“If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?”
She could see him clear as day, Malachi standing there with a smirk on his face as he quoted verbatim, one of her favorite quotes from Alice in Wonderland back in 2019. She was reading it when he greeted her in the hotel in London. It’s still to this day on her shelf and goes with her everywhere.
Impossible Things
Las Vegas
Saxon Hotel
Following Climax Control
She sat there on the edge of the bed. Legs crossed in front of her, smirking. “The Queen screams for my head.”
Mal reaches down and pulls the book from her hands, “Awfully proud of yourself, love.”
“Yeaaaaah, that was really fun. The camera didn’t show it but you could see her swallow as soon as I told her what the match was going to be. I felt almost vindicated, watching her squirm.” her voice almost has a venomous tone as Mal looks at her, “What?”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say I’ve been a horrible influence on you.”
“Look, I know I sound a bit on the dark side of the force right now...”
“God, you are such a nerd.”
“Hot nerd and don’t you forget it,” she says with a raise of her brown and a swish of her hair, he just laughs, “But when you are literally THAT close to getting something and have it snapped away because suddenly someone thinks that you are unworthy and are too highstrung and just flat out are not worthy and take YOU out at that knees? She’s lucky I didn’t canoe her head in with a Louisville Slugger, wrapped in barbed wire and lit on fucking fire....AND YOU KNOW I WOULD HAVE DONE IT CAUSE YOU MET MY MOM AND SHE HAS DONE IT!”
“H’oaky, no more caffeine for you after shows.”
“I am riding high here babe. I am going to go onto that boat this year, I’m going to put Mercy in her place and take that throne right out from under her,” she says as she has an almost giddy outward appearance as she paces the room, “I feel...motivated, I feel vindicated and...”
Without much issue Mal has her up on his shoulder, carrying her to the bathroom.
“I’m up in the air! Babe??”
“Even the smallest of victories deserve a reward...besides I have a feeling if I don’t get you in the shower, I’m not getting sleep at all, even with all the bloody fireworks going on outside.”
She looks down and with a big swing, slaps his jeans clad backside, “We really need to get you back into a ring. You have way too much pent up aggression, Caveman.”
“Working on it.”
Suddenly both their phones go off which causes him to stop and put her down. “HEY!”
He kisses the tip of her nose as she pouts, “Could be mum if we’re both getting text. 2 seconds.” he says reaching his phone. Looking at it, his face drops.
“Mal? Everything ok?” she looks at him with a bit of worry. Walking over, she grabs at his arm, “Do I need to call and get the plane going?”
“No, it’s not her. ....what was that you were saying about me getting back in the ring again?” he said showing the message he just received.
Bella’s eyes grow big at the sight of the message.
“Oh motherfu-”
UnHappy Birthday
New York, NY
Madison Estate
The next day
Home. Home has been interesting. Getting back the next day, getting dropped off at her parents house with a promise he’d be back later. That was odd.
Mal found out that before they got to board the Sun Princess Cruise, her husband would stand across the ring from her step-slash-adoptive-father. He didn’t tell her the real reason but she knew he didn’t want her to deal with the pressure of it all right now. She had enough on her plate and besides, her mom deserved to celebrate with her oldest.
Inside, the drinks flowed with the girls. Nick took her little brother, Aaron, out to a movie. But after a while, it just felt crowded.
Hours had passed, it was getting dark, the lights outback came on and she just found herself sitting in the chair poolside. Listening to the waterfall running that was connected next to to large slide on the deep side. Her parents did alright for themselves.
They were Hall of Famers. They were multi-time champs.
Why were they so different from Mercedes?
She’d grown up around it all, she knew how to bump before she hit puberty. No one even suspected that her and Jack would sneak into Levi’s school and goof around on the mat almost every other day.
What the hell did she do wrong to Vargas?
“There you are.”
Bella turned and looked up at her mom, Laura ‘Phoenix’ Madison. But in Bella’s eyes, she looks exactly like the White Queen. “There’s my champion.”
Bella blinks a few times, shaking her head as her mom shifts back into her normal everyday wear. “Hey, sorry, just needed to get out of there for a few. Was hoping to see that Mal called but...”
“Oh, not even a text?”
“Nah, it’s alright though. He probably got caught up with his mom or something.” she said, dropping a quick text on her phone.
“Things alright? Between the two of you?”
“Yeah, we’re fine. He just got thrown off a bit on that announcement yesterday.”
“Oh I’m sure. I was too and I’m the one that had to post it.” she sits down next to her daughter, “Speaking of, things have been quiet lately....”
“Yeah, a little too quiet. I’ll be back with ya’ll soon. I’ll be at the show next week and then...”
“Summer Xxxtreme”
“Yeah, I tell ya what, I absolutely felt like I channeled you yesterday. I got a message from a few others that said it felt the same. Even Candy came up to me and said that at one point I sounded just like you.”
“Compliments?”
“I sure as hell hope so. At least for their sake.”
“Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself, kid. Even the most brilliant of minds go mad from the pressure.”
“Don’t worry about me, mom. Considering I’m the daughter of a woman that made split personalities an art form and a man that is a pyro....I consider myself blessed.”
“Trusting your instincts?”
“It’s all that I’m going to have in this match. Trusting 5 of my 6 senses....it’s almost like going through the fog of Underland, blind and only really trusting my gut.” she looks at her mom who just smiles, “Stop.”
“What?”
“You’re giving me that look.” Bella laughs, “I know, I keep seeing it in everything. The Red Queen, demanding her spot. Threatened by the 50 foot tall, blond girl. One thing that is missing is the blue dress, black shoes and a creepy ass disappearing cat with a huge smile.” She looks up and sees the waning quarter moon, looking just like the Cheshire Cat smile....”Then again...”
“Bella, look, I-”
A voice clears itself from behind, as they turn and see Malachi standing there with two cups in his hand. “Sorry, I didn’t want to disturb you ladies talking.”
“Hey Mal! Was wondering if we’d see you.”
“Laura, happy belated birthday.”
“Thank you, son.”
Mal almost cringes a bit, “Sorry, still getting used to that. Anyway, I...I brought tea. Your favorite if I remember correctly. Peach Black...with Peach boba?”
“Oh! Well, thank you! I’ll switch to this since the girls are all finishing off that bottle of pink zinf. One of should be sober.” Laura walks over and grabs the one cup, “Thank you, Malachi. I’m going to head in. I think she’s tired from the flight so why don’t you get her home.”
Bella smirks, and walks over and grabs the tea from her husband, “Safely as always.”
Laura smiles at them both, “Goodnight.”
And then there were two, “Sorry, I- I didn’t know if your dad would...”
“He’s not.”
“Oh, well if anything it’s a girls night.” he looks at her, “I’ll make it up to ya.”
“How?”
“Maria’s? Order on the way back into town, we’ll pick it up and have a tea-taco party on the roof?”
“Under the Cheshire Cat smile? Like my own Mad Hatter tea party, only thing missing would be the mouse and the rabbit.”
“Well I can’t promise that but how about a crazy husky that will be firmly up our asses?”
“Deal.”
In The Eye of the Storm
Manhattan, New York
O’Connell Home
4 days later
In the humble abode of the O’Connell manor, lived a girl with a wild imagination. She often gave herself good advice, though she rarely followed it.
She loved books, she loved to daydream.
And she knew the world was completely bonkers, but nothing was impossible.
She stood on the roof, as she watched what was now Tropical Storm Elsa, swirl around the city. Malachi called her insane but she just had to be there, to feel the wind. It wasn’t raining at the moment, but the thunder rolled. It wasn’t her first giant storm, and sure as hell wouldn’t be her last.
“You feel that, Mercy?” she said. “That is the winds changing, every constantly swirling and they are all coming in my direction. One must learn to adjust and change course when the winds do that but some people choose to fight against them. They battle blind, thinking that they can overpower the sheer force of the storm.”
“It’s almost as if the entire world is telling you something and yet you refuse to see it. SO FINE, I took away your sight. It’s something you can’t taste, so that’s out....the smell of the old and the new is there but you choose to ignore that too. We all know you love to talk, but the problem is you feel that you have to always be right. So we know you won’t listen either. So what does that leave?”
She inhales, and feels the storm shift ever so slightly, so she moves to the right, “The true form of rare, bare instincts. That feeling of something when it creeps up your spine when you are scared, that flight or fight, that moment where you can feel every nerve stand on edge....you used to have it. You wouldn’t be who you are if you didn’t, but I feel like you don’t trust those instincts anymore.”
The storms shifts again, her eyes closed she steps back, “You wouldn’t have attacked me if you did because I am not like other girls. They all know it. Mark, Christian...the fans know that I am something that should not exist. I am the impossible. I can’t explain it and I don’t have the time to do it because I rather take this adventure with you first. Your first blindfold match....and mine.”
“I’m willing to go dirty, to scrape my knees for the adventure. I’m willing to let go and trust every sense I have on the Sun Princess....” Bella bows and looks up, her blue eyes blazing, “But I think, your majesty, the real question is....can you weather the storm that you now face. After all, you started it. ....I’m just finishing it.”
“Lewis Carroll said it best, “Take care of the sense and the sounds will take care of themselves.”.”
And just as a loud roar comes overhead, Bella steps into the stairwell as the skies open up. “And adjust course, only when you think you need too.”
The door creeks closed with a thud, as the storm beats down upon the city.
