Chapter 25

I can't stop thinking about the way

I left you sinking with no escape

Now there's no love light, no way to save

But maybe next time I won't throw it all away

Lies and Honesty.

One of the greatest tricks the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.

I’ve always hated that saying. The story in and of itself is a contradiction. If something is out of thought, out of sight and out of mind then does it really exist? In a world ruled by faith, and belief if the belief isn’t there then by definition it has lost it’s power and meaning.

If you don’t believe a lie, the lie loses power. If you don’t believe the truth, well, the truth becomes a lie.,

That is the way of the world and the way of thinking that has got me into the mess I have been in for the last few months.

I lie about who and what I am.

I expect it to be believed and given power to become the truth. And for most people it works, the lie galvanizes and is believed, it becomes truth in everyone's mind, even my own. I control my own narrative through my deception and cunning. . You see what I want you to see. You believe what I want you to believe and you dance like puppets on a string.

Except, that is also a lie.

There is one person on this earth who has been able to see my bullshit and my lies, look past them and see the real truth. And ladies and gentlemen I have to be honest.

That scares the shit out of me.

Chapter 25: Family ties and family knots…

She was relaxed. For the first time in what seemed like forever she was alone. No Billy in her ear, no constant whining, no needy bullshit. Just Kayla laying on Finn Whelans couch, her legs up and over the side as she stared over at the television. She sighed, contented, happy, this was the life. She turned her gaze around the room, popping up to her feet while tilting her head looking out and through the large glass windows down onto central park.

Soon the fall leaves would be replaced by harsh, cold snow. Soon the city would be a winter wonderland. How romantic. She chuckled and moved across the hardwood floors, her feet taking her around as she slowly imagined how she will decorate the apartment. Not how she would. How she will. She looked into her light reflection from the windows, her hand coming up over her chest as she pushed her lips together, talking to herself in her british accent. “Yes, it’s Kayla, Kayla O’Hanlon….but that’s Mrs O’Hanlon..” She chuckled again, using Finn Whelans real last name. She sighed heavily. She missed him.

Being alone wasn;’t really what she wanted, she was just happy to be away from Billy. And standing here in Finns apartment was her idea of heaven. But, he wasn’t there. Finn had business at Wolfslair, that stupid little gym owned by one of the men that had once had a hand in training Kayla, Alex Jones. She sneered as his name flashed through her mind. Her hands touching the table, dancing around the edge before she looked over at a chest of drawers. Her head tilting as she moved across, the top drawer not completely closed.

She reached down, hooking her fingers inside before “slipping” backwards pulling the draw open. “Oh no…the draw is accidently open…” She peered down, it seemed to be somewhere Finn had just stashed memories and trinkets. A few posters from his past, a photo, torn down the side which was now just himself and Dickie, the third person no longer existing in his mind, but her hand was still visible. Pale, black painted fingernails and gawdy, ugly and cheap looking jewelry that was clearly purchased in bad taste.. “I wonder who that was…whoever it was had a calloused palms…probably no gag reflex either…”

Another picture was under it, a very young looking Finn, and his ex-wife Aaron. Kayla tilted her head again studying it. Finn had a type. It was clear. And Kayla was it. In most ways. Tattoos, a certain dark aesthetic. But, she was more, ample, in most places that Aaron wasn’t, she turned again into the mirror this time, sizing up her own body. “I mean, who wouldn’t” She muttered with a smirk, but then a buzz broke her fantasy. The doorbell.

She moved over, pressing the intercom, looking through the camera before snarling and grinding her teeth together. “Sorry we don’t want any.”

“KAYLA!...I know you’re in there!” Tasmin Richards, Kayla's younger sister and the black sheep of the family, ironic since she was the only blond, stood in the hallway. Kayla groaned and pressed the button to allow her to come in. Tasmin stomped through the door, her arms folding over her chest as her eyebrows raised. “Legit, what the shit Kayla? I called Billys to talk to you and he started crying and whimpering…for a second I thought you were dead or something…” Kayla just stayed silent and shook her head. She hadn’t told anyone that she and Billy had broken up last week, and clearly neither had he. “And who the fucks apartment is this?.Why are you here and…oh wow are they polished cedar floors?”

“Yeah, really expensive so don’t scuff my fucking finish…”

Tasmin blinked a few times and shook her head. “What is going on with you? You and Billy broke up, fine, but you don’t tell any of us where you’re going and what you’re doing? You just bounce? And then this place?..”

Kayla folded her arms over her chest matching Tasmins stern look. “How did you find me exactly?”

Tasmin swallowed and shrugged. “A friend called me.”

“A friend?”

We flash back to earlier in the day, Tasmin holding her phone with an eyebrow raised. “What? How do you know she’s there Dickie? And whose apartment is this?......wh-why are you laughing?...DON’T YOU HANG UP ON ME!”

Kayla sneers and shakes her head rolling her eyes and mumbling under her breath. “Little shit” Tasmin turned and walked toward the table. Kayla looked up startled. SHIT THE PICTURE.

“Oh…I see….” Tasmin held it up with a raised eyebrow. Dickie and Finn, She looked disappointed, Kayla shrugged. She had nothing to say. “This is Finn Whelans place. You broke up with Billy, disappeared off the map and came to Finn. Are you to..like…boyfriend and girlfriend?”

“No”

Tasmin scrunched her face up and looked disgusted. “Are you to just…doing it then?”

Kayla looked blankly at her sister, annoyed and stunned at her accusations. “It?”

“You know…sex?”

“Tasmin…” Kayla steps forward, reaching out and grabbing her baby sister by the shoulders.”You are a twenty four year old woman, in a committed relationship, you are six weeks pregnant. Stop it”

Tasmin grumbled and shook her head. “Don’t change the subject.”

“OH MY GOD. NO TASMIN. I am not whoring myself out to stay here…jesus christ you’re worse than mum!”

Tasmin looked shocked and put her hand to her chest. “Well maybe you should of told us where you were then KAY!”

“Am I…interrupting?” Kayla and Tasmin turn, Finn stands in the doorway, keys in hand. Tasmin turned red, Kayla turned pale. Tasmin looked awkward, Kayla looked annoyed.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough…ya filthy ho…”

Acidic Bitch

“Well this should be boring…”

Kayla paces back and forth, her hands on her hips. Annoyed at the situation.

“Last time I stepped in the ring I destroyed TJ Alexander. Which, if I’m being honest we all thought was going to happen. TJ, while being an incredible athlete isn’t really what I would call a challenge to someone of my stature. See, I should be PWE world champion, I should be going one on one with Vhodka Black, not that self hating whiny fat fuck Allen Chaney. Me. I should still be undefeated in this company and I would have been if not for my sister.”

“Betsy Granger didn’t beat me. Tasmin beat me. Betsy Granger was lucky, that’s it. And I got back to my winning ways in the ring against TJ at the last victory and how am I rewarded? Am I rewarded by facing a challenge worthy of who I am? Am I rewarded by facing someone like Vincent Black or Tara or Zoey? No, of course not. I am “rewarded” by facing a woman who is as hot and cold as a TV dinner in a weak ass microwave.”

“I get to face Acid Beth..”

“OOoo so scary…”

Kayla waves her hand in a dismissive and annoyed fashion.

“Should honestly call her Half-assed Beth. Half assed wrestling performances, half assed bad ass moments, half assed at putting on her damn face paint. But how do you face someone who is so self deprecating? How do I look at her and find something to say about her that is negative aside from the fact she is, in all honestly. Lazy?”

“Beth, I heard you talk about how people think you can’t have it all together mentally. But if I’m being honest I don’t think you have it together mentally, physically or emotionally.”

“You’re one of those people who is just happy to be here. Not someone who wants to be the best or prove they belong. Someone who turns up, collects their paycheck and goes home. That is not the type of person anyone wants in their company. I’m here, to destroy you. I’m here to send a message. You see, Beth, I am going to become the champion one day. I am going to break this stupid ban by becoming un fucking deniable.”

“Unstoppable…”

“Unbelievable…”

Whereas you, my sweet little face painted latina, are going to be uninspired, unnerved and unimpressive. It’s a fact, it’s the truth and when you get in the ring with me at Victory Ten, you’ll know it and feel it….I am going to break you and I will do it with a smile on my face…”