In A Breath

By Kyizi

Disclaimer: All characters belong to the WWE, the story is mine.

Rating: R, for violence and rape

Summary: Christian turned his back on his brother, on his career and on his company, was it really all because he was jealous of his brother's success? Or was he trying to escape from something.or someone?

Spoilers: Up to and including Vengeance.

Setting: This starts the day before Vengeance, but we will be taking a trip back in time every now and again.

Feedback: Always appreciated

E-mail: wwekyizific@hotmail.com

Notes: This idea came into my head after reading Karen U's fic, "It Only Hurts" where she gave Jericho a reason for being, well, an ass, I began to wonder if maybe Christian had a reason.

(Matt and Lita aren't dating in this one and they're both at Vengeance backstage for the purposes of this fic!)

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Part Six

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"Hey, Christian, where the hell were you?"

Christian refrained from rolling his eyes as Test and Lance approached him. They were due to go out into the ring in less than two minutes, but Christian had yet to go back to the locker room. He had spent the time walking around the arena, trying to get a grip of himself. He had faced Edge before and if he could fight his own brother, then fighting his childhood hero along with his brother couldn't be any worse.could it?

"Sorry, needed some air."

"Some air?" Test stepped towards him dangerously. "You have a match for the tag titles against your brother and Hulk Hogan and you needed some air?"

Christian shrugged but didn't speak. He looked down the hallway, spotting Lita, Matt and Jeff heading to the common area. He knew a lot of the wrestlers were meeting so that they could watch the show together, regardless of whether they were RAW or Smackdown!. Jeff looked straight at him and Christian couldn't help the sharp intake of breath he took.

Jeff was staring at him, his eyes knowing. He knew something. Somehow in all his jumbled thoughts he had forgotten the younger Hardy brother's perceptiveness. Somehow Jeff knew that there was something wrong with him and Christian cursed himself. He knew Jeff Hardy, or had had known him, and somehow he doubted the man had changed very drastically. Jeff wouldn't let this rest. He never did.

"Hey, are you listening?"

Turning back to Test and Lance, he frowned. "Sorry, what?"

Test shook his head dangerously at the smaller man. "Listen here, Christian. I'm going to say this once, plain and simple. If you don't come backstage with those titles after this match, you are in for a world of pain. Understand?"

Fear rang through him, the words echoing painfully in every fibre of his body. "A world of pain." Those words. The words had been said before with more danger in them, with more hateful eyes. The memories assaulted him. The blood, the pain.his whole world wrapped in a blanket of torture.

His vision clouded with red and all he could see were the fists, the boots, the chairs, the buckles.all he could hear was his own breath, echoing through his body as he lost himself, as he ceased to exist, as all that he was faded, as he was left a hollow void, a nothing. He knew what it meant to fail; he knew what it was like to lose to that kind of threat.he had to win this match, whatever the cost.



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End Part Six

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