The Word Of Gamal

"Fascinating," Gamal said while nodding, before raising an eyebrow, "But how do you remember the parts you were supposedly unconscious for?"

Suzanna rubbed the back of her head again, "Sarah told me,"

(After she was done stretching me in ways I didn't think were possible.)

"I... see. So you were a late bloomer of the extreme sort?"

She nodded, "Uncle said it was common amongst our people, the Huzamites, I think? He also said it was important for me to 'find and conquer my inner beast' and until that happens we can't be near each other,"

Gamal frowned, "Have you made any... progress?"

"I figured this would be a good start, plus he could see that I was doing okay,"

Gamal hummed, "Does that mean you don't have any training?"

Suzanna stiffened and started to avert her gaze again, "Well, um..." She shrank again, 

"Not really, no... Just basic coordination and strength training. It took me a long time to get used to..." She raised her hands, "... this,"

Gamal blinked and straightened, "You want to be a wrestler while having a limited understanding of your own body?"

She responded, softly, "I... It's not... that... limited,"

"Your behaviour during the battle royale says otherwise,"

Suzanna found herself growing defensive,

"I-I was just overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting that,"

"You had to be told to fight back,"

"I... had some bad experiences growing up..."

"And Thompson triggered you?"

"That- That was an accident," She said. Upon seeing what she thought to be a raised eyebrow she insisted, "I didn't mean to. I didn't even realise what I was..."

Gamal's frowned return, deeper this time. Suzanna desperately continued,

"B-But it won't happen again! I normally don't get angry like that... a... a lot,"

Gamal's eyebrows raised, then she rested her finger on her closed lips and started to hum again, then she started chuckling, then she threw her head back and let out a loud maniacal laugh, a trademark of her Prophet of Carnage gimmick.

Suzanna stared at her for a few seconds then it was her turn to frown,

"Why... are you laughing?"

Gamal slowly brought her head forward. Her tone changed from laughing to deathly serious with each letter that formed her sentence,

"Everything about you screams 'time bomb',"

Suzanna was taken aback, "What?"

Gamal rested both her elbows on the desk and held open her hands, "You are the worst kind of dangerous. Stunted development, unresolved childhood trauma and an unpredictable temperament made all the worse by the fact you don't know your own strength,"

She became even more defensive,

"That's not true,"

"You're going to sever your fingers," Gamal stated in reference to the glass that Suzanna was still holding. The one that was starting to crack.

Suzanna dropped the glass in shock, shattering it,

"I'm sorry! I-"

Gamal made a "Zip it!" gesture with her hand. Suzanna's lips suddenly felt like they were glued shut. Gamal continued,

"If you had reacted to that Moby Rick fellow who harassed you the way you reacted to Thompson, you would have hospitalised him,"

Suzanna's eyes widened and she vigorously shook her head. Gamal nodded with equally wide eyes,

"Oh yes. But then there's the other end of the spectrum. You allowed yourself to be intimidated in such a manner," Her eyes became sad and sympathetic, 

"Did those awful experiences include bullying?"

Suzanna nodded, looking down at her lap.

"Some of the worst bullies on the face of the earth will be standing across the ring from you, passing you in the halls, sharing the locker room, occupying the highest positions of authority," Suzanna's eyebrows knitted together. Gamal pointed at the door, "You just met one and he's not even in the top 20,"

She brought her hands together again,

"This isn't a job, it's a lifestyle and if Esiral sees you living it, I expect him to worry,"

Suzanna clenched her fists then loosened them. She knew the older woman was right, but still...

Gamal did the "Zip it!" gesture again but in reverse,

"Is this truly what you want to do?"

Suzanna was able to speak now, but she didn't. She couldn't. Gamal tore a page from a notebook, and wrote down a phone number and the current time, 12:30. She handed the paper to Suzanna,

"I want a yes in 24 hours. If your answer is no, don't bother calling,"

Suzanna took the paper, "Yes, Ma'am... Um, sorry about the..."

Gamal waved her off before pointing to the door. Suzanna stood up,

"Thank you," She said before leaving, shutting the door behind her,

"Inner beast..." Gamal said with a hum, swaying her head to the right, 

"That could either be good..." She swayed to the left, "...or bad..." She centred herself and whispered with her eyes narrow, "Mostly bad," She smiled like a demon under her burqa, her eyes becoming ruby red once more,

"I'll be waiting for your call, Suzanna Lee'aja,"