Ash Like Snow

[Denise D'evil]

Act 1: Facing the Darkness

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.
Friedrich Nietzsche

The scene opens on the beautiful white covered mountains of Colorado. The sun glistened off of the snow and the skiers that moved down the slopes that were scattered through the area. Denver was in the thralls of winter, but it wouldn't be long before the snow would start to melt and everything would be back to the bright green lush fields, and blossoming flowers. The camera soon falls on the Breckenridge Resort just outside of Denver, where people make their way to the slopes for another day of skiing or snowboarding while others take in the other parts of the resort. We soon see Denise coming down one of the slopes dressed in a very skin tight outfit, and her long hair flying around her face, with a pair of blue glassed goggles over her eyes. She reaches the bottom as her phone starts to ring. She pulls it out a pocket on the side, and answers it, as she undoes the skis that were on her feet. She gets them off, and carries them back toward the little piece of heaven that she and Night Rider were sharing.

Denise: Hello?

Voice: It's Oblivion. You called IT?

Denise: Yes I did. We need to talk...

Oblivion: Fine. IT will meet with you in an open place. How about the park at the resort you and Night Rider are staying at?

Denise sighs, and looks around. She could see it from where she was, and knew that the beast wasn't going to be far behind once she hung up.

Denise: Sounds good to me. I'll be there soon enough. Just wait for me.

Oblivion: It will be waiting for you.

With that the other end of the phone goes quiet. Denise sighs, and heads back to the suite, and leaves her skis by the door,and goes inside and comes out wearing her long trench coat before heading off once again. She knew that Night Rider had left for the afternoon to get something together for her, but she wasn't sure what. He was the hopeless romantic type and she loved every minute of it. She starts toward the park where the white gazebo blended in with the snow that had fallen earlier that morning. Even then the snow had started to melt from the sun that was rising a little bit higher into the sky. Denise's boots crunch on the snow as she moves along the path toward the spot where she knew IT would be waiting for her. She reaches the gazebo, and she spots Oblivion, and moves toward him.

Oblivion: What the Hell do you want?

Denise looks at him with her dark blue eyes sparkling in the bright afternoon sun.

Denise: We're not finished with you yet! Last week, I thought you could have helped us some during that match, but you didn't!

Oblivion: IT told Night Rider.... IT'S DONE WITH YOU BITCHES!! IT DOESN'T NEED THE SHADOWS!! Keep coming after The Monster... Bad things are going to happen to you...

Denise: Like what?

Oblivion gets in the face of Denise, grabbing her neck with a tight grip. She struggles against him, feeling It's hand close around her neck just a little bit more.

Oblivion:...VERY BAD THINGS!!

Denise manages to pry it's fingers from her throat, and falls to the ground in front of IT. She gets to her feet, and looks at the beast dead in the eye.

Denise: You try that again, and you'll be put through more then you will care to remember creature.

Oblivion: The Monster doesn't know what else IT can tell you annoying stuttering flesh sack of bones... IT'S NOT INTERESTED!! LEAVE IT ALONE OR FACE DIRE DIRE CONSEQUENCES!! GOT IT?! NOW LEAVE THE MONSTER ALONE!!

Her eyes narrow, as she looks at IT, placing a hand on the hilt of her sword under the long trench coat she wore.

Denise: Trust me I've faced bigger and badder then you, and managed to walk away from them. You can threaten me all you want, but let me tell you something I am not afraid of you, like most people are.

The creature smiles an evil grin, as Denise stares IT down. Oblivion soon turns and starts to walk away leaving Denise by herself. She puts a hand to her neck, feeling the imprints of where the fingers had been placed. She sighs and starts back toward the suite. Her boots crunched on the snow as she walked, and her long hair blew in the wind as she walked along.

Denise: *Voice Over* Last week we faced SPAC and walked away with nothing. But the one that made it happen is the so called Beast! If he had just stayed on the sidelines we could have it had won, but no... How do you control something like the beast? You break them. He's getting there and by the end of this he will be one of the Shadows whether he wants to be or not.

She looks around her seeing the skiers coming in from the cold at the ski lodge. Denise walks inside, feeling the warmth from the fire that is roaring in the fireplace. Couples sat on the couches that were scattered in the sitting area together, huddled together trying to get warm, while others stood around enjoying the warm drinks that sat in their hands. On the TV Chelsea's promo played, and Denise watched as her eyes narrowed listening to what she had to say. The promo soon ends, and she walks back out into the cold.

Denise: *Voice Over* Chelsea do you really believe what you're saying? Or is it all a show for the fans and everyone in the back? That's what I got out of what you said at least. I don't know what Dark is? Tell me have you ever seen a man tortured just because you thought he knew something? And then burned him alive, along with his family without batting an eye? Or maybe living the existence that I do... I take heads left and right and I don't think twice about it. You say survival... I say an easy way to be the last one standing when it all ends. Last week you and I met in the middle of that ring, and trust me when I say that we are far from finished. This week I not only have a chance to bring you down, but to get my hands on the number one contender spot for the Television Title. Do you really think that I'm going to back down from something like this and miss out on a chance on getting my hands on another title? Hardly.

Denise continues to walk along the frozen path and soon reaches the suite. She opens the door, and when she looks around it has been trashed, with broken glass lying on the floor, their suitcases had been over turned, with clothes and papers everywhere. Denise looks around, moving with caution looking for any signs of who might have done it, and if Night Rider had arrived back. She lets out a sigh of relief as she sees that he was still gone, but a sound soon catches her ear. She draws her blade, as a young woman steps out from the bedroom upstairs. Her long red hair fell to the middle of her back, and her deep green eyes sparkled in the sunlight that streamed through the bay window.

Woman: About time you got back Denise.

Denise watches the red haired woman walk down the stairs slowly pulling a blade out from the sheath at her side.

Denise: Amanda... It's been a long time.

Amanda: Not long enough...

Denise grips the blade she holds hard, watching for any sudden moves from Amanda as she made her way down the stairs.

Denise: What do you want?

Amanda: I think we both know the answer to that question don't we?

Denise: How did you find me?

Amanda laughs a little and reaches the bottom of the stairs.

Amanda: It's not hard to find you at all now. Considering that you have gone back to a company that likes to advertise their champions. You really should stay on the down low Denise... You might live longer.

Denise: I've lived this long, and I don't plan on dying any time soon.

Amanda: Shame really... Because I'm here to take that pretty little head!

Amanda rushes Denise, but she side steps, as Amanda crashes into the turned over coffee table. She stumbles as Denise moves toward her, putting the blade through her back. Amanda cries out in pain, as Denise pulls the blade back and smiles as Amanda turns around with a hole starting to heal.

Denise: Nice trick.

Amanda: It's a shame that you don't know it...

Amanda rushes Denise, and leaps up bringing Denise down to the floor with the leap. The two of them roll on the floor through the broken glass, causing more blood to be shed.

Denise: *Voice Over* Do you see what I have to put up with Chelsea? You really think you can bring me down, when I've faced worst then you? I have lived for centuries, and faced creatures that shouldn't exist but do on this plain of existence. And you really think that I'm afraid of you? Please. You're only mortal Chelsea, and you can break a lot easier. I'm not going to give you the chance to even get your hands on that spot, because I'm going to be the one that is going to be walking away with everything that I want. If I get my hands on that one, I'll be just one step closer to becoming a grand slam champion.

Denise smiles to herself, as she grabs Amanda by the hair, and headbutts her, sending her to the floor. Denise gets up, and grabs her blade as her cell phone rings. Amanda gets to her feet, with her blade raised over her head, and tries to strike at Denise, but only meets with her blade as she answers her phone.

Denise: Hello?

Voice: Hey it's me.

Denise: Baby... Now is not a good time...

Night Rider: Why? What's going on? Are you ok?

Denise: I'm fine... Just a bit busy...

Night Rider: You sound like you're in trouble! Do you need me to come back?

Denise dodges another blow, and Amanda's blade went through the couch causing stuffing to fly out, and onto the floor.

Denise: No. It would be better if you didn't. I'll be fine, so don't worry about me. Just handle your business, and I'll see you later.

Night Rider: Ok... Love you.

Denise: Love you too.

With that Denise hangs up the phone and tosses it onto what is left of the couch.

Amanda: Another mortal lover? How many is that now Denise?

Denise: Does it really matter?

Amanda: You know that he's going to die eventually, and you'll be left alone again right?

Denise: I know, but I'll burn that bridge when we get to it.

Amanda: You know after I kill you, I think I'll kill him, just out of spite.

Denise runs at her and once again the blades come together. The two of them stare at each other before the two of them force each other back.

Denise: You won't touch him, because you'll be the one on the floor with no head by the time I'm done.

Amanda just smiles as she rushes toward Denise once again. Denise side steps as Amanda comes to a skidding stop into the staircase banister.

Denise: *Voice Over* Jayden we've met several times already. But tell me can you stand against me again? This is for something bigger then anything that you've done before, and it's for a title that only a handful of people have held onto for a long period of time. Of course you are the one that shows hardly any threat in this match. Chelsea is the one I'm after, but don't get me wrong, you will feel the pain that I can bring into the ring once again, and there is no stopping me no matter what you do. I will do everything that I can to stop you from getting your hands on that number on contenders spot.

Denise plunges her blade into Amanda's shoulder, as she starts to laugh

Amanda: And what are you going to do after you put that through me? You know I'll get right back up Denise.

Denise sighs knowing what she said was true. This wasn't going to end until one of them was dead in the middle of the floor. Denise pulls the blade back and Amanda rushes at her. The two blades come together once again, but Denise hits Amanda with a hard right punch to the head, and sends her staggering over the stuff on the floor.

Denise: *Voice Over: Of course your silence says it all to me. You're afraid and if I were you I wouldn't even try to step into the ring on Sunday night especially against someone that has already torn you apart, and made sure you didn't get your hands on another win. If you are truly that stupid then by all means please step into the ring on Sunday night and prove to me and everyone else that you are worthless and don't have a place here in the WCF.

As Amanda finally regains her footing, Denise swings the shimmering blade, and hits Amanda in the neck, as her head comes flying off leaving what appears to be smoke from the hit from the wound. The wind outside the suite starts to pick up, as clouds start to form around the resort. People outside watch as lightening flash in the sky, as snow begins to fly through the air. The glass in the bay window blows out shattering into thousands of pieces as Denise raises her arms letting the blade fall to the floor. Lightening runs through her body, as the TV, and stereo explode around her. She falls to the floor as the lightening disappears just as quickly as it had come. A few minutes pass by and Denise wakes up, and starts to get up slowly. She looks around at what was left of the suite and sighs, feeling the blood still trickling from the wounds from the glass that she had been cut with. She opens the door, and walks out into the bright day. She puts a hand to her forehead, and looks up at the sky. It was clear once again, and the sun was brightly shinning against the blue sky onto the snow below. She smiles and starts for the main building, as the scene fades to black.