Time: Few days after the end of Apex.
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”We’ll meet up again.. after Apex, to celebrate our victories!!"
Victories..
That was the word that kept floating around a certain dark haired girls head like a dagger as she walked the streets of Tokyo. There was no pep in her step, Cass was trudging her way along the cold, populated city jampacked with citizens and foreigners alike that had come to spectate Apex live. After her loss and the subsequent party her friends, the Battle Bugs had thrown for her, Cass had gone off the grid. She hadn't answered calls, looked at her texts, or accepted any matches.
She didn't want to. Something had been gnawing inside her for the better part of a year and ever since Apex, it threatened to consume her. Having wandered aimlessly for a while, the small girl's eye caught something.
". . . ?"
A dated poster. Advertising Alizeh Midori vs Mindy Midnight.
She remembered the match. She'd seen it live after all, it was a day before her own. Alizeh won. She had cheered hard, but sped off to prepare for hers. But that was it, wasn't it? Alizeh won. She kept the promise, and Cass.. Cass broke it. She'd tear her eyes away from the poster, upping her speed as she made her way to her shitty little apartment. Unlocking the door, Cass pushed the elevator button. It dinged, and she stepped in. As the elevator began to move, she thought of Kate.
Kate, the person she had met. Her friend, a young lioness.. and an infinitely more impressive fighter than she was. She had looked her up afterwards of their session, and Cass was completely in shock of how spotless her record was, and how sweet and humble Kate had been for the most part. She thought she was perfect.
Maybe if she was more like Kate, her mom would be a bit more attentive to her. That had been her whole reason to come here, no? Getting closer to her estranged parent. She had always perceived herself as one of the best fighters ever, but time after time, after time.. she kept getting humiliated in the ring. She had passed out while being kissed once and kissing ass thrice for crying out loud! She'd bang her fist on the elevator door, biting her lip. The doors opened and she fled out of the elevator and into her room. She'd sink onto the floor besides her bed, rubbing her irises furiously, which were getting curiously moist. The people here had been so nice to her.. and she had been such a disappointment. Like always. She'd put her head between her hands, before standing up and pacing her room.
She couldn't take it anymore.
She was going.
Where? Cass didn't know, but she did know it would be the last anyone here saw of her. Besides, she'd reason to herself.. they were probably just pretending to be nice to her anyways. Why would anyone, anyone want to associate themselves with a disaster like her? Cass ripped off her posters, shaking her head as she went deeper and deeper into her spiral, hot tears spilling down her cheeks silently.. Alizeh probably tolerated her cause Cass was so.. so.. not-good, it made her feel better and look good about herself. Cass gripped her wrestling outfit, intent on stuffing it in her luggage and never letting it out.. but she cradled the wings she had so painstakingly crafted with her own hands. She still had scars on her fingers from it.. the Bugs only kept her around cause of coincidence of her being an insect themed wrestler! Not because they liked her for herself anyways. Honorary Battlebug.. if someone, anyone else had this suit, they would make a much better use of it. Her fingers gripped the fabric tight, crushing it.. until..
RRIIIPPPPP
…
When her outfit ripped, Cassandra’s thoughts came to a halt. The crushed, torn fabric of the butterfly’s wings brought her mind back to clarity. Her fingers shook a little bit, as she dropped them, taking a couple steps back and shakily collapsing onto a chair, watching her beautiful, colourful wings, the one thing that was bright in her bleak life, torn and broken.
Just like her, she thought with a small laugh to herself at the irony. Bubbling shame rose up in her like magma, because she knew what she had thought earlier.. wasn’t really true. She hated herself even more for even thinking about it.. but..
One thing became clear to Cassandra then and there. She couldn’t run. She would regret it for the rest of her life. Before LAW.. she had wealth, sure.. she had a legacy to fulfil, she had herself..
.. but Cass had nothing that made her happy. That made her feel alive. When she won her first match.. that made her live.
She wanted to live again, like that. She’d shakily exhale, removing her frayed bangs from across her face, rubbing her eyes free of tears.
“Victory.. is the key.
I’ll win.”
She’d promise herself, clenching her fist and banging it into the wall besides her ruthlessly.
“I’ll win.”
She’d bash her fist in again, only this time searing pain shot into her hand. She didn’t flinch, only watching as her blood spilt down, spotting her old costume with dots of red.
“I.. will win.. and live again.”
Promised Cass to her hollow self, letting out one last shaky breath. No more would she hold back, let herself be distracted.
No more.
She’d win, and only then.. would she forgive herself for how badly she disappointed everyone.
She’d click on her phone, and simply opened her LAW contact.
And typed in a few words, signalling a new saga for her. A worse, darker, bloody tale.
”I am.. open to matches again.”
