Perfect Doll.
Smiles

Sophia said nothing at first as she entered into the office of Ms. Melanie. Her head held rather high adding to her height as she nearly skipped to the seat. The area still bright from the sunshine that came in giving a warm glow. The brown bob of Melanie's swayed to the side to accompany the woman's head. Almost an appearance of curiosity to the cheerful mood of Sophia. The dual haired female sat straight up in the leather chair. Each movement recorded by the slight creak of the leather. For a moment the office remained quiet, the only noise was the soft tune of Sophia humming. Her fingers drummed to the arm of the chair making a sotf patting sound. Finally, Ms. Melanie rose from her own seat to take the one across from the happy Sophia.

“You seem to be in high spirits today.”

“I am.”

Sophia offered a smile. Ms. Melanie retained the same expression. As if she were waiting for a certain change. An almost suspicious approach but she was grateful for the mood.

“How was your match at Madness?”

“It felt freeing to be back inside the ring again. I also walked away the victor with the help of my tag-team partner. I was worried at first because I felt as if I'd be rusty again... I didn't want to let my teammate down, and at the same time I didn't want to let myself down in the process. It turns out there is still no lingering rust.”

“ I see. That is good. I am comforted to see you in such a bright mood”

This time Ms. Melanie offered a smile while she wrote down small notes. The was something very curious about how insightful Sophia already sounded. A comfortable nature that was very rare to see. Without the need of a push she continued.

“Mhm! We were all divided onto the teams, I was telling you about that.... At first, I was really nervous because I wasn't sure how this would effect anything or if I would mess up my team. Adam, he's the captain of our team, was very welcoming. I actually hung out with him the other day just so I could actually speak with him... I enjoyed meeting another person. Sometimes it doesn't go over well... He seemed... excited to have me. I'm not sure about the others because I've never really spoken to them. Nate has crossed my path a few times backstage but nothing truly notable. Bradley, just made a return so it's safe to say I have never actually talked to her. Regardless, I am almost excited to be on the team...“

“You know, there is a lot of process with the fact you are interested in expanding your relations with no fear.”

Sophia's features flickered like a image being blurred but it faded into the smile once again. Ms. Melanie draped one leg over the other. The happiness, in a stroke of a miracle, couldn't be swayed by fear of Sophia's future actions. In fact, it seemed to last much longer than most in most instances.

“How do you think you team will do in these War Games?”

This caused Sophia's dark eyes to blink as if it didn't seem to truly connect in her brain. Her hand began to fiddle with the hem of her shirt, picking at the fabric. This seemed to roughen her mood.

“I don't know. I want to say that this team will go far, that we'll win, but I have no true drive to win. I'd be happy with wrestling anyone they throw to me. I do know that some of the other teams have actual problems with each other. They hate each other; wanting nothing more than to punish one another. I can't speak for the rest of my team and my doubt doesn't mean I won't fight my hardest to defeat the team we are up against... Some people are nervous because of Zoey's bodyguard, Doser.. almost makes me nervous. Size isn't everything though. I know monsters only have as much power as you give them...”

Ms. Melanie tapped her pen against the pad in her lap. A signal that she was thinking. Sophia straightened up awaiting for an answer of any kind. To comfort Sophia, Melanie smiled, however the gears in her head did not stop from turning this recent update. Finally the woman replied.

“You're right, size isn't everything. Skill does carry one further than most would believe. I find it interesting that you said, Monsters only have as much power as you give them. Have you fought someone with his stature before?”

“Once... He was a monster, well that was his title, at any rate. Everyone feared him because of his size, skill, it made them too uneasy to really battle him... Fear clouds our minds better than anything else. It's the most human-- natural emotion we have. Things like love or hate are almost more complex. It's why it is easy to fear someone like him. People must remember to fight an opponent with the same passion each time. Despite everything else. That's all.”

The words almost rattled causing Ms. Melanie to drop the question where it was. She jotted down the notes then pressed on.

“Anyways, you said you wouldn't mind just being able to wrestle, do you think that is because it's easier on you?”

“For now... ECWF is filled with enemies, people wishing for the other to fall, there are no friends there. Not ones that stick together through greed of the top title or other personal matters. Even when they believe there are friends, something changes? Plans, I guess and then suddenly they are at war against one another. Praise one day then doubt the next. They are all positive that they are the next best, the one on top, there are no humbled souls there but perhaps a few...”

Sophia shifted.

“Even our champion is fighting but I don't think she even knows for what. Lacey is defensive and dangerous but so is everyone else on the roster. I think it's weakness most of them share-- believing to be the queen or king when they are simply around equals... It's why I'm perfectly happy sitting on the sidelines of their hatred, waiting for when I have to jump into the frozen water below. “

Ms. Melanie seemed pleased. Her thin lips stretched in a soft smile while she listened to the explanation. It appeared that a victory was a way to settle Sophia's raging emotions. It also concerned her because what would a loss provide?

“Sophia, I'm impressed you've observed so much in such a short while.”

“-- It isn't hard. They are very obvious and they also post a lot on Twitter.”

“Do you see this as a problem?”

“No because I'm not really involved in any of it... Except when I accidentally inserted myself into Lacey's wrath over something stupid...”

This stood to simply amuse Sophia. She didn't have grudges against anyone yet they all seemed too on edge to trust her. It was a good thing. Some days Sophia didn't trust herself. It was like trying to find calm in a raging storm. There was none to ever be found. Sophia was the storm, never to find that calm after wards.

“So, tell me more about your friend, Devin was it?”

This drew another smile to her features while she happily told Ms. Melanie everything. The subject change lightening the mood.

Wind Me Up.

The waves crash to the shore causing a rhythmic soundtrack for the couple laying out in the sand. A jacket protected their hair from the ground while they silently rested side by side. Music from the man's phone played out a range of music mostly soft and slow. Sophia opened up her eyes to watch the sunset finally faded into the darkness of night. Beside her Devin hummed along with the music. His voice calmed her greatly, strangely enough. Despite the beautiful relaxation Sophia's mind continued to toss around thoughts about ECWF among other things...The back of her hand rested to her forehead.

18 Years Ago....

When did it start...?~

Tiny feet dangled free from the floor below. Tips of chocolate chair concealed her face while delicate fingers picked at the muffin crumbles on the table. With her head dipped low those dark orbs were hidden along with the possible expression. It exploded scattering million shards of glass everywhere creating a dangerous mine-field. With a turn of the head all the pieces could be seen down below, quiet, yet there have been explosions everywhere. It thundered ordering flinches from the tiny body. Voices were drowned by the booming that seemed to follow. Each word flew like a knife to imbed harshly. Sophia Halter watched the creases on her mother's face, the anger lines while her lips mouthed words that were almost too loud to be understood. Her father's face was turned away, his hands held his wife's forearms and the room was like a broken up movie played on a cracked disk. The sound didn't match the movement of the Mrs. Halter's mouth but the loud booming did. Sophia rested her cheek against the cool surface of the table.

“I can't do this anymore! I can't handle this! I shouldn't have to handle this! I shouldn't have to deal with a child like you! You're a horrible child! Why can't you behave?! Look at me! Look- at- me!”

It was broken. The words weren't streaming with reason anymore. The scene melted only to awaken with another explosion. Fingers pressed into the skin with enough force to break the bones beneath them. The tiny body was shaken once in a failed attempt to arouse a confession or to be shown an ounce of guilt. Mr. Halter was bent forward with an unreadable expression-- maybe of frustration, of pity, or disappointment. He had lowered his voice so the booming would finally come to an end. The smaller body rattled like a leaf in the Fall.

“I am disappointed.”

This broke the silence. The young body trashed side to side, like a wild doll that was shocked with electricity. Tears fell like a flood to wet Sophia's cheeks.

“No, no. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Daddy, please, please, please, I'm sorry! I'm sorry!”

She wailed until the thunder crashed through the front door then followed by recognizable collision of a door slammed shut. Sophia stood helplessly with her eyes pleading to her father. He shook his head. He yanked Sophia to the side towards her bedroom. Those heels stamped against the ground to slow his process, her nails raked against his arm, while she screamed as loud as she could matching the sound from her mother. Sophia sobbed in an attempt to apologize but it was fruitless. Mr. Halter tossed the girl inside before the door shut to block her off from the rest of the house. A single phrase was heard through the door.

“This is why she doesn't have any damn friends. What is wrong with her? I can't handle this anymore. I don't want her anymore.”

No. Something is wrong. Very wrong.... When did it start? ~

Sophia's hands pressed against the warm oven door while curious eyes peered inside to the muffins. They were almost done. She trotted over to the small step stood so she could open up the drawer where the oven mitts were hidden. Sophia placed them on before she went back to open up the oven. The waves of heat splashed against her face but didn't slow her from removing the tray. Was it something forgotten? The hole on one of the gloves? The metal bit Sophia's hand cause a shriek to empty from her lungs like a balloon losing air. The tray clanked against the tiles radiating a ringing sound. Wounded flesh shoved into her mouth trying to ease the terrible pain. Feet stomped towards the kitchen in a worried hurry. Mother reached for Sophia with a strange expression-- annoyance but concern. This is what tipped it. Sophia flailed out her free hand to smack away the outstretched hands. This hadn't stopped Mrs. Halter because she reached again.

“Let me see your hand!”

“No! Stop it! This is your fault! Your fault! You ruined the oven mitts! You ruined them! You hurt me! YOU HURT ME!”

Sophia began to yell while her socked covered foot kicked at some of the ruined muffins. She stomped at the ground, swatted anything near her and screamed.

“YOU HURT ME! BAD MOTHER! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! YOU HATE--”

Mrs. Halter reeled back with a flat hand struck against the exposed flesh of her daughter. The pain flashed already transforming the skin to a red color, no doubt a bruise would most likely form. It stopped the screaming better than a bucket of cold water. Sophia froze in place like a wind-up doll who ran out of action time. Her eyes didn't move to follow her mother while she cleaned the mess. Her mother sniffed to signal tears. More footsteps finally came when Mr. Halter arrived. He picked Sophia up to place her at the table. The words were soft at first however a misstep was taken somewhere. The pitch raised like the first low crack of thunder to give warning of a storm. Mr. Halter set a cleaned muffin on the table in front of his daughter while he spoke to his wife. This was when the plate fell, when the yelling had started, when Sophia pressed the sore cheek to the table...

Was it the same for the other incident? My fault...?~

Sophia wanted to play with the dolls, all of them more beautiful than real life with their hair in perfect curls. It never mattered how long they laid in one place because their hair was always lovely. Macey wanted to build in the sand. In the end, no agreement could be made; both too stubborn. When Macey ignored Sophia's out burst this only caused a larger one. With a pounce Sophia had a fist full of Macey's blonde locks before she shoved down. The sand pricked against the other's face, stabbing into her eyes, burying up her nose and clogging down her throat. Macey couldn't find the strength to force Sophia off but Mr. Halter did. He raced from the house, his voice echoed to snap his daughter back into the present. His hand yanked on his daughter's arm so fast a small pop could be heard. A weird jolt of tingles covered Sophia's whole arm but she didn't say a word. Mrs. Halter took Macey to the hose to wash off, her voice softer than Soph had ever heard before. Was that the same mother? It was an odd question that cycled through the young girl's head enough to draw blankness. This was where she stopped, where her father tried, her mother blazed in demanding she be locked inside her room, and where it ended....

4 Years Ago.

Will I mess it up again? I didn't mean to... I didn't mean to...~

“I pick Sophia Halter!”

The crowd had such a strange reaction of cheers and an undertone of booing. The rest of Michael's team seemed to mutter among themselves. Skittishly Sophia walked from her location in the corner towards where their 'captain' was. Her head was ducked down but a hesitant smile was gifted to the man. He clapped her on the shoulder; welcoming. What an odd gesture in Sophia's eyes because they had never spoken. Most of the roster ignored her paying attention for only a moment at each victory she had. Nothing more and nothing less.

It had been a goal of hers to behave. Sophia promised herself she would rope everything in, control every single emotion that might bubble within, she would keep her mouth shut and stay in line. They would take down the other team so they could finally free the company of the corrupt 'Supreme Alliance.' Sophia attempted to listen to orders, attack plans whenever the group got together but none of this planning would really matter. Most of the time it never really helped. Nothing kept to a certain line, even if we wanted it to.

It really started when the match did... I was winning for us. It was perfect. Everything was perfect... ~

Sophia backed herself into the corner to get a small break before she delivered 'The Final Break' to Harper. She panted while a smirk widened across her face. The side of her left hand swiped sweat away before the woman's body pushed forward. It was the lightest touch, just a soft pat to the shoulder. It shocked most of the team when it happened, small murmurs that the crowd wouldn't hear. Had it been pride? Michael stepped through the ropes while Sophia stayed against the turnbuckle. Unfortunately, Harper had tagged out himself. They all watched everything unfold before their eyes. Michael was taken down, leg lifted, pin made.

Sophia collapsed to her knees letting her hands hit against the mat while the other team celebrated the victory. Two of the others assisted Michael from the ring. Sophia's eyes glossed over blacking out the crowd, the noise, the speech that “Supreme Alliance' could have made yet her own breathing echoed in her ears. It wheezed out then disappeared back inside her lungs. Each row of fans passed by as slowly as the next before finally the wrestlers disappeared behind the entrance. That is when the real complaining began. Most of them rewarding each other with pats on the back because they did their 'best'. It had been a fair match-- They would get them next time.

“Losers...”

Sophia grumbled. The cold steel soothed against her sweaty hands adding a refreshing cooling sensation. Dark eyes burnt holes in the backs of the rest of them... Only one turned to even check if she had followed... Of course Sophia followed. She was perfectly behaved. A doll upon a shelf. Never checked nor acknowledged however known due it just always sitting there in place.

CLANK!

The woman's head snapped to the side as her body planted against the wall. Too quickly for any of them to react properly as she slid down.

CRASH!

The chair landed harshly to one's shoulder causing knees to bucket under the sudden pressure. Another hit made a beautiful scene of blood oozing from a fresh gash across his cheek.

THAWCK!

Body bent, forehead must have hit the wall even harder with the force from the chair. Blood painted a long streak from impact to person.

CLANKCRASHTHAWCKACK!

Michael crumpled like a rag doll. His already injured body curled up-- knees to chest, chin to chest, arms tucked inside. Sophia's voice broke the white noise that had clogged her own ears.

“Losers! You are all losers! A waste-- A waste! You ruined it! You ruined it! You screwed it up! I had it! I. HAD. IT! We could have won! Losers! I hate you! I hate all of you! Shut up! Shut up! Shut up and bleed!”

Michael must have been speaking because his lips moved however the only thing heard was metal ringing with each strike. His grunt of pain echoed with the beating for every other else. With ears clogged again how could she hear the people running toward them? How could Sophia had stopped long enough to run? They all had to pay. They had to pay. When hands finally grabbed her shoulders, forearms, wrists, the result was already written in stone. Sophia thrashed against them. Fingers stretched for the fallen body to move or help her. The blonde locks whipped left to right as her tears ran down her cheeks. The security guards tugged with force to dragged the broken doll away. Easiness came from the other members who had woken from their dazes. Disgust and fear painted their faces.

“No-- no! I'm sorry! Please, no, no, please! I'm sorry! I'm sorry, sorry, sorry. Please! Michael--- Please, no. Get up... I'm sorry. Don't hate me. Don't hate me! I'm sorry!”

There was no response. There was no forgiveness.

Present

“Sophia?”

Endless holes of brown opened to the dizzying spectate of a deep blue that was littered with tiny spots of light. A hand rested to hers flooding the ice skin with warmth. Devin propped himself up with his elbow to get a better view. Sophia must've flinched from the memories. Instead of screaming, a simple smile appeared to ease him.

“I'm okay... Just nerves for my match... Just nerves.”

Something within Devin's face revealed his doubt in her claims but it wasn't pushed any further. He changed the songs on his phone than began to scroll through something. Her eyes didn't dare wander as they went back to the sky above. A whispered promise repeated in the woman's mind.

It won't happen again.

Everything would go over perfectly. It would be perfect. If they lost then she can return to just wrestling. Let the roster hate each other while they all try for the top title. Sophia wouldn't step in the middle of it. The title was wonderful but it wasn't important to her. Wrestling was at the very top of her list. Maybe the rest of the them all wanted revenge or attention or recognition or to be the best. Sophia didn't care. She wouldn't let her team down but she wouldn't insert into their war games. How could any win when they were all at the top of the mountain in their own minds? A losing battle for each of them.

A flash of fear-- Adam now curled on the ground. His screams just as blacked as the Michael's had been--

Sophia bolted from their spot as sand felt like pins against the back of her legs. Most of it shifted only serving to slow the woman down. None of it stop the fleeing into the chilly water. Devin called after her. Each wave shoved her back while others tugged her forward and down to the sand. For once she didn't fight to stand. The waves tugged hard, the sand swallowed her feet until Sophia sunk below into the silence of waves.

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