Off-Camera

Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Laguna Beach, California
Hospital
9:01 AM PDT



Hospitals were never a fun place to be, even when the occasion was one that should be as joyous as bringing forth a new life into the world. No matter how hard the people who worked there tried to keep the mood light, no matter what they tried to do in terms of decoration, they always came off as cold and antiseptic. Seleana Zdunich had found herself here as part of a small group as the friends of hers that she had been living with during the fall out from her wife, fellow SCW wrestler Christina Zdunich, reverting to her Crystal Hilton persona and attacking her for a chance to become SCW Bombshell World Champion once again several months ago. Now, it had been almost exactly a month since that opportunity had taken place, March 10, at Blaze of Glory VII just up the road in Anaheim. The week before that, it had been Seleana who had managed to pin the champion and gain the standing Christina had sought so urgently.

That standing had lasted as week for Seleana as at Blaze of Glory VII, Alicia Lukas had taken the championship back in a fatal fourway match-up that saw Alicia pin Dani Weston while Seleana and Christina fought amongst themselves outside the ring. Christina had factored both in Seleana’s victory and in her loss, something that Alicia Lukas was loathe to allow anyone to forget and so, Seleana had found herself other places to, “go home to.” First it had been her office at the Zdunich Zoological Gardens, a place that, ironically enough, Seleana only ahd because her wife had bought it for her as a Christmas gift.

The second place she had spent a night at had been the home of her friend, Shay Kenyon, a woman that was now also waiting on word form the day’s events here at the hospital as she would need to be involved in watching the elder child of the new mother-to-be.

The third and final place was the home here in Laguna Beach of the woman that was to be induced into labor today, fellow wrestler and near sister-in-law, “The Geekette Extraordinaire Cali-Kate” Kate Bass. Kate was the widow of the late Destiny Cornett and Seleana had been dating Destiny’s brother, Twain Cornett, at the time of his untimely death. The two had become acquainted during family events and then become closer after Destiny and twin’s deaths, both having died within a few days of each other.

The fact that Kate was currently dating Seleana’s former sister-in-law, fellow wrestler Eavan Maloney, also helped the landing process. Eavan had been married to Seleana’s youngest sister, guitar virtuoso Katra Zdunich, until a descent into drugs had caused a rift and a divorce. Eavan had been amazed that no matter how far into the abyss she had sunk, the Zdunich Sisters had remained at her side, still referring to her as family even after she had walked out on Katra and it had been Eavan who had suggested Seleana start spending her nights at the house in Laguna Beach.      

This was how she found herself sitting here in the hospital watching over a twenty-two-month-old Trinity Cornett. As she watches the little one playing with her toys, Seleana’s attention is drawn by a very upset-looking Eavan walking in the other direction. Seleana frowns and then turns back to her phone. She was waiting for one of two calls to come in so she could get to training this week for her trip to Cardiff, Wales for her Climax Control match with Apple Coren and considering how the last match between the two had gone, this was training that was definitely going to be necessary for Seleana.

She glances down to Trinity and smiles at the little one drawing seemingly randomly on her papers, almost as id the toddler were mapping out some grand scheme of things for her toys to be taking part in.

Seleana Zdunich: Toy Story live!

Shaking her head, she laughs as Trinity continues on in her own little world. As Seleana starts to nod, her phone rings. She glances down, hoping this will be one of the calls she’s been waiting and smiles at the name that shows up.

“Dr. Kelley.”

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

A female voice answers.

Voice: Hello, is this Seleana Zdunich?

Seleana nods affirmatively..

Seleana Zdunich: Ja, your office tried to call me before and I return call.

The voice brightens noticeably.

Voice: Dr. Kelley would like to request you come in for a session with him to gauge whether a joint session with your wife is warranted at this time.

Seleana nods slowly. Was this a good idea? Was that something that might help them as a married couple?

Seleana Zdunich: Did you have a date in mind?

Voice: I know it’s short notice, but could you by any chance be available tomorrow?

Seleana glances down at Trinity and takes a pause at this thought. She cocks her head and then smiles at the little one.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja, I should be able to make it fine tomorrow.

Voice: Great, how is ten o’clock in the morning?

Again, Seleana nods to herself.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja, ten is fine.

Voice: Great, we’ll see you then.

The call ends and Seleana sighs heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!  

She looks and sees Trinity looking up at her, the tiny eyes visibly confused. Seleana leans down and picks the little girl up, placing Trinity onto her own lap.

Seleana Zdunich: Somehow, you know, don’t you?

Trinity continues to just stare at Seleana before raising her little arms up. Seleana nods and hugs Trinity.

Seleana Zdunich: Tack, liten en.

She hugs Trinity, closing her eyes while the toddler hugs her back.

Seleana Zdunich: You see and know way more than anyone gives you credit for, Chickie. I hope you never lose that.          



Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Los Angeles,, California
Dr. Kelley’s Office
9:51 AM PDT


Seleana sits in her jet black 2019 Maserati Quattroporte and stares at the clock. She was supposed to be inside the building in nine minutes and knowing doctors, it would have been better had she already gone inside. There was likely to be paperwork even if this was just a preliminary session to see if a joint one was doable.

Seleana Zdunich: Kom igen, Seleana. Du vet att du borde göra det här. Christina gör ett försök. Du vet hur mycket ChristianU kommer att skratta om du är den som vägrar att göra en ansträngning i gengäld.

She nods to herself and turns off the car’s engine.

Seleana Zdunich: Seleana, din jävla idiot! Gå in i denna byggnad just nu!

After sitting there for a few more minutes, she opens the car door and walks to the door of the building, stepping inside and nodding to the receptionist.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, my name is Seleana Zdunich.

The receptionist smiles and nods.

Receptionist: Yes!!! Hello, we’ve been expecting you.

She quickly presses a button in front of her.

Receptionist: She’s here…

An inaudible response comes back and the receptionist nods.

Receptionist: Ok!

The releases the button and looks up to Seleana.

Receptionist: Please, go right in, the doctor will see you now.    

Seleana nods and walks to the far door, gripping the knob and turning it. She walks in and sits down on the couch. The doctor is already waiting in the chair opposite the couch.

Dr. Kelley: Thank you for coming on such short notice. Was it much of an inconvenience?

Seleana shrugs. The doctor was smiling broadly for her and she knew efforts were being made all around her.  

Seleana Zdunich: I was just in Laguna Beach. Someone close to me was induced yesterday.

The doctor nods slightly.

Dr. Kelley: Did that go smoothly?

Seleana cannot help but nod in return.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja, the little one was born with no problem, no complications.

The doctor nods, checking his notes and making a few more.

Dr. Kelley: Are you cheating on your wife?

Seleana’s eyes go wide in shock.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad???

The doctor nods again.

Dr. Kelley: Is that a negative response then?

Seleana’s eyes narrow slightly as she studies the doctor.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja. Kate and Eavan are sisters to me. They have made no effort to become more and neither have I.

The doctor nods.

Dr. Kelley: Are they married?

Seleana continues to stare at the doctor.

Seleana Zdunich: Not anymore.

The doctor nods, looking up as if studying an answer more than anything else.

Dr. Kelley: So they were married?

Seleana nods slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja.

Dr. Kelley: But not to each other.

Seleana Zdunich: No.

The doctor nods and makes a few more notations.

Dr. Kelley: Do you hate your wife?

Seleana sits on the couch, her eyes going wide in shock for the second time in two minutes.

Seleana Zdunich: Nej…

The doctor nods.

Dr. Kelley: How long has it been since you went home to her.

Seleana Zdunich: Since she attack me, 27th January.

The doctor nods.

Dr. Kelley: How do you remember that so exactly?

No hesitation for the second answer in a row.  

Seleana Zdunich: I went to New York for my sister’s birthday after. Her birthday is 29th January, two days after. I stayed at her apartment rest of week.

The doctor nods, looking duly impressed.

Dr. Kelley: What has stopped you from going home?

Seleana sighs heavily at this question.

Seleana Zdunich: At first, I was hurt, heartbroken. Then I became angry, especially when she tried to act like it was nothing to be angry at. Now, Kate and Eavan have needed my help, but I also needed Christina to show me she was willing to try and change. That I was not just going to come home to more of the same and have told her that she could do whatever and there would be no consequences.

Dr. Kelley: How often have you spoken to her?

Seleana Zdunich: In person? Usually just at the shows. Outside of the shows?  Once.

The doctor nods.

Dr. Kelley: Why only once?

Seleana shrugs in annoyance.

Seleana Zdunich: Because she thinks she can act her way out of anything. That she can just talk her way out of a problem, that something like attacking me and leaving me lying bloody on the floor of the arena in front of the world will just be over because she wants it to be in a day. It does not work that way and she should know this! How many times has she violated someone else’s trust? How often had she had her trust violated? I know she’s had it happen to her before but…

She shakes her head, looking ready to come unglued.

Seleana Zdunich: Skit också! You cannot repair trust broken with wish and desire! It takes time and she needs to give me that time.  

The doctor nods.

Dr. Kelley: Ok, I think I have all I need. We’ll be in contact with you when the time comes to schedule the joint session. Thank you for coming, Mrs. Zdunich.

The doctor extends his hand and Seleana tentatively accepts it.

Seleana Zdunich: I am sorry I raised my voice.

Doctor Kelley smiles warmly.

Dr. Kelley: It’s to be expected in situations like this. I assure you, I took no offense.        

Seleana nods gratefully and takes her leave, walking out to her car and quickly getting inside. She straps herself in, locks the doors and then slumps against the seat.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!  

She cranks up the car and drive on back to Laguna Beach, hoping for better thoughts than the ones she had just encountered in the office.



Friday, April 12, 2019
Laguna Beach, California
Home of Kate Bass
11:54 AM PDT



Seleana paces the floor of the house, sneaking glances at her phone every few seconds. The last forty-eight hours had seen upheaval in the house as Eavan and Kate had broken up Wednesday night and Eavan had moved out within twenty-four hours, her personal items being moved into storage while she traveled up to Sacramento for Hybrid Wrestling, ironically enough, it was a booking that Seleana and Christina were also supposed to be present for as it was Christina’s inaugural booking for the Unleashed Brand and Seleana was scheduled to be her ringside manager.

It was supposed to be another step towards reconciliation but now another booking had changed that. Christina had flown to Charlotte, North Carolina for a show with a promotion called Queen City Wrestling while Seleana remained behind in Laguna Beach in order to train for her own match at Climax Control in Cardiff, Wales. It was supposed to be another night for Christina to keep her skills sharp and show the world she was not washed up as many had claimed.

As she paces, Seleana glances back at her phone and sees the now several hours old message from her step-daughter, Brittany Williams.

“Moms in hospital AMC beat her up really bad.”

It had taken Seleana an hour to find out the details, and another hour to check on arrangements with Shay Kenyon regarding Kate’s daughter Trinity. Kate and her new baby, Dustin, would not be allowed to come home to this house until Sunday, the day Seleana was scheduled to be in Wales. With Eavan scheduled to be gone even before she had left the house, they had called Shay to see if she could watch Trinity for the weekend. As usual, Shay had said she would love to but now Seleana had needed to ask Shay to move up the timeframe.

Now, it was time to try and go out there to Charlotte to see to her wife, if for no other reason, to make sure she made it to her professional commitments and did not lose out because of what had happened. To do this, she would have to reach out to the COO of Rose Productions, Chloe Martin, and this would not be a fun conversation to engage in. The last time they had tried to talk to each other, it had not ended well and Seleana was not expecting this time to go any better. As she contemplates this going as badly as previously, her phone chimes with a Twitter notification. Seleana looks to see it’s from the aforementioned Chloe.

“@Valentine632 were you trying to reach me?”

Seleana quickly punches in an answer.

“Ja, I have been.”

With that sent off, Seleana goes back to pacing knowing no one else will be here to see it. Twenty minutes later, her phone rings. Seleana looks down to find it’s Chloe calling and answers.

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

Chloe’s voice comes back quick and seemingly agitated.

Chloe Martin: Can I help you?

Seleana nods, understanding why Chloe might be a little annoyed.

Seleana Zdunich: I need private transport.

Chloe remains silent for a second and then answers back.

Chloe Martin: What does that have to do with me?

Seleana sighs sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I need to go to Charlotte and get Christina. She was injured last night and will need help if she is to make her scheduled bookings this weekend.

Suddenly, Chloe’s entire demeanor changes.

Chloe Martin: What? How? What happened?

Seleana Zdunich: She had a match and was then assaulted in the backstage area. She has a match in sacramento tomorrow and then we have to go to Wales for my match on Sunday.

Almost immediately, tapping on a keyboard can be heard.

Chloe Martin: Ok, this will take a couple of hours but I should be able to get you what you need. I will text you details.

Seleana nods, smiling.

Seleana Zdunich: Tack, Chloe.

For the first time, worry enters Chloe’s voice.

Chloe Martin: No problem, please take care of her.  

The call ends and Seleana marches over to grab her bag, knowing it might take that long just to get to the airport in Los Angeles from here.



Friday, April 12, 2019
Charlotte, North Carolina
Hospital
9:17 PM EDT



Seleana walks down the hall and finds her step-daughter, Brittany Williams, and Brittany’s girlfriend, Haylie Jo “Halo” Annis, waiting by a door.

Brittany Williams: Mama Sel!!!

Brittany runs over and hugs Seleana, Seleana hugging her back. Halo steps over and joins in the family embrace.

Seleana Zdunich: I am sorry it took me time to get here.

Brittany doesn’t even bother to look up.

Brittany Williams: Who cares, you’re here now!

Halo nods her agreement.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Y’all’s here now, Mama Sel. That’s all that matters.

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: So, how is she?

Brittany and Halo both nod to the room behind them.

Brittany Williams: Not happy.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: She’s been trying to get them to let her out for hours.

Seleana frowns.

Seleana Zdunich: They will not let her go?

Brittany shakes her head.

Brittany Williams: She wanted to drive herself.

Seleana nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: That is no longer a problem. Let us take care of this.

Brittany and Halo step back as Seleana goes to the door. As she opens it, Christina throws a mostly empty water bottle.

Christina Zdunich: I told you I want out of…

As the door opens to fully reveal Seleana, Christina cuts herself off in mid-sentence. Seleana steps inside the room, closing the door behind her. The two women stare at each other for what feels like years, neither really sure they can believe the sight before them. Finally, Christina manages to sit up in her hospital bed.

Christina Zdunich: Hey...

Seleana nods back to her.

Seleana Zdunich: Hej.

Christina bites her bottom lip, tears welling up in her eyes.

Christina Zdunich: You’re here.

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: I am.

Christina nods and then looks at the horrible food sitting on the tray in front of her.

Christina Zdunich: I…

Seleana nods and walks over to her, taking hold of Christina’s hand.

Seleana Zdunich: I am here to get you out and to get you to Sacramento for tomorrow. Then we go to Wales for Climax Control.  I have a date with a bad Apple that I do not think we should miss, ja?

Christina looks up, tears now freely streaming down her face.

Christina Zdunich: You’re here…

Seleana leans in and hugs her wife.

Seleana Zdunich: Where else would I be?

Christina hugs back, sobbing uncontrollably as joy washes over her.

Christina Zdunich: I love you…

Seleana Zdunich: I love you too.  



On-Camera

Friday, April 12, 2019
Charlotte, North Carolina
Airport
10:17 PM EDT


The camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich standing on the tarmac, watching as her wife is helped aboard a private plane. She watches as her step-daughter and future daughter-in-law also board the plane. Once all three have boarded, she nods and faces the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: Lady Apple Coren…

She nods pointedly to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I faced off with you once before and you were successful in our encounter. You dismissed me as being beneath you and I said, as you have heard many, many times, that you were a spoiled daughter of privilege and, as it happened, we both turned out to be right on some level. You are a daughter of privilege and you were better than me at that time.

She glances at the plane and seemingly takes stock of recent events.

Seleana Zdunich: I know what it feels like to be dismissed based off of one thing about you. I know what it feels like for people to take one detail about your life and pretend it is the only one that matters.

Looking to the ground, Seleana exhales heavily and then nods to her shoes.

Seleana Zdunich: In my case it is that I chose to marry Christina and that I also allowed her to train me, thus I am dismissed by most as being one of two things. Either I am nothing but her Swedish trophy wife that will be discarded when I have outlived by ability to make her look like she scored something shiny, beautiful and worth showing off or I am nothing but a wannabe that should never have been allowed to step into the ring because if I had really felt a calling to this sport the way others have, I would not have waited until I was over thirty to get started and I certainly would not have chosen Christina as a trainer despite her championship résumé.

She shakes her head and then looks up to the camera, shrugging her shoulders.  

Seleana Zdunich: I know Christina has done some things in recent times to cause her star to diminish in some eyes but to dismiss her completely and therefore dismiss me despite all that she has accomplished just in Sin City Wrestling is…

She shakes her head again.

Seleana Zdunich: I do not understand how she cannot at least be seen as a stepping stone for others. She has won so many championships and was just in the main event of Blaze of Glory VII for the Bombshell World Championship. She is not nothing!

Seleana glances to the plane again, clearly pained at this thought.

Seleana Zdunich: She works harder than most of you will ever know and twice as hard as any of you will ever admit but that is beside the point.

She turns and glares into the camera again.

Seleana Zdunich: The point here is that if she was what everyone says she is, how would I have ever managed to even get in the ring with Alicia Lukas for her championship? Alicia herself admitted I had worked my way into that opportunity and the fact that I pinned her for that championship means all of you who said my trainer was not worth anything are wrong!

She nods, still maintaining the glare.

Seleana Zdunich: You know all about that kind of dismissive, do you not, Lady Apple?

She nods again, this time knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich: In you, it tends to be that privilege as if that means you have never worked at anything in your life and while that may be true in certain aspects, it does not apply to all and those that dismiss you as untalented, unfocused and unwilling to pay your dues.

Seleana shakes her head in disgust.

Seleana Zdunich: You have proven time and time again that you were willing to take this seriously and that you are a physically gifted and talented competitor and yet, still, because you have that style placed before your name, you are dismissed even as you defeat the very people who dismissed you. And yes, you put  yourself on a pedestal and walk around as if you are to be treated a certain way but…

Pausing, Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: So what? If we do not like how you put on airs, is it not our job to prove you wrong and knock you off that pedestal?

Seleana nods, pointing a finger into her own chest.

Seleana Zdunich: I have experience in that feeling as well. No one has been able to put me down in months and i have managed to knock several off of their perch as i have gone. Many former champions have tried to take me down in this run and since I punched Christian Underwood, none have succeeded. I am not the same sad rookie you faced before, Lady Apple. I will punch you in the face the same way I punched Christian and I will fight you until I can no longer fight. I have been to the top of the mountain now and I will get back there before all is said and done. I know you will come into this match and look to do what you did before and then some. I would expect nothing less from a highborn lady of class and privilege like yourself. Lady Apple Coren cannot afford to come at me and not appear to be ready to work as if she was a commoner.

The finger pointed in her chest retracts back into the fist and Seleana pounds it twice to her own chest, nodding pointedly as she does so.  

Seleana Zdunich: I am ready to show you and the rest of the world why Alicia Lukas thought highly of me before our first match and why I was on the poster for Blaze of Glory VII!

The fist drops back down to her side.

Seleana Zdunich: You walk to that ring to gather your rightful glory, I walk to that ring to prove that everyone who has ever denigrated me was wrong! I am much more than a trophy and I am more than a nobody trainee. I am Seleana “The Cat” Zdunich and it’s time to show what happens when a cat sinks it’s claws into a ripe piece of fruit! I will see you in Cardiff, Lady Apple…

She smiles and curtsies.  

Seleana Zdunich: An Apple a day will not keep this Cat away!      

She nods to the camera, turns and walks to the place, quickly heading up the steps and disappearing inside.  






 

 

   

 Off-Camera

Sunday, February 10, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:57 PM PST


Climax Control had finished earlier and Seleana Zdunich’s team had won with Seleana getting the victory personally over her wife, Christina “Crystal Hilton” Zdunich while their respective partners, Kate Steele and Jessie Salco, had each done their parts to try to win as well. As Seleana sits down at her desk wondering what she should do next, her phone chimes at her with a message. Seleana glances down and sees the namer at the top.

Christina Zdunich

She nods and clicks on the message to see what the woman could possibly want now. Two weeks on from the assault pushed on by Christian Underwood and one week from Seleana’s own retaliation, the match seemed to have helped pushed the toll on their relationship.  

“...you beat me.”

Seleana stares at the message and frowns in confusion. Was this Crystal being upset and staggered that she had lost to her own student/wife or was this her having some other realization? Should Seleana be worried? Should she be angered? Before she can decide one way or the other, another message chime alerts her to a follow-up.    

“go ahead rub it in tell me im worthless”

Seleana’s mouth falls open in shock. The real Christina was bleeding through the Crystal Hilton veneer. For all of Crystal’s supposed Hollywood trappings, for all of her supposed glamor, for all of her bravado, here was proof that it was all as painted on as the make-up she wore in her movies to change her appearance for a character. Seleana shakes her head as the chime goes of a third time.  

“tell me i suck”

Seleana’s lips curl, annoyance creeping into the worry already there. This was Crystal trying to reassert her dominance and find a way to put the mask of arrogance back on. If Seleana told her what she was asking to hear, one of two things would happen and neither of them was good. Either Crystal would not, smirk and wave it around to show the world that she was not the bad guy because her wife, this supposedly sweet and loving thing that everyone thought of Seleana, was just as much of an arrogant bitch as she was and she could proudly proclaim herself the wounded party to the world while braying loudly about her impending title shot that Christian Underwood was paying her as a favor for attacking Seleana and giving him a way to actually hurt her for breaking his face all those weeks ago.

The other option was equally unappealing as it meant Christina would take the words to heart and do something drastic, opening up another Pandora’s box of questions no one would really wish to deal with. Seleana shakes her head and stares at her phone.  What should she say to that? She pauses and looks up at the ceiling, pondering it all. What did she really think of her wife right now? She continues to think on this question for another couple of minutes, starting and then stopping and deleting a response three times before she finally settles on one and sends it off.  

“And why would I do that?”  

She sets her phone down knowing full well that the response will either wait for hours or there will not be one, per se, and the next message will just come in and act like nothing has happened in the interim. This was a favorite tactic though Seleana was unsure if it was really a tactic or just Christina being Christina about things.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad ska du göra nästa stjärna?

She sighs and sits down into her rather basic office chair. The others who worked here had been surprised that she had opted for the cheapest option instead of getting herself what amounted to an overstuffed leather throne of sorts but Seleana had thought all she needed was a small chair that could move slightly so why bother getting the big ostentatious showpiece when she wasn’t planning on showing anyone anything when it came to her office? She nods to the phone and then glances over to the small cot she’s called home for the last week and nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag kommer att bli bra.

Slowly, she moves her gaze back over to her phone. There was no real surprise that there was no response to what she’d sent. This was normal operating procedure for Christina no matter what persona she was trying to put on for everyone else, especially when she knew she’d made a mistake. Sighing sadly, Seleana nods to herself.  

Seleana Zdunich: Vi kommer att bli bra.

Her eyes close and she sits back in her chair, wondering how long it would be until she actually felt the truth of that statement. Would they really be alright? Would she?  Or would Christian Underwood finally have his victorious bit of revenge and manage to break their marriage just for spite’s sake? Again, she nods to herself.

Seleana Zdunich: Så småningom…

How long would “eventually” be?

 

Monday, February 11, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:11 AM PST


Seleana had been up for about an hour, making use of the shower facilities and making a morning meeting that none of her employees had expected her to be at. She had smiles for them and taken a seat in the back corner, remaining quiet as the meeting went on around her for the better part of forty minutes. She was pleased to see how well everything seemed to be running, not bothering to interrupt anyone and only lingering for a few minutes after to talk with the supervisor she had in charge of most of the day to day operations. The woman, an experienced operations manager named Tanya Marsh, was married to the snake handler and seemed to know ehr stuff. She’d quickly managed to cover her thoughts and questions with Tanya before returning to her home away from home to contemplate what she would do next. Not being booked on the next Climax Control and being on an off week in Galactic Women’s Wrestling as well was giving her almost what felt like too much time to sit and think on her current situation. Just as she takes her place in her office chair, her phone chimes at her. She looks down, hopeful it’ll either be zoo business or one of her two sisters, Zenna or Katra, or maybe even her stepdaughter, Brittany Williams, messaging to say hello as they all tended to do with regularity.

Christina Zdunich.

Seleana nods to the name and then pulls up the message to see which direction this would take. Would her wife try to pick up where they had left off the night before after Seleana’s victory over her or would she just act like they hadn’t left off in an awkward place at all?    

“Haiiii hon its me CHRISTINA”

The answer actually made Seleana smile even as she shakes her head in slight disbelief. Even after a year of this, it still managed to somewhat surprise her when her wife just started a whole new conversation. The chime  goes off again.

“Can I take you out for Valentine’s Day?”

Seleana’s jaw drops just as it had the previous evening. Was she serious? Seleana’s head flies back as she looks to the ceiling. What was she supposed to say to that, of all things? Before she can devise an answer, the phone chimes again. Seleana glances down and shakes her head again in stunned disbelief.

“?”

Was Christina seriously trying to push this now? What did she expect Seleana to say after what had happened? To attack your own wife just to get a title shot you have already proven you can get without extra help and then two weeks later act like they should be like the bad commercials for cards, flowers and candy on television was almost unthinkable and yet, here it was happening. Seleana stares at the phone, unsure of what to say back in response.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag…

She sighs heavily, still staring at the phone.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad säger jag?

Before she can answer her own question, the phone chimes with yet another message from Christina. Seleana looks down and cannot believe her eyes.  

“Hey you love you i realize i got nothing left.”

Her jaw clenches as she almost throws the phone.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Din jävla idiot! Varför tänkte du inte på detta innan du angrep mig? Varför tänker du aldrig på sådana saker?

She drops the phone from only an inch above her desk and kicks the floor.

Seleana Zdunich: Skit också! Du jävla slog mig! Du vet att jag inte skulle ha gjort det mot dig!

She turns away, angry tears in her eyes.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag slog honom för dig!

As she sits there shaking her head sobbing, the phone chimes again. Seleana tries to pull herself together as she slowly turns around. She picks up her phone and stares at the fresh message.

“I dont know where to go from here but i wont hurt you no more… be safe.”

Seleana drops the phone and starts sobbing all over again, visions of what all that could mean dancing in her head. What could possibly happen next?


Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:02 AM PST


Seleana steps into her office and glances at the cot she had not used the night before. After spending several hours crying to herself in this very office, she had gotten herself up and gone over to a bar called Broken Promises run by friends of hers named Shay Kenyon and Lena Theras. The married couple lived in an apartment above the bar with their two nearly four-month-old twin daughters, Jami Hope and Destiny Joy, and Seleana had crashed there for the night when Shay had thought it a bad idea to drive back to the zoo in her emotional state despite being dead sober. As she sits down, her phone chimes and Seleana braces herself for another round. She glances down and sees it’s just a spam email about male enhancement products and deletes it, enjoying marking it as something the email host should take a look at as a phishing scam. A second later, she nods to herself and answers her wife.  

“If Brittany and HayJo will be there, I will meet you all somewhere.”

The message ahd only be gone for a second before an answer comes back almost as if Christina had been sitting and staring at her own phone constantly since the previous morning.

“Thats not how a private v day works”

Seleana sighs. So now it was back to this. Seleana swallows hard. What should she say to this? She almost felt like this was an ultimatum without making the actual ultimatum.  Her phone chimes again and Seleana looks at her wife’s new message.

“I need you”

Seleana sets the phone down and just stares at it. Christina was not going to do this to her today, not again. A second later, Seleana walks out of the room leaving the phone on the desk and marching out to the fresh air outside. Fifteen minutes later, she comes back to find a message left on her voicemail. Seeing it’s from Christina, Seleana contemplates erasing it for a second only to stare at the phone, seemingly unable to move a finger.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad har du att säga?

Her finger continues to hesitate. Did she really want to know what Christina had to say? Finally, she presses the button and the message plays, the unmistakable sound of her wife’s voice comes back, crying as she does so.

Christina Zdunich: Please…

Christina’s voice stumbles, clearly sobbing as she does this.

Christina Zdunich: I’m sorry, ok! I fucked up and I know it! Is that what you want to hear? I NEED you! I don’t know what…

She trails off and sobs some more and Seleana closes her own eyes. This was no acting job. She’d heard a speech like this before when Crystal was just putting on a show and this was not that at all. This sounded like a broken child desperately searching for a hand to cling to.

Christina Zdunich: You know what…

Suddenly, the sound of Christina’s voice changes completely.

Christina Zdunich: Fine, don’t talk to me! Just… whatever!  I’ll… whatever!

The message ends and Seleana shakes her head  nearly throwing the phone again.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!

She sets the phone down and just stares at it, anger creeping into her eyes.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad är fel med dig?

Stepping back, Seleana turns, shaking her head, and heads for the doorway again knowing full well she’s going back to Broken Promises tonight and this time she might even have a beer or two.      

Seleana Zdunich: Din jävla…
 
A couple of hours later, Seleana is sitting at her desk when her phone chimes back at her again. Her jaw drops as she sees the name of her wife staring back at her. This was a change, especially after the message she’d left earlier that had sounded so final.

“I been contemplating suicide but farrah talked me out of it”

Farrah was Farrah Cornett, Crystal’s stablemate back in L.A.W. in the Boardwalk Angels. Seleana always called Farrah “Mama Red” as she was very nearly Seleana’s mother-in-law in the months before she’d been introduced to Christina by a mutual friend, another former Boardwalk Angel, current Hybrid Wrestling Unleashed Grand Champion Stacy Jones.  Seleana knew given how Mama Red had reacted to the news of Christina’s betrayal that if she had actually called Farrah then this was not some idle threat. Seleana stares at the words and ponders what to do next. The chime interrupts her and she nods to the phone.  

“i want to have a night with you is that so much to ask?”

Seleana’s head droops, her chin nearly colliding with her chest. This was Christina fighting through all the Crystal smoke and mirrors.

The REAL Christina.

Seleana exhales heavily and the chime greets her again.  

“Please”

Knowing how proud Christina liked everyone to think she was, this was a major effort being made. Seleana stares at the phone and nods to herself.

“¿Dónde?”

With that one word, Seleana knew she’d taken a shot in the dark that could very easily blow up in her face. If she were wrong, this could lead to another trap and leave her in a position where the entire world would either be laughing at her for being so incredibly stupid or demanding answers for the exact same reason. It was a chance that people like Christian Underwood and Alicia Lukas would relish and probably use to tapdance all over her and yet, it was something else she’d heard another friend say that made her decide to trust her instincts even in the face of almost everybody else screaming that this was a Admiral Ackbar meme come roaring to life. Eavan Maloney, once Seleana’s sister-in-law and still somebody she considered a sister, had said that she had learned that Zdunich Women do not give up on people and this would be no exception, even if it turned out to be a mistake all over again. The chime sounds and Seleana looks down.    

“ Wherever i need you and im so sorry”

Seleana nods. She would have to get in touch with Christina again tomorrow because this was likely to be the last word on the matter for today. She nods, hoping above hope that she hasn’t just made the biggest mistake of her life.



Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
10:59 PM PST


Seleana had spent the day waiting to hear back from Christina and was actually somewhat surprised she had not yet. Knowing the previous night had very nearly ended with her going to get drunk, she had decided to stay in tonight to get ready for Valentine’s Day tomorrow.  Getting drunk was not a habit she wanted to pick up. Her younger sister, Zenna, had managed to remind her of this fact several times as had Zenna’s fellow recovering addicts, Eavan Maloney, Zenna’s fiancée Linnéa Lacroix, and her cousin Alexi’s former tag team partner, Raevyn Lilja. She’d seen them all in New York City recently during the celebration for the birthday of the youngest Zdunich sister, Katra. , and they had all said the same thing to her: do not allow this thing with Christian and Christina to push you into habits like that, especially given the prevalence of drugs in Hollywood. In the year she had lived here, she had seen a fair amount of pills, powders and all manner of alcoholic beverages and she knew exactly how easy it would be to find a poison and lose herself into it the same way they all had and, in deed, the way Christina had herself earlier in her life. It had been no secret when Seleana had started dating Christina that alcohol had wormed its way into her as if she was a walking tequila bottle just begging for a refill and Seleana did not relish the idea of becoming that herself. Now, after putting in a full day’s work at the zoo and hearing nothing back, she checks her phone to make sure it has not had a problem. Satisfied that the device in working order, she nods and sends off a message to Christina.  

“¿Dónde mañana?”

An answer comes back quickly, as if Christina had also waited all day for Seleana to make the first move this time.

“Sel you dont have to speak in spanish”

Seleana stares at the screen in momentary disbelief. Did she really think she was doing that just to be patronizing? Seleana had enjoyed learning Spanish and had always thought of it as something they shared. A further chime quickly interrupts her worry.

“Do you wanna sPend the day with me yes or no”

Seleana shakes her head, almost laughing now. The absurdity at times was always a little endearing even if Christina tended to go a little over the top at times with it. She nods and answers before anything further can really happen.

“Where do you wish to meet up?”

She stares at the phone hoping beyond hope Christina does not try and more Crystal approach and start making elaborate plans for surprise trips or something. That would not be a good idea and would be the fastest way to make Seleana regret answering this plea. The chime quickly kills the worried anticipation.

“Do you trust me”

Oh, this was not a good start. This sounded very, very Crystal and not in a good way. This sounded like something she would say before showing up in a limo and trying to start this private evening early. Another chime quickly edges up Seleana’s anxiety level.

“Sel?”

Seleana stares at her phone. Should she back out now or was that not an option anymore? Was this proof that everyone had been right to tell her to cut and run two weeks ago? Was there really nothing else to it than this?  After standing in silence for a few minutes, Seleana tries a response.

“?”

She shakes her head, hoping the next message is not Crystal announcing she’s outside and wants this reunion to start now before it’s even really Valentine’s Day. Seleana could not imagine a worse idea than that. The chime announces she no longer has to wonder and she slowly glances down, holding out hope Crystal will not be as stupid as others have said she is.

“Happy V Day”

Seleana stares at her phone, the look on her face now as if this is the single strangest message she has ever received. Slowly she glances up and sees the time.

12:02 AM…

A small smile crosses Seleana’s face. Maybe there was hope for everything yet.

“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”



Thursday, February 14, 2019
Valentine’s Day
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
9:15 AM PST


Seleana walks back into her office from the shower facilities and looks at her phone. The time was quickly approaching to answer which of them would make the first move. Would it be Christina?  Or would it be Seleana? The answer would come even as Seleana was pondering what to do with herself while this question rattled around inside her brain with a message chime.

Christina Zdunich.

Seleana nods and quickly checks the message.  

“Happy V Day”

A small smile crosses her face and she quickly punches in her answer.

“Glad alla hjärtans dag.”

She sits down on the office chair and quickly glances down ehr list of thing she needed to do and then punches in another message. No need to leave things hanging today. If they were going to go bad, best to get it over with quickly.  

“What we do today?”

The answer comes back quicker than Seleana had anticipated.

“Romantic dinner”

Seleana nods slowly. If this was all Christina was going to go for, this might not be too bad after all. So long as she did not overreach, this might be…

A chime interrupts her train of thought.  

“Massage session for two”

Seleana stares and the smile starts to fall slightly. She would have to inquire about whether this was to be therapeutic or the happy ending type usually bandied about in their neighborhood. That would definitely qualify as an overreach on Crystal’s part and torpedo things before they had a chance to even start to come back. Another chime quickly grabs her attention.

“Sel do you love me”

Seleana just stares in white-eyed wonder at this question.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete! Vilken typ av fråga är det här?

Shaking her head, Seleana regains her composure and tests the waters.

“When and where?”

The answer comes back and Seleana just stares again.

“Do you trrust me”

Now another alarm was going off inside Seleana’s head. What was Crystal planning with this? Before she can say anything, the chime tells her Christina must have had a moment of clarity as well.

“The limo will get you”

Seleana nods, knowing full well this could still be a major mistake but could she really take the chance the other way? Her instincts had served her well enough lately to get her on the company radar in Sin City Wrestling after nearly a year of trying. Was this really that different when it basically boiled down to business on some level anyway?

“Okej”

The message had barely been gone for a second when a chime announces an answer.

“DO YOU LOVE ME”

Seleana wastes no time in firing her answer back.

“Would I be upset at what you did if the answer was no?”

She stands in her office, glaring at her phone, fully expecting this to now turn into an argument that should not happen but will anyway because of Crystal’s self-described level of being high maintenance. A second later, an answer comes back.

“Ok.”

Seleana nods and sets about getting ready, not knowing what was really in store for her for the rest of the night.



Saturday, February 16, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
11:30AM PST


Seleana walks into her office. The morning had been filled with getting ready to go to the next Climax Control even though she was not booked and was not even sure Christian would allow her into the building under those circumstances. She was going anyway just in case somebody asked her to do something else on the show. She did not want to give Christian the satisfaction of saying she had breached her contract by not showing up for work. If he sent her away, well, then it would be on him and she would simply chalk that up to his own level of enmity for her. As she set her gym bag down, her phone chimes at her and she glances to see who it could be.

Christina Zdunich.

She nods and then checks the message.

“hey youyuu”

She stares at the screen in stunned silence. It had been a full day since they had woken up next to each at the hotel and Seleana had watched Christina argue with herself before dumping out nearly an entire prescription of her medication and then threaten herself with a knife. Christina had then argued with herself some more before running out, apologizing as she went leaving Seleana standing there alone and confused. There had been no communication since then aside from Brittany telling her over the phone that her mother had returned home and seemed to be in a good mood. Another che and Seleana looks down trying not to remember how that particular meeting had ended.  

“Enjoy Valentines Day”

Seleana shakes her head. She knew this was more a question than a statement and that this was Christina testing to see how far the previous morning had pushed things especially after there had been no sex involved to cap off Valentine’s Day. Cuddling yes, but no sex and that had been Seleana’s call, one that Christina had actually accepted without any kind of protest for once. Seleana nods to the phone and punches in an answer.  

“Ja.”

She pauses, considering her next words carefully before punching in more of an answer.

“Until you pull knife.”

An answer chimes back quickly.

“Ty for coming.”

Before Seleana can even contemplate an answer, the phone itself rings. Seleana sees her wife’s picture and answers.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja?

Christina’s voice comes back, this time without sobbing being involved.

Christina Zdunich: When are you coming home?

Seleana can’t believe her ears. Were they really having this conversation?

Seleana Zdunich: I do not know.

Seleana can hear annoyance creep into Christina’s voice.

Christina Zdunich: Why not?

Seleana considers just hanging up but decides not to.

Seleana Zdunich: You need ask?

Christina almost scoffs. This would be Crystal talking more than Christina now.

Crystal Hilton: You can’t be mad at me forever, Babe…

Knowing this means she will be more combatice now, Seleana once again considers just hanging up.

Seleana Zdunich: You attack me for a title shot, tell the world I am weak and then try to guilt me into things by telling me you are suicidal and you have to ask why I am upset with you?

She pauses and then glares ahead at the wall of her office.

Seleana Zdunich: Look in mirror, Crystal!

For a split second there is silence between them. Then Crystal’s voice comes back again.

Crystal Hilton: Oh, come on! You know that was all business! That was all…

Seleana cuts her off.

Seleana Zdunich: All acting?

She can almost see her wife nod arrogantly in response.

Crystal Hilton: Damn good acting too! I should have won a fucking Oscar!

Knowing what’s coming, Seleana looks to the floor.

Seleana Zdunich: For acting like you are this or for acting like you actually care about something other than yourself?

Crystal’s voice returns, her level of annoyance audibly escalating.

Crystal Hilton: Are you serious right now, Babe? What the hell kind of…

Seleana cuts her off again.

Seleana Zdunich: Nej! Sluta prata! Du har pratat tillräckligt!

Crystal sighs in annoyance.

Crystal Hilton: English, Babe…

Seleana pounds her free hand on the desk.

Seleana Zdunich: ¡Hablaré cualquier idioma que quiera hablar!

Crystal’s voice comes back with slightly less bass in it.

Christina Zdunich: Ok… I’m… I’m sorry… I…  

Seleana stares at the wall, not sure if she should punch it or run out of the place screaming as the voice on the other end suddenly transforms as if a mask has just been shattered into a million pieces.

Christina Zdunich: Please… come home…

Seleana steps back at the sound of Christina talking again.

Seleana Zdunich: Why would I want to do that when we will be scheduled to fight? Both Sin City and Galactic seem to enjoy exploiting our rather public spat.

Christian goes quiet for a second.

Christina Zdunich: Where… have you… been…

She stops short of finishing her question as if she is truly afraid of the answer. Taking pity on her, Seleana nods to the wall.

Seleana Zdunich: I have been sleeping mostly at the zoo.

Christina’s voice takes on a new sound of terror.

Christina Zdunich: Mostly?

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: I spent two nights over at Shay and Lena’s. I have not found somebody else to go and share my nights with that way. I know you worry of such things.

Christina’s voice starts to waver.

Christina Zdunich: Please?  Come home?

Seleana looks to the floor again.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Christina can’t take the possibility of the answer coming now.

Christina Zdunich: Please?  We don’t even have to share a room! You shouldn’t need to go crash on friends’ couches to save money! I know you’ve been avoiding that, Sel, I’ve seen the credit statements!  This is your house too, just…

She trails off, clearly about to break.

Christina Zdunich: Take one of the other…

Seleana takes this in and listens as her wife starts to quietly cry.

Seleana Zdunich: I will consider… there are others who are involved as well.  

Christina's voice wavers more.

Christina Zdunich: I missed you... do you want us to get counseling?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: You think will do good or you think Crystal stop it from helping?

Christina’s voice comes back sounding like she’s been punched in the gut repeatedly.

Christina Zdunich: I... Let’s do it.

Seleana nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: I will see you at the show tomorrow and we will discuss it then.

Christina Zdunich: Ok…

The call ends and Seleana shakes her head. What else could be coming now?


On-Camera

Friday, February 22, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Zdunich Zoological Gardens
Office of Seleana Zdunich
6:30 PM PST


The camera opens to find Seleana Zdunich standing by her cot near the edge of the left wall in her office only a foot away from the bare desk that is covered in paperwork, a laptop computer perched on it and the small cheap office chair sitting in front of it. Seleana nods as the camera takes in her complete visage complete with blue jeans and a black American Murder Log t-shirt that reads,  “Everything Burns” in stark white lettering over what looks like a growing anthropomorphic fireball.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

She glances down to her shirt and then shrugs slightly even before she brings her gaze back to the camera. She nods slowly, still looking down.

Seleana Zdunich: This is an appropriate shirt for the situation, ja?

Looking up, Seleana can’t help but smile slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: Alicia speak of vindication and I know that taste well.

She nods slowly and then glances down at her shirt again, seemingly fixating on the fireball.

Seleana Zdunich: I thought I was standing up for my wife and Christian Underwood saw fit to send me away. I was brought back and he threw several plans at me and I thought I had achieved vindication when he was unable to beat me or break me or put me down like the dog he think I am.  He call my wife much worse and he treat me like how he speak of my wife and yet…

She looks back up to the camera and nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich: I am still here. I am still employed by Sin City Wrestling and not only has he not crushed me like the angry fist of God, but he has seemingly accomplished the opposite as I have risen in the ranks because of his attempts to punish me.

She pauses to shrug, looking just off to the right of the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I would call that vindication, ja?        

She nods as she brings her gaze back to the camera’s lens.

Seleana Zdunich: But that sweet taste, and it did taste sweet in the moment, it turn to ashes as fast as it come. Plan C reared its head and all that sweet vindication went crashing to the floor in a matter of seconds and I know there are some who would say I should have considered Crystal Hilton assaulting me as yet more vindication because Christian had to stoop to calling my own wife and someone he does tend to get along with to get to me and even that has not worked completely but…

She trails off, looking down to the floor again.

Seleana Zdunich: I would be lying if I said it did not get to me.

Looking down, she starts ton nod slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: It is is true, it got to me just as it is true that, as Alicia said, I have not done well in my previous championship opportunities. I have had several and I have yet to win one which, vindication for her, I suppose, ja?

Looking back up, Seleana nods some more, her head moving ever so slightly as if she can hear the voices from outside saying certain things.

Seleana Zdunich: I had one championship opportunity in L.A.W. alongside Christina against what was the best tag team in the world at the time, the Boardwalk Angels. They were on a winning streak the likes of which Alicia can relate to because it was like hers in Honor Wrestling. Christina and I were given an opportunity, one I admit I was not ready for as my career was mere months old at the time. I expected to be destroyed by Farrah Cornett and Zoey Madigan-Star as they both had far more experience than I and they were an incredible team with more chemistry than I had ever had with anyone. They should have destroyed us…

Seleana’s head stops moving as she looks dead into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: Vindication visited me that night when we were not only not destroyed, but nearly dethroned the undefeatable that night. The taste was sweet but then turned bitter because while it was a moral victory, as many will point out, moral victories do not pay bills.

A small smile graces her features for a moment and then fades away.

Seleana Zdunich: L.A.W. closed and Christina asked me to join her here and in the year or so that I have been here, I have been afforded multiple opportunities to become Bombshell Roulette Champion. I was not ready for those in the same way i was not ready for the match with the Boardwalk Angels. Many dismissed me as being someone who was only treading as far as my more famous family members’ names could take me. Crystal Hilton, Brittany Williams, Robbie Priest, Linnéa Lacroix, Haylie Jo Annis, Amy Rae Annis, Kendra Goganious, they are all related to me or will be sometime in the future as things appear and they have all been champions. Some took longer than others to attain that status and some have done it more often than others, but they have all achieved championship standing and I…

Trailing off again, she shakes her head sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I have not been so fortunate. I will admit right now, the first nine months or so of my career, I was not so focused on anything but being able to step into the ring and not get myself killed. I did not seek the glory and honor of being a champion despite being given the opportunity several times and perhaps that was a mistake but it is one I can freely say was my own and no one else’s. I was not ready and I did not believe myself ready to challenge another in the ring. I was happy to be there and I was happy to not embarrass myself as I learned and now I suppose vindication comes to me in the form of this championship opportunity. Alicia Lukas says I deserve it because of my hard work and because of all I bring to the table and I suppose that stands as vindication for me as well given how many others have said quite the opposite over my relatively short career in this sport.

She nods to herself and looks to the ground again.

Seleana Zdunich: Vindication does taste sweet, ja Alicia?

She nods again and continues to look down before looking at the fireball on her shirt again.

Seleana Zdunich: You have stated you wish to make that Bombshell Championship something more than the others who have held it and treated it poorly. I say that is a worthy aspiration to carry. You are a worthy champion and one I will not denigrate for taking more than one attempt to capture it because it is the journey that makes the championship worthwhile. You say I choke away championship opportunities while all you do is win and I cannot argue with that assessment aside from I still managed to get them even as a rookie who did not know what she was doing. Despite taking the lumps and losses I did, I still managed to stay around and grow and now I stand in airt I have never breathed before.

She looks up and nods to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I have never before gained an opportunity at your championship, Alicia, and had I done so before now, I know I would not have been ready because I had not yet been tested the way I have been now. Before I punched Christian Underwood, I had never tasted true danger in that ring. I had never really been placed in a situation where someone wanted to do to me what he wanted done. Maria Salvatore was the closest to that ever before and even then she was more angry at Christina than she was at me and so did not come at me the way Christian’s hired thugs did.

She nods to the camera and raises her hand with her index finger raised.

Seleana Zdunich: The Metal Maniacs in a hardcore rules handicap match with my family banned from the building.

Her index finger is joined by a second finger.

Seleana Zdunich: Delia Darling’s grand return.

A third finger rises to join its brethren.

Seleana Zdunich: Jessie Salco trying to get herself back into the title pictures.  

A fourth finger joins the others.

Seleana Zdunich: And now my wife attacking me just to try and get the chance at you that she could have gotten all by herself any time she wanted to as she has many times before. I cannot tell you why she did not believe in herself enough to trust her own abilities but I know I do and I always have but now I stand here before you have faced those four trials and I have come out the other side.

The hand closes into a fist.

Seleana Zdunich: Christian threw his fire at me and all it did was harden me up and make me ready to stand in against you for the Bombshells World Championship. I walk into that ring with you, Alicia, ready to go toe to toe with the best in the world and I am no longer simply trying to not get myself killed! I am no longer just happy to be there and just happy to avoid embarrassment.

She shakes her head, the fist seemingly clenching harder.

Seleana Zdunich: Christian and Christina have made sure we are passed embarrassment and now I wish to ram that vindication right back up where it came from with them. I will show you, Christian, Christina and everyone else that vindication is not the only thing tastes sweet and if you are not careful, I will show that I am ready to make that vindication turn to ashes in your mouth!

She nods, the first finally lowering as the shot tightens to frame her face.

Seleana Zdunich: My name is Seleana Zdunich and I am coming to claim my place, the place that everyone has always said I had no business even being in the same area as before. I am coming to to give you what you said you wanted and I am coming to show that sometimes, you should be careful what you ask for!  

She nods grimly.

Seleana Zdunich: Kia kaha, Chickie, now let us go make Christian choke on those ashes together!    

 
Monday, January 21, 2019
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
Home of Crystal & Seleana Zdunich
8:25 PM PST


Off-Camera

Seleana Zdunich nods happily as she watches her wife, Christina “Crystal Hilton” Zdunich,  tackling a video game. This was a normal activity in the house once everyone had come home from the office during the day. Which game was up for debate since there seemed to be several favorites of late, none of which made sense to Seleana since that was one activity nobody had managed to rope her into yet. She grins as Crystal gives another loud exclamation, her sister, Maia Lopez, sitting next to her for the moment. The two were showing off their competitive streak, something Crystal’s daughter, Brittany “B-Brat” Williams, had picked up in spades. B-Brat was off with a couple of friends and was due to return any second now from this little business trip she’d been on.

She’d called it market research but Seleana knew from experience it usually meant something closer to retail therapy in some form and B-Brat would, no doubt, return with several bags and a smile on her face that the “research” had been a success.  

Making her way around the corner and u the hallway, Seleana hears a voice actively talking from the room only two doors away. This was surprising since the others who lived in the house, Crystal’s old friends, the Sullivan Sisters, were supposed to be off on what amounted to what Americans called grocery shopping. Back in New Zealand, she’d always just heard people call it “popping to dairy,” but this was one of many changes she’d had to acclimate to upon making the move full time to the States. Truth be told, she still struggled with this sometimes, especially when it came to driving, something she had needed to do precious little of in New Zealand. She’d done even less of that back in Sweden but here, it seemed like a serious necessity.      

As she approaches the door, it becomes clear to her that the voices belong to B-Brat’s live-in girlfriend, Haylie Jo “Halo” Annis and her twin sister, Amy “Rain” Annis. Rain was a wrestler who lived in Asheville and worked as a tag team with her childhood friend, Kendra “GoGo” Goganious. Having just completed her first year as a professional, Rain was somebody Halo tried to talk to often to get insight into what she had now gotten herself into right along with Seleana, Crystal and B-Brat.  

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What am I gonna do, Amy?

The tone of Halo’s voice was concerning to Seleana, even if it was not particularly surprising to hear. Halo had always sounded anxious since the first day she’d come to this house back in May and that had never really dissipated for her. Seleana stops at the door and listens for a minute.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Seriously, what am I gonna do, Amy?

Seleana can see Halo is talking to her computer screen where the smiling face of Rain is visibly confused by the question.

Amy "Rain" Annis: About what?

Halo, sitting on her bed, smashes both fists onto either side of herself on the mattress, clearly annoyed by her twin’s confusion and lack of understanding.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Ames!

Rain just shakes her head on the screen.

Amy "Rain" Annis: Y’all worry too much, HayJo. Look at where y’all is!

Halo sighs heavily.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: On the edge of…

Rain cuts her off.

Amy "Rain" Annis: Girl, you in a loving house!

Halo nods pointedly to the screen.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: That could decide I should be sent away any second now!

Seleana stares at Halo in shock. It had been eight months since the young woman had been added to the menagerie of people who lived in this house and it hadn’t taken that long for everyone else to just accept that the tall blonde woman from Tullahoma, Tennessee was here to stay.

Amy "Rain" Annis: HayJo, I’m tellin’ y’all, everything’s gonna be fine.

Halo nods sarcastically.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Easy for you to say, you and Goldi have had each other for years!

Rain stares at her sister, visibly slightly cowed

Amy "Rain" Annis: We hasn’t always been together...

Helo crosses her arms.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What would you call it?

Rain shrugs, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

Amy "Rain" Annis: Up until D-Man, I’d call it me and Goldi bein’ silly about things.

Halo’s arms drop down, her fists pounding the mattress again.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I want what y’all have had! I want me and B-Brat to last!

Rain nods.

Amy "Rain" Annis: You been there for a while now.

Halo stares at the screen, her entire body starting to shake now. As she watches, Seleana can’t help but wonder, “What is going on here?”

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I was at Logan’s for a while too.

Rain can’t believe her ears and neither can Seleana.

Amy "Rain" Annis: She ain’t gonna do that, HayJo.

Halo leaps out of her seat and almost looks like she’s gonna lash out at her twin’s image on the screen. Seleana watches, unable to believe her eyes or her ears.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: How do you know that? Huh? How do you know that?

Rain just stares back, seemingly searching for a response.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: You’ve said that so many times, I don’t understand how you keep that kind of outlook on things, Amy!  First you said they wouldn’t send me away in school, and they did. Then you said Mama wasn’t gonna die and leave us and she did! Then you said Daddy wasn’t gonna lose the house and make us homeless and he did right as you were leaving me to go off to wrestling school with Goldi!  

Rain stares at her sister, her own jaw starting to quiver now.

Amy "Rain" Annis: I…

Halo shakes her head, marches voer to the computer and reaches for the mouse.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Nevermind, sorry to bother you.

Amy "Rain" Annis: HayJo, wait…

Before another word can be said, Halo disconnects from the internet and steps back. She stares at the computer for a second and then pounds on quadriceps.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Dammit!

As she starts to fall onto the bed, Seleana hurries into the room.

Seleana Zdunich: Det blir okej, sötnos.

She catches Halo, who promptly bursts into tears. Seleana holds onto the younger woman as Halo clamps onto her looking very much the child.

Seleana Zdunich: Det är okej…

Halo holds on to Seleana and starts to shake her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What am I gonna do, Miss Seleana?

Seleana strokes the younger blonde woman’s hair and nods soothingly.

Seleana Zdunich: It’s alright, Chickie.

Seleana cradles her and then sits her up on the bed.

Seleana Zdunich: What is wrong?

Halo shakes her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I…

Her hands ball into fists and she starts to look away but Seleana simply cocks her own head.

Seleana Zdunich: What is it?

Halo looks back and then nods to the computer.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: How much did you hear?    

Seleana nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: Do you really worry you will be sent away?

Halo nods quickly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Don’t you?

Seleana stares into the young woman’s eyes and then shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: Oh, Chickie…

Halo sits there looking like she’s waiting to be yelled at but Seleana simply stands up, cross over to the doorway and closes the door. She walks back to the bed and sits down across from Halo.

Seleana Zdunich: I know what it is to lose someone suddenly but no one can know what it is to have had what happened to you happen. I do not worry about being sent away because I love and trust Christina. We are married and she loves me. I know she does things that seem unexplainable to some people but she is truly a good person. She is not the monster she is portrayed to be by those who simply wish her out of the way for their own professional gain. Does she give reason to be worried sometimes, yes, but I have faith in her. She is a loving, beautiful woman and I know she worries that others are right about her. You understand that worry, ja?

Halo nods sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I know you worry you will not measure up to Amy. She worked to get into wrestling school and then worked to make the roster within only a few months. She then worked to make herself a champion in six months and now you start nearly a year behind her but you also have the drive she has displayed. You fight for everything because you know what it is to have nothing. It is why you won your first two matches and how you got to be in the main event for your next match amongst some very tough competition.

Halo nods.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What if I’m not good enough? What if I let B-Brat and the rest of y’all down?

Seleana shakes her head and takes Halo’s hand into her own.

Seleana Zdunich: Chickie, the only way you could let us down is if you just did not try. You make us proud every time you wake up in the morning. We love you, Haylie Jo, we are happy to have you in our family.

Halo stares at Seleana.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: But… what if I…

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: No what if. You walk into that ring this week and do what you do. No matter outcome, we love you. There is no what if.        

Seleana leans forward and kisses Halo on the forehead as the younger woman hugs her again.

Seleana Zdunich: There is no what if. Just like B-Brat, I love you as you were my own.

Halo nods as they embrace.

Seleana Zdunich: You should call you sister back. She look worry.

Halo nods.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Ok…

She manages a smile and then nods as Seleana stands up.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Miss Seleana?

Seleana turns back to her.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja?  

Halo nods again.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Thank you.

Seleana smiles, nodding happily.

Seleana Zdunich: I hear Brit coming back so I leave you to it, Chickie.

Seleana opens the door and steps into the hallway just as Brittany arrives, almost like they’d planned this. As she watches the door close again, Seleana can’t help but nod and smile again. Brittany would help assuage whatever lingering doubts Halo had for the night and they could all get ready for their next matches.  





Friday, January 25, 2019
Detroit, Michigan
10:05 PM CST


On-Camera


The camera opens upon Seleana as she stands against the wall of a hallway in a hotel wearing a black American Murder Log t-shirt and blue jeans that look like they were painted onto her body. A pair of well worn black Chuck Taylor high tops completes her ensemble as she nods to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I wonder…

She looks off to the distance behind the camera as if a great answer will materialize from nothing there at any moment.

Seleana Zdunich: I wonder, is there no teaching you, Christian?

She moves her gaze down to the camera’s lens and nods slowly, almost beggingly.

Seleana Zdunich: Is there no learning for you?  

Nodding slowly again she steps away from the wall and cocks her head to the right as if seeing if a new angle will open everything to new answers.

Seleana Zdunich: I know Jessie Salco say you are world champion at holding grudge but is there no room for anything else inside of you? Is the grudge all there is?

Her head moves to the straight upright posture and then slowly cocks to the left instead.

Seleana Zdunich: She is unable to challenge for championships unless she defeats me in Henderson and has been this way for nearly a year. I do not know how long you have held grudge against my wife but I would bet money none of us have it has lasted longer than my career.

Her right hand raises up showing three raised fingers.

Seleana Zdunich: This is the third time you have sent someone for me since you asked that question of me in front of the world and did not like the answer.

The second and third fingers fall to leave only the index finger remaining in the raised position.

Seleana Zdunich: First you send the Metal Maniacs after me and they bring help. You stack rules in their favor so that there were very few of them so they not have to worry about disqualification or count out. You set stipulation so they can do whatever they want before they go for pin or submit and the referee can do nothing but ask if I quit or count pin. You make it so I have no help in building by banning my wife and daughter from even stepping foot through door and tell the Metal Maniacs to simply enjoy themselves, indulge themselves before finishing me off.

She nods grimly.

Seleana Zdunich: That was supposed to be my end. Two raving lunatics who admit they care nothing for actual wrestling or winning or anything other than inflicting pain and suffering and they were allowed to bring others of like mind to help. They set up to burn me beyond recognition and allow you to laugh and show that anyone foolish enough to step to you was making grave error.

A small smirk crosses her face.

Seleana Zdunich: But they fail. It might be kluck, it might be their own stupidity, it might be anything but at end of day, they fail and it was one of them that ended up in hospital with burns, not me.    

A second finger joins the first in the raised position.

Seleana Zdunich: So then, we come to next plan, Delia Darling coming from whatever rock she had been under to show the world she still dominant and that it was grave error for me to stand against you. She is a former World Champion and again, this was to be my end. Everyone look at this on paper asd a huge mismatch because she is a champion and i am not and coming off a hardcore match where the Metal Maniacs were allowed to try and injure me just for fun, this should be no problem. Delia would take me out, possibly humiliate me in the process and you would have what you wanted.

The smirk fades away.

Seleana Zdunich: Only she fail too and not only did she not humiliate me, she tap out to me. As Jessie said before, you can call it luck, you can call it Delia’s hubris, arrogance or whatever other failing you wish to ascribe to her but in the end, none of it mattered because it was me making her submit!

A third finger joins its brethren in the raised position.

Seleana Zdunich: So now, it is Jessie Salco, a woman who thinks nothing of me outside of my choice of marital partners and what is in the match for her. Jessie salco is a woman that SHOULD get along famously with me. We both enjoy the same kind of music, in fact, my sisters play that kind of music professionally. We are both wrestlers who work hard to make sure everyone sees what we can do in the ring and we both no care much for you and have found ourselves on the wrong end of your grudges.

The hand lowers out of the shot.

Seleana Zdunich: Jessie say she is nothing like the Metal Maniacs and I say she is correct because she is not nearly as reckless or careless as those two are. She DOES care about winning and she does a pretty good job of going for that whenever she steps into the ring. She also says she is nothing like Delia Darling and in this I say she is partially correct again because she is not coming out from under rock to step in on the whim of a boss that only wishes to see destruction.

She pauses and then nods slowly.

Seleana Zdunich: But now I ask you a question, Jessie?

Her hand raises and flashes the three fingers again.

Seleana Zdunich: What if you are like them and you fail as they did?

The hand lowers as Seleana nods slowly to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: What if you step in the ring with me and dumb luck happen and you do not get your championship ban lifted? What if you look across the ring at somebody you have no respect for and fall to them the same way the Metal Maniacs and Delia Darling did?

Her eyes flash as she nods to the camera knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich: What if you fail Christian Underwood again?

The hand raises, the three fingers still on full display.

Seleana Zdunich: And Christian, I ask you the same thing.  What if… ?

She shakes the three fingers at the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: What if you send three at me seeking my pnishment, suffering and end and three times they are turned back and I still live? What if you send Jessie here to finish me and all that happens is you have to look in the mirror and realize that yet again, you asked me what I was going to do about it and I punched you in the face?

She nods as she flashes the three fingers even closer to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: What if you cannot break me, Jessie?  What if you cannot break me, Christian?

The three fingers finally lower into the fist.

Seleana Zdunich: What if I am nothing and you still could not flush me away?

The hand lowerras out of the shot as Seleana leans.

Seleana Zdunich: I am coming to Henderson and I am walking out the same way I walked in. You will not break me, you will not destroy me and you will not end me so one last time I ask…

The camera zooms in tightly on Seleana’s face.

Seleana Zdunich: What if?

Seleana steps back and nods grimly just as before.

Seleana Zdunich: And what will you do about it when you fail again?



   

 Off-Camera

Friday, November 23, 2018
Buffalo, New York

Weekends tended to be an almost bipolar event in the Zdunich household in Los Angeles. Sometimes they would be great things that tended to start with an LFL game on Friday for her wife’s team, the Detroit Rampage. Then there was usually a show in Hybrid Wrestling for Seleana’s sister, cousin, and sister-in-law-to-be could all be in action. The fact that the show could either be on Friday night or Saturday night made watching it interesting depending on which week it was. Sunday would bring the show and a match in Sin City Wrestling, possibly involving her wife and stepdaughter.  

This weekend, she finds herself in a Buffalo area hotel having already played the game today against the Buffalo Blizzard. She’d had a good game with a hundred yards and two receiving touchdowns and the team had won, 40-7. Now, she was checking on the show her sister, Zenna Zdunich was main eventing in Spokane for Hybrid in a fatal fourway that had championship implications for the winner. She checks and sees that her sister is not involved in the fall and then is attacked by the maniacal Sylvia Lopez.  

Seleana Zdunich:Den jävla…

She shakes her head, almost throwing her phone even as she sees Zenna get saved by the Hybrid Honor Champion, Zenna’s fiancée, Linnéa Lacroix.

Seleana Zdunich:För fan i helvete!

The unusual screaming draws the attention of Seleana’s wife, Christina, also known as Crystal Hilton. Christina walks into the room from the hallway and frowns as she sees Seleana squeezing her phone in impotent outrage.  

Christina Zdunich: Babe?

Seleana looks up and nods apologetically. She knew how this must have sounded since Christina spoke no Swedish and probably thought it sounded like angry gibberish.

Seleana Zdunich:Zenna was attacked tonight.

Her right hand balls into a fist and, without thinking, another burst comes flying out of her mouth.

Seleana Zdunich:Den jävla fitta!

Christina barely nods, looking simultaneously concerned, amused and annoyed by the enraged chittering coming from her wife’s mouth.

Christina Zdunich: English Babe!

Seleana swallows hard and shakes her head both sadly and angrily.

Seleana Zdunich:Sorry… I…

Seleana shakes her head again, setting her phone down and sighing heavily.

Seleana Zdunich:Why am I never there for the people I love when bad thing happen to them?

Christina frowns but Seleana just looks up at the wall.

Seleana Zdunich:Back in LAW, Brittany grabbed and I do nothing. Sin City, Brittany have arm hurt, I do nothing. You get attacked and hurt, I do nothing. Tonight, Zenna get attacked in Spokane, I do nothing. Not even see her until Monday, maybe.

Christina puts her hand on Seleana’s shoulder and nods reassuringly as Seleana looks at her feet in shame.  

Seleana Zdunich:You, Brittany, Zenna…

Christina nods slowly, obviously trying to think of what she should say to her wife as Seleana’s thoughts seemingly start to run wild inside her head.  

Seleana Zdunich:Eavan get hurt other place, I do nothing! She out for several weeks, I do nothing!

Seleana turns and looks up into Christina’s eyes.

Seleana Zdunich:People in Sin City target you through me, I do nothing. People run Sin City not know we married in June, show world they not pay attention to me at all and I do nothing!  

She turns away, as much in shame as in angry resentment.

Seleana Zdunich:I am sick of doing nothing!

She hangs her head down, her hands clasping together behind her neck as she sits back up, shaking her head to herself as Christina watches on.

Seleana Zdunich:I don’t even know what I am doing anymore.

She draws in a deep breath and sharply lets it out.

Seleana Zdunich:Last match here, I’m in the ring with whiny brat that is fucking the boss and the only reason I’m there is because she couldn’t have who she was really keen to fight. She barely mentioned me at all, the whole company demonstrated to me where I stand with them and still, I…

Her jaw clenches, her teeth grinding together as Seleana starts shaking.

Seleana Zdunich:Do…

Her eyes snap shut.

Seleana Zdunich:NOTHING!

Christina shakes her head.

Christina Zdunich: You did not do nothing…

Seleana nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich:I lost…

Christina shrugs.

Christina Zdunich: So?

Seleana looks back at her wife in shock.

Seleana Zdunich:You hate losing!

Christina nods as if this is the single most obvious thing anyone has ever uttered in the history mankind.

Christina Zdunich: Yeah… so? I’m me, you’re you…

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich:I am nothing…

Christina shrugs, looking matter-of-fact about things.  

Christina Zdunich: Then do something about it.

Seleana stands up and turns to face her wife.

Seleana Zdunich:Like what?

Christina shrugs yet again.

Christina Zdunich: Like pull your head out?  

Seleana cocks her head.

Seleana Zdunich:What?

Christina rolls her eyes.

Christina Zdunich: Ugh, you heard me…

She nods with annoyance on every one of her next few words.

Christina Zdunich: Pull…

Nod.

Christina Zdunich: Your…

Nod.

Christina Zdunich: Head…

Nod.

Christina Zdunich: Out!

Seleana’s jaw drops.

Seleana Zdunich:Is that why I’m not good enough for you?

Now it’s Christina’s turn to have her drop.

Christina Zdunich: Excuse me?

Seleana nods knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich:You hear me!

Christina’s head almost falls over even as her hand stays up, her elbow pulled in tight as if she had just been about to blow on her nails.

Christina Zdunich: How do you figure that one?

Seleana shrugs as if the answer should be obvious.

Seleana Zdunich:Are we team?

Christina nods incredulously.

Christina Zdunich: Yes.

Seleana’s eyes almost bug out of her head.

Seleana Zdunich:Hollywood Angels team?

Christina almost laughs.

Christina Zdunich: Babe, Sin City has no Bombshells Tag Team Division, there are no…

Seleana cuts her off.

Seleana Zdunich:Other places!

Christina still seemingly can’t believe her ears.

Christina Zdunich: You only wrestle one other place and you team with somebody else there.

Seleana nods, pointing accusingly.

Seleana Zdunich:So do you!

Christina nods in return.

Christina Zdunich: Because you went without asking me first! How am I supposed to team with you there when you went with your sister?

Seleana is unbowed.

Seleana Zdunich:What about other places? You bring me to LAW, we team once…

Christina’s jaw falls open again.

Christina Zdunich: So it’s my fault they didn’t book us as a team?

Seleana nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich:You bring me to Sin City and we can’t be a team. What about Honor before the merge? What about WWA? What all other places you work? Why weren’t you keen to bring me to those places? I would bring up the team and you would tell me we would someday but someday never come!  

Christina just shakes her head in near dumbfounded shock.

Christina Zdunich: You didn’t need to be mixed up in those other places. You have enough trouble where we’ve been already!

Seleana swallows hard, her voice becoming small and almost childlike.

Seleana Zdunich:So I’m not good enough for you…

Christina marches up to Seleana and grabs her by the shoulders.

Christina Zdunich: Seleana Valentina Zdunich, you knock that off this instant! You have always been good enough for me! I married you, didn’t I?

Her hands drop from Seleana’s shoulders.

Christina Zdunich: I taught you! I trained you! There is no way possible you can’t be good enough for me! I am Crystal Fucking Hilton and it’s time you started acting like my wife!

Seleana stares at Christina for a second and then latches onto her, Christina hugging her back as the two women begin to kiss passionately.

Seleana Zdunich:I love you, Estrellita!  

Christina smirks and kisses Seleana again.

Christina Zdunich: I love you too, Babe.

Christina leads Seleana over to the bed and proceeds to prove it repeatedly for the rest of the night.


On-Camera

The camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich standing seemingly alone in the short hallway that leads to the doorway of her hotel room in Buffalo. Dressed in tight jeans and a Detroit Rampage t-shirt, she nods to her bare feet and finally looks up to the lens staring back at her.

Seleana Zdunich:We are nothing.

She shrugs, looking somewhere between apologetic and sadly matter-of-fact.

Seleana Zdunich:It’s the truth, Trinity. You and I are nothing here in Sin City Wrestling. We are the people that show up for the Bombshell Division matches and people have to think of ways to sell our matches to the public because we always have “a good showing” but we never quite…

She shrugs, more to herself than anyone else.

Seleana Zdunich:“Get there.”

She looks down to her feet and just shakes her head exasperatedly.

Seleana Zdunich:The sad truth is we are the people everyone else thinks of as the charity cases. The ones they keep on the roster because there is really no reason to get rid of us but there’s no reason to really give us anything either.

Looking back up, Seleana shrugs slowly.

Seleana Zdunich:We are not the chosen heroes to lead the way and we are not the hated villains they can sell the public on wanting to see die for their amusement either.

Looking off, she ticks off a list as if her hand is a notebook with bullet points on it.

Seleana Zdunich:We’re not their hero, we’re not their villain, we’re not in the mixed tag teams they seem to have fallen in love with here, we’re not either of us really the up-and-comer that people can’t wait to see what happens when they mature into their abilities.

Nodding matter-of-factly, Seleana looks dead into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich:I’m the Swedish trophy wife of a woman people call many things and most of them aren’t good no matter how many championships she wins or how many Halls of Fame she earns berths in and you…

Seleans shrugs sadly again.

Seleana Zdunich:You’re somebody who came here before, did not set the world on fire, left and came back seeking redemption that was not readily available.

Looking back to her feet, Seleana frowns.

Seleana Zdunich:We have both been given chances to shake these labels off and we have managed to become…

She nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich:Nothing.  

She nods a couple of times and then looks back into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich:But we have been given another chance, Trinity. We have been given this chance to prove the whole world wrong! We have been given this chance to show the world that the Dragon and the Cat are not just cheap marketing ploys thrown on us to hide the fact that we have less than desirable records. We have been given the opportunity to show Sin City Wrestling and everyone else that they are wrong about us!

She nods pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich:We are NOT nothing!

She stares coldly into the camera as the shot tightens on her slightly.

Seleana Zdunich:You are not nothing. I am not nothing and we both deserve better than to be the afterthoughts thrown together while everyone else pays attention to the two championships and their two contenders.  

She nods pointedly again.

Seleana Zdunich:This is our opportunity to prove to Mark Ward, to Christian Underwood, to anyone else paying attention, that the Bombshells deserve better than to have two slots and then whatever else they can force us to take as charity cases alongside then men in the mixed tag team stuff. This…

She nods as she pointed hard to the ground.

Seleana Zdunich:This is our opportunity to steal the show and prove to everyone that WE!!!

She nods, pointing to herself.

Seleana Zdunich:We can do better and we will do better!

The camera zooms in to frame her face.

Seleana Zdunich:I’m tired of being nothing, Trinity, and I am going to prove I’m the opposite even if I have to drag you along with me kicking and screaming. I’ll see you in Las Vegas, Dragon, where we set the world on fire!  








 

 Sunday
10/14/18
Scottsdale, Arizona
11:15 PM MST

Following the events of Climax Control, Seleana Zdunich finds herself in an unfamiliar place in an even more unfamiliar condition. She sits in the hotel room she was supposed to be sharing with her wife, Christina Zdunich, staring at the walls as they almost seem to close on in her. Silence fills the room as she looks from the door to the bathroom and just shakes her head.

Climax Control had been over for a good two hours and the room was as empty now as it had been during the show when the occupants had been down at the arena. Following the revelations shown on the big screen by Kate Steele, Seleana’s family had all been devastated and scattered. Her injured stepdaughter, Brittany Williams, had yelled at her mother and then vanished into the wind. Christina had followed a few seconds later leaving Seleana sitting alone on a bench in the dressing room wondering what she was supposed to do now.

Staring at her phone, Seleana closes her eyes and fires up her Twitter app to look and see if either had mentioned anything. Since this would be the first thing she’d heard or seen after the show, it would be a relief just to see they were at least alive on some level. She quickly scans her timeline and sees Christina has made a couple of posts. Her jaw clenches and she shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: Estrellita… varför?

After making a post herself, she fires off a text into the night at Brittany.

“Where are you?”

She stares hopefully at her phone and then nods knowing this will take a second for an answer to even think about coming back. Quickly, she tries a text to Christina as well.

“Where are you?”

A second later, an answer appears.

“Why?”

Seleana stares at it and can almost hear the cross between attitude and fear in the word. Seleana bites her lip as she tries not to burst into tears again and sends a response.

“You have not come back to the room.”

She exhales heavily, hoping both that this is a bad dream and that they can at least agree to talk, even if it would be exceptionally painful to confront whatever truth there was to confront. Christina’s answer chimes back.

“I’m ashamed.”

And just like that, Seleana cannot hold back the torrent any longer. Her worst fears had been realized. She sets her phone down and then squeezes her hands into fists. This was why Brittany had disappeared. She knew the odds were good that it was exactly as was shown and that her mother had likely found a way to destroy things. Swallowing hard, Seleana picks up her phone and messages Brittany again.    

“I just want to know if you are alright and if you are going to see Jordan?”

She stares at her phone and starts to ponder things. What should she do in this situation? Calling her sisters would probably not be a good idea considering this very same thing had happened to her youngest sister, Katra, around this time last year and bringing up the memory would not be a good idea. Their middle sister, Zenna, would be angry and reminded of what had happened to her with a male ex of her own almost seven years ago and since that had led Zenna down the rabbit hole of drugs and alcohol abuse, it was not a wound Seleana wanted to reopen any time soon. She exhales forcefully and then tries Brittany again.  

“I love you, I want to know you are safe.”

She glances at her timeline again to see messages from Eavan Maloney and Reya Sera Cornett, managing a small smile at their generosity. She answers both of them and then tries another text message to Brittany.

“Please?”

Was this wrong to try and force the issue with her? Teenagers were a strange thing and having one to call her own was still a concept that Seleana was trying to wrap her head around. What had Brittany thought when she’d seen the video depicting her parents getting back together? Was she secretly happy to see this reunion? Was Seleana that bad a parent? Did Brittany really want her to go away and get out of the way of her family? Was she angry at what little family she had was being torn apart again? She had heard Brittany talk of this idea many times before. Seleana nods to herself, hoping beyond hope and tries one last time.    

“I love you Brittany, I am sorry this happened.”

What of Brittany ahd discovered the road Christina had once run down herself? What if Brittany was lying somewhere, drunk and fading into the abyss of unconsciousness? What if it was worse? How would they go on if Brittany had…

Her train of thought is broken by  chiem from her phone. Seleana looks down to see Brittany has answered.

“Hai”

Seleana smiles broadly through her tears and fires an answer back.

“How are you?”

Before she can really even stop herself, she fires off another one.

“Are you safe?

With no answer coming and realizing she’s just sent off two in a row after Brittany had finally made the effort to do exactly as she’d asked, Seleana wipes the tears from her eyes and fires off a quick message.

“I am sorry. I do not mean to nag.”  

She swallows hard and switches over to Christina. What should she do now? What if Christina wasn’t coming back? What if she was? What did Seleana want and which was actually the worse choice tonight? After a few minutes, she nods to herself and sends another message to Christina.

“Do you know where Brittany is?”

An answer comes back almost too quickly, as if Christina was staring at her phone the same way Seleana was.

“No.”

Seleana stares at it and shakes her head.

“Do you think she do something rash?”

When no answer comes back this time, Seleana grips her phone a little tighter.

“Stjärna, please?”

This time an answer comes back quickly.

“I am embarrassed I hurt you, and no Brittany won’t do anything. She’s probably flying to be with her boyfriend.”

Seleana stares at her phone and plays the words over in her head. Was this Christina being snippy or was this her just being in pain?

“You come back to hotel tonight or should I go home and wait for you there?

The phone seemingly goes dead for a minute and then chimes back with an answer from Christina.

“Look it’s not what it seems. One thing led to another. Christina let me back, she wanted me to surface to deal with Kate because she knew she was weak. And well, seeing Todd just gave me memories, that arrogance, one thing led to another…”

Seleana stares at her phone and the tears start to come again.

“You come back to room or need time away from me?”

She closes her eyes and tries not to give in to the ideas in her head. Does my wife hate me? Does she not love me? Should I go drown my sorrows? Should I just go find some of those favors that have been offered in Hollywood at times? Is my life over right now?

Opening her eyes, Seleana looks down and sees no answer has come back from her wife yet. She nods sadly and fires off another text.

“I do not hate you.”

She stands up and starts to look around to see how quickly she can pack up her stuff. It wouldn’t take long since she had not unpacked much at all upon arrival. As she starts to move, her phone chimes with an answer from Christina.

“What Sel”  

Seleana stops dead in her tracks and stares at the words. Without punctuation, context or even a complete thought, what does this mean? Was she being snide? Was she being drunk? Was she simply asking a question? If she was drunk, what would she do?

Seleana nods slowly and then fires back a message.

“Ok. I understand. I will fly home and I will be there when you are ready. Please try to find Brittany. She has not answered me.”

Before she can move, an answer chimes back.

“Why aren’t you yelling at me?”

Seleana stands there feeling like she’s been punched in the gut. How do you answer that one?

“Why do you want me to yell?”

Again, an answer comes right off.

“Because you are supposed to be mad and upset.”

Seleana nods.

“I am upset. I am scared. I am worried.”

When no further answer comes over the next fifteen minutes, Seleana sadly gathers her stuff and takes her leave, booking a flight home to Los Angeles and just hoping that there is still a home to go back to.


Friday
10/19/18
Los Angeles, California


The camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich sitting on a couch somewhere, using the camera on her smartphone to broadcast.  

Seleana Zdunich: It is a funny thing, focus…

Looking down, Seleana stares at her feet.  

Seleana Zdunich: Everyone say you need it, everyone always says few have it and yet, this is not really the case. Everyone has a focus. Everyone is focused on something, it is only when you ask everyone to focus on the same that one can start to say a person has either no focus or has lost their old focus.

She nods slowly, sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: My wife is a perfect example.

Swallowing hard, Seleana takes a deep breath and lets it out, giving life to the melancholy she is feeling.

Seleana Zdunich: People have said Christina lacks her former focus from when she was Crystal Hilton all the time. They say she is not as driven as she was before. They say she lacks killer instinct and even she has said she is weak and not what she was.

Seleana shakes her head forcefully before looking up.

Seleana Zdunich: They are all wrong. Christina is still as focused as ever, her focus has simply shifted. She allows people to continue to shift her focus from what she thinks she wants and therefore she…

Seleana trails off just long enough to raise her free hand to make air quotation marks.

Seleana Zdunich: “Comes up short.”

Her free hand drops.

Seleana Zdunich: Christina is still every bit the talent she was before, no matter what name she uses. If she were to choose to point her focus onto attaining a certain thing and does not split it away from that one certain thing, she will do like she always has. She is still a rose by any other name and still smells twice as sweet!

Shrugging, Seleana looks back to her feet.

Seleana Zdunich: I know some of you are laughing right now. You are saying, “Silly woman, you know nothing. You do not even really know your own wife! You do not know what she will do in five minutes, much less what she will do when she tries to be her former self again.”  

She looks up again into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: You are wrong. I do her and I know that there is a very good reason you all try to split her focus as you do. You know that if you do not manage such a thing, she will take you down and you will have to listen to Crystal Hilton crow about how she beat you until you cannot stand it any longer and it makes you all sick and scared! My wife will be back on top if she chooses to dedicate herself to it as will her daughter. They are both too talented to stay down for long no matter what you do to them.

She nods and then looks down to her feet once again.

Seleana Zdunich: So now, I come to a match where focus will be split because it is a foruway for a title shot and so, how should it be otherwise?

Seleana shrugs, her focus remaining on her shoes.

Seleana Zdunich: There will be four of us vying for a chance to face Evie Baang and all of us wish to attain this status as we have all had our chances previously.

She pauses and seemingly switches to a spot on the floor instead of her shoes.

Seleana Zdunich: Trinity Jones focuses on her past, her perceived shortcomings in a run prior to stepping away. She speaks as if her record speaks more against her than for her and focuses on things she cannot control. Things she cannot change. Things…

Seleana looks up and shrugs almost sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: That do not matter.  

She nods knowingly, understandingly.

Seleana Zdunich: Who you were in that former run is not who you are now, Trinity. I never see how you were before and it does not matter because you are a different animal now. You can be whatever you want if you just focus on now instead of then. You are capable of greatness, all you have to do is get out of your own way and you can achieve it!

Sighing heavily, she moves her gaze back to the floor.

Seleana Zdunich: Amy Marshall focuses on her closing window of time for success. She acts as if her entire career is a failure if she does not cash in on opportunities right now. She also focuses on something she can neither control nor change and that is the number next to ehr name in the box marked “age.”

She shrugs again sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I do not know why you think you are on borrowed time, Amy. Your window is just as open now as it was when you started.

She looks up again, nodding pointedly to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: Everyone’s window of opportunity is open so long as they are able to walk away from the ring after their last match. If you are breathing and walking, and they allow you into that ring, your window is not moving at all. You have always been capable of greatness, Amy, and that has not been diminished by that number changing. If your focus is pointed at the championship the way it has always been before, that number will not matter. It did not matter before and it will not now unless you allow it to, unless you allow it to consume you and allow yourself to be defeated before you ever enter the ring.

She nods again, even more pointedly.

Seleana Zdunich: You are better than that, Amy. You always have been.      

Her gaze slips down and finds her shoes all over again.

Seleana Zdunich: Sam Marlowe focuses on career and her lessons outside of the ring. In some ways this is a thing to be praised. You maintain a level of excellence in both and thus inspire and empower those who take notice. You do yourself credit that way.

She looks up into the camera and nods once again.

Seleana Zdunich: This could also cause you problems as your focus is split. Rest assured, I am not telling you to forsake all other things. That would be foolish and pointless.

She nods even as she shrugs apologetically.

Seleana Zdunich: But if your focus is put in place, you will be unstoppable. You are the talent that can transcend and make little girls everywhere stand up and say, “Ja, I can do anything!” You can be the face that lights the way. The light upon the path that shows everyone how to be.

She swallows hard barely looking down.

Seleana Zdunich: And what of me?

Seleana shrugs, almost laughing at herself.

Seleana Zdunich: Lately my focus has been..

She shrugs again, this time knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich: All over the place. I looked at my shoulder. My stepdaughter and her arm. My wife and her myriad of problems and then last week, I was given a new...  

She shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: My focus was on everything but a match so good job I had none for the last two weeks. This past week, I have been unable to focus on anything other than what will become of my marriage, my family…

Her gaze returns to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: But then I saw those I would be facing, the stakes at hand and I realized, I must focus on the match at hand. Forget about my problems and give you three the match you deserve. You all want to face Evie Baang again and so do I. I have stepped into the ring with her twice and both times she has attempted to injure me only to fall short of achieving that. I do not know why she wishes to hurt me…

Shrugging, Seleana glares straight through the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: maybe she dislikes my wife. Maybe she is insulted by my presence in ehr company. I do not know and at this moment, i do not care. I just know she has tried to injure me twice and in order to get back to facing her and proving her wrong i must focus on this match, on you three and I must focus on getting through you.

She stands and nods forcefully.

Seleana Zdunich: I must stand up, walk into that ring and show that this Cat has claws and she is focused on using them for one thing! I will see you three in the ring and we will see who achieves the needed focus this week. I will do my best to show that it is me and put this whole sordid week behind me!

She nods and starts to walk away.

Seleana Zdunich: That… is my focus…    

 Friday, August 24, 2018
Malibu, California
Claire's Shop
2:04 PM PDT


Usually the near hour long drive from home to Claire’s was a relatively peaceful one as drives in the Los Angeles area go. For Seleana Zdunich, this had always been an eye-opening experience. Nothing in her life up to when she moved to this area had prepared her for what felt like the open warfare that is driving in Los Angeles. She hadn’t had to drive much in her native Sweden and driving in Christchurch tended to be more like driving in a relatively small town when she had done it there. She was used to some mass transit and some traffic, but nothing like what was a usual day on the freeway here. Christina and Brittany had both told Seleana she would get used to it but if she really felt uncomfortable, she should get somebody else to drive for her but she’d accepted the first part as the true gospel of the situation.

Driving in Los Angeles, especially on what always felt like the wrong side of the road to her, was just one more thing she was have to adjust to and learn to get used to upon moving to the States. After a little over a year now, she liked to think she had the hang of certain things and yet, some, like this drive, always managed to still make her a little nervous, especially in Christina’s pink lamborghini. The license plate reading “PRFCTN” didn’t make her feel any less nervous but she was learning to deal with it. As she walks from her car to the door of the place, she can’t help but smile at the thought of having made it safely one more time.

She opens the door and is quickly greeted by a five-foot-nothing blonde woman, seven months pregnant, the small woman’s texas accent kicking in hard as Seleana walks over and hugs her.

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

Shay Kenyon smiles back at the towering Swede.

Shay Kenyon: Imma gettin’ there, Sel. Brutus is downstairs like usual.

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: How often are you taking him out?

Shay shrugs, stretching out her back.

Shay Kenyon: Me personally, not as often as I’d like but I kinda can’t by myself anymore. He’s a big ol’ boy and don’t know he can’t just pull me along.

Seleana grins.

Seleana Zdunich: I will see what can be done.

She quickly goes downstairs to see Brutus, returning an hour later nodding happily.

Seleana Zdunich: Awesome as dog!

Shay smiles back.

Shay Kenyon: He is… gonna be weird when Dean finally takes him back. He’s been here since December and it’ll feel so…

She trails off and Seleana nods, the smile dimming slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: You are attached to him?

Shay shrugs, trying not to cry.

Shay Kenyon: Damn hormones…

She shrugs again and then nods to Seleana.

Shay Kenyon: It won’t be so bad if Dean is back in Pismo Beach. Then I can go see him any time I want.

Seleana nods and then hugs Shay reassuringly.

Seleana Zdunich: He looks like he would enjoy that, such a good boy.

Shay nods, taking in the full sight of the statuesque Swedish woman.

Shay Kenyon: So, what’s really wrong?

Seleana frowns in confusion.

Seleana Zdunich: Really wrong?

Shay nods knowingly.

Shay Kenyon: Sel, you come over here all the time and it ain’t like y’all’s shoppin for sex toys or vids or nothin’. You walk in, you talk to me, you play with Brutus and then you go to the gym up the street to make sure you don’t take any of Brutus home with you to Christina…

Seleana just stands there thunderstruck as Shay forces a small smile for her.

Shay Kenyon: I mean, God bless you for helpin’ me with the dog and for findin’ a way to do it without hurting your poor wife with her allergies and all but I can’t say you ever look that happy lately so what’s goin’ on?

Seleana still can’t find the words having been caught completely off-guard.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Shay quickly nods to cut her off.

Shay Kenyon: Don’t you dare say, “nothin’”, Miss Seleana! I done seen you in here all mopin’ like too many times to be buyin’ that shit!  

Seleana is caught off-guard by this all over again.

Seleana Zdunich: Moping?

Shay shrugs, looking almost apologetic for having used that particular word.

Shay Kenyon: As much as you mope. It ain’t like y’all look all depressed but your smile just seems a little less intense certain times is all. So, what’s up?

Seleana nods slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: I… don’t know?

She walks with Shay over to a couple of chairs and then both sit behind the counter.

Seleana Zdunich: I just… thought more would have happened by now.

Shay frowns in confusion.

Shay Kenyon: With what? You ain’t happy in y’all’s marriage?

Seleana shakes her head almost immediately, her eyes going wide at the mere suggestion.

Seleana Zdunich: Oh, no, no, that’s awesome! Christina is the best thing to ever happen to me and Brittany has been more welcoming than I expected her to be to the idea of me. My marriage is wonderful.

Shay smiles genuinely at this.

Shay Kenyon: Ok… then, you miss y’all’s other job?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m ok with how things are at the moment with animals. I did that for ten years and I still get to with the odd one here or there like Brutus. If I went and found a new job, I would be afraid I’d get attached too much to the older ones and I don’t know that I am ready for that yet.

Shay nods, ideas percolating inside her brain as she does so.

Shay Kenyon: So… not working in that field is probably a good thing for ya right now?

Seleana nods happily.

Seleana Zdunich: Ja, at the moment…

Shay nods and then ponders the situation for what seems like forever. Finally, after a few minutes, she nods to Seleana.

Shay Kenyon: Then, wrestling?

Seleana starts to answer but catches herself. She sits back in the chair and visibly starts to question herself and how she feels on this subject.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

She trails off, looks away and then shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!

Seleana almost looks like she wants to slap herself.

Seleana Zdunich: I am… disappointed in myself.

Shay frowns, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Shay Kenyon: Why?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Shay pats her on the hand.

Shay Kenyon: It’s alright, Sugar…

Seleana tries to smile and Shay pats her hand reassuringly again.

Shay Kenyon: I mean, are you upset with yourself for not doing as well as you think you should?

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: No, I am not surprised at my record, in that I am not surprised with all the good opponents I’ve had that I have many losses. The only surprise to me is that Christina and I almost defeated the Boardwalk Angels and I did manage to defeat Amy Santino last week. I know I am not Christina or Brittany…

She shrugs sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m not even Alexi or Zenna…

Shay cocks her head.

Shay Kenyon: Sel, how many matches have you had?

Seleana looks her in the eyes, shocked by the question.

Seleana Zdunich: What?

Shay nods, this time more forcefully.

Shay Kenyon: How many matches have you had? Like, total between LAW and SCW?

Seleana stares at her fingers and starts counting out loud.

Seleana Zdunich: En, två, tre, fyra, fem, sex ... nej, fem…

She nods as if coming to a conclusion.

Seleana Zdunich: En, två, tre, fyra, fem, sex, sju, åtta, nio ...

Nodding again, Seleana looks to Shay.

Seleana Zdunich: Fourteen.

Shay nods, grinning knowingly.

Shay Kenyon: Now, say that out loud again.

Seleana stares at Shay and then nods, smiling as comprehension dawns.

Seleana Zdunich: I have had fourteen wrestling matches in my life.

Shay nods again.

Shay Kenyon: So…?

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I am doing awesome as for somebody who has had to face the likes of Mercedes Vargas, Christina, Amy Santino, Elizabeth Blackwell, Evie Baang, Brittany, Zoey Madigan-Star and Mama Red with no experience!

Shay nods, her agreement apparent.

Shay Kenyon: So, what’s the problem?

Seleana looks at Shay, a realization dawning.

Seleana Zdunich: The Hollywood Angels…

Shay cocks her head, both confusion and curiosity written all over her face.    

Shay Kenyon: What’s wrong with them?

Seleana bites her bottom lip, looking somewhat overcome.

Seleana Zdunich: They have not really happened because SCW does not use tag teams.

Shay’s jaw drops in shock.
 
Shay Kenyon: They don’t have tag teams there?

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: Not right now, only mixed.

Shay looks as if she can’t believe her ears.

Shay Kenyon: Mixed?

Seleana nods slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: Mixed gender, one man and one woman each. It is the only tag team division SCW has at the moment. If they had a regular one again, I’d be keen but that does not seem like it can happen. The rosters are not large enough. Christina had always said we would be a team and I was keen for it to happen. We had the one match against the Boardwalk Angels and we almost knocked them off but we never got to team again. LAW had Christina looking for singles gold and I only had five matches there. My sixth was supposed to be on the show that never happened because the place closed.    

Shay nods sympathetically.

Shay Kenyon: That sucks.

Seleana nods her agreement.

Seleana Zdunich: Yes and now Christina wishes to retire somewhat as an active competitor so it may never happen after all. Brittany does not seem interested and even if she was…

She trails off but Shay nods as she connects the dots.

Shay Kenyon: SCW has no division for the two of y’all to compete in anyway.

Seleana nods and then exhales heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: Do I really let it show so much? I do not wish for this to weight on Christina or Brittany. They usually have enough to worry about without having to listen to me whine about not being in a tag team with people who don’t need me holding them back at the moment.

Shay crosses her arms.

Shay Kenyon: Seleana Valentina Zdunich, don’t y’all ever talk about y’allself like that ever again, do you hear me? You ain’t no drag on anyone! You brighten us all up!

Seleana stares at Shay and gets another emphatic nod from the small blonde Texan.

Shay Kenyon: Don’t you give me no sass on that, Sel! I know you brighten me up all the time when I’m feelin’ downright awful with my pregnancy and I’d bet money you do the same for both Christina and B-Brat. I know you do it for both your sisters too so don’t do this to y’allself!

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I just..

She exhales forcefully again and then nods.

Seleana Zdunich: I guess i just haven’t found my place or my groove yet. I know she didn’t mean to have the Hollywood Angels crash like this but I can’t help feeling disappointed that they’ve never gotten a chance.

Shay reaches out and holds both her hands.

Shay Kenyon: Be patient. None of y’all is dead and SCW seems to be rollin’ right proper so, who knows, maybe you still got a shot. In the meantime, keep bein’ you and keep learnin’. Like you said, you only had fourteen matches so far. You still got a lot to learn in that ring and y’all doin’ great in your development!

Seleana leans over and hugs the diminutive blonde.

SL: Tack, Shay Shay.

Shay can’t help but smile.

Shay Kenyon: Y’all welcome, Cat. Now go get ‘em!



Two hours later…


Friday, August 24, 2018
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
The Home of Christina & Seleana Zdunich
4:05 PM PDT


The camera opens upon Seleana in the living room sitting on the couch. She sits forward, resting her chin on her hands.

Seleana Zdunich: Brittany…

Her head stays rested on her hands while her gaze moves to the floor.

Seleana Zdunich: The last time we had to face each other, you know I did not take the idea very well at all. I did not like the idea of having to strike you in any way. It made me feel dirty just thinking of such things. What kind of stepmother would I be if I put my hands on you like that?

Her head leans down so that instead of her chin, it is now her forehead that rests on her hands.

Seleana Zdunich: many people told me I needed to get over it if I was going to compete in the same sport as you and your mother because sooner or later, this very thing would happen. They all told me I had to accept that these things are commonplace and we just had to accept the matches and agree that we would compete to the best of our abilities and let each other know that no matter what happened in the match it would not change our relationship outside the ring.    

She lifts her head off her hands and exhales heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: I also admit that your promo last time did hurt. I did not understand right away how such things could be said. How could you say such things and could you truly feel that way towards your mother? And if you did truly feel that way about her, what did that mean for how you felt towards me?

Her gaze finally moves up to the camera.    

Seleana Zdunich: I did not know at the time what all you were going through but I was always happy to help any time you came to me. It made me feel good that you really did trust me as you have and that I could be allowed to try and be at least somewhat of a parent to you. I cannot promise I did that job well, but I tried as best i could.

She nods, smiling sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: I love you, Brittany. You are my own. You are as close as I am ever going to get to having a biological child and as such, I would do anything to help you, protect you. You have helped me just as much as you say I have helped you. You were there to help me understand so many things along the way with your family and you helped integrate me in ways I did not know I even needed to know about. Thank you for letting me in, thank you for being the wonderful, strong young woman you are!

Nodding again, Seleana stands up.

Seleana Zdunich: I cannot argue with anything you said about this match. You have pursued this longer and you have more experience than I do in almost every way imaginable when it comes to this sport, this business and most of your mother’s other businesses. She has groomed you for everything and I cannot say that I am more talented than you either. I am obviously gifted physically in ways that you are not since I am eight inches taller and consequently bigger and stronger but you have ways to make up for that difference i cannot even begin to fathom. You have already won championship standing while I am still just trying to gain any standing in wrestling. I had five matches in LAW and I’ve had nine here so far and while I’ve some and lost some, I can say I’ve learned at every turn.

She shrugs, almost laughing despite herself.

Seleana Zdunich: I mean, how can I not when I’m in the ring with the likes of you, your mother, Mercedes Vargas, Evie Baang and Amy Santino?  

She nods again, her eyes momentarily moving off the camera to contemplate the level of talent she’s just named.

Seleana Zdunich: That is a lot of gold in that statement…

Shaking herself, Seleana looks back up into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: This is an important match and I can promise you, Brittany, if you beat me I will have made you earn it properly. I am not going to hold back in this match because you and several others have shown me the way on it. We go into this match as stepmother and stepdaughter and that is how we will come out of it. Nothing will change my love for you, Chickie and I hope you can say the same about me.

Smiling, she nods sweetly to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: But that love does not translate to a lack of drive from me to defeat you. In order to survive in this sport, I must learn, I must adapt and I must move forward and right now that means I have to step up to your level just like I did last week with Amy Santino.

She clasps her hands together in front of her.

Seleana Zdunich: I need you to give me your best, Chickie! I need you to come at me with everything you have so that I can see where i am! I need you to hit me with everything you have so I can learn everything there is to learn! I need your help to become one of the Hollywood Angels your mother always told me we would all be. There is only one way the Hollywood Angels get their halos, at least in my case, and that’s going through you in this Gold Rush Tournament.

She squeezes her hands together and then nods pointedly to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I need to know who I can be, Brittany and you’re the one who’s going to teach me! The winner goes to the finals against either Dani Weston or Aviana faith for a shot at Mikah but more importantly, the outcome will show us definitively if I have managed to be able to say I belong in this family when it comes to the ring. You can say your mother feels like she didn’t do the family name justice and you may even feel that way yourself but I’m the one who had far to go and now we will see how far I have come. I’m the one who got accused of having a job due to nepotism and I’m the one who has more to prove.

She rubs her hands together and then nods once again.

Seleana Zdunich: You’ve already proven you are your mother’s daughter. You’ve tasted victory and you’ve tasted championship status. I’m the trophy wife that shouldn’t be here until I prove otherwise and to do that, i have to prove that I can do more than just walk to the ring and look pretty before the bell rings. I have to prove that I look even better when it’s all on the line and I am aiming to do just that.

The camera zooms in tightly on Seleana’s face.

Seleana Zdunich: This match, the Cat gets her Angel wings and we see how far I can fly!  

             
       

 Friday, August 3, 2018
Los Angeles, California
Hollywood Hills
The Home of Christina Zdunich
9:04 AM PDT

Seleana Zdunich walks back into the home she shares with her wife, Christina Zdunich, and her step-daughter, Brittany Williams, and glances around. Christina had just returned from a business meeting herself and had headed straight for the shower. Brittany was off doing Brittany things, but what of their houseguest of late, Haylie Jo “Halo” Annis? Usually, if she wasn’t with Brittany, as she was not now because Brittany had headed off for things that weren’t supposed to involve Halo, especially after the announcement publicly the previous night of Brittany resuming her official relationship with Jordan Parker-Kane.  

Seleana Zdunich: Haylie?

With no answer, Seleana looks around further.

Seleana Zdunich: Haylie Jo?

She walks down the hallway and into the backroom where the young blonde woman had been staying recently. As Seleana tuns to the doorway, she can hear a slight sound of crying coming from inside.

Seleana Zdunich: Halo?

Seleana looks inside the room and comes face to face with a crying Haylie Jo Annis, an open bottle of Jack Daniel’s next to her on the floor that while open, looks like it’s barely been touched.

Seleana Zdunich: Hej…

She moves in and sits down next to her on the floor, looking for the top to the bottle.

Seleana Zdunich: Have… you… ?

Halo shakes her head and Seleana manages to find the cap and pop it back on the bottle.

Seleana Zdunich: Have you had anything else?

Halo tries to stifle her tears, turns to Seleana with fear in her eyes and then shakes her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: No…

The younger blonde woman tries to find the words to describe what is going on with her but can’t seem to find them at all.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I…

Seleana nods, patting Halo’s hand understandingly.

Seleana Zdunich: It’s ok…

Halo shakes her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: No, it’s not…

Seleana glances around the room and notices that Halo’s stuff is packed up into the same two bags she came here with, a suitcase and a duffel bag.

Seleana Zdunich: Going somewhere, Chickie?

Halo shrugs.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I didn’t expect to get to stay now. How am i supposed to stay if she’s gonna be out and about with Jordan openly now?

Seleana nods slowly as Halo looks at the bottle and shakes her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Yesterday, I was Brittany Williams’ girlfriend. Today, I’m…

She bites her lip and shakes her head again.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Today, I’m her homewrecking, gold digging whore…

Seleana’s eyes go wide, visibly horrified to hear this phrase come flying out of the younger woman’s mouth.

Seleana Zdunich: How can you say that?

Halo shrugs sadly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: What else would you call me now?

She waves around the room.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I live in a room in a house that isn’t mine, with a family that isn’t really mine, in the hopes of being with a woman…

Her words choke off, catching momentarily in her throat.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: That… isn’t…

Her hands ball into fists as she fights with her own emotions

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Really…

Her teeth start to grind as she tries to hold back a fresh torrent.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: She didn’t pick me…

Tears start rolling down her face again and Halo collapses over into Seleana’s arms.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I’m such a piece of shit…

Seleana shakes her head, holding her and stroking her head supportively.

Seleana Zdunich: You’re not.

Halo nods, now sobbing anew.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I am! I was such a piece of shit that my Daddy sent me away! I was such a piece of shit that my Mama overdosed! I’m such a piece of shit that my sister went to train with Kendra instead of me! I’m such a piece of shit that Logan decided he’d rather die than live with me and now I’m such a piece of shit that Brittany decided she wanted…

She closes her eyes and buries her head into the side of Seleana’s chest.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Not me...  

Seleana shakes her head, still stroking Halo’s head.

Seleana Zdunich: You’re not, Young One.

Halo looks up at her, her voice shaky, childlike.  

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Why doesn’t anyone want me around then?

Seleana hugs her and then holds Halo’s face gently in her hands.

Seleana Zdunich: That’s not true, Chickie.

Halo nods sadly, pulling away to sit up on her own.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Name one!

Seleana stares at Halo in disbelief.

Seleana Zdunich: Chickie…

Halo nods pointedly.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Name one! My Daddy would rather be gambling and has probably managed to bet his way into trouble again! My Mama and Logan both picked the grave over me! Brittany picked Jordan and I’m pretty sure her mother doesn’t like me much.

Seleana cocks her head.

Seleana Zdunich: What makes you think that?

Halo nods to the doorway.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Miss Christina is nice enough to me but I don’t think she likes having me around and really, why should she? I’m a drain on her, on you, on...  

She shakes her head.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I really thought…

She squeezes her eyes closed.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I really thought this time would be different. I came here with nothing, I expected…

She trails off and then shakes her head as she shrugs dolefully.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I don’t know what I expected. Brittany never really promised me anything and I’ve been waiting for the fairy tale to end…

Biting her bottom lip, she starts to tremble.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Or, I was until that boat trip…

Her eyes open as she stares at the floor in front of her.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I knew she only let me tag along because Jordan was busy and couldn’t go but I thought all that time together meant something! I thought I meant something!

Seleana nods, smiling encouragingly.

Seleana Zdunich: Of course you mean something, Chickie! You’ve always meant something! Brittany never looked at you like you were just a “sweet piece to fuck!”

Her attempt at an American accent causes her natural Swedish accent to get even thicker, causing Halo to actually smile slightly.  

Seleana Zdunich: You’re not going anywhere tonight. We are not just kicking you out, Chickie! You needed help and we’ve given you some. We’re not going to stop just because you’ve changed sex partners.

Halo’s eyes go wide.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: You… really?

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: Yes, really.

She then nods to the bottle.

Seleana Zdunich: How did you get that?

Halo stares at the bottle and then nods, looking away.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: I’ve been able to do that since I was thirteen, scam my way to drinks. That’s how I ended up in the convent and got nicknamed Halo. I figured out if I batted my eyes and pouted and asked pwetty pwease to the right people…

She taps the bottle.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Even now, I’m still only Nineteen and…  

She trails off yet again, staring forward at the wall.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Am I gonna be in trouble now?

Seleana shakes her head.

Seleana Zdunich: We’ll just get rid of the bottle and nothing further needs to happen. Okej, Chickie?

Halo stares at the bottle for a few minutes and then nods.

Haylie Jo "Halo" Annis: Ok.

Seleana hugs her, feeling almost maternal as she does so.

Seleana Zdunich: It’s gonna be ok, Haylie Jo. It’s going to be ok.

Halo nods and hugs back, hoping beyond hope that Seleana is right.


Two hours later…

The camera opens upon Seleana Zdunich sitting on a couch in a side room of the house. It’s obviously her smartphone on the selfie stick again and it shows Seleana sitting there barefoot, black soccer shorts and a black sports bra with her hair pulled back into a ponytail. Her expression is one of melancholy and contemplation.

Seleana Zdunich: I don’t know what to say today.

Nodding slightly, she looks forward, away from the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I never expected this to happen. To get the opportunity to face the Bombshell Roulette Champion, even when I do not know how or why I was afforded such an opportunity and i do not know the circumstances under which I will receive said opportunity is a blessing. It is a gift I do not take lightly.

Looking back up, Seleana nods genuinely to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I wish to thank Sin City Wrestling for this opportunity and for all of the opportunities you have given me since my arrival. I know I was given my original opportunity because I had shown just enough in L.A.W. to warrant a rookie slot and I also know that part of the attraction was that I was engaged with a woman that could be described as a legend in SCW.

She takes a deep breath and then exhales heavily.

Seleana Zdunich: Being attached to this family has afforded me many things, none of which I expected to happen and I am grateful. I never expected to be whole again after Twain died and I certainly did not expect that to come in the arms of a championship competitor like Christina. I did not expect it to come the way it has and yet, I am grateful for that.

Her gaze moves down slightly and she nods to herself, smiling almost vacantly.

Seleana Zdunich: I did not expect to gain a child, especially not one that is only a child for a short time now. Brittany has taught me things about myself and about life that I did not know were possible before and I am grateful for that.

She looks up and nods, the smile remaining and turning sweet.

Seleana Zdunich: I did not expect the competition to be as challenging as it has been nor did I expect to last as long as I have. I did not expect the competition to be easy, but i did not expect it to be as physically taxing as it is and now I know why they say you have no idea what it is really like until you step inside the ropes yourself. I did not expect this much of myself when Christina asked me to train and I am grateful for that.

Nodding slightly again, she looks dead into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: So what is the point here?

She shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I did not expect this championship opportunity. I was afforded the chance to wrestle for this very opportunity once before and Brittany was able to win instead of me. I was afforded a chance at Summer XXXtreme 6 to wrestle for an opportunity at the Bombshell Championship and Christina was able to win instead of me. Both times, though I did not win, it was a learning experience and I am grateful both that I was afforded those opportunities and for what I learned in those losses.

Looking down, Seleana nods  to herself and then looks back up into the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: I did not expect to be here. Everyone has pointed out that I have not been the competitor that should be able to expect or demand opportunities like this. Evie Baang will doubtlessly add to that chorus and I do not know what to say to challenge those assertions because, most of them are true. I am older than your usual rookie, yet I am, in fact, a rookie. I am neither accomplished, nor reputable. Evie Baang is both of those things and I am grateful for the opportunity to step inside the ring with her because I know, no matter what, i will come out better for having the experience of wrestling her. Evie Baang is everything i am not and yet, still, I know I have a chance to defeat her and i am grateful for that. I am skilled in certain areas of combat sports that would allow me to take advantage of an opportunity should that opportunity present itself.

She nods ever so slightly.

Seleana Zdunich: Evie Baang, I would tell you not to take me lightly, but I know you probably will anyway…

She shrugs knowingly.

Seleana Zdunich: And why wouldn’t you?

Shrugging again, Seleana’s smile fades somewhat.  

Seleana Zdunich: You are a legend, are you not? You have accomplished more in your comeback, than I have in my entire “career” and that is nothing to be ashamed of for me. You were given an opportunity and you capitalized and while this opportunity should have gone to Brittany, i am grateful that it has come to me.

Standing up, Seleana steels herself.

Seleana Zdunich: I will step in the ring with you, Evie Baang, for that SCW Bombshell Roulette Championship and I will prove that this opportunity was not wasted on me. I will prove that I belong in this company and that I belong in the same ring as you, whether you or anyone else likes it.

The smile returns.

Seleana Zdunich: I have been given this opportunity and I am ready to show you how grateful I am to have received it.        

 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!    


 

 

 A gymnasium and training center, this had basically been Seleana Zdunich’s home for the last six months after being set-up on what was not even a blind date with a championship professional wrestler Crystal Hilton by another wrestler called Stacy Jones that was a friend of Seleana’s family. Seleana takes in her surroundings and then nods as she turns on the camera to her phone on the end of the selfie stick given to her by Crystal not long ago for things like this very situation.

Seleana Zdunich: Heya, how’s it?

She smiles brightly, her long blonde hair cascading down onto her shoulders, her blue-green eyes shimmering in the light as her Swedish accent manages to caress every word.

Seleana Zdunich: As you can see, I’m here at a friend’s training facility here in Las Vegas.

She swings the camera so it can see a sign that says the name “Maguire’s” on it hanging just over the door. As the camera pans back, a glimpse of Seleana in her black wrestling shoes, black spandex onesie can be seen before it settles on her smiling face again.

Seleana Zdunich: A fellow wrestler called Eavan Maloney pointed me here. Her girlfriend, Alejandra, comes here for boxing instruction and I was pleasantly surprised to discover this was run by a family I was already acquainted with. It is here that I will ready both myself and your own “Blossoming Rose”, my fiancée, Christiana Rose, for you, my new home for professional wrestling, Sin City Wrestling!

She nods, sighing loudly.

Seleana Zdunich: I am sorry, I am not very good at this part yet. My cousins and sister tell me it will get easier but I am…

Seemingly losing herself in thought momentarily, Seleana glances away to the door and then back to the camera.

Seleana Zdunich: Förvirrad…

Catching herself, he nods apologetically.

Seleana Zdunich: Confused…

She nods, steeling herself for what is to come.

Seleana Zdunich: But I will do this to the best of my ability! I am Seleana Zdunich and I cannot wait to show SCW what I can do!

A smile forms and she blows the camera kiss.

Seleana Zdunich: Hejdå för nu!

She turns the camera off and then sets it aside next to her gym bag by the wall. She takes a second for herself and exhales forcefully, the reality of the situation settling.

Seleana Zdunich: I can do this…

She nods to herself, scanning the entirety of the building, visibly trying to build herself up for this idea.

Seleana Zdunich: Kia kaha, Chickie, you can do this…

Nodding again, she looks to the ring and stares at it in wide-eyed wonder. She was going to be the teacher now…

Seleana Zdunich: What am I doing?  

She steps back and slowly sits down next to her bag, almost sinking down into the floor itself as she goes, reaching blindly around and pulling her phone off the selfie stick.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Shaking her head, she just stares at the ring in stunned silence.

Seleana Zdunich: How… ?

She releases her grip on her phone, her hands moving up to cover her mouth, a look of abject terror and despair coming over her face.  

Seleana Zdunich: I… can’t…

Her eyes start glisten as they moisten, her jaw clenching and her teeth grinding as she stares into the abyss before her.

Seleana Zdunich: I… Jag vet inte vad jag ska göra!

Tears start to stream down her face, as her head tilts forward, her hands still covering her mouth in horror but now shifting slightly to try and cover the rest of her face as well.

Seleana Zdunich: För fan i helvete!

She leans back against the wall, looking like she’s trying not to be sick, her eyes closing even as the tears continue to fall.

Seleana Zdunich: Din jävla idiot!
 
She pounds her fist against the wall as she looks up to the ceiling, seemingly searching for the answers that are obviously not coming.

Seleana Zdunich: Vad ska jag göra?

Her gaze moves slowly from the ceiling to the ring sitting a hundred feet away. She shakes her head, visibly shaken just by the sight of it. She sighs heavily, her voice barely managing to escape her lips.  

Seleana Zdunich: Vad ska jag göra?

As she starts to sink even further into the floor, her phone rings. She reaches down to pick it up and looks at the name staring back at her.  

“Zenna Zdunich”

A smile comes to her face at the sight of her younger sister’s name and she quickly answers, putting the phone on video. As she does, she sees a shot from inside an airport with three smiling face to greet her. In the middle is her middle sister, the red-haired, green-eyed Zenna, to the right is their blonde-haired, green-eyed baby sister, Katra Zdunich, and to the left is Zenna’s fiancée, the black-haired and brown-eyed Linnéa Lacroix. Seleana can’t help but smile and tries her best to pull herself together.

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

All three wave back to her even as they notice the look on her face.

Zenna Zdunich: What’s wrong, Sarabi?

Linnéa nods her own concern, her New Orleans accent standing out in stark contrast to the other three women’s Swedish ones.

Linnéa Lacroix: You almost look like…

She cuts herself off from finishing that thought but all three Zdunich Sisters seem to catch on quickly with Seleana shaking her head to try and dispel the thought.

Seleana Zdunich: We are still together, Li, no worries. I am just…

Trailing off, Seleana flashes the phone towards the ring so the other three women can see where she is.

Seleana Zdunich: It is training day.

She turns it back to herself and nods to them.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m just nervous as.

Katra frowns in confusion and Seleana nods before the youngest sister can even say what’s on her mind.

Seleana Zdunich: I…

Zenna and Linnéa both nod underatadningly, knowingly.

Zenna Zdunich: You know what you’ve been asked…

Linnéa Lacroix: But you have no idea how you’re gonna do it?

Seleana nods sadly.

Seleana Zdunich: Estrellita…

Katra shakes her head again, her own confusion seemingly growing by the second. Seleana sees her baby sister’s concern and sighs.  

Seleana Zdunich: She’s exhibiting signs again.

Katra turns to Zenna and Linnéa  as the two nod knowingly.

Zenna Zdunich: Christina Rose…

Seleana nods.

Linnéa Lacroix: Ain’t that her legal name?

Seleana nods again.

Seleana Zdunich: I’ve met Rose as well. I’m not keen to repeat that. Christina Rose has been pleasant enough so far. I just wish…

She trails off, biting her lip.

Seleana Zdunich: I don’t know what to do. Christina wants me to train her the way Crystal trained me but how do I train? I’m still a rookie, I know nothing!

Her family nods to her.

Zenna Zdunich: You know more than you think, Sarabi. You’ve been watching Alexi for a decade and you’ve been watching Li and me for years as well. Crystal taught you well, you worked wonders in L.A.W. in the short time you were there.    

Linnéa nods her agreement.

Linnéa Lacroix: You didn’t look like a zookeeper masquerading as a fighter, Sel, you looked ready. Crystal did a wonderful job prepping you in a short time. I honestly don’t know how y’all did that because it took me that long last year just to knock the rust off. I wouldn’t have felt as ready as you were…

Zenna nods as well.

Zenna Zdunich: Me either. I know Maja was helping me, but I had been working out again for six months when I made my return to the ring and I still wasn’t as ready for that as you were.

Seleana nods, sighing aloud again.

Seleana Zdunich: I just wish I knew what…

The anguish building up again, Seleana tries to swallow it down.

Seleana Zdunich: I love her so much, I’m not keen to fail her. This is scary as!

Linnéa Lacroix: You won’t, Sarabi!

Zenna and Katra both nod their agreement.

Katra Zdunich: You… no fail…

Zenna can’t help but smile as Katra forces the words out knowing the effort it always took her to speak English.

Zenna Zdunich: You’ve got this, Sarabi. She would not have asked this of you if she didn’t feel you capable. She’s sharing everything of herself with you. You’ve even managed to bond with her daughter!  

Seleana Zdunich: Men hur gör jag det här?

Zenna and Katra look on their sister sympathetically while Linnéa manages a supportive smile.

Linnéa Lacroix: Just treat it like you’re back at Orana Park. Christina is one of your animals that you need to train to be able to help them, care for them. That’s all this is, Sarabi. She’s calling on your skills that way and you DO know how to do that. You’ve been doing it your entire adult life! Treat this like it’s a rescue animal, she already knows most of what she needs to know, you just have to get her to show it again.

Seleana stares at them for a second and then smiles.

Seleana Zdunich: I will do that, thank you, Li.

Linnéa nods and smirks playfully.

Linnéa Lacroix: Of course, kia kaha, Chickie.

Seleana, Zenna and Katra can’t help but smile at Linnéa’s usage of the New Zealand saying.

Seleana Zdunich: Jag älskar er alla!

Zenna Zdunich: Jag älskar dig, Sarabi!

Katra Zdunich: Jag älskar dig!

Linnéa Lacroix: I love you too!

Seleana nods and then glances behind them.

Seleana Zdunich: Why are you in airport? I thought you were using a tour bus with Adriana?

Zenna nods.

Zenna Zdunich: Li and I have to fly to Asheville for the Hybrid card tonight. Maja and I are teaming on the preshow. Then we have to fly back to Columbus to make the show with Adriana after!

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: Better let you go then!

Zenna, Katra and Linnéa all nod and the call ends. As Seleana readies to set the phone down, Crystal looks on from the doorway, hoping Seleana doesn’t notice that she was there the whole time and saw and heard everything. It had been hard for her to watch but now a smile was on her face as she readied herself.

Crystal Hilton: I love you, Seleana…

She steels herself and then walks into the room, beaming as only Christina Rose can.

Christina Rose: Heya, Chickie, how’s it?  

Seleana looks over and smiles as Christina bounds over to her.

Christina Rose: Did I say it right? I wanna be able to do this just like you and Miss Hilton!

Seleana hugs Christina, nodding as she does so.

Seleana Zdunich: Yes, Chickie, you did!

Christina hops excitedly as she hugs Seleana back.

Christina Rose: Thank you for this! I don’t want to let Miss Hilton down and you’ve been so nice about everything and I’m ready to start this!

Seleana smiles at Christina’s enthusiasm.

Seleana Zdunich: Alright, then if you’re keen, let’s begin.

The two walk over to the ring wearing matching outfits and start going through the motions and maneuvers that Christina will need to know. After a couple of hours of Christina running, jumping, falling and grappling some, the two step out of the ring and head to the showers. Another twenty minutes later and they walk over to Seleana’s gym back, put her phone back on the selfie stick and turn it on. The camera opens on Seleana and Christina checking themselves even with towels around their necks.

Seleana Zdunich: Are you keen for this?

Christina nods so excitedly, her glasses almost bounce off her face.

Seleana Zdunich: Hi, Sin City Wrestling, Christina Rose and I just thought we’d ask…

Both: Heya, how’s it?      

Seleana nods her approval and Christina starts bopping around happily.

Seleana Zdunich: I’m new to this company and Christina thought it might be a good idea to introduce as together since we might just be Hollywood Angels together…

They both pause to stare at each other playfully, both looking on in mock shock and amazement as if the thought had never occurred to either of them before that very instant. They both look back to the camera and smile.

Seleana Zdunich: We’re just being silly as. Christina and I have been hard at work here getting ready for Climax Control since this’ll be my debut… dare I say…  premiere?

Christina beams, pride coming of her at Seleana’s use of this word.

Seleana Zdunich: I have to make a good first impression and to get into the six-sided ring, where, I have admittedly never been before, to take on a blast from SCW’s past…

Christian shakes her head.

Christina Rose: No, no, that’s a different thing here.

Seleana shrugs.

Seleana Zdunich: I know but, she’s a star from the past and that’s a thing going on so I was trying to be cute.

Christina gasps.

Christina Rose: Oh, then go ahead!

Seleana nods.

Seleana Zdunich: Parand Ara is coming back to SCW just as I am coming in for the first time. Now, I admittedly know very little of her but what I have heard is bad.

Christian nods slowly, looking concerned.

Seleana Zdunich: I do not know if that is how you will still behave now but if it is, I will feel obligated to show you that I am no pushover and that I will do my best, give my all to show you some manners in that ring! I am told you are from Syria and dress appropriate for that area. I am also told that you will most likely look down on me because I enjoy a good time, because I am with a woman and most of all…

She pauses and looks at Christina Rose lovingly. Nodding, Seleana looks back to the camera with Christina smiling next to her, seemingly just happy to be there.

Seleana Zdunich: Because of who my fiancée is.

Christina smiles, touched, squeezing Seleana’s hand encouragingly.

Seleana Zdunich: This is not the first time someone has been down on me because of a dating choice, nor is this the first significant other I have had with a reputation others wish to use against me.

Seleana’s gaze hardens as Christina nods again, seemingly rooting her on.

Seleana Zdunich: But you should know I spent nearly ten years’ time in New Zealand working at Orana Wildlife Park and in that time I saw how animals cope with all things. I also saw how people cope and survive when challenged by things, be it weather, time, loss, money, or even three major earthquakes that threatened to level the city I called home. I may call this country home now, but I am still that same girl that went far away from my home in Sweden to the other side of the world just for an opportunity to work with the things I loved and this is no different! I am here because I love this sport and because I love my new family and there is nothing you can do to hurt that! Sin City Wrestling called me “renowned” when they announced my signing and I am here to prove that while that might have been stretching the truth then, it will not be for long! Parand Ara, I am sorry for whatever turned you into what you have been and I hope you learn to see the world with new eyes…

She shakes her head, this time it’s her turn to squeeze Christina’s hand supportively.

Seleana Zdunich: But I will not kneel for you simply because you think you are better than me! If you are as others say you are, I will show this Cat has claws and she isn’t afraid to use them!

Seleana turns the camera off and lowers the stick.

Seleana Zdunich: Come on, let’s go get some refreshment. After our workout, we can use it, assuming, of course… that you’re keen?    

Christian can’t smile brightly enough.

Christina Rose: I’d love to!

Seleana nods, puts the selfie stick into the bag, picks it up and leads Christina out into the bright world they find themselves in, never letting go of her hand as they go.