She was back in the ring again, something she thought would never happen. After all she had left the wrestling world abruptly without a trace. It was to be expected of someone with her past, yet it managed to catch a few people by surprise. There weren’t enough words in the world to express how sorry she was, however not all stories get to be told. Her story was no different. It would stay suppressed inside her, caged like the circus freak animal she had become.
Evie took a moment to run her right hand across the top rope of the six-sided ring, that was housed inside the training facility that Odette and Gabriel Stevens ran. This place lately had been booming with both husband and wife team taking on a fresh new bunch of Sin City Wrestling hopefuls. Despite this remarkable success it appeared that Evie still had some strings left that she could pull as the building was vacant. It was just her and her thoughts.
Her fucking thoughts.
Although she was dressed and ready to train, Evie’s mind couldn’t stop ticking over. This was a mistake, she should have never agreed to step back inside the six-sided ring. She was out of shape, even though her body was still trim and taut, she hadn’t been as active as she previously was. That was going to hinder her this Sunday. Not only that, she couldn’t escape her past and right now she was just reliving the former few months repeatedly. It was as if Satan himself had chosen her to suffer.
As she looked around the ring, she started to familiarise herself with her surroundings. Evie was hopeful that this would kickstart her hunger to be back in the ring and yet, like a lighter running out of gas, there wasn’t even a dull spark in her stomach. She was dead inside, and her body was just a vessel for pain. Walking to the centre of the ring, Evie sat herself down with her legs crossed in front of her. Before she slammed her back onto the canvas, the sound of her skin slapping the firm material echoed in the empty building, bringing a smirk across her face. At least she was still alive.
She brought her left hand up to cover her eyes from the blinding lights above her, while her right hand pulled her long black braid to the side of her neck. Evie was running out of time to get her shit together, if she was hoping for any type of miracle to happen this Sunday night. The Blast from the Past wasn’t something to be taken lightly and as the reigning winner from last year, she had a lot on the line to defend. Yet she was stuck with a three-foot man for a partner, a past that she couldn’t shake and regret lingering over her.
She was finally, broken.
Evie turned her head away from the lights and closed her eyes before finally the thoughts she had tried so hard to keep at bay, came flooding back to drown her.
###
She was back at that beach, up to her waist was submerged into the ocean. The small waves were barely making an impact on her balance as the sea was calm. Her long black hair was out, and it curtained her chest, it was curled from the sea salt in the air. Her body was beaten, battered and bruised. Around each of her wrists were deep rope burns that almost radiated red. Her back was scratched, but not in the sense of a fun time between the sheets, it looked as if she had been combed with the bristles of a thousand nails. The bruising was sickening, as they were soulless black they were hard to miss as her skin was unusually pale. Evie’s face routinely never showed any emotion, yet as the salt water wept into her open wounds, the anguish on her face was almost like an injured wolf howling at the moon.
Her right eye was sunken into her head, as a large black ring surrounded it, really making her green eyes pop as the shimmered with a mixture of pain from capture yet the pleasure of freedom. She was free although she looked as if she was dead, her pulse was somewhat still beating. The last few days had been torture, as her past had come back to haunt her, but here she was, naked, exposed to the world alive and well considering her ordeal. After all, not many who tango with the lineage get to come back out alive.
As she looked out at the horizon, she knew she was no longer alone as a shadow was cast upon the crystal-clear water beside her. It wasn’t long until a hand was on her shoulder, that motion alone sent a shiver down her spine. It had been a while since he had touched her, as they had been apart for so long, yet it just felt right. The shiver wasn’t her body repulsing his touch, it was her body’s way of longing for him. She wanted to melt into his arms and spend the rest of her days by his side, not disappointing him. Closing her eyes, she sighed as she felt him mold into her side, as if her curves were made to stand beside his. Evie could feel his right arm now around her back, his hand cradling her exposed hip. As he brought his chiselled jaw and rested it gently on top of her head. The salt air was no longer what Evie could smell it was just his aftershave, it was uncanny no matter how long they were apart it’s the little things that burn into your memory bank.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “What are you thinking about, my love?”
His English accent was enough to collapse her to a puddle, she hadn’t heard his voice in so long it was starting the fade from her memories. Evie couldn’t bring herself to look at him, as she still had a mind filled with questions that no doubt had answers she wasn’t prepared for.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “I can’t believe you did this, for me.”
Opening her eyes, she looked out in front of her as far as she could see it was just water lapping up to kiss the horizon. It was peaceful, something that she wasn’t used to at any stage of her life.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “I would have done it sooner, had I known. Believe me.”
It was hard for Evie to trust anyone but when it came to him, it seemed easy.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “How much did you…”
Before she could finish he squeezed her hip gently, distracting her from the rest of her sentence.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “It doesn’t matter, Evie… it’s just money.”
She sighed, he made it sound so easy to bail her out, or well pay her ransom. Yet, Evie knew it wouldn’t have come cheap, however that wasn’t the only fact that was swan diving in her mind. There is no way, her old employer would just give her up so easy, they were up to something she just hadn’t put her finger on it. They had tortured her for days for intel and yet, they would just hand her over for a sum of unspeakable money without having a back up plan? It seemed too wishy-washy for her to settle. There was always a plan and her man had undoubtedly just played into it. Evie couldn’t be mad at him for that though, he didn’t know any better, but she knew a storm was brewing and when the time comes she only prayed that she was ready for it.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “You don’t have to worry about a thing, my love. It’s all in the past and now, we look the future.”
Obviously, he believed that when he paid her debt that she would be free, she would never be free not while those people were still alive and out there. However, now wasn’t the right time to be thinking about that. The man made his move from beside her, to now in front of her, reaching up her brought his hands to underneath her chin. He tilted her head up, forcing her gaze to meet with his. She had been avoiding this moment, simply because she knew everything that she had ever felt for him would come rolling back in. Sure, he had gone out of his way, lost a far chunk of his fortune and saved her yet somehow Evie cringed that the thought of being the damsel in distress. He was meant to be oblivious to this world that she lived in, he was never meant to find out and now since knowing her dirty little secrets he wasn’t running for the hills. He was mad, he had to be.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “I need you to promise me, no more secrets? I can’t help you if I don’t know what’s happening.”
His accent was begging her to agree, his blue eyes were trying to convince her, but she really wasn’t the type of girl to make any promises. She wanted to love him, she wanted to give him everything he wanted but it felt like she still had a job to do.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “I…”
That’s all she could mutter before his ran his left thumb across her cheek bone, before resting it gently on her pouty lips. His eyes searched her looking for answers before his thick accent broke the silence between them.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “Clean slate.”
His hands now cupped her face as he lowered down to bring his lips to hers. Evie didn’t fight it, after all she had missed him. He didn’t wait for an answer, he just took one and well like the waves crashing into the sand the realisation that this is what she wanted as well just hit Evie like a tonne of bricks. Her hands found his chest as she pressed up against him gently, she owed him the world for saving her, for loving her and for never giving up on her when so many were just eager to throw her away. She was a painful memory to some, but to him she was his painful memory, one he couldn’t be without. He made sure he was gentle with her, after all she had been through hell and after a few moments they parted.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “What happens now?”
She asked like a scared little girl, Evie wasn’t sure what was to come as she had never been in his position before. Her internal turmoil wasn’t left long to suffer as he brought the left side of his mouth up to a smirk.
<FONT COLOR=#368BC1> “Now, we try that rest craze, you desperately need. We can work out the rest in time.”
Before she could protest his hand was in hers and she was being guided out of the ocean, back up towards the beach where a little island seemed isolated without them. It was a magical moment, one that Evie thought she would never deserve. Although, there was always that one saying that always crossed her mind in times like these, never put a time frame on happiness, as time always runs out.
###
It was a snap back to reality for Miss Evie Luna Baang as the flash back withdrew from her mind. The sound of the front door of Gabriel and Odette’s training studio was enough to pull her back from the pain of her pass. Looking up towards the door, Evie got up off the canvas and quickly rested up on the ring rope. Before eyeing her tiny but manly tag team partner bursting onto the scene. She had to admit, she didn’t like midgets, not after Hot Stuff Mark Ward teamed her with Miss Minnie, although there was something different about Devin Tyler. He was short, yes but he seemed to have his shit together and that was something Evie could admire.
The Aussie watched as her tag-team partner for the Blast from the Past tournament walked across the building, every little step at a time. She knew, that this Sunday night it was going to be difficult for them to pull off a victory against O’Malley and Roxi, but she wasn’t going to give up hope. I mean after all she had won last year. It’s funny what time can do, last year she was pinned with a giant for a partner, this year… well… she was paired with the fun sized Devin.
She flashed him a devilish smile as Devin finally made his way up beside the ring, his statue was puffed up and bold as he slammed his training bag down to the floor with a huff.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “You just had to pick the ring at the back of this fucking building, didn’t you?”
Evie just smiled as she glared down at her tag team partner from inside the ring, he was right.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “I just love watching small people, bust their humps trying to move.”
Devin was used to being mocked for his size, however he wasn’t the one to stand back and let people troll him over it.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “Listen here, Sugar Tits, I may be small but…”
Before he could finish his hot-headed explosion, Evie rudely spoke over him trying to bring back peace to the arena.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Settle, the fuck down… can I say that? Or is that offensive to short people?”
Devin gives her a sarcastic grin and then flips her off before letting out an actual laugh. She was toying with him, which shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. It was what Evie was known for. However, it was to be noted that Evie was acting particularly less of a bitch with her actions as she motioned for Devin to join her in the ring.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “I thought after yesterday that we agreed, no more bickering. As fun as it might be to fuck with one another, we really need to work on getting on the same page here.”
She nodded in agreement as she stepped into the centre of the ring and waited for Devin to join her. Devin was swift as he stomped up the steel ring steps, before rolling into the ring. He jumped up to his feet ready to go before he questioned what they were doing.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “What’s the point of this training? It’s not like I have to face you on Sunday? I don’t get why we couldn’t just hang out and get to know each other. This just seems ridiculous”
Evie just sighed as she looked down at Devin, they didn’t really know each other apart from their first meeting yesterday for dinner, however, if Evie knew one thing to survive in this tournament you needed to trust your tag team partner. As of right know, neither of them could say that for sure. Evie didn’t overly like people, nor did she trust anyone and yet the same could be said for Devin.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “You can leave if you want to, yet, hear me out… do you want to be seen as a joke on Sunday night?”
Devin screwed up his face as if she was shocked by Evie’s question.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “Of fucking course, I don’t. I’ve only said it a hundred times lately.”
Devin rolls his eyes as he places his hands on the ropes behind him, leaning into them.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Because, if we go into Climax Control unprepared, they’ll make us out to be one. I mean look at us, me, well, it is what it is, but you? You don’t think that O’Malley won’t try and expose you as a weakness? The boy might be hung up on his dead wife, but he ain’t silly… he is going to try and dominate this match and I need to know if you’re ready for it? What’s your plan of attack when he tries to wipe the floor with you, huh?”
Evie took a few steps towards Devin, eating up the space between them as she looked down upon him.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Don’t even say, your saving grace is dick punch city. We need to come up with a plan if we want to survive this week. Not only do we have O’Malley, we have Roxi… this won’t be a walk in the park and I’m not willing to let my return… fall… short.”
She had that evil grin on her face, as she watched her short tag-team partner in front of her fire up. He was seconds off blasting her with his loud voice, and for some strange reason Evie wanted to see that side of him. There was something about conflict that just sat well with her.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “You think I wanted to be seen as a fucking joke? If you do you’re sadly fucking mistaken. I’m going to show the world that I can stack up against O’Malley this Sunday night and you and the rest of the fucking world won’t be laughing at me, oh no… you’ll be wishing you never second guessed me. And that drive will bring us all the way through the tournament, taking down the other teams as they get thrown at us. Your return won’t ‘fall short’ and I will measure up to each and every team that gets set in front of us. Believe that. Will you?”
Evie watched at Devin fired up and she couldn’t help but smile.
<FONT COLOR=#a3a8a2> “What the fuck are you smirking at?”
Devin took a step up towards her, inserting his dominance in this situation before Evie bent down to be on his level.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Feisty, I fucking like it… now this… this we can work with.”
Her dry accent rung in Devin’s ears as he looked up at his tag-team partner for the Blast from the Past and it wasn’t until they exchanged a friendly glance, they both knew that she was trying to spur him on. As they shared a smile, they both backed away and that’s where we leave them with a silent understanding of what needed to be done. It was time to come up with a plan to defeat the team of O’Malley and Roxi.
###
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “It’s been too fucking long.”
The darkness of the promotional video slowly lifts to see the returning Aussie in Sin City Wrestling, Evie Baang’s face. She is smirking of course, with her green eyes beaming down the lens of the camera her focus as strong as ever like she hasn’t missed a beat from being away from the cameras in so long. The smirk was highlighted by her blood red lipstick that screamed confidence, because everyone knows only a confident woman can pull off red.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Now where shall I begin?”
She hummed as if she was pondering but the devilish smirk on her face said it all she knew exactly how she was going to kick things off and how they would end. After all she was a calculated cruel bitch in most aspects of her life.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Lord Raab, boy do I fucking miss you.”
She winked at the camera, before they panned out to show that Evie was dressed in her ring gear ready to go even though Climax Control was a few days away. She wanted to appear ready, willing and able to fight Roxi no matter at what cost. Evie sported her long skin tight black leather pants, with his torso showing in a tight black halter neck shirt. Her long black hair was out, and it framed her face with effortless curls. On top of her head was the signature wolf like hoodie she had made famous in the wrestling world. With a brief pause for dramatics Evie wasn’t rushed to kick this off.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Sin City Wrestling family, did you miss me? more to the point, did I miss you?”
She laughed, it was cold and chilling as she flashed her bright white teeth.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Like a hole in the head I bet, and yet her we both are, refusing to let go of each other. You need me, because let’s face it there is far too much good in the halls of Sin City Wrestling and well… I need you, well I don’t really but hey… let’s just say you the fans provide a platform to provoke the worst out of me and for that, I guess I can say… thank you.”
She was smiling again, it was enough to give the devil the chills. I bet the world is thankful that they had those two words that had just spilled from Evie’s mouth on camera, as no one would have believed it otherwise.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Don’t worry, I haven’t gone soft on you. It’s just sometimes, you have to remember the little guys. No pun intended.”
She was making a connection to her tag-team partner, no doubt that would end her in hot water later, but she didn’t care she was in her element. Evie gave herself a few seconds before she decided to kick this up a notch.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “So, this Sunday, you will witness the first full round of the prestigious Sin City Wrestling Blast from the Past mixed tag-team tournament. I mean what a treat for you am I right? So, many wonderful debuts and returns are right on your doorstep and I bet you can’t wait to let them all inside. You need the return of Sin City Wrestling, as for months you have all been empty…broken… lost… so what a way to kick off things but to gift you with the night of nights.”
Evie took a step back and the camera followed, her surrounding was still blacked out as she didn’t want to give away her location.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Speaking of returns, you all get launch out of your seats and celebrate the return of your righteous, glorious, hero… Roxi Johnson. The woman who could do no wrong. The woman who is the best at what she does. The woman who overcomes every obstacle that is put down before her. Your idol, your champion, your star that lights up the dark. The one that makes you feel comfortable, when everything seems to be going shit in this world. Because she is your saviour. Your shining light, your vision of hope and good will. When no one has your back, never fucking fear for Roxi the hero is here.”
Evie stopped and collected herself before she took off on a rant, she knew better than to shoot before thinking.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Here’s the thing, heroes don’t last forever… stars fall, champions lose, and idols grow old. The same will be said for Roxi, this coming Sunday at Climax Control.”
With a quick lick of her lips to moisten them, Evie quickly picked up where she left off.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “For days now, I have been thinking to myself, what on earth or how on earth am I going to beat Roxi? And the answer was right in front of me the whole time. Sure, she is a hall of famer, sure she is a multiple champion, she is a magician in the ring a seasoned veteran… yet we all have our weaknesses.”
A smirk lightly but proudly crawled across her lips as she continued.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Roxi, didn’t really want to come back for this… she was peer pressured by a baby and a weak pathetic man-child. O’Malley was basically drooling at the keys when he sent out those heart-breaking tweets about how poor Owen, would love to see Aunty Roxi return to the ring. I mean come on, Roxi. If you’re not going to fall for O’Malley’s charm, you were of course going to be blinded sided by a baby… I mean what better way to celebrate the life of Misty then to come back and wrestle in the Blast from the Past and to beat the fucking drum that is Misty.”
Evie fakes getting choked up, before she wipes a non-existent tear from her left eye.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “I find it fucking poetic, that you two jokes ended up getting pair together. The desperate O’Malley still clinging onto the coat tails of his dead wife and the best friend of the fallen Misty. You have so much to bond over, so much to work with and yet… you leave yourselves open. No doubt you’re going to speak such beautiful words about the wife, mother and friend that you two both desperately love. Hell, you’ll probably say this match is in her honour… too bad it will be... all for nothing.”
A little chuckle left her lips as the thought of O’Malley and Roxi being excited about their pending victory was all too much for Evie.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Now tell me, did you really think this would be one for the ages? Did you really think that is would be one of the greatest nights of your lives when you saw that you two were teamed up together? I bet you got all excited, you got those big ol’ butterflies in the pit of your stomachs. I bet you, O’Malley were already planning your victory speech, because let’s face it… how could you lose this thing? It’s basically a no brainer to you, this is a tournament you can cry your heart out while stroking your ego while you vow to win this in your dead wife honour. I mean it’s just so romantic, O’Malley winning the blast from the past… to celebrate the past that he used to blast.”
Think about it, Evie smirked while being tongue in cheek before she carried on her merry way.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Some may frown upon me for saying this, but it needs to be said. The memory of your fallen wife and best friend isn’t going to drive you to victory this Sunday night. It will hinder you. You will both be too emotional to function as a well-oiled team, regardless of how well you know each other. Look at you O’Malley… it’s a fucking wonder you can even drag your unusual looking smashed crab face out of bed each morning. You’re a man in pain and yet you haven’t even been in your first match. You're weak and disgusting, lost and pathetic. Did you really think stepping into the ring, was going to bring your connection to Misty back to life? She is gone O’Malley… she isn’t coming back, no matter how long you try and hold onto that hope. It will all be for... nothing. You have no place being inside the ring and this Sunday night, Devin is going to prove that to you. How do you think that’s going to look for your wife’s honour? How do you think that is going to catapult your career that is based off the dream of a dead woman? I feel sorry for you… because come Sunday, once you lose this dream match for you… you’ll be left empty inside… you’ll be left shattered and not only will you suffer the loss of this match… but it will be like losing her all over again. You entered her world, only to fail her, man that must suck fucking balls.”
Evie takes a few more steps and the camera follows before she continues her promotional.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Now Roxi, don’t think that I have forgotten you… how could I? Your presence is basically rammed down our throats every time you return. However, be it as that you’re a Sin City Wrestling legend it is to be expected. I just hope you know what your stepping up against this Sunday night Roxi, I’m not your average woman. I’m not the type that will crumble at your greatness, if anything I’ll rival it. You see the bells and whistles you come with, don’t intimidate me. They humour me. Everyone keeps claiming you’re the best at what you do, and yet where were you super hero Roxi… when Misty needed you? It must pain you to be a fraud at times? Telling the world your one thing, while clearly not even stacking up to half of the crap you sell. Yet, I will be cautious of you, because I hear that where ever you go that trashy mouth piece you call a wife follows. Let’s be honest a true hero isn’t anything without a sidekick… Yet everyone warns me of your greatness and well you may hold some honour in this match, unlike your partner… I’d hate to say it, but it won’t change a fucking thing. You will step up to me and you will be knocked back down. I don’t care for or about that never give up attitude you yap on about… because trust me… I’ll make you wish that you never, agreed to coming back to Sin City Wrestling for the Blast from the Past. You’re going to wish that you stayed home playing pathetic, bondage, twitter lesbian. I mean slut shots for likes am I right?”
Evie shudders a little before she decides to finish this one off.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Now don’t let your reputation go astray Roxi, come at me with everything that you have because I can assure you. I will be ready. I know what it takes to win the Blast from the Past, while you’ll never amount to anything more than, just the runner up.”
There’s a little bit of history for you.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “Now I’ll see you on Sunday and between you and I, Roxi… you’ll end up just like Misty and that's below me.”
The cameras pan down to see that Evie is in fact standing on a mound of dirt, before they pan back up to see Evie smirking wildly. The scene finally comes to light to find out what Evie is glaring at with just a sneer on her face, as the cameras pan around they show the still fresh grave of Misty below her.
<FONT COLOR=#1eb90e> “May the lord have mercy on you both, because Devin and I sure as hell wont.”
Evie smiles towards the camera before she returns her focus to the grave in front of her and before anything else can be said or done, the footage is shut off without warning leaving just static behind.
