Thirteen

“…this contest is set for one fall, for the Divas Championship! There are no DQs and no count-outs. Introducing first, the current Divas Champion, Kiera Frost!” The crowd broke into applause when the familiar lyrics to ‘Frozen’ by Within Temptation blasted from the speakers.

Seconds later, Kiera rounded the corner and waltzed over to the top of the ramp. Her almost white-blonde hair was held in a blue tiara that was made to resemble icicles, and the obnoxious amounts of eye liner and mascara made her cerulean eyes shimmer. The white dress that she wore concealed lithe arms, buttoned down the front, and came down a foot below her waist. From there, her white fishnets led down to black laced boots.

The Divas belt rested on her shoulder, and she flaunted it as she made her way down to the ring. Her hips swayed back and forth as she blew kisses at the audience, occasionally flashing them a smile. When she arrived, she avoided the steel stairs entirely, and instead used the ropes to hoist herself up. She then slid between the top and middle rope, and raised her belt in the air. The crowd went wild.

“…and her opponent, the undefeated ravenette, Thirteen!” The crowd went silent at the mention of her name, whether from awe or dissatisfaction had yet to be determined. The first strains of Stevie Wonder’s ‘Superstition’ filled the arena.

If someone were to sum up Thirteen in one word, there would be several words that would not come to mind. Sweet. Innocent. Delicate. The list continued on. But that night, when she came out, she looked so tired. Her feet were a little less sure as she walked down the ramp, but never once did her emerald eyes leave Kiera’s. There was a message that needed to be conveyed – only one of them could walk out with that title, and both knew who it would be.

Black locks were pulled back in an intricate web of black lace, bits of the material framing her head like the petals of a flower. The black leather half-shirt hid her upper torso and arms from view, and led down to two strips of leather cut out to form ‘13’, which connected to her short skirt. Black fishnets and boots with ‘13’ embroidered into the inside finished the ensemble.

The referee rang the bell, and for a moment, both of them stood there. Thirteen made the first move, extending her hand out toward the younger woman. Kiera shook it, before she used the leverage to throw Thirteen into the turnbuckle. She ran toward her, intending to use all of her weight against her, but Thirteen moved at the last minute and Kiera flew into the ropes.

Thirteen took hold of her feet and yanked her back until her back made contact with the canvas, and then rolled her around so that she was on her stomach. Squatting down, she pulled back on her legs and locked in the submission hold. Kiera let out a heart-wrenching squeal as she tried to climb toward the ropes, only to have Thirteen pull harder. Finally, Kiera contorted and threw the taller woman off of her.

Kiera’s small hand secured in the woman’s ebony locks as she yanked her to her feet, before she smashed her face into the turnbuckle. Then, she kicked her feet out from under her and used the moment of shock as an opportunity for the pin. One… two… Thirteen broke out at two and a half, stumbling to her feet and taking hold of the blonde woman’s hair. It was time for ‘Lucky Number Thirteen’.

“In case you are just tuning in ladies and gentleman, it has been a great match-up tonight between the ‘Ice Queen’ Kiera Frost and Thirteen. After one failed pin attempt by Frost, it seems as if Thirteen has the upper hand as she prepares for her signature move – Lucky Number Thirteen.” One announcer stated.

The second announcer fixed his microphone. “I’m telling you, if Thirteen manages to successfully land Lucky Number Thirteen on Frost, that’ll be it. Game over.”

“I’m not too sure about that. Kiera’s a fighter. She might surprise us.” The first announcer countered.

“If the ‘Ice Queen’ is as sound a champion as she claims to be, she’ll have to prove it tonight. If she can end the streak of Thirteen, then I see nothing but a bright future ahead for her.”

Just as the announcer’s voice trailed off, Thirteen finished pulling Kiera off of the ropes for the twelfth time. She slid down into a split, smashing the Ice Queen’s head into the canvas and watching it bounce. Steady hands rolled her onto her back and secured the pin. One… two… Kiera kicked out! The crowd went wild as Thirteen threw her leg down, infuriated.

“I can’t believe it. She did the impossible. She powered out of Thirteen’s finisher! But was it enough to win the match?” The first announcer babbled on.

“Shut it!” Thirteen screamed at them, obviously thrown off by Kiera’s move.

While Thirteen was distracted by the announcers, Kiera managed to hook her for The Backbreaker. Thirteen let out a hoarse shout as she fell onto her back, but Kiera took no pity on her. Using the ropes, she hoisted herself into the air and landed hard on Thirteen’s stomach. The referee started the count, before Kiera stumbled back. Thirteen lay motionless on the canvas, her emerald eyes closed.

Kiera pulled her to the center of the ring and attempted the pin, but Thirteen powered out at one. Thirteen was the first to her feet, and she tried for Lucky Number Thirteen again, but Kiera turned around and bashed her head into the turnbuckle. The ravenette turned around just in time to see Kiera running toward her at full-speed – she ducked beneath the other woman’s form and hoisted her into the air, before she threw her down onto the concrete.

“Remember, folks, this is a no DQ, no count-out match. Thirteen will have to bring Frost back into the ring for the pin in order to win. After that Backbreaker, can she do it?” The first announcer asked.

“I don’t know about you, but I kinda hope that Thirteen can do it one more time. I’m just not sure if Frost has what it takes to beat her. At this point, she’s fresh blood in the lion’s den. Thirteen knows how to pick her apart until she begs for it to end.” The second announcer responded.

“You just want Thirteen’s number.” The first man accused.

“That too. That too.”

At that point, Thirteen had Kiera back in the ring. Her elbow came down hard at the base of her spine, but the woman still struggled to climb to her feet. A weak punch hit Thirteen in the side of the face, and Thirteen countered with a kick to Kiera’s thigh. And from there, she hooked her in for the submission hold. In a matter of seconds, her face had turned red as a cherry.

“She has her here, folks. I think we’re about to have a new Divas Champion.” The second announcer remarked cheerfully. “But will this mark the beginning of the end of Thirteen’s career? After all, she cannot hold onto that title forever.”

Just as those words left the announcers mouth, Kiera tapped out. Thirteen threw her forward, and she rubbed at her back pathetically. Her entire body was on fire. The referee raised her hand in victory, and in the distance, her music started to play. Kiera’s reign was officially over. It was time for a new age of domination. It was time for the Age of Superstition. And with a wave of her ebony locks, the crowd went wild for their new champion.

However, the celebration was cut short when her music ended prematurely. The new Diva’s music barely had time to start before she was in the ring, beating Thirteen until the other woman was down on her knees in front of her. Frantic boos left the crowd as the Diva took Thirteen’s belt and raised it in the air, almost as if it were her own. Her name was Samantha ‘Valentine’ Heartly.

With one last kick to Thirteen’s form, she tossed the belt back at her. It was a silent challenge. Thirteen’s head snapped up viciously, and she hooked Valentine’s ankle, tripping her.

She accepted.