“Ladies and Gentlemen…”

The commentator's voice boomed as the intense match unfolded before everyone’s eyes. The audience could not contain their excitement as their widened eyes screamed for more. They raised their hands in cheers, supporting their respective candidates.

This was a match of the ages!

“Huff… Huff…” She let out in an exhausted tone.

“Our contestants keep at each other, looks like they’re both still raring to go! Who will win this? The final match of the season… Who will be our next leading champion?!”

Her trembling legs and shaking hands struggled to keep firm as her narrowed eyes focused on her opponent. With sweat brimming all over her skin, her well built and slender body took her fighting stance, refusing to give in the gnawing pangs of fatigue.

“Just this last one… This last match…” She muttered.

Her opponent lunged at her with his strong arm, sending it straight at her in a jab since she seemed distracted. However, using her keen senses, she instinctively dodged the blow, drawing closer to the enemy after making such a careless move.

“You're wide open!” She declared.

He too must have been tired of how the fight dragged on, and frustrated by how nimble his prey was. This made him resort to careless moves, especially since he was confident she wouldn’t be able to handle his large frame and subdue him.

He was wrong.

Grabbing his widely stretched hand, Roxanne turned, quickly curling behind him as she twisted his hand, causing him to stumble, wincing in pain. He lost his balance due to her offset, and she used this opportunity to bend and cut him short at his roots.

Breaking his stance with her legs, she caused the giant to lose all footing and fall on the ground with a thud.

“Gahhhh” He yelled as his back landed on the hard surface beneath.

Quickly dashing to the fallen opponent, refusing to give him a chance to recover, the young woman hinged her elbow and fell on the man's body.

The sharp thrust she gave landed on his chest, causing him to bellow out in pain, glaring at her with a gleam of hate in his eyes.

He tried to grab her smaller frame, compared to his, but she was too nimble to be caught by his sluggish movements.

The girl quickly locked her arms around the man's neck, holding him in submission.

“Gruahhhhhh” He yelled, struggling to break free from her hold, but finding himself trapped in her deadlock.

She supported her firm grip on him with her legs, restraining him even more. He growled and rage, his muscles searing intensely in order to burst forth from the constraints of her arms.

It was no good.

After exerting himself, he began to feel his weakened state even more. This was followed by the gnawing pain of her lock on him. As she twisted his hands further and tightened her hold on his neck, he could no longer contain the agony which enveloped him.

“Arrggghhhh” He screamed.

His desperate shouts and appeals for release were drowned by the loud noise of the crowd. Mixed voices of cheers, jeers and dissatisfied grunts filled the air. No one could hear his plea for help, no one but he assaulted.

“Just give up!” She urged him.

However, he shook his head vehemently. There was no way he would demean himself and lose to such a young girl.

“Shut up, bitch! Just you wait, when I get my hands on you, I’m gonna-“

The young girl twisted his hands even further and increased the pressure on his neck, causing him to sing another melody of pain.

“Submit!” She commanded with a fierce tone, her eyes glowing brighter without her knowing.

The opponent heard this, but mistook it for auditory hallucination. He was getting dizzy, and the pain was making him hear things. Besides, he couldn’t bother about it when the searing agony of his tendons and muscles screamed at him.

His stubbornness dissipated as his instincts kicked in. He couldn’t handle it any more.

>bam! bam! bam!<

He heavily hit his palm on the hard surface he lay on, desperately pleading to be released.

Upon seeing his surrender, she released her hold on him, causing him to gasp desperately for air while wincing in the remnant of pain that lingered even after he had been freed.

“Awwww! Such a shame. It seems our victor has already been decided. Diablo has tapped out after being subjugated by our lovely rookie, and the final champion of this season. Let’s all give it up forrrrrrrrr….” The announcer's voice boomed, rousing a noise of cheer from the audience.

Chants could already be heard as the audience repeated the name of their champion. The tempo increased as the weary girl rose from the floor slowly.

Everyone knew their winner. While there were some complaints here and there, the voices of displeasure were easily overwhelmed by the cheerful cries of victory and celebration.

“…. The winner of this season goes to none other than….”

“… The Black Cat!!!!” His voice reverberated across the entire room.

Immediately, the anticipating audience erupted in a loud, victorious noise.

“I-I won…?!” She muttered to herself, full of sweat and exhaustion. She looked across the large room and saw all eyes on her, the audience clapped and raised their voice to celebrate her win.

The sight made her heart race in excitement. Joy and fulfillment overflowed from within her.

“T-Thank you all!” She said with a beaming smile, raising her two hands above her to signify victory.

Though she was breathing heavily and she felt so tired she could pass out, she had never felt this rush of emotions before… The warmth of the crowd and the ever bustling feeling of victory… Standing at the very top… She loved every moment of it!

As she continued to bask in the awe and cheers if her and fans, the announcer's voice emerged once again

“Now then, without waiting any more of our time…”

As she heard the word ‘time' from the announcer, the girl felt like she was missing something. There was somewhere else she had to be… She was running out of time!

“Asher!” She muttered as her eyes widened in realization.

Disregarding everything else the announcer said, the girl took off instantly. She ignored the award which was being brought up for her as she left the stage, exciting the building itself in an instant.

“Wha-?! Where do you think you’re going?!” The manager of the underground wrestling arena protested as he watched Roxanne race past him.

She ignored his words and kept running straight ahead. Only one thing was on her mind.

Yes, she had her fun.

Yes, she had gotten the fulfillment and achievement she desired

However, she wanted something now, more than anything else…

“Asher… I'm coming… My answer, I’ll give it to you now!”

Everything came crashing down when she saw it, the horrible sight which turned the life she had dreamed about around.

“A-Asher…?!” She muttered, not entirely sure what to make of the scene.

Her lover and mate, sleeping with another woman… That was something she had never imagined in her wildest thoughts.

“It's not what you think… Please just hear me out!” Asher begged.

“Shut up! What doesn’t it look like? Asher… You…” She screamed.

Immediately, she ran out of the room, leaving the house behind as she fled.

She was going to disappear forever. The pangs of pain she felt within her was twirling and turning her insides.

Deep down she wanted him to hold her hand, to grab her and not let go… To tell her that she was mistaken about it.

And that was exactly what he did.

“Roxanne!” He called her name.

Grabbing her arm with a tight grip, his hard palm caressed her tired body.

“Roxanne… Don't go… Please… I didn’t do anything to her, I swear!” He pleased, drawing her close to him.

She weakly resisted, fighting the urge to collapse into Asher's arms.

“Y-You cheater….” She muttered, tears flowing from her eyes.

“I would never do that to you, Roxanne… After all… I love you!” He whispered.

Her heart melted as she heard this, and her tensed muscles which resisted his passionate hold loosened. She let herself go, freely falling into his chest, as he embraced her warmly.

“You fought hard, Roxanne… And you won the match. I’m so proud of you, Roxanne. You did well…” Asher whispered into her ears, encouraging her about events he should have no memory of.

“Asher…” Roxanne moaned.

“I’m so happy to hear you say that…” She sniffed and smiled softly, ignoring the common sense that rang in her head.

Somewhere within her, she knew the truth, but she wanted to stay this way for a little longer. She didn’t want to face the harsh truth.

“Asher… How much do you love me?” She asked, smiling comfortably as his embrace tightened.

“I love you more than anything, Roxanne… But, you’ve still not given me your answer. Do you love me?” He asked her, staring intensely at her.

This was her queue. This time for sure, she would say it.

She had to say it… The words she had kept to herself for so long. Right there and then, she would pour out her feelings.

“Asher… I-I… I lo-“

Slowly, the world around her began to fade away, the details disappeared as reality collapsed.

Fear began to spread all through her heart. No, it couldn’t be. She couldn’t accept it, she wouldn’t!

This had to be real, this was how the end was supposed to go. Everything was already going well. This was finally her turn, she would tell him her answer and they would lock it in a kiss. She looks at Asher, happy to still have him holding unto her. As long as he was still here, then maybe…

“Roxanne… You should tell me how you feel… Tell the real me… Roxanne, I’m waiting for your answer…” His voice echoed, as he too slowly faded away.

“Asher, Nooooo!!!!” She screamed, stretching her hands desperately to reach for the intangible.

As the harsh winds of winter blew on her face and blinded her sight, she was reminded once again, that everything that had just happened was nothing… But a dream!

“Asheeeerrrr!!!” Roxanne screamed as she woke up from her sleep

Slowly, she realized that she wasn’t in the world she had been just a few moments ago. Now in reality, she groaned to herself, shaking her head slightly as she covered her face with both of her palms.

“Not again…” She muttered.

Once again, she had dreamt about her mate, and how she had wished things ended between them. The lingering regrets she had, joined by her deep connection with Asher as her mate, caused Roxanne to travel to the realm of the subconscious to meet with her lover and replay the same scene over and over again!

“Roxanne… What are you doing?” She asked herself.

Disappointed by her immersion in the illusion that she created for herself in the dream.

Despite what she saw that night, Roxanne couldn’t bring herself to hate Asher. She even longed after him even more, as the fine continued to pass.

Though she often waved the thoughts aside, Roxanne couldn’t help but ask herself…

“Asher. I wonder what he’s up to now…”