Odessa Brock vs. River Styx - #1 Contender Match for the Hardcore Championship

"2...!"

The crowd wasn't counting along. Styx was reasonably sure why, too. They were looking on in disbelief. Shocked to their cores. Mouths agape. Granted, she couldn't even see this with all the metal and crap covering her body, but the picture was so vivid and clear that she could practically paint it. Their hero had fallen. The villain one. The pathetic, pithy little facade they'd built over the real world had finally come crashing down, all with the sound of one hand slapping against the floor.

"3...!"

Styx exhaled. A long, drawn out breath that blew a few of Odessa's hairs away from her face. Her head hurt. Her bones hurt. Her foot hurt, and she couldn't even remember exactly why that was. Everything was pain at the moment, but somehow, it still felt good. She felt like she could tap dance on top of the world.

She tried to sit up. Couldn't move. Tried again. Still couldn't move. One last time...and no luck. Yeah. Styx was stuck on top of Odessa for a little while, and she wouldn't even be conscious to enjoy most of it. Vision was getting hazy. Thoughts mixing together. Spots across the eyes. She was fading, fast, and she knew she only had a few seconds left to say her peace. This would probably be the last time she and Odessa would ever be close, for a long, long time.

"You're good." She closed her eyes and let out a few, heavy breathes. "But I wanted it more. And that's..."

River Styx's voice faded into mumbles, and out she went.