Post by K.I.S.S. on Apr 10, 2015 22:34:40 GMT -6
March 2, 2015
3:47 AM
Topeka, Kansas
Bethany Kenyon comes back into her hotel room and stares at the UWA World Championship belt sitting on the bed. This wasn’t something she’d ever expected to actually happen and yet, there it sat on the bed shining back at her. Bethany stares at it, taking a step forward, slowly reaching out to make sure it’s real. As she takes another step, she stops and shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: What do I do now?
Taking a deep breath, she lets it out and then looks around the room. There was no telling when her boyfriend, Brody Montgomery, might come back… or IF he would come back. He had arrived here after she had, no telling where all he had been in the interim as he didn’t make a habit of telling her everything he did and she didn’t make a habit of asking for fear she might actually tell her…
Bethany Kenyon: Where… ?
Looking around aimlessly, Bethany slowly starts to take in the situation. He had been here when she left for the show, saying he would stay here and watch on his laptop only for Billy to call an hour or so later and say Brody was gone again. Now the show was over and he still wasn’t back and there had been rumblings that something had happened with Aerynn Donnelly to cause her to be uncleared medically previous to their match. Neither Bethany nor the defending champion, fellow Arsenal member Jeszika Gautier, had been pleased at this considering how much they had both looked forward to getting their hands on Aerynn and how far Aerynn had gone to weasel her way into the match in the first place. What could have happened and where was Brody?
Bethany Kenyon: Come on, Bethany, think…
As she looks around the room, her gaze falls upon Brody’s bag. Bethany frowns in confusion. Brody never went anywhere without this bag, especially when he disappeared into the night.
Bethany Kenyon: He… left it?
She starts to move closer to it but stops herself.
Bethany Kenyon: Bethany… do you really wanna do this? That’s HIS bag… you don’t need to go snooping for stuff you don’t really wanna find…
She squeezes her hand into fist as she stares at the bag.
Bethany Kenyon: But what if he left his phone in there too? Maybe he called Jayni and she’ll know...
Bethany lets out a deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: This is a bad idea…
Shaking her head ruefully, Bethany walks over to the bag and crouches down.
Bethany Kenyon: Do I really wanna do this?
She stares at the bag for what seems like forever, her fist hovering just above the zipper as she ponders the situation. Finally, she exhales forcefully and opens the bag. Inside, it doesn’t take long for her to find bottle after bottle of pills, Vicodin, Percocet, Valium and some others that looked like Ecstasy. Slowly picking up one of the bottles, she notices there’s no proper label to indicate where he was prescribed these things. Staring at this bottle and shaking, a tear starts to roll down her face.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh... my… God…
She closes her eyes and leans the bottle to her forehead.
Bethany Kenyon: Brody… what have you gone and done?
The man known simply as Broderick Montgomery stands in the elevator with the hood of the leather jacket up. The sign on the side of the large metal box said "no smoking" but a lit cigarette hangs from the corner of his mouth. When the door rings out "DING" and slides open, the leather combat boots and blue jeans carry him down the hallway.
Bethany hears the click of the electronic key in the door before it actually opens and when it finally does, Brody walks in. It was near 4 AM and he was sure the beautiful blonde he was falling head over heels for would be asleep. The door closes behind him and he exhales a large cloud of smoke as he starts away from the door and down the hall leading to the main living room.
Inside the room, Bethany steps bag from the back, shocked, appalled and unsure of what to do. She sits down next to the championship belt, staring at the bottle in her hand.
Bethany Kenyon: What am I gonna do when he gets back?
She pauses and shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: What if he doesn’t come back?
Right as those words leave her mouth he comes around the corner into the main room of the hotel room. The eyes which were once so alive, arrogant perhaps but alive stare at her, dead and empty from beneath the hood.
Brody Montgomery: Did you really think I wouldn't come back, Babe? It’s me and you against the world, Bethy... you know that.
His eyes may be lifeless, but his voice is not. His voice shows the emotion his face denies, affection, perhaps even love.
Bethany holds out the bottle of pills to him.
Bethany Kenyon: I’m sorry… I was trying to see if you’d left your phone behind again…
Her voice cracks.
Bethany Kenyon: I really wish I hadn’t…
Most people would take the bottles and yell, but this was Bethy. He couldn't yell at her. When she held the bottles out he sinks down to the bed beside her and tries the only thing he can. He reaches out and takes the bottle, discarding it on the bed next to him. He then reaches out and lays his hand on the side of her head, knowing she may pull away, depending on how angry she is.
Brody Montgomery: ...I'm proud of you, Bethy. Your win… it was amazing, Babe.
Misdirection, it was all he had. His only play.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t wanna know what all is down there, do I?
Brody Montgomery: You know I won't lie to you babe....do you want to know?
She starts to shake her head.
Bethany Kenyon: It’s a lot… isn’t it?
For a moment Brody says nothing, just lays his hand along her hair gently before speaking softly.
Brody Montgomery: ....More than a lot. People owe my dad... owed… my family. I called in favors. Even without money, I can get what I need...
Bethany sighs heavily, sounding almost relieved.
Bethany Kenyon: So you didn’t have to steal from… to get them?
Brody Montgomery: I am a lot of things… and have been in my life. A womanizer, a cheater, a ruthless businessman... but never a thief...
He turns her head gently by the chin until she’s looking at him. He wants to make sure she knows this, especially now.
Brody Montgomery: And you… fixed all the rest Bethy...
She nods, still looking at her feet.
Bethany Kenyon: And I’m the girl who used to make things explode as a “party trick.”
Brody Montgomery: ....Bethy... yell at me. Tell me you hate me... something. When you sit there staring at your feet it makes me worry... since you found… those, did you doubt us now? Am I too much like you all used to be? Please... don't silent treatment me?
Bethany Kenyon: It used to be funny to people… we’d get drunk… or high… or both… I’d find a hunk of charcoal, something like garlic or a rotten egg in the garbage and some bird shit… everybody staring…
She swallows hard and then looks up at him.
Bethany Kenyon: It wasn’t funny, was it? Blowing stuff up while…
Brody Montgomery: No… but it wasn't a good thing that I was doing either. And you cleaned yourself up. Your sister cleaned herself up...
Once again he shifts her, but this time he shifts her entire body until she is seated to the side and facing him.
Brody Montgomery: That's why... I did what I did tonight. When they drugged you… what if someone had taken advantage? What if you had… ended up with someone else? Or you and Carrie… had decided to reconnect… where would that leave me… or us…?
Bethany nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: I woke up after that like I always did, except this time I hadn’t done anything crazy like that…
She bites her bottom lip.
Bethany Kenyon: You know you can do that with the right kind of matches, too? The sulfur ones… you take a can, soup ones preferably, stick some charcoal in the bottom, mix in the bird shit, a little paper, light the match and then throw it… instant grenade…
She turns her whole body to face him, finally unable to hold back the tears any longer. She brings her fists up and lays them on his chest before diving in face first.
Bethany Kenyon: You can’t leave me like that! You can’t tell me it’ll be alright and then do that to yourself and think it’ll be fine if nature takes it’s course… you can’t be like…
Her voice starts to trail off as she starts sobbing, somewhere between anger and despair.
Bethany Kenyon: My mother!
When her face hits his chest and she begins to cry his arms immediately go around her shoulders and pulls her tighter to him. In fact, not satisfied with the way things are he pulls until she is literally sitting in his lap, with her head still on his chest.
Brody Montgomery: Do you mean… the Aerynn thing or the pills? Talk to me Bethy… come on...
His voice was soft, soothing even. He wanted her to break, to open up, blame him, get angry. Anything but bottle the pain.
Bethany nods to the pills.
Bethany Kenyon: What Aerynn thing?
Brody Montgomery: ...They didn't tell anyone...? What I did?
Bethany Kenyon: They told us Aerynn wasn't cleared medically... Samuel mentioned something about Mayhem and then sent us to the ring like it was no big deal.
Brody takes a deep breath and then pulls back a bit, looking down at the beautiful blonde in his lap. How was she going to take this? He was unsure, and a little leary now.
Brody Montgomery: I… snuck into the arena... and followed them. I hear them… taunting us. Talking about how… they wished you had ended up with someone that day… and I had had to watch it all… so...
Brody takes a deep breath and then continues.
Brody Montgomery: So when Shonn and Pauly left, I attacked Aerynn with a baton, to the back of the knee… and when she fell… I hit the Ruins of Valhalla… into the concrete and told her… if they touched you again… I'd kill her.
Bethany Kenyon: You... curb stomped her... for me?
Brody Montgomery: ...They… drugged you Bethy. You could have ended up with a woman… or another man. You're mine...
Brody blinks and looks horrified.
Brody Montgomery: ...I didn't mean like I own you… you are your own person… I don't have ownership or you or... I mean...
She nods, taking his hand to try and slow him down.
Bethany Kenyon: I’m your girlfriend… yes…
She swallows hard and looks up at him, her voice low and small rather than booming and angry.
Bethany Kenyon: Does that mean you don’t trust me?
Brody Montgomery: Bethy. you were drugged… I saw your video… or Ashley's… I saw you. I don't think you even remember it. I trust you… you walked away from Carrie for me and us. The way they had you… you wouldn't have even realized you did it until you woke up with him...
His hand lifts and cups the side of her face and leans in, kissing her gently. He then leans back again.
Brody Montgomery: Tell me… you would have been able to face me the next morning. We both know… you would have ended things with me… out of guilt. To save me the pain of you doing it again someday. It's not that I don't trust you, B, it's that I won't let you walk away… not you.
Did she know what he meant by "not you?" He wonders if she put it together, that he meant Melissa. He was okay with losing Jezzy to her, but he wasn't okay with losing Beth, not since the first night when they got drunk together.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I love you, Brody, I just don’t want to… I don’t… I can’t… take watching someone I love die slowly when I could have done... something… not again.
When she says those words, he swallows a lump down in his throat, but then of course she mentioned someone dying slowly and knew they had finally arrived.
The pills.
He could explain a lot of it, but why lie his way out?
Brody Montgomery: ...I ...I just use them to disappear. To be anywhere but stuck in a concussion… the broken man who they tortured… who they did horrible things to. I want to be your man… but I don't know if they even left me a man...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I know… it’s why Carrie started on coke, she used to have to be in that place for the porn if they wanted her to do guys and even after she stopped, she always felt like she couldn’t wash that off. Jezzy doesn’t like to talk about it, but I know that’s why she drank herself into blackouts too.
Brody Montgomery: It's funny, I can't picture Carrie with a guy… but then again I couldn't picture you with one either until I saw you on...
Was he actually blushing? She'd know then he meant until he saw her on "him".
Brody Montgomery: Ahem… anyway… I don't know what to do… I… don't know.
Bethany nods, managing a small smile.
Bethany Kenyon: I’ve only been with two women… they’re kinda together now.
Brody's eyes widen at that realization and then he chuckles, and that chuckle turns into a faint little grin, Cheshire cat-like, mischievous and never good, but always fun.
Brody Montgomery: ...So, why don't we finish this talk tomorrow… I think we need to celebrate your win.
Brody then leans in and whispers into her ear, trying to send shivers down the side of her neck.
Brody Montgomery: Would you like to celebrate Bethy?
Bethany Kenyon: Totally and completely.
April 7, 2015
3:32 AM
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bethany Kenyon lies in her bed at home, sleeping soundly, dreaming of wonderful things. As she lies there enjoying a peaceful slumber, a blood-curdling scream rings out from the room up the hallway. Woken by the sound that shatters the night’s silence, Bethany sits up and first glances next to her. Her boyfriend was not there, in truth she hadn’t really expected him to be. As she glances up the hallway, she staggers up out of bed. Jeszika Gautier had fallen asleep on bethany’s couch earlier and Bethany hadn’t had the heart to wake her and make her go home.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy? JEZZY?!!!?!
On the couch, Jeszika looks around wildly. Who was that and where was she? As she blinks in the darkness, recognition seeps in.
Jeszika Gautier: B?
A light turns on and Bethany hurries over to her friend's side.
Bethany Kenyon: It's me, Jez... what's going on?
Jeszika Gautier: It felt so real... so...
She shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: It was just a dream... just a dream...
Bethany Kenyon: This has happened before, hasn't it?
Jeszika nods
Jeszika Gautier: Yes....
Bethany Kenyon: How many times?
Jeszika Gautier: Third time this week... but this one... was worse.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: So Ashley wasn't dreaming… she did see this?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: So did Sin and Rocket...
Bethany Kenyon: What's been happening with it?
Jeszika swallows.
Jeszika Gautier: The stalker... in the others he was threatening me with a dagger... I was tied up and he was teasing me with it... dragging it across my skin like he was going to cut me but didn't... in the second one he get sexual... kissing my neck as well... this time...
She shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He… you?
Jeszika shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: He stabbed me right in the stomach... right to the hilt...
Bethany Kenyon: Jesus, Jezzy!
Jeszika Gautier: He got me at the show, B... while I was in the shower... he grabbed me made me pass out and kissed me...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: And now you feel violated?
Jeszika nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh, Jezzy...
She wraps her arms around Jeszika and holds her gently. Jeszika rests her head against Beth’s shoulder.
Jeszika Gautier: And I feel stupid about it because what has he done really? He hasn't hurt me. He's simply watched and now... kissed me...
Bethany Kenyon: It's not stupid...
Jeszika Gautier: But what has he even done?
Bethany Kenyon: He got you alone, unaware and naked, Jezzy. It's not what he did to you, it's what he could have done.
Jeszika Gautier: What am I gonna do, B?
Bethany kisses her head.
Bethany Kenyon: I wish I knew but whatever it is, we'll get through it like we always have.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah... we will... together.
Bethany exhales and lays her head on top of Jeszika's, closing her eyes.
Jeszika Gautier: Everything ok with you, B?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: More or less...
Jeszika Gautier: What’s wrong, B?
Bethany shakes her head, maintaining her grip on Jeszika as if she needs this just as much, if not more, than Jeszika does. Concern suddenly fills Jeszika's face
Jeszika Gautier: B... what wrong?
Bethany sits up and swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know what to do...
Jeszika sits up and looks at her.
Jeszika Gautier: About what?
Bethany Kenyon: You're not the only one waking up screaming...
Jeszika Gautier: Oh, B...
She hugs her friend.
Jeszika Gautier: What’s wrong?
Bethany swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: Brody...
Jeszika Gautier: What’s happened, B?
Bethany sits forward shaking her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He...
Unable to find the words for a second, Bethany squeezes her friend's hand.
Bethany Kenyon: He's broken, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh, B....
She hugs her friend tightly.
Jeszika Gautier: Anything I can do to help?
Bethany shrugs sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know...
Staring out ahead of her, Bethany tries to find ways to describe it.
Bethany Kenyon: He doesn't eat much, barely sleeps and when he does, he wakes up screaming from nightmares he won't acknowledge he even had much less talk about what's in them. He drinks almost all his calories and he pops pills like they're candy and that doesn't even bring in what he did to Aerynn...
Jeszika Gautier: What did he do to her?
Bowing her head in shame, Bethany takes a deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: Which time?
Jeszika Gautier: Start at the beginning, B...
Bethany Kenyon: At first, I thought he just slept fitfully because of what Joshua did and the head injuries he had. I noticed he went to his flask a bit and seemed to depend on pain pills but he had legit pin so...
She trails off for a second.
Bethany Kenyon: The night I won the World Title from you, he admitted he was why Aerynn wasn't in the match with us.
Jeszika Gautier: He was? Shit...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: He hit her and in checking her out afterward, that was how they figured out she was pregnant and pulled her from the match with us. Then at the last show, when they made the announcement, Brody attacked her in front of me, Oliver and Shonn...
Jeszika gasps, gaping in shock.
Jeszika Gautier: He knew she was pregnant and attacked her anyways?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: He needs help, B... That’s not the actions of a sane man...
She sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: Can I help in anyways? beat some sense into him maybe?
Bethany Kenyon: I... don't know.
Jeszika Gautier: Want me to talk to him?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He's convinced he was right because he thinks it was Shonn Maguire that drugged me and that Aerynn got what she deserved and I'm not sure there's anything that could be said to change his mind.
Jeszika sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: I'm mostly convinced that Shonn did it too... The person who grabbed me the other night had blue eyes, like he does... and he certainly has motive... but something about that doesn’t sit right there. They've always been so open when They’ve done things in the past... why would they hide it now?
Bethany Kenyon: If he did, maybe it didn't go off how he wanted it to because Brody went after Aerynn.
Jeszika Gautier: Possibly.... but until I know for sure, I'm not gonna go punching anyone in the face like I did to poor Craven the other day.
Bethany's eyes go wide.
Bethany Kenyon: You did... what?
Jeszika Gautier: I thought it was Craven, so I went to Vegas, confronted him and punched him in the face. Turns out it wasn’t him and I'm a idiot...
Bethany Kenyon: And you weren't high or anything?
Jeszika Gautier: Not when I hit him, no.
Bethany Kenyon: After?
Jeszika nods sadly.
Jeszika Gautier: Yes... I was...
Bethany hugs her gently again.
Bethany Kenyon: Aw, Jezzy... I'm sorry i wasn't there to try and stop you.
Pausing, she exhales heavily.
Bethany Kenyon: If we'd all been there, who knows what might have happened.
Jeszika Gautier: Could have been much worse.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh? Violence-wise or drugs-wise?
Jeszika Gautier: Both...
Bethany Kenyon: You think we would have killed him?
Jeszika Gautier: Yes...
Bethany Kenyon: And you think we would have all done way more drugs?
Jeszika Gautier: Maybe...
Bethany Kenyon: Or you think you and Ash would have and Nik and I would have had to try and stop you?
Jeszika Gautier: More than likely.
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think it was Sentinel?
Jeszika Gautier: That attacked me? No... he doesn't have blue eyes and this guy was smaller.
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think he was the one that left me the note?
She pauses.
Bethany Kenyon: Sentinel, I mean.
Jeszika Gautier: I don't know... I mean, why would he do it? Doesn't seem his style.
Bethany Kenyon: It's a strange thing, you getting black roses where the guy has made damn sure you know exactly what's going on and i get a white one... and I'm not even sure from who, much less what that person's intentions are.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, which makes me think these are not the same person.
Bethany Kenyon: You don't think they could be using voice modulation or... surrogates, do ya?
Jeszika Gautier: It’s entirely possibly I guess.
Bethany Kenyon: Almost enough to make ya throw up your hands and say gimme a bottle and an eightball, I'll see you when I come to.
Jeszika Gautier: Well I already got part way there the other day, coke and sedatives...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I'm sorry, i shouldn't have said that.
Jeszika Gautier: It’s fine, B... it’s what we were. What some of us kinda still are. I was fooling myself when I thought I could stay clean...
Bethany Kenyon: You can, you did for the longest time, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: Not any more, B. It’s all I can think about now...
Bethany hugs her.
Bethany Kenyon: Have you had any more since you got home?
Jeszika Gautier: No... but I want to.
Bethany Kenyon: How's Carrie on that?
Jeszika Gautier: Like you'd expect.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She wants to dive into a pile like Scarface...
Jeszika Gautier: Yep... as do I...
Bethany sighs.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash has wanted to do that for six months too.
Jeszika Gautier: How did we get like this, B?
Bethany shrugs, shaking her head sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know. I mean, it was used to be just fun, we could all take it and leave it. Still is fun, I'm sure but...
Jeszika Gautier: It’s just not the same as it was... we've become dependant...
Bethany Kenyon: There's nothing fun about what Billy was doing and what brody IS doing.
Jeszika Gautier: Not at all.
Bethany Kenyon: Nor walking in on Ash with a needle in her arm, you passed out on the floor or me... with a gun...
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, not fun at all...
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: Is it sad that if i could just take us all out for a beer and not have us end up hammered out of our minds for the next three days, I'd do it right now?
Jeszika Gautier: So would I.
Bethany Kenyon: God, do we ever need some way to just blow off the steam that won't also end up with half of us in a coma!
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, we really do. What about sky diving or something?
Bethany Kenyon: Something like that or paintball or... something.
Jeszika Gautier: Paintball could be fun.
Bethany Kenyon: Indeederoonie...
She pauses and then smiles.
Bethany Kenyon: You remember that time we went to Texas and got really drunk on tequila somebody had brought in from Juarez? Can you imagine if they'd let us loose on El Paso with paintball guns that night?
Jeszika Gautier: Man, that would have been great!
Bethany giggles.
Bethany Kenyon: Just picture prim and proper Nik... plastered and running from an equally plastered ash with like lime green paint guns.
Jeszika Gautier: A moment worth capturing on video thats for sure.
Bethany nods her agreement.
Bethany Kenyon: What are we gonna do now?
Jeszika shrugs.
Jeszika Gautier: Dunno but I really néed somethings to stop me thinking about my dream.
Bethany Kenyon: Come on, let's go find... something...
Jeszika Gautier: Ok, let's do it.
April 10, 2015
10:30 PM
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bethany Kenyon sets up a webcam in her living room, making sure it’s pointed from her coffee table to the bare white wall next to the fireplace.
Bethany Kenyon: This is the kind of match that should excite me to no end. Amy Zing is unendingly fun to wrestle because you know she’s gonna give it her all. She’s gonna fly, she’s gonna kick, she’s gonna do whatever she needs to do and you have to be on top of your game or you are going to get fucking head kicked clean off! I love watching her work and i love getting in the ring with her simply because I know I can’t sleepwalk through a match with her in it.
She pauses, looking less than thrilled.
Bethany Kenyon: Her partner seems to be something of a wild card. Artemis hangs out with a guy who fought Amy and seemed to take delight in playing with her head. I’m not sure what to make of this woman or her Mister Hunter, but I’m pretty sure none of us should like them much even if they really haven’t…
Shaking her head, Bethany frowns hard.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t know what it is about them, but they just seem... wrong.
She shrugs, looking annoyed, nervous and embarrassed.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s just the best word I can think of to describe it. There’s something off about these people. Artemis and Cole, they seem to enjoy things nobody should enjoy and yet, they don’t really do anything…
She pauses, looking even more frustrated.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t know, I just always feel dirty after having to watch something they broadcast to the world and I can’t really tell you why.
She looks away as if she’s expecting something… or someone… to come into the room. Seeing no one there, she shakes her head and looks back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: Amy, watch your back with this one. My sister and I are gonna enjoy this match when you’re in but when Artemis is around, we all need to be careful because none of us really know what she can do, what she’s capable of or even if she has an agenda, much less how she plans on going about said agenda if she has one. You can almost guarantee, whatever it is this woman wants, it does not involve working well with you.
She nods, trying to reassure herself as much as anyone else.
Bethany Kenyon: Good luck, Amy, we’re all gonna need it to keep this match from turning…
She exhales and nods to herself.
Bethany Kenyon: Just keep telling yourself that, Bethany, you might even believe some day...
3:47 AM
Topeka, Kansas
Bethany Kenyon comes back into her hotel room and stares at the UWA World Championship belt sitting on the bed. This wasn’t something she’d ever expected to actually happen and yet, there it sat on the bed shining back at her. Bethany stares at it, taking a step forward, slowly reaching out to make sure it’s real. As she takes another step, she stops and shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: What do I do now?
Taking a deep breath, she lets it out and then looks around the room. There was no telling when her boyfriend, Brody Montgomery, might come back… or IF he would come back. He had arrived here after she had, no telling where all he had been in the interim as he didn’t make a habit of telling her everything he did and she didn’t make a habit of asking for fear she might actually tell her…
Bethany Kenyon: Where… ?
Looking around aimlessly, Bethany slowly starts to take in the situation. He had been here when she left for the show, saying he would stay here and watch on his laptop only for Billy to call an hour or so later and say Brody was gone again. Now the show was over and he still wasn’t back and there had been rumblings that something had happened with Aerynn Donnelly to cause her to be uncleared medically previous to their match. Neither Bethany nor the defending champion, fellow Arsenal member Jeszika Gautier, had been pleased at this considering how much they had both looked forward to getting their hands on Aerynn and how far Aerynn had gone to weasel her way into the match in the first place. What could have happened and where was Brody?
Bethany Kenyon: Come on, Bethany, think…
As she looks around the room, her gaze falls upon Brody’s bag. Bethany frowns in confusion. Brody never went anywhere without this bag, especially when he disappeared into the night.
Bethany Kenyon: He… left it?
She starts to move closer to it but stops herself.
Bethany Kenyon: Bethany… do you really wanna do this? That’s HIS bag… you don’t need to go snooping for stuff you don’t really wanna find…
She squeezes her hand into fist as she stares at the bag.
Bethany Kenyon: But what if he left his phone in there too? Maybe he called Jayni and she’ll know...
Bethany lets out a deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: This is a bad idea…
Shaking her head ruefully, Bethany walks over to the bag and crouches down.
Bethany Kenyon: Do I really wanna do this?
She stares at the bag for what seems like forever, her fist hovering just above the zipper as she ponders the situation. Finally, she exhales forcefully and opens the bag. Inside, it doesn’t take long for her to find bottle after bottle of pills, Vicodin, Percocet, Valium and some others that looked like Ecstasy. Slowly picking up one of the bottles, she notices there’s no proper label to indicate where he was prescribed these things. Staring at this bottle and shaking, a tear starts to roll down her face.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh... my… God…
She closes her eyes and leans the bottle to her forehead.
Bethany Kenyon: Brody… what have you gone and done?
The man known simply as Broderick Montgomery stands in the elevator with the hood of the leather jacket up. The sign on the side of the large metal box said "no smoking" but a lit cigarette hangs from the corner of his mouth. When the door rings out "DING" and slides open, the leather combat boots and blue jeans carry him down the hallway.
Bethany hears the click of the electronic key in the door before it actually opens and when it finally does, Brody walks in. It was near 4 AM and he was sure the beautiful blonde he was falling head over heels for would be asleep. The door closes behind him and he exhales a large cloud of smoke as he starts away from the door and down the hall leading to the main living room.
Inside the room, Bethany steps bag from the back, shocked, appalled and unsure of what to do. She sits down next to the championship belt, staring at the bottle in her hand.
Bethany Kenyon: What am I gonna do when he gets back?
She pauses and shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: What if he doesn’t come back?
Right as those words leave her mouth he comes around the corner into the main room of the hotel room. The eyes which were once so alive, arrogant perhaps but alive stare at her, dead and empty from beneath the hood.
Brody Montgomery: Did you really think I wouldn't come back, Babe? It’s me and you against the world, Bethy... you know that.
His eyes may be lifeless, but his voice is not. His voice shows the emotion his face denies, affection, perhaps even love.
Bethany holds out the bottle of pills to him.
Bethany Kenyon: I’m sorry… I was trying to see if you’d left your phone behind again…
Her voice cracks.
Bethany Kenyon: I really wish I hadn’t…
Most people would take the bottles and yell, but this was Bethy. He couldn't yell at her. When she held the bottles out he sinks down to the bed beside her and tries the only thing he can. He reaches out and takes the bottle, discarding it on the bed next to him. He then reaches out and lays his hand on the side of her head, knowing she may pull away, depending on how angry she is.
Brody Montgomery: ...I'm proud of you, Bethy. Your win… it was amazing, Babe.
Misdirection, it was all he had. His only play.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t wanna know what all is down there, do I?
Brody Montgomery: You know I won't lie to you babe....do you want to know?
She starts to shake her head.
Bethany Kenyon: It’s a lot… isn’t it?
For a moment Brody says nothing, just lays his hand along her hair gently before speaking softly.
Brody Montgomery: ....More than a lot. People owe my dad... owed… my family. I called in favors. Even without money, I can get what I need...
Bethany sighs heavily, sounding almost relieved.
Bethany Kenyon: So you didn’t have to steal from… to get them?
Brody Montgomery: I am a lot of things… and have been in my life. A womanizer, a cheater, a ruthless businessman... but never a thief...
He turns her head gently by the chin until she’s looking at him. He wants to make sure she knows this, especially now.
Brody Montgomery: And you… fixed all the rest Bethy...
She nods, still looking at her feet.
Bethany Kenyon: And I’m the girl who used to make things explode as a “party trick.”
Brody Montgomery: ....Bethy... yell at me. Tell me you hate me... something. When you sit there staring at your feet it makes me worry... since you found… those, did you doubt us now? Am I too much like you all used to be? Please... don't silent treatment me?
Bethany Kenyon: It used to be funny to people… we’d get drunk… or high… or both… I’d find a hunk of charcoal, something like garlic or a rotten egg in the garbage and some bird shit… everybody staring…
She swallows hard and then looks up at him.
Bethany Kenyon: It wasn’t funny, was it? Blowing stuff up while…
Brody Montgomery: No… but it wasn't a good thing that I was doing either. And you cleaned yourself up. Your sister cleaned herself up...
Once again he shifts her, but this time he shifts her entire body until she is seated to the side and facing him.
Brody Montgomery: That's why... I did what I did tonight. When they drugged you… what if someone had taken advantage? What if you had… ended up with someone else? Or you and Carrie… had decided to reconnect… where would that leave me… or us…?
Bethany nods slowly.
Bethany Kenyon: I woke up after that like I always did, except this time I hadn’t done anything crazy like that…
She bites her bottom lip.
Bethany Kenyon: You know you can do that with the right kind of matches, too? The sulfur ones… you take a can, soup ones preferably, stick some charcoal in the bottom, mix in the bird shit, a little paper, light the match and then throw it… instant grenade…
She turns her whole body to face him, finally unable to hold back the tears any longer. She brings her fists up and lays them on his chest before diving in face first.
Bethany Kenyon: You can’t leave me like that! You can’t tell me it’ll be alright and then do that to yourself and think it’ll be fine if nature takes it’s course… you can’t be like…
Her voice starts to trail off as she starts sobbing, somewhere between anger and despair.
Bethany Kenyon: My mother!
When her face hits his chest and she begins to cry his arms immediately go around her shoulders and pulls her tighter to him. In fact, not satisfied with the way things are he pulls until she is literally sitting in his lap, with her head still on his chest.
Brody Montgomery: Do you mean… the Aerynn thing or the pills? Talk to me Bethy… come on...
His voice was soft, soothing even. He wanted her to break, to open up, blame him, get angry. Anything but bottle the pain.
Bethany nods to the pills.
Bethany Kenyon: What Aerynn thing?
Brody Montgomery: ...They didn't tell anyone...? What I did?
Bethany Kenyon: They told us Aerynn wasn't cleared medically... Samuel mentioned something about Mayhem and then sent us to the ring like it was no big deal.
Brody takes a deep breath and then pulls back a bit, looking down at the beautiful blonde in his lap. How was she going to take this? He was unsure, and a little leary now.
Brody Montgomery: I… snuck into the arena... and followed them. I hear them… taunting us. Talking about how… they wished you had ended up with someone that day… and I had had to watch it all… so...
Brody takes a deep breath and then continues.
Brody Montgomery: So when Shonn and Pauly left, I attacked Aerynn with a baton, to the back of the knee… and when she fell… I hit the Ruins of Valhalla… into the concrete and told her… if they touched you again… I'd kill her.
Bethany Kenyon: You... curb stomped her... for me?
Brody Montgomery: ...They… drugged you Bethy. You could have ended up with a woman… or another man. You're mine...
Brody blinks and looks horrified.
Brody Montgomery: ...I didn't mean like I own you… you are your own person… I don't have ownership or you or... I mean...
She nods, taking his hand to try and slow him down.
Bethany Kenyon: I’m your girlfriend… yes…
She swallows hard and looks up at him, her voice low and small rather than booming and angry.
Bethany Kenyon: Does that mean you don’t trust me?
Brody Montgomery: Bethy. you were drugged… I saw your video… or Ashley's… I saw you. I don't think you even remember it. I trust you… you walked away from Carrie for me and us. The way they had you… you wouldn't have even realized you did it until you woke up with him...
His hand lifts and cups the side of her face and leans in, kissing her gently. He then leans back again.
Brody Montgomery: Tell me… you would have been able to face me the next morning. We both know… you would have ended things with me… out of guilt. To save me the pain of you doing it again someday. It's not that I don't trust you, B, it's that I won't let you walk away… not you.
Did she know what he meant by "not you?" He wonders if she put it together, that he meant Melissa. He was okay with losing Jezzy to her, but he wasn't okay with losing Beth, not since the first night when they got drunk together.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I love you, Brody, I just don’t want to… I don’t… I can’t… take watching someone I love die slowly when I could have done... something… not again.
When she says those words, he swallows a lump down in his throat, but then of course she mentioned someone dying slowly and knew they had finally arrived.
The pills.
He could explain a lot of it, but why lie his way out?
Brody Montgomery: ...I ...I just use them to disappear. To be anywhere but stuck in a concussion… the broken man who they tortured… who they did horrible things to. I want to be your man… but I don't know if they even left me a man...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I know… it’s why Carrie started on coke, she used to have to be in that place for the porn if they wanted her to do guys and even after she stopped, she always felt like she couldn’t wash that off. Jezzy doesn’t like to talk about it, but I know that’s why she drank herself into blackouts too.
Brody Montgomery: It's funny, I can't picture Carrie with a guy… but then again I couldn't picture you with one either until I saw you on...
Was he actually blushing? She'd know then he meant until he saw her on "him".
Brody Montgomery: Ahem… anyway… I don't know what to do… I… don't know.
Bethany nods, managing a small smile.
Bethany Kenyon: I’ve only been with two women… they’re kinda together now.
Brody's eyes widen at that realization and then he chuckles, and that chuckle turns into a faint little grin, Cheshire cat-like, mischievous and never good, but always fun.
Brody Montgomery: ...So, why don't we finish this talk tomorrow… I think we need to celebrate your win.
Brody then leans in and whispers into her ear, trying to send shivers down the side of her neck.
Brody Montgomery: Would you like to celebrate Bethy?
Bethany Kenyon: Totally and completely.
April 7, 2015
3:32 AM
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bethany Kenyon lies in her bed at home, sleeping soundly, dreaming of wonderful things. As she lies there enjoying a peaceful slumber, a blood-curdling scream rings out from the room up the hallway. Woken by the sound that shatters the night’s silence, Bethany sits up and first glances next to her. Her boyfriend was not there, in truth she hadn’t really expected him to be. As she glances up the hallway, she staggers up out of bed. Jeszika Gautier had fallen asleep on bethany’s couch earlier and Bethany hadn’t had the heart to wake her and make her go home.
Bethany Kenyon: Jezzy? JEZZY?!!!?!
On the couch, Jeszika looks around wildly. Who was that and where was she? As she blinks in the darkness, recognition seeps in.
Jeszika Gautier: B?
A light turns on and Bethany hurries over to her friend's side.
Bethany Kenyon: It's me, Jez... what's going on?
Jeszika Gautier: It felt so real... so...
She shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: It was just a dream... just a dream...
Bethany Kenyon: This has happened before, hasn't it?
Jeszika nods
Jeszika Gautier: Yes....
Bethany Kenyon: How many times?
Jeszika Gautier: Third time this week... but this one... was worse.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: So Ashley wasn't dreaming… she did see this?
Jeszika nods.
Jeszika Gautier: So did Sin and Rocket...
Bethany Kenyon: What's been happening with it?
Jeszika swallows.
Jeszika Gautier: The stalker... in the others he was threatening me with a dagger... I was tied up and he was teasing me with it... dragging it across my skin like he was going to cut me but didn't... in the second one he get sexual... kissing my neck as well... this time...
She shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He… you?
Jeszika shakes her head.
Jeszika Gautier: He stabbed me right in the stomach... right to the hilt...
Bethany Kenyon: Jesus, Jezzy!
Jeszika Gautier: He got me at the show, B... while I was in the shower... he grabbed me made me pass out and kissed me...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: And now you feel violated?
Jeszika nods.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh, Jezzy...
She wraps her arms around Jeszika and holds her gently. Jeszika rests her head against Beth’s shoulder.
Jeszika Gautier: And I feel stupid about it because what has he done really? He hasn't hurt me. He's simply watched and now... kissed me...
Bethany Kenyon: It's not stupid...
Jeszika Gautier: But what has he even done?
Bethany Kenyon: He got you alone, unaware and naked, Jezzy. It's not what he did to you, it's what he could have done.
Jeszika Gautier: What am I gonna do, B?
Bethany kisses her head.
Bethany Kenyon: I wish I knew but whatever it is, we'll get through it like we always have.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah... we will... together.
Bethany exhales and lays her head on top of Jeszika's, closing her eyes.
Jeszika Gautier: Everything ok with you, B?
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: More or less...
Jeszika Gautier: What’s wrong, B?
Bethany shakes her head, maintaining her grip on Jeszika as if she needs this just as much, if not more, than Jeszika does. Concern suddenly fills Jeszika's face
Jeszika Gautier: B... what wrong?
Bethany sits up and swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know what to do...
Jeszika sits up and looks at her.
Jeszika Gautier: About what?
Bethany Kenyon: You're not the only one waking up screaming...
Jeszika Gautier: Oh, B...
She hugs her friend.
Jeszika Gautier: What’s wrong?
Bethany swallows hard.
Bethany Kenyon: Brody...
Jeszika Gautier: What’s happened, B?
Bethany sits forward shaking her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He...
Unable to find the words for a second, Bethany squeezes her friend's hand.
Bethany Kenyon: He's broken, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: Oh, B....
She hugs her friend tightly.
Jeszika Gautier: Anything I can do to help?
Bethany shrugs sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know...
Staring out ahead of her, Bethany tries to find ways to describe it.
Bethany Kenyon: He doesn't eat much, barely sleeps and when he does, he wakes up screaming from nightmares he won't acknowledge he even had much less talk about what's in them. He drinks almost all his calories and he pops pills like they're candy and that doesn't even bring in what he did to Aerynn...
Jeszika Gautier: What did he do to her?
Bowing her head in shame, Bethany takes a deep breath.
Bethany Kenyon: Which time?
Jeszika Gautier: Start at the beginning, B...
Bethany Kenyon: At first, I thought he just slept fitfully because of what Joshua did and the head injuries he had. I noticed he went to his flask a bit and seemed to depend on pain pills but he had legit pin so...
She trails off for a second.
Bethany Kenyon: The night I won the World Title from you, he admitted he was why Aerynn wasn't in the match with us.
Jeszika Gautier: He was? Shit...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: He hit her and in checking her out afterward, that was how they figured out she was pregnant and pulled her from the match with us. Then at the last show, when they made the announcement, Brody attacked her in front of me, Oliver and Shonn...
Jeszika gasps, gaping in shock.
Jeszika Gautier: He knew she was pregnant and attacked her anyways?
Bethany nods.
Jeszika Gautier: He needs help, B... That’s not the actions of a sane man...
She sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: Can I help in anyways? beat some sense into him maybe?
Bethany Kenyon: I... don't know.
Jeszika Gautier: Want me to talk to him?
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: He's convinced he was right because he thinks it was Shonn Maguire that drugged me and that Aerynn got what she deserved and I'm not sure there's anything that could be said to change his mind.
Jeszika sighs.
Jeszika Gautier: I'm mostly convinced that Shonn did it too... The person who grabbed me the other night had blue eyes, like he does... and he certainly has motive... but something about that doesn’t sit right there. They've always been so open when They’ve done things in the past... why would they hide it now?
Bethany Kenyon: If he did, maybe it didn't go off how he wanted it to because Brody went after Aerynn.
Jeszika Gautier: Possibly.... but until I know for sure, I'm not gonna go punching anyone in the face like I did to poor Craven the other day.
Bethany's eyes go wide.
Bethany Kenyon: You did... what?
Jeszika Gautier: I thought it was Craven, so I went to Vegas, confronted him and punched him in the face. Turns out it wasn’t him and I'm a idiot...
Bethany Kenyon: And you weren't high or anything?
Jeszika Gautier: Not when I hit him, no.
Bethany Kenyon: After?
Jeszika nods sadly.
Jeszika Gautier: Yes... I was...
Bethany hugs her gently again.
Bethany Kenyon: Aw, Jezzy... I'm sorry i wasn't there to try and stop you.
Pausing, she exhales heavily.
Bethany Kenyon: If we'd all been there, who knows what might have happened.
Jeszika Gautier: Could have been much worse.
Bethany Kenyon: Oh? Violence-wise or drugs-wise?
Jeszika Gautier: Both...
Bethany Kenyon: You think we would have killed him?
Jeszika Gautier: Yes...
Bethany Kenyon: And you think we would have all done way more drugs?
Jeszika Gautier: Maybe...
Bethany Kenyon: Or you think you and Ash would have and Nik and I would have had to try and stop you?
Jeszika Gautier: More than likely.
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think it was Sentinel?
Jeszika Gautier: That attacked me? No... he doesn't have blue eyes and this guy was smaller.
Bethany Kenyon: Do you think he was the one that left me the note?
She pauses.
Bethany Kenyon: Sentinel, I mean.
Jeszika Gautier: I don't know... I mean, why would he do it? Doesn't seem his style.
Bethany Kenyon: It's a strange thing, you getting black roses where the guy has made damn sure you know exactly what's going on and i get a white one... and I'm not even sure from who, much less what that person's intentions are.
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, which makes me think these are not the same person.
Bethany Kenyon: You don't think they could be using voice modulation or... surrogates, do ya?
Jeszika Gautier: It’s entirely possibly I guess.
Bethany Kenyon: Almost enough to make ya throw up your hands and say gimme a bottle and an eightball, I'll see you when I come to.
Jeszika Gautier: Well I already got part way there the other day, coke and sedatives...
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: I'm sorry, i shouldn't have said that.
Jeszika Gautier: It’s fine, B... it’s what we were. What some of us kinda still are. I was fooling myself when I thought I could stay clean...
Bethany Kenyon: You can, you did for the longest time, Jezzy.
Jeszika Gautier: Not any more, B. It’s all I can think about now...
Bethany hugs her.
Bethany Kenyon: Have you had any more since you got home?
Jeszika Gautier: No... but I want to.
Bethany Kenyon: How's Carrie on that?
Jeszika Gautier: Like you'd expect.
Bethany nods.
Bethany Kenyon: She wants to dive into a pile like Scarface...
Jeszika Gautier: Yep... as do I...
Bethany sighs.
Bethany Kenyon: Ash has wanted to do that for six months too.
Jeszika Gautier: How did we get like this, B?
Bethany shrugs, shaking her head sadly.
Bethany Kenyon: I don't know. I mean, it was used to be just fun, we could all take it and leave it. Still is fun, I'm sure but...
Jeszika Gautier: It’s just not the same as it was... we've become dependant...
Bethany Kenyon: There's nothing fun about what Billy was doing and what brody IS doing.
Jeszika Gautier: Not at all.
Bethany Kenyon: Nor walking in on Ash with a needle in her arm, you passed out on the floor or me... with a gun...
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, not fun at all...
Bethany shakes her head.
Bethany Kenyon: Is it sad that if i could just take us all out for a beer and not have us end up hammered out of our minds for the next three days, I'd do it right now?
Jeszika Gautier: So would I.
Bethany Kenyon: God, do we ever need some way to just blow off the steam that won't also end up with half of us in a coma!
Jeszika Gautier: Yeah, we really do. What about sky diving or something?
Bethany Kenyon: Something like that or paintball or... something.
Jeszika Gautier: Paintball could be fun.
Bethany Kenyon: Indeederoonie...
She pauses and then smiles.
Bethany Kenyon: You remember that time we went to Texas and got really drunk on tequila somebody had brought in from Juarez? Can you imagine if they'd let us loose on El Paso with paintball guns that night?
Jeszika Gautier: Man, that would have been great!
Bethany giggles.
Bethany Kenyon: Just picture prim and proper Nik... plastered and running from an equally plastered ash with like lime green paint guns.
Jeszika Gautier: A moment worth capturing on video thats for sure.
Bethany nods her agreement.
Bethany Kenyon: What are we gonna do now?
Jeszika shrugs.
Jeszika Gautier: Dunno but I really néed somethings to stop me thinking about my dream.
Bethany Kenyon: Come on, let's go find... something...
Jeszika Gautier: Ok, let's do it.
April 10, 2015
10:30 PM
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bethany Kenyon sets up a webcam in her living room, making sure it’s pointed from her coffee table to the bare white wall next to the fireplace.
Bethany Kenyon: This is the kind of match that should excite me to no end. Amy Zing is unendingly fun to wrestle because you know she’s gonna give it her all. She’s gonna fly, she’s gonna kick, she’s gonna do whatever she needs to do and you have to be on top of your game or you are going to get fucking head kicked clean off! I love watching her work and i love getting in the ring with her simply because I know I can’t sleepwalk through a match with her in it.
She pauses, looking less than thrilled.
Bethany Kenyon: Her partner seems to be something of a wild card. Artemis hangs out with a guy who fought Amy and seemed to take delight in playing with her head. I’m not sure what to make of this woman or her Mister Hunter, but I’m pretty sure none of us should like them much even if they really haven’t…
Shaking her head, Bethany frowns hard.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t know what it is about them, but they just seem... wrong.
She shrugs, looking annoyed, nervous and embarrassed.
Bethany Kenyon: That’s just the best word I can think of to describe it. There’s something off about these people. Artemis and Cole, they seem to enjoy things nobody should enjoy and yet, they don’t really do anything…
She pauses, looking even more frustrated.
Bethany Kenyon: I don’t know, I just always feel dirty after having to watch something they broadcast to the world and I can’t really tell you why.
She looks away as if she’s expecting something… or someone… to come into the room. Seeing no one there, she shakes her head and looks back to the camera.
Bethany Kenyon: Amy, watch your back with this one. My sister and I are gonna enjoy this match when you’re in but when Artemis is around, we all need to be careful because none of us really know what she can do, what she’s capable of or even if she has an agenda, much less how she plans on going about said agenda if she has one. You can almost guarantee, whatever it is this woman wants, it does not involve working well with you.
She nods, trying to reassure herself as much as anyone else.
Bethany Kenyon: Good luck, Amy, we’re all gonna need it to keep this match from turning…
She exhales and nods to herself.
Bethany Kenyon: Just keep telling yourself that, Bethany, you might even believe some day...
