments, what revenge, what anything I would face by The Prophets and their followers.  Because I would be public enemy number one.  I would be the one who deserves all of the pain, suffering, and vengeance that those two would seek.  And their followers would stop at nothing, if they felt that even the ACTUAL authorities couldn't touch those who ran The Compound.

Basically... I was the last resort The Oracle had, and this was my true "Judgement Day."

So the mission kicked off, as I understood it, early in the morning with many of the actual federal units getting into position, using my access to the cameras and surveillance to their advantage.  Hailey was instructed to sneak off and take up her position to, as she said, join me once it was time was right, and the trap was completely set.  The Oracle's brother had the easiest job.  His job was to be alone.  His job was to simply make his way, in whatever fashion, to The Compound, and make sure he was arriving at the predetermined time.  And while that job was easy, he knew that whatever they did to him between his arrival and the assault on the facility was not in his control.  He was given leeway to do whatever it took to keep himself safe, and ensure he was unharmed, or as minimally harmed as possible.

For me, my timing was the most important.  I had to ensure Hailey was in position, The Brother was there, and then I could make my arrival.  It was as simple of a plan as that.  I was given keywords to say in order to "spring the trap" on everyone, and once those were said, it was, in my eyes, "fight night."  My goal, once all hell broke loose was going to be to storm The Compound myself, use my knowledge, take out whomever may be in my way, get to The Oracle, and break her out and hopefully use the same exit that she got out the first time.  It was the one thing I kept to myself.  It was was my "ace in the hole."  That location was not something that they would have seen as a "soft spot" in the surveillance because it wasn't until I did what I planned that one night that even I looked at it as such.  So with all luck, they didn't bother looking at it as anymore than one of the many random blind spots, that were nowhere near anything of value, and ignored it.  My hope was that they took up positions elsewhere.

And it was with all of these plans in place, these hopes, these assumptions, that the modern day equivalent of "D-Day," on a sex "cult" and abusers of a young woman would come to their long awaited fruition.

Would it be success?

Would it be The Hunger Games?

Or would it be a complete and utter failure?

I didn't know... But I did know this was the final, and LAST STAND, of The One as she was known to this point...

As dusk begins to fall in the small Midwestern town that has become the well-known home of the polyamorous "cult," as they're viewed by the outside, a young man nervously begins walking toward the wooded turnoff on the side of the road for the first time in almost a year.  The Brother of The Oracle stops at the precipice of the entry before taking a breath knowing this would be the first time he had ever VOLUNTARILY taking the path up toward the gates that had kept him prisoner for the longest of times.

As he crosses the threshold, he knows, as he was warned, that sensors and cameras would be on him.  He knew that every step he took, closer to the gate, would alert more and more people to his presence.  But he also knew that what he was doing was right for him and his sister, and that was what he cared about in that moment.  Nobody else.  Just his sister's health and well-being.

Upon coming over a small incline that brought the entryway of The Compound into view, he quickly sees a sea of humanity waiting on him, with the gate wide open.  In the middle of the mass is his parents and the predecessor to The One.  Expecting this very thing, his disheveled look makes him throw his hands in the air, and continue to walk forward, not knowing who or what may be watching him, ready to jump out at him.

The Brother: I'm clean... I have no weapons... I'm coming back...

Everyone pauses, confused as to what he is saying.  The predecessor charges the brother, who simply freezes, and awaits his inevitable tackling, which, as he expected, doesn't come with any "relaxed" feeling.  He goes down with a thud, and grunts loudly, as he's pinned down and immediately searched for weapons or wires.

The Brother: I... I told you I'm clean...

The Predecessor is having none of it.

The Predecessor: Don't you DARE fucking talk, bitch... You don't move or speak until I say so...

The Predecessor continues to rip his clothes, pat him down, remove his shoes, and do anything he can to find, what he believes, to be the proof that he is in cahoots with The One.  After finding nothing he stands up with one of the Brother's shoes still in hand and lets out a scream of rage.  Afterward he throws the shoe into the back of the downed brother, and another voice quickly rings out.

Male Prophet: You can let him up...

The father of The Brother, is the voice, stopping The Predecessor from continuing his assault.

The Predecessor:  But...

Male Prophet: No buts... Let him up...

The Predecessor scoffs and yanks the man up by the remnants of his clothes, and gets in his face.

The Predecessor: Just wait until you see what I do to your friends...

The Brother, beaten and wobbly, replies with something that angers The Predecessor.

The Brother: Fuck off... I have no friends...

The Brother pushes his assailant to the side and approaches his parents, stumbling from still being rattled.

The Brother: ... You want the truth... They're coming for you... I got away before they pulled me into their plan... I told them to fuck off because all I care about is my sister.  All I want is her to have someone to look after her who ACTUALLY cares about her...

Male Prophet: Are you saying we don't, son?

The Brother: Are you saying you DO, father?  Just put me back in my room alongside hers and you won't hear a fucking peep out of me.  Put extra guards, I don't fucking care... Just let me actually protect my little sister, like a brother is supposed to do...

From the side, another sucker punch comes in from The Predecessor, spurned by a slight nod from the man's father.  The mother looks over aghast, but is assured he just is being kept compromised until he's put in the new holding area for he and his sister.  And while the mother doesn't agree with the methods, she realizes that the end result is one she agrees with.

ABOUT ONE HOUR LATER

The same mass grouping of individuals line the entrance to The Compound as sensors have alerted them to movement heading in their direction, and surveillance showing that it is, indeed, The One.  The One makes the turn from the highway up to the wooded and dirt road, and wastes no time, with darkness almost completely engulfing her at this point.  As she approaches the same hill that will expose her visually to The Compound, she pauses and takes a deep breath, when a voice echoes out in her direction.

The Predecessor: Don't dawdle you phony... Show yourself...

The One recognizes the voice of her predecessor and growls to herself and is immediately inspired to make the rest of the walk.  She comes over the hill and immediately sees the same throng of people who awaited The Oracle's Brother, to which he is now included, dawning the bruises he sustained minutes before.  Also there are her parents, staring their daughter down with complete disdain.  The One is not bothered by any of the eyes on her, and approaches the mob ready for whatever comes her way.

As she comes to a stop about 40 feet away from them, she reaches into her pants, pulling out a pipe, ready to fight.  She holds it up, ready to swing, when footsteps approach from the side, between the two groups of people.  Out into the moonlight walks Hailey, alongside her family.  The One immediately lowers the pipe, looking at Hailey confused.  Hailey looks at The One, dejected, and speaks.

Hailey: I'm sorry my friend...

The One looks around, still confused.

The One: For... For what?

Hailey: I... I had to protect my family first...

As those words are spoken, more footsteps are heard, as from behind Hailey and her family, more members of The Compound who are acting in a role of "the muscle" for The Prophets, emerge, making the numbers even more unfair against The One.  The Predecessor takes a couple steps forward, with a grin on his face, getting within reach of The One, should she swing her pipe.

The Predecessor: Heh... Did you REALLY think you were going to win and outsmart us, here?

This time, from behind The One, footsteps approach again, and she turns enough to see Agent McConnell now completely the encircling and surrounding of her.  This makes The One's eyes go wide, as this does not seem to jive with what she believed the plan was, and presents a possibility that Agent McConnell was in cahoots with The Compound all along.

The Predecessor: Bow down, bitch... Bow down...

Hailey quickly then makes a break toward The One's Predecessor out of nowhere, and before he can react, Hailey rears back delivering a symbolic and identical blow to the groin of the man once known as The One.  Hailey walks around in front of him, before backing up beside The One...

Hailey: Remember the last thing I told you... I would have the last laugh...

And it is in this moment, Hailey had given the signal.  All of the prepared lights, all of the agents hiding in the shadows, everything illuminates the antagonists, and shows them now surrounded with guns drawn on them.  The One looks back over her shoulder and sees McConnell now drawing his weapon, and it pointed past her, toward The Prophets as well.

It was in this moment things began to take some form of clarity for me.  The secret call with her parents, the nights out, everything Hailey was doing was ensuring that this part of the plan could be executed, and that her parents were integral assets in it.  If Hailey had approached The Prophets and asked for forgiveness on her own, nobody would have believed her.  If her parents were the catalyst, asking for the reinsertion into the group, then it would make Hailey more believable, and a usable pawn in whatever they planned.

Hailey's disappearances were to appear with her family, get instructions from Agent McConnell, and ensure that that all of the pieces were put in the right place.  She had been asked to see a bigger picture that would keep the realism of the situation whole, without potentially leaving any "spoilers" about.

But it was at that point... Everything changed, again...

The FBI, ATF, and SVU begin to move in on the various members of The Compound, taking everyone into custody.  Whether they be a patron, a member of the "muscle," The Prophets, or even The One's parents, nobody is spared by Hailey's parents and The Oracle's Brother, who, in the initial surprise of the lights illuminating the group, sneaks back into the shadows and disappears.

Agent McConnell, confidently and snarky-like, walks up to The One and grabs her arms, one by one, and begins to put her in handcuffs as well, which immediately throws The One off, as this was never a discussed part of the plan.

The One: Wait... What the... What are you doing?

Agent McConnell smiles from ear to ear, knowing he's gotten The One in his grasp, finally, using her own words against her...

Agent McConnell: It's amazing what a power one little USB drive can wield over the bigger threat, isn't it?

The One's eyes go wide, realizing McConnell had double-crossed her.

The One: You son of a...

McConnell smirks and audibly laughs before going into his typical "law enforcement" role, yelling over The One and the other commotion happening at The Compound, as other federal agents pursue similar tactics, and Hailey simply slides to the side, watching on.  The One sees this, sees Hailey retreating to her family, who aren't being touched, as everyone around them is being pushed to the ground, or cuffed standing.

Agent McConnell: You have the right to remain silent.  Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.  You have a right to an attorney.  If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed for you.  Do you understand these rights?

The One tries to plead her initial case.

The One: THIS WAS NOT WHAT WE AGREED UPON!

McConnell clicks the cuffs one notch tighter, making The One wince.

Agent McConnell: DO... YOU... UNDERSTAND... THESE... RIGHTS... THAT I HAVE SAID TO YOU?!

Before The One can respond there is a loud shrieking from a female, that forces everyone able to immediately let go of those they had hands on and cover their ears.  The One is the only one who doesn't flinch and simply looks toward the entry way of The Compound, eyes hopeful, and even filling with tears.  She recognized this shriek and knows immediately who it is, as an angelic sound among a world of hostility.

Her eyes are fixated on the entry way, where people are pushed out of the way, one by one, and The Brother of The Oracle emerges first, as the "muscle" followed in turn by his little sister, and "The One" who caused this entire incident to ever happen, The Oracle herself.  Everyone pauses, looking at the two, ultimately directly at The Oracle, who is clad in a beautiful garb, which sparkles in the moonlight, showing the world why she was worshiped and seen as such a diety in the midst of all of the debauchery in this "social club," as it was deemed in society.

The Oracle: EVERYONE STOP RIGHT NOW!

The voice of the sacred actually brings everyone to a complete standstill.  The One, looking directly in the eyes of The Oracle, lowers her head in a semblance of honor to the one she swore to protect.  And it is a gesture that creates a new landscape for the world in which everyone around the two live.

This moment echoed throughout time and history of the world in which we lives.  The Oracle, for the first time in her life, had finally gotten the opportunity to speak on her own behalf.  She had not been coerced.  She had not been drugged to "see" the future.  Instead, it was the one person who had ALWAYS been loyal to her, to do the one thing he had always dreamed of doing, her brother, and freed her from the prison she had been given to, without her permission.

Her brother had become the savior, and sprung his sister from the shackles she was held in on the behest of her parents.

The Oracle: If Kirsten is not freed at this MOMENT, then I am not speaking to ANYONE, about ANYTHING, at ANY TIME, and I am leaving this premise right now under my own recognizance!

And it was now, where my life, The One's life, everything I felt true, change.

Everyone stopped, confused, wondering what this young girl was saying.  To the members of the ATF, the SVU, and the FBI, she was still a nobody.  Nobody knew who he was because of the fact they were brought in AFTER her re-capture.  So they were unaware of who it was they were ultimately there to save.  But it was her subsequent words that continued to lead the confused down the path od success.

The Oracle: The One... Kirsten... If she is NOT set free, or she isn't given complete immunity like the rest of them were by Agent McConnell, then she will forgo everything she agreed to and say nothing to anyone, anymore... This is their ONE chance...

Everyone freezes and begins to look around, confused.  To some, including The One, now known as Kisten, their eyes go wide.

Kirtsen stands there, shocked, as, for the first time, her name has been used in actual context of life, in years.  She was not known, as her dad would say, as "Kitt," or "Kid," based on his accent, but instead, by her actual name.  She was no longer the "weirdo" of the school, or the "outcast," she had a name.  She was Kirsten.  She was herself.  She was a PERSON...

In this moment, my life changed.  Nobody around me knew my name.  I was another kid in The Compound.  I was "Kid" or "Kitt" to my father.  To my mother I was several other pet names that never gave an inkling to the fact that I had an identity, and to hear my name come from someone who I never told it to, or didn't believe would have known it for any reason, was something that would would have stopped the World from turning, and make everything around me cease to matter.

The Oracle, completely protected by her brother at this point, slowly walks up to The One, and just smiles, reaching her hand out and touching her shoulder, while Agent McConnell still stands in confusion.

The One (Now known as Kirsten): Wh... What did you call me?

The Oracle smiles.

The Oracle: I called you by your name, Kirsten.  As I've always known who you were.  You have done your job, as The One.  You have upheld your duty as The One.  You are now no longer bound by your responsibilities of that title, and are free to be who you have always been, and were always meant to be!

As of now... The One, as a nomenclature, and "right" to be seen as an honor, is DEAD... Instead, everyone here will know that Kirtsn "Kitt" Scott, is free again, free of her responsibility to me, and in turn, I free myself from all responsibilities as The Oracle!

The moment I had, deep down, yearned for, had finally arrived.  No longer was I bound by a moniker.  No longer was I bound by some nickname given to me by someone else.  Now I was finally given the opportunity to live my life as the woman that I was born as, that I was given the name as, and that the world would hopefully accept me as.

I didn't get this right because I did something special.  I did this because I stood by my oath to protect the one young girl who had been manipulated and treated as something other than daughter, much like myself.  I earned my name back because The Oracle had realized that I was the one who truly embraced her safety as a premise of my existence, and made it worth more than power.

The Oracle, to me, was my protectorate.  And in her eyes, I achieved my goal of bringing her to ultimate safety.

The Oracle makes a B-line towards Agent McConnell, with her brother leading the way, clearing her a path through the mass of humanity.

The Oracle: You... Unhand her now!  If you are a man of your word, you will free Kirsten as someone who was NEVER involved in any of the illegal activity, and you will ACCEPT that The One died, tonight, FOREVER, just like The Oracle has...

Agent McConnell smiles.

Agent McConnell: Really?  You think you get a say in this, kid?

The Oracle: I am your only hope in bringing this case to justice because I'm the one who caused you to even be inserted into this place.  I am your star witness.  I am everything you NEED to win this case.  You hear me?

McConnell just stares her down, and The Oracle makes another loud announcement.

The Oracle: ... You will free her.  You will free Kirsten Scott from custody, you will free Hailey Brooks from any secret role as an accomplice, you will free Ethan Taylor for having suffered enough as a prisoner by his own parents... And ultimate you will free ME, Emma Taylor, and I will help you prove your case.  But YOU, you only have one choice... You have to let us ALL live again!

You see, no longer are we just pseudonyms, and nobodies to this world  Tonight, we reclaim our roles and names in society and in this world.  And if you, and your fellow FBI, ATF, and whomever else is here, want to do what is right, you will give us our free will and freedom back in FULL.  The rest of these people, minus Hailey's parents, are fair game... We, however, hold the cards to your case, and we will only play ball if we get what I say we get...

McConnell just continues to stare The Oracle, now Emma, down, not budging or releasing Kirsten from her shackles.  Other, superior, agents to Agent McConnell look at one another and simply nod, nudging McConnell out of the way and undoing the handcuffs on Kirsten's wrists.  Immediately after feeling her freedom, Kirsten wastes no time in embracing Emma.  Agent McConnell is immediately confused as to why they have done what they have done, and as his superiors walk away, he looks at Kirsten, snarls, and then chases after them.

Kirsten Scott: Thank you...

Emma Taylor: No... Thank you... You truly did everything you could for me and Ethan...

Kirsten Scott: I promise you, whether we stay by one another's side, or go our separate ways, I will always ensure your safety no matter what, when, where, or how.  I will forever honor that promise.

Emma slowly pushes Kirsten back.

Emma Taylor: You're free of that, Kirsten...

Kirsten shakes her head.

Kirsten Scott: No.  I make that decision myself, and I make it happily.

As the two share this moment together, voices ring out from the crowd of people being taken into custody, as the agents resume their arrests.

Kirsten's Father: KITT!

Kirsten's Mother: SWEETIE!

Kirsten's Father: PLEASE... HELP US!

Kirsten looks over to see her parents, already handcuffed, and now begging for her help after being on the opposite side of the battle lines.  Kirsten simply shakes her head, and turns back toward Emma, Ethan, and Hailey.  Ethan is a bit surprised by Kirsten's lack of empathy for her own parents.

Ethan Taylor: Not even going to try and help them?

Kirsten Scott: No.  Not after everything they put me through... Or better yet, put US through.  My job and my loyalty isn't to two people who never loved me.  My job is to be faithful and true to the family who HAS loved me, and that's you three...

This moment of compassion is met by Emma pulling everyone in around Kirsten and initiating a group hug and creating a moment that Kirsten has always yearned for...

It was this moment that I truly knew what the word "family" meant.  I truly felt "love" for the first time.  Three people, none of which were biologically related to me, were more to me like family than the people who brought me into this world and I was OK with that.  I was OK knowing that my "chosen family" was the family who truly cared for my well-being, and me for theirs.

I also realized that this was the first time that someone had ever loved me for me.  I wasn't a screen name on a computer.  I wasn't "Kid," like the other young ones in The Compound anymore.  I wasn't "Kitt," because my Dad was obsessed with Knight Rider and thought it was a fun nickname for his daughter.

I was Kirsten.

Everyone saw me as Kirsten.

Everyone loved me for being Kirsten.

It was a sense of completion to a nightmare that I had lived for most of my entire life.  It was a turning of a new page to now know that "The One" was behind me, and I could finally move on in life with an identity all my own, and with those close by around me, rather than worrying about people talking behind my back, or mocking me because I was "different."  I was finally, accepted...

With the arrests back in full swing, Agent McConnell emerges back from the shadows, having not been able to catch up to his superiors.  He immediately pulls his handcuffs back out and clicks them open, making a heading back for Kirsten, determined to take her into custody, but as he reaches to grab her again, his hand is grabbed by his commanding officer.  McConnell looks up at him, as the foursome turn toward McConnell in shock, having not realized he was approaching again.

FBI Supervisor: Don't even think about it McConnell... She's as free as the other three...

McConnell begins to plead his case.

Agent McConnell: Listen, you don't understand.  She doesn't have the immunity the others were given.  I wrote that contract JUST so I could have her as my prized arrest.  Hailey knew that when she signed the paper..

Hailey smirks.

Hailey Brooks: You don't realize that even you got played, do you?  What I signed for you was worth less than the paper it was printed on.  Your superiors were in charge of this case, not you... And it was my job to get you to prove what your motives REALLY were, because they knew you'd be more about greed and yourself than the safety and protection of ANYONE.  Before you EVER came to me, my parents and I were spoken to by your bosses, and in THAT MOMENT we signed on to ensure all of our safety, and the safety of the innocent in this matter, in exchange for all of corroboration of Kirsten's findings.  We agreed to do so if she, Emma, and Ethan, were also protected.

When they found out everything was true, and that this was much bigger than they imagined, they knew you'd use it as a chance to make yourself the hero, and they felt ashamed that they had bought into any of your spin.  So my goal was to get you to want me to play ball, and get you to admit that your goals were to save YOUR ASS, and not anyone elses... So they played your ass, like you tried to play them.  They knew you wanted revenge... And unfortunately... Now...

Agent McConnell's supervisor pats him on the shoulder.

FBI Supervisor: I believe it's time we head to the office and have a litte chat... Shall we?

As the arrests and interrogations continue, the foursome walk over to the "welcome center" of The Compound, where Kirsten used to call home, and each sit down on the steps.  The emotional drain of everything that went down begins to take a toll on each of them, respectively, in their own way.  Emma finally breaks down into tears, and falls into her brother's chest.  He takes deep breaths, biting his lip, as he tries not to cry as well.  Hailey looks up at the night sky and takes a deep breath, while one tear begins to roll down the cheek of Kirsten, who looks at her three "brothers and sisters," and simply begins to realize her life is now changing in ways she had always dreamed, and the future could be something special.

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{PROMO}

Today the day has finally come.  The day has come for SCW to say farewell to the woman they have come to collectively know as "The One" and instead, now allow her true self to emerge from the cocoon that she was encapsulated in to finally spread her wings, and be Kirsten Scott.

That's right... The One, has a name.

The One, has an identity...

And it's with Taking Hold of the Flame, one year after allowing herself to emerge from the shadows, but embody the "Scarlett Letter" that plagued her life, that she was given the opportunity to see, to believe, to feel, that her chance to be accepted by others as who she truly is has come to pass.  And while most would have expected it to be shrouded in successes that "gave me the freedom" to emerge, it was the ups and downs, the realization that The One does not truly DEFINE me anymore, but is just a part of my past I will never escape, or hide from.  Now, instead, I embrace it.  I appreciate it.  I look at it like a blessing because what it did it it surrounded it me with people who actually CARE about me, and have taken the time to get to KNOW ME.

Hailey...

Emma...

Ethan...

And truly one of the most important, and relevant to this organization, Pro...

These people mark what is important to me now, and have taught me that the person I am is not something to shy away from.  And sadly, that is something I have done for a long time, as The One.  I have let Kirsten not see the light of day or even be acknowledged.  I have made myself believe she didn't exist anymore and instead, there was only The One.  But that wasn't the case.  Kirsten made up The One.  I made up The One.  Everything she embodied was a trademark of who I was growing up and The One just elevated that to a level where I had the confidence to allow it to shine.

But when those you care about begin believing in YOU, and forget who you "claim" to be, but simply see the person inside, it doesn't matter what you call yourself.  It doesn't matter if you have a "cool" moniker or no moniker at all.  It doesn't matter if you have some goofy gimmick to justify your name because in the end, you are you.  And whether EVERYONE accepts you is irrelevant because if those who matter DO, you are a somebody.  Your name matters.  YOU MATTER...

And they made me matter again!

And that brings us to Taking Hold of the Flame and the one year anniversary of my debut.  It brings us to another year where, to a degree, a newcomer shows her face, wanting to shock the world and achieve something that nobody would have ever given her a snow ball's chance in hell of achieving.  It brings Kirsten Scott, a woman that, by name, nobody in SCW has ever heard of, and her quest to do the unthinkable and main event Rise ro Greatness after putting countless others, who are probably more deserving, in her rear view mirror, watching as she gets an honor nobody thought she deserved.

Yes, that is my goal...

My goal is to piggyback off of my performance last year.  My goal is to use last year as a lesson learned and use what I was able to do with NO PREPARATION to my advantage, now having a LOT of preparation.  See, that night, I was as green as they came.  Never wrestled before.  Walked into the maatch with sights set on the biggest prize for no rightful reason, and what did I do?  I made a run.

Yeah, I didn't win...

I still made a run...

For Taking Hold of the Flame, to be a nobody and actually go in there and make a run is a bit of a rarity.  It's something SCW isn't used to seeing, and I know it's why I made a lot of people uncomfortable.  That, and also the fact I was saying I was going to end up ridding the organization of the filth that had been lining its hallways... But I like to think that a newcomer making a big showing in the battle royal definitely made people go, "what the fuck?"

So I figure, why not do it again?  Why not do it better?

Why not just fucking win it all this time, and PLAN on doing so?

Because here's my question to everyone in SCW... What is stopping me from doing it?  Who is stopping me?  Who is the one person that holds my entire future in their little hand?  It's me... And only me... Sure there are others in this match and they can play a role in things, but the reality is, Kirsten Scott holds her own fate in her own hands, and nobody else can change that.  I don't care if you're a returning Street, Helms, Frost, or hell, Jesus Christ himself, I just don't care.  None of them control my fate.  They aren't the one, single, person, who can guarantee victory or loss for me in this match.

That is JUST ME!

And while I hold that capability, I have to utilize that power by also ensuring that I don't make a mistake because that is when other people begin to have a say in your successes and failures.  When you take your eye off of the prize, when you forget where you are, who is around you, and what is transpiring, that gives others the chance to make an impact and take the power from you.  That's what happened to me last year.  I turned my back at the wrong time, and next thing you know, me and another are being tossed, ass over tits, to the floor.  It was that moment that screwed my chances up because I was feeling it, in that moment.  I was FEELING it... But I made the mistake of letting someone else have an IOTA of say in my success, and next thing you know, my night was over.

So this time, I plan on not giving anyone a taste of what it would be like to have my moment because this is my coming out moment.  This is my moment that I have wanted in life.  Not a title shot.  Not a battle royal win.  A night where people MEET ME and RESPECT ME, FOR ME!

Kirsten begins to get more intense.

My whole life, WHOLE LIFE, I have been someone else's bitch.  I've had to do what others have told me, others have asked me, and others have REQUIRED me to do in order to life any semblance of a normal life.  And I use the term normal with the utmost sarcasm.  For fuck's sake, I had to be everyone's bitch just to LIVE and now, NOW that time is over.  Now that time is gone.  I am a woman who has been beaten, bruised, and scarred in so many ways, nobody will ever see the true depth, but what they can see is the badass that I have turned into.  What they can have to deal with is the STRENGTH that I have been blessed with, having gone through everything I have gone through.

That's what this battle royal means to me.  It means more than a title shot, but an opportunity to finally unleash the woman inside who has been confined, and told she was worth nothing.  This is my chance for the world to see what can become of someone who was told and treated like a nobody, and finally believed it until those who truly cared about her saved her from herself, and led her through the darkness, to see light once again.  This is my chance to do something with my life from the get-go and not have to try and mentally fight myself into believing I am not as worthless as I was told.

I just have to go out there and DO IT!

Now don't get me wrong... I'm not stupid... This isn't some gimme.  This isn't going to be easy or handed to me.  Everyone wants what I want and everyone is going to do whatever they can to take it from my, yes, greedy, hands.  Everyone is going to want to go out there and prove they're worthy of the next title shot in SCW, and you know, it may be one of them and not me.  I may be living a pipe dream.  But you had better fucking believe I know that dreams come true after what I endured for years.  I had to put on a facade in order to garner any respect or belief in my abilities, and all it did was bring me to realizing that not being true to yourself will NEVER bring the true amount of success you can achieve...

Kirsten takes a hit from her vape.

So there you go...

So here I am...

I wasn't making bullshit claims when I said The One was going to die at Taking Hold of the Flame and be resurrected as a Phoenix, or shed her cocoon and spread her wings.  I just didn't define how.  And this is my "how."  This is my chance to do something that is life changing and career defining for ME!  Not for those who created or feared The One for all of that time.  Not for those who embraced The One as the ultimate mercenary and security guard of a stupid sex cult.

No...

This is for Kirsten Scott, a woman forced to hide behind a mask, a pseudonym, an alias, a moniker, all for respect and attention, and all because she was told she wasn't good enough herself.  This is the moment where I stand my ground, and I stand up for myself.  I don't let others define me, or tell me how I have to act, or who I have to report to.  I do what I believe is right and I fight for what I believe in, day in and day out.  And if there are people who don't like it, they can sniff the fart box of an invalid until the cows come home, because their days of having ANY SAY, are over.

This is now my time...

This is now my world...

Come Taking Hold of the Flame, the change of The One to Kirsten Scott will be complete.  SCW will have it's newest and most poised and determine woman on their roster by name, and the mediocrity of the past will cease to exist.  After the battle royal, Kirsten Scott will be a person people hate seeing their names in opposition to.  After the battle royal, Kirsten Scott will be a name that is synonymous with success and overcoming the odds.  And yes, when the dust settles, and the battle royal ends, Kirsten Scott will be on the road to Rise to Greatness with her opportunity to legitimize herself, her life, her struggle, her everything, as she will be the number one contender for the SCW World Championship, and she will defy the odds, just like she has made a living doing her entire life.

And that, I can just simply say is... THE TRUTH!

----------------------------------

{THE ONE: The Final Chapter - Epilogue}

The, now crime scene, that was once the bustling sexual rendezvous point for the swingers group of sexual individuals and couples, has been a crazy mess of people being interrogated and arrested for their involvement in RICO, child endangerment, illegal prostitution, et cetera for hours on end.  But finally, things begin to slow down.  People who have been found uninvolved in the criminal activities are let go, members of the FBI have begun their stings within the city on local law enforcement individuals who were being paid off, and while crime scene investigators continue to gather evidence, some of the only people left on scene are the newly reunited foursome of Emma, Ethan, Hailey, and Kirsten.

They had taken turns getting up and kind of stretching, answering questions as individuals, and just trying to really cope with everything that has actually just transpired.  Emma comes walking back to the group, looking directly at Hailey upon her return.

Emma Taylor: You know, Hailey... I always knew you'd reach your potential.  I could see it...

Hailey looks a bit confused.

Hailey Brooks: What do you mean?

Emma smiles.

Emma Taylor: You are a visionary.  You are THE visionary of this family.  You are the one who has always seen the best path forward.  You knew that someone needed to take Kirsten's predecessor down, and when you met Kirsten, you saw in her the future.  Then, you saw that Agent McConnell was not someone to be trusted or taken seriously, and you were crucial in listening to his superiors to take the right path to get us here.

Hailey smiles.

Hailey Brooks: Thank you, for that... I don't know if I believe it, but I thank you for that...

Emma then looks over at her brother.

Emma Taylor: ... And you, my sweet, loving, brother... I am so proud and thankful for you to have always been by my side and took care of me when nobody else could see what was actually happening.  I will forever be indebted to you for that.  I will forever be grateful to you.  And I will forever love you as the amazing older brother that you will always be to me.

Emma then looks directly at Kirsten, and just smiles and embraces again.

Emma Taylor: ... Kirsten... You... You will forever be my "One."  But you won't ever have to be "The One" in your life again.  It can be the way I look at you, but it merely is as a nickname, or as a term of endearment.  You are free to be you.  You are free to go be Kirsten.  Be the woman who created and embraced the IDEA of "The One" the way it was meant to be done, the right way, and saved me.  And I hope you know that I want to see it, and forever be by your side, as a friend, a mentor in my own ways, and an ally... I want to support you in your quest to find your true self, and support it, as you have allowed me to support myself, and quite frankly, all of us to support ourselves.

Hailey stands up from her seated position on the porch, and walks over to Kirsten.  There is a look of worry in her eye that finally has taken over, now that everything has settled.

Emma Taylor: So... Do you think you can truly forgive me for going a bit rogue?

Kirsten smirks.

Kirsten Scott: You did what you had to do for what you believed in.  You embodied everything I fought for.  You showed why you deserved to be "The One" long before me.  To be honest... I couldn't be any more prouder in my FRIEND.  I couldn't be more prouder in the woman who I looked up to, and who taught me the what the "right decision" was, when I made it.  I couldn't be more happy to say that Hailey is, truly, my best friend, and has been since the day I met her, and she welcomed me into her life.

I get what you had to do for your family...

I understand why protecting them was important...

They never did to you what mine did to me.  They were more naive to the greater scheme of everything going on.  And you did what you SAW wwa right in the situation to end up leaving us all in this moment, right here, right now...

Emma is right when she says you're the Visionary of this "family..."

You see everything for the greater good.  You look at things in a way none of us do.  And that is a level of excellence that cannot be taught or imparted on a person.  That is simply based on who they are.  It's why I never doubted you.  It's why I never didn't call you my best friend.  You, I knew embodied everything WE imagined, and were the person who saw it from the beginning.  It didn't matter who executed it, you saw the finality.

You had the vision, Hailey....

You had the goal...

You created the team to make it happen whether you knew it or not.

YOU WERE THE VISION...

I may have been the one to act it out, but it was thanks to you, and now, I get to see it first hand.  I see what you did, and I thank you for it.  I see that you constantly believed in yourself, and imparted that to me.  That's what led me to becoming "The One" and fighting for OUR, and I mean us all, honor.  I couldn't be prouder of you, and what you were willing to risk to get us to this moment... Right here... Right now...

After a sigh, Ethan asks the proverbial question...

Ethan Taylor: So... What now... For all of us...?

Kirsten Scott: Your sister said it best, we are all free.  We are all free to forge our own path.  So it's your call, it's Emma's call, it's Hailey's call, and it's my choice where we each go from here.  I'd say this whole situation, this whole path, it's given us a unique opportunity.  We can go down a path together and see if our paths ever diverge, or we decide right now to go out as individuals and never forget what we did to create this moment...

Emma looks at her brother and puts her hand on his shoulder.

Emma Taylor: Do you really want to just be my babysitter for your whole life, or do you have your own dreams to pursue?

Ethan shrugs.

Ethan Taylor: I... I mean, yeah, I've always had my own dreams.  Who doesn't?

Emma Taylor: Then consider this your chance to pursue them.  You're not bound to me anymore.  You're not required to watch and look after me anymore.  Why not go and pursue your own dreams?  You're free to do so, and I will always be there in spirit.  I'll always be there if you want to see me.

Kirsten interjects as well.

Kirsten Scott: ... And I can promise that Emma will be safe if she truly comes along with me.  I will look after The Orac... I mean look after Emma.  And she won't ever be kept from you.  She will always be available to leave to spend time with you.  She won't be any prisoner of mine, but will be safe...

Ethan sighs and looks down, and then begins to nod.  He looks up at the two who had been addressing him.

Ethan Taylor: You both are right.  I know my baby sister is safe.  I know I can, for once, step away and go do my own thing, and maybe that day will come.  But right now, I want to be around the people who have given me the chance to be myself, and have let me actually have a say in how I live my life.  I will have time to tackle my dreams, but for now my responsibilities still lie here, with my family...

Kirsten chuckles to herself.

Kirsten Scott: Well... It sounds like we aren't getting rid of one another, just yet.  It sounds like none of us want to step away from what we have built over this whole ordeal.  But if we do that, we have to agree on one thing, all of us.  We never sway from this unit.  We never budge.  We never give into temptations that may cause pain to others within this core.  We have to be loyal to each other like we have always shown that we can be to one another.  Does that make sense?

Everyone is quick to affirm their agreement to what Kirsten is saying.

Kirsten Scott: Good... Then where we go from here is a new adventure.  It's one out of the shadows.  It's one more out in the open.  And it's one that gives us a chance to all finally take a deep fucking breath, and stop worrying about who is watching, and why lies in the shadows that we can't see...

With Kirsten's final words, the scene ends with the foursome standing up from where they had been sitting, and beginning to make their way down the wooded path, back toward the highway, and ultimately toward the community that now will be charged with welcoming them back into society, while also coping with the massive changes that will be pushed upon it, as the governmental agences begin to try and piece together how deeply the corruption and crime went, in regards to The Prophets, The Compound, and the officials who helped protect it over all of the time it was in operation.

[Simple77]

#ooc- 1 of 2. Good luck everyone, and enjoy!

Just Eight More Days

[The Matt]

2 of 2 for Kim
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May 29th, 2023
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Kimberly Williams is lying down on the plush cream colored sofa in her identical twin sister’s lovely home in Boston, Massachusetts. The eccentric ginger is dressed in torn denim jeans and a black “Queens of Chaos” t-shirt. Her feet are bare, the flip flops that she had worn upon arrival are now set neatly upon the floor. Despite the stoic, emotionless gaze upon her lovely features that gives off a feeling of strength, The Woman Scorned is in actuality very nervous right now. She is concerned over the future of her family, a family that several years ago was strained at best. It is a family that has grown to love her, accept her, and now one of the members of that family is in danger; namely, her nephew, Sean Connor Jones. It’s been twenty four hours since Kimberly learned straight from her sister, Marie Jones, that Sean and his three new troublemaking friends were caught trying to break into the local school that Sean attends. Police had him in custody and Marie was prepared to go that very night to bail him out, but it was Kimberly’s idea to leave him there overnight. Marie wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of her son spending time in lockup, even if it is just one night, but Kimberly managed to talk her into it. She convinced her that it was for his own good. Therein lies another reason why Kim is nervous right now; this is entirely her idea. Her relationship with Sean and Marie both could be at stake if this doesn’t work out the way Kimberly hopes it does.

Still, it is a risk that Kimberly is willing to take. She truly believes that Sean needs to be scared straight. She believes it because she knows all too well what Sean is going through. She knows because she’s been there before. She walked in his footsteps. She committed crimes, crimes that landed her in lockup. Though unlike Sean, who was to be locked up just for one night, she was locked up in a mental institution for a couple of years. She was lost and without hope. That feeling of hopelessness and despair finally broke through her insanity and made her open and willing to accept the help of her sister, Marie Jones. That was a turning point in the life of Kim Williams. She is banking on Sean having a similar feeling of hopelessness, despair, and that ultimately leading to him being open and willing to listen to his mother, to his aunt Kim, and to everyone else in the family who want to help him find his way back from the dark path he seemingly finds himself on.

Being “scared straight” doesn’t work for everyone. In fact, it didn’t really work for Kim right away. In the immediate aftermath of being released from the mental institution, Kim was still a troublemaker, she still caused many problems and Marie had to be there to vouch for her, to reel her back in. To this day Kim will occasionally find herself slipping, thus she needs the support system from her mother and her sister to keep her on track. She hopes that this will work out for Sean but what if it doesn’t? What if it just has the opposite effect? If he continues to go down that troublesome path, if he continues to commit crimes alongside his new friends, will Kim receive the blame? After all, this was her idea.

Unfortunately there is no longer time to sit and think about this; Kimberly hears the front door opening, and she immediately knows that this must be the return of her sister Marie Jones. Kimberly slowly swings her legs over the side of the sofa and puts herself into a seated position. She turns her head and looks, waiting anxiously to see who has arrived. Sure enough, she spots her sister, Marie Annabelle Jones, arriving leading her son Sean by the arm with a vice like grip. Marie is wearing a knee length red skirt, a black long sleeve sweater, and open toed black high heeled pumps. Sean is wearing denim jeans, sneakers, and a plain white t-shirt that is very dirty from what appears to be mud and grass stains.

Marie seems to be furious as she drags Sean into the living room and almost pushes him onto a cream colored plush chair that is located perpendicular to the sofa where Kim is seated. She points an accusatory finger at Sean; you know the one, the same finger that any angry mother would wag at a disobedient child.

“Stay there. Don’t move a muscle.”

“But…”

“Shut it.” Marie says sternly. “Just stay there, stay quiet, and think about what happened. You spent an entire night locked up. That could be your future if you keep going down this road. So I want you to sit there and think about it. Do you want that to be your future because there could be many more nights like that ahead if you continue like this?”

“...yes mom.” Sean says quietly, nodding his head. Marie then turns to face Kim.

“As for you, Kim…”

“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it!” She holds up her hands, feigning innocence. “It was The One Armed Man!” Marie rolls her eyes.

“No, no,” she shakes her head “I just want to say, don’t protect him. Ok? Do not protect him. It’s time he was punished.”

“Sir, yes sir!” Kim says, playfully saluting her sister. Marie rolls her eyes again.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that while I’m trying to parent…” Marie sighs as she turns and exits the living room. Kimberly remains quiet, listening out for her sister. She hears footsteps that sound like they are going upstairs to the second level. Once it sounds like Marie has reached the top level, and is apparently out of earshot, Kimberly does what Kimberly does best…ignore authority, does exactly what she is told not to. The Woman Scorned smirks as she turns to face Sean.

“So how was FU?”

“Huh?”

“FU. How was it?”

“F…U? Are you cussing me out, Aunt Kim? Because honestly I…”

“No!” Kim shakes her head vehemently. “I would never cuss out my favorite nephew.”

“Only nephew.”

“Whatever. I’m not cussing you. I just want to know how FU was?”

“What’s FU?” Sean asks curiously.

“Felon University.” Kim laughs for a few moments. Sean doesn’t laugh, though. Kim sighs. “See, it isn’t as funny when you have to explain the joke!”

“Sorry, Aunt Kim. I guess I’m just not in the mood for fun right now.”

“I get it. I’ve been there…well, not to that specific version of FU but yeah, I’ve been there in your position. It’s not very fun.” Kim pats on the sofa to the seat next to her. “Come on, sit next to me.”

“But mom said…”

“Yeah, yeah, I know what she said. Look, I have super hearing and shit. When I hear your mom coming back downstairs I’ll let ya know to get back into position. Sound good?” She pats the sofa cushion next to her, once again encouraging Sean to sit down next to her. Sean finally nods his head and then moves over to the sofa, sitting himself down next to Kimberly. She looks at him square in the eye and gets down to business. “So, you and your pals, Kyle, Jackson, and Max…you four decided to break into school?”

“Uh-huh…”

“See, I don’t get it. I thought kids hated school. I thought kids wanted any excuse to leave school.” She points a finger at Sean. “In fact, you were SKIPPING school not too long ago. Now you’re trying to break back in? Y’know, kiddo, if you wanted extra school time you could have just told your mom and she would have gladly enrolled you in summer school.”

“That’s not it, Aunt Kim.” Sean shakes his head.

“Then explain it to me.”

“I don’t wanna talk about it.”

“Pleading the fifth?” Kim asks. Sean shrugs his shoulders.

“I dunno. Maybe I should tell mom first?”

“Probably. But I do look like your mom. So I’m close enough, right?” Kim winks. Despite the situation, Sean finally cracks a smile thanks to Kim’s loose, fun demeanor. He nods his head.

“Ok…we were gonna break in and trash the place.”

“I’ve trashed my fair share of hotel rooms in the past.” Kim points out. “It’s fun at first but not so fun after the fact when they fine you for the damage. Sorta like eating spicy food, or eating at Taco Bell. Good going in, awful coming out.”

“Taco Bell?”

“Yeah. Awful place. Never eat there.” Kim shakes her head. “Now tell me, whose idea was it to break into the school and trash it?”

“Kyle’s.” Sean answers.

“Was it Kyle’s idea for you to beat up that kid awhile back?” Kim asks. Sean doesn’t say anything, but he does nod his head, indicating that Kim is correct in her assumption. “So riddle me this, does Kyle tell Jackson and Max what to do as well? Is he like, the leader of this band of bozos?”

“I’d rather not talk about it.”

“Well you’re gonna have to talk about it eventually.” Kim points out. “Now your mom doesn’t want me to ‘protect’ you…” Kim makes the quotation mark sign with her fingers as she says protect “...as if I were capable of protecting anyone. I’m a dangerous person. But anyway, your mom doesn’t want me to protect you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t try but I can’t do anything unless I know the full story.” She places an arm around Sean’s shoulder. “So tell Aunt Death Machine, why are you so willing to take orders from Kyle?”

“You wouldn’t understand.” Sean shakes his head.

“Seriously? Me?” Kim chuckles softly. “I roll around the ring in barbed wire for a living and my manager is a stuffed penguin toy. Trust me, there isn’t anything on this planet I wouldn’t understand.”

“Yeah but you are so popular. You are a wrestling champion. You might even win Taking Hold of the Flame this year…”

“I might!” Kim says, holding her head up proudly.

“Yeah, you probably will. You are so successful, so talented, you make tons of money, you travel the world and get to see so many awesome things. But me?” He points to himself. “I’m just the product of rape.”

The Woman Scorned is rarely taken off guard. This, however, does take her off guard. Kimberly has always known that her nephew was, indeed, the product of rape. His father forced himself on Marie. Despite encouragement from the rest of her family who wanted her to get an abortion, Marie refused. She carried on with the pregnancy. Even though it didn’t make sense to them, the family still grew to accept it. For Kim, this whole ordeal took place before she ever reunited with her sister, while Kim was still in the mental institution. She only knows about it from the stories told to her by Marie herself. But she had never expected for Sean to find out about this. She had expected Marie, right or wrong, would keep this secret from him. So to find out that he does know the truth is a bit of a surprise for Kimberly.

“Uh, Sean…did your mom tell you that?”

“No, she didn’t tell me. I found out for myself.” He says, his voice taking on a bit of a hint of anger. “Funny what you can find out while researching your family. Funny what you can find out on the internet, isn’t it?” Tears form in his eyes. “I was a mistake, Aunt Kim. I wasn’t meant to be. Imagine how that makes you feel?”

“Yeah, I can imagine. In fact, your mother and I both can imagine that all too well.”

“No way!” Sean shakes his head vehemently. “Nana Angelica is rich! Filthy rich! You and mom had great childhoods!” Sean says angrily. Kim stares stoically at her nephew for a few moments before cracking a smile. She stifles a bit of laughter. Sean sighs. “Now you’re laughing at me.”

“Yeah, I am.” Kim nods her head. “Because you think this family is great? You don’t know the truth, kiddo. You know some of it but not all of it. Yeah, we’re pretty well off now but our family used to be pretty fucked up. Your nana, she got pregnant as a teenager and gave birth to me and your mom, only to have both of us torn from her arms at birth.”

“Huh?” Sean seems shocked to hear this. Kim just nods her head.

“Yes, and your mom did end up in some good foster homes before eventually finding her way back to your nana. But me? My ‘foster’, if you really want to call her that, was a psychopath. She was a sociopath. And if you don’t yet know what those two words mean, let me put it to you this way kiddo…she was nuts. She didn’t give a damn about raising a daughter, she only cared about raising a lethal weapon. I never got a real childhood. I was just left alone to fend for myself for the most part. But you know the worst part?” She asks as she gazes deep into Sean’s eyes. He shakes his head. “She brainwashed me into thinking that my family…my real family…your mother, my mother, your aunt Jessica, you…that all of you hated me. She taught me to hate. And that hate led to insanity.”

“I had no idea…” Sean says quietly, his voice trails off “...I’m sorry, Aunt Kim.”

“It’s ok, kiddo. But that is my story. I was corrupted to the point that, like you, I committed crimes, but my crimes were far worse than just breaking and entering. And like you I got caught, only you just spent one night in jail. I spent years committed to a mental institution because most of my family had given up on me, society had given up on me. But there was one person who had not given up on me.” She holds up one finger. “One person still believed that there was hope for me.”

“Who?”

“Your mother. Your mother still believed in me and she reached out. I wasn’t very accepting of her help at first. I was more like a rabid animal back then as opposed to a sister, but your mom kept trying. She kept trying until she finally broke through my insanity. Your mom saved my life, kiddo.” Kim pats Sean on the back. “I know you may be upset right now, you may even be upset at your mom, but she’s only trying to protect you. She doesn’t want you going down that same path I went down.”

“I had no idea your life was so difficult, Aunt Kim.” Sean embraces her in a tight hug. “I’m sorry!”

“It’s ok, kiddo.” They break the embrace as Kim hears her sister’s footsteps approaching. “I hear your mom c oming. So tell you what, why don’t you go meet her and give her a big hug and apologize? And thank her for being there to protect you?”

Sean quickly nods his head. Kim listens out as she hears Marie make it down to the foot of the stairs. Kim then urges Sean to go. Sean makes his way over just as Marie returns to the living room area. She looks down at her son with a narrow gaze.

“I thought I told you to stay put?”

“I know and I’m sorry!” He says as he hugs her tightly. “I’m sorry for everything, mom! I love you!”

Marie is taken aback by this reaction. She eventually returns the embrace, hugging him as well. “Uh, thanks, Sean. I love you too. But, you’re still going to be punished.”

“I know, mom.”

Marie looks up from the embrace at her sister Kim. Marie mouths the question ‘what did you do’ and Kim just shrugs her shoulders and feigns innocence in the whole thing. She’s just happy to help. And for once she is finally feeling a sense of relief wash over her, she feels as if her nephew is finally back on the right path.

“Hey Sean…”

“Yeah, mom?” He asks, looking up at her.

“Why don’t you go to your room? Your Aunt Kim and I should talk.”

“Ok.” Sean turns and waves at Kim. “Bye Aunt Kim. Thanks!”

“No prob, kiddo!”

Kim waves back as Sean runs off, out of the living room and bolts back upstairs. Once Sean is out of sight and out of earshot, Marie begins to approach Kim. Marie sits down on the sofa next to her twin sister. She stares skeptically into her eyes.

“So what exactly did you do, Kim?”

“Nothing!” Kim says. “Honest!”

“I don’t believe you. My son was cursing me the entire way home. Do you realize how pissed he was at me for making him stay overnight in jail?”

“I can only imagine.”

“Yeah, well he said he wasn’t going to speak to me ever again. He said that I have no idea how tough he has it in school and how he needs friends like Kyle, Jackson, and Max to help him because no one else gives a damn about him. Those were his words, Kim.”

“Sounds rather harsh.” Kim states. Marie nods her head.

“Yeah, it was. Now suddenly he’s hugging me and telling me he loves me? You did something, Kim. I just want to know what you did to cause this sudden turnaround. Did you bribe him? Did you make him do this?”

“I didn’t make him do anything, sis, I promise.” Kim sighs. “But you ARE going to have a very long talk with him and not just about what he did last night breaking into the school.”

“What do you mean?” Marie asks curiously.

“Sean knows.”

“He knows?” Marie asks curiously. She stares deep into Kim’s eyes, as if trying to get a read off of her. Eventually they finally connect. Almost as if reading her mind, Marie figures out what Kim is referring to. “Oh…he knows…”

“Yeah.”

“How did he find out?”

“He says he found out on the internet.”

“But how?” She asks. “That wouldn’t be in the news. I never told the world that Sean is…well…that he’s…”

“No, but it’s easy to do simple math. You were the daughter of a famous wrestler. So of course you being sexually assaulted would be big news. It wouldn’t be difficult for Sean to look at the date of the incident, look at his date of birth, and do simple math to figure it out; especially when he has no father in his life.”

“So that’s why he’s been acting out lately.” Marie sighs and shakes her head. “I get it. Anyone would get upset upon learning something like that.”

“I suppose the best thing for him now is to get a therapist or some shit.” Kim suggests. “Someone who can help him learn to accept it, learn to deal with, whatever needs to be done. Ya know?”

“Yeah.” Marie says quietly. She looks at Kim for a few moments. A warm grin forms on her face. “You know, Kim, you really are a good role model for Sean.”

“Who me?” Kim scoffs. “Look at who you’re talking to! I’m the Queen of the Death Match! I cause chaos! I kidnapped you once, remember?”

“Yes but look at who you’ve become! Underneath all that chaos and craziness lies a good person. You already talked Sean down and maybe even put him back on the right path after staying overnight locked up. That was all you, Kim. Not me.”

“It was nothing, sis.” Kim insists, shaking her head.

“You were good, Kim. Don’t sell yourself short.” Marie wraps an arm around her sister’s shoulder. “And you know what? You would make a great mother someday.”

“You…you think so?” Kim seemingly perks up at the notion of being a parent. Marie nods her head.

“If that’s something you wanted, you would be great at it.”

“Well…” Kim’s voice trails off as she pauses to think about things for a moment. Emotions are welling up within her, emotions she never knew she had. “...I admit that I have been thinking about it.”

“Oh really?” Marie asks, smiling playfully. Kim nods her head.

“I love spending time with my nephew. I really do.” She sighs. “And it has made me think about what it would be like to have a kid of my own. But I don’t want to give up my career. I enjoy being a wrestler. And I’m doing so well right now. I’m the SCW Underground Champion and I’m on a roll heading into Taking Hold of the Flame. I could win it all! I could main event Rise To Greatness and I would love that so much…”

“I thought you didn’t care about being world champion?”

“I don’t. But I do want to fix my mistakes. I had my world title match against Owen Cruze at Body, Heart, & Soul, championship for championship, and I failed. But worse than failing, I acted out, I threw a tantrum, and I made myself look like a fool. I made my beloved Underground Division look foolish. But this is my chance to run it back. This is my chance to do it all over again and this time win and become World Champion…or at the very least hold my head high with pride knowing I did my best. It’s an opportunity I don’t want to run away from, Marie. Not when its so close.”

“I understand.” Marie nods her head. “But have you thought about adopting?”

“Huh?” Kim scratches her chin. “Y’know, I seem to recall in my own research into our family history that Bart Jones, mom’s father, adopted a kid.”

“She did.” Marie says, nodding her head. “And you could too but only if you have the time.”

“That’s the problem.” Kim says quietly. “Do I have the time? I don’t know if my schedule would allow for it. You know me, Marie…anything I do, I commit myself to it entirely. I devoted myself to the Underground Division and look at how successful I was? If I were to commit myself to adopting a child, I want to have that kind of devotion to it. Because I know what I don’t want. I don’t want to be an absentee parent like Emma was to me.”

“You have a good head on your shoulders, Kim.” She hugs her tightly. “And you have a good heart. I know you’ll make the right decision.” After breaking the embrace, Kim smiles warmly.

“Thanks, sis. I appreciate it.”

“Of course.” Marie starts to stand up but Kim stops her.

“One more thing…” Marie stops and sits back down “...thanks for being there for me, Marie. Thanks for rescuing me and for always believing in me.”

“We’re family, Kim. Family always sticks together.”

==========
June 4th, 2023
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
On Camera
==========

We open on the busy streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. And it is indeed very busy on this bright sunny day, for there are people walking to and fro in and all directions on the sidewalk, cars and going down the road, and this appears to be quite the normal day for Milwaukee. That normalcy ends rather abruptly when Kimberly Williams steps into the scene from the right. She is wearing a purple pleated paid skirt, a pink blazer, and a green silk blouse underneath. She is wearing sneakers and she has the HKW Bloodlust Championship title belt draped over her right shoulder and the SCW Underground Championship title belt wrapped around her waist. A look of pure and utter mischief is etched across her lovely face as she considers what is about to go down.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the SCW Universe, I am Kimberly Williams and this is yet another KIM ON THE STREET INTERVIEW!” She claps her hands in a vain attempt to generate excitement. “You may be thinking to yourself, isn’t this just some lame Man on the Street Interview? Well no, it isn’t. Man on the Street Interviews are lame but this is a KIM on the Street Interview because my name is Kim and I am on the streets looking for the opinions of the dozens…hundreds…or whoever the hell I manage to run across out here! I want to ask them their opinions about the upcoming Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal! Because I value the opinions of our fans! I love our fans! And I think they can give a fair and balanced view of the upcoming battle royal! I mean, I suppose I could ask someone like, say, Ravyn Taylor…but you know exactly what that cranky old bird will say, am I right?” She pauses for a brief moment. “Blah, bla, blah, I will win, quote the Raven nevermore, blah blah, blah.” She shrugs. “Pretty much any of the other participants you ask are gonna say the same damn thing…with a few notable differences. Like Hudson…” she pauses again “...I’m gonna win because I’m pissed off that Owen beat my ass. And I can’t come up with an original insult for Kim so I just call her a cartoon character!” She smirks knowingly. “See? Everyone in this battle royal is going in blindly thinking they’re just gonna waltz into Taking Hold of the Flame, win it all, and then go on to Rise To Greatness and become SCW World Champion as if it were their destiny. Now you may be asking yourself about me. What does The Queen of the Death Match think?” She laughs softly. “Well I’ll get to that momentarily. But first, I promised all of my Kimmymaniacs a Kim on the Street Interview and I’m gonna deliver!”

And with that the wild, flashy dressed SCW Underground Champion turns and starts to walk the sidewalks, with the camera following closely behind. Eventually Kim stops in front of a group of teenage girls standing out in front of a coffee shop. One of them has a pomeranian on a leash. Kim points to the dog.

“Cute dog. What’s its name?”

“Kandis.” One of the teenagers, a blonde, answers. Kim stifles to fight back laughter.

“So its a bitch?”

“Yeah, I suppose.” The girls start to giggle uncontrollably. Kim turns and winks at the camera.

“This was NOT scripted! Honest!” She turns back to face the girls. “So are you going to Taking Hold of the Flame?”

“You mean SCW? Totes!”

“Great! And yes, you can bring your tote bags, just NO cauliflower!”

“Huh?”

“Now tell me. Who do you think is gonna win?”

“Simon Lyman!” The blonde says.

“Lucas Knight.” Another one of the girls, a brunette, answers. “He’s dreamy.”

“He’s also taken, last I heard.” Kim shrugs. “Do you really think Lyman or Knight can win the big one one more time? Is that what they want? The chance to shine in the Rise To Greatness spotlight one final time before retiring? For good this time…”

“Uh, probs!”

“Good answer.” Kim pats one on the head. Then she turns and starts walking away with the camera following closely behind. She stops once she is out of earshot of the girls she was just talking to and then turns to face the camera. “So many people in this battle royal just want this success for the mere purpose of success, just for accolades, just to add another trophy to their case. Lyman and Knight aren’t alone in that. There’s my own cousin, my family, Glory Braddock.” She waves at the camera. “Hi, Glory! Good luck! You’ll need it!” Kim spots an elderly man walking with a cane down the sidewalk. Kim grins as she motions for the camera to follow her. Kim skips down the sidewalk until she finds her way to the elderly gentleman.

“Hi there!”

“Hello, miss.” The man says. Kim tilts her head to one side.

“Do you know who I am?”

“No. Should I?”

“Yes!” Kim exclaims. “Don’t you watch SCW?”

“SCW?”

“Yeah. Supreme Cauliflower Wrestling. They’re having an event coming up here in Milwaukee.”

“Oh yeah, I heard something about that.” He shakes his head. “I don’t watch that stuff.”

“So you have no idea who Sal Darius, Johnny Airhart, or Polly’s Playgirls are?”

“No.”

“That’s ok, no one else does either!” Kim throws her head back and laughs. She turns and again begins to skip down the sidewalk. Eventually she comes to a young man who appears to be in his mid twenties. He has black hair and is wearing a blue t-shirt and khaki shorts. Kim approaches him and waves. He immediately gasps.

“Wait…you’re Kim! Kim Williams!”

“That’s right.”

“Queens of Chaos rule!” He exclaims. Kim high fives him.

“Now you seem like my kinda guy. Maybe I’ll get a good answer outta you. Are you gonna attend SCW Taking Hold of the Flame right here in Milwaukee?”

“Damn straight I am! I gotta watch my favorite win the whole damn thing!”

“And your favorite is?”

“ASHER HAYES!” He exclaims loudly. Kim immediately sighs with defeat. She shakes her head.

“Seriously? You DO know that I’m standing right here, y’know?”

“Sorry. I’m a Kimmymaniac too, but I was an Ashhole first!” He says. Kim nods her head.

“Fair enough. Now run along…” the young man turns and walks away. Kim meanwhile smirks as she turns to face the camera “...see? My Kimmymaniacs have a nice grasp of the situation. I respect their opinions, even if I think they’re wrong. Because the fans are allowed to cheer whoever the hell they want. We do this for the fans. I roll around in barbed wire, thumb tacks, and broken glass all for the enjoyment of the fans! And that’s why I’m entering Taking Hold of the Flame. This isn’t some ego trip for me to add yet another accomplishment to my trophy case…that’s how some in this battle royal view it. I’m not doing this for one last shot at greatness because damn it, I still have a LOT of time left on my career. I’m doing this because my fans demanded it. My Kimmymaniacs want to see me take part in the chaos that is Taking Hold of the Flame and I will not let them down!” She shakes her head.

“Now here’s one quick piece of advice to each and every one of my thirty nine other opponents in this battle royal. Before you reach out and try to take hold of that flame, remember that first and foremost, wear fire resistant gloves, because fires really do burn! Trust me, I’ve been set on fire before. Secondly, do not think even for one second that you can read the book of Kimberly Williams. The moment you think you’ve got me figured out is the same moment that you’ve made your biggest and most crucial mistake. Fact is, boys and girls, you cannot and never will figure me out. Do I enjoy chaos? Damn right I do. I am one of the Queens of Chaos, so of course I enjoy chaos! I brought down the most chaotic match in SCW history! Chaos is my middle name!” She pauses and shakes her head. “Ok, I lied, my middle name is Frances. But that’s beside the point. I do love chaos, and that’s why I am looking forward to Taking Hold of the Flame. You don’t get much more chaotic than a battle royal such as that. But I’m not in this thing just for the sheer joy of the chaos and I’m not even in this just to simply entertain the fans. I know what is at stake and yes, I respect the history of this event, I respect everyone who has fought tooth and nail to win this event all for that one coveted prize…the opportunity to main event Rise To Greatness, the opportunity to challenge for the SCW World Championship.” Kim pats the SCW Underground Championship that is wrapped around her waist.

“I have what I want. I won back the SCW Underground Championship. So why would I need anything more than that? Why couldn’t I be content to just sit back and enjoy being queen of the underground? So many other people want more and more, they are greedy and need more championships to inflate their already oversized egos. That makes up for a lot of the people in this damn battle royal.” She shakes her head. “That’s not who I am. I have never been one to need championship gold to validate myself. But I do need something, something that only this event, only Taking Hold of the Flame can provide…” she pauses momentarily “...redemption.”

“See, I think back to Body, Heart, & Soul. I think back to the one time I really did earn a shot at the SCW World Championship. It wasn’t given to me just because I pissed off the reigning champion enough that she wanted to beat my ass, that was the Double Jeopardy Title Match against Selena Frost and I was only there because Selena wanted to kick my ass. But Body, Heart, & Soul? I was there because I belonged there. I was there because I deserved to be there. I had earned that opportunity…only I lost. Not only was I unhappy with the outcome but I was also unhappy with the aftermath. I was unhappy with myself all around. Ordinarily you don’t get a chance to turn back time and rewrite history. Time travel doesn’t exist, don’t ya know? But if I can win Taking Hold of the Flame, then guess what? I will have earned another shot at the SCW World Championship. More importantly…” she pats her Underground Title belt again “...I could walk into the main event of Rise To Greatness as the SCW Underground Champion. I could quite literally run back the clock, run back the main event of Body, Heart, & Soul, and I can fix things. I can make things right. I can walk out of Rise To Greatness with my held high…proud that I did the very best I could, proud that I put on a great show for my Kimmymaniacs…proud that I walked out as the NEW SCW World Champion.” She laughs lightly.

“Here I am, Crazy Kim who supposedly doesn’t care about being a world champion, yet now I seemingly have a motivation, a reason to become world champion. Doesn’t make sense, does it? But like I said, not one of you…not any one of you thirty nine other people in Taking Hold of the Flame know a damn thing about who I really am. So let me fill in a few more gaps. I may call myself Kimberly Williams, as a nod to my late father Sean Williams who no one knew. But my birth name was Kimberly Jones. My Jones family is legendary. My mother has held world championships in multiple promotions, my sister has held world championships in multiple promotions, my half-sister has even held a world championship. And my cousin, Glory Braddock, who will also be in this damn battle royal, is a former SCW World Champion.” Kim pats herself on the chest. “But I have never achieved that level of success. Taking Hold of the Flame is my opportunity to change that. Taking Hold of the Flame is my opportunity to prove to my family that damn it, I BELONG! I DESERVE THE JONES NAME! IT IS MY OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE MY FAMILY PROUD!” Kim narrows her eyes in an intense gaze at the camera.

“I am going to win Taking Hold of the Flame. I am going to the main event of Rise To Greatness WITH the SCW Underground Championship. I am going to walk out of Rise To Greatness as Kimmy two-belts, the SCW World Underground Champion. I am going to make history in the biggest way imaginable. And I am not doing this out of greed. I am not doing this to stroke my ego. I am doing this for my mom…for my sisters…for my family…for every single person out there who has ever given a damn about me, who has ever supported me through thick and thin! I am going to win Taking Hold of the Flame and become SCW World Champion and return it to where it rightfully belongs…” she points to the camera “...to you, to the fans of SCW.”

The camera fades to black as Kimberly turns and walks away.

[Huddie]

OOC: No shoot for this one. 1 of hopefully 2 for Hudson.

A History of Violence: Book III: Precium, Chapter Five

[HardyGirl]

OOC: So, this is the first full RP I've done for Amy since 2019 (I'm not counting the one for Wildcard as 'full'). I was a little nervous about getting back into her head, but it's kinda like riding a bike. Anyone who's been here a while may read this and think it's re-treading previous ground, or telling the same story. I promise you, it is not. Hope you enjoy!
-------------

Taking Hold of the Flame 2023 #1
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[Chance Owens]

Mystery Entrant - The pen is mightier than the sword

[Team Desire]

Katie Steward | "Her Breakup"

Downtown L.A. at Katie Steward's hotel room. Gigi Steward had just left the hotel room on not so very good terms with her adoptive mother. Katie finds herself on her bed feeling distraught. She ran from everyone because she didn't want no one to get hurt by her. All her crazy, insane ideas. Her artistry is the storyteller of being an actress and finding the best way to put on a show. She dragged her Brats to a place she thought she would never go. Now Gigi is angry with her. One of the closest people she would never want to hurt. Is feeling the worst of it.

"How are you feeling? If you want to cancel tonight I'll understand." Eli, Katie's date and someone she's apparently seeing now. He stands in the hotel room dressed in a nice tuxedo. Plans for some fancy arts dinner charity banquet.

"No, we had plans. I'll go get ready. I'm sorry, I just didn't expect she'll find me." Katie shakes her head. She should've known better. "She is a smart girl. Why wouldn't she have figured it out?"

Eli turns and leaves the hotel room to let Katie get herself ready for the night. Katie stands up off the bedroom and walks over to the mirror. She checks herself out. Some small tears shed a bit on her face, but she just wipes them away. Katie takes a breath, coming a bit more relaxed. She knows she can make things up with Gigi some time later.

There is a knock on the hotel room door. Katie spins around and sprints out of the bathroom to answer the door. Gigi must've come back wanting to talk. Katie opens the door. A woman stands there. Her head leaning down and a hat concealing her face from Katie's view.

"Hello?" Katie asks the mysterious woman standing in front of her.

They look up revealing themselves, Autumn Daniels. She looks her usually 'Don't Fuck with Me.' attitude. She pulls out a gun and aims it at Katie. It's all Katie can see and before she can react Autumn pulls the trigger. Katie feels the air being sucked out of her at the moment. She falls backwards collapsing on the floor of her hotel room. She closes her eyes and everything goes dark.


Katie springs a wake, the shock of being shot still in her head. She tries catching her breath, but she is too panicked and confused. She looks around the room, but can't make anything out. The room is too dark. To make things even more bizarre she lifts her hand, but doesn't get too far finding herself handcuffed to the table.

"Oh good, you're awake." A voice is heard inside the room. Katelyn Buehler walks through the darkness and sits down next to Katie. Katie checks out Katelyn's business attire suit. Definitely a different fashion choice from KAtelyn's usual clothes.

"Katelyn? What happened? Why am I here?" Katie questions her, but her mind also runs a mile a minute trying to think. "Wait, Autumn shot me! Am I dead?"

"She did that. Unbelievable. We'll talk to the judge about that abuse of power before we start things." Katelyn tells Katie although it doesn't help clear anything up.

"Judge?" Am I on trial? I know I kind of ran away from my responsibilities, but I had all the best intentions in doing so. I did it for anyone's sake." Katie starts to figure some things out. "Autumn shot me… Oh my Goddess, I am dead! This is my trials to see if I get into Goddess Heaven!"

"Kate, you're not dead. Autumn probably just shot you with a tranq. gun." Katelyn explains to Katie.

Katie remembers the night earlier, opening the door for Autumn. She remembers Autumn holding the gun. Piecing things together she notices the gun is different from the usual one. An orange tip on the barrel meaning it's non lethal. Autumn shooting her and now seeing a dart hit her followed by Katie over dramatic reaction of falling back to the floor. Autumn rolls her eyes. Suddenly Eli returns to check on Katie. He sees Autumn standing there with Katie on the floor. Autumn does the only thing she can think of and just tranq's him too.

"Oh my Goddess. She shot Eli too." Katie is shocked by Autumn's actions.

"Yeah, I don't think the two of you are going to work out anymore." Katelyn tries to comfort Katie and notify her of her breakup with a recent man.

Katie sits in her chair spinning a quarter around and back.Not much momentum she can get with being handcuffed. She 's just at a loss as even trying to get away from everything and starting anew and the craziness finds her and infects it.

Doors behind Katie are heard opening. Katie turns her head to see the back of the room lit up now. It's a backend of a courtroom. Paris Dannon walks in carrying a briefcase. She walks towards Katie and Katelyn.

"Oh, good my lawyer is here." Katie says out loud. Katelyn turns to her a little hurt.

"Did you want her for your lawyering?" Katelyn asks Katie as she looks ready to leave.

"What? She's not on our legal defense?" Katie questions Katelyn as she watches Paris turn and puts her briefcase down on the other table. "She's the prosecutor? Paris prosecuting me? She still blames me for thinking I was the one that murdered Robin."

"Kate, please don't admit your guilt in the courtroom. You thought having me as a lawyer is bad when my client is admitting things." Katelyn shakes her head in disapproval.

"I didn't admit anything. I didn't do it. It was a massive game of cat and mouse between me and my Goddess. Paris just blames me for it." Katie tries to defend herself.

Paris stands at her table, Katelyn stands up as well as the bailiff Autumn Daniels walks out and announces the Judge's arrival.

"All rise for the honorary Judge Brooks." Robin walks out and over to the Judge's bench. Katie goes to stand, but her handcuff wouldn't allow it and pulls her back into her chair. Katie just sits in her chair. Pulling herself closer to the table and placing her arms falls on it. She looks annoyed about everything right now.

"Case number one, Katie Steward vs. Brat Pack is now in session." Robin lifts her gravel and hammers it to begin the court case. "How does the defendant plea?"

Katie sits in her chair and listens to the case before. She's facing her Brats and all she can think about is the grief that she's put them through. Continuing down her path of blaming herself. It's why she tried to disappear. She knows she's guilty.

"We plead 'Not Guilty' and are already to prove these charges are completely false." Katelyn announces to the court. She looks at Katie and smiles. She's got her besties back. Unfortunately, Katie doesn't feel the same confidence as Katelyn does.

Paris sits over behind her table and laughs at the plea.

Katie grabs Katelyn by her arm and pulls her close. "Do you think you can win this? Can you beat Paris?" Katie asks Katelyn in a very concern tone.

"Of course, I got this. I stay up for the pass few nights binge watching Suits on Peacock. So I got a pretty good grasp on the law." Katelyn winks and nudges Katie, but it doesn't help Katie's confidences.

Judge Brooks  speaks to the court to get things underway. "Will Ms. Steward, please approach the chair and we can begin."

Katie takes a breath and lets it out. She looks over to Katelyn who eagerly nudges her along. Katie stands up and walks around the table. Paris watches her with a cold expressionless demeanor. Katie walks to the chair in the middle of the courtroom and takes her seat.

Paris stands and approaches Katie. She opens her mouth ready to give her statement to the court, but Katie interrupts her.

"Actually can I change my plea?"

A gasp is heard throughout the courtroom. Odd because the Brats are the only occupiers there. Just most of Katie's dramatics.

Judge Brooks bangs her gavel getting order back from the imaginary court. "Order, order. Ms. Steward the charges are very serious. Are you sure about this? Please take the time to consult with your lawyer."

"No." Katie answers the Judge. "I'm sure I want to change my plea. I am guilty. I've done things to all of you and I'm sorry for everything. I can't let it go this time."

Katelyn springs up from her seat. Rushing in to defend Katie. To try and change her mind and the courts. "Kate, you don't have to do this. They're the one over reacting to this, not you."

"Save it, Katelyn. She's right. She murdered Robin back in the noir arc and then turned a cursed blade on the rest of us just to serve her." Paris chrimes in with Katie's guilt.

Katelyn doesn't stand down. "Katie wasn't the one that murdered Robin. She was clearing her name after being wrongfully accused. Then she turned to the cursed blade and fell under its power like the rest of us."

Autumn steps forward and makes her case against Katie. "Just because you voluntarily gave yourself up to her doesn't mean anything. I swore I'd never serve another and she violated that."

Katelyn walks around the table. She isn't backing down. "Ok, sure that the last few months were bad, but Katie has done a lot for all of you. Autumn after that break up, The Brats took you in. Katie took you in. Judge, Katie's help you now have a brilliant, sometimes annoying son. Paris, you did love the chaos of being around the Brats, right?" Katelyn looks around at the Brats. Paris and Autumn don't look like they're going to budge and Robin keeps a calm non judgemental stance. "We've had fun and everything worked out in the end. We got ourselves back. Why does this have to tear us apart?"

"Katelyn, it's ok." Katie butts in. "I'm ok with this. It's what it should be."

"Kate…"

Judge Brooks bangs her gavel getting the attention of the court. "Katelyn I understand your concerns, but it doesn't outweigh those held by Paris and Autumn. Yes, we had a lot of fun being The Brat Pack. A lot of great moments, good moments and some bad moments. If Katie wish to go her way in this then this is how it should be."

Katelyn looks defeated as she looks at Katie. Katie mouths "I'm sorry" back at her.

So with that, Katie is guilty and now faces her punishment. Katie stands up from her chair and turns facing the Judge. Katelyn stands behind her table and Paris and Autumn stand behind the other.

"Katie it is not without any pleasure that I have to announce, but it is for everyone's best interest. With your Guilty plea. I put down the sentence of dispanment and banishment. You will now hand over your phone for the deleting of our contacts.

"What?" Katie heard the sentence against her. She can't believe it. The Brat Pack breaks up right in front of her. It's what Katie wanted. She ran from them wanting to break away so she wouldn't hurt them again, but watching it happen now she can't believe it.

Katelyn walks over to her and hugs Katie tight, not wanting to let go. Paris and Autumn walk over and take Katie's phone from her and delete their information so Katie is cut off from them.

"Ok, Katelyn, it's your turn." Paris says as Autumn hands the phone over to her.

"No." Katelyn putting her foot down.

Robin walks over taking off the Judge's robe and tossing it aside. "This is what we all agreed upon Katelyn." Robin takes the phone and deletes her information. Including Facebook, Katie wouldn't be able to even be updated with Robin's son. It only breaks Katie more.

Robin hands the phone to Katelyn. She takes it and holds it for a few seconds. Looking at the Brats and then at Katie.

"I tried to warn you." Katelyn deletes her information and hands the phone back to Katie. "I love you."

It is now completed. The trial of over and the Brats all leave Katie alone. She is now thrust out onto the LA streets.


Outside on the sidewalk, Katie stands around near a building where she just got the worst news of her life. Maybe she should go back inside, maybe she can plead her case. She really didn't think that the Brats would disband, or cut off all contact with her. Though why is she broken up this much? It is what she wanted. She didn't want to hurt them, so she tried leaving them and she's gotten what she wants. Guess maybe there was always a chance of redemption. Katie shakes her head and gets her senses back. She looks around the empty street. She brings out her phone to make a call. She looks through her now Bratless contacts and finds another familiar number, Gigi's. Gigi is upset with her, but after her night. She has to have some heart for forgiveness in her. Katie hits a call so they can come and pick her up and also probably have a talk about things.

Katie waits around for about a half hour and finally her ride pulls, The passenger side window rolls down and Katie's friend, Gina Pierce leans over looking out the window. "So how bad of a story do you have to tell this time?"
Katie tries to ignore Gina's question as she goes to get into the car. Katie leans back in the seat, resting her head on the headrest.

"So what happened?" Gina asks Katie again. She watches Katie sitting there in the passenger collecting her thoughts.

“Nothing. Just a really bad break up. One of my longest relationships I’ve had is now over. I’m not sad about it. I’m just in shock that it’s over. You know?” Katie starts to feel a little bit of clarity about things.

“That really sucks, Katie. I’m sorry.” Gina plays the sympathetic friend to Katie. “Where do you want to go?”

“I just want to go home.” Katie rolls her head looking out the window. Gina sits in the driver's seat. She doesn’t move waiting for a more clear answer from Katie. “Home. I want to go home. My home and I want to go to sleep.”

“Of course.” Gina smiles at Katie and she starts her car up and drives off heading back to their neighborhood.

Gina’s car pulls up to Katie’s home in Los Angeles. Katie gets out and walks around the car walking up to her gate.

Gina rolls down her window to talk to Katie as she watches her go to her home. “Katie, if you need anything, you know you can come right on over to my house and talk.

“Thanks, but I think I’ll be just fine. I’m sure tomorrow I can find something new and move on to the next chapter.” Katie opens her gate and walks onto her property. Gina drives away and back to her own home.

Katie walks up her driveway to her front door. Catching her eye is an envelope taped to the door. She walks up and pulls the envelope off the door. Opening it up she removes a plane ticket for Milwaukee, WI. Katie looks confused and then disgusted wondering what kind of prank someone is playing on it. She slips the ticket back into the envelope and walks into her home to move on from the insane night of hers.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

So someone wants me in Milwaukee for Taking Hold of the Flame. It shouldn’t really be a mystery all that much. They all know what Taking Hold of the Flame means to me and how important it is for me to be a part of it. SCW Management just loves the star power I bring with me. Although I’m not really sure what this means for Katie Steward. I’ve not had the best mindset the last few months. I’ve taken things too far and paid the price for them. So I’m going to decline the offer from taking part in Taking Hold of the Flame this year.

It is all just a lot of time and effort to get ready for. Having to devote yourself through mind and body and like I said I’m drained on both fronts. So yeah I wish everyone the best of luck. I’m sure whoever wins it will go on and put on a memorable Rise to Greatness match and have their moment that is truly deserved. I have plenty of other endeavors to keep me occupied. I’ve got auditions lined up so I’m fine. No one probably doesn’t know the amount of work I put into this for myself. Really, I don’t care though. Doing my craft is the best relaxation I can have. Mentally clearing my head and just fall into a whole another persona. Being someone different. It is honestly exactly what I need right now. To be someone else. Though maybe that’s what got me into trouble to begin with. Nothing matters now anyways. I don’t have anyone to be hurt by my creative process and expression. I'm just going to fall into being the best actress I can be..

Things would be too unpredictable. Trying to fight my emotions and feelings. Driving me to that next level. I know how to play them. How to use them in a way that’ll drive me farther. No one can do what I can do. After feeling sad and lost over these past few months, maybe I need a character change. Maybe my mindset should switch to anger. Maybe I just need a place to take out my aggression. SCW has seen a lot of Katie Steward. They’ve had a lot of different varieties of Katie Steward over the last 18 years. Now I’m going to give you a brand new one.I’ll accept the invitation for Taking Hold of the Flame and also make the announcement that I’m retiring from acting. Katie Steward has a new career path ahead of here. Katie Steward is still going to look to have her name in the lights on the Rise to Greatness marquee. Now I’m going to do it from behind the camera. Katie Steward is going to direct the greatest story to ever be told. There isn’t a single person in SCW that can tell this story better than me. Everything that I’ve done and continue to do. Is to stride and be the best and at the end of this story. They’re all going to know who the real Katie Steward is.

[Cassie Wolfe]

Cassie had managed to pick up the win over Sal Darius but this weekend saw what would prove to be her biggest SCW Match yet as she was one of the 40 Participants competing in the Take Hold of the Flame Battle Royal, the prize for the winner? A shot at the SCW World Championship at Greatness X! Can Cassie outlast 39 other wrestlers and win?

Cassie’s parents’ home, Las Vegas, Nevada
Memorial Day 2023, 18:00pm

I have made a big decision.

Namely? I had signed a big contract with a rather notable wrestling promotion called EWC. They were a promotion that hosted shows all over the world and I had been signed to a Rampage contract, really the only thing that I was waiting for before I announced it was the fact that the contract hadn’t come through yet.

And yeah, I signed it over Memorial Day weekend, gimme a break, I’m a teenager from Australia, I didn’t even realize it was Memorial Day Weekend until Harper pointed it out to me! Speaking of Harp, I had heard that she had gotten a contract too but nothing concrete as of yet.

All this the weekend before the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal!

What was the Battle Royal? I wasn’t too sure myself when I first heard of it but it promised to be a massive clusterfuck, why? It was a forty person Battle Royal! Everyone was gunning for a shot at the SCW World Championship at Greatness X because that was the prize that awaited the winner, needless to say? I signed myself up for that show as soon as I could! Sure, there’s bound to be a handful of guys and gals I’ve gone up against before but I was willing to take that risk!

Next weekend, until then? I may be Australian but my family is still having a memorial day BBQ.

”Ugh, if I hear that damn Bruce Springsteen song one more time I might take the meat skewers and stick them into my ears!”[/font] I complained to Becky over the phone via vid chat, I was inside the house because of how fucking hot it was getting and any other time I would’ve happily had my girlfriends with me for the BBQ but I needed someone at my computer in case I missed the contract coming through and mom didn’t let me bring my laptop. [color=green]”Have these guys even read the lyrics? It’s the “patriotic” version of “Every Step You Take!”[/font]

[color=yellow]”We’re in agreement on that at least! I told my parents point blank that I’d call a wedding off mid-reception if they ever played that song!”[/font] Becky nodded in agreement and I had to laugh at that mental image. [color=yellow]”At least tell me the food’s good?”[/font]

[color=green]”Says the girl so allergic to spice that she had to sit out of an Indian feast when we were in India last year!”[/font] I teased my girlfriend and Becky just shook her head with a laugh, off course that was the least bad thing to happen that night but I was in no hurry to recall that night in detail. [color=green]”So, no forward momentum on the contract?”[/font]

[color=yellow]”I’ve been watching your Gmail account like a hawk all day, nothing new so far.” Becky responded with a shrug before the door to the house opened but I didn’t look up. ”Trust me, I’ll tell you when the contract comes through……………”

“Contract?” I looked up and saw mom standing there with a plate of food in her hands, I knew it was for me because I had placed my order about twenty minutes ago but I was getting unhappy flashbacks to the last time I tried to hide something from my parents. “Cass, are you hiding something from me again?”

”Yes and no, I signed a contract with a new fed over the weekend, well, I say new but they’ve been active longer than I’ve been alive, I’m just waiting for the contract to come through.” I explained and mom nodded as she got the idea before setting my food down in front of me with a knife and fork. ”Would’ve told you sooner but this is a global fed, needed to wait for the paperwork to go through, and yes this is why I wanted to bring my laptop!”

“You should’ve said so, I would’ve helped you pack it away in that case.” My mom responded and I just shook my head with a grin, off course she’d say that. “I know we had that falling out the other week but your still my daughter, I’ll support you any way I can!”

”I know mom, just had to be a bit extra secretive with this one……..” I trailed off before a cheer rang out through my phone, then I got the email through my Gmail app on my phone. ”And it’s official, I’ll be wrestling for the EWC on their Rampage brand soon! And I just missed out of wrestling in Japan!” I let out a sigh as my minor fuckup set in. ”Just my luck!”

“You’ll get another chance, now eat up before your food gets cold!” My mom assured me and I wasn’t about to argue with her order.

There wasn’t any shrimp on the barbie but us Australians know how to cook meat on the BBQ and my dad was no exception because the food was delicious.

But I knew one thing that tasted sweeter.

Cassie’s home, Reno, Nevada
Friday the 2nd of June 2023, 16:00pm

*promo time*

Oh boy!

”I’m just gonna get this out of the way, no I’m not going to go through all forty competitors in this one promo, I’d be here until next year’s Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal if I did!” I stated plainly after turning on the camera. ”But I am one of the 40 wrestlers in this year’s Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal, and I’m pretty sure I’m the youngest in the field to boot! So, what do I bring to the table?”

Good question.

”The same thing I always bring, guts, determination and enough sass for all thirty-nine of my opponents!” I said as I counted the three things on my fingers. ”Will that be enough for the win? Fuck if I know! This match may as well be called “The Massive Clusterfuck Battle Royal” because that’s exactly what it is! A massive clusterfuck! And I’m right in the middle! Not the first time I’ve been in one either or do I need to remind you of my participation in that massive cash in match?”

Or not……..

”A match where I literally only scored one pinfall, on second thought? Forget I brough that up!” I insisted as I held my hands up. ”But hey, this match will be a hell of a lot less confusing than that and maybe, just maybe that’ll be my key to getting the win this time?”

It’s that simple.

”I mean, if you’re not gonna bet on yourself who will and my whole wrestling career has been one massive bet on myself!” I stated as I flipped some hair over my shoulder. ”Because let’s face it, I’m a petite girl from a small town that barely anyone outside of South Australia knew about before I made my debut and I’m not even old enough to drink in the US yet, but that bet paid off and so will this!”

And with that I decided to wrap things up.

”Dreams can come true and this battle royal will be my key to making my dream come true!” I said as I leaned forward on the desk. ”Because if all goes well? I’ll be too hot to handle for my opponents and that bet will pay off big time! Only one way to find out and that’s to show up! To all my fans? In a world of fake queens, be yourself, be a rebel princess and to the 39 other wrestlers? You’ll soon find out why I’m Hungry like the Wolfe!”

I turned off the webcam as the scene fades.

[Jay Gold]

1 of 2.  Will this be the beginning of an end?


Season 4 / Episode 1 / Visitor