Post by gothmother on Jun 25, 2021 9:15:57 GMT -5
DARK PLACES [ALL OF THE THINGS I TRIED TO EXPLAIN]
[Milano, Italy] Throwback 2013
She could say she didn’t know better, but this would have been a lie. Elena was maybe still young, but she was not an idiot. When getting on that plane with someone like Shawna Martinez, she knew where she was going. And long before that she knew what was going on behind closed doors. But so far she never had it presented like this to her. Maybe on purpose. No, definitely on purpose. Nothing Shawna did was ever happening by mistake. If she had to describe her with one word, there was nothing to think about. Calculating.
So it wasn't a mistake when she walked in on Lara Chambers the other morning. Dressed all in black, if you ignored the red spots covering her face. Paint, maybe. But even then Elena knew better. When you worked for Shawna Martinez you had money, prestige and little enemies. She didn’t dare to judge a woman like her, but it just wasn't her lifestyle either.
Long story short, Shawna Martinez aka Karina Stincino was the Godmother of the Stincino Family. A family of Italian descent, a family with ties (allegedly) in organized crime. All of this came together after her father had died, and there was no male heir to his throne. Shawna, former wrestler and rebel, didn’t like what was in her cards. As a teenager she ran away from her family, trying her best to live a normal life. But with the death of the Godfather, her return was inevitable. No way she would give this amount of power to someone else, despite her beliefs and dreams.
They had been on this flight for a few hours by now. If Elena hoped for smalltalk, she found herself disappointed. Shawna obviously was sleeping while Lara was reading some English novel. And the apes? Well, hitmen were standing next to their boss without once moving. So there was nothing left for her to do, apart from staring out of the window. For someone like Elena flying was the worst way of getting somewhere. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t run. And she didn’t have control. So for the probably fifth time she was undoing her seatbelt, standing up. Stretching.
“For the love of god, can you try to at least relax?”
It was the voice of Shawna. She had managed to lose her Italian accent completely.
“I am sorry, Shawna. I am just not used to long flights, they make me uneasy.”
The blonde amazon removed her sleeping mask looking directly at her. For whatever reason it felt like being observed, or a predator trying to find the weak spot. Elena had horror scenarios before her inner eye. Seeing herself dead on the floor because she wasn't quiet enough. But neither of that ever happened. Instead Shawna smiled at her.
“I know you, Elena DeDraca. I know your story, even details you might not have discovered yet. The worst thing in life, for you, is feeling trapped. It doesn’t go well with your temper. But you do understand that I didn’t take you on this trip to harm you? Or like the MOB slang would be, make you disappear.”
Even though she still smiled, Elena wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a joke. She still stood there. Trying to breathe easy.
“I have been watching you ever since you walked through the doors of Steel Bones. Which means I have seen every bit of progress you have made this far. I appreciate the things you have seen but never spoke about.”
“I would never… .”
“I know. And this is why I decided it is time for you to meet someone. We don’t need to work on your wrestling ability any longer. You have everything it takes to be a grand talent, to take over this business. But there is one thing missing. Nothing that Shania, Shannon or Pixie can teach you.”
The expression on the woman’s face didn’t change in the slightest. But in Elena a thousand questions started to form. All of them loud and important. But instead of beginning to ramble, she remained quiet. Trying to appear self confident.
“I had a long talk with all your trainers and they all told me the same. You got what it takes, but you still suffer from self doubt combined with regret. And while we can give you all the tools you need, that is the one thing that has to come from yourself. Hence Shania and I decided it is time for you to go.”
Go? Where? Steel Bones was probably the closest thing to home she ever had. This whole speech felt like a goodbye, or like getting kicked out immediately. Obviously Shawna had more to say, but then they heard the pilot over the speakers. He informed them that they would land in around five minutes, so they were supposed to return to their seats. Elena did as told, biting her bottom lip. A little habit she couldn’t lose, no matter how hard she tried. Being nervous brought out the worst in her.
She remained seated even after the plane had landed and everyone began to take their luggage. Not that anyone had brought much, it seemed like neither of them planned to stay very long. Shawna was the first to leave, followed by her gorillas. Then Lara who always seemed to be in a different sphere. And then the skinny thing, who felt extremely out of place. From afar she spotted three black cars. A breathtaking but intimidating woman leaned against one of them. She was dressed fully in black, big shades covering most of her face. She was probably in her fifties but didn’t look a day older than thirty.
“Common, Elena. They don’t bite.”
It was Lara’s voice that reminded her to keep up. They had reached the cars in no time, Shawna already in talks with the woman. They spoke in Italian and way too quick to even understand one word. When it became quiet they both looked at her. Elena felt her cheeks turning red.
“Elena, come closer. I want you to meet Lendra. Stincino. My grandmother.”
Oh my god.
With a few well measured steps she had reached the two females, in her naive nature offering her hand to the woman. Of course that didn’t happen, it was some kind of affront. But neither of them seemed mad about it. Shawna took a few steps back, before addressing her grandmother again. The older woman nodded before turning her attention back to Elena.
“We have quite some work in front of us. Follow me.”
“I don’t understand… .”
“But you will.”
That was the only response she received before someone opened the door for her, more or less shoving her into the car. The last thing she saw was Shawna and Lara returning to the plane. The driver entered the driver's seat, while Leandra had entered another car. He looked into the rear mirror, smiling.
“Welcome to Milano, Miss DeDraca. I hope you will enjoy your stay.”
Italy! FUCKING Italy? She was ready to protest but weighing out her chances, there was little success to foresee. So instead she leaned back into the leather seat, closing her eyes. Wondering what the future did hold.
RED IN THE MORNING [LET YOUR FIRE BE MERCY TO ME]
[Cusco, Peru]
And another one bites the dust. That was the only thing she could really say looking back at her last match. No matter how much praise fake Pixie received, in the end she was just another footnote in the legacy of Elena DeDraca. This had little to do with feeling superior, but everything with checking the facts. There were those that remained humble about their talent, Elena had been one of them, but with growth things changed. Why make yourself smaller than you are? Why allow anyone to step on what you have overcome in your life? Exactly. The past was the past. This was something she used to tell Finn and even Dimitri. And even though this felt like it had been part of another life, it was still the truth. Elena DeDraca had lost her motherly vibes a long time ago. But it took till now that she noticed it herself.
There was no need to pay fake Pixie another thought. She lost. And that was all that the records would tell in the future. Elena came back with one thing on her mind: Revenge. What for? That was the one thing that still rested in the dark. It was silly to give away all of yourself, especially your motives. People liked to attack whatever weakness they could find in another person. And if one looked close enough, the human race was made of flaws. But that was when things were really complicated. There were those that lived with those flaws, those that tried to work on them and those that turned flaws into strengths. All the crying and lamenting about hard lives didn’t change anyone’s path. If anything they would get a pity parade, but then? Forgotten. But that was the one thing that wouldn’t happen to Elena DeDraca. They could dislike her, try to play down her talent- but neither of them would be able to forget them.
Right, Rocky Johnson?
Peru. A beautiful place, yet as grotesque as it could be. All the beauty was resting like a layer over all the problems this land had. The poverty of the people living here. The corruption. And one thing that hit her really hard, the ongoing violence against women. Although this would be a problem for every independent woman living life the way they wanted. Against the advice of the hotel staff she had decided to take a trip through Peru’s streets. Once more realising how fastidious the European and American population was.
Several times someone would try to steal her handbag, but she wouldn’t have been Elena if she accepted that. Playing damsel in distress. The one thing that really caught her attention was a flyer that was handed to her. By a dirty little boy. The words on the piece of paper made little sense, but the boy would give her a big smile. She would notice his missing teeth for the first time. He did some sort of shadow boxing, probably to explain what all of this was about.
Illegal fights.
For a long moment she was battling herself. Wondering if it was better to choose safety or a little adventure. Although the decision truly had been made from the beginning on. She took the boy's hand and allowed him to lead the way.
It was hard to tell how far they had walked, but one thing was sticking out. The further they walked, the dirtier it seemed to get. They passed by people sitting outside on the street, asking for some money. Others were obviously so far away, with their thoughts, that it was hard to tell if they even noticed what was going on around them. Elena tried their best to keep her eyes on the road, or whatever they called this muddy path. From the near distance she heard people erupting in cheers and chants, knowing that they were close to their destination.
The boy dragged her inside an old building, probably a factory once upon a time. He once more looked up at her smiling, pointing into a certain direction. There were some empty wooden benches standing there, but they wouldn’t be like this for very long. They were surrounding something that looked like a wrestling ring. Or the idea of it. Once more he would squeeze her hand before taking off. Elena looked after him for a long moment, not certain if she would see him again.
“Come sit here.”
She heard someone address her in very broken English. Feeling slightly uneasy she nodded following the voice. They gave her a seat in the first row, which she paid for. How much? She didn’t really know, but in the end it didn’t matter either. When checking her phone she noticed two things. One, there was no reception. Two, it was getting really late. But neither of this bothered her for real. She was studying the people entering, getting their seats.
What the hell?
ROTTING IN VAIN [DIGGING DEEP INSIDE OF ME]
[Cusco, Peru]
Everything happened way too quick. Two fighters were entering the ring while the audience was jumping up. Everyone but her so it seemed. The competitors spent a good amount of time playing with the crowd. One of them growling like a wild animal. A little more time passed before another person entered the ring. The referee. Although she wasn't sure if the thin guy stood a chance against those two. He was explaining something to them, then nodding towards the crowd.
What she witnessed then was hard to describe. Even though the whole scenery was set up as a wrestling match, it was everything but that. The two fought each other for their lives. And considering where she was, this might wasn't so far from the truth. It didn’t take too long before the first one was bleeding out of his mouth. He seemed completely unbothered by it. A little smile formed on Elena’s lips. Although it was highly illegal, or at least that was what she thought, she took out her phone. Filming the fight for a moment, before turning the focus on herself.
“Can you believe that? You come to Peru to see all the beauty and tourist attractions, but end up in something similar to the fight club. That's life, people. But I didn’t film this to get you all excited, but to prove a point. Week after week you see wannabe superstars acting really tough. They come down to their theme music, while playing with the crowd. Handle their matches and then return to their cozy beds. No wait, they drive there with cars no human being needs. And all of this for prestige and big egos. All they do is pretend. Faking it. Don’t get me wrong, folks, I won’t be judging- but I definitely will keep laughing while pointing my finger. If you wanna learn about toughness, take a look inside that ring. I am in doubt that any of the Project Honor roster members ever had a real fight. Yeah, I know. Their resumes will tell you differently, but is it really the truth?”
“Let’s be honest with each other, most of them are mama's boys. It does surprise me they can tie up their laces. The generation of men we face these days are wusses through and through. But of course they have a hard time admitting that. And that is the reason why people like Havoc can grow. The Nightmare King. Give me a second to let that sink. Almost twenty years in this business and you are probably the 100th Nightmare King I meet. I don’t have high expectations, but really? Is that all you got? I don’t wanna sound petty at this point, but that is the level of pathetic one has to face these days. Kings. Queens. Gods. Goddesses. Idiots. And morons. That is what I see. But what I don’t notice is real fighters. Those that are willing to fuck themselves up to get a point across. But I guess that is what this softener society calls for. Congratulations.”
Her focus was on the two fighters still. At this point both of them looked pretty fucked up, but neither of them was willing to give in. A certain kind of scent tickled her nostrils. The well known mixture of sweat and blood.
“What kind of nightmare are you going to sell, Havoc? That you, no matter how scary you try to look, can’t get the job done? As your match record shows, I am not too far away from the truth. Didn’t you just lose to Julius? No offense to him, but I am still having a hard time looking at him as a serious competitor. And still, he beat you with it right in the face. But that’s probably just me being picky. After all you are the saviour, aren’t you? No wait, another saviour. I am not quite sure what we need saving from, or better said- what you can offer to do. You are a puppet that tries to become a puppeteer. Mister cult leader. Do you see me shiver? No? I must apologize then, but your motives and beliefs don’t scratch me where the sun doesn’t shine. For me you are nothing more than a loudmouth that watched too many serial killer documentaries. Those are cool, but not when you think you can adapt the charme of someone like Charles Manson.”
“How do I address you though? Havoc or Chris? I mean all this alter ego thing, I like it. Well, I did fifteen years ago when it wasn't so trendy. That is the thing though, it seems easier for the weak ones to have an alter ego. So they have an outlet for everything that is wrong with them. Which leads back to what I stated in the beginning. Faking it. Instead of owning up to your fucked up nature, allowing it to bloom, you hide behind some demonic might. Oh darling, that is lame even for someone like you. Why is it so hard to just live up to your own expectations? It would save you a lot of pretending. You will never find me acting as if someone else is the reason for the things I do. I, Elena DeDraca, make the decisions for myself. If I wanna cut out a piece of your meat, I will do it. If I wanna beat you into another dimension, I will do it. That is the point. Stop hiding.”
One of the fighters by then was on the mat. Blood streaming not only out of his mouth, but his ear too. But even at this point he would get back up, trying to focus on his opponent. The referee, or whatever he really was, didn’t seem bothered by the condition of the competitors.
“Don’t you ever sit down and wonder where you went wrong? Why did you never have your breakthrough moment? Even though you might think you did. I can tell you though, you are absolutely wrong. Maybe you were a decent fighter in what feels like another lifetime, but feel free to meet me in the here and now. The business is in constant change, dear, and you fail to notice that. Don’t bite yourself for it though, you are in good company when it comes to being delusional. What worked ten years ago, doesn’t drag people to wrestling shows. And even though the horror genre is bigger than ever, fans have seen it all. And if not? They will let you know. I am fully aware about my standing with the rest of the roster. Or the fact that I am not their favourite. A lot of it comes from envy. But that will not cause me sleepless nights. That is the point about being the full package, Havoc. A wolf will never lose sleep over the opinion of sheep. A fitting metaphor, don’t you think? Because, title or not, I am the alpha of Project Honor. Try to tell me differently.”
“When others decide to pack their shit and run, I stay. I observe. And I break those that try to stand up to me. That is what Elena DeDraca does. I don’t care if it brings me the respect of my fellow competitors. I even gave up wondering if they understand me as a person. But they can’t deny me my spot in the company. Not that they haven’t tried. Acting as if they walked a mile in my shoes. You are no Mark Hunter or Ozymandias. I am not even sure you are a Savannah Sunshine at this point. Although you might have lollipops sticking out of your arse. But the point is this, I will destroy you. No matter if you come in your human or demonic form…”
Elena shook her head realising how stupid that sounded. She laughed out a little while still paying attention to the slaughter fest inside the ring. The crowd by now was going completely nuts.
“...sorry, where was I? I am aware that no one likes to have their flaws pointed out, but then you are for sure in the wrong industry. Or the wrong company. I will rip through every insecurity you have. And the list is overly too long. And while you still battling yourself if you like it or not, in the long run it will help you find a way. See me as your horror godmother- showing you a path that you never dreamt of. Sure it will hurt, but it will be worth it in the end. I clipped off the Pixies wings without thinking of it twice, drowning her in her own Pixie dust. So what options does that leave for you? I don’t expect you to throw around glitter, since you are all about nightmares. Blood. That is the answer you are looking for, darling. The essence of life, yet the downfall of armys. The human race might have more intelligence than apes, well some of us, but we are just as fragile. The strongest of us fall in the blink of a second. Just look at all the chaos that is taking over the world. All caused by a little virus that you can’t even see.”
“But in my case, you will see me coming. I will take you down the only way I know. Without any mercy or hesitation. You add nothing to my life that would make me think about it twice. And not even then I could stop myself from overpowering you. We all make choices in our life, Havoc. Some good, others not so much. But at the end of the day I managed to come clean with mine. I am not haunted by my past, or the things I have lost. And that is what shall make you wonder what kind of chance you stand against me. You try to put fear into people's lives. I get the idea and find it somewhat poetic, but what do you wanna scare me with? There is nothing you can take from me. And that is when a person becomes most dangerous. When there is nothing left to lose. I highly believe that after our encounter you will have a better understanding of who Elena DeDraca is. One can debate if your small mind can't accept it, but there will be an idea.”
When she now looked back to the fighters, she noticed a change in the mood. One of them was laying flat on the mat. Not moving. The other had returned to the corner, trying to see what was going on. His face was swollen, one eye fully closed. The official was kneeling next to the fallen fighter, obviously checking for vital signs. There was absolute silence in the crowd, although everyone seemed fully aware of what had happened. The referee stepped away from the body, making his way towards the man in the corner. He lifted his arm, declaring the winner.
Elena's eyes remained on the body. Not moving at all. Not the slightest hint of breathing. In her mind the words rest in peace, paying some respect. But she was rudely brought back to reality when the crowd jumped up, cheering. Life and death seemed so tightly knotted with each other.
“At the end of the day neither of this does matter, Havoc. You will enter that ring with whatever you believe in. You will have made a plan and although you know already that you will fail, you will stick to it. And that I do appreciate. Even though it is a dumb decision, you at least will come prepared. But at the same time you decide your own fate. Not me. Not management. Only yourself can be held responsible for the outcome. Don’t cry me a river if things don’t go your way. I promised Christian DeMarco to paint this company red. Fake Pixie was only the start of this. You could say, she was the sketch for what will become my masterpiece. And you, my friend, will give me the right shades of red. You might as well call me the next Castiglia or Nitsch. I will make you famous. For one night.”
She lazily lifted herself from the bench for the first time noticing how uncomfortable it truly was. Slightly stiff she walked outside of the factory, not being any more mindful of the man that had lost his life here tonight. He knew of the danger and was still willing to take it. The circle of life.
“One last note. Fuck you Rock Johnson. And fuck being in the opening match.”
Elena smiled wide.
“You’re welcome.”
[Milano, Italy] Throwback 2013
She could say she didn’t know better, but this would have been a lie. Elena was maybe still young, but she was not an idiot. When getting on that plane with someone like Shawna Martinez, she knew where she was going. And long before that she knew what was going on behind closed doors. But so far she never had it presented like this to her. Maybe on purpose. No, definitely on purpose. Nothing Shawna did was ever happening by mistake. If she had to describe her with one word, there was nothing to think about. Calculating.
So it wasn't a mistake when she walked in on Lara Chambers the other morning. Dressed all in black, if you ignored the red spots covering her face. Paint, maybe. But even then Elena knew better. When you worked for Shawna Martinez you had money, prestige and little enemies. She didn’t dare to judge a woman like her, but it just wasn't her lifestyle either.
Long story short, Shawna Martinez aka Karina Stincino was the Godmother of the Stincino Family. A family of Italian descent, a family with ties (allegedly) in organized crime. All of this came together after her father had died, and there was no male heir to his throne. Shawna, former wrestler and rebel, didn’t like what was in her cards. As a teenager she ran away from her family, trying her best to live a normal life. But with the death of the Godfather, her return was inevitable. No way she would give this amount of power to someone else, despite her beliefs and dreams.
They had been on this flight for a few hours by now. If Elena hoped for smalltalk, she found herself disappointed. Shawna obviously was sleeping while Lara was reading some English novel. And the apes? Well, hitmen were standing next to their boss without once moving. So there was nothing left for her to do, apart from staring out of the window. For someone like Elena flying was the worst way of getting somewhere. She couldn’t move. She couldn’t run. And she didn’t have control. So for the probably fifth time she was undoing her seatbelt, standing up. Stretching.
“For the love of god, can you try to at least relax?”
It was the voice of Shawna. She had managed to lose her Italian accent completely.
“I am sorry, Shawna. I am just not used to long flights, they make me uneasy.”
The blonde amazon removed her sleeping mask looking directly at her. For whatever reason it felt like being observed, or a predator trying to find the weak spot. Elena had horror scenarios before her inner eye. Seeing herself dead on the floor because she wasn't quiet enough. But neither of that ever happened. Instead Shawna smiled at her.
“I know you, Elena DeDraca. I know your story, even details you might not have discovered yet. The worst thing in life, for you, is feeling trapped. It doesn’t go well with your temper. But you do understand that I didn’t take you on this trip to harm you? Or like the MOB slang would be, make you disappear.”
Even though she still smiled, Elena wasn't sure if this was supposed to be a joke. She still stood there. Trying to breathe easy.
“I have been watching you ever since you walked through the doors of Steel Bones. Which means I have seen every bit of progress you have made this far. I appreciate the things you have seen but never spoke about.”
“I would never… .”
“I know. And this is why I decided it is time for you to meet someone. We don’t need to work on your wrestling ability any longer. You have everything it takes to be a grand talent, to take over this business. But there is one thing missing. Nothing that Shania, Shannon or Pixie can teach you.”
The expression on the woman’s face didn’t change in the slightest. But in Elena a thousand questions started to form. All of them loud and important. But instead of beginning to ramble, she remained quiet. Trying to appear self confident.
“I had a long talk with all your trainers and they all told me the same. You got what it takes, but you still suffer from self doubt combined with regret. And while we can give you all the tools you need, that is the one thing that has to come from yourself. Hence Shania and I decided it is time for you to go.”
Go? Where? Steel Bones was probably the closest thing to home she ever had. This whole speech felt like a goodbye, or like getting kicked out immediately. Obviously Shawna had more to say, but then they heard the pilot over the speakers. He informed them that they would land in around five minutes, so they were supposed to return to their seats. Elena did as told, biting her bottom lip. A little habit she couldn’t lose, no matter how hard she tried. Being nervous brought out the worst in her.
She remained seated even after the plane had landed and everyone began to take their luggage. Not that anyone had brought much, it seemed like neither of them planned to stay very long. Shawna was the first to leave, followed by her gorillas. Then Lara who always seemed to be in a different sphere. And then the skinny thing, who felt extremely out of place. From afar she spotted three black cars. A breathtaking but intimidating woman leaned against one of them. She was dressed fully in black, big shades covering most of her face. She was probably in her fifties but didn’t look a day older than thirty.
“Common, Elena. They don’t bite.”
It was Lara’s voice that reminded her to keep up. They had reached the cars in no time, Shawna already in talks with the woman. They spoke in Italian and way too quick to even understand one word. When it became quiet they both looked at her. Elena felt her cheeks turning red.
“Elena, come closer. I want you to meet Lendra. Stincino. My grandmother.”
Oh my god.
With a few well measured steps she had reached the two females, in her naive nature offering her hand to the woman. Of course that didn’t happen, it was some kind of affront. But neither of them seemed mad about it. Shawna took a few steps back, before addressing her grandmother again. The older woman nodded before turning her attention back to Elena.
“We have quite some work in front of us. Follow me.”
“I don’t understand… .”
“But you will.”
That was the only response she received before someone opened the door for her, more or less shoving her into the car. The last thing she saw was Shawna and Lara returning to the plane. The driver entered the driver's seat, while Leandra had entered another car. He looked into the rear mirror, smiling.
“Welcome to Milano, Miss DeDraca. I hope you will enjoy your stay.”
Italy! FUCKING Italy? She was ready to protest but weighing out her chances, there was little success to foresee. So instead she leaned back into the leather seat, closing her eyes. Wondering what the future did hold.
RED IN THE MORNING [LET YOUR FIRE BE MERCY TO ME]
[Cusco, Peru]
And another one bites the dust. That was the only thing she could really say looking back at her last match. No matter how much praise fake Pixie received, in the end she was just another footnote in the legacy of Elena DeDraca. This had little to do with feeling superior, but everything with checking the facts. There were those that remained humble about their talent, Elena had been one of them, but with growth things changed. Why make yourself smaller than you are? Why allow anyone to step on what you have overcome in your life? Exactly. The past was the past. This was something she used to tell Finn and even Dimitri. And even though this felt like it had been part of another life, it was still the truth. Elena DeDraca had lost her motherly vibes a long time ago. But it took till now that she noticed it herself.
There was no need to pay fake Pixie another thought. She lost. And that was all that the records would tell in the future. Elena came back with one thing on her mind: Revenge. What for? That was the one thing that still rested in the dark. It was silly to give away all of yourself, especially your motives. People liked to attack whatever weakness they could find in another person. And if one looked close enough, the human race was made of flaws. But that was when things were really complicated. There were those that lived with those flaws, those that tried to work on them and those that turned flaws into strengths. All the crying and lamenting about hard lives didn’t change anyone’s path. If anything they would get a pity parade, but then? Forgotten. But that was the one thing that wouldn’t happen to Elena DeDraca. They could dislike her, try to play down her talent- but neither of them would be able to forget them.
Right, Rocky Johnson?
Peru. A beautiful place, yet as grotesque as it could be. All the beauty was resting like a layer over all the problems this land had. The poverty of the people living here. The corruption. And one thing that hit her really hard, the ongoing violence against women. Although this would be a problem for every independent woman living life the way they wanted. Against the advice of the hotel staff she had decided to take a trip through Peru’s streets. Once more realising how fastidious the European and American population was.
Several times someone would try to steal her handbag, but she wouldn’t have been Elena if she accepted that. Playing damsel in distress. The one thing that really caught her attention was a flyer that was handed to her. By a dirty little boy. The words on the piece of paper made little sense, but the boy would give her a big smile. She would notice his missing teeth for the first time. He did some sort of shadow boxing, probably to explain what all of this was about.
Illegal fights.
For a long moment she was battling herself. Wondering if it was better to choose safety or a little adventure. Although the decision truly had been made from the beginning on. She took the boy's hand and allowed him to lead the way.
It was hard to tell how far they had walked, but one thing was sticking out. The further they walked, the dirtier it seemed to get. They passed by people sitting outside on the street, asking for some money. Others were obviously so far away, with their thoughts, that it was hard to tell if they even noticed what was going on around them. Elena tried their best to keep her eyes on the road, or whatever they called this muddy path. From the near distance she heard people erupting in cheers and chants, knowing that they were close to their destination.
The boy dragged her inside an old building, probably a factory once upon a time. He once more looked up at her smiling, pointing into a certain direction. There were some empty wooden benches standing there, but they wouldn’t be like this for very long. They were surrounding something that looked like a wrestling ring. Or the idea of it. Once more he would squeeze her hand before taking off. Elena looked after him for a long moment, not certain if she would see him again.
“Come sit here.”
She heard someone address her in very broken English. Feeling slightly uneasy she nodded following the voice. They gave her a seat in the first row, which she paid for. How much? She didn’t really know, but in the end it didn’t matter either. When checking her phone she noticed two things. One, there was no reception. Two, it was getting really late. But neither of this bothered her for real. She was studying the people entering, getting their seats.
What the hell?
ROTTING IN VAIN [DIGGING DEEP INSIDE OF ME]
[Cusco, Peru]
Everything happened way too quick. Two fighters were entering the ring while the audience was jumping up. Everyone but her so it seemed. The competitors spent a good amount of time playing with the crowd. One of them growling like a wild animal. A little more time passed before another person entered the ring. The referee. Although she wasn't sure if the thin guy stood a chance against those two. He was explaining something to them, then nodding towards the crowd.
What she witnessed then was hard to describe. Even though the whole scenery was set up as a wrestling match, it was everything but that. The two fought each other for their lives. And considering where she was, this might wasn't so far from the truth. It didn’t take too long before the first one was bleeding out of his mouth. He seemed completely unbothered by it. A little smile formed on Elena’s lips. Although it was highly illegal, or at least that was what she thought, she took out her phone. Filming the fight for a moment, before turning the focus on herself.
“Can you believe that? You come to Peru to see all the beauty and tourist attractions, but end up in something similar to the fight club. That's life, people. But I didn’t film this to get you all excited, but to prove a point. Week after week you see wannabe superstars acting really tough. They come down to their theme music, while playing with the crowd. Handle their matches and then return to their cozy beds. No wait, they drive there with cars no human being needs. And all of this for prestige and big egos. All they do is pretend. Faking it. Don’t get me wrong, folks, I won’t be judging- but I definitely will keep laughing while pointing my finger. If you wanna learn about toughness, take a look inside that ring. I am in doubt that any of the Project Honor roster members ever had a real fight. Yeah, I know. Their resumes will tell you differently, but is it really the truth?”
“Let’s be honest with each other, most of them are mama's boys. It does surprise me they can tie up their laces. The generation of men we face these days are wusses through and through. But of course they have a hard time admitting that. And that is the reason why people like Havoc can grow. The Nightmare King. Give me a second to let that sink. Almost twenty years in this business and you are probably the 100th Nightmare King I meet. I don’t have high expectations, but really? Is that all you got? I don’t wanna sound petty at this point, but that is the level of pathetic one has to face these days. Kings. Queens. Gods. Goddesses. Idiots. And morons. That is what I see. But what I don’t notice is real fighters. Those that are willing to fuck themselves up to get a point across. But I guess that is what this softener society calls for. Congratulations.”
Her focus was on the two fighters still. At this point both of them looked pretty fucked up, but neither of them was willing to give in. A certain kind of scent tickled her nostrils. The well known mixture of sweat and blood.
“What kind of nightmare are you going to sell, Havoc? That you, no matter how scary you try to look, can’t get the job done? As your match record shows, I am not too far away from the truth. Didn’t you just lose to Julius? No offense to him, but I am still having a hard time looking at him as a serious competitor. And still, he beat you with it right in the face. But that’s probably just me being picky. After all you are the saviour, aren’t you? No wait, another saviour. I am not quite sure what we need saving from, or better said- what you can offer to do. You are a puppet that tries to become a puppeteer. Mister cult leader. Do you see me shiver? No? I must apologize then, but your motives and beliefs don’t scratch me where the sun doesn’t shine. For me you are nothing more than a loudmouth that watched too many serial killer documentaries. Those are cool, but not when you think you can adapt the charme of someone like Charles Manson.”
“How do I address you though? Havoc or Chris? I mean all this alter ego thing, I like it. Well, I did fifteen years ago when it wasn't so trendy. That is the thing though, it seems easier for the weak ones to have an alter ego. So they have an outlet for everything that is wrong with them. Which leads back to what I stated in the beginning. Faking it. Instead of owning up to your fucked up nature, allowing it to bloom, you hide behind some demonic might. Oh darling, that is lame even for someone like you. Why is it so hard to just live up to your own expectations? It would save you a lot of pretending. You will never find me acting as if someone else is the reason for the things I do. I, Elena DeDraca, make the decisions for myself. If I wanna cut out a piece of your meat, I will do it. If I wanna beat you into another dimension, I will do it. That is the point. Stop hiding.”
One of the fighters by then was on the mat. Blood streaming not only out of his mouth, but his ear too. But even at this point he would get back up, trying to focus on his opponent. The referee, or whatever he really was, didn’t seem bothered by the condition of the competitors.
“Don’t you ever sit down and wonder where you went wrong? Why did you never have your breakthrough moment? Even though you might think you did. I can tell you though, you are absolutely wrong. Maybe you were a decent fighter in what feels like another lifetime, but feel free to meet me in the here and now. The business is in constant change, dear, and you fail to notice that. Don’t bite yourself for it though, you are in good company when it comes to being delusional. What worked ten years ago, doesn’t drag people to wrestling shows. And even though the horror genre is bigger than ever, fans have seen it all. And if not? They will let you know. I am fully aware about my standing with the rest of the roster. Or the fact that I am not their favourite. A lot of it comes from envy. But that will not cause me sleepless nights. That is the point about being the full package, Havoc. A wolf will never lose sleep over the opinion of sheep. A fitting metaphor, don’t you think? Because, title or not, I am the alpha of Project Honor. Try to tell me differently.”
“When others decide to pack their shit and run, I stay. I observe. And I break those that try to stand up to me. That is what Elena DeDraca does. I don’t care if it brings me the respect of my fellow competitors. I even gave up wondering if they understand me as a person. But they can’t deny me my spot in the company. Not that they haven’t tried. Acting as if they walked a mile in my shoes. You are no Mark Hunter or Ozymandias. I am not even sure you are a Savannah Sunshine at this point. Although you might have lollipops sticking out of your arse. But the point is this, I will destroy you. No matter if you come in your human or demonic form…”
Elena shook her head realising how stupid that sounded. She laughed out a little while still paying attention to the slaughter fest inside the ring. The crowd by now was going completely nuts.
“...sorry, where was I? I am aware that no one likes to have their flaws pointed out, but then you are for sure in the wrong industry. Or the wrong company. I will rip through every insecurity you have. And the list is overly too long. And while you still battling yourself if you like it or not, in the long run it will help you find a way. See me as your horror godmother- showing you a path that you never dreamt of. Sure it will hurt, but it will be worth it in the end. I clipped off the Pixies wings without thinking of it twice, drowning her in her own Pixie dust. So what options does that leave for you? I don’t expect you to throw around glitter, since you are all about nightmares. Blood. That is the answer you are looking for, darling. The essence of life, yet the downfall of armys. The human race might have more intelligence than apes, well some of us, but we are just as fragile. The strongest of us fall in the blink of a second. Just look at all the chaos that is taking over the world. All caused by a little virus that you can’t even see.”
“But in my case, you will see me coming. I will take you down the only way I know. Without any mercy or hesitation. You add nothing to my life that would make me think about it twice. And not even then I could stop myself from overpowering you. We all make choices in our life, Havoc. Some good, others not so much. But at the end of the day I managed to come clean with mine. I am not haunted by my past, or the things I have lost. And that is what shall make you wonder what kind of chance you stand against me. You try to put fear into people's lives. I get the idea and find it somewhat poetic, but what do you wanna scare me with? There is nothing you can take from me. And that is when a person becomes most dangerous. When there is nothing left to lose. I highly believe that after our encounter you will have a better understanding of who Elena DeDraca is. One can debate if your small mind can't accept it, but there will be an idea.”
When she now looked back to the fighters, she noticed a change in the mood. One of them was laying flat on the mat. Not moving. The other had returned to the corner, trying to see what was going on. His face was swollen, one eye fully closed. The official was kneeling next to the fallen fighter, obviously checking for vital signs. There was absolute silence in the crowd, although everyone seemed fully aware of what had happened. The referee stepped away from the body, making his way towards the man in the corner. He lifted his arm, declaring the winner.
Elena's eyes remained on the body. Not moving at all. Not the slightest hint of breathing. In her mind the words rest in peace, paying some respect. But she was rudely brought back to reality when the crowd jumped up, cheering. Life and death seemed so tightly knotted with each other.
“At the end of the day neither of this does matter, Havoc. You will enter that ring with whatever you believe in. You will have made a plan and although you know already that you will fail, you will stick to it. And that I do appreciate. Even though it is a dumb decision, you at least will come prepared. But at the same time you decide your own fate. Not me. Not management. Only yourself can be held responsible for the outcome. Don’t cry me a river if things don’t go your way. I promised Christian DeMarco to paint this company red. Fake Pixie was only the start of this. You could say, she was the sketch for what will become my masterpiece. And you, my friend, will give me the right shades of red. You might as well call me the next Castiglia or Nitsch. I will make you famous. For one night.”
She lazily lifted herself from the bench for the first time noticing how uncomfortable it truly was. Slightly stiff she walked outside of the factory, not being any more mindful of the man that had lost his life here tonight. He knew of the danger and was still willing to take it. The circle of life.
“One last note. Fuck you Rock Johnson. And fuck being in the opening match.”
Elena smiled wide.
“You’re welcome.”
