Strangeland

[Niobe 'Nightmare' Martin]

”It’s time to rise up, man up, get back up, never been and won’t be broken…
Dust off and then come back for more..
You’ve gotta reach down, dig deep, and break ground
Show them all you won’t be beaten…
Brush it off and then come back for more!
Come back for more…”
# Five Finger Death Punch – Back For More

The camera focuses in on Niobe, whose sitting in the front seat of a sleek black convertible that’s parked in the back of the parking lot of a local fast food establishment in Richmond. The lights that dot the parking lot barely give you a good glimpse into the car, but her slowly shifting figure can be seen leaning forward to turn the dial up on the cd player inside. Loud, brash, heavy metal music from Five Finger Death Punch blared out of the speakers, vibrating the windows a little bit. The few people that walked by the car gave her strange looks but Niobe just stared on back, glaring at them with a cold look that sent them running. She continued to watch them get to their car, climb in and peel the hell out of that parking lot, leaving her alone for the time being.

With a self satisfied grin on her face, she leaned back in the seat and went back to destroying the burger that was in her hand, taking a sip of pop and merely enjoying the music that was blaring out of the speakers. If this didn’t screw up her hearing she didn’t know what would, but she did know one thing at the moment. Life was definitely very very good. She was sitting in a fine ass car with some good food, her favorite music, and the fact that she was on somewhat of a roll ever since the formation of Iron Nightmare, and then the bigger stable that was growing every day, The Black Hand. She giggled, clapping her hands together a couple times as though she was a child excited about a present.

But everyone had their opinions about what she was doing, and her sudden turn to the dark side as it was. Especially when it came to her relationship with one Tommy Knox. No one knew how to keep their noses out of things and stay away from her business. Everyone was warning her about Tommy, that he was up to no good, that he was only in it for himself and his own selfish games and he was only using her to get a chance to hold gold again. She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. She was being careful, and she knew how to handle herself. She trusted Tommy with every fiber of her being and she knew he wasn’t out for himself. He loved her and she loved him. There’s no way he would betray that. Niobe glanced at the cd player, smiling as another song started to play, the wrapper from her burger discarded into the bag at her side, picking a few fries out of the small holder.

She hadn’t won her chance at gold at that scramble match last week, which made her sad. She had come so very close to winning that gold. If only she had knocked Evan out before the end of that match, she would of walked away with that gold around her waist and the chance to gloat about it to everyone that was listening. But it wasn’t so. That bastard was as sneaky as a snake in the grass, the last thing she remembered was him crashing into both her and Robina to get the pin. God dammit, she thought. One of these days he’s going to pay. He’s going to find himself in a sore situation that he won’t be able to get out of. I’m not going to let this go.

And then his woman, that bitch Jenny Knite came out and attacked her, all because she had laid her hands on Evan. Well too fucking bad, she wanted that belt and she was going to do whatever she had to to get it. Niobe chuckled then, taking a bite of her sandwich. Tommy and she had gotten the last bit of revenge after that. He had set them both up for a rather wicked Hallucination on top of a table, and the sound of the wood breaking beneath her as she landed and rolled away was music to her ears. Perhaps it was a way to send a message to Evan. Mess with Iron Nightmare or The Black Hand, and that’s the last thing you’ll ever do.

The best thing was, was watching Tommy pick up the Overdrive Championship and walk out of the arena with it hung over his shoulder. She had smiled at him as they got backstage, pulling his face to hers for a deep kiss as they left.

But now was a different city, a different week, and again the suits were putting her in a tag match against some familiar faces, people she really didn’t care much to see at all. Maybe they just enjoyed doing this to her, playing with her to see how she would react to being stuck with people she hated.

”They enjoy playing games with me? Well then, I’m going to enjoy playing games with everyone in that match, no matter if they’re my opponents or not. Then we’ll see who’s laughing at the end.”  Niobe muttered, tossing the empty holder for her fries in the bag as she dusted off her hands, glancing at the near empty parking lot, scanning for any other people before she reached for the key and turned it, rolling down the window as she let out a happy yell, listening to the motor roar and purr to life. Patrons that were going in, gave her a look, the music pouring out through the open window, loud and in charge.

Hands were set onto the wheel as she let out another yell, put it into drive and peeled out of the parking lot, taking a quick look before punching it onto the busy road, the wind brushing through her hair, blowing it back as FFDP continued to blare out of the stereo speakers. The camera continued to take focus on her as the busy nightlife in Richmond raced by her, lights turning into a colorful blur as she shifted in her seat a bit before speaking.

”I think I get put in these kinds of matches, against people that I have no love for as punishment for something that I did somewhere down the line. Maybe it was for pissing off Sienna so much. Frankly I enjoyed that, being the damn thorn in her side all those months. But whatever reason I’m in this match, I’m going to make the best of it no matter who my partners are.

As for the Overdrive Championship match last time, I didn’t win even though I promised that I would and that I would dethrone Evan Envi as champion and waltz out of that arena with gold around my waist. I fell short and that blows big time, you have no idea. I came so very close, so very close to winning it, if only Evan hadn’t dived bombed onto Robina and myself. But Tommy got the last laugh in that situation. He’s got the belt now, and if poor little Evan wants it, he can come and find it…at the next PPV. He might get it back…maybe.

I’ve got partners in Jace Savage and Amy Zing, two people I’ve run into before time and time again. Two people that have no love for me and the same goes for them.

Amy Zing I don’t have much of a problem with. Mutual respect, but for some strange reason we just don’t like each other. I don’t know why. But it’s whatever.

Jace I don’t give a shit about either. He hates me and I hate him, but I think he hates Tommy even more than me which is fine. Doesn’t bother me.

I wouldn’t be so worried about me during that match Jace, because I don’t have any plans to come after you at all. I would be more worried about what happens after the match is over because if I decide to I might just knock you out. But I promise, scouts honor that I’ll keep my pretty hands to myself so we can win this match.

On the other side of this fence is Brian Hollywood, Anthony Washington, and Robina Hood.

Brian may have already beaten me in the past, but I plan on changing that tonight. He thinks he’s so smart, with his one win over me. It’s only one and it’s the only one you’ll ever get buddy. I plan on putting your lights out for good and making you another victim of The Black Hand.

And then there’s Anthony Washington aka The Future. Now why haven’t I seen you very much on Overdrive? Are you a ghost, or just that bad that you can’t even make an appearance once in a while? I hear you’re a talented guy but this is just silly. You better bring your everything to this match or I’m going to send you packing with the other two.

Finaly Robina Hood. Dear god am I sick of seeing you. You’re like a bad dream that won’t go away ever.

I’m the irrelevant half of Iron Nightmare? Really? So me decimating Jenny Knite and Evan in the middle of that ring after the match last week wasn’t relevant enough for you? Having it out with you in that ring wasn’t enough? Apparently not. Apparently I gotta beat it into you again.

I’ve been fine, since you asked, and I could give a shit what you called me. At least it’s not as bad as some of the things that have been said about you right? My career isn’t going backwards, it’s going forwards. As for yours, it looks like it’s going in circles. Or up and down, I don’t know. I know you’re the fucking North American champion, good for you. But championships only last so long, and before you know it, poof, they’re gone. You better watch your damn back lady because one of these days I might decide to come for that belt you have. I’m down for beating you again, and again, all for the sick satisfaction of watching you lie there and bleed, knowing that I beat you…again.

This is for all of you. The Nightmare is coming, and it isn’t going to stop.