Mirrored.

[Serenity Holmes]

Power, chaos, violence, disease. Name all the terrible events in our history and delve into the possibility that those awful times resulted from randomization or planning. True power isn't chaotic; it's inspired. Welcome to reality, where every move is calculated with precision and poise for the elite to rule.

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MIRRORED.

A simple press conference.

Under Roberto's mentorship, her media presence has expanded significantly now that she's adopted a higher role in the company after becoming the IWF Invictus Champion. Serenity's business schedule has been tedious, but she's enjoying the perks of being in the upper class. The decision to align herself with Roberto Verona has proved successful for her career. What could make things worse? After Rising Suns, she's now the replacement for the Heiress to the Throne tournament, which means the odds have changed the entire bracket.

Inside the M-Wave Arena, the open forum housed IWF's production team setting up the ring and equipment a few days away from Tuesday Night Sacrifice. However, a large banner and stage to hold a media interview for Serenity Holmes has been set up. Serenity sits in front of a table with the IWF Invictus Championship belt resting on a plaque. Security, more likely Mr. Verona's members of The Legion, created a barrier to protect his protege. On the other hand, she leans forward with her forearms placed on the table. Her black hair is in a ponytail as she gently strokes her cheek to avoid smearing makeup.

"Serenity!" One of the interviewers raised his hands, and she acknowledged him to answer. "How do you feel about your position in the Heiress to the Throne tournament?"

Serenity chuckled and patted her championship belt. She responded with an arrogant tone and a cocky smirk. "The tournament is over now. Everyone else had fun, but now Kasey Vex is out since she can't hold it in the ring; the obvious choice, as handpicked by our CEO, was your IWF Invictus Champion."

Serenity kept a smug smile on her face. The paparazzi scrambled to ask another question, and Serenity pointed to another interviewer as she leaned back in the chair, scrolling through social media on her phone.

"Serenity!" She rolled her eyes, acknowledging him again, and looked down at her phone. How did it feel to sacrifice everything you stand for to become a champion in IWF?

Her eyes lit up to the see of interviewers who were penciled on her response. Serenity sat upright. She leaned forward.

"What did you say?" Serenity questioned who she saw. At first, she thought it was a young woman, maybe an intern, getting her first media opportunity, but She shook her head to clear her voice.

"Miss Serenity Holmes, I asked how you are enjoying your time here in Japan." She sighed. It was a relief indeed. Serenity wiped her eyes momentarily and smiled, answering the question after being reassured.

"Oh! It's amazing. Japan has always treated me well; honestly, I enjoy the culture. The fans have been welcoming, and I've had experience wrestling in Japan before, so it's not new to me." She nodded. Serenity looked at the sea of interviewers again as they raised their hands for another question, pointing to a young woman who stood up.

"Serenity Holmes. How do you feel knowing you are being selfish in your decisions?" Serenity looked up again and saw her. It couldn't be. Her eyes must have been playing tricks on her. After everything, she's back and in her sights. The woman she feared more than anyone in this world. Her breathing got heavy, and her lip quivered. The emotions barreled down in her soul at mere sight.

"Ugh...sorry?" She chuckled nervously, and Serenity rubbed her eyes. When she opened them again, it wasn't just her there. She was everywhere. All of her sat down on the chairs, patiently observing Serenity. Her heart raced and the vision became blurry, sweat dripped down her head and she placed a hand on her chest. "I need to go." She stormed out from the stage, and security held back the media personnel as Serenity marched backstage to her private dressing room, where she slammed the door shut.

She fell to the carpet and leaned against the chair, almost hyperventilating. What the Hell was she doing there? Serenity had control of her life, didn't touch alcohol, burned her mother's grave, and dismissed her from her mind. She was in control, and the chaos had stopped. Nothing was making sense the more she thought about it.

Miss me?

Her head snapped to the mirrors on her makeup table. Serenity slowly stood up and took little steps toward the mirror, where she looked at her reflection. Unfortunately, she saw her mother's image appear behind her in the reflection, holding a glass of wine and twirling it around. Serenity looked over her shoulder to see she wasn't there, returning her gaze to the mirror.

What? You can't tell your mother hello?

"You are not my mom," she affirmed that statement with a whispered, angry tone. Serenity's hands gripped the edge of the table tightly, very tightly. Her mother smiled.

How long are you going to keep telling yourself that?

Serenity looked away, then back to her.

Whether you like it or not, you are my daughter. My flesh and blood. I live through you. How did it feel when you sold your soul to become a champion? Or how did it feel when you drowned yourself in alcohol?

The young woman's eyes became watery. Her teeth gritted as she pressed them together, and her hands shook from gripping the makeup table too tight.

My little Sereny. I miss you. I love you. You can never get rid of me. Deep down, you're exactly like me. You thrive in the chaos and hurting everyone around you. Just accept it. You tell yourself you didn't want the turmoil but were born from it. Now, you're in control of it. What will you do, my baby girl-

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!!!" She grabbed the wooden high-top chair and threw it against the mirror, causing it to shatter—security knocked on the door, alerting her to the disturbance. "I'm okay! I was watching a video loud!" She kept everyone from coming in. Serenity sat on a couch, buried her face into her hands, and then wiped the tears. She looked down at the broken glass and shook her head, chuckling under her breath.

I am so honestly tired of this. Here I am after breaking shit again. It's people like her who want to push and oppress. They always love to psycho-analyze me and diagnose me with this interpretation that I am an evil person. I'm not.

I made decisions because I had to. There were two evils, but I chose the lesser, and now I'm in a position where I don't have to look over my shoulder.

I don't have to worry about people like you, Black Widow. Do you think you're special because you follow the same ideologies as every other messed-up person in this industry? Let me be honest with you. I saw you the moment I entered IWF, and I didn't feel fear; I felt pity.

It's a pity for someone who can't understand that she's just another fly on the wall hoping to be seen. Now you are caught up in your little relationship with Madjinn, who awarded you one-half of the World Tag Team Championships. Yes, the man handed you the belt, but in my deal, I had to win the IWF Invictus Championship on my own against Nick Knight and Masao Akiyama in the co-main event of Night Two of Night of the Immortals.

Serenity sighed and closed her eyes to gain her composure.

However, you'll never convince yourself that happened. I genuinely believe you're just delusional. I was prancing around, trying to fool everyone; you can invoke darkness. I mean, I don't blame you. We both grew up with shitty parents who enjoyed tearing our flesh for their amusement.

This industry consumed us both, but look where you are now: You have a boyfriend, you're a champion, and you are surrounded by people who love you, yet you continue to fester, causing everyone to believe you are a hated woman.

You're not.

You're IWF's biggest pity party. You have been given everything to the point many would even consider you a vital member of the roster, but all the damn time is Brandy Cvetkova's pity parade of how the world hates her. News flash, honey, the world doesn't care about you. You're a smoke on the wheel regarding the bigger picture, so I will do the company service when I take you from the Heiress to the Throne tournament.

Serenity slowly takes the belt back in her grasp and stares at the main plate with her name titled. She stands up and looks down at the glass covering the carpet and the shattered mirror. It was poetic to see how things can change in an instant switch. She sighed and began to kick the glass together as much as possible before leaning against the table.

It's like you said, Brandy. You don't even care about the tournament.

You don't care about anything. You only care about hurting people, so the industry is perfect. For someone who has expressed what she hates that is in her blood, you're here at the front lines waiting to slaughter the unlucky prey caught in your web.

The infamous Black Widow of professional wrestling weaving her strings around to produce fear. There's one problem.

What happens when a certain prey enters your web and becomes your predator?

I mean, I think you're judging me all wrong. You see a little girl who is scared and following a man who will drop her for good. What YOU failed to realize is everything I've done has been business. This is a business, Brandy. This isn't one of your games where you psychologically torture someone. No, this industry houses professional wrestlers and fighters in the ring, and if you know me, fear is not in my vocabulary when it comes to that ring.

You? It's a shame.

You've been a constant reminder of what mediocrity fused with delusional grandeur is. You preach that you're this second coming of the antichrist, but here I am under God's choice to deliver you his left hand to bitch slap you straight down to the bowels of Hell.

Serenity took her championship belt and belongings and opened the door. The security team went inside and wondered what happened in the room, but she didn't care to answer. She walked through the building's hallways, with security escorting her to a black SUV for transport as one of the members opened the door. Serenity got inside and sat down, rubbing her thighs in her short black dress as she crossed her legs together.

Go.

The driver nodded and pressed his foot on the gas pedal so the transport vehicle could start its journey. She leaned against the door inside and pressed her forehead against the glass, watching Japan's beautiful scenery flow with her eyes.

You know what Brandy? I hope you find what you're looking for.

But then again, I hope you don't. You deserve to be at the bottom of the ocean. Let me take a page out of Kendrick Lamar's book.

I hope the next time you wrestle, you break your neck and end up in the hospital, where you're paralyzed forever. I hope Madjinn walks in and tell you he's been sleeping with one of the performance center wrestles, Stephen flips over your bed causing your life support to malfunction.

And then, when they rush to save you, the last image you see on a television screen will be Serenity Holmes holding up both the IWF Invictus and Women's World Championship.