Last Week…
(Continued from GC.2022.003)

“All those…years?” Lucy murmured, her eyes flickering about the room around them, until they came to settle on Rogan’s face, still looking uncomfortable at his sudden admission. “Rogan?”

But Rogan didn’t answer. Not right away, at least. The truth was, Rogan knew he could tell Lucy what happened. He knew he would, eventually. That was never in question. What was, however?

He was scared.

Scared of reliving it all over again. It wasn’t a feeling Rogan was accustomed to feeling, and he didn’t particularly enjoy it. Especially not in front of Lucy. And when he finally did take a glance over at her, seeing the look of concern and confusion painted on her face – it made his stomach twist and turn with anxiety.

He rose to his feet and stepped towards the sliding glass door that overlooked the patio and he stared out over the shoreline, blanketed by the early morning light. Lucy simply stayed seated on the couch, her eyes turned down towards her hands, trying to understand what was going on here.

Was it her? Something deep down inside told her that it wasn’t, but that didn’t make it any easier to know that something happened to him and he hasn’t been able to bring himself to tell her the story. After all, the Dark Man loves his stories.

“Hey, I.. I understand, you know? We don’t have to talk about it. I’m sorry I even brought it up.” Lucy finally said, breaking the silence that had grown almost deafening within the condo. She got up and turned towards the kitchen, figuring she could change the subject and they could try and start this day on the right foot instead of whatever this is.

But as she entered the room and began rummaging around for something to fix for breakfast, she felt a presence behind her, and when she turned – Rogan stood there stoically, his eyes glassy. Guilt washed over her as she moved towards him and grabbed his hand, squeezing it.

“I’m so sorry..”

“No,” Rogan replied, pausing to take a deep breath. “Don’t be sorry. I knew what I was getting into when I went in to close that door.”

He ran his free hand over the back of his neck and shook his head.

“Well, that’s not entirely accurate either, is it? I knew it was going to be… difficult, but I guess I didn’t know what was going to happen.. Or how long I’d be away from you.” He looked down into her eyes as Lucy reached up and wiped an errant tear from his cheek. “Eleven years.”

Finally saying it felt like an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders, but as he watched Lucy’s face.. It changed from concern and guilt to one of complete shock.

“Eleven years?!” Lucy repeated, her eyes widening as she imagined what eleven years away from Rogan would feel like.

And the only thing she could think was that she’d probably feel very much like he does, and in that moment, she finally understood why he’d been so hesitant. “Y-you lived out.. Eleven years before you could get back.. To me? Oh my God Rogan..”

All Rogan could do was nod his head as Lucy released his hand and wrapped her arms around his frame, wishing that a hug could fix everything. But as Rogan kissed the top of her head, a soft smirk played over his lips. “But I did make you a promise and I had to stick to it.”

Lucy breathed a sigh of relief into his chest. She’d remembered. Before they’d entered the San Jose facility, Rogan told her that no matter what happened, he’d find his way back to her. Little did either of them know that that meant far more than they could have possibly comprehended at the time.

“I’m glad you kept your word.” Lucy managed to reply before pulling back and looking up at him once more. “It must have been–”

“Terrible? Excruciating? Heart-breaking?”

Lucy solemnly nodded her head. “Yeah..”

“It was all of that. Even more so after.. After that night by the fire.”

The night that Lucy had finally told Rogan the story of Jenova. The night of their first kiss.

“It’s like.. The facility knew the exact way to hurt you.” Lucy finally replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice. Gone was the concern and the guilt of earlier and it was replaced by anger and frustration.

She didn’t like that he’d gone in there that night to basically save reality itself from folding in on itself and ending everything as they knew it – and he ended up suffering for it. And now, the Dark Man was left with scars that weren’t easily healed.

“It always has, and always will be a mysterious place. But what happened, I don’t fully know why I was taken back so far, and as difficult as it was – I know I learned a lot from it too.”

“Yeah?”

Rogan nodded. “Like… what’s truly important.”

Lucy smirked.

“Maybe you’ll feel up to telling me about it sometime, Dark Man.”

 

Lucy wasn’t thrilled about losing to Jaclyn. But never the one to make excuses, she knew now that she simply had to make her final match count – And hope that Sebastian would give her a taste of her own medicine. God knows Sebastian seems to make a living off of doing just that.

He’d done it to Lucy herself too many times over the last half a year.

But she couldn’t worry about that now.

She had one last opponent in her bracket that she’d yet to face, and she didn’t want to give up any chance of falling down the leaderboards anymore than she already has. So here she was, stretching inside a training ring, while across from her, her sister stood with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Are we gonna do this, or are you gonna procrastinate all day?” Kyra spat as she leaned back against the turnbuckle and rested her elbows on the ropes.

Lucy sighed and turned around, rolling her eyes. “Why’d you agree to show up if you’re just gonna be a bitch about it the entire time?”

Kyra shook her head.

“I just would’ve thought your little boyfriend would’ve stretched you out enough before you got here that I wouldn’t have to sit here and wait all day.”

Lucy didn’t even dignify that with a response, instead she opted to continue stretching – simply to aggravate her sister further. After another frustrated sigh, however, Lucy motioned for Kyra to come on.

“Bout damn time.”

Kyra sauntered into the center of the ring and moved to lock up with Lucy, but Lucy sidestepped her, and when Kyra turned – she found Lucy smirking and motioning for her to bring it.

And ‘bring it’ she did. Instead of trying to lock up with Lucy, Kyra simply rushed forward and surprised Lucy with a knee to the jaw, sending Lucy stumbling backwards into the ropes. But when Kyra went for a second, Lucy ducked out of the way, causing Kyra’s leg to get trapped in the ropes. A well placed kick to the back of the leg that was stuck was enough to release it and send Kyra tumbling down onto the mat.

Lucy stepped back, willing to allow Kyra to get back up but before she could even take two steps, Kyra had kicked Lucy’s legs out from under her and now both sisters were down on the mat. Before Lucy could sit up, Kyra was crouched over her – her arm cocked back and her fist clenched. Lucy’s eyes widened and Kyra gasped before she fell backwards and scooted away from Lucy.

It was like a page out of a book that neither sister wanted to relive.

A page that saw Kyra kneeling over Lucy in a very similar way, wailing away at her unconscious sister until blood splattered anyone and everything around them.

Finally Kyra sighed and Lucy sat up, crossing her legs. “I shouldn’t have asked you to do this.”

“I could’ve said no. But my therapist thought it might be good for me to… ‘try this’.”

Lucy looked down at the mat. “Still can’t sleep?”

“Ya think?” Kyra hissed, slamming one of her hands down on the mat. “I figured maybe if you knocked me around a little, it would help me sleep at night.”

“And here I thought you were just trying to help me out.” Lucy mused. “But I get it. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

Kyra finally glanced up, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Sorry? What the fuck are you sorry for?”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “I can’t just be supportive of you, can I? You always make shit so God damned difficult. I’m sorry for the role I played in all of this… and what you’re dealing with. If I’d have fought back, none of this would have happened.”

Obviously unimpressed by Lucy’s sentiment, Kyra pulled herself back to her feet and shook her arms out. “Oh whatever. We both know that eventually I’d have gotten my way and I’d still feel like shit. So come on. Get up. Maybe I can show you a thing or two that could’ve kept you from losing to–”

“Don’t you fucking say it.” Lucy interrupted, as she climbed back to her feet.

Kyra chuckled. “Someone’s a sore loser.”

“Am not! Am I disappointed? Sure. But–” Lucy stopped herself before she continued that sentence. She wasn’t even sure what she was going to say. Sure she was disappointed. And maybe that’s why she wanted to double down on her training, or maybe she was just angry and she wanted to make sure the Dark Destroyer didn’t have a prayer come Monday – Either way, she wasn’t sure she wanted to admit that to anyone, especially not her sister.

Kyra was a lot of things, and mouthy was definitely one of them.

“Just shut up and fight, hmm?”

“You ain’t gotta tell me twice.” Kyra shot back, and the two locked up in the center of the ring. They jockeyed for position for a few moments, before Lucy powered Kyra back into one of the corners. Kyra pushed Lucy away and shot out of the corner like a bullet, knocking Lucy down with a hard lariat.

As Lucy rolled over and got back to a knee, Kyra was on top of her, trying to lock in a sleeper hold, but Lucy knew how to counter one of her own moves all too well, and before Kyra could get it locked in, Lucy grabbed her sister by the back of her head and flipped her over her shoulders and locked in a sleeper of her own.

“Say–How are.. Things between you and…” Kyra tried to say as she struggled to pull Lucy’s arms away from her head and throat. “–your little boyfriend?”

Lucy couldn’t help but chuckle as she cinched in the hold. “Fine. Just fine.”

“I knew it!” Kyra said, her voice softening as she began to fade out. “I…fucking…knew…”

Lucy let her go, allowing Kyra some air. “Shut up.”

Kyra coughed for a few seconds and rolled onto her back, a sly grin on her lips, even as she tried to get her bearings back after being nearly choked out. “That’s… fantastic.” She managed to say between breaths. “Really. I’m… I’m thrilled for you. Now… Don’t fuck it up.”

“I don’t intend to. So… are you gonna get back up, or do I win?”

“Oh, you don’t win. Not by a long shot. But damn… For a scrawny bitch, you’ve got a hold like a vice grip.” Kyra said, finally sitting back up. “Makes me wonder why you don’t use that more.”

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. “Never really thought of myself to be much of a submission specialist.”

It was like a light-bulb went off in Lucy’s head as she thought about her upcoming match. She might not be able to control what else goes on in the next few weeks.. But she could definitely make her own journey a bit easier if she went all out against the Dark Destroyer… And got herself as many points as she possibly could.

“…But maybe you’re right. Maybe I should add some more submissions to my repertoire.”

“Hold on, let me get this on video.. Gotta show Ken that you said I was right. Holy shit, hell’s gonna freeze over now.”

Lucy rolled her eyes again. “Nope. Not saying it again. Come on.” She said, motioning for Kyra to get up. “Let’s go again.”

 

When I first saw the lineup for the Global Challenge, I was excited. Not only did I have a chance to face a good friend in Mac Bane, but I also found myself with another chance to assert some dominance against Travis Pierce, the proverbial thorn in my side. And both matches proved to be everything I hoped they would be.

And I came out of both of them with a victory. Even better.

Believe it or not, having a chance to face Jaclyn was an exciting prospect too. Just not quite in the same way, and as we all know… Things didn’t quite go my way last week. As our resident pile of human excrement has rejoiced in alluding to – I suppose Lucy did choke.. Just a little. But then again, even the best fall down sometimes, so she might have walked away with the win last week, but I walked away with my dignity, and self respect.. Oh, and not to mention, the respect of far, far more people than she could ever hope to have.

But I digress.

This isn’t about Jaclyn this week. Nor is it about Travis or Mac.. Well, Sebastian now, but you get my point.

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yes. I was excited for all of that. But most of all, I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on one Zane Scott. You see, Zane and I have had a tumultuous relationship over the years and there’s never been a moment in my career when I didn’t look forward to trying to knock his teeth down his throat.

And I thought to myself when I saw his name listed beside mine in the final match to determine what I’d be fighting for at Infinity… I just thought it was meant to be. How perfect would it be to come out of this with a decisive victory against someone who’s been just as big a thorn in my side as Travis Pierce has been.

But then…

Then that all got ripped out of my grasp. So thanks for that… Bob. You fucking prick.

Mac Bane has to leave the competition, and Sebastian Everett Bryce replaces him. Zane Scott gets fucked out of it and you replace him with… Fucking Dark Destroyer?! Come the fuck on. That right there is the difference between apples and… Spoiled apples. One of them you’re all too happy to have, and they’re damn good too.

And the other… Is a fucking insult.

I didn’t want to face you, Dark Destroyer. But since that’s what we’re set to do in a few days time, I figure why not go out with a bang. So I’m gonna let you in on a little secret. I’m gonna tell you right here, right now what I plan on doing to you because when I actually do it, it’ll be fun to see that look of defeat on your face when you realize that you can’t stop this freight train, honey.

So here it is, replacement boy.

I’m going to wear you down. I’m going to kick the absolute shit out of you, maybe knock some of that stupidity out of you, who knows. And then, when you’re down and out.. When you think you can’t handle anymore?

I’m going to tap you out.

I’m not just going for a pinfall this week. Nope. I’m going to make you beg for the onslaught to end. I’m going to make you wish you’d never stepped into the ring with me. Better yet, I’m going to make you wish you could have just handed those points over to me before I made you question your entire career up to this point.

Can’t wait to choke the life out of your body, sweetie. So if you wanna give me anything, just show up and play your part this week.

The part of my next victim. The only part you’re really and truly the perfect fit for because let’s face it, you were never going to win this thing. You were never going to be vying for the big prize at the end of the day.

So thank good old Bob for the pain you’re about to endure because all of this was meant for someone that’s far more of a threat than you could ever dream to be.

So get your tapping hand ready, Dark Destroyer and get ready to become my bitch come Monday night. Hell, maybe next time you’ll think twice about agreeing to be the unwanted, unneeded and completely unnecessary replacement in something that you have literally no business competing in.

See you soon.

Sincerely yours… The Dark Lady.

 

《frm》