Pulp Story A (not-so) Chance meeting. Page 1 11.50pm The Stand retail shopping precinct New-town San Alejo.. Walking without looking where she was going, Ellie Parker using her phone’s map system as a navigation tool, Approached and stopped in front of an ornate building as her phones voice prompt system announced, “You have reached your destination”.. Stopping and checking the screen once more before again looking at the building before her, a frown of confusion crossed her beautiful face as she swore under her breath at the large heavy gym bag she had been told to bring in the message.. Having not had the opportunity to use its contents since the move from her previous gym in the city she lived with her family prior to the move back to San Alejo, the bag heavy with gear was a reminder of the mere weeks she had been back to this old city, though she silently lamented, it seemed like an eternity.. Closing the map app, before clicking on her messaging app to review the mysterious message she had received the day before containing the invitation to the address where she now stood, looked around in a state of confusion before looking back at the large glass doors before her.. --------------------------------- Page 2 (Ellie)(quietly to herself) Well this is the address alright.. But I’m in the fashion precinct?? I don’t see a sign of any gyms around here at all??.. (Sigh).. (annoyed) Why did I even come?? (Looking again at the phones message) OOHh!!.. Wait!... 2nd floor, 135 The Strand, New-Town San Alejo.. I am in the right place, wrong floor!!.. MMmm.. But this is a strange place for a Gym? Having a quick look around at the various fashion houses that occupied the area.. (Ellie) This place looks more suited to one of Dad’s high-end shops.. --------------------------------- Page 3 Ellie looking up at the building with a look of uncertainty on her face, wondered not for the first time since she had left home that morning to travel into the city, why she even responded to the mysterious message that had appeared on phone the previous day offering, “Elizabeth Parker” an invitation for a one on one training session with a new personal trainer, highly skilled in mixed martial arts that had just arrived in the city.. (Ellie) Why me??.. I don’t remember entering any competitions or anything??.. This sounds like one of those bad movie plots where girls are lured to some place, and then are abducted and sold as sex slaves or something!!.. --------------------------------- Page 4 (Ellie)(Thinking) Oh, what the hell.. I’m here now, and the parking in that garage is going to cost the same if I leave now or in two hours.. MMmm.. But maybe I should have told mom where I was going at least.. Stop it girl your imagination is getting the better of you.. (Hushed tone to herself) OK, stop being such a pussy.. This trainer is meant to have an MMA fighting background according to the invite, it will be great to finally be able to get back to my proper strength and conditioning training if she is any good.. It’s not like I’m spoilt for choice for experienced trainers in this city.. (Sigh), That martial arts instructor Dylan went to see for self-defence training was just a total sleaze.. (Smile) But he still managed to convince Dylan he was some sort of Ninja after only two lessons.. (Giggle).. --------------------------------- Page 5 Ellie taking a deep breath and stepping closer to the large glass entry doors, tripped the electronic sensor and with a slow silent motion the doors opened to reveal a small empty foyer containing only a set of stainless-steel lift doors.. Entering and moving to the elevator, Ellie hearing the main doors close behind her as the lift doors opened automatically before her moved cautiously to the opening.. Stepping gingerly inside the small lift carriage Ellie looking and noticing that there was no call buttons to select the floors was just about to step back out before the doors quickly closing by themselves caused her briefly to panic, as she felt the movement of the lift raise quickly.. --------------------------------- Page 6 (Ellie) Wait!!.. What the hell!!..Why does everything in this place seems to know where I am going except me!!.. --------------------------------- Page 7 Seconds later the feeling of motion stopping and the doors of the lift opening on the 2nd floor automatically, Ellie greeted by a warmly lit reception desk similar to what she had seen in day Spa’s or yoga studio’s she had visited with her mother, let out a relaxed breath as she stepped out of the lift noticing as she did a dark figure standing behind the raised desk looking intently at her. (Voice) Miss Parker, Welcome to Firmwood.... --------------------------------- Page 8 Ellie’s eyes adjusting to the change in lighting and surprised to be hearing her name, timidly smiled at what she saw now was an attractive and very toned and defined African woman resembling an amazonian warrior, looking back at her smiling with perfect white teeth.. (Ellie) UUMmm.. Hi, yes I’m Ellie.. Err.. I mean.. Elizabeth Parker.. I believe I have a 12pm appointment.. But the message didn’t say who with?.. Umm there is a trainer here I think the message said?.. (African Woman)(accented) We have been expecting you Miss Parker, your very punctual, that is a good beginning, my boss will be pleased.. (Ellie) AArrhh, I’m really sorry, but I don’t know how you got my details or anything?.. Was this a competition or something like that and I have won a prize??.. Sorry if I sound vague, it’s just I don’t remember entering anything?? --------------------------------- Page 9 (African Woman) Your presence here today is not a prize Miss Parker; you have been selected and invited.. At Firmwood, one does not join, membership is by invitation only.. Please before we go any further, I must insist that you turn off your phone and give it to me for safe keeping yes.. (Ellie) Oh.. Umm yeah sure, I suppose??.. (African Woman)Is a formality only, but our members demand tranquillity and focus when training here.. Distractions from the outside are not tolerated, you understand I’m sure.. (Ellie) Yes, of course, my former trainer also banned all phones from her gym as well, but I think that was more because the meat heads on the weight benches kept sneak snapping pics of the girls on the squat rack.. (Eyeroll)... --------------------------------- Page 10 Sliding her phone over the desk towards the receptionist, Ellie captivated by the woman’s muscular definition let her eyes stray to look over her body pausing to study her large firm breasts before realising what she was doing and forced her gaze back to the woman’s face who looked back at her with a knowing and sultry stare.. (African Woman) I assure you Miss Parker that there will be no “meat heads” here, this is a woman’s only training centre, no man will step inside this facility and leave walking without crutches or a very bad limp.. (Sly smile) (Ellie) Oh.. Cool.. Good to know.. (Meek smile).. Umm sorry but if you don’t mind me asking, do you train here as well as work here??.. That must be a great job.. And your physique if you don’t mind me saying is amazing.. (African Woman) I train here yes Miss Parker, but I do not work here.. This facility belongs to an organisation I work for.. It is how you say, a fringe benefit that goes with the job.. (Warm smile)... --------------------------------- Page 11 Moving around the desk to meet Ellie at the front, and extending her had to Ellie as she gestured to the hall on the other side of the room, the receptionist looking warmly at Ellie, now nervous that she might have inadvertently insulted the woman, gave her a reassuring smile as she in turn took the opportunity to look admiringly at her.. (Ellie) Oh.. I see, sorry, I didn’t mean anything by what I said.. I’m sorry if I offended you.. (Thinking) Damn, pissing off this woman would be the last thing I would want to do.. But there is a lot more on that list I could think of I would like to do.. Look at her body.. She must train 6 hours a day or more.. (African Woman) No offence taken at all Miss Parker, I am standing behind a desk after all, it is an innocent assumption.. (Smile).. I see that you to take very good care of your yourself.. --------------------------------- Page 12 (Ellie) Oh, (Embarrassed).. Umm thanks.. I haven’t been able to do the intensive training like I did before moving here.. My old trainer was a muay Thai kick boxer, she got me started on strength and conditioning using it as a basis.. (African Woman) Interesting.. Maybe sometime we will be able to train and spar together.. (smile).. (Ellie)(Shocked) Ohh!!, Umm.. I never spared.. My training was just on the heavy bag really, I wasn’t learning to fight, sort of more to just get stronger and better defined.. --------------------------------- Page 13 (African Woman) I see.. So you have never used the skills for which you were being trained?? (Ellie) Skills??.. Well, I studied form and technique if that is what you mean.. (African Woman) No Miss Parker, I mean the skills to defend yourself, and more importantly to attack, disable and immobilise your opponent.. This is why we train, and why we spar.. Form and technique are import yes, but it is not until your fist, elbow, knee and foot has crushed bone that you begin to learn the true power buried deep within you.. Who you are meeting will explain everything, and if you decide, will help you unleash potential in you that you never knew you had, as she did for me.. come please, she awaits.. --------------------------------- Page 14 Ellie left speechless not knowing what she had got herself into, watched the imposing and powerful woman that she realised she had not even asked her name, turn and walk towards the hallway opposite to where she had entered and hanging back a few paces to collect her thoughts, moved off now seeing her from behind for the first time... (Ellie)(Thinking) Damn she is impressive.. Those shoulders, her arms, legs, look at that ass.. She would kill me with one punch, and if she was trained by this woman I am to see.. Then what the hell does she look like?? (African Woman) This way Miss Parker please.. --------------------------------- Page 15 Rounding the corner and faced with a corridor lined with doors with small signs denoting the rooms use, Ellie slowing as she read the signs noting the label’s, Meditation, Spa, Plunge pool, Sauna and many others, quickly realised that this facility was indeed a lot more than it had looked from the outside.. Falling behind as she slowed to read the signs Ellie turned to look at the woman now standing and waiting for her in front of a large glass double door.. (Ellie) Wow, you have everything in here!! (African Woman) Yes Miss Parker, and this is but a small part of the facility that extends beyond this building, I am sorry to rush you, I assume your bag contains your equipment and training attire? Oh, Yes, Umm is there somewhere I can change though?? --------------------------------- Page 16 (African Woman) Certainly Miss Parker.. This hallway beyond me, second door on your right you will find the change room.. (Ellie) OK, thanks.. It’s really quiet here today??.. I thought it would be busier.. (African Woman) Normally yes, but not today.. Your booking has reserved this area for your private appointment.. Once you change, come back to this location and enter through these doors please.. I will leave you now, but I hope to meet you again Miss Parker.. (Warm Smile).. (Ellie) Oh.. Please.. Call me Ellie.. Everyone does.. (Cute smile).. The woman looking at her with an intense expression made Ellie think for a second that she had said something wrong until breaking the silence the woman spoke.. --------------------------------- Page 17 (African Woman) Ellie is a child’s name I feel.. You maybe once were Ellie to your parents, but you are no longer a child, Elizabeth.. (Sultry smile).. (Ellie) Ohh, Ok.. I usually only get called Elizabeth when I am in trouble with my mom.. (Meek smile).. Umm, I am sorry, but I never asked your name.. (African Woman) In my language you would struggle to speak it, here I am called Eden.. (Ellie) Like the garden?.. Eden.. That is a nice name.. I better get going huh.. I hope to meet you again as well.. (Eden) Today is the first day of the rest of your life, and you have taken the first step by coming here.. May your journey deliver the fulfillment you seek.. Goodbye, for now.. Elizabeth..(Warm knowing smile).. --------------------------------- Page 18 A Short time later Walking briskly back from the locker and change room, Ellie hearing before seeing the sound of a person grunting with effort, reached the doors to the gym and looked in to see the source of the sound.. (Ellie) (Quietly to herself) Someone is in there after all??.. This must be who I am here to meet, the mysterious Train.. (Cut off).. Holy shit!!! --------------------------------- Page 19 Drawing a deep breath and pushing the door open, Ellie with quiet trepidation stepped into the gym looking on in awe as an extremely fit and defined woman effortlessly doing pull ups on a frame with overhead handles, grunting as she timed each pull up with her breathing.. (Ellie) (Thinking) Wow!!.. This has to be her!!.. Look at her body!!, she’s amazing.. Watching silently Ellie not wanting or daring to disturb the dark skinned woman’s concentration, as she in very controlled movements, rose and descended in almost mechanical like motion and precision through her set of lifts, while Ellie in her own amazement of the strength and control she displayed, quickly lost count of her repartitions.. --------------------------------- Page 20 Mustering as much as possible her confidence, and remembering that she had been invited to this place and wasn’t intruding, Ellie opened her mouth to speak as her first words cracking and incoherent leaving her mouth, coughed quietly to clear her throat and spoke again, this time a little louder than she intended as her voice rang out in the deserted gym.. (Ellie) (loud tone) UUmm Hi!!.. OOhh.. Sorry.. My name is Ell.. EErr (remembering the invitation name) Elizabeth Parker I am here to see.. Arrhh.. Sorry, but I’m not sure I know why I am here, but I received this invitation yesterday on my phone and.. (Cut off).. ---------------------------------