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Inner Demons
Sitting in the middle of a pool in Houston Texas, Sam Marlowe paddled a hand in the water as she appeared to relax. With her eyes covered with silvered shades, her thoughts were her own.
Inner thoughts
Voice: What the hell do you think you are doing Sam?
Standing in what looks like a witness’ stand, Samantha Marlowe gripped her fingers around the edge of the stand.
Samantha Marlowe: I don’t understand what you are asking?
A second voice: We are asking what are you trying to do Sam? You are in Sin City wrestling and in the second round of the tournament to find a challenger for the Bombshell title. Do you think you are this challenger?
Sam appears to think, her head slowly starting to nod affirmatively.
Samantha Marlowe: Yes, I think I am that challenger for the title. I mean really, I have it in me to do what no one else has done and beat Mikah. And this week in San Jose, I have the chance to prove that I have what it takes when I beat Raynin.
Voice: RAYNIN!?! Seriously, you think that you can beat her? She is a former champion herself. A multiple champion!
Sam can feel the comment wash over her like almost a physical wave that nauseates her slightly. Taking a bracing breath, Sam continues to look at the speakers, the shadowy figures hidden in the half dark. She can hear their breathing, a slight chuckle escaping from the darkness.
Samantha Marlowe: Yes I think I can beat her. Didn’t I beat Amy Marshall in round one and she is more of a former champion than Raynin. So just because they put me up against Raynin does not mean that they think I am unable to beat her. Maybe they see me as enough of a threat to put me against women who would be too much for me to beat.
Second voice: Maybe they want you to fail. After all, who are you to them really? A curtain jerker who gets lucky? Have you ever gotten past mid card status?
Sam doesn’t dignify that with an answer as the voice ends the question with a low hum of curiosity. Once again, the dominant voice begins to speak again.
First voice: Sam Marlowe, I have to sit here and wonder just why you are deluding yourself that you stand some kind of chance this week on Climax Control. After all, it was just a fluke that you made it to the second round of the tournament so I think you need to accept the fact that this week you have reached the end of the line and get over the thoughts that you even stand a chance against Raynin. You know we are the voices of reason and there isn’t anything you can do about doubting us.
Anger passes over Sam’s face as she peers into the darkness, the voice tickling her consciousness as the familiarity strikes a chord within her. Suddenly the realization hits as she leans closer to the voice, a glimmer of surprise in her voice.
Samantha Marlowe: I do so believe that I can doubt you. After all, I have lasted in this federation where you haven’t…Cyn…
The darkness around her sister disappears and Cyn Marlowe appears dressed all in red like some devilish demon intent on driving her sister to lose confidence in herself. Sam only shakes her head at her sister.
Samantha Marlowe: You know what Cyn, I expect this from you so all you are doing is just the same thing over and over again. But here and now is where it stops because we both know that you can’t stand the fact that it is me that is the one getting all the attention because I am the wrestler and you aren’t. Why can’t you just be happy for me instead of jealous?
The image of Cyn Marlowe says nothing but seems to steam from the anger that is bubbling to the surface.
Second Voice: Bravo Sam, you have realized that one of your inner demons is your sister and the abuse she has put you through. But have you given thought to the fact that sometimes you have to see the truth and learn your place and that maybe your place isn’t to be the top of the bombshells division.
Sam turns from glaring at Cyn to listen better to the voice of the second speaker.
Samantha Marlowe: So you say but I have confidence in my talents. All you are doing is trying to puncture that and make me doubt myself but I got this match.
Second Voice: Even though Raynin has beaten you before?
Samantha Marlowe: Yes she has but that was a tag match and I am ready this time. Because this isn’t a tag match this time and that means that it is just her and I in that match. I don’t have to depend on anyone other than me and she won’t have the help of Gothika and the rest of the Fallen. If she wants to advance in the tournament she is going to have to beat me fair and square. And the same goes for me and that is where my confidence has got me feeling ten feet tall and bullet proof.
The Cyn demon laughs maniacally as the second voice only coughs slightly as if fighting back a scoffing laugh. Sam turns and leaves the witness stand to move towards where she had heard the voice. Narrowing her eyes, she tries to see who the owner of the voice is but the person moves deeper into the shadows. Suddenly a flashlight appears in the hand of Sam who then points it to the shadow and flicks the switch.
Samantha Marlowe: No way!?!?
In the beam of light, Samantha Marlowe sees a demon dressed in a mix of red and black who is her own twin.
Samantha Marlowe demon: Yes way Sam, the one person you never suspected to be talking to you like this is the one person that could for all intents and purposes make your shot go up in flames. The biggest question that rises from that is…Are you going to let me?
Sam can’t believe it is herself that is raising the questions and putting pot shots into her confidence. Turning her back on the demon, Sam thinks of all the doubts only to see them appearing in front of her in the form of small bullet holes in a poster of herself with the word confidence under it.
Samantha Marlowe demon: Well?
Sam doesn’t say anything as she walks towards the image and then with a fingertip, she ‘erases’ the bullet holes before turning to her demons and with a snap of her fingers in their direction makes them disappear.
Samantha Marlowe: No doubts, no fears no demons to hold me back…
As she slowly pushes the glasses from her eyes, Sam Marlowe lets a confident grin cross her lips as she sits up slightly. As she does, she calls out to the person sitting on the deck watching her and motions for a phone as she begins to paddle towards the shallow end of the pool. Once there, she steps out of the pool and reaching for the towel and phone being held out to her, she heads towards the house only to disappear inside.
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Addressing her demons…
Raynin, at Climax Control you have done your best and you have done your worse but this time you are just done. I know that I am facing a demon, facing what some might call a monster but to me you are nothing but an opponent that is smack dab in the way of my moving on in the tournament.
Granted when we faced each other in the past it was a tag match and your team managed to beat mine but this week, it isn’t a tag match. And that could be the deciding factor in who moves on this week. I mean I could be accepting of the fact that when we did have that match you won and just by that fact, you would win again on Sunday.
However let me remind you of a couple of things. Since that match I have been working on my skills and I have been working on my confidence and I have to say that I am in one hell of a great place right now. This is round two of the tournament and to get here I beat Amy Marshall, a multiple time champion…a grandslam champion at that.
And to get to round three, I have to beat a multi time champion. But where that match and this match differ is that you haven’t been a grandslam champion. A step down from my competition from the last round but still I know that I shouldn’t take you lightly and I am not. I am focused on you with laser precision and when push comes to shove, I am going to be fighting for my spot in the tournament from that first sound of the bell until the last slap of the canvas for the one two three.
Will I be gracious in the win, I would like to think so. But from where I stand, I am going to advance and there won’t be anything anyone will be able to do to burst my dreams of moving on and being the one to face Mikah for that title. And when it comes to the title, that goal is my desire…my passion…my dream!
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The flight to Costa Rica was for the most part quiet as Sam relaxed, a small game system in her hands as she relaxes on the Marlowe jet. Near the back of the plane, Cyn can be seen on a computer skyping with who knows whom.
Cyn Marlowe: We will talk soon darlin’, trust me.
The person signs out as Cyn gets to her feet and moves to sit beside her sister. Sam doesn’t spare her a glance as Cyn fluffs her hair.
Cyn Marlowe: Are you even going to talk to me Sammi?
Samantha Marlowe: I don’t know if I should. After all, I would not want to be seen as causing some kind of trouble.
Cyn rolls her eyes as if this was some type of ploy to make her feel guilty. Shaking off the comment, she tucks one leg under the other and begins again.
Cyn Marlowe: Well Sam you did cause trouble last week on Climax Control by hitting Vero…
Samantha Marlowe: I didn’t even touch her Cyn and I can’t believe you took her side after what she did to me. And now here I am getting ready for a really tough match and you can’t let me just focus on that can you?
Cyn Marlowe: Of course I can’t because you and I need to set down some ground rules for my management of you. And before you say anything you know that Daddy told you to listen to me.
Sam blows a stray curl out of her eyes and then hangs her head.
Samantha Marlowe: CYN! You are NOT my manager.
Cyn Marlowe: Consultant then. But if you take my advice, you will stop trying to injury people and focus on wresting.
Samantha Marlowe: That is what I thought I was doing by relaxing and playing this game…
Cyn glares at Sam then with a huff gets out of the seat and moves away. Angered herself, Sam moves out of her seat and heads towards the galley and the bottles of juice sitting on the counter nearby. Suddenly a telephone ringer sounds which has Sam rushing back to her seat and picking up the phone.
Samantha Marlowe: Hey Pussy, how are you doing? Getting ready for the interviews at Climax Control?
She listens then begins to laugh.
Samantha Marlowe: You want to interview me right now? But you are there and I am here. How are you going to get the answers?
From the other end of the conversation, Sam hears the question then answers slowly.
Samantha Marlowe: Of course I am ready for Raynin. Why is everyone so worried about it. It is a match that is going to see one of us advance and trust me when I tell you that I am totally going to give it my all and kick her rear end all over that six sided ring.
Pussy can barely be heard to mumble something which only makes Sam shake her head.
Samantha Marlowe: I am not going to worry about Veronica Taylor this week. After last week I hope she realizes that she had better not get in my way. I realize that she has somehow decided that I am her enemy for some reason that is beyond me but when push comes to shove, she has to realize that I am not going to focus on her until I can give her my full attention. And if that means to focus on her by losing my match this week, you are crazy to think I will do something like that…
Sam is interrupted by the pilot telling the sisters that they were approaching the airport and would have to buckle up. Smiling Sam speaks into the phone.
Samantha Marlowe: I gotta go Pussy, I will see you at Climax Control and I will give you more of an interview there. Talk to you soon.
Pressing the end conversation button, Sam turns off the phone and the game then buckles in as the plane begins to descend. Across the plane, Cyn buckles herself in as she contemplates just what might happen at Climax Control.
