After she was done with her morning exercise, Roxanne returned to her hotel, watched tv, read some novels she had bought the other day to ease her boredom, slept, woke up again, ate… And before she knew it, night had come.
“Finally, I was sick waiting” She smiled, looking at the time.
The clock which hung on the wall displayed the brightly colored digits she was expecting.
“10:00pm. Perfect!”
Picking up a small backpack on the floor, she hurriedly left the suite she lodged in.
“Oh? Anywhere you’re going this late in the night?” One of the receptionists asked Roxanne.
The sonorous voice of the woman made Roxanne stop dead in her tracks as she formed a smile on her face and faced the woman.
She was dark skinned, and hard coiled hair, flashing Roxanne a curious smile.
“Yeah, something came up. It will take some time before I return.” Roxanne responded.
Over the course of the time she had spent in the hotel, she only bothered talking to one employee for an extended period of time, more than necessary.
“Ah, is it what I think it is? So you’re off to ‘his’ place?” The receptionist said with a knowing smile, giving Roxanne a wink.
“Oh, get your mind out of the gutter, Amaya,” Roxanne said, shaking head in embarrassment.
Amaya was an employee who worked at the hotel, taking only night shifts. According to her, she had another day job which demanded her attention.
“Who’s the lucky guy though? Take it easy on him, girl” Amaya kept pushing.
Roxanne couldn’t deny the fact that she would be seeing a guy, or rather, multiple guys where she was headed. It was a wrestling match, after all.
“No chance!” Roxanne responded, quickly making haste to leave before Amaya found something else to raise.
“Haha! I knew it. It is a guy!” The receptionist said with a victorious tone.
“I’ll be coming in quite late, so… I’m off” Roxanne smiled.
Roxanne ignored her, shaking her head, as she exited the hotel, making her way to the arena.
“Amaya and her silly jokes” She smiled.
Something about the woman’s personality reminded her of Rita, or even Bella, from her High school.
“What is it about me that attracts these kinds of girls?” Roxanne laughed to herself.
She sighed, after this brief moment of reminiscing. Amaya was only active during night shifts, making it very difficult for the both of them to really hang out.
Roxanne pushed this thought from her mind, calling a cab which passed by with a wave of hand. The cap quickly pulled over, and Roxanne ventured in.
“Move straight ahead. Kallen’s Street” Roxanne said.
The Cab driver nodded, feeling flustered by the time and fierce look the young girl exuded. He started the car and took off with precision, and in no moment at all, Roxanne was headed for her match.
“Welcome back folks, and might I say… Happy New Year to everyone!!!” The announcer’s voice boomed.
This was followed by the roaring cheers of the spectators. Their voices made the entire room quake, drowned in the excited screams and bellows of the eager crowd.
It was nothing short of a full house.
“It looks like you are all excited. Very well! We can’t disappoint you now that you’re all riled up!” The announcer continued.
The first wrestling match of the year, one which kick-started the business and offered one of the greatest amounts of fan service to the audience.
It wouldn’t be until a month after this that the tournament of the year would begin, however… The Underground Arena still hosted this match in order to appetize the members of their ‘fine’ establishment.
“Twelve Contestants… One victor! Who will it be folks? Here, we have all the previous victors and runner ups of the previous Annual Tournaments… Out of all of them, only one will win the prize.” The announcer stated.
This was followed by yet another deafening noise from the impatient mob surrounding the stage already set at the center of the large room.
“Oh, Oh… It seems you are all very excited. Very well, then. Without wasting much of your time, we will kickstart the New Year in this Stage with an exciting match, one you have all wondered to see.”
There was a deafening silence, as the audience waited for the announcement of the fighters in the first round.
“For the first round, we have the Champion of the 3rd Season of our Underground Wrestling Tournament… He’s big, he’s bad… He’s ! Let’s give it up forrrrrr….. The Goliath!!!”
The audience went wild in cheers and screams as a giant man stepped out and ventured within the ring. Raising his hands above his head, the man basked in the cheers of the crowd.
“Hold your horses folks… It’s time to announce his opponent. Yes, you all know this one. In fact, I’m certain you are all dying to know who this insane character is under the mask. Fierce, determined… Always nimble, yet powerful. The first rookie to have made it into the final round of the tournament and leave with the winner’s belt. Let’s give it up forrrrr….. The Black Cat!!!”
The cheers and sounds made by the mob far exceeded any of their cries earlier. Even the Giant’s cheer was dwarfed, compared to the outcry that filled the room as the star of the occasion, the winner of the just concluded Tournament walked into the stage.
“BLACK CAT! BLACK CAT! BLACK CAT!” They all yelled in a mantra, shouting her name.
The mysterious woman climbed into the ring and stood face to face with the dissatisfied Goliath, who eyed her with jealousy.
“Now then, folks… Here you have it. The first match of the year. A contest between champions… Who will win? Speed, or strength? It’s time to find out.” The announcer’s voice echoed throughout the room.
“Tighten your seatbelts and enjoy… This will be quite the show!”
The Black cat, Roxanne, stared at her first opponent and broke into a smile.
“A tough one, right off the bat uh?”
Her heart raced with excitement. If this would be her first opponent, that meant more powerful enemies were going to follow. The very thought of this made Roxanne’s body throb with anticipation.
This would be a very long night indeed.