Post by Rated R on Mar 7, 2017 5:41:17 GMT -5
I’m the man who broke Scarlett Quinn. I’m the man who tore that title from her broken, lifeless hands. I’m the man who crushed her dreams, who devastated her family, who finally taught her exactly what it means to be a professional wrestler. After that match she was never the same. As far as I’m aware she still isn’t. Sure she’s back on the scene, but she’s not got the same fire she used to have, the same energy, the same drive. She’s felt what it’s like to be truly, horrifically beaten, physically and mentally, and she’s never been able to recover.
All because of me.
I’m the man who broke Penny Shannon. Say what you like about her, call her the Riot Grrrl, say she’s a role model, say she’s still the same plucky upstart she’s always been, say what you want, but you’d be lying. Penny Shannon has never been the same since I got her hands on her. Since I ripped her knee apart behind closed doors. It was me that turned her against Scarlett Quinn, her so-called best friend. It was me that tore them apart. They’ve never recovered, not really, the betrayal is still there, lingering between them.
All because of me.
All of your precious heroes, the ones you think can guide you through this, do you see any of them here? Where is Wayne, Vanessa, Thunder? Your little movie man? What about your not-so-legendary father? Where he is, eh? Gone, forgotten, a never-was who wish he could be a has-been. No, none of them are here while I’m still standing, because at the end of the day the WFWF is and has always been Trace Demon’s house.
See the way I remember it your dad wanted to be the fastest grand slam winner in all of WFWF history, that was the dream, wasn’t it? His entire reason for being here, to do something nobody thought he could do. And what happened? He failed. He couldn’t get it done, not when it mattered. He fell short. I bet it haunts him, doesn’t it, that he was never quite good enough to grab the last title he needed. Is that why you’re here, to do what he never could? Are you trying to prove the Ahriman name means something? Because let me let you in on a little secret? The Ahriman name has always meant ‘not quite good enough’.
All your heroes, all your guides, I’ve watched them all go. I knew Wayne and Vanessa before you’d even heard about them. I was as close to them as family, I knew them better than you ever will and I know that they were shadows of their former selves even then. Thunder. Oh I know Thunder. Me and him ran this place for a while, me as the director, him as a damn hired good that I kept on the map. Once I abandoned him he faded away quick enough. Your movie man? The man who’s meant to be training you? I saw his failed little comeback years ago, a broken old man trying to relive past glories. Scarlett Quinn… Penny Shannon… well, we already know what happened there, don’t we.
Anna. You think you’ve got some golden pedigree all because of the names backing you up, but the truth is you’re being trained by has-beens and never-were’s, and what good is that meant to do you? What good is being taught by people who don’t even know what to do in that ring themselves anymore? Your being misled. By being told that you can make it, by being told that you’re a somebody they’re doing you a great injustice. Because you can’t make it, you’ll always be a nobody, as long as they’re the ones backing you up.
Of course I knew all of that long before you came here. I keep tabs on things you see, especially back when I was running the show. I know who’s who and I know what’s happening. So I knew exactly what was going down with you before your contract ever got offered. After all, I’m the one who offered it. Which begs the question… why? Why did I bring you in to this company? Why did I sign you knowing that you were being trained by people not qualified to do the training?
That’s a secret I’ve kept to myself so far.
It’s about time you knew the truth about what you are to this company, the real reason you’re here. It’s time you knew what the Demon has in store for you.
< *** >
Trace Demon Presents
Women, Not Girls
Chapter I
Coven
My sister’s a witch. And no, that isn’t meant to be spelt with a B.
She prefers the term Wiccan, apparently witch is a derogatory term. God only knows if that’s true, can’t say I’ve looked into it. Maybe I should given the amount of money I’ve poured into this thing. That’s the issue with siblings. You always believe the best, think the worst but give them all your f*cking money either way.
Faith Demon: You’re looking awkward.
Trace Demon: Am I? Am I looking awkward? God, I wonder why that could be.
Might have something to do with the fact my sister is currently bathing in a bath full of blood. I get the surname gives certain implications but I swear I never wanted my life to be a literal Gothic nightmare.
Faith Demon: It’s good for the soul Trace, it brings me closer to mother Earth’s creatures.
Trace Demon: That’s great and all, real happy for you, but did you really have to wait until I turned up to get into your overly literal blood bath?
Faith Demon: I was already stepping in when Cassie brought word of your arrival. If I could have avoided your unneeded awkwardness then I would have…
Unneeded? Awkwardness was invented for moments like this.
Faith Demon:…but blood is precious, I couldn't allow it to go to waste. If it eases your mind then it was gained through fully legal means. We have a guy who-
Trace Demon: I know you have a guy. I’ve met the guy. The guy is weird and I’m pretty sure gets paid in sex, not that I want to know either w-
Faith Demon: He is.
Trace Demon:There are things you don’t tell your brother no matter whether he’s seen you bathe in blood or not!
Faith Demon: Don’t worry, I’ve never slept with him. He and Tamara have a… special bond. If this is really so awkward for you then you are welcome to wait elsewhere and I will find you when I have finished?
Trace Demon: Oh f*ck yes!
She goes to say something else, but I’m long gone, leaving my sister with a trail of my dust and her bath full of blood and me with images that I’ll sadly never get out of my poor skull.
…
I stand at the front of the house, briefly wishing that I still smoked just to give me something to do but try to avoid staring at the group of women meditating a few metres away from me. I’d have no problem with them being naked if they discriminated on age grounds, but sadly that’s not the case.
I say house, but the place is a mansion. A hundred plus rooms with what feels like a small country for the surrounding land. If you dig deep enough through the company name on the ownership deeds you’d end up finding a plethora of ties back to a certain King of Demons, but let’s be honest, housing and funding a coven of Wiccan’s barely scratches the top one hundred things that’d get me on the front page of most newspapers and magazines.
I’ve been paying for all this for the past three years, ever since word got out that I was surprisingly good at business and had plenty of money to burn through. Buying and converting this place barely scratched the surface of my bank account, so it’s not like I’m all that bothered about the financial aspect of things. Truth be told it wouldn’t have mattered what Faith needed the money for, as long as it wasn’t for drugs or a wedding she’d have got it. What can I say, I’m her big brother, it’s what we do.
Old Naked Lady: You sure you won’t join us Trace?
Trace Demon: I’m good cheers Doris.
Not sure her name’s Doris, but I don’t really want to find out otherwise.
Faith’s five years younger than me, the middle child. I’ve always gone out of my way to make sure she’s had everything she could possibly want out of life. Alexa, always one to play therapist when it wasn’t needed or wanted, used to say it stems from misplaced guilt over what my d*ckwad of a dad used to do to her. Faith’s had a rough life, followed her big brother down the rabbit hole of drugs and rightly placed anger but she’s a Demon, she’s tough, she dug her way back up and has been healing ever since.
Faith Demon: You could have joined them you know.
If this is the way she wants to heal, who am I to argue otherwise?
Trace Demon: Doris offered, I politely declined.
Faith Demon: Who's Doris?
Trace Demon: Doesn't matter. Look sis, not that I'm not happy to spend time with you and all but you want to tell me why you called me out here?
Faith Demon: Come walk with me.
She begins walking, leading me around the grounds of the building. We stick close to the house. You could walk for days and still not cover every square inch of the land here. Solitude is apparently important for connecting to the Earth.
Faith Demon: I know this place makes you uncomfortable.
Trace Demon: It's not discomfort, I just… don't get it.
Faith Demon: And that's fine. After everything you've done for me, for everyone here, giving us a place to do what feels right, to worship without judgement, it means something Trace, it means a lot, to all of us.
Trace Demon: Real nice and soppy, but I don't think you brought me here to tell me how much I mean to you, did you?
She stops, shifts awkwardly. There's something she doesn't want to tell me, I could feel it the moment I turned up.
Trace Demon: You've always been sh*t at keeping things from me, it's what made you such a bad addict. You're not using again, I'd be able to tell, so what is it? What aren't you telling me?
Faith Demon: I'm ill Trace. Cancer.
I don't say anything, can't.
Faith Demon: I found a lump so I… I left the site, went and saw a doctor. I'm not stupid, I know there's things nothing but science can cure. We don't deny science or medicine, we work with it so… I'll be getting treatment. The doctor said we found it early so there's a good chance, and with Mother Earth’s help as well… I'll be okay, I'm sure of it. But I need you to do something for me.
Something I can do? Of course there is, there always is. I'm alert again, buoyed by the thought of being able to do something. As long as there's something to fight…
Trace Demon: Anything, whatever I can do I'll do it, you know I will.
Faith Demon: Don't give into the darkness.
Wait what now?
Faith Demon: You've always had a darkness in you but you've always kept it in control. But since Alexa… and now this, I'm worried you'll let it take over, that you'll do something you can't take back. Maybe you already have, I can sense it on you Trace. Please, no matter what happens to me, don't give into it. Because if you do then somebody is going to get hurt, and it will be all your fault.
I don't have the heart to argue despite the ludicrousness of it all. I just nod, promise that I will and start planning exactly what I can do to get my sister the treatment she needs.
…
I sit in my car at the front of the estate. Not sure how long I've been here, only that I haven't been able to bring myself to turn the key. I've been running it all over in my head, trying to work out the best way to fight this. I'll call Doc Brown, get in touch with the best doctors in the field. She said they caught it early, that they can treat it, but I'm not taking something like this lightly. I'm not stupid.
Cancer took our mother. I didn't like the woman by the end, but she was still our mom. Faith is staying strong, putting her hope in her precious earth, but I'll stick to what I know works. Money, and everything that it can buy, including the best treatment in the world.
But most of all, and as much as I try to push it from my mind mind, I can't help thinking about her delusional warning, about the darkness inside of me. It's madness, there's no such thing as a ‘darkness’. There's just humanity and what we choose to do with our lives. But that's not what rattles around my mind most. I know that's madness, but it's what she said about someone getting hurt, about doing something I can't take back. And I can't help but think about what I did to her, about the choice I made and the way I made it. Faith warned me that I might do something I can't take back.
What if I already have?
< *** >
Chapter II
The Plans Best Laid
I clap slowly, grinning as I look at Joe Bishop. He glares, probably imagining how easy it would be to charge me here and now. But he's smarter than that. So I keep clapping, then just turn my back on him and vanish through the curtain, knowing full well that as far as Joe Bishop’s obsession is concerned I'm never truly gone.
...
Lila Sleater: What was that?!
I'm heading for the parking lot when that familiar shrill screech pierces my ears. I swear that woman should wear a “warning, wear earplugs” banner around her neck. I swivel, grinning from ear to ear, genuinely pleased to see her. Not everyday you get to antagonise someone you hate.
Trace Demon: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Lila Sleater: Don’t give me your usual sh*t! You’re not scheduled tonight, you weren’t meant to be in the building but you couldn’t help yourself, could you? You had to go out there and spoil a perfectly good match.
Trace Demon: Woah woah woah, hold up on the accusations, I don’t remember ever getting involved in a match.
Lila Sleater: You damn well know that your mere presence at ringside means all anybody will be talking about isn’t that match but whatever crap your trying to pull over Joe Bishop.
Trace Demon: Way I see it you should thank me for promoting the obvious headline match in this group. I’m not even running the place anymore but I’m still the only one of us doing any decent marketing. Makes you look pretty bad I reckon.
You know those cartoons where an angry character has that weird looking, over exaggerated vein exploding out the side of their head? Well, pretty sure Lila’s whole skull is gonna turn blue any moment now.
Lila Sleater: I know you think you’re invincible around here but sooner or later somebody is going to prove to you that’s not true.
Trace Demon: And let me guess, that somebody is gonna be you?
She grins, but not for why I was expecting. I figured this would be the moment Lila threatened me, told me how she was going to be my downfall, topple me from the top of the mountain, all the usual sh*t that nobody ever backs up when it comes down to it. But she doesn’t, instead she decides to do something… unexpected.
Lila Sleater: Why would I have to do anything when Joe Bishop is so clearly going to do it for me.
Trace Demon: I think you need to quit smoking whatever potent you’re on Lila, it’s clearly gone to your head.
Lila Sleater: You keep making jokes Trace but I’m not stupid, I see it, everyone does.
Trace Demon: What’re you-
Lila Sleater: You’re scared.
I’m not sure if I want to burst into laughter or lash out and knock her front teeth out. It takes all of my willpower not to do either.
Lila Sleater: Why else would you be playing mind games with him? Why else would you be coming here on your day off? It’s because you’re scared of Joe Bishop, of how good he’s gotten, of the fact that there’s a very good chance that he could beat you and then you’d have failed again, wouldn’t you Trace? How many times would that be? How many times would you have gone for that title and come up short? Must be eating you alive I bet. I bet every time you-
Trace Demon: Do you ever wonder how Anna Ahriman ended up in this tournament?
She goes quiet, wondering why I shifted gears so abruptly. Trying to figure out what my game is bringing up the little pubescent wannabe.
Trace Demon: I mean you already know that I signed the contract, don’t you? I’m sure you looked into that as soon as it flitted across your desk. You never asked me why I did it, why I signed the girl before I gave up the company. Seems a little weird that you’d never bother to ask, since you’ve never had a problem opening that big mouth of yours before.
Lila Sleater: I figured you saw money in the name. Second generation star, young talent, target the female demographic who wanted someone to cheer. It was a ratings move. The only two things that ever mattered to you, ratings and using your power to put yourself on top.
Trace Demon: Maybe that’d be true… if I hadn’t already decided to sell up when I put pen to paper. This wasn’t some quick sale Lila, I thought about it, mulled over my options. I’m smarter than you like to give me credit for you see. No, Anna Ahriman was signed for one reason and one reason alone. Because I wanted to see her ruined.
She tries not to show it but her stony expression falters, just for a moment.
Trace Demon: I knew Sam was gonna run for the hills, and I’d heard all about his daughter training to be a wrestler. I keep tabs on these things y’know. So I figured why not, let’s bring her in, let’s have a little bit of fun with my last action as owner. Let’s bring in this bright eyed, bushy tailed b*tch and let’s crush her, let’s take all her dreams and tear them up in front of her eyes. After all if I couldn’t destroy one Ahriman, I may as well get the next best thing, right? And at the same time there was the you of it all.
She’s still trying to stay placid, like the thought of me stamping on a young girls dream doesn’t phase her, but I know better. Lila Sleater is very much an advocate of girl power. She wants Anna to succeed because it proves a point that women can do it just as well as the men. Shame for the both of them that Anna’s not even close to being a ‘woman’.
Lila Sleater: What does Anna Ahriman have to do with me?
Trace Demon: Let’s look at it this way. Right now you’re the public face of WFWF booking, right? Which means this tournament is all on you, so every bad decision falls right on your doorstep. Now sure, there wasn’t a lot you could have done about the Hugh Jass debacle, and even that Austin Hayes kid had his upsides when you first brought him in. But Anna Ahriman? Well everyone questioned that one, didn’t they? Everyone questioned why you’d give a girl who’s never wrestled a professional wrestling match before a spot in the big prestigious tournament. Only… you didn’t, did you Lila? See when those brackets came to you they were already filled. You didn’t get a say on who was in this tournament, did you Lila?
Lila Sleater: You can’t know that. That wasn’t your decision, that was-
Trace Demon: The new owner, the one I negotiated with, the one I signed the company over to for a very large sum of money… and a few small caveats, like my iron-clad, very large contract. But that wasn’t the only caveat I made Lila. See, I also made it clear that for the deal to go ahead that I had to have a spot in the Supreme Gauntlet. Can’t have your biggest star missing out on that now can you. But I wasn’t the only one who had to be in that tournament, in that specific group. No, for me to sign that deal I wanted two specific names in that group with me. I didn’t care who else was in the tournament, or what other two nobodies got thrown in with me, but I had to have two very specific opponents. The first was Joe Bishop, the second…
Lila Sleater: Anna.
Trace Demon: Bingo. You picking up what I’m laying down yet?
She says nothing, but she’s shaking with anger, furious that the despicable villain Trace Demon has got one up on her yet again.
Trace Demon: No? Well let me spell it out for you. Joe Bishop and Anna Ahriman are in this tournament because of me, they're in this group because of me. Hugh Jass and Austin Hayes were nothing more than a warm up. Sure they put up a fight but at the end of the day they were nothing more than a distraction while I waited to get round to the actual fun stuff. You see Anna Ahriman’s whole point in this tournament is to be victimised by me. She's here to be hurt, humiliated, degraded and destroyed so that not only will she crawl back home and be a permanent reminder to her dear dad that Trace Demon will always be the better man but she's also going to be the reason that everyone is asking what the hell was Lila Sleater thinking putting a little girl like that in a ring with a sociopath like me.
I get right up in her face and she shoves me away. I'm pretty sure she'd try to strike me if she thought she could get away with it.
Trace Demon: And Joe Bishop? You're right, I do know that the kid is talented and I accept that he's a threat. But let's just say I've got my own plans for little Joe.
Lila Sleater: You're full of sh*t.
Trace Demon: See a lesser person might actually believe that, but you're smarter than that, aren't you? Yeah, I know you Lila. Say what you want but you know full well that every single thing I've said is true. By the end of our next show you'll forever be known as the woman who sent poor little Anna Ahriman to the most humiliating and violent beating that the WFWF has ever known. Then you'll know exactly how it feels to be a villain.
That's when she snaps, lashing out, palm flat, aimed straight for my face. She's quicker than I'd give her credit for but if there's one thing I've learned it's to never drop your guard. I've been looking for the movement the entire conversation, seeing her anger build and bubble over. I grab her wrist and twist, not enough to cause any lasting damage but enough to make sure she won't forget in a hurry.
Trace Demon: When are you going to learn Lila? I'm Trace Demon, I'm f*cking invincible.
I let her go and she backs up. She might be thinking of going for another shot, either way she thinks better of it.
Lila Sleater: Rot in hell.
Trace Demon: Haven't you been paying attention?
She storms off. I raise my voice, wanting to make sure she hears my parting shot. What can I say, I've a flare for the dramatic.
Trace Demon: I'm the motherf*cking king of it!
< *** >
Chapter III
Darkness
My phone goes for what feels like the twentieth time in the past hour. It’s no surprise as Anders name flashes up on the screen. I hit ignore and turn the thing to silent. Any other time I'd humour the guy but I'm not in the mood for whatever crap he's got going on right now.
I turn my attention back to the big screen on my sitting room wall, where tape from Anna’s only two matches has been playing on a loop for most of the morning. She might not be a threat but I'm not taking her lightly either. If I want to do as much damage as I'm planning then I need to be on top of my game, and that means doing some homework. So I watch for the angles of her strikes, how she moves, what she does when she's up against it, working out the best way to slowly dismantle her.
Emily Hall: Why have I got three missed calls from Anders?
I twist on the sofa, glancing behind me. Emily walks through the room, towards the kitchen. She's working on college applications right now. Normal circumstances she'd have been midway through her second year already, but the death of your guardian and relocation across the border kind of puts things on hold.
Trace Demon: No idea, how's he even got your number?
Emily Hall: A very good question.
She wanders back in with a slice of pizza leftover from last night. I know, healthy eating and all that, but the girl can eat half the contents of the bloody fridge and not put on a pound.
Emily Hall: Who's the chick?
She leans over the sofa, looking at the footage with only the most passing of interest. I didn't know what to expect back when I took Emily in, but over the past couple of years I've got to say I've grown accustomed to having her around, more so now than ever since Alexa’s death.
Trace Demon: Anna Ahriman.
Emily Hall: Sam’s kid?
Trace Demon: You know a lot of Ahriman’s?
Emily's not got much interest in wrestling, which is probably for the best, but she keeps tabs on the big shows, more to figure out my mood than anything else.
Emily Hall: Scarlett mentioned she'd moved in with them and was training, but last I heard she'd never even been in a ring, let alone your nuthouse of a company.
I pause the footage, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.
Trace Demon: You still speak to Scarlett?
Emily Hall: Now and again. Hard to stay good friends with someone when your brother has betrayed her, played psychological warfare with her, violently beaten her in a wrestling ring and taken some stupid chunk of gold that she cares about. To be honest it's impressive we speak at all.
Emily's gay. She knows that doesn't bother me but she still tries to pretend like her and Scarlett were never a thing. Maybe she thinks it'd be weird for me, but it'd be no weirder than the fact she regularly f*cks the runaway I took in last year and thinks I don't know about it.
Emily Hall: She's better than I would have expected.
She's talking about Anna, which garners a scowl of disapproval from me. Not because she's right, but because she can't see how wrong she is.
Trace Demon: She's green, sloppy. I know she's not exactly getting too tier training but I'd have thought Wayne at least would have stopped her picking up too many bad habits. Shame, I was hoping this would at least be a challenge. It's not fun when they make it easy for you.
Emily Hall: What in the world are you talking about?
Trace Demon: One of those things you always say you don't really want to know about.
She nods, fair enough, glances back at the paused screen one more time and says something you’d never expect a sister to say to a brother.
Emily Hall: Don’t hurt the girl too much, alright?
Trace Demon: Can’t promise anything.
She finishes off the pizza and heads back upstairs, either to study or smoke up, who can really tell with young people nowadays? I glance down at my watch, I’ve got a meeting with Elinor in an hour, before hitting resume on the footage. Back to business.
…
Half an hour later there’s a hammering at the door that jolts me awake. Anna must have been so boring I drifted off. The doorbell goes, then more hammering. Emily shouts something from upstairs, probably asking why I’m not getting the door. I shout something back and go to open it, agitated that anyone dare turn up uninvited.
Trace Demon: Elinor?
Only she was invited.
Trace Demon: You’re early.
Elinor Nix: I’ve had Jason Anders on the phone.
Trace Demon: How in the hell does he have everybody’s number? Wait, why’s he calling you?
Elinor Nix: Because you weren’t answering. It’s his daughter, the one you’ve been f*cking.
Trace Demon: I’m well aware of who you meant.
Elinor Nix: She’s in hospital. Critical condition. She overdosed Trace.
And immediately my mind is filled with the echoing words of my sister.
“Somebody is going to get hurt, and it will be all your fault.”
Trace Demon: F*ck.
< *** >
See kid, your entire point of being right now is nothing but one final f*ck you from the King of Demons to the WFWF, to all those who claim to have your back and of course to your dear old loser of a father. You’re here solely because I wanted to see you fail, because I wanted to see you get crushed and humiliated and degrade the Ahriman name even more than your father managed to.
Anna, you’re not a wrestler, you’re an elaborate practical joke. You’re a plaything, a toy, nothing more than a little joke I decided to play on my way out the door. Now by some miracle Lila Sleater f*cked up this tournament so bad that she actually put people in this group worse than yourself, which is mighty impressive even by her own lofty standards of failure. So by some miracle you’ve got yourself a point and now you’ve probably got lofty ambitions of adding to that tally and taking a scalp from the biggest star in this company. But that’s not how this plays out. See on night two I ended one cinderella story, now it’s time to end another.
See Anna the truth is you’re nothing but a little girl. And don’t take that the wrong way, I’m not saying that women can’t be wrestlers, I’m not saying that women shouldn’t be in this ring with me. Because I am surrounded day in and day out with strong, independent women. I’ve seen the strength of the opposite sex and anyone who thinks they’re any weaker than a guy just because or their chromosomes is a damn idiot. My sister’s fought and beat drug addiction, my half-sister survived the death of her parents, my very permanent lodger fled her family and is flourishing every damn day and my right hand Elinor Nix is damn well the most terrifying example of a human being you’ll ever meet.
So no, this ain’t about you being female. This is about you being a girl, because being a woman is something you’ve got to earn. It’s about strength, it’s about being strong enough to cope with what life is gonna throw at you, it’s about standing up and not letting the world tear you down. It’s the same difference between a boy and a man and you, Anna Ahriman, are not a woman. You’ve built your little ego up by listening to all those people telling you you’ve got talent when really all they’re doing is feeding you lies. Now I’m not saying you’ve not got raw talent, I’m not saying you can’t be a wrestler, I’m just saying… not yet.
Was it cruel of me to offer you that contract knowing that you’d be beaten and humiliated by your betters? Was it cruel of me to set you up with a space in this tournament knowing full damn well you’d end up coming face to face with the King of Demons himself? Maybe. But the true cruelty here lies in the people who have told you that you are a strong independent woman rather than a little girl who hasn’t learned the first thing about how this world works. Because the truth is Anna just because you’ve got a semi-famous name that don’t mean you belong here. That don’t mean you should be in that ring with me. All it means is that you’re one more Ahriman I’m gonna drive out of the WFWF.
If it were different, if I thought you were anything more than a teenage girl not only being used by her older boyfriend for an easy f*ck but by all those losers you surround yourself with to make themselves feel better then maybe, just maybe, I’d take you on myself and I’d show you what strong women look like, because I damn well don’t think you’ve got any examples of them around you right now. But that’s not the way it is. Instead I’m going to send you back to the McGurks and to the movie man and to Thunder’s little snatch-happy runt and they’re gonna tell you what a good job you did standing up to me, what a strong woman you are for fighting the big bad man.
But we’ll know the truth, won’t we? We’ll know that you’re nothing more than a f*cked up little girl trying to make her father proud when really all he cares about is crying himself to sleep over the fact that he could never really make it. We’ll know that you’re nothing more than a joke that got out of hand, that you’re nothing more than a girl who had to be put in her place by the Villain because nobody else would do what needed to be done and sit you down and explain that not all people are born special, some people are just born to take up space. We’ll know that you’re a nobody, that you’re nothing and that you will never be the woman that you need to be if you want to step foot in my ring. You’ll know all of this because of me.
And what all is said and done… I will be the man who broke Anna Ahriman.
All because of me.
I’m the man who broke Penny Shannon. Say what you like about her, call her the Riot Grrrl, say she’s a role model, say she’s still the same plucky upstart she’s always been, say what you want, but you’d be lying. Penny Shannon has never been the same since I got her hands on her. Since I ripped her knee apart behind closed doors. It was me that turned her against Scarlett Quinn, her so-called best friend. It was me that tore them apart. They’ve never recovered, not really, the betrayal is still there, lingering between them.
All because of me.
All of your precious heroes, the ones you think can guide you through this, do you see any of them here? Where is Wayne, Vanessa, Thunder? Your little movie man? What about your not-so-legendary father? Where he is, eh? Gone, forgotten, a never-was who wish he could be a has-been. No, none of them are here while I’m still standing, because at the end of the day the WFWF is and has always been Trace Demon’s house.
See the way I remember it your dad wanted to be the fastest grand slam winner in all of WFWF history, that was the dream, wasn’t it? His entire reason for being here, to do something nobody thought he could do. And what happened? He failed. He couldn’t get it done, not when it mattered. He fell short. I bet it haunts him, doesn’t it, that he was never quite good enough to grab the last title he needed. Is that why you’re here, to do what he never could? Are you trying to prove the Ahriman name means something? Because let me let you in on a little secret? The Ahriman name has always meant ‘not quite good enough’.
All your heroes, all your guides, I’ve watched them all go. I knew Wayne and Vanessa before you’d even heard about them. I was as close to them as family, I knew them better than you ever will and I know that they were shadows of their former selves even then. Thunder. Oh I know Thunder. Me and him ran this place for a while, me as the director, him as a damn hired good that I kept on the map. Once I abandoned him he faded away quick enough. Your movie man? The man who’s meant to be training you? I saw his failed little comeback years ago, a broken old man trying to relive past glories. Scarlett Quinn… Penny Shannon… well, we already know what happened there, don’t we.
Anna. You think you’ve got some golden pedigree all because of the names backing you up, but the truth is you’re being trained by has-beens and never-were’s, and what good is that meant to do you? What good is being taught by people who don’t even know what to do in that ring themselves anymore? Your being misled. By being told that you can make it, by being told that you’re a somebody they’re doing you a great injustice. Because you can’t make it, you’ll always be a nobody, as long as they’re the ones backing you up.
Of course I knew all of that long before you came here. I keep tabs on things you see, especially back when I was running the show. I know who’s who and I know what’s happening. So I knew exactly what was going down with you before your contract ever got offered. After all, I’m the one who offered it. Which begs the question… why? Why did I bring you in to this company? Why did I sign you knowing that you were being trained by people not qualified to do the training?
That’s a secret I’ve kept to myself so far.
It’s about time you knew the truth about what you are to this company, the real reason you’re here. It’s time you knew what the Demon has in store for you.
< *** >
Trace Demon Presents
Women, Not Girls
Chapter I
Coven
My sister’s a witch. And no, that isn’t meant to be spelt with a B.
She prefers the term Wiccan, apparently witch is a derogatory term. God only knows if that’s true, can’t say I’ve looked into it. Maybe I should given the amount of money I’ve poured into this thing. That’s the issue with siblings. You always believe the best, think the worst but give them all your f*cking money either way.
Faith Demon: You’re looking awkward.
Trace Demon: Am I? Am I looking awkward? God, I wonder why that could be.
Might have something to do with the fact my sister is currently bathing in a bath full of blood. I get the surname gives certain implications but I swear I never wanted my life to be a literal Gothic nightmare.
Faith Demon: It’s good for the soul Trace, it brings me closer to mother Earth’s creatures.
Trace Demon: That’s great and all, real happy for you, but did you really have to wait until I turned up to get into your overly literal blood bath?
Faith Demon: I was already stepping in when Cassie brought word of your arrival. If I could have avoided your unneeded awkwardness then I would have…
Unneeded? Awkwardness was invented for moments like this.
Faith Demon:…but blood is precious, I couldn't allow it to go to waste. If it eases your mind then it was gained through fully legal means. We have a guy who-
Trace Demon: I know you have a guy. I’ve met the guy. The guy is weird and I’m pretty sure gets paid in sex, not that I want to know either w-
Faith Demon: He is.
Trace Demon:There are things you don’t tell your brother no matter whether he’s seen you bathe in blood or not!
Faith Demon: Don’t worry, I’ve never slept with him. He and Tamara have a… special bond. If this is really so awkward for you then you are welcome to wait elsewhere and I will find you when I have finished?
Trace Demon: Oh f*ck yes!
She goes to say something else, but I’m long gone, leaving my sister with a trail of my dust and her bath full of blood and me with images that I’ll sadly never get out of my poor skull.
…
I stand at the front of the house, briefly wishing that I still smoked just to give me something to do but try to avoid staring at the group of women meditating a few metres away from me. I’d have no problem with them being naked if they discriminated on age grounds, but sadly that’s not the case.
I say house, but the place is a mansion. A hundred plus rooms with what feels like a small country for the surrounding land. If you dig deep enough through the company name on the ownership deeds you’d end up finding a plethora of ties back to a certain King of Demons, but let’s be honest, housing and funding a coven of Wiccan’s barely scratches the top one hundred things that’d get me on the front page of most newspapers and magazines.
I’ve been paying for all this for the past three years, ever since word got out that I was surprisingly good at business and had plenty of money to burn through. Buying and converting this place barely scratched the surface of my bank account, so it’s not like I’m all that bothered about the financial aspect of things. Truth be told it wouldn’t have mattered what Faith needed the money for, as long as it wasn’t for drugs or a wedding she’d have got it. What can I say, I’m her big brother, it’s what we do.
Old Naked Lady: You sure you won’t join us Trace?
Trace Demon: I’m good cheers Doris.
Not sure her name’s Doris, but I don’t really want to find out otherwise.
Faith’s five years younger than me, the middle child. I’ve always gone out of my way to make sure she’s had everything she could possibly want out of life. Alexa, always one to play therapist when it wasn’t needed or wanted, used to say it stems from misplaced guilt over what my d*ckwad of a dad used to do to her. Faith’s had a rough life, followed her big brother down the rabbit hole of drugs and rightly placed anger but she’s a Demon, she’s tough, she dug her way back up and has been healing ever since.
Faith Demon: You could have joined them you know.
If this is the way she wants to heal, who am I to argue otherwise?
Trace Demon: Doris offered, I politely declined.
Faith Demon: Who's Doris?
Trace Demon: Doesn't matter. Look sis, not that I'm not happy to spend time with you and all but you want to tell me why you called me out here?
Faith Demon: Come walk with me.
She begins walking, leading me around the grounds of the building. We stick close to the house. You could walk for days and still not cover every square inch of the land here. Solitude is apparently important for connecting to the Earth.
Faith Demon: I know this place makes you uncomfortable.
Trace Demon: It's not discomfort, I just… don't get it.
Faith Demon: And that's fine. After everything you've done for me, for everyone here, giving us a place to do what feels right, to worship without judgement, it means something Trace, it means a lot, to all of us.
Trace Demon: Real nice and soppy, but I don't think you brought me here to tell me how much I mean to you, did you?
She stops, shifts awkwardly. There's something she doesn't want to tell me, I could feel it the moment I turned up.
Trace Demon: You've always been sh*t at keeping things from me, it's what made you such a bad addict. You're not using again, I'd be able to tell, so what is it? What aren't you telling me?
Faith Demon: I'm ill Trace. Cancer.
I don't say anything, can't.
Faith Demon: I found a lump so I… I left the site, went and saw a doctor. I'm not stupid, I know there's things nothing but science can cure. We don't deny science or medicine, we work with it so… I'll be getting treatment. The doctor said we found it early so there's a good chance, and with Mother Earth’s help as well… I'll be okay, I'm sure of it. But I need you to do something for me.
Something I can do? Of course there is, there always is. I'm alert again, buoyed by the thought of being able to do something. As long as there's something to fight…
Trace Demon: Anything, whatever I can do I'll do it, you know I will.
Faith Demon: Don't give into the darkness.
Wait what now?
Faith Demon: You've always had a darkness in you but you've always kept it in control. But since Alexa… and now this, I'm worried you'll let it take over, that you'll do something you can't take back. Maybe you already have, I can sense it on you Trace. Please, no matter what happens to me, don't give into it. Because if you do then somebody is going to get hurt, and it will be all your fault.
I don't have the heart to argue despite the ludicrousness of it all. I just nod, promise that I will and start planning exactly what I can do to get my sister the treatment she needs.
…
I sit in my car at the front of the estate. Not sure how long I've been here, only that I haven't been able to bring myself to turn the key. I've been running it all over in my head, trying to work out the best way to fight this. I'll call Doc Brown, get in touch with the best doctors in the field. She said they caught it early, that they can treat it, but I'm not taking something like this lightly. I'm not stupid.
Cancer took our mother. I didn't like the woman by the end, but she was still our mom. Faith is staying strong, putting her hope in her precious earth, but I'll stick to what I know works. Money, and everything that it can buy, including the best treatment in the world.
But most of all, and as much as I try to push it from my mind mind, I can't help thinking about her delusional warning, about the darkness inside of me. It's madness, there's no such thing as a ‘darkness’. There's just humanity and what we choose to do with our lives. But that's not what rattles around my mind most. I know that's madness, but it's what she said about someone getting hurt, about doing something I can't take back. And I can't help but think about what I did to her, about the choice I made and the way I made it. Faith warned me that I might do something I can't take back.
What if I already have?
< *** >
Chapter II
The Plans Best Laid
I clap slowly, grinning as I look at Joe Bishop. He glares, probably imagining how easy it would be to charge me here and now. But he's smarter than that. So I keep clapping, then just turn my back on him and vanish through the curtain, knowing full well that as far as Joe Bishop’s obsession is concerned I'm never truly gone.
...
Lila Sleater: What was that?!
I'm heading for the parking lot when that familiar shrill screech pierces my ears. I swear that woman should wear a “warning, wear earplugs” banner around her neck. I swivel, grinning from ear to ear, genuinely pleased to see her. Not everyday you get to antagonise someone you hate.
Trace Demon: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Lila Sleater: Don’t give me your usual sh*t! You’re not scheduled tonight, you weren’t meant to be in the building but you couldn’t help yourself, could you? You had to go out there and spoil a perfectly good match.
Trace Demon: Woah woah woah, hold up on the accusations, I don’t remember ever getting involved in a match.
Lila Sleater: You damn well know that your mere presence at ringside means all anybody will be talking about isn’t that match but whatever crap your trying to pull over Joe Bishop.
Trace Demon: Way I see it you should thank me for promoting the obvious headline match in this group. I’m not even running the place anymore but I’m still the only one of us doing any decent marketing. Makes you look pretty bad I reckon.
You know those cartoons where an angry character has that weird looking, over exaggerated vein exploding out the side of their head? Well, pretty sure Lila’s whole skull is gonna turn blue any moment now.
Lila Sleater: I know you think you’re invincible around here but sooner or later somebody is going to prove to you that’s not true.
Trace Demon: And let me guess, that somebody is gonna be you?
She grins, but not for why I was expecting. I figured this would be the moment Lila threatened me, told me how she was going to be my downfall, topple me from the top of the mountain, all the usual sh*t that nobody ever backs up when it comes down to it. But she doesn’t, instead she decides to do something… unexpected.
Lila Sleater: Why would I have to do anything when Joe Bishop is so clearly going to do it for me.
Trace Demon: I think you need to quit smoking whatever potent you’re on Lila, it’s clearly gone to your head.
Lila Sleater: You keep making jokes Trace but I’m not stupid, I see it, everyone does.
Trace Demon: What’re you-
Lila Sleater: You’re scared.
I’m not sure if I want to burst into laughter or lash out and knock her front teeth out. It takes all of my willpower not to do either.
Lila Sleater: Why else would you be playing mind games with him? Why else would you be coming here on your day off? It’s because you’re scared of Joe Bishop, of how good he’s gotten, of the fact that there’s a very good chance that he could beat you and then you’d have failed again, wouldn’t you Trace? How many times would that be? How many times would you have gone for that title and come up short? Must be eating you alive I bet. I bet every time you-
Trace Demon: Do you ever wonder how Anna Ahriman ended up in this tournament?
She goes quiet, wondering why I shifted gears so abruptly. Trying to figure out what my game is bringing up the little pubescent wannabe.
Trace Demon: I mean you already know that I signed the contract, don’t you? I’m sure you looked into that as soon as it flitted across your desk. You never asked me why I did it, why I signed the girl before I gave up the company. Seems a little weird that you’d never bother to ask, since you’ve never had a problem opening that big mouth of yours before.
Lila Sleater: I figured you saw money in the name. Second generation star, young talent, target the female demographic who wanted someone to cheer. It was a ratings move. The only two things that ever mattered to you, ratings and using your power to put yourself on top.
Trace Demon: Maybe that’d be true… if I hadn’t already decided to sell up when I put pen to paper. This wasn’t some quick sale Lila, I thought about it, mulled over my options. I’m smarter than you like to give me credit for you see. No, Anna Ahriman was signed for one reason and one reason alone. Because I wanted to see her ruined.
She tries not to show it but her stony expression falters, just for a moment.
Trace Demon: I knew Sam was gonna run for the hills, and I’d heard all about his daughter training to be a wrestler. I keep tabs on these things y’know. So I figured why not, let’s bring her in, let’s have a little bit of fun with my last action as owner. Let’s bring in this bright eyed, bushy tailed b*tch and let’s crush her, let’s take all her dreams and tear them up in front of her eyes. After all if I couldn’t destroy one Ahriman, I may as well get the next best thing, right? And at the same time there was the you of it all.
She’s still trying to stay placid, like the thought of me stamping on a young girls dream doesn’t phase her, but I know better. Lila Sleater is very much an advocate of girl power. She wants Anna to succeed because it proves a point that women can do it just as well as the men. Shame for the both of them that Anna’s not even close to being a ‘woman’.
Lila Sleater: What does Anna Ahriman have to do with me?
Trace Demon: Let’s look at it this way. Right now you’re the public face of WFWF booking, right? Which means this tournament is all on you, so every bad decision falls right on your doorstep. Now sure, there wasn’t a lot you could have done about the Hugh Jass debacle, and even that Austin Hayes kid had his upsides when you first brought him in. But Anna Ahriman? Well everyone questioned that one, didn’t they? Everyone questioned why you’d give a girl who’s never wrestled a professional wrestling match before a spot in the big prestigious tournament. Only… you didn’t, did you Lila? See when those brackets came to you they were already filled. You didn’t get a say on who was in this tournament, did you Lila?
Lila Sleater: You can’t know that. That wasn’t your decision, that was-
Trace Demon: The new owner, the one I negotiated with, the one I signed the company over to for a very large sum of money… and a few small caveats, like my iron-clad, very large contract. But that wasn’t the only caveat I made Lila. See, I also made it clear that for the deal to go ahead that I had to have a spot in the Supreme Gauntlet. Can’t have your biggest star missing out on that now can you. But I wasn’t the only one who had to be in that tournament, in that specific group. No, for me to sign that deal I wanted two specific names in that group with me. I didn’t care who else was in the tournament, or what other two nobodies got thrown in with me, but I had to have two very specific opponents. The first was Joe Bishop, the second…
Lila Sleater: Anna.
Trace Demon: Bingo. You picking up what I’m laying down yet?
She says nothing, but she’s shaking with anger, furious that the despicable villain Trace Demon has got one up on her yet again.
Trace Demon: No? Well let me spell it out for you. Joe Bishop and Anna Ahriman are in this tournament because of me, they're in this group because of me. Hugh Jass and Austin Hayes were nothing more than a warm up. Sure they put up a fight but at the end of the day they were nothing more than a distraction while I waited to get round to the actual fun stuff. You see Anna Ahriman’s whole point in this tournament is to be victimised by me. She's here to be hurt, humiliated, degraded and destroyed so that not only will she crawl back home and be a permanent reminder to her dear dad that Trace Demon will always be the better man but she's also going to be the reason that everyone is asking what the hell was Lila Sleater thinking putting a little girl like that in a ring with a sociopath like me.
I get right up in her face and she shoves me away. I'm pretty sure she'd try to strike me if she thought she could get away with it.
Trace Demon: And Joe Bishop? You're right, I do know that the kid is talented and I accept that he's a threat. But let's just say I've got my own plans for little Joe.
Lila Sleater: You're full of sh*t.
Trace Demon: See a lesser person might actually believe that, but you're smarter than that, aren't you? Yeah, I know you Lila. Say what you want but you know full well that every single thing I've said is true. By the end of our next show you'll forever be known as the woman who sent poor little Anna Ahriman to the most humiliating and violent beating that the WFWF has ever known. Then you'll know exactly how it feels to be a villain.
That's when she snaps, lashing out, palm flat, aimed straight for my face. She's quicker than I'd give her credit for but if there's one thing I've learned it's to never drop your guard. I've been looking for the movement the entire conversation, seeing her anger build and bubble over. I grab her wrist and twist, not enough to cause any lasting damage but enough to make sure she won't forget in a hurry.
Trace Demon: When are you going to learn Lila? I'm Trace Demon, I'm f*cking invincible.
I let her go and she backs up. She might be thinking of going for another shot, either way she thinks better of it.
Lila Sleater: Rot in hell.
Trace Demon: Haven't you been paying attention?
She storms off. I raise my voice, wanting to make sure she hears my parting shot. What can I say, I've a flare for the dramatic.
Trace Demon: I'm the motherf*cking king of it!
< *** >
Chapter III
Darkness
My phone goes for what feels like the twentieth time in the past hour. It’s no surprise as Anders name flashes up on the screen. I hit ignore and turn the thing to silent. Any other time I'd humour the guy but I'm not in the mood for whatever crap he's got going on right now.
I turn my attention back to the big screen on my sitting room wall, where tape from Anna’s only two matches has been playing on a loop for most of the morning. She might not be a threat but I'm not taking her lightly either. If I want to do as much damage as I'm planning then I need to be on top of my game, and that means doing some homework. So I watch for the angles of her strikes, how she moves, what she does when she's up against it, working out the best way to slowly dismantle her.
Emily Hall: Why have I got three missed calls from Anders?
I twist on the sofa, glancing behind me. Emily walks through the room, towards the kitchen. She's working on college applications right now. Normal circumstances she'd have been midway through her second year already, but the death of your guardian and relocation across the border kind of puts things on hold.
Trace Demon: No idea, how's he even got your number?
Emily Hall: A very good question.
She wanders back in with a slice of pizza leftover from last night. I know, healthy eating and all that, but the girl can eat half the contents of the bloody fridge and not put on a pound.
Emily Hall: Who's the chick?
She leans over the sofa, looking at the footage with only the most passing of interest. I didn't know what to expect back when I took Emily in, but over the past couple of years I've got to say I've grown accustomed to having her around, more so now than ever since Alexa’s death.
Trace Demon: Anna Ahriman.
Emily Hall: Sam’s kid?
Trace Demon: You know a lot of Ahriman’s?
Emily's not got much interest in wrestling, which is probably for the best, but she keeps tabs on the big shows, more to figure out my mood than anything else.
Emily Hall: Scarlett mentioned she'd moved in with them and was training, but last I heard she'd never even been in a ring, let alone your nuthouse of a company.
I pause the footage, glancing at her with a raised eyebrow.
Trace Demon: You still speak to Scarlett?
Emily Hall: Now and again. Hard to stay good friends with someone when your brother has betrayed her, played psychological warfare with her, violently beaten her in a wrestling ring and taken some stupid chunk of gold that she cares about. To be honest it's impressive we speak at all.
Emily's gay. She knows that doesn't bother me but she still tries to pretend like her and Scarlett were never a thing. Maybe she thinks it'd be weird for me, but it'd be no weirder than the fact she regularly f*cks the runaway I took in last year and thinks I don't know about it.
Emily Hall: She's better than I would have expected.
She's talking about Anna, which garners a scowl of disapproval from me. Not because she's right, but because she can't see how wrong she is.
Trace Demon: She's green, sloppy. I know she's not exactly getting too tier training but I'd have thought Wayne at least would have stopped her picking up too many bad habits. Shame, I was hoping this would at least be a challenge. It's not fun when they make it easy for you.
Emily Hall: What in the world are you talking about?
Trace Demon: One of those things you always say you don't really want to know about.
She nods, fair enough, glances back at the paused screen one more time and says something you’d never expect a sister to say to a brother.
Emily Hall: Don’t hurt the girl too much, alright?
Trace Demon: Can’t promise anything.
She finishes off the pizza and heads back upstairs, either to study or smoke up, who can really tell with young people nowadays? I glance down at my watch, I’ve got a meeting with Elinor in an hour, before hitting resume on the footage. Back to business.
…
Half an hour later there’s a hammering at the door that jolts me awake. Anna must have been so boring I drifted off. The doorbell goes, then more hammering. Emily shouts something from upstairs, probably asking why I’m not getting the door. I shout something back and go to open it, agitated that anyone dare turn up uninvited.
Trace Demon: Elinor?
Only she was invited.
Trace Demon: You’re early.
Elinor Nix: I’ve had Jason Anders on the phone.
Trace Demon: How in the hell does he have everybody’s number? Wait, why’s he calling you?
Elinor Nix: Because you weren’t answering. It’s his daughter, the one you’ve been f*cking.
Trace Demon: I’m well aware of who you meant.
Elinor Nix: She’s in hospital. Critical condition. She overdosed Trace.
And immediately my mind is filled with the echoing words of my sister.
“Somebody is going to get hurt, and it will be all your fault.”
Trace Demon: F*ck.
< *** >
See kid, your entire point of being right now is nothing but one final f*ck you from the King of Demons to the WFWF, to all those who claim to have your back and of course to your dear old loser of a father. You’re here solely because I wanted to see you fail, because I wanted to see you get crushed and humiliated and degrade the Ahriman name even more than your father managed to.
Anna, you’re not a wrestler, you’re an elaborate practical joke. You’re a plaything, a toy, nothing more than a little joke I decided to play on my way out the door. Now by some miracle Lila Sleater f*cked up this tournament so bad that she actually put people in this group worse than yourself, which is mighty impressive even by her own lofty standards of failure. So by some miracle you’ve got yourself a point and now you’ve probably got lofty ambitions of adding to that tally and taking a scalp from the biggest star in this company. But that’s not how this plays out. See on night two I ended one cinderella story, now it’s time to end another.
See Anna the truth is you’re nothing but a little girl. And don’t take that the wrong way, I’m not saying that women can’t be wrestlers, I’m not saying that women shouldn’t be in this ring with me. Because I am surrounded day in and day out with strong, independent women. I’ve seen the strength of the opposite sex and anyone who thinks they’re any weaker than a guy just because or their chromosomes is a damn idiot. My sister’s fought and beat drug addiction, my half-sister survived the death of her parents, my very permanent lodger fled her family and is flourishing every damn day and my right hand Elinor Nix is damn well the most terrifying example of a human being you’ll ever meet.
So no, this ain’t about you being female. This is about you being a girl, because being a woman is something you’ve got to earn. It’s about strength, it’s about being strong enough to cope with what life is gonna throw at you, it’s about standing up and not letting the world tear you down. It’s the same difference between a boy and a man and you, Anna Ahriman, are not a woman. You’ve built your little ego up by listening to all those people telling you you’ve got talent when really all they’re doing is feeding you lies. Now I’m not saying you’ve not got raw talent, I’m not saying you can’t be a wrestler, I’m just saying… not yet.
Was it cruel of me to offer you that contract knowing that you’d be beaten and humiliated by your betters? Was it cruel of me to set you up with a space in this tournament knowing full damn well you’d end up coming face to face with the King of Demons himself? Maybe. But the true cruelty here lies in the people who have told you that you are a strong independent woman rather than a little girl who hasn’t learned the first thing about how this world works. Because the truth is Anna just because you’ve got a semi-famous name that don’t mean you belong here. That don’t mean you should be in that ring with me. All it means is that you’re one more Ahriman I’m gonna drive out of the WFWF.
If it were different, if I thought you were anything more than a teenage girl not only being used by her older boyfriend for an easy f*ck but by all those losers you surround yourself with to make themselves feel better then maybe, just maybe, I’d take you on myself and I’d show you what strong women look like, because I damn well don’t think you’ve got any examples of them around you right now. But that’s not the way it is. Instead I’m going to send you back to the McGurks and to the movie man and to Thunder’s little snatch-happy runt and they’re gonna tell you what a good job you did standing up to me, what a strong woman you are for fighting the big bad man.
But we’ll know the truth, won’t we? We’ll know that you’re nothing more than a f*cked up little girl trying to make her father proud when really all he cares about is crying himself to sleep over the fact that he could never really make it. We’ll know that you’re nothing more than a joke that got out of hand, that you’re nothing more than a girl who had to be put in her place by the Villain because nobody else would do what needed to be done and sit you down and explain that not all people are born special, some people are just born to take up space. We’ll know that you’re a nobody, that you’re nothing and that you will never be the woman that you need to be if you want to step foot in my ring. You’ll know all of this because of me.
And what all is said and done… I will be the man who broke Anna Ahriman.