Selena Frost vs. Cid Turner III

[Konrad Raab]

SCW World Championship

2 RP limit

No word limit

Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET Wednesday, December 8, 2021

[Cid]

Joe Tex, These Taming Blues

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Posted in two parts due to length.

Project: Black Ice

”Families’ Reunion”

The wind howls as she walks across the desert of snow. She can feel the cold in every part of her body – even to the depths of her bones. She casts a look behind her and can see the many trees, stripped of their leaves and parts of their bark. 

She is alone in this familiar wood. That is something that chills her more than the cold… Why is she alone? 

She looks down at her hands, but they are merely clutching at her arms as if trying to keep herself warm, the snow covering parts of her and the green sweater she wears. Why is she alone?

Had she left her beloved behind this time? Had she been too late to even pick up her wife’s broken form? Or had something gotten in her way?

She doesn’t remember – the wind is so loud that it’s drowning out her own memories as she walks through the snowstorm.

Just keep going… she tells herself. Eventually, you’ll die and wake up.

She knows she is dreaming this time around. It happens from time to time where she is not completely lost in her own nightmare. She knows that, sooner or later, she’ll reach wherever her mind is taking her and she’ll die. 

It’s why she also feels nothing, except for the cold and the ache of being alone.

She almost smirks at that. There was a time when she was a cold Snow Queen. She needed no one. Not in her wars, not in her survival – even when she was married, she could still be “The Snow Queen” in SCW. A force that could be as unstoppable as Xander Valentine and as creative and quick as Vixen Cain.

Yet now? Ever since the early-ons of this year? Her mind could not separate the two parts. The private, kind, yearning to be loved Selena, and the driven, cold and passionate mix that was the Snow Queen. Deanna had made that impossible to the point that, even in the depths of her dreams, Selena was far sadder that her wife was not there with her than anything else.

The clearing came eventually, as it always did, allowing Selena to enter into a wide area that housed some kind of complex. Had she seen such a complex before? Yes, once…

Before her eyes, the storm cleared – the snow suddenly falling and the skies remaining dark and ominous, but it allowed Selena to see the frozen corpses that littered the ground. They were all in various positions. Some kneeling, some praying, some bowing, some with their heads in the dirt.

There were dozens…maybe hundreds…

Had he let them all just freeze out here? Had he let them all die out here?

She could see a hill just a way’s away, and a tent at the bottom of it. The front of the flap opened and, from the tent, Selena could spy lit candles and wicker chairs for a moment before her vision was blocked by the occupants coming out.

Cid Turner stepped out first, adjusting his shirt buttons with one hand, the SCW World title held in his other hand. He reached out towards the tent, where a small hand took his offered one. 

Selena’s eyes widened in shock as she saw her wife – her beloved – being lead by Cid Turner out of the tent and to the base of the complex, only a few yards from where Selena stood. Despite her stomach twisting in knots at the sight, it only got worse as Selena spied the enlargement of Deanna’s belly.

No…that sick fuck… her mind cursed, but no words would come out – part of her trying to recall that this was all just a nightmare!

But the sight a pregnant Deanna continued to play on her as Cid put his arm around the redhead, not like she would – not with any care or affection, not as if he cared about her - but rather that he was ‘claiming her’ as his property, much in the same way he held the world championship.

The cold began to creep up Selena’s legs, but it was being pressed back by her increasing, unyielding rage.

I’ll kill you… her mind hissed towards the bearded bastard. I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!

She took a step forward when a flash of white and blue flew across her vision. Turning her head, she saw one of the ‘corpses’ that had been frozen to death looking at her with dead, pale eyes… holding up the Snow Queen’s left arm with a sick, twisted grin.

Turning her head, Selena saw the bloody stump that had housed that arm. Her only good arm shaking, she tried to reach out to it, but was suddenly face down in the snow, looking up to see another ‘ice-zombie’ glaring down at her, this one holding one of her legs (she recognized the running shoe the appendage still had on).

She wanted to feel pain. She wanted to scream out. But all she felt was rage. With a yell that gave no sound, she pushed her hand into the snowy earth, pushing herself onto her one good knee. 

Looking around, she saw the mass of the dead… the mindless people that were obeying Cid Turner. People that had sold their souls for something that they thought Cid could give them – believed so much that they had sold their humanity for it. Casting her eyes up, she could see past the mass that was closing in on her, to see Cid smiling smugly. Giovanni Aries was standing beside him, along with that man that had spoken so highly of Cid and Deanna at the complex, Selena hadn’t heard his name.

And beyond them, beyond the complex – were those eyes. Eyes that glowed above the skies as they looked down at Selena. 

Eyes filled with cruelty.
Eyes filled with hunger.
Eyes that cared for nothing but themselves.

Was that Cid Turner? Or was it Gleebnorb? 

A sad smile broke across Selena’s face as she watched the people before her and the ‘being’ that seemed beyond powerful. “I’m going to die…” she managed to whisper, her eyes returning to Deanna.

“It’s okay…” she whispered. “I won’t let this happen. I won’t ever let you be that unhappy…” she vowed to the redhead before the masses descended upon her.

And then… oblivion…

*******************

The Frost-Cave
Nome, Alaska
November 27th, 2021
7:23pm

She felt the weight drop off her as she slung the large, black duffle-bag off her shoulder, letting it continue its short journey as it hit the ground with a decent-sounding ‘thud’ sound. Before her, even in the dim dark of the cave, she could make out the evidence of her existence here for the last near two weeks. The pit where she always made a fire for herself to sleep near still had decent amounts of wood and ashes within it and, if she looked hard enough, she would find a few small stains of dried blood on the nearby walls where she had, sometimes in anger and sometimes in training, punched her fists against the walls until the stone had worn off some of the skin from her knuckles.

At the memory, Selena cast her eyes downward, lifting her right hand and turning it towards her face to examine the red lines of healing cuts along her pale knuckles in the moonlight. She had worn fingerless gloves to the last few Breakdowns to hide the cuts. Was she ashamed of them? Of course not. Her body was covered in scars, like the details on a map or the words in a book, detailing the story that had been her wrestling career. There were long scars that interlaced and ran down her sides from the cat-o-nine-tails of barbed wire. Being thrown through glass and plexiglass had scarred part of her back and she had lost track of the number of stitches that had been put in her head in the last eight years – the last two years ALONE - from cheap shots with weaponry. No… Selena would never be ashamed of the proof that marked her body – proof of the wars she had survived. But the last thing she wanted was people like the growing collection of ‘prophets’ and ‘saviours’ in Holly Adam’s little group to find out and twist it into something that it wasn’t. Or, worse yet, in the case of Cid Turner, continue to take credit for it.

In the dimly-moonlit-cave, the platinum-blonde kept quiet as she rekindled her fire – the makeshift ‘firepit’ of wood and stones far enough inside that the cold and wind of the winter couldn’t reach it enough to extinguish it. Making a fire – she almost scoffed as she watched the flames slowly grow and dance into existence as they fed on the lumber, crackling sounds filling the space – had been something that her father had taught her at a very young age, camping and exploring the cold and the caves of Nome being something the Frost family had done for generations.

She felt the warmth from the flames spread up and across her face, feeling it against her pale cheeks as she watched the flames’ light dance across the walls of the cave. Quietly, she removed her jacket, tossing it beside her bag and feeling a little of the familiar cold hit her through the dark-green sweater she wore. Least I can feel those things… she thought wistfully. The warmth of the fire and the cold of the wind… Perhaps it wasn’t much, but to Selena Frost, she was grateful to feel something for the first time in the last few days.

Emotionally, she had not felt much of anything as she had left Ohio. Her flight back here – to Nome – had been slowed by the weather, but the dark of the night had not delayed her driving and walking the necessary distance back to her father’s cave. She knew the route by heart – the years she had spent in this ‘castle of stone’ – as much a part of her as the snow and cold of Nome and the city-life of New York.

Maybe that was the problem… she had sort-of been on automatic pilot, simply going through the motions after that night. She hadn’t allowed herself to truly dwell on what had happened – to truly concentrate on the implications of what had occurred.

Eight years… she heard the echo in her mind, as if the words had been spoken in a whisper as she continued to watch the blaze. Eight years and never…

She gave a long inhale and exhale of breath, shaking her head before turning it to gaze down the path she had walked. She could just make out the entrance to the cave, several yards away, appearing like a small dot of night, moonlight and winter snow. With a push off her knees, Selena was on her feet, moving over to her bag to dig out her flashlight (lying next to the small zip-lock bag of batteries for said flashlight). Giving a quick check and shake of the black metal tool, the platinum-blonde turned it on before making her way around the pit and further into the cave. 

“Not going to sleep much right now, anyway.” She said aloud, hearing her voice echo a little in the halls of stone. “Yeah, yeah.” She replied back, not expecting any reply.

She wished Deanna was here-

Quickly, she slammed her mind down on that thought, extinguishing it as fast as it had formed. It was her fault Deanna wasn’t here. She had chosen to stay behind – needed to – weeks ago, though if Breakdown a few nights ago had been any indication of the Snow Queen’s ‘progress’…

To distract herself, Selena lifted her free hand to run along the stone wall. It was course and bumpy in some places, sharp and fine in others, and smooth in others still. Still, they all held one attribute in common. They were all cold.

It had been a few years since mining in her father’s cave had ceased, the excavation team having declared that the mine was completely emptied of gold. Empty… Selena thought as she walked down the tunnel. It feels so empty… Emptier than ever before…

The notion brought up the familiar doubt in her mind – doubt of what the hell she expected to find here now. The question was laughable to her because, quite simply, she couldn’t answer it because she didn’t even know what she was looking for to begin with. Was it purpose? Was it ghosts? Was it that cold instinct that gave her an edge when she needed it most? Was any of that even true or something she just needed like a security blanket or like Elisanna with Sir Crackshell.

In the past, this place had always been her ‘sanctuary’, her place to go when the world was too cruel or when she was too lost. When her father had ‘disappeared’, she had turned his cave into her world, continuing to dig and mine for gold simply to prove him right about it. When she had joined the world of SCW, she had, every now and then, been drawn back here. Back to the cold and back to the dark to embrace her full nature, who she was as “The Snow Queen”. Moments like her war with Bree Lancaster, when she felt the lowest and least sure of herself, this cave, with its hidden treasure, had reminded her to never give up and never give in. That she was a Frost, an Alaskan Dragon, and so much more! To always keep going. Even if it was just a step at a time. Except now, there was no more hidden treasure…

Keep going… her mind instructed. Keep going…

It was all she could do in the moment, her eyes taking in the wide halls that had been carved by hands and machines so much stronger and far more numerous than her own. It had stunned her how much further the team had gone than she had. In reality, and seeing the paths before her, she felt a small sense of sadness. 

If I had not gotten lucky… her eyes gazed down the path as she continued to walk. I never would have reached this far.

It was a somber thought. In the ten-plus years she had been digging on her own, using only her father’s old tools to aid her and his memory/faith in the mine to fuel her, she had only made a short distance into the cave’s interior. At that rate, she would have lived and died digging and would never have made it as far as the tunnels now extended before her.

Was that all this has been? She asked herself. Luck?

The thought haunted her. For so long, she had despised the notion of fate – doing all she could to fight against it and forge her own path. But time and time again, fate had reared its ugly head to take her down. The DeCarlos, the Frost/Frostmeres, the Scythes, and then there was SCW.

A sad laugh escaped her, condescending a little in the cold cave. Her entire SCW career had begun on a whim, working a shift at Liam’s bar (her regular job) and, desperate to do anything to escape that life, she had run away from Nome, gambling all she had on one shot – one opportunity at the End of the Year Special.

Had she just been lucky to see that advertisement? What if she hadn’t? Or missed her shift due to sickness or tending to her ‘Snow-Child’?

Don’t think like that! she chastised herself. Didn’t you and Deanna talk about ‘what-ifs’?!

Deanna…

Despite herself, Selena’s brain continued to travel down the what-ifs. It had been such good fortune that she had just met Deanna on a whim as well, being in Kentucky when she was, being part of an auction for the town, and Deanna being there. Fate or luck, Selena knew that she had had no part in their meeting occurring. “But again…” she whispered to herself. “Was it just luck?”

With a surprised yelp, Selena pulled her hand back off the wall as it encountered a sharper section of rock. Checking her hand quickly under the flashlight, she gave it a quick shake before continuing down the path.

She knew where the doubt was coming from. Or, to be more accurate, what had allowed it to come to the surface and not be swatted away by Selena’s personal belief in herself, Deanna, and her life.

It was SCW. It was Cid Turner.

She had admitted the truth in her last Breakdown promo. That she wasn’t ready to beat Cid Turner in the ring, it was why she had stayed here in the first place. She needed – she needed –

It didn’t really matter if she couldn’t put it to words just yet. She had already spent a week in this cave – camping and enduring the cold, longer than she had ever spent during her wrestling career, only leaving to attend Breakdown. And despite that, she had still failed to send a statement to Cid Turner or to SCW about the match – to prove to SCW (and to herself) that she was ready to fight for the World title again.

Instead, what had happened…

The Snow Queen shook her head. She still could not believe it herself. Eight years… and never…

The shock finally came – delayed from disbelief and the loss she had suffered at the hands of the Giovanni Aries. A fan had attacked her…

Not a superstar or a bitter rival like Cid with a title belt or Holly to protect her ‘money-maker client’. No… a fan. A person that was part of the universe that she had, for years, wrestled for. A member of the SCW Universe that she had risked so much in her life, fighting for the survival and integrity of SCW for them… a member of that universe had jumped the barricade… just to assault her.

“Conceal…” she whispered, leaning up against the side wall of stone, her eyes cast upwards. “Don’t feel…” she added, her mantra being repeated as she tried to process everything, perhaps for the first time since last Breakdown. The rumors had reached her ears eventually, with claims of the assailant being ‘a plant’ or ‘a paid individual’ but certainly not an actual ‘fan’ of SCW. But, despite those notes, Selena couldn’t shake the chance that the rumors were wrong.

Were the fans really buying into Giovanni Aries and his ‘nirvana’? What did that say about Holly’s Group? About Cid Turner’s beliefs? About her own?

For eight long years, Selena had known she was a minority in terms of ideals in SCW – one of the few people that didn’t subscribe to the idea of ‘win at all cost’. Who preferred honesty over twisted logic and corrupt/bias narratives. She knew she was one of the few people like that – others coming and going depending on their success rate within the company or, perhaps, needing to ‘gain an edge’ in the company. Few stayed valiant to those ideals as soon as things got tough, even people that had been as noble as David Helms and Chris Cannon had taken shortcuts and tactics to boost their career. 

And maybe Selena could have had success – greater success – if she had just ‘followed that path’ like everyone else. What if she had a clan of superstars protecting her like Syren had? She probably wouldn’t have as many scars on her body. She probably wouldn’t have had to wait four years for another crack at the World title. Maybe she could have done wonders with Platinum, or been part of Past, Present and Future if she had just thought and acted like Sienna Swann and Josh Hudson.

But the SCW Universe, their belief in her. Hell, even their jeers in some places – so engaged and passionate! She always thought that they, too, believed in the SCW she was trying to keep alive. That she was trying to make the forefront of the company’s reputation. Supreme wrestling, integrity, quality matches that didn’t require ambushes or interference but skill and passion and, sometimes, even some luck! She had thought that the SCW Universe believed in that, even if some of them didn’t like her.

But to have a member of that universe assault her… 

Without thinking, Selena’s hand ghosted up to her side, pressing against the sweater and her rib, her mind flashing to the scars that she knew marred that area. Was it all for nothing? Had she just been fooling herself? Were the eight years of wanting to make a difference in SCW… had it made any difference at all? Who else had held the World title like she had in the last five or even ten years? Names like David Helms, Chris Cannon, Kennedy Street and Amy Chastaine came to mind but far and away, they were outnumbered by the countless former champions that had used the same tactics over and over again. Tactics Cid Turner used. The Ace Marshalls, the Syrens, the Sienna Swanns, the Bree Lancasters – and that was just in the last few years.

Forcing her eyes shut to try and turn off the emotions raging within her, Selena’s head rested against the stone-wall. “No…” she whispered, her voice gritty with frustration, her fist slamming into the wall behind her. “It can’t have been for nothing…” she struck the wall again, feeling the solid stone against her pale, small hand. “It CAN’T be!”

However, the more Selena thought about it, the harder it was to deny the world she worked in. Cid Turner was the champion. Aside from one loss to Selena that cost him the world title, he had been nigh untouchable. Sure, he lost matches on Breakdown, the talent seemingly rising up with new vigor to raise the bar…

Selena’s eyes flew open. That was something she hadn’t thought of. Since Rise to Greatness, it would be foolish not to notice how much the roster had, seemingly, stepped up. Challengers like Tommy Valentine and Kandis – though Selena despised them both – were making strong statements as they powered through opponents and brought renewed vigor and confidence into their brawls. People like Autumn Valentine had raised the bar – even Cian O’Dwyer had made mention of it – the idea that wins and losses were going to mean more going forward. And why not? With the roster upping their game against mainstay main-eventers like her, Cid, Syren, and Xander Valentine. Hell, hadn’t Kimberly Williams BEATEN Syren just a few weeks ago? If that didn’t scream how much the roster was becoming better in the ring, Selena had no idea what would…

Was…had she played a part in that? 

Her eyes blinked slowly, taking in the stone ‘roof’ above her. There was no denying that there were a slew of superstars, perhaps the most ever, wanting their ‘crack’ at the world title and whoever held it. And while Cid Turner claimed that it was him that was responsible for it (typical), Selena could only shake her head at the clearly delusional man.

It hadn’t been Cid or even Selena. She was sure Tommy and Kandis didn’t care about who they faced if it was for the world title – they hated both Cid and Selena. Perhaps Xander Valentine had a preference to face Selena, the Snow Queen wasn’t sure, but that was more due to their history. Regardless, it hadn’t been Cid or Selena that had prompted Glory Braddock to demand the rematch she never had for the world title, or for Syren to continue, despite the losses, to want to earn another spot for the world title, or for the countless people, Selena knew, that would be flooding Twitter once the polls for SCW End of the Year title shot came out.

The roster had gotten better. Tougher. And many believed they were ready to take on being world champion. 

A slow smile grew across Selena’s lips at that thought. The idea of facing Glory Braddock, Xander Valentine, any of those that would be considered for the EOY title shot (even Kandis or Ricky James) – even facing someone like Brittany Lohan (whom Selena was sure she had pissed off given last Breakdown) – it excited her. She wanted to face them. She wanted to beat them. She wanted to be the world champion and defend it against all of them BECAUSE all of them had stepped up to the plate, as it were.

Had she helped with that? Even a little? Had her beliefs of being ‘a standard’ of superior ability and passion and resilience... had it played a part in raising the bar that now the rest of the roster were beginning to grab hold of?

It was a longshot – something that could easily be disproven with the right argument, especially with someone as skilled verbally as Cid Turner, Holly Adams or Giovanni Aries, but Selena found herself clutching onto that hope with all she had, letting it fill her being. Her legs shook a little and she let them give, feeling her body slowly sink to the stone ground-

CRUNCH!

The noise surprised her, breaking her mental-dwelling. What the hell had she just sat in?! Her hand flew away to steady herself against the wall as she turned herself to gaze at the ground, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Her second thought was to check her back pocket, but as she did, her pale, scratched hand felt the plastic-wrap of the snack that she had placed there, buying it from a convenience store before making her way here – to her father’s cave. 

It was her one indulgence. 

With an amused smile, Selena pulled the item out of her pocket, settling back against the stone as she held it in one hand, using the flashlight to illuminate it in the dark, allowing her to see the dark-red strands of licorice. 

“Oh, Elsianna…” she smiled, her fingers and thumb rubbing against the candy. “Little things, right…” she whispered… the last lesson she had learned running through her head…

************************

Twelve Days Ago
Bering Land Bridge National Preserve
120 km east of Nome, Alaska
November 14th, 2021
11:43am

The morning sun, despite the winter, was shining brighter and warmer than usual for the time of year, and Selena didn’t mind that at all as she stood to the ‘waiting side’ of the tarmac. The wind blew a little and picked up her hair in its soft lift. She could feel the cold that was, regardless of the time of year, Nome, Alaska. It was something she felt comfortable in, something she had lived in for so long.

In truth, while she loved the travelling around the world that being a wrestler of SCW allowed her, she so much preferred the temperate locations like New York, England and the European countries over the shows she had done in places like Florida and Texas. But that wasn’t surprising for someone nicknamed “The Snow Queen”.

“Anyone else nervous?”

The question, cheerful in tone, came from the shorter woman that stood just a few feet from where Selena stood. Despite the clear skies and only small mounds of snow that littered the ground in random places, the woman wore a dark red toque that covered most of her head and matching, extra thick mittens, with a light-brown coat. In other words, bundled up like that, Alejandra VanHohenheim looked damn adorable to the platinum-blonde.

“Naturally.” Came the cynical voice standing further from both women. “Considering we’re walking right into a trap.” Jean Black added with a snort, tightening his grip on the cane he held before himself. Unlike the rest of the Frost family, who had opted for more casual clothes, Jean had stayed to his own style of a black suit and navy-blue dress shirt underneath. Every bit the detective and ‘guard’ as it were, despite being the oldest person there.

“I thought we were all standing.” Came the teasing voice of Jonathan VanHohenheim, Selena’s father, as he rubbed his bare hands together before straightening his black long-coat. Both Alejandra and Zoe Evers gave a good-natured roll of their eyes at the poor attempt at humor before Zoe adjusted her small, black beanie over her ears.

To Selena, it was a moment that caused her to smile, her eyes scanning not only the adults, but the children that stood nearby her and the redhead that was right next to her. Her babies, Elsianna, David and Amiliah, were also dressed in various forms/designs of street wear. 

“Why is it so cold?” David whined as he smacked his mittened-hands together, trying to keep warm. “The castle wasn’t this cold!”

Selena’s expression fluttered at that remark. She could not remember the last time she had brought her children to Alaska – she was quite certain today was the first time she had brought Amiliah. David, having spent most of his life living in either New York or Germany wasn’t used to the colder temperatures and Selena found that adorable as well.

“It’s not so bad.” Elsianna replied, patting her little brother protectively on the shoulder. The eldest, having lived most of her life in Pilgrim Springs Orphanage (located an hour from Nome), was far more accustomed to the cold, much like her white-haired mother.

“I’ll never get use to it.” Deanna Frost replied as she quietly huddled a little closer to Selena. While Selena wore a white, button-up shirt with glossy designs of her snowflake on the shoulders (which shined when the sunlight hit it at the right angle) under a similarly designed black coat, Deanna was wearing a dark green sweater and a coat that, while not as thick and large as Alejandra’s, seemed to keep her warm.

“Never say never.” Selena smiled at her wife, taking her hand in hers and lifting the other arm to gather her closer in a sort of cuddle. She couldn’t help but smile. Before her, including the three children, were all nine members of her immediate family. 

Nine…when eight years ago, I only had me. the thought made Selena’s eyes well up, a tear or two threatening to form behind her sapphire orbs. Maybe, to some, it wasn’t a big family, but it was hers. And she loved every one of them dearly.

Sadly, that only made her, once again, reconsider the choices they had all made in being here – all of them invited by the ‘yet to appear’ former mayor of-

Selena’s thoughts were interrupted at the sound of machinery coming from beyond the wall of hills and trees that outlined the distant border of the preserve, the sound growing until a helicopter seemed to ‘burst’ onto the scenes from beyond the covered horizon.

“Look!” exclaimed David, pointing a small finger to the skies. “A helicopter!”

The others said nothing, most of them physically growing tense as the helicopter approached the old landing strip they stood near, the sound of the copter blades growing louder as they sliced the air. Birds seemed as disturbed as the Frost family as several were suddenly fleeing the trees as if their homes were on fire! Selena felt her hand being squeezed by her wife’s; their fingers interlaced.

She couldn’t make a snarky remark about the mode of ‘entrance’. The easiest way to access Serpentine Springs had been through aircraft, she and her family having taken her private one to arrive only two hours ago, giving the plane enough time to clear the area so the helicopter could land properly.

“Remember, children.” She spoke, leaning down to be closer to her offspring. “Do not stray from either myself or Jean and Zoe or Grandmother and Grandfather, okay? I want you to have one of us with you at all times.”

Both Elsianna and David gave quick nods as the helicopter began to descend towards the ground. Worriedly, the Snow Queen cast a quick glance at the rest of her family. She saw Jonathan move a little closer to her mother/his wife, as if guarding her. She saw Jean grip his cane more as a weapon than a walking-tool. And her Deanna – her redhead stepped forward to stand shoulder to shoulder with Selena, keeping their children back a little…

Still, the helicopter eventually landed, the motors turned off, and the door opened. From there hopped out the inviter, the man for whom all this had been done for. Carefully moving away from the ‘chopper’, Malcolm Scythe straightened his charcoal longcoat and adjusted his black, buttoned-up shirt. To his credit, he was not the disheveled mess that Selena had last seen weeks ago. His hair was properly combed and his beard was trimmed perfectly. If anything, he looked almost as much the mayor of Nome that she had known him as for most of her life.

Almost.

As he drew closer, Selena could still see the exhaustion in the man’s eyes, and the weaker posture where once he had seemed an ‘untouchable pillar of strength’. 

Reaching the Frost family, he fiddled with his coat, fluttering it out a little with his hands, as if to shake in the cold of the outside to get accustomed to it.

“Well!” he exclaimed in his accented voice, a smile on his face. “Thank goodness for good weather, right?” 

His eyes scanned the crowd before him, taking in all the familiar faces. “Selena.” He opted for the one he knew best. “Thank you for coming and for bringing the children.”

Despite herself, Selena could detect the actual sincerity in the man’s tone. He was genuinely grateful to her – which was beyond weird! Slowly, she gave a nod of her head to acknowledge his words.

“Jean. Zelda.” Malcolm offered the Blacks, who merely stood in place, eyes locked on the former mayor, whose eyes then moved to a face that he needed to study for a few seconds, as if it was one he’d never thought he’d see again. Slowly, the thin man made his way over to the VanHohenheims.

He opened his mouth to speak, almost hesitantly – as if he couldn’t find the right words to say. “Donovan…” 

CRACK!

Only to find himself on the grass in less than a second, Jonathan having dropped the man with a straight punch to the jaw!

“JONATHAN!” Alejandra cried in surprise.
“Holy hell!” Selena laughed in shocked delight. “I did not see that coming! Nice shot, dad!”

With only a sternly calm expression, Jonathan stood over the stunned Malcolm, the former politician looking around as if to recollect his bearings after having his world rocked!

“DAD!” the voice came from the helicopter, all eyes moving towards it to see the familiar trio of people running from the chopper towards the fallen man – faces Selena knew too well, her spine growing rigid and her jaw clenching at the sight of one of them.

“NO!” Called out Malcolm, holding a hand up towards the new additions to stop them. “No…” he said again to confirm his order before turning his eyes up to Jonathan, who patiently stood above him. Slowly, the former Donovan Frost offered Malcolm his hand.

“Alright?” he asked calmly, waiting for the former mayor to take the hand so Jonathan could pull him back up to his feet.

Straightening himself a little, Scythe regarded his ‘assailant’. “I believe I had that long-since coming.” He offered with a tired smile while rubbing the soreness out of his jaw. “Probably far worse.”

Jonathan kept his eyes locked on Malcolm. “What father wouldn’t deserve to do worse to the man that did what you did to my daughter?”
“Yes.” Malcolm nodded his head. “For a number of years, I thought that could have been my fate. That you would come here – to Nome – and be the one to finish what Selena had started.”
“He’s not like you.” Alejandra replied coldly, her eyes staring holes into Malcolm’s expression. “Neither is Selena. They don’t ruin lives.”

“And I do.” Malcolm sighed knowingly at the implication, giving a nod of his head. “I always felt that if I could make Nome and my family better off-“ he quickly shook his head. “No, this isn’t the time or place for platitudes or excuses. But I did try to do right by you in some way, Donovan.” He offered.

“That’s why I only threw one punch.” Jonathan stated. “Because you and Anastasia allowed me to be with Alejandra.”

The remark surprised Selena – the idea that one good deed had, somehow, given Malcolm a modicum of forgiveness in the eyes of her father? After the years he had stolen from them?! The memories he had destroyed?!

“I couldn’t…” Malcolm tried, looking away for a moment. “I couldn’t just leave you to die unnecessarily after all I had taken from you. Good or bad… there was a time that I considered you a friend.”
“I don’t remember.” Jonathan replied.
“I know.” Malcolm’s sad smile returned. “And I can’t give those memories back to you. I wish I could.”

The two stood there, an uneasy truce between the two of them.

“I want things…” Malcolm offered, stopping to blow a harsh breath from his mouth. “To be simple today. No politics or money or plans or danger. Just…my family being with yours.”
“Awkward as that will be…” came the slightly amused voice of Talia Scythe as she reached Malcolm, eyeing the man’s jaw where Jonathan had slugged it. “You didn’t even tell them we were coming.”
“Yes.” Malcolm seemed to mentally kick himself. “It was a last second addition. I do apologize.” He mannerly explained. “I hope this will not cause any issues. But both Gavin and Ryan wanted to meet the children too. And they have sworn to be on their best behaviour…”

As if summoned, the tall thin figure of Gavin Scythe reached the group, the kind man offering a genuine smile to Selena, Deanna and the children as he approached them. “Good to see you again.”

He was the only person Selena could smile at. “You too, Gavin.” She offered, reaching out to take the man’s offered hand, as did Deanna when it was her turn. Despite the rough childhood the Snow Queen and younger Scythe had had – with Gavin bullying Selena for the majority of her youth – the two had, indeed, grown more civil, Gavin even helping a little in Selena’s earlier years of SCW as a ‘shoot’ presenter. Despite being a bully in his youth, Gavin had grown into a good man with a good heart, a far cry from his father and brother.

“I’ve…” he tried awkwardly to find words, but the poor man still harbored feelings of guilt around the girl he had tormented in his youth. “I love what you’ve done with your hair!” he offered, causing Selena to cast an eye at Malcolm, who clearly was not listening. 

Well, he clearly doesn’t know how I got it… Selena thought, choosing to simply reply with a kind “Thank you.” 

However, her smile faded as she beheld the last person to reach the group, her jaw clenching tightly at the sight of the man. Like so many times before, he wore a dark purple suit, choosing a far more ‘business-approach’ than his father had. Still, he looked every inch as imposing as Malcolm usually did.

“Selena.” Ryan Scythe nodded his head, keeping his hands in his coat (which was also a dark purple) pockets and his voice low. Gavin, sensing the tension, quietly excused himself to stand with his father.
“Ryan.” Selena replied, matching the quietness in his voice.
“Still got a thing for snowflakes I see.” He stated, eyeing the designs that elegantly decorated the shoulders of the Snow Queen’s shirt and coat.
“Still think that purple looks good on you?” She shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. “I don’t recall agreeing to letting you join in.”

“Oh, come on.” Laughed the eldest Scythe son. “Family reunion? Of course, I wouldn’t miss it! I mean, you of all people ought to know that there’s never much going on around in Nome… or has New-York-life spoiled you?”

“That’s actually my job.” Came the defiant voice of Deanna as she stepped forward, her eyes locked on Ryan’s, though she made a deliberate show to take Selena’s hand back into hers. “And I’m very good at it.”

Eyeing her, Ryan seemed to observe her like one would a bug. “Oh yes. The redhead. Went in the opposite direction there, did ya?” teased the man. 
“I like to think of it as ‘improving my tastes’.” Selena countered. “But, again, you’re the one that fancies himself in purple suits.”

Giving a grin, Ryan gave shake of his head. “Still wrestling blokes?” tilting his head. “I mean, I guess it’s better than waitressing for Liam but not by much.”

“Ryan.” Came the warning tone of Talia, which caught the attention of Malcolm.
“Ryan.” He half-barked, getting the younger man’s attention. “I believe I made it clear my desire to have a pleasant day for everyone.”

“Oh, we’re just talking.” The suited-man shrugged ‘innocently’. “Catching up on old times.”
A knowing smirk came from Malcolm. “Well, let me put this in a way you’ll understand. Behave yourself or you’ll be ‘catching up’ to us by WALKING back to Nome. Understood?”

Taken aback, Ryan inhaled sharply through his nose before answering through gritted teeth. “Perfectly.”

That, however, didn’t seem to be enough for the former mayor, who walked the few steps needed to stand eye to eye with his son. “Try me, boy.” He warned in a quieter, dead-calm voice, glaring daggers into Ryan’s eyes until the son, embarrassed, backed away to stand by Talia. 

It was too much for Selena to take.

“You got in trouble…” she whisper-sang. “You got in trouble.” 

She could see Ryan narrow his eyes at her, but, otherwise, said nothing. Malcolm, however, had moved past them to stand before Elsianna and David. To Selena’s shock, especially after seeing the display he had given to Ryan (which was far more ‘Malcolm-esque’ to her), she watched Malcolm slowly lower himself until he was kneeling before both children.

“Hello, Elsianna. Hello, David.” He smiled at them but kept a respectable distance from them. “I want to thank you for giving me a chance to meet you today. I know…” his breath seemed to hitch in his throat for a split-second. “I know that there is much I need to atone for where you are concerned…but I want to try today.”

Again, that sense of genuineness was present in his voice, which continued to unnerve both Selena and Deanna. Everyone remained silent, no one sure of what to do, until David raised his hand, his eyes on Malcolm.

“Ah yes, David?” Malcolm asked, a little uneasy.
The second-born took a slow breath. “Ummm…What does ‘atone’ mean?” 

A laughter rippled through all of them – Selena and Deanna included. Perhaps it was the young boy’s innocence or naivety, captured beautifully in his expression. To David, the issues between the Scythes and Frosts families didn’t matter. Nor did the things Malcolm had done. All he knew were two things: he was seeing family and it was cold as hell. That was all that occupied the youth’s mind. 

For a moment, Malcolm’s hand moved as if he wanted to reach out and ruffle the boy’s hair, but he quickly yanked it back without looking at Selena, as if catching himself and knowing not to overstep. Carefully, he pushed himself to his feet. “Well, now that the pleasantries are out of the way…” Malcolm offered. “Shall we?”

He was the first to make his way along the path towards the resort, the rest of the Scythe family following next, followed by the Frost family. 

Just let them be safe… Selena quietly prayed. Whatever happens… let my children be safe…

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

[SnowQueenSCW]

Selena released a loud hum of relief as she sat down on the wooden dock, her feet hanging over it to plant onto the cold, hard ground, the knapsack she’d been carrying rested beside her sitting form. Her leg muscles celebrated the rest as she sat. Beyond her, a good twenty or so feet, she could hear the sound of the hot-spring water almost like a bubbling, churning cauldron! And I’m the witch… she teased as she overlooked the large hotspring that Serpentine Springs had been named for.

They had walked for three hours – the whole group of Frosts and Scythes – throughout the National Preserve, taking delight in the children’s reaction to everything. 

At first, Elsianna and David had stayed close to Selena and Deanna most – Amiliah being held by either Alejandra or Jonathan – however, after the first hour and a half, they had soon begun running ahead and behind the group a little to check out some of the amazing sights. For David, it had been the sight of the tors that had set him off – the towering rock formations formed from the volcanic activities thousands of years ago. Rocks that were, as the little boy had put it, “WAY OLDER THAN EVEN GRANDPA!”, as if Jonathan VanHohenheim was the oldest person in the world to the young boy.

That joke had brought a smile to Selena’s face.

”I’m not an old man.” Her father had grumbled.
“No.” Selena had teased at the time, taking her father’s hand into her own – savouring the warmth his skin gave her hand. “David just uses words… like ‘super-old’. He could be giving you a superpower! Able to mingle and reduce any and all prices at the farmer’s market! The power of heckling for the sake of it! SUPER-OLD!” she had sung a little, earning an eyeroll from her father.

Maybe this was, at least a little for her, Selena making up for lost time – for the years she hadn’t been able to go for walks with her father or explore hot springs and caves and towering rock-structures with him – and grasping it whenever she could. Regardless, she had, admittedly, lowered her guard a little to allow herself a chance to enjoy the day with her family – a notion that seemed to resonate with the rest of the Frost family as the day wore on. Of course, everyone was still on guard with so many of the Scythes around, but… Selena released a quiet huff from her lips as she tried to explain it to herself… 

It just… it was easier to forget about the ‘what-if this is a trap’ notion with her children having so much fun running around the tors or (as Elsianna loved) drawing butterflies and snowflakes on the walls of the bunkhouse, next to the names that others had written there in the decades the reserve had been around. When she could see such smiles on her children’s faces as they ran around the large reserve. 

Now? Now she was simply by herself, sitting on the wooden bridge that linked to the changeroom/bathroom over top of the springs. The rest of the family had gone to change into swim-trunks or something like that.

Selena hadn’t packed one.

Did she want to go into the hotsprings and relax? More than she cared to admit. She was full of doubt and worry from everything, Killjoy of course, but very much so SCW as well. 

She was going to get her world title match against Cid Turner. It was going to happen in her hometown – New York. It would probably be the only shot she would have for a very long time…

And she still didn’t feel ready. 

In truth, she had never expected Cid to get one over on BOTH Chris Cannon and Syren. The man was talented, no doubt, but Syren was… in Selena’s mind, Syren was one of the most talented wrestlers in SCW history. And Cannon? The crazy man had survived Minerva for Odin’s sake! By all accounts, Cid should NOT have retained the championship against either of them, but he had… and she had counted it.

Had there been close-calls and interruptions in that match at Under Attack? Yes, but she and Deanna had done all they could to keep it clean – to ensure the winner would be the undisputed world champion.

The reason for that was too fold. First, it meant no more of that stupid ‘Co-World Champion’ crap that Asher and Cid had been clinging to like lifelines. And the second…

She gave a shake of her head. The reality was that Cid was the rightful world champion from that match and, hence, Selena’s opponent for her own rematch for the World title. 

And he wants to put a baby in your wife…

She tried to hold back the bile that threatened to rise up from her stomach at that sickening thought. The memory that had happened two weeks ago – how Cid had invited Deanna and Selena to his ‘complex’ to see how he and his ‘people’ were, how those people had become delirious at the sight of Deanna’s red-hair and how Cid had wanted to have sex with Deanna and impregnate her based on that-

In a tent.
With people sitting in those wicker chairs you saw.
All to make a child that he didn’t even want…

Selena’s jaw clenched until her face hurt. After all she had been through to have children, the years of believing she never would, the years of believing that she couldn’t, to having her family with Deanna… And Cid, a man that had – infamously – fucked things up with his own family, wanted a child from them just to throw it away into the arms of people that had looked like they were ready to cannibalize Deanna and Selena on sight.

Doesn’t he see that he’s talking about people’s lives?
Of course he doesn’t!

Her mind went back and forth in such a ripcord of thoughts – for Odin’s sake, Cid Turner was now, apparently, engaged to a woman he had JUST met and had one date with! Hadn’t he just been stalking Syren a few months ago over “mad love” or some crap like that? Was there nothing he took seriously? Or was it all just a joke to him? Something that he could bend and distort to fit his needs whenever he wanted and then cast off just as easily like had with Asher Hayes?

Selena couldn’t put it into words – only that the whole thing about Cid: his new ‘religion’, his followers, his wants from Selena and Deanna, and, apparently, his views on marriage, it was all fucked up!

“Afraid you’re gonna melt in the hotsprings?”

Turning her head, Selena stared into the dark eyes of the man standing before her. Like her, he had not gone into the bathhouse to change. Perhaps it was the same reason as Selena – her having no desire to be in such a state of undress, of casualness or weakness, in front of her enemy. Besides, she couldn’t imagine Ryan Scythe in a bathing suit, though she had seen him in less.

A creep of disgust went down her spine at the memory… that she had been in love with him, allowed him to touch her…

“Someone needs to look out for the family.” Selena’s eyes narrowed. “Case your father isn’t around to keep you in place.”

Despite the sting in her words, Ryan merely smiled and nodded his head. “Ah, well, THAT is not going to be the case for much longer.” Without permission, the older man swung himself down to sit on the deck beside Selena. “Old man’s probably just a few more weeks out from a full mental breakdown and then it's ‘off to the looney bin’.” He spoke-sang the last part, a smirk appearing in his lips, showing a little of the pearly-white teeth he head. “You know I blame you for that of course.”

“Do you?” Selena asked, turning her head. 

“Of course.” Ryan repeated, his voice, accented like his father’s, still calm. “I mean you were always a thorn in our side – your whole family was. And with dear, old dad ‘resigning’ as the mayor? All of that power – gone - What else am I supposed to think?”

“That he might have a damn good reason to?”
“What ‘reason’ would that be?” Ryan shot back, his glaring at Selena, who looked ahead into the hot waters of the springs. “Huh? What would drive a man like my father to relinquish such power, willingly? You and I both know that isn’t how he operates.”

“I don’t know-“ Selena answered honestly.

“The hell you don’t.” Ryan hissed, suddenly leaning in close, glaring daggers at the Snow Queen. “The hell you don’t. You have been nothing but trouble from the get-go.”

Turning her head, it was Selena’s turn to glare into the eyes of her former fiancée. “I’ll remind you.” She spoke coldly, refusing to back down. “That you were the one that came to me. You were the one that cheated on and abandoned me. And then, it was YOU and your father that came after me and my family – I didn’t seek any of you out after I left Nome!”

“Yes and look where it’s gotten us.” Laughed Ryan, shaking his head and running a hand through his hair. “Here’s a question.” He shot out to the young woman. “Do you even care about your own people?”
“My people?” Selena asked with a raised eyebrow.
“The people of Nome.” Ryan clarified. “Now without a mayor because of you. Do you even care? Or has the city life made you forget the rest of us here in the middle of nowhere?”

Selena’s jaw clenched at those words. “You have no idea what you are talking about.” She started. “If Nome knew the kind of crap you and your family have done, you’d be driven to the artic islands in Canada. You have lied, used, and abused your position for years, and you know it. You put on a fascade – just like you are now – but you don’t give a damn about them. The only thing you covet is power and riches. That’s all you’ve ever wanted.” She took a deep breath. “That’s the real reason you tried to be with me. That’s the real reason you offered to marry me. And when I wasn’t needed for it – you abandoned me.”

She stared down her former lover, who met her gaze with one just as intense. In many ways, they had been so alike in the past, but now, Selena could not see a shred of herself or her children (thank Odin) in this greedy man.

“I’ll never forget the people of Nome.” Selena continued. “But neither will I forget what so many of them did to me. How they treated me. How you and your family did all you could to make my family seem like lunatics – ‘the crazy miner’s daughter’, right?” Ryan smirked at that nickname – big mistake.

“But I still have faith in those people.” She concluded. “And I believe that they’ll get past this… I think that scares you the most. That they’ll realize just how little they need you and your family.”

“Doubtful.” Ryan suddenly laughed in reply. “I’ll be entering in father’s footsteps soon enough.” 

Selena’s eyes widened at that, the inference of Ryan’s words shaking her more than she wanted to admit. 

“Oh…” a smile crept across Ryan’s features. “Talia and him didn’t tell you about that, did they?” A small laugh escaped his throat. “Give me a year and I’ll be taking over his place as the mayor of Nome – like you said, people love my family.” His eyes were back on Selena’s. “And I can assure you…” he whispered. “Once father is out of the picture, not only will I ensure that certain ‘promises’ are re-examined, I’ll be looking into certain ‘rights of mine’ as well…”

He was trying to scare her. Selena could tell as much.

“You can’t.” Selena replied coldly. “You have no rights to ‘re-examine’ in that regard. You think I wouldn’t know that?”
“Oh, I’m sure… but you don’t have a bunch of little secrets on me, do you? No dirt-sheet or little skeleton to keep me in line, do you?”

He leaned forward towards the Snow Queen. 

“Well, let me be clear. I can’t do anything about David, you’re right about that… but since I never knew of Elsianna’s existence until the last few years, I never signed anything handing her over to the orphanage or to you… so…” he shrugged. “Maybe one of the judges re-examines.”

A laugh came from Selena. “Your father tried this tactic. Didn’t work then. Won’t work know.”
“Father is merely the grandfather, not the biological parent!” he growled.

A lightbulb went off in Selena’s head, Ryan’s words causing a realization in her. “He told you not to say anything, didn’t he?” she watched Ryan shift a little uncomfortably in his purple suit. “He told you not to tell Elisanna and David that you’re…” she trailed off, refusing to say it.

“Their father.” Ryan growled. “Yes. He threatened to disown me or disinherit me, whichever was the most damaging, he said.” 
“That why you’re here, then?” Selena asked, tilting her head.
“I want…” Ryan looked away in time to see four people – Elsianna, David, Jonathan and Alejandra – emerge from the bathhouse, heading straight for the hot-springs. “I don’t know what I want. I want what my father is trying to get – I want what he had, too.”

For a moment, Selena could only think, gathering all this information together in her mind until she suddenly shook her head, a sad huff of a chuckle leaving her.

“You’re beyond sad, Ryan.” She settled on saying, pushing herself to her feet, not surprised when the older-man joined her in standing. “You want all the good things everyone around you has but none of the suffering. You want to see the children you and I sired, but you don’t want to take responsibility to what you did to them and to me. You want your father’s power and position because it’s easy and you don’t want to forge your own way.”

The man turned his head away, but the Snow Queen pressed on. “I have no reason to reignite our families’ war with one another. But I swear…” she leaned in, her words ghosting in a whisper. “Come near anyone in my family, whether you’re the mayor or not… and I will destroy you.”

“That a threat?” Ryan asked, a smirk on his lips.
“Just ask your father what happens to those that hurt me or my family.”

“Yes, by all means, son…” the voice caused Ryan to turn around, seeing the former mayor standing just behind him. “Ask me.”

Selena noticed that Malcolm still wore his long coat over his frame, but that was all she could see. Ryan, meanwhile, could only scoff at his father.

“Why bother?” Ryan asked. “You lost to her, and you’re still standing.”

A sad, knowing smile came across his features. “I am still standing because of Selena’s mercy. She had me where she wanted me and could have destroyed me…but she didn’t.” he gave a tilt of his head at Ryan’s confused expression. “Do you really think that our family would have survived the scandal with the information she had? She could have released it and crushed us, but she asked only for a truce. For peace.”

“Oh, please!” Ryan scoffed, turning away from his father for a moment. “Less than two months ago, you would have called that weakness! It means she can’t do it! It means she can’t do what needs to be done like you and I can do!”
“No.” Malcolm shook his head. “It’s because she values people – even people like us.” A sad sigh escaped the older Scythe. “I had hoped that you would learn from my mistakes, Ryan. But it seems that I asked too much.”

With a gesture of his hand, he waved towards the helicopter that was parked on the landing strip several yards away. “Go sit in the copter. You’re done for the day.”
“I’m not eight.” Ryan replied in disbelief. “You can’t just send me to my room.”
“I could instruct Oliver not to let you on the helicopter and leave you here -  that’s also an option.” Malcolm shrugged. “Ever slept in the wild with wolves prowling around you, boy?”

“I have.” Selena raised her hand, leaning against the wooden panels that made up the deck-bridge. “They get really frisky this time of year.”

With an irritated shake of his head, Ryan moved past the two and down the path, heading to the landing-pad as per Malcolm’s orders.

“I apologize for him.” Malcolm sighed, speaking slowly. “There was a time, believe it or not, that he wanted nothing more than to meet the children, like me. But after everything that happened, he tried to have children with Talia. When that didn’t work, he just – he found it easier to blame everything on you… Sadly, nothing I say can dissuade him of that.”

Her eyes still on the retreating purple suit, Selena sighed. “Might be an issue if he becomes mayor.”

A huff escaped Malcolm, the man rolling his eyes as he leaned his elbows onto the wooden-rails. “He doesn’t have the patience for that. I doubt he’ll get far. Even with the family resources.”

“You could manage him.” Selena offered, albeit reluctantly. “Get him on the right track – least for you. I, personally, think Nome could do without a Scythe mayor for a good few generations.”

The huff turned into a chuckle as Malcolm watched his grandchildren swim and play in the hot-spring, the rest of the Frost family joining, as did Talia and Gavin. 

“Selena…” he sighed. “I want to thank you for today. For allowing me the time to spend with them.”
“I said I would.” The platinum-blonde replied. “I do all I can to keep my word.”
“But you didn’t have to give it.” Malcolm remarked, his eyes tired but still on Elsianna and David. “You could have told me to ‘go to hell’ or something similar and I’d have understood why.”

“I have a nagging voice to deal with.” Selena stated, shrugging her shoulders nonchalantly. “I didn’t want it crying and heartbroken over ‘doing the right thing’.”
“Your conscience?” 
“Deanna.” Selena answered. “Much as I try, I’m not exactly the most forgiving person – look who raised me. When I fail…she keeps me grounded. When I want to let revenge take over, she keeps me…me.”

The former mayor gave a nod of his head, returning his attention back to the swimmers in the springs. “Did you know I have never gone bowling before?”

The question, out of nowhere, stunned Selena, the wrestler needing a minute to turn her head and regard the old man. “What?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled. “Never bowled a game in my entire life.”
“Not one?” Selena asked, her eyebrows high. “Not for your kids or when you were a kid going to some kind of party? Or some charity as mayor?”
“Nope.” Malcolm shook his head.

“Okay…” Selena gave her head a shake in disbelief. “How? And why not?”
“Never saw the point in it at the time. And then it never came up. Work was more important. Meetings with clients and powerful people took priority… But the other day, I was walking down 6th Avenue and passed the recreation center. People were going in with their bags of bowling balls and… it just hit me. Never played a game.”

“Do…do you regret it?” Selena asked, unsure of where Malcolm’s current train of thought was going.
“Well, not really – not the way you think. I’d probably be terrible at it.”
“I mean…it’s like curling…sort of.” Selena tried with a shrug. “And I know you played that.”

“I suppose.” Malcolm replied. “But it got me thinking about what else I hadn’t done in my life and I had you and the kids coming to see me soon so I didn’t have to dwell on that. But the thought of bowling – throwing a massive ball, dancing like an idiot… then I realized I’d never really danced like a fool anywhere. Not in my office or anything like that…”

“You should.” Selena shrugged, a smile tugging at her lips. “It’s fun to just-“ she suddenly pushed herself off the rails and began hopping and moving her arms in a way that could only be described as ‘spastic’. “-bust a move!”. She added a few shoulder shrugs and a foot kick out.

“Oh, I see.” Malcolm nodded in good nature before turning his attention back to the others. “I am sure you wrestle better than you dance.”
“Nope.” Selena threw back, adding a little run-on-the-spot ‘running man’ into her dance. “I’m hopeless.”
 
The remark seemed to cause a change in Malcolm’s expression, a sad smile gracing his features as he looked down at his interlocked hands. “I know that is not true.” He replied quietly. “I know how troubled you’ve been the last few weeks because of me…and your work… and Killjoy.”

Immediately, at the mention of those things: Malcolm, work (Cid), and Killjoy, Selena’s body stiffened, her expression became cold and her hands flexed into fists, as if ready to fight.

“There.” Malcolm remarked. “I merely mention the real world and all that humor is gone.” It was not him chastising her or mocking her – he was merely observing the young woman.

“Something I learned here – thanks to you and Anastasia.” Selena replied.

The older man gave a nod of his head, the sound of churning water and swimmers feeling his and Selena’s ears. “You know, I haven’t forgotten our deal.” Malcolm suddenly replied. “I want you to know that I am ready to honor it when you want.”

Turning her head to regard the man, Selena saw him shrug. “No time like the present.” She heard him add. That had been the deal – Malcolm could see the children (supervised, of course) and, in return, Selena would ask him any question to which he had to answer completely and truthfully.

“You want to do this now?” Selena asked in surprise. “Might put a damper on the day.”
“You mean moreso than my son?” Malcolm countered. “I imagine it would be best.”

For a moment, Selena looked away, trying to prepare herself to ask the question she desperately needed to know. She had known the question the second she had created the ‘conditionals’ to their deal. She would pin him down about Killjoy! Find out who the bastard was and finally get some answers on what his obsession was with her family.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no question emerged. Instead, she found her eyes moving away towards the distance. She could see Ryan, still walking towards the helicopter, his purple suit standing out. Why was he here? Why were any of them here? Why did this outing have to occur? Why had Malcolm arranged and was so desperate to see her children? And all the kindness and apologies?! These weren’t Malcolm Scythe – not the Malcolm Scythe she knew!

“Why did you quit being the mayor, Malcolm?” 

The question came out of her like a whisper, her head turning towards Malcolm to see his surprised expression. “I know you’re being genuine today… but I also know you. Ryan is not some ‘apple that fell far from the tree’. He’s a ‘chip off the old block’. His love of power and money – he got that from you. So why, why would you – someone of that nature – WILLINGLY give up the most powerful position in Nome? What would compel you, after so many years, to think about bowling and family over power?”

For a moment, Malcolm merely stared at the Snow Queen, his expression of surprise. Perhaps he had expected Selena to ask him about Killjoy – her original plan. Slowly, as the seconds ticked by, a sad smile graced his lips. 

“I don’t know whether to chastise you for wasting such an opportunity… or feel proud of you for getting to the heart of this matter.” Shaking his head, he took a shaky breath, as if it was his turn to prepare himself. “The reason I stepped down as mayor is that I have every reason to believe that I will dead soon.”

An eerie silence washed over them - or was it that Selena’s ears were suddenly blocking out all sound, she couldn’t be sure, but all she could do was stand there, staring at the impossibly calm former mayor.

“What?” she finally, and slowly, asked. 
“You heard me.” Malcolm smiled sadly. “I am quite certain that I will be dead soon.”
“Are you dying?” Selena asked. “Are you sick?”

He gave a shake of his head. “Perhaps I should clarify.” Malcolm tried, turning to fully face the Snow Queen. “Very soon, Selena, I am going to be killed.”

“What?!” Selena’s voice barked out, but it was barely a squeak of sound, her shock gobbling it up. “How is that possible?”
“We both know.” Malcolm smiled. “You warned me about it months ago.”
“K-Killjoy?” she asked, her eyes wide. To answer, Malcolm merely nodded his head. 

“I’ve been receiving visits from him. The first time was July 25th-“
“Rise to Greatness?” Selena asked, earning a nod.

“I was actually watching you win that little match of yours.” The Unbelievable Main Event… Selena thought. “And as I saw you with your wife… there Killjoy suddenly was, standing in my living room.”
“How did you know it was him?” Selena asked. 
“He flat-out told me so. Plus, the black coat and all that…”
“And the black-skull?”

To her surprise, the politician shook his head. “Didn’t need one.” Malcolm admitted. “I know who he is.”

“You know?!” The myriad of emotions gripping Selena – she didn’t know whether to beg to Malcolm to tell her or join her father’s example and punch him in the goddamn face! 

“He told me that before the year ended… he would kill me.” Malcolm finished, as if that explained everything. For the Snow Queen, she was in utter disbelief.

“And that’s it? A death threat and you gave up all your power?” Selena asked. “One maniac breaks into your house and you don’t get better security or go into hiding? You, the great Malcolm Scythe, just give up?!”

“Selena…” Malcolm sighed. “I know Killjoy well enough to know that there isn’t a move that I can make that he hasn’t predicted. I know that, in the position I am in, there is no ‘out’ or ‘second chance’ or ‘option B’. No matter what I decide to do, where I go, he will find me and kill me.”

“He’s that unstoppable?” Selena huffed. “Such a person doesn’t exist! I’ve fought clans and monsters! Including you!”

“No one like this.” Malcolm shook his head. “And perhaps you’d have better luck than me. You are stronger and far more resilient… but… from where I am.” He sighed, almost relieved. “It’s time, Selena. It’s been time for awhile now.”

She stared at him, seeing his calm expression, as if he had accepted this fate for himself long ago. Accepted death as his immediate fate. “So…that’s why you wanted all of this?” She asked, earning a nod from him.

“I wanted to have something pleasant and happy to hold onto in those final moments. I know – at least I am sure – they will be painful beyond my imagination and I wanted something…something happy… to hang onto-“ he cast his eyes out to his grandchildren as they splashed around the hot springs. “You and your family gave that to me, and I will always be grateful.”

“Come with me back to New York.” Selena suddenly offered in a rush of words. “Or we can hide you in the Schonburg Castle. The owners are friends and-“

“Selena…” Malcolm’s hands reached out, and this time, they did not stop, reaching out to gently take one of Selena’s hands. “It’s okay.” He smiled. “I’ve known this was coming for a long, long time. That one day, Killjoy would find me and kill me- assuming your father didn’t first.” He added with a tease, regarding the earlier confrontation he and Jonathan had had. “I won’t endanger you or the children more than I already have.”

“But I-“

“You know how the game of chess goes.” Malcolm pressed. “Sometimes you need to sacrifice a powerful piece to win the game.” Selena looked up, into the tired man’s eyes. “It’s time to sacrifice me, Selena. Because then everything will work out…it’s the only way to beat Killjoy.”

“But…” Selena sighed, pulling her hands away. “Who is Killjoy, Malcolm? You have to tell me.”

Another sad smile, another shake of the head. “I would have had no choice if that had been your question. But Selena, you’re not ready to know who Killjoy is. If you did…believe me… it would destroy you.”
“He already wants to kill me.” Selena implored.
“No, Selena. He wants to kill me. He wants to destroy you. And he will try.” Malcolm nodded. “But I have given you the best chance possible to beat him…” his voice grew distant.
“Long as you die…” Selena’s voice trailed off as Malcolm nodded his head.

Angrily, Selena’s hand rose up to swipe at her eyes. “What the fuck is wrong with me?” She laughed at herself. “You’re a fucking bastard.” She half-spat, half-laughed. “You’ve endangered me, my father, my children, my wife – my entire life. You’ve done nothing but hurt and ruin my life over and over again! You’re an evil man! I’ve wished for so many years that you’d just suffer and die… and now here it is and… why the fuck am I crying?!!”

With more effort, she rubbed her hand against her eyes, trying to erase the tears from existence. For Malcolm, the former mayor merely stood there, his sad smile never fading as he patiently waited for Selena to calm herself.

With a frustrated huff and ‘hah!’ sound, Selena sniffled a little before returning her attention back to Malcolm. “Any other pearls you want to drop my way then?” she asked.

“Just one.” Malcolm smiled. “And it will sound pathetic coming from me, but…” he turned his head to look at the people swimming in the hot-springs. “Let yourself be happy, Selena.”
“What?” Selena asked with a half-laugh as Malcolm turned back to regard her.

“Let yourself be happy.” He repeated. “I have very few of those moments in my life. And, now that the end is in sight – I wish I had just a few more. Like today.”

“That’s it?” Selena asked. “That’s your big advice? ‘Be happy’.”
“No.” Malcolm shook his head. “Let yourself be happy. There’s a difference… it starts with the little things.”

Without any hesitation, Malcolm suddenly unbuttoned his coat, revealing only the swimwear he wore underneath, and causing Selena to turn away on instinct.

“What the hell are you doing?” she asked, seeing the blue trunks the mayor wore.
“Taking my own advice.” He smiled at woman, unashamed. “I’m going to go swimming with my grandchildren.”

Without another word, Malcolm was on the move, walking into the hotsprings to swim with the others. For Selena, she could only watch from her distance as Malcolm laughed and swam with Elsianna and David, not caring that he was being watched by everyone (just to be safe). 

He was happy, Selena could see that.

We don’t all have that peace of mind, Malcolm… Selena thought sadly. Some of us just can’t ‘walk away’ from our responsibilities like you did.

Happiness. It was the mark of Killjoy’s threat. The skulled-man had sworn that once Selena’s was at her happiest, when she had a moment of genuine happiness with Deanna, he would be there to destroy her and take it all away.

And yet…if Malcolm’s words were true, and Killjoy was going to – she refused to word it – then there Malcolm was, still trying to be happy.

It was all beyond confusing for Selena. She didn’t want to die, but, she gathered, neither did Malcolm. She didn’t want to be miserable but how could she be happy when her world was so…out of control? When she was losing battle after battle? When she was failing time and time again?

Her sapphire eyes cast down to the knapsack that was on the side of the bridge next to her. Carefully, she opened the bag to pull out a taped-up plastic bag of store-bought red licorice.

“Hey, Elsa!” she called out to her daughter, earning her oldest child’s attention. “Can have some of your licorice?”

There, standing up to her shoulders in the water, the young girl nodded her head eagerly before swimming again.

“Thanks.” Selena called out, smiling at the few others, including Deanna, that she had gotten the attention of in her shout. Opening the bag, she pulled out a few strands of the candy, looking at it before biting into it, savouring the delicious candy…

The small things… she thought as she watched her family and the remaining Scythes together – perhaps for the first time – no one trying to kill the other. A small victory at best… but wasn’t that what Malcolm was trying to get at? 

It starts with the small things…

************************

Frost Cave
Nome, Alaska
Nov 28th, 2021
2:18pm

“SELENA?!” 

Selena’s head snapped up from where she sat in the dark of the cave, simply meditating in the dark in-between nibbling on the licorice in her hand. The voice came again and, immediately, Selena was on her feet, running down the path towards it, using her flashlight to light the way. Her running shoes kept making sounds as they hit the stone ‘floor’ of the cave.

It wasn’t long until she ‘burst’ back into the ‘resting’ section of the cave, the sunlight streaming from the cave entrance (along with her flashlight) allowing her to see the figure standing there in a thick, dark-blue coat.

“Deanna?!” Selena asked in disbelief before moving over to her. When her hands reached out to touch her and actually met flesh and bone – she knew that this was not a ghost but the real deal Deanna, prompting her next question. “What are you doing here?”

It had been a rough conversation two weeks ago. Rather than stay with the family when it was time for departures from the Serpentine Springs, Selena had hitched a ride with the Scythes on their helicopter to return to Nome to begin her training with her father’s cave for her upcoming match with Giovanni and, more importantly, her world title rematch with Cid Turner!

Of course, the family had been less than thrilled, Deanna most of all. But they had, eventually, accepted that this was where things needed to be for now. With this, quite realistically, being Selena’s last chance at the world title, she needed to try everything to be better than she currently was… which was why her wife’s presence here made no sense.

Smacking some of the snow off her wife’s shoulders, Selena ushered her closer to the firepit, kneeling to begin starting a fresh fire. “How did you get here?” she asked.
“Private charter.” Deanna replied.
“De-“ Selena sighed. “You know I need to be here!” she tried explaining. “Who is looking after the children and-“

“SELENA!” Deanna stopped her, reaching out to take her wife’s hands into her own. “Listen to me.” She implored, the next few words ones that would rattle Selena to her core.

“Malcolm Scythe is dead.”

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Warning: There is some imagery in this roleplay that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised.

Project: Black Ice

”Parting Words”

State of Alaska Department of Public Safety
Anchorage, Alaska
December 3rd, 2021
12:34pm

She hadn’t had much time to ask many questions. In fact, she hadn’t said much of anything about it. How could she?

Deanna had shown her the text she had received shortly after Selena had left Breakdown to return to Nome a week ago. Beyond that? The redhead had known nothing. What else was there to know, really?

Malcolm Scythe was dead. Her greatest enemy… the grandfather of two of her children… was dead.

From the moment the news had escaped her wife’s lips in that dark cave belonging to her father, the reality hadn’t settled in with Selena. Malcolm Scythe dead? It didn’t seem possible to the platinum-blonde. The master of mind games – the man with a thousand different plans to destroy his enemies – the most powerful man in all of Nome… was dead…

She had battled against that reality, that truth, quietly in her mind as she had returned with Deanna to SCW – over to Montreal for the final episode of Breakdown before her World title match with Cid Turner in her hometown of New York. Had fought that reality as she had stood in the ring with the world champion, breaking down so much of their past and their current views. Had fought that reality as she had left Montreal and hopped on her private plane to take her back to Alaska, even when the plane had changed directions to land not in Nome, but in Anchorage.

That was where the body had been taken to be analyzed. That was where she needed to be to believe it. She had see it. See Malcolm…one more time.

“I can’t believe we’re doing this.” Whispered Deanna as she stood outside the facility, the Alaskan wind blowing the braids of her red hair back behind her. She peeked a glance at her wife, who stood before her. When Selena gave no reply, she turned her head fully to regard her wife. She had been expecting something like her beloved throwing out her catchphrase ‘Believe it!’ or something playful like that. Instead, the older Frost was silent standing there in her brown boots, black pants, maroon sweater and leather jacket, her hair loose in the wind. “Selena?”

“Hmmm?” the Snow Queen’s head snapped towards Deanna, sapphire eyes meeting emerald ones. “What?” she asked, her focus back on her.
The redhead gave a shake of her head, dismissing the moment. “Isn’t Jean supposed to be here-“

She was not able to finish her sentence as the front doors to the complex opened, gaining both Frost women’s attention. Exiting, the suited Jean Black greeted them. “About time.” He replied simply, no malice or bite in his tone. “I hate this city.” He added with a shake of his head.

“Shocker.” Selena whispered as she walked the short distance needed to stand close to her old friend, Deanna eventually following her. “You hate travelling, period.” She added.
“For good reason.” Jean replied, his tone as somber as Selena’s.
“Have any problems?” the platinum-blonde asked, getting right to the point of the three of them being so far from even Nome.
“None.” Jean reported, giving his head a little shake. “Autopsy results were concluded – he’s just in cold storage now, waiting to be brought back to Nome.”

“Please tell me we are not responsible for that.” Deanna quickly replied, a shiver shaking her frame a little at the thought of travelling with a corpse.
“No.” Selena answered before Jean did. “I’m sure arrangements have been made for that.” She added, her mind momentarily drifting to Talia, Gavin, and Ryan – Malcolm’s closest family.

“Well, they better prepare for a ‘closed casket’ ceremony.” 

The remark came from Jean, the detective crossing his arms over his chest, his walking stick dangling from his left hand. While it unsettled the Frost wives, neither of them were surprised by it. 

To be clear, none of the three were seeing the death of Malcolm Scythe beyond what it was. Malcolm, Selena had told them, had predicted his death at the hands of Killjoy and, two weeks later, it had happened. There was no sugar-coating it. Malcolm had been murdered and none of them had reason to suspect anyone but Killjoy. 

“Is it bad?” Selena asked regarding the current condition of the body.
A slow sigh escaped Jean before the detective nodded his head as he licked his lips. “Yeah.”

Moving out of the way, he allowed the Frost women into the facility, closing the door behind all of them. “Cold storage is that way.” He gestured with his free hand as he moved to the right hallway. “Don’t touch anything once we get there.” He added. The trio remained silent as they made their way through a set of doors and down a flight of stairs.

“Considering our location…” Deanna tried, keeping her hand on the rail as they descended. “Wouldn’t surprise me if ‘cold-storage’ is just outside the facility…”

There was no response from either Selena or Jean, merely the sound of footsteps as they continued to walk down each step.

“Because it’s Alaska…and it’s cold outside…” she tried, her voice trailing off as she, a little embarrassed, looked down at her feet. “I thought it was funny.” She whispered to herself as her feet made it down the last step. The second her feet touched the ground of the bottom floor, however, she suddenly felt a pair of warm lips pressing into her cheek for a gentle, light kiss. Snapping her head, she stared into the gentle eyes of her wife, Selena merely offering her a sad smile before taking her hand in hers, squeezing it tightly, before resuming her following of Jean without a word.

They passed through some security and some front desks, which also had security, but their explanation was the same each time as it came from Jean. He was there as the private detective of the Scythe family, instructed in examining the body of Malcolm Scythe on the family’s behalf. The two women following were his intern (Selena) and his notetaker/secretary (Deanna). 

Not that anyone would question that… Selena thought as they made their way across another hallways, so many of them decorated in the same colors of blue, beige, and white. This is probably the most excitement they’ve seen here in years.

The Anchorage crime-unit facility was responsible for all of Alaska… mostly because of the few towns that actually existed but also because of the low population within Alaska itself – because who would really WANT to live in such a snowy, cold hell that was Alaska, right? Hell, Nome wasn’t even reachable via car from Anchorage, only by flight. As such, the Anchorage station served all of Alaska in terms of crime labs and such… 

Thing is… Malcolm’s death may have been the most interesting thing that had happened to them in recent history, Selena surmised. Probably since the Butcher Baker…still, I wonder how’d they feel if they knew it was an actual madman…

No one had come forward with information on Malcolm’s killer. The local police of Nome were still conducting their own investigation, as was Jean – but only Jean knew what Selena knew, which was what Malcolm had told her two weeks ago. His prediction, his acceptance of it…

For what it was worth, the fact that none of the other Scythes: Talia, Gavin and even Ryan weren’t being targeted was a bit of relief to the Snow Queen. She knew Killjoy was dangerous, had even been held at gunpoint by the bastard, but he had yet to kill before Malcolm. And part of her, maybe a naïve part of her, had hoped it would never come to that. That, maybe, he would appear and they could talk this out like she had with Malcolm in the past – or at least solve all of this without bloodshed.

That was clearly impossible now, she knew, as the last set of metal doors were pushed open by Jean and the three walked into the cold-storage room. Looking around, Selena could see the small, metal confines lining one of the walls - small freezers of shining, stainless steel. She could see the tables and tools that were in their proper place and some of the staff that moved in and out of the room, clearly not many corpses to investigate today.

Unfettered, Jean moved to a section of the room at the far back, where a table stood with a sheet covering – well, it was clear what it was covering. He waited for Selena and Deanna to reach him, the pair staring at the tarp covered body.

“Are you ready to see this?” he asked slowly, putting on a mask and sliding on some latex gloves. “I can tell you, it’s sick.”

Deanna took a deep shaky breath, her hand, once more, finding Selena’s, grasping it tight. She was scared, and Selena could feel it from her wife. The redhead was here for Selena. Unlike the wrestler, she trusted Jean’s words. She didn’t want to see a dead body.

But here she was, for Selena, and the Snow Queen mentally cursed herself for it. Cursed herself for her denial. Cursed herself for needing to see – needing to know – just how far Killjoy could, and had, gone in his obsession to destroy Malcolm… because now, she was the one that was left. The only one that was left.

“Alright.” Came the sigh from Deanna. “Do it.”

Slowly, Jean reached out to take the top of the tarp covering the body by the hand and with a steady pull, he removed it.

The sight made Deanna half-scream, half-gasp, turning to bury her head into Selena’s body, her hands clutching her like a lifeline. “Oh gods…” she cried into Selena’s leather coat.

For Selena, she couldn’t look away, no matter how much she wanted to! She couldn’t scream, no matter how much she wanted to! She couldn’t vomit, no matter how much her stomach retched and churned – so much like the hot-spring waters she had visited three weeks ago! She couldn’t do anything but just… look.

There, on the slab, lay the body of Malcolm Scythe… but what in Odin had been done to him?

The skin was pale, touched by death, and was covered in bruises and cuts across his arms and chest and legs. The fingers in his right hand were swollen and bruised and bent at horrid angles, as if they had been broken and smashed! There was dried blood that came from his mouth that stained his lips and cheek. His eyes were glossed over, swollen in one and another was bulging a little. There were bruises that wrapped around his wrists and his shins, like he’d been tied or bound to something…

And then there was the expression. Taking it all in, the face of Malcolm Scythe wasn’t the confident or powerful man that Selena had grown up fearing. Nor was it the tired, but gentle and patient face that had met them with apologies at the Serpentine Springs. This face – this expression – was wrapped in pain. Contorted in torture. Veins were pressing against the skin – as if they had been waging a war within him just to stay alive. His mouth was twisted and wide in an agonizing presentation, in that position at death and locked in from rigor mortis.

One word encapsulated it all before the three people’s eyes: Suffering. Malcolm Scythe had suffered a death that was not meant for any human being – REGARDLESS of how ‘evil’ they were!

“What in hell…” a breathless sentence slipped out of Selena. “How could someone do this?”

Without a word, Jean pulled the tarp back over Malcolm’s body. “Strychnine.” He answered. “That’s how.” He waited for Selena to lift her head to him, her eyes on him, though the absolute shock refused to leave her sapphire orbs as she held Deanna to her. “He was found tied up in a chair and with enough Strychnine in him to take down an elephant.”

“I don’t….” Selena shook her head. “I don’t know what that is.” She admitted, her voice shaking.
“Well, the doctors enlightened me.” Jean explained, his voice devoid of emotion. “Imagine your body becoming more and more rigid, tightening more and more with each increase of the substance in your body. Until… until your lungs can’t function anymore.”

“He…” Selena tried, looking down at the tarp. “He suffocated?”
“I imagine he was tortured as well. Like tensing your body when you’re cut or hurt – the muscles can aggravate and make the pain feel fresh. And as he was feeling that pain, he started being unable to breath…”
“Torture…” the voice came from Deanna, who had turned her head back to Jean. “It’s sick.”

Looking down at the deceased and covered Malcolm, Jean could only nod his head. “I hated him – almost as much as you.” He admitted, casting his eyes at Selena. “But never would I wish this on him… on anyone… this is beyond evil.”

Despite herself, Selena found herself instantly agreeing. Gods, how many times had she dealt with people that she felt were ‘evil’ or doing ‘evil things’? Her stepmother, the Scythes, Milady DeWinter and Brachiss… and then there was her world of SCW! Xander Valentine attacking innocent audience members, Giovanni trying to dismantle Mr. D. in a match, Vixen Cain trying to kidnap her with her private bus – Cid Turner manipulating everyone around him with his ‘god’ act…

None of them were like this. None of them seemed this demented!

“Please…” came Deanna’s voice. “Please tell me they have something on Killjoy! Anything!” her hands tightened around Selena’s arm. “Please, Jean…” she begged.

A sigh escaped the detective’s lips, which only plummeted the Frost wives hope – what little they had. “There is something…” he started, reaching under the tarp to lift up the arm closest to him and holding the appendage towards the Frost women. “Forensics said they found several traces of gun powder on his hands. And when they got there, there were several bullet casings on the ground and blood on the floor and wall… some of which… wasn’t his.”

Emerald and sapphire eyes grew wide. “You mean…” Selena asked. “He shot Killjoy?”
“I think so.” Jean replied. “Although, when they tested the blood – there was no match to any profile in any database.” 
“Of course not.” Deanna laughed bitterly. “Odin forbid anything be easy.”
“Deanna.” Selena tried, reaching out to touch her wife’s face, only for her wife to turn from her and march out of the room.

Turning back to Jean, Selena opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out, her eyes flying between Jean and Malcolm’s body. Apparently, though, it was enough for Jean to understand, the detective nodding his head before excusing himself from the room to follow Deanna.

Alone with the corpse of the man she hated the most in this entire world, Selena’s eyes fell back onto him. Her mouth opened again to speak but she found no words immediately. Instead, her mind was filled with questions.

How had Malcolm faced Killjoy? Had he begged for his life? Offered anything to spare it? Had he only fought when he had no other choice?

If Selena had not seen Malcolm three weeks ago, she would have believed that. A politician – a man like Malcolm, more specifically – would have offered anything to be spared…

But that wasn’t the Malcolm that had sat with her on the deck near the hot springs. Not the Malcolm that had told her that he knew death was coming and was ready for it. Not the Malcolm that had smiled and laughed with her children – had apologized to her and her family. 

“First my stepmother faces death with dignity.” She whispered, her eyes on the white tarp. “Now you?” 

She shook her head. “Were you just an old tiger sensing your end?” she asked as she stood there, her eyes on the part of the tarp that covered the head. “Or were you just trying to buy Deanna and I more time together?”

She was met with silence, which didn’t surprise her. “Happy…” she whispered. “That’s what you wanted me to try and be, right?” she had to laugh at that as she felt tears prickling at the back of her eyes. “Tell me, Malcolm. How am I supposed to be happy about this? Do I rejoice because you’re dead? Ding dong the Scythe is dead?” she half-cried. “Maybe I should be! Maybe you deserved this! After all you’ve done?!”

She threw her head to the ceiling for a moment, shaking her head and closing her eyes as another laugh escaped her in a huff.

“How the fuck can I be happy about this, Malcolm?” she lowered her head. “Tell me!” she ordered the lifeless shell. “How can I ‘let myself be happy’ that this happened to you? What do I tell my children – YOUR grandchildren? What do I tell your sons? Or Talia?!” 

Again, she was met with silence, which only frustrated her more.

“You saw this coming – yet you couldn’t just tell them? You left it on my shoulders? What am I supposed to do?! He’s-“ her mind flashed back to that night back in July. In Rebecca’s house, where she had first met the black-skulled madman. How he had outfought Selena, countering every kick and punch she threw with ease!

“Pathetic. You are merely a child throwing a tantrum when you fight.”

The words echoed in Selena’s head, her hands tightening into fists. “I…I can’t beat him.” She whispered. “Even with all my cold and dragon and the cave… I can’t beat him.”

For a second, brief as it was, her mind seemed to flash between Killjoy and someone else with those words, but it didn’t last – the parallels existing in her mind for only a second to add to the despair she felt.

Was that what her nightmares were telling her? Those eyes in the sky? Her enemies before her? Was that what the message was? That whether it was Cid Turner or Killjoy or Giovanni or Malcolm – the end result was always the same? Her utter failure and complete destruction? Was that what the powers beyond her were trying to tell her?

If so, where did that leave her? To fight it or accept it like Malcolm had? To savour what little time she had left and just be happy because she was as powerless to stop it as he was?

She felt the tears falling down her cheeks in steady streams, pale hands flying up to press into the skin and droplets. She didn’t want to accept it! She didn’t want it to end! She didn’t want to just give up and give her life over to Killjoy or hand Deanna over to Cid…

Cid…

For a moment, that sickening bargain came to Selena’s mind. The one where Cid had, with no tact whatsoever, asked to impregnate Deanna for the sake of his cult and Gleebnorb. Again, the idea was wrong and sick, mocking everything about their marriage – their love – that Deanna and Selena believed in.

But… could Cid and his followers not protect Deanna from Killjoy? They were hundreds, maybe thousands! She was one person… 

The rationale lasted only for a second within Selena’s head before she immediately shut it down, but the fact that it had EXISTED within her mind for even an instant was enough for Selena to yell angrily, slamming her hands down onto an empty, nearby table! She stayed, perched over that table, breathing heavily.

“I don’t know what to do…” she whispered. “I don’t know how to win.”

”Because, to you, winning has always been about just that. Winning and losing…”

Selena looked up and back towards the voice she heard – her eyes suddenly taking in the unmarred face of Malcolm Scythe, standing before her in that suit of his! “You being alive and the other person dead or broken or no longer a threat to you. That’s how you always viewed ‘winning’.” He continued. “Even in your world of wrestling.”

Quickly, she turned her head to gaze back at the tarp. The body was still under it, the tarp hadn’t moved.

“You…” Selena took a moment to breath and calm herself. “I was looking for you in the caves…” she whispered. “To bring me back to a place where I could beat Cid.”
“I know.” The ghost smiled. “I always return there when you don’t need me, just as you always return there when you do.”
“So, why couldn’t I find you weeks ago?”
“You didn’t need me back then. Not like now.” Smiled the specter.

The ghost had taken many forms in the past for Selena: Deanna, Dawn Lohan, Adrian Scythe, and… the most common and damaging in Selena’s past, her ‘Snow Child’…

“So, why that form?” she asked, wiping at the tears still in her eyes.
“Because you needed to talk to him the most right now.”
“But you’re not him.” Selena countered. “You’re my mind breaking down or something.”
“Reaching its limit.” The ghost corrected. “Yes. You’re almost there. I’d say very close.”

The platinum-blonde took a shaky breath. “What happens when it reaches that limit?” she asked.

To answer, ‘Malcolm’ simply smiled. “Wouldn’t that be interesting to see… The world has seen your body reach limits and what happens to you when you overcome them… but your mind, oh…” He shook his head in intrigue. “I don’t think even Cid Turner would want to see that.”

With her hands, Selena fished them through her hair, grasping at the gorgeous strands as she tried to calm herself with her breathing. “Conceal…” she whispered…

“Don’t feel.” The ghost stated the next line for her. “Not going work this time, child.” He added. “You’re too afraid. You’ve got a killer coming for you now – not just some obsessed madman. You’ve got an impossible fight on the horizon – a supposed ‘god’ – and all that pressure on your shoulders. You’re not going to get rid of it just by trying not to feel it.”

“Then what do I do?” Selena asked, her voice cracking. “Why couldn’t you just give me SOMETHING to use? Why does it ALWAYS have to be me that solves the problems?”
“Oh…” the ghost grinned. “Now, we’re getting somewhere.” He leaned forward on the table he sat on, gesturing with his withered fingers. “Go with that.”

“Why do I have to be the one that solves everyone else’s mistakes! Killjoy even admitted that you were to blame! Why do I have to fix your problem?” she shook her head, unable to stop the flood of emotions and thoughts that were rampaging through her, her mantra failing. “Why do I have to save SCW every single time?! Why can’t Syren for once in her career?! Why can’t Cannon?! Why can’t Braddock?! Why can’t someone else do the impossible and beat Cid Turner? Why does it always have to be me that’s the measuring stick? Why does it always have to be me that’s asked to slay the monsters or stop the frauds or beat the unbeatable?! WHY?!”

Her voice echoed through the room, empty but for the one living and the other dead. 

“Because there is no one else who can.” Malcolm replied. “I told you that I couldn’t beat Killjoy… but you might. That wasn’t me being hopeful. I truly believed that you are the only person who can beat Killjoy.”

“But why me?” Selena tried, the tears returning to fall from her eyes. “Why does it have to be me? Why can’t anyone else?”

“I wish it could be.” Malcolm smiled. “I wish I could say someone else can… just like I know millions around the world wish someone else could beat Cid too… but only you have under such stakes. You’re the only one, right now, that stands a chance against him.”

“Cid or Killjoy?” Selena laughed.
“Yes.” Malcolm smiled.

Looking around the room, Selena wiped at her eyes again before they settled on the tarp-covered body. “Gods, I….” she laughed, wanting to reach out and touch the arm in comfort, but knowing she couldn’t. “I should tell you to burn in hell… but…” she took a deep breath. “I am so scared now, Malcolm. I’m so fucking scared of what you have left me with. The monster that you’ve created. But I… I hope…” her voice broke again with her words. “I hope that you were able to have that peaceful memory during all of that pain. I hope… I hope whatever you planned works… and I hope…” she laughed, unable to hide the irony she felt with her last words. “I hope that you – wherever you end up – find more happy moments.”

Biting her lower lip, she turned around towards the doors. The ghost was gone, for now. With a sigh, she pushed herself out of the room, opening the door and following the path she had taken with Jean up the stairs and down the halls until she was standing outside of the complex once more, where she spied Jean standing there with Deanna, the redhead sitting on a bench, clearly in her own thoughts. Seeing, Selena, however, she was back on her feet, her hands clutching together.

Selena was quick to rejoin her, marching over to her without a word and throwing her arms around her beloved wife. The redhead caught her instantly, grasping onto her as tightly as she could as the cold wind blew around them. Jean, bless him, kept quiet as he stood near them, his hands in his coat pockets.

“I’m scared.” Selena admitted in a whisper into her wife’s ear. Her wife merely nodded her head several times.
“I am too.” Came the eventual whisper. “What do we do now?” It was a fair and honest question and one the Snow Queen didn’t have an answer for as she pulled back to stare into her wife’s emerald eyes. 

She had come back to Nome, back to her father’s cave, because of fear…

Looking back, she could admit it to herself. She had been afraid to face Cid Turner – afraid that she wasn’t ready to beat him this time around. It had started the Breakdown following Rise to Greatness – that new confidence Cid had shown. He had stood in the ring with Selena and glared at her with those eyes.

That was the first night Selena had seen it. To anyone else, it was confidence, but to the Snow Queen, she had seen that drive, that spark, only in one other person’s eyes… 

Her own… when she would visit her father’s cave.

It sounded crazy and she knew she couldn’t tell anyone, but she had seen it. Somehow, Cid had taken that spark! Taken that ‘heart of Alaska’ or ‘the heart of the Snow Queen’, she had no idea how but it had been there that night! Staring her in the face in that ring! And despite how she tried… given it everything she had… she had lost to Cid at Apocalypse… and now? Cid was the most arrogant bastard in SCW. He wasn’t “The Fallen King” anymore – he was acting like a damn saviour, a god now! With her spark in his eyes…

And for three weeks, Selena had scoured the cave. Searched high and low, trying to find it for herself. Find even a piece of it to take back with her to give her a fighting chance against Cid Turner – a fighting chance for her last chance at the World title…

But, there had been nothing, the cave was an empty cavern, devoid of gold and any semblance of power. Even now, with its ghost haunting her back there in the cold-storage, Selena didn’t feel anything but fear… but no longer of Cid…

”What do we do now?”

The question, in Deanna’s voice, repeated in her head. She could go back to the cave and keep searching for something, anything, to take back with her to New York. Perhaps the ghost would follow her back if she went back to the cave…

”Or you can stop hiding…”

Looking past Deanna, Selena spied the suited ghost of the former mayor standing by their rented car, a knowing smile on his face. “Stop hiding, child.” He said, though only Selena could see and hear him. “Stop hiding… face it all… and let yourself be happy.”

For a moment, she just stared at him – wishing, perhaps for the first time, that he was really there to tell her that. But he soon disappeared into the snowy winds of Alaska, leaving Selena there with Deanna and Jean. With a shaky breath, she turned her eyes back towards her beloved wife. “I wanna go home.” She whispered, squeezing the redhead a little more in her arms. 

“What about the cave?” Deanna asked as Selena guided her towards their car. “And everything?”

Smiling sadly, the platinum-blonde shook her head. “There’s nothing there for me now.” She admitted with a sigh as the trio got into the car as the platinum-blonde started the engine. “There hasn’t been for a long time, I think.” 

Deanna saw the sadness in her wife’s eyes. Whether it was because of Killjoy or Cid Turner, she wasn’t sure, but sitting there, her Selena did not look like the unbeatable, unstoppable Snow Queen that had accomplished “The Unbelievable Main Event” or the woman that had defied Xander Valentine time and time again.

She was… the redhead wasn’t sure. She seemed sad but also…happy? Was that possible?

“I just…let’s just go home.” She heard Selena repeat herself. “I don’t want to be here anymore. I want to be with you, and our children… no matter what happens.”

Slowly, the redhead gave a nod. “The kids will be thrilled.” 
“Yeah…” Selena seemed to think for a moment as she backed the car out of the parking lot. “When we get home, I wanna...” her voice trailed off for a second.
“What?” the redhead asked before Selena turned to her with a mischievous smile and biting her lower lip.
“I wanna take the kids bowling.” Selena replied simply.
“Bowling?” Deanna asked in a bit of surprise. “Why?”

“Because…” Selena sighed as she continued to drive towards the airport. “Everyone should go bowling as least once in their life…”

_______________________________________________________________

The camera opens up to reveal the interior of Madison Square Gardens! Not only is this the arena, the site, for tonight’s big episode of Breakdown, that will see two championship matches, it is also the hometown of the number one contender for the SCW World Championship. And as the camera takes in the empty arena, with bright white and blue lights shining down towards the squared circle, it settles on the ring to spot the woman standing in the ring, her hands on the ropes as she looks around the space, the lights showing her leather jacket, blue jeans and gray-sweater.

This is a place I know well… comes the accented voice of “The Face of SCW” Selena Frost.This is a city that I know well! her smile is bright. This is an arena that I know well.

Turning towards the interior of the ring, Selena moves to the middle, her eyes still taking in the empty seats and SCW graphics that illuminate many parts of the upper area.

I know it well because this is not just a spot for Breakdown. This is not just a spot for a world title match. This is my hometown. This is where I live. An hour’s walk, or a twenty-five or so minute drive, or fifteen minutes by subway cause that’s just how it works in New York, you could find my house in Manhattan! a quiet laugh comes from her before she continues speaking, her voice a little softer and more reflective.

I have lived in this city for about six or so years now. I have lived in this state longer than that. When I ran away from Nome, needing to be free of my past, this city took me in and treated me like one of its own. When I was living off each SCW paycheck in the early years, this city let me in and gave me a place to belong.

For a moment, Selena reaches up to wipe a tear from her eye with her finger. And when I had finally made it as a main-event-calibre wrestler in 2016, and I wanted to give my wife a house that we could grow old in, a house where we could raise our children – a forever house – there was no other place I wanted to be. There was no other place I wanted to look but here in New York…

She grows quiet for only a moment. I know that I am going to hear something about “being from Nome, Alaska” like it’s something I should be ashamed of. Maybe I’m not ‘New York born’ but New York is where I belong as much as Nome and as much as SCW. I have walked that one-hour distance to this arena, walking around it, wrestling within it, so many times. And to be fighting for the world championship here, here in this place, my home, with my children able to watch from ringside, it means the world to me! It’s at the top with main-eventing Rise to Greatness back in July!

The platinum-blonde holds up her hand for a moment towards the camera. But there’s something I want to make clear. Something I learned so quickly coming into a big city like New York. This… she gestures with a sweeping hand to the entirety of the arena. -this arena is so much a part of the history of New York, so much part of its identity. The history made here. Championships won, records broken, in many different sports – hell, I try and make the rounds on the world series every year, waiting for that year that the Yankees will FINALLY win another championship! she smiles, crossing her fingers in hope and laughing a little at how much of an effect her home has had on her.

But the thing is, as beautiful as this arena is, it is not the only thing that makes up New York. It is not the heart of New York. It is a part of New York, but there is so much more to it. It’s not just Broadway or the Statue of Liberty or Times Square, it’s not.

What I, and every single New Yorker knows is that New York – the heart of New York – is beyond that. It’s the people you meet when you walk down the streets. It’s the subways you have to take to get anywhere around here. It’s the damn rats in those subways that are as big as adult-sized shoes! It’s the hotdogs, it’s the panhandlers and performers on the street. It’s the guy you see sitting at the park every morning feeding the pigeons. It’s the people standing around Times Square singing loudly in the cold winter in homage to the late Stephan Sondheim. It is the good, it is the bad, it is the ugly parts of America all put together. It’s messages of hope, unity, hard work – cause that’s how the song goes, right? “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere! It’s up to you, New York, New York!

Licking her lips, Selena takes a slow breath, clearly showing her emotions to this state and city. That is what New York truly is… and in much the same way, the same is true about SCW. You see, this here? she runs her hand in a circle, gesturing towards the ring she stands in. SCW is so much about this. It’s our business, it’s our lifeline, it’s where we bring to all of you and what you are paying to see – what happens in this ring. We are Supreme Championship Wrestling…

But, at the same time, we are more than what happens in this ring, aren’t we? the young woman looks around the arena, the camera following her.

Which brings me to the current world champion, Cid Turner. And I’m going to start by giving you something that will just primp you right up, Cid. And that’s respect.

Selena takes a deep breath. Between these ropes, inside this ring, what SCW is so much about? You deserve to be world champion. You deserve to call yourself the best wrestler inside this ring. Syren, Datura, Bree Lancaster, Chris Cannon, me, you have turned back challenge after challenge, opponent after opponent, and you have done it on terms that could only define ‘supreme championship wrestling’. she holds up her hand towards the camera.

No, no, you have proven that, when that bell rings, you are nigh unbeatable. You’re not the smartest, not the fastest, not the strongest, but you more often than not find a way on your own and through your own abilities and I respect you for that, Cid. I truly do.

I want to take you back to Under Attack, Cid, and what that night meant to me. See, I’m not going to lie to you. I was upset when I was asked to keep integrity in the match as an official. I was upset because I wanted to be the one that beat Syren and Chris and Asher and you – even when Asher was removed, I wanted to be the one that beat three of the best in SCW. That was the wrestler in me. But that wasn’t meant to be.

But the thing is, I knew that if I was going to, eventually, get my rematch like Mr. O’Dwyer promised, I wanted to do the next best thing and beat the best out of those three. I wanted, when all was said and done between all of us: you, me, Syren, and Cannon and Asher, there would be no doubt to who was the rightful world champion. So, when I raised your hand that night, Cid, it didn’t hurt me. It didn’t upset me. It was what I wanted. It was what Deanna wanted. Because nobody can say ‘Co-World Champion’ anymore, including you and Asher. Nobody can say ‘Oh, well…’ like some kind of excuse. I’m not facing some ‘Co-World Champion’ like I did at Taking Hold of the Flame.

You wanted this all to be about you, didn’t you, Cid? Well, now it is! You, Cid Turner, are the RIGHTFUL World Champion. You, Cid Turner, quite easily the Male Wrestler of the Year, no question, are the best of SCW right now. A pause comes in to let her words settle.

That is what you have done inside this ring, Cid. That is what you have built for yourself in 2021 in this squared circle. You have fought and retained that world title when you’ve needed to and you have proven you are, and will be, one of the toughest competitors I will ever face - past, present, and future included.

Taking a deep breath, Selena gives a shrug of her shoulders. But like I said – like New York – SCW is more than what happens in the ring… she gestures to the canvas she stands on once more. SCW is more than just putting on a good match inside this ring. SCW is about standing for what you believe in, fighting for what you believe in, and choosing where you stand when things get tough. Like you have claimed to be, it’s about hope…both inside…

Suddenly, with graceful agility, Selena roll-flips off the turnbuckle, landing easily on her feet outside of the ring. And outside of the ring. And there, Cid, is where my respect for you ends – inside the ring.

Biting her lower lip, Selena looks down at her hands for a moment. I want to take you back a couple of years, Cid. Back to the year 2014, at the event that was ‘Total War’. Air Canada Center – an event that saw SCW face one of the darkest and deadliest factions in SCW, New Eden, in Tactical Warfare… For a moment, Selena seems a little lost in the memory as she speaks. Members like Red Rayne, one of the deadliest women in SCW history, Matt Auclair, the underground icon and hall of famer Rachel Foxx, Mika Kozlov, and Aiken against team SCW. Every single person having a condition added that would enact if they were the one that was pinned, from losing promised matches to being forced to retire...

As she walks around the ring, Selena stops at the rampway, casting her eyes up it to the platform under the large titantron screen. Right at the beginning, Team SCW’s David Helms was told that he couldn’t participate because of Silas Mason owning his contract, leaving SCW one fighter short. In response, Mr. D. placed all his faith in one person – a young rookie named Selena Frost, who wasn’t even finished her first year of wrestling. A rookie being told to stand with names like Syren, Ravyn, and Regan Street and defend SCW against one of the deadliest factions in SCW history.

Selena takes a deep breath. I remember that night. Where I could very well have taken David Helms’ punishment of ‘retiring immediately’ if I was pinned. I remember running down that ramp where Helms was waiting by the chamber, chair extended to hand to me. He looked at me and he said something I’ll never forget.

“Don’t fuck up. This is your chance.”

She pauses for a second, letting those words be heard in the silence. I’ll get to what happened later, Cid, but let’s fast forward a bit. One year later, I am fighting inside an elimination chamber at Under Attack with Dark Fantasy – a team, you know very well, by the way – against another stable that wants to rule SCW with an iron fist: Monarchy. Chris Cannon, Lucas Knight, and Trinity Street. And during that match, Trinity Street tries to punt kick Syren’s head off – to take her out of SCW as she vowed to do earlier…and I pushed her out of the way, taking the hit for me, buckling my ribs, and yet, helping my team win.

Selena’s head turns back towards the ring. I’ll give you one more, Cid. Tactical Warfare, Retribution 2019, arguably, as Sharper put it, the biggest match in SCW history. Four teams: Team SCW, Team Katya, Team Beauty Factory, Team Dark Fantasy, all fighting for ownership of SCW – a match that could see Sasha, Katya, Syren/Ravyn/CHBK, Sienna/Bree, or The Wonderland be put in charge of the company you currently claim to want to save…

Carefully, Selena hoists herself onto the apron of the ring, sitting on it. Now, I’m not telling you this to brag about my past, Cid. I’m telling you this because I have a simple question for you. All three of those matches, the world was put on my shoulders and I had a choice. Risk it all, including my very career and health, for the company that I loved and I believed in… or not. Was I scared? she nods her head. I was. I was terrified. What if I wasn’t strong enough? What if I wasn’t smart enough? What if I didn’t have what it took to protect the company and the people that I loved and respected? What if I let them all down? What if I lost my job? What if I failed the SCW Universe? What if I couldn’t provide for my family after this? On and on and on such thoughts ran in my head, Cid, every time I had to face these odds – these dangerous matches…

So, let me ask you, Cid… what do you think would have happened if you were in my place? What would you have done, Cid Turner?

She tilts her head. Because you’re ‘the hero’, right, Cid? That’s what you said last week? You were ‘the hero SCW needs’ and I’m just a ‘brainwashing’ manipulator, because that line hasn’t gotten old in eight years. So, what would you have done in those positions, Cid?

There is a moment of silence before Selena shakes her head. No, you don’t have to answer that, Cid, because that’s what I mean when I talk about what goes on ‘outside’ of this ring and ‘outside’ of matches.

And for over 150 days of this year, you have held that world championship, and for the majority of that, you spent most of your time letting other people talk for you, from Holly Adams to Asher Hayes. You let Asher Hayes fight most of your non-title battles and represent you while you sat around in your changeroom. You dressed up like a little clown on Holly’s talk-show, looking for where ‘you dropped your title’. And all the while, you kept promising SCW the same thing: change.

”I’m gonna give SCW a facelift!”
“Higher ratings!”
“Must see matches!”
“An end to the conspiracy of being held back!”

Do you remember that, Cid? I remember. Those were the promises you and Asher made to the world when Holly handed you the world title on a silver platter by screwing Suited and Booted. Promises that you couldn’t keep at Taking Hold of the Flame when I beat you… she shakes her head.

But that didn’t stop you or Asher, did it? On and on your talk came as you came back to challenge for the world title – passionate promises once more! Guarantees once more! But now there was a new development! This was a brand new Cid Turner! This wasn’t the man that cried for help or cried in the middle of the ring and begged to be ‘handed back the title when he lost it’. No! This was Cid Turner with the power of Gleebnorb! This was Cid Turner confident! This was Cid Turner – the ‘hero of SCW’! Yes! Hell, I was swept up in it! I even saw something new and unique in it! A brand new Cid Turner! Never had your voice been so loud! Never had your stock been so high!

And then on that one night in Denver, in your hometown, you beat me and regained the world championship! Your hometown folk were on their feet! The SCW Universe exploded, some cheered and some booed, but they all tuned in to Breakdown, ready for what you had promised them over and over again! Ready for change! Ready for that facelift! Ready for hope! Ready for a supposed ‘hero’!

Lowering her arm, Selena’s tone changes to one of knowing disappointment. And they were lied to just like last time. They were mislead by a false god like all your followers in that complex were mislead, Cid. Because at the end of the day, change wasn’t ‘higher ratings’. A ‘facelift’ wasn’t ‘must see matches’ put on by you. ‘Making SCW better and giving it hope’ wasn’t improving the brand of it. The only thing you meant with change was ‘make Cid Turner World Champion again’.

Carefully, Selena rolls back into the ring, jumping back to her feet. Because what did you do when the pressure was on you, Cid? What did you do when the world was put on your shoulders and people depended on you? Here! Let me show you!

Leaning against the ropes, Selena points the titantron that flickers on before the screen flashes and changes to a clip of Under Attack, the angle of the camera showing Cid Turner standing there during the Trios Tournament finals, purposefully watching as Xander pins Kennedy Street for the three-count and doing nothing as his team - the team he had taken for his best friend, Asher Hayes, loses. The clip ends with Cid Turner snapping his fingers in ‘disappointment’.

What did you do, Cid, when you were faced with a threat beyond wrestling?

The screen flashes to a clip of Breakdown a few weeks ago: with the Jackals’ Tommy Valentine, and Kandis and Drake Hemingway are standing before Cid backstage. The clip shows the world champion grabbing the nearby backstage-interviewer, Jessica Winters, and throwing her into the Jackals in order to make a getaway – to save himself. The clip stops before the camera turns back to Selena, her expression tense and her voice barely concealing her anger at the mistreatment of her friend.

What did you do when you were scared, Cid?

She glares back up to the titantron to watch as a clip is shown of Cid hiding behind a crate, hiding from Brittany Lohan before changing to Selena fighting Lohan, protecting Cid Turner, who throws up a thumbs up and then runs away from the scene. The camera returns to Selena, who’s been watching all these clips unfold as she leans on the ropes.

Is that the kind of ‘hero’ you are, Cid? Is that how you ‘save’ people? Is that how you ‘change SCW’ and ‘give it hope’? By abandoning them when they need you most? By giving up on everyone, including your best friend, when he’s in trouble? By throwing innocent non-wrestlers like my friend, Jessica, into the hands of people like the Jackals?! By dumping all of your problems on others – your followers – or on Deanna and I so you can ‘take credit’ later while we clean up YOUR mess?

Turning back into the ring, Selena shakes her head. That isn’t a hero, Cid. That is a coward. That is something that I teach my children never to be. That is a man that says words that he has never nor will ever truly mean. Words like ‘saving’ or ‘hero’ or ‘helping’ or ‘making a difference’. That is a man that will make any promise to anyone just to stay relevant or keep his power. Just to get what he wants. Ask Vixen Cain or Giovanni Aries - I’ve made a history of dealing with such liars and conmen.

The Snow Queen holds up a pale hand, extending two fingers. Twice now, Cid, I have, personally, listened to you spout your confidence about you and about Gleebnorb. I have listened to you try and use the same words over and over against me, even going as far as to throw my own catchphrase back at me more times in one segment that I have all week. All to try and convince me that you believe in something.

A sad laugh escapes her. Let me tell you something, Cid. I don't just say those words and that's it, because simply saying 'believe' a hundred times isn't enough! Words only get you so far. In this ring, outside this ring, in this world. You need to stand by your words – stand by your beliefs. And when the time comes that your beliefs are challenged or dared to be proven, you have to be willing to FIGHT for those beliefs! You have done none of that. All you have proven is that the only thing you truly believe in is that world title. Not Holly, not Asher, not SCW or the SCW Universe, not even Gleebnorb!

You have lied to your friends and your followers, you’ve left teammates and SCW high and dry, you’ve watched your best friend be dragged off to prison and done nothing, and all because Cid Turner only believes - all that truly matters to Cid Turner - is the world championship being in the hands of Cid Turner.

And as long as you have that, Cid, you say you are justified in all that you do. As long as you have that title, you think that you are free to fight when you want, run away when you want and do whatever you want whenever you want. You think that because you have that you are ‘automatically’ the best in the world and ‘automatically’ a hero and 'automatically' deserving of praise and followers.

Selena shakes her head as she stands in the ring. And just like SCW, just like New York, that title is not just about what happens in this ring! It is more than just winning a match in your hometown or winning a match when there’s no threat beyond the ring. It’s about coming here every night, putting in the time and fighting every challenger knowing you have a target on your back. It’s about, instead of running from a fight, you stand your ground and BRING the fight! It’s about being willing to risk your health and your career for this company and that championship, not because you have to, but because you believe in this company, that championship and the SCW Universe that fucking much! her voice echoes throughout the arena for a moment.

That is integrity, Cid. And if you really were a hero, if you had a shred of integrity, you wouldn’t have needed me at Under Attack to keep it in your match! If you had a shred of it, you wouldn’t have taken credit for ‘giving me the Unbelievable Main Event’. You would have admitted that I became world champion not because of you, but in spite of you! And if you had a shred of integrity, Cid, you wouldn’t have needed to hit me with title belts and chairs!

And if you were a hero with integrity, Cid, we wouldn’t be here talking about it, would we? We’d be talking about the match. We’d be talking about how well we know each other. We’d be talking about how hard we’re going to try and win this match. How we’re basically going to have kill each other to win this tie-breaker, throwing as many moves and inside cradles as we could to get that three-count! We’d be talking about how this is the most important world title match of the year, certainly is the most important world title match of my career! How our match will make the front page headlines of "The New York Times" tomorrow and highlight all the large LED screens of Times Square!

Closing her eyes, a sigh escapes the young woman. But we’re not. We’re not talking about that or how you changed SCW or saved people. We’re not talking about ‘the good of Gleebnorb’. We’re talking about how you and your group dragged SCW’s reputation through the dirt with a drug scandal. We’re talking about how, when push came to shove, you ran away from the likes of the Jackals and Brittany Lohan. We’re talking about how you’re the world champion and the biggest thing you've done is play 'supporting actor' to Holly Adam's vignettes!

You say that the SCW World title is ‘confidence’, I say that if you’re not enough without it, you’re nothing with it! I say that, while the SCW title is a crutch for you, to me it is a standard. A standard that you have failed to uphold and a standard that I have worked for years to raise up while you have stood there and done nothing as part of A/C Unit, taking the name of SCW and being the world champion and dragging it through the fucking mud, back to the days of Infamous and the Beauty Factory! Lowering her hand, Selena takes a deep breath.

Tonight, Cid, in our third encounter, I am going to become World Champion, not ‘because of you’, but, as I did before back in June, in spite of you. I am going to beat you because I want to be the best in SCW by beating the best – and right now, inside this ring, that is you. That is my reason. The method – the how I am going to find a way to beat you - is the fundamental difference between us and it isn’t our skills. It’s the word that’s been attached to my name for years, especially recently. The thing that you say I don’t have.

Integrity.

Because when the pressure was on me, I didn’t fuck up the chance David Helms gave me.
When Syren and SCW needed me, I didn’t hide in a pod.
And when I was scared of failing SCW, I didn’t run away.

I have helped shape dreams and have helped make them come true. I have protected and, even in a small way, saved this company over and over again. I have fought, tooth and nail, for my beliefs - my body scarred and bloodied over and over again because, in the end, I refuse to let fear, loss, and pain take away my integrity, my pride, and my belief in every part of this company and its people!

The Snow Queen lifts her arms a little before dropping them. That will be the difference, Cid, because I refuse to ‘hide’ or 'have someone else' fight this match for me. I refuse to ‘do nothing’ as you try and continue this mockery of being ‘a hero’ and ‘changing SCW’. I refuse to ‘run away’ and ‘fuck up this chance’, no matter how I feel!

Tonight, Cid, I am going to beat you. Even with Gleebnorb in your corner, I am going to beat you. Not because I want to be ‘a hero’ or a ‘savior’ or a ‘god’, but because I want to be the best. Because I want a world champion that stares down monsters and threats and stands up to them rather than runs from them. I want a world champion that will stand in protection of non-wrestlers when they are being bullied, endangered, or harassed, not use them as shields. I want a world champion that will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other wrestlers as they take on the world, not hide behind them. I want a world champion that truly cares about these people and this company! I want a world champion that, when the words ‘hope’ and ‘integrity’ are used, they actually mean something worthwhile with action that defines them!

Staring into the camera, Selena shakes her head at her opponent. And no matter how many times you steal my catchphrase, Cid. No matter how many times you try and be me, and beg me to believe it and you, I will never believe that that ‘world champion of integrity’ will ever be you. And tonight, in my hometown of New York, in front of my family, I will prove that beyond a shadow of a doubt...

Sapphire eyes filled with passion and hope narrow, a happy smile forming on the Snow Queen's lips. Whether you want to believe it…or not.

The camera fades on the smiling Selena Frost before completely going to dark.

[Cid]

Bluebird is Dead