A Whole New World

[AshCandor]

A Whole New World

I can show you the world
Shining, shimmering, splendid
Tell me, princess, now when did
You last let your heart decide?

Don't you dare close your eyes
A hundred thousand things to see
Hold your breath - it gets better
I'm like a shooting star
I've come so far
I can't go back to where I used to be

(from Disney’s Aladdin)

OFF CAMERA
Flashback (Deep within the recesses of Salem’s mind?)

Imagine if you will the deep and slightly gravelly voice of an older gentleman, something along the lines of a Morgan Freeman or James Earl Jones. Then you’d have an idea of the narrator of this piece; namely me. I’ve been selected to narrate this bit, something of a flashback in the life of young Salem Agatha Cartier. As some of you may know, she was born on September 11th, 1992. This date being slightly curious at the time since her sister Morgan was born exactly two years earlier. That date really didn’t hold much significance until Salem’s 9th birthday, when the tragic events at the World Trade Center in New York took place. Seems there’s always been a tinge of tragedy just under the surface for the Cartier name, and young Salem was no different. Could we blame her father? Rumors had persisted that aside from being a respected college professor he was obsessed with the occult and possibly devil worship. Now I’m not here to pull back the curtain on that bit of scandalous talk today, no. Let us fast forward through all the youthful trials and tribulations encountered by Salem (and largely brought on by her sister more often than not).

Our focus is on the year 2010. Young Salem has just graduated high school. She did okay in school, but never had any true scholastic aspirations beyond the 12th grade. This disheartened her parents to no end. They just wanted her to try, to be all that she could be. They had seen the potential in her that her sister Morgan just didn’t possess anymore. Morgan had snuffed her flame of improvement long before, didn’t even finish high school in fact. But Salem’s parents had grown begrudgingly accepting of that and now somehow Salem not going to college was a bit more disappointing. But what would Salem do now that high school was over? Let's look back through the sands of time and see for ourselves, shall we?

“That settles it… I’m going to Virginia.”

Salem stated this out loud for no one in particular. She sat in her room, looking at stuffed animals and posters reminiscing about days of youth and innocence. A couple of pamphlets lay upon the bed. The first one was in regard to a commune retreat located in rural Virginia. It offered the chance to diverge yourself of all the trappings and amenities of life that could bog you down: no television, no bills… a community of themselves for themselves. She held it up again and stared at it, not reading the words, almost looking through it.

“I’ve got to… I’ve got to get away. I need a new life. I can’t… I can’t do this anymore.”

She glanced at the other pamphlet and frowned. But let’s not spoil the contents of that one just yet, shall we?

“Can’t do what, child?”

A voice at the door. Salem turned to look; it was Mr. Byrne. He was her father David’s close friend and confidant, something of a groundskeeper and handyman around the homestead who lived in a cabin out in the woods. Salem wondered to herself exactly how much of that he’d heard. She hurriedly put the pamphlets in her backpack on the bed, then looked up and smiled at him.

“Oh, I didn’t see you there. It’s nothing really. You know, life decisions and whatnot. What to do after high school, that sort of thing.”

Mr. Byrne nodded, leaning against the doorframe.

“I suppose you’ll be spreading your wings and flying away from here then. It’s a pity… but, I know we’ve all gotta grow up sometime. Whatever you do, I wish you nothing but the best, Salem. You always felt like the daughter I never had, so warm and sweet. Quite a bit unlike Morgan, of course.”

He trailed off, chuckling. Salem arched an eyebrow, but then had to nod along too in regard to her sister. Morgan had been gone from the New Hampshire home for a couple years already, but her wrath and warpath through the home still lingered. Salem shrugged, trying to drive away bitter memories.

“I’m not my sister, what can I say. There couldn’t possibly be more than one, right?”

She offered a light smile to Byrne, and he returned it in kind. He wringed his calloused and cracked hands together.

“Well, I should probably get back to work. We’re clearing some trees on the south end of the property, just came up to the house for a spot of tea. I suppose your parents are gone to the store. Tell them hello if you see them before me.”

Salem nodded, standing and putting on the backpack.

“Of course. Be careful out there.”

Mr. Byrne smiled and rubbed his chin.

“I suppose I should be saying the same to you, young lady. Be careful, I mean that.”

With that he moved away from the doorway and disappeared back down the hall. Salem rummaged around her room and scraped together a few belongings, packing a bag. She had to ride her bike down to the bus station with all this on her back, it wasn’t easy. She still didn’t drive a car back in those days. Arriving at the station, she got her ticket for that Greyhound and finally got to board it. She slumped into her seat, stowing the big bag in the overhead, clutching the backpack in her lap as she began to fade off into the depths of sleep, dreaming of flying carpets and genies. She was embarking into a whole new world, after all.

In the front pocket of the backpack were wedged the two pamphlets. The one mentioned earlier about the Virginia commune. But the other one was of more curious note:

‘Your Pregnancy And You’

-

ON CAMERA
The here and now!

Salem sat crossed legged on the floor in the middle of a large tapestry style carpet. She paused the movie that was playing in the background, an image of a big blue cartoon genie smiling. She brushed her hair back from her face and looked to the camera, a sheepish smile forming upon her lips as well.

“Shocker upon shocker… you’ve caught me watching cartoons again. Seems a bit proper this week that I tuned in to Aladdin, hmmm? I mean, my opponent this week has found herself in what I encountered for myself a few months back: a whole new world. That new world being Frontier Grappling Arts… good ol’ FGA. So tell me, Savannah Taylor… how do you find the place so far? Have you had your eyes opened yet? This isn’t exactly San Diego, right? Oh, I know about Exodus… you were their last World Champion, is that right? I know about starting over in new locales. But you… you wind up on the top of a mountain that nobody gets to climb anymore, the last champion of a defunct company. You were clearly talented enough to be the very best there, but it’s a hollow feeling now, right? That belt just goes up in the trophy case, and now you need to look around and find another mountain. Someplace new where you’re not airlifted to the peak of, no you have to start at the bottom and scrape and crawl your way up just like the rest of us who got our start here.”

Looking off to the side she pauses, collecting her thoughts, before returning her gaze to the camera.

“Although judging by twitter, my amateur detective work and deduction skills lead me to believe you might’ve found perhaps a soft landing place on which to embark your journey here in FGA. Not that it matters to me. I guess those that have held World Championship belts are just naturally attracted to each other? Ah well, I’m not some E! News correspondent here to sling gossip. No matter who you may or may not affiliate with, you still have to handle business in the ring, correct? It’s not like Danny Diamond cared that you were the last Exodus World Champion when he pinned your shoulders to the mat. Don’t get me wrong, he cheated as plain as day. Unfortunate that the referee didn’t catch it, or we might be sitting here discussing a different match outcome altogether right? It’s not like it was the first time anyone ever cheated to win a wrestling match. But that simply won’t be the case this time, right?”

Salem shook her head and smiled, slowly rolling her neck in a brief circular motion.

“I mean… we’ve got that sweetheart of sweethearts herself, Annie Zellor to wear the zebra shirt and referee the darn thing. Now I’m not demanding to see her diploma from referee college or anything, I’m just going to assume that she’s very, very capable of calling a close competitive match right down the middle. That’s the first thing we need to discuss. As far as I know, we’re both cool with Annie. Who isn’t, ya know? Everybody deserves a good clean match and on Vertigo I just have to assume wholeheartedly that Annie will do her station in this match proudly.”

Salem nods and gives a small golf clap to the camera.

“Even beyond that, any extra special attention and care as far as refereeing this thing isn’t really that necessary, per say. I’m not Danny Diamond. I’m not going to cheat to win. Never had to, never will start. It’s not in my DNA, dear. Can the same be said for you, Savannah? Can you let your frustration of being screwed over in your last match stay down to a simmer? Or will it boil over and you try some tactics not exactly on the up and up? You’re no saint, I don’t think. Annie, keep your eyes open, please. Even so, I’m not going to sit here and complain about cheating. For all I know the match might be a perfectly acceptable athletic contest, full of honor and respect. Excuse me if I don’t get my hopes up beforehand, though.”

She shrugged, leaning back on her arms, palms flat on the carpeted floor.

“World Champ pedigree you may have, but you’ve never been in the ring with the Witchy One, Savannah. Don’t blink and don’t sleep on me. Anybody who discounts me as some gimmicky act packed with charlatan games has already done themselves a disservice, lady. While it’s true I like to bring a bit of spectacle, try to keep a bit of an aura around me to keep the fans engaged; don’t assume I’m all flash and no substance. At the heart of me is an athlete with a competitive drive, that can reach down for that something extra when the times get tough. But I can take my lumps, no doubt. See, it was a whole new world for me last Vertigo too… we have something in common: We both lost. Our first losses in this company. The difference being… I’ve been here for months, and my match was in the main event against the current Pride Champion, Sunshine Tony. I can’t sugarcoat it, he’s got a belt for a reason… and he sure beat me. I can’t gloss over it or spin it, I didn’t get the job done. So this week, I’m looking to atone for myself and my performance on the last Vertigo and take it to another person who is no stranger to belts… you, Savannah.”

Leaning forward on her knees now, popping her knuckles.

“Every week, every match… I’m learning. You’ve got to, in this business. You stop gaining knowledge and you will start withering on the vine. Me? I’m ripe. My magic carpet is ready to ride, to soar higher and higher. I’m climbing, and I know that the top of the mountain is up there, Ms. Taylor. You and all your beauty and your siren-like charm hold no sway over me, understand that. I’m happily married to the love of my life. You’re gonna have to just rely on that athletic ability this time out, I’m sure you’ve got plenty. But this week, I don’t feel like letting you and all that athletic ability gain any ground on me or attempting to pass me on your own personal journey to get to the top. Simply, I refuse. I’m going to deny you that. I’m going to pull forth every ounce of energy and skill that I can muster, wrestle my heart out out there… and pin your shoulders to the mat. And don’t you or even Annie worry about where my hands will be. This will be no ill gotten gain, no cheap win. This will require no genie’s wish to make it come true. Victory is a Witch, and you spell it S-A-L-E-M. ‘Tis the Season.”