CHAPTER TEN: Divas & Knockouts Assemble!

GAIL'S P.O.V:

Gail had never liked Angelina, but she couldn't abandon her to the Wyatts. She got dressed in record time and texted the Knockouts to meet her at the last place Angelina had been. It was the middle of the night, but time was extremely important here.

About ten minutes later, Velvet's number was calling again. Gail picked it up. "I'm almost there," she said.

"Don't bother. Get to Angelina's hotel," a deep, cranky, distinctly New York voice said.

"Bully Ray?" Gail asked. "What the fuck is going on?"

"I know about the Sisterhood. Velvet started rambling after we got outside the hotel and found..."

And then Gail heard the hysterical sobs in the background. "Oh, shit... Is Angelina dead?" She was mad Velvet had spilled the secret, but her agony was clear. She couldn't really blame her.

"We don't know. We found her cell phone on the floor... and blood, Gail. There's a lot of blood. Vel's kind of hysterical right now."

"I'll be right there." She hung up, sent the correct location to the other Knockouts, then hurried to meet Bully and Velvet.

NIKKI'S P.O.V:

Nikki Bella was desperate. Stephanie had opened her eyes to what was really going on with the kidnappings and the Sisterhood. Nikki was more than willing to turn on her Sisters, but what about her twin? Well, honestly, that was just icing on the cake. Nikki was sick and tired of Brie and her sanctimonious bullshit. Nikki was just as awesome as Brie, had bigger boobs (thanks to a great doctor), better hair, and more talent, but Brie got all the attention. Brie, with her bad acting and her goat-faced husband. Sure, he had been the underdog who became the champion, but where was he now? Sidelined with an injury, that's where. Her man was still active, fighting big names in title matches, working his ass off, and filming a movie to boot, all while Brie's hippie weirdo husband stayed at home... Yet the fans loved him more every day, and Brie became the WWE Sweetheart.

Bitch, Nikki thought. I 'll remind you who you really are.

Storylines had already begun for Nikki to turn heel. Maybe it was time she showed the world how much of a heel she was in real life. Stephanie was right. Nikki was ready to escape Brie's shadow, no matter what the cost.

"Nicole, hurry up," Brie called. "Nattie said this isn't optional. Angelina is definitely hurt. The Knockouts need us."

Nikki plastered on a very big, very fake smile and said, "Of course!" She touched up her lipstick. "I'm ready. Let's go."

REBEL'S P.O.V:

The sight of a pool of blood just feet away from Angelina's cell phone nearly made Rebel faint. This wasn't just a kidnapping. This was proof that Angelina was seriously wounded. Gail was studying the blood, seemingly searching for some clue, when Rebel felt a hand gently touch her arm.

She spun violently, very easily startled now, and saw the sympathetic face of Mickie James.

"The first crisis is always the hardest," Mickie said. "Are you alright honey?"

"I can't believe this is really happening," Rebel admitted. "Angelina is tough. She's not some victim, yet they took her... They hurt her... What if they...?"

"Don't give up on her yet, Rebel. Angelina Love is no pushover. She'll be okay."

The mood changed as several women joined them. "What do we know?" Trish Stratus asked. The Divas had arrived.

"She tried to text Velvet when they grabbed her," Gail said.

"I called and... and she..." Velvet forced back her tears and tried to speak again. "She screamed. Then the line died. I woke Bully to help me look for her, but we found the phone and... and the blood when we got outside the hotel."

"You told a man about us?" Trish asked in horror. "And Bubba Ray of all people?"

"Eh!" Bully objected. "That's Bully Ray now, Toots! And I was with her when she found out."

"Why the hell is that?" Nikki Bella asked with obvious disgust in her tone.

"That's none of your bui-" Bully began, but Velvet interrupted him.

"He's my boyfriend," she said. "And I don't care who knows it because I love him!"

"But you're superficial and pretty," Summer Rae objected. "Honey, you can do so much better."

"When you meet a guy like Bully, you'll know what beauty really is. And I trust him, so yeah, I told him. It wasn't safe for me to go after Ang alone. So you can all bite me!"

"It's okay," Gail said. "You had no choice."

"Listen, Knockout, this isn't just about you-" Trish said.

"Stop it!" Paige interrupted. "We aren't Divas and Knockouts, we are female wrestlers, and we need to stick together! Velvet protected her safety. That's an acceptable reason to tell an outsider about us. So everyone, just shut it! We need to focus on finding our sisters, not bickering amongst ourselves."

Paige gives excellent speeches, Rebel thought.

"She's right," Nattie said.

"I told, too!" A.J. blurted out. "I don't keep secrets from my husband."

"Ugh!" Trish protested. "Back in my active days, we would never have had these issues. Men were not allowed to know. Ever. Mae and Moolah would have killed us. Even Lita would kick all of your asses for this."

"For what?" A voice drawled. Jeff and Matt Hardy stood in the doorway of the hotel. Jeff was the one who had spoken.

"Is that blood?" Matt asked.

"Crap," Trish mumbled. "Hey boys!"

"Trish? Holy crap, it's good to see you!" Matt proclaimed as Trish embraced first him, then his brother.

"Whose blood is that?" Jeff asked. He stared at the Sisters as though desperately trying to figure out who was missing. When he saw Velvet's face, realization dawned on his own. "Oh God... Is she...?"

"Whatever do you mean, Jeff?" Trish asked.

"Don't even try to lie to me, Trish," Jeff said. "Lita told me and Matt about the Sisterhood during the Team Xtreme days."

"Goddamnit! Am I the only one who knows what 'Super Secret Sisterhood' means?"

"Look, stop worrying about your secret little club and tell us what you know," Matt said.

They were interupted by a big stretch limo pulling up to the curb. "It's not a club," the occupant said. "It's a Sisterhood. Hello everyone. Sorry I'm late. It's so good to see you all again. It's been a long time for some of you." Stephanie McMahon had arrived.

Gail noticeably glared at the woman. Rebel wondered how bad the history between the two must be.

"Steph," Matt said. "How's WWE life?"

Rebel could feel the change in everyone's mood. Former WWE wrestlers, TNA wrestlers, current WWE wrestlers... It seemed like everyone disliked Stephanie.

"Fantastic," Stephanie replied. She turned to Rebel. "Hello, honey. I don't believe we've met. I'm Stephanie McMahon. And you are...?"

Rebel struggled before finding her voice. "Rebel," she said softly.

"Rebel? How adorable, I love it!"

Somehow, this sounded like a threat to Rebel.

"Focus, people!" Gail said angrily. "Matt, Jeff, since you guys know about us, I will be honet. Yes, it's Angelina's blood. We have no idea if she's okay. She has joined our list of missing Sisters and now we need to find them more than ever."

"Still no sign of Lita?" Jeff asked. "This is my fault. I got the Wyatts locked up."

"Oh, Jeff, don't blame yourself," Stephanie said. "You couldn't have known they'd escape, let alone go after Lita."

"It pains me to say this, but she's right," Dixie said. Rebel hadn't even noticed her arrival. "Don't beat yourself up, Darlin'. She needs you strong and focused now."

It was odd, but Rebel felt better with Dixie there. Her presence made Stephanie's less threatening.

"Enough planning," Paige said. "It's time we take some action."

"Now that sounds like fun!" Stephanie said with too much fake enthusiasm. "What do you suggest we do?"

Paige rolled her eyes. It was A.J. who piped up, "Stephanie, this part is way too dangerous. We can't risk you! You're a McMahon! That would not be best for business."

Stephanie considered this. "You're right," she said. "Call me if you need any help." She got back in her limo and it drove away. Several people, including the Hardys, applauded. A.J. bowed.

"Now, let's get down to business," Paige said, and slowly, they each accepted the roles they would need to play.

The battle was on.