(Off Camera)

Melissani Cave - Kefalonia Island - Greece
Date Unknown

No matter where she went, no matter what she saw, nothing would ever compare to the beauty of her homeland. As the solitary redheaded beauty slowly rowed her way towards the caves that had long been her home, she looked back towards the mainland, drinking in the majesty of the mountains and the pretty, colorful vilas. The streets were bustling with peddlers and tourists. She could still hear the music playing softly from the live band, blending with the sound of water splashing softly against her kayak; a beautiful duet. Dusk was setting in the horizon beyond, painting the sky in exquisite shades of pink, purple, and orange and turning the water to fire. The sun was so low, she could almost reach out and grab it.

There really was no place like home for Genevieve Tate.

Turning now to face forward, she looks in the distance, squinting her eyes against the sinking sun. Her pulse began to speed up a bit as she adjusted her vision, the silhouettes of her beloved little island caverns looming before her. Impossibly blue water surrounded the enormous rock structure; waves crept quietly up towards the white sand, spraying the large rocks flanking the entrance.

Local lore suggested that the Melissani Cave had once been infested with nymphs, the very same cave in which Calypso attempted to keep Odysseus a prisoner for her own pleasures. Genevieve herself had seen the man, the trance like state of his men, the gallant effort to save himself and his soldiers. Centuries ago, the nymphs had finally died out and Genevieve quickly took up residence in the legendary island cave. Her little kayak glides silently over the water the shallow shoreline before bumping gently against the wet sand. At last… She was home.

She rises slowly, carefully dipping her bare feet into the water. The bottom of her long dress was instantly soaked, but she barely noticed. On silent feet, she swept up the beach to the entrance of the cave. His presence… Even in death, she could still feel him there. Inhaling deeply to steady her emotions, she crosses over from the pleasant sunshine and cool breeze into the damp, chilly mouth of the cave. Turning, she looks around once to make sure she hadn’t been followed. Her home had become a popular tourist location in recent use, much to her chagrin. It was a small relief that none of them had yet to find the secret entrance into the deeper sections of the makeshift dwelling.

Satisfied that there were no stragglers in or around the island, Genie ducked behind a cluster of rocks and slid through a small hole. Gripping the rope she had attached to a rock, she slides with ease underground. A candle is waiting for her already; she picks it up and lights it with the matches she pulled out of her cleavage. Holding it out before her, she navigates the familiar footpath that she’d spent centuries beating into the wet packed sand. The flickering flame cast shadows over the rocks, giving it a haunted feel. Finally, she reaches the section she called home: Lit by hundreds of candles, it’s clearly more of an altar than a place to live. A small cot was stowed away in the far corner. A brass vanity stood a few feet from the bed, adorned with various bottles, a chalice, and a bottle of red wine. Setting the candle down on the floor by the entrance, Genie heads straight to the altar, extravagantly decorated with stones, flowers, plants, sea shells, and candles. A soft carpet lay before it; Genie knees on it before the altar and bows her head.

“Simon… I can feel you here. You knew I was coming, you always do. I have news for you, I only wish I could see your face. I left the cave, my darling. I finally did as you would have wished; It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to do. Obligations forced my hand, despite my best efforts to avoid having to face this reality… A reality in which you are no longer with me.” Hot tears prick her eyes, she blinks them back furiously. “I’ve lived a long life, and yet, I’ve never felt it drag along so slowly. I miss you more every day and if I knew how to bring you back... “ She swallows back the lump in her throat and forces herself to continue, “But, I think I may have found a way. A way to keep you very much alive, always, in my heart. To carry on what you had started. I found a home, an unlikely one, among the most unlikely of company. Do you remember James Raven? He was my latest paramour… He also allowed me this opportunity to compete in the XWF. A fed that has withstood the test of time, much as we had done for so long. Owners came and went and it seems that under this new management, there is real room to grow. James was gracious enough to ensure me a spot.”

Genie nibbles her blood-red bottom lip as she ponders how much she had done in this past week.

“I have my first match, my first opponent this weekend. He calls himself BigD and I’m fairly sure he fancies himself a legend… Or better than me, at the very least.” A slight smirk. “I’m honestly not sure, if I’m being honest. I don’t know this man from Adam, but from what I’ve seen in my tape studies, he thinks himself a legend. A fools notion, as we both know. True legends are rare and spend a lifetime building such a reputation. Remember how we laughed when Achilles’ legacy was brought down around him by an arrow to his heel? Remember the time we hustled Hercules when I challenged him to a contest of strength? Those men were true legends. Their stories are thousands of years old. Any of these people would be lucky if their legacy lives past a year once they retire or die.”

She bows her head for a moment. “Even those men had the folly of thinking themselves unbeatable. This is not a mistake my opponent makes, I can see that about him. This is as worrisome as it is admirable. A man that recognizes that he is not invincible is a man motivated to fight harder to survive. I’ve no easy feat in my debut, my love. But I’m confident enough in my skills to keep him on his toes.”

Picking up her head, she looks up and there he is: Her beloved Simon. Or rather, the opalesce shadow of him. He said nothing, neither did she; They just stared silently into each other’s eyes for an eternity, or so it seemed. It’s only when she reaches out to touch him that the image disappears like a wisp of smoke. Her tears finally fall down her cheeks and she smiles.

“I have to go now, my darling. I’ve much to do and so little time to do it. I will be back, there can be no doubt of this. It pains me to leave you, for this is the only place I can still feel you as if you were still truly with me. But as you would tell me… The show must go on. So it must be with life. I will always love and miss you. You will always be in me, my heart, my soul. Wish me luck.”

Getting to her feet, she bows low towards the altar. As reluctant as she is to leave, there is a new excitement in her step, one that hadn’t been there for near to a year. Determination and a new hope consume her entire being; she picks up her candle and heads out of the cave, singing as she does so. No one could determine how their life was going to go… But Genevieve was ready to begin the next chapter.

*Fin*