Chapter 23: War

I can't reach your hand
I can't liberate you
I know you're alive
But in my heart I've said goodbye
So tonight
I'm sleepless
I keep this out of sight
Out of mind
But I never left it all behind

If you want peace, prepare for war. Right? That’s how the saying goes. It’s an oxymoron of the highest order. A statement of pushing a deterrent. A fear of mutual destruction.The only problem with the idea is if one or both parties don’t care if they survive as long as they destroy their hated rival or target.

I used to have a fear of death.

A constant need for self preservation and protection.

In fact, that was the only trying I feared. The inevitability of an ending. But, slowly I started to realize that delaying the inevitable is futile. And the arrogance we all have as a species. Doing everything we can to prolong deaths icey touch reaching out to wrap its hands around our throat and squeeze.

One shudders at the thought.

But we have no control. When your number is up, it’s up. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other things in this world to fear. Being irrelevant is one, being forgotten. One way to be remembered is to be loved. To have people look back fondly on you and your accomplishments. To see the people you respected and loved. But that lasts what?..one..maybe two generations.

No. To be really remembered, to be feared. That, that is how you keep the specter of irrelevance behind you.

The most remembered names throughout history are those who caused chaos and pain. There is no room for love, devotion and happiness in times of war. And my life has always been war.Emotional war, physical war. Mental war. In every single relationship, friendship and match. It has always been about winning and coming out on top. And even in those moments when you know you’ve won…sometimes you need to take it a step further…

You look down at your foe, broken, defeated and gasping for air underneath your boot, and as you look them in the eye and see that small glimmer of hope. The hope you will offer mercy….you push down with all your might…

And finish the fucking job…

Chapter 22:War

No matter what she did, he wouldn’t bite. She was frustrated, infuriated, constantly angry. Every single snide remark, every single comment where she would put him down. Every single thing she threw in his face, Nothing worked. Billy was seemingly oblivious, untouchable, unbeatable and unable to be offended or hurt. But something changed recently. An idea in her head to finally make him push her away and just end their relationship.

The first time she saw him it was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Over six feet tall, slender but still in shape. Heavily tattooed, Black hair that flowed down over eyes that seemed to show a personality full of confidence, bordering on arrogance. Cheekbones that could cut glass, a smile that was equal parts boyish and rebellious.

This was the type of guy most would have believed Kayla would have fallen for. Not the jock, chadbro type that Billy had always been.

But this, good looks of a leading man, arrogance and swagger of a rock star. And an outlook on like that matched hers in ways she never thought she would ever see. A man who like her, had siblings that were a constant disappointment. And his name?...

Finn Whelan.

She looked across the room at him. He didn’t even notice her, something that would destroy confidence in some, but Kayla was not like them. A small smile came across her lips as she tilted her head, feeling her own teeth cut into her bottom lip as she instinctively bit the left side. She took a deep breath stepping forward, but, she stooped. Her heart was beating fast and she felt something. An emotional response she’d never had before. What was this? Guilt? No, no don’t be stuipid.

Nerves…

Kayla Richards was nervous. Nervous to talk to someone, nervous to meet someone. She had never felt this way before, her palms sweat, her heart started beating even faster as her chest heaved up and down, her head felt light and full of air and there were no words she had ready to say, no grand entrance. Nothing to make her stand out. Finn turned, she caught his eye, and she froze, her eyes widened, she swallowed hard pushing everything into the pit of her stomach and she turned away.

Her hands were shaking, maybe he hadn’t cared, maybe he didn’t recognise her or find her interesting enough to talk to. The two only knowing each other in passing due to casual acquaintances. Her younger sister Tasmin was friends with his younger brother, Dimitri Watson. Please don’t recognise me It ran through her mind over and over as she shut her eyes up tight. Her heartbeat slowed. Her body relaxed. It was ok, she was ok. Everything fell silent. She gave a small nod to herself turning around fast and running right into Finn….

“Mother fuck!....” She paused mid word, looking up at Finn who stepped back with his hands up and a smirk on his face.

“Whoa, sorry…” He laughed and shook his head, his hand moving down to straighten his black shirt that came to rest underneath and black leather biker jacket. “You ok?...Kayla right?. I don’t think we have actually talked.” She stayed silent, swallowing hard and her jaw quivered, Finn looked to the side, aware of her awkwardness and put off by it. He obviously knew who she was, he knew her reputation. And this wasn’t it.

He cleared his throat and it snapped Kayla out of it. “Yeah…I’m Kayla…”

“...I…know…” He said it slowly, a slight inflection upward as if offering a question as much as a statement. Kayla felt the blood rush to her cheeks, she was blushing. What the fuck is this? Finn raised an eyebrow and a little smirk on his lips. “Hey you ok?..I didn’t mean to bother y-”

“Oh hey no..no bother, great to formally meat you, I mean I know we’ve said hi before and your brother knows my sister and your sister is really close with Alex who both my sister and I know really well..kind of like she does…I’m talking to much aren’t I?”

Stupid

Finn seemed confused tilting his head for a moment and squinting as if trying to decide what to ask. “Uh, yeah so…wait my sister..what did you me-”

She put her hands up. “Nothing, nevermind…..sorry it’s just warm in here.” Kayla took her own jacket off, her black top was low cut, she could feel his eyes trail down her body.

He smiled and gave a nod “Nice ink”

“Oh..thanks…becomes a bit of addiction…” He laughed and gave a nod back clearly understanding what she meant. “So I-”

“Hey bae…” Fucking Billy. Kaylas nostrils flared, his arm wrapped around her, he slid between Kayla and Finn pulling Kayla against him, Kayla pushed away lightly and gritted her teeth before forcing a smile as to not make a scene. “Who’s your buddy?....”

“Uh I gotta go….nice seeing you Kayla..” Finn gave her a wink and a small nod to Billy who gripped her even harder. Her turned and moved away, Billy muttering something in her ear about finding food. Her heart sank, and she knew what she had to do.

Conquering the impossible

“Are we ready now? Can we get this shit over and done with? I am sick and tired of this myth and lie that Betsy Granger would have been the world champion if I hadn’t have interfered. This weird bizarro world tale and alternate history is flawed. You all think that if I had stayed back and not taken my retribution she would have been the first PWE champion.”

“Are you kidding?”

“Do any of you actually believe Betsy could have legit beaten either of the Aylas? Do you think she could have walked out of Victory one as the champ? See, this issue between myself and Betsy has been rolling on for months. MONTHS. Prior to the first show, she mentioned me and I mentioned her because she and I have never liked each other. The fact I tried to destroy and beat her friends and had more success ate her from the inside out. Her jealousy pushed her to cost ME my chance at the title. Or are we just glossing over this?”

“Do none of you remember her music playing during my match? Distracting me long enough to be eliminated?”

Kayla opens her eyes, the sparkle inside the emerald color finally being seen.

“It’s like that fact has been forgotten, written out of the history books. But people remember me costing her, people remember all I have done against HER yet I have been painted as a villain when all I did was retaliate. Ands that is all this was Betsy. Retaliation. The truth is I’m the victim here. Everything has been geared to make you become the face of this damn company and make me the stepping stone. Everything that has happened over the last few months has been for your benefit. You have had management behind you, the fans behind you and all your little friends behind you. Shit even my own sister has your back over me. I am the underdog, I am the one having the deck stacked against me”

“Even in the decision of what match it will be. A cage match, something I never agreed to, something that should play right into your wants and needs, into a gameplan im sure you have meticulously planned out. But, if there is one thing I am excellent at it is fucking up peoples best laid plans.”

“So your little plan..Betsy boop…has a flaw…”

“A bigger flaw than being in a relationship with a man who is a bigger thot than you…”

“See, you might want to sit there and spin this, saying that now I can’t run from you. That bitch Kayla Richards is now trapped in a cage with big bad Betsy Granger. Unstoppable and conquering. The sci fi queen of awesome that has simps world wide and sweaty neckbeards moaning and groaning behind computer screens while they sweat nacho cheese and cum ranch dressing…”

Kayla turns green and gags holding her stomach and shaking her head.

“Sorry I just made myself feel sick, but my point was simple, you want people to believe that you got your way and that I am trapped in a cage with you. Butm, it works both ways. You can’t run from me and no one can stop me from breaking you, inch by inch, piece by piece. I am not some bullshit wilting flower that is unable to defend herself. I freely admit I will do whatever I have to do to win, I admit that I am a bitch…but don’t take that as some kind of weakness. In fact, it’s my strength…”

“I don’t pretend to be something I’m not. Unlike you. You pretend to be a good friend, but lets face it, you’re not. You pretend to be a good partner to your teammates. You’re not. You pretend to be a good girlfriend, fiance, whatever. But I think we all know, even James is sick of your bullshit. You pretend to be a woman of the people, when…again..you’re not…”

“You are fake, everything about you is fake, fake hair fake friends, fake attitude.”

“You are a disease. And I am the cure. I can end you, end your fake bullshit and end the myth. The myth of Betsy Granger. I can walk into this match, a match with everything and everyone against me and walk out a winner. I can leave you broken physically and mentally and emotionally. And that Betsy is real motivation. Motivation to beat you down and break you, to prove to the two biased bitches running this company that I am undeniable, that the PWE world title should be MINE….”

“Truth is…you are my stepping stone…and I am going to look down…and squeeze…”