Author's note: This is a side-story from my Total Divas fan fic a year from where that story currently is.

It had been a year since AJ Lee seemed to vanish into thin air.

No one had heard a word from her since she didn't make it to a Raw house show. CM Punk had been beside himself and was just now pulling himself out of his depression.

Four months later, Eve Torres went missing. Same thing. She just didn't show up to work one day without a trace as to what happened to her.

The police searched for them only to come up empty. The investigation is still open, but now no one has any hopes of finding them alive. All of us just want answers.

Several months after Eve went missing, Alicia Fox was gone. Now it was almost a year to the date that AJ disappeared. To say that we were all on edge was an understatement.

Vince McMahon called everyone to a staff meeting around the ring, which never happens.

"Everyone, I am sad to report that another one of our divas has gone missing." Vince gravely said. "Has anyone heard from Eva Marie?"

We all looked around at each other, but no one said anything.

"I haven't seen her since the Smackdown taping last week." Her roommate, JoJo, spoke up. "She was supposed to go see her fiance."

"She never made it." Vince shook his head. "That's four of our co-workers, four people from our family, gone."

I had to wipe a tear from my eye. I didn't really like Eva that much, but that didn't mean I would ever wish harm on the woman. My thoughts drifted to her poor family, who must be sick with worry.

"We have no clue why any one of us would be targeted. In each of the events, there has been no evidence as to what happened or why. So we think it's best that for the safety of each of our divas, you pair up with traveling partners." Vince encouraged.

"I'm sorry." I spoke up. "Traveling partners?"

"Yes, Alexis, traveling partners. Each diva should pair up with a superstar and travel on the road with. Those days when you are at home, you should check in with him."

Several of the girls nodded in agreement.

"Obviously this is for your safety." Vince continued. "Until we can find out what's going on and capture this maniac, I want everyone accounted for. That being said, let's have a great show tonight."

As we dispersed from the ringside area, I felt someone tug on my arm. My eyes widened in surprise to see Punk looking at me anxiously.

"Can I volunteer to be your traveling partner?" He asked.

"Seriously?" The question left my mouth before I could think of it.

"Come on, Lexi. We're friends, right?"

Of course we've been friends since I signed my WWE contract six years ago. I've always had a big crush on him, but never said anything about it.

"Yeah, of course." I agreed.

"I would be beside myself if anything were to happen to you." Punk told me in a low voice.

"Oh." I stupidly said. "Um, yeah. Thanks for having my back."

Punk gave me his usual half smile before heading towards the dressing room.

"Lexi!" I heard another voice call as I headed up the ramp.

I turned to see Wade Barrett barreling toward me.

"Hey, Wade." I greeted.

"You got a partner yet?" He asked in his gravely English accent.

"Yeah, actually Punk just asked me." I told him.

"Punk?" He looked shocked and disgusted at the same time. "Wouldn't you much rather hang with me?"

I gave him a polite smile. "I appreciate the offer, Wade, but I already told Punk I would ride with him."

I grabbed his hand, giving it an affectionate squeeze. "You're really sweet for looking out for me. I appreciate that."

His eyes softened after I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "Alright, you're forgiven. If you change your mind, you know where to find me."

I went back to the women's dressing room, watching everyone's somber faces.

"Poor Eva." Trinity softly said.

"Hey, don't do that." I spoke up. "We don't know what happened. She could be fine."

"Lex, it's sweet of you to try to keep everyone's spirits up, but that's not necessary." Brie said.

"I wonder who would be next." Nikki thought out loud.

"Nikki!" Jessie admonished.

"What? We're all thinking it. I just said it out loud." Nikki shook her head.

"Well, Lexi, as pretty much the only single girl in the locker room, who are you pairing up with?" Nattie asked.

"Punk." I admitted.

That stopped everyone. I turned crimson before becoming really into searching through my bag for gear for the night.

"Punk? As in, CM Punk?" Nattie asked.

"That's the only one I know of." I responded.

"Aw, that's kinda sweet." Ariane said.

"Do you think he's finally gotten over AJ?" Trinity asked.

"I don't know." I shook my head. I was curious about that myself.

"I do." Jessie spoke up. I looked over anxiously at his best friend for further response. "Lexi, I know he has feelings for you. And this is kind of a big deal for him. He really took AJ's disappearance hard. I think he's ready to move on. He feels like he failed to protect AJ and doesn't want to make that same mistake twice."

I smiled sweetly at the tall brunette, quickly deciding that a change of subject is in order. "Jess, show me some new baby pictures."

That made her eyes light up and pull out her phone to show pictures of her one-year-old twins that she had with Dean Ambrose. They were certainly beautiful. Josh was a spitting image of his father, sure to be a heart breaker when he grows up. Kendall was just as gorgeous.

Jessie continued on about her other two older daughters, Shannon and Amy, but I had to admit that I wasn't paying attention. My mind was filled with working the match later that evening as well as my first road experience with Punk.

Vince's words echoed in my ear after the show. Punk waited for me outside of the locker room after I had showered and changed.

"Ready?" Punk asked.

"Yeah." I gave him a small smile and followed him towards his bus.

I wish I had seen Evan Bourne watching us as we left. Maybe then I would have had a clue as to the terrors that would soon await me.