Early Morning, 4/16/24

There was only one thing on Lucy’s mind since she’d glanced up at the marathon to see Poke standing there, watching her. All that she wanted from that moment was to rush back to Alabama and if she were anyone else, she may have done exactly that.

But Chicago called. Responsibility called and she had a delusional fucker to shut up, at least temporarily.

Her music had barely faded out after her victory against Trent and Wrestley before Lucy was out the door and in her rental, speeding towards the airport. The entire way there, and the entire flight into PNS – And the longest hour drive to the shores… All Lucy could hope was that she hadn’t misunderstood Poke’s words… And that she wasn’t too late.

Was there a time limit on things like this?

It’s not like she had anyone to ask, but her stomach turned in her gut with an anxiety that she couldn’t begin to explain. There was no knowledge as to what that tape had on it. There was even less to tell Lucy that anyone would know a damn thing about what it was, or when she would be able to access its contents.

Whatever it was, though, Lucy knew that if there was any chance it was truly putting Rogan in danger… She had to know. She had to heed Poke’s words. Something told her he’d know better than anyone.

Lucy snuck into the house and quietly sat down in front of the TV in the living room. In the back of her mind, she knew there was a fifty/fifty shot that Rogan was either asleep in the bedroom or that he was still at the bar, cleaning or doing paperwork. Even deeper in her mind, she knew she should check the bedroom to figure out which one it was but deeper really meant deeper.

She turned the television on and lowered the volume as she pulled the VCR out of its hiding spot and set it up below the TV. She’d done this so many times over the last month or so, it was second nature as she pressed play and slid backwards on the floor, her eyes plastered to the screen.

HELLO TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC…

Lucy gasped.

She couldn’t believe her eyes.

Getting up to her knees, she moved towards the television again and put a hand on the screen as the words scrolled beneath her fingertips. “Hello?”

The screen went black and Lucy’s stomach clenched as she lowered herself back down onto the floor, wondering if she’d messed up by speaking.

But how could a tape hear her?

“Lucy?”

The voice came through a garbled mess, but Lucy could definitively make out her name and the desperate tone of the voice that was calling out to her. She could feel her heart beating through her chest as she heard them calling out again through the void in the TV screen.

“Who is it?” Lucy whispered, repeating herself a bit louder a few seconds later. “Who.. Who is it?”

The screen changed suddenly to static and Lucy could see a figure amid the chaos, but she couldn’t make much more out than that as she got up onto her knees and laid a hand on the screen. “Who are you? Are you there?”

“L–cy?! I-s tha–t y–ou?”

“Y-yes!” Lucy said excitedly, before whipping around and checking for Rogan after she realized she was being too loud. But after a few seconds, she thought that maybe Rogan was indeed not home, and she turned her attention back to the TV. “What’s going on? Hello?”

All she got back was static though.

The figure on the screen, though, it got bigger – as if it were moving closer to her and Lucy gasped again when – for a split second – she thought she saw the familiar eyes of the man she loved, even if they looked incredibly worn.

“Rogan?!”

“I d–n’t hav-e mu–ch t–ime, Lu-y, p-lease hel–p me.”

“What do you mean, I–” Lucy began pleading, only to hear the lock on the front door sliding open and the doorknob turning. She took one final look at the screen before switching it off and putting everything away.

“Lucy? Is that you in here, Lass?” Rogan spoke as he closed the door behind him and entered the living room to find Lucy on the floor in front of the TV, having just closed the cabinet beneath the TV. “What in the world is goin on in here?”

Lucy scurried to her feet and brushed herself off while Rogan stared at her through sleepy eyes, wondering why she looked so guilty.

“What do you mean, what’s going on? I was fiddling with the TV.”

Rogan cocked his head to the side. “Is there somethin wrong with it? It was fine before I left earlier today…”

Lucy glanced at the TV and then back at Rogan, letting out a sigh. “Maybe it was fine, I don’t know.. It seemed a little fuzzy. Maybe I’m just tired… It was a long day.”

Rogan nodded his head in agreement, even if he wasn’t fully on board with what Lucy was saying – Let alone why she was even here right now. Lucy never returned home the same night as Synergy. She always felt it to be easier to sleep in Chicago overnight and then make her way home when she had a night’s rest.

The entire thing made Rogan incredibly suspicious.

“I bet it was, Lass… I wasn’t expecting you here until later on today. Is everything okay?”

Lucy sighed again. “Yeah, I think… What if–”

She began a question but stopped herself before she let out anything further. Lucy wanted so badly to tell him about the tape, because then maybe he’d be able to tell her about it. Maybe he’d have some kind of ‘traveler’ insight that she doesn’t, and maybe that could help her to make sure he stays okay.

But she didn’t.

“What if…what?”

Lucy shook her head. “I.. I don’t know. Do you.. Do you wanna go to bed? You look tired.”

Rogan yawned and moved towards her, wrapping his arms around her and holding onto her tight – wanting just one moment of peace before he tossed and turned all night, wondering what all of that meant. He kissed Lucy softly on the head. “Are you gonna join me, Lass?”

She nodded her head beneath his lips. “I’d like that.”

 

Almost a Week later, 4/22/24

“Do you know what today is, Lucy?” A voice from behind the camera spoke to Lucy as she sat in front of the camera, in front of a UGWC backdrop – the both of them preparing for one of those cookie cutter match promos that wrestlers do when they spent all week forgetting about it until they got to the arena and remembered that they didn’t utter a word in the direction of Gideon Thornfield and they’re fighting them in a few short hours.

Lucy glanced up at the camera, her eyes shifting to the person who stood just behind it and then back into the lens. “It’s Monday…”

“Yeah…”

Lucy grunted as she shifted positions on the stool she sat upon. “It’s Synergy day…April something or other…”

“That’s true too…”

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know what answer you want. Is it your birthday? Don’t expect me to make a big deal about it when no one said a damn thing about mine a few weeks ago..”

Lucy continued rambling on about how no one gave a shit about her birthday, that was until the person behind the camera cleared her throat, drawing Lucy’s attention again.

“Not my birthday. But it is a holiday… of sorts…”

“A holiday of sorts? What the fuck does that mean?” Lucy asked, noticing that the person behind the camera was pointing at the backdrop behind Lucy so she turned around to see something additional beside the UGWC logo. “Oh… Earth Day? I recognize that logo anywhere. Why the fuck does that matter?”

“You’re supposed to say some shit about the environment today…”

Lucy punched her thigh as she turned away from the backdrop and sighed again as she motioned for the cameraman to roll.

“Don’t fuck up the environment, folks. Not just today, but everyday. Listen to me because I’m a wrestler and this is totally unforced.” Lucy plastered a fake smile on her lips and paused until it got even more awkward in the room.

Once peak awkward was reached, she dropped her arms to her sides and crossed her legs and narrowed her gaze at the camera.

“To be fair, I’ve got more important shit going on than whether or not some dickhead uses environmentally friendly toilet paper or whatnot.” Lucy waves at the camera. “Hi, Gideon. Nice to meet you. I can’t really say there’s much for me to go over for you before our match tonight. I’ve realized a lot more lately that I don’t really care to run my mouth before a fight.”

Lucy shrugged her shoulders.

“It used to be fun, you know? Listening to whatever other people say, and then spouting your own shit before settling the entire thing with fists and kicks and blood. Now, I’d just rather kick the shit out of you and ignore anything you’ve got to say. Respect or not, you know how you feel and I figure I’ll find that out though this fight. How you treat someone in a fight means a lot more than whatever empty words they speak to you beforehand.”

“Things you’ll find out about me, I don’t like cheaters. I don’t mind beating your ass, but I respect this business enough, and my own ability enough to do things the right way. That is.. Unless you’re someone who likes to take the easy way…”

Lucy grins. “In my younger days, I’d say that no matter what, I’m sticking to my guns because winning in spite of a cheater is so much more satisfying than giving them a taste of their own medicine… but now? No, it’s so much nicer to give them what they give.”

“But I digress. I don’t know you, Gideon. I won’t assume anything until I see how you fight. So how about we save more discussion for when we’re standing across from one another? The rest of the world don’t need to hear it, it’s not nearly as interesting as the show we’re about to put on anyway. So I’ll see you soon, dear.”

With that, Lucy winked and got up, walking out of the room without another word.