Greene vs. The One vs. Ducky vs. Deanna Frost vs. Owen Cruze vs. Allocco

[Konrad Raab]

Chamber Match

Winner receives World Championship Shot on December 1, 2022 (If Adam Allocco wins and Xander Valentine is still champion, he can choose another title to challenge for)

2 RP Limit for singles

Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET SUNDAY, November 6, 2022 *NOTE EXTENDED DEADLINE TO ACCOMMODATE LATE SHOW*

[TheOne]

EXODUS: Chapter Six

As much of an action movie situation it was, it was what needed to be done, to get The Oracle to safety, and do so in a manner that was swift and successful.  But the trip wasn't complete and over yet.  We had to get The Oracle and her brother to somewhere that we felt they could be safe and finally relax.  After always looking over their shoulder, we knew they deserved a place where they could have someone take care of them and quit living worrying about every sound, creak, or knocking at the door.  And it was Hailey who suggested we go to the other side of the state, where she had been ostracized to all of those years ago, and let the pair stay in the same safe haven she was in...

With her family...

When Hailey lost her battle with The Original One, her and her family were banished from The Compound's reach and due to much in the way of blackmail, ordered to never talk about their experiences or the existence of the facility.  So they went far enough away and started life, anew.  Hailey knew this was out of any knowledge or reach that The Prophets may have, and truly made me feel like this was the best course of action.  After meeting her parents and seeing where this location was, enough off of the beaten path, but still with enough resources and stuff to do so that it wasn't moving from one "safe house" to another, I agreed that this place did feel adequate.  The Oracle, in her infinite wisdom, agreed.  She said she could see this being a good home for them for the near future, until everything calmed down and she and her brother could finally go out on their own and begin their lives in peace.

So after a couple of days of getting everyone settled, and enjoying a little relaxation for once, Hailey and I knew we had to head back, and continue what we started.  But we needed to be smart about it.  We needed to know what The Prophets were asking of others in order to get what they wanted, and ultimately get to them.  So we elected to go back through another entry point into the town and get into the shadows as quickly as we could.  What was unexpected was the seemingly lack of surveillance for us by this point.  We expected there to be more eyes on us, or looking for our return, than we saw when we first made it back into town.  We also took this with a grain of salt knowing that The Oracle was the main prize of The Prophets and they wouldn't just give up because we made it outside of their immediate reach.

As Hailey and The One do their best to stealthily make their way into town, they know they have to begin to get some reconnaissance on what The Compound is doing in regard to them.  They try to look casual, when being on open streets, and avoid eye contact with everyone they can.  They were able to get new and less assuming clothes from Hailey's parents to ensure they didn't look the same or stand out in the crowd.  As they reach the more heavily foot-trafficked parts of town, they occasionally stop and do their best nonchalant eavesdropping of the people around them, and listening for any cues that someone who knows something may be near.

While this goes on for hours, and it becomes later and later, they know that the likelihood of finding anyone is dwindling and they're going to need to find somewhere to crash for the night.  They retreat into an alleyway where they can talk a little more openly and freely, and begin discussing their plans to wrap up for the night.  As they stand in the darkness of this alley, a cop car whizzes by and uses it's siren to obviously get the attention of someone.  A commotion begins and the pair look at one another with a curious mindset and decided to stay in the shadows but rubberneck.

That's when things take a turn they didn't expect.

The One immediately sees the officer yelling at someone, and she recognizes him as one of the people who is on The Prophet's payroll, that keep law enforcement away from The Compound.  Hailey sees the man standing beside the office, and immediately becomes enraged, as The Original One, the one who had embarrassed and beaten her up, is in her sights.  The One looks and sees him, recognizing him as well, and her gaze immediately shifts to Hailey, who tries to come out of the shadows and storm the man and seek revenge.  As Hailey makes a sudden move, The One pushes her back and whispers.

The One: Stop... Not now... We don't act on raw emotion or we'll fuck up and they'll win...

Hailey is still infuriated at the mere sight of the man who cast her out of her hometown, and knows one day she will want her revenge.

Hailey: Just let me have one shot at him... Please...

The One shakes her head, and Hailey's voice gets louder.

Hailey: For fuck's sake PLEASE?!

The One turns and gets in her face, still whispering.

The One: Shut... Up!  That's not how you told me we act, and I'm not letting you forget who you are, you understand me?

Hailey begins to realize that she truly did impact The One in the way she used to think, and begins to remind herself internally of those same mantras.  She realizes that letting her emotions take over is exactly what got her thrown out of town because she wasn't truly ready, and in recognizing all of this, takes a deep breath and nods.

The One: Listen... I promise you will get your chance at this guy.  We will have plenty of opportunities, especially if they've enlisted him to assist again...

With Hailey settled down, the two take up a position to see what is going on and see what the commotion is about.  The Original One, having heard Hailey exclaim but not be able to make out what she said, looks back and sees the two figures, but does not see any features.  He just assumes they're random onlookers or some random couple simply arguing.  He has no clue he's staring down the two individuals he is likely seeking, but instead turns his attention to the man that he and the officer flagged down... The owner of the motel where The Oracle was being guarded by The One.  The Original One approaches the man with anger, and begins to interrogate him in front of any and everyone who may be looking on.

The Original One: HEY... YOU... I have some damn questions for you... Why did you let them in there?  Why in the HELL would you let them use our safe house as a means of skipping town like that?!

Old Man: I told you guys already... I didn't know it was a plan to move The Oracle out of town!

The Original One: Then where were you getting those stacks of cash we saw?!

For some reason, the motel owner tries to cover his tracks.

Old Man: I had a good run at the casino!  Where else would it have come from?

The Original One: They're buying your silence still, aren't they?!

The cop approaches the man.

Officer: You realize this is an ongoing case and lying to me is going to put you in potential legal jeopardy... So I suggest you cooperate!

Old Man: That's the thing!  I didn't know why they were there minus the fact she told me I was doing The Prophets bidding by protecting The Oracle and staying silent about her whereabouts.  It wasn't until you guys all showed up that I found out what was really going on, or else I would have said something and reported it back to The Prophets!  She said The Oracle was in grave danger and I was being utilized to protect her.

Officer: Why didn't you ask more questions?  Why did you just go along with her scheme so willingly?

The owner, an older man, looks over at The Original One.

Old Man: Last time I was ever contacted directly was by him, and he told me if I ever asked questions about what he was doing or why, I'd regret it...

The officer looks over at The Original One and sees The Original One snarl.

The Original One: Nobody EVER questions my motives, period.  But the fact is... I think he's telling the truth.  If he knew more, he wouldn't have risked us showing up unannounced.  He would have taken more precautions.  But we need to find out where those two bitches took The Oracle.  She's the key.  She's our goal.  Not this old fuck...

Officer: And how do we do that?

Old Man: You have to find where they're holding her against her will and get her...

This comment from the old man brings out the rage in The One, herself, and she tries to make a b-line out of the shadows toward them all.  This time, it's Hailey who holds her partner back and immediately begins to calm her down.  She and The One go back to watch as The Original One hands a stack of cash.

The Original One: Now THIS is from The Prophets.  If you find or hear about the location of The Oracle before we do, there will be more where this came from...

The old man nods, and is told to get moving.  The man simply nods again and begins walking in the direction of where the two shadowy figures were seen earlier.  As he reaches their location, he's immediately grabbed by the shirt by The One, and dragged into the alleyway.  He tries to make a noise but immediately has his mouth covered by her hand.  Hailey sees The Original One glance in the direction, seeing the man had vanished, and looks around confused.  He hears and sees nothing, and initially assumes that the man panicked and ran for his life.

Meanwhile in the alleyway, the old man is being pinned against the wall and is staring The One in the face with horror.  Her hand is still covering his mouth but her arm is pressed up against his throat.  Hailey leans in right next to his ear.

Hailey: Shhh... It's in your best interest...

The One begins to speak to him, but does so in a whisper.

The One: You're not going to do a fucking thing regarding The Oracle, if you even want to survive this entire ordeal, do you understand?

The old man nods.

The One: ... The Prophets, they're no long in charge of this situation.  The two of us, we control this world now.  The fact is, whether you knew it or not, you helped keep The Oracle safe, and because of that, I will one day owe you a debt of gratitude, as long as you keep your mouth shut.  You stay out of sight and out of mind, I'll make sure you're rewarded in a way that will make you comfortable for the rest of your life.  Understand?

The old man nods, just like he did with The Original One.  The One slowly removes her hand, in case the old man decides to make a sound.  He makes no sound, and she lowers her forearm from his throat.

The One: The Oracle is long since gone from this area, and she's safe.  Now... We're bringing The Compound and The Prophets down.  And knowing that information, I'm giving you the chance to be smart or dumb with it.  It's your choice...

The old man looks around an nods, before out of nowhere exclaiming...

Old Man: HELP!!  HELP ME!!  THE ONE!!

Hailey, without missing a beat, swings and knocks the man out cold.  The Original One hears this exclamation and begins to make his way toward the alleyway where the sound came from.  Before reaching the alleyway, the old man's body is tossed out onto the sidewalk, effectively at the feet of The Original One.  The stack of cash he gave the old man comes flying out of the alleyway covering the man and the sidewalk, with the final note falling into The Original One's hand with the number 1 written in dark, thick, black, permanent marker on it.  The Original One immediately goes to the entry of the alleyway and sees the pair at the opposite end, this time, smiling and waving back at him.  He then sees the two flip him the bird.

This show of disrespect and also showing they have stepped back onto The Compound's territory defiantly, enrages The Original One, and instead of pursuing the two, he kicks the old man in the gut out of frustration.  He then turns back toward the officer and begins running toward the squad car.

Old Man: SHE'S ALONE NOW!  WE HAVE TO GO FIND HER!

The two jump in the car, and Hailey and The One can hear the car speed off, with the police sirens running hot.  They look at one another, and know that they will be trying to sniff out where The Oracle could be.  They know they have to begin to act quicker before The Original One gets on her scent.

My predecessor being back in the game really made me realize how real this situation had become in the eyes of The Prophets.  If they were going to go with their former enforcer, their former muscle, and the man who extorted much of the clientele, they are desperate to get this "battle" won and Hailey and I out of the picture.

But we are not deterred.

The Oracle is safe.  She is in a place far enough away that to sniff out how we got there would take a lot of time and a lot of blackmailing in order to get the information needed.  But these guys are rich.  These Prophets know who and how to buy people off.  The question is, who acts quicker?



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



{PROMO}

Post Breakdown, the world saw The One stand beside an opponent, fighting back against those who tried to take control of their match, The One has since been put into a match for the pay-per view that could ultimately change every trajectory of her career.  This match will be inside one of the most vile structures SCW has to offer, and that is the CHAMBER, and the reward?

An opportunity to vie for the SCW World Championship...

This is not something The One expected.  Her reign as the Television Champion, she expected, to be what began to define her career in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  But now... There is a new chance to define her in a much greater aspect that she never expected.  This would be becoming the one, true, ultimate, contender for the industry's top prize and top accolade.

It is something that has sat with her in multiple ways.  It's sat well... It's sat annoyed... It's sat sad... But it's still been at the forefront of her mind since the announcement, and she knows it's been at the same forefront of those also in the match.  Why?  Because it would give The One the opportunity to have walked in at Taking Hold of the Flame as a nobody, and exited 2022 as, potentially, the SCW World Champion.  And the idea is desirable.  Why wouldn't it be?  For The One, she'd be at the top of the food chain, and have walked in a nobody, out of left field, but regardless, it's the CHAMBER itself, that lies in her path, fully blocking her from the opportunity that she would want as much as anyone else in the match.

As she sits in her locker room, that she shared with other members of the roster, she just sits there looking down.  She still sits in her ring gear, remembering everything that happened, when her match was interrupted.  She wanted her title reign to be something she defined.  She wanted her wins and losses to be something she was in charge of.  But instead, another no contest.  Another match that adds to the relative mediocrity that has been what, on paper, others have seen.

As the camera, known to be in the room with her, begins to zoom closer to The One, she wastes no time giving her thoughts and views on Breakdown, and also, what's ahead in the future of The One in SCW...

I wish I could say that I didn't expect this to happen at some point.  I wish I could say that being a champion, having that piece of gold, having the prize that people jerk off for, wouldn't illicit the reception that Calvan and I received at Breakdown because, honestly, it shows how Supreme Championship Wrestling fears what The One is here to do.  It shows how much that SCW alumni, and their brethren, are scared to succumb to the idea that this organization is about to turn the page and have some new delegation lead the way in to a new chapter, a new world, and a new livelihood in the world of SCW.

Everyone is fucking frightened!

People are scared that some newbie like The One has decided to walk into an established entity like SCW and demand change, and actualy do what is natural to ENFORCE change as well.  And they don't know how to handle the situation because for YEARS, the better part of the 2010s and 2020s, they have gotten used to the same ole same ole.  They have gotten used to the same people doing the same things and in some cases, taking time away, and then going to the status quo in a manner that has created them a way to disproportionately seem a little more "ahead of the game."

And that is what brings us people like who are in the CHAMBER match, come Under Attack...

But before I get to that match, let me talk to the ones who decided to create this diatribe from me.  Let me look directly into the eyes of those who got involved with Calvan and I, and ultimately ruined my opportunity at a successful defense of the Television Championship...

EAT A BAG OF DICK!

The One scowls, standing up from her chair in the locker room and looking into the camera.

I don't know who you guys or girls were.  And honestly... I don't give two flying shits about it.  You two decided that you were relevant enough to involve yourself in MY BUSINESS, and in turn, tell the world that you were somehow linked to my platform of change in the future of SCW.  You proved it by attacking both Calvan and I.  You didn't focus one, and hint that the CHAMPION was who you feared, but instead attacked the champion AND the challenger, thus showing the world you're equally as scared of Calvan as you are The One.  You showed the world that you were fearful of us both, and, possibly, in turn, you could be another beneficiary of what is happening at Under Attack.  You could be someone who leaned back, and hopefully created a scenario that would be more highly beneficial to YOU and YOUR LIKE, rather than Calvan or myself...

The problem is, I don't give two flying fucks...

You see, everyone wants me to come out and accuse Persons A, B and C about their reasoning for attacking us and make accusations that I don't know nor will make without clear cut evidence.  So I don't.  I simply say that you guys coming down there and ruining a match between an SCW veteran trying to break through his glass ceiling, and a newcomer trying to continually shatter anything someone puts forward as a roadblock, and that's not wise.  Two people with that much motivation, with that much desire, you are making yourself turn into a victim.  Because The One is someone who doesn't take things lightly.  She doesn't let people get into her business without understand there WILL be consequences.  And when you two are figured out... When you two finally stop hiding, you will pay your penance.  You will suffer your fate.  And you will fall to The One, and probably Calvan, because while he and I may not see eye to eye, I see you robbed him of an opportunity as well.

And while I may still be a champion... I'm not OK with staying a champion like that... So Calvan... Heed my words... If I keep ahold of this, I will push for you to get a fair rematch.  I'm not here to be liked or make friends... But I'm not here to be someone who skirts by, when she's trying to establish change across the board...

NOW, though... That does bring me to Under Attack, and a match that I could conceivably come out here and talk about as menacing, destructive, murderous of bodies, and many definitions like I talked up the Underground Title match I had.  I could say a lot of the same things about how this carnage is what I like, but I would be lying because I just told the world before winning this that I realized in that moment, I wasn't of the mindset for the world of the Underground, right now.  That could always change... But The One and the Underground don't mesh.  But this structure... This cage... This ominous breeder of violence isn't the same as the world of the Underground because it's not designed to be a harbinger of pain and suffering.  No... It's a way to ensure everyone stays put and stays in their spot.  It's a structure that doesn't let anyone, or anything impact what is happening became what this structure is, is simple...

It's an apparatus to ensure only the STRONGEST survive...

Not the most ruthless... Not the most evil... Not the person risking to dumb the entrails of their opposition on the mat... No...

The STRONGEST...

The CHAMBER, in the lore of SCW has been the one structure that has created many who have turned pages in the history books of the organization.  This structure has created some of the greats because it has forced everyone to go in and be willing to lay it on the line and fight.  It wasn't about gruesome behavior, it about was about fighting.  And THAT IS something that has defined The One and her ascent to where she is today.  Fighting... Fighting is what I do.  I didn't become The One by saying I was some practitioner of some style of combat, no, I just had to go out and outsmart one person in a fight.  And I did that.  I outsmarted one person because when they weren't paying attention, I kicked the motherfucker in the balls and kneed him in the temple, and took a selfie with him.  It was just a fight, and his dumbass was outsmarted during it.

And thus, The One, as you see her, was born...

It's a heartwarming story... Full of everything you'd see in a 90s, TV show on TGIF on ABC.  Right?  Just that wholesome, family, comedy, with the comedic relief character next door, the stern father figure, the female comedic relief in the shape of the wife or daughter, my story and this CHAMBER just make the case for another reboot of another sitcom on your favorite streaming service, am I right?

The One looks at the camera with a cheesy grin, before rolling her eyes, and going back to her serious tone.

This match, for me, represents something that encompasses where I come from.  I am a victim and a product of being confined in a closed space and being forced to adapt.  Before The One was christened, she was a pacing tiger in a cage, and come Under Attack, I will be in my pod, waiting for my turn, if I'm not starting out, and I will be pacing until I am unleashed on my prey and I get my chance to do what I have done this entire run I have had in SCW.  I would go in there and FIGHT!

And I am not going into a fight with just nobodies...

I am not being thrown a slab of easy prey to eat at my leisure...

No this match is riddled with the PRIDE of SCW past, present, and future!

Look at the lineup... Calvan Greene, Ducky, Deanna Frost, Owen Cruze, and Adam Allocco, all in this match along with The One.  It is something that, to be honest, is a fight that I am walking into with some nerves, I won't lie.  Crazy people, former champions, people just happy to be there, it is a menagerie of talent that all bring something new and different to the fight, and if I am going to plan on and expect to win, guess what I have to do?  I have to be more willing to adapt to whatever I am faced with.  I have to be willing to adjust my style and my gameplan on the fly, and yet, unlike with the Underground match, I don't have to necessarily be someone OTHER than myself.  I have to be able to figure out how to compete with all of these styles and all of these conflicting ways of wanting to win.

But thank about if I do...

Think about if The One emerges as the NUMBER ONE CONTENDER for the biggest accolade in this business?

Think about if the legendary SCW supervillian, Xander Valentine, is faced with The One as his next opponent to defend his championship?

What would this world be coming to, that this newcomer, someone who barely is in the double digits of matches, wins the true ultimate opportunity?

Simply put it would prove that what I have said since I arrived on the scene at Taking Hold of the Flame is the world in which we all live.  It would mean that there is a new generation of talent in SCW and professional wrestling, bringing it BACK from the brink of being a forgotten world.  It would prove that I was never "just talk," but instead was truly the innovator of change and leader of the rising from the ashes that SCW has needed for YEARS.

But if that is to happen, then I have to be sure that I am ready for anything.  Like I said, this conglomerate of opposition presents their own respective challenge.  I have to take them all seriously.  None are a throwaway opponent.  So I have to be able to adjust, like I said... I have to be willing to do whatever it takes.  I also have to always keep my head on a swivel because at any moment someone could always sneak up behind me and take it all away from me in a heartbeat.  Effectively, I have to do one thing, and one thing well...

I have to be The One!

So I hope that everyone is listening.  Whether we've crossed paths before or this is a first, understand that I am doing my homework.  I am taking the time to make sure I know everything I can about each of your styles, no matter how unique or traditional it may be.  I will be willing to adapt, fight, and do whatever I can to take you each off of your game, because I don't know who I will have to go through.  I could be the last in, and it be one or two people waiting on me.  I could be the first, and have EVERYONE ahead of me.  I don't care.  I am that caged lioness who is slowly being cornered, and realizing that she is about to have to come out swinging to defend her young until the bitter end.

This is my moment to truly do everything I have said I was here to do...

This is my chance to shock the world, and take SCW by the throat, long before it ever expected to have The One staring them down...

I never expected this moment, but I am not going to be letting it slip through my fingers...

And THAT, like death and taxes, is the FUCKING TRUTH!

Just... Like... THE ONE![/align]

The One simply goes back to looking at the ground, contemplating both what is in front of her, and what just happened that night.  She is now beginning to realize that she needs her head on a constant swivel.  She needs to be prepared to be taken to task at any time by any point, if she is willing to openly call out everyone in SCW's past, and insult and demean what they accomplished.  She also realizes that, while this is a possibility, she has an opportunity in front of her that is more than she ever expected in such a short tenure in the organization, and knows that it could represent the definitive moment where everything in SCW truly changes.

[Owen]

+++ ‘Charlottes’ Bar – Miami 1st October 2022 +++

It had been a while since he’d been able to spend time in the bar, life having gotten more than a little busy over the course of the last few months. Owen wasn’t complaining, far from it in fact, Owen was glad that everything was going so well right now, and it never wanted that to change. It didn’t mean however that his spare time was at a premium and walking into the bar he had hoped that Charlotte would be happy to see him. And although she gave him a smile, and was outwardly the same, there was something about her demeanor that was troubling him. As if there was something she had on her mind. Owen knew better than to push it however, and after sitting at the bar for almost twenty minutes, Charlotte goes on her break, the two of them sitting in the booth which was their usual place whenever Owen came around. It had gotten to the point now whereby Charlotte only saw Owen as a good friend, any feelings for him having diminished over time after he had gotten engaged to Jennifer. She liked them, and was happy for them both, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t taken some time. Owen was different to most people his age, he seemed to care about people which was one of the most important attributes in a man as far as Charlotte was concerned. She was however happy to have him in her life as a friend, no matter how little, or how much she saw him. It didn’t mean however that she didn’t feel the need to rib him at every opportunity.

Charlotte: So, finally decided to grace us with your presence huh?

Owen: I’m sorry, it’s just been so busy of late. What with sorting out the Shelter, the Wedding and that’s not even getting started on the wrestling.

Charlotte: That fine and all, but I was joking. It’s good to see you Owen, I know how busy you are. So how are the wedding preparations going? Or do I need to ask Jennifer that question?

Owen: I’ll have you know I’ve been very involved.

Charlotte: Good, and so you should be. Got a venue and stuff, or are you going to have the reception here?

Owen: No disrespect, but I reckon I can do better than that

Charlotte: Rude.

They both laugh, Owen picking up his drink and having a sip.

Charlotte: No seriously though…

Owen: It’s a place called Clearwell Castle, June the 17th 2023. 

Charlotte: A castle? Well, La-Di-Daa.

Owen: Give over…

Charlotte: So, I need to start calling you Lord Owen and Lady Jennifer?

Owen: No, it’s seriously not that big a deal.

Charlotte: Oh, I bet Jennifer would be happy to hear that.

Owen: That’s not what I mean…

Owen pauses, seeing the smirk on Charlotte face, and he immediately stops, knowing that he was being wound up yet again. He pulls out his mobile phone and brings up a picture of the castle, sliding it across the table for Charlotte to look at. She picks it up and nods her head approvingly, before giving it him back.

Charlotte: It looks nice Owen… those grounds are spectacular; the Bar can’t compete with those views. When you come back from your honeymoon though I’d like to throw you guys a party if you’d let me? A good old Charlottes party

Owen: Sure thing, I’d like that. And you’re invited, so you can come over right?

Charlotte hesitates, and Owen doesn’t miss the hesitation, Charlotte nodding her head.

Charlotte: Yeah of course… wouldn’t miss it for the world. 

Owen: Good… 

Charlotte: Will Shaun be there?

Owen rolls his eyes, and temporarily forgets the hesitation.

Owen: Yes, he will. He’s my best man… Angyalka will be there too. 

Charlotte: Well, that is a shame. I know he wants me.

Owen: Have you seen Angyalka… dude doesn’t even look at other women.

Charlotte: In that case then, I’ll have to bring out the heavy artillery.

She squeezes her breasts together, immediately embarrassing Owen who doesn’t know where to look, Charlotte chuckling to herself.

Charlotte: Look Owen, look at them, you’ll not telling me that Shaun could resist having a go.

Owen: For God’s sake Charlotte put them away.

Charlotte laughs out loud, before cupping her drink as opposed to her sweatshirt, and she takes a sip, enjoying Owen’s embarrassment. 

Charlotte: I’m only playing Owen, I know Shaun wouldn’t look at me twice, Angyalka is beautiful.

Owen: Yeah, and so are you…

Now it is Charlottes turn to blush, Owen however not noticing.

Owen: He just loves his wife and wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize that. Even someone as amazing as you. 

Charlotte: Aww, I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.

Owen: I doubt that very much. 

Charlotte: It really is… best I normally get is drunken attempts at flirting from the locals.

Owen takes another sip from his drink, plucking up the courage to breach a question whereby he wasn’t sure he wanted the answer.

Owen: Charlotte, is everything ok?

At first Charlotte looks confused, as if she doesn’t recognize why she’s being asked the question. Then, it’s the realization that Owen was one of the best judges of mood that she knew. Finally, it’s the need to get something off her chest that she has needed to for the past couple of months. It’s then her turn to take a drink, and in fact she finishes off the shot, and shouts Scott to bring over the bottle. Once that arrives, and some pleasantries between Scott and Owen are over, and another drink is poured, she starts to speak. Her tone surprisingly serious.

Charlotte: There is something wrong…

Owen: Well, seeing as you’ve just a whole bottle of Jack Daniels brough over, I kind of figured that out. What’s wrong, are you ill or something?

It was the first thing to enter Owen’s mind and it wasn’t surprising considering what he had been through in the past. He breathes a sigh of relief when she shakes her head.

Charlotte: No, I’m perfectly healthy. In some ways I wish it was that, because then at least I’d know what to do. Get medicine, have an operation… at least it could more than likely be sorted.

Owen: So, what’s going on?

Charlotte motions with her hands, Owen moving his eyes with them.

Charlotte: It’s this place… the bar.

Owen: What, you’re doing alright aren’t you? It’s packed out some nights.

Charlotte: Some nights yeah, if we have something going on, but it needs to be packed out most nights… every night in fact. I thought I could support it with my savings, but then those savings evaporated, and I had to take out a couple of loans. In all honestly, I don’t see how I see out the month, never mind the year. The place is in trouble Owen, and I don’t see any way out of it. It’s sinking, and it’s sinking fast.

Owen: Can’t you cut back on staff or something? 

Charlotte: There’s only me and Scott working most of the time as it is, anyone else has either left, or I’ve had to let them go. I’ve cut back the staff, even got a new deal on liquor, the fact is none of it is making any difference. The only way I see of getting out of this is selling to one of the big chains, but who knows that they would do to it. The locals are used to this kind of atmosphere, I couldn’t do that to them.

Owen: Thing is Charlotte, the locals aren’t enough to keep the place open, are they? 

Charlotte: I don’t want to sell Owen. This place was my fathers, he built it from the ground up. Some of the people that come here, they knew him. I couldn’t do that to his memory. 

Owen: So, you’d rather it closed?

Charlotte: If it comes down to a choice Owen, yes, I would rather the place closed rather than be a corporate hellhole. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself walking past a faceless building with no soul. No, I won’t do it… no way.

Owen leans back in the booth, the glistening in her eyes telling him that she was close to tears, something that he had never seen before as long as he had known her. Already he had made his mind up what he was going to do, he couldn’t allow a friend to feel as desperate as Charlotte obviously did. He had the means to help, so why shouldn’t he? 

Owen: Now, I know what you’re going to say, but take what I am about to say in before you react. 

Charlotte: Oh?

Owen: Let me help you, let me pay off the debts and put you back on your feet.

Charlotte: NO… I can’t allow you to do that.

Owen: Why?

Charlotte: Because it isn’t your problem.

Owen: Of course, it’s my problem, where will I get a drink and the witty banter?

Charlotte only shrugs and doesn’t even give a smile never mind a chuckle.

Owen: Seriously, I can help you… so let me. Please.

Charlotte: I don’t know Owen. I mean, I appreciate the offer, honestly, I do. But the simple fact is we need more customers, more people through that door. In time, I’d just be in the same situation, and then I’d be in debt to you as well.

Owen: OK, well in that case call it a cash injection. An investment in the business. I’ll be a silent partner… maybe we can do something to get more people in. Shaun’s a movie star for Christ’s sake… maybe he could help?

Charlotte: I can’t put all this on you… it’s my business so it’s my problem.

Owen: So, let it be my business too. Let me help me Charlotte, I want to.

Charlotte lowers her head, her pride clearly getting in the way of what made sense.

Owen: Just think about it huh? The offer is there, and it will be there if you need. OK?

Charlotte: OK… and thank you Owen. It’s sweet of you to care.

Owen: Of course, I care, I wouldn’t be much of a person if I didn’t.

Charlotte finally finds a smile, but the truth was Owen didn’t know what she would do. What worried Owen most was that Charlotte wasn’t the buoyant, bouncy person she usually was and if Owen wasn’t wrong, it seemed like she was clearly depressed. He had to do something, and if it meant funding her then that was what he would do. And anyway, he liked this place, and knew there were many others that did too.

+++ Shaun Cruze Residence – Los Angeles 4th October 2022 +++

Owen hadn’t heard from Charlotte since, and he didn’t know if that was a bad thing or good. He didn’t want to seem pushy but knew the time would come when he might have to ask again, even if it seemed like he was interfering. That aside, with everything now starting to fall into place, and arrangements being made for the School, Owen knew it was time to turn his attention to something else that he had been meaning to sort out. With Breakdown moving onto Montreal this week, and the fact that he and Jennifer were going to spend a vacation there after the show until it was time for the following weeks show in Mexico, Owen knew it was best to get it sorted before they left. Taking the opportunity to also see other family, Taylor, and Kloe the most important, he now found himself at Shaun’s house, Shaun surprise when he opens the door obvious. Ushering him into the house, which was strangely quiet, Owen then follows Shaun into the kitchen, Shaun immediately going into the refrigerator and throwing him a Coors. 

Shaun: Didn’t expect to see you here today? What are you thinking, we share a flight to Montreal?

Owen: Well, that’s not going to happen, is it? I’ve been lucky so far as in no one has brought up any favoritism. And I’m not going to give them the opportunity either.

Shaun: You care too much what other people say.

Owen: No, I care to much about getting to where I want to be without anyone being able to say that I got help to get there. It’s bad enough my uncle being the General Manager of SCW, I sure as hell don’t want to be seen getting off a flight with him. No, Jenni and I will be catching a flight together. 

Shaun: No worries… everything still rainbows and unicorns with the two of you?

Owen: Yeah, in fact we are going on vacation after the show and going to take in Canada. Been there so many times but never had time to just stop and admire the sights. Plus, I’ve been so busy of late, I’ve not given her the attention she deserves. 

Shaun: I get that… thankfully I’ve done all the hard work, and now I can sit back and let people work for me. SCW is about the most tiring thing I do these days.

Owen: That sounds like someone who has had enough

Shaun: Oh no… not at all. I’ll do the job for as long as the company wants me to do, and I think that when I leave, I will have left it in a better place. It’s just I’ve got assistants that do all the hard work at Impact Media, I occasionally sign the paperwork and that’s about as taxing as it gets. Thing is with SCW, most of the decisions are made on merit, and I live or die by those decisions. And let’s face it, the roster will never agree with most of them so it’s pointless worrying about it.

Owen: If you are doing what’s best, and SCW is happy, that’s all that matters.

Shaun: Exactly… the likes of Kim however will never get that you can’t just say something and make it happen. Every case must be taken on its merits. So, I haven’t really asked, how are you? 

Owen: Me?

Shaun: Yeah, Kloe tells me that you’ve been throwing yourself into all kinds of projects, not taking on too much are you? 

Owen: The school?

Shaun: Exactly, I know what it’s like having to run one of those places, and Icon didn’t have a shelter to deal with as well.

Owen: I don’t run it; Finch and Chloe do. Jason takes care of training with Willow. I guess it’s a bit like you, other people do the really hard work, I just ‘facilitate’ I guess. I’m not a businessman Shaun, I’m a wrestler, but I also know that I won’t always be able to do the things I do, and that because of the risks, my career could be taken away from me in a heartbeat. It took me a long time to realize that Dad’s legacy, even your legacy wasn’t built around simple wrestling, there was a whole raft of other stuff besides. You and Dad gave back, and that’s what I’m trying to do. But I’m not stupid enough to think I can do it alone.

Shaun: And what about wrestling… I know the defeat to Josh was tough to take.

Owen: It was, but not in the way you think. 

Shaun: No?

Owen: It wasn’t because he’s a dick or rubbed his victory in my face. It was more because I firmly believe that I should have beaten him. Josh is one of the greatest technicians of our time, and whether he cares to admit it or not, I equaled him… and I’m only 22 years old. He got lucky, and if I get the chance again, I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Shaun: I’ll be sure to reassure Kloe for you that everything’s ok. 

Owen: Yeah, do that… make sure she realizes that this year I’ve grown up so much and I’m nothing like that naïve little boy that won the World title the first time. I’m building a life, not just for me, but for me and Jennifer. I can see our future and I’m going to take it.

Shaun had to admit, hearing Owen speak like this, it was like listening to Orlando all those years ago, the last time they spoke. He had just separated from Taylor and was looking forward to a life of giving back to a business that had made him. He was happy, content even. Looking into Owen right now, he could see that same contentment, and a desire to claim the life he believed he had earned. Shaun had never been as proud of his nephew than he was right now, and he hoped Owen recognized that.

Shaun: So, was this just a social visit or was there something else?

Owen: Yeah, there’s something else.

Owen takes a sip of his Coors; Jack Daniels would have been better for Dutch courage.

Owen: I’m just going to say it Shaun… no massive build up. Will you be my Best Man?

Shaun seems genuinely shocked, but still finds his voice.

Shaun: Wow, me? 

Owen: Yeah… if you want to, I mean don’t feel pressured or anything.

Shaun: But what about Finch, AJ, or Christian? I mean heck, you’re back in touch with Peyton, I had Kelcey after all?

Owen: They were all names on my list… but every time I considered it; you were always my first choice. Finch has been my friend for years, but he’s got enough responsibility now. AJ and Christian would both be amazing for the job, but neither of them has been around for me as much as you have. When Dad died, you took on the mantle, and even when I was lashing out, it was always you that was a constant. Way, I see it Shaun, no one knows me as well as you.

Shaun: Owen, I don’t know what to say. I’m stunned.

Owen: Like I said, you don’t have to.

Shaun: Of course, I will Owen, it would be my absolute honor. I just hope I don’t let you down.

Owen: You won’t Shaun… in fact, you never have. Now get over here and give your nephew a hug.

Shaun does as requested, and the two embrace. As they part, Shaun pulls an unopened bottle of Jack Daniels from the cupboard and fetches a couple of glasses.

Shaun: This deserves a celebration

He pours a shot into both, Owen picking up his, the two clinking their glasses together.

Shaun: To you and Jennifer.

They down their shots, Shaun offering another but Owen declining.

Shaun: He’d be so proud of you, you know?

Owen: Dad?

Shaun: Yeah, the way you have handled all of this… 

Owen: Well, except for that ‘moment’

Shaun: We all have them Owen… even your dad. He wasn’t perfect.

Owen: I know, and I think that helped me. Finally realizing that the truth was he wasn’t perfect. The expectations not quite as lofty as I thought.

There is a momentary silence, Shaun quickly realizing something.

Shaun: Does that mean I’m in charge of the Stag?

Owen: I’m scared to say this, but I guess it does.

Shaun: Oh Owen, I’m going to give you the best sendoff ever. You won’t regret this.

Owen raises his eyebrows, knowing how these things usually ended. 

Owen: I think I already am.

Shaun pours himself another drink, lifting it towards Owen with a smirk before downing the contents. It is on that image, that the scene slowly fades.

+++ ‘Level Up’ Wrestling School – New York 10th October 2022 +++

We open with Owen Cruze sat in the office of the school, a manilla folder in front of him. Just moments ago, Owen had been reading from that specific folder, and making a decision that was about to change someone’s life. This was the first time he had arrived at this point, and he hoped this would be the first success story of many. It didn’t mean however that he wasn’t nervous, a million and one questions going through his head, doubts he hadn’t felt in a long time having bubbled to the surface. A knock at the door breaks his concentration, and he shuts the folder.

Owen: Come in.

The door opens slowly, and Reed James puts his head around it, making a comical sight that Owen can only grin at.

Reed: You wanted to see me, Owen?

Owen: Yes, if you have a moment. Take a seat bro.

Reed does as he is told, and with a certain trepidation takes out a chair and sits on it. He observantly spots the folder in front of Owen, with his name emblazoned on the front.

Reed: Am I in trouble again?

Owen laughs, it was Reed’s response to literally anything, the young man almost always believing the worst. It was a common trait according to Andy, the psychiatrist that had done a lot of work for the Cruze family and who now worked part-time in the shelter, and it was evidence in the folder Owen had just been reading.

Owen: No, not this time Reed, unless you’ve been up to something we don’t know?

Reed: No, or at least I don’t think so.

Owen: Not been beating up my wrestlers again then?

Reed lowers his head, clearly embarrassed by the situation, a situation that had been a turning point for his time in the shelter. Since then, he had worked his hardest, whilst almost maintaining his behavior to the highest standard. And with a certain amount of encouragement had shown himself to be a more than capable student, surpassing others that had been at the school for much longer than he had. 

Owen: I’m joking Reed… honestly, I want to talk about nothing but good things. 

Reed: OK, you’re the boss.

Even now, Owen hadn’t got used to anyone calling him that. Truth was he and Adam Lucas did nothing like the work that Finch, Chloe, Willow and Jason did daily, and they were just figureheads. Adam, by his own admission, had done very little except be the face when Owen was trying to repair his damaged reputation, but he could be excused considering he’d just got married. But Owen didn’t think himself as the owner of a company, because what he had done wasn’t about profit, and was all about giving back and making good.

Owen: So, I’m guessing you know what this is?

Owen holds up the folder, Reed nodding his head.

Reed: I guess it’s all my deepest darkest secrets.

Owen: Well, close… it’s more a record of your time here. An evaluation if you like.

Reed: Oh right… I’m guessing the fight is in there then

Owen nods

Owen: Yeah, it’s in there, amongst other things. As you know, the whole purpose of the shelter is to help people get back on their feet. It should never be seen as a permanent thing. I’ve been speaking with Finch and Chloe, Andy as well, and all three of them agree that it’s about time you got back out there and took your first steps back into the big wide world. Guess what I’m saying is it’s time for you to fly the nest and take back control of your life.

Reed stays silent, not saying a word and from that reaction Owen recognizes that he has many concerns, and they are all going through his mind right now. When he does finally speak, Owen cannot help but notice the emotion that is now clear in his voice.

Reed: So, you’re kicking me out?

Owen pauses, not wanting to answer straight away. Andy being as intelligent as he was had warned Owen this would be Reed’s reaction and had warned him not to jump straight in and be considered in his response.

Owen: No, not kicking you out Reed. Considering where you were in comparison to where you are now you should be proud that an expert like Andy is 100% certain that you are ready to take those baby steps.

Reed nods, Owen having at least brought him down to the point where he is willing to listen.

Reed: OK, so what happens next?

Owen opens the folder again and pulls put a picture of an apartment building, sliding it towards Reed.

Reed: What’s this?

Owen: Your new home… it’s a new apartment block, other side of Orlando’s memorial, just a couple of blocks away. Yours is Number 269… don’t worry, it does have an elevator and surprisingly for New York, it works.

Reed looks more than a little confused by what is going on, but Owen is happy to explain. 

Owen: The bond has already been paid, as well as the first three months rent to allow you to get on your feet. 

Owen takes another piece of paper from the folder, and against slides it towards Reed.

Owen: That, is a contract of employment… read it, make sure you understand it, because you’ll continue to work here, doing the exact job you do right now taking care of the place. Cleaning, maintenance, that kind of thing. Tuition for your classes will be taken out of your wage at a 50% discount, under one proviso.

Reed: Which is?

Owen: You continue learning under Jason, but when the MMA classes start, you transfer there, and use the wrestling skill you have learned in that domain. With Jason’s training, and your power, you may not be a janitor here for very long. Jason has very high hopes for what you could achieve.

Reed is left speechless again, but this time Owen doesn’t see any fear, and it is more as if he is digesting everything that he has been told. Owen gives him that moment, it must have been a lot to take it, but finally Reed speaks

Reed: Why would you do all that? For me I mean. You don’t know me, not really. How do you know that I won’t let you down, or throw it all back in your face?

Owen shrugs his shoulders, not really knowing the answer to that question, so he answers with the truth.

Owen: Thing is Reed, I don’t. I’m not certain that you won’t revert back to type or throw away this opportunity. What I do know however is that when I let everyone down, I busted a gut to make sure it could never happen again. Not only that, but I also trust the people around me. I lean on them for advice, and if they give me an opinion, I listen. Like I said in the beginning, we’re not kicking you out, we just want to now help someone else like you, knowing that they could be our next success story… just like you were our first. And once next door is open and that space is converted into shelters just like upstairs here, then there will be even more people just like you. Just as scared as you are right now, not believing that they can stand on their own two feet. You’re ready for this Reed, I know you are. And even if you’re not living here, we will always be here to listen and support you. You have my word.

Reed takes it all in, and although still uncertain, which wasn’t any great surprise, Owen’s pep talk certainly helps. What Reed didn’t know was that pep talk came almost directly from Daisy. Her words to him when Owen was at his lowest the words that had saved him. All Owen was doing now was passing on that wisdom to someone more than willing to listen.

Reed: So, when does all this happen?

Owen: End of the month… the lease for the apartment is already in place. 

Reed: Then, I guess I should thank you Owen… for everything.

Owen smiles, appreciating the sentiment though it wasn’t required.

Owen: No need to thank me Reed, what you do next will be more than enough. 

Owen motions towards the door, not wanting the moment to get too emotional.

Owen: Now get out there, you’ve got a job to do. I’m not paying you to sit here and chat.

Reed gets to his feet, and for just a second it looks like he will simply leave the office. But at the last moment he turns and offers his hands to Owen who immediately shakes it. No more words are said, Reed just smiling and then leaving the office leaving Owen alone, a smile forming on his face as the scene fades.

+++ Charlottes Bar – Miami 25th October 2022 +++

With Breakdown looming, and a match against Adam Allocco in the offing and then the chamber, Owen had gone back to Miami to tie up a few things, namely a meeting with Bradley Comer who had mysteriously sent him a text message a couple of days before. Bradley was Pixie’s new boyfriend and being a property developer, the text only mentioned that he had a business proposition for Owen, and that it would be better if he spoke to him personally. Of course, Owen was intrigued, even more so when Bradley said he had no problem flying to Miami. With Owen still concerned about Charlotte, he decided to kill two birds with one stone, and having the meeting at the bar. Having claimed their drinks, and then a booth, they sit opposite each other, Owen waiting as Bradley pulls out his laptop and powers it up. Taking a sip from his drink he then turns to Owen.

Bradley: Thank you for meeting with me Owen… and sorry if I seem a little unorganized, got a flight back to New York in just over three hours so it’s only a whistle stop visit. 

Owen: We could have done a different time you know.

Bradley: No, it’s all good. Just a little manic right now is all.

He puts in his password, landing on the home screen almost immediately before bringing up Microsoft Edge and clicking for his favorites.

Owen: So, what’s this all about? You said you have a business proposition for me?

Bradley: Yes… indeed I did. And I’m not going to hang around so lets get into the pitch shall we?

Bradley clicks on a few more links and then brings up a picturesque scene, scrolling down to show what looked like an artist’s impression.

Owen: What am I looking at?

Bradley: This Owen, is the investment that will set up your future.

Bradley reaches into his bag and slides over a brochure, Owen picking it up and flicking through.

Owen: A hotel?

Bradley: No Owen, not just a hotel, THE hotel to go to in Hawaii in just a couple of years’ time. Not just somewhere to spend your holidays, but a total experience, all on one site. Planning permissions are all set, everything is good to go… all that is required now is forward thinking people like yourself to invest.

Owen: Isn’t Hawaii jam packed with places like this?

Bradley: Yeah, you’re right. It has its fair share of places to stay, some better than others. But none will be able to compete with what we are going to build, or what we intend offering to anyone who stays.

Owen takes a moment to look through the rest of the brochure and couldn’t deny that the place would look spectacular. 

Owen: So, what are the numbers? What kind of investment are you looking at?

Bradley smiles, getting this far had been difficult thus far, not many showing interest in a project that he firmly believed was a sure thing. The fact that Owen was asking that question was a good sign. Bradley spins his laptop round, flicking through a few more screens before turning it back to Owen who focusses on the important number.

Owen: Wow, that much huh?

Bradley: I know, it’s a large sum of money, but the profit from the investment is expected to be at least five times that… in the first two years. Owen, believe me, I wouldn’t be asking if I didn’t know this was a sure thing.

A sure thing? Owen had heard that many times in his young life.

Owen: Can I ask you a question?

Bradley: Sure, anything. It’s what I’m here for.

Owen: I’m intrigued. How do you know that I can even afford that amount of money?

Bradley laughs, almost as if he’d been expecting it.

Bradley: I’m afraid you’ll have to take that up with Pixie… she grassed you out.

Owen: Fair enough… I must admit, it is very interesting. Do you need an answer straight away? I’ve got a lot of things going on at the minute and need to look at the numbers.

Bradley starts tidying up the brochures as he speaks, shutting the lid on the laptop.

Bradley: Sure thing, but don’t take too long. Got a few people considering it now and only a few spots. 

Owen: Of course. Do I have a week or so?

Bradley: Tell you what, I’ll reserve one spot for you. Ten days’ time, I’ll open it up to whoever wants it. Sound good?

Owen: Yeah cool… thanks a lot, and thanks for thinking of me.

Bradley: Not a problem… now I’m sorry but I’ve got to get out of here. Apologies, but next time we’ll make a night of it… perhaps celebrating?

Owen: No worries

Bradley throws his laptop bag over his shoulder, holding out his hand.

Bradley: Speak to you soon Owen. Take care

Owen: You too.

Owen then watches as Bradley leaves, and retakes his seat, thoughtfully going through the idea in his head. His attention to that is broken however as Scott, Charlotte’s bar manager, slides into the booth, taking Owen by surprise.

Owen: Oh, hey Scott

Scott: You got a minute?

Owen: Sure, what’s up?

Scott: I don’t want to speak out of turn. So, please don’t say this has come from me?

Owen: No worries, what’s on your mind?

Scott: It’s Charlotte, I’m worried about her. 

Owen: She’s got a lot on her mind. 

Scott: I know the bars in trouble Owen, I’m not stupid. Look around you, it’s empty and this is what it is like most of the time. Charlotte takes it to heart though and believes she should be doing more, when what she should be doing is looking out for herself and doing what is best for her mental health. This place is dying Owen, and she needs to let it go. 

Owen: Prides a big thing for her though Scott. I’m not sure she can.

Scott: She would if you told her, it was the best thing to do. She listens to you Owen, you can make her see sense. Before she ends up in hospital and the whole thing goes down the toilet anyways. 

Owen: And if it does close, what about you?

Scott: What about me?

Owen: What would you do?

Scott: Oh, come on, with my charm, I’d have a job in no time. Charlotte too. 

Owen: You’re probably right

Scott: Please Owen, have a chat with her before it’s too late and any choices she has are gone. I love this place I really do, but some things are more important, Charlotte being one.

Owen: OK, you’ve persuaded me

Scott: Thank you.

Owen: Where is she, I’ll have a word now. No time like the present.

Scott: She’s at the suppliers, trying to sort out a new deal.

Owen: Alright, well I got some errands to run before I head out to Washington. Ask her to give me a call when she gets back yeah?

Scott: Will do. And thanks Owen, you’re a good friend.

Owen downs the rest of his drink and gets to his feet.

Owen: Let’s hope that after Charlotte thinks so too.

Scott: She will… even more so.

Owen winks at Scott and heads out the door and into the bright sunshine. He knew that Charlotte wouldn’t be happy with the advice, but he was certain that it was the right course of action, especially after talking with Scott. It also meant that if he decided too, he had the extra cash to invest in the resort, and Charlotte would have the proceeds from the sale to do whatever she wanted. And to get on with her life… like she deserved to.

[HARDStyle]

1 of 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/16yGC...sp=sharing

[QueensGuardSCW]

OOC: Deanna’s first. Counts for both matches.

The Witches of Alden

”Capability”

Black Arrow Neighbourhood 
Manhattan, New York
October 28th, 2022
2:47pm


Her fingertips hurt a little, but it only spurred her to dig harder. She knew she was being stupid. They had a set of tools in the garage. A simple hand-shovel, what was it called? A trowel? Yeah, that. That would have worked far better for the task… but not for her mental state. She wanted to hurt – it allowed her to be angry, and she also wanted to be angry. 

Deanna knew that being angry never solved any problems. Hell, if she had learned anything from her time in Frankfurt, it had been that lashing out and acting in anger usually lead to bigger problems! But that was just it! She knew that! She wasn’t an idiot! She wasn’t stupid! She wasn’t weak-

Again, that familiar spike of anger laced through her, churning away inside her as she finished clawing the rough dirt out of the way enough to drive the solar-panelled lawn lamp into the ground, her dirtied hand immediately sweeping the dirt she had moved back over it, burying the spike end and securing the lamp into the Earth.

With a sigh, the redhead rolled off her haunches where she stood, rolling backward and against the nearby tree – one of many that were part of the forest-path/trail that eventually lead to the front of her house in Manhattan. She felt the thick bark press against her back and the back of her head as she breathed deeply, letting herself bring her heartrate down from its slight elevation. Gazing down at her hand, she spied the dirt-stains on her fingers and the clumps of soil that lined the underside of her fingernails. With a turn of her head, she spied the long trail of similar lamps – two parallel lines that ran from the trail to the front of her property and, eventually, back onto the trail to the next house. 

Selena had kept her alone all day after the angry morning they had had and, alone with her thoughts, Deanna was able to admit a few things to herself.

First, how unfair she had been, giving Selena the silent treatment all morning until exploding at her to ‘leave her alone’. 

”You think I don’t know what I am doing?!”
“I think you don’t understand what you are signing on for. There’s a reason she chose you.”
“What? You think I’m going to care more about becoming world title number one contender than us being tag-champions?”
“I think you’re going to be distracted when you see the chamber hanging above your head during the tag-match. I think it’s a distraction that we don’t need. I think-“

“You know what I think?! I think you WANTED so badly to be the number one contender for the world title, but you lost to Kimberly! And now that I have a REAL chance at becoming a challenger for the world title, you’re afraid that you won’t be able to EVER get your rematch! That’s what I think! I think you’re upset because it’s me and not you!”

Even at the time, she had known she was being unfair… but so was her wife. And that was the issue. 

“She still thinks I’m a porcelain doll…” Deanna whispered to herself, lifting her hand to rub at her eyes, only to stop the motion just before touching her face when she recalled the amount of dirt that covered both her hands. Irritated, she drove her arm up to rub at her face with the rolled-up sleeve of her maroon sweater. Gods, she wanted to apologize to Selena, like she had in so many other of their fights, but this wasn’t a fight where she needed to be the one to apologize first, and even by herself now, she knew that. 

Everything with the Scythes and the Frostmeres.
Everything with Frankfurt Prison III.
Everything with Killjoy! 

Did Selena forget that Deanna had survived it all with her? That Deanna had been there through it all, and sometimes worse, and come out of it alive? So how…how could she say that to Shaun?

She’s not ready for that!

Angrily, Deanna slammed her eyes shut, trying to stop the tears from escaping her. “Dammit, Selena…” she half-whispered, half-cried for the umpteenth time, feeling the similar spikes of anger, pain, and sadness, both at her wife, but also at herself:

Why had she gone looking for Selena? Why had she wanted to shower with her wife after that whole ordeal with Ducky’s birthday party? Yes, it had been a few days since they had made love but it wasn’t like that! She had just wanted to shower with her wife, make her Selena feel loved after coming so close to winning the match that would have put The Snow Queen as the number one contender. Instead, she had gone looking for the Snow Queen throughout the Capital One Arena in Washington DC, searching through the halls, still in her leaf-covered onesie, asking various crew and superstars if they had seen Selena. 

Of course, when she had reached the office of Shaun Cruze, she was already feeling rather nervous. What if the Farmstead Friends had jumped her wife on Lexy’s orders? They had already bailed on the birthday party and Lexy had arranged the mess that was Deanna in the elimination chamber – which she did NOT want to think about right now. She was still partially in denial about it being her name that was spoken. Maybe Shaun had made a mistake and meant ‘Selena FROST’ – that made a hell of a lot more sense! 

REGARDLESS, she remembered thinking, The Farmstead Friends, and more accurately Lexy and Dancing Bear, were willing to do anything to keep the House of Frosts from being at 100% heading into Under Attack and the SCW World Tag-Team championship. Attacking the strongest member backstage in Selena was not beyond impossible and Deanna regretted, in that moment, not changing into more appropriate clothes in case she found Selena in the throngs of some kind of brawl. 

But back to approaching Shaun Cruze’s door, the redhead had been ready to just knock and ask politely if the young man had seen Selena. However, as her hand reached up to rap her knuckles against the painted wood, she could hear the voices on the other side. Yelling voices. 

They were muffled and not very coherent, but the pitch and accent, Deanna recognized one right away as her wife’s, which gave her a momentary wash of relief through her system. Least Selena wasn’t being attacked. Still, as her breathing slowed, the young Frost had begun to wonder what Selena was talking about that was making her so angry…

And this is where Deanna had wished she had stopped. Had just, knowing her wife was safe, turned back around and walked back to their dressing room. She could just pretend she hadn’t wandered through the arena in her onesie and, maybe, still get that shower with her beloved….

But that isn’t what happened. Instead, she slowly reached out towards the door, turned the doorknob and slowly, imperceptibly, pushed the door open. The voices immediately became crystal clear.

“How could you allow this?!”
“It’s not something I can prevent! It’s out of my hands!”
“You’re in charge!”
“Not in that regard!”

It sounded like a damn shouting match, back and forth, each person trying to get the other to see their point of view. The emotional sounds of it all was enough to make Deanna instinctively gulp. 

“Selena…” she heard Shaun Cruze’s voice. “I didn’t want to choose her, either. You know that. She’s doing well, but she’s not…” he seemed to sigh. “She’s not ready for that.”

“Tell me something I don’t know!” Selena shot back. “I barely survived those things. Shaun…” her voice trailed off for a moment. “You know what that thing does to people! It shortens careers! And if she was further along, I’d…I think I’d be okay with it. But she isn’t even done her first year! She barely survived the Underground Division-“

Deanna felt her spine stiffen. They couldn’t have been talking about her, could they? No, it wasn’t her that had made Selena so angry, was it? And again, she should have just left there – left well enough alone - but instead, she moved closer to the door, as if the millimeters of space could amplify the sound tenfold. 

“I can’t undo it.” Shaun sighed. “I’ve got those investigators up my ass over some trumped up ‘conspiracy’ nonsense. But…” his voice seemed to lift at the idea. “Deanna could refuse to participate in the chamber.”

Hearing her own name, Deanna’s jaw dropped. They WERE talking about her. Worse yet, they were talking about her being in the chamber match – or rather, refusing to be in the chamber match.

“She would never agree to that.” Selena sighed. “She would feel like a coward.”

Damn right I would! Deanna’s mind screamed, but she covered her hand with her mouth to keep from speaking those thoughts aloud. 

“Well, then convince her. For her own sake, yours, and for that of your tag-team.” Shaun advised. “At this point, I have to go through with the booking and say she is ‘planned’ to be a participant. But I can’t be at fault if she refuses to participate in order to ‘focus on being a good tag-team partner’ rather than a ‘pawn to Lexy’s games’.”

A long silence filled the space and, for a moment, Deanna felt her heart skip a beat or two in panic that she had been discovered in her less than ideal ‘hiding spot’ near the ajar door. However, she heard no steps approaching the door. And…for the third time – THIS should have been where she left things alone!

“I’ll talk to her.” She heard Selena sigh. “Convince her to drop out. You’re right. She’s not ready for that.”

It wasn’t entirely clear which emotion emerged first in the redhead. Shock or pain. How could her wife say that? Shaun was one thing. He had to put SCW’s image and the business first but Selena was her wife! How many times had she doubted herself and Deanna had helped her through? It had been her that had first convinced Selena to go out and try to win the SCW World title almost six years ago at the End of the Year event against Alexis Quinne. Her that had pushed Selena to try again for the world title years and years later! Never doubting! Always believing in her! And here Selena was… thinking that she wasn’t ready… good enough…

Even presently, Deanna wasn’t sure which emotion came first, but she knew which emotion had won out. Rage. Worse yet, a familiar rage. One she had felt after hearing those words over and over again from everyone else in SCW!

And for the fourth time- NO! Deanna was past that now! She was down the rabbit hole and too angry to care. With a shove, she had pushed the door open fully, earning the surprised attention of both Shaun and Selena. “Excuse me.” She had spat darkly. “If you’re going to be talking about me and my career, perhaps I should be present in such discussions, don’t you think?!”

“Deanna…” Selena tried.

“No, please, Mrs. Frost.” The redhead marched over to a nearby plush chair in the office and sat down, crossing one leg over the other. “Don’t let me stop you. You were just deciding for me how I should handle this big mess Lexy Chapel has thrown us into. Please! Continue to think and speak for me! I’ll wait!”

“Deanna…” Shaun tried, easily sensing the tension this mistake had made. “We are only thinking of your well being.” 
“Says the man that picked Owen to be in the chamber.” Deanna scoffed.

“Owen has been involved in chamber matches before. As has Allocco.” Shaun countered. “And the others have far more experience in wrestling than you do. You literally just began less than a year ago.”

“Alistaire Allocco did it in less time!” Deanna, for a moment, had actually been proud that she had been able to think of that counter so quickly. Despite her lack of years as a wrestler, she still had nearly a decade as a manager, dammit! She almost miss Selena stiffen a little from that memory, as it had been her that Allocco had pinned in the chamber to win it and become SCW world champion via a cheap shot from behind. ‘Not going to regret that hitting that nerve.’ Deanna thought. ‘She asked for it.’ 

“Allocco wasn’t double booked.” Selena slowly spoke. “Would you rather we quit our tag-team title match so you can focus on the chamber? Because I will if we have to.”

“No!” Deanna shot in. Despite everything that had just occurred and everything she had just heard, the redhead still wanted nothing more than to become world tag-team champions with her wife! It was beyond ‘the dream’, it was… it was why she had transitioned from manager to wrestler in the first place. Still, she couldn’t just ignore what she had heard. 

“Okay…” Shaun seemed rather pensive as he sat at his desk, mulling over options. “There is the option of isolating Deanna.”
“What does that mean?” the redhead asked.
“It means…” Selena explained. “That I wrestle our tag-match and you just stand in the corner. Simple.”
“That’s not tag-wrestling!” Deanna countered. “That’s a handicap match!”

She couldn’t believe these ideas! Each one involved some kind of ‘non-wrestling’ role for her or something to that effect! “Why can’t I do both?” she blurted out.

“The very fact that you are asking that question…” Selena’s expression darkened as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Is why Shaun and I are having this conversation.”

“I survived the Underground Division!” Deanna countered.
“For less than two months.” Selena countered.
“Longer than your second reign as world champion!” Deanna shot back, immediately regretting it as she saw the flash of surprise in Selena’s eyes, true as the statement was. “I…” she sought new words desperately. “I mean… I’m not afraid to do both matches.”

“Nobody is questioning your drive, Deanna.” Shaun tried to explain. “What we are concerned with is the danger this puts you in.” he took a deep breath. “Let’s say you win the tag-team titles at Under Attack, but you immediately get injured in the chamber. What then? Now, Selena either has to drop the titles or find a new partner until you return. Or worse, what happens if you get hurt in the tag-match and then have to wrestle the chamber?”

There was a moment of silence between all three individuals, Shaun and Selena watching Deanna’s moves as she fidgeted uncomfortably on the chair in her onesie. It’s not that she hadn’t thought about these things when she had first gotten the news of Lexy hijacking a spot in the chamber for her. The chamber was one of the most dangerous structures in SCW. It was nigh-impossible to win a match at 100%, let alone wrestling two matches in one night. But they thought she hadn’t considered the danger at all since the announcement. 

And the truth was, despite her best efforts, she had. But the reality was that, after facing Kimberly Williams, Konrad Raab with his mace, and so many people at Apocalypse… to be the only person besides the winner that had walked out of that match of their own volition? Was it wrong that she felt that she had become used to the dangers? The risks? And that made the chamber a little less scary to her? No less dangerous! But a little less scary?

Casting her emerald gaze up, she saw Shaun first, the man appearing… did he always look so tired? Weary? Like the weight of the world was on his shoulders? Slowly, her eyes found Selena’s, and that mental bond between them forged from nearly seven years of marriage. She wanted Deanna to concede. To not go through with the chamber match, not because of the tag-titles, though Deanna knew Selena wanted them as much as she did, but because…because…

“Answer me one question and if it’s not what I think it is, I’ll concede…” she had spoken, eyeing both Shaun again. “Would this be an issue if Lexy had chosen Selena?”

There was a moment of hurtful silence between the three, forcing Deanna to push the question. “Would we be here, having this conversation about ‘safety’ and ‘conceding a match’, essentially forfeiting, if Lexy had chosen Selena instead of me?”

She was no longer looking at Shaun, but rather directly at her wife, lover and partner, watching as the woman, known for her integrity in SCW, could no longer look her in the eyes. It was all the answer she had needed.

“I thought not.” Deanna replied, feeling that spike of anger wrap around her again, the truth more apparent than Selena’s platinum-blonde hair. Bitterly, she pushed herself out of the seat. “You can be sure that I will be attending Under Attack, Mr. Cruze. And I WILL be wrestling BOTH matches that night!”

“Deanna…” Selena tried, but withered under the cold glare of her emerald-eyed wife.

“Consider the matter closed and your little ‘problem’ solved. That should take care of any ‘guilt’ you may have.” She spoke sharply to Shaun, who merely nodded his head.

“I’ll ensure the rest of management knows. They’ll want to get started on publicity posters as soon as possible.”

Deanna didn’t wait to hear anymore, finally choosing to turn and leave the room. She didn’t take many steps down the hall of the arena before she heard steps coming up behind her.

“Deanna…” of course it was her voice, accented and beautiful. “I was just looking out for you-“

It was the worst thing she could possibly have said, and it was enough for Deanna to feel the snap of whatever patience she had left. Turning around, she glared back at the Snow Queen, still in her own onesie of snowflakes. “You were trying to make my decisions for me without talking to me first. Just like you’ve done over and over again! That’s what you were doing!”

“I didn’t-“

“The hell you didn’t!” Deanna shot back. “I am tired. I am angry and I have a damn Halloween contest to try and win! Home is a four-hour drive from here and poor Eric is waiting for us. I am going to bed.” She spun on her foot, leaving her wife standing there before throwing back, “You can sleep on the couch tonight!”

Deanna felt the tears rolling off her cheeks as she opened her eyes, her vision immediately impaired by the water in her eyes before it, too, rolled down her cheeks. She felt the tree against her, holding her up, supporting her…

Why couldn’t Selena do that? Why did every step Deanna took as a wrestler, in life, have to be a minefield where Selena thought she needed protection – like some princess in a castle or some fragile doll? 

That’s not why you’re upset… She heard the thought in her head mock her slightly, angrily wiping at her face with forearm. Her timing was perfect for, as she lowered her arm, she spied her youngest daughter, Amiliah, running down the short hill towards her, Elsianna following her. The small child bounded towards Deanna and was by her side within seconds.

“Mommy! Mommy!” cried out the child, her plaid pants’ bright colors of green and blue contrasting with the dark, earthly colors of the ground, as did her pink sweater – all of which was different to Elsianna’s black leggings, gray long-shirt, black jacket and matching gloves and boots. “Spencer said that we could help carve pumpkins for his display! Can we?! Can we?!”

It took Deanna a few seconds before her brain registered what she was hearing. Spencer Cunningham was the son of Walter and Hannah Cunningham, one of the many neighbours down the street from the house. An older couple, a decade or two older than Selena and Deanna but still lively and kind. Their sons were Kurt and Spencer (Spencer the youngest and a late ‘surprise/miracle’ for the family). 

“They want help carving pumpkins?” Deanna asked, not needing to change her position from sitting as she was eye-level with her red-headed daughter, who nodded eagerly. 
“Spencer said his mom and dad had a supercool idea!”

Amiliah’s cuteness was just enough to make Deanna smile. “Alright.” She sighed. “Long as you let Elsianna and Mrs. Cunningham help. And you only use what they give you.”

“Okay!” Amiliah didn’t wait, immediately scampering off back up the hill towards, Deanna assumed, was the Cunningham’s house. She saw Elsianna standing there, a worried expression on her face as she regarded her mom.

“Elsa?” Deanna tilted her head. “You going to make sure she uses only the ‘safety, orange-plastic, carving tools?”

“Y…yes, mom.” Elsianna looked away, seemingly embarassed.
“Something wrong?” the redhead asked, shifting to push herself up to her feet, groaning as her back and legs protested a little.

“No…” Elsianna shook her head, only to look back at her mom. “Well, I mean…” she closed her mouth again. “No. Sorry.”

Quickly, the child excuse herself, jogging back up the hill to follow Amiliah. 

“Strange.” Deanna thought aloud with a tilt of her head before checking over her work. The lights were all set and would be the perfect guide throughout her Halloween display.

To say that things were heating up a little in the Black Arrow neighbourhood as the night of the contest drew ever closer would be an understatement. In fact, despite the unpleasantness that had occurred at Breakdown, the Queen’s Guard had been grateful that the show had been a mere four hours from Manhattan, making it easy for them to travel there and back rather than needing a plane-ride or days of travel. And the fact that she would have a solid few days after Halloween to get to Under Attack meant she wouldn’t have to miss anything for the holiday. In short, she could devote a good amount of time in making sure everything was as perfect as it could be.

She needed to win – at least beat Leslie Sanderson. Although, as of late, the annoying woman and her ‘tendencies’ towards Deanna and her marriage to Selena was occupying less and less of the redhead’s mind. In fact, if Deanna were honest with herself, this whole competition had devolved into more of an outlet. 

Leslie believed that Deanna’s win last year had been a fluke. That she couldn’t do it again. That she wasn’t capable of such things. It was not so different than in SCW and since she couldn’t do anything about SCW until Under Attack now, this was the next best thing… or fighting her wife in their ring in their home-gym.

“That’s still an option…” Deanna growled under her breath as she adjusted one of the ground lamps before making her own way up the hill her children had travelled, passing the first display she had built last week – that of The Wolfman. It wasn’t until she had reached the frontyard and saw the ‘house section display’ of a graveyard that lead into the Frankenstein lab (he did make his Creature out of dead bodies, right?) that Deanna spotted the platinum-blonde there, the taller woman standing on the porch in blue jeans and a simple magenta sweater. The neckline was larger and exposed a bit of her tattooed shoulder, the black-snowflake visible even from where Deanna stood.

Of course, she’s wearing THAT sweater… Deanna thought with a grumble. She loved when her wife wore that sweater because she could cuddle her fluffiness and have access to the neck and shoulder for ‘kissing purposes’. No, you’re still VERY mad at her. Deanna reminded herself, which wasn’t hard given the argument they had had this morning. And when Selena, not seeing her wife standing there, reached out to adjust one of the jars on the table – the one with the brain on it that read ‘abnormal brain’- that anger prickled up to the front.

“What are you doing?” Deanna asked, marching towards the display where her wife stood, Selena jumping a little at the redhead’s outburst. “I told you that I didn’t want or need any help with this now.”

Recovering from her slight scare, the Snow Queen gestured towards the table. “I was just adjusting one of the jars. It was turned the wrong way. I think David was having a laugh.”

“Or maybe…” reaching out, Deanna grasped the large, glass jar, forcefully turning it back the way it was. “Maybe I would have noticed it and fixed it later, but that wasn’t good enough for you so you just had to ‘fix it’ yourself because you thought I wouldn’t notice it myself.” She turned her head back to the jar. “Oh look! An askew jar!” she turned it back over the way Selena had done it, allowing the ‘abnormal brain’ sign to be in full view. “Guess I could do it.”

With a long exhale, Selena rolled her eyes at her wife. “You’re being childish.” She said simply.

“Oh, am I?” laughed Deanna. “Well how else can I act when you won’t treat me like a grown-ass adult capable of making her own decisions?”

“OH FOR ODIN’S SAKE!” Selena half-yelled. “I was just trying to do the right thing, okay?! Do you honestly believe that you would be in that chamber match if not for Lexy? Tell me you do! Please! Tell me you saw yourself in that chamber match when it was announced.”

“Doesn’t matter.” Shrugged Deanna. “I’m in it now.”
“Yes! But why?! It doesn’t make sense! It’s on after our match with Penguin and Bear, so at BEST – AT BEST – she’s screwing you over for a match that you didn’t even want to be in in the first place! So why?!” Selena shrugged. “Did you even think about that during your temper tantrum?”

“You’re the one that’s yelling.” Deanna observed, only for Selena to ignore her.

“Of course you didn’t. You’re too busy feeling slighted and hurt that ‘no one believes I can do it! No one wants me to go for these titles! No one believes in Deanna!’. All about you!”

“Well SOMEONE has to think about me.” Deanna shot back. “You clearly aren’t!”

“ALL I DO IS THINK ABOUT YOU!” Selena yelled, jumping to her feet, standing several inches taller than Deanna. “All I’ve done is because I think about you.”

“Yeah! Like your porcelain doll!” Deanna countered, refusing to back down from her wife, staring the woman down – or up in this case. “As your ‘fragile little princess’!”

“You’re wrong.”

“Then how come you couldn’t answer my question last night? If it was you and not me that was picked, would it have been okay?”

“I’m different!” Selena countered. “I have nearly ten years of experience here! You don’t even have one!”

“And what? I would have had to take it? I would have to just accept that you were going to walk into a show where you’re double-booked? What’s good for Selena isn’t for Deanna, that it?”

“It’s two different scenarios, Deanna!” Selena tried. “You’re comparing us, but I am prepared for this. You’re not. You’ve never even been in a chamber match before! You’ve barely been in tag-matches! I have. I’ve won the tag-titles twice!”

“Yeah, and how did that end up for both your partners?” 

Deanna wished she could take that one back – even in that moment, that microsecond of time where you hear what you say before the person you’re talking to does. Because the way she saw Selena’s eyes widen in shock at the inference of not only Dawn Lohan but Regan Street – the two women she had won the tag-titles with and the history between both… 

Something faded in Selena’s eyes, Deanna could see it. A bit of light wasn’t there anymore, replaced by hurt, the platinum-blonde’s head lowering to look at her own pale hands. Immediately, Deanna wanted to apologize for that lowblow. But again, she still believed that she shouldn’t be the one to apologize first! Selena had started this by going behind her back to Shaun Cruze, discussing convincing her to quit the chamber match. For not believing in her!

“Fine.” Selena breathed, snapping her head back up. “Do what you want. I hope you win.”
“I’m…” Deanna caught herself from apologizing, choosing instead to roll her shoulders and stand her ground. “I will.”

“Good.” Selena nodded. “I’m going back inside then. I have some promos to write.”
“Be my guest.” Deanna gestured towards the house. “I’ll make sure this place is looking first-prize worthy!”

Biting her lower lip, Selena nodded her head before walking the short steps, opening the door and disappearing back into the house, leaving the redhead with her heart full of hurt and her mind full of self-aimed mental curses.

“Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!” she muttered at herself, even striking her temple with her palm. How the hell could she say that? Bring up that pain of Dawn and Regan to her wife?! They were supposed to be ‘The House of Frost’. A well-oiled machine! A growing tag-team with asipirations to be a great tag-team in SCW! Bringing integrity back to divisions and whatever… and now they couldn’t even look at each other without getting into a fight.

“I’ll fix this.” Deanna whispered under her breath as she needlessly ‘adjusted’ some of the Halloween-décor around her. “I’ll win this competition. Then, I’ll go to Under Attack and win us the tag-titles. Then I’ll win the chamber and prove everyone wrong. And then Selena can apologize, admit she was wrong, then I’ll apologize, and we’ll be alright again!”

She had to believe that things would work out in that fashion. Or, at the very least, surviving the chamber would prove… something, though she wasn’t entirely sure what that was but it had to prove something to both Selena and Shaun Cruze.

Casting her eyes around, the redhead was relieved to see that there were no neighbours on the street looking at her or having heard the argument she and Selena had. Last thing she wanted was for that tiff to find its way back to Leslie…

Speaking of which… Deanna thought, once more gazing around the area. She’s usually outside soon as she sees me just to annoy me. She gazed the short distance down the street to where the large stone-gargoyles stood… the poor things… but still, no sign of Leslie. “Maybe she’s out.” Deanna said aloud, partially grateful for the respite. Her main competitor’s house was now covered with so much lights and decorations it looked like the house was made of it. Clearly, Leslie was going for ‘quantity’ over ‘quality’ and Deanna wasn’t going to fall into that trap. Yes, she wanted to win, but she also wanted her children to love the displays. She wanted the neighbourhood to enjoy it.

She wanted…

Her eyes flashed towards the door Selena had entered and closed moments ago, a sigh escaping her. She wanted to walk the trail holding her wife’s pale hand. She wanted to steal kisses in the dark of the night. She wanted to sit in one of the displays and enjoy the night with her beloved wife. She wanted to go trick-or-treating with their children, standing at the driveways on Selena’s arm as their daughters and son ran excitedly to each door. But she also wanted that apology. She wanted Selena to treat her like an adult all the time, not just when there wasn’t any danger. She wanted Selena to trust that she was strong enough and smart enough to survived and endure like the Snow Queen had against so many opponents. She wanted… she wanted…

Those damn tears threatened to fall from Deanna’s eyes, the young woman swiping at them. I just want her to believe in me when it’s not easy as hell to believe in me… she refused to voice that thought, locking it away as she adjusted the Frankenstein Creature’s thick coat on the mannequin’s large frame. 

She slowly lost track of the time as she kept herself busy adjusting the various scenes of Wolfman, Dracula and Frankenstein in similar fashion, trying her best not to think about the platinum-blonde that remained in the house. However, when she heard the sound of laughter coming down the street, she instinctively turned her head to see, a bit in the distance, her children carving their pumpkins on the Cunningham’s front yard. Smart… Deanna thought with a smile as she saw David, who had joined his sisters, pull out a huge glob of ‘PUMPKIN GUTS’ – as she heard him scream, grabbing a second handful before running around the yard with his hands full of the vegetables ‘inners’, even dangling it in front of Elsianna, Amiliah and Spencer. A ways back, standing on the porch, Walter and Hannah Cunningham gazed down the distance to spot Deanna on the front porch, waving widely so she could see them do so. With a smile, she waved back just as big before casting a glance over at her work. 

I can take a break… she decided before quickly marching the distance necessary to reach the Cunningham’s abode. It was about the same size as hers, the Cunningham’s being one of the few families that had moved into the neighbourhood rather early in development and, thus, getting their pick of spots and choosing the building they wanted. It wasn’t like their house was a castle-style like Leslie’s but it had a homely-

Deanna’s eyes grew wide as she saw the multitude of pumpkins strew on the lawn, many of them carved. 

“Whoa…” Deanna remarked as she reached Walter and Hannah, casting her gaze to watching her children. “That is a lot of pumpkins! Did some place have a sale or something?” she eyes Hannah and Walter, the latter laughing a little.

“Well, pumpkins are never THAT expensive considering.” He shrugged. “Plus, I’ve got a farmer-friend on the country side that gave me a good deal.”
“So there WAS a sale!” Deanna teased. “But why so many?”

“Oh, Walter has one of his ‘ideas’ again.” Hannah sighed. “Poor man is going to break his neck.”
“Ah ah, hunny! No spoilers before Halloween!” Walter playfully demanded. “I want Deanna to be surprised too.”

“Oh, is this for the contest or something?” Deanna asked.
“Something like that.” Walter shrugged. “But really? I just wanted to get the neighbourhood something to share in. Almost every neighbour has contributed by carving one or more of the pumpkins we brought.”

“That’s wonderful.” Deanna beamed. “Such a fun idea!”
“Well…” Walter shrugged. “I don’t know how many more we’re going to have with both Spencer and Kurt – Kurt’s going to be going to college soon. So… I wanted this year to be special for us.”

For a moment, Deanna cast her eyes back out to the yard. “I have to admit, I don’t envy you that.” She sighed. “I’ve still got at least seven years with Elsianna and more with Amiliah and-“ the breath left her body as the boy in discussion, David, was no longer in view. Looking up and down the yard, Deanna couldn’t spot the young boy… that is until she looked down the sidewalk… halfway towards her house – where Leslie’s gargoyles were…

And David hanging off the arm of one as he phenangled the pumpkin guts in his free hand onto the maw of the ‘beaked gargoyle’, the first one Leslie had bought.

“Oh no….” Deanna exhaled before beginning to march down the sidewalk. “DAVID!” she called out. “Get off that immediately! We told you-“

“AAAAAHHHHH!” the shriek came in front of Deanna before she was even a third of the way there. Before her eyes, she saw her son turn his head towards the source of the voice, immediately release the arm of the gargoyle he was hanging from, and drop down to the ground just before Leslie Sanderson reached him.

Angrily, the woman grabbed the boy by the ear, her head twisting in almost inhumanly directions before settling on the approach Deanna. Without a word, the black yoga-pants wearing woman dragged the poor boy by the ear towards Deanna, causing more than just alarm to race through her. She immediately broke into a sprint, closing the distance between them.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE-“ Leslie started but stopped as soon as Deanna acted, the redhead grabbing her wrist and squeezing as hard as she could, earning a yelp of pain from the whiny brunette.

“UNHAND HIM RIGHT NOW!” Deanna growled. 

Perhaps from meer shock, Leslie released the now teary-eyed boy, who immediately ran behind Deanna’s legs to hide there. Soon as he had, Deanna threw Leslie’s arm away, the older woman rubbing the sore limb in shock.

“Your son-“
“I don’t care!” Deanna interjected, stepping forward and glaring down Leslie. “I saw what he did which is why I was rushing towards him. But that does NOT give you the right to lay a hand on MY son, you understand me?!” she was practically growling at the woman, Leslie’s expression morphing between anger and fear multiple times.

“You son was intruding on MY property!” Leslie countered. “You know I could have shot him if I felt so inclined.”
“Oh for Odin’s sake, Leslie! He’s barely six!”
“And what if he damaged my GARG-oyles?!” Leslie asked before narrowing her eyes. “Did you put him up to this?”
“Did I what?”
“Oh, Deanna…Deanna… Deanna…” Leslie tsks with a shake of her head. “Using your own children to sabotage my decorations? You’re that insecure?”

Deanna felt her jaw clench at the accusation. “I don’t need to sabotage you to beat you, Leslie. I rather my work speak for itself. Sounds like you’re just trying to make excuses for yourself when you lose.”

“When I lose…” Leslie laughed before suddenly growing serious. “What are you going to do about his actions?” she gestured to the still-hiding David. At this time, Elsianna and Amiliah had reached the other Frosts. “Those gargoyles are expensive!”

“So you told me many times.” Deanna replied. “And as for my son. He and I will clean the mess-“

“Oh no you won’t!” Leslie shot back. “You’ll probably break it with your bear hands.” She held her wrist again, causing Deanna to look down at her small hands, only a little stubbier than Selena’s long, slender ones. “No. I will clean it.”

“Fine.” Deanna shrugged. “David? Do you have something to say?”
“I’m sorry…” David tried, staying behind Deanna. “I won’t do it again.”
“You better not! Cause next time I am calling the cops!” Leslie warned before eyeing Deanna. “Keep your children… and yourself… off my lawn. Got it?”

“Understood.” Deanna narrowed her eyes but said nothing else as Leslie turned and walked back down the street towards her house. She almost didn’t hear the sigh of relief come from David. 

“Wow…thanks Mom-“ he stopped as he gazed up at the cold, emerald-glare that bore down on him, forcing him to gulp loudly.

“Don’t thank me.” She stated coldly. “You’re grounded.”
“What? For what?” He asked.
“For disobeying your mothers. Did we not say not to climb on those gargoyles?”

“Y…yes…” David slowly nodded his head.
“And what did you just do?”
“Climbed on the gargoyles?”
“Yes, you did. So you disobeyed and you dirtied a neighbour’s property!”

“But mother…” Elsianna tried. “She’s so mean and you don’t like her either.”
“That doesn’t mean it’s okay to act like that, Elsianna!” Deanna shot back. “How would you feel if, for no reason, someone that didn’t like you smashed Sir Crackshell?”

That silenced the eldest Frost child instantly, the nine-year-old shrinking back a little at the thought, causing Deanna’s glare to refocus back on David. “You are grounded until I, not mother, says so! Understand?”

“Y…yes…” David nodded. “Can I…” he looked around the neighbourhood for a moment. “Can I still go trick-or-treating?”
“I don’t know yet.” Deanna answered honestly. “I don’t think you deserve it.”
“Please, mommy!” David tried.

Biting her lower lip, Deanna thought for a moment, remembering something her older sister had taught her when she was young. “I’ll make you a deal, David. You go home and write ‘I am very sorry for disobeying my mothers’ – single-spaced, double-sided on each line of a sheet of line paper in your room. Do that without cheating or taking shortcuts and behave the next few days and MAYBE – ONLY MAYBE – will I let you go trick-or-treating.”

“Both sides?” David’s eyes grew wide. “But that will take all day and…” his voice died down as he saw the unyielding glare of Deanna. “Yes, mom.” He nodded. “I’ll go right now.”

He was quietly followed him by the three Frost women, his head low as he made his way of the stairs, barely noticing the open door and the platinum-blonde that stood in the door frame, arms crossed over her chest.

“What happened?” Selena asked, eyes wide as Deanna reached the porch. “I heard shouting-“
“I took care of it.” Deanna stated sharply, allowing Elsianna and Amiliah to enter the house before she spoke again. “Contrary to your beliefs, Selena, I know how to act like an adult and mother.”

“I never said-“

“Just…” Deanna held her hand up. “Stop. I don’t want to fight with you for a third time today. I took care of and will continue to take care of it. David is grounded till I say so – not you, just so you know.”

Selena opened her mouth to speak but chose instead to close it for an extra second before shrugging her shoulders. “Anything else?” 

“Yeah.” Deanna sighed. “Watch the kids for a bit.” She ordered before beginning to walk off the porch and around the house to the large ‘home’ that served as the indoor-pool and gym. “I’ve got to blow off some steam…”

_______________________________________________________________

The Guard Tower

You know, I thought this could be about just the world tag-team championship… A match without the farm setting, without bleach or fire. Just a match about two teams fighting to see who is the best in tag-team wrestling. I wanted it to be about that! And with my wife as my tag-team partner, I dreamed about that. 

I mean, Bear and Penguin, what more could we have done? We shared with you that our son, David, was a fan. He’s grounded right now, so he won’t be watching you guys for awhile, but like Selena said, he wouldn’t watch now even if he wasn’t.

Still, we showed you respect. We wanted to respect you as a tag-team. Has that been happening for you guys at all since you won those titles? Or have you been treated like a joke and a slight against the World Tag-Team Championship? You don’t have to answer, I’ve paid enough attention to know what the consensus has often been where you two are concerned.

But Selena and I didn’t see that. We saw two guys – A penguin and a bird, fine! – but we saw two wrestlers that had beaten so many teams, endured being bleached and set on fire, and gods know what else to stay the tag-team champions. A team that, while unconventional, was creating something that SCW had never seen before. We respected that. And we tried to respect you two. 

And we wanted a tag-match with you two. Try and picture that for a second. Maybe you’ll scoff at that where I am concerned, but Selena? She’s the longest reigning world champion in history! She’s won more titles than Penguin has feathers! She’s headlined Rise to Greatness twice! Possibly, and in my opinion, undeniably, one of the greatest wrestlers in SCW… taking you two seriously as wrestlers! That’s respect!

But instead… you wanted to make this personal. You wanted to insult me, my wife… our children! And Lexy? You just couldn’t let this stay a decent two-on-two match, could you?

Let me address the first issue. Bear, you want to insult my children? You want to say they have ‘no future’ because they don’t watch your show, huh? Insult Selena and I all you want. In terms of accolades, you’re not really in a position to sound credible where Selena is concerned, but insult me? Fine. You want to say the same old schtick about being in Selena’s shadow? Go ahead. You want to make a jab about Selena controlling me and making all the calls? Be my guest!

We’ve heard worse and we’ve dealt with worse. We took on The Brand together, a group that ran a smear campaign against us, trying to make us out to be bullies while they were the ones manipulating and hurting people. So, if you want to twist the narrative like Lexy does every time she opens her mouth, than be my guest!

But you insult my children? My Elsianna? My David? My Amiliah? Yeah, that’s a line you shouldn’t have crossed, Bear, and you shouldn’t have dragged Penguin across it too. Because now? Selena and I don’t just want to beat you for the tag-titles. We don’t just want to put on a clinic between two actual teams and not some thrown together number like Kimberly Williams and Sarah Wolfe. We don’t just want to bring some more integrity to this division anymore. No… now?

We’re beating you now because we have something to prove, and this needs to end. 

This whole conspiracy act needs to end! On and on you’ve gone, week in and week out, letting Lexy talk about conspiracies and ‘who’s in on it’ and whatever. And you know what? At first, I thought it was just sour grapes because her golden boy Ace Marshall couldn’t beat Selena at Rise to Greatness over a year ago. But now? I think she needs there to be a ‘conspiracy’. I think you two need her, so you need there to be some kind of conspiracy against all of you.

But the truth is, there is no conspiracy against you. Just one woman that has run every resource she has had into the ground, just like Holly Adams has done with The Brand. Autumn Valentine? Gone. Katsumi? Gone. Nate Chapel and Ace Marshall? Gone. And her rational is that it’s this big conspiracy driving them out, but the fact is that no one believes in ‘Lexy Worldwide’ anymore or the ‘Lexy Nation’ anymore.

More accurately, most of us can see right through it. We see through it because it’s just the same scam The Brand was promoting, just with a different paintjob. The Brand served one true purpose: to keep Holly Adams relevant. Lexy Worldwide? Made to keep Lexy Chapel relevant.

You think I’m lying? Why the hell would she need to address you as “Lexy Chapel presents The Farmstead Animals”? Why does she have to carry YOUR SCW World tag-team titles to and from the ring? Why does SHE call the shots when you two are the ones risking your lives with fire and bleach? Why does she do most of the talking, while you, Penguin, just shuffle your feet and chime in once in awhile?

It’s because Lexy only cares about you because you’re all she’s got left. And rather than see that, Penguin, you act more like a flamingo. You bury your head in the sand and you ignore it. And Bear? I’ll bet you’ve already figured it out but this arrangement of yours keeps your TV show going and whatever else you need so you go along with it. Hell, you agree with it because it gets you what want. It keeps YOU relevant. 

You want to say my children have no future? You two are too afraid to even have a future in SCW without Lexy Chapel. Without someone making all the decisions because then with her, you don’t have to be held accountable, right? “Oh! Lexy told us to do it! We were following Lexy!” Excuses, excuses and more excuses, when if you truly believed in fighting for what you have, fighting for what you believe in, then it would be just you two and the House of Frost and all this nonsense of the chamber wouldn’t even be a factor!

Yes, I am going to talk about that, because again, Lexy was the one that did this. Not me. Not Selena. Not Shaun, not Owen, not One, not Ducky, not even Greene or Adam Allocco. Lexy chose me. She could have given it to either of you! Given one of you the chance to spring ahead! You’re more than good enough, Penguin! Even Bear, though I don’t like him at all at this point. But she could have given you the chance – really helped your career! Instead, she chose me simply because she wants me to get hurt. She wants me in the ring with people driven to become world champion or, in Adam Allocco’s case, just to win and get his mojo back since he can’t challenge Xander while The Executioner is champion. 

She wants me in the ring in case we beat you. Cause I learned that if I get ‘removed’ like my wife’s last  tag partner was… The House of Frost does not last in SCW.

So I don’t just have to worry about Bear wanting to destroy me, I have to worry about five other people – ONE of them, literally The One, almost succeeded last Pay-Per-View when we fought for the Underground title! Another? Almost killed Ravyn and my wife that same night!

You want to talk about a conspiracy, Farmstead Friends? Let’s talk about Lexy trying to end my career to keep another Frost from running SCW and setting the new standard – one of grit and passion - across other divisions? Let’s talk about Lexy doing all she can to ensure that I am the one that “has no future”. Let’s talk about that? I can’t fault the incredible talent in the chamber for wanting to put me away – that’s how this works! That’s how the chamber works! I saw what it did to my wife year after year. Fractured ribs, concussions, the blood and tears from all the pain? That isn’t a match for stuffed animals and costumes! It’s brutal and unforgiving! That’s how we find a worthy person to challenge a man like Xander for the SCW World title!

But if you expect me to pretend that I wanted this? That I wanted to jump the line and get put in the chamber with dangerous people like Adam and Owen and Ducky (or Luna) and One and Greene? If you think I wanted to endanger the dream I had of becoming SCW World tag-team champions with the woman that means the most to me in this whole world, you are beyond wrong! 

And I don’t care if the others in the chamber use this fact, I won’t hide it. I became a wrestler for this purpose. To one day become tag-team champion with my wife. That was my dream. That was what I wanted for ‘our moment’. My wife and I, working together to make the tag-division better for all teams, including yours, Farmstead. I wanted to be her partner, her equal in wrestling, even if I have so much farther to go to be on that level as her in the ring.

I didn’t want the chamber. I didn’t want this. But now that it’s here, I have to see it through, because I refuse to let you two or Lexy try and steal MY future from me. And if that means I have to walk into the chamber and survive five other incredible talents, including one of the guys on the biggest run right now, the man that beat my wife in Adam Allocco, if that is what I have to do keep my future alive, than – I don’t know how – but I will find a way! 

And, one way or another, while you three – Penguin, Bear, and Lexy – are licking your wounds and watching the chamber match begin… there will be one thing that will ring in your ear. One little thing that will sit with you as it is declared at the start.

‘Making her way to the ring… The NEW SCW World Tag-Team Champion… Deanna Frost!’

Checkmate, bitches!

[TheOne]

{PROMO}

Many walk by completely oblivious of their surroundings, while others look at every Tom, Dick or Harry, that they pass, hoping to spot that rare celebrity they can talk about with their family.  On the opposite side, there are those who try and blend in with their surroundings, and try to, while being some form of public figure, maintain a level of anonymity simply not to have any extra attention called on themselves.  This is where The One considers her role in society.  She loves to people watch, but she hates to be the one being watched, so she often does her reconnaissance and then does whatever it takes to be easily spotted, but blend in so well she's easily overlooked as a nobody.  This has been her M. O. since becoming The One, and even on the streets of London, England, she is able to execute it with ease, as she leans against a building, but still doesn't stand out among the rest one iota.

As all of these people randomly walk by, ignoring one another, or even taking a look at strangers they don't know, they may or may not think to themselves, who are these people?  What is their background?  Where do they come from?  Where are they going?  And when people look at me and don't know those answers, they tend to ask themselves, especially in Supreme Championship Wrestling, the one big question...

Who is The One?

So consider this the moment I do, exactly, what I have done before and laid it all out on a silver platter so you can have EVERY ANSWER you seek, and then be solely responsible for what you decide to do with that information.

Firstly, to answer your question directly, I... AM... THE ONE...

But what does that mean?

The answer is simple.  The One is not a name.  It's not a nickname.  It's not something that one holds because they think of themselves as a superior entity.  No it's a moniker that is given to the person who's job it was to protect a group of others.  You are responsible for the health and safety of those people's families when they're effectively under your roof.  You're in charge of the enforcement of rules and regulations for everyone who walks in and out of your facility.  So to a degree, you're a hired authority figure...

But to me, I saw the greater good as the role that the name embraced...

Now the identity, the moniker, it has its roots in what I said, an authority and protector figure.  But those who have held the title, they have been known to put their own rules in place as well, all because of their own self interest.  They have embraced the idea that they are "the law," and hurt and extorted others for personal gain.  I didn't embrace that idea when I embodied the role.  Like every Doctor in Doctor Who, everyone has had their own understanding and usage of the title.  They may have known the past, but they brought themselves into what the role represented now.  And for me, The One was never about ME.  It was about what I could do for others.  It was about keeping others happy.  It was about making them feel truly safe and know they were as important as the persons to their left and right.

And that's why, in Supreme Championship Wrestling, I have been someone who has decided to embrace the role of catalyst for the future of an organization that, for the longest time, was the bastion of the best in the industry.  I didn't want to be the ONLY ONE who carried the torch.  I just wanted to be the catalyst of change.  I wanted to be the one who, in the analls of history, people could reference as someone who started the trend and, while maybe not being the biggest influencer of the transition, was the one who started the story.

I don't have to be the focus...

I don't have to be the only piece of the overall puzzle...

The One takes a quick drag from her THC vape.

But then I think about the fact that, to be the catalyst of change you have to take that authoritarian role.  You have to embrace the role of The One's past.  You have to take the blessings with the shortfalls.  It's why being The One is the ultimate blessing and curse all wrapped up with a pretty red bow on its head... And I'm that bastion of mixed emotion.

You see, to be The One, you have to embrace who you are, naturally, as a person, and on the other side, you have to accept and embrace the idea of being tyranical individual, who has to allow the fact that I have to lose one's self identity at the same time.

It's a dichotomy that doesn't seem to want to coexist, but has to...

I have to take charge, command the ranks, but in the end, be willing to be who I am and step back and allow others to take the reigns should the mission direct it.  I have to be willing to let The One rule as a dual personality of who I am, who I've wanted to be, versus the selfish destroyer of worlds and dreams that those before me may have been.  It's why I've acted how I have in SCW.  I've shown the side willing to hurt others, put my selfish endgame ahead of others, until I ultimately got the reaction I wanted from WHO I wanted.  But then there was Breakdown... It was the night where The One let a bit of her true personality out.  I wasn't going to punish an individual for a situation where we were both targeted.  It was the situation of the enemy of my enemy is my friend, at least in that moment.

But that's how I see The One.  That's WHO I see The One being.  No matter who holds the moniker, that is who they have to be.  And they don't get a say in when and for how long the identity is bestowed upon them...

The One sniffs, and then takes a vape, blowing a large cloud of smoke out before looking her hooded head toward the direction of the camera watching her.

So who is The One, you ask?  The One isn't who I am... But I AM The One, until the daya comes that I am set free of this burden...

The One sighs, and continues.

As I said, my mission as The One was safety and protection, before I came to SCW.  But, before me, there were individuals who bastardized the idea of who and what The One represented.  That's why I have taken it as a blessing and a curse.  I am cursed with its past... But I am blessed with its potential and its future.  The potential to bring honor and respect to the name of The One is something that truly only goes to the people who don't want that "power" that could come with it.  Because if that were to happen, the lineage and the curse would end.  The last "One" would have created their own historical moment, by taking the evil that had been the representation, and ending the idea that it is what The One represents...

And that's why my greater cause, my greater moment, my destruction of the tyranny and evil, has manifested itself with the opportunity to step into the CHAMBER... But also, and most notably, Xander Valentine, himself.  Firstly, I am not looking past my opposition in the Chamber, but Xander Valention is an adequate representative of a part of SCW's past that, at one point, was something SCW embraced and was proud of.  Xander was the walking badass who imposed his will on the opposition.  He was a immovable object.  An unstoppable force.  But then he entered a period where he was a shell of who he once was.  He was willing to talk big, and run away.  But then he reemerged as someone in the present, who matched the mentality that brought SCW to one of its lowest of lows in respect amongst its peers.  He is someone who fit in well with that group who brought a foul taste to those who brought SCW to its highest of highs...

And with that history, he's the ultimate representation of the true Supreme Championship Wrestling "final boss!"

Like I said, he's been around from the growth, to the present.  But has a lot in the middle that could be considered selfish, negative, and a complete antithesis to what SCW had grown to become... But he's still Xander Valentine.  He's still the ultimate "final boss."  And getting to face him, getting to possibly defeat him, that would represent the ultimate moment, the ultimate flipping of the script of what the world would be expecting.  It would destroy the foundation of what SCW has rested its laurels on.  It would say there is someone new, someone stronger, someone more willing to impart their will, on the organization, outside of those that they have gotten comfortable with.  It would mark the moment where my goals, my dreams, and my catalysts begins to react, to start the transition from the old chapter of SCW, to the new and more redefined days ahead...

But while he's the "final boss," while he's the endgame, like I said, the CHAMBER marks the video game ladder of oppoennts that The One has to climb in order to even reach that mountaintop.  Calvan Greene... Ducky... Deanna Frost... Owen Cruze... Adam Allocco... A who's who of opposition that would make anyone cringe at the simple IDEA of having to face them all one on one, let alone possibly all at once inside a caged infrastructure that you can't escape... But the end result is that SCW Championship opportunity and "Shao Khan or Goro" that just towers over the rest...

And the funny thing is... Look at everyone in the CHAMBER as a whole, one of these things, definitely not like the other...

And hey!  It's me!

The One looks at the camera, and similar to her previous promo, gives a cheesy grin and thumbs up, before looking back down, and resuming the serious tone.

Am I wrong?  Do I not look like an antithesis to the others?  Everyone in this match is seen as the proverbial "fan favorite."  And that isn't something I am going to say is a negative.  I am going to, in fact, say that it could be the blessing in disguise for them.  They could be someone who plays a vital role and establishes a cornerstone to the future of the SCW landscape.  To be blessed by those who ultimately sign the checks is something critical to the future of the business.  Lose the fans, SCW loses business, you don't have a job.

So me being that antethesis, me being "The One" who doesn't fit the mold, who doesn't pander to ANYONE, but instead focuses on final goal and final boss, that is someone who is willing to risk it all.  That's what history tells us.  History tells us that the most influential and most successful people in ths history of humanity didn't focus on pandering.  They also didn't focus on tyranny.  They took the criticism in stride and focused on what ultimately would be the right decisions that HISTORY would decide the fate of, instead of hoping that by being revered from the start would ultimately do it for you.

That's why I'm willing to be that martyr.

I'm willing to be that leader who, right now, a lot of people criticize...

How many others in this match are willing to accept criticism?  How many others aren't focusing on the easy way, the way of approval, the way of support, but on the greater good?  I don't know if there are any members of this match willing to do it.  They have focused on being liked by everyone.  Doing things in a way that panders.  I'm not against being liked... I'm just not going to sacrifice who I am anymore.  The One has done that too many times in their pasts, and I am not going to venture into that.  I am not going to let myself go in the way of tyranny, but I am also not going to try and win a popularity contest.

So everyone in this match, I hope you realize where each of you and I stand apart.  This match... This CHAMBER STRUCTURE, represents the legacy that I have been building since I was a teenager.  I was a caged beast, threatened with destruction unless I overcame adversity.  I didn't have to do it the "right way," but instead I had to focus on doing things the way they NEEDED to be done.  I had to trust that history would do the defining, and not who I pissed off at the time.  And now I have the chance to grasp that moment and prove that the legacy of The One is not marred in evil.  It's not marred in self-interest.  The One will now be known as the person who led a change for a greater good and bigger idea than themselves.

And selfishly... It will lead me to truly finding myself, and defining myself, once again...

Like I said... The One is not me, but I am The One, until I am freed of its curse.  Until I prove I am worthy of being reminded of who I was, this will be who I am, and all I can do is continue to fight and redefine what and who The One has always been known to be.  And if people continue to have questions about my background, my backstory, and who I am, I get it.  I don't blame you.  I don't think you should magically embrace the explanation, and what I plan to do, and to always assume there is something I am not saying.  That's the world we live in... We live in a world of mistrust.  We live in a world of questioning what we hear and see.

But plain and simple... Once Under Attack is over, you'll all agree and know ONE thing...

I'm not just THE ONE... I am also the NUMBER ONE CONTENDER for the SCW World Championship!

The One looks back down, continuing to puff on her vape.  The camera slowly begins to back up and fade out, as foot traffic begins to increase in a time lapse, more and more, before The One's image leaning against a wall, disappears into the foot traffic herself, proving she's just a face in the crowd.

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



EXODUS: Chapter Seven (The Final Chapter)

After seeing The Original One and knowing he was going to be hot on our scent, we knew we had to be even more cautious around town.  This didn’t deter us from wanting to find out more information, however.  We just knew we had tore in tune with our surroundings.

And for a few days we made some significant progress.  We saw many of the safe houses being raided in mass attempts to find out if any of the others were possibly sheltering us in place, like the one we used to protect The Oracle.  We found it humorous, honestly, that they would think that we would use the same tactics again, and not wise up.  We felt it showed the simplicity of the minds of The Original One and The Prophets ae a whole.  But we knew they weren’t dumb.  We knew they would adjust once it became obvious they were chasing their own tail.

We also began making our way closer and closer to the side of town that would lead us closer to The Compound itself.  Our original intent was to find a way in, and basically conduct the ultimate spy operation.  We’d be decked in black, shrouded by nightfall, and one by one take out the defenses that would ultimately allow us to make the main attack on The Prophets themselves.  You see, unlike most cult-like compounds, The Prophets didn’t carry a cache of weapons preparing for doomsday.  They relied on money and blackmail.  Their MO was far more white collar, especially since it started as a safe haven for swingers to go and engage with one another.

So while we had this grand scheme, in the end, the ability to take these people down would involve simple confrontation and turning their game against them by using blackmail and extortion to bring their operation to the ground.  But we knew it would take some talent to breach The Compound so we had to be sure we knew what upgrades, if any, thy had decided to make in my absence.

Then came the moment that all of our plans were thrown out the window, and not only did we have to completely change plans, but completely reevaluate every aspect of what Hailey and I were doing, how we were thinking, and what steps we would take next.... And it came in the form of one phone call.

As The One and Hailey are making their way through town, they are met with a strange occurrence, at least for them.  A phone call from the actual phone number of Hailey’s parents.  The reason this ws strange was because everyone had agreed to use random, store bought, burner phones to call either Hailey of The One.  This would ensure that if anyone had used their legal authority to rig s case to have her parents phones tapped.  They didn’t know the numbers The One and Hailey would be using, but the parents could have been easily discovered once Hailey was seen back in the picture.

So a call from them directly was an immediate red flag to both Hailey and The One.

It took a few rings, and a conversation between the two that simply consisted of no words but all eye contact, before Hailey finally decided to answer.

Hailey: Umm... Hello?

Unexpectedly for Hailey, the voice on the other end wasn’t one of her parents, instead that of her younger brother, which made the call make some sense, but what was said made things even more serious.

Hailey's Brother: Hailey... Something is going on with that Oracle chick...

Hailey’s eyes widen and she immediately switches to speakerphone and lowers the volume where only She and The One can hear.  The One is confused but leans in and listens.

Hailey: What the hell do you mean something is going on with The Oracle?

The One’s eyes go agape and a feeling hits the pit of her stomach.

Hailey's Brother: I don’t know what, but some guys barged in and are yelling at Mom and Dad in the background about her.  Who is she?  Why are they here?

The One: Son of a bitch... They found her...

Hailey: Is one of the guys pretty big?

Hailey's Brother: Yeah he’s huge... Like... Huge...

The One: I want you to stall them... I don’t care if you have to try and fight them from leaving but keep them there!

Hailey's Brother: Are you crazy?!  I can’t fight some dude that size...

Hailey mutes the phone.

Hailey: He’s just a kid...

The One: Well... He... We...

Hailey: I get it... We need details and we will go...

Hailey unmutes the phone.

Hailey: How long have they been there?  And where is The Oracle now?

Hailey's Brother: Uhh... Like 20 minutes?  And she’s in her room I assume...

Hailey: Then do me this favor, get her up to the attic.  And be quiet, and then just go back to your room and pretend nothing happened...

Hailey's Brother: But... I...

The One: Please... Just do it!

Hailey's Brother: Ok ok ok!  I’ll do what i can...

Hailey: Thanks, kiddo... We will try and get there as fast as we can.  Otherwise don’t tell ANYONE you called us...

Hailey's Brother: Just hurry... Please!

The One: We are on our way...

My question... My biggest question... How?!  How did they track her that far, that fast?  And how much could we trust a kid to do anything to ultimately protect this little girl, who has been abused, against someone like The Original One?  And then... How strong were her parents to resist answering questions?

I was a mess.  This was my nightmare.  And to have it come at the hands of Hailey’s family hurt in a way that I couldn’t explain.  I knew I could get them back into their hometown.  I told them I could make their lives better and normal again.  And yet they seemingly have done nothing to try and deter these guys from being inside their home and KNOWING that The Oracle is hidden somewhere inside as well?

Regardless, we were able to get a vehicle safely, and begin driving like bats out of hell toward the town in which Hailey’s parents were residing.  We knew it would be a long shot having them delayed long enough before The Original One just ransacked the place and found The Oracle.  But we were hopeful.  We were hopeful that maybe we could even spot them on their way back in our direction.  So while Hailey drove at, what felt like warp speed, I focused on every vehicle passing by to see if any showed any signs of having something nefarious or suspicious.

I saw nothing... And unfortunately, I probably should have...

After about an hour’s worth of driving, The One and Hailey come around the final bend, leading to the driveway of her parents house.  Once they come around that bend, they quickly see that no other vehicles are present.

The One: MotherFUCKER we are too late...

Hailey: Just hang on... Maybe they parked in the treeline or something to hide...

The One: All I am saying is you better hope so...

The One jumps out of the car, and is quickly followed by a concerned Hailey.  Hailey looks up toward the window of her brother’s room, and he peeks out.  He makes eye contact with her and simply shakes his head. Hailey understands immediately.  At the same time, her parents come walking out of their front door onto their porch, just beaming with smiles.

The One: Where is she?!

The parents completely ignore The One.

Hailey's Mother: Hailey, guess what?!

The One is not deterred.

The One: I asked WHERE IS SHE?!

Hailey’s father looks at The One.

Hailey's Father: I’m sorry... We were told about your abusive ways and how you kidnapped that poor girl.  Quite honestly, you sicken us...

Both Hailey and The One’s eyes go wide.

Hailey: Mom..> Dad... What in the HELL?

Hailey's Mother: Hailey, dear, calm down... We have some AMAZING news!  Because we helped save The Oracle for her parents, we were given a lot of money and told we can return back to town without any repercussions.  And the best part is, YOU are welcome to come as well, participate, and even have anything you did in the past forgiven and forgotten by The One...

Hailey, who had slumped her head in disappointment, slowly looks up with a snarl on her face.

Hailey: SHE... SHE IS THE ONE!  That other guy is someone who wishes he was HALF the human being that SHE is!

The One: And you both... You two... You should know what being ostracized is like by that fucker.  He knew who you were and knew how fucking selfish you’d be about this, and he PLAYED you.  You two were his little BITCHES and if you think he’s going to keep his fucking word, you’re also two of the most delusional human beings on the face of God’s Green Earth!

And you, Hailey, you promised they were better than that.  You promised they were trustworthy.  You promised me!  I believed you!  I Trusted you!

Hailey: I trusted them.  I believed they were better than others who were that self-centered...

Hailey looks back at her parents.

Hailey: ... And obviously I was gravely mistaken and they weren’t the great people I had been raised to believe they were...

Hailey's Father: Snookums... You know how great of a chance this is?  You’ve been wanting to go home for a long time, and now...

Hailey cuts him off.

Hailey: I’VE ALREADY BEEN BACK!  STOP ACTING LIKE YOU ARE GIVING ME SOMETHING I DIDN’T TAKE ON MY OWN!

Hailey's Mother: But Hailey, you do realize what we were able to make happen?  We get to go home!

Hailey: YOU BRAINWASHED SONS OF BITCHES!

The One spins Hailey toward her.

The One: YOU made this happen... YOU are responsible for this... YOU have to make this right and deal with their decisions!

Hailey: Why is this...

Hailey pauses, realizing she was initially being defensive, but realizing The One is right.  She then just nods.

Hailey: No... You're right...

At this point, I knew I had to escalate this to a level that would put more at risk, including myself.  But I realized at that point that this is time to call in actual reinforcements.  So while Hailey was berating her family, and hopefully handling the situaion in a way that makes them realize how they have fucked up, I jump into the car and immediately grab my phone.  I look through my contacts for the one labeled "Break Glass" and the call is made.  I start to leave the driveway and get back on the highway before the other end picks up.  Because this was a situation I had planned for, I simply stated I was ready to deliver.  The person on the other end immediately hung up, and within minutes I am receiving texts for plane tickets and an immediate round trip flight to Washington DC.

I make my way to the airport because the flight is effectively leaving within minutes, I head directly to the airport so I can get on a plane and back to figure out what is the next steps are going to be.

As the plane departs, my mind shifts back to Hailey.  Why would she have trusted her parents so much to only have them quickly turn their backs on us without hesitation?  Why would she put The Oracle in harms way, if there was any chance?  The level of betrayal I felt both from her family, and even to a point, her, was palpable.  She was the only person in my life I had unconditional trust for, and I feel like now that is even in question because I wonder if she knew, and she wanted back into The Compound.  Maybe she wants to be the one to ultimately bring things down, and be the one remembered?  Maybe I was always the "worker," and she was the "brains?"  All of these thoughts raced through my head incessantly as I looked out the window of the plane, ignoring everyone who even considered talking to me.

As the plane got ready to land, I knew it was game time.  One of the few things I had prearranged as part of my long term goal had to be activated now that The Oracle was, once again, in the hands of her abusive parents.  I have to now face the facts, face the truths, and face the horrors that could now be brought to existence because of my actions in the past.  But if it means the safety of The Oracle, then my job is complete.

As everyone deplanes the aircraft, many begin making their way to baggage claim.  The One, however, makes a b-line through security, and toward the re-entry point so she can prepare to go back through security, and get on her immediate return flight home.  As agreed upon, The One walks in a certain pattern up and down the main entry of the airport until she spots an unassuming man walking her way.  She lowers her left arm to the side, and begins to almost drift into the man's way purposefully.  The man, having dropped his left arm, ends up bumping shoulders with The One, and the two shocking look at one another and apologize.  They then continue walking.

As The One reaches security she looks down at the ground and then in her hand, as if to make sure she didn't drop anything.  At the same time she looks up to see the individual leaving the airport terminal and looking like he is stuffing something into his pockets.  Her phone vibrates and as she looks down a text simply reading "Transfer complete," comes through, and she grins, feeling she's done the right thing.

From there, she takes the arduous steps in going through security, and making her way back to, ironically, the same aircraft she just deplaned.  Her timing is perfect as they're making the final boarding call as she walks up.  She scans her ticket and immediately walks back down the jet bridge and takes her seat, noce again looking out the window and letting her mind wander about motives, reasoning, and ultimate goals of everyone involved.

[HARDStyle]

2 of 2: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10wNo...sp=sharing

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Deanna’s second. Counts for both matches.

The Witches of Alden

”Believability”

Black Arrow Neighbourhood 
Manhattan, New York
October 31st, 2022
8:47pm

It had been adorable to watch her children grow more and more tired – each one nodding off as the night dwindled on. 

They had started altogether – The Frost Family – the children running up and down the streets excitedly, well, David mostly. The boy had been the most excited. He had written out his page of ‘apology’, showing it to both Deanna and Selena to prove that he had, and been beyond well-behaved the last few days. In short, he had re-earned his ‘trick-or-treat’ privileges, as Deanna had put it. So, his excitement was understandable. 

Although, when Deanna had reviewed his ‘written punishment’, as it were, she did make an interesting discovery. The boy, perhaps during a ‘break’ in his writing, had drawn a small sketch in the upper left corner of the gargoyle he had been climbing – the very act that had gotten him grounded in the first place. And for a young boy of nearly six, it was a decent drawing snugly places in the corner of the lined paper. 

Deanna smiled to herself as she walked down the street. Perhaps it was the excitement and all the extra running he had done in joy of regaining Halloween that had worn him out, but the poor boy had started getting sleepy shortly after Amiliah. Every time one of the children got too tired, Selena would pick them up and carry them back home, with Gerda there to watch them, before rejoining the others. Amiliah had lasted only an hour, with David following shortly thereafter. Elsianna had wanted to stay longer, wanting to gather more candy for her brother and sister. She had chosen to wear the costume she had worn for the school play of “Frankenstein” she had performed a week or so ago, which Selena had helped her get past (perhaps another story for another time…), but she, eventually, had nodded off as well, which was why Deanna was walking the streets of the neighbourhood by herself, with Selena dropping off Elsianna at their house. 

Would Selena even come back at this point? Or with all their children done for the night, would she leave Deanna to make her own way home? Maybe she was already asleep – the Snow Queen sleeping on the couch in the living room since their fight in Washington DC. 

The notions brought a myriad of emotions to the redhead. On one hand, she didn’t need her wife to help her find her way home in their neighbourhood. She knew exactly where she was and she could take care of herself. On the other hand… Deanna’s eyes looked down at her empty left hand. On the other hand, she wanted to hold her wife’s hand and keep walking…

The children may have loved the trick-or-treating candy-grabbing the most of Halloween, but Deanna’s favourite part was the houses. It was the same for Christmas, seeing the multitude of decorations. And with the contest coming to a close tonight, she partially had wanted to see her ‘competition’ as well. 

No… that wasn’t entirely accurate. Her only competition, really, was Leslie. She wanted to beat Leslie. If someone else beat her, then that would be okay. It was very different from her feelings with SCW. At the thought, Deanna felt the familiar soreness in her back and legs. She had overdone her training this morning and the night before, not to mention the spare time she had, she had dedicated to studying the chamber combatants. As much as she wanted to study the Farmstead Friends of Dancing Bear and Hairless Penguin, she had done enough of that. Additionally, she felt that the chamber was where she needed to prove something. It was there that everyone believed she would not last. The tag-match? She had Selena, so she would be fine with her wife protecting her – she exhaled in frustration at that perception, though that turned into a tired yawn which belied her exhaustion as she walked down the street.

She had not wanted to be part of the chamber. Had had zero ambition to join it, but being thrown into it by Lexy? And hearing Shaun and Selena’s words back in DC? Things had changed. And she refused to simply be pitied by anyone, including the combatants of the chamber. So what if she wasn’t ‘ready’ or she ‘couldn’t handle it’? Who were they all to judge her? Who was Selena to decide for her? It was why Deanna had worked harder than ever to better her chances not just of surviving but winning it all – the tag-titles and the chamber. She knew of Cruze’s speed, but he had been on a ‘big match losing streak’ of sorts, losing to the likes of Selena and Adam recently. Adam was strategically-speaking the most dangerous but since his loss to Xander, the spring in his step was diminished, his momentum halted. Power moves and strikes could slow him down. The One was arrogant and fool-hardy, Deanna knew that from experience. Nicole was easily distracted, and Greene simply didn’t care how he fared in the ring. He was more focused in having fun. In short, Deanna had learned in her studies that each combatant, like her, had weaknesses and she needed to know them all if she hoped to have a sliver of a chance. 

Hearing some more noises nearby, Deanna looked up to see one of the families walking their children down the other side of the road on the sidewalk, the children – dressed as a mouse and a cat – looking very tired, dragging their feet as they walked. Despite herself, Deanna checked her watch. It was almost nine o’clock. It would almost be time for the announcement of the contest winner. She had already taken the majority of the neighbourhood through her house-display/entry hours ago at the “start” of the trick-or-treating and had enjoyed seeing not only the smiling and entertained faces of the neighbourhood-kids and adults, but also the scowling face of Leslie as she had walked through the property, grumbling all the way (though what she had said, Deanna hadn’t cared to listen to). Sadly, she hadn’t the time to visit the other displays till now, her children deserving their time for their revelries. 

Continuing to travel up the sidewalk, her destination came into view. The large house at the turn in the street/cul-de-sac, if Black Arrow neighbourhood could be called that. One of the largest houses in the neighbourhood, certainly larger than her own, it stood like a castle overlooking the entire neighbourhood. The oldest family/residents lived there, and it was always the ‘meeting ground’ for the neighbourhood for outdoor announcements, which wasn’t very often, but still, least it was consistent. Deann couldn’t even recall meeting the owners/residents. If anything, the large space was deserted, not in the best condition considering the rest of the houses/estates. It would have been perfect for a haunted house or meeting ground, but that idea never seemed to come up in meetings or discussions with the others. Evidently, the owners were fine with it being used for a meeting place outside it, but not within it. 

Deanna smiled to herself as the large ‘palace’ came closer into view. It was a cool little mystery to think about when she was walking or jogging past it, but she didn’t care to dwell on it. She had more important things to worry about-

“Deanna!” she heard her name called out, looking up and out to see the smiling face of the vampires – The Grays, Dorian and Sybil, waving to her. With a smile of her own, Deanna put on a short burst of speed, jogging towards her friends. They had dressed as simple vampires for tonight, and Deanna could guess that Sybil, being the former actress, had been the one responsible for hers and Dorian’s flawless makeup. The pair stood on the outside of the small crowd that was slowly growing of the neighbourhood adults. 

“Hey!” she smiled brightly as she reached them, admiring their capes for a moment. “Where’s Asuna?”

“Oh, she conked out hours ago.” Sybil remarked. “Becky’s watching her now.”
“Same with Elsa, Amiliah, and David.” Deanna nodded.
“That where Selena is now?” Dorian asked, though seemed to regret his question as the smile faltered on Deanna’s face.

“I’m…I’m not sure.” Deanna answered honestly. “She might have turned in after taking Elsianna home. I’m not too sure.”

While Dorian said nothing in response beyond a nod of his head, Sybil, the more dramatic one, was not so easily swayed by such an answer. “Something going on between you two?” she asked, moving closer so she could lower her voice. “Dorian and I were walking a few days ago and heard you arguing in your yard.”

Deanna’s head shot up, her eyes wide. “You heard that.” She asked, guilt and shame washing over her in abundance. “I am so sorry. We just…I mean I just…”

“Relax, sweetheart.” Sybil, only a few years older than Deanna, touched her shoulder. “Couples fight. I don’t think a relationship is a real one without some squabbles to work through.”

“It’s not…” Deanna tried to find the words. “It’s not the first fight we’d had, but it’s never made me this angry.”

A moment of silence fell between the two, Sybil checking to see if any of the other waiting neighbours were listening in on their conversation, her voice still soft and low. “Can I ask what happened?”

“Sybil…” Dorian warned, the young man, a few years younger than Selena, stepped in a bit closer to his wife. “We have no right to pry like this.”

“No, it’s okay.” Deanna sighed. “Maybe it’s better if I talk about it – and you two are the closest friends aside from Gerda and Kai that we have. Elsianna adores Asuna.”
“And she is fond of Elsianna.” Dorian smiled genuinely, Sybil waiting patiently for Deanna to speak.

“You…” the redhead tried, adjusting her simple costume of a female pirate, complete with black, tight pants, white puffy shirt, brown corset, and hat. “You guys know what I do? What Selena and I do.”

The Grays gave a nod. “We’re very excited about your tag-title match!” Sybil exclaimed. 
“And less than excited about that chamber announcement.” Dorian added, his lips forming a grim line.
“Right…” Deanna nodded. “I forgot you guys watch us.”
“Only when Asuna goes to bed.” Dorian explained. “I’m sure you’re the same with your children.”

“Mostly.” Deanna nodded. “Anyway, that chamber match… I sort of found Selena and my boss, of sorts, Shaun, talking about convincing me to quit it…”
“So?” Dorian shrugged.
“Without me there to discuss it with them.”

Immediately, both Dorian and Sybil seized a little, inhaling almost at the same time through clenched teeth.

“Ah…ouch.” Sybil remarked. 
“Yeah.” Dorian nodded his head. “I’m so sorry, Deanna.”

Deanna nodded, appreciative of her friends’ remarks.

“So…” Sybil tried. “Can I guess that your fight had to do with her making the decisions for you? Leaving you out and treating you like a child? Something to that effect?”

Again, the redheaded pirate nodded. “Something like that. It’s a myriad of emotions. Are you going to tell me I am in the wrong and should apologize?”
“Did you say something that warrants an apology?” Dorian asked.

“I…” the memory seized Deanna of the previous day – what she had said in that yard about Regan and Dawn. “I did.” She admitted, casting her eyes downward. “Selena pushed me and I went too far, I think.”
“Well, then I would apologize for that.” Dorian advised.

“But…” Deanna tried, her head snapping up to meet her friends’ gaze. “Why me? Why do I have to apologize first? Why is it always me that had to be the peacemaker?”
“I didn’t say you had to apologize first.” Dorian tried, holding up his hands to try and calm Deanna. “I mean that when the time comes for apology, make sure you apologize for your part.”

“Oh…okay.” Deanna breathed. “That does make sense.”

“Deanna…” Sybil reached out, taking Deanna’s hand in hers. “Mind if I share a story with you?”
“Considering we’re all waiting for the same thing here, I’d say go ahead.” Deanna shrugged.

“When Dorian and I were engaged – I was 18 and he was 21 – Dorian wanted me to give up the theatre life. He went to my agent and asked him to drop me and for the director of the current play I was doing downtown to recast me.”

Deanna’s eyes went wide in surprise, flying to Dorian’s guilty expression. “How could you do that? You know how much Sybil loves acting!”

“I…” Dorian sighed. “It was a very youthful mistake. A moment I regret.” He admitted.

“Dorian…” Sybil comforted, pulling his hand up to kiss it gently. “Let me explain to Deanna.” She turned her attention back to Dorian. “The problem was far more complicated than I imagined. At first, I thought Dorian was jealous of the idea of me being successful, or making more money than him. But it was far more complicated than that.”

Deanna turned to Dorian. “What was the reason?”

Despite his shame, Dorian sighed before explaining. “At the time, I thought Sybil becoming successful on Broadway or wherever would lead her to see more excitement than life with a doctor. Since we were kids, she had always loved adventure and, with my practice just starting, I couldn’t just give it to her. I had to stay here and build my reputation and business. Then there was all the horror stories I heard of Hollywood and Broadway – scandals, drug-use, assault cases…”

Deanna kept nodding. There was certainly a dark side to New York and all its burrows that few here really wanted to talk about. The residents of Black Arrow tried to keep such things out of their ‘world’, and it seemed Dorian was of a similar make, wanting a safe haven for him and Sybil, much in the same way Selena had found this place for them to live their lives together with their children and dog.

“It wasn’t that Dorian didn’t trust me or believe in me becoming successful. He was afraid what would happen if I did.” Sybil explained, turning her gaze to Dorian, the fondness in her eyes.

“So…” Deanna hopped a little from foot to foot. “You two fought?”
“Pffft…intensely.” Dorian explained. “Almost called off the engagement.”
“You did?”
“No, I did.” Sybil stated. “Because I was also young and very foolish.”
“In several ways, you still are.” Dorian teased, earning a shoulder shove from Sybil.

“Hush.” She admonished. “I went to live with my parents for a few weeks while I worked through my shows. Dorian would call every day and visit whenever he was able. We’d walk and talk through my parents’ neighbourhood, trying to explain our feelings best we could.”

“So, what happened?” Deanna asked, surprised at the eagerness she felt in hearing the end of this story.

“I realized that Dorian’s real reasons were rooted in his love for me. He was scared for me. He was protective of me. He was afraid for me.”
“And I realized…” Dorian added. “That Sybil’s desire to be successful wasn’t because she loved theatre more than me or because she was stubborn. She wanted to be successful so she could see herself as equal to me.”

Deanna’s eyes flew to Sybil. “That’s how I feel!” she felt the emotional click, like a hammer striking a nail on the head perfectly. “All I want is to be seen as Selena’s equal. Her partner, wife, all of that. But all people can see me as is ‘Selena Frost’s wife’ and I thought that was okay for awhile, but now? I feel even she sees me the same way.”

“I wish it was simpler.” Sybil offered, reaching out to take Deanna’s hand. “But you have to also see it from Selena’s point of view. She was wrong in how she went about it, but consider everything she knows – her experience in that chamber. Consider everything you two have gone through.” She doesn’t know the half of it… Deanna thought. “I was too wrapped up in the present to see Dorian’s view at the time…”

“And I was too wrapped up in the potential futures to see Sybil’s.” Dorian added. “You have to find a middle ground.”

“A middle ground?” Deanna asked. “But…” she gave a shrug. “I don’t know what that is.”
“That’s why you have to talk to her, silly.” Sybil smiled moreso. “Trust me. I’ll wager she’s just waiting to talk to you.”

Not after what I said… Deanna thought but was unable to speak when the loud voice echoed around the large group of residents.

“Alright!” called out the head of the neighbourhood committee, Allan Strong, the fifty-year old dressed in a knight-costume and looking around excitedly. “I am so glad to see so many people here tonight! Did we all have a fun trick-or-treating with our kids?”

A chorus of ‘Yes!’ was heard, Deanna merely clapping her hands in agreement, her mind only half-present as she contemplated Sybil’s and Dorian’s words. A middle ground between the present-thinking and future-thinking… what does that even mean? she wondered. Far as she was concerned, neither of them were thinking about the future, and according to the Farmstead Friends and Lexy, they HAD no future or whatever.

Selena was terrified of Deanna being in the chamber.
Deanna needed to be in the chamber to deal with everything that had happened to her to this point. It was all present stuff. No future whatsoever. 

The only person that had even said anything about futures had been Dancing Bear and Shaun Cruze, but that was all about her getting destroyed by the tag-champions or in the chamber-

“And what a turnout!” Allan remarked, regaining Deanna’s attention. “I have to admit, this was the hardest year to judge the houses!”

“Sure it was!” a nasal-annoying voice remarked followed by the irritating laugh that could only belong to Leslie Sanderson. I guess it was wishful thinking to hope she wouldn’t show up. Deanna sighed, steering clear of the general area the voice had come from, though she assumed the costume with the big, poofy, Cinderella dress – the one that was taking up the most amount of space and literally… LITERALLY… glowing with some sewn-in lights was Leslie. 

Least when Selena and I did it, it was for something very special like Rise to Greatness or something-

“You’d think she already won the contest.”

The voice caused the redhead to jump a little, spinning around to be gently caught in the familiar hands of her wife. For a second, in Selena’s arms, Deanna forgot that the two were in the middle of a fight, her body acting of its own accord and relaxing in the familiar embrace.

“Easy.” Selena weakly smiled. “Didn’t mean to startle you.”

“It’s…” Deanna breathed. “It’s fine.” She finished, stepping out of the Snow Queen’s arms. Like Deanna, Selena had dressed simply this year, neither really being in the spirit of costumes tonight after the fight they had. And like the redhead, the platinum-blonde had dressed as a pirate, matching her wife with black leggings, but choosing no corset or hat but a white cotton shirt with eyelets in the arms and collar. Her hair was in its braid and her boots rode almost to her knees. 

“Did I miss anything?” Selena asked, earning a shake of the head from Deanna.
“No. Allan’s just getting started.” She eyed Selena from the corner of her eye. “I began to think you were going to just stay home after taking Elsianna to bed.”

The question seemed to throw off the Snow Queen, who turned her head to gaze at Deanna. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Because…” Deanna’s voice trailed off, trying to find the words, but instead spying Dorian and Sybil standing nearby, giving her a thumbs up. “Because we had a fight.”

“Deanna…” Selena sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose between her eyes. “I’m not going to miss something that is important to you just because we’re at odds.”

“Well…” Deanna shrugged, though she could not ignore the warmth that spread her – the relief she felt. “That’s at least something good, I guess.” She offered quietly.

“AND! For the most ‘classic’ house décor? This was an easy one!” Allan announced. “The Frost family for the ‘Trio of Ghouls’ walkway!” 

Hearing their name, Deanna smiled before making her way through the applauding crowd, reaching Allan to be handed a small certificate that said as much about her home. It was a participation award – basically every house got one. Casting her eyes outward, she saw a number of certificates already handed out, probably with names like ‘Biggest decoration’ or ‘Brightest light display’. The committee always made up awards to every house to include everyone. Still, she liked the idea of being ‘classic’ a little.

Quietly, she made her way out of the crowd, stealing a glance at Leslie to read her certificate as she passed.

”Most Expensive?!” she almost snorted loudly at that award. That’s what they settled on? It was like a bad joke! Reaching Selena, she showed her wife the certificate before settling back to listen to the other awards. It did not take long before they all handed out, some really funny and interesting like ‘Scariest’ and ‘Most Lit!’ and others rather silly like ‘Most number of ghouls attending’ for the Zombie displays or ‘Best Use of a Window’. Deanna hadn’t seen that one.

Regardless, Allan waited for a moment as the last certificate was handed out. “Well, that leaves just one. And with every display offering something special, it was hard to choose this year’s winner. But… after much thought deliberation with the judges, I am proud to say that we have a winner for this year’s ‘Best Halloween Display’.”

Despite herself, Deanna’s hand flew out to grab Selena’s, grasping it. She barely registered Selena’s head jerking to look at her in surprise or how the pale hand squeezed her affectionately. She just kept watching Allen as he took a deep breath before speaking.

“Ladies and Gentlemen – Boys and Ghouls of Black Arrow… our 2022 Best Halloween Display winner is…” he gave one last pause before shouting it out. “THE CUNNINGHAMS for their display ‘The Jack O’Lantern Family Reunion!”

Immediately, there were two sounds. First, the loud applause that came from the majority of the group, some even cheering. The other sound was a loud “WHAT?!” from a familiar voice before Deanna spied poofy and illuminated Cinderella (Leslie) stomping away from the group, perhaps back to her house. 

Undeterred by such a poor-sportsmanship display, Walter and Hannah stepped forward to claim their trophy – an actual trophy and not a certificate. Despite herself, Deanna felt the breath leave her body, her hand releasing Selena’s as she sighed in… was it relief? It was sadness, sure, but there was relief there. She could feel it, and it aided her in clapping her hands in congratulations to the Cunninghams. 

“Wow…” Walter remarked as he stared out to the crowd, Hannah holding the trophy. “I want to say thank you to all of you and I mean that. This would not have been possible without all of you and the children here visiting us to make the pumpkins. I very much…” he smiled. “I very much feel that this is a win for everyone here that contributed a pumpkin design.” His eyes spotted the flashy costume stomping away. “Which, I guess, excludes Leslie, I suppose.” He added, earning a laugh from the crowd, including a giggle from Deanna.

The crowd slowly dispersed shortly after that, everyone, including the Frosts giving Walter and Hannah congratulations. With the night winding down for the adults as well, Selena turned to head down the street, the quickest way to the Frost home, only for something to grab her hand and hold her still. Turning, the Snow Queen saw her emerald-eyed wife gazing at her.

“Can…” Deanna breathed, quickly stealing a glance towards the exiting Dorian and Sybil as they were already making their way back to their home. “Can we take the long walk back? I really…”

“Yeah.” Selena nodded. “Me too.”

Nodding her head, Deanna released Selena’s hand and began walking in the opposite direction, taking the longer roundabout way to their home. She kept her arms wrapped around her as they walked, silent for a good few minutes, but both admiring the various house decorations and displays that had been discussed earlier. Some were beyond amazing and others were, well Deanna liked them for being simple and cute! They must have reached the farthest side of the drive when Deanna spoke.

“You hurt me.” She stated. “I mean… you REALLY hurt me.”
“I know.” Selena sighed, the older woman crossing her arms over her chest. And I’m sorry.”

“I know you had the best of intentions, Selena, but it’s just…” Deanna sighed, casting her gaze up. Already, her eyes were moist with forming tears. “All I’ve heard since I started being a wrestler was that I was either living in your shadow, feeding off your fame, or would never be as good as you. And I was fine with that. I could prove them wrong. I could keep trying and keep fighting like you did when you started.”

Selena remained silent, waiting her wife to finish her thoughts.

“But…to hear you talk like that to Shaun. To make decisions about me behind my back – No, it isn’t even that!” Deanna laughed. “To hear that you don’t believe in me. That was what hurt more than anything.”

Biting her lower lip, Deanna turned around to face Selena, causing them both to stop for a moment. “Can you imagine how that feels? Eight years knowing you and I’ve never stopped believing in you. Not even for a second. Even when you lost or were hurt or scarred or bleeding, I knew you would make it out. I knew you could do anything. I still believe that. The only reason this tag-title match doesn’t terrify me is because I have you. And I believe in you. But you…” Deanna shook her head, reaching up to rub at her eyes. “It just hurts so much because I never imagined it be you that lost faith in me…”

“Deanna…” Selena sighed. “I love you…more than anything. But you’ve never been more wrong in your life.”

Deanna stopped, sniffling a little, turning her gaze towards Selena. “What? I don’t understand.”

“You honestly think I wanted you out of the match because I thought you couldn’t win? When did I say that?” Selena shrugged. “Did you ever hear me say that ‘you can’t win’?”

“I…” Deanna tried. “I heard you say I wasn’t ready for it.”

“And I meant it.” Selena nodded. “And I’m not ready for it.” 

Sniffling again, Deanna shrugged her shoulders. “Still so confused.”

Nodding her head, Selena walked ahead of her wife a few steps before turning around to face her. “I never said I didn’t believe you could win the chamber. I went to Shaun because I knew you could. And I know how you will likely almost kill yourself to do it. Whether it was to prove something or this talk of my ‘shadow’ or whatever.”

“Then why did you say I wasn’t ready for the chamber then, if you thought I could win it?” Deanna asked, still more confused than anything else.

“Because winning the chamber? Surviving it? That makes you a target. That puts a bullseye on your back that never goes away. That puts you on a standard that makes everyone want to beat you.”

“So?” Deanna shrugged. “It’s no different than winning a title and someone wanting it.”

“In this case, it’s far worse than that.” Selena bitterly laughed a little. “I mean… Deanna, have you given any though to what happens if you win?”

“Yes!” Deanna laughed back, crossing her arms over her chest. “I win the chamber and I prove you and Shaun and so many people wrong. People that said I ‘wasn’t ready’ or that I ‘couldn’t do it’-“

“Deanna!” Selena pressed, marching over towards her wife. Reaching out to grasp the redhead’s hands. “Stop and think like a manager for one second. There’s a part you’re missing here. You’re just thinking about the present. What about after? What if after you win? After you prove everyone wrong or whatever? What happens then?”

“I…” Deanna, truthfully, hadn’t thought that far. She had been so mad at Selena and, to a lesser extent, Shaun for being ‘forced’ to let her be in this match because they didn’t believe in her. She had never considered what would happen if she won the chamber other than sticking it to so many people that kept saying she wasn’t ready or good enough. 

But…that wasn’t all that would happen for the winner of the chamber, was it?

“I… would become the number one contender to the world title…” Deanna recalled, the last time she had thought that was mindlessly in an argument with Selena, never really considering it. 

“And who is the World Champion, Deanna.” Selena spoke slowly, a familiar look of fear in her eyes.

Deanna’s eyes widened. “X…Xander.”

Slowly, Selena released Deanna. “And there it is.” It was the Snow Queen’s turn to sniffle a little, for Deanna to see tears welling up in her wife’s eyes. “I’m scared of you being in the chamber… but I’m terrified that you could win it and face Xander.”

Deanna opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. How could she have missed that? How could the very prize slip her mind? Like the trophy she had failed to capture tonight, Deanna hadn’t cared about that – just beating Leslie. Similarly, she hadn’t cared about becoming number one contender, she just wanted to win the chamber match and prove everyone wrong, including Selena. She never had considered the future like Selena did.

“Xander…” Selena whispered. “You know what he did to me. Even if I look past all the mind games. In all SCW, no one has come close to putting me on the shelf, except him. Fighting him – as many times as I have – is terrifying. Look what he did to Adam!”

Despite herself, Deanna gulped. The man on a tear, the odds-on favorite to win the chamber, the man that had ended ‘The Reign of Integrity’, had been utterly manhandled and destroyed by Xander two weeks into the new SCW season, Allocco’s ‘promised reign’ ended before it could really begin.

Selena continued. “Deanna… he took Regan from me.” 

Deanna’s eyes widened. Regan, Selena’s sister and a good friend to Deanna… even if Xander swore it was an accident, there was no denying he was at fault for ending the Hellcat’s career. And he had swore up and down that he would do whatever he had to to keep the SCW world title with him. That was enough to make him more dangerous than ever before – as a wrestler, Deanna knew that, but as a manager? She understood it far better. Compared to facing Xander Valentine, being locked in the chamber, even against five such dangerous people as she would be facing, seemed like a breeze in terms of the very real danger.

That was what Selena was afraid of. That was what had motivated her to act. Not just the chamber itself, was a big enough danger, but because she believed enough that Deanna could win… and would then have to face Xander.

“So…” Deanna breathed. “You think I can win the chamber, but I can’t beat Xander?”

Selena looked up at her. “I don’t even want to think about you facing him. Win or lose, you’d lose something. That’s what it costs to beat him. Believe me, I know.”

It was then, in the dim glow of the streetlights and jack-o’lanterns, that Deanna could see the weariness in her wife. The sleepless nights, the years of aches and pains, of pushing her body past the breaking point and still keep going. Of being torn apart emotionally and almost physically. She was trying to keep that from happening to Deanna. Not because she didn’t believe in the redhead, but because she loved her.

The two stood there, both unable to find the words to say but everything laid bare between them.

Find a middle ground…

Sybil’s voice echoed in Deanna’s ears, the younger Frost looking at Selena as the former world champion had her eyes cast out on the large pond that the Black Arrow neighbourhood was built around, the moonlight reflecting off the still water. 

“Selena…” Deanna called out, walking over to stand beside her. “I… I don’t know what will happen if I ever face Xander. I don’t…” she could admit it. “I don’t want to think about facing him either. After everything he’s done to us… to Regan… it scares me too.” 

Selena said nothing, nor did she move. 

“But… I need us to get through this. Lexy put me in this chamber and I can’t just back down. Even if you believe in me. Shaun doesn’t. Most of SCW doesn’t. I know everyone in the chamber won’t take me seriously as an entrant. And I’m… I’m tired of that. I WANT to reach that level you talked about. Where I’m a target. Where there’s a bullseye on me just because I’m that good. You wear it, don’t you? I want it too. Because I’m tired of people not thinking I’m ‘good enough’.”

“But…” the redhead sighed. “I won’t ignore your fears because I share them. I don’t know what I am going to do if I win. I don’t want to face Xander – I…” she had to be honest with herself. “I’m not ready to face him. Not like you are.” She paused, hearing the surprised exhale from Selena at that confession. “But, I am ready for this chamber. And I need to see that through. So… please, let me do that. And we can deal with the aftermath if I win.”

There was a moment of silence between the two, the only sounds being a few neighbours returning home from the night’s events. Quietly, Selena turned back to Deanna, sapphire eyes pleading.

“Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“Against the Farmstead Friends?” Deanna teased, or tried to. “Hell no, I’m kicking Bear’s butt for what he said about our kids and getting us those tag-titles.”

“Deanna…” Selena tried, but stopped when Deanna was suddenly right in front of her, the shorter redhead stepping on her tiptoes to press her lips to Selena’s. The Snow Queen was silent for a moment, but protectively wrapped an arm around her wife’s waist to hold her in place.

Gently, Deanna chose when to disengage, leaning away to gaze at her wife’s face. “I promise I’ll be careful.” She whispered, her hands on Selena’s chest.

With a nod, Selena regarded her wife. “And…I’m sorry.” 
“You already said that.” Deanna remarked.
“But I want to say it again. I’m sorry for going behind your back.”
“And I’m sorry for what I said. All of it.” Deanna replied, taking Selena’s hand and continuing their walk through the trails that lead to their house. 

“I’m also sorry you didn’t win tonight.” Selena added as they walked. 
“Actually… I sort of did.” Deanna remarked. “Considering we helped with the pumpkins – or rather, our children did – Walter said it was our victory as well, and Leslie didn’t help at all not even with her son, William, so….”

“Sounds like a stretch.” Selena remarked, though a laugh and a smile escaped her.
“That’s my lovely wife.” Deanna smiled. “And yeah, it is, but I’ll take what I can get. I just wish I had seen Walter and Hannah’s display. He was still setting it up when we passed by his house with the kids, so I missed-“

Her voice halted when Selena stopped her, the Snow Queen having expertly lead her around the neighbourhood and to the desired house – how had she’d known Deanna wanted to see it?

“Nearly seven years of marriage.” Selena smiled. “And I can still figure some parts of you out.”

Deanna was agape. Before her was the Cunningham’s house, covered from rooftop to lawn in lit pumpkins! They were all over the house! They covered it! Illuminated images of cats, faces, characters…

“Wow…” Deanna smiled, mesmerized by the gorgeous display. “So beautiful.”

They spent the next thirty or so minutes admiring the various work of the neighbours, even finding the ones their children had made for the house, before finally returning home. 

“I’m…” Deanna whispered as the two changed out of their costumes and into their nightgowns. “I’m glad we could find a sort of middle-ground for this.”

Adjusting her magenta nightgown, Selena regarded her wife in their bedroom. “I’d say, instead of a middle-ground, we have a plan… well…”

“Half a plan.” They said at the same time, knowing one of the ‘Selenaisms’ she was known for. “Those are the best plans.” Deanna added.

“Yes.” Selena smiled a little, holding her pillow in her arms, her eyes cast down at it. “So… I’ll…” she gestured to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning…”

With a roll of her eyes from her place on the bed, Deanna threw Selena’s side of the blankets up. “Get in here.” She sighed, offering her wife the side of the bed. 

Relief and joy washed over Selena’s face before she was sliding under the covers, Deanna wasting little time to snuggle up to her beloved. “Getting too cold to sleep alone anyways.” Deanna teased.

“Not for-“
“If you say ‘the cold doesn’t bother you’.” Deanna warned. “I’m kicking you back out onto the couch.”

A laugh escaped the Snow Queen as she squeezed her wife tighter to her form. “Wouldn’t dream of it.” She whispered, feeling her redhead settling further into her arms as sleep began to claim them both. “I’ve seen how hard you can kick…” with her last bit of energy, Selena leaned into kiss her wife’s temple. “And everyone going against you this weekend… have no idea what’s coming…” 
_______________________________________________________________

After the graphic is shown before the camera fades into the empty Wembley Stadium in London, England, one of the first ‘international’ travels of the SCW crew and roster! And the site for tonight’s pay-per-view, Under Attack! An event that will see nearly every single title defended. However, more present in the shot is not the wrestling ring and the blue and white arctic lights, but the massive chamber that hangs above the ring. And, perhaps to match the mood of such a match as the elimination chamber, the blue lights of ‘Frozen Central’ slowly fade to red, the white still illuminating the middle of the ring.

The camera slowly changes to a shot of the interior to the woman that sits in the middle of the ring – except the woman is not the usual speaker of this segment. No, it is not the Snow Queen that smiles at the camera and audience.

Hi guys. Surprise! remarks the Queen’s Guard, Deanna Frost, tilting her head as she smiles. Let me guess, you were expecting Selena to be here, right? This is her segment after all. Well, I sort of asked her to let me do the ‘Frozen Central’ segment this time. Because… she bites her lip a little. Because I need to get this off my chest.

Slowly, the redhead’s gaze goes upwards, towards the chamber that hangs above her. I’ve never been in a chamber match before. Seen a lot of them. Like A LOT of them. Tactical Warfare, regular cage, Elimination chamber, roofed cage - the list is a long one. But… being outside of it and looking in and being inside of it and looking up… she lowers her head and shakes it in almost disbelief. Very different.

So, am I scared? she shrugs. Yeah, a little. Like I said, I’ve never been in a cage match of any kind before. And I could say ‘oh! It’s like Underground rules’ after being champion for that, but how the heck would I know that? she gives a sigh.

I’ve seen what these structures have done to my wife. The fractured ribs she had, the cuts on her head, the concussions, I’ve honestly lost track of how many injuries she’s had in chambers like this. But you don’t forget seeing your wife look so out of it, so pained and hurt. And when it’s your turn to take that on? You wonder if you can…

Cause I’m not like The One. I don’t see pain and go ‘YAY! PAIN! I’M THE WEAPON OF DESTRUCTION’. I don’t delight in hurting others. I want to beat others like her to prove I’m better. I want to beat superstars like her because I want to show what I can do. But if you expect me to laugh and go ‘Oooo! I will make you all hurt like never before!’ like some kind of sadist… or Luna… then I’m sorry… that isn’t me.

She shrugs her shoulders. 

And for those of you ready to pounce on me being ‘greedy’ or ‘wanting it all with titles and opportunities’ in being part of this chamber match, cause I can just imagine the gears working like that in your skulls, get a reality check. 

Why the hell would I endanger my dream of being tag-team champions with my wife just to win a chance to face Xander Valentine? Who the hell would face such a man – such a world champion – when they can’t promise to be at 100%? I’m sorry, but an idiot, that’s who! Nobody would willingly try to beat Xander Valentine when they’re already trying to be champion in another division. Why? Cause someone like Xander can’t be beaten with a half-ass attempt. It’s an endeavour. Ask my wife. 

My point is that I did not ask to be put in this match and I didn’t leap at the chance like everyone else did. I’m the only person on the roster that’s double-booked and I’m terrified of it because I’ve never had that happen to me either. Cause I know me. I know I am going to give everything I have to becoming the SCW tag-team champions with Selena. I need to. I have to. It’s our first chance at those titles, and it could very well be our last! So, how could I give anything less to her and to The House of Frost?

She gives a sigh, moving over to the ropes to sit on the middle one, her arms wrapped around the top as her legs dangle. 

But… thing is… I KNOW all of that and I know that I still need to do this match and, strange enough, it isn’t just to ‘stick it’ to Lexy Chapel who put me here in the first place. Although, can you imagine that? I win the chamber and go on to become not only tag-team champion but also world champion? Oh, she would have a fit! She might even lose some hair! That would be funny to see! Talk about backfire. That’s like backfire times a thousand!

But that isn’t my concern. I don’t want to think about then or Xander or the world title. I just want to focus on becoming tag-team champion and winning the chamber. And like I said, I’d like to say it was just cause of Lexy and call it a day – short promo, easy-peasy - but the truth is… it actually started with you, Adam Allocco.

Deanna’s head turns towards the camera, the red and white lights illuminating her features. Yeah, looks like we meet again. And I’m probably sure this will surprise you that I am starting with you, because you’re easily the odds-on favourite to win this, so why wouldn’t I save the biggest name, face on the poster, whatever for last? 

Because it was you, Adam, that put me in this mental-state I am in regarding my SCW career…

Quietly, Deanna kicks her feet a little, swinging a bit on the ropes. Do you remember the last time you and I fought, Adam? I was defending my wife’s honor after you mouthed off in the buildup to Rise to Greatness? You remember what you said to me? she pauses for a moment, as if awaiting an answer. You told me that I wasn’t ready to face someone like you. That I wasn’t good enough to face someone like you. And if that was it, I guess I could understand that. You are an arrogant man that thinks he’s this gift to wrestling, so yeah, I could deal with a few barbs about being ‘unworthy’ or ‘undeserving’ or ‘not ready’. But then? In the ring? What did you do? You remember?

Let me refresh your memory. Five moves of doom. Emerald-eyes narrow. Remember? That was all you felt you needed in dealing with me. Five moves. That’s it. You didn’t need your whole moveset like you did with Selena. You didn’t need any surprises. You didn’t need anything but those five moves against someone like me. 

I wasn’t worth more to you. I wasn’t worth your best effort…

Imagine how that made me feel. That I, the Television Champion at the time, wasn’t worth the best of Adam Allocco…

She inhales and exhales slowly. That night – that match – was blazoned into my mind, Adam. Because not being ‘good enough’ or ‘not being ready’ – I hated that. I hated that someone like you, who came out of nowhere after being fired here, won ONE battle royale, and was dictating to me my worth. I hated that I lost to someone with such a disrespectful strategy! I hated that I couldn’t do anything but just eat crow after that defeat and try and get better.

She casts her gaze out to the empty seats. I can imagine you can relate considering how Xander Valentine manhandled you two weeks into your reign, beat you with ease, and you’ve been living in the shadow of his wrath ever since. Still, your personal issues with Xander are not my concern. My issues with you are. Because now? I almost want to hear you say that again to me. I want to hear you say I am not ready or this isn’t my time or however you want to spin it! 

Just so I can feel that anger and drive to finally shove those words down your throat! Because since then, I’ve heard it over and over again! From Kim Williams who thought I wasn’t ready to fight Underground rules unless I sold my soul and morality, to The One mouthing off that I wasn’t ‘cruel enough’ or whatever to be the Underground champion, to even Shaun Cruze saying I wasn’t his choice at all for this match... 

It’s like your words, Adam, started something and now? I finally get why Selena is tired of hearing the same insults over and over again. But, in my case, I haven’t disproven those barbs yet.

That’s why I need to be here in this chamber. That’s why I need to beat you. I don’t care if its first or last, but I need to beat you.

She sighs as she pushes herself off the ropes and re-enters the ring wholly. I mean, I’ve won two titles in ten months! I’m on the cusp of winning my third with my wife! I’ve beaten several superstars of high calibre like Konrad Raab and Kim Williams! And yet, all I hear is ‘she’s not ready’.

Deanna looks away for a moment, as if something is simmering in her soul, before her head jerks up

Well newsflash to you, Adam, and The One and anyone else that wants to say I’m not ready for something like this – Cruze, you want to be an arrogant person considering the record YOU’VE had lately? Go ahead! Nicole, Ducky, whichever alter? You want to have someone laugh at me being here, be my guest. Greene? Jump on the bandwagon cause that’s what you do? Fine.

But here’s the newsflash. NONE of us are ready for this match! Not one of us! I don’t care how much experience you have. I don’t care how long you’ve been here! I don’t care how many people you’ve beaten, how many titles you’ve won, what your motivation is. Not one of us is ready to be in the Elimination Chamber.

Know why? Because it’s impossible to be ready! You don’t know who is coming out first or last. You don’t know what’s going to happen! You don’t know who might get involved! You don’t know who’s going to mess up and give an opening! You don’t know what that hit against the steel will do! None of us are ready because none of us truly know what is going to happen! That’s why this match is so dangerous. Because anything can happen!

She takes a few breaths. Maybe I am still not ready in your eyes, Adam, or in your eyes, One, or in your eyes, Owen, because of my inexperience with cage matches. But in my eyes? We’re all on equal ground, meaning if ever there was a time to prove myself to SCW and end the doubt, end the nay-sayers, including the man I respect in Shaun Cruze, it would be tonight! It would be now! To survive not only the Farmstead Friends, become the tag-team champion but beat all of you, including you, Adam Allocco?

Slowly, Deanna looks up at the chamber again. Tell me, Adam. Will that put an end to it? Will that make you respect me? Will being in that chamber make you treat me like a threat worthy of your best? Or will I need to beat you and surpass your abilities in the chamber to get that respect? 

Owen? One? Nicole? Greene? Will you see me as a threat? Or will you join with Allocco and dismiss me as he has in the past?

Clenching her hands into fists. I’ll be clear. I am not fighting for a world title shot tonight when I enter this chamber. I am not fighting for a fight with Xander Valentine or whoever the world champion is on December 1st. I am not even fighting for my wife or the True Believers when this chamber match starts. 

I am fighting for me. I am fighting for my worth here in SCW, because it’s not about the mottos, or the merchandise, it’s not about the money or the reward. To me, it’s not even about the world title shot at this point. It’s about the message I represent here in SCW! As someone that came from nothing like my wife did and fought through hell unlike any other to become an SCW superstar – because I AM AN SCW SUPERSTAR!

Her voice echoes throughout the arena, even up to the metal of the chamber.  And I don’t care if I’m ready or deserving or whatever verb or adverb or adjective you five want to slap on me, I will not yield! I will not surrender! I will dig deep and show my GRIT! And I will not stop until I have proven all that I say beyond a shadow of a doubt is true! That I belong here, that my time has come and I am not just some wife of a great wrestler – I AM DEANNA FROST!

Again, her words continue to echo as she lowers her head and glares at the camera. I am proud of who I am… I am proud of what I have become and tonight, tired, hurt, broken, I don’t care what condition I am in, I will prove that to every person, True Believer or otherwise, in the SCW Universe.

Deanna takes a slow breath. You fought like hell to get back here, Owen. You fought like hell to stay sober, Adam. You fought like hell to make a name for yourself, One. You fought like hell to come back and find your place, Nicole. You fought like hell to step out of your father’s shadow, Calvin. So understand that tonight, I will suffer every kind of hell to win my fight and earn my place here in Supreme Championship Wrestling.

A smile breaks across Deanna’s features. Checkmate, bitches. Because ready or not… here I come.

The camera fades on the Queen’s Guard before going entirely to black.

[Ducky]

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LJHS...IHuXk/edit

[Owen]

 

+++ Owen’s house – Miami 29th October 2022 +++

 

Owen had arrived back at the house barely half an hour ago, after what had been an eventful Breakdown. The plan was to spend the next day or do in Miami, before then flying over to England, ahead of Under Attack that was taking place in London. Having thrown the contents of his sports bag in the laundry, and fixed himself a drink, Owen planned on spending the rest of the evening doing absolutely nothing, and then getting an early night. Charlotte hadn’t called him yet either, so he had made a point that tomorrow he would go and see her, and hopefully have a chat with her to see sense. His thought process is broken, as his cellphone goes off, Owen greeting the tone with a smile knowing it was Jennifer. He hits the receive button, and then the speaker function, placing the phone on the table.

 

Owen: Hey, how’s you?

 

Jennifer: Good, just checking in. When will you arrive in London?

 

Owen: Monday… bout three in the afternoon

 

Jennifer: And do you still want to go over to Newquay and check out the house?

 

Owen: Yeah, the tenants are planning on some renovations and want me to look over them, so I said I’d show my face rather than just emails. That OK with you?

 

Jennifer: Sure… maybe we could go have a look at the venue as well. I mean, I know it’s a fair distance but Under Attack isn’t till the weekend.

 

Owen: I knew you had an ulterior motive for coming to the show

 

Jennifer pauses, but he can hear her chuckling.

 

Owen: Yeah, that’s fine… it’s a nice drive. I’ll make an appointment with the venue for Wednesday.

 

Jennifer: Yay. So, what you up to now?

 

Owen: Just going to chill. You?

 

Jennifer: Spending time with Mom and Dad… yawn

 

Owen: You don’t mean that.

 

Jennifer: I know…

 

Owen hears Jennifer’s name being called out

 

Jennifer: Oh, that’s Mom… the movie is starting. I’ll face time you in a bit

 

Owen: No problem… love you and enjoy the movie.

 

Jennifer: Doubt it, it’s Dad’s choice. Love you too.

 

The phone goes dead, Owen putting the mobile in his pocket. Taking his drink through to the patio area, he sits at his table, and for only a moment stares out to sea, lights bobbing on the water from the many boats that were out there. Then, his eyes veer left to a glow over the houses not too far away, and then through the darkness, he see’s the smoke rising into the night sky, illuminated by the flickering of what he then realizes is fire. Then the sense of dread hits him, the vicinity, the distance… it couldn’t be, could it? He places his drink down on the table, and runs through the house, not bothering to close the front door behind him. He bolts down the road, and that dread heightens as he gets closer and closer, to the crowds that have already gathered. As he turns the corner he gasps, the heat hitting him in the face, his dread realized as he see’s Charlottes Bar ablaze. Around him, the chatter is incessant, wondering what has gone on, but Owen isn’t listening, and he’s looking at all the faces, trying to find two that he cannot see. It’s total chaos, and he knows he could be missing them in amongst the crowd, but something inside him tells him that Charlotte and Scott aren’t there. Finally, his eyes lock on someone he does recognize, a local, called Billy, who is looking on in total shock. Trying to ignore the blaze for a moment, and the debris occasionally falling from the air, he grabs Billy by the shoulders, seemingly to break him from his trance.

 

Owen: What happened?

 

Billy: W-What?

 

Owen: What happened?

 

Billy: We were having a drink, and the fire alarm went off, then… this. It happened so fast.

 

Owen: Where’s Charlotte?

 

Billy: Huh?

 

Owen: Focus bro, please… where’s Charlotte and Scott?

 

Billy: Charlotte wasn’t on tonight…

 

Owen: And Scott?

 

Billy: Huh?

 

Owen was losing his patience, the answers not coming as quickly as he needed them.

 

Owen: Fucks sake Billy… WHERE THE FUCK IS SCOTT?

 

Owen’s annoyance gets through to Billy, who for the first time seems to speak clearly.

 

Billy: He went back inside…

 

Owen’s heart drops through the floor, and he turns his attention towards the bar which was now well and truly ablaze. He looks up the road, and although he can see the flashing of blue lights in the distance, he knew time was of the essence and that the fire brigade may not get there in time to save Scott. He looks back to the bar, as Jennifer, Sebastian, Shaun and many other faces go through his mind, but then it seems to focus on one, Orlando’s. A nodding Orlando that seemed to confirm what he needed to do. Without any further hesitation, and to a scream from some in the crowd, he hurtles towards the door, bursting through it and into the bar area, flames and smoke almost everywhere he looks. Covering his nose and mouth with his arm, he makes his way further inside, occasionally lowering his arm to shout.

 

Owen: SCOTT!!!

 

He doesn’t hear a response, not that he would hear it anyway over the crackling of the fire, and parts of the ceiling falling inwards.

 

Owen: SCOTT WHERE ARE YOU BRO???

 

Still nothing, Owen making his way over to the actual bar area, which yet wasn’t as aflame as everything else. Being careful to avoid the fire that was, he looks over the bar, his eyes widening as he sees Scott slumped against the refrigerators. Owen hurdles over the bar, and lifts Scott’s dead weight onto his shoulders, thankful that unlike most, Scott weighed less than he did. As he turns, the fire seems to intensify, blocking his exit, and almost as suddenly, the smoke seems to thicken, Owen now starting to cough even harder as his lungs start to fill. He couldn’t lift him over the bar so only has one choice, kicking at the entrance to the bar, the small door bursting open, which allows him to get through.

 

Owen: Nearly there…

 

Only moments ago, there were pockets where the flames hadn’t taken a hold, but now there seemed to be none, Owen looking for an exit but seeing no way out. He starts to panic, and as the panic sets in his breathing deepens, Owen taking in more and more smoke. To his left, a much larger portion of the ceiling comes down, narrowly missing them both, Owen feeling the strength leaving him, knowing that it was now or never. For just a split second he sees the emergency exit sign, a sign he knew was located above the entrance to the bar. With every ounce of strength he has, and with his lungs burning from the smoke inhalation, he charges towards that exit sign, bursting through it, the cold air of the night hitting him like a bolt. For a moment he stands there, and he sees the fire trucks arriving, and then coming to a halt. Several members of the public run towards him, as Owen’s legs give way and buckle, Scott dropping to the ground, Owen finding himself on his knees. Owen then falls forwards, as his body gives way, and he passes out.

 

+++ Mercy Hospital Miami – 30th October 2022 +++

 

Owen had woken in the hospital, with a mask over his nose and mouth, and for the first few moments, he wasn’t sure where he was. Having ripped the mask from his face, someone must have gotten wind that he was awake within seconds however because before he realized it, the room he was laid had a couple of nurses in it. Only minutes later, the tests had started, and Owen advised that at least for the moment he needed the oxygen the mask was providing. Apparently, Owen had been lucky, Scott as well. Yes, they had taken on smoke, more than they should have, but with a couple of days rest the two of them would be back to normal. Owen had also received a few burns on his arms, a couple on his legs, and his voice had a hoarseness that would in time go away, but in the main he was in good shape.

 

Lucky.

 

Within an hour of waking up and the medical staff happy that he had no long-lasting effects, Owen had taken a call from Jennifer, her concern obvious in her voice, concern that didn’t go away even with a lot of reassurance from Owen. The coughing fit Owen had whilst on the phone of course didn’t help, but Owen has promised they would still go and see the Castle on Wednesday, Jennifer taking the bait. By the time the call had ended, you would have thought Owen hadn’t just experienced what he had, but just as Owen was about to hang up, it seems she remembered, Owen quite guiltily hanging up before she could speak. He was still feeling guilty when a different nurse walks into the room.

 

Nurse: And how’s my number one patient?

 

Owen: Bet you say that to all the boys.

 

Nurse: You’ve got me there… you reckon you’re up for visitors?

 

Owen scowls, unsure who it could possibly be.

 

Owen: Who is it?

 

Nurse: See for yourself…

 

The nurse steps to the side, Charlotte walking into the room, immediately walking up to Owen and throwing her arms around him.

 

Owen: Easy… I’m delicate here.

 

Nurse: I’ll leave you guys to it… don’t tire him out too much though, he’s had a rough ride.

 

The nurse leaves, Charlotte pulling away and Owen noticing a tear in her eye which he lifts his arm and wipes away.

 

Owen: Pull up a chair… I’m sure you’ve been through the wringer too.

 

There was something about her that wasn’t right, something troubling her. Owen put it down to the whole thing with the bar, which of course was understandable.

 

Owen: I’m so sorry Charlotte… I can’t imagine how you feel.

 

Charlotte looks down at the floor, Owen grabbing her hand tenderly.

 

Owen: It’s going to be OK you know? I know right now it doesn’t seem like it, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

 

Charlotte’s face confirms that wasn’t what she wanted to hear right now, and immediately Owen wishes he’d not said it. It was like when people said that it would get ‘easier’ when Dad died, when the truth was it just got easier to deal with. Not that Owen had ever dealt with it very well.

 

Owen: Sorry… that sounded better in my head than it did out loud.

 

Charlotte pulls her hand away, Owen surprised by the action. She still doesn’t seem to be able to bring herself to look at him. A feeling of dread takes over Owen’s body, and he is almost fearful to ask the question.

 

Owen: Is Scott OK Charlotte? Has something happened?

 

For a moment she hesitated, that feeling intensifying tenfold, and it is with immense relief that he see’s Charlotte finally shake her head. As she lifts her head, and finally looks at him, she finally speaks.

 

Charlotte: Scott’s fine Owen… thanks to you.

 

Owen: Anybody would have done the same

 

Charlotte: No Owen, they wouldn’t. You did though, and it’s my fault that I could have lost you both.

 

Owen smiles, sitting up a little further in the hospital bed so as not to stretch his neck as much to see her.

 

Owen: I’m just glad you weren’t upstairs, by the time I got there… well, you can imagine.

 

Charlotte: Yeah…

 

Owen reaches for his glass, but Charlotte gets up and passes it to him, Owen more than capable than drinking by himself. The doctors had said that he should be able to leave tomorrow, maybe even today, and thankfully none of them had cottoned on that he would be competing at the weekend or else they would have probably said he shouldn’t. No doubt Shaun had already gotten wind of this, and probably SCW as well, and he would most certainly have to prove he could compete, but he had no worries on that score. As before, he’d been lucky. Lucky in so many ways. Charlotte, not so much.

 

Charlotte: Why were you there Owen, that night I mean. I thought you’d be in the UK.

 

Owen: No, after Breakdown I was going to check in with you… Scott had asked me to speak with you regarding the bar.

 

Charlotte: He had?

 

Owen: Yeah, he didn’t think it was doing your health any good, and the only reason you were keeping it afloat was because of him. He wanted you to sell up.

 

Charlotte nods her head, Scott was like that, always thinking about her instead of himself. He’d be the perfect boyfriend if he was into girls.

 

Owen: I was just having a drink on the patio when I saw the flames and smoke from my house. I’m telling you; I’ve never ran so fast in my life. Then, when Billy told me Scott was in there, I knew I had to get him out, or at least try. Just remember getting him out then collapsing… next minute I wake up here with all the nurses fussing over me. Mind you, it’s nice to be pampered occasionally.

 

Surprisingly, Charlotte gets to her feet.

 

Owen: Leaving already?

 

She doesn’t say a word, and instead shuts the door to the room, before sitting back down. Owen waits once more for her to look at him, and when she does, he realizes that she is properly crying now, tears streaming down her face. But she forces herself to look at him, steeling herself.

 

Owen: Charlotte, what’s going on?

 

She closes her eyes, squeezing out more tears, and then slowly says the words.

 

Charlotte: I did it.

 

Owen’s eyes narrow, believing he knew what she was saying, but certainly not believing it.

 

Owen: You did what?

 

She opens her eyes, knowing that Owen deserved at least that. She doesn’t look away and looks directly at him.

 

Charlotte: I set fire to the bar.

 

Owen’s first reaction is one of disbelief, and if he admitted it to himself, there was indeed a shred of anger.

 

Owen: You can’t have…why?

 

Charlotte almost slumps in her chair, getting the weight of her shoulders had certainly not helped any with the guilt.

 

Charlotte: The bank was about to foreclose; I was going to get shut down. Selling wasn’t even an option when it could be bought for almost nothing from the bank. I was desperate, and didn’t know what to do… I thought Scott would get out. And I didn’t know you’d go into the flames.

 

Owen listens, trying not to let his emotions get the better of him. She didn’t know for sure, but that didn’t change the fact that the outcome could have been far, far worse. One thing Owen did know a lot about though was desperation. Only recently, it was desperation that had led him to despair, and only through a good friend had he gotten through it.

 

Charlotte: You must hate me

 

Truth was, right now she wasn’t his favorite person in the world. In fact, that was probably an understatement. He was doing his best to not get angry, but Charlotte must have recognized at least a glimmer on his face.

 

Owen: I don’t hate you Charlotte… you didn’t know how things were going to pan out. But I am disappointed that you couldn’t come to me… I offered to help.

 

Charlotte: It wasn’t your problem Owen

 

Owen: And yet, I still ran into that fire.

 

Charlotte’s demeanor changes to one of hurt, she’d hoped that Owen would understand and to a point he did, but he had still nearly lost his life because of something that she had done. Scott too. Inadvertently or not, she had put the two most important people in her life in danger, and even if Owen didn’t hate her, she most certainly despised herself. Owen recognizes this, and he takes a breath, composing his thoughts and opinions and focusing on one emotion. Caring. He swings his legs over the side of the bed and gets to his feet, holding Charlotte as she sits in the chair, almost immediately Charlotte finally breaking and starting to sob uncontrollably. He holds her as tight as he possibly can as she releases all that pent up emotion and stay that way until she is able to pull away and wipe her face with the tissue that Owen gives her. Owen sits on the edge of the bed, and usually Charlotte would laugh at the sight of him in a hospital gown, but she doesn’t.

 

Owen: Look, you made a mistake, no question about it. But Scott and I are OK, and we love you. We’ll sort this… I promise.

 

Charlotte: You might not have the chance.

 

Owen: Oh?

 

Charlotte: The Miami Police want to talk to me Owen. Fraud Department

 

Owen: I’m sure it’s just procedure.

 

Charlotte: They want me to take in my financial records… they are going to see that I was in trouble.

 

Owen: A business in trouble isn’t proof

 

Charlotte: No, but they will ask questions… the Fire Department will know how the fire started. I know they are going to find out I did it. I know they will.

 

Owen opens his mouth to say something, but the words don’t come. All he can do is hold her again, knowing that the truth was, she was probably right. This wasn’t good, it wasn’t good at all and though he didn’t believe it possible, it looked like this situation was going to get a whole lot worse and was spiralling out of control. The worst part about all of it, Owen knew he wouldn’t be able to do a damn thing about it. And for the first time in a while… he felt powerless.

 

+++ Hyde Park - London 5th November 2022 +++

 

Owen sits almost twenty yards from one of the many lakes that are found in Hyde Park, situated on a park bench admiring the scenery. Owen hadn’t been back to London in a long time and having Jennifer along on what would be a career defining week was helping him to deal with the inevitable pressures. Right now, Jennifer was off having coffee with one of the friends she had made whilst she was working for EMERGE, so it was the perfect opportunity for Owen to lay down his first thoughts. Thoughts that had been circling his mind since the Chamber Match was first announced. Circling a good word, seeing as this was a situation coming full circle. Breakdown was in his rear view now, the result against Adam Allocco didn’t matter, even if it was ultimately disappointing the way it had ended. Now, it was all about slaying demons, and placing himself firmly back on the map, and that was precisely what he intended doing, by returning to the scene of what he once saw as the greatest crime. The moment he once believed the SCW World Championship was stolen from him. He only now turns to the camera, and with a nod of greeting he starts to speak, his voice showing the signs of someone as confident as ever, and yet still sore after the effects of the fire. Someone who knew exactly what he needed to do.

 

“October the 27th 2019… not really a night that many will remember for sure. I’m pretty certain that ‘The One’ wouldn’t remember it. Adam Allocco has probably erased it from his memory banks. In fact, I doubt there are very few who can remember where they were that night. Sienna Swann might, seeing as she became the SCW World Champion… Hi Sienna by the way, hope you are well? But I doubt even the most ardent of Supreme Championship Wrestling fans remember who it was who relinquished the belt that evening. There may be some who remember the guy who had only held the World Championship for a month, and who put that belt on the line on that date in history. A nineteen-year-old kid, who was expected to overcome five of the very best SCW had to offer at that time, and who ultimately fell short. That Ladies and Gentlemen was yours truly… within the confines of his very first Elimination Chamber.”

 

Owen grins, a grin that he wouldn’t have been able to find, less than twelve months ago. A time when even two years later he hadn’t found peace with that result. A time when he still felt wronged by the company, he had given everything to.

 

“So yeah, I remember it. I remember it well as fact. And do you know what else I remember? The dread I felt as I walked towards the Chamber having already been defeated by it, even before a bell had been rung. I didn’t believe I could win… and let’s face it you would have been hard pushed to find anyone who did. Just a matter of days since become the second youngest SCW World Champion of all time, I was given this undertaking and I didn’t know how to deal with it. Even though there was many who offered their advice, the simple fact of the matter was I had no idea what I was about to try and endure. Sitting here before you right now, it’s quite easy to admit I was no way ready to defend that title in the Elimination Chamber, but what might surprise you is that I can also readily admit I wasn’t ready to defend the title no matter the circumstance. Looking back at the child I undeniably was, I wasn’t even ready to be World Champion, never mind go to the ends of the Earth to keep a hold of it in that dominating steel structure. The same that could be said for my opponents this weekend. There is no way Calvan Greene is ready, or Ducky, however hilarious that would be. Imagine Ducky against Xander… that should bring a shiver to anyone’s spine. Deanna Frost… just maybe she is, you can’t discount her because of who she’s been trained by, but experience wise certainly not. Even if she has to compete twice in one night… it’s not like a Frost has defeated the odds before is it? And The One? Jury’s out there… perhaps with a little more consistency, but let’s face it, you can’t dispute the desire in her eyes. But I digress, you know what, I can look back at that date now, the person I am now, and I can recognize that as the moment that everything started to unravel. I can see quite clearly that I never came to terms with that defeat, or the circumstances that came to pass. Instead, it festered, and continued to fest for nigh on two years, all the time eating away at me, when a sane person would have simply let it go. Instead of allowing myself to grow up, I held onto that loss just as hard as the loss of a relative, however ridiculous that may seem too most. Why? Because I wasn’t grown enough to deal with it. And that’s why when someone like Adam Allocco keeps bringing up the old ‘whiny little kid’ schtick, in some ways I can’t blame him. After all, he’s known for living in the past, and that is what that was, my past, my history. When I went away from this company, it was with the intention of never returning. I ran away, yeah that’s clear. I ran away instead of dealing with that which was right in front of my nose. But I did come back, having dealt with those demons. I didn’t come back, to take responsibility, and to claim back a reputation that was no doubt damaged at Taking Hold of the Flame 2021. You know what, I didn’t know what Olek was doing, just like I don’t get why some people in this match are here, when there are others more deserving, perhaps even more deserving than me, and that’s probably Olek’s involvement too.  But I didn’t understand why he was attending shows, and I’ll concede, I thought it was something sinister, maybe it still is. Perhaps he wants to see me fail again firsthand. But finding myself here, on the verge of entering the Elimination Chamber once again, with a World Championship opportunity being dangled in front of me like a carrot. Well, this is the final piece in the puzzle, isn’t it? The final act on the path of redemption I have travelled since I returned at the beginning of the year. Honestly, I thought that redemption was achieved at Rise to Greatness in defeat to Josh Hudson. I believed that the reaction from that crowd had put me back where I was before, but I was wrong. To complete the circle, I must once again step into that Chamber. I must once again compete in that environment with everything on the line. I MUST face those final demons locked away in my head, armed with everything that I have now learned. I must face them not as a ‘whiny little kid’ but as a man.

 

And you know what, I stand here knowing that there are so very many that will scoff at that statement, one being the guy that shares his initials with Alcohol Anonymous which is in no way ironic. Be that as it may, I’m not that weak-willed to need anyone to believe me, especially anyone in this match. The only one that truly needs to believe is the guy sat in front of this camera right now. That guy, as obviously as I can make it for those not understanding the logic, being me. I know full well Adam Allocco will continue this trope till his dying day. ‘I hate the Cruzes’ will probably be the final words of his death rattle. His hatred for us still burns as brightly as the day my Dad handed him his ass, and my Uncle a few years after, and perhaps the way I will in this Chamber. And maybe, as this match evolves, there will be others that join the narrative, it wouldn’t be any great surprise after all. As they blindly bundle forwards, spitting their ‘venom’, clearly unable to see the facts, or indeed the wood for the trees. But whatever, and let’s face it. If it wasn’t the Cruzes, he was spouting his bullshit about, it would be the Frosts, no question about it. Which will no doubt be the target of his ire should Deanna get this done as she is more than capable of doing. Facts are facts, he cannot stand it when a family is more prominent that his. The problem? The reason that is the case is ninety nine percent of the time him. And anyway, if I was still indeed that child, there is absolutely no question that I would be bothered about it. I’d probably ‘whine’ and ‘winge’ and ‘moan’ just like I did when I relinquished the Championship. But the fact I’m sat here telling you all that it’s just like water of a ducks back. Water off EVERYONES back. Telling you that Adam Allocco basically made himself look pathetic last week by banging the EXACT same drum he did to Orlando all those years ago, even in victory. Imagine that, gaining a high profile victory, his words not mine, and still looking like a prize prick. He, and these others if they appear, they will use the same pointless rhetoric, designed to divert from the obvious. An obvious situation where I have grown into everything my father wanted me to be. Someone able to rise above the madness. Someone who can see the Good in even the most bitter of individuals. Someone who is capable of true greatness, IF given that chance.

 

And anyone who denies that, only leaves themselves open to claims of ignorance. If anyone cannot see the difference in me now, in comparison to the person I was before, then there is literally nothing I can do to help you. Strangely enough, with regards to Adam, I kind of get it. He at least has an excuse for his behavior. His deep-rooted hatred for Orlando has been passed down through generations like the world’s shittiest keepsake, and so I doubt that will ever change. But if anyone else chooses to take that route. Believing that I am indeed still that child that tried to hold his own in one of the most competitive of environments, then you are destined to receive the shocker of a lifetime. I’m not going to lie; I’m not going to pretend that I don’t hold at least some trepidation walking into that Chamber. I’m not going to insist that it won’t be my downfall yet again, because of course it could happen. But don’t you see, that’s the point. In 2019, I wasn’t scared in the slightest and was riding the crest of the wave. In 2019, with that childlike mentality, I didn’t think for one second that Sienna Swann could beat me, never mind that I would be humbled by an inanimate object such as the Elimination Chamber. However wrong it might have been, I felt unstoppable, and felt like I could do literally anything. Now, with experience, I know what they Chamber entails. Now, I know that never mind the inhabitants, the individuals looking to claim that shot for themselves, it could be that very structure that keeps me from my goals. The reality of this situation is that this match is just as much a fight with my mental state as it is the competitors. The difference between now, and three years ago… I know a battle of wills, my will, is one that I can win. My fears, my past, everything I’ve gone through, all of that bringing me to this point. The pivotal point. Was this Olek’s master plan all along? I don’t know. Is he even now, after everything I did to him, allowing me the opportunity to put an exclamation mark on my greatest regret, whilst at the same time once again giving me a purpose? A chance to put in place the foundation for a legacy that will surpass even the Icons. Truth is, I don’t know, and maybe I never will if this was the boss’s grand design. But what I do know, is that more than ever I am ready, to take this world by storm. And to be that person, the man, I wasn’t capable of being before.”

 

For just a moment Owen hesitates, for mere seconds he maintains his calm, recognizing in these most beautiful of surroundings just how lucky he had been, even over the course of this last week. From the side and off camera, he lifts a bottle of water, enjoying the cold as it soothes his throat. With a cough to then clear his throat, he continues, still emotionless, and still as calm as you like.

 

“And if that rankles with you Adam, or anyone else for that matter, I don’t care. Adam, you got me last week, no denying it, so congratulations. But I want you to know that as a wrestler I never held any doubt that it could happen, but as a person I didn’t realize that same jealous streak ran down your spine as prominent as ever before. What is it you call me? A child yeah? Ask anyone Adam, ANYONE, who it was that presented themselves as a child last week, and which of us didn’t. Fact is, even Ducky is less childlike that you are, Ducky who is perhaps one of the most refreshing on this roster, and all about the fun and games. And yet, your statements were more hilarious that anything she could possibly concoct… sorry Ducky but it’s true. You are a breath of fresh air though. See, if there’s something I’ve learned about you Adam, it’s that no amount of rehab can polish a turd. And you sir, regardless of your new ‘attitude’ and as far as I’m concerned, are a shit sandwich. And my opinion, wanted or not, it’s only a matter of time before the real Adam Allocco stands up and gets back to his old tricks. Thus, I can’t let you win Adam; I WON’T let you win. You wanted a grudge with my family bro… you’ve got one, because I don’t need words to humble you sunshine. I got a Chamber. And that’s even considering that I think I can go on record in saying that when you look at the runners and riders in this match, Adam Allocco must be instilled as the favorite for victory, regardless of not being able to take advantage of the stipulation unless for a different title. Calvan Greene has been thrust into this match off the back of very little momentum, and although his fifteen years of experience will bear him in good stead, surely even he would accept that him being in this match is a surprise. That right isn’t it Calvan… you couldn’t have expected your name to be mentioned, but you aim to make the most of it now that you have… am I close? Ducky, I’m assuming you’re the same? I’ve had very little interaction with either of you, but I do know what you bring to the table, probably more than anyone else in the match. The One, again very little interactions with the two of us, but someone calling themselves the ‘ONE’ that’s quite the big deal, so you can bet you’ll be aiming to prove your point. And Deanna… well, I think your surname speaks for itself, doesn’t it? I don’t know for certain, but I’m guessing that Selena has had a hand in your training. Perhaps one of the most dominant wrestlers in SCW in your corner… that alone demands respect, notwithstanding the fact you already have titles to your name and the historic battles I have had with your wife. And here’s the thing, I know full well that some of you would have heard on Breakdown that you weren’t Shaun’s first choice, but that won’t have helped my situation one bit. Right now, every single one of you want to ram those words down his throat, don’t you? You want to show the world that you SHOULD be in with a chance of facing whoever is the champion on December the 1st. And if there is something I know a lot about, it’s how far desire and determination can take you. Just as I know the Chamber is perhaps the greatest equalizer in professional wrestling. Where it’s not ‘just’ about skill, but also about an element of luck. So much so it doesn’t matter if you are an Allocco or a Frost. A Greene or a Ducky. It doesn’t even matter if you are ‘The One’, which is probably one of the most arrogant of taglines in SCW right now, let’s face it… at least since we lost God anyways. It doesn’t matter if you are Adam Allocco who’s competing in his millionth Chamber, or Deanna in most probably her first, the reality is anything can and will happen, if your mindset is correct, whereas mine wasn’t three years ago. You could enter last… that shortens your odds whoever you are. The first person that guarantees victory in this environment doesn’t understand their assignment at all. And to steal your wife’s gimmick Deanna, give her my apologies, you MUST believe no matter what.

 

And so yes, October the 27th 2019 WILL always be a date etched on my brain, even when I pull on the slippers, and hang up the tights at my careers end. It will be a date that I will never forget, because quite simply I never want to, because I never want to go back to a place where I barely existed, never mind could be on the cusp of building a career of my own. This Sunday, November the 6th, I hope that date will go down as the moment that everything changed, and a new Cruze legacy was born. A date when I realized my potential at last. November the 6th, the day after Bonfire Night, in the city of the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes… where I raze the Elimination Chamber and all in it to the ground.

 

So, rest assured, I am going to put on the performance of a lifetime, one that will be remembered forever. Whether it be one of the first two entering, or the last to join the fray, I am going to do everything in my power to be the last one standing. I can’t be one hundred percent certain of it, of course I can’t. Wanting it, or indeed needing it, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s mine for the taking, there are so many moving parts in play, there can be no guarantees.”

 

Owen gets to his feet and straightens his jacket.

 

“But that doesn’t mean that I can’t be confident that I will be victorious on Sunday night, and that I won’t be foiled like good old Mr. Fawkes. In fact, I AM confident that I will get this done, regardless of the momentum ‘stopper’ that occurred on Breakdown.”

 

Owen pulls up the hood of his jacket over his head to keep out the cold English air and places his hands in the jacket pockets.

 

“One thing I can guarantee… is this time, I won’t be losing to myself, someone will have to step up and deny me. This time, I walk into the Chamber, KNOWING, that I can win. And unlike last time I haven’t lost already. All I now need to do is make it so, and to back up these words with actions, something I fully intend on doing.”

 

He winks at the camera, a grin on his face.

 

“All my opponents must do, is try and stop me. And to you all, you know what? Good luck with that.”

 

He turns on his heels, and starts walking away from the camera, as the scene slowly fades