Sunday, March 26 2023
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Backstage

“Are you okay?” Rogan asked, his eyes watching Lucy intently. He wasn’t looking forward to this – To leaving Lucy here, by herself… For an entire twenty four hours. As much as he knew he was dreading it, he knew Lucy was dreading it even more.

Even if she was unwilling to admit it.

Lucy didn’t answer him straight away. Instead, she looked away from him and at their surroundings.. What’s considered a ‘backstage’ area within the confines of this farmhouse complex. It was exactly what she’d expected, though. Dim lighting, floors… that weren’t even really floors and a makeshift hallway lined with doors, one of which she and Rogan were stood outside of.

Lucy let out a sigh and turned to face Rogan once more. “I’m okay. Just–”

Rogan reached out and took her hand, placing a soft kiss on her palm. “I know. It’ll be okay, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

She forced a smile onto her lips as a couple of UGWC officials walked up to them, telling them that it’s time for her to go in. They both peered through the open door, seeing a cavern of pitch black. Rogan squeezed Lucy’s hand, but when it was time for Lucy to step through the door – She just couldn’t let go.

She stood, frozen in the doorway.. Staring into the darkness until she felt Rogan’s arms around her – Embracing her for a few seconds longer until she finally pulled in a deep, shaky breath and nodded her head.

“I’m okay. It’s only a day.. Right?”

“Exactly right.” Rogan responded almost immediately, placing a kiss on the side of her head for good measure. “It’ll be over before you know it, Lass.”

She closed her eyes and laid her head back against his shoulder until she was reminded once more that she needed to enter the room or risk being disqualified from the world championship match 24 hours from then.

Rogan kissed her again, and whispered into her ear. “I love you.”

“I love you.”

She released his hand and took a step forward before she lost what little nerve she had left. It took all she had to take one step further into the darkness – and when she turned back towards the door, towards the light – The last thing she saw as the door closed in front of her was Rogan’s smiling face.. With just a hint of worry behind those bright green eyes of his.

And then.. There was nothing.

Nothing but her thoughts.

 

◉ Recording Audio
00:30

[A loud sigh.]

[Faint footsteps followed by the sound of something hitting the ground.]

“Fuck…”

 

Tuesday, March 21 2023
Bronxville, New York
Underhills Crossing Bistro

“It’s about time you show up.”

Lucy no longer stepped through the door of the upscale bistro that she and Eden had picked for this little ‘get together’, before Eden was accosting her from a table situated in the corner near the window. She couldn’t keep from grinning as she made her way to the table and sat down across from Eden and little Quentin, who was sleeping peacefully in his car seat beside his mother.

“Hello to you too.” Lucy responded in kind, laughing when Eden shot her one of those ‘Eden’ looks that she’d missed so much. “How’s it going? How are y–”

Lucy’s questions were interrupted by the waiter who apparently waited for that very moment to approach to take the ladies drink orders. A few moments later after he’d departed, Lucy settled her gaze back onto her best friend as she fiddled with the blanket draped over the baby’s tiny little body.

“How are you guys?”

Eden looked back up, a soft smile on her lips and in that moment it dawned on her how good motherhood looked on Eden. Something Lucy never really thought about, let alone thought she’d ever see.

“We’re good. Really good. This little man enjoys enabling his mothers makeup habit, but I’m not complaining.”

“He’s keeping those people at Sephora employed, huh?” Lucy said, amused.

Eden, meanwhile, glared holes through Lucy. “Sephora. As if.”

Lucy raised her hands up apologetically, and Eden’s glare slowly faded back to where it came from – The depths of hell.

“What about you and Rogan? How is that going?” Eden asked, eyebrows raised as she brought their interaction back on track.

Lucy chuckled. “Fantastic.”

“About damn time.” Eden replied as the drinks were placed in front of them and the waiter proceeded to take their food orders.

A few minutes later, they were again alone at the table making small talk like women do. Eventually, the conversation turned to Lucy’s career and the upcoming event.

“So, Zane, huh?” Eden said with a roll of her eyes.

Lucy sighed.

“Yeah. Third time in four weeks.” When she looked up at Eden, she was nodding her head. “Has he always been this… exhausting?”

“Oh, you have no idea.” Replied Eden with a chuckle. “We’ve known each other for a long time now. Far longer than I want to admit.”

“Can’t say I blame you there.”

Eden shrugged her shoulders. “I know it’ll be no surprise to you, but we started out as enemies.”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “The shock of the century.”

“I had the world title, and of course he wanted it. And that’s the thing, I suppose. He’s a hard enough obstacle in a regular fight. In the best of times, all he wants to do is hurt you – But God help you if you have a title that he wants at the time.”

“Lucky me.”

It’s Eden’s turn to sigh while their food is placed in front of them. On cue, Quentin begins fussing and Eden’s focus turns to him – pulling him out of his car seat and cradling him in her arms – cooing softly. Instead of focusing on her lunch, Lucy just sat there, watching her friend for a time until Eden glanced up at Lucy and smirked.

“Want to hold him?”

Lucy wasn’t about to deny it – She was dying to hold her God son. She nodded and Eden got up, placing the baby in Lucy’s arms. It felt foreign at first, as it did the first time she’d held him when he was only a few days old, but there was comfort there too.

Lucy couldn’t quite explain it.

It meant a lot to her that Eden trusted her the way she did.

Eden retook her seat and watched Lucy for a few moments before she continued her thoughts from earlier, as if nothing had ever interrupted her.

“Zane and I.. We’ve had a tumultuous relationship, there’s no doubt about that. And while Zane Scott now is a mystery to me, at the very core of it he’s still that same man who wants to win at any cost. But you already know that, don’t you?”

Lucy shifts her position as Quentin begins fussing again, and as quickly as he grew upset, he relaxed again in his aunties arms. Only then did Lucy glance up at Eden and clench her jaw. “I do. All I can do is want it more.”

She looked back down at the baby in her arms and tried not to let the upcoming couple of days take anything away from this moment and getting to spend time with the people she loved.

Eden had grown to know Lucy fairly well over the years – between being bitter enemies to best friends and she could see through Lucy’s facade easily.

Maybe it was because at her core, Eden was the same way and when she sat up – she pulled Lucy’s attention away from the baby enough for her to notice the thoughtful expression on Eden’s face.

“What?”

But Eden wasn’t going to show her hand right away. Instead Eden decided to let Lucy come out with it on her own. “You want one.. Don’t you?”

Lucy’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “One…what?”

Lucy followed Eden’s gaze down to little Quentin and Lucy’s eyes widened.

“What? Oh, no. I’m perfectly fine visiting and enjoying what time I do get with you guys. He is precious though..”

“…And?”

“And what? It doesn’t make me want one. Besides, I wouldn’t make a great Mom.”

Eden laughed. “Do you think I thought I’d be a good one either? Quit bullshitting me, Lucy.”

Silence settled between them for a few moments, before Lucy shook her head. “I know, I know. It’s just.. I thought about it once upon a time and it’s not lost on me that my time for anything like… this is running out. But I’m happy with my life the way it is now, you know?”

Eden smiled. “I know you are. But there’s always more. Don’t forget that. I’m sure Rogan would make an… Interesting father.”

“He would.” Lucy replied, a bit of pink rising to her cheeks. “Never say never, I suppose. I guess if Gabriel can do it…”

“They are best friends, after all.”

The two of them shared a good laugh before the smile slowly faded from Lucy’s lips. Eden noticed, but she didn’t say anything. Finally, Lucy let out another sigh.

“I’ve got to spend the entire day before the match in a room all by myself with no sight or sounds… And something tells me it’s going to go better for Zane than it will for me.”

And then the lightbulb went off for Eden.

“Ah, that’s what’s bothering you. I… honestly don’t blame you. It’s meant to mess with your mind, but if anyone can do it and come out the other side to kick his ass? It’s you.”

“Yeah.”

“And when you do? Superkick him in the face for me, will you? Repeatedly. He’ll love it, I promise.”

Eden winked at Lucy and she chuckled.

“Like a bull loves that red cloth, right?”

“Exactly.”

 

◉ Recording Audio
02:47

[Shuffling sounds followed by a sigh.]

“I hate this. I can only hope you hate this as much as I do, Zane. No cameras, no twitter to further liquify whatever brain you have left. I have no idea how much time has passed… Or how much time is left, but it already feels like I’ve been in here for days.”

[Heavy breathing sounds.]

“You’re not going to hear this. Or maybe you will, but not until after we’ve already had our fight. Either way.. At least this is better than sitting here in silence.”

[Sigh.]

“If only marginally. Maybe being in this dark room with nothing distracting you helps you. Maybe it gives you focus, more ability to fabricate more bullshit about me. I don’t know, but this.. This is the worst. It takes me back to… the time when I’d spend days in a closet, nursing wounds and fearing what would happen the next time I saw the light.”

“I damn well know you don’t care. But it’s not like I’ve got anywhere better to be right now. I’d rather not be sitting here thinking about my father and the horrible things he’d do before throwing me in a room not too dissimilar to this and slamming the door on me. It’s like you said, Zane.. The past doesn’t matter. So why is that all I can think about when I’m left alone with my own thoughts?”

[Shaky breath sounds.]

“Or maybe I should say my own fears. Maybe it’s disappointing to hear that someone like myself, someone who’s accomplished so much, and has triumphed over so much adversity… is still scared of the dark. But that’s who I am… That’s what I came from and without that? I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”

“That knowledge does little to lessen the knots in my stomach… Or the cold chill that stiffens my spine everytime I open my eyes to see nothing, or everytime I stop talking and let the silence take over.”

[Shuffling sounds.]

“I went and saw your old ‘friend’ Eden the other day. She didn’t really tell me anything that I didn’t already know about you Zane. You’re a pain in the ass. You’re willing to do whatever it takes to win. And I know that means far more coming from you than it means coming from just about anyone else.”

“But I’ve been there and done that… Even if you’d rather not remember that part.”

[More shuffling.]

[Another sigh.]

 

Wednesday, March 22 2023
New York City, New York
Blath Gardens Apartments

Lucy had made it her lone mission as the days counted down to put the inevitable out of her mind and to enjoy herself as much as possible. Spending her days with Rogan made that both easier, and even more difficult at the same time. The Dark Man brought out the best in her, and every moment spent in his presence made it increasingly more difficult to look forward to even twenty four hours apart.

Rogan knew it. He sensed it the moment they’d both found out what their time at Gnaw Bone would hold for them. But in true Rogan fashion, he did his best to help put it out of both their minds because he knew nothing good could come of it.

They sat in their apartment, on the couch – his arm draped over her shoulders while she laid her head on his chest and draped an arm over his midsection. Both of them sat silently, staring out the window at what little of the New York skyline they could see.

“You wanna go do something, Lass?” Rogan finally broke the silence, glancing down at her with a warm smile. “Anything at all?”

Lucy let out a soft moan and turned her face upwards, a lazy smile on her face.

“What did you have in mind?”

“I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought that far ahead.” Rogan replied, chuckling to himself.

Lucy sighed softly and laid her head back on Rogan’s chest. “I appreciate the thought, but I’m enjoying myself right… here.”

“As am I, Lass. As am I.”

Again, they grew silent – But deep down in her mind, Lucy was thinking about the conversation she had with Eden the day before. The parts about family, and there being more than what she and Rogan currently had.

Lucy sat up suddenly, surprising Rogan as he looked at her curiously.

“Changed your mind, did you?”

Lucy shook her head. “Not really.. I just wanted to ask you something…”

Rogan moved a bit, angling his body towards Lucy. “Shoot.”

She opened her mouth, but all too quickly realized that she had absolutely no idea of how to broach a question like this. Her mind raced with all kinds of thoughts, all of them crashing together inside her head to make a unbalanced slurry of feelings – ranging from fear and longing, to excitement and butterflies.

“Lucy?”

“I.. You know how I grew up, right?”

Rogan nodded his head. “Aye.”

The Dark Man was perplexed to say the least, but he didn’t speak further, allowing Lucy to continue her line of thought.

“Okay, so yeah. You know how that went, and I mean… here I am. I came out okay, didn’t I?”

“Of course you did, Lass. What are you getting at here?”

Lucy could feel her cheeks growing warmer as she wrenched her hands together in her lap. “I.. I grew up knowing that I never wanted to do that to someone else… or I guess that I didn’t even want the opportunity to ever be like he was… But like… Have you ever thought about having a family?”

Rogan’s eyes widened and he sat up straighter. Their eyes met momentarily, before Lucy averted her gaze.

“I’m sorry.. I know that’s a weird question. I’ve been in a weird place lately and yesterday with Eden, we were talking about it, because of Quentin and–”

“Lucy…” Rogan’s voice was calm, and it immediately brought Lucy back to the moment and out of that spiral she was falling down. He reached out and grabbed her hand and pulled her to him, embracing her. “Of course I’ve thought about it.”

“You have?”

“Who hasn’t? I guess I just–”

Rogan’s thought was interrupted by Lucy’s phone, ringing from inside her pocket. Rogan let go of Lucy and motioned towards it, as Lucy pulled it out and examined the screen. A number she didn’t recognize was on the screen. She and Rogan glanced at each other as she answered it and put the phone up to her ear, mouthing an ‘I’m sorry’ to Rogan as she did.

“Hello?”

Rogan nodded his head, breathing an internal sigh of relief because he himself was having trouble putting his own thoughts together in the wake of Lucy’s question.

“Is this Lucy Wylde?”

The strange voice asked, making Lucy all the more curious as to who it could be.

“That depends on who’s asking.”

Rogan looked on curiously as well, leaning in to hear as much of the conversation as he could – but Lucy put the phone on speaker as soon as she noticed, shooting Rogan an embarrassed look as she listened to this unknown caller.

“The name is Detective Stark. I’m from the New Jersey State Police and I was calling to find out a good time for you to come in. I have a few questions I’d like to ask you.”

Lucy tilted her head to the side as Rogan shrugged his shoulders.

“I.. Um. What’s this pertaining to, exactly?”

“I’d very much like to have this conversation face to face, Ms. Wylde.”

Again, Lucy looked to Rogan – Unsure of how to answer this ‘detective’. Especially without knowing why he wanted to see her in the first place. Rogan mouthed the words, ‘if you want to.. I’ll go with you.’ and Lucy nodded her head.

“Fine, fine. Umm how about tomorrow?”

“Perfect. I assume you can find your way here?”

Lucy rolled her eyes. “Fairly certain I can figure out how to use a map, officer.”

“It’s… detective. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Ms. Wylde.”

Before Lucy could say another word, the line went dead. She put the phone down on the table in front of them and sat back, crossing her arms over her chest.

“What was that all about, I wonder?” Rogan mused, sitting back beside her.

All Lucy could do was shrug her shoulders. “Hell if I know, but I guess I’ll find out.”

 

◉ Recording Audio
03:29

[Groaning.]

“That’s the thing about you Zane… The thing that irks me. You tell me that the past doesn’t matter. Nothing is more important than the here and the now. But that’s only true when it’s what you want, isn’t it Zane? Everything, the entire God damned world is only here to placate Zane fucking Scott… No one dare point out any of your missteps, or any of your shortcomings, no. Can’t do that. But you’re all too willing to remind the rest of us that we’re just a bunch of fuck ups and losers, right?”

[A soft thud.]

“But while I’m here, waiting this… exhile out.. I wanna set a few things straight. These last few weeks? Your self-proclaimed angst at what you’re classifying as my ‘displays of contempt’ for you? What the fuck are you even talking about? You sit there on your fucking rocking chair or whatever it is and you just talk. You can’t possibly know what you’re saying half the time. And I’m the one fabricating shit? Honey, you’ve made up every bit of that story in order to do exactly what you’re trying to convince everyone else that I’m doing.”

“Trying to make yourself the heroic one in this little pissing contest we’re about to have. All of that ‘Contempt’? What fucking contempt, Zane? WHAT FUCKING CONTEMPT?”

[Another sigh.]

“The only contempt I hold for you is the constant lording you do over every god damned thing I say, do or don’t fucking say. You want so badly to be better than me, don’t you? You’re so desperate to be better than me that you’ll say anything to look any fraction of a bit better than me. The truth of the matter is, you son of a bitch… I ain’t said jack shit TO you over the last few weeks. What’s the use? Why waste the effort when you’re just going to twist and contort everything I say to meet your vision of what you think I am.”

“I mean you did that anyway, so fair play to you. But the point still stands. You want me to tell you that I don’t like you? Fuck, there isn’t a damn thing about you that I like Zane. That has nothing to do with our ‘history’. That has nothing to do with anything except the kind of person you are. You’re the very same man who held three singles titles at the same time. You did something that no one else had ever done, and you made sure none of us forgot that fact. You’re also the very same man who can’t help but bitch and complain about the company that employs your sorry ass… crying and whining about how they’re treating you because you’re not their golden boy anymore.”

“And here you are… Same motherfucker… Standing up against the big, bad Lucy Wylde, trying to become the UGWC poster boy once again. Which is it Zane? Do you hate this place, or do you wanna happily exclaim that you’re UGWC’s bitch for the rest of your pitiful existence? You can’t have it both ways. You just can’t.”

[Shuffling sounds.]

“I hold my post with dignity. I hold this title with a hell of a lot of pride. You only see it as a trophy, something to hold up to the big wigs and tell them that they should value you more than the next asshole down the ladder. But maybe that’s the thing, Zane… Maybe you just haven’t realized it yet.”

“There just isn’t any fucking value in the Zane scott stock.”

“Or maybe this is just my contempt creeping back in, because how could anyone see Zane Scott as anything but what he never fucking was? And don’t you fucking dare mutter a fucking word about how you were a triple champion…because I thought the past doesn’t matter.”

[Another groan.]

“Jesus Christ.. I’m talking to him as if he’s right here…. Please tell me I’m almost done in here…”

 

Thursday, March 23 2023
New Trenton, New Jersey
New Jersey State Police Headquarters

As promised, Lucy and Rogan brought themselves to New Jersey the next morning and while Rogan decided to stay in the car, ‘just in case’… Lucy found herself seated in what she deemed an interrogation room, awaiting the detectives arrival.

They spend much of the last evening trying to figure out why Lucy was being questioned by the police, and the closest they could come was some bullshit charges stemming from Zane’s mind. But even that didn’t make sense. Zane didn’t live in New Jersey… At least they didn’t think so.

Lucy waited for a few minutes before the door to the room opened, and a man stepped into the room, holding a folder and a cup of coffee. Lucy almost felt like she was on one of those cop shows, almost. The man stepped over to the table across from Lucy and set his things down, before extending a hand.

Lucy took it, and stood up – Shaking the mans hand.

“I take it you’re detective Stark?”

He nodded his head and sat down. Lucy followed suit. She watched him open up the folder and read over a few notes, before he finally looked up and into her eyes. He looked tired. Like he’d been chasing something for a while, and he was no closer to figuring out how to catch it.

“Thank you for coming in. I just needed to ask you a few questions, if you don’t mind?”

Lucy nodded her head. “Is this the part where I find out what’s going on?”

The detective shrugged his shoulders.

“That depends on how truthful you are with me here today, Lucille.”

The way he said her name made her skin crawl, but she tried to shake it off and simply nodded her head once more.

“I don’t have anything to hide…. I prefer Lucy, by the way.”

Detective Stark didn’t bother looking up from his notes. “My apologies, Lucy. You were once engaged to one Joseph Lee, were you not?”

Lucy couldn’t hide the surprise on her face with that first question. And when the detective glanced up into her eyes, awaiting her response, she quickly shook her head and tapped her fingernails on the table.

“Yeah.. I mean yeah. We were engaged. What’s that got to do with–”

Her question was cut off when he put his hand into the air. “And things ended between you rather abruptly, didn’t they?”

Her discomfort was growing by the second, but she knew better than to run her mouth anymore than necessary. She didn’t know what he was getting at, but she didn’t want to end up on the wrong side of these walls, regardless.

“They did.”

And back to the forefront of her mind came the memories of the end of her relationship with Joe. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like it one bit.

“Why was that, exactly?”

Lucy didn’t answer him right away. She didn’t like this question, and seeing as she had been avoiding the inevitable discussion she’d been wanting to have with her ex-fiance’, she didn’t believe that this detective should be the first person she discussed this particular thing with.

But she didn’t know what to do.

“I don’t know what this question has to do with anything, detective. We were engaged, sure. Then I left. End of story.”

“Far from it, Ms. Wylde. Tell me, what are your feelings about Mr. Lee?”

“What are my feelings? I.. don’t know that I understand that question.”

The detective sighs and takes a sip of his coffee. “What I mean, is are you holding any ill will, or contempt against Mr. Lee for the events that led to the end of your relationship?”

Another look of shock, and another interested stare coming from the detective. He pulled a pen from his pocket and jotted a few things down before Lucy had any chance to respond.

“What..I don’t… Why would I have any ill will towards Joe? What’s going on? If anything, Joe would be the one to hold any sort of contempt for me.”

“Oh really?”

Lucy was flabbergasted at this point. “I mean, yeah… I left him a note with my engagement ring. I didn’t even talk to him when I ended things. Why would I be mad at him? Is.. is something happening? Is Joe okay?”

“Well, if there wasn’t anything wrong, then you wouldn’t have ended things as abruptly as you did.. There must have been some negative feelings there.”

Lucy’s face was red, as much with embarrassment as it was with anger. And now, she was worried about Joe, because she wouldn’t be here right now, being asked these questions if there wasn’t something going on, right? And the detective simply ignored her questions, so she must not be wrong.. At least in her line of thinking.

“A relationship doesn’t end when things are going well.”

He states again, staring a hole through Lucy. Lucy did the only thing she could think of in the moment, she threw her arms into the air and let out a sigh.

“No, they don’t. But however I felt at the time… It wasn’t bad enough for me to do anything but the cowardly thing and leave without talking to him. We had some problems… At least that’s how I felt about it, and instead of solving them, I walked out. Joe and I haven’t spoken since before then.”

The detective jots a few notes down and then he pulled another paper out of the stack and reads it before laying it in front of Lucy. It was a list of dates.

“What’s this?”

“Where were you on these dates?”

Lucy read it over and over again before she sighed. “Well that one was a Synergy… So I was at work.”

“In the same company as Mr. Lee, correct?”

She rolled her eyes. “Yes.”

He pointed to the rest of the dates.

“And these?”

“I don’t know.. But I can guarantee you that I was more than likely with Rogan. He’s out in the car if you’d like to confirm that with him.”

“And who is this… Rogan?”

Lucy gritted her teeth. “He’s my boyfriend and my partner. We spend a lot of time together.”

“I see.” Detective Stark replied as he wrote a few more notes on the piece of paper in front of him. “Nothing sticks out about any of these dates to you, Ms. Wylde?”

“No. Between work and spending time with Rogan and our friends… I don’t do much else, Detective.”

The detective didn’t respond right away, instead he looked over a few other things before he pulled the paper out from in front of Lucy and placed it back into the folder before closing it and laying his hands on top.

“I just have one final question, Ms. Wylde and then you’re free to go.”

“Okay…”

“Would anyone have a reason to be upset at Mr. Lee? Anyone that you know? Or the both of you know?”

Lucy sat back and stared at the detective for a few moments, really trying to think about his question. “I.. I mean we both work in a profession that excels in pissing people off… But no, I really don’t know who would be angry enough with him to do whatever it is I’m here about…”

The detective sighed and brought himself back to his feet, grabbing his things. “Well I thank you for your time, Ms. Wylde. If I have any follow up questions, I’ll–”

“You’ll let me know. I got it.”

And with that, Detective Stark turned and left the room – leaving the door open. Lucy took that as her hint to get the fuck out of there. And as she made her way back out to the car, the realization came over her again that she needed to stop putting it off.

She needed to talk to Joe.

Not only to apologize, but to make sure he was okay.

 

◉ Recording Audio
07:57

[Thrashing sounds followed by a soft yelp.]

“Oh my God…”

[Heavy panting.]

“I can’t do this anymore. I fucking can’t.”

[Sliding sounds followed by three loud thuds.]

“Let me out! Let me out…”

[Sniffling.]

 

Thursday, March 23 2023
New York City, New York
Central Park

Rogan was just as curious as Lucy was about the situation concerning Joe – But neither of them had an answer for what could be going on. Just a lot of speculation, and that did neither of them any good. So Rogan decided to bring Lucy to the park and spend the rest of their day doing what he does best.

Going wherever the breeze took them.

Lucy welcomed the distraction with open arms, even though she knew deep down the distraction wouldn’t last long. Not with their trip to Gnaw Bone Indiana quickly approaching. Not with this new knowledge deeply seeded in the back of her brain. And especially not with an upcoming title defense against someone who’d been doing his best Tempest impression over the last few weeks.

Trying to get under her skin.

She wasn’t impressed.

They sat on a bench in the middle of the park, people watching – Lucy licking an ice cream cone while Rogan sipped on a lemonade. Neither of them had spoken since at least twenty minutes before that – but that wasn’t a problem. Lucy didn’t feel alone, even when they weren’t speaking.

As much as she tried to combat it… Lucy just couldn’t stand feeling alone.

That was the hardest part about her upcoming stay in that room. She could deal with the fear of the dark. She could deal with the barrage of thoughts that were sure to rear their ugly head while she was alone with herself… but she couldn’t stand the thought, let alone the feeling of being alone.

“How did you do it?” Lucy asked, finally breaking the silence. Rogan stopped sipping his drink and turned his attention to Lucy, his head cocked to the side as if to ask… ‘how did I do what’? Lucy shook her head. “Sorry.. I know that question makes no sense. I mean, how did you do it when you spent all those years in the past?”

Rogan shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not entirely sure I know what you mean still, Lass.”

“How did you deal with being alone?”

“Ah…” Rogan said, the question finally becoming clear. “I don’t quite know. I guess I just took it one day at a time, and well, I had getting back to you to look forward to.”

Lucy nodded her head. “Yeah, that makes sense.”

“You’re going to be okay, Lucy. It’s only twenty four hours. Then I’ll be right there and everything will be fine.”

Lucy lowered her head. “It’s silly, isn’t it? I’m freaking out over twenty four hours when you were gone for eleven years and…and…”

“Let’s not compare our experiences, Lass. The things we’ve gone through… Well, it’s not a competition, yeah? All we can do is get through it the best we can, and I can assure you that I’m not going anywhere.”

Lucy let out a breath, as if she’d been holding it for hours. She felt Rogan’s hand on her shoulder and she pulled in another deep breath, feeling like she could breathe again.

“You’re right. You’re right. It’s no big deal. Maybe I can catch up on some sleep…”

 

◉ Recording Audio
09:02

[Soft Thudding.]

[Growling.]

“I know you want me off my game, Zane. I know you’ve got this ‘whatever it takes’ attitude when it comes to winning… But anything to make it easier, right? Anything to help you capitalize. But you forget that I’ve cut down FAR greater threats than you. I’m not underestimating shit, Zane. I’m just telling you how it is. I hope that after I whoop your ass and make that Global Challenge win mean nothing… I hope you listen back to this. I hope you hear every syllable I speak to you and I hope it breaks you.”

“I hope it breaks you like you were hoping to break me.”

[Deep breathing sounds.]

“You might think my fear makes me weak. You might think that I’m a hypocrite or that I’m a wolf in sheeps clothing… I don’t care. I don’t care what you think of me and that’s the real truth of the matter Zane. Seb and I might be friends in bad humor, but at least I have friends. At least I have people willing to stand by my side and support me. What do you have Zane? Two dogs that only do what you say because you feed them. I’m sure they’re trained well. They’re trained to obey your every command, aren’t they?”

[Laughter.]

“I one hundred percent know it. Because that’s the only way you’ll ever have anyone in your corner, Zane. If you can manipulate them and train them to believe all the horseshit that comes out of your mouth. That’s all it is. You’re a master of weaving your own intricate web of complete and utter bullshit. It’s just… No one with a brain believes any of it. You think that whatever you’re over there in your little cubby hole saying, those ‘things I needed to hear’ are the words I should live by for the rest of my life because who better than Zane Scott to let me know what I’ve been doing wrong?”

“You’re nothing special. There I fucking said it. You are not special, Zane Scott. And for the record? Neither am I. But let me tell you something else. Let me drop a little more truth on you. The reason I didn’t say anything to you for the last few weeks? The reason you had to make up all of this contempt and hatred? Because you don’t fucking matter.”

[Deep breath.]

“None of this matters. Tempest tried his damndest to get into my head. He did everything he could think of in order to take this belt from me. It didn’t work. You’re here now, trying to make me feel bad.. Trying to manipulate me into what? Handing you the belt out of guilt? For a man who’ll do anything to win… You’re sure reaching really far down into that bag of desperation.. And we’re not even fighting for the big prize yet.”

[A scoff.]

“I mean hell, you’re so far down into that bag that you can’t even remember what happened after a match that you were in! If you wanna paint me as a sore loser or a villain.. At least get your fucking facts straight. Seb and I lost. We sure as hell did… You and Tempest got the win, but God damn… You’re going off the rails saying that I attacked Holden, Daedalus and ‘Eventually’ Tempest.”

[Chuckling.]

“Holden. Guilty as charged.”

“Daedalus… Yep. Did that one too.”

[Tapping.]

“Tempest? Not me. Nope. I know Seb and I are both good looking, but you must be blind as a bat if you think I’m the one that gave Tempest exactly what he deserved. But hey, how terrible of me to say these mean things about you, Zane. You could never be so horrible as to falsify facts in order to make yourself look more virtuous than you actually are.”

[Another sigh.]

“I’m no hero, Zane. But I’m not a villain either. I’m just me. And after we fight tomorrow… or Today… whenever… I’ll make sure you never forget that fact.”

[Shuffling, followed by a harder sigh.]

“Fuck, I’m tired…”

“Maybe I will try to get some more sleep…”

 

Friday, March 24 2023
New York City, New York
Blath Gardens Apartments

*Knock Knock*

Lucy heard the door from the bedroom, but she didn’t emerge straight away. But when whoever it was knocked a second time, she came out and looked around the empty apartment, suddenly remembering that Rogan had gone out to the store. She then took a much more cautious approach towards the door and peeked through the peephole just as a muffled voice came through the door.

“My dear, I’m not going to stand out here all day… I do have other things to do.”

The door flew open at that point and Lucy set her eyes upon her friend, Doctor Gabriel Baal and she couldn’t contain her excitement at his unexpected visit.

“Gabriel! What are you doing here?”

Gabriel looked around the hallway rather judgingly before settling his gaze back onto Lucy and shrugging his shoulders. “Well, I was in the… area, and my wife had suggested that I should visit our good friends since I’ve been busy as of late.”

Lucy nodded her head, waiting for him to continue – not entirely picking up on the hints he was throwing with his head for her to let him into the apartment.

“May I?” He finally said, motioning through the doorway.

Lucy gasped and chuckled, opening the door and allowing him inside.

“How quaint.” He managed to say as he surveyed the surroundings and made his way over to the living room to appraise the view. To say he wasn’t entirely impressed would have been an understatement.

“It is really nice to see you.”

“I know. It’s nice to see you as well, Lucy. Where is–”

“He’s at the store. I’m sure he’ll be back soon.”

Gabriel nodded his head and took a seat in the chair across from the couch, grabbing a small book from his coat pocket and placing it on his lap before he finally looked back up at Lucy. It was in that moment that Lucy knew something was afoot.

“Gabriel… What’s going on?”

“Nothing, my dear.”

“Then why do you have a notebook… And why do I suddenly feel like I’m at therapy?”

Gabriel sighed. “My dear wife may have also suggested that we talk before… Before you and Rogan depart for the middle of nowhere.”

Lucy groaned and sat down on the couch.

“I appreciate it. I really do, but I’m okay.”

“Are you now?”

Lucy glared across the space at him. “I said it, didn’t I?”

Gabriel chuckled. “And we both know that in this case, it’s not true. So let’s talk.”

Defiant at first, Lucy just sat there and stared at Gabriel while he tapped his pen on the arm of the chair. After a few moments, Lucy finally relented with a loud, exaggerated sigh.

“Gabriel. I don’t know what you want me to say. I don’t like the idea of being isolated. You know this. I don’t like the way it makes me feel. I don’t like the dark. I don’t like coming out of something like that, straight into a match.”

“All legitimate points. But what you are seeming to think is abnormal, is completely natural. Especially for someone who’s gone through the… adversity that you have. And have you stopped to think that your opponent is possibly dealing with the same things right now?”

Lucy nodded. “Actually, yes. I have.”

“Good. So you know you are not at a disadvantage here. You only believe you are. While Zane Scott is a very worthy competitor, you do have one very important advantage, Lucy.”

Curious, Lucy tilted her head and stared at her friend questioningly. When she didn’t ask, Gabriel simply sighed.

“Fine, I’ll tell you. You are at your strongest when you believe you’re not. Or rather, when you believe you won’t be. Ask me how I know.” Gabriel finishes with a soft roll of his eyes, which garners a laugh from Lucy.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“As if you had much of a choice.”

Lucy shrugged. “Maybe not.”

“You’ve beaten much bigger and much more terrible monsters than Zane.”

“You’re not a monster, Gabriel.”

Gabriel looked shocked. “Whoever said I was referring to myself?”

“Of course you were. You’re you.”

“Oh, right.” Gabriel replied with a satisfied grin.

The two of them sat for a few moments in silence, before Lucy finally looked across at him again and cleared her throat. Gabriel looked away from the window and grinned.

“Is there something you require?”

“Just a question…”

“Ask away, my dear.”

“How.. How is my brother?”

This must be the week of unexpected questions because Gabriel showed just the smallest bit of shock at Lucy’s question. But as quickly as it came, it vanished and he looked down at his coat and dusted some imaginary dirt off of it before responding.

“Enduring all kinds of experiments as we speak. Why do you ask?”

Lucy shrugged. “I don’t know. When I feel like this… I think of all those dark moments, you know? It’s just where my mind goes…”

“Understandable. Might I offer you a bit of advice? You don’t need it, but then again.. I think I’d enjoy it if you used it, even just a little.”

“Sure…” Lucy said, her interest piqued.

“Use the chaos… Use the feelings… Take them wherever they lead you. You might surprise yourself with how… merciless you could be.”

 

◉ Recording Audio
17:17

“Oh Zane… I wish you understood.”

[Soft breathing.]

“I wish you understood what you were walking into. You only think you know.. But you really, and truly have no idea. I don’t know your life. Nor do I want to. I was beaten mercilessly as a child. I was the victim of things that would make even someone like you look away in terror. I survived all of that… I survived being forced to relive them… And you think I’m scared of you? You think I’m scared of the fact that you want to hurt people? You think I’m scared of the fact that you want to hurt me?”

“People have been hurting me my entire life. That’s not a cry for pity. That’s a fact. You want my big shiny belt and you hold that in such high regard that you’re willing to what? Do your fucking job in order to get it? Wow… Big man.”

[Shuffling.]

“I love being the World Champion. I meant it when I said that I took a lot of pride in it. But it’s not what keeps me going. It’s not what makes my life worth living. But maybe that’s why I’m here, and you’re there… Maybe that’s why you’re in a perpetual state of wanting… Because you’re not grateful for what you do have. Granted, it’s not a lot.. But that’s on you, and that’s even more on your choices. I ain’t one to judge, I’ve made some shit choices myself… And I’ve paid for them.”

“Your bill hasn’t come due yet, Zane. But I think it soon will. Perhaps after I put you down… Boy, wouldn’t that be poetic justice?”

“I don’t know. I’ve dreaded being in here this whole week – and I’ve spent so much of this time letting it control me. But now.. Now I feel good.. I feel at peace. I’m a lot of things, Zane. But one thing I’m not is predictable. I’m gonna beat you Zane. And I’m gonna do it with the same unapologetic attitude that you wanna beat me with. I’m gonna take everything that you give me.. And I’m gonna show you how to do it better. I’m gonna do things to you that you never thought you’d see me to, let alone experience for yourself. Because not only am I THE Lucy fucking Wylde… I am the Dark Lady, and one doesn’t fuck with the Dark Lady without wearing the scars for the rest of their lives…”

 

Monday, March 27 2023
Gnaw Bone, Indiana
Backstage

The light was blinding when the door finally opened to reveal Lucy seated just on the other side of it, holding her hands up to her eyes.

As promised, Rogan MacLean was stood on the other side, the moment the door was opened. “Lucy?”

Lucy slowly pulled herself up to her feet and when she could, she finally lowered her hands and when Rogan saw her, he instinctively took a step back. He hadn’t expected to see what he was seeing in her eyes…

She took a step out into the light and took his extended hand.

“Lucy.. Are you okay?”

A dark smile crossed the Dark Lady’s lips and in that moment, the Dark Man knew his lady had a job to do…