SCW World Championship

[SnowQueenSCW]

The Witches of Alden

”Without”

Frost ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
December 27th, 2023
6:04am

She lay in silence, not needing the ‘white noise’ playlist that she sometimes used to help her sleep. What was sleep these days to Deanna Frost – was that even a name she could use at this point? Not for long, it would seem, she thought as she stayed in the dark, the softness of her bed and pillow – her actual bed and pillow and not some hotel or AirBnB – offering no comfort to the emotional turmoil that continued to ravage her.

She’s gone.

How many times had she said that to herself in the dark? How many times had she thought it as she stumbled about through her days? How many times had she mouthed those words without a sound while looking at herself in the mirror, seeing the circles under her eyes and the paler pallor of her skin? She honestly had lost count since finding her wife’s presence stripped from these walls of their ‘Forever House’ ten days ago, but the redhead was sure ‘thousands of times’ would, actually, not be an exaggeration if she used it.  

Yes, Selena Frost – her wife – was gone. Had, effectively, packed up her clothes, personal effects, even her SCW belts and trophies, and simply left everything else behind: Deanna, their children, Oberon, their ‘Forever Home’.

Because of me…

Another frequent visitor/thought in Deanna’s mind since that day. The self-blame. But, in all blunt honestly, who else’s fault could it be possibly be? Week after week, she had fought Selena over their current life, with the former Snow Queen as the ‘housewife’ and Deanna as the ‘breadwinner’ or ‘bacon-getter’ or whatever. Week after week, Deanna had tried to get the platinum-blonde to open up and talk about wrestling, about SCW, about Selena just up and leaving both behind, and despite Selena pleading with her to stop – such moments now like sirens in Deanna’s memory, warning flashes to ‘quit while she still could’ – the redhead had stupidly continued to push and prod her wife, escalating such talks into fights and threats.

Now? She’s gone.

Part of Deanna still couldn’t believe it. Part of her still believed that, any moment now, she would blink and the bed would be filled with two Frosts instead of one – the way it was supposed to be. Sometimes, the few times in the last ten days that she had managed to find sleep in this bed, she would dream of such a life returning to her. Other times, in the first few seconds of waking, that time between dream and reality, she would see Selena there, lying beside her, the older Frost so beautiful, even in the dark. But such moments never lasted and a blink of the eyes (or a sneeze on one particular morning) would dispel such mental-illusions, and Deanna would be alone once more, her temporary surge of happiness and joy replaced with the cold reality of that all-consuming thought.

She’s gone.

How she had managed to get through that Breakdown chamber match last week, she STILL wasn’t quite sure. It hadn’t been as painful or ‘lasting in damage’ as her first at been at Under Attack. Perhaps she owed that to it being a 3-on-3 and the painfully-forced camaraderie between her and Asher Hayes, the SCW world champion – James Evans being no help at all in that match, even knocking Deanna down in an act that the redhead did NOT want to think about or dissect until the new year had begun. Still, somehow, she had managed to get through The One’s latest ‘ploy’ to have ‘her SCW’ forced in with this ‘new-guard’ nonsense, Deanna able to not only pin her rival in an emphatic fashion, but also retain the SCW United States Championship in the process. It had been a clean-sweep for her, Evans and Asher, which meant that none of the titles had switched hands despite Kristen’s ‘plan’.

But it also meant that Deanna, in the instant the match ended, had become ‘Public Enemy Number One’ to Asher Hayes…

Maybe Number Two. Her tired mind reasoned, finding a break in the bouts of depression over her wife’s absence. In truth, SCW had become the only way that the young woman could even escape the all-consuming emotions regarding Selena. By focusing on her career and her continued rising through the ranks, she was giving a respite from her turmoil, finding purpose in her days with training and progress. And with Eric Anderson, her old friend and family chauffer, driving her, now under her employ once more, she also had company to talk to, to cry to and to clear her mind as best she could heading into the cities and arenas for SCW. She’d be a fool to not recognize how much help her dear friend had been in such regards. It was easily one of the big reasons she had invited him and his fiancée to her ‘Forever Home’ for Christmas dinner, which he had, thankfully, accepted, once more giving Deanna some form of distraction from Selena, the redhead spending her ‘recovery period’ from her latest chamber match roaming her house, cooking everything she could for the holidays, using her own experience and tons (and she meant TONS) of how-to videos on YouTube for guidance!

It had made the holidays… well… not great, but at least manageable without Selena, with Deanna able to keep her emotions and tears in check, a harder (but still doable) task even when her children had found the platinum-blonde’s presents for them under the tree.

Speaking of which, Deanna still hadn’t opened her gift from the older woman (probably bought before their big fight/Selena’s departure). She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to. It was still in her bedroom with her, on top of a shelf in her walk-in closet, next to the gift she had bought for Selena, still unwrapped as well.

“I’ll break down for sure if I try to…” her voice sounded horse and tired as she whispered that to no one. “Then I’ll really be useless…”

These nights-into-mornings, from when the children went to bed to when they awoke - which would be in another hour or two… Deanna reasoned – were the only times the redhead let her guard down and let the emotions overwhelm her. While her brain continued to wage war with her to the point she needed SCW as an outlet/distraction, she refused to show it in front of her children. The moment she had realized that she was the only Frost-parent in the house, she had dropped any and all hesitations and ‘moved’ back into the abode, with Gerda picking up the slack when work needed the United States Champion. Tasks like making meals and taking the kids to work fell on them both and, much with Eric, Deanna was beyond grateful to the old woman for helping her through this. Sadly, like Eric, Gerda, too, had no idea what Selena’s motives or ‘plans’ were, which seemed to be the recurring result Deanna had discovered.

As it was mentioned, it was only at night that Deanna let her true feelings manifest in the safety/privacy of her bedroom. During the day? She had done all she could to be productive. If her attention wasn’t on her kids, it was on SCW, and if it wasn’t on that, then she was searching for her wife. For a way to contact her…

She had already tried calling all her friends, from Jean and Zoe Black to the Ulrics, to the Grays, Regan and David Helms, all the contacts she knew in Nome, Alaska, she had even managed to track down that odd pair she had met months ago from Selena’s past – Asmodeus and Stallis – all to no avail.

No one had seen hide nor hair of the Snow Queen. Even their joint bank account hadn’t shown any action beyond the transactions that Deanna made. She probably has her own private account. Deanna had reasoned. Just like she probably has a different phone. As for Selena’s social media? That had been quiet since Rise to Greatness, so that was a dead end too. Even O. D.… gods, Deanna had even tried contacting the former SCW owner and that had yielded nothing but his honest ‘good luck’ in finding Selena, which was so kind but still not helpful.

Ten days later, and all resources and ‘leads’ were dried up, and Deanna was no closer to knowing where her wife was or what she was doing or what the hell was going on! Was she going to be divorced? Was that the next step? Was she going to be ‘served’ such a notice before New Years was out? Would certainly fit the ‘shocking deliveries’…

The thought came and, with it, the fresh wave of guilt she felt. Christmas, New Years, the chamber match from The One’s Trios cash-in, and all of this Selena-stuff, and she had given no thought to the most shocking SCW-related news of all.

The fact that she had been chosen.

That STILL stunned her every time it crossed her mind, sometimes even being enough to break her train of thought regarding Selena! After so many months of hatred and disdain from the SCW Universe simply because she was married to Selena Frost – apparently still SCW’s Public Enemy Number 1 after all these months – Deanna had finally started, though just barely, to get the fans on her side, the masses actually cheering for her when she made her entrance, when she wrestled, and even when she won a match!

Not all of them, mind you! It was, after all, a slow process, a journey they were taking together – the fans and her – as Deanna tried to navigate her way through the federation her wife had made a legacy in as the redhead sought to forge her own identity. She was patient, of course. The fans hadn’t just ‘hated’ Selena overnight. It had taken months to develop, although she still had no idea as to the ‘why’. But, much in the same way, Deanna knew that such a ‘mindset change’ would also take time and she was willing to wait for however long it took, letting her actions and beliefs be her guide during these times.

But never in a million years did she ever imagine that the fans would have chosen her for the End of the Year World title shot. It didn’t matter that the vote had been split between her and Kelsai Adamson. Out of the many names on that list – dozens of new and hungry superstars in SCW - the fans had chosen her as one of the top names to take on Asher Hayes for the SCW World title!

It was just so… so shocking. Alarming. It didn’t seem real. STILL didn’t seem real. How had this happened? The fans had JUST started getting along with her, now they wanted her to challenge for the World Championship? Could she even do that?!

A shaky exhale escaped the redhead in the dark, Deanna wishing for her partner to be here to talk about this, but she struggled to quash that thought and the familiar negative emotions as soon as they came up. The children would be awake soon. She needed to start distracting herself from such thoughts that would cause a breakdown in front of them. Work was the easiest method and, since she had already started that thought-train, she fixated on that.

What was I thinking? she thought earnestly. Right. Challenging for the world title and if I could even do that.

Yes, that particular thought was both daunting and unbelievable. Deanna Frost… World Champion. It didn’t feel right to the redhead. That belt had always been associated with her wife, Selena. Longest reign, tournament-winner of, multi-time headliner of Rise to Greatness in defending said title… it was just how things were. The world title was coveted and meant to say you were ‘the best in SCW’. And despite that last part, Deanna had never truly felt an ‘itch’ to go after that title. Again, it had been her wife’s ‘division’ and she had been happy to earn her stripes or dots or whatever it was that you earned in SCW in terms of a reputation with the United States Championship or the Adrenaline Championship division. But now? She was being thrust into it… well, not exactly…

Still, could she beat Asher Hayes? The latter certainly didn’t think so, had even taken the time to ‘show-off’ and ‘mock-warn’ Deanna during the chamber match they had shared as ‘pseudo-teammates’. ”You don’t want none of this!” Deanna recalled his words, the concept making her eyes roll back then.

Why wouldn’t she want to fight Hayes? Even without the world title on the line, fighting one of the top guys in the latter end of the year was a challenge! Something Deanna would have loved with or without the title! Why wouldn’t she want that? Cause she risked losing? Losing the match and the momentum that had been an impressive undefeated streak since before Rise to Greatness?

So what? Wasn’t that ALWAYS the case in SCW? She hadn’t demanded the chamber match at Under Attack because there was an 100% chance she would win. She hadn’t stepped into the chamber again for The One’s cash-in because there was zero chance of her losing. No! That wasn’t how SCW operated and that wasn’t how she wanted to operate. She wanted the chance of losing. She wanted the risks involved! She wanted the hungry superstars. It’s why she had been both angry and, sort of, flattered by The One’s cash-in. All that work, all that planning and safe-guarding and rigging the match in her favor, simply because she desired so much to beat Deanna.

That was how far the redhead had come along. How far she had journeyed since her wrestling debut two years ago. And here she was, on the cusp of maybe…just maybe… winning the title the exact same way as her wife did-

The familiar wave of emotions suddenly crashed against her, Deanna’s heart racing as the depression tried to lock-in on her as thoughts of her wife once more invaded her mind. “Stop it…” she hissed to herself, reaching in front of herself to grab the pillow – Selena’s pillow – and pull it close to her chest, her eyes slamming shut as she breathed. “It’s not the same.” She whispered. “It’s not the same!”

She repeated the phrase over and over in a whisper, battling back the tears that threatened to fall and twisting and jerking her train of thought until it, finally, obeyed her.

This wasn’t the same thing! She wasn’t falling down the same path as Selena! Yes, the event was the same and it was ALSO the place Deanna had made her debut like Selena had! And YES, it had been a two-person tie like it had been when Selena had been chosen years ago… But it had taken Selena three years to reach this point, where Deanna was doing it in two! That’s one thing! I did it faster!

It wasn’t much, but Deanna mentally latched onto the thought, feeling the surge of pride combat the depressing thoughts and feelings of loneliness and abandonment that threatened to overwhelm her too close to her children waking up. Another thing that made this year different was the situation! When Selena had been selected, a coin-toss and luck had put her as the last person to fight the world champion… AND! AND! It had been the world champion that had been at the disadvantage! The world champion at the time, Alexis Quinne, had been forced to defend the world title against BOTH combatants. First, against the other person voted for, AJ Helms, at the start of the night, and then against Selena at the end of the night, giving an advantage (unwanted as it may have been) to the Snow Queen.

Not the case this time around! This time, the challengers would be the ones with the disadvantage! This time, CHBK had changed things around, and it would be the voted superstars facing one another at the start of the night in singles competition, with the winner facing the fresh Asher Hayes at the end for the SCW World Championship! Which meant that the odds of losing were FAR greater than what Selena had to deal with…

“But far more rewarding if I succeed…” Deanna whispered into her wife’s pillow, trying to ignore the slight scent of vanilla that still lingered on the linen – Selena’s scent- FOCUS!

This whole EOTY concept WAS more rewarding than the past CHBK spoke of! Not only would Deanna have to find a way to beat the hot-streak that Asher Hayes was on, but first she had to beat Kelsai Adamson! And that was a challenge enough! Easily, Deanna recalled facing the young girl at Apocalypse, having pinned her in a triple-threat match with The One as well to retain the SCW United States Championship. Gods, she had been so aggressive and sure. Deanna remembered clearly. It had taken a slip of a move, but had Kelsai hit that “Bombs Away” landing? Deanna wasn’t so sure she’d still be United States Champion. And if she hits it on me this time?

It was a sobering thought, how close Kelsai had come to beating her, but that only spoke volumes about how good the young woman was. And that didn’t account for her associate, Chase Owens, getting involved. Always a possibility with his friend potentially achieving something so amazing…

The current train of thought helped, but also made Deanna feel rather stupid. She needed to be focusing on these things throughout the day, working on getting past Kelsai and still having enough gas or juice in the tank to find a way to beat Asher Hayes! After all, the man had survived the chamber match just like she had, having beaten an invigorated Autumn Valentine in the process! And with how he was acting ever since his return to SCW, it wasn’t like he was NOT going to take advantage of Deanna being less than 100% if she did beat Kelsai. Still, the redhead highly doubted the champion would have someone like Raab in his corner like he had had in his war with the former champion, Kandis. Not like Deanna, herself, would have any backup like that or like Chase Owens, in the case of Kelsai.

Another difference! Deanna mentally deduced in regards to her situation and the one Selena had dealt with at the same event in 2016. I was there with David and Elsianna at the barricade to see her! No way she’s gonna be there! It’ll just be me…by myself…alone… CRAP!

It was too late. The waves broke through and the emotions returned in a rush before Deanna could stop them. She’s gone. She’s gone. She’s gone. Like a damn battering ram, the thought was relentless in its assault! Desperately, Deanna clung to the pillow she held, but it was like facing down a tornado bearing down on you. A losing battle. And she could feel herself slipping further… and further… and fur-

“Mom?”

She heard the soft, almost meek voice a split-second before the door handle to her room twisted, making a slight, metallic sound before the door was pushed open. Like cold water on the face, all thoughts and emotions were harshly ripped out of her system, her instincts and adrenaline pumping her attention towards the opening door. In the dark, she saw the light from a cellphone-light spill into the room. “Are…” the voice continued. “Are you awake?”

It took a second for the redhead to breath, the wrestler taking a few gulps of air to try and calm her nerves and steady her heart. “Y…yes…” she whispered loud enough for the person to hear. “You can turn on the light.” She quickly closed her eyes to avoid the stinging sensation of the bright light filling the room. Slowly, as she felt the room change in illumination, she lifted her eyelids to take it in. Her peripheral vision spotted the window, still dark outside, perhaps for another hour or so, but her gaze quickly returned to the doorway, where her eldest daughter was standing.

“What are you doing up so early, Elsianna?” she asked, rubbing her eyes as she sat up, her other hand moving Selena’s pillow back to ‘its’ side on the bed, as her back found the headrest for support. Instead of receiving a verbal answer, the redhead watched as her daughter moved further into the room, revealing the tray of food in her gloved hands. “What’s all this?” Deanna asked, confusion laced into her features as she watched Amiliah and David, her other children, follow into the room behind Elsianna.

“Happy Mother’s Day.” David pronounced while rubbing his eyes with his palm, the boy clearly tired from being up so early.

“Mother’s Day?” Deanna tilted her head. “It’s not Mother’s Day, sweetie.” She almost laughed at the idea of such a holiday being in December between Christmas and New Year’s.

Hearing this, the boy’s eyes grew wide and his expression adopted into a rather angry one as he turned his head towards his older sister. “You lied to me.” He stated flatly.

“I needed help.” Elsianna explained. “And you weren’t being very cooperative.”
“I was sleeping!” David argued with a groan, followed by a frustrated, slightly louder, yell. “I’m going back to bed!” he declared, turning and stumbling out and towards his own room, Deanna effectively hearing a door close further into the house.

“Sorry.” Elsianna offered. “He’s cranky.”

Without another word, the nearly-twelve year old finished her journey to Deanna’s side of the bed, little Amiliah quietly following with yawns and eye-rubbing of her own. Carefully, the young girl placed the tray before Deanna, allowing the redhead to take in the spread.

A bowl of Cheerios with just a splash of milk filling it (probably to avoid spills on the floor).
A cut bagel with WAY too much peanut butter spread over both halves.
An apple.
A glass of water.

“Did you three make all this?” Deanna offered, earning a slight shrug from Elsianna.

“I wanted to include bacon and eggs but… I didn’t really want to use the stove without you.” She admitted.
“That’s alright, darling!” Deanna tried, giving her two daughters a smile. “Did you help, Amiliah?” she asked, earning a tired nod from the youngest.

“I got to pick the apple!” Ami answered as brightly as she could.

“Well…” Deanna observed the fruit. “It looks very red and delicious!”
“That’s what I said!” The child exclaimed before her grin morphed into a big yawn, causing a genuine smile to break across Deanna’s features.

“Thank you.” She smiled, leaning forward as much as possible to give both of her daughters a motherly kiss on the cheek. “This is wonderful.” She added before turning her attention back towards her eldest. “But, sweetheart, you didn’t have to do this. It’s YOUR birthday in a few days. If anything, we should be doing this sort of thing for you.”

Quickly, Elsianna shook her head. “I don’t need anything. Except…” she turned her gaze back to her mother.

“What is it, dear?” Deanna asked, receiving a surprising answer from Amliah instead.

“Elsa says you’ve not eaten in days.” The child stated. “She says she wants her birthday present to be you eating-“

“Amiliah.” Elsianna pressed, pulling rank as the ‘big sister’ to effectively silence the small redhead. Still, enough had been revealed in those brief sentences for Deanna to get the picture.

“Elsa…” Deanna tried, regaining her daughter’s attention.

“I just…” the girl – who looked so much like Selena – sighed. “I noticed you didn’t eat anything at Christmas, or any of the leftovers. And I’m worried.”

“Why aren’t you eating, mommy?” Amiliah asked. “Are you all…all…all-UR-gic?” she struggled at the last word.

“No, I’m not.” Deanna tried to reassure her daughters, while mentally cursing herself and Elsianna’s amazing observation-skills. “I just… haven’t had much appetite lately. A LOT on my mind.” She struggled quickly to find a fuller explanation. “Mommy’s got a big match to worry about.” She stated. “Two big matches, actually.”

“Really?” Amiliah asked. “For the shiny?”
“No…not my shiny.” Deanna explained. “The BIGGEST shiny in the world! Like the biggest shiny of all time!”

“The world title?” Elsianna asked, her eyes wide, surprising her mother for a brief second. “You have a chance to win it?”

“I…” Deanna sighed. “I do.” She answered with a nod.

“Mom!” Elsianna gasped, her face revealing a stunned, but excited, open-mouthed smile. “That’s fantastic news! Mother will be so thrilled-“ She caught herself a second too late, quickly reigning in her own excitement. “I mean… when she gets back and whatever.” She shrugged. “But that’s more the reason you need to be eating! You’ll get sick if you don’t.”

“Please don’t get sick, mommy!” Amiliah added with a tired plea, her eyes wide. “I want to see the BIG shiny!”

“Okay, okay!” Deanna couldn’t help the laugh that escaped her. Quickly, she reached for one of the bagel halves, holding it up towards the two girls as if it was proof. “See?” she took a big bite out of the bagel, immediately regretting it as her mouth was filled with only 10% bread and 90% peanut butter. Still, she chewed and chewed. Delicious as it was, it was still WAY too much peanut butter, causing her eyes to well-up a little as she finally managed to swallow it. Trying not to concern her children by moving too fast, the redhead reached a slow hand to the glass of water, lifting it to her lips to drink the liquid and aid her ability to breath clearly once more.

“Yay!” Amiliah cheered.

“Thank you both for breakfast.” She smiled, genuine love in her eyes. “I really appreciate it.”

“You’re welcome.” Elsa offered. “You have a big day today.”

“I do.” Sighed Deanna, turning her head to see the black dress hanging by itself in a section of the open walk-in closet. “You know Aunt Gerda will be here in a few hours to look after you till I get back?”

Elsianna gave a nod of understanding. Sadly, Amiliah was still too young to comprehend things.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Just to a park.” Deanna explained with a smile. “We’re saying goodbye to someone today.”
“Are they going somewhere?”
“Yep.” Deanna fought back the emotions threatening to overtake her. “But we’ll get a chance to say goodbye and wish them well. They’re going to be fine.”

“That’s good.” Amiliah smiled, satisfied with these answers, misleading as they were (though the child surely didn’t know that). Reaching over to give her youngest another kiss, Deanna excused the girl to allow her the chance to head back to bed for sleep. Elsianna watched her sister go from the doorway before turning back to her mother, blue eyes watching Deanna.

“Please finish all of it.” She requested. “I… I don’t want you getting hurt. Not with…”

Deanna nodded. “I will, Elsianna. And I’m sorry.” She offered. “I’m just…”

“I get it.” Elsianna nodded her head, trying to meet her mother’s offers of understanding with her own. “Can you… can you tell me the truth when you’re able to?”

“I…” Deanna exhaled slowly before nodding her head. “I will. I promise.”
“Okay.” Elsa replied before she, too, excused herself to head back to bed, leaving the light on, but closing the door to give Deanna her privacy once more.

Alone in the room again, Deanna stared down at the tray and the assortment of simple breakfast that had been made for her. Her day beginning, she could feel the overwhelming emotions she dealt with nightly receding to the back of her mind, the desire to break down lessening until it was all but gone, dormant until the next night.

It was time to be Deanna Frost: Provider, mother, wrestler, and…for today, mourner.

Carefully, Deanna wrestled with the rest of her bagel, finishing it and the mostly-dry cereal before finally finishing her apple and water. Her daughters were right. She needed her strength, especially today. She couldn’t afford to look anything but supportive and kind, which meant she needed to keep her thoughts of Selena and her future with the Snow Queen kept under control.

Pushing herself off the bed and onto her feet, she carefully placed the tray of empty bowl and plate and glass on the desk near her computer before walking around the bedroom, ignoring the pictures on the wall. Moving towards the walk-in closet, Deanna quietly reached up to touch the fabric of the black dress she had set aside – the one Elsianna had pointed out – releasing a long sigh before releasing it.

She hadn’t attended a… how had she worded it to Amiliah? A ‘farewell’ since… was it Malcolm’s? No, it was Killjoy’s. “I have been to too many of these things.” Deanna realized, the actual number refusing to come to her in that moment, but she knew it was higher than most. Still, she needed to attend this one. She owed it to the parents and to the child.

But what if she’s there…

Immediately, Deanna’s emerald eyes flew back to the two presents lying side by side on the shelf near her, the thought almost undoing all of her ‘mental prep’ that she had done while having her breakfast-in-bed. But she refused to let it. She was too far along to let it, the young woman quietly squashing the notion. If she showed up, Deanna would deal with it. Simple as that. She already had her nights to cry about the worst-case scenario. Now? Whether it was true or not, she would spend her days working past it.

With… or without Selena.

_______________________________________________________________


The camera opens up to reveal nothing fancy or stellar or “End of the Year” worthy in terms of flair and décor, but rather the interior of a gym. The white of the racks, the black of the plates and dumbbells, the grays of a few treadmills, it’s all there. And in the middle of this setting, this gym devoid of trainees, there is a black chair with metal legs – simple as this set.

It is only a second that this is so until a woman walks out and crosses in front of the camera. She wears black track-pants and a black t-shirt with the words ‘Earn Your Scars’ and ‘Believe GRIT!’ on it. Throwing her red hair back, she spins the chair around in order to straddle it and lean on the front while facing the camera in front of her. Settling in, the SCW United States Champion, Deanna Frost, taps her fingers against the top of the chair.

So… where do we start? She shrugs, quiet for a moment before talking again.

I mean, do we talk about Breakdown? Because… wow… what a loaded night, am I right, guys? She lets out a low whistle at the thought of the last 2023 Breakdown episode.

What a loaded night! Not only did we see a series of matches established for the End of the Year event, not only did we see the exact opposite of what Kristen Scott wanted in ‘the old guard’ being the ones that completed the ‘clean sweep’, not only did I win my second chamber match of the year AND retain the United States Championship… but we also found out the fate of who is coming for Asher Hayes and the SCW World Championship…

The redhead clicks her tongue inside her mouth as she looks around the gym for a moment.

And if I may get a little sentimental here… THAT is where I want to start. Not about Asher Hayes. Not about Kelsai Adamson. Not about the SCW World championship or even the title that means more to me in the United States Championship, but on the choice that was made by you, the SCW Universe…

I want to start there because I need to say to all of you, SCW, thank you.

A moment passes as Deanna takes a steady breath. I will be honest with you, guys, I have never once shied away from a battle. I have never once cowered from an opponent. I have never said ‘no’ to a challenge. There has not been a dare I have not surpassed or an obstacle I have not strived to overcome. And if you were to ask me, point blank, if I could beat the world champion in Asher Hayes, I would say, with zero hesitation, ‘Yes. I can!’.

Another pause from the redhaired champion as she lets her decree sink in.

But… that isn’t what this title-shot represents. It’s not about management picking someone or about CHBK vetting people like Mr. Dracheywch used to do. It’s about you, the SCW Universe, deciding who, in your eyes, deserves this opportunity. And for the near full year here, having all of you believe in me and the Frost name, let’s face it, has been a sort of downhill situation, hasn’t it?

Slowly, Deanna nods her head. I don’t fully understand it still. I honestly don’t think I ever truly will, but as sure as I am that I can beat a man like Asher Hayes – a champion like Asher Hayes – if you were to ask me if I believed I would be chosen by the fans as a potential challenger to his title, picked by the same SCW Universe that hated my family so much that my wife left, I would honestly say, once again with ZERO hesitation, “No. I don’t.”.

There is no malice or blame in Deanna’s voice, the young woman merely stating the facts as they are.

Which his why it was all the more humbling to me that I was chosen. That I was picked by you, the fans, True Believer, Gritter, or none of the above. That you saw beyond my name to the woman that I am trying so hard to be – the wrestler that I am trying so hard to be here in Supreme Championship Wrestling. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you everyone. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Deanna lets her words settle as she steadies herself a little.

But it means no rest for the wicked, right? I mean, from the first chamber match, to booked both weeks in Fatal Fortunes, to another chamber match, I now find myself facing incredible odds to cap off the year’s journey. And I know that word gets thrown around a lot. Hell, that last chamber match had half the people using it, but when I’ve said ‘journey’, it’s not just been me. It’s been all of us, hasn’t it?

To go from shadow to superstar.
To go from believed in to hated to believed in again.
To go from seeing beyond names and into the character, we have taken this journey together, SCW Universe!

So when I say ‘journey’, it’s not me stealing a phrase for pop like Asher Hayes. It’s not me throwing it out there like Autumn Valentine for some kind of ‘counter-argument’. When I say ‘journey’, I speak of the path we have walked together, SCW, and I speak of a journey that deserves to have 2023 end on OUR terms and on OUR work!

She looks behind her. Which is why I am here, at my gym at home in Manhattan. Because I am not interested in hiding behind the glitz and glam of New Years. I don’t have time for the flash of a ball dropping – something Asher has a lot of experience with it seems – no! This concrete jungle has been my home since the announcement of this title match was made. I have spent day after day here preparing for what is before me because this is not some opportunity that comes along for anyone. This is not some kind of match that can happen more than once. I don’t have a ‘rematch’ in my pocket. I don’t have a Trios Contract waiting for me. For an opportunity like this, on the anniversary of my debut here in SCW as a wrestler, I have this one, single chance.

And if you believe that I am going to waste it, if you believe, SCW Universe, that I am going to sit back and waste your choice in me, your votes in me, then I never truly deserved your votes in the first place, did I?

Deanna shakes her head. I want you to see where I have been since last Breakdown, especially you, Kelsai Adamson, because I have been here, in this gym, primarily because of you. And before I get Asher jumping on a video and ranting about me ‘taking him lightly’ in-between moments of him clutching and stroking the world title… Zip it, Asher! she glares at the camera. I will deal with you soon enough. And you will see how ‘lightly’ I’m taking you. I can assure you of that.

But in order to get to Asher, Kelsai, I need to get past you, and that is why I need to be here, constantly training and constantly preparing. Because you and me? We’re a lot alike, aren’t we? I think that was proven last Apocalypse when you almost beat me for the United States Championship.

Deanna shrugs her shoulders.

What? You think I’m ‘too proud’ to admit that? That you were one move away from becoming the U.S champion? You were. Had you landed that jump, you’d probably be the United States Champion and I wouldn’t be. The trajectory of my year may very well have been altered if not for that one crucial moment of rolling out of the way and hitting you with the Checkmate.

But that is why I am here, Kelsai. Because with you, it all comes down to one move. One moment. One mistake. One solitary second that can mean the difference between winning and losing. And when you and I face in Toronto, it’s going to have even bigger consequences. Because that winner – whoever gets that one move? They go on to challenge for the world championship against Asher Hayes! A situation that won’t come us again! The opportunity of a LIFETIME! A make-or-break moment in a career!

A sigh escapes her. But the odds are so stacked against us, Kelsai, it seems almost ‘impossible’. And that’s because I know how far you can push me. I know how good you are. I know how aggressive you have become in your conquest to validate your career. Like I said, you were THIS close! she holds her fingers barely a centimeter apart in front of the camera. To beating me and it took everything I had to get past you. But you know, deep in your soul, Kelsai, that I can do it… and you also know that, deep down, it will take all you have and more to get past me.

That is the blazoned truth. That when we open the End of the Year event to determine who ends that same event with Asher Hayes, neither of us are going to be at 100% coming out of that match. It would be generous and overly optimistic to believe that we would even be at 80% coming out of our match, because it will require so much more for one of us to win and I know that!

She glares at the camera. But you see, Kelsai, this match between you and I HAS to happen. It has to happen because THEY – the SCW Universe – believe you and I are the best options to dethrone the man that has been showboating across social media, undeservedly calling himself “The Face” of the company simply because he stole the title he carries. This match between you and I has to happen because while we are SO alike and skilled and all of that, that ‘one difference’ I mentioned? That is what is going to be what makes a new world champion in Toronto to cap off the year!

So, while I believe you are deserving of this shot, Kelsai, and while I believe that you can go with me and challenge me, hell even beat me, there is one thing I know I have that you do not and that is the ability to keep digging!

Deanna leans a little further forward in the chair.

When the moment comes and you hit your ‘wall’, do you have the ability to keep digging and find more there to give? When you’re so hurt, you’re not sure if you will ever be the same again, do you have the ability to dig deep and find the courage to endure more? When the world is telling you to ‘quit’, to ‘give up’, ‘you’ve done enough’, do you have it in you to dig deeper still and show them that you’re not done yet?! Do you, Kelsai?

Because I do! I have not reached this point after only two years because of ‘superior talent’ or ‘the most powerful moves in SCW!’ like Selena. I did not reach this point by having people in my pocket like Asher has. And I didn’t get here by having a cheering squad like you do. There is nothing ‘otherworldly’ or ‘superior’ to me. No genetics, no lineage, no drug or charm or whatever. What has got me here and let me rise through the ranks faster than many other superstars has been one thing and one thing only:

My ability to dig deep.

My ability to keep going, even when it hurts to. To keep fighting even when I can’t see straight. To take all the punishment I take and then keep taking on more until I outlast, surpass, and defeat everyone that stands across the ring from me!

The word I have used to describe that, Kelsai, has never changed: ‘grit’. I have the grit that you do not have. I have the will that you do not have. I have the spirit that you do not have. And to fight Asher Hayes one-on-one? As is? 100%? That is a challenge enough. To fight him after our match? And win?!

Deanna shakes her head.

For all your talents, skills, heart, all of it, Kelsai… to dig that deep inside yourself – to find that grit? I don’t believe you have it. But I KNOW that I do. I KNOW that I have it. That is why I can promise you that I am going to give you EVERYTHING that I have to face you. Not some arbitrary percentage. Not some half-full nonsense. No! 100%, Kelsai. You are getting everything that I have trained for and prepared for because that will be the ONLY way I can get past you!

She exhales a little. Because I know when I do, and I am then required to dig deeper than I ever have before? When the faith of the SCW Universe hinges on me finding that grit – that drive to keep going – I know, with all my heart and ZERO hesitation, that I will find it…

I will find it and show it to you, to Asher Hayes, and to the SCW Universe, as I do the ‘impossible’ and become the new SCW World Champion!

Checkmate, bitches!

The camera slowly fades from the red-haired woman before going entirely to black.