Adam Allocco vs. Selena Frost

[SnowQueenSCW]

OOC: Final part of this weekend. Takes place after all other Selena/Deanna roleplays. Again, thank you everyone that’s been so encouraging and supportive throughout all of this!

Malcolm Scythe’s Home
Nome, Alaska
November 19th, 2021
1:23am

Once more, sleep evaded Malcolm Scythe, which was why he was sitting in his living room, using his phone to play videos on his big-screen television. There was a few empty, plastic water bottles on the table beside the couch, as he didn’t want to keep getting up to get a drink, though he was sure he would need to go to the bathroom if he kept drinking water. 

Sleep came at odd times for the mayor – scratch that, former mayor of Nome. He had, some time ago, stepped down from that position, with his son, Ryan, vying for the seat. The idea of Ryan….

Adjusting his black sleep trunks and gray t-shirt, the old man gave a sigh. He really regretted how he had shaped Ryan’s path. The boy, his eldest, was really a product of Malcolm’s own mind – the opportunistic politician warping the boy into his ‘successor’. Still, Ryan was raw, unpolished, far more destructive in his methods than his father, who favoured finesse and style over brute strength and manhandling and whatnot.

Did he love his sons? Yes. He could admit that to himself now, but he did not feel pride with Ryan as he did with Gavin’s good nature… or with Selena and her children – his grandchildren.

For a moment, the old man’s mind jumped back to that pleasant memory five days ago, when he, his son sons, and his daughter-in-law Talia had met with the entire Frost family, including the VanHohenheims (Malcolm’s jaw still stung a little from that punch Jonathan had clocked him with the second the two had reunited – though the old man now smiled at that memory) and the Blacks. They had spent the whole day at the Serpentine Springs, and he had – there was no denying – a marvelous time with his extended family, including his grandchildren, Elsianna and David. Even little Amiliah, though he felt no connection to as he did to the other two, was sweet and kind for a child of her age. 

Despite himself, Malcolm changed his streaming screen over to YouTube – perhaps watching a few more videos would make him sleepy. Immediately, under the recommendations, he spied the screen-capture of Selena and of a rugged, bearded man that was in need of a shave more than he was. No word of a lie, seeing the long beard on him made Malcolm reach up to touch the stubble that had grown on his own face the last few days. He had cleaned himself up for the meeting with the family at the springs, but not since.

“Selena Frost vs Cid Turner III” he read quietly to himself before clicking on the screen. It didn’t take much for him to realize that he was watching some teaser video for the upcoming wrestling show, which he had actually started watching more regularly since his ‘retirement’ from politics. This was a promotional video for the final battle for the SCW World title, the biggest belt in Selena’s wrestling world – like a championship trophy or ring or something. It didn’t really matter to Malcolm. It was Selena doing what Selena always knew how to do:

Fight to survive. Fight to thrive. Fight to make things better.

Despite everything in his life, Malcolm had genuinely believed, in his younger years, that he was doing the same for his family and for Nome, Alaska. Making the world a better place. Sure, he had made some mistakes in his past that had forced him to change his name and come here – but he had started off with the best of intentions, wanting to help this small poor town that the world didn’t think anything of thrive and be something of its own.

Still, real life was never so easy. And, at some point, he couldn’t really remember where it had happened, he had started taking shortcuts, easier paths to get what he wanted. A lie here, a bit of blackmail there, a bribe over there, maybe some intimidation with so and so – the domino effect was apparent the more and more he reflected on things. How things could have been different if he had not made that ‘first shortcut’ – a little white lie to better his standings with political circles. Still, the more you do it, the easier it gets. And easier it is to do worse, and worse and worse.

What would his children have been like if he had never taken that shortcut?
What would Selena have been like?
What would his grandchildren be like?
What would-

The sound of movement coming from behind him caught his ears for a moment, the old man turning  his back a bit to examine the source of the sound. He saw nothing but the back of the kitchen area, the walls of brick that lined the oven. Talia had left hours ago after checking in on him – the sweet girl. She deserved far better than Ryan. Even so, with her gone, and hearing the noise again, Malcolm could only smile sadly.

“I know you’re there.” He called out to the room. “Amazing how poorly your stealth skills are. I thought we trained you better.”

“Or maybe I wanted you to know I was here.”

From another doorway, out stepped the woman dressed in black pants, laced boots, a black shirt and a leather jacket. The bottom part of her face was covered with a skull-jaw-designed bandana, but that didn’t keep Malcolm from seeing the platinum-blonde hair that was tied back in a ponytail.

“You always were too arrogant for your own good.” Malcolm scoffed, sitting back in his couch as he switched over to another video of Selena, this one of a full match of her fighting Ace Marshall at Rise to Greatness last year.

“Coming from you, that’s hardly worth anything.” Came the response as the woman flopped down on the chair next to Malcolm’s couch. Slowly reaching up, she tugged at the cloth covering her jaw, revealing her full face to Malcolm. Casting her eyes to the television screen, she gave a scoff as she saw Selena nail Ace Marshall with some kind of kick. “I can’t believe you thought she could replace me.”

Malcolm said nothing, merely reaching over to grab a full water bottle, drinking a bit of it.

“I fought her, you know.” Laughed the woman. “Couldn’t land more than a kick here and there. She was basically a novice compared to me.”

“And yet you were the one that got shot in the arm.” Malcolm slowly replied. “While she was well enough to fight-“ he gestured towards the screen. “This was less than a week after your little ‘visit’, I might add.”

“She had two other people.” The lady scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. “Rebecca and that redhead got in the way.”

“And you didn’t think they would?” laughed Malcolm a little. “Oh, Atlas, you really don’t know what you’re in for.”

“Stop calling me that.” Growled Killjoy. “My name is Selena.”
“I thought it was ‘Killjoy’ now.” Mocked Malcolm, causing a smirk to grace the woman’s lips.
“It terrifies that faker, so I’ll take it.”

“Being able to best her in a single fight does not make you stronger or better than her.” Malcolm stated simply. “You know that.”
“I know that I can take her at any time.”
“Can you?” again, he chuckled. “So why don’t you?”

“Please.” Killjoy grinned. “You taught me the best revenge was to make them suffer.”

It was a remark that removed any humor from Malcolm, the old man giving a tired sigh. “Atlas…”
“I said to stop calling me that! I know who I am!”

“No, you don’t.” Malcolm shook his head. “You think you know and you are obsessed with this – I understand why, I truly do. But I…I was wrong and have been wrong for a long time. It was wrong of me to have you raised as I did.”

“Which part? The brainwashing? The training? The dangling who I was like a damn bait hook? Which part, exactly?”

“All of it. That’s why I gave you to Rebecca. To give you the chance of a normal life.”

“You TOOK my chance at a normal life.” Killjoy growled, pushing herself to her full height. Moving around the room, she began pushing things out of the way, creating a wide open space in the middle. “I could have been her.” She pointed a sharp finger to the video that continued to play on the screen, the Snow Queen of SCW nailing Ace Marshall with a top rope, falling/flipping twisting move of some sort. “I was meant to be her.” She added darkly. “And I will be again. I’ll undo your greatest crime.”

Despite the dark tone in her voice, Malcolm remained unfazed as he watched the young woman pull a chair into the middle of the room before eyeing the former mayor. “That where you want me to sit?”

Killjoy did not reply, the woman merely continuing to move around the room, gathering things from a bag of hers that now sat on the table in the kitchen area. Still, slowly, Malcolm pushed himself out of his couch, making his way over to the chair. Without Killjoy seeing, he adjusted his youtube video – turning the ‘autoplay’ on before tossing the phone onto the couch. He was in the chair for only a few seconds before he felt something being wrapped around his wrists – rope, he spied.

“I assume this will be painful?” he asked as he watched the woman – his own creation – tie up securely to the chair, offering him a wicked grin as she did.

“More ‘fitting’ than painful… but fuck yes.” Killjoy answered, producing a single needle filled to the brim with a liquid. “Ever heard of Strychnine?”

“Vaguely.” Malcolm raised an eyebrow. 

“Fascinating drug.” Killjoy mused. “Tightens the body the more and more you pump into it. Combine that with some cuts and torture, the body’s tension can’t leave so the pain is intensified…until the body is so rigid…that the lungs stop working.”

Despite himself, Malcolm’s eyes widened a little bit, though he still gave a smirk to his intruder. “So I’ll suffocate to death.”

“That’s the plan.” Killjoy grinned darkly. “Alone and abandoned. Just like you left me.”

“Makes sense.” Shrugs Malcolm.

“You’re really not making this fun for me, Malcolm.” Came the mocking voice of Killjoy, the voice lacking the accent that her ‘doppleganger’, as she put it, had. “You’re a politician. Barter for your life. Tell me ‘you’re sorry’. Tell me you’ll ‘do anything to live’.”

“No.” Malcolm replied simply as he settled further into his chair.

“No?” Killjoy asked, somewhat surprised. “You rather die a painful death?”

“I’ve been expecting a fate like this for two decades.” Laughed Malcolm. “And besides, I’ve never given you what you want. And I think it would be rude to break that trend now.” He gave a tilt of his head. “But if it’s worth anything, I am sorry. For all of it.”

“I thought you weren’t going to beg for your life.”

“I’m not.” Smiled Malcolm as he glanced at her. “Because I know you’ll lose. You already have.”

“Oh, the great mind of Malcolm Scythe.” Taunted Killjoy as she waved the hypodermic needle in front of him. “You’ve already got everything planned out but not how to save your own life?”

“My life doesn’t need to be saved.” Malcolm shrugged. “And I’ll take comfort in the fact that you’ve already lost.”

“Please. Once she-“ she gestures to the screen and the woman wrestling on it. “-learns the truth, I will watch her unravel. I will watch her world crumble around her. And she is back to being that washed-up drunk that she was before any of it, ONLY then will I kill her and take her place.”

“Good luck with that.” Malcolm smiled. “But I’ll be laughing when it all comes crumbling down around you, child.”
“You won’t be doing anything.” Killjoy whispers darkly in Malcolm’s ear. “Other than rotting in the ground and feasted on worms. And it will be just the kick that faker needs to dig into Project: Black Ice… and then lose everything! All because of you…”

“Yes…” Malcolm smiled, cringing a little as the needle was stuck into his neck, the serum concoction working in his system as he felt his body stiffed. Without any hesitation, he kept his eyes glued on the television screen, watching as Selena Frost celebrated in the ring with the world title, her wife Deanna in her arms. “All because of me…” he barely whispered his last words before the pain began to take hold…

Project: Black Ice

”The Truth of Project Black Ice – Part 2: Project: God Save the Queen”

The Frost Gold Mine
Nome, Alaska
July 24, 2022
12:26am

“Hello, Selena.”

Selena’s eyes went wide with the skull helmet of Killjoy’s that she wore. There was no mistaking that voice – she had known it for years. How often had she heard that damn, accented voice mock her and irritate and infuriate her and…and… now make her stop dead in her tracks and feel utter joy and disbelief. Her distorted voice rang through. “M…Malcolm?”

“Indeed.” Came the ‘reply’ from the PA system as the recording continued to play. “And now it’s time I told you the truth of who you are.”

“Scythe…” growled Killjoy, the gun still in her hand and pointed towards Selena. “I killed you.”

The recording continued, unfettered by either woman’s words. “If you’re listening to this message, then two things have happened.” Malcolm explained. “First of all, I’m dead. My past has caught up with me and the woman you know as Killjoy has killed me – I imagine in a most painful and barbaric way.” There was a smug smirk that came from the murderer’s lips as she heard those words, taking pride in her crime. “The reason I know this is second part – the only way you could be listening to this message. And that is if Killjoy has made you aware of Project: Black Ice and you, not surprisingly, couldn’t heed my warnings to stay away.” There was a lift of amusement in Malcolm’s voice at that, as if he wasn’t even surprised by Selena’s actions.

“You were always too curious. Too driven to do the right thing, even if that meant running headfirst into danger. Your father was the same way – Donovan, I mean. But-“ he was suddenly very serious again, his tone giving that away. “To give some context, I am currently recording this message approximately four days before we are to meet at Serpentine Falls.”

Selena’s eyes widened at that detail – four days… that was close to when she had defeated Cid Turner for the second time and become World Champion, the start of ongoing reign as the top superstar in SCW. 

“I must admit, I am excited for that. I don’t know what will happen but am prepared for some good and ill moments.” Malcolm explained. “And it might very well be the last good memory I have before I die. But, I digress…” 

“Project: Black Ice began as Operation: Snowman. A cunning little idea I had after learning of Anastasia DeCarlo’s inability to conceive children. As per the contracts arrangements between your father, myself and the DeCarlo family, an heir was needed. There was no other option.” The voice took a moment to breathe. “Given that, I took upon myself to create a system to bring the ‘best option’ for an heir. Someone genetically gifted that could strengthen the Scythe family once they were married into it – which was meant to be your part of the contract, Selena.”

Despite their physical situation, neither woman moved from their position, both too enraptured with the voice to continue their fight.

“If you have listened to Killjoy, then you know all this. You know why I did it and how I did my best to hedge my bet in acquiring a strong heir. But then Selena Frost was born. And with that, I abandoned my plans for a time, believing that fate had granted what I wanted in an heir. However, once that heir was discovered to have medical issues – including a hole in her heart – I could not simply forget how close I was to getting that ‘perfect heir’. I revitalized the project, rechristening it ‘Project: Black Ice’ with the sole intention of replacing Selena Frost with a far worthier, stronger candidate…”

“See?” Killjoy mocked with a hiss, shrugging her shoulders and grinning wickedly. “I told you.”

“However…” Malcolm’s voice cut in. “After years of trial and error, I realized a very depressing fact. Fate was still interfering. No one was good enough. No one fit the categories. And I realized that my hand was going to be forced. Your father insisted at the beginning of Operation: Snowman that we use his and your biological mother’s sperm and eggs to create a child for them. I promised them I would…but ultimately lied. However, as the failings mounted, I realized I had no other option. So…as one last effort, I completed my promise to them, unknowing to them, of course. Nearly a year later, I had my heir.”

“You.” Killjoy spat.

“Atlas was by far the closest thing I could ever imagine to a ‘perfect heir’, at least I thought so. The plans were in motion and Anastasia was informed my desire to switch. Of course, the child wasn’t hers, so why would she care?”

There was a moment of silence between all three ‘beings’, two woman and one recorded from a dead man, until the voice of the dead former mayor shattered the silence.

“It turns out she did care.”

“What?” Selena asked in disbelief, her words warped to the tone of Killjoy’s ‘skull-voice’, though the surprise in her voice was still beyond clear.

“She came to me, the day after the switch was to happen…with the same child I had given her. She said she couldn’t do it. She couldn’t make the switch.” Again, the amusement in Malcolm’s voice. “She wanted to take this child that I had deemed ‘unworthy’ of being my heir and raise her to be beyond worthy. To be superior to the Scythes until I was begging her to be my heir. Such arrogance…but not unfounded or even ill-suited.” He laughed a little. “She said if I followed through with Project: Black Ice and made the switch myself, she would tell the DeCarlos and the contract would be nullified. Suffice to say, I kept my mouth shut.”

“But there I was with a child that was perfect in my mind…but now impossible to fulfill her destiny. Once more, fate decided to mock with my plans and – wonder of wonders – the child born from my own machinations had the same condition as the baby she was ‘superior’ to. I saw this as my way of showing fate that I was its master. That my decisions were better. The true child of Alejandra and Donovan Frost…her heart recovered and healed from its genetic issue. Atlas’ did not.”

Selena’s eyes flashed back to Killjoy, who was looking more and more confused, which was becoming more and more rage.

“By that point, the damage done from that hole in her heart would linger in Atlas for the rest of her life, making her ill-suited to be an heir. But I couldn’t just discard her like I did the others. I had played God too many times in this. So, I gave her purpose. I told her she was the real Selena Frost. That her life had been taken from her and that she was better off that way. And when the time was right…I handed her over to Rebecca, my ex-wife, in the hopes that a loving parent would give her the kindness she had been denied for so long.”

Selena listened fully. It was similar to how Malcolm, after causing the mine-section collapse that had robbed her of her father for so many years and robbed her father of his memories, had arranged for him to find Alejandra – a speck of kindness in a life of cruelty and misdeeds.

“Selena…” Malcolm’s voice rang through the Snow Queen’s ears. “Surely you must know, deep inside you, who you are. Something greater than I am could only be responsible for your existence. At best, I created a warped, bitter version of you. But, my dear, that version of you… is every much a Frost as you are… She is not your clone or your ‘facsimile’. She is your sister. In every sense of the word.”

Selena’s eyes found Killjoy’s face, her words unable to form in her mouth beyond one. S-sister…

“And Atlas…Killjoy… I told you that I am sorry. I wish I could undo all of this but, knowing you – how like me you are… there is no other way than this. You will never be Selena Frost. Because there can only be one…true… Selena Frost.” A temporary pause came from the recording. “Goodbye, Selena. I wish…” a laugh escaped the voice. “Never mind. Let’s just say that I’ll die happy knowing you owe me one.”

The laugh in his voice, playful, died as the recording ended…only for a new voice to break through the speakers.

“Selena! Did you hear that?” it was one she recognized as fast as she had Malcolm’s.
”Deanna…” she whispered.
“You’re you! I told you! You’re the real Selena Frost! That’s what I was trying to tell you-“

“No…” growled the unaccented voice of Killjoy, her anger bubbling over. “No! NO! NO! NO! NO!” With her yells growing in volume, she pointed up the speaker that had spread this message, firing her gun wildly at the speaker. The metal bullets zipped into the plastic, ripping holes into it and blowing parts of it off, the sound sputtering and short-circuiting! “He’s lying! He’s always been lying!”

“Ki…” Selena tried, catching herself. “Atlas-“

She regretted her attempt at tact as Killjoy turned her head towards Selena, the unmasked woman’s sapphire eyes burning wildly. “DON’T FUCKING CALL ME THAT!” she pointed the gun straight at Selena, the Snow Queen barely able to leap out of the way and down another hall to hide behind a large stone wall. “I AM SELENA FROST! I AM THE REAL SELENA FROST!” Killjoy screamed, firing madly down the hall Selena had just been standing.

Pressing herself against the stone ‘wall’, Selena listened as shot fired out, the sound like the thunder she had heard outside as it bounced off the walls. Her hands still clutched the shovel Killjoy had tried to kill her with, but her mind was too busy burning to fully notice.

“I’m Selena…” she whispered, hearing only her own voice in her head this time. “I’m Selena…” her voice cracked a little as she repeated it the second time. “I’m…” she sniffled. “I’m really Selena…”

The firing of bullets stopped for a brief second, catching the skulled-Snow-Queen’s attention before the very telling ‘click’ of an empty chamber!

She’s out of bullets! She barely had time to register her thought before she was sprinting out of her hiding space and rushing Killjoy, shovel in hand. ”I AM SELENA FROST!” she yelled out passionately as she swung the shovel, aiming for Killjoy’s head, only for the target to duck at the last second. 

“NO! I AM!” Killjoy screamed back shoving Selena towards the nearby wall. “You’re a fraud! A faker! An imposter!” 

The small space of the stone halls confined them, forcing Killjoy to try and grapple Selena as opposed to the strikes she had been favoring outside the cave earlier… grapples that, the Snow Queen realized, were amateur at best!

Grabbing Killjoy’s head, Selena spun her around with a headlock before rolling the small distance to the ground in an effective side-snapmare. ”You grapple like a rookie.” she mocked before jumping to her feet before her eyes spotted Killjoy desperately trying to reload her gun. Just as she did and lifted it, however, the space was suddenly thrust into complete darkness… the only exception being the dimly glowing yellow-green of Selena’s skull eyes. Still, Killjoy fired into the dark, her rage clouding any rationale. She didn’t even realize that Selena had moved out of the way and was now behind her – Killjoy’s own helmet offering sight in the dark.

With a strong kick to the back, the helmeted-woman sent Killjoy sprawling to the floor and into another pathway, back the way they all had come from. The clattering of the gun as it skittered across the floor from Killjoy’s fall was the loudest sound and Selena locked onto it. As the fallen woman at her feet scrambled to try and find the weapon in the dark, Selena stepped over her with ease and scooped the weapon up into her hand before turning back around to face Killjoy. In her ‘vision’, she saw the woman stare up at the glowing eyes and…perhaps for the first time, Selena saw fear in Killjoy’s face.

She knew she shouldn’t enjoy the sight – but Odin help her – she reveled in it.

”How does it feel?” came the haunting voice of Killjoy – to Killjoy – the fake Selena Frost backward crawling further down the hall, back towards the service elevator, though her eyes never left Selena’s. ”How does it feel to be told that everything you believe in was a lie?!” the masked woman growled, holding the gun higher up towards the downed murderer. ”To have everything you believed about your identity stolen from you?!” How does it feel to be held at gunpoint?! To know you’re going to die?!”

Casting her eyes back, Killjoy spotted the emergency lights of the old service elevator all three women had used tonight – except the elevator was still on the ground floor above, thanks to Deanna using it. She…there was no way she could get to it. No way she could fight in the dark and land a shot before Selena would pull the trigger.

She…she was trapped. She was beaten…

But the skull-wearing woman before her. The woman that looked just like she did when first wore the mask.

“Now I see…I was right…” a slow smile formed over her lips, almost angry and maniacal, yet daring. “You ARE here to replace me!” She held her head up a little. “Do it! Kill me. Become Killjoy! Become ME like you were always meant to! Complete Project: Black Ice! I’ll die here – but I’ll die knowing I was Selena Frost in the end and you were the very thing you despised!”

Despite herself, Selena gripped the gun tighter in her hands, once more in the same position as outside the cave. She had it – the means to end this. To end all of this! All she needed to do was pull the trigger and kill this woman.

The woman that had incarcerated her beloved for two years – stolen two years of their lives together.
The woman that had tried to kill Gavin.
That vowed to kill Deanna.
Vowed to kill everyone Selena loved…
The woman that was…her sister…

With a loud yell, Selena threw the gun towards the open elevator shaft where it disappeared from sight as it sailed down towards the bottom, giving a loud clang as it landed just a few feet from where the door was. It was enough for Killjoy to gaze up at Selena with utter confusion.

”I will never become you.” Selena declared. ”Selena Frost is not a killer… I am not a killer…”

“Our family is NOTHING but killers!” Killjoy shot back. “The very clan you revere! The very name you covet! The people you’re linked to?! It’s in your blood! It’s in your DNA! And you can fight it all you want! In time – you will become me. Whether you like it or not!”

No more words escaped the fiend as Selena slammed her foot into the side of Killjoy’s face, effectively kicking her into unconsciousness.

”Not today.” Selena replied with a whisper, her eyes taking in the down form of her enemy before her head jerked up from the sound of the elevator working. Stepping over Killjoy’s form, the wrestler heard the sound of gears whirling as the cables worked their task. 

The elevator chamber was being lowered. Someone was coming.

Bet it’s Deanna… Selena thought. First the recording, then the lights out, now this… She can never stay aw-

“AHHHH!” came the scream from behind her, the Snow Queen turning around in time to see Killjoy rushing towards her. On instinct, Selena spun out of the way, watching Killjoy sail right past her and into the elevator shaft, the scream of rage being replaced with a scream of shock as Killjoy fell the twelve feet to the ground of the shaft, a thud filling Selena’s ears as she rushed to the shaft and looked within.

She saw Killjoy struggling to get up, clearly stunned from the fall. 

“Atlas!” She called out, her ears also taking in the sound of the descending elevator. Killjoy turned to glare at her as the skulled-head Selena lowered her arm towards her. “Take my hand! I’ll pull you out! Hurry, the elevator is coming down!”

Bewildered, Killjoy glared up at the eyeless skull of Selena. “Why?!” she barked back. “How can you just-“
”Because we’re sisters.” Selena called back, almost desperately. ”Now, come on!”

But Killjoy did not move. Instead, her eyes fell to the ground before settling on what she was looking for. Dropping down to squat, she held up the gun that Selena had thrown down the shaft, cocking it quickly.

”What are you doing?!” Selena yelled back. 

A dark smirk came to Killjoy’s face. “There can be only one Selena Frost…” she aimed the gun at Selena’s head.

”Don’t do this! Please!” Selena begged.

“Only one…” Killjoy screamed before pulling the trigger.

With no other choice, Selena rolled back into the stone path and out of the bullet’s path. The very next second, a loud scream was heard as the elevator dropped onto the bottom floor, the tons of metal unforgiving on the woman below it…

A dreadful silence filled Selena’s ears, outside of her own heavy breathing, her eyes taking in the ceiling of stone, illuminated by her night-vision, as she laid on her back. She heard the doors of the elevator open and a white light, small, flash across the space, the sound of small, rapid footsteps reaching her.

“Selena?” came the familiar voice as her sight was filled with the yellow-green sight of her wife’s face. “Selena!” Deanna called out, kneeling down to cradle her wife into a sitting position. 

“Deanna…” Selena whispered, suddenly feeling all her energy leave her as the adrenaline began to wear off. “The helmet. The latch at the back.”

Quickly, Deanna’s fingers found the back part and pressed the release mechanism, allowing her and Selena to pull the helmet off of the older woman’s head. It made it a dull thud as Selena dropped it to the ground beside her, choosing instead to pull her wife into her arms in a tight embrace. “It’s over.” Selena whispered, hearing her own voice again.

“Where is…”
“Gone.” Selena answered, leaning back to gaze at her wife’s dimly illuminated features before turning her eyes towards the elevator. “She couldn’t accept the truth…she chose oblivion over it.”

Following her wife’s gaze, Deanna slowly nodded her head in understanding, Selena’s sapphire eyes finding hers shortly after. “You saved my life again.” Selena whispered. “How did you find that recording of Malcolm?”

“We always had it.” Deanna explained. “Hidden in the file of Project: Black Ice.”

Despite herself, the platinum-blonde felt a smile creep onto her features. “He always knew how things were going to turn out.”
“Yeah…” Deanna sighed. “Would have been nice if he had just told us in the first place!”

“Yeah…” Selena nodded as the two slowly made their way back over to the elevator. “But hey… it should make a great story for the grandkids someday.”

The redhead shook her head as she helped Selena into the elevator and pressed the up button. “Any more ‘family secrets’ to share with your wife, Selena?” she asked, her voice showing her tiredness.

“Not that I know of.” Selena shrugged, exhausted. “But I mean…” she added with a smile as the elevator began to rise. “We’ve only dealt with one side of my family. I have no idea what the others are like…”

“Selena…”

“I was kidding.” The platinum-blonde grinned as she took Deanna’s hand into hers as the rode the elevator away. “Pretty sure we never have to worry about such a thing…”

It would be two months before she realized how wrong she was…
_______________________________________________________________

The camera opens up to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, the site for tonight’s greatest SCW pay-per-view of the year, Rise to Greatness. Already, the setup looks incredible, with over 50,000 empty seats, the massive screens, long rampway, and the large Rise to Greatness display. The weekend has already been abuzz with incredible meet-and-greets and events for the SCW Universe. However, with only a handful of hours before the weekend is to begin, starting with the pre-show, the arena is calmly quiet, with arctic-blue and white lights shining down onto the ring. For there, standing in the ring, is the woman that will spearhead the main-event for the second time in a row. The lights catch her platinum-blonde hair, which contrasts her black leather jacket, dark-green shirt and blue jeans and running shoes. On her shoulder, the gold of the SCW World title shines a little brighter under the lights as the SCW World Champion looks around the empty arena.

I almost can’t believe I’m back here… her voice shakes a little as she continues to look around. I mean under these lights, these circumstances…this is something that- a year ago, I was ready for that night, Rise to Greatness eighteen… I was ready for that night to be my ‘time’ at the big dance. My time at the big feast. Because to be here, whether you’re the challenger or the champion… it’s beyond special.

It is beyond everything you dream of, everything you can imagine, everything you can possibly conceive. And for me, to be here once – to be at the main-event, to win it, to make it ‘Unbelievable’ and to celebrate it’s ‘unbelievableness’ with my wife… that was enough for me. Reaching up with her free hand, Selena Frost rubs a tear out of her eyes with her palm.

Little did I know how far I – how far WE could go, True Believers, SCW Universe. Little did I realize how much greater this moment could feel right now.

Because this wasn’t made from a single match. This wasn’t made because I caught Cid Turner in one match and managed to take his spot at the Rise to Greatness main-event like I did last year. This wasn’t done because I got lucky or something like that. This was accomplished by us working together with one solitary goal… her eyes cast down to the world title on her shoulder.

To bring integrity to this championship. To make the standard more than what it had been for the majority of its career. Ask any superstar, they’ll tell you a story of how they got screwed out of a title. Hell, my wife got screwed out of her TV title a couple of weeks ago when she was hit by a damn chair during her match! Ask any fan, they’ll tell you countless times this championship changed hands under similar circumstances. Hell, SCW management authorized a damn six or seven on one against the champion in a damn cage two or three years ago because someone was swinging around a Trios contract. Infamous, Beauty Factory, Beauty Network, Wonderland, The Brand – there is no end to the memories of controversy.

And yet, for all of it, none of it has gotten its claws on this championship. This championship and its meaning has endured. Its integrity has endured and grown and now, we are here, not from one match but by 235 days of growing integrity. By a bettering standard! And it’s something we all worked together to create so… Looking around the arena, Selena places a hand over her heart as she turns her gaze to the camera, to her audience. From the bottom of my heart, thank you SCW Universe, True Believers, everyone. Thank you.

Thank you for standing by me. Thank you for supporting me and my wife. Thank you for never giving up on this dream!

Like I said, your voices were a constant reminder that this was not ‘the impossible dream’ like I was told by so many, including my opponent. A few people said I was foolish to try and change ‘the status quo’ but all of you? You made me believe I could – that it was what you wanted. That you were as tired of the tainted finishes and controversies surrounding this incredible title as I was.

Which is why someone like Adam Allocco pisses me off so much. Her smile fades and she takes a deep breath and exhales before her tone becomes colder.

Because you, Adam, you’re strolling into this night – this night that people work year round to try and get – you’re strolling in ready to do whatever it takes, right? We’re back on this train, but I need to ask you something right now. Just a quick question.

Are those REALLY the rules you want to play by? Because, let’s just analyze that for a second, here, Adam. What if I decide to just play by your rules? Hmmm? What if, right at the start of the bell, I just kick you between your legs and end the match then and there. Sure, you get the win. You might even get a rematch down the road when the new season of SCW starts again…

But that ‘goal’ of yours? That dream of ‘father and son winning Rise to Greatness’? Selena snaps her fingers. Gone in a flash. Destroyed in an instant. And wouldn’t that be almost poetic. Something that YOU wanted – something YOU believed in taken away from you and destroyed in seconds after all the crap you’ve done, right?

The Snow Queen holds up her hand to quiet the ‘audience’. But don’t get ahead of me, Adam. I’ll get to that. But wouldn’t that be fair, Adam? If I did ‘whatever I had to’ to stay the World Champion just like you are going to to become World Champion? If I took your playbook – your strategy – and outsmarted you with it?

You said that your ‘return’ wouldn’t be complete until you beat me at Rise to Greatness for the world title, well, Adam, what if I just took that away? What if I hid behind technicalities like ‘champion’s advantage’ like you’re hiding behind your ‘honesty’ and your ‘desperation’ to ‘be the best’? What if I hid behind the idea of doing what was best for SCW in my actions like you’re hiding behind the notion that ‘other people are bending the rules, why can’t I?’? What if I hid behind my love for this place and desire to do better by it like you’re hiding behind this father/son story you’ve got going on for some cheap attention? 

See, Adam, at the end of the day, you talk a tough line, but you don’t want me to play by your rules, do you? You don’t want me to play this game like you will because if I did? You would have ZERO chance of becoming world champion. You’d have ZERO chance of making history – and you’d only have yourself to blame for it, wouldn’t you?!

She gives a shrug as she begins to pace around the ring. And I’ll be honest, Adam, there was a part of me that almost wanted to do that. After how you mocked me, mocked my wife, mocked the work she and I have put into this company while you were taking LOA after LOA? After you sauntered back into SCW and just declared you were going to be world champion as if it was the easiest thing in the world? How you spoke to me at the first Breakdown leading up to all of this and you told me that your path was ‘destiny’ – it was inevitable? A part of me wanted to just take your words and shove them down your throat and then make you cough them out with a kick to the groin… stopping where she walks, Selena turns her head back towards the camera.

But that’s not good enough for me, Adam. That isn’t good enough for this title, for this pay-per-view, and it sure as hell isn’t good enough for them. I don’t have to beat you at Rise to Greatness, Adam. That’s what I want to make clear. I don’t have to beat you to stay the champion – and I could just as easily make you eat your words of ‘do anything to win’ and silence you with a single kick to your Alistaire-spawning privates. But I’m not going to do that, Adam. Because I may not HAVE to beat you, but I damn sure NEED to beat you!

Because that kind of mentality? That kind of hiding is exactly what I have been fighting against since I took this belt from Cid Turner last year. That kind of mentality, with the Brand rigging my matches with advantages in their favor, with people like Kimberly Williams trying to screw me out of the title, I have been trying to fight that and better this place for months. And it’s been a hell of an endeavour but, as you made it clear, and so many others have made it clear over the last few weeks, the work is not done. 

More than that, Adam, you made it clear just what would happen if I let you become the SCW World Champion tonight.

Casting her eyes down to the title, Selena shrugs it off her shoulder to hold it in her hands. Because how is it going to be, Adam? You going to give me all you got, right? You going to do all you can to beat me, right? What about after that? You came back here at the most opportune moment – the playoff season of the year. What about after that? What about September? What about October? What about November? You going to stick around? Or is this the part where you high-tail it because it gets too hard for you? Or you grab another group of ‘friends’ and hide behind them? Or you throw some more adult-content on the web to get attention? What’s it going to be, Adam?

The champion looks up, eyes glaring. Better yet, Adam, let me ask you. Let’s say you succeed. Let’s say your ‘plan’ goes perfectly and you become the SCW World Champion. Everything you planned, everything you put together, everything you have done has worked perfectly and you can now have your moment of history, the title you never held – what are you going to do the second things don’t go your way?

When it’s your name that’s being dragged through the mud? When it’s your words and your dreams being twisted and knotted? When it’s you that’s outnumbered and ambushed? When it’s your family that’s attacked and threatened and insulted? What are you going to do, Adam, when all of that is on you?

Better yet, what are you going to do, Adam, against people like me? People that, unlike you, don’t give up. Don’t surrender. Don’t stop even after a loss, but power through, get better, keep pushing year round? What are you going to do against people like that, Adam? When you need to be on your A game not just for a few weeks or even a few months, but every day of the damn year?! What are you going to do against people with more passion than you, more drive, more ability? Who put in the time year-round while you come and go out of this federation like geese in winter?

Taking a quick breath, Selena holds up her pointer finger. Lastly, Adam, when you’ve got everything exactly how you want it and you’ve got your title – what are you going to do against the people…like you? The assholes. The people not afraid to use your own rules against you? What are you going to do when it’s someone else’s friend playing theme music to distract you in the middle of your match? What are you going to do, Adam, when you can’t hide behind a sliver of your playbook anymore because every move is on YouTube? What are you going to do against the other people that come and go out of here with a wave of momentum – people like Ace Marshall? What are you going to do when it’s you being assaulted with a chair or outnumbered two, three, or seven to one? What are you going to do, Adam, against people that will do “anything to win the SCW World Championship” just like you?

There is a moment of silence as Selena lets her questions hang in the air. See, that’s something I saw in your eyes, Adam. The man with all the answers? You don’t have answers for that. Because you don’t care. You don’t care about thinking that far. You don’t care about the future of this title. You don’t care about the consequences. All you care about, at the end of the day, is you.

That’s why you don’t feel you owe SCW anything despite the number of times they’ve given you second chance after second chance after second chance. Adam, they FIRED you! You know how bad you have to screw up to get fired here? SCW had no reason to rehire you but they gave you ANOTHER second chance anyway. Yet, you feel you don’t owe them anything? You don’t owe the SCW Universe something for all the months you humiliated this federation? Humiliated the titles you held? The people you worked with? Of course not, cause you’re Adam freaking Allocco. she spats the name.

And that’s why I despise you, Adam. Because all you do is take. You take and you take and you don’t care about giving anything back. Not to SCW or the SCW Universe and sure as hell not to the title you claim you’re going to carry with pride – when we both know you’re just going to carry it with ego and YES, there is a difference.

I have carried this belt with pride and have done all I can to make the division better. To inspire others. Hell, at Double Jeopardy, I told everyone in the second match not to interfere and to let integrity and skill win out – and even Kandis listened to me there. That’s how much I cared about this title, this division, and what the world title meant. To the point even my enemies believed. You? You just want to walk around here, spend the extra money and use this belt to call yourself the ‘best in the world’. All…about…you.

Sapphire eyes scan around the arena, how gloriously decorated it is. And the world can burn around you if it has to, right, Adam? Case in point? Let’s talk about the God of Wrestling Tournament back in 2019 – the last one ever. A tournament that, in the past, has helped make and define such careers like Shilo Valiant and Christy Matthews. That has highlighted such talent as David Helms, Ace Marshall, and Syren…

Do you even remember who won the last tournament, Adam? A young man by the name of Alban McConnell. He won the tournament you created and handed to SCW – and, like Christy and Shilo, he made something of his career here, right? You remember him using that prestige to become a star here, right?

Sadly, Selena shakes her head. You don’t. You can’t. Because winning a tournament – an Adam Allocco tournament – did NOTHING for his career. He never stepped foot into an SCW ring. He never challenged for an SCW title. He won your tournament and was basically forgotten. And you? You never mentioned him again. You didn’t care about any of those people that believed in your tournament – including me!

Want another example? A year later, you came back with “The World’s Best” Tag-Team tournament. A tournament that would crown, and I’m quoting you here, “The Greatest Tag-Team in the World”. Except what did you have? God of Wrestling you had dozens and dozens of people sign up and fight. But now? People were wise to you. People understood what the name Adam Allocco meant in tournaments… and you could barely squeak out eight teams for the tournament. But of course, you remember the winners right? Devin Brando and Lyza Reyes. Remember that night, Adam? Taking Hold of the Flame 2020. You promised SCW that they would remember that classic finals for years to come. And what happened to that ‘world’s best tag-team’?

Again, Selena gives a sad shrug of her shoulders. By next pay-per-view, Rise to Greatness? They were gone. Never to be seen again. Didn’t even challenge for the world tag titles. Weren’t even considered for the tag-team of the year…because Regan and I won that award. And you? Never mentioned them again.

Selena’s jaw clenches as she lowers her head. All those dreams, Adam. All those superstars’ hopes of being something worthwhile, believing in you and your tournaments and where did it get them? NOWHERE! Winning an “Adam Allocco tournament” got them NOTHING because at the end of the day, you didn’t make those tournaments for them. You didn’t make those tournaments for the SCW Universe. No, Adam, you brought those tournaments out and took what you got because it put you back on television! Who was it that had to ‘host’ those tournaments – every show – as a commentator? Who was it that presented the trophies. Who was doing all the talking throughout both tournaments?!

Adam Freaking Allocco! 

All you wanted to do was make yourself relevant again! And if 50 people and 8 tag-teams had to have their hopes and dreams dashed for that to happen, so be it, right?! the cold in Selena’s voice is unmistakable. 

You…are a cancer, Adam. Everything you touch, you destroy and you wither it away all for your own desperation and your own ego. You almost ruined your son’s career by barging in and taking over as his ‘manager’. You took the tag-titles and television title back several years to the point that Autumn Valentine had to hold the TV title for months for it to have any credibility again. All because you can’t live without thinking you’re this big shot. The King of Strong Style. The Renaissance Man. Wrestling’s Enlightenment. The best wrestler in the world. 

That’s why you promised me you’d do ‘everything’ to win and become world champion. Because you don’t care about pride. You don’t care about the world title and what it means, you don’t care about the SCW Universe, you don’t care about the SCW roster, just like you didn’t care about any of those people in your tournaments. All you care about is you.

Taking a moment of silence, Selena lowers her hand to her side, her other hand still holding the title. And for a moment in history, you are willing to try and bring down this house that myself, Deanna, and every True Believer and fan have built together. But let me tell you something, Adam. This house you want so badly to be ‘the King of’? To sit on the throne of? It was built not by one night and one royale match. It wasn’t built with weeks of promises. It was built with months of hard work, of being here, of taking on the best and never settling for the easy way out. The blood, the sweat and tears of me, my wife, countless superstars and challengers, legends and greats and each and every member of the SCW Universe. WE built this house brick by brick, day by day, all year! WE built this house that you are going to enter this Sunday.

And if you think that you can come in here after showing up for a few weeks, slap your name on the door and claim “It’s mine now” – it doesn’t work that way.

Reaching the middle of the ring, Selena stands there, eyeing the camera. Make no mistake about this, Adam. You are new to the Rise to Greatness main-event. You have no idea what such stakes and what such a match brings out in me. Because while you are fighting for your ‘moment’ – while you are fighting for YOU – I am fighting, not just for the world title, I am fighting to keep this title and all of SCW FROM you. I am fighting to ensure that you NEVER ruin another life, another thing of SCW ever again! I am fighting, not just for a moment or myself, but for all of SCW and for years of moments! Years of integrity! Of true pride! And a championship that they can truly be proud of!

The world champion takes a deep breath. Adam, you can bring everything you have and do everything you can to take this title from me. But this Sunday, while you do anything to get it, I will endure everything to ensure that you don’t.

Believe it!

Carefully, Selena holds up the world title above her head, the image clear in its presentation before the camera slowly fades to black.