Reality.

Speak it, and it will come into existence. Is it that easy? I had to say my piece, and the world bent to my will. My father had always taught me to be assertive to the point it's damn near arrogance, but that's the beauty of the truth. It doesn't care about emotions nor the protection of one's morals. It's a blunt emphasis on reality. A reality that shows no mercy. I've waited too long and kept my tongue silent. It's time I speak up and tell the truth. I am the face of CruiserClash! I. am. The. Face!

---

ENOUGH.

The bandages were covered in reddish-purpled stains at their suite before midnight in Reno, Nevada. She followed the post-discharge instructions from the hospital, carefully practicing her poor medicinal skills in wound care and ensuring minimal pain. She couldn't bare to rub her hands on his scarred remains, avoiding the charred flesh that was still regenerating. Serenity stood on her knees as Holden sat on the edge of the bed. She kept her silky straightened hair in a ponytail while fixing the straps of her sports bra.

"Why do you continue to do this to yourself?"

She soaked the cloth in the bowl and then cleansed the wounds before wrapping the new bandages around his body. Holden chuckled, which caused her to jump off the bed and lean against the wall with her arms folded.

"Babe. We talked about this."

"No. You're going to say the same thing. You'll say you're indestructible or a tank, yet I'm the one playing nurse for you."

"A sexy nur-"

"THIS ISN'T FUNNY, HOLDEN!"

Serenity threw the remains of the bandages to the tall, and Holden leaned back from the outburst. He never saw this side of him,r but she was on the verge of losing it. Her fists balled, plus the hunching of her shoulders meant she wasn't the golly old bundle of joy Holden was used to seeing.

"You keep doing this shit, and there's a chance I may come to the hospital to hear my boyfriend didn't make it. People don't do this believing they are immortal. You have choices to make, and you face the consequences when you do!"

"You've never talked to me like this before."

"Well, I've never had to deal with a man who enjoys putting himself into crazy environments! I'm legit on the verge of losing my shit, especially when I'm not being treated well."

"But I do-"

"You do, but THEY don't!"

Holden put his shirt back on and raised his eyebrow at Serenity's ranting. He watched her sit beside him on the edge of the bed before placing a hand down her back to comfort her.

"What's going on, love?"

Serenity rolled her eyes and then sighed.

"I don't know what to do. I know I'm the best cruiserweight in Action Wrestling. I've been that brand's hottest attraction and exceeded expectations. Finally, I had enough of this, Holden. I'm the main event not only because I'm the best but all I had to say?!"

She leaned forward, using her forearms as support for her upper body. Holden placed his arm around her shoulder, but she nudged him off before standing back up. She paced back and forth until he grabbed her and sat her down on his lap, hugging her tightly. Finally, after a few futile moments of resistance, Serenity surrendered.

"Babe. I know it hasn't been easy for you, and I've been adding stress to you. I apologize. It's okay. I understand."

"I don't want to be mediocre. I don't want to be a one-hit-wonder. I want to become a legend in this business, but I don't think I am. I had to say something because I was so sick and tired of being seen as a shadow. I'm no one's shadow, and I'm damn sure not playing sidelines anymore."

"You're not a sideline to me."

Serenity looked away until Holden held her tightly. She giggled and leaned back into his body, resting her hands on his larger hands. She enjoyed being in his company when he was healthy rather than staying at his side when he was in critical condition. For a moment, she thought about the worst futures that could spawn for them until she was snapped back into reality, feeling a kiss from her lover.

"You're going to be okay, love. You know I love you more than anything. But, sometimes you gotta figure out what matters to you, and you want to be ta' best. I understand. So what are you going to do this Monday then?"

That was the one thing on her mind. Serenity had a decision to make, and not an easy one. All In or the Cruiserweight Championship. She sighed again and looked out the windows to the balcony where Reno's nightlife was her persona night light.

"Well?"

"I don't know."

She stood up again and turned around, placing her arms around their neck of Ross. He gracefully held her by the waist and pulled her in for a tight hug. Serenity's eyes narrowed as she thought about the upcoming main event she'll be debuting on CruiserClash against a man below her. This was honestly a decision she'll need to come to terms with.

"This will be the hardest thing I've ever done."

The words from her lips were poignant. Her spirit was torn between two options that could change her career. A chance to be All In or an opportunity to finally be cruiserweight champion. She couldn't let him go, but it was time to choose. However, she hated feeling scarred skin of Holden because she had to make another choice. Either support him on what he does or convince him to stop; All the options in the world couldn't be more challenging than now. Serenity would elevate one way or another, especially when it was a chance at glory.

---

WORTH.

"This is what I mean when I say my words change the atmosphere around here."

Serenity sits behind a large desk with her legs crossed and hands interlocked together, resting on the wooden structure. Dressed in a more business suit, she clicks her heels and stares forward to the decor of this modern-designed office representing a more corporate look.

"How does it feel, Lazaro? Is this the part you should be on your knees thanking me for getting you another opportunity at greatness? No. Don't thank me. Do what everyone else does and pretend I'm not the one who's making this brand bigger than ever?"

She chuckled out of arrogance.

"And now I've elevated you. I've made you become the main event with the opportunity to be the cruiserweight champion. An opportunity you don't deserve, but here I am extending my grace down on you. I'm granting you a dream you've always wanted."

"I remember how disgusted and offended you were when I disrespected your way of life,e and honestly, I felt bad. But, that was ignorant of me, and I apologize."

Serenity bowed her head and then smiled.

"Now I've made my apology by allowing you to compete for the cruiserweight championship against Teo Blaze. I'm going to beat you in Cleveland, Lazaro."

"You've made a huge mistake when you believed you, of all people, should have an opportunity at the biggest prize of our roster. Instead, when you couldn't even get the job done, you had to barge into my claim to the throne, believing that you're the next one to lead us into the next generation. I'm here to tell you that you won't do it and to prove it; you will be facing the man you've idolized."

She fixed the cufflinks of her black silk shirt and dusted off her blueish blazer's shoulders. Serenity leaned forward on the large desk, thinking of the double standards in this main event.

"God, I can't stand you. You're in a position I wanted to be in when I stepped foot into Action Wrestling. But, if there's a definition of being handed an opportunity, this is it. All you have to do is the fight, which still wouldn't be enough. So instead of sinking to the bottom where you belong, you snatch a chance I've been gushing to get in my hands."

"Can you believe this? Can you believe the position you're in?" All I said was the truth. The simple fact and Joey Bunga, on his cracked-out adventure, decided it was a good idea to award you, the loser, an immediate championship opportunity. You know what, Lazaro? I take back my apology. The only thing I'm sorry for is even giving you this opportunity in the first place."

Serenity kicked her legs up on the edge of the desk and leaned back with her hands behind her head. She rolled her eyes and looked towards a picture of her crafted by a fan, a detailed artwork of her as this year's winner of the All-In briefcase.

"I hate you."

"I hate you and Teo."

"Two men who believe because they can fly higher than anyone on the roster make them better than anyone else. A man who changes more personalities than I do with my clothes and a loser who gets awarded an opportunity offended that his culture is based on cowards behind masks doing flips that I can do as well."

"Lazaro. You're nothing special. I don't give a damn about your father, who was unknown to the world. I don't care about you, who eavesdrops on others' conversations and sneaks into opportunities that aren't yours. I damn sure don't care about anything you have to say because, quite frankly, everything has been handed to you."

"You're the stereotypical second-generation. Not me. I made a statement and got awarded. You got thrown into the mix simply because you didn't like what I had to say."

Serenity stood up on her feet and then flipped the table over to the wreckage. She looked down at the destroyed furniture before pacing around in an agitated venture especially considering the situation. Serenity was ready for war, no. She was prepared to deliver hell on earth to the man she believed never deserved this opportunity in the first place.

"This is what's going to do down at CruiserClash! I'm going to look you in the eyes and tell you the same thing I said to you three weeks ago. I don't care about this glorious culture that you were raised in. It's never meant anything in this business and even more to my family. We made victims of wrestlers who have hidden behind the mask."

"I watched my father beat them without remorse, and I'll repeat history by doing the same to you. I'm going to humiliate you. Watch you squirm and cry as everything your father taught you was a lie. Then, you'll forsake the way of libre and be begging to see your father again; ask him why did he lie to you all these years?"

"It's simple. He protected you from the truth. The simple truth is that I've always been better than you and when you face Teo Blaze, send him a message for me."

She picked up a piece of large wood from the debris and held it over her shoulders.

"Tell Teo I said he's failing at what he does. Tell Teo he's a local thug when he thinks he's a mob boss. He's too busy running the streets while I'm busy taking over the world because I am All In at this very moment in time."

"I'm all in to win that briefcase than cash in at the golden opportunity to become the youngest world heavyweight champion in Action Wrestling history. Good luck, Lazaro, and let me know how it goes. Once again, you're welcome for this opportunity."