Ace Marshall vs. Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: And here is roleplay 3. In terms of time-reference, they are all done in reference to the time of the first scene of roleplay 1. Enjoy and best of luck, Doug!

Project: Black Ice

”Broke Even…”

6 hours ago
Rebecca’s Log Cabin Home
20 km from Pilgrim Springs
3:49am

The figure sat in the rocking chair, the moonlight bouncing off the metal of the gun it held – Selena’s gun – pointed right at the Snow Queen. She opened her mouth to scream, but as her voice tried to find purchase in her throat, the figure lifted up the gun ever so slightly, an indication of what would happen if a sound came from Selena’s lips. With a force she didn’t know she possessed, the pale woman swallowed the scream, keeping it from creation.

Her eyes took in the figure as her heart raced. It wore a blackshirt, black pants – all like a biker – but on its head did not see a human head, at least to her eyes, but rather a pitch-black human skull. It reminded Selena of a mask or some kind of helmet… and it was beyond terrifying.

“Wake up your wife.” The creature quietly demanded, its voice distorted low and somewhat robotic. “If she screams. She dies.”

Selena’s entire body went rigid at the command and clear threat. Slowly, turning her head, she gently placed her hands on either side of Deanna’s face, the redhead lying on her back. 

“Deanna.” Whispered the frightened Snow Queen, shaking her wife. “I need you to wake up.” She tried to remain calm, but there was no chance of fully removing the shaking of her voice. Slowly, Deanna groaned, her emerald eyes fluttering open.

“Can’t I have five more min-“
“Deanna.” Selena pressed, keeping Deanna’s face between her hands and preventing the redhead from looking around, causing the younger Frost’s eyes to go wide. “I need you to listen to me, okay?”

“Okay- what is-“ Selena felt Deanna’s head try and turn, the muscle pushing the head against her left hand.
“No.” she ordered in a whisper. “Look at me. Look right at me, okay?”
“What is it?” Deanna asked, her voice rising a little in alarm.
“I need you to keep completely calm and not scream, okay?”
“Not scream- why-“
“Deanna.” Selena tried, her voice pleading. “Please, I beg you. Do. Not. Scream.”

Slowly, confusion laced within her green orbs, Deanna nodded her head, causing a long sigh to escape Selena.

“When you turn your head.” Selena warned. “You will see someone sitting in the chair with a gun pointed at us-“
“Wha-“ Deanna tried, only for a pale hand to shoot out and cover her mouth.
“Do not scream!” Selena hissed in a whisper. “You have to keep calm or you’ll be shot. Don’t speak, okay?!”

Slowly, clearly fully awake now, Deanna nodded her head. With deliberately slow movements, Selena brought her wife up to a sitting position, the redhead refusing to look towards the creature in the chair. With her eyes close, the redhead took a deep breath before turning her head at a snail’s pace to the right, allowing herself to see what Selena had warned her about.

“Very good.” Came the low voice. “You can still follow instructions rather well.”

Neither woman said a word as they sat on the bed, Selena subtly inching Deanna behind her as she shifted a little on the bed.

“Please…” Selena slowly spoke, keeping her voice to a whisper. “Don’t hurt Deanna or Rebecca… whatever you’re here for – I can get you much more…”

“I’m sure you can.” The skulled creature mocked. “After all, you are the reason I came here in the first place.” 
Selena inhaled a shuddering breath. 
“Don’t worry about the owner.” Continued the creature. “She will be out for some time. Her camisole tea was a bit… stronger… this particular time. I doubt even a gunshot will wake her up. I don’t suggest you make me test it.”

“No.” Selena whispered, holding a hand up, quickly sliding further to the side of the bed and in front of Deanna. “No…” she tried, more calmly. “You said you came here for me… why? How did you know I was here?”

A laugh – dark and ominous – came from the distorted voice of the skull. “Because I am the reason YOU came here in the first place, Selena Frost.”

Sapphire eyes widened in the dark, realization breaking through her consciousness. “K…Killjoy…”

“Killjoy?” the creature asked, tilting its ‘head’ this way and that, as if trying the word on for size – as if it was letting the word roll around in its skull. “I like it.”

“You’re him.” Selena pointed a shaky finger. “The one that called me the day Deanna was released…”

“Become World Champion...” echoed the voice, sending shivers to race up and down Selena’s spine without mercy. “Go and headline Rise to Greatness… Go and move back to your ‘forever house’… Have genuine happiness with Deanna… Then…” Killjoy pointed the gun straight at Selena.

“You’ll be there to take it all away.” Selena recalled, feeling her heart drop. “So…now?”

A moment of silence passed between the three, Selena feeling her wife’s hands clutching the back of the platinum-blonde’s shirt. 

“No.” Killjoy replied. “Not yet.”
“So, why the gun?” Deanna cried out in a whisper.
“Because we all know what Selena would have done if I had was unarmed.”

Though the creature had no ‘eyes’, Selena felt that it was narrowing its gaze at her. And it was right. If not for that gun, holding the Frost women hostage, Selena would have leapt across the room and planted onto Killjoy, like jumping off a turnbuckle or springing off one of the ring ropes.

“So…you just want to talk?” she tried, her feet planted firmly on the floor.
“In a matter of speaking.” Killjoy replied, the gun still pointed at the Frost wives. “Despite my threats, you achieved what you knew was what I wanted. Consider this your… ‘reward’.”

“Held at gunpoint is my reward for defying your threats?” Selena could almost laugh at that nonsense, were it not for the situation she and Deanna were in.

“For following my instructions.” Corrected Killjoy. “You became World Champion, will soon headline Rise to Greatness, and moved back into your ‘forever home’.” It almost sounded like a laugh coming from the skulled intruder. “That tells me you either refused to be intimidated by me… or you weren’t taking me seriously. So… here I am – which solves a few purposes along with those two.”

The three sat in silence, the only sound in the room the creaking sound of the rocking chair that Killjoy sat on.

“You… how did you crash our car?” Deanna asked from behind Selena. 
“Your wife’s credit card isn’t too hard to track.” Came Killjoy. “And with there being only one road to Pilgrim Springs, it was not hard to determine your route. From there, a simple spike strip at the right place that would force you to come here.”

“Why?” Selena asked. “If your whole plan was to get us here – what for?”

For a moment, Killjoy tilted its head at the Snow Queen. “It never struck you, Selena? The similarities between you and Rebecca? How alone she is… how alone you were?”

Selena’s eyes widened a little, but she did all she could to remain quiet.

“I wanted you to be reminded of what could have been for you. What could have very easily been your fate…”
“Okay… so you did.” Selena admitted. “Am I supposed to feel sorry that it didn’t?”
“Do you deny how unfair it is that you were spared while others have suffered?”

“How is that reasonable? You want to blame the suffering of the world on me?”

“No.” Killjoy replied, shaking his head. “Merely the suffering of one.”
“You?” Selena asked gesturing towards Killjoy. “What did I do to you? Have we met? Are you related to Scythe? Or the Frostmeres?”

“Trust me when I say…” glowered Killjoy darkly. “Malcolm Scythe will pay – and suffer – as you shall.”

The remark caught Selena off-guard. Even distorted in voice, Selena could still hear – hell, she could feel – the rage and hatred this being had for the Nome mayor… it was so close to her own when it had been raw and hurt during her way with Malcolm.

“Then who?” Selena asked. “Why can’t you tell me? How do I know you?”
“You don’t know me.” Killjoy grunted. “I am merely a shadow. Your shadow.”
“My shadow?” Selena asked. “What does that mean?”

“It means I know you better than you know yourself.” Mocked the skull. “I know your fears, I know your weaknesses. I know you better than you know yourself.” It quieted for a moment before adding one last declaration. “I know your destiny.”

“And what is my destiny?” Selena started to ask, but her voice hitched a little as she felt Deanna’s finger press against her back. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, the finger began tracing along Selena’s shoulders and back… forming something… a number.

5…

“As I have told you.” Killjoy replied. “I will wait for you to achieve your greatest happiness… and then I will take it away… as I took your wife away and locked her up in Frankfurt.”

“You bastard…” hissed the Snow Queen. “You have no right.”
“I HAVE EVERY RIGHT!” came the hiss of a roar that echoed in the small room. “I could have your wife locked back in Frankfurt, your children shipped off to Anchorage, and you locked away in a cave and I’d have EVERY RIGHT to do it!”

“And for what?” Selena asked, as she felt Deanna’s fingers move. 4. “You want my house? My money? My job in SCW? What is it about me you want?”

“Everything!” for the third time, Selena heard a glint of rage come from the black skull. “Everything you have will belong to me – it will be returned BACK to me.”

“You say that but nothing I have in my life was gained from stealing from another person.” Selena replied. “My father’s mine. My job. My wife. My children.” 3. “I earned it…”

“You were given it. And deserve NONE of it!” Retorted Killjoy.
“No.” Selena shook her head. “I earned my father’s love and respect to become his heir. I earned my job by believing in it and continuing to fight. And I earned my wife-“ she felt the hand press against her back, where her heart was for a moment, giving her strength. 2. “I earned her love and the love of my children. You just want all of that handed to you because you’re jealous or something…” she tilted her head, giving it a slow shake back and forth. “None of that is yours.”

“And none of it SHOULD be yours!” countered Killjoy coldly. “You had a choice! You had a choice to change your life. I didn’t. I NEVER asked for any of this. I am only this way because of you.” 1. “And in time, I will make this right. I will move the earth. At las-!” 0.

Killjoy was unable to finish its sentence as everything seemed to slow in slow motion for the Snow Queen. As Deanna’s hand traced the final number, it raced to Selena’s side, pushing her away just enough for Deanna to act – launching the snowglobe she had snatched off the nightstand while Killjoy had been arguing with Selena – a beeline throw at Killjoy’s head!

If it hit.

Reacting faster than either Frost woman thought possible, the skulled being raised his hand up and fired a shot, the bullet intercepting the projectile in the air, causing it to burst into pieces. But if Killjoy was fast in movement… so was Selena.

In the split second between the gun being pointed away from her and Deanna in order to intercept the snowglobe, Selena was off the bed and across the room grabbing the gun-hand as she tacked Killjoy out of the chair. The creature let out a gasp of shock and Selena could hear the gun clattering out of its hand. Desperately, she tried to keep Killjoy pinned, her eyes scanning frantically for her gun. “Deanna! Find the gun!” she called out before turning her attention to Killjoy. Raising an arm, she slammed her fist into the skull head, hearing the “pang” before her hand registered the slight pain of punching a helmet/protective gear.

Seemingly unfazed from the blow, Killjoy was suddenly shifting and moving its legs, spinning and rolling itself out of Selena’s pin and flipping her onto the ground and away. Lifting its head, the creature spied Deanna on the floor, looking for the gun. But as it took a few steps to intercept the redhead, throwing a kick towards her, Killjoy felt it blocked by pale arms as Selena appeared beside it. Faster than a blink, she spun on the spot to connect with a spinning side-kick that sent Killjoy tumbling to the door, where the skulled fighter crashed against the wall, sending several pictures to ground as they were knocked from their perch. Immediately, Selena was there, grabbing the being by the collar of its leather jacket.

“You’re not taking anything from me.” Selena barked. “Not now or ever!”
“You underestimate me.” Laughed Killjoy. “Just because you managed a few lousy kicks-“

Grabbing the Snow Queen by the shoulders, Killjoy tossed the light woman down the hall towards the front door. Taking a few steps towards her, Killjoy flexed its arms, almost taunting her. “Let me show you how it’s done!” he challenged.

With a yell of anger, Selena was back on her feet, throwing punched and kicks at the bastard that had threatened her and her wife – who was responsible for Deanna’s incarceration and who had stolen two years of their lives!

Killjoy blocked every blow with an ease that stunned the platinum-blonde, swatting each leg and punch with a perfectly times hand or leg counter! When Selena spun with a back fist, she was suddenly grabbed and thrown against the wall, hearing items from the shelves dropping on her, forcing her to cover herself as she felt them fall. 

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

Selena pushed herself against the wall, reaching up for a shelf to pull herself back to her feet. What the hell was with this guy? She had never felt so powerless fighting another person since Xander Valentine almost a year ago. Springing off the wall, Selena tried for a bicycle kick, but met nothing but air as Killjoy spun out of the way, lifting an arm to grab Selena from the back of her shirt and slam her down to the floor with a harsh thud, driving the air out of her lungs.

“I want so badly to kill you!” echoed Killjoy. “And I will… but you need to suffer more! See your world fall apart and be driven to the-“

BANG!

The gunshot rang through the air and Killjoy was suddenly off Selena yelling in distorted voice and pain as he clutched the shoulder. Looking to the side, Selena saw Deanna standing there, the platinum-blonde’s handgun smoking and pointed right at Killjoy. And she wasn’t alone.

“I don’t recall inviting your ugly ass into my house!” shouted Rebecca, a damn shotgun in her hands and pointed right at Killjoy, who had struggled to its feet. Selena forgotten, Killjoy’s head jerked between the two standing women and the weapons in their hands. For a moment, the creature stood still, as if trying to analyze the situation in-between the blinding pain its shoulder was probably feeling. With a bitter yell, he sprung back, leaping out of the front door he left open in his initial entrance, dashing outside. 

Immediately, Deanna was down by Selena’s side, checking her with her free hand. “Are you alright?” she asked in worry, her free hand running across Selena’s cheek.

“Yes.” Selena groaned a little, pulling herself to her feet and rushing out the door after Killjoy. Reaching the porch, she was there in time to see the skulled-being start up a black motorcycle and speed off down the hill, leaving the house and women behind – out of sight mere seconds later as it rejoined the main road. Clenching her jaw, Selena whispered a quiet curse under her breath.

“Is he gone?” came the voice from inside, Deanna turning her head to the woman that had not moved from where she had stood and aimed the shotgun. 
“Yes.” Deanna nodded, reaching up to gently guide Rebecca’s shotgun down. “I’m so sorry, Rebecca. That thing just appeared-“

“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more except point where you guided my gun.” The older woman sighed. “Still can’t see much.”
“Right.” Deanna exclaimed, moving around the room until she found a light switch, flicking it on to illuminate the room as Selena quietly walked back inside.

It was only when she had done so that the Snow Queen was able to see the distraction that Killjoy’s appearance had created. Around the small entrance room/family room, several object, from picture frames that use to hang on the walls, to odds and ends like small capsules, books and pens were strew across the floor, any contents held were now emptied across the way, adding to the mess of the small room.

“Must have been one of them lush scumbags from Pilgrim Springs.” Rebecca observed off-handed. “Fellows get drunk, stumble drive their way over here to play a prank on the ‘crazy lady in the log cabin’.” 

A tired sigh escaped her as the older woman knelt down, placing her shotgun on the floor to begin gathering the fallen/discarded objects, some still in one piece while others were in pieces. Immediately, Deanna was joining her, offering her help and continued apologies. Casting one last glance back out the open door and down the dirt road she could see, Selena quietly turned back inside, moving to the corner of the room where Killjoy had tossed her into the wall to gather up the items that had fallen off the shelves. 

Together, the women had the room, more or less, cleared up in little time. As Deanna had watched Rebecca, ensuring the woman was alright from the cleaning, Selena had moved around the rooms and into the hall just outside the room she and Deanna had stayed in, where she had shoved Killjoy up against thanks to Deanna’s distraction. Slowly, quietly, Selena’s hand reached up to press into the wooden wall, the only sign that anything had occurred, were the knocked down pictures on the floor. Carefully, the platinum-blonde gathered them up one at a time and adjusted them back onto the nails that jutted out of the wall, acting as hangers. 

“We’ll happily cover any damages.” She called out down the hall before hearing a series of small footsteps pattering closer towards her until Rebecca stood at one side. “What was that, dear?” she asked.

“Oh-“ Selena turned her head, giving the woman a genuine smile. “I said that Deanna and I will happily cover any thing you need fixed or repaired-“ she held up one of the pictures she held, a slight crack in the glass of the frame. “It’s the least we can-“ her voice escaped her as she turned her head, her eyes taking in the photo she had just shown to Rebecca.

It was an older photo, if the youthfulness in Rebecca’s face was any indication. In it, she was standing just outside the log-cabin home, wearing a simple white gown with red flowers decorating it. She was beautiful – Selena mentally noticed – her features softened by youth where they were ‘refined’ in the present. But it wasn’t the sight of Rebecca in her younger years that had driven the breath out of Selena’s voice.

It was the man beside her.

“Oh…” Rebecca had taken a few steps to observe the photo before sighing, a sad hand reaching up to caress the glass with her fingertips. “That’s my ex-husband.”

“Deanna…” Selena called out, quickly hearing the sound of footsteps once more as Deanna rushed towards the pair of women, the three of them rather crammed in the narrow hallway. Slowly, Selena turned the photo over to Deanna, letting the redhead take it into her hands and see her eyes widen in shock as she, too, recognized the man in the photo.

“I know why Killjoy send us here.” Selena whispered. “I know what he wanted us to see.”

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

Present Time
Nome, Alaska
July 20th, 2021
9:51am

”You’ve been hiding something for years. And now it’s trying to kill us.”

Deanna sat in the chair, her weary eyes locked on the mayor of Nome as he gazed down at the photo Deanna had slid across his desk, Selena standing right behind her, body tense and simply waiting for any reason to launch across the room as she had last night at Killjoy.

Lifting the small picture frame up, Malcolm examined it, his eyes widening only minutely, though both Frost women saw it.

“How did you get this?” He asked, holding up the photo up with his hand.

“That’s your question?” Selena laughed. “Well, how about this? Our ‘stalker friend’, whom we’ve decided to call ‘Killjoy’, got us to crash our car so that we’d have to walk for an entire day until we got to the only house nearby, a nice little log cabin just some miles away from Pilgrim Springs – oh but wait! It gets better!” the Snow Queen laughs bitterly. “Turns out Killjoy did this so that he could show up in the middle of the night with a gun pointed at us-“

“You saw him?” Malcolm asked. “He actually made himself known.” Was that amusement in his voice? Was he finding this funny?!

“Oh yes…” growled Selena. “And after a merry little scuffle through the house – imagine my surprise to see a photo of Rebecca and you, the mayor of Nome… and wait, this gets better – she says you are her ex-husband!”

Selena’s expressions, animated as they were, did little to hide the seething anger she held towards the old man standing before her.

“Malcolm.” Deanna’s voice came in, calm as misty rainfall. “We warned you that Killjoy would be after you as well. Last night, he said that you would pay as dearly as Selena would. Whoever he is, you are clearly in as much danger as we are. It wasn’t a coincidence we ended up at that cabin. Killjoy wanted us there. So… are you going to help us? Or are you going to wait till he comes after you?”

Slowly, Malcolm turned a withered look from the Frost wives to the photo on his desk, and, for a moment, he appeared to be somewhere else in his mind. As if he was living through some memory – like Selena had with all her ‘what-if’ fears… Deanna thought. It lasted only for a few moments before Malcolm blinked, his dark eyes going from hazy to clear in that millisecond.

“There isn’t much to tell.” Malcolm replied. “Rebecca was my wife. We were married for twenty years and then… one day… we weren’t.”

“And how is that related to Killjoy?” Selena asked, her arms crossed across her chest.
“I have no idea.” Malcolm shook his head. “Rebecca was…” he sighed.

“Why was Rebecca exiled?” Deanna asked. “She said she wasn’t welcome in the town. That she only came here once every week or two for necessities.”

“Our divorce… was a messy affair.” Malcolm replied. “There were rumors of an affair.”
“Of her?!” Deanna choked, disbelief etched in her voice.
“Oh, I doubt that.” Huffed Selena. “Not like she can see very well in the dark – you’re the one that loves to operate there, right, Malcolm?”

For a moment, the mayor glared daggers into the eyes of the Snow Queen, a tired but no less sharp glare greeting him in return. 

“I had a choice to make.” Malcolm explained. “In my youthful naivety, I had confided many political secrets to my wife. To protect my position, I struck a deal with her. She would never have to worry about money or supporting herself provided she stayed away from Nome.”

“Cause that’s what people like you do, right?” Selena balked. “You either buy them off or make sure they disappear. That’s probably what Rebecca realized. She could either be alive or dead.”

Malcolm didn’t bother to deny the wrestler’s words. What was the point? He had spent years doing that to the Frost family until they had bested them. And it wasn’t like he was in front of a camera or anything. Instead, he merely shrugged his shoulders before sitting back in his large, black chair.

“You know… I always knew you were a bastard.” Selena started. “But the fact that you could do that to your wife…” Instinctively, a defensive hand rested on Deanna’s shoulders.

“Be married for twenty years.” Malcolm countered. “Then feel free to give me notes.”

“Malcolm – why are you still refusing to help?” Deanna asked, her voice holding a note of disbelief. “You know what Killjoy is capable of! And know you know that you’re on his list! Why can’t you work with us? Elsianna, David, Amiliah, Gavin, Ryan, Talia – Killjoy will go for them just as he went for me to get to you and Selena!”

“I don’t consider your third-born any concern of mine.” Malcolm replied dismissively. “She is the bastard child of you and a German criminal.”

It was Deanna’s turn to feel a stab of rage over the mayor’s cruel assessment of her beloved ‘fireball’. Her jaw clenched, her hands tightened around the table – and she felt the hand on her shoulder squeeze it gently, trying to support and calm her.

“Your opinion on our children is moot.” Selena stated firmly. “Our assessment of this situation is not. Killjoy will come for you and your family just like he has come for ours. You can either wait for him to act and watch your world burn, or you can help us.”

The mayor stayed in his chair, fingers drumming together in a pyramid shape. His only response, after a moment was a smile and a raise of eyebrows.

“Fine.” Selena huffed. “But now – whatever happens to your family… it’s on you.” She turned on the balls of her foot. “Come on, Deanna.” She advised, taking a few steps towards the door. She did not see Deanna start to get up before casting her eyes back at Malcolm, who’s gaze had shifted to her.

“Just one last thing, Malcolm.” Deanna started, getting to her full height. “Are Gavin and Ryan your only sons?” hearing her voice, Selena slowly turned around, her eyes on the two beyond her.

“Yes.” Malcolm answered. “I believe Selena knows that.”
“Uh-huh. And I assume Ryan is still bitter at Selena because the only child he had was with her? What about Gavin?”
“Where are you going with this?” Malcolm asked, clearly not in the mood for theatrics.

“Just something that came to me just now…” Deanna replied, reaching out to take the photo of Malcolm and Rebecca off the table. “If Elsianna and David are your only grandchildren… why would Rebecca say she had a room that belonged to her ‘granddaughter’?”

The question seemed to surprise the mayor, his head tilting to the side.

“Does she know about Elsianna or David?” Deanna asked. 
“Not that I know of. She certainly never met them.” Answered Malcolm.
“So, why would she have a room that was her ‘granddaughter’s’?” Deanna repeated.

“I…” it was Malcolm’s turn to shrug his shoulders. “I have no idea. Exile can do terrible things to a person – warp the mind, twist the notions of reality.” He cast a glance beyond Deanna. “You can relate, I am sure, Selena. Or do you still carry around a cooler filled with snow?”

The Snow Queen’s whole body stiffened before Deanna’s eyes, but Selena, otherwise, gave no reaction Malcolm’s jab. However, despite this, Deanna could see the wound in her wife, beneath the skin.

“You…” slowly, the wrestler found her voice. “You did a good job with my step-mother and Paracelsus.” She admitted. “You fragmented and almost shattered me. I did what I had to to stay alive – stay as sane as I could.”

“I’m sure Rebecca is the same way.” Stated Malcolm with a shrug. “As I said, exile can be a horrid prison.” His eyes returned to Deanna. “But you have impressed me, Ms. Springs.”
“Frost.” Deanna’s eyes narrowed. “My name is Deanna Frost.”

“Of course it is.” Malcolm rolled his eyes. “Far be it for me to have any kind of religious values in this world.” He muttered back, pushing himself out of his chair and moving to get himself another cup of coffee. “Answer me one last thing.” He ordered, stirring the cream and sugar into his own cup. “Aside from ‘promising my ultimate destruction’…” He laughed a little at that. “Was there anything else this ‘Killjoy’ said?”

“Nothing you haven’t heard from me.” Selena replied simply. “He wants what I have. He wants me dead and he wants you dead.”
“Nothing else?” Malcolm asked with a shrug, seemingly unfazed from Selena’s words.
“Nothing.”

“No… that isn’t true.” Deanna replied, her eyes changing from Selena to looking at Malcolm. “Killjoy said-“

I am merely a shadow. Your shadow.

“He said that he was Selena’s shadow.”

Everything you have will belong to me – it will be returned BACK to me.

“That everything Selena’s has will be returned ‘back’ to him.”

“And in time, I will make this right. I will move the earth. At las-!”

“And he said that he would make this right – that he would move the earth at last.”

“What?” the question came from Malcolm, but his expression had morphed – transformed into one of genuine shock. “What did you just say?”

Deanna blinked only for a moment before repeating herself. “In time, he would make this right. That he would move the earth at last.”

Dark eyes narrowed at Deanna, making the redhead feel scrutinized. “Are you certain?”
“Well, yes…” Deanna nodded her head. “He didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence because I threw a snowglobe at him to distract him.”

Without a word, Malcolm was out of his seat, moving towards a section of the room.

“What is it?” Selena asked, taking a steps to follow him, when-

“DO NOT MOVE!” Malcolm’s voice yelled, shocking the Frost wives into complying. “One step and I WILL have you arrested and damn your logical plans!” Gone was the calm, collected, strategic man that they had seen time and time again. This man was madly flipping open a painting of himself on the wall to reveal a vault, where he entered a code that neither woman could see. That accomplished, he opened the safe and pulled out a stack of papers, flipping through them quickly.

“No…No…No…” he muttered under his breath until he stopped, his eyes scanning and taking in the page that neither woman could see. “No…” he whispered. “It’s not possible.”

Slamming the folder shut, he tossed the papers back into the safe, slamming the large metal door and covering it with the portrait.

“What is it?” Deanna asked. “What was it I said that-“
“Nothing.” Malcolm chomped back. “Get out.”

“Oh bullcrap it was nothing!” Selena barked, marching back to where Malcolm stood. “What was it about ‘moving the earth’?”

The mayor turned his head to regard the two women, specifically Selena. “Selena…” he took in a long breath. “Go home. Leave this to me.”
“You’re going to help us?”
“No.” Malcolm replied. “I am going to help myself. If you happen to benefit from that, then so be it.”
“I can’t just walk away from this-“
“You can and you will!” Malcolm declared. “Go home, forget him. Forget all that’s happened.”
“I-“
“Selena!” ordered Malcolm. “If you desire to die, then please, continue on your way. If you want this to be over, do as I say.”

“Why?” Selena asked, leering at the mayor. “Why are you suddenly helping us? Why are you suddenly trying to save us? What is it you know?!”

Again, Malcolm took a deep breath. “More than you want to know.” He simply said. “And it’s better that you never know. And if you see Killjoy again… don’t hesitate. Kill him.” Slowly, the Scythe head of the family returned to his desk. “I’ll give you a minute before I call security to escort you out.”

There was a dead calm in his voice that unnerved Deanna. Quickly, she was on her feet. “Come on, Selena.”
“But-“
“It’s useless if we get arrested.” Deanna declared. “SCW – Ace and Lexy – they’d have a field day…”

It was the only thing Deanna could think of to get through to the Snow Queen, but it was enough, as Selena turned to march out of the room. Within minutes, the two were back down on the streets of Nome, both pairs of eyes settling on the blue pickup truck and the thick-rimmed glassed that saw them over top the large paper bag filled with groceries she held.

“He still a big pain?” Rebecca asked with a smile.
“You married him.” Selena stated with a sigh.
“We all make mistakes, right?” the older woman laughed as she put the bag of groceries in the passenger seat. “So… can I take you girls anywhere else? The old clunker-“ she smacked the hood of her truck with her hand. “Can still go if you don’t mind hoping in the back of the bed again.”

Turning her head towards Selena, a knowing smile and a raised eyebrow was Deanna’s expression.

“Really?!” Selena shook her head at the expression of her wife. “You’re gonna let your mind go there?”
“What?” Deanna shrugged her shoulders. “It’s good that we have experience in ‘hopping in bed’.”

With a dismissive shake of her head, Selena moved towards the back, leaping into the bed of the pickup truck with ease, while Deanna approached Rebecca.

“Could you just get us to the City Field Airport?” Deanna asked. “We can get where we need from there.”
“Of course!” laughed Rebecca. “Hope in the back and just knock on the window when you’re ready to go!”

Deanna gave nod, turning to go before stopping herself. “Uh…Rebecca…can I ask you a silly question?”

The old woman turned to smile at Deanna. “No such thing as a silly question. There’s silly answers, but no silly questions.”
“The room we stayed in – you said it was your granddaughter. Where is she now?”
“Oh.” Rebecca nodded. “She disappeared about seven or so years ago. I looked for her best I could but the police didn’t seem to care and…well… you know, Malcolm.”

“I do…” Deanna nodded his head.
“Bastard kept thinking I didn’t have a granddaughter.” Rebecca sighed. “Guess that’s how politicians work to keep their ‘reputation’. Lie even when the truth is right in front of you.” 

Her eyes flitted over to Selena, who sat against one of the corners of the back of the pickup-truck. “Your wife reminds me a little bit like her. Spunky and tough.”

“Yeah…” Deanna regarded her wife with a smile. “I don’t know what I do without her.”

With one last smile and nod to one another, Deanna scampered to the back, joining Selena in the corner where the Snow Queen rested. Crawling into Selena’s waiting arms, Deanna snuggled close, her back to Selena’s chest as the Snow Queen knocked on the back window of the truck, the vehicle soon starting and sputtering across the roads of Nome. 

Comfortable in her wife’s embrace, Deanna’s mind returned to Malcolm’s last words. She knew, just as she knew Selena knew, that the problem of Killjoy was not something that was going to be swept under the rug so easy. She had heard the desperation, the hate, the rage in Killjoy’s voice last night. She had felt the terror grip her, just as she knew it had gripped Selena.

And if you see Killjoy again… don’t hesitate. Kill him.

Feeling her wife’s warmth wrapped around her as the two bounced a little as the truck drove, Deanna wondered if that was something that she or Selena could do. Could either of them kill? Could either of them take that step…

She didn’t want to think about that. She didn’t want to see her beloved wife take that path… Two years in Frankfurt and she had seen where even one kill could change someone forever…

Trying to distract herself, the redhead dug out her notepad, flipping it open to the current page she was on.

“Okay…where was I?” she thought aloud, scanning her drawings and words – a mess of imagery both verbal and symbolic. “Fireworks, ropes… flashes…Selena, what about-“

As she turned her head, she saw her wife had fallen asleep, the Snow Queen’s head resting against the back frame of the truck. With a soft smile, Deanna turned back to her drawings, keeping close to her beloved.

Angel wings…no… ice castle – too Elsa… Come on, Deanna – you can throw a damn snowglobe in the head of the moment at a gun-touting psychopath but you can’t come up with a… her brain stopped as the idea hit her, the redhead flipping to a new page to write one word at the top, underlining it for emphasis.

Snowglobe…

It was the first idea that didn’t sound so bad…

_____________________________________

The camera opens up to the interior of the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles, California… the home for this year’s RISE TO GREATNESS!

There can be no doubt about that as the first thing the camera picks up is the glowing graphic that hangs high above, glowing like a star in the sky, a remainder to, not only the fans, but the wrestlers that will be in this ring – reminding them where they are and what they are fighting for. But for now? The arena is empty save for ramp, the screens, the graphic, the ring… and a lone woman standing in the middle of the ring. 

The shot changes to one closer to the ring, where the audience can see inside, stands the SCW World Champion, herself, Selena Frost. She is looking up at the ceiling, the lights of blue and white shining down on her, some reflecting off the world title that hangs on her shoulder over her leather jacket and maroon t-shirt. Along with her black pants and runners, she stands out amongst the white of the ring canvas.

Slowly, the Snow Queen takes a deep inhale and exhale of breath. It’s… amazing… There is a shake in her voice, almost a humbling sound at the majesty that surrounds the girl from Nome.

To be here… in this ring. To know that the day has come. To understand what’s waiting for me when the show starts. The final match – the main-event – everything is on the line. The stakes beyond high. The world title… my wife, my sister, my children… here to watch me… Biting her lower lip, Selena reaches up to wipe the back of her free hand against her eyes, the smile clear on her face.

Eight years, I’ve dreamed of this moment. This chance. The chance that not many people can get. And even if it’s for one night… I’m part of that history – I’ll be part of something beyond special… her eyes move to the Rise to Greatness graphic hanging high before her gaze slowly hardens, her head lowering to turn back to the camera.

But you see – as much as I think it’s special – no matter what I try. No matter what I say, I can’t seem to get my opponent to feel the same way. Because for the second time, rather than my opponent showing himself and making an effort… we had to deal with a nice little diatribe from the apparent ‘mouth of Ace Marshall’ in the form of Lexy Chapel…

Disappointed, the Snow Queen shakes her head. Should I be surprised at this point? Should I be offended? Pissed off? Slighted? Lot emotions I’m feeling, but I’m also having a bit of a laugh.

Because it’s funny, Lexy, it is! – you say that this match is supposed to be Selena Frost vs. Ace Marshall. That’s what it says on the card, that’s what these people are expecting. That’s what these people WANT and DESERVE!

So why are you trying to force your way into it? she gives a shrug of her shoulders.

Why do I have to deal with you every time I try and give these people what you keep ‘promising’ and failing to deliver? Because every week, without fail, I come to work, looking for Ace, and you show up. I get in the ring to talk about the match? You show up. I’m backstage, answering questions about Rise to Greatness, and you show up.

Amazing how you seem to have all this time in the world to watch me and jump on every thing I say… but Ace Marshall can’t spare five minutes to give these fans the attention they deserve? Ace Marshall has ALL this ‘respect’ for me, but he needs you to throw an insult to me like ‘Selena Frost is stupid’ rather than say it to my face? Selena tilts her head left and right a little, seemingly in thought.

And how do you try and explain that away, Lexy? You say Ace is SO busy training that he can’t cut a damn promo? Selena shakes her head before reaching into her pocket to reveal her phone, her fingers pushing a few spots on the screen. Funny, he’s got time to retweet Kandis ‘thirst traps’. He’s got time to mock a pregnant Rachael Foxx on Twitter… but no time for supposedly ‘the biggest match of his career’? 

No, Lexy. The reason why Ace won’t show his face is because the last time he tried the same shit he’s pulled every time he’s done so with me? I dropped him on his ass.

Ace Marshall is afraid of Selena Frost because, for four years, the only way Ace Marshall has been able to deal with Selena Frost is exactly what he’s doing now. He hides, he lets someone else do all the work for him, and then he tries to come in at the end with a sneak attack or to pick the bones. That the plan for now, Lexy? Is Ace gonna show up to get the last word in or are you gonna go for the trifecta just so he can piss me off? 

I doubt it. Ace’ll come in at the end because “a moment”, “a fraction of time” is ALL Ace Marshall can bring. Like the old saying goes, Lexy – and you probably haven’t learned it at this point because you spent most of your time in SCW chasing dancing bears – you got two options in this business. “Step up or step aside” and Ace is certainly the latter of the two options.

Keeping her eye on the camera, Selena slowly begins pacing the ring. You fail to realize that you’ve pitched Lexymania to a horse, Lexy, that can ran faster than anyone… but can only run one lap. And when that lap is over? When your horse starts to get tired? While everyone else is digging deep and finding that second wind, that limit-breaking drive to defy expectations? Your horse has already trotted off the race track.

I’ll give you an example or two. 2009, your client, Ace Marshall, was going up and down SCW, declaring that he was “the Uncrowned Tag Champion” with Calvin Greene because he lost a gauntlet tag title match to a little team called Karnivale. He cried and whined to anyone that would listen until he got a shot at the tag-titles on an episode of Breakdown a week or so later…

Selena shakes her head. Your boy had the chance to step up or step aside, Lexy, and that horse lost again. And you know what happened when Ace Marshall lost again? He threw a bigger tantrum and quit SCW. 

Fast forward to 2017, Ace Marshall loses the world championship when I pin him the Breakdown after Rise to Greatness, and then again when I pin him inside the Elimination Chamber with Alistaire Allocco becoming the champion. What happens? I continue on in SCW and continue to claw my way through divisions, tournaments, and rivalries, culminating in a still-going eight year career. 

Does your talent come back? Does he pull himself up from his losses? Does he actually live up to the hype and the faith that the SCW Universe placed on him after they elevated him to Male Wrestler of the Year twice over? No. He spends 2018 to 2020 as a glorified cheerleader for Cassidy Carter.

Lifting a hand, Selena lets it drop. That’s your ‘supposed’ ‘superior superstar’, Lexy. A guy that can go when it’s easy. A guy that goes when everything is handed to him on a silver platter, but when push comes to shove? When the going gets tough? He’s the first one out of the building. He’s the one that guys like Shawn Winters make fun when he ‘actually shows up to every show this year’ while the rest of us are doing it year after year. And yet you… you wonder why I question you when you say that he’s just away cause he’s ‘preparing’.

A dry laugh escapes the Snow Queen. Ace Marshall isn’t here talking to me cause Ace Marshall doesn’t want to talk to me. Ace Marshall isn’t putting in the time for this match like I am because THAT is Ace Marshall. I said it before and I’ll say it again, I know what I am in for. I know I’m not just fighting Ace Marshall… 

Ace Marshall is going to look for whatever cheap ploy and short cut that he can take to become World Champion. Whether that comes from you, or Autumn, or someone else you hire… I know I am in for the fight of my life here tonight. Because, like you said, he’s gonna look for any way to ‘hedge his bet’.  Because Ace Marshall is too afraid to take a risk. Too afraid to have a battle of words with me. Too afraid to have a clean match that this night deserves!

She shakes her head. That’s your ‘horse’, Lexy. And you can gussy up that horse! You can paint him with new colors! Shine his mane up really nice, give him a cool name and attach your name to it and promote it to the moon like he’s a damn unicorn – he’s still the same damn ass he’s always been.

And when that gas tank of his runs out, and I promise you, it will, you’re gonna watch as he does what Ace Marshall does better than anyone else. Ace Marshall gives up. On Rise to Greatness, on the world title… on you and ‘LexyMania’.

Pointing up, Selena gestures to one of the posters of superstars hanging from the wall, one of her challenger. Because that man – that Ace Marshall? He’s been to five Rise to Greatness pay-per-view since 2009. Only five. Know how many of those matches he’s won with his “damn good talent”? Selena holds up one finger.

Yeah, Ace Marshall can get to the main-event probably better than anyone in SCW right now but when it comes to meeting the expectations this night demands? Of going above and beyond the standard? That’s where he falters and where I shine like a damn diamond! Reaching up, Selena slams her hand against the world title. 

Because since my debut in 2013, I’ve been in SEVEN out of seven Rise to Greatness matches. And out of those seven? Three were considered high-enough calibreby management to be the second last match of the night. Out those seven at least four were considered “award worthy”.

Of those seven, I have won five! Selena holds her hand up, indicating the number spoken.

Because every time I have come here, to this place, to this night, I know what is at stake. And now, more so than ever, I know what is at stake here – and you, Lexy, you tried so hard to make me forget that, didn’t you?

You came out the first Breakdown I had as the new World Champion last month and you told me ‘let’s just focus on the match. Let’s think about nothing else’. You wanted me to see that you weren’t Holly Adams or your father or anything of the sort.

And it wasn’t because you were telling the truth, because, let’s face it, your ‘version’ of the truth, is nothing more than controlled PR to try and spin anything I say or do with the same old tired rhetoric of ‘sainthood and martyrdom’ that everyone else has used trying to define me.

The reason why you wanted me to focus on the present is because it takes away what I am fighting for.

The Snow Queen runs a hand through her medium-length platinum-blonde hair. Because how the hell did the “Disney ripoff” beat the supposed ‘standard-bearer’ Syren?
How the hell did the “Snow-Bitch” beat the unbeatable Cid Turner?
How the hell did Selena Frost get to the main-event of Rise to Greatness?

It was because I was fighting for the same thing that I’ve always believed in: I was fighting for everything that SCW is. The past, present and future. she moves her hand from left to right.

See, you wanted me to ignore the past and you wanted me to see you as nothing like Holly – to the point where you’re now backtracking and saying that ‘it doesn’t matter if I think you’re like Holly and Ace is like Cid’ or whatever.

Lexy… it does matter. And Ace knows it, too. Selena smiles knowingly.

Because from day one, since I made a choice that I was going to become world champion with my wife by my side, we have worked together for one purpose. To change the way the world title is seen in SCW.

Because champion after champion, person after person, fighter after fighter has said the same excuse over and over again. “I’m just doing what every other person is doing” to justify the con-jobs, the screwjobs, the ambushes, and every underhanded tactic that people have used to get and keep this world title in their possession. she stares down at the world championship in her hand.

What I wanted? Ace called it a myth. she shakes her head.

It wasn’t a myth, Ace. It was a goal. A dream. A dream that this could be decided by skill, by passion, by hard work and by supreme wrestling – what the words S-C-W stand for! A dream that I have pursued with all my heart, my soul, and my passion, putting everything on the line each and every night while you coast through. 

Because I have lived my career by that old slogan, Ace: “Step up or step aside”. And I was not ready to step aside, Ace. I was not ready to step aside just because things got tough for me:

Just because I got my head smashed with a monitor.
Just because my ribs were fractured.
Just because a crate was dropped on my foot.
Just because I was whipped with barbed wire. 
Just because I had a bad year.
Just because I lost.

And in eight years, after all of that? I’m still not tired, Ace. I’m still not giving up. I’m still stepping up. And in those eight years, I’ve fought against some of the absolute best. From Infamous to the Wonderland, from Xander to Vixen Cain, from Matt Auclair to Dawn Lohan. And over the years, there’s been a number of superstars that have been able to step up and beat me like you said, but not a single one has been able to keep up with me! She glares at the camera.

And then I get told that you’re different, Ace. Lexy tells me that you’re different this time – that SHE’S different from everyone else I’ve faced or dealt with! That this match is going to be something special – something different than me having to fight for the SCW world title to be represented properly.

Licking her lips, a sigh escapes Selena. But now here we are. And you, Ace? You hide while your manager talks.
You take the world tag-team titles, as soon as you won the world title, and passed them off to someone else.
You, Lexy, handed those titles over to someone else like Cid did to Asher with the world title. Like Infamous also did with Zero Fucks to Give.
And you, Lexy, are claiming the success of “Lexymania” as if you’re holding the titles... just like Holly.

The Snow Queen knowingly shakes her head slowly. You’re not different, Lexy. You and Ace are just part of the problem. You’re the problem that has infested the world title picture to the point that you call it ‘reality’. And it sickens me.

Because let’s say you’re right. Let’s say you do all that you say and Ace takes the world title from me. I’ve talked about the present, the past… what if Ace Marshall becomes the NEW World Champion?

What then, Ace? What then, Lexy?

For a moment, Selena appears genuinely curious in this question. 

Does Ace continue to hide whenever it’s time to do his job while Lexy talks for him? Does Lexy pretend she’s won the world title and get herself a ‘version of it’ to hold? Do you hire another superstar to save Ace when he can’t hold his own in the ring? Does every match you have as the world champion remain tainted and controversial while you try and find a way to run, hide, and spin it like you’re the greatest wrestler alive – all while proving nothing?

Another shake of the head. You’re not a realist, Ace. You’re just a lazy, desperate fool – just a part of the glaring problem that exists with the mindset regarding this championship! she holds the world title out towards the camera.

For so long, it’s been about how many ‘friends can help you’ and how many ‘rules can you break’ to get this title – to keep this title. And I’m done seeing the place I love, the business I love be represented by someone like that. I am done being told to ‘aspire’ to that level of unprofessional, desperate, cheapskates just because one of you holds this title! I am done being ashamed of what this title has been made to represent! Because I’ve finally been able to pull it out of that mud. Finally begun to undo some of that damage and give this belt the right to have the letters S-C-W etched into it. And there is no way in hell that I am going to let the world title fall back into your ‘standard’, Ace.

Taking a deep breath, Selena turns her attention back to the camera. LexyMania isn’t going to make history tonight, Lexy. LexyMania is going to go the way of Monarchy, of A/C Blondtourage Unit, of Blood Grove, of the Wonderland. A flash in the pan that got knocked down by the REAL standard of SCW. And as for you, Ace?

The Snow Queen slowly shakes her head. You’re not going to be World Champion, Ace. You’re going to be a footnote. You are going to be the answer to a trivia question! “Who did Selena Frost beat at the Rise to Greatness main event to retain the world championship in 2021?”.

Carefully, Selena moves the world title back onto her shoulder. So thank you, Ace. Thank you, Lexy. Thank you for reminding me just how much more I need to fight for my and my Deanna’s dream. Thank you for showing me that my work is far from done. That my work doesn’t end at Rise to Greatness tonight. Thank you for showing me how this night isn’t going to be the end of me as the World Champion. No, it’s going to be the beginning. 

The beginning of a better standard for this title.
The beginning of a better standard for SCW.
The beginning of a better Selena Frost than EVER before.
And the beginning of an SCW… that every single person can be proud of… and truly believe in.

With pride, Selena holds the world title over her head. Believe it! And welcome to my standard of S-C-W!

The camera fades on that image – a confident World Champion on the cusp of changing the world of SCW as we know it….