Post by Aurora Knight on Jun 26, 2016 23:06:05 GMT -5
Las Vegas, NV
March 10, 2012
The hood of Jered’s old Ford Econoline cargo van was popped as Aurora stood on the side of the road, staring at the ring on her left hand. Something about it bothered her… the way it sat on her finger. It wasn’t the fact that she was discovering a mild allergy to the base metal her little $12.99 bauble was made of. But hey, when you’re still in high school and no one in their right mind would give you credit in a regular jewelry store, you have to make do with what’s available.
Jered: SHIT!
Aurora: What is it?
Jered: The engine’s overheated, the radiator’s fucked… and my mom’s not picking up her phone.
Aurora shook her head, a look of indifference on her face as she stared at the sidewalk. To the ordinary passerby, she didn’t look like a bride fresh from her wedding day. There was no white dress, no bouquet to toss to a horde of eager bachelorettes…. Just her, dressed in a pair of torn blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a rhinestone-encrusted skull and crossbones on the front. She kicked at a rock, watching it roll into the gutter.
Jered: I’ll bet you anything it’s that dickhead she married. John’s been a pain in the ass ever since he and Mom started dating.
An aggravated scoff pushed through her lips as she sneered. She had been married for less than 30 minutes, and was already dreading her very existence. Here she was, on her wedding night, and she was stranded in the parking lot of a cheap motel; the sort of shithole that was so seedy that the sign advertised hourly rates INSTEAD of nightly. “FREE MOVIES!” it flashed in bright pink neon, which meant only one thing… if they were going to be stuck there for the night, Jered would be watching nothing but porn all night while she pondered just where her life had taken that nasty turn down the proverbial highway to Hell.
She watched as he pulled out a bottle of water from inside the van. Or at least to everyone around them, it looked like a bottle of water. She knew better. She knew there was vodka in that bottle. Which meant he either jacked it or talked some idiot into buying it for him. No matter. The fact that he was drinking it at all meant that they weren’t going anywhere, even if it meant sleeping in the van.
Jered: Fuck this shit… let’s go get a room.
He grabbed her by the wrist and started to pull on her arm, as if trying to make her follow him whether she wanted to or not. She held her ground, jerking out of his grasp.
Aurora: I think I’d rather wait out here.
Jered: And have someone come up and haul you off, thinking you’re a prostitute? Hell no! You’re coming with me.
He grabbed for her wrist again, gripping just a little tighter than before. Again, she jerked out of his grasp, staring at him defiantly.
Aurora: No I’m not; I’m gonna stay with the van! I don’t see the reason for both of us to go in there just to ask how much for one night.
Jered: Fine, whatever. Just get in the van and lock up. I don’t want anyone taking any of my shit.
“My shit…”
Apparently, “my shit” was how he viewed everything he owned, and in his mind, that now included her. She was now starting to realize just why it was that her father didn’t like Jered, but in her stubbornness, she refused to see it. Now, she had one of two options. She could either go crawling back to her parents, crying about how right they had been about him, or she could tough it out. After all… for better or worse, right? How much worse could it get?
Famous. Last. Words….
She climbed into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door behind her. As she locked the door, she watched through the grime-encrusted window, trying to see what was going on in the lobby of the motel. She grabbed an old tattered t-shirt from the floor by her feet, wiping at the window in a vain attempt to clean it. No dice. She tossed the t-shirt to the side, then made her way into the back of the van, out of sight of anyone that might see her….
Where HE couldn’t see her.
She made her way to a black duffel bag that carried every stitch of clothing she was able to grab before she left home. There, on the cold, steel floor of the van, she curled up, using the duffel bag as a pillow, and did the one thing no bride should do on her wedding night.
She cried.
She paid no attention to the sound of Jered banging on the window, calling her name. All she wanted was to wake up to find out that this was all just some nightmare. Too bad for her that not only was she not dreaming, but the nightmare that was her marriage to Jered Knight had only begun….
Fry’s Electronics
Las Vegas, NV
Saturday, June 25, 2016 – 9:00 pm
Officially, the store was closing, a few of the customers complaining to management as they questioned why others were still filing into the store through the main entrance. It seemed as if the huge sign by the entrance that read “Special After-Hours Meet-and-Greet Session” above an image of Angelz of Destruction members Aurora Knight and Damon Graves wasn’t enough of an explanation. Not that far from the store’s entrance, a diminutive woman with long black hair and a plastic smile stood there in slacks and a white dress shirt, waving at the folks that had come for the meet-and-greet. As each cluster of fans walked past her, the smile twisted into an expression of greed that she pushed away just in time to greet the next cluster of guests. Clearly she wasn’t a wrestling fan; she was just thinking of the revenue this event would bring into the store.
In another section of the store, beside the on-site café, a long table was set up beside a grand piano. It was here, beside the piano, that Aurora and Damon stood, posing for a picture with a fan. Aurora and Damon are both dressed in matching Deadpool t-shirts, with Aurora proudly wearing the “PUDDIN” choker Damon had purchased earlier. They snapped the picture with the fan’s smartphone, and after signing his otherwise plain white t-shirt, the happy fan went on his way with a smile as they went back to the table.
Aurora: Well, that guy looks happy…
Damon: Of course he was happy. He gets to go home and show his friends how close his hand was to your ass…
Damon chuckled as Aurora rolled her eyes. As Damon’s laughter continued, the next fan came up – a teenage girl with mousy brown hair and brown eyes peeking out behind black wire-rimmed glasses, and was wearing an Angelz of Destruction t-shirt over blue jeans. She couldn’t have been more than 15.
Aurora: Hey there… what’s your name?
Girl Heather.
The girl caught sight of Damon and immediately turned beet red. Seeing this, Aurora couldn’t help but chuckle.
Aurora: It’s those green eyes of his, isn’t it?
She flashed the girl an understanding smile as Heather nodded her head. Aurora noticed an 8 x 10 glossy in the girl’s hand, or at least the back of one.
Aurora: Does a number on me, too… Every. Single. Time. Anyway, what would you like us to sign for you?
Heather sheepishly pushed what turned out to be a pair of 8 x 10’s – one of Aurora and one of Damon – toward them. She went to open her mouth to speak, but Damon looked at her again, and she clammed right back up.
Heather: I’m sorry… I’m trying so hard not to be nervous right now…
Aurora: I can always make Damon put on a pair of sunglasses, if that would help…
Heather laughed. Aurora’s joke about Damon’s eyes seemed to put the girl at ease.
Heather: Nah… those eyes are too gorgeous to hide!
Now it was Aurora’s turn to laugh as she looked over at her boyfriend, the faint hint of red rising in his cheeks.
Aurora: Hey now… that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about!
Heather: Yeah, and you’re one lucky girl!
Aurora: I won’t argue with you there, kiddo. Did you want to take a picture, too?
Heather: Sure! Just let me get my phone out….
Aurora and Damon gestured for Heather to follow them over to the piano. She did, handing her phone to one of the event staff stationed nearby as she went to stand between them, a smile on her face that stretched from one ear all the way to the other. They each placed a hand on one of Heather’s shoulders as they all looked into the camera…
Event Staff: Got it!
Heather retrieved her phone, squealing in delight when she saw the image of herself with the Angelz of Chaos and Rebellion. She turned to Aurora and Damon, and the couple couldn’t help but smile with pride at the look of gratitude on the young girl’s face.
Heather: Thank you so much! This is going straight onto Facebook so I can show my brother!
Aurora & Damon: You’re welcome!
Aurora: You gonna watch us make a run for the Tag Team Championships at City of Sin?
Heather: You bet I am! I’m up in the nosebleed seats, but it still beats sitting at home and watching on TV.
Damon: That’s right! Nothing like watching it live!
With one final smile, they watched as Heather walked off, joining up with a woman that they could only assume was the girl’s mother. As they left, Heather turned back to look at them over her shoulder, waving enthusiastically before heading for the exit. As they took their seats once again, Aurora smiled.
Aurora: And sometimes, reactions like that are all that’s needed to remind us of why we do what we do.
Damon: You got that right.
With each fan that approached their table, Aurora thought more and more about the match at City of Sin. With every fan that told her that they were rooting for her and Damon, it made her that much more determined to do her next meet and greet… as a champion.
Perry Mansion
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 12:00 am
Silence…
A clear, deep blue sky stretched out for miles over a landscape of lush green grass bordered with young trees and shrubs, along with a brick-paved patio with a few statues scattered throughout the grounds. A door could be heard opening and closing. After a pause, Aurora Knight emerged, dressed in a white bikini top and black shorts. After all, it may have been midnight, but it was still ridiculously hot outside.
Aurora: VIVA LAS VEGAS, BITCHES!
She laughed as she walked along the pathway beside the fence that surrounded the split-level swimming pool. Beneath the water, pool lights cast a blue and purple glow against the pool walls, making it look almost like a second night sky.
Aurora: I’m standing here, in the backyard of my manager’s – ahem – “humble” abode, in the middle of the night, because right about now is the only time where it’s actually possible to stand outside for more than five minutes without sweating a fucking river! Hell, at least the view out here is fucking killer….
She gestured toward the far edge of the property, which boasted a view of a golf course. Not that she was a fan of golf. In truth, the sport bored her to tears. But beyond the golf course, the glow of the lights of Las Vegas lit up the night sky, casting a bright light at the horizon almost like the first rays of an artificial dawn.
Aurora: Is that or is that not sick as fuck? Hell, if not for the fact that I’d probably faint at the sight of the electric bill to run a place this massive, I could get used to living like this! But I suppose for now, it’s more than enough for me to just act like I live here. Sure beats the hotels, that’s for damn sure.
But the main reason I’m here is because my tag team partner and I have finally reached the point in our careers where someone has seen fit to grant us a title shot. To say that I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment would be an understatement. I’ve spent four years in this business, and during that time, I’ve made it known that the previous companies that I’ve wrestled for proved to not be worth my time, because they didn’t have that level of competition I was after. Most of the people I worked with there were just going through the motions until something better came along. No wonder some of them are still there…
She scoffed as she leaned against the pool’s fence. The summer heat had saturated the metal, making it warm, but not unbearably hot against her skin.
Aurora: If those jackoffs could see me now, they’d be eating their own jockstraps. Extra salty, even!
But I digress. Because it’s not about those slackers I used to work with; now, it’s about Avery Miles III and his tag team partner of the week, Kenzie Rydell. I’ll get to my former sister at arms eventually. But first up is the bigger fish in the pond.
The door to the patio opened and closed once again, as Aurora’s tag team partner and boyfriend Damon Graves stepped out in a pair of red board shorts. He took his place beside Aurora, leaning against the fence with his arm draped behind her.
Aurora: Avery, it’s no secret that both Damon and I have had you in our crosshairs since the moment I first came to NGW. Why? Nothing personal; believe me. It’s simply because of the gold around your waist. But then again, that’s always the case when you’re a champion, right? Everyone’s out to take what you’ve busted your ass to achieve. They want what you have, and most are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. I guess you could count me and my tag team partner as part of that list.
There’s one difference between myself and my tag team partner – well, apart from the obvious, that is. That difference is that while Damon may not give a flying fuck about you, I actually have a small amount of respect for you. Anyone that sticks up for someone the way you stuck up for Taylor… well, I suppose you’re not a total waste of human DNA. That’s why when that annoying as fuck primadonna Persephone damn near begged me to kick your teeth down your throat, I promptly told her exactly how it is.
The fact is, that unless you’re flying under the banner of the Angelz, everything that we do when we step through those ropes is for US and no one else. I’ll be DAMNED if some twat with an ego the size of Texas can think she can just waltz up into my business and act like we’re buddies just because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” You and I are hardly friends; far from it. But I have a little more respect for you than that. That said, if you think that’s going to stop me from tearing into you like a lioness hunting a gazelle, then you’re gravely mistaken.
Damon: I see what you did there…
Aurora rolled her eyes, shooting Damon a dirty look. He simply smirked back at her, pursing his lips as she continued.
Aurora: Anyway, I’m not going to take any cheap shots at you for some of the shit that’s happened to you. Hell, I wouldn’t wish that shit on my worst enemy. But it does beg the question… why is it that your tag team partners always seem to cut and run just when you need them the most? Maybe you just keep picking the wrong partners?
This is the part where I sit back and take a sip of my tea and talk about how that’s none of my business. Well, that is, if I actually drank tea. But since I don’t…
She shrugged her shoulders as Damon hopped the fence, then launched himself into the pool with a cannonball that sent up a wicked wall of water.
Aurora: Here you are on tag team partner number three. Perhaps you’re hoping that third time’s the charm, or some other cliché associated with the number 3. I’m not even touching what happened with your first partner… I’m not that low. But I will say this. You took things WAY too fast with that girl, and you’re gonna give Persephone flack for getting engaged after only a couple of months? At least when I eloped, I had the fallback excuse of being too young to really understand what I did until it was too late to get out of it. Tag team partner number two? The man you call your best friend? He cuts and runs right after you beat him for the Marquee Championship. Interesting how the timing works out, doesn’t it? Some might call it coincidence; others might chalk it up to the mild spark of bitterness over the fact that you beat him. Take that as you will; it doesn’t make any difference to me.
What does concern me is the fact that at City of Sin, you’re not only defending the Tag Team Championships against the two of us, but you’re also putting your Marquee championship on the line. Normally, I wouldn’t care about someone being double booked… after all, better you than me. But at the same time, if – no, WHEN – we kick your asses and take the NGW Tag Team Championships away from you, we know what people are going to say.
“They’re only the champions because Avery and Kenzie had to wrestle twice in the same night. If they were fighting at full strength, they would have wiped the floor with Aurora and Damon.”
Let them try. The first one that does is going to find out the hard way exactly why that’s nothing but bullshit!
Since I’ve been in NGW, all I’ve ever heard from anyone is “I don’t want to hear any excuses after I beat your ass.” Well, that same statement holds true now. Not that I’m saying you’re going to be making excuses, Avery. As far as I’m concerned, excuses don’t mean a damn thing to me. If I lose, I lose, but as long as I keep picking myself back up, don’t even think about ever calling me defeated.
There will be no excuses after City of Sin. Just Damon Graves and myself – the Angelz of Destruction – standing in the center of the ring holding the NGW Tag Team Championships over our heads. It’s time for a new breed of champion to take their place at the top. Welcome to the rise of the Angelz, Avery…
Aurora slipped out of the black shorts, revealing a pair of bikini bottoms that matched the top. She cast a glance in Damon’s direction and smirked. He floated in the water, resting his arms on the edge of the pool as he watched her.
Aurora: For the record, I hope everything with Taylor works out for you. I mean that. With everything that’s happened to you over the last few months, you deserve at least that. But those Tag Team Championship belts? Those will soon find new homes around the waists of a TRUE tag team. Now if you’ll excuse me… I’m gonna go enjoy this beautiful warm weather by taking a dip in that insanely ridiculous pool over there. Catch you on the flipside, Avery!
With a wicked grin on her face, Aurora hoisted herself up and over the fence, then dove headfirst into the water. Not noticing that she had swam up behind him, Damon’s eyes went wide as Aurora emerged a few feet away, holding his shorts in her hand.
Aurora: Missing something?
Damon: YOU!
In an effort to reclaim his lost clothing, Damon gave chase as their laughter rang out into the night air.
Private Gym
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 11:00 am
The gym was set up exactly as Damon had described it to Aurora, with top-of-the-line equipment covering every muscle group imaginable, including cardio. But the crown jewel of the entire facility was the full-sized ring, with its crimson ropes and ebony apron wrapping around a silver canvas.
Aurora and Damon circled the center of the ring, never taking their eyes off of each other as they moved. A quick nod of Aurora’s head, and the pair locked up in the center of the ring. The much stronger Damon switched effortlessly into a side headlock, which Aurora pushed out of. A quick leg sweep took Damon down to the ground, but Damon grabbed her ankle, pulling her feet out from under her. Aurora hit the canvas hard; the sound of impact echoing off of the gym’s walls. Immediately, Damon popped up to his feet to check on his partner.
Damon: Shit, Harley! You alright?
He held out a hand to help her up. Aurora clasped it and rose to her feet. Seeing his emerald green eyes look at her with such guilt made her smile.
Aurora: I’m fine. It sounded a lot harder than it really was. I blame the acoustics in here…
She chuckled as she glanced around the room.
Damon: Yeah… you got a point. Ready to go again?
Aurora nodded, motioning for Damon to “bring it”. She licked her lips as he charged at her, ducking around behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Damon rolled his eyes.
Damon: And just what do you think you’re doing back there?
Aurora: This!
She pushed her knees into the backs of Damon’s knees, forcing them into a bent position. With Damon now slightly off balance, Aurora pushed up with her legs, dropping him with a German suplex. Damon rolled through to a knee, staring across the ring at Aurora as she got to her feet.
Damon: You sneaky little fox!
Aurora: Hmph. That’s nothing. Just one of a few tricks I learned from Alicia.
They both got to their feet, with Aurora quickly ducking low to move in with a shoulder to Damon’s midsection. Momentarily winded, Damon let out a cough, but before Aurora could pull away, Damon wrapped his arms around Aurora’s waist and hit a gutwrench powerbomb. He bent over to pull her up, but Aurora brought her feet up, pushing up on Damon’s stomach and flipping him over.
Damon: Did she teach you that, too?
Aurora shook her head as she laughed.
Aurora: Nope… Learned that watching The Lion King.
Damon: Well, Hakuna fuckin’ Matata…
They both chuckled as Damon turned his eyes to the clock on the wall.
Damon: We’ve been at it for a couple of hours now. What do you say we take a break?
Aurora: Has it been that long? I haven’t even noticed.
The Angelz of Chaos and Rebellion slipped out of the ring toward a large red cooler with the AoD logo emblazoned on the side.
Damon: Having that much fun, eh?
Aurora flashed a sly grin at her tag team partner.
Aurora: You could say that…
Damon grabbed a couple of bottles of Gatorade from the cooler. He read off the labels as tiny chunks of ice slid down the sides and onto the floor.
Damon: Fruit Punch and Berry, or Blue Cherry?
Aurora pondered her choices, tapping her finger on her chin.
Aurora: Blue Cherry. I can pretend I’m drinking Smurf blood.
Damon tossed Aurora her chosen beverage, and the two tapped bottles as if they were toasting with glasses of wine.
Aurora: To kicking some ass and bringing home some gold….
Damon: May they wake up the next morning wondering what the hell happened!
Aurora: I’ll drink to that!
They cracked the caps of their respective bottles, then let the beverages flow down their throats. Aurora took a few swallows of her drink before pulling the bottle away, while Damon didn’t follow suit until his drink was half gone. As he twisted the cap back into place, Aurora stared at him with her eyebrow raised in shock.
Aurora: Damn, someone was thirsty!
Damon: What can I say… you ran me ragged in there!
She punched him in the shoulder, smiling at him.
Aurora: You have to say that….
Damon: Because it’s the truth. But hey, I can’t think of a better workout.
Aurora blushed as he looked at her with his trademark eyebrow arched ever so slightly. Damon draped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him until they were standing nose to nose. They shared a laugh, once again acting like no one else in the world existed, until the sound of someone clearing his throat brought them back to reality.
Man’s Voice: Aww, HELL! And I thought Jason and Alicia were bad….
They turned, caught by surprise at the sight of a massive human wall of muscle with a bald head and deep brown eyes, dressed like he was ready to put the boys lifting weights at Venice Beach to shame. Beside him stood Aurora’s manager, Alicia Perry. He stared at the pair outside the ring, his arms crossed as he shook his head, to which Alicia simply covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
Man: All the damn bedrooms in this house, and you two gotta do that shit here in the gym?
Alicia: Aurora and Damon, I’d like you to meet my little brother, Sergio. He’s going to be working with you while you’re here.
Damon: “Little” brother, she says…
Sergio: Well, I’m younger than she is, but that’s beside the point. My sister tells me you two are chasing gold in a few days, so I figured I’d come help get you two into shape.
The Angel of Rebellion smirked playfully at the 6’5” mound of Mexican muscle, sticking her hands on her hips.
Aurora: Look at us, Sergio. Do either of us look like we’re out of shape? I don’t think so…
Sergio nodded his head, a cocky smirk that almost rivaled Damon’s stretched across his face as he gestured toward the ring.
Sergio: Alright then, Miss Thing. Why don’t you two get in the ring and we’ll see what you’re made of?
Aurora: Gladly. Come on, Damon. Let’s show this pelón (baldy) how we roll!
Sergio: Ah! ¿Hablas Español? ¿De donde eres? (You speak Spanish? Where are you from?)
Aurora: Yo soy de Long Beach, pero mi madre es de España. (I’m from Long Beach, but my mother is from Spain.)
Sergio nodded his head as the three of them got into the ring.
Sergio: That would explain it. Anyway, I want you two to double team me…
Alicia: Try not to be too rough…
Sergio glanced at his sister, flashing her a quick smirk before getting into a fighting stance.
Sergio: Hmph. Spoil my fun, why don’t you?
Alicia: I was talking to them….
She pointed into the ring as Aurora and Damon exchanged a knowing look between them before charging at the big man. Sergio attempted a double clothesline, but the younger and faster duo easily ducked the blow, popping up behind him with a double standing dropkick that sent him staggering forward. He quickly regained his footing, smiling as he looked at them.
Sergio: Good. Sis was right; you guys can read each other pretty well. Now let’s see how long you can keep it up….
Another knowing nod between Aurora and Damon, as Alicia looked on proudly.
Stratosphere Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 4:30 pm
From the Observation Deck, high above the Las Vegas Strip, Aurora looked out through the glass at the SkyJump platform. The attendant was busy setting up the equipment for the next jumper, a young man who couldn’t have been more than 20 years old. She listened as he took the leap from the platform, not sure if the scream she heard was one of exhilaration… or abject terror. No matter. She already knew she could fly… it was just a matter of pushing the limits of how high….
Aurora: So many people have been either getting engaged, adopting kids, getting married and what have you… and here I am, about to take a whole different kind of plunge. Not a figurative plunge, like those that have braved the heat in ridiculous amounts of unnecessary fabric just to slip a ring on someone else’s finger, but the kind of plunge that sends the heart into the throat, with the stomach not that far behind.
As Aurora waited for her turn to jump, Damon emerged from another room, dressed in blue and yellow coveralls, much like she was. She watched as he was fitted with the harness that would send him on his 800-foot freefall, giving him a kiss before watching him take that leap. Soon, it would be her turn to take the literal plunge.
The camera attached to her wrist was meant to record her flight from the 108th floor to the landing pad on the ground, but Aurora figured she would give it a secondary purpose – to record her thoughts toward her former stablemate, and the wild card chosen to be Avery Miles III’s tag team partner.
Aurora: If you’re wondering, I wanted him to go first. Not because I have any fear of heights, but because I wanted to take the time to address the other half of the tandem Damon and I will be facing at City of Sin, someone I once called a fellow Angel….
If you knew me as a child, then the one thing you would know more than anything else is that I had a tendency to make friends more with boys than I did with girls. Then again, I guess that comes with the territory when you grow up with two older brothers. Well, that and the fact that most of the girls I went to school with seemed to have this set image of what a “girl” was supposed to be, and since I was nothing like them, I didn’t fit the bill. Not that I cared. If their idea of cool was being holed up in the girls’ bathroom trading lipsticks like they were Pokémon cards, then no thank you. I’d just as soon shave a swear word into the back of my head. At least then, everyone can see what I really think of them as I walk away.
Bunch of catty little bitches…
She scoffed, scraping the sole of her shoe against the floor.
Aurora: But now, I turn my attention to my former sister at arms, Kenzie Rydell. I’m going to level with you, Kenzie. When I made the decision to join the Angelz and I noticed that there was another girl in the group, I thought to myself… “cool; maybe she’s as sick of all of the Barbies of the world as I am.” I had this crazy idea in my head that for the first time, there was another girl out there that actually thought like me. But then I actually met you, and I realized right off the bat that when it came to the other Angelz, you stuck out worse than I did in middle school! Like Damon, I wondered to myself just why Corey thought it was a good idea to have you join the Angelz of Destruction. Judging by appearances, there didn’t appear to be anything “destructive” about you. I’m not saying you were “soft,” but to be honest, I couldn’t for the life of me see just where it was in the grand scheme of things that you actually fit. Which is why I was neither surprised, nor disappointed when you were suddenly – for lack of a better term – relieved of your wings. Though at the same time, I can’t help but feel just a little bit… betrayed by your sudden departure. Normally, betrayal is something I won’t stand for, but since there was never any real bond between us to begin with, I suppose I could forgive you…
She scoffed as she looked through the glass. The city seemed so small from up there. She imagined the crew on the ground by the landing pad; how they must all look like ants from that high up. Casting her eyes toward the door that led to the platform, she could see the attendant standing there in his gray shorts and shirt, waiting for her to step out and jump.
Aurora: Yeah, I know… “Forgiveness” was supposed to be your department. But since you’re no longer one of the Angelz, someone has to pick up where you left off. In any event, here we are, our first in-ring interaction since Damon and I arrived in NGW, and we find ourselves in a situation that makes far more sense… at least to me. You and I will be standing on opposite sides of the ring, along with our tag team partners. The only difference is that my partner and I were chosen from the beginning to join forces to go after the one title that you have practically been handed. Yeah, I know… technically, you can’t legally call yourself a champion until after you go through us, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s close enough. And as long as Damon and I have anything to say about it, that’s as close as you’re gonna get.
Honestly, I don’t see why Avery should trust you as his partner. I mean, to put his own status as a double champion into the hands of someone who lately hasn’t been living up to the hype? What is he thinking? Maybe he hopes that by practically dropping a championship belt into your lap, it’ll help rekindle that spark that you’ve been lacking as of late. Or maybe, he just couldn’t find anyone else to tag with, and you were seen as a last resort. Whatever reason, we’re going to make sure it’s a decision he comes to regret when he wakes up the morning after City of Sin and remembers that he’s no longer a dual champion.
It may sound mean of me, but then again, it’s just like I showed that ditzy little Lisa Frank-obsessed twit, Mandi Lee… being Little Miss Nicey-nice doesn’t get you anything more than a boot up your ass, and maybe your face kicked in. And since neither of those options are rather appealing to me, well…
She shook her head, taking a deep breath as the attendant gestured for her to approach the platform.
Aurora: Well, it looks like it’s time for the Angel of Rebellion to fly. As for you, I almost feel bad for you. You could have been a part of something huge, Kenzie. In a way, though, you still are, because at City of Sin, you and Avery Miles III are going to be a part of the rise of the Angelz, when the NGW Tag Team Championships fall into our hands.
With a confident, bordering on cocky grin, Aurora walked toward the door that led to the platform. Aurora looked into the lens on the wrist-cam one last time as the attendant hooked up her harness.
Aurora: Here goes everything. I’ll see you down on the ground….
She stepped forward, her toes peeking out from over the edge of the platform as she stood there with her eyes closed, feeling the sun and wind on her face.
Attendant: Alright, Aurora… I’m gonna count you down, and then when I say go, you jump. You ready?
Aurora: As ready as I’m gonna get.
She bit down ever so slightly on her lower lip as the attendant counted her down…
Attendant: 3...2…1…
GO!
Aurora jumped from the platform and took to the air, the wind whipping around her in every direction. From 855 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, she opened her eyes and screamed….
Aurora: FREEFALL, MOTHERFUCKERS!!! YEAH!!!
Almost as soon as her jump began, it was over as she touched down, her boyfriend and tag team partner waiting for her with his arms outstretched. One last time, she raised up the wrist-cam so that both she and Damon were in the shot…
Aurora: Say hello to the next NGW Tag Team Champions!
The camera shut off as Aurora’s harness was detached and she and Damon went back into the tower.
[/font]
March 10, 2012
The hood of Jered’s old Ford Econoline cargo van was popped as Aurora stood on the side of the road, staring at the ring on her left hand. Something about it bothered her… the way it sat on her finger. It wasn’t the fact that she was discovering a mild allergy to the base metal her little $12.99 bauble was made of. But hey, when you’re still in high school and no one in their right mind would give you credit in a regular jewelry store, you have to make do with what’s available.
Jered: SHIT!
Aurora: What is it?
Jered: The engine’s overheated, the radiator’s fucked… and my mom’s not picking up her phone.
Aurora shook her head, a look of indifference on her face as she stared at the sidewalk. To the ordinary passerby, she didn’t look like a bride fresh from her wedding day. There was no white dress, no bouquet to toss to a horde of eager bachelorettes…. Just her, dressed in a pair of torn blue jeans and a black t-shirt with a rhinestone-encrusted skull and crossbones on the front. She kicked at a rock, watching it roll into the gutter.
Jered: I’ll bet you anything it’s that dickhead she married. John’s been a pain in the ass ever since he and Mom started dating.
An aggravated scoff pushed through her lips as she sneered. She had been married for less than 30 minutes, and was already dreading her very existence. Here she was, on her wedding night, and she was stranded in the parking lot of a cheap motel; the sort of shithole that was so seedy that the sign advertised hourly rates INSTEAD of nightly. “FREE MOVIES!” it flashed in bright pink neon, which meant only one thing… if they were going to be stuck there for the night, Jered would be watching nothing but porn all night while she pondered just where her life had taken that nasty turn down the proverbial highway to Hell.
She watched as he pulled out a bottle of water from inside the van. Or at least to everyone around them, it looked like a bottle of water. She knew better. She knew there was vodka in that bottle. Which meant he either jacked it or talked some idiot into buying it for him. No matter. The fact that he was drinking it at all meant that they weren’t going anywhere, even if it meant sleeping in the van.
Jered: Fuck this shit… let’s go get a room.
He grabbed her by the wrist and started to pull on her arm, as if trying to make her follow him whether she wanted to or not. She held her ground, jerking out of his grasp.
Aurora: I think I’d rather wait out here.
Jered: And have someone come up and haul you off, thinking you’re a prostitute? Hell no! You’re coming with me.
He grabbed for her wrist again, gripping just a little tighter than before. Again, she jerked out of his grasp, staring at him defiantly.
Aurora: No I’m not; I’m gonna stay with the van! I don’t see the reason for both of us to go in there just to ask how much for one night.
Jered: Fine, whatever. Just get in the van and lock up. I don’t want anyone taking any of my shit.
“My shit…”
Apparently, “my shit” was how he viewed everything he owned, and in his mind, that now included her. She was now starting to realize just why it was that her father didn’t like Jered, but in her stubbornness, she refused to see it. Now, she had one of two options. She could either go crawling back to her parents, crying about how right they had been about him, or she could tough it out. After all… for better or worse, right? How much worse could it get?
Famous. Last. Words….
She climbed into the passenger’s seat, shutting the door behind her. As she locked the door, she watched through the grime-encrusted window, trying to see what was going on in the lobby of the motel. She grabbed an old tattered t-shirt from the floor by her feet, wiping at the window in a vain attempt to clean it. No dice. She tossed the t-shirt to the side, then made her way into the back of the van, out of sight of anyone that might see her….
Where HE couldn’t see her.
She made her way to a black duffel bag that carried every stitch of clothing she was able to grab before she left home. There, on the cold, steel floor of the van, she curled up, using the duffel bag as a pillow, and did the one thing no bride should do on her wedding night.
She cried.
She paid no attention to the sound of Jered banging on the window, calling her name. All she wanted was to wake up to find out that this was all just some nightmare. Too bad for her that not only was she not dreaming, but the nightmare that was her marriage to Jered Knight had only begun….
Fry’s Electronics
Las Vegas, NV
Saturday, June 25, 2016 – 9:00 pm
Officially, the store was closing, a few of the customers complaining to management as they questioned why others were still filing into the store through the main entrance. It seemed as if the huge sign by the entrance that read “Special After-Hours Meet-and-Greet Session” above an image of Angelz of Destruction members Aurora Knight and Damon Graves wasn’t enough of an explanation. Not that far from the store’s entrance, a diminutive woman with long black hair and a plastic smile stood there in slacks and a white dress shirt, waving at the folks that had come for the meet-and-greet. As each cluster of fans walked past her, the smile twisted into an expression of greed that she pushed away just in time to greet the next cluster of guests. Clearly she wasn’t a wrestling fan; she was just thinking of the revenue this event would bring into the store.
In another section of the store, beside the on-site café, a long table was set up beside a grand piano. It was here, beside the piano, that Aurora and Damon stood, posing for a picture with a fan. Aurora and Damon are both dressed in matching Deadpool t-shirts, with Aurora proudly wearing the “PUDDIN” choker Damon had purchased earlier. They snapped the picture with the fan’s smartphone, and after signing his otherwise plain white t-shirt, the happy fan went on his way with a smile as they went back to the table.
Aurora: Well, that guy looks happy…
Damon: Of course he was happy. He gets to go home and show his friends how close his hand was to your ass…
Damon chuckled as Aurora rolled her eyes. As Damon’s laughter continued, the next fan came up – a teenage girl with mousy brown hair and brown eyes peeking out behind black wire-rimmed glasses, and was wearing an Angelz of Destruction t-shirt over blue jeans. She couldn’t have been more than 15.
Aurora: Hey there… what’s your name?
Girl Heather.
The girl caught sight of Damon and immediately turned beet red. Seeing this, Aurora couldn’t help but chuckle.
Aurora: It’s those green eyes of his, isn’t it?
She flashed the girl an understanding smile as Heather nodded her head. Aurora noticed an 8 x 10 glossy in the girl’s hand, or at least the back of one.
Aurora: Does a number on me, too… Every. Single. Time. Anyway, what would you like us to sign for you?
Heather sheepishly pushed what turned out to be a pair of 8 x 10’s – one of Aurora and one of Damon – toward them. She went to open her mouth to speak, but Damon looked at her again, and she clammed right back up.
Heather: I’m sorry… I’m trying so hard not to be nervous right now…
Aurora: I can always make Damon put on a pair of sunglasses, if that would help…
Heather laughed. Aurora’s joke about Damon’s eyes seemed to put the girl at ease.
Heather: Nah… those eyes are too gorgeous to hide!
Now it was Aurora’s turn to laugh as she looked over at her boyfriend, the faint hint of red rising in his cheeks.
Aurora: Hey now… that’s my boyfriend you’re talking about!
Heather: Yeah, and you’re one lucky girl!
Aurora: I won’t argue with you there, kiddo. Did you want to take a picture, too?
Heather: Sure! Just let me get my phone out….
Aurora and Damon gestured for Heather to follow them over to the piano. She did, handing her phone to one of the event staff stationed nearby as she went to stand between them, a smile on her face that stretched from one ear all the way to the other. They each placed a hand on one of Heather’s shoulders as they all looked into the camera…
Event Staff: Got it!
Heather retrieved her phone, squealing in delight when she saw the image of herself with the Angelz of Chaos and Rebellion. She turned to Aurora and Damon, and the couple couldn’t help but smile with pride at the look of gratitude on the young girl’s face.
Heather: Thank you so much! This is going straight onto Facebook so I can show my brother!
Aurora & Damon: You’re welcome!
Aurora: You gonna watch us make a run for the Tag Team Championships at City of Sin?
Heather: You bet I am! I’m up in the nosebleed seats, but it still beats sitting at home and watching on TV.
Damon: That’s right! Nothing like watching it live!
With one final smile, they watched as Heather walked off, joining up with a woman that they could only assume was the girl’s mother. As they left, Heather turned back to look at them over her shoulder, waving enthusiastically before heading for the exit. As they took their seats once again, Aurora smiled.
Aurora: And sometimes, reactions like that are all that’s needed to remind us of why we do what we do.
Damon: You got that right.
With each fan that approached their table, Aurora thought more and more about the match at City of Sin. With every fan that told her that they were rooting for her and Damon, it made her that much more determined to do her next meet and greet… as a champion.
Perry Mansion
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 12:00 am
Silence…
A clear, deep blue sky stretched out for miles over a landscape of lush green grass bordered with young trees and shrubs, along with a brick-paved patio with a few statues scattered throughout the grounds. A door could be heard opening and closing. After a pause, Aurora Knight emerged, dressed in a white bikini top and black shorts. After all, it may have been midnight, but it was still ridiculously hot outside.
Aurora: VIVA LAS VEGAS, BITCHES!
She laughed as she walked along the pathway beside the fence that surrounded the split-level swimming pool. Beneath the water, pool lights cast a blue and purple glow against the pool walls, making it look almost like a second night sky.
Aurora: I’m standing here, in the backyard of my manager’s – ahem – “humble” abode, in the middle of the night, because right about now is the only time where it’s actually possible to stand outside for more than five minutes without sweating a fucking river! Hell, at least the view out here is fucking killer….
She gestured toward the far edge of the property, which boasted a view of a golf course. Not that she was a fan of golf. In truth, the sport bored her to tears. But beyond the golf course, the glow of the lights of Las Vegas lit up the night sky, casting a bright light at the horizon almost like the first rays of an artificial dawn.
Aurora: Is that or is that not sick as fuck? Hell, if not for the fact that I’d probably faint at the sight of the electric bill to run a place this massive, I could get used to living like this! But I suppose for now, it’s more than enough for me to just act like I live here. Sure beats the hotels, that’s for damn sure.
But the main reason I’m here is because my tag team partner and I have finally reached the point in our careers where someone has seen fit to grant us a title shot. To say that I’ve been waiting a long time for this moment would be an understatement. I’ve spent four years in this business, and during that time, I’ve made it known that the previous companies that I’ve wrestled for proved to not be worth my time, because they didn’t have that level of competition I was after. Most of the people I worked with there were just going through the motions until something better came along. No wonder some of them are still there…
She scoffed as she leaned against the pool’s fence. The summer heat had saturated the metal, making it warm, but not unbearably hot against her skin.
Aurora: If those jackoffs could see me now, they’d be eating their own jockstraps. Extra salty, even!
But I digress. Because it’s not about those slackers I used to work with; now, it’s about Avery Miles III and his tag team partner of the week, Kenzie Rydell. I’ll get to my former sister at arms eventually. But first up is the bigger fish in the pond.
The door to the patio opened and closed once again, as Aurora’s tag team partner and boyfriend Damon Graves stepped out in a pair of red board shorts. He took his place beside Aurora, leaning against the fence with his arm draped behind her.
Aurora: Avery, it’s no secret that both Damon and I have had you in our crosshairs since the moment I first came to NGW. Why? Nothing personal; believe me. It’s simply because of the gold around your waist. But then again, that’s always the case when you’re a champion, right? Everyone’s out to take what you’ve busted your ass to achieve. They want what you have, and most are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. I guess you could count me and my tag team partner as part of that list.
There’s one difference between myself and my tag team partner – well, apart from the obvious, that is. That difference is that while Damon may not give a flying fuck about you, I actually have a small amount of respect for you. Anyone that sticks up for someone the way you stuck up for Taylor… well, I suppose you’re not a total waste of human DNA. That’s why when that annoying as fuck primadonna Persephone damn near begged me to kick your teeth down your throat, I promptly told her exactly how it is.
The fact is, that unless you’re flying under the banner of the Angelz, everything that we do when we step through those ropes is for US and no one else. I’ll be DAMNED if some twat with an ego the size of Texas can think she can just waltz up into my business and act like we’re buddies just because “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” You and I are hardly friends; far from it. But I have a little more respect for you than that. That said, if you think that’s going to stop me from tearing into you like a lioness hunting a gazelle, then you’re gravely mistaken.
Damon: I see what you did there…
Aurora rolled her eyes, shooting Damon a dirty look. He simply smirked back at her, pursing his lips as she continued.
Aurora: Anyway, I’m not going to take any cheap shots at you for some of the shit that’s happened to you. Hell, I wouldn’t wish that shit on my worst enemy. But it does beg the question… why is it that your tag team partners always seem to cut and run just when you need them the most? Maybe you just keep picking the wrong partners?
This is the part where I sit back and take a sip of my tea and talk about how that’s none of my business. Well, that is, if I actually drank tea. But since I don’t…
She shrugged her shoulders as Damon hopped the fence, then launched himself into the pool with a cannonball that sent up a wicked wall of water.
Aurora: Here you are on tag team partner number three. Perhaps you’re hoping that third time’s the charm, or some other cliché associated with the number 3. I’m not even touching what happened with your first partner… I’m not that low. But I will say this. You took things WAY too fast with that girl, and you’re gonna give Persephone flack for getting engaged after only a couple of months? At least when I eloped, I had the fallback excuse of being too young to really understand what I did until it was too late to get out of it. Tag team partner number two? The man you call your best friend? He cuts and runs right after you beat him for the Marquee Championship. Interesting how the timing works out, doesn’t it? Some might call it coincidence; others might chalk it up to the mild spark of bitterness over the fact that you beat him. Take that as you will; it doesn’t make any difference to me.
What does concern me is the fact that at City of Sin, you’re not only defending the Tag Team Championships against the two of us, but you’re also putting your Marquee championship on the line. Normally, I wouldn’t care about someone being double booked… after all, better you than me. But at the same time, if – no, WHEN – we kick your asses and take the NGW Tag Team Championships away from you, we know what people are going to say.
“They’re only the champions because Avery and Kenzie had to wrestle twice in the same night. If they were fighting at full strength, they would have wiped the floor with Aurora and Damon.”
Let them try. The first one that does is going to find out the hard way exactly why that’s nothing but bullshit!
Since I’ve been in NGW, all I’ve ever heard from anyone is “I don’t want to hear any excuses after I beat your ass.” Well, that same statement holds true now. Not that I’m saying you’re going to be making excuses, Avery. As far as I’m concerned, excuses don’t mean a damn thing to me. If I lose, I lose, but as long as I keep picking myself back up, don’t even think about ever calling me defeated.
There will be no excuses after City of Sin. Just Damon Graves and myself – the Angelz of Destruction – standing in the center of the ring holding the NGW Tag Team Championships over our heads. It’s time for a new breed of champion to take their place at the top. Welcome to the rise of the Angelz, Avery…
Aurora slipped out of the black shorts, revealing a pair of bikini bottoms that matched the top. She cast a glance in Damon’s direction and smirked. He floated in the water, resting his arms on the edge of the pool as he watched her.
Aurora: For the record, I hope everything with Taylor works out for you. I mean that. With everything that’s happened to you over the last few months, you deserve at least that. But those Tag Team Championship belts? Those will soon find new homes around the waists of a TRUE tag team. Now if you’ll excuse me… I’m gonna go enjoy this beautiful warm weather by taking a dip in that insanely ridiculous pool over there. Catch you on the flipside, Avery!
With a wicked grin on her face, Aurora hoisted herself up and over the fence, then dove headfirst into the water. Not noticing that she had swam up behind him, Damon’s eyes went wide as Aurora emerged a few feet away, holding his shorts in her hand.
Aurora: Missing something?
Damon: YOU!
In an effort to reclaim his lost clothing, Damon gave chase as their laughter rang out into the night air.
Private Gym
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 11:00 am
The gym was set up exactly as Damon had described it to Aurora, with top-of-the-line equipment covering every muscle group imaginable, including cardio. But the crown jewel of the entire facility was the full-sized ring, with its crimson ropes and ebony apron wrapping around a silver canvas.
Aurora and Damon circled the center of the ring, never taking their eyes off of each other as they moved. A quick nod of Aurora’s head, and the pair locked up in the center of the ring. The much stronger Damon switched effortlessly into a side headlock, which Aurora pushed out of. A quick leg sweep took Damon down to the ground, but Damon grabbed her ankle, pulling her feet out from under her. Aurora hit the canvas hard; the sound of impact echoing off of the gym’s walls. Immediately, Damon popped up to his feet to check on his partner.
Damon: Shit, Harley! You alright?
He held out a hand to help her up. Aurora clasped it and rose to her feet. Seeing his emerald green eyes look at her with such guilt made her smile.
Aurora: I’m fine. It sounded a lot harder than it really was. I blame the acoustics in here…
She chuckled as she glanced around the room.
Damon: Yeah… you got a point. Ready to go again?
Aurora nodded, motioning for Damon to “bring it”. She licked her lips as he charged at her, ducking around behind him and wrapping her arms around his waist. Damon rolled his eyes.
Damon: And just what do you think you’re doing back there?
Aurora: This!
She pushed her knees into the backs of Damon’s knees, forcing them into a bent position. With Damon now slightly off balance, Aurora pushed up with her legs, dropping him with a German suplex. Damon rolled through to a knee, staring across the ring at Aurora as she got to her feet.
Damon: You sneaky little fox!
Aurora: Hmph. That’s nothing. Just one of a few tricks I learned from Alicia.
They both got to their feet, with Aurora quickly ducking low to move in with a shoulder to Damon’s midsection. Momentarily winded, Damon let out a cough, but before Aurora could pull away, Damon wrapped his arms around Aurora’s waist and hit a gutwrench powerbomb. He bent over to pull her up, but Aurora brought her feet up, pushing up on Damon’s stomach and flipping him over.
Damon: Did she teach you that, too?
Aurora shook her head as she laughed.
Aurora: Nope… Learned that watching The Lion King.
Damon: Well, Hakuna fuckin’ Matata…
They both chuckled as Damon turned his eyes to the clock on the wall.
Damon: We’ve been at it for a couple of hours now. What do you say we take a break?
Aurora: Has it been that long? I haven’t even noticed.
The Angelz of Chaos and Rebellion slipped out of the ring toward a large red cooler with the AoD logo emblazoned on the side.
Damon: Having that much fun, eh?
Aurora flashed a sly grin at her tag team partner.
Aurora: You could say that…
Damon grabbed a couple of bottles of Gatorade from the cooler. He read off the labels as tiny chunks of ice slid down the sides and onto the floor.
Damon: Fruit Punch and Berry, or Blue Cherry?
Aurora pondered her choices, tapping her finger on her chin.
Aurora: Blue Cherry. I can pretend I’m drinking Smurf blood.
Damon tossed Aurora her chosen beverage, and the two tapped bottles as if they were toasting with glasses of wine.
Aurora: To kicking some ass and bringing home some gold….
Damon: May they wake up the next morning wondering what the hell happened!
Aurora: I’ll drink to that!
They cracked the caps of their respective bottles, then let the beverages flow down their throats. Aurora took a few swallows of her drink before pulling the bottle away, while Damon didn’t follow suit until his drink was half gone. As he twisted the cap back into place, Aurora stared at him with her eyebrow raised in shock.
Aurora: Damn, someone was thirsty!
Damon: What can I say… you ran me ragged in there!
She punched him in the shoulder, smiling at him.
Aurora: You have to say that….
Damon: Because it’s the truth. But hey, I can’t think of a better workout.
Aurora blushed as he looked at her with his trademark eyebrow arched ever so slightly. Damon draped an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him until they were standing nose to nose. They shared a laugh, once again acting like no one else in the world existed, until the sound of someone clearing his throat brought them back to reality.
Man’s Voice: Aww, HELL! And I thought Jason and Alicia were bad….
They turned, caught by surprise at the sight of a massive human wall of muscle with a bald head and deep brown eyes, dressed like he was ready to put the boys lifting weights at Venice Beach to shame. Beside him stood Aurora’s manager, Alicia Perry. He stared at the pair outside the ring, his arms crossed as he shook his head, to which Alicia simply covered her mouth to stifle a giggle.
Man: All the damn bedrooms in this house, and you two gotta do that shit here in the gym?
Alicia: Aurora and Damon, I’d like you to meet my little brother, Sergio. He’s going to be working with you while you’re here.
Damon: “Little” brother, she says…
Sergio: Well, I’m younger than she is, but that’s beside the point. My sister tells me you two are chasing gold in a few days, so I figured I’d come help get you two into shape.
The Angel of Rebellion smirked playfully at the 6’5” mound of Mexican muscle, sticking her hands on her hips.
Aurora: Look at us, Sergio. Do either of us look like we’re out of shape? I don’t think so…
Sergio nodded his head, a cocky smirk that almost rivaled Damon’s stretched across his face as he gestured toward the ring.
Sergio: Alright then, Miss Thing. Why don’t you two get in the ring and we’ll see what you’re made of?
Aurora: Gladly. Come on, Damon. Let’s show this pelón (baldy) how we roll!
Sergio: Ah! ¿Hablas Español? ¿De donde eres? (You speak Spanish? Where are you from?)
Aurora: Yo soy de Long Beach, pero mi madre es de España. (I’m from Long Beach, but my mother is from Spain.)
Sergio nodded his head as the three of them got into the ring.
Sergio: That would explain it. Anyway, I want you two to double team me…
Alicia: Try not to be too rough…
Sergio glanced at his sister, flashing her a quick smirk before getting into a fighting stance.
Sergio: Hmph. Spoil my fun, why don’t you?
Alicia: I was talking to them….
She pointed into the ring as Aurora and Damon exchanged a knowing look between them before charging at the big man. Sergio attempted a double clothesline, but the younger and faster duo easily ducked the blow, popping up behind him with a double standing dropkick that sent him staggering forward. He quickly regained his footing, smiling as he looked at them.
Sergio: Good. Sis was right; you guys can read each other pretty well. Now let’s see how long you can keep it up….
Another knowing nod between Aurora and Damon, as Alicia looked on proudly.
Stratosphere Hotel and Casino
Las Vegas, NV
Sunday, June 26, 2016 – 4:30 pm
From the Observation Deck, high above the Las Vegas Strip, Aurora looked out through the glass at the SkyJump platform. The attendant was busy setting up the equipment for the next jumper, a young man who couldn’t have been more than 20 years old. She listened as he took the leap from the platform, not sure if the scream she heard was one of exhilaration… or abject terror. No matter. She already knew she could fly… it was just a matter of pushing the limits of how high….
Aurora: So many people have been either getting engaged, adopting kids, getting married and what have you… and here I am, about to take a whole different kind of plunge. Not a figurative plunge, like those that have braved the heat in ridiculous amounts of unnecessary fabric just to slip a ring on someone else’s finger, but the kind of plunge that sends the heart into the throat, with the stomach not that far behind.
As Aurora waited for her turn to jump, Damon emerged from another room, dressed in blue and yellow coveralls, much like she was. She watched as he was fitted with the harness that would send him on his 800-foot freefall, giving him a kiss before watching him take that leap. Soon, it would be her turn to take the literal plunge.
The camera attached to her wrist was meant to record her flight from the 108th floor to the landing pad on the ground, but Aurora figured she would give it a secondary purpose – to record her thoughts toward her former stablemate, and the wild card chosen to be Avery Miles III’s tag team partner.
Aurora: If you’re wondering, I wanted him to go first. Not because I have any fear of heights, but because I wanted to take the time to address the other half of the tandem Damon and I will be facing at City of Sin, someone I once called a fellow Angel….
If you knew me as a child, then the one thing you would know more than anything else is that I had a tendency to make friends more with boys than I did with girls. Then again, I guess that comes with the territory when you grow up with two older brothers. Well, that and the fact that most of the girls I went to school with seemed to have this set image of what a “girl” was supposed to be, and since I was nothing like them, I didn’t fit the bill. Not that I cared. If their idea of cool was being holed up in the girls’ bathroom trading lipsticks like they were Pokémon cards, then no thank you. I’d just as soon shave a swear word into the back of my head. At least then, everyone can see what I really think of them as I walk away.
Bunch of catty little bitches…
She scoffed, scraping the sole of her shoe against the floor.
Aurora: But now, I turn my attention to my former sister at arms, Kenzie Rydell. I’m going to level with you, Kenzie. When I made the decision to join the Angelz and I noticed that there was another girl in the group, I thought to myself… “cool; maybe she’s as sick of all of the Barbies of the world as I am.” I had this crazy idea in my head that for the first time, there was another girl out there that actually thought like me. But then I actually met you, and I realized right off the bat that when it came to the other Angelz, you stuck out worse than I did in middle school! Like Damon, I wondered to myself just why Corey thought it was a good idea to have you join the Angelz of Destruction. Judging by appearances, there didn’t appear to be anything “destructive” about you. I’m not saying you were “soft,” but to be honest, I couldn’t for the life of me see just where it was in the grand scheme of things that you actually fit. Which is why I was neither surprised, nor disappointed when you were suddenly – for lack of a better term – relieved of your wings. Though at the same time, I can’t help but feel just a little bit… betrayed by your sudden departure. Normally, betrayal is something I won’t stand for, but since there was never any real bond between us to begin with, I suppose I could forgive you…
She scoffed as she looked through the glass. The city seemed so small from up there. She imagined the crew on the ground by the landing pad; how they must all look like ants from that high up. Casting her eyes toward the door that led to the platform, she could see the attendant standing there in his gray shorts and shirt, waiting for her to step out and jump.
Aurora: Yeah, I know… “Forgiveness” was supposed to be your department. But since you’re no longer one of the Angelz, someone has to pick up where you left off. In any event, here we are, our first in-ring interaction since Damon and I arrived in NGW, and we find ourselves in a situation that makes far more sense… at least to me. You and I will be standing on opposite sides of the ring, along with our tag team partners. The only difference is that my partner and I were chosen from the beginning to join forces to go after the one title that you have practically been handed. Yeah, I know… technically, you can’t legally call yourself a champion until after you go through us, but as far as I’m concerned, that’s close enough. And as long as Damon and I have anything to say about it, that’s as close as you’re gonna get.
Honestly, I don’t see why Avery should trust you as his partner. I mean, to put his own status as a double champion into the hands of someone who lately hasn’t been living up to the hype? What is he thinking? Maybe he hopes that by practically dropping a championship belt into your lap, it’ll help rekindle that spark that you’ve been lacking as of late. Or maybe, he just couldn’t find anyone else to tag with, and you were seen as a last resort. Whatever reason, we’re going to make sure it’s a decision he comes to regret when he wakes up the morning after City of Sin and remembers that he’s no longer a dual champion.
It may sound mean of me, but then again, it’s just like I showed that ditzy little Lisa Frank-obsessed twit, Mandi Lee… being Little Miss Nicey-nice doesn’t get you anything more than a boot up your ass, and maybe your face kicked in. And since neither of those options are rather appealing to me, well…
She shook her head, taking a deep breath as the attendant gestured for her to approach the platform.
Aurora: Well, it looks like it’s time for the Angel of Rebellion to fly. As for you, I almost feel bad for you. You could have been a part of something huge, Kenzie. In a way, though, you still are, because at City of Sin, you and Avery Miles III are going to be a part of the rise of the Angelz, when the NGW Tag Team Championships fall into our hands.
With a confident, bordering on cocky grin, Aurora walked toward the door that led to the platform. Aurora looked into the lens on the wrist-cam one last time as the attendant hooked up her harness.
Aurora: Here goes everything. I’ll see you down on the ground….
She stepped forward, her toes peeking out from over the edge of the platform as she stood there with her eyes closed, feeling the sun and wind on her face.
Attendant: Alright, Aurora… I’m gonna count you down, and then when I say go, you jump. You ready?
Aurora: As ready as I’m gonna get.
She bit down ever so slightly on her lower lip as the attendant counted her down…
Attendant: 3...2…1…
GO!
Aurora jumped from the platform and took to the air, the wind whipping around her in every direction. From 855 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, she opened her eyes and screamed….
Aurora: FREEFALL, MOTHERFUCKERS!!! YEAH!!!
Almost as soon as her jump began, it was over as she touched down, her boyfriend and tag team partner waiting for her with his arms outstretched. One last time, she raised up the wrist-cam so that both she and Damon were in the shot…
Aurora: Say hello to the next NGW Tag Team Champions!
The camera shut off as Aurora’s harness was detached and she and Damon went back into the tower.
[/font]