Friday, August 17, 2018
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
The Home of Christina Zdunich
9:04 AM PDT


Seleana Zdunich sits on the couch aimlessly flipping through channels as she waits to see what the day’s plans end up being. The week had already been eventful with both her wife and herself going to the doctor to see how their respective injuries were doing. The doctor had told Seleana her nose should be fine while Christina had told her that the doctor’s said the arm attack wasn’t that bad and that she would be fine as well. Now, as she sits here hoping for some quiet, Seleana’s wife, the owner of the house, Christina Zdunich, walks in and sits down next to her on the couch.  

Christina Zdunich: Hey, Chickie!

Seleana smiles at her wife as she mutes the television.

Seleana Zdunich: Hej Chickie!

Christina nods approvingly at the now silent screen.

Christina Zdunich: Hey, Honey Bun, how are you?

Seleana shrugs as she sets the remote down.

Seleana Zdunich: Okej, how are you?

Christina nods slightly impatiently and yet, nothing out of the ordinary for her.

Christina Zdunich: I’m well.

Seleana can’t help but smile broadly. She always loved to hear that her wife was feeling well even when she had a distinct reason to believe it might not be the whole picture of truth.

Seleana Zdunich: How is arm?

Christina nods.

Christina Zdunich: It’s good…

She shrugs, a playful smirk crossing her beautiful face.

Christina Zdunich: Good enough to please you.

Seleana’s eyes flash as Christina gives her a knowing grin.

Seleana Zdunich: I am glad neither of us was hurt that badly.

Christina leans over and kisses Seleana passionately.

Christina Zdunich: I love you, Babe!

Seleana can’t help but bask in the afterglow of the kiss, that warm feeling she can’t get enough of just flowing over her as they sit there together.

Seleana Zdunich: I love you.

Her hand finds Christina’s and they fold together.

Seleana Zdunich: So, will you explain football to me some time?

Christina almost laughs as she nods.

Christina Zdunich: Yeah, I know you will be good. You are tall.

Seleana snickers.

Seleana Zdunich: You said that before basketball too.

Christian frowns at this mention.

Christina Zdunich: Basketball?

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: On the cruise.

Christina nods, her free hand coming over to pat Selean’s as she continues to hold onto it.

Christina Zdunich: Just trust in me.

Seleana leans over and kisses Christina again just as Christina ahd kissed her earlier.

Seleana Zdunich: I am. That’s why I played on the cruise and why I play now. Is really like rugby?

Christina nods, barely considering the question.

Christina Zdunich: Yeah a bit.

She squeezes Seleana’s hand encouragingly.

Christina Zdunich: So what do you wanna do today, my lovely wife?

Seleana smirks back the way Christina usually smirks at her.

Seleana Zdunich: Beside you?

Christina sits back in mock surprise.

Christina Zdunich: Oh you wanna fuck me?

Seleana smiles, clearly loving this.

Seleana Zdunich: ¡Cómo no!  

Christina moves in and the two get to business.  


Friday, August 17, 2018
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
The Home of Christina Zdunich
3:01 PM PDT


Seleana walks around the living room of the house, pacing as she considers what to do next. The announcement of her next match in Sin City Wrestling against Amy Santino in the Gold Rush Tournament had left her practically sweating bullets whenever she had time to actually focus on the match. Amy Santino’s résumé spoke for itself, especially when placed next to Selerana’s, a fact that was more than  little disheartening when she looked at the two on paper next to each other. Finally, after a good twenty minutes, Seleana stops pacing and dials a number to the apartment of her cousin in New York City, Alexi “Storm Zdunich-Priest and Alexi’s husband, Robbie Priest. With both having been active in wrestling for years, Robbie being a multi-time champion himself, one of them would be able to give her some advice.  

Robbie Priest: Priest residence, Robbie speaking.

Seleana closes her eyes at the sound of Robbie’s voice. This was going to be better than she’d hoped.

Seleana Zdunich: Robbie!

Robbie’s surprised voice answers her almost immediately.

Robbie Priest: Sel?

Seleana nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja!

The surprise is quickly replaced by happiness.

Robbie Priest: Are you calling for Alexi or Scarlett, Love?

Seleana bites her bottom lip for a second and then nods to nothing in particular, hoping this won’t come off as awkward as she feared it would.

Seleana Zdunich: I… you.

The surprise in his voice returns with a vengeance.

Robbie Priest: Me?

Seleana nods, again to nothing in particular.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja.

Robbie pauses for a second and then his voice comes back, audibly curious.

Robbie Priest: I must confess to being intrigued. To what do I owe the pleasure?

Seleana steels herself.

Seleana Zdunich: I have a match…

Robbie Priest: Right… ?

She sighs heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: It’s another opportunity…

Trailing off, she knew she needed a better explanation for how she was feeling, but what would do?

Seleana Zdunich: And it’s against someone who has literally done it all here in Sin City Wrestling. She’s a legend and she’s back…

She starts to trail off again but Robbie is able to fill in the blanks himself.

Robbie Priest: And you don’t know how to handle this?

Slightly relieved, Seleana nods vacantly.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m honored, I’m…

Again, she starts to trail off and Robbie fills in a blank for her.

Robbie Priest: Starstruck?

Seleana shrugs. Was this what she was really feeling?

Seleana Zdunich: Maybe…

As she goes quiet, Robbie sighs in almost fatherly fashion.

Robbie Priest: What’s really wrong, Love?

Seleana looks up to the ceiling, fear and shame filling her mind.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

She shakes her head, biting her lip again.

Seleana Zdunich: I feel like I’m…

Unable to find the words for ehr admission, she shakes her head again, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Robbie Priest: It’s alright, Love…

She can’t help but smile at Robbie’s reassurance. This was one of the many reasons the entire Zdunich clan had taken to him when he’d married Alexi nearly a decade ago.

Seleana Zdunich: I feel like I’m letting Christina and Brittany down. I mean, Christina has been a champion I don’t know how many times including here not long ago. Brittany was just the Bombshell Roulette Champion here as well and I…

Again, Robbie is able to fill in the blanks for her before she even finds the blank is there.

Robbie Priest: And you’re still trying to play catch-up?

Seleana nods, grateful for his insight.

Seleana Zdunich: Yeah…

Robbie lets out a soft snicker as he continues.

Robbie Priest: Sel, you’re only been wrestling for what, eight months’ time?

Seleana nods again.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja…

Another small snicker escapes Robbie’s lips.

Robbie Priest: And you trained what, two months before that?

Seleana barely moves.

Seleana Zdunich: One.

Robbie lets out a full-fledged laugh.

Robbie Priest: Sel, for someone who’s only barely even been in this country for a year and only been working as an athlete in a professional sense for eight months, you’ve done splendidly! No one is a world champion right off, especially not after they spend ten years working overseas in an animal preserve beforehand. When first got to the States, you were looking at working at places like the Georgia Aquarium and Busch Gardens, were you not?

Seleana nods as she takes this all in.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja.

Robbie Priest: Stop beating yourself up for things beyond your control. You’ve found that you’re talented and very good at this. You’ve even achieved championship opportunities despite being targeted because of who your wife is, yes?

Seleana shrugs, nodding yet again.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja…

Robbie Priest: Hold your head up, Lass. You’ve done more in your first eight months than I did and look at how I turned out once I knew what i was doing.

Seleana manages a small smile.

Seleana Zdunich: Four world championships?

Robbie Priest: Five with a chance at a sixth this weekend in Toronto.

Seleana starts to nod slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: So, you are saying I…

Robbie Priest: I’m saying you shouldn’t worry about your exact win/loss record, Lass. Look at what you’ve accomplished. You walked into one company with no experience and did well enough that when that company closed on you another had a job practically waiting for you and you’re still there, earning opportunities that others would kill for. Just continue to do what you are doing, learning and improving as you go and everything will work out fine for you.

The smile expands and intensifies.

Seleana Zdunich: This is what I was calling you for, Robbie. Tack…

Robbie Priest: My pleasure, Love. Good luck in your upcoming match.

Seleana Zdunich: And you in yours.

She ends the call and then ponders this as she walks into the next room, smiling as she goes.


Friday, August 17, 2018
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
The Home of Christina Zdunich
5:00 PM PDT

The camera opens to show Seleana Zdunich standing in the living room of the home, the signal coming from a phone on the end of a selfie stick. Seleana nods to the camera respefully.

Seleana Zdunich: Amy Santino…

She nods in acknowledgement to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: First, I want to thank you for actually talking to me instead of Christina. That seems to be a common tact no matter where I go, that people decide they will take pot shots at my wife and that’s all that needs to be said.

She looks down and then back to the camera, nodding again just as she had before.

Seleana Zdunich: So thank you for not going that route this time. You are a legend and you hardly need to go after somebody you are not even fighting in order to do this.

Considering her thoughts carefully, Seleana switches hands with the selfie stick, her free one  extending up as if it will start counting soon.  

Seleana Zdunich: Second, you are correct in saying I have had an opportunity already. In, fact, I have had three since entering Sin City Wrestling.

The index finger of the free hand stands up.

Seleana Zdunich: The first was in a match with my step-daughter and several others who don’t matter in the end for a chance at the Bombshell Roulette Championship. Brittany won and went on to win that championship.

A second finger joins its mate.

Seleana Zdunich: My second one was in that Ultimate X match you referred to but Dani Weston did not win that match.

She pauses, her head dropping almost in shame.

Seleana Zdunich: Christina did.

A third finger joins the others.

Seleana Zdunich: Then I was afforded a chance at the Bombshell Roulette Championship and we spun First Blood rules. The Champion retained when she attempted to break my face with a kendo stick and managed to make me bleed from the nose some feared was broken at the time.

Hee free hand absently moves to rub at her face, particularly the bridge of her nose. As soon as she realizes what she’s doing, her hand pulls away.

Seleana Zdunich: Thankfully, I was not injured as badly as was feared but now, here we are, in this Gold Rush Tournament where I am fortunate enough to draw you in the first round.

Sher nods respectfully again.

Seleana Zdunich: I am fortunate because, no matter what anyone else says, I am still a rookie in this sport and any chance I am allowed to step into the ring with someone on your level is a win/win situation for me. No matter what, I learn and get better just for having the chance to wrestle you and if i win…

She shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: Then I’ve earned a victory over a legend and done more to prove I’m more than just Crystal Hilton’s Swedish trophy wife the way so many seem to think is the absolute gospel truth.

Sighing heavily, Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: I have tried and tried to prove to these people that I am my own woman but so many seem to only focus on things i know nothing of that happened when I was still in New Zealand. They do not care that nothing Christina has ever done is a reflection on me, especially what happened before I ever met her last autumn when we were both coming off…

Looking back up to the camera, she shrugs, hoping not to have to explain further.

Seleana Zdunich: Well, we were both alone…

She looks away momentarily, coming back only after she’s managed to regain herself.        

Seleana Zdunich: I am looking forward to this match, Amy. Win and I move on in the Gold Rush Tournament. Win, and I take one more step to showing the world I belong but more importantly, win and I’ve defeated a legend in this company.

A smile forms on her face as she thinks of the whole situation.

Seleana Zdunich: But even if I lose, I know i will be better than when I walked into the match, so thank you, Amy. Thank you for coming back and thank you for giving me this golden opportunity.

She nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich: let us make the most of this, ja?

 On-Camera

The camera opens on the Atrium of the Sun Princess with a young woman dressed in a blue suit jacket and matching skirt with a white shirt underneath and heels that she really doesn’t seem to enjoy wearing at the moment. She flings her black, curly hair off her shoulders, her chocolate skin almost glowing in the lights.

I: Got to be someone…

She starts to turn from her cameraman and catches sight of Seleana Zdunich starting across the room, looking up at the grand staircases. Almost immediately upon seeing Seleana, the woman starts waving frantically to get the Swedish woman’s attention.  

I: Hey, Seleana? Seleana Zdunich?  

Seleana starts looking around the source of the sound and the woman continues to wave her down.

I: Seleana Zdunich!

Seleana turns and spots her, nodding to, visibly questioning from where she’s standing. The woman nods back and waves her over.

I: Can we have a word?

Seleana smiles and walks over to her, pleased as punch to be asked to do something like this here.

Seleana Zdunich: Sure!

She gets in closer and the woman nods to her cameraman. He nods, and gives he he thumbs up sign when he gets the shot focused on both of them.

I: Rosana Coleman, Wrestlegeeks.com, I’m here with Sin City Wrestling competitor, Seleana “The Cat” Zdunich, in the atrium of the Sun Princess for Sin City Wrestling’s Summer XXXTreme 6 and Seleana, what do you think of the Sun Princess so far?

Seleana can’t hide the ear to ear grin that is all but welded to her face at the moment.

Seleana Zdunich: Oh goodness, this is beautiful! I’ve never been on one of these and it really is quite extraordinary! This place has everything one could possibly want for a holiday. I don’t feel like I’m at work at all for this, I really feel like I’m on holiday and since this is the first week after my wedding, it’s quite the honeymoon trip. What more could I ask for?

Rosana nods and the two look around to take in the full scope of the scene.

Rosana Coleman: How is married life treating you?

Somehow, Seleana’s smile actually manages to increase in both intensity and luminosity.

Seleana Zdunich: It’s been just awesome! Christina is everything I have ever dreamed of. She’s made me so happy…

She pauses and just shakes her head, entire body kind of going with it for a second as she quickly searches for a proper description.

Seleana Zdunich: I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s the greatest feeling in the world when the one person who means more to you than the world says she feels the same back to you and proclaims it to and in front of the world. The fact that Brittany and I get on so well…

She clasps her hands together and shakes her head in awed disbelief before swinging her arms out wide.  

Seleana Zdunich: I didn’t think life could get any better than what I already had and they’ve proven me wrong. Now I just look at them both and think, “Det här är min familj! This is MY family! How did I get so lucky?”

Pausing, she points around the atrium.

Seleana Zdunich: I ask the same thing about even being here. How did I get so lucky that a person like me, a person who is not a natural athlete in terms of I did not grow up playing all of them the way my wife did or even just concentrating on this one as a young woman the way my cousin, Alexi, did or the way my cousin, Maja Lindström, is…

She trails off, her eyes going a little vacant as she stares off into the distance, taking in the majesty of the room they are standing in.

Seleana Zdunich: How did the woman who so obsessed with animals that I went across the world to work at a place like Orana Park in New Zealand, who was looking at working at places like Busch Gardens in Tampa or the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, how did that woman end up here? How did that woman end up in L.A.W. before that right away and then have a job offer basically waiting for her when L.A.W. closed despite the fact that I was an over aged rookie that has never accomplished anything when it comes to championships get this lucky?

Rosana shrugs.

Rosana Coleman: What do you mean by that?

Seleana smiles like a small child that’s been caught red-handed doing something they know they’re not supposed to be doing but love it anyway.      

Seleana Zdunich: Competitors like me aren’t supposed to get things like that. You’re supposed to have to kill yourself to get into the sport and then kill yourself some more to prove you belong and then,  maybe, you get an opportunity to try out for a company and then hope you don’t get lost in the shuffle.

She shrugs and then smiles as she sees her wife, Christina Zdunich, making her way towards them.

Seleana Zdunich: And here she comes now…

Christina walks up and embraces her wife, kissing her lovingly.

Christina Zdunich: Are you ready to come back over there and do this?

Seleana can’t help but smile.

Seleana Zdunich: Are we going to the gym then?

Christina shakes her head.

Christina Zdunich: No…

She pauses and then shrugs.

Christina Zdunich: Well, sort of, but not really.

Seleana nods to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: So, shall we tell the world what we are to do now?

Christina turns, sees the camera and brightens immediately.

Christina Zdunich: Of course, you see, preceding the wonders that you will all behold when we have our Ultimate X Battle Royal for the right to challenge Mikah for the Bombshell Championship…

She pauses and leans in, grinning half-playfully.

Christina Zdunich: Which, of course, I will be winning…

Seleana’s smile stays right where it is, visibly pleased to see and hear her wife talking like this.

Christina Zdunich: Yeah, sorry, Dani, Aviana, Apple, Portia…

Christian nods back to Seleana.  

Christina Zdunich: And my wife, who will turn some heads as we do that!

Seleana nods gratefully.

Christina Zdunich: And then I go on to defeat Mikah and become the four-time champion we all know I should be! But…

She nods to the camera knowingly.

Christina Zdunich: First, the Hollywood Angels, myself and my wife, will team up with Team Hero, the hosts of Summer XXXTreme 6, Roxi and Keira Johnson, to take on the UConn girls in basketball here in re-match, double or nothing! We’re coming for you, Lady Huskies, and this time, we WILL get you!

Rosana stares at the two of them with her mouth open.

Rosana Coleman: What’s the double or nothing?

Christina smirks.

Christina Zdunich: It just means we would have lost of assistants for the weekend!

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: And if we lose, we’d owe them auto…

Christina shakes her head, cutting off her wife and raising a hand towards the camera.

Christina Zdunich: It doesn’t matter because we are not losing this one! You guys just follow my lead, we use you to post up and everything will work out fine! We’re even gonna find a couple of others so we can rotate players because there’s actually six of them here and the other two wanna play this time! And then after we win, we go on to the Ultimate X Battle Royal and we show the world that I’m still Crystal Hilton and it’s on like Donkey Kong!

Rosana nods cheerily.

Rosana Coleman: You heard it here first folks, high stakes on the high seas!

The camera nods a cut and starts away.


Off-Camera

Rosana Coleman: Thanks for the exclusive and good luck with everything!

She wanders off and Seleana just stares at Christina, who is busy watching Rosana leave. After a few seconds, Christina turn back around.

Christina Zdunich: we are not losing!

Seleana nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: When are playing again?

Christina shrugs.

Christina Zdunich: Couple of hours. We had to reserve the court and give everybody a chance to be warmed up and stuff. Now, I gotta go tell Rox and Keira, you go find us a couple of more players.

Seleana’s jaw drops.

Seleana Zdunich: You didn’t tell them first?

Christina shakes her head.

Christina Zdunich: Always better to ask for forgiveness than permission on something like this. If you want something like this bad enough, you just gotta go for it.

Seleana frowns, confusion written all over her face.

Seleana Zdunich: What if they say no?

Christian nods to the camera crew walking away.

Christina Zdunich: Well, I kinda just got to say on TV that they were doing it so it’ll look like they backed out. Don’t worry, they won’t back out. They’re competitive just like me, so it’ll be on. We just need you to find us two more.

Seleana’s confusion grows.

Seleana Zdunich: Why me?

Christian can’t help but smile.

Christina Zdunich: Because I’m gonna be busy giving Roxi and keira the pep talk to end all pep talks! Besides, you’re really good at making friends fast so you’ll find them no problem!  

Christina leans forward and kisses her wife.

Christina Zdunich: You’re gonna do great, I gotta go tell Rox and Keira that we’re gonna kick some ass!

Christina heads off in the opposite direction, leaving Seleana standing there in stunned silence. She allows her head to fall back so that she’s looking at the ceiling, her arms outstretched as if begging the heavens for answers.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!  

Shaking her head, Seleana is startled by the return of Rosana and the camera.


On-Camera

Rosana Coleman: What does that mean?  

Seleana looks Rosana in the eyes and frowns in confusion all over again.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m sorry?

Rosana nods to her.

Rosana Coleman: What you just said, what does it mean?

Seleana replays the last few minutes in her head and then nods, looking ashamed.

Seleana Zdunich: It means I have said something I should not have said in public where a camera can see and hear me do so. I am sorry, I should not have said it.

Rosana nods, now even more eager than before.

Rosana Coleman: So what does it mean?

Seleana exhales.

Seleana Zdunich: It is a Swedish saying, “For the devil in hell!” It is a popular phrase for use when one has nothing else to say.

Rosana nods slowly.

Rosana Coleman: You don’t look happy with this turn of events.

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: It is a surprise, one I was not expecting.

She pauses and nods in acknowledgement.

Seleana Zdunich: Yes, I know that is definition of surprise but this was not what i was expecting to be worried about. I was expecting to be thinking of our Ultimate X Battle Royal match with a shot at Mikah as the prize. I thought we would be thinking about one of us would be the one to win and prove Mikah wrong because she holds no respect for any of us. She calls my wife psycho, she talks down to Dani and Aviana. She talks down to me. Apple and Portia are both too new for her to care about either of them so no matter who wins, she will expect that none of us have the slightest prayer because so many of us are new or inexperienced, or both and because she feels my wife is now beneath her. She does not think of any of us capable of so much as hanging with her, much less defeating her and yet…

She sighs heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: Now I must focus on a basketball game where should we lose we will owe them so many autographs, memorabilia and VIP treatment that I do not know where it will even start, much elss where it will end. We already played them once and we played poorly as a team and thus we owe them many, many things already. Now we must fix what went wrong and find two others players and discover chemistry and do it all in only a few hours’ time. This will not be easy but we must try, the same way both Christina and I must try in our match and as our daughter must try in her match. People are all looking at us and expecting us to fail, expecting su to be humiliated in the attempt and subsequent failure and that this will end us but they have no found a way to kill the rooster yet! They have come for Christina many times. They have come for Brittany and they have come for me and yet we are still here, we are all still fighting for championships and standing despite what most say about us! So f you will excuse me, thank you for time and attention, but I must excuse myself to go do my part for the game today.  

She nods and walks off.


Off-Camera.

Seleana heads up towards the suite she is sharing with her new wife when she finds a young but tall blonde woman standing by the door, barefoot, in blue jeans and a slashed black In This Moment t-shirt. Seleana stares at her and then walks up.

Seleana Zdunich: Halo?

The woman, Haylie Jo “Halo” Annis nods sheepishly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Hi.

Seleana frowns deeply.

Seleana Zdunich: What are you doing here, Sweetheart?

Halo shrugs, looking nervous.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I’m B-Brat’s plus one… I…

She bites her lip, looking as if she might lose her mind any second now.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I was looking for her. I was trying to leave a tray outside the room and kinda locked myself out. She said she had an interview or somethin’ to do so I came lookin’ for her, got lost and then found myself near the only other room number I know of on here cause she told me.  She’s gonna be so mad at me…

Seleana takes the young woman into her arms and hugs her tightly.

Seleana Zdunich: Sssh, it’s alright. Come into the suite. I will text Brittany to come get you. Everything will be fine, you’ve done nothing wrong.

Seleana opens her suite and Halo walks inside. Seleana closes the door behind them and the two women sit on the bed.

Seleana Zdunich: How long have you been… together?

Halo’s eyes go wide terror but Seleana quickly raises her hands to calm the young lady.

Seleana Zdunich: As I said, it is alright, you’ve done nothing wrong.

Seleana cocks her head interrogatively.

Seleana Zdunich: Why are you so worried?

Halo slumps forward slightly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I wasn’t supposed to leave the room much. We’re supposed to be DL and all. Sort of like her and Jordan…

Her hands snap up to cover her mouth in shock, her eyes moistening as she sits there stewing in her own fears and worries.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Oh God, please don’t tell her you know or that…

Her hans fall away from her mouth and she smacks herself in the face.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I’m such an idiot! I knew better and got myself locked out and now I might lose it all!

As Halo looks as if she might start bawling right there, Seleana confused curiosity only heightens. What could possibly be causing such a reaction in this young woman?

Seleana Zdunich: Lose it all?

Halo barely nods, her entire body seemingly gripping hard on the bed.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: My last relationship… didn’t end so wonderful, ok? I’m, not supposed to get stuff like this, ok? I’m from the middle of nowhere in Tennessee. My Mama’s dead, my Daddy’s a useless gambler and I’m a homeless vagrant that probably should be a drug addict but for the fact that I can’t afford it! I never finished high school because I was stupid and liked to go out, the name is supposed to one of those bad ironic jokes… like when you call a big fat guy, “Tiny.” My parents tried to send me to a convent to straight me out and I got thrown out of there too because I was still an unholy terror. The only time I’ve tried not to be, was with Logan and with Brittany. I love Logan and now I’m gonna lose her, I just know it!    

Seleana can’t believe what she’s hearing.

Seleana Zdunich: Honey…

Halo shakes her head, the tears starting now.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I’m not supposed to know about Jordan but, come on, we’re teenagers, subtlety isn’t exactly our greatest thing, you know? I know I wasn’t supposed to tell you… I…

She falls forward, looking like she might retch right there.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: God help me….I love her and I’m so gonna…

Seleana stares at the younger woman in shock.

Seleana Zdunich: Does she know?

Halo sits up, trying not to sob uncontrollably.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Know?

Seleana nods to her.

Seleana Zdunich: Does Brittany know you love her?

Halo stares at her, suddenly looking confused as well as scared.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I.. don’t… know?

Seleana nods and then starts punching buttons on her phone.

Seleana Zdunich: You don’t think you deserve her, do you?

Halo’s bottom lip starts quivering.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I…

Seleana nods, finishes off her message and sends off the text. Setting the phone down, she hugs Halo.

Seleana Zdunich: Sssh, I know… it’s alright. You just need to tell Brittany how you feel and what you want. You said you know about Jordan, what do you know?

Halo looks Seleana dead in her eyes.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: That she’s still dating him some too… and I don’t care. I’ll wait. I’m not gonna put her on the spot. I love her and she’s worth waiting for!

Seleana nods and presses a button on her phone. Halo looks over at it and then back to Seleana.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What???

Before an answer can come, a knock on the door sounds. Seleana stands up, walks over and opens the door to show Brittany Williams standing there.

Seleana Zdunich: Come on in, Brittany. I think you’ve misplaced something in the hallway.

Brittany sees Halo sitting there and starts to raise a hand but Seleana waves it off.

Seleana Zdunich: It is alright. One, I’m sure your mother knows, she is not as self-absorbed and neglectful as everyone else seems to think she is. Two, We will tell her…

She motions to Brittany and Halo.

Seleana Zdunich: When and if you are ready.

Halo nods while Brittany hugs her. Seleana smiles and then nods to the door.

Seleana Zdunich: Now, I need to know one thing, Haylie Jo…

Halo looks up at her, her new fright in the younger blonde woman’s eyes.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Have you ever played basketball before?

Halo mods tentatively.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: In high school.

Seleana nods, smiling.

Seleana Zdunich: And you are five foot ten as well?

Halo nods almost blindly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Yes’m.

Seleana can’t smile broadly enough.

Seleana Zdunich: Ok, you take a second with each other, then we need to go get your shoes.

Halo stares at Seleana in confusion. Brittany looks the same way for a second before nodding knowingly.

Brittany Williams: Mom wants to go double or nothing, doesn’t she?

Seleana nods and Brittany just shakes her head.

Brittany Williams: And she expects us to bail her out?

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: No, she expects me to find two other players and I’m asking the two of you to be those players. Let us go have some family fun here.

She smirks playfully, knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich: Besides, do you know how crazy it will drive your mother… while also making her take great pride… if you help her and she owes you one?

Brittany’s mouth falls open as she stares at her step-mother.

Brittany Williams: You little genius…  

Seleana smiles as Halo starts to look between them.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I… don’t…

Brittany turns to her and kisses her.

Brittany Williams: Come on, we need to get your shoes. We got a game to win!

Halo cocks her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: We do?

Brittany nods.

Brittany Williams: We do.

Seleana walks over and hugs them both.

Seleana Zdunich: Let us go, ja?

Both girls nod and stand up off the bed. They follow Seleana out and over the course of the next hour, they make a pit stop at their room ro get the proper shoes and then follow Seleana to the basketball court. After warming up, Christina, Roxi and Keira show up as well as the UConn ladies. This time, it’s the UConn ladies who play poorly, throwing the ball away in their overconfidence. After the game is over, Christina walks over to her bag and produces the autographs the ladies had all wanted.

Christina Zdunich: Here you go.

Pictures are taken and as they start off the court, Seleana leans in to her wife.

Seleana Zdunich: You had those all along, didn’t you?

Christina nods.

Christina Zdunich: Today, yes.

Seleana smiles and Christina nods to Brittany and Halo.

Christina Zdunich: What’s the story there?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I don’t know yet. Could be nothing…

Christina nods understandingly.

Christina Zdunich: Thank you, Babe, knew i could lead us to victory if you all did your parts.

Seleana smiles and kisses her wife.

Seleana Zdunich: I love you.

Christina Zdunich: I love you too.
 

     





 

 Walking down a darkened hallway, Seleana Zdunich tries to get her eyes to focus. She glances down to see her feet are bare and she’s wearing what looks like a small blue bikini. Stopping there in her tracks, she stares at the bikini.

Seleana Zdunich: Var kom det där ifrån? (Where did it come from?)

As she goes to touch it, a crash is heard to her left. Turning her head to face that direction, her gaze falls upon a door she had not seen there before. Her right hand reaches out and gropes for a doorknob, finally finding on the third attempt to grasp it in the dark. She goes to turn it but it laughs back at her.

Door: Ha...Ha… Ha…

Seleana’s hand falls away from the door in shock. Did the door really just laugh at her?  

Seleana Zdunich: Vad är det här för ställe? (What is this place?)

The door laughs again, dark and cruel.

Door: Ha Ha Ha… You want no part of this!

As Seleana steps back, taken aback from the sound coming from the door, she notices white lace hanging from her arms. Looking down, her bikini has changed to a white wedding dress.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad? (What?)

She turns, looking at the dress she’s wearing in stunned disbelief.

Seleana Zdunich: Var kom detta ifrån? (Where did this come from?)

Door: You know where! Turn away now, Little Cat! Turn and run like you know you should! Turn and run before the building shakes and everything falls to ruin!

Seleana steps back and just as the door had said, the building starts to shake. Seleana lets out a scream.

Seleana Zdunich: NEJ!!! (No!!!)

Her breathing starts to quicken, her heart pounding rapidly.

Seleana Zdunich: Jordbävning?!!? (Earthquake?!!?)

The door starts laughing even more.

Door: Hahahahahaha! And it’s all your fault!

Seleana falls to her knees, covering her head with her arms as the shaking intensifies.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag är inte Gud! (I’m not God!)

The shaking intensifies further, pieces of the ceiling falling all around her.

Door: So be it…

The door starts to open, revealing giant, sharpened teeth, opening wide as water starts to spill from the all. Seleana screams, desperately trying to swim from the door’s gaping maw.

Door: Proceed… on your way to oblivion.

Seleana tries to swim away, paddling furiously but the water rushes in and pushes her into the opening and the doors jaws smash down around her. Seleana tumbles, screaming as she falls.

Seleana Zdunich: Hjälp mig!!!! HJÄLP MIG!!!! HJÄLP MIG!!!!  (Help me! HELP ME! HELP ME!)

Seleana crashes into something and opens her eyes to find herself in a darkened room. She brushes something from her face and realizes it’s the veil from her dress. As she looks up, she sees three long-haired figures in what look like matching black dresses. She squints to try and make the figures out when a realization strikes her.

Seleana Zdunich: Simba? Shenzi?

The figures turn to face her, one with jet black hair, one with fiery red hair and the third with blonde hair. Seleana stands up and notices the three are sitting around what looks like a five-foot tall mountain.

Seleana Zdunich: Eavan?

She starts to move in closer and notices the figures are exactly who she feared they’d be, her friends and bridesmaids-to-be, Stacy Jones, Eavan Maloney and her sister, Zenna Zdunich. The raven-haired one, Stacy, stands up, and reaches to the mountain.

Stacy Jones: Master…

Seleana squints as the blonde one on the far side, Eavan, also stands and reaches for the mountain.

Eavan Maloney: Master…

Finally, the redhead, Zenna, stands and reaches out.

Zenna Zdunich: Bemästra… (Master…)

Seleana rushes over to Zenna and tries to get between her and the mountain.

Seleana Zdunich: Shenzi? Shenzi? Vad händer? (What’s happening?)

Zenna doesn’t flinch and Seleana moves over to Stacy.

Seleana Zdunich: Simba? What is this? What is going on?

Just like Zenna, Stacy doesn’t so much as flinch. Seleana starts to walk over to Eavan when the mount opens its eyes.

Mountain: Come crawling faster…

Seleana stares at the mountain slack-jawed.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad? (What?)

The mountain glares at her angrily.

Mountain: Speak english or die! You are capable, you silly cow!

Seleana steps back and stares at the mountain.

Seleana Zdunich: What are you doing?

The mountain smirks cruelly.

Mountain: I am reclaiming my followers! I pull their strings and they dance for me!

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: No, they are all free of you now!

The Mountain laughs just as the door had earlier.

Mountain: Hahahahaha, fool! They are NEVER free of me! I’m always two steps behind them, and I will always make their life burn faster!  

Seleana shakes her head, stepping back.

Seleana Zdunich: No…

The mountain laughs louder as it bursts into flames, setting Stacy, Eavan and Zenna alight as well.

Mountain: YES!!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!!

The three women all fall to their knees and crawl into the mountain, seemingly burning away as they do.

Mountain: You see, they cannot get enough of me! Blinded by me, they cannot see a thing!

Seleana shakes her head as the fire grows more intense.

Seleana Zdunich: No, no, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Suddenly, the flames die down and the mountain is gone, replaced by three more figures in matching black dresses just as before, only this time, two of them have long blonde hair and the third has a different shade of long red hair than the last. Seleana squints and stares in disbelief.

Seleana Zdunich: Kate? Reya? Kattunge?

She looks closer to see her other three bridesmaids-to-be, the blonde Kate Cornett, the red-haired Reya Serra Cornett and her blonde youngest sister, Katra Zdunich, all staring seemingly into the void before them.

Seleana Zdunich: Kate?

She waves at them but they don’t move at all, just continue to stare forward, all looking vaguely horrified.

Seleana Zdunich: Reya?

She hurries over to Katra and waves in her face.

Seleana Zdunich: Kattunge, what is…?

Footfalls behind her, cause Seleana to turn to see what Kate, Reya and Katra are all looking at. As she turns, her gaze falls upon two figures, one short-haired man and one shoulder-length-haired woman.  

Seleana Zdunich: J… Jami?

She steps back, the same look of horror on her face now as on Kate, Reya and Katra’s faces.

Seleana Zdunich: Twain?

She falls to her knees and stares in shock.

Seleana Zdunich: Det kan inte vara du!  (It cannot be you!)

She stares as Jamilyn and Twain Cornett walk out from the darkness.

Seleana Zdunich: Du är död… (You’re dead…)

Jamilyn and Twain both nod to her.

Twain Cornett: You were supposed to love me!

Seleana stares at him, abject horror written all over her face.

Seleana Zdunich: I do!

Jamilyn crosses her arms.

Jamilyn Cornett: Then why did this happen? Hadn’t this family been through enough? Hadn’t him nearly dying of cancer been enough? Hadn’t me nearly dying in childbirth been enough? Wasn’t Destiny being assaulted enough? Was that not enough blood for you?

Seleana Zdunich: Vad???  (What??)

This only seems to infuriate Jamilyn further.

Jamilyn Cornett: You simpering fucking idiot! DJ was the one who knew languages, not me! Doing that just shows you never loved me like the sister you claimed you did! You have no respect for me!

Seleana can only nod.

Seleana Zdunich: Yes I do!

Jamilyn glares harshly.

Jamilyn Cornett: No you don’t, or you’d speak English like a normal person! You were always too busy looking at people like your precious animals back in Orana Park! You never take the time to look at us as anything other than what amounts to sweet little pets to be taken care of!

Seleana’s bottom jaw starts to quiver.

Seleana Zdunich: You don’t mean…

Twain nods.

Twain Cornett: Yes, she does! You never loved us but you are too happy to steal our family!

Twain and Jamilyn point simultaneously to Kate and Reya.

Twain Cornett: There they stand, waiting to help you forget all about me as if I never existed! Even Mama Red is gonna be standing on the other side helping you bury my memory further!

Seleana shakes her head, tears starts to flow from her eyes.

Twain Cornett: You could have stopped me!

Her eyes go wider at this statement as Twain glares at her, Jamilyn glaring in kind by his side.

Twain Cornett: You could have stopped all of it! You could have kept me from going to Florida for business! You could have kept me from going during a hurricane! Because of that, it’s your fault I got murdered! It’s your fault that I’m gone and you could move on! You never wanted to marry me!

Jamilyn nods her hate-filled agreement.

Jamilyn Cornett: And what about me? How much did I need to suffer before you would even look at me as anything more than something to be used and tossed away?

Seleana shakes her head, now terrified as well as horrified.    

Seleana Zdunich: But… you said…

The room starts to shake and all of the people in the room with her start to melt into piles of ashes. Seleana covers her head as the ceiling starts to fall on them piece by piece!

Seleana Zdunich: Sluta!  SLUTA!!!!  (Stop it! STOP IT!!!!)

The shaking comes to a stop and Seleana continues to just hold her head, almost kissing her own knees. She coninutes shaking on her own, terrified to look up. As she continues to shake, she slowly looks up into the room. The piles of ash are gone and so is all the debris from the ceiling.

Seleana Zdunich: What?

She looks around the room nervously, and then sits up straight. Just as she starts to get off her knees, another figure, this one slightly smaller with long almost curly hair, comes walking into the room. Seleana’s eyes narrow as she stares at the person coming in.

Seleana Zdunich: B-Brat?

Her eyes focus and the visage of her stepdaughter-to-be, Brittany Williams, comes into view.

Brittany Williams: You desperate old hag!

Seleana’s falls back onto her ass in shock.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Brittany shakes her head angrily.

Brittany Williams: Stop pretending you know me or anything else! You know you have no idea!

Seleana reaches up and Brittany backs out of her reach.

Brittany Williams: No talking your way out of this. When that Apple hits you in the head, you will know the gravity of the situation!

Seleana leans forward, making it up to her knees.

Seleana Zdunich: Brittany… please?

Brittany glowers back at her.

Brittany Williams: Nobody loves you, you gave it all up for nothing! Lady Appleseed will show you!

Suddenly, Seleana sits up in bed and looks around the room. Christina Rose lies next to her, peacefully asleep. Seleana exhales heavily and then slips back down under the covers and Christina snuggles up closer to her. Seleana smiles, even as tears roll down her face.  

Seleana Zdunich: I love you, Estrellita.  

The whisper barely leaves her lips before she closes her eyes and hopes a more restful sleep will soon visit her again.

A camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich as she steps out into a hotel hallway, the camera obviously a phone on a selfie stick. Seleana’s hair drops straight back over her shoulders and down her back over a white tank top and cut off jeans.

SZ: So, here we go again, I would imagine.

She nods pointedly to the camera.

SZ: Apple Coren makes her debut for this company against me and having read up on her with what little information was made available, I can see the unfortunate truth already.

She pauses and shakes her head in almost stunned silence, seemingly resigned to the whole situation.

SZ: She will be yet another who tells me she’s better than me just because of the circumstances of her birth.

Her head droops as she exhales heavily, her teeth grinding as she just stares at her feet for a second.

SZ: I am getting tired of this, almost as tired as I am of everybody spewing at me about who I choose to share a bed with.

She looks back up to the camera and nods stiffly.

SZ: What does either have to do with how you and I will compete?

She shrugs, seemingly demanding an answer.

SZ: What does who I choose to spend my life with have to do at all with how I will compete in the ring?

Again, she shrugs, demanding an answer that is not coming.

SZ: Because nobody ever comes at me about how Christina was my trainer, they always come at her through me or, like Mercedes Vargas, they don’t even bother to give me the courtesy of pretending they are coming at me and just come at her and then slip my name in at the end so it looks like they cut a promo on me when really, it was about Christina the whole time!  

She nods, glaring into the camera.

SZ: I am not Christina. I will never be Christina. I was not born in Detroit and I was not a great athlete in my young the way she was. I am not a teenage mother who managed to overcome the odds being stacked against me to make it to the top of this sport!

Her glare softens slightly, determination overtaking the anger in her voice.

SZ: I AM Seleana Zdunich. I am from Halmstad, Sweden and I lived in Christchurch, New Zealand through four major earthquakes and countless smaller ones!  I worked nearly every job there was to have at Orana Park and when I came to America, I had offers to work from places all over the country. I started to settle down with a man named Twain Cornett only for him to pass away last September. After all of that, I was introduced to Christina and now, a week from our wedding, I stand ready to climb into a wrestling ring and face Apple Coren. I may be a relative newcomer to this sport, and yes, I’m still a rookie at an age when most are thinking about their legacy but that doesn’t mean you should walk in here and just act as if I’m some accessory that Christina wears to look good. För fan i helvete! I am not a trophy wife-to-be! And Apple Coren will find out that I can make her live down to her name!

She nods harshly.

SZ: You are nobility and I am not. You have been coddled and brought up with great privilege. I have not. You have never had to work a day in your life while I spent the better part of a decade working at Orana Park in Christchurch, New Zealand, halfway around the world from my family in Sweden and now I compete in this sport because my soon-to-be wife asked to train me. You can say you have a lineage, so can I, but when it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter who our families are or who taught us. It matters what we learned and what we can apply to each other and i am here to tell you, if you try and disrespect me, Lady Apple, I will take you to the mat, give you a proper coring and expose your appleseeds to daylight!

With a final nod, Seleana starts back towards the door of the hotel.

SZ: I will see you on the boardwalk, Apple Coren, and I will see what you are made of because this Cat has claws!    

 Standing out on the balcony of her room in the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, Seleana Zdunich looks out over the food court in CNN Center and shakes her head. The view was breathtaking and it still blew her mind that this whole thing was in doors despite the sun shining through the translucent windows above her. Her fiancée, Christina Rose, had been surprised when Seleana had asked to come here but this view, ten floors up, not counting the mezzanine.

She watches the people moving across the food court and walking around the inner areas for CNN Center. A couple of guys walk across the high catwalk while guide leads a group of tourists to the big staircase to take them ino CNN from the Starbucks in the center of it all. As she stares at the giant television screen showing the current CNN broadcast, Christina walks out onto the balcony with her and nos.

Christina Rose: Why did you want to come here?

Seleana just nods to the view.

Seleana Zdunich: I wanted to see if it looked like it does on television.

Christina can’t help but smile, even as she tries to hide it. Seleana glances over to the right and the high windows that show where the Georgia World Congress Center sits.

Seleana Zdunich: It is amazing to see such a place. A big luxury hotel attached to CNN Center and the big local arena, across from a big stadium and a convention center. Such things are…

She trails off and Christina smiles again. She always found it cute when Seleana started marveling at how things were here.

Seleana Zdunich: There is an aquarium not far either, over by the World of Coca-Cola. I have heard there is a famous fried chicken place up the street as well over by where they hold something called DragonCon.

Christina nods. She knew all about DragonCon, having been asked to guest at many a convention in her career.

Christina Rose: Any of those things interest you?

Seleana nods happily.

Seleana Zdunich: All of them.  Have heard the World of Coca-Cola is fun when you get to the end of it. The Georgia Aquarium is renowned. I almost took employment there when I first came to this country. I talked to them and to the Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida before deciding against jumping back into that pool, so to speak.

Christina nods slowly.

Christina Rose: Why?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: At first, because Twain was in Austin and I did not wish to force us to travel long distances. This was foolish of me because i did not know he traveled long distances for his business anyway.

She pauses and looks down at the railing.

Seleana Zdunich: That was how he died.

She bites her bottom lip and squeezes the railing for a second as Christina hugs her from behind.

Seleana Zdunich: I am sorry, I did not mean to…

Christian shakes her head and kisses Seleana on the side of the head.

Christina Rose: It’s fine…

Seleana nods slowly and allows her fiancée to simply hold her there. She closes her eyes and lets the love flow through her, pushing the memories away.

Seleana Zdunich: After that, I was in no mood for such a move.

She pauses and then turns into the embrace to face Christina.

Seleana Zdunich: And then there was you and I did not think of it further, especially after you disclosed your animal allergy situation.

Christina smiles and the two kiss passionately.

Christina Rose: I never meant to keep you from…

This time, it’s Seleana’s turn to shake her head and cut Christian off.

Seleana Zdunich: You kept me from nothing, Estrellita. It was my choice and I made what I felt was the correct one for me and for us. You did not make me give anything up.

Christina nods, her eyes moistening.

Christina Rose: You’re sure?

Seleana nods and then kisses her lovingly.

Seleana Zdunich: I am.

Christina nods and then releases her grip, her hands sliding down to Seleana’s.

Christina Rose: Come on, we have some planning to do.

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: And then i worry about Dani Weston?

Christina nods, grinning happily.

Christina Rose: Yes, and then you worry about that.

Christina starts back for the sliding glass door of their room and Seleana goes with her, following her to the evening’s promised land.

A couple of hours later…

A camera opens on Seleana standing on the balcony, CNN Center at her back.

Seleana Zdunich: Hej hur mår du?

A look shot to her from Christina as she holds the camera causes Seleana to nod in acknowledgement to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

Christina Rose: Better!

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: Sorry, I was just saying hello, Stjärna.

The camera moves slightly as Christina just shakes her head.

Christina Rose: Go on then.

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: Sunday, at Six Flags over Georgia, I will face another newcomer in Dani Weston.

She nods happily.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, Chickie, how’s it?

She smiles sweetly, understandingly.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m not long in this sport as well. Christina has trained me for eight months or so now. She thought it would be good for me and those in family that also wrestle, my sister Zenna, my cousin Alexi and my cousin Maja, all agreed with her. Others in my family did as well and now I stand here, a capable competitor in Sin City Wrestling.

She pauses, glancing at her feet nervously.

Seleana Zdunich: I know many will look at both of us and take us lightly but I will not do that to you and i know you will not do such to me. We both respect each other too much to treat this as anything but the match it should be.  

She turns and glances out at the giant screen to the left on the opposite wall.

Seleana Zdunich: I’ve not been in this country that long. It will be a year next month and things like this still make me marvel at how big things in the States are.

She nods as she turns back to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m not ashamed to say I still get nervous for every match. Thoughts creep through my head that I overcome before I ever step in to face you. Many will look at us and scoff but you and I, we should avoid such traps. We are to wrestle in a giant tourist trap, just like the one I am currently staying in tonight. We must both be able to handle things, Chickie. You and I should come together and steal the show by putting on the best match we can put on. I know you are capable so, come on, let’s show these people what a real tourist trap looks like!

She nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich: We step in the ring and put on such a match that no one can look away. We tear things up and make sure everybody watching is riveted and make all of those that would scoff at us having such lofty expectations for ourselves choke on their own selfish words.

The camera zooms in tightly to frame her face.

Seleana Zdunich: We are the tourist trap, Dani, and we will make everybody in this company sit up and take notice! We may not have been here for long but we will show them we are here for the long haul! See you in the ring, Chickie, and good luck!    


 

 

 Thursday
May 10, 2018
Maguire’s Gym
Las Vegas, Nevada

The camera opens with a TMZ logo in the bottom right hand corner to find Seleana Zdunich walking towards a a warehouse set up to be a gym in Las Vegas, dressed in black leggings and a plain white t-shirt and battered white sneakers, her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Seeing the camera crew, she pauses by the door and nods as she comes walking over.

TMZ: Miss Zdunich? Hey, Seleana?

Seleana stops walking, letting the pink Crystal Hilton embossed duffel bag she was carrying sit down on the ground next to her.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

She smiles as the camera takes a second to focus properly on her.

TMZ: So you’re preparing for a match for the number one contendership to the Roulette Championship, how do you feel about the fact that your future step-daughter, Brittany Williams, is gonna be in this match with you, Nyla Dupre and Lucy Seraphina?

Seleana sighs and then shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I’ve had a few people talk to me about that and as of right now, there’s no one can tell me this is going to be fun. Nyla Dupre and Lucy Seraphina are one thing since they are competitors that I have never met. I know them by reputation and film…

She pauses, shaking her head sadly.      

Seleana Zdunich: But Brittany, I know and I know this will not be pleasant at all. I…

She shakes her head again and then glances almost mournfully at the door fo the gym.

Seleana Zdunich: I must prepare, I’m sorry…

She turns and walks off leaving the camera crew standing there almost dumbfounded.

TMZ: Seleana? Seleana wait!

She opens the door, steps inside the building and lets the door close on the camera crew without another word even as she stands in the front atrium that separates the outside door from the rest of the interior of the building.

Seleana Zdunich: Get yourself together, Chickie…

She nods to herself and walks up to the inner door, opening and hauling her bag in with her.
Once inside, Seleana sets her bag down by the wall and checks her phone for messages. She nods at the first message waiting for her from one of the gym’s proprietors, a woman and fellow professional wrestler, Aerynn Donnelly.

“Davis and Donnie set everything up for you. Ash will be there soon. She can lock-up when you’re done.”

Seleana nods, pleased to see this news. She glances around the room to see the ring is set up exactly as Aerynn had said it would be. Glancing back down to her phone, she sees other messages, one from her sister, Zenna, and one from the aforementioned Ashley Kenyon. She nods and clicks on the one from her sister first.

“Lycka till i din kamp! Behandla Brittany som att hon är någon annan kämpe. Jag älskar dig!”

Seleana can’t help but smile at her sister wishing her luck and love. As she reads the message again however, she can’t force herself to smile at the middle part. How could she treat Brittany like any other fighter when Brittany was NOT any other fighter? Nyla Dupre and Lucy Seraphina could be treated as such simply because of her lack of familiarity with them but Brittany? Her very own soon-to-be step-daughter?

Seleana Zdunich: Seleana, din jävla idiot…

Before she can complete the thought, the door opens and Ashley Kenyon comes striding into the building, a plain black duffel bag under her heavily tattooed right arm, her equally tattooed left arm carrying a bottle of water. She nods, her white sleeveless t-shirt showing off her throat and chest tattoo just as much as bare arms. She sets the bag down and grins, her long black hair pulled back into a matching ponytail while her jeans and sandals set her apart from the much more appropriately attired Seleana.  

Ashley Kenyon: You have to deal with that TMZ bullshit everywhere now?

Seleana nods slowly and Ashley just shakes her head before tossing her the bottle of water.

Ashley Kenyon: Fuck me, I’d wanna kill somebody…

Ashley reaches down to her bag and opens it to retrieve a second bottle. She unscrews the cap, takes a swig and then sits it down as she sits down to strip off her sandals and jeans.

Ashley Kenyon: Hope you don’t mind…

Seleana shakes her head as she opens the bottle in her own hands.

Seleana Zdunich: No…

Ashley nods gratefully as she pulls a pair of workout shorts from the bag and slips them on. Taking in the look on Seleana’s face, Ashley can’t help but notice that the Swedish woman does not seem ready to have this workout.  

Ashley Kenyon: Brittany?      

Seleana nods sadly and Ashley sighs as she pulls out her practice wrestling shoes for this session.

Ashley Kenyon: Z, Stace and all still tellin’ you to treat her like any other fighter?

Seleana nods and then sits down to switch her shoes as well.

Seleana Zdunich: I can’t do it, Ash. No matter how I think about this, no matter how much I want to think about it differently, I can’t do it.

She pulls on her wrestling shoes and then looks over at Ashley.

Seleana Zdunich: Brittany is NOT just another fighter and i know she will not treat me as such either. She’s told me so. Lucy and Nyla, we can both look at objectively and talk about but when it comes to each other…

Ashley nods.

Ashley Kenyon: You’re right to think that way, Sel.

Seleana stares at the former World Champion in shocked disbelief.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m not?

Ashley shakes her head.

Ashley Kenyon: Hell no! I had a match once against my best friends and my sister for the World Championship in UWA. It was Aerynn, me, Jezzy Gautier and Bethy. Aerynn was the defending champion and we all tried to treat it as a regular match with just anyone else going in and then, people got drunk before their promos and we all said things that hit way too close to home and almost destroyed our little family. It stopped being a match and turned into the kind of venting session you really don’t wanna have. Then later on me and Bethy had another match against each and it was in no way a regular match. In her words, she took my ass out behind the woodshed and we had us a regular ol’ come to jesus meeting in that ring the way only sisters can fight.

Seleana nods slowly. She’d heard these stories before, even seen the footage in question while training to be a wrestler.

Seleana Zdunich: So, you are saying that I need to go in knowing that there is no way this can be just a regular match?

Ashley nods grimly and Seleana exhales heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: I don’t want to put the idea into Brittany’s head that I will raise my hand to her…

Ashley grins in amusement.

Ashley Kenyon: Sel, God bless you, but pull your head out of your ass on this one!

Seleana frowns.

Seleana Zdunich: What?

Ashley nods knowingly, still grinning with amusement.

Ashley Kenyon: You’re talking about a grown-ass woman, Sel. brittany ain’t no five-year-old child here. She’s a seventeen year-old woman with adult ambitions. You gotta believe she’s looking at her family’s companies, her wrestling career and damn near everything else and thinking she ain’t gonna be content being the fucking heiress princess forever. Someday she’s gonna wanna wear the crown and I know when i was seventeen, i didn’t wanna wait…

She nods pointedly as she stands up.

Ashley Kenyon: Neither is Brittany.

Seleana nods slowly as she starts to stand up as well.

Seleana Zdunich: So I should be waiting for that Brittany to show her face?

Ashley nods as she screws the cap back on her water bottle and then sets that bottle down next to her bag. Seleana stares at Ashley, seemingly almost losing herself in the void as she absently screws the cap back onto her own bottle. She nods and then sets the bottle down.

Seleana Zdunich: And if I allow myself to dwell on…

She shakes her head and turns, starting for the ring.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!

Ashley nods as she follows her to the ring.

Ashley Kenyon: For the devil in hell, indeed!

The two step into the ring and start they practice match, quickly establishing a baseline for where work needs to be done. Ashley grins and they start discussing kicks, spending the rest of the day working on improving Seleana’s game.        


The next day…

Seleana walks out of the gym and almost directly into the waiting arms of the TMZ crew all over again. Had they really been waiting here all night and all day just to talk to her? Was this really how things went when you dated a big shot from Hollywood? She steels herself and walks over, smiling despite her feelings of misgiving for the people she was about to talk to.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

The TMZ crew walks up to her almost giddy.

TMZ: Hey, did you hear what Brittany Williams had to say to you?

Seleana shakes her head and immediately, a phone is produced with the promo video already cued up to the proper spot. The video plays and Seleana stares at it in shock.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

She shakes her head, looking as if she might panic.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag har ingen kommentar.

She starts to walk away even as the crew tries to continue.

TMZ: Seleana? Seleana, wait, what do you have to say about Brittany? Seleana…

Seleana just shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: I said… no comment…

She continues on to her car and steps inside, thanking every deity she can think of for the tinted windows involved in the rented conveyance, Crystal had told her they would be a necessity long ago and today she had been proven right. Seleana bows her head and takes hold of the steering wheel of the rented Lincoln and squeezes.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag älskar dig, Brittany…

Nodding, she opens the door and sees the TMZ crew starting to pack-up.

Seleana Zdunich: Hey, you still want comment?

The crew can’t come back to life fast enough. They set all of their stuff back the way they wanted it and then turn the camera on. With the red light blinking, they nod to Seleana.

Seleana Zdunich: You asked me if I have comment on what has been said for this match. Roulette Rules that will determine the number one contender for the Roulette Championship for Sin City Wrestling on Climax Control 205. It is said to be the go home show for the first SCW supercard of the year and that makes this a very important match. Nyla Dupre, Lucy Seraphina, Brittany Williams and I will battle for the honor of challenging Sam Marlowe for this prestigious championship…

She pauses to take a deep breath, exhaling just as deeply, slowly, keeping herself in the proper frame of mind.

Seleana Zdunich: Now, I must admit a few things up front, as you say.

She nods, holding court for the cameras as if she does this all the time.

Seleana Zdunich: I am both a foreigner and a relative newcomer to this sport. I cannot say I understand everything the way everyone else does. I look at this match and I see three exquisite talents that will stand in the ring with me.

Her index finger extends from her right hand to count them off.

Seleana Zdunich: Nyla Dupre is a physically gifted woman. She is the tallest woman in this match, which considering that Lucy is five foot nine and I am five foot ten, that is saying something. She also has forty pounds of muscle on the rest of us. She is able to do things the rest of us would all considering improbable but for the fact that we have seen her perform these acts. In this match she has the size and strength advantage on us all and that is her major edge. If she wins it will be because she was able to physically dominate us and impose her will on the rest of us in this match. She has resources some of us do not and a willingness to use them that rivals the most notorious of businessmen and she has won championships in many other places. She is a force to be reckoned with and we must all refrain from taking her lightly.

The middle finger joins the index finger in counting these participants off.

Seleana Zdunich: Lucy Seraphina has a reputation that precedes her. She is also a multiple-tiem champion and has dominated places in the past. She is a tall woman, just a shade under my own height and has a similar build to my own. Some would say she has some kind of divine presence behind her and resources in the Angel Clan that she could exploit if she so chose. The fact that she is experienced in matches such as this, where multiple other combatants are involved, gives her an edge that the rest of us do not possess. If she wins it will be because of that knowledge and wisdom she possesses guiding her to victory, allowing her to overcome the physicality of Nyla, the speed of myself and the cunning of Brittany. She is very much a force to be reckoned with as well and also not to be taken lightly.

The ring finger joins its brethren.

Seleana Zdunich: And that brings me to the one you all clearly really want to hear me speak of, the one person in this match I can say I know well, the woman who in two months’ time will call me step-mother, Brittany Williams.

She nods,a small smile coming to her face.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, Prinsessa, how’s it?          

The smile remains as she nods again, speaking to the camera as if brittany is standing in it’s palace.

Seleana Zdunich: As you say, I love you. You have grown to be as my own as our little family has spent time with each other and I did not wish to fight you. When your mother asked me to train to become a fighter, this would not be a problem as, at the time, the company I was to join was not one that also included most of the time. You were there, but you were there as a seeming hostage of Maria Salvatore, not a competitor or even a broadcaster, as you have been in other companies. You said things there to please Maria before she and I clashed, things you apologized for before you were returned to us…

She nods, the smile slowly fading away.

Seleana Zdunich: And I cannot say you did not warn upon this occasion that you would say nasty, spiteful things to me. You warned me that you were a spoiled child and that you would show such.

She pauses, shrugging in acknowledgement.

Seleana Zdunich: Now I see…

The smile returns, this time pride beaming through.

Seleana Zdunich: You are a cunning woman, Brittany. I had a friend who told me before that you would be ruthless and seek to take what you see as yours and she was exactly on the money with that assessment. You went in on me knowing that I was the one you held the biggest hammer over and you hit me as hard as you could because you know, if you can destroy me emotionally, then you only have to find ways to use Lucy and Nyla against each other to gain victory because I will simply be a body to use as a weapon and not a true threat.

She nods, clapping for the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: You are right, I know only what your mother taught me much of the time because it has worked for me for the most part, but is it NOT all I know when it comes to wrestling, Prinsessa. My cousin, Alexi, was a wrestler for many companies in the past and she married a man who is a five-time world champion. I have trained with both of them as well as my sister, Zenna, her partner, Li Lacroix, and Li’s fellow New Orleans wrestlers, Ashley and Bethany Kenyon, both of whom are also former world champions. I come from a wrestling family too, Brittany, and I have taken bits from all of them just as you have taken from your mother, your father and your grandfather, along with probably everyone you have ever been in the ring with. You are a gifted woman who has managed to overcome your age, and lack of physical stature to make a name for yourself and for that, I could not be prouder of you.

Her hands fold as she nods happily to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: But, you see, it is that pride above all else that will prove to be your downfall because you pointed out, if I win, it will be because I was better than all of you ever believed I could be and you all allowed your own pride to cloud your judgement. I am not some silly little girl that allowed myself to fall in with bad people, Brittany. I gave some chances that others would not give and was rewarded with love both times.

Nodding sincerely, Seleana can’t help but smile even broader.

Seleana Zdunich: I love you, Prinsessa, and it is because of that love that I must show you the error of your ways. They say pride goeth before a fall, and right now, you, Lucy and Nyla are all in possession of more pride than I care to properly count. All of you should bring everything you have, your physical gifts, your strength, your abilities, your experience and your pride and I will show you what the Cat can really do!

The smile fades away as she nods one last time.

Seleana Zdunich: Pride goeth… now spin that wheel and may the odds be forever in your favor because that is the kind of luck you are going to need!    

She nods gratefully to the camera crew and steps back to the car.

Seleana Zdunich: Tack…

The crew are all smiles.

TMZ: No, no, thank you!