CHAPTER 12

"Rue?" Steve didn't look at her, expecting to be attacked any second. He wasn't about to hand her over without a fight and be labeled a coward. "Run, honey." He caught 'Taker's fist before it could connect.

There was nowhere to run though.

Rue turned in a slow circle, watching as the Corporate Ministry climbed onto the apron; completely surrounding them. Finally, she turned to stare at 'Taker and Steve.

She was going back.

She almost went numb, almost broke right there on the spot.

But…

Well, at least she was going down fighting. Steve thought when Rue drop kicked 'Taker's knee out from under him.

Roaring in pain, 'Taker pushed himself right back up, vowing someone was going to suffer for that. While he handled Austin, his Acolytes restrained Rue.

With a bit of assistance from Farooq and Bossman, Austin was left laying on the mats bleeding from his mouth and nose; his eyes wide and vacant.

Spitting blood, 'Taker whirled around to stare at the woman who had caused him so much trouble. Sneering, he reached out to cruelly grip her chin, bending down so their noses touched. "I told you, you belong to me, Rue, forever." He said wickedly, licking the side of her face with a low rumbling laugh.

The minute they tried hauling her out of the ring, Rue started fighting again. At least until 'Taker turned back around to backhand her.

"ENOUGH!" He bellowed.

Her head snapping to the side, she watched as stars exploded in front of her face; marring her vision. She was limp as they dragged her backstage, dimly hearing Stephanie screaming from her place in Vince's arms.

"LET HER GO! DADDY, MAKE HIM LET HER GO!"

Rue didn't even care anymore. She was retreating into herself, numbness taking over.

"I'm sorry Princess, but I can't do that." Vince murmured, shaking his head. The only thing he could do was write this off as something that had been scripted and hope it never came back to haunt him.

"Let her go, daddy! Make him let her go!" 'Taker echoed nastily, shaking his head and halted; stepping back to let Rue be hauled by. "Do you have any idea what I'm going to do to her, Stephie? Hmm?" He leered, ignoring the appalled look on Vince's face. "Do you have any idea how much trouble she's in?"

Stephanie cried even harder.

"Aw, don't worry." He chuckled darkly, patting her head. "I won't hurt her, much."

***

Rue was no longer being held in place, there wasn't a reason too. She wasn't fighting anymore.

She was just standing in the middle of the room with her arms wrapped around herself; her brown hair covering her face. She couldn't feel anything anymore, just the welcomed numbness.

Broken, no. Just dead.

Of course, that would probably change when her situation had truly sunken in.

"She's in shock boss." Midian said when 'Taker walked in.

"I'll take care of it."

The Ministry recognized the dismissal and began filing out, all but Paul Bearer.

"'Taker…" Paul began nervously, remembering how he had found this poor woman the last time she had been with the Ministry and shivered. "What do you plan on doing with her?"

"Breaking her."

"'Taker, don't let your mean… near her again." Paul said, trying to sound firm. "I won't be the one tending her if you do." He still had nightmares from that, not to mention: she had sucker punched him.

Slowly, Rue's head rose; the fire dancing in her eyes again. "No matter what you do, you'll never break me, 'Taker." She said defiantly, not moving as he circled her; smirking when he inhaled sharply.

Paul moved around to see what had made the Phenom halt, his eyes landing on the tattoo. Talk about having balls.

His fingers skimmed the tattoo, taking in the changes and swallowed down the anger. 'Taker's acid eyes met Paul's fearful haze. "The men will not touch her again." He said gravely, snaking one arm around her waist. "The only person who will touch will be me."

Rue shivered as that had sounded like a promise.

Nodding, somewhat satisfied, Paul vacated.

"Welcome back." 'Taker chuckled, bending down to bury his nose in her hair; growling softly.

"I'd say thanks but it doesn't make me happy." Rue said flatly, sliding away from him when he let her go. She turned to face him, their eyes locking. "But of course, it's your will that counts, not mine." She bowed mockingly, moving away quickly before he could touch her.

He was quick, she had to be quicker.

"Go on, infect me with your poison again." She whispered, once more darting out of harm's way. "You only WISH you could truly possess me."

She was pushing her luck.

Having enough with this, he caught her by the hair; yanking her against him. "I do possess you. Every INCH of you is MINE."

Rue's retort was lost in a demanding kiss; beginning to fight him, refusing to submit, again.

Good, she was fighting, he wanted her too. Snarling, 'Taker ripped the tank top from her; tossing the ruined DX shirt over his shoulder. He could see the pain and anguish in her eyes, knowing that simple action had just hurt her. Snorting, he dragged her into the bathroom; one of her favorite places, more specifically; the shower.

Where the water would be loud enough to drown out her screams.

"Now then," He began after getting the water going and removing the rest of her much unneeded clothing along with his own. "Let's see what I've missed."

This was hell.

The difference in his brutal kisses from Hunter's loving ones were all too noticeable and it was killing her. Latching onto that memory, Rue went limp again; letting him have his way. "Every inch of my body might be yours but what's on the inside isn't." She whispered against his lips when he went to kill her again.

"Your heart already belongs to me, Rue." He whispered back, gentling the kiss; knowing she would respond to that. His lips moved tenderly over hers, his tongue coaxing them to part as he pressed himself against her. The best way to hurt her was this; feeling her body responding.

She might not have been enjoying it mentally, but physically it seemed like she was starved for attention.

This was an all too familiar game and she responded accordingly, her legs parting for him when he nudged his thigh between them.

A second later, 'Taker was recoiling; holding the bottom of his lip while she spat blood. His blood.

Blood always had made her feel ill.

"Why are you doing this?" She asked in a monotone. "Why bother keeping me around? You can't break me and I can't bend you."

"Because you belong to me and you keep fighting it. The day you stop fighting, the day you finally are broken and it's the truth, not a lie… is the day I'll relinquish my hold on you." He said darkly, tonguing his lip; enjoying the taste of his blood.

Rue watched as his eyes darkened to a deep; forest green color.

When he kissed her this time, it was to hurt her, like she had tried doing to him. He knew her body better than she did, it would succumb.

So would she.