[Rowan Chance]

I don't even hear the "ONE!"

And when the "TWO!" hits, I don't hear that either.

I don't hear anything. I don't see anything. And all I feel is pain. Not just the pain of today. The pain of yesterday. And the pain of the day before. Stretching all the way back.

I'm not healed. I wasn't ready.

I wasn't...

Will I ever be...

Finished.

[The Red Queen]

And that is when we hit the ring. I'm on the left...

...and I'm on the right.

And we both SMASH DOWN on poor Jack, don't we my darling?

With twin double sledge hammers. Mine to the small of the back...

And mine to the back of the neck. And when poor Jack rolls away...

We both pick little Rowan Chance up off the mat. Peel her up off the mat after what Jack did to her.

Holding her between us...

...let's give her a kiss.

So soft...so sweet...

And then we twist her broken little body until her head is facing the canvas...

Remember this, Rowan?

Back when you were in the Daughters of Darkness?

You in the tombstone piledriver position between us...

We kiss each other between your legs...

...and then DROP YOUR FUCKING HEAD TO THE FLOOR!

And when your body collapses...

...we just slide away....

[RedEnforcer]

(A few moments previously)

"This is hard for you, isn't it?"

"It is. Shouldn't be, but it is

"You love her don't you?"

I don't answer the security guard. I'm too busy looking at her. She wasn't ready for this. It finally caught up with her.

Seeing her cough up blood has me chewing my bottom lip. Fingers tight on the railing. Knuckles going white.

I play back all the time from this point all the way back to Paris. There had to be something I could have said or done to get her off this path.

Anything

There's a buzz in my hoodie pocket and the sounds of a church organ playing the intro to one of Prince's most famous tracks emanate from within.

I pick up my phone without looking from my pocket.

"Yeah. I'm watching this."

Yeah. I'm in the arena.

I know I seem like a stalker.

No, I'm not fooling myself.

No, I didn't get to speak with her.

I know I know. But I wouldn't be me if I just gave up now would I?

I love you too.

No, I have to see this through. Thanks for trying to get me to walk out. It hurts seeing her like this.

Yeah, I know.  Big dumb idiot.

I don't know if she'll see me after this. I can't tell you what kinda shape she's gonna be in. But I have to try, you know.

Bye darlin."


"She's right you know. Gal on the phone. That girl in the ring doesn't want anything to do with you right now. Maybe not ever. She's too obsessed with whatever is driving her to all these fights."

He's right. But I'm gonna be here. Watching. Waiting for a moment that may never come.

I owe her that much.

Right now though, I'm just hoping she survives this match with this kid. He's green and got potential. And he's gotten in her head.

That's a two count and she hasn't stirred.

Maybe this will end it. More likely this is just another chapter on this tragic tour of hers.

Whatever it is. I'm gonna be here.

Waiting for her.

It's what I do.

[Jack Hex]

The smash on my spine and the back of my neck send me right off Rowan and rolling to the corner, my hands grabbing behind my head.

I see the two masked women raising Rowan up.

She looks so helpless. The look in her eyes. I don't think she even knows where she is. Or what's about to...

...oh yes she does. She sees it now.

I try getting to my feet, but my knee just gives and I fall back to the canvas, clutching at it. The adrenaline rush is over.

All I can do...is watch.

And when Rowan's body hits the canvas in that awful move, I see her torso almost crumble. Her head hits and everything else collapses. She just...falls.

The two masked women slide away like serpents. They're gone. It's just me and Rowan in the ring.

And... and... I don't know what to do.

I look at the referee. She's shrugging at me. "No disqualification," she says.

I look back at Rowan. Back at the referee.

I scream at her. "She's hurt! Rowan's hurt! Get the medic out here!"

The referee points at Rowan's body, laying like a car crash victim. "I can't do anything until one of you wins!"

I curse. Spitting from my lips. I try to stand...can't. I crawl across the ring to where Rowan Chance lays. She's...goddammit. She deserved...

I put one hand on her belly and look up at the referee. "Fucking count!" I shout.

She drops down to the canvas. "ONE!"

[Rowan Chance]

"TWO!...THREE!"

Her hands hit the canvas with certainty and finality. And I don't move. I'm barely breathing.

The referee raises up and calls for the bell. The timekeeper hits it three times, signifying the end of the match. But I'm not there to see it. I'm nowhere right now. Not here, not anywhere.

Blood on my lips. Sweat on my skin.

It's over. All over. You're still the champion, Jack.

You beat me. Held me down for the count of three.

[Jack Hex]

As the medics come rushing out of the back, I'm screaming at them, telling them to get you on a board. They want to look at my leg, but I don't give a shit about that. I want them looking at you.

I'm looking at you.

My eyes blink and I wipe them. Shaking my head.

"You didn't deserve this," I whisper.

I look out at the audience and I see the guy in the hoodie, his hands clenching the rail. His eyes so intense. So focused. I...almost...maybe...I recognize him from somewhere...but I can't...

He knows you. He's watching you. He's afraid. No. Not afraid. Something deeper than that.

I watch the medics take you away. And I know...whatever light the guy in the hoodie has...it's the same light that's in my eyes. Only his is a lot brighter.

[Rowan Chance]

Much later, after I've regained consciousness, my hand holds my iPhone as I lay on the makeshift table they've put up.

The medic says, "We want to get you to the hospital. Spend the night for observation."

I ignore him. I'm staring at my phone.

"Miss Chance...you have a concussion. You really need to go to the hospital."

"Fine," I say, my voice as cold as...as cold as...English wind at midnight. The kind that cuts through your skin right to the bone. I look at the phone...the name on the Contacts list. My lips and fingers shaking.

"I'll get the ambulance ready," he says. I just ignore him. I'm looking at my phone. The name and number there. It's a foreign number. Wales, I think. I don't know. I've never been there.

I'm staring at the number. And I hit the green button on the bottom of the screen.

I listen. The number is going overseas. That weird beeping instead of ringing.

The phone picks up.

A recording. Two women laughing.

Telling me to leave a message.

When the beep comes around, my jaw is shaking.

Eyes wet and red.

"YOU GODDAMN BITCH!
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?
WHY CAN'T YOU LEAVE IT ALONE?
YOU WON!
YOU FUCKING WON!
THAT ISN'T ENOUGH?
YOU HAVE TO HURT ME MORE?
IS THAT IT?
IS THAT FUCKING IT?"

[/b][/i]


I pause. My throat swelling up.

"Just...j-just..."

My voice choking in my throat.

"Just...please...it...it's over. You said it was over. Please...just...l-leave me alone. You..."

And the message machine BEEPS.

I look at the phone. And then I throw it as hard as I can against the wall.



-----======THE END=====------


...or is it?

[Thighs_dont_lie]

In case it is the end, I'll just post something now, not much, just a lil bit to share my thoughts about this story, match and everything. Ready? Here comes...

WOW!
Awesome stuff

[Rowan Chance]

Thanks! Jack is a wonderful opponent.

[Vivianne]

I stand there in the third row, watching these two women and flashing back to Minneapolis, back to when they inserted themselves to my match with Rowan. They take Rowan out and then make their exit. As they do, the one in yellow looks directly at me, as if she knew I was there.

"Did you enjoy the match, Pickle?"

She winks at me and walks out with her red partner. As I watch them go I simply shake my head, then look up and see carnage they left in the ring.

Yes...yes I did.

(Great match, Rowan and Jack!)

[Jack Hex]

Thanks to everyone who commented and contributed! And thanks to Rowan who is an AMAZING woman to work/play with!