Post by gothmother on Dec 29, 2021 12:01:07 GMT -5
ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST [WIEDER BEIßT EINER INS GRAS]
Good people do bad things.
Bad people do necessary things.
The question was though, under what category did you see yourself? Or did you accept the label others wanted to put on you? Weak people lived to please others, allowing them to control their actions. Weak people didn’t know how to take the lead. But weak people also ended up with pats on the shoulder for fulfilling someone else’s commands.
Very early in her life, Elena learned that weakness was not an option. Maybe it was the root of all evil. But the main problem was, weak people often ended up in high positions, driven by ego and hunger. They knew how to kiss arses and obey- at least until they had might. Looking around her, she was proven right. Rock Johnson, weak and pathetic. And dead. Christian DeMarco, someone she had high hopes for. Someone she did support for a long time, but in the end, he was nothing more than a fool. And what now? Arik Holt. A figure that could remind you of a villain that escaped the Gotham Asylum. But at the end of the day, he had more flaws than people saw. Yet. He was still useful for this and that, but Elena wouldn’t put her trust in him either.
She was a lone wolf, no matter how big the group was that surrounded her. She made decisions, without putting into consideration what everyone else thought about it. Maybe her career would have been a lot more smooth if this hadn’t been the case. She was used to the hard way. But it also was that kind of mindset that made her an outsider. Two months. Give or take. She had been gone from Project Honor without making an appearance or being part of the circus. Also, the same amount of time that no one, absolutely no one, reached out to her.
If I cared, my feelings would be hurt.
But they weren’t. Instead, she set her focus on returning to the same place where it started and very likely would end. On her terms. Syndicate wasn't what mattered. Not even the Legacy Title mattered. Elena DeDraca was set back to where she started. A girl with a name, talent, and a hunger for violence and pain. The truth was, there was nothing left to prove. The roster and management, no matter how ignorant, knew she was dangerous. And that was what kept her going.
She took her time. There was no rush and truth to be spoken, the wrestling world turned without her. Maybe not as colourful, but nonetheless. It was the right moment to finish all the things she left on the plate for too long. Which included a visit to England. Yeah, Boris land where the mad hatter was in charge.
Very well done.
A lot had changed since she walked through this area the last time. It had been her hideaway for so long, but yet she never meant to look back. When beginning her walk bypassing the old iron gate, it felt as if a heavy stone fell off her chest. As if she could really breathe for the first time in ages. Beneath her boots the snow, yeah there was snow, made that awkward cracking noise. She had to be careful, taking small steps on the icy path. Considering that this cemetery was hidden well in the woods, not many people found their way here. And the old caretaker probably didn’t bother keeping the path clear.
“Some things never change.”
She mumbled to herself while she kept walking. Her eyes had already found what she was looking for, even though it was still in the far distance. Considering though she had walked through this forest so often, she knew the way with closed eyes. Here and there she heard some animals, on the trees but also next to her on the ground. They weren’t all too shy. A sentimental thought gave her the idea that they remembered her.
“Don’t be silly, Elena. They probably died a long time ago.”
Shut up.
It took another few minutes before she stepped off of the path walking directly through the snow. The graves in front of her were old which also explained the way they looked. Witty and chaotic. No one visited them or left flowers on special occasions. But that didn’t matter. They were here and at least for as long as she lived, she would remember.
Three stones to the left and two to the right.
She had reached her goal which gave her that well-known feeling of excitement. With a gracious move, she took off her black leather glove, running her fingertips over the stone. The snow was covering the writing, but she knew it was the right one. With another quick move, she removed the white, smiling.
DeDraca.
And finally, she was home. A long time ago, probably when she was around ten, she made this her family. She picked the name and never looked back. Growing up in the orphanage she didn’t know what family meant. All she was left with was a first name and little chance to make it in this life. The nuns kept reminding her daily what she was worth. But she didn’t care. So back then when fleeing from her jail, she found this gem. And at the moment her feet didn’t take her any further, she sank down in front of this stone. Why this one, she didn’t know. But the rest was history, right?
“I am sorry I have been absent.”
Her fingertips still remained on the stone, running carefully over the delicate writing. It was impossible to say who had his last rest here, but to Elena it didn’t matter. She had written her own story in her childhood and continued to do so.
“I am not sure where to start. Some would say I have lost my way, but I don’t agree with that. I might not be as steady as I used to be, but at least I am happy.”
For a moment she paused and removed her hand from the stone. It was as if she waited for an answer and maybe she received one. Nearby where the naked, old trees stood in silence- a branch fell to the ground.
“I know you don’t agree, but hear me out. When I came here first I didn’t feel like I had a purpose or a chance. When people tell you every day that you are worthless, it is easy to believe them. And if I had stayed there longer, they would have succeeded. I would have taken a boring job, working 9 to 5 on a daily basis. Never making a difference. But that just wasn't for me. Every time they tried to knock me down, I remembered this name. I held dear to it. Knowing that a name as strong as this, couldn’t be for a weak person.”
Elena smiled slightly when going down on one of her knees. Oddly enough in the one year that her birth mother was dead, she hardly visited that grave. No matter how hard she tried, the connection wasn't there.
“They have written me off. Once again. They were so quick to forget me and at the same time relieved that I was gone. They had time to breathe and think they mattered to this business. But people like Syndicate, live on borrowed time. No matter if it is Ozy or someone else, but his fall is in the near future. I have seen it so many times that it is hard to not laugh in his face. The only thing he gained is a victory over the most dominant creature that Project Honor has seen to this very day. But what does it matter? To me. To them. To him. My Legacy is cemented, while he will be abducted by the shadows.”
The previously so small smile grew further, showing the perfect white teeth.
“When I started in this business, I had nothing but this tremendous name. I had no connection, no friends, and certainly no reputation. Everything on my resume is the result of hard work and determination. They can’t ever take that away from me. So rest assured that I will once more put this name on the line, adding more glory and fame to it.”
In a slow manner, she rose up from the ground, not bothering to get rid of the snow that was now clinging to her pants. Her eyes remained softly on the gravestone. In a graceful manner she bowed her head.
“I can't promise much, but this for sure. They will not know what hit them when everything is said and done. No rest for the wicked, right?”
She then turned around finding the same path that brought her here. With one last look over her shoulder, Elena put her gloves back on.
Let the games begin.
I WANT TO BREAK FREE [ICH WILL MICH BEFREIEN]
It was later that day that Elena DeDraca arrived at her cottage. Everything was ready for her, considering she had given notice that she would arrive today. The old lady who lived there when she was gone, had prepared a fire in the living room. Did Elena need staff? No. But she had felt sorry for the woman, wanting her to stay in the place she knew so well. And on top, no one made a better apple crumble than here.
It felt wonderful to walk inside the warm room, trying to get rid of the chill that was crawling up her bones. It was the kind of cold that didn’t have anything to do with the outside weather, but she still did appreciate the gesture. When looking around the room she noticed that everything was still in place. Well, not everything.
The old lady decided to put up a Christmas tree somewhere in the corner, nicely decorated. Even though it wasn't the taste of Elena. Her own tree, at home, had the colours of black and white. This one was awfully bright. Right over the fireplace, there were socks with the names of the family members on them.
What a clichè.
But she wasn't in the mood to criticize. Instead, she sunk down on the leather chair, closing her eyes for a moment. Trying to find her inner zen, which was rudely interrupted when she noticed the knock on the door. Letting out a small sigh but still telling the other person to come in.
“I am sorry to interrupt you, my lady. But I thought you might be in the mood for some tea and biscuits.”
“That is very thoughtful of you… .”
The woman placed everything on the small table before turning around, on her way to exit the room. She couldn’t say why she did what was up next, but she still did it.
“Why don’t you join me for a cup? It’s been a while since we talked.”
The old woman froze on the spot, obviously not prepared for this. When she turned around Elena noticed that her cheeks had flushed. She was still wearing her apron but removed it quickly. With a shy smile on her face, she returned to Elena, taking a seat next to her.
“That’s very generous of you, my lady.”
“Will you ever just call me Elena? I am a lot of things, but doubtfully a lady. So we might as well speak from eye to eye, Miss Potter.”
“It’s just…the landlords that lived here before…they were very strict and formal. You are a very different breed, Miss Elena. If you allow me to say so.”
“Different isn’t always so bad, although it took me a lifetime to realize that. But enough about me, what did I miss while I was gone?”
Probably one of the strangest things anyone could think of. Elena DeDraca making smalltalk. But here and there she tried to be social, especially with people like Miss Potter. Those that knew what hard work meant, without ever complaining.
“Well, the whole village watched your match at this big event.”
WHAT? This came as a huge surprise. One she wasn't aware that Miss Potter knew about what she did for a living. Second, she never considered that anyone in this sleepy village cared enough to watch. She almost spit out her tea when hearing that, but the old lady simply grinned.
“You seem very surprised about this. Every time you fight we get together in the pub and watch. And of course cheer you on.”
“Not much to cheer on about that last one.”
“I don’t agree, Miss Elena. And neither would the people in the village. The boy got lucky, that’s all. But you know what they say about luck, it doesn’t last forever. You have put on one tremendous fight and that is more than most of those people can say. They get by and sometimes they win, but mostly they don’t. But you? You remind us of the old times. The times when talent and hard work mattered.”
Elena was still in some sort of shock but also felt strangely proud. She knew she had fans all over the world, but when buying this cottage- she never made it public who she was. So knowing that those people knew without opening a fuss, it was almost touching. She still held on to her mug, looking at the woman.
“If there is one thing I have learned doing what I do, it is to not live in the past. I have gone through good and bad times, but at the end of the day, I always remained standing. So I guess this is one of my biggest talents.”
“You have many talents, whether you see it or not. Or more important, whether they see it or not. We already made plans for your next match, even though we don’t fully understand the stipulation.”
The Fist of Hydra couldn’t help herself but laughed out loud. She laughed so hard indeed that she nearly spilled the tea.
“You are not the only one, Miss Potter. But that is the thing about Fallout, they make odd matches with the result of people beating each other up madly. So I guess that's just the right place for me. Going up against windmills and hoping to find a unicorn.”
“You fight against windmills? Oh, a metaphor. We have seen the other people in the match and we all agree you can overcome them. And some you have already in other matches. Like this pretty boy, Jason Long. Pretty, but dumb- as we say at church.”
One of Elena’s eyebrows raised. This was probably the meanest thing she ever heard the woman say.
“Jason. Very unlucky boy. And has the tendency to make very poor decisions but to each their own. No matter how hard I will go against him, I don’t dislike him. I just wish he would see things for what they are. Like his joke of a woman.”
“I believe she is playing everyone involved. Him. The bald spooky guy. And the crowd.”
Elena nodded slowly and sipped from the tea. Strong and hot.
“I do think the same thing, but I will address this later today. And you, Miss Potter, gave me the perfect idea for a location…”
It was as if lightning had struck her when she jumped up from the leather chair. Almost knocking over the table on her way out, leaving a very confused Miss Potter in the living room. The old lady remained sitting, still holding on to her tea.
“The benefit of youth.”
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING [NOCH EINMAL MIT GEFÜHL]
What a clusterfuck, huh?
That was the first thing she thought when finding out about her return match. It was no secret that Elena wasn't too fond of multi-person matches, but she would have survived. The stipulation? Not so much. Back in the days, she thought that DeMarco was stoned when booking matches, but Holt? He probably should return to taking his medication. No hard feelings but what was the star good for? Unless the winner was determined by shoving that spikey shit up someone's arse.
Language, Elena.
After getting over the first bit of frustration, the feeling was replaced by amusement. Sure the match itself was dumb, but at the end of the day it fulfilled its purpose. Many bodies to destroy, and she didn’t have to feel guilty in the slightest. Most of them deserved it and there were still dues to be paid. Right, Matty- Pooh?
She was in good spirits when kicking open the door of the village pub. It was exactly as you pictured it. Old, somewhat dusty. But that was probably what gave it it’s special charm. Inside everything was built out of dark wood. The owner stood behind the bar, greeting her with his usual grumpy face. If anyone thought that her accent was thick, they certainly hadn’t met him. Without asking he prepared her a glass of…yeah, that was the good question. She never dared to ask during the times coming here with Mark.
“It’s been a while, Lena.”
For whatever reason, he adopted calling her that, but she didn’t dislike it all too much. Taking a seat on one of the barstools, her eyes wandered over the crowd. Considering it was still early in the day, it was the usual subject. Every village had them. Somewhere in the corner you found Earl and Daniel playing cards. Both lost their jobs a decade ago when the factory closed. Their wives left so that was their permanent home, at least till closing hour. Then a few tourists played darts or tried to. And Betsy. The old lady that never found a cavalier to marry her, wasting her years with bourbon and menthol cigarettes.
She must have been a beauty.
Elena thought to herself when watching the now wasted lady with her wrinkles and yellow teeth. It was the owner of the pub that once told her that Betsy wanted to run off with a guy, who had nothing and was nothing. There were rumours going around that her father found out and the young man never was seen again. Everyone had their own tragedy. Elena knew better than most.
“You know how it is, business as usual. I was wondering if you would allow me to film a promo here. It is simply perfect for what I have in mind…”
“How can anyone ever say no to you, Lena? Or better said, tell you no and live to tell the story.”
That was his way of agreeing before getting after his own business. He left her there on the stool, taking care of the other guests. That was what she liked most about him, he didn’t ask questions. Which probably was how he survived for this long in a village so small.
She took another sip from the unidentified drink, feeling the burn crawling down her throat. Once or twice she was worried that this liquid would make her lose her eyesight, but so far everything was going okay. She looked around once more, smiling.
“Welcome back, Elena. I did myself the honours since you’re all a pack of heathens without manners. No worries, I didn’t expect anything else. Leave alone a friendly and warm welcome or a gift basket. Not that I thought anyone on staff has so much taste. But who cares? I don’t get paid for getting loved, right? Or at least my contract doesn’t say anything like that. So why keep trying? Fuck you left and right, I will continue to be the one diamond this company has. Don’t get me wrong, there is decent talent. Like Ozy- bear, but I doubt he would appreciate me calling him a diamond. He is more like a black onyx. I am drifting off, ain’t I? But at times you have to suck it up and just roll with the flow. Ozy, you got one job come the next Pay Per View. And you know exactly what this is. HYDRA has the cake ready.”
She winked towards the camera, still observing the well-known place.
“Enough about other people’s business. Especially when there are such glorious things ahead of me. Fighting a handful of people that I have either faced before and beaten, or never fucking seen in my life. Where to start and where to end? With the big or the little fishes? So many decisions to make. But I think this is the time to be spontaneous.”
“Matthew Knox. Who thought we would see you once again inside a Project Honor ring. I mean after your bravado of an exit. But I guess you had enough time to lick your wounds and grow some balls. No hard feelings, love. Although I was slightly disappointed when I heard you parted with the company. One could think you were a sour loser and lord knows this company has seen enough of those. But let bygones be bygones, right? We live here and now and you get another chance. Unfortunately, not everything has changed. I am still a brutal bitch that likes to rip people apart. Which means, I will go after all your weak spots with a huge smile on my face. I am not the type that will go through people's recent hits and misses, I leave that to those that run after a script. I don’t care what you have done in the company as of late, love. Because neither of it have you done, or tried doing, towards me. I know you got the talent, but I never thought you had the guts. Make of this what you want, just don’t get bitter. It is an open secret that I don’t play well with those that keep crying the same tune over and over again.”
Another sip. A small break. The smile was as intact as it was before, although the eyes seemed a lot more serious.
“I don’t hate you, Matty. After all, this is the season of love and understanding. Or was it forgiving? I am not so keen when it comes to holidays, but the match is in Honor of Epiphany day. And man, did I have a lot of those in the past years. I will tell you what I told you back then, give me your best shot. And hope that it will be enough to finish me. Don’t leave me bleeding or with air in my lungs. That is the one mistake people make all the fucking time. Live and learn.”
Without taking notice the pub owner had refilled her glass. Another great character trait of the man. Being silent and quick.
“Who else is out there? Druscilla White. What a catchy name, isn’t it? Although I must admit being a child of the '90s, there is only one Druscilla for me. And that one was on Buffy- The Vampire Slayer. And you, darling, don’t get close to that presence. The woman was crazy as a horse on meth, but she had charisma. I will not pretend I have seen much of you, but do I really have to? Maybe you are the next big thing, or will be, but who cares? Staff? Maybe. For a moment you are the shiny new toy. But ask everyone that ever entered this company, this doesn’t last all too long. They will hype you up, use you and before you know it you sell drinks in the merchandise area. Sorry. Or not sorry. I am the last person that you can impress with dramatic looks and a witchy attitude. I mean, do you have any idea who I am? I have been edgy before it became popular, darling. But let’s not make this about me, this is your moment. Let me try to find out what makes Druscilla White special?”
“Not the name. Not the talent. But maybe the group you have joined. You are one of the puppy dogs that fight over the bone that is Arik Holt. You get the joke, don’t you? But all jokes aside, I don’t care about such things. I don’t need to hide behind a group of people to survive in this circus. I could, after all HYDRA is with me, but I don’t have to. But I guess that is what cowards do. Go the easy way. So you must think it is really clever of Arik to put three of you in this match. That you can team up against the rest of us. I will give you a little homework till we meet, darling. How many times did things like that work? Like ever? One of your egos will destroy all the plans you had. And True Society, what a great name by the way, will fuck themselves over.”
This time she emptied her drink in one go. The burn wasn't as present as before but still tickled somewhere in the back of her throat.
“Shall we handle the other member of this not so illustrious group? Slade Castle. Darling, honey, light of my life… What happened to you? No wait, I don’t think we have ever met. And if so then it was a real quickie. Don’t take it personally, I have had several head traumas in my career. I am sure you are epic as fuck, that must be the reason you are in True Society. Not the fact that you are a coward and wanna suck the leaders… no, I can't say that on television. I could be nice and pretend that I cared for your records and what not, but I really don’t. You are probably the weakest link, but every group needs a waterboy. Or whatever you guys pop to think you are above mediocre. Oh uh, you have the Legacy champion and Prime champion. So what? Borrowed time, remember that.”
She laughed out loud catching the attention of the other guests. At least temporary until they returned to their broken dreams and full glasses.
“I will need a lot of drinks before I finish this, huh? And I forgot to write a list. But I try to remember the names for this illustrious match. Jacob Steele. You know the funny dude with the facepaint that reminds you of a kid's birthday party. But what do I hear? He is not a very friendly dude. And I think looking at his career he isn’t very funny either. He is the type to lose his mind and cheats to win. Tsk. Tsk. How disappointing. With a name like that you would expect some class or at least balls. The young man’s resume isn’t all that catchy either. I used to tell all my students at SteelBones Wrestling, not everyone is meant for greatness. So don’t be sad, Jacob, there must be midcarder talents too. And in a place like Project Honor, that is almost a compliment, especially coming from me. I don’t wanna waste my breath too much on you, but don’t think this happens out of disrespect. I am certain you have many talents. And now I try to formulate this in a positive way, but so does the barber down the street. That didn’t come out right, did it? Let me try again, for example- Julius is good with his mouth…yes I know how that sounds… .”
The pub owner looked at her in a surprised way, but Elena simply shrugged her shoulders.
“And while he has won a fair amount of matches and is one half of the Tag Team Champions, that doesn’t help him one bit in a match like this. There is no one to count on or to watch his back. I like the dude out of the ring, but that doesn’t mean we are friends. If he stands between me and grabbing this star? I will push him off that cage with a smile on my face. Because that is what people don’t understand when it comes to me. I am not a monster unless you push me to be one. I am not out there to hurt anyone, but I will if that is the path chosen. I expect Julius to have enough brain to understand this. He seems like a clever man, at least at points. But we all have those not-so-bright moments, don’t we? You had one when losing to True Society. The more often I say that name, the more stupid it sounds. I mean really, Arik? You are in charge of this hellhole and that is the best you can come up with? You could have gone for the stars. Sorry. Another epiphany so it seems. I will wait for you to shoot Julius and I hope for you that you don’t miss. There are no second chances.”
“Who am I missing?”
The expression on her face was more serious now, a small wrinkle between her eyebrows. She used her index finger to point against the side of her head.
“Oh yeah, Jason Long. How could one ever forget about him? The only reason must be that he was dead and then he wasn't. But even when you would have thought that he comes back wiser from the dead, he really didn’t. Honestly, what better time to have a change than this? He could have gone for greatness. And partly he did. But he didn’t fulfill his destiny. Do you know what I mean, Jason? You were supposed to settle the score with Arik Holt. That never happened. Instead, you work for him. I am not one for violence, no wait I am, but this is beside the point- you had the chance to get even. Not mad. Not furious. But even. The boy was there in front of you, laughing like a maniac. Why didn’t you do your job? I remember that time we faced and how dearly you ignored what I had to say. I am not mad about it, Jason. You are young, arrogant and you have fallen. Which is probably the only thing we have in common. We used to be on top of the world. Me the Legacy champion, you the golden boy they had high hopes for. So what happened? They let us fall like hot garbage. And you might think now that this is me mocking you, but it is me being sincere. You had to feel firsthand what it’s like to be forgotten. I have been there, darling. I know that the fire is still burning inside of you, you just need to find the spark. Allow me to hand you that lighter. I mean what has changed since I left?”
“Exactly. Nothing. You won some matches. You lost some matches. But nothing of the old Jason Long seems to linger around those halls anymore. If anything, things have gotten worse. I don’t mean to offend you, but you are obviously resilient to learning from your mistakes. Don’t you ever wonder what is going on behind your back? Or put in question things that happen right in front of your eyes? There have always been whispers, you just didn’t listen. You know where I am going with this. I warned you back then. I kept telling you that I mean you well. But you stood in your own way, blindsided by what you think is love. Can you figure it out, Jason? It’s a puzzle. But you are still missing the most important piece. Don’t let anyone lead you on, Jason. You can say what you want, you can dislike me too- but at least I never tricked you.”
The glass was refilled several times by then. The colour of Elena’s green eyes appeared to be darker at this very moment.
“I guess you can’t force people to have their luck. Lord knows I have tried many times. So, last and certainly least. Savannah Sunshine. Everyone that has followed me here in this company, knows that I am no big fan of you. I think you are a fake as fuck, playing more tricks than any magician could. All this time you pretend that you are disgusted with Arik Holt, but if one takes a closer look they see your true colours. You are a leech. I am not even sure it is your fault, maybe it comes with having a cute face like yours. Or with the care, people treat you because of your attitude, but I am not people, Savannah. I have figured you out the moment you appeared in Project Honor. You love the attention. No matter the cost. You acted concerned when your boyfriend got hurt, but soon it was forgotten. Because it has to be about you. Everything has to be about you. I am not sure why people fall for it, but I guess guys really like the damsel in distress thing.”
“I don’t care how tough you think you are, because I know that you are just an act. I will do what Arik misses to do and what Jason should have done ages ago. I will spank you to the next century. I keep telling myself this is nothing personal, but I have never been a good liar. I can live with big egos. I can tolerate people being delusional. But faking it the way you do? No way. Do I care what matches you won, or that you have shown your darker side? Not really. You are a little girl that keeps pretending she is ready for what is coming. I have beaten you before, but I don’t mind repeating the favour. Maybe this will open the eyes of your beau. A woman can dream, right? Just don’t try to hide behind the sweet attitude when you go up against me, because we both know I don’t know what mercy is.”
There was some tumult where the tourists were, but the owner wouldn’t tolerate stuff like that. He shouted a few words towards them before going back to his business. Elena nodded towards him.
“That was that. It felt like damn homework, but one has to do what one has to do. I didn’t return to make amends. Or asking anyone for forgiveness for the mistakes I made. If you expected that, I am sorry to disappoint you. I came back to prove a point, even though the fewest of you will realize that. Arik Holt. I will talk to you directly this time. We didn’t part on bad terms, did we? But and that is something you have to understand when doing business with me, you will not fuck me over. You may try, but you will have to live with the consequences. If I have to, I will rip apart your little group one by one. That is if either of them shall interfere with my business. Any time that happens, I will hold you responsible. And darling, while all of them think you are crazy, you haven’t seen me going down that road. I can accept the way you do business, but the moment you make a mistake- you will answer to me and HYDRA.”
“And to end this on a more joyful note, you will get the pleasure to see me getting creative inside this cage. Or on top. Both I believe. I don’t back down when the odds are stacked up against me. I don’t need an army behind me when things get rough. Just the way I came for Havoc last show- missed you pooh, I will come for each and everyone in this match. There are no friends in this match. There are alliances, some temporary. But in the end, everyone wants to win. Don’t make any mistake about this. And when I stand on top of this construct, holding that star in my hand, the fun begins. I will make sure to meet each opponent in a special way, making use of this holy grail. Some of them are experts when it comes to brown-nosing. So just do the picture in your head, will you? That star in my hand and seven other arses in reach. Can you see it? I know I can. And when everything is said and done…”
Another laughter. A darker one.
“... you will understand what it means to have an epiphany.”
“You are welcome.”
Good people do bad things.
Bad people do necessary things.
The question was though, under what category did you see yourself? Or did you accept the label others wanted to put on you? Weak people lived to please others, allowing them to control their actions. Weak people didn’t know how to take the lead. But weak people also ended up with pats on the shoulder for fulfilling someone else’s commands.
Very early in her life, Elena learned that weakness was not an option. Maybe it was the root of all evil. But the main problem was, weak people often ended up in high positions, driven by ego and hunger. They knew how to kiss arses and obey- at least until they had might. Looking around her, she was proven right. Rock Johnson, weak and pathetic. And dead. Christian DeMarco, someone she had high hopes for. Someone she did support for a long time, but in the end, he was nothing more than a fool. And what now? Arik Holt. A figure that could remind you of a villain that escaped the Gotham Asylum. But at the end of the day, he had more flaws than people saw. Yet. He was still useful for this and that, but Elena wouldn’t put her trust in him either.
She was a lone wolf, no matter how big the group was that surrounded her. She made decisions, without putting into consideration what everyone else thought about it. Maybe her career would have been a lot more smooth if this hadn’t been the case. She was used to the hard way. But it also was that kind of mindset that made her an outsider. Two months. Give or take. She had been gone from Project Honor without making an appearance or being part of the circus. Also, the same amount of time that no one, absolutely no one, reached out to her.
If I cared, my feelings would be hurt.
But they weren’t. Instead, she set her focus on returning to the same place where it started and very likely would end. On her terms. Syndicate wasn't what mattered. Not even the Legacy Title mattered. Elena DeDraca was set back to where she started. A girl with a name, talent, and a hunger for violence and pain. The truth was, there was nothing left to prove. The roster and management, no matter how ignorant, knew she was dangerous. And that was what kept her going.
She took her time. There was no rush and truth to be spoken, the wrestling world turned without her. Maybe not as colourful, but nonetheless. It was the right moment to finish all the things she left on the plate for too long. Which included a visit to England. Yeah, Boris land where the mad hatter was in charge.
Very well done.
A lot had changed since she walked through this area the last time. It had been her hideaway for so long, but yet she never meant to look back. When beginning her walk bypassing the old iron gate, it felt as if a heavy stone fell off her chest. As if she could really breathe for the first time in ages. Beneath her boots the snow, yeah there was snow, made that awkward cracking noise. She had to be careful, taking small steps on the icy path. Considering that this cemetery was hidden well in the woods, not many people found their way here. And the old caretaker probably didn’t bother keeping the path clear.
“Some things never change.”
She mumbled to herself while she kept walking. Her eyes had already found what she was looking for, even though it was still in the far distance. Considering though she had walked through this forest so often, she knew the way with closed eyes. Here and there she heard some animals, on the trees but also next to her on the ground. They weren’t all too shy. A sentimental thought gave her the idea that they remembered her.
“Don’t be silly, Elena. They probably died a long time ago.”
Shut up.
It took another few minutes before she stepped off of the path walking directly through the snow. The graves in front of her were old which also explained the way they looked. Witty and chaotic. No one visited them or left flowers on special occasions. But that didn’t matter. They were here and at least for as long as she lived, she would remember.
Three stones to the left and two to the right.
She had reached her goal which gave her that well-known feeling of excitement. With a gracious move, she took off her black leather glove, running her fingertips over the stone. The snow was covering the writing, but she knew it was the right one. With another quick move, she removed the white, smiling.
DeDraca.
And finally, she was home. A long time ago, probably when she was around ten, she made this her family. She picked the name and never looked back. Growing up in the orphanage she didn’t know what family meant. All she was left with was a first name and little chance to make it in this life. The nuns kept reminding her daily what she was worth. But she didn’t care. So back then when fleeing from her jail, she found this gem. And at the moment her feet didn’t take her any further, she sank down in front of this stone. Why this one, she didn’t know. But the rest was history, right?
“I am sorry I have been absent.”
Her fingertips still remained on the stone, running carefully over the delicate writing. It was impossible to say who had his last rest here, but to Elena it didn’t matter. She had written her own story in her childhood and continued to do so.
“I am not sure where to start. Some would say I have lost my way, but I don’t agree with that. I might not be as steady as I used to be, but at least I am happy.”
For a moment she paused and removed her hand from the stone. It was as if she waited for an answer and maybe she received one. Nearby where the naked, old trees stood in silence- a branch fell to the ground.
“I know you don’t agree, but hear me out. When I came here first I didn’t feel like I had a purpose or a chance. When people tell you every day that you are worthless, it is easy to believe them. And if I had stayed there longer, they would have succeeded. I would have taken a boring job, working 9 to 5 on a daily basis. Never making a difference. But that just wasn't for me. Every time they tried to knock me down, I remembered this name. I held dear to it. Knowing that a name as strong as this, couldn’t be for a weak person.”
Elena smiled slightly when going down on one of her knees. Oddly enough in the one year that her birth mother was dead, she hardly visited that grave. No matter how hard she tried, the connection wasn't there.
“They have written me off. Once again. They were so quick to forget me and at the same time relieved that I was gone. They had time to breathe and think they mattered to this business. But people like Syndicate, live on borrowed time. No matter if it is Ozy or someone else, but his fall is in the near future. I have seen it so many times that it is hard to not laugh in his face. The only thing he gained is a victory over the most dominant creature that Project Honor has seen to this very day. But what does it matter? To me. To them. To him. My Legacy is cemented, while he will be abducted by the shadows.”
The previously so small smile grew further, showing the perfect white teeth.
“When I started in this business, I had nothing but this tremendous name. I had no connection, no friends, and certainly no reputation. Everything on my resume is the result of hard work and determination. They can’t ever take that away from me. So rest assured that I will once more put this name on the line, adding more glory and fame to it.”
In a slow manner, she rose up from the ground, not bothering to get rid of the snow that was now clinging to her pants. Her eyes remained softly on the gravestone. In a graceful manner she bowed her head.
“I can't promise much, but this for sure. They will not know what hit them when everything is said and done. No rest for the wicked, right?”
She then turned around finding the same path that brought her here. With one last look over her shoulder, Elena put her gloves back on.
Let the games begin.
I WANT TO BREAK FREE [ICH WILL MICH BEFREIEN]
It was later that day that Elena DeDraca arrived at her cottage. Everything was ready for her, considering she had given notice that she would arrive today. The old lady who lived there when she was gone, had prepared a fire in the living room. Did Elena need staff? No. But she had felt sorry for the woman, wanting her to stay in the place she knew so well. And on top, no one made a better apple crumble than here.
It felt wonderful to walk inside the warm room, trying to get rid of the chill that was crawling up her bones. It was the kind of cold that didn’t have anything to do with the outside weather, but she still did appreciate the gesture. When looking around the room she noticed that everything was still in place. Well, not everything.
The old lady decided to put up a Christmas tree somewhere in the corner, nicely decorated. Even though it wasn't the taste of Elena. Her own tree, at home, had the colours of black and white. This one was awfully bright. Right over the fireplace, there were socks with the names of the family members on them.
What a clichè.
But she wasn't in the mood to criticize. Instead, she sunk down on the leather chair, closing her eyes for a moment. Trying to find her inner zen, which was rudely interrupted when she noticed the knock on the door. Letting out a small sigh but still telling the other person to come in.
“I am sorry to interrupt you, my lady. But I thought you might be in the mood for some tea and biscuits.”
“That is very thoughtful of you… .”
The woman placed everything on the small table before turning around, on her way to exit the room. She couldn’t say why she did what was up next, but she still did it.
“Why don’t you join me for a cup? It’s been a while since we talked.”
The old woman froze on the spot, obviously not prepared for this. When she turned around Elena noticed that her cheeks had flushed. She was still wearing her apron but removed it quickly. With a shy smile on her face, she returned to Elena, taking a seat next to her.
“That’s very generous of you, my lady.”
“Will you ever just call me Elena? I am a lot of things, but doubtfully a lady. So we might as well speak from eye to eye, Miss Potter.”
“It’s just…the landlords that lived here before…they were very strict and formal. You are a very different breed, Miss Elena. If you allow me to say so.”
“Different isn’t always so bad, although it took me a lifetime to realize that. But enough about me, what did I miss while I was gone?”
Probably one of the strangest things anyone could think of. Elena DeDraca making smalltalk. But here and there she tried to be social, especially with people like Miss Potter. Those that knew what hard work meant, without ever complaining.
“Well, the whole village watched your match at this big event.”
WHAT? This came as a huge surprise. One she wasn't aware that Miss Potter knew about what she did for a living. Second, she never considered that anyone in this sleepy village cared enough to watch. She almost spit out her tea when hearing that, but the old lady simply grinned.
“You seem very surprised about this. Every time you fight we get together in the pub and watch. And of course cheer you on.”
“Not much to cheer on about that last one.”
“I don’t agree, Miss Elena. And neither would the people in the village. The boy got lucky, that’s all. But you know what they say about luck, it doesn’t last forever. You have put on one tremendous fight and that is more than most of those people can say. They get by and sometimes they win, but mostly they don’t. But you? You remind us of the old times. The times when talent and hard work mattered.”
Elena was still in some sort of shock but also felt strangely proud. She knew she had fans all over the world, but when buying this cottage- she never made it public who she was. So knowing that those people knew without opening a fuss, it was almost touching. She still held on to her mug, looking at the woman.
“If there is one thing I have learned doing what I do, it is to not live in the past. I have gone through good and bad times, but at the end of the day, I always remained standing. So I guess this is one of my biggest talents.”
“You have many talents, whether you see it or not. Or more important, whether they see it or not. We already made plans for your next match, even though we don’t fully understand the stipulation.”
The Fist of Hydra couldn’t help herself but laughed out loud. She laughed so hard indeed that she nearly spilled the tea.
“You are not the only one, Miss Potter. But that is the thing about Fallout, they make odd matches with the result of people beating each other up madly. So I guess that's just the right place for me. Going up against windmills and hoping to find a unicorn.”
“You fight against windmills? Oh, a metaphor. We have seen the other people in the match and we all agree you can overcome them. And some you have already in other matches. Like this pretty boy, Jason Long. Pretty, but dumb- as we say at church.”
One of Elena’s eyebrows raised. This was probably the meanest thing she ever heard the woman say.
“Jason. Very unlucky boy. And has the tendency to make very poor decisions but to each their own. No matter how hard I will go against him, I don’t dislike him. I just wish he would see things for what they are. Like his joke of a woman.”
“I believe she is playing everyone involved. Him. The bald spooky guy. And the crowd.”
Elena nodded slowly and sipped from the tea. Strong and hot.
“I do think the same thing, but I will address this later today. And you, Miss Potter, gave me the perfect idea for a location…”
It was as if lightning had struck her when she jumped up from the leather chair. Almost knocking over the table on her way out, leaving a very confused Miss Potter in the living room. The old lady remained sitting, still holding on to her tea.
“The benefit of youth.”
ONCE MORE WITH FEELING [NOCH EINMAL MIT GEFÜHL]
What a clusterfuck, huh?
That was the first thing she thought when finding out about her return match. It was no secret that Elena wasn't too fond of multi-person matches, but she would have survived. The stipulation? Not so much. Back in the days, she thought that DeMarco was stoned when booking matches, but Holt? He probably should return to taking his medication. No hard feelings but what was the star good for? Unless the winner was determined by shoving that spikey shit up someone's arse.
Language, Elena.
After getting over the first bit of frustration, the feeling was replaced by amusement. Sure the match itself was dumb, but at the end of the day it fulfilled its purpose. Many bodies to destroy, and she didn’t have to feel guilty in the slightest. Most of them deserved it and there were still dues to be paid. Right, Matty- Pooh?
She was in good spirits when kicking open the door of the village pub. It was exactly as you pictured it. Old, somewhat dusty. But that was probably what gave it it’s special charm. Inside everything was built out of dark wood. The owner stood behind the bar, greeting her with his usual grumpy face. If anyone thought that her accent was thick, they certainly hadn’t met him. Without asking he prepared her a glass of…yeah, that was the good question. She never dared to ask during the times coming here with Mark.
“It’s been a while, Lena.”
For whatever reason, he adopted calling her that, but she didn’t dislike it all too much. Taking a seat on one of the barstools, her eyes wandered over the crowd. Considering it was still early in the day, it was the usual subject. Every village had them. Somewhere in the corner you found Earl and Daniel playing cards. Both lost their jobs a decade ago when the factory closed. Their wives left so that was their permanent home, at least till closing hour. Then a few tourists played darts or tried to. And Betsy. The old lady that never found a cavalier to marry her, wasting her years with bourbon and menthol cigarettes.
She must have been a beauty.
Elena thought to herself when watching the now wasted lady with her wrinkles and yellow teeth. It was the owner of the pub that once told her that Betsy wanted to run off with a guy, who had nothing and was nothing. There were rumours going around that her father found out and the young man never was seen again. Everyone had their own tragedy. Elena knew better than most.
“You know how it is, business as usual. I was wondering if you would allow me to film a promo here. It is simply perfect for what I have in mind…”
“How can anyone ever say no to you, Lena? Or better said, tell you no and live to tell the story.”
That was his way of agreeing before getting after his own business. He left her there on the stool, taking care of the other guests. That was what she liked most about him, he didn’t ask questions. Which probably was how he survived for this long in a village so small.
She took another sip from the unidentified drink, feeling the burn crawling down her throat. Once or twice she was worried that this liquid would make her lose her eyesight, but so far everything was going okay. She looked around once more, smiling.
“Welcome back, Elena. I did myself the honours since you’re all a pack of heathens without manners. No worries, I didn’t expect anything else. Leave alone a friendly and warm welcome or a gift basket. Not that I thought anyone on staff has so much taste. But who cares? I don’t get paid for getting loved, right? Or at least my contract doesn’t say anything like that. So why keep trying? Fuck you left and right, I will continue to be the one diamond this company has. Don’t get me wrong, there is decent talent. Like Ozy- bear, but I doubt he would appreciate me calling him a diamond. He is more like a black onyx. I am drifting off, ain’t I? But at times you have to suck it up and just roll with the flow. Ozy, you got one job come the next Pay Per View. And you know exactly what this is. HYDRA has the cake ready.”
She winked towards the camera, still observing the well-known place.
“Enough about other people’s business. Especially when there are such glorious things ahead of me. Fighting a handful of people that I have either faced before and beaten, or never fucking seen in my life. Where to start and where to end? With the big or the little fishes? So many decisions to make. But I think this is the time to be spontaneous.”
“Matthew Knox. Who thought we would see you once again inside a Project Honor ring. I mean after your bravado of an exit. But I guess you had enough time to lick your wounds and grow some balls. No hard feelings, love. Although I was slightly disappointed when I heard you parted with the company. One could think you were a sour loser and lord knows this company has seen enough of those. But let bygones be bygones, right? We live here and now and you get another chance. Unfortunately, not everything has changed. I am still a brutal bitch that likes to rip people apart. Which means, I will go after all your weak spots with a huge smile on my face. I am not the type that will go through people's recent hits and misses, I leave that to those that run after a script. I don’t care what you have done in the company as of late, love. Because neither of it have you done, or tried doing, towards me. I know you got the talent, but I never thought you had the guts. Make of this what you want, just don’t get bitter. It is an open secret that I don’t play well with those that keep crying the same tune over and over again.”
Another sip. A small break. The smile was as intact as it was before, although the eyes seemed a lot more serious.
“I don’t hate you, Matty. After all, this is the season of love and understanding. Or was it forgiving? I am not so keen when it comes to holidays, but the match is in Honor of Epiphany day. And man, did I have a lot of those in the past years. I will tell you what I told you back then, give me your best shot. And hope that it will be enough to finish me. Don’t leave me bleeding or with air in my lungs. That is the one mistake people make all the fucking time. Live and learn.”
Without taking notice the pub owner had refilled her glass. Another great character trait of the man. Being silent and quick.
“Who else is out there? Druscilla White. What a catchy name, isn’t it? Although I must admit being a child of the '90s, there is only one Druscilla for me. And that one was on Buffy- The Vampire Slayer. And you, darling, don’t get close to that presence. The woman was crazy as a horse on meth, but she had charisma. I will not pretend I have seen much of you, but do I really have to? Maybe you are the next big thing, or will be, but who cares? Staff? Maybe. For a moment you are the shiny new toy. But ask everyone that ever entered this company, this doesn’t last all too long. They will hype you up, use you and before you know it you sell drinks in the merchandise area. Sorry. Or not sorry. I am the last person that you can impress with dramatic looks and a witchy attitude. I mean, do you have any idea who I am? I have been edgy before it became popular, darling. But let’s not make this about me, this is your moment. Let me try to find out what makes Druscilla White special?”
“Not the name. Not the talent. But maybe the group you have joined. You are one of the puppy dogs that fight over the bone that is Arik Holt. You get the joke, don’t you? But all jokes aside, I don’t care about such things. I don’t need to hide behind a group of people to survive in this circus. I could, after all HYDRA is with me, but I don’t have to. But I guess that is what cowards do. Go the easy way. So you must think it is really clever of Arik to put three of you in this match. That you can team up against the rest of us. I will give you a little homework till we meet, darling. How many times did things like that work? Like ever? One of your egos will destroy all the plans you had. And True Society, what a great name by the way, will fuck themselves over.”
This time she emptied her drink in one go. The burn wasn't as present as before but still tickled somewhere in the back of her throat.
“Shall we handle the other member of this not so illustrious group? Slade Castle. Darling, honey, light of my life… What happened to you? No wait, I don’t think we have ever met. And if so then it was a real quickie. Don’t take it personally, I have had several head traumas in my career. I am sure you are epic as fuck, that must be the reason you are in True Society. Not the fact that you are a coward and wanna suck the leaders… no, I can't say that on television. I could be nice and pretend that I cared for your records and what not, but I really don’t. You are probably the weakest link, but every group needs a waterboy. Or whatever you guys pop to think you are above mediocre. Oh uh, you have the Legacy champion and Prime champion. So what? Borrowed time, remember that.”
She laughed out loud catching the attention of the other guests. At least temporary until they returned to their broken dreams and full glasses.
“I will need a lot of drinks before I finish this, huh? And I forgot to write a list. But I try to remember the names for this illustrious match. Jacob Steele. You know the funny dude with the facepaint that reminds you of a kid's birthday party. But what do I hear? He is not a very friendly dude. And I think looking at his career he isn’t very funny either. He is the type to lose his mind and cheats to win. Tsk. Tsk. How disappointing. With a name like that you would expect some class or at least balls. The young man’s resume isn’t all that catchy either. I used to tell all my students at SteelBones Wrestling, not everyone is meant for greatness. So don’t be sad, Jacob, there must be midcarder talents too. And in a place like Project Honor, that is almost a compliment, especially coming from me. I don’t wanna waste my breath too much on you, but don’t think this happens out of disrespect. I am certain you have many talents. And now I try to formulate this in a positive way, but so does the barber down the street. That didn’t come out right, did it? Let me try again, for example- Julius is good with his mouth…yes I know how that sounds… .”
The pub owner looked at her in a surprised way, but Elena simply shrugged her shoulders.
“And while he has won a fair amount of matches and is one half of the Tag Team Champions, that doesn’t help him one bit in a match like this. There is no one to count on or to watch his back. I like the dude out of the ring, but that doesn’t mean we are friends. If he stands between me and grabbing this star? I will push him off that cage with a smile on my face. Because that is what people don’t understand when it comes to me. I am not a monster unless you push me to be one. I am not out there to hurt anyone, but I will if that is the path chosen. I expect Julius to have enough brain to understand this. He seems like a clever man, at least at points. But we all have those not-so-bright moments, don’t we? You had one when losing to True Society. The more often I say that name, the more stupid it sounds. I mean really, Arik? You are in charge of this hellhole and that is the best you can come up with? You could have gone for the stars. Sorry. Another epiphany so it seems. I will wait for you to shoot Julius and I hope for you that you don’t miss. There are no second chances.”
“Who am I missing?”
The expression on her face was more serious now, a small wrinkle between her eyebrows. She used her index finger to point against the side of her head.
“Oh yeah, Jason Long. How could one ever forget about him? The only reason must be that he was dead and then he wasn't. But even when you would have thought that he comes back wiser from the dead, he really didn’t. Honestly, what better time to have a change than this? He could have gone for greatness. And partly he did. But he didn’t fulfill his destiny. Do you know what I mean, Jason? You were supposed to settle the score with Arik Holt. That never happened. Instead, you work for him. I am not one for violence, no wait I am, but this is beside the point- you had the chance to get even. Not mad. Not furious. But even. The boy was there in front of you, laughing like a maniac. Why didn’t you do your job? I remember that time we faced and how dearly you ignored what I had to say. I am not mad about it, Jason. You are young, arrogant and you have fallen. Which is probably the only thing we have in common. We used to be on top of the world. Me the Legacy champion, you the golden boy they had high hopes for. So what happened? They let us fall like hot garbage. And you might think now that this is me mocking you, but it is me being sincere. You had to feel firsthand what it’s like to be forgotten. I have been there, darling. I know that the fire is still burning inside of you, you just need to find the spark. Allow me to hand you that lighter. I mean what has changed since I left?”
“Exactly. Nothing. You won some matches. You lost some matches. But nothing of the old Jason Long seems to linger around those halls anymore. If anything, things have gotten worse. I don’t mean to offend you, but you are obviously resilient to learning from your mistakes. Don’t you ever wonder what is going on behind your back? Or put in question things that happen right in front of your eyes? There have always been whispers, you just didn’t listen. You know where I am going with this. I warned you back then. I kept telling you that I mean you well. But you stood in your own way, blindsided by what you think is love. Can you figure it out, Jason? It’s a puzzle. But you are still missing the most important piece. Don’t let anyone lead you on, Jason. You can say what you want, you can dislike me too- but at least I never tricked you.”
The glass was refilled several times by then. The colour of Elena’s green eyes appeared to be darker at this very moment.
“I guess you can’t force people to have their luck. Lord knows I have tried many times. So, last and certainly least. Savannah Sunshine. Everyone that has followed me here in this company, knows that I am no big fan of you. I think you are a fake as fuck, playing more tricks than any magician could. All this time you pretend that you are disgusted with Arik Holt, but if one takes a closer look they see your true colours. You are a leech. I am not even sure it is your fault, maybe it comes with having a cute face like yours. Or with the care, people treat you because of your attitude, but I am not people, Savannah. I have figured you out the moment you appeared in Project Honor. You love the attention. No matter the cost. You acted concerned when your boyfriend got hurt, but soon it was forgotten. Because it has to be about you. Everything has to be about you. I am not sure why people fall for it, but I guess guys really like the damsel in distress thing.”
“I don’t care how tough you think you are, because I know that you are just an act. I will do what Arik misses to do and what Jason should have done ages ago. I will spank you to the next century. I keep telling myself this is nothing personal, but I have never been a good liar. I can live with big egos. I can tolerate people being delusional. But faking it the way you do? No way. Do I care what matches you won, or that you have shown your darker side? Not really. You are a little girl that keeps pretending she is ready for what is coming. I have beaten you before, but I don’t mind repeating the favour. Maybe this will open the eyes of your beau. A woman can dream, right? Just don’t try to hide behind the sweet attitude when you go up against me, because we both know I don’t know what mercy is.”
There was some tumult where the tourists were, but the owner wouldn’t tolerate stuff like that. He shouted a few words towards them before going back to his business. Elena nodded towards him.
“That was that. It felt like damn homework, but one has to do what one has to do. I didn’t return to make amends. Or asking anyone for forgiveness for the mistakes I made. If you expected that, I am sorry to disappoint you. I came back to prove a point, even though the fewest of you will realize that. Arik Holt. I will talk to you directly this time. We didn’t part on bad terms, did we? But and that is something you have to understand when doing business with me, you will not fuck me over. You may try, but you will have to live with the consequences. If I have to, I will rip apart your little group one by one. That is if either of them shall interfere with my business. Any time that happens, I will hold you responsible. And darling, while all of them think you are crazy, you haven’t seen me going down that road. I can accept the way you do business, but the moment you make a mistake- you will answer to me and HYDRA.”
“And to end this on a more joyful note, you will get the pleasure to see me getting creative inside this cage. Or on top. Both I believe. I don’t back down when the odds are stacked up against me. I don’t need an army behind me when things get rough. Just the way I came for Havoc last show- missed you pooh, I will come for each and everyone in this match. There are no friends in this match. There are alliances, some temporary. But in the end, everyone wants to win. Don’t make any mistake about this. And when I stand on top of this construct, holding that star in my hand, the fun begins. I will make sure to meet each opponent in a special way, making use of this holy grail. Some of them are experts when it comes to brown-nosing. So just do the picture in your head, will you? That star in my hand and seven other arses in reach. Can you see it? I know I can. And when everything is said and done…”
Another laughter. A darker one.
“... you will understand what it means to have an epiphany.”
“You are welcome.”
[FIST OF HYDRA]
