DREAD [AW #1]

It felt surreal to be back in Las Vegas after so long away; the glitz and glamour of the strip was unchanged and she hated it for that reason alone. So much had happened since she'd been a permanent fixture at The Luxor-- it felt like another lifetime. Adding to that unreal feeling was the fact that she was sitting on the patio of her cousin's new home that looked more like a medieval castle.

"What a year," she murmured, glancing sidelong at her cousin's wife. Being here, gearing up for her impending debut in Action Wrestling, made her wonder if the whole 'third time's the charm' adage was going to prove accurate or if she was just wasting time. Again.

"Ain't that the truth." Charity nodded, turning to look at her long-time friend, "but things seem to be going well for you and my brother. I don't think I've ever seen him smile this much." It was good to see Hunter finally settling down.

"Well?" Kitty rolled her eyes, leaning back in the lounge chair, "I dunno. I mean... he's basically put the band on hold to go traipsing around with me like some glorified sidekick. Can't help but feel like I'm completely ruining his life, you know? What if this-"

"He wouldn't be doing this if he didn't want to."

"Yeah," Kitty sighed, "I know."

"Besides, I think he was getting burnt out." She shrugged, "you aren't ruining his life."

"I don't know what I'd have done that night if he hadn't been there." Kitty shuddered at the memory. It was the darkest and lowest point of her life and a part of her had wondered if Hunter had somehow known, had somehow sensed that she needed him before he'd arrived on her doorstep at the ranch, unannounced. A bitter laugh came out as she shook her head. "I can't believe it took me so long." She was thinking about how she'd known Hunter since 1997, how their paths had crossed so many times since then, as though they were pulled by the same magnetic force, destined to collide.

"It's all about timing, y'know? Look at me and Bruce. Look how long it took us to get it right." She considered Kitty's expression, "that's not it though, is it?"

"What?"

"You know Hunter isn't going to bail, right? You're one of the only things he's ever been sure of."

"You know how many 'sure things' that've gone to shit on me?" Kitty shook her head, her voice coming out low and defeated, "it's like the universe conspires against me."

Frowning, Charity sat up and pulled Kitty into a hug. "This time'll be different. I know it."

Even though she felt the prickle of irrational tears, Kitty nodded and hugged her back. "You're right. I need to stay woke or whatever it is the kids're saying these days." She kept the sarcasm there as a buffer, not wanting to let on just how close she was to falling apart. If Action didn't work out...

"Kids are idiots. I'm glad we never were when we were young."



The last time I wrestled was September. That doesn't seem so long ago, does it? It's funny how that goes – drops in the bucket. You do this long enough and it all starts to blur together, though, doesn't it? If I could save MY time in a bottle, bad days would settle to the bottom, sediment oozing toxicity while the rest looked perfectly inviting. A silent killer. An unsuspecting victim. Oh yes. I could save my bottled time for the next idiot who tries to dig too deep into my head. Shake it up and unleash it – Happy Birthday, motherfucker. Could you imagine?

Would that make it easier or harder, you think? Absolute power like that? These are the things on my mind these days. How can I break free of the mundane? Oh that's easy: DREAD. 

Deprecate.

Repudiate.

Eradicate.

Alienate.

DOMINATE.

I won't bother dropping any names, pointing any fingers. It's pointless. You're all interchangeable and victors don't celebrate the vanquished, after all. They just win.

--K.