Selena Frost vs. Samuel Davis

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: The following plays on details of previous roleplays dating back to Rise to Greatness but are not necessary to know to understand this. Enjoy.

Project: Black Ice

”If the Wild Goose Chases You...”

Rebecca’s Log Cabin Home
20 km from Pilgrim Springs
May 22nd, 2022
12:43 pm

Despite her common sense, Selena Frost looked up at the clear blue sky again, her eyes wincing a little as she beheld the ‘noon-high’ sun shining in the sky, her sunglasses offering protection from such a stupid move, though it was not without consequence. Still, she had to do something to stop the boredom of waiting.

By all accounts, and on any other situation, the Snow Queen would have considered herself grateful for such a serene moment in the chaotic mess that was her life. Sitting on a swing porch that overlooked the downhill portion of the property, the dirt road that ran down it leading to the main highway that linked this property to a path to either Pilgrim Springs or Nome, where she and Deanna had come from, she could hear the birds swinging sweetly in the nearby trees surrounding the house and the wind blowing gently, creating a nice chill that held that briskness of Nome that she still, despite herself, desperately loved.  On any other situation, she would savour the creaking sound of the old chains as she and her wife rocked back and forth and the feeling of Deanna’s head resting over her shoulder, the redhead having fallen asleep about half an hour ago. She would have savoured the feeling of her wife’s soft hair against her face as she rested her own head against Deanna’s gently, her closest arm wrapped around Deanna’s shoulders while the other held one of the younger woman’s hands.

On any other situation, such a serene moment was one that Selena would thank the gods for…

But she couldn’t. Her mind would not let her – choosing to give off spikes of irritation every few minutes as she continuously stared down the long, descending dirt road, the same question re-entering her mind with those emotional spikes.

Where the hell is she?

The two wives had shown up, uninvited, to the old property about two hours ago, thankfully, unlike last time, having no ‘tire troubles’ from a bitter, sadistic madman. Still, despite this, it WAS that same madman that was the cause for their visit this time as well – as well as Selena’s inability to enjoy the serene moment with her sleeping wife in her arms.

Killjoy’s deadline was fast approaching. Nine days, eleven hours… Selena checked the watch wrapped around her wrist. And fifteen minutes…. Her brain refused to cease keeping track of the countdown timer, able to calculate the time in a fraction of a second every time she spied a clock or was told the time from someone. Barely over a week was all she had left – barely a week to, somehow, not only solve the mystery of Project: Black Ice but also prevent Ryan Scythe from becoming the mayor of Nome…

For so long, she had gotten nowhere in her attempt to solve Killjoy’s ‘puzzle’, combing through hours and hours of paperwork from Malcolm Scythe’s files to try and find something. But now, such time was no longer an option. What were they even doing here in Nome but taking a chance at a ‘shot in the dark’, having found the house’s owner’s name within one of the files under the Resident and On-Site Staff Caretaker…

And yet… it actually made sense to the world champion.

Almost a year ago, Killjoy had forced the Frost women to take refuge here, meeting the old woman that resided in this house, who just so happened to be the ex-wife of Malcolm Scythe: Rebecca Scythe. It was here that Killjoy had also made his first physical appearance before them, holding them at gunpoint in order to formally ‘introduce’ himself and his vendetta against Selena and Malcolm. He had WANTED them to be here, he had stated as much… why hadn’t Selena considered that before? Had she been too distracted by the upcoming election? Or was it her work in SCW that had made her forget such details?

Releasing a slow exhale, Selena gently nuzzled her wife’s head. She already knew that the week was going to be a rough – especially if this interrogation came up dry. It would be a whole day or so of wasting her time on a wild goose chase when she should have kept researching her files over in Paris or studying for her upcoming match with Sammy Thomas Davies.

A match that she could not allow herself to lose.

She had to admit, she did not regret challenging the young ‘client’ of Giovanni Aries, but she would be lying if Giovanni’s ‘aloof’ demeanour last Breakdown – laughing in her face – had not gotten under her skin a little. Since her involvement with The Brand (waring with them), the platinum-blonde had done all she could to not let their words or actions get under her skin. To let them affect her too much would be playing right into their hands, especially with such a mind as Holly and even Cid. Giovanni entering into their numbers made that a lot more difficult, and while she had managed to do so in her last tag match against the ‘Spiritual Advisor’, she had ‘slipped-up’ a little over the past few weeks with him being considered for the number one contender to her world title.

Giovanni knew her. Knew how to push her buttons, probably to the same level that Xander Valentine had done in his long wars with the Snow Queen. And while Selena had held her own in the ring and on the microphone as best as she could, she would be lying if Giovanni had not won a few ‘battle of wits’ with her. It was why she knew better than to engage him on Twitter, where he had zero restrictions and why she always tried to think about what she was going to say as opposed to simply let emotion rule her when dealing with him.

Still, she had acted impulsively when challenging Sammy – she refused to acknowledge his ‘name change’ that the Brand had thrust upon him with zero words from the aforementioned veteran Sammy. She had just gotten so tired of The Brand. She had beaten Cid Turner twice, retained her championship against Holly Adams three times and silenced any hearsay about the legitimacy of her abilities against The Brand leader during her Double Jeopardy match by cleaning beating her. In short, after so many battles, Selena having won most of them, The Brand and all its affiliates (How the HELL do you have three ‘stables’ inside of a stable…) were still going on and on about ‘taking over SCW’ and how they were ‘succeeding’ at it! She was sick of hearing their crap about it when that was all it was – utter crap! They could barely hold onto the Adrenaline title and she had denied them over and over again for the World title. They had no hands in any other division and their ‘clients’ of Cookie, Clamydia and Sammy? It was all a huge mess! Nothing like how stables like Infamous and The Beauty Factory/Network had ruled SCW in the previous years. They had had some arguing grounds and dominance. The Brand? Not even close!

But still, Selena wanted to prove it to the world – to expose that truth to the world and, especially, right in front of the smug face of Giovanni Aries!

Yet, instead of preparing for anything – like a damn ambush or inevitable interference from Giovanni-

She silenced the thought before it could fully form. She NEEDED to be here. She needed to chase every lead and every opportunity to try and solve this ‘mystery’. Her wife’s life literally depended on it-

The sound of an engine suddenly filled her ears as it ‘clunkered’ down the road, approaching the house. Turning her gaze towards it, Selena couldn’t help the smile and yet nervousness she felt as the blue pickup truck’s engine gave a loud “POP” sound as it reached the depth of the hill before starting to ascend towards the house, as if in protest of such a strain. The sound was enough to awaken the redhead, who jolted upright.

“Wha- I’m up!” Deanna remarked, looking around frantically. Quickly, her eyes found the source of the noise. “Oh…” she yawned, stretching her limbs to better awaken. “She’s here.”

“Yeah.” Selena nodded, squeezing her wife’s hand with her own. “Let’s hope she remembers us.”
“And didn’t pack that shotgun she has.” Deanna quipped in memory.

It took another minute or two for the vehicle to reach the top of the hill – the Frosts unable to see the driver due to the glare coming off the front window – the blue truck parking further away from the house to accommodate the presence of their own rented car and allow exit when needed. Quickly getting to their feet, so as not to seem rude, the two women waited for the loud car to turn off and for the door to open, Selena adjusting her black sweater and fixing her braid while Deanna checked her face for any ‘nap-drool’, of which there was none.

The older woman hopped out of the truck, Selena recognizing the thick glasses she wore now having some kind of shade clip-ons on them. Her hair was short and white, as it was the last time they had seen her, and she wore a beige button-up and black pants that covered her small, almost frail-looking form.

“Hey.” She called out, drawing closer to her property. “Can I help you guys and-“

She stopped as she drew closer, the Frost wives moving off the porch to fully step into the sunlight.

“Hi, Rebecca.” Deanna smiled, almost the far more joyful and ‘pleasant’ one in introductions. “It’s the Frosts!”

“OH!” It took a moment of recollection (she had only met them once after all), but the older woman managed it without too much difficulty. With a smile, she pushed herself the rest of the way towards her home to meet the pair of women. “Long time no see!”

“Sorry for just ‘showing up’.” Selena tried, giving a gentle smile of her own. “But we didn’t really know how to contact you. You said you didn’t have a phone or anything-“
“I tried carrier pigeon…” Deanna tried. “But the pigeons in New York are jerks! You should see them in the parks! MEAN as hell!”

“I never liked the big city idea.” Rebecca shook her head. “And don’t worry about it. I’m sorry you just caught me on my ‘grocery day’.” She gestured towards the back of her car, the ‘bed’ of it filled with bags.

“Do you need help?” Both Selena and Deanna offered at the same time and both moving without receiving an answer, moving to the truck and picking up the dozen or so bags.

“Well, that’s kind of you.” Rebecca smiled, making her way towards her home to unlock the door. “I can’t imagine you remember the inside of the house but-“ she spent the next few minutes directing the women where to place the bags. “So…” she dusted off her hands. “What brings you here?”

The married women shared at glance at each other, Selena taking off her shades slowly before returning her gaze towards Rebecca. “Rebecca…” she started. “I assume you heard of Malcolm’s death?”

Slowly, the woman gave a nod. “Always knew that man’s demons would catch-up with him.”

The Frost wives said nothing as the elder woman gave a huff. “Warned him for years about some of the things he did…” she gave one more shake of her head before returning her gaze towards Selena and Deanna. “Sorry, you were saying?”

“Well…” Deanna tried, her purple sweater shifting a little as her hands fidget together, the fingers interlocking and unlocking. “Do you remember that man that attacked us here last year?”
“Hard to forget.” Rebecca scoffed. “He behind this?”

“Very much so.” Selena admitted without hesitating. They had kept quiet about revealing too much about Killjoy to anyone, but with time being of the essence, she had thrown that ‘plan’ out the damn window. “He has been stalking and harassing us for the past year and… it’s a lot to explain…” she tried. “But he-“

“He’s obsessed with Selena.” Deanna gestured towards her wife. “Same way he was obsessed with Malcolm.”

“Well, Malcolm I get.” Rebecca replied. “He had enemies, but I can’t imagine what he would have against a sweet woman like you.”

“I am…” Selena bit her lower lip for a second. “I have been trying to figure that out while trying to keep your sons from killing each other over the mayoral race.”

“I…” a look of utter sadness crossed Rebecca’s features. “I wish I could say I know them well… but I don’t. I had to leave them and keep quiet when they were just in their teens.”
“I’m sure Gavin would love to meet you!” Deanna tried, seeing Rebecca’s face light up.
“You think so?”

“He’s much different than when he was as a kid.” Selena nodded eagerly. “Trust me.”

“I…” she seemed to contemplate it for a moment. “No.. I mean… he wouldn’t want to see me now – he’d probably hate me for abandoning him.”
“I… I could talk to him after the election…” Selena tried.
“Or!” Deanna grinned. “You could come and support him the night of the election! Meet at his campaign office! We’re gonna watch the live results and it’ll be fun and-“

“Deanna…” Selena tried gently, attempting to slow her excitable wife. “It’s a lot to take in and ask.”
“It is…” came Rebecca’s voice. “But I…I don’t think I’d mind it. What about Ryan?”

The two Frost wives winced a little, once more sharing a look.

“He more like his father, I take it?” Rebecca’s voice dropped to a sense of knowing. “Not best to be near him?”

“We…” Selena tried. “No, Rebecca. He’s far more like Malcolm that you’d care to know.”
“I see.” She nodded her head. “I’ll need to give it some thought.”
“We can leave you the address and date for the event.” Deanna offered. “And we won’t tell Gavin so there’s no pressure on you.”

A grateful smile crossed over Rebecca’s features and Selena was sure she saw a bit of tears form in the older woman’s eyes. She could relate, her heart had stopped and then come alive again when she had learned of her Elsianna’s survival – the idea that she was STILL a mother, a REAL mother and not just one with a ‘snow child’. That her daughter was still alive – part of Selena was still alive. She recognized that same look on Rebecca’s face.

“I appreciate it.” She offered both women gratefully. “But!” she suddenly clapped her hands. “You’re here for a reason other than to placate some hermit-gal! How can I help you dealing with this craze-o stalking you?”

“Well…that’s just it.” Selena began to explain. “During all of this, the murderer-“
“We call him ‘Killjoy’.” Deanna shot in.

“He’s mentioned a project of Malcolm’s as the sort of…” her brain tried to search for the right words. “Centrepoint of all of this. And we were wondering if you had heard of it.”

“I mean…” Rebecca shrugged her shoulders. “I can try. I wasn’t allowed to keep any notes but… what was the project name?”

“Project: Black Ice.” Selena spoke the words slowly, her heart speeding up its beat in her chest. For a few minutes, she and Deanna watched Rebecca wrack her brain, the Snow Queen wondering what memories the older woman was searching, what moments – happy or sad – was she ‘reliving’ in trying to find the information. But as a sad expression crossed Rebecca’s features and she shook her wrinkled face, the Snow Queen felt her heart drop.

“I’m sorry.” Rebecca replied. “I don’t recall any project of that name.”

“It’s…” Selena sighed. “It’s okay. It was a longshot.”

“Wait!” came the excited voice of the redhead. “What about the orphanage?”

“Orphanage?” Rebecca asked, her attention on the redhead.

“Yeah!” Deanna nodded. “Back in 1986, you were the On-site staff and resident caretaker of an orphanage and homeless shelter that Malcolm built.”

“Yes, I was.” Rebecca nodded. “Wow, that was a long time ago… and it only was open for about three…” she gave it some thought. “Three years.”

“What happened?” Selena asked.

“I’m not sure. I was in charge of just taking care of the residents until they got adopted or found new homes or jobs. We mostly had orphans and women that were pregnant with nowhere else to go.”

“Mostly had?” Deanna asked. “How many homeless, pregnant women could there be in Nome?”
“And Pilgrim Springs and Anchorage.” Rebecca corrected. “I remember being surprised of the number, to be honest. I distinctly remember there being at least thirty at one point.”

“Thirty pregnant women?” Selena asked. “That’s insane.”
“I thought so too. But we had at least fifty children come and ago, some from those pregnancies and some from other families I think.”

“So, why did it close?” Deanna asked.

“I wish I knew.” Rebecca replied. “One day, one of Malcolm’s henchmen came in and ordered everyone out. Apparently, they were all being shipped to the orphanage or homeless shelter in Anchorage. I was brought back to Malcolm and he never explained it, just that it ‘hadn’t worked out how he wanted’.”

“Is that all?” Selena asked, her sadness not lifted from this information.

“As far as he would tell me, yes. But…” Rebecca bit her lower lip. “At the end of it all, after the closure years later, and after my divorce from him and my exile, my house was visited and a child was left at my doorstep.“ they saw Rebecca’s gaze go distant. “Apparently, the parents had not heard the shelter was closed and were desperate.”

“You think they found you through Malcolm?” Selena asked.
“I’m not sure. “ Rebecca shrugged. “But I felt so guilty that I couldn’t help any of those children years ago…”

“You thought you could save this one. Was that one?” Deanna’s voice trailed off as Rebecca nodded her head.
“My granddaughter.” Rebecca smiled. “Or that was the role I took on. She was too old – as was I - to believe I was her mother.”

A long sigh escaped Selena, the Snow Queen giving a sad nod of her head. “So… I was right.” She shook her head. “It WAS just a pointless PR stunt that served to give some good press for Malcolm.”

“That’s the same conclusion I drew years ago.” Rebecca replied sadly. “He even…even made a joke about it. As if all those lives that were whisked away meant nothing.” Her voice grew rougher, in a poor, accented imitation. “Project Snowman melted.”

Selena’s head jerked up, as did Deanna’s to regard the older woman, both sapphire and emerald eyes wide. “What?”

“That’s what the orphanage ‘mission’ was called. ‘The Snowman Project’.” Rebecca explained. “Building new lives for everyone.’” She recited as if from some corner of her memory.

Both Frost wives turned their heads towards one another, their sadness over this being a ‘wild goose chase’ obliterated with those words.

“There’s no way that’s just a coincidence.” Deanna shook her head. “Malcolm’s wouldn’t be that stupid.”
“No.” Selena replied darkly. “But he sure as hell would be that arrogant. A constant inside joke for him to laugh at.”

“So now what?” the redhead asked. “I mean, we didn’t have much more information on the shelter…”
“I…I don’t know.” Selena shrugged her shoulders. “I doubt Ryan would let us into the physical copies of his father’s-“

“If I may…” Rebecca interrupted the two, regaining their attention. “I doubt this will be much help… but since you both are here and have come from such a long way, I assume… maybe you’d like to see it?”

“See what?” Selena asked, tilting her head.

“The center. The building is still standing – it was just abandoned. Malcolm didn’t want to waste the money having it demolished.”

Once more, eyes went wide. “Can…” Selena gulped. “Can we?”

“Sure. It’s about an hour away from here – I’m sure I can recall the way.”
“Yes! Please!” Deanna smiled. “At this rate, we’ve got nothing to lose!”

“No problem.” Rebecca smiled. “We can go in the old clunker…”
“Actually…” Selena smiled, biting her lower lip, her sapphire eyes casting out playfully towards one of the windows the sunshine was spilling through. “We could take ours, if you wanted to drive…” she gestured towards their rented car, the blue Nissan Versa parked nearby.

It was Rebecca’s turn for her eyes to go wide. “I’ve…I’ve never…but I’ve always wanted to drive some of those fancy cars!”

“Well, today is your lucky day!” Deanna grinned, taking Rebecca by the hand to guide her outside to show her the vehicle, leaving Selena alone in the house.

Taking a slow inhale and exhale, her eyes roamed around the room before settling on the nearby clock hanging near the old television, the clock continuing to tick away the hour.

Nine days, eleven hours… she was unable to stop the thought as she turned and followed Deanna and Rebecca outside, the ticking of time echoing away in her mind like a death knell.