Puppet Master
Master of puppets, I'm pulling your strings
Twisting your mind and smashing your dreams
Blinded by me, you can't see a thing
Just call my name 'cause I'll hear you scream
Master, master
-Metallica
I
“Alright, Courtney, we’re about ready for your pre-match interview. Look this way towards the camera. Good,” the man’s voice said.
The 25-year-old slender woman dressed in an oversized hoodie and sweatpants brushed back her short wavy black hair, her eyes darted side to side. She didn’t seem like what most people would consider as the type to be competing in a live event bikini wrestling match. She appeared ill at ease, looking to the side as if she was seeking guidance. The interviewer, a young man dressed in a T-shirt and jeans prepared to begin.
“Wait just a second,” another man interjected. “I don’t like the lighting.” The balding middle-aged man in a Dior suit was quickly becoming a source of irritation for the catfight and female wrestling producer. “Look how she’s shadowed on one side of her face. Move the light source to this side. There, that’s better.” The frustrated interviewer sighed, then resumed his task.
“Okay Courtney, tell us about yourself.”
“Um…my name is Courtney…I grew up in…Pennsylvania, near Pittsburg. I go to college part time and I work in a bookstore.”
The interviewer, sensing her nervousness spoke in a calm reassuring tone. “Good,” he responded. “Tell us about your hobbies.”
“Well…I like reading…I, uh, like cooking…and…art and…spending time with my husband.”
“So, you’re married?”
“Yeah,” the young woman answered, pointing to the older man in the business suit. “His name is Bill. He’s sitting right over there.”
The young man glanced at the man seated off-camera, noting the obvious fact that Bill appeared to be at least twice Courtney’s age.
“I see. How many matches have you had so far?”
“One, tonight will be my second match.”
“How did your first match turn out.”
“Good. I won.”
“Can you tell us about it?”
“It took me a while to get going, but once I did, I took control of the match and locked her up with a cradle pin.”
“I see you have quite a few bruises.”
“Yeah, it got rough out there,” Courtney answered, her voice lowering as she glanced at Bill nodding in approval as the ceiling light reflected off the top of his shiny bald head.
“So, Courtney, can you tell us a bit about what got you into the world of bikini wrestling?”
Her face showed little expression; her voice was a little shaky at first. “Well,” she began, “Bill saw an ad for this and he thought it could be a fun way for me to get out of my comfort zone.”
“Now hold on,” Bill interrupted to the annoyance of the interviewer. “I didn’t put her up to this. This is what she wanted. It’s her passion and she’s damn good at it. I’m here to support her and help her be successful. Tell him, honey.”
“Yeah, it was my idea.”
“So, your opponent tonight is Jennifer, how do you think you will fare against her?” the interviewer continued.
The woman paused, turning again to her husband. “I think I’m going to win.”
“Okay, so what will be your strategy against Jennifer?”
Courney’s eyes went blank. She looked down at the floor, then turned toward Bill. An awkward silence followed. “Well, Bill has been working with me on my judo throws and…”
“You’re skilled in judo?”
.
“What kind of question is that?” the man in the suit interrupted with a touch of agitation. “What Courtney means," he said, his voice forceful, “is that she's going to give it her all." He places himself in front of the camera, possessively placing his hand on his wife’s shoulders. "Jennifer's got nothing on my girl,” he said with a rather cold smile. "Courtney's a fighter. “She’s not going to reveal her strategy. You’ll just have to watch the match and find out. I’m an investor and I know a good investment when I see it. She’s a natural. Wait and see. Under my watch, she’s going to be amazing and she will win. I guarantee it.”
The producer, watching the proceedings from another corner of the room, could hardly conceal his exasperation. These interviews are only for the women. The video will need to be highly edited to remove Bill’s interference. If Bill had not gifted the production company with a generous grant, he likely would have been asked to leave.
“Thank you, Courtney and good luck tonight.”
“Thank you,” she replied demurely before rising and joining Bill as the two of them were directed to a private dressing room area.
“Please get ready for your match and wait in the room until my assistant calls you to start the match,” the producer explained.
Jennifer had been standing in a far corner of the room, watching Courtney’s interview, next to her husband, Mike, a fit young man in his thirties dressed in a polo shirt and slacks. The two couples briefly made eye contact as Courtney and Bill exited. “How pathetic” the 30-year-old blonde groaned as she rolled her eyes. “Does this woman even have a mind of her own?”
“Jennifer, you’re next,” the producer informed. “Take Courtney’s seat here and we’ll start your interview. ” The woman, dressed in a blue warmup suit, her long blonde hair tied into a tight braided bun, strode to the interview area with confidence and grace that was lacking in Courtney. Her 5’7” athletic frame coming to rest in the designated chair as her husband Mike remained in the corner.
“OK, Jennifer, look at the camera,” the man instructed. “Tell us about yourself and how you got involved in bikini wrestling.”
“My name is Jennifer,” the blonde woman began, “I am an emergency nurse. I work in an ER.”
“Well, that’s impressive,” the man responded. “So, you go from saving lives to battling on the mat?”
“Well, wrestling is a lot like my nursing work. In the emergency department I have to act fast, think decisively, adapt immediately to situations, stay calm under pressure. It’s intense and exciting. And, of course, there’s the drama. Wrestling is the same way. You have to know what you are doing; it requires ability, strength, endurance and resilience. I love it. I’m glad to have the opportunity with this company.”
“Have you played sports before?”
“Yes, I played soccer and lacrosse in high school and college,” her smile became wistful and her voice distant as if recalling fond memories. “Soccer was my first love. I was a forward, always hoping to score that winning goal. But lacrosse was where I learned to be aggressive, to read the play and anticipate my opponents’ moves.”
The interviewer couldn’t help but not notice the contrast between the reticent Courtney and the self-confident Jennifer. “So, how do you feel about wrestling in a bikini?” he asked.
Jennifer wasted no time with her response. “I think women should not feel ashamed or embarrassed to show off their bodies. In a bikini, a woman can exude power, flexibility, femininity. I have no problem with it at all.”
“What is your wrestling record so far?”
“I’m undefeated in four matches.”
“Very good,” the man replied. “Tonight, you are up against Courtney in only her second match. It will be standard wrestling rules with no hair pulling, scratching or strikes. It’s best of three falls. Each fall will end in a pin or submission. How do you think you will do against her?”
“Courtney seems like a sweet girl,” she said, but she’s new to this.”. I’m not going to underestimate her.” Her words were polite but brutally honest. “I’ve seen a video of her first match and she has potential, but something seems missing. She needs to be more aggressive and stand on her own two feet or she won’t last long with me.”
“Thank you, Jennifer and good luck.”
“Thanks,” the blonde woman answered as she and her husband departed, walking hand-in-hand to their private dressing room.
Jennifer's dressing room was small but adequate, with a plush chair, a small bench, a vanity mirror hanging over a shelf and a small window to the outside world covered with blinds. Jennifer unzipped her gym bag and shared a few final moments before the match with her husband.
As soon as the assistant closed the door with a click, Mike turned toward his wife. “That Bill is a piece of work, isn’t he?” he said.
“Can you believe those two?” Jennifer moaned incredulously. “He’s a classic control freak. Guys like that think they can own the world. And the sad part is that women like Courtney get caught up in it. She probably can’t even piss without his approval. Did you see her? She looks like a Stepford wife!”
“What does she even see in him?” Mike wondered. “He’s a pudgy, balding old guy.”
“It’s all about the money, baby. The guy is loaded,” Jennifer snidely replied.
“I don’t know,” Mike replied. “I’ve learned to stop guessing what attracts people to each other.”
“Well, I think she’s a gold digger. Or she has daddy issues. Or both.” Jennifer snickered as she put the finishing touches on her braided hair bun. “But she’s a big girl,” Jennifer continued. “She chose the jerk, so she deserves him. I hope she wakes up before it’s too late, but you can’t help someone who doesn’t want help. Personally, I couldn’t imagine sleeping with him. Ugh! Just the thought of it grosses me out.”
“Compared to me, every man grosses you out,” Mike chuckled. “Right?”
“Um, yeah, sure honey,” Jennifer teased back.
The athletic blonde stripped naked in front of her husband before slipping into her bikini with years of practiced ease. Her chosen garment was dark green with a design of reptilian scales with an image of the menacing yellow eyes of a dragon printed on the cups of her top, covering each breast. “Can you help me tie this top, Mike.”
“Sure, I’d be happy to,” he said slyly. He fastened the clasp around her back and tied the knot behind her neck, before reaching around her chest and cupping her breasts with his hands, pushing up both dragon eyes.
“Hey, what are you doing?” his wife protested.
“Just making sure we got a tight fit. We don’t want any wardrobe malfunctions. I already got a hard on.”
“Well, save it for later,” she admonished.
The flirty banter was interrupted by a muffled but clearly audible male voice emanating from the wall of the adjacent room.
“Are you ready for this, Court? Yeah, you got this, Sugar. Remember, fear doesn’t control you unless you let it. Now, you do exactly what I tell you. Don’t deviate from my instructions. That snippety blonde nurse won’t know what hit her. There’s no way you’re going to lose this match. Not under my watch.”
Jennifer and Mike gasped, “Oh my God, it’s Bill.”
“These walls are paper thin. Do you think he heard us?” Jennifer asked.
“I don’t know,” Mike answered.
Courtney’s voice was soft and unintelligible. Bill’s voice was not. “When this is all over, your arms will be raised in victory and that Jennifer will be lying flat on her back staring at the ceiling lights. I’m Bill Hughes and when I say something, you can take it to the bank.”
“What the fuck!” whispered Jennifer, her eyes widening. “Oh shit! He must have heard us.”
“Just forget about it,” Mike urged. “Stay on your game. You should have no problem with Courtney.”
At that moment, Jennifer and Mike heard a tap on the door, followed by a man’s voice, “You’re up in five minutes.” They heard the same knock and voice repeated for Courtney and Bill.
Over the next few minutes, Jennifer and Mike were silent. Jennifer jumped up and down on her toes, swinging her arms, trying to loosen up for the match which was just seconds away. Her movements seemed to suggest an underlying nervousness that wasn’t there previously. In the adjacent dressing room, Courtney and Bill’s conversation was now in low murmurs.
Mike knew what was on Jennifer’s mind. She confirmed it. “Mike, why do you think he said I’m going to be laid out on my back? He’s pissed at us, isn’t he? They heard us talking shit about him.”
“I don’t know if he heard us or not, hon. Maybe he was just trying to get Courtney psyched up. You know, how football coaches say ‘go out and murder them.’ It’s just hype talk, Forget about it.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
Jennifer continued to hop in her bikini-clad body, the dragon eyes bouncing up and down, hoping to work up a light sweat. She and Mike heard footsteps outside their room and a knock on the adjacent dressing room door. “Courtney, you’re up,” the producer’s assistant shouted. Report to the mat area.”
Jennifer and Mike listened as Courtney and Bill shuffled out of the room. In the hallway outside their door, Bill’s voice was clear. “You’re going to make me so proud tonight, sweetie. I’ll tell you what to do. That Jennifer is going to go home a broken and tearful little girl. It’s going to happen because I said it will happen.”
The ER nurse felt a shiver down her spine before the chill spread throughout her body, her mouth gaped open, her stomach twisted in knots. “M-M-Mike, did you hear that?” she gasped, her hands cupped over her mouth.
“Ignore it Jen,” Mike urged.
“He said that on purpose right outside our door” Jennifer said with a tinge of vexation. “He wanted me to hear that. Mike, he wants me hurt. He’s upset with me and he wants to see me suffer. What do you think is going to happen?”
“Look, Jen, maybe he heard us trashing them. I don’t know. He’s just giving us shit talk back. It’s a psychological game. Don’t fall for it. How can Courtney possibly hurt you? It’s ridiculous. It’s a wrestling match and you’re the better wrestler. Just stay focused. You go in there. You do your thing. You win the match. You make some money. Then we go home. But you can’t let this clown get into your head. Stay focused.”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard trash talk before, but this seems different. It sounds malicious, like it’s personal. But yeah, you’re right,” Jennifer replied. “I just got to zone in and put her away.”
“That’s all that matters. It’s all about intimidation for him. Don’t let some sleazeball dictate how you will perform out there. And remember Jen, I’m here and I’ll watch your back. We’re a team. I won’t let anyone mess with my girl.”
Tap. Tap. “Jennifer you’re up,” the man said. Report to the mat immediately.”
“Alright baby,” Mike reassured her. “You got this. I’ll be in the first row. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader.”
Jennifer slipped on her flip flops. The couple shared one final hug and kiss before opening the door to the hallway. They were surprised to see two large security guards waiting for them. “They’ll escort you to the arena area,” the assistant explained. “It’s a live crowd tonight and you never know if any crazies will show up. They’ll be alongside the mat to make sure no spectator tries to get to the ladies. It’s an extra precaution.”
Mike hurried to his seat as Jennifer began her walk, flanked by the burly guards on each side of her. Their presence helped put her mind more at ease as Bill’s ghastly prediction about her fate later in the evening lingered in her head. “We’re here to protect you, ma’am,” one guard said as if he was reading her mind.
Sandwiched between the two men in just her bikini and flip-flops, Jennifer suddenly felt a twinge of being exposed and vulnerable. The clacking of her flip-flops and the clunk of the men’s heavy shoes on the concrete floor created a rhythmic backdrop as they approached the arena. She could hear the din of the crowd growing louder.
The door to the arena swung open and revealed a rented gymnasium. A large 24 x 24-foot square blue mat was laid out on the floor, surrounded by folding chairs and elevated seats on top a wooden platform. A large banner hung on a wall with the words “Bikini Battlezone” along with the company’s logo: a side view silhouette of two bodyless bikinis facing each other. The cups of the tops were very close to touching each other as if in confrontation. The referee, a tall overweight bald man would be working the match. The producer strolled around, inspecting the details that would ensure a quality production. About 100 spectators were present for the live attendance. The real profit, however, would be the livestream and video downloads to paying customers.
Jennifer’s heart was pounding and she felt the weight of a hundred pairs of eyes on her as she stepped into the bright lights of the arena. Her own green eyes scanned the crowd until she found the only face that mattered, that of her husband Mike, whose presence she acknowledged with a quick smile. She seemed to have lost some of the confidence and self-assurance she displayed during the interview or even in her past matches. Why? She wasn’t quite sure. Was it because of Bill? She fought against the idea that his boorish behavior and threats were getting to her. Was it the live event, the live streaming? The producer directed her to a corner of the mat.
In the opposite corner stood Courney in a very feminine white bikini with a fine floral print. Bill stood beside her, his $3,000 suit and polished back shoes an absurd contrast to Courtney’s bikini and bare feet. He gripped her bicep as he whispered in her ear, his hands animated in decisive motions as if to make some emphatic point. She proceeded to bounce on the balls of her feet and shook out her arms.
The producer walked to the center of the mat holding a microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have our next bout of the evening. In the red corner, we have the fiery, the sensational, Courtney “The Hammer” Hughes. The crowd cheered as Bill practically pushed his wife forward one step as she tentatively, awkwardly raised her arms to the air. Jennifer tried not to roll her eyes again at the cheesiness of the introduction.
“And in the blue corner,” the producer resumed, “we have the undefeated, the gorgeous, our knockout nurse, Jennifer “Nightingale” Nolan.” The cheering intensified as Jennifer, clearly the crowd favorite, smiled reluctantly and waved to acknowledge the fans. She noticed Courtney across the mat with a blank look on her face and Bill staring at her with a deadly serious scowling expression.
The referee called both wrestlers to the center of the mat to explain the rules. As the distance between Jennifer and Courtney grew shorter, Jennifer noticed Bill walking behind his wife, his hands on her bare shoulders. The two women faced each other, standing just a few feet apart. They were both the same height at 5’7”. Courtney looked fit. Her body was thin with delicate curves; she would have been considered desirable to any heterosexual man. Jennifer, however, looked like an athlete. Despite her apprehension of the couple across from her, she seemed poised. As the referee began to explain the rules, Bill continued to stare at Jennifer, his expression a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite place. Was it fear? Jealousy? Was it vengeance? Was it cruelty? Whatever it was, it once again sent a shiver down her spine. She easily pegged him as the possessive type, but perhaps he was capable of a more terrifying depth of obsession.
Jennifer forced herself to ignore Bill and focus on the referee, nodding along with the instructions. Match is best of three falls with 3-second pins or submissions counting as falls. Courtney looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights, her eyes darting from Bill to the ref and back again. “Is she even prepared for this?” Jennifer wondered.
As the referee signaled for them to take their positions, a sudden idea struck Jennifer. "Wait!" she called out, her tone assertive. The referee paused, looking at her in surprise. "I want a second," she announced.
The producer, who had been watching from the side of the mat approached with a puzzled look. "What seems to be the problem?" he asked with a hint of impatience.
Jennifer turned to him. "I want my husband in my corner," she demanded. "Now!"
"I'm sorry…what?" the producer asked, his voice a mix of confusion and annoyance.
"You heard me," Jennifer asserted. "I want Mike to be in my corner. It's only fair if Courtney’s husband is with her." The way Bill's eyes squinted and stared daggers at her as he again held Courtney’s arm did not go unnoticed by Jennifer.
The producer sighed. "Look, we don't normally allow significant others to be seconds," he stated. "But we made an exception tonight for Mr. Hughes to be in Courtney’s corner. But you are right. It’s fair we allow your husband to be in yours" He nodded to one of the security guards. "Escort Mr. Nolan from the audience and bring him to the blue corner."
Mike stepped onto the mat, and immediately established his protectiveness as he placed his arm around Jennifer. Ignoring Bill, he offered Courtney a nod of acknowledgment, but his full attention remained on his wife. “I told you I’d have your back,” he whispered.
“Mike, I don’t like how he keeps staring at me with that mean ugly face,” Jennifer whispered back. It’s creepy.”
“Like I said,” Mike tried to encourage her. “It’s just an intimidation tactic. Ignore him and go out there and you will be fine.”
The producer looked from Bill to Mike, then back to the referee. “Okay,” he snapped, "Let's get this match started." The referee nodded, gesturing for Mike to take his place in the corner. He motioned for the women to take their positions. For a brief moment, their eyes met again in anticipation of the bell. They both stepped forward, standing across from each other with the referee between them.
“Hold on!” Bill yelled out. “We need to fix something,” he said as he approached the referee. The successful investor engaged in an animated discussion with the referee, waving his hands and pointing to Jennifer in an accusatory manner. “This isn’t right. She’s going to cheat. You can’t let her do this.”
“Oh, what the fuck is his problem now?” Jennifer grumbled to Mike. “I’m really getting sick of his shit.”
The referee and producer approached Mike and Jennifer. “Um,” he begins. “Mr. Hughes has a concern about your braided bun. He says it’s an unfair advantage. He thinks the hair is tight and it’s like a steel ball on your head that could injure Courtney. He wants you to take it down and use a simple ponytail.”
“Is he out of his fucking mind?” Jennifer shot back incredulously. “What planet does he live on?”
The producer moved closer to Jennifer, keeping his voice low. “Look, I know Mr. Hughes can be, um, particular. But he’s our most generous patron and has enormously helped us out financially. If not for him, our company might have been forced to close down.”
“So, he thinks he can just buy his way in here and take control of everything?” Mike protested.
“I know, I know, he can be difficult, but he’s the reason you’re here tonight. Can you please help us out and just go along with it?”
Jennifer stepped forward; her eyes glaring at Bill. "It's okay," she said, her voice calm. "I'll take out the bun." She reached back, her fingers skillfully unraveling the braid. Her hair fell around her shoulders in cascading waves, and she offered Bill a sweet smile. "Better?" she asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
As Jennifer tied her hair back into a ponytail, the producer's gaze shifted from Bill to Courtney, then back to the referee. "Just get on with it," he said. “We're running behind schedule."
The referee stepped between Bill and Jennifer. "Sir, we can't delay the match," he began, but Bill was already speaking over him.
"Her nails!" Bill bellowed, pointing a finger at Jennifer's hand. "They're too long! She's going to scratch my wife!"
The referee, a large man with a no-nonsense attitude, raised an eyebrow. "Sir, her nails look okay to me" he said, his voice laced with irritation. "But if you insist, I'll check."
Jennifer felt the heat flush in her cheeks as she extended her hand. Her nails were short and blunt, a mandatory requirement for emergency nurses. The only time she was ever seen with long nails was when she wore artificial acrylic nails for social events outside the hospital. There was no way they could be a threat to Courtney. The referee glanced at Bill before giving her hand a cursory look and nodding. "They're fine," he said in an almost disinterested tone.
But Bill was not finished. "Her feet!" he shrieked, pointing at her bare toes. "Look at those claws!"
Jennifer's eyes widened in shock as she glanced down at her feet "My toenails?" she asked, her voice indignant. “I just had a pedicure this week.”
“This is a safety issue, young lady,” Bill shot back.
The producer threw his hands up in the air. "This is ridiculous," he exclaimed. "We’re wasting time."
"But she could hurt Courtney with those talons," Bill insisted. “You know how legs and feet get locked up. My wife could get ripped up.”
The producer attempted to regain control. "Bill," he said in a direct tone. "You're being unreasonable. The match will proceed as scheduled."
But Bill did not back down. He pointed a trembling finger at Jennifer's bare feet. "She could rip Courtney's eyes out with those things!"
The producer's face could not hide his frustration. He knew enough about Bill—he'd threaten to pull his funding if he didn't get his way. He leaned into Jennifer’s ear, his voice low and pleading. "Jennifer," he whispered, "just do it. For the sake of the show."
Jennifer's eyes flared with anger; her jaw clenched. She nodded. Mike placed his hand on her shoulder, a look of disgust crossing his face. "I'll grab the clippers," he said, his voice tight. He disappeared into the dressing room, returning moments later with a small metal tool.
Jennifer sat her reptile-skinned bikini-covered butt down on a tall stool at the edge of the mat, her legs dangling over the side. She felt the stares of the crowd on her. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. This was humiliating and degrading—not what she agreed to for this match. She took the nail clippers from Mike, and began to trim her already blunt nails. The crowd had grown restless, but now, some of the spectators were laughing at the absurdity of the situation.
“I wish I was wrestling Bill instead of Courtney,” she muttered to Mike. “I’d like to kill him.”
The producer looked at his watch, his impatience obvious. "Alright, enough," he barked. "Let's get this show on the road."
The referee ordered the husbands back to their respective corners and positioned himself between Jennifer and Courtney. Jennifer was still seething with anger. She could see the trepidation and perhaps fear in the other woman's eyes and wondered exactly what kind of control Bill had on her. She strengthened her resolve to win, but now it wasn’t just for the prize money. She felt she was wrestling against two people. A defeat to Courtney would be a victory for Bill, and that was unthinkable. And maybe, thought Jennifer, just maybe, she could gain Courtney’s respect and somehow show her she didn't have to live under the cloud of a controlling narcissistic egomaniac.
But there was something else that was unsettling to Jennifer, something that she couldn’t put her finger on. She looked at Mike one last time. She could see the worry in his eyes and the tight line of his mouth. "Something's off," she murmured, in a low, almost inaudible voice. "It's not just his bullshit. I got this feeling something is going on that we don’t know about. I don’t like it."
"I know," he said, keeping his voice a whisper. "Just keep your head on straight. I’m here to protect you.”
II
Jennifer and Courtney again met in the center, with their knees slightly bent and their hands held up and fingers open. Jennifer put on her game face; her eyes once again intently fixed on her opponent. Courtney turned around to look at Bill standing in her corner. Her eyes returned to Jennifer, then back to Bill, then to Jennifer again. With her vision focused on Courtney, Jennifer could see the blurred image of Bill standing in the background. She felt a sense of relief that once the bell rang, Bill cannot control the outcome. Courtney would be on her own. All that mattered now was Jennifer, Courtney, and the mat beneath their feet. Once Jennifer dominates her on the mat, Bill could not save her. Courtney appeared very vulnerable in her white floral print bikini. The dragon eyes staring out from Jennifer’s tits glared at Courtney like she was prey.
The bell rang. Jennifer circled Courtney, watching and assessing her. Courtney made a few tentative steps, her movements awkward and forced.
For a brief moment, Jennifer thought she could see anxiety and desperation in Courtney's eyes. She knew that look well. She had seen it many times in the Emergency Department. It was the look of a woman who felt trapped. She feigned a lunge, and Courtney jumped back, her eyes wide.
As Courtney retreated, she threw a quick glance at Bill, her eyes seemed to be pleading. He leaned in, and his voice hissed, "Take her down, Court. You can do it."
Jennifer coiled her muscles and feigned another attack, springing her body toward Courtney. The brunette stumbled backward, her hands flying up to protect her face.
Courtney's gaze darted back to Bill. His eyes were cold and calculating. His hands waved, bobbing up and down as if to deliver some coded message to his wife. The reality of the situation settled in Jennifer like a rock in her stomach. He was not only coaching her, but he was trying control her like a puppet master. And here she was, playing along, letting him dictate her every move.
Jennifer took a deep breath and made her decision. She didn't want this spectacle to drag on, prolonging Courtney’s fear and humiliation. She would end this match as quickly and humanely as possible. While Courtney’s attention was turned to Bill, Jennifer dove forward, and wrapped her arms around her opponent's knees. Courtney's shrieked as she was lifted off the ground, spun around and hitting the mat with a thud.
Courtney let out a grunt on impact, then rolled on her stomach. Jennifer's strong, muscular thighs pressed down on her back, holding her in place. The crowd erupted into cheers. Courtney could hear Bill's gruff voice in the background, cursing and commanding her to fight back.
Bill’s wife dug her elbows into the mat and pushed up her upper body. She turned toward her husband who was frantically waving his hands as if he were flashing her a signal. As Jennifer tried to roll Courtney onto her back, the thinner woman resisted, her muscles straining against Jennifer’s arms. With a sudden burst of speed, Courtney twisted out of the hold, her arms and legs flailing. She managed to get one foot on the mat and pushed herself up, rolling away from Jennifer and regaining a standing position as the crowd applauded in appreciation of the maneuver.
Jennifer was surprised at Courtney's unexpected escape, but she didn't let it discourage her. She lunged forward again. Courtney tried to scramble away, but she was no match for Jennifer's agility and strength. In one fluid motion, Jennifer grabbed her around the waist, lifting her off the ground and slamming her down onto the mat.
Courtney's breath was knocked out of her. She gasped for air as Jennifer straddled her, her hands reaching for Courtney's wrists to press her down and secure the schoolgirl pin. But Courtney's arms shot up, resisting Jennifer's attempt, her eyes blazing like a wild animal in a fight or flight response that startled Jennifer. Courtney was fighting back, and it was clear that she wasn't going to go down easily. Courtney was stronger than Jennifer expected. In her peripheral vision, the blonde nurse could see Bill waving his hands in a frenzy.
Courtney's legs wrapped around Jennifer's waist, and with a surprising show of strength, pulled her off balance. Courtney squirmed and twisted and rolled them both over. Now, it was Courtney on top, her hands on Jennifer's shoulders. Nearly pinned, Jennifer noticed Courtney’s eyes now reflected more determination than fear. Jennifer strained to keep one shoulder off the mat. She kicked her legs and bucked her hips, pushed Courtney off, then rolled away; both women stumbled to their feet, returning to a standing position. Jennifer felt slightly frustrated that she couldn’t maintain the advantage. Courtney apparently possessed some degree of skill and Jennifer would need a better effort next time.
As they circled each other, Courtney's eyes flickered back to Bill as if she was looking for his instruction, or perhaps his approval. Jennifer watched her, feeling a mix of anger and pity. The experienced emergency nurse knew all too well the look of someone seeking validation from their dominant partner. Desperation returned in Courtney's expression, as if she was pleading for Bill to be proud of her. It was clear Bill Hughes wasn't happy with the way things were going, and his frustration was showing. He flashed another series of hand gestures, his fingers stretched out, his palms waving in the air as if he were operating an invisible marionette.
Jennifer felt disgusted and took a deep breath. He thinks he’s coaching her, she observed. That’s obvious. But all he’s doing is distracting her. For a moment, Jennifer felt conflicted. Part of her wanted to remove Courtney from the scene and counsel her like she had done to so many women in bad relationships. On the other hand, she was competing in a live show. There was the livestream and downloads. She couldn’t stop the match. The ER nurse strengthened her resolve. She would end the match and if the situation presented itself, possibly help Courtney with an exit plan.
Jennifer took advantage of Courtney's momentary distraction, catching her off guard with a swift tackle that sent them both sprawling onto the mat. Before Courtney could react, she was on her stomach with Jennifer on her back. The nurse already had one leg scissored as and one arm hooked under Courtney’s armpit, looking to take total control. Courney resisted as Jennifer attempted unsuccessfully to turn her over onto her back. Her face was now turned toward Bill as if trying to receive a new set of instructions by way of hand signals.
“That’s enough of this shit!” Jennifer said to herself. She seized Courney by the hair, forcibly turning her head away from her husband, before giving Bill a sly look that said, “There! Try communicating with her now.”
Holding the brunette face down on the mat, Jennifer positioned her mouth close to her opponent’s ear. “Stop looking at him,” she growled. “That’s no way to wrestle. Be your own person.”
Jennifer felt Courtney’s body stiffen. Mrs. Bill Hughes managed to arch her back, pushing herself up onto her hands and knees, carrying the burden of Jennifer's body with her. There was no looking at Bill for help.
Jennifer's squeezed her legs around Courtney’s waist, locking her ankles together, her muscular thighs crushing Courtney’s ribs, trying to force her back down. But Courtney would not succumb. She pushed up, her legs trembling like a newborn fawn, her breaths coming in short, audible gasps.
Bill's eyes were intense, as he watched his wife fight back against the woman who he promised would leave the arena broken. She couldn’t see his hand signals, so he resorted to verbal shouts, “That’s it, Court, you can do this!” Courtney's breaths grew deep and loud, her leg muscles quivered with the strain of supporting both her and Jennifer's weight. Yet, she didn't let up, slowly pushing herself up higher and higher until she was almost standing.
Hanging on to her opponent’s back, Jennifer saw her opening. With Courtney’s neck exposed, the blonde nurse reached around with her arms, cinching in a rear naked choke. In a final burst of strength, Courtney managed to stand, lifting Jennifer off the ground. But now her oxygen and blood flow to her head was cut off. The crowd now buzzed, realizing that, despite Courtney’s valiant effort, she was about to lose the first fall.
Courtney looked at Bill one last time. He had no hand signal to offer. His face was filled with frustration, but he finally shouted worthwhile advice to his wife. “Submit, Courtney,” he ordered.
Courtney stumbled around, as Jennifer held onto her back, her legs wrapped around her waist. Any second now, she would lose consciousness and fall to the mat. Bill knew it. “Courtney, submit!” he shouted. “It’s only one fall. We’ll come back and get her.”
Mrs. Hughes had another plan. She bent her knees slightly, then fell over backward, bringing Jennifer with her, kicking her legs high in the air. Jennifer felt her back crash to the mat, with Courtney’s body on top of her. The jarring impact forced her to release the hold. Both women lay on the mat, momentarily stunned.
The crowd erupted into cheers as Courtney scrambled to her feet first. Bill clapped his hands so he could issue some new instructions, but she ignored him, focusing instead on the woman in front of her. There was a new fire in Courtney's eyes, a determination that replaced the uncertainty and trepidation.
Jennifer, noticing the change in Courtney’s resolve, rose to her feet, took a step back and reassessed her opponent. This wasn’t the scared and controlled woman she saw a moment ago. Courtney's strength was a surprise, and Jennifer knew she had to be careful. Mrs. Nolan lunged again, wrapping her arms around Courtney's waist and lifting her off the ground. Courtney's legs flailed, trying to find stability, but she was no match for the more seasoned wrestler's power.
With a grunt, Jennifer slammed Courtney back onto the mat, her body landing hard on top of her. The impact sent a jolt through Courtney's spine, and she gasped for air, feeling the weight of her opponent's strong thighs pressing down on her back. Trapped on her belly, Courtney had a clear view of Bill standing by the mat in her line of vision. He again resumed his hand motions, communicating with Courtney, as if telling her what her next move should be.
Jennifer tried to reach around Courtney’s neck, hoping to reapply the choke hold, but Bill’s wife instinctively kept her chin tucked in, protecting her vital structures. The nurse next tried to hook her arms under Courtney’s arm pits to gain better control, but the brunette kept her arms tightly by her side.
With every ounce of strength she could muster, Courtney used her elbows and knees to slide her body towards the Bill, her movements slow and deliberate. Bill’s hand signals intensified and his wife seemed to respond.
Jennifer tightened her grip, trying to keep her opponent still, but Courtney's slithered forward inch by inch, moving closer to the edge of the mat . The crowd's cheers grew more intense, in appreciation of Courtney’s defensive prowess.
Jennifer felt the tension in Courtney's body as she fought to escape. As Courtney reached the edge of the mat, her palm slapped the wooden floor off the mat, sending a surge of relief through her body. The rules of the match were clear—once she placed a hand off the mat, the hold would be broken. Jennifer was just inches away from Bill’s shiny black shoes. As the scent of his cologne entered her nostrils, she felt disgusted to be so close to the man. “Get off her,” Bill barked at Jennifer. “Those are the rules.”
The referee ordered the women to break. Jennifer reluctantly lifted herself off of Courtney’s back and slowly climbed to her feet. She couldn’t resist glancing at Bill with a look of utter revulsion. The message was received. “Why are you looking at me like that, sweet cakes?” he snarled. “Those titty dragon eyes of yours are going to be mighty sad by the time we’re done tonight.”
The nurse quickly looked away as the referee ordered both women to the center of the ring to restart the match. She seethed at Bill’s renewed threat as she walked away waiting to lock up again with her opponent. Her thoughts raced inside her head. What a despicable man! She felt her frustration rise. She had dominated the match at this point but so far, she failed to put Courtney away for the first fall. Despite what she had said during her interview, perhaps she did underestimate Courtney. And how could Courtney look timid and unconfident one moment and execute brilliant escapes the next? She was done fooling around, she told herself.
The women faced each other again in the center of the ring. The referee gave the signal. Jennifer looked at Courtney’s eyes and noticed the look of trepidation had returned. The brunette looked back at Bill and back at Jennifer. The nurse watched Bill’s hands moving wildly as if her were a football coach calling a series of plays. Courtney backed up away from Jennifer, then took a longer look at Bill as if some communication wasn’t reaching her. She backed up further, then turned around completely, exposing her back to her opponent. “What bullshit!” Jennifer groaned almost out loud as Courtney and Bill seemed to engage in some secret silent conversation.
Any pity Jennifer might have felt for Courtney was swallowed by anger and frustration. Perhaps Courtney was dragged into this by her overbearing husband, but Jennifer came for a wrestling match and has received nothing but disrespect. “What game are they playing?” she grunted to herself. She stepped back and stared with disdain at Courtney, who had now turned completely away from her, taking some instructions through hand gestures about God knows what.
Whatever this game is, it ends now, Jennifer thought. The charade is over. Courtney decided to turn away from her opponent. The referee never called a break. Courtney was fair game and she would now pay the price. Jennifer glanced at Mike who shared her frustration. Mike had one message for her. Pointing at Courtney, Mike mouthed his instructions to his wife. It was, “Get her.”
Jennifer nodded, then focused on Courtney. She bent her knees slightly, her arms slightly extended. The nurse dug her feet into the mat and pushed off like a streamlined missile aimed directly at her defenseless opponent. There were a few cries of “look out” as the distance between the attacker and her helpless prey began rapidly closing. Jennifer sprung, her body launching like a projectile, her arms out, ready to tackle her unaware opponent like a lioness taking down a zebra. Her momentum carried her forward like a freight train.
The storming nurse was a step away when Courtney turned. In a fraction of a second, Mrs. Hughes seized the arm of the charging Jennifer, hooking her attacker’s arm pit with the other arm, dropping low and pivoting into a perfectly timed and executed ippon seoi nage – the judo shoulder throw. Jennifer’s momentum sent her flying over Courtney’s shoulder, her body hurdling head over heels, crashing hard on the mat with her upper back absorbing most of the impact.
Courtney swiftly dropped down on the supine body of Jennifer, who had not processed what just happened to her. The brunette wasted no time laying herself across Jennifer’s chest, her body covering the dragon eyes bikini top. She dug one knee into her opponent’s bicep and pinned the wrist of the other arm to the mat, applying a cross-body pin. Stunned and immobilized, the ER nurse offered no resistance as Courtney’s slender frame pressed her down. By the time she began to regain her bearings, the referee already reached the count of two. With one final slap of the mat, the count reached “three,” prompting the referee to call for the bell.
Mrs. Bill Hughes was awarded the first fall. The shocked spectators were initially quiet, then erupted into vigorous applause as the reality of Courtney’s impressive but thoroughly unexpected maneuver set in. Courtney lifted herself off of Jennifer, glanced down at her defeated opponent and jumped into Bill’s arms, beaming a wide smile and squealing “I did it,” like a 5-year-old girl who just performed her first dance recital. Bill twirled her around. “Yes, you did, honey,” he affirmed.
Jennifer was still on her back, regaining her orientation. Mike had come to her side to retrieve her. He helped her to her feet, her legs wobbly, her head dizzy. “Are you okay,” he asked.
“What happened?” she asked as she blinked her eyes hard and shook her head trying to clear the brain fog.
“She judo flipped you,” Mike answered, as the referee announced a one-minute break before the next fall starts. Mike placed his arm around his wife’s waist and supported her back to her corner, seating her on the stool.
“I don’t get it,” Jennifer panted. “Where did that come from? She’s not that good. She doesn’t even want to be here.”
Mike stood in front of her, offered he a water bottle, and gently cupped his wife’s cheeks with his palms. “Jen, listen, I mean, you’ve got to listen,” his voice urgent and desperate. “Courtney isn’t what you think she is. They’re both full of shit. She acts nervous and unconfident. It’s all a fucking act. She knows exactly what she’s doing.”
“But,” Jennifer responded, “I saw it in her eyes. He has this weird control over her like she’s some kind of puppet.”
“No!” Mike protested. “They’re messing with your head and they’re in it together. Everything they’re doing is staged. Please, listen. Here’s what you’ve got to do. You can beat her in two falls, but be careful. They want to throw you off and cause you to make a mistake. Be aggressive but stay in control. Do not look at her face. And for the love of God, do not look at Bill. Do not feel sorry for her. Do not let Bill get under your skin. Are you hearing me?”
Jennifer nodded. Mike’s words stung, but they made sense. Perhaps that explains why Courtney’s demeanor is so inconsistent. She allowed herself to gaze across the mat to see Courtney on her stool, excitedly chatting with Bill. She couldn’t help but notice the smug expression on Bill’s face as he seemed to stare right through her, patting Courtney’s cheek in a rather patronizing gesture. Could it be true? Did I let them play me? Was I taken for a fool? she wondered. Jennifer fought back the wave of embarrassment and anger. It was clear that Courtney is more skilled and trained than she and Mike had assumed. Jennifer couldn’t deny that she got duped into a reckless move that severely cost her. She told herself she wouldn’t let that happen again. To win this match, she would need to be aggressive, efficient and disciplined. “Okay,” she whispered to Mike. “I’m done messing around. I am not going to lose.”
III
The referee summoned both women to the center of the mat. As she stepped forward, Jennifer noticed that Courtney’s earlier expressions of shyness and fear were replaced by confidence and determination as if she were two separate personalities. She remembered Mike’s advice to not look at her face.
The bell rang to signal the start of the second fall. Jennefer could sense the change in Courtney’s demeanor to reflect poise and confidence. As the wrestlers circled each other, the nurse made a conscious effort to not leave herself vulnerable to another of Courtney’s judo throws. She carefully feigned and pawed at her opponent like a cat pawing at a snake that might strike. Finally, she saw her opening and shot in at Courtney’s waist. The college student was ready and blocked the takedown attempt. Their bodies collided, arms grabbed at each other, torsos twisted, legs fought to knock off the balance of the other. Both women fell to the mat, rolling and struggling for advantage.
Jennifer used her superior strength and experience to push Courtney on her belly, once again mounting her back. As in the first fall, Bill was positioned just a few yards away, Courtney had already stretched her arm toward him. From the corner of her eye, Jennifer could already see Bill’s hands dancing through the air. She recalled Mike’s advice to not look at Bill under any circumstances. No, she told herself. She resolved to not repeat her mistakes from the first fall. Jennifer leg scissored one of her opponent’s legs, hindering her chances of crawling toward Bill. She took hold of Courtney’s outstretched arm, twisting it behind her back, applying a chickenwing. As the brunette yelped, Jennifer positioned her face near the brunette’s ear, “You’re going nowhere this time,” she hissed. She could sense Bill’s gestures to Courtney becoming more frenzied.
The referee moved in closer to monitor Courtney’s predicament. “Do you want to submit?” he asked.
“No, she’s not submitting,” Bill answered for his wife.
The referee’s face could not conceal his contempt for Bill Hughes. He asked again, directing his question specifically to Courtney. “Courtney, do you want to submit? Tap the mat if you concede the second fall.”
Jennifer tightened her grip and applied maximum pressure to Courtney’s left arm. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but it’s about to end,” she grunted to her opponent. Courtney, lifted her head to look at Bill who sent her a message through his own secret sign language. His wife responded to the referee’s question by shaking her head. “No,” she managed to gasp.
Exasperated, Jennifer tried another approach. She held Courtney’s bent arm in place, pressing down on it with her chest and shoulder. The ER nurse snaked her left arm under her opponent’s bicep and over the left shoulder. Jennifer then wrapped her own arm around Courtney’s face, interlocking her hands together. She pulled back hard, transitioning the hold to an excruciating crossface chickenwing. Courtney felt the intense pressure and pain on her right shoulder and side of the neck. She looked for Bill, but Jennifer had her blinded by her left arm pressing into the brunette’s eyes. “He can’t help you now,” Jennifer snorted through gritted teeth.
Courney let out a squeal. Her free arm frantically tapped the mat, declaring her submission. The referee wasted no time ordering Jennifer to break the hold. The blonde complied, allowing Courtney’s head to fall to the mat and her left arm to drop limp. A few yards away, she could see the shadowy figure of Bill, now standing, in her peripheral vision. She momentarily forgot her husband’s advice and looked right into his eyes. Against her better judgment, she couldn’t resist a silent taunt by sending him a sly smirk that said, “Look at her now. Your plan didn’t work out so well, did it?”
Jennifer slowly rose from Courney’s back to a standing position with both feet straddling her opponent’s body. As she stretched her limbs, she heard Bill’s grating voice. “Today is your judgment day, little lady. Do you think play with fire and not get burned? Just remember my words as you’re lying tits up!”
“I don’t scare easily,” Jennifer spit back, her expression angry and defiant. The woman in the dragon bikini felt her skin crawl with those words. “Fuck,” she said to herself, recalling the promise she made to herself and Mike. “Why did I let myself give this asshole my attention?” She walked back to her cornerman husband, taking her seat on the stool as Bill assisted Courtney to her feet.
The referee reminded both corners of the one-minute rest before the final and decisive fall. “That was great!” Mike exclaimed. “Where did you learn that hold?” he asked as he gave his wife water, rubbed her neck and shoulders, and toweled her face.
“My dad taught it to me,” Jennifer answered. “This was the first time I ever used it.”
“Awesome!” Mike replied.
Jennifer’s mood suddenly turned somber. “Mike,” she said, “I hate that man. He’s a fucking piece of shit…He threatened me again.”
“Dammit, Jen! Will you just ignore him? He’s just hot air,” Mike urged; his voice agitated. “I’ll say it again. Do not talk to him. Do not look at him. These people are fake as hell. You dominated that fall. You can do it again. Beat her one more time and we can get the fuck out of here. We can have the rest of the night to ourselves. But first, stay focused and finish the job. You hear me?”
Jennifer took one final glance across the ring, hiding it from her husband. Bill was massaging and working Courtney’s shoulder as the demure woman grimaced in pain.
“Yeah, I hear you,” she answered.
“You did good but we need to stay on top of this. Keep the pressure on her, but be smart. No risky moves that leave you open to those judo throws.”
“I’ve got this,” Jennifer murmured as she took a deep breath.
IV
As the one-minute break between falls ended, the referee summoned both wrestlers. The bell rang to start the third fall and the fate of the match hung in the balance. Jennifer and Courtney circled each other, their muscles tight as they anticipated each other’s move. Jennifer charged in for a takedown, but grasped only air as Courtney sprawled back out of harm’s way. Courtney surprised Jennifer and the crowd by catching Jennifer’s arm and spinning into an armbar.
Jennifer grunted but didn’t tap out. Instead, she used her strength advantage and grappling skills to maneuver herself into a position where she could break the hold. Jennifer slipped away from her opponent and moved in to lock up. However, Courtney seized her arm again and Jennifer felt her feet involuntarily lift off from the ground as her opponent threw her to the mat with a hip toss called an O-goshi in judo.
Jennifer lay on her back and saw Courtney about to pounce. Instinctively, she rolled out of the way, springing to her feet, ducking down and wrapping her arms around her opponent’s waist. The crowd watched as Courtney was lifted into the air and slammed onto the mat with a forceful impact.
The blonde dove onto Courtney’s body, straddling her torso with her legs, reaching to tie up her arms. She noted her opponent look to Bill but resisted the temptation to view his antics. Go ahead, do your puppeteer bullshit, she thought. I’m not interested. As Jennifer struggled to control Courtney, the brunette’s legs shot up and wrapped around her attacker’s neck. Jennifer felt her breathing hampered, but didn’t panic. She calmly took hold of Courtney’s ankles and used her strength to pull them apart enough to slip out of the hold. Meanwhile, Courtney bucked, grabbed Jennifer’s arm and rolled, pulling the nurse off of her.
The two women rolled and twisted across the mat, struggling for control. Their panting breaths grew louder, their skin slick and shiny with sweat. Once again, Jennifer gained the advantage, holding Courtney on her back as she fought to pin the arms. But Courtney continued to fight with a tenacious ferocity. This isn’t the same woman who started out the match, Jennifer noted. The shyness and awkwardness were gone and she was more than holding her own against the more experienced Jennifer. Moreover, she barely looked at her husband so far during the third fall. But who the fuck is she? Jennifer wondered.
Courtney bucked and wiggled and escaped once more. The part time college student was already standing by the time the Jennifer rose to her feet. The ER nurse shot in on her opponent. However, Courney stepped aside and Jennifer felt her right leg knocked out from under her as her opponent’s leg kicked out the back of her thigh. Jennifer crashed hard backwards on the mat, the victim of an Osoto gari leg sweep.
Courtney attempted to take advantage and end the match before Jennifer could fully recover. She picked up Jennifer’s ankles and pushed them toward her opponent’s head, hoping to roll her up into a jack knife pin. She had not yet completed the task when the referee, noting Jennifer’s shoulders pressed to the mat, began the count. “One”…The nurse immediately shot her shoulder up to break the count. Courtney continued to apply pressure in an attempt to plant Jennifer’s feet over her head to render the hold inescapable. But Courtney’s arms were no match for the power of Jennifer’s legs. The nurse thrashed and kicked until Courtney lost her grip on her ankles. Free of the near-fatal pin attempt, Jennifer wrapped her legs around Courtney’s waist, and swung her to the side, knocking her off balance and falling to the mat.
Both women rose and squared off again. This time, Courtney was surprisingly the aggressor, shooting in on Jennifer’s waist. The blonde was ready, blocking Courtney’s attack and spun her around, sending her off-balance and tumbling to the mat. Jennifer found the perfect opportunity to counterattack. Courtney began to rise, turned toward her opponent, and was met with a charging Jennifer’s shoulder barreling into her midsection.
Courtney was hurt. She was knocked backward several yards before falling backward. She rose to her knees, then struggled to stand, her body doubled over, her arms clutching her midsection and ribs. Jennifer eyed her injured prey and moved in for the kill. As she reached to seize her compromised opponent, Courtney lowered her body and knocked out her opponent’s legs with a perfectly timed side leg sweep. Jennifer fell but quickly recovered, frustrated that she allowed herself to get caught by the move. Courtney, however, gasped and moaned in pain. She’s still vulnerable, Jennifer told herself.
Jennifer rose to her feet and regrouped. As she eyed her hurting opponent, she could see Bill in the background, clapping his hands to get his wife’s attention. When that didn’t work, he called out her name. But Courtney only kept her eyes on Jennifer. She was nearly doubled over as the ER nurse circled her, planning her next attack with more caution. Jennifer shot low, catching Courtney’s ankle and taking her down. Courtney was now on her back fighting furiously as Jennifer tried to mount her. However, the bookstore clerk protected her guard, using her arms and legs to prevent Jennifer from moving into a pin or submission hold. She grasped Jennifer behind her neck and rolled with her across the mat. Their skin was slippery with sweat as they grunted and groaned, rolling and thrashing, legs entwined until the rolled off the mat, prompting the referee to call for a break.
As the women returned to standing positions, Courtney’s breathing looked obviously impaired. Her breaths came in loud rapid gasps. Her face winced with each inspiration. Jennifer had seen it many times in the emergency department from patients in respiratory distress. Perhaps she has fractured ribs, she thought. This woman can’t last much longer. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel exasperated with herself for not finishing off her hurting opponent.
As they prepared to lock up again, Bill’s hands were fury in motion as he repeatedly called for Courtney with increasing rage in his voice. Jennifer tried to block from her mind vacillating thoughts of whether Courtney was Bill’s victim or partner in crime. Now wasn’t the time to think about it.
It was clear to Jennifer that Courtney couldn’t mount an offense. She would just keep up the pressure until Courtney succumbed. She just need to be patient. As she stared in at her opponent, she formulated her next move. She would feign an attack on the legs, then go for the upper body.
Jennifer moved to pounce according to her plan. She moved in close to Courtney, faked a shoot to the legs, then shifted high for the arms. However, in a lightening quick move, Courtney seized Jennfer’s arms, planted her foot on the blonde’s waist, then fell backward. Jennifer lost her balance and found her self being pulled forward in the air as Courtney fell on her back, flipping the nurse head-over-heels with a judo Tomoe nage throw, also known as a monkey flip. The crowd gasped as Jennifer landed on her back with a thud.
Mrs. Nolan was now vulnerable as she was sprawled out and flattened on the mat. Fortunately for her, Courtney was apparently in too much pain and shortness of breath to capitalize. Mrs. Hughes sat up slowly, holding on to her ribs, trying to catch her breath, allowing Jennifer time to recover. Jennifer slowly rolled over and got to her knees, stunned but realized she wasn’t in imminent danger.
As Jennifer cleared her head, Bill’s toxic voice filled her ears. “Courtney! Courtney, over here! You’re not looking at me! You’re not listening! You’re not doing what I’m telling you! That’s why you’re hurting! What is wrong with you?” Jennifer felt like her heart skipped a beat. Is it true after all? Is Courtney in danger with this monster? Maybe Mike is wrong.
Bill’s next words were terrifying. “Courtney, do what I say or you’re walking home tonight! Then you’ll need a little attitude adjustment!”
Good Lord! This man is a demon, Jennifer thought. Someone please tell me I didn’t hear what I just thought I heard. As Jennifer composed herself, she saw Courtney crawl on her hands and knees over to Bill looking at him like a dog that is about to beaten with a rolled-up newspaper. She nodded submissively as Bill frenetically flashed hand signals in front of her face.
Jennifer slowly rose to her feet at the same time as Courtney’s attention returned to her opponent. “I can’t let this go on. I must end this now,” Jennifer told herself. She can’t take another blow to the body, she thought. One more shoulder block is all it will take.
The women faced each other again. Jennifer feigned a few leg dives, and managed to seize her opponent’s arm, spinning her around. She saw he opening, lowered her shoulder and drove forward. Courtney stumbled, her body off balance. The women’s bodies collided, their heads clashing together, the impact sending them both falling to the mat. Jennifer did not lose consciousness but saw stars as she was once again on her back. Courtney lay on her belly, her head just one foot away.
“Jennifer…Jennifer,” a woman’s voice whispered in Jennifer’s ear. “Jennifer…Help me!” As the nurse reclaimed her bearings, she realized the voice was Courtney’s. “Help me…Please!” Jennifer looked to her side to see her opponent lying face down covering her face with her arm as she spoke. “It’s Bill! I need your help!”
Jennifer’s heart sunk into her chest. She thought of how she was right about Bill and Courtney all along. In fact, she now realized the situation was much worse than she had thought. Now she had the task to end the match and somehow get Courtney alone. “Okay, Courtney, I’ll help you,” she whispered. “Let’s get out of here first.” The blonde woman, got on her hands and knees and rolled Courtney’s body onto her back. She perched herself on her opponent’s chest as Courtney made no attempt to fight back. Jennifer used her knees to pin down the woman’s arms, positioning her self into a schoolgirl pin.
With the role of bikini wrestler and emergency nurse now blurred, Jennifer looked to the referee to make the final count. It was no longer about winning and losing. It was now about finding safety for an abused woman. She looked at the referee, then at Bill. She saw the raging anger on his face, his attempts to send more hand signals, despite his wife being unable to see them. “You didn’t listen to me,” he yelled. “Now you got what you deserved! Serves you right.”
Jennifer looked down at the face of her opponent and saw that she was crying. “One,” shouted the referee as he slapped the mat.
“Please help me,” pleaded Mrs. Bill Hughes.
“Two!”
Jennifer didn’t care about the match anymore. The anger and fury that had been building suddenly exploded. She sprung her body off of Courtney and with her fists clenched stormed furiously over to Bill.
“You bastard! You son of a bitch! You monster! You’re going down!” she spat with all the animosity she could gather.
Jennifer’s eyes blazed with as much rampage and fury as the dragon eyes covering her boobs. Bill remained silent. His eyes met Jennifer’s with disdain and contempt. Their stares remained locked for several seconds, until suddenly, Bill resumed his hands signals. What the hell is that about? Jennifer wondered. This guy is insane. Then she noticed that Bill was no longer looking at her, but through her. Or beyond her.
“Look out, Jen!” Mike screamed.
Jennifer felt herself seized by a pair of woman’s arms around her waist. Suddenly she was lifted into the air, her legs kicking and flailing. Her attacker arched her body back, throwing the nurse backward with a ura-nage back throw, also known as a suplex. Jennifer’s body crashed hard to the mat, as she landed on the back of her head and neck. Groggy and confused, the next thing she saw was Courtney standing over her, ready to pounce.
“Jen!” Mike screamed as he rushed to reach her side. He got no further than halfway to his desired destination when he was intercepted and quickly detained by the two security guards.
“No one is allowed near the ladies during the match,” they explained.
“But I’m her husband!” He pleaded.
“Our orders are to block all interference during the match,” one of them said. “You’re going to stay with us until the match is over.”
“Fuck!” Mike shouted.
Courtney calmly paraded around the fallen Jennifer, while receiving further instructions in the form of more hand signs from her husband. She waited for Jennifer to unsteadily lift her self to her feet, before wrapping her arm around the neck and rolling her over the hip, forcefully driving her body back to the mat with a brutal koshi guruma hip throw.
“Let me go!” Mike protested.
Courtney smiled and looked again to her husband for instructions. She reached down at her downed opponent, taking hold of the frontal clasp of the dragon eyes bikini top, pulling it to drag Jennifer to her feet again. Dazed, the blonde bravely tried to stand, her bikini top pulled under her breasts, exposing both nipples, only to have Courtney drive her knee into her belly, causing Jennifer to double over in pain.
“Stop it!,” Mike screamed. “This has to stop!”
Mrs. Hughes now strutted around the mat with body language and facial expression that conveyed a mix of arrogance and contempt. She circled Jennifer in a sadistic game of cat-and-mouse, allowing her time to recover just enough to assault her again. As the nurse attempted to straighten, Bill sent Courtney an ominous gesture familiar to everyone: he slashed his index finger across the neck. Courtney nodded and took hold of the helpless Jennifer wrapping her arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet, spinning around than smashing her to the mat under Courtney’s weight with a devastating belly-to-belly suplex.
“What the fuck!” Mike hollered. “Stop the match! Let me go!”
As Jennifer lay in a heap, the producer finally stepped in. “That’s enough,” he told Courtney, Bill, and the referee. “Let’s bring this to a close.” Bill gave Courtney her sign. The young woman dropped across Jennifer’s exposed chest, scooped up both legs with one arm and pulled back into a double leg hook body press. Jennifer made no effort to escape as the referee completed the three count and called for the final bell.
Courtney pulled herself off of her beaten opponent and triumphantly raised her arms in the air. Bill quickly came to her side and the two engaged in a long kiss.
“Let me go now,” Mike pleaded. “It’s over.”
It wasn’t quite over for Bill and Courtney. Bill looked at Courtney and held out his fist with the thumb pointed downward, reminiscent of Roman emperors ordering a grisly fate for fallen gladiators. Courtney understood. She walked over and looked down upon the supine body of Jennifer. Her victim’s eyes were half open, her head rolled back and forth as she moaned, her orientation still off. The cups of her bikini were below her breasts, pushing the exposed nipples upward. The dragon eyes were crumpled and pushed downward as if forlorn and sorrowful. Courtney placed her right foot on Jennifer’s bare chest, and raised her arms again in a victory pose. Jennifer opened her eyes to see the sardonic smug smile on the declared winner’s face. Bill joined his wife, standing by her side over Jennifer. He raised his wife’s arm in one hand and pretended to flick the ashes of an unlit cigar down on Jennifer’s body.
“Stop it! She’s being humiliated!” Mike shrieked. “Let me go!”
The producer finally ordered Courtney and Bill to leave the arena area in order to prepare for the next match. Only after they disappeared, was Mike finally released.
“Jennifer!” he shouted as he raced across the mat to her side. “Are you okay?”
Mike’s wife slowly sat up as he adjusted her bikini top and offered her water. “What the fuck was that?” he growled at the referee.
“Your wife turned her back. I didn’t call for a break,” the referee tried to explain.
Jennifer was in a sitting position appropriately answering questions to show that her mind was clearing.
“Excuse me,” the producer said to Mike. “We have our next match and we’re running late. Could you move her somewhere else?” He muttered something about the match might be scratched from downloads due to the poor quality.
“After what she’s done for this company, you want to sweep her away like she’s dirt? Fuck that!” Mike responded.
“It’s okay, Mike,” Jennifer said with a barely audible raspy voice. “I think I can get up and walk now.”
V
Jennifer, now sore and stiff all over her body leaned on her husband as she returned to her dressing room.
“This company is a fucking disgrace,” Mike grumbled. “It was all rigged. Bill just pays off everyone. And the producer and referee let them treat you like shit and humiliate you. I want a rematch between you and Courtney, but on our terms next time.”
“Mike,” Jennifer said in a still scratchy voice. “I have to help Courtney. She needs me.”
“Oh Jesus Christ, don’t start that again.”
“No, it’s real. She’s in real trouble. I heard her voice. I saw her tears,” Jennifer replied.
“The only tragedy in that woman’s life,” Mike said, “is that she won’t win an Academy Award for tonight’s performance. How could you possibly think that woman needs or wants your help after what she did to you? Did you see that sick expression on her face while she was humiliating you.”
“It’s not her. It’s Bill. I know I shouldn’t have turned my back. I shouldn’t have confronted Bill”
“That’s not what I saw.”
“She did all that to me because Bill controls her. It’s a survival mechanism. It’s called Stockholm Syndrome. I’ve seen it in the ER.”
“Sorry, Jen. I’m not buying it. They’re a couple of grifters who like fucking with people’s minds.”
“I need to talk to her…now.”
“Oh no,” Mike insisted. “I think you’ve had enough of those two.”
“But I need to know.”
“And what exactly are you going to say to her?”
“Nothing, I’m going to slip her the hotline number and a list of where she can go for resources.”
“You’re not going to talk to her.”
“Yes, I am, Mike.”
“Then I’m going with you. I’d like to tell them a thing or two myself.”
“No, you can’t come, Mike. I have to do this alone.”
“I don’t want those two to hurt you anymore, Jen.”
“I’ll be okay. This will only take a few minutes.”
“And if he doesn’t let you see her alone.”
“Then at least I tried.”
“Fine, if you’re not back in two minutes, I’m coming to get you.”
Jennifer, dressed in a coverup over her bikini, gently tapped on the adjacent dressing room door. She tried to keep her nerves in check as the door swung open and she was faced with the figure of Bill standing in front of her.
“Oh, it’s you,” he said. “Did you see the error of your ways and come to apologize for your rude and disrespectful behavior?”
“Well, I came hoping I could speak to Courtney,” Jennifer said.
“Okay,” Bill replied. “Come on in. Courtney is right here,” he said pointing to his wife still dressed in her bikini. “Did you come to admit your inferiority to my queen and kiss her feet?”
“Well, no. I was hoping Courtney and I could speak alone. It will only take a few minutes.”
“May I ask what it is about,” Bill inquired.
“Oh,” Jennifer answered. “I thought we could talk about the match. You know, just talk about two girls who like to compete. We might find we have a lot in common.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be possible. Courtney and I don’t keep secrets from each other. If you have something to say to her, you can tell me as well.”
“Does Courtney ever make her own decisions? I mean, do you always speak for her. Maybe she’d like to talk to me alone. Why don’t we ask her.”
“Young lady,” Bill responded. “I don’t appreciate your innuendos. Are you suggesting that I dominate her? I can assure you that Courtney is a very strong independent woman. She’s perfectly capable of making her own decisions and acting on her own behalf. If it would make you feel better to hear from Courtney herself, fine, I’ll let her tell you. Court, do you want to meet with this young lady privately. Tell her, honey.”
Courtney turned toward Jennifer. Their eyes met. Jennifer saw no signs of fear or anxiety.
“You heard him, loser,” Courtney sneered. “Now get away from our dressing room before I kick your ass again.”
Mike stood inside Jennifer’s room waiting. The door opened as Jennifer walked in. Her expression said it all. He held her as she broke down sobbing in tears.
VI
Bill Hughes peaked through the window blinds, puffing on his cigar. He watched as Mike and Jennifer, walked down the path to the parking lot. Mike’s arm was around her waist as her arm clung to his shoulder. Her shoulders bounced up and down with each sob. He watched as Mike gingerly helped his wife inside the car before he entered through the driver side door. Bill continued to look on until Mike made a three-point turn, exited the parking lot and disappeared into the night.
“You did good, Court,” Bill said to his wife, now dressed back in her hoodie and sweatpants. “You did really good. Everything came about exactly like I said it would…Of course it did…That’s why I’m Bill Hughes.”
