NEW - NOIR EXTREME WRESTLING

PREVIOUSLY: Part XIV: A Bloody Contract Signing.

Hana_Jeong: As I step into the locker room, my racing heart slowly begins to ease, and the cold air hits my sweat-drenched skin. I stare down at my hands still stained with her blood as the reality of what just happened in the ring sinks in. I didn't just beat Avery; I shattered her. I might have sent her straight to the hospital. Catching my reflection in the mirror, a chill runs down my spine. I saw the sheer terror in the eyes of that poor assistant I brushed past earlier. I'm turning into the monster Lauren always wanted me to be. I'm becoming her. I shake my head, trying to clear the thought, and head for a long, scalding shower. I take my time getting changed, letting the hot water wash away the violence of the night. By the time I pack my gear, it's nearly 1 AM. The arena is dead silent. The crowd has emptied out of the Hammerstein Ballroom, leaving only the soft echo of the cleanup crew finishing their work. I head down the dimly lit backstage corridor toward the rear exit, my boots heavy against the concrete. That’s when I spot Madeleine's executive assistant, frantically trying to look invisible while shuffling a stack of papers.

 

 

Alexa_Fannings: Ever since I got back backstage carrying the contract you signed, everything went to hell. Some wrestler slammed right into me on her way out, sending the papers flying across the floor. Before I could even reach for them, she shoved me hard against the wall and stomped right over the pages, tearing them to pieces. Now, here I am, pathetically trying to tape the shredded pages back together under this flickering light. Tears are stinging my eyes, and I can't stop them from falling. "Fuck... what am I going to do now?" I mutter under my breath, completely unaware that you're standing right there in the shadows. "How the hell am I going to explain this to Madeleine? I am so sick of this shitty life..."

 

Hana_Jeong: The sight of you completely breaks my heart. It's past 1 AM, and here you are ... exhausted, weeping, and trapped under the weight of impossible tasks. For a second, I let the cold, relentless version of me fade back into the shadows, locking her away so the old, caring Hana can step forward. I walk over silently, drop down to my knees beside you on the cold floor, and gently place a hand on your shoulder. "Hey... is everything alright?" I ask, my voice soft. "Do you need some help?"

 

Alexa_Fannings: I jump, nearly screaming as your hand touches my shoulder... it feels like a ghost just reached out from the dark. "Uhh... sorry... I thought I was alone... sorry," I stammer, backing up slightly. Then I look up and actually see you. Just an hour ago, you handed me the file containing the match contract you signed over Avery's broken body, soaked in blood right out in the arena, using me as a messenger to send a chilling threat to Madeleine. But looking at you now, for the very first time in this building, someone is actually asking if I'm alright. Someone is offering to help me. My mind spins, completely torn between terror and gratitude. "No... I mean yes... sorry, no... I'm...it's okay." I pretend to be focused on what i'm doing.

Alexa_Fannings: In my head, I desperately pray you don't notice the contract you signed—now torn to pieces and ruined on the floor right beside us.

Hana_Jeong: A soft sigh slips past my lips as my eyes fall on the folder still damp with Avery's blood. Scattered across the cold concrete, I spot the torn, grime-stained page containing my fresh signature, right next to your frantic attempt to glue it back together. I look up at your tear-streaked face. Instead of anger, a small, gentle smile touches my lips as I try to ease the panic in your chest. "I think it's better if we just print a fresh copy for me to sign... don't you think?"

Hana_Jeong:

Alexa_Fannings: Your words hit me like a sudden, overwhelming surge of relief. "Oh Hana... could you really do that? Thank you so much... thank you... thank you..." I choke out, completely breaking down as the tears rush out compulsively. I was so paralyzed by fear just seconds ago, utterly terrified of what you or Madeleine would do to me, and suddenly you've lifted all that weight off my shoulders. I can barely breathe through the sobs, but for the first time tonight, it's not out of terror. "Could you please come with me to the office?"

Hana_Jeong: "Sure," I say, stepping back to let you catch your breath. I follow you down the quiet backstage corridor and up a flight of stairs until we step into the GM's office where Madeleine manages Noir. While you head toward the printer, I make myself comfortable, dropping into one of the heavy leather chairs and resting my feet right over the desk. I pull out a cigarette, click my lighter, and take a slow drag. As the smoke curls toward the ceiling, something on her open monitor catches my eye: an email exchange with Lauren. My eyes scan the text quickly: they're discussing our upcoming match, but then I see it... a plan targeting my best friend, Sara, and her championship title. "Hum... interesting," I mutter under my breath. Keeping my posture relaxed so you don't notice my sudden shift in focus, I slip my phone out and discreetly snap a few clear pictures of the screen.

 

Alexa_Fannings: I hit print, watching the fresh pages slide out of the tray, and turn back around to you. "Here, Hana. Please sign again here," I say, handing you a pen with a slight tremor still in my hand. I take a deep breath, looking at you with pure gratitude as you take the document. "Thank you again, Hana. You just saved my life. I was so scared to face Madeleine... or yourself."

Hana_Jeong: "Thank you..." I say softly, my eyes drifting down to the badge hanging around your neck. "Alexa." I smile up at you, resting my burning cigarette on the edge of the ashtray. Taking the pen, I slide the fresh contract toward me and smoothly sign my name across the line. "Here," I say, handing the document back to you. I look you dead in the eye, letting the warmth in my voice ground you. "You don't need to be scared of anyone, Alexa. Your life is way more important than a piece of paper no matter what paper it is."

 

Alexa_Fannings: I let out a soft sigh, a small, tentative smile finally breaking through as the panic fully drains out of me. "I'm not the fearless Hana Jeong," I admit quietly, feeling genuinely at ease around you for the first time tonight. "My life depends on this job... I have rent to pay, and no back-up plan." I look down, carefully aligning the fresh pages before placing the black folder right on Madeleine's desk, perfectly centered in front of her chair.

Hana_Jeong: I crush the cigarette butt out into the ashtray, letting the ember die before standing up to face you directly. "You aren't me and you don't have to be," I say, stepping closer so I can look you in the eyes. I want every word to sink in, to remind you of the worth Madeleine keeps trying to strip away. "You are a human being who deserves respect. You have your own value that makes you unique. " I reach out and place both hands gently on your shoulders, anchoring you. "Look at you... you're so pale. I'm willing to bet you haven't eaten a single bite all day, have you?" I give your shoulders a light, warm squeeze. "What do you say we get out of here? There's an Italian bistro not far from here in Manhattan , they're open until 3 AM, and the food is incredible. I invite you!"

Alexa_Fannings: "Oh... I don't want to bother you, Hana. Honestly, I still have to finish organizing the Excel sheet with all the wrestlers' wages..." I break off as I look up at you, but the look on your face makes it abundantly clear this isn't an invitation I'm allowed to refuse. A soft, breathless chuckle slips out as the last of my corporate defenses crumble. "Okay... let's go," I say, a genuine smile finally reaching my eyes. "Thank you for the invitation, Hana."

Hana_Jeong: We walk a couple of blocks until we step into the heart of Little Italy, turning down a narrow, shadowy street illuminated only by the warm, dim glow of the bistro's entrance. I ring the buzzer at the heavy wooden door. A moment later, Massimo, the old waiter, swings it open. His face lights up, and he greets me with a booming, thick Italian accent. "Hana! What a return to Noir! Mamma mia, you completely destroyed that blonde tonight, ah? Everyone in the back was talking about it!" He chuckles, waving us inside and ushering us past the main dining area toward a quiet, intimate table tucked away in a back room. Since we're both starving, we don't even bother with the menu. We immediately order the pasta of the day, a bottle of deep Italian red wine, and a few small antipasti plates to pick at while we wait. I lean back in my chair, pour us both a glass of wine, and look across the table at you. "So... Alexa... you're pretty new to Noir, right? I've never seen you around before, though to be fair, I've been absent for a while thanks to Lauren and Madeleine."

 

Alexa_Fannings: A small, shy smile touches my lips, but my heart aches. No one at Noir has ever cared about me or asked who I really am. I've been completely invisible since day one, carrying this overwhelming weight of worthlessness everywhere I go."Well, Hana... it's really just a part-time job for me. I'm actually a law student. I study during the day, and then I work nights at Noir and do data entry for a big corporate law firm downtown."I look down at the tablecloth, my voice dropping to a whisper. "You know... just trying to survive."A shaky gasp slips past my lips, and I fight with everything I have to hold back the tears stinging my eyes trying so hard not to expose just how deeply broken and depressed I feel. "Living and studying in New York is... it's so expensive. My family isn't rich; I come from a small, quiet town back in New Jersey."The dam finally breaks, and I bury my face in my hands as the sobs take over, spilling all the exhaustion, depression, and misery I've kept locked inside for months."I'm sorry, Hana... I'm so sorry... it's just not easy, and... I've been keeping everything bottled up for so long... I'm so sorry I really didn't want to bother you."

Hana_Jeong: I listen to you break down, watching the walls you built completely collapse right in front of me. It’s painfully obvious: you're drowning in loneliness, burnout, and depression. A quiet tear slips down my own cheek; despite the violent world I live in, I'm still human, and right now, I’m looking at a fragile soul in deep suffering. I reach across the table and wrap my fingers firmly around your cold, trembling hand. "Hey... look at me, Alexa. You don't ever have to apologize for feeling like this," I say, my voice low, steady, and tender. "What you're doing right now pushing through law school by day, pulling double shifts in this unforgiving city ? That doesn't make you weak. That makes you resilient as hell. Many of those women that step into the ring are not even twice valiant as you are. Believe me."

Alexa_Fannings: A faint, bittersweet smile touches my lips, the tension in my shoulders loosening slightly at your recognition. "I just wish I had one-tenth of your strength and courage, Hana," I whisper, letting my forehead drop into my hand as the warmth of the wine and your touch begins to ground me. "To deal with people like Madeleine... and bullies like Lauren and Avery. You know, when I saw Avery broken and bloodied in the ring tonight, a part of me was terrified of you. You were like a completely different person." I look up, letting out a raw, honest breath. "But... I have to admit, seeing her broken felt oddly satisfying. She's constantly shoving past me in the halls, calling me a dork, and treating me like dirt. It was horrible."

Hana_Jeong: Just as the tension begins to ease, Massimo arrives carrying our plates. The rich, savory aroma of the steaming pasta fills the air, and I watch your eyes light up with genuine enthusiasm for the food. A warm, affectionate smile crosses my face. "Oh, I guess I finally earned a real smile from Miss Alexa," I say tenderly, leaning back as our plates are set down. I pick up my fork, twirl a bite of pasta, and take a slow sip of wine before steering the conversation back toward the shadows of New Noir. "So... it sounds like you know Lauren far too well, unfortunately," I say, keeping my tone casual and conversational as I try to dig a little deeper into how deep her ties to management really go.

 

Alexa_Fannings: My skin burns hot at just the mention of her name. "Lauren is an absolute demon," I whisper, my voice dropping as I look around the quiet room, terrified someone might hear. "She completely manipulates Madeleine. Ever since your comeback last week, she's been on edge and more violent than usual. She actually cornered me in the office and shoved me against the filing cabinets..." My voice shakes violently, tears pooling in my eyes again as the memory hits me. "I... I don't know how to defend myself against people like that..." I stop, pressing both hands against the table, and take a long, shaky breath to pull myself together before leaning in closer across the candlelit table. "Hana... there is something else, and you must know," I say, my eyes wide with absolute terror and urgency. "After your match with Avery, they were planning to poison you before your match starts so Lauren can take the advantage and crush you without a fair fight. I just don't know how they will do it. Please... please promise me you won't say anything to anyone, or tell them I told you. Please."

Hana_Jeong: A cold, calculating calm settles over me as the weight of your words sinks in. There is no doubt in my mind that what you’re telling me is true; it fits the exact rot at the heart of New Noir. But instead of letting anger take over, my mind immediately calculates the angles, twisting this threat into a weapon to use in my favor. I reach across the table, covering your trembling hand with mine once more to keep you grounded. "Hum... So Lauren was in the building tonight... Thank you for sharing this with me, Alexa. What I'm about to do to Lauren for this is going to be very, very ugly," I say, my voice dropping into a low, dangerous register. "And once Lauren goes down, Madeleine won't last much longer either." The dark edge in my eyes softens as I look back at you, trading vengeance for practicality. "But coming back to you... you can't keep working for a monster like Madeleine, and you shouldn't have to break your back just to survive. You mentioned you're struggling with rent. My Vietnamese neighbor is actually looking for a reliable housemate right now. We live in Brooklyn, right in Dumbo. It's a cool neighborhood full of expats, the building is solid, and if you are ok to co-live with another girl, the rent becomes more than affordable. You wouldn't even need to keep working at Noir anymore and you can focus on your internship. what do you say?"

Alexa_Fannings: "Oh, would you really do that for me?" I gasp, my hands flying up to cover my mouth as fresh tears this time of pure, unadulterated hopewell up in my eyes. "My God, thank you so much, Hana. I... I honestly don't know anyone else in New York, and I've felt so completely alone." I look at you across the small bistro table, the heavy burden of my rent and the terrifying reality of working under Madeleine finally starting to lift off my shoulders. "I would love that. Please, introduce me to her," I say, a genuine, radiant smile breaking through my exhaustion.

Hana_Jeong: "You can just thank me by being my official defense attorney when I get hauled in for attempted murder after what I do to Lauren!" I let out a low, dark chuckle, flashing a sharp grin to cut through the heavy atmosphere and put you at ease. I finish off the last of my wine and wave over to Massimo for the check. We leave the restaurant "Come I give you a ride home. My motorbike is not parked far from here".

Alexa_Fannings: "Sorry if I act a little awkwardly... I'm just really not used to people actually being... kind to me," I admit, pulling my coat tighter around myself as we step out of the bistro and back into the cool night air. I walk closely alongside you down the quiet, narrow Little Italy street, my shoes clicking softly against the pavement. When we have to cut across a dark, empty parking lot to reach the subway, a natural shiver runs down my spine. I would never, ever walk through a place like this alone at this hour. But as I glance over at you, striding beside me with such effortless power, a profound calm washes over me. Right next to you, I feel absolute security. I see a woman I could follow to the end of the world. I look up, my curiosity finally breaking through my nerves. "Watching what you do in the ring... it looks completely insane. That moonsault you pulled off? You must have been training for something like that since you were a kid, right?"

 

Hana_Jeong: "Not really," I say with a slight smirk, kicking a loose pebble across the pavement as we cross the dark parking lot. "I didn't even start until I was sixteen back in Seoul, and back then it was completely amateur stuff. I eventually got the chance to go to Japan, which is where I met Sara Leon, my best friend. We practically learned everything together, blood, sweat, and tears." I slow my pace just a fraction, turning my head to look down at you with a sharp, inquisitive gleam in my eye. A teasing edge curls into my voice, carrying a distinct, playful challenge. "But... why are you asking, Alexa? Are you thinking about stepping through the ropes and trying wrestling yourself? Hmm?"