Stephanie shook her head gently, aware only of the throbbing pain in her temple. She tried to open her eyes, but the fuzzy images that swam before her only made her headache worse.
"The Princess awakens," a sarcastic, bitter voice said. The voice was so familiar, but she couldn't seem to place it.
She tried to remember where she was and who she was with, but the last thing she could remember was Jericho kissing her before she climbed into the limo. "Chris," she whispered desperately.
"Not even close," the voice said, taking a menacing tone. "I guess I hit you a little hard."
"You hit me?" Stephanie asked, trying to open her eyes again. All she saw was a blinding flash of light.
"Well, yeah," the voice said. "You weren't taking too kindly to the idea of being kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" Stephanie asked, nearly choking on her words.
"Don't get scared on me Steph," the voice said. "I was so sure you would be a trooper and keep things interesting."
"Who are you?" Stephanie asked fearfully.
"You know who I am," the voice laughed. "Don't play dumb dear, it doesn't suit you."
Stephanie gasped. She didn't open her eyes to confirm her suspicions, but she asked, "Test?"
"And you didn't even have to open your eyes," Test said. He pressed a cool washcloth against her temple. She pushed his hand away and held the washcloth to the side of her head.
"You asshole," Stephanie hissed.
"I figure we should take turns ruining each others' lives," Test said, "and it's my turn."
"What the hell do you want this time?" Stephanie asked angrily.
"I wish I could say that it's something you could give me," Test said. "Unfortunately for you, I just want to see you miserable."
"You bastard," Stephanie said, finally opening her eyes.
"I've been called worse," Test said.
"How long have you had me?" Stephanie asked.
"You haven't kept track?" Test asked. "I guess that's for me to know and you to find out."
"Chris is going to kill you," Stephanie said.
"Probably," Test said, nodding his head in agreement. "I'm pretty sure it will be worth it."
I never thought you were some kind of sick person," Stephanie said. "I thought you had decency until about a month ago. I thought you were still human until about five minutes ago."
"Ouch," Test replied. "A zinger from the Princess."
"That's probably what you want huh?" Stephanie asked. "Or do you want me to start crying and begging you to let me go?"
"Interesting picture," Test commented.
"It's never going to happen," Stephanie said.
"I've had greater disappointments," Test said. "You know a lot about being kidnapped, don't you Steph?"
"I know a lot about psychotic ex-boyfriends too," Stephanie said.
"I'm guessing that's me," Test said dryly.
"You want to know something Test?" Stephanie asked. "The whole time I was seeing you I was going out with Jericho."
Stephanie saw anger flare in his eyes and she had to try hard to suppress her smile. "I pretended you were him. Let me tell you, you fell far short as a fantasy."
Test stood quickly and pulled his arm back to hit her. He caught himself just before he swung his arm. "I'm not going to let you manipulate me."
"Isn't that what you do best?" Stephanie asked. "Let women use you?"
"Shut up Stephanie," Test warned.
"Are you going to hit me Test?" Stephanie taunted him. "You want to know the biggest difference between you and the Undertaker as kidnappers?"
"What?" Test asked.
"I was afraid of Taker," Stephanie said. "You are weak Test. I'll never be afraid of you."
"I doubt that," Test said. "I'll bring you some food later."
Stephanie watched him leave the room. She finally looked at her surroundings. She was in a small room with one door and no windows. She had been lying on the small bed and Test had been sitting on the only chair. There was a table with a couple of bottles of water on it.
Stephanie hugged herself and reminded herself that she needed to appear in control of the situation. She knew Test didn't have a huge amount of confidence. If he thought she wasn't afraid of him he might think he had messed up and would let her go. She couldn't let him know that this was her worst nightmare.
*** The next night ***
"C'mon!" Test hissed in Stephanie's ear as he pulled her along a dark alley.
"What are we doing?" Stephanie asked.
"Scaring the crap out of your dad and your boyfriend," Test replied.
"Are we at the arena?" Stephanie asked, trying with all her being to disguise the hope she felt.
"Can't you hear all the people cheering?" Test asked.
"We could be at a concert or something," Stephanie pointed out.
"Anyways," Test shrugged. He knocked on a door and it opened.
"Hey man," Test said, slipping the man at the door a twenty-dollar bill.
The man nodded as Test slipped into the arena with Stephanie in tow. She let him drag her down the hall. She was at a Smackdown taping. All she had to do was escape from Test for a few seconds and she would be fine.
"Sit," Test ordered when they stepped behind some metal sheets that were at least fifteen feet tall. Stephanie obeyed and quickly surveyed her surroundings. She noted that Test was taking a camcorder out of the backpack he had carried with him.
"What are you doing?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm making a ransom tape, of sorts," Test replied. "Except I don't want anything."
"You just want to ruin my life?" Stephanie asked.
"Pretty much," Test said. He set the camera on a tripod and began fiddling with it. Stephanie slowly inched toward the metal garbage can on her left. When Test turned around, she was ready to pound his skull in with the lid. She put the trashcan over his head so he couldn't see and she began to run.
Jericho left his dressing room, feeling like he should be out looking for Stephanie. He hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. He had been up with Vince, Shane, and Linda. They had called hospitals, police stations, and any friends who might have leads on her whereabouts. Vince hadn't scheduled him in a match, but he did need to be in the ring when Vince asked Test or whomever the kidnapper was to return Stephanie.
He was nearly to the ramp when someone ran into him. He grabbed the woman by her arms to steady her. "Steph?" he asked, feeling a sense of profound relief.
"Chris!" Stephanie exclaimed. "Oh, are you a sight for sore eyes?"
"I could say the same for you," Jericho replied, gathering her in a tight hug. "Where were you?"
"Long story," Stephanie said. "Actually it isn't. Test kidnapped me. Luckily he's not the world's greatest abductor. He's probably rolling around in a garbage can somewhere backstage."
"Jericho!" someone called from down the hall. "Any word?"
"Yeah!" Jericho called back. "You want to go kick some ass?"
Jeff ran down the hall. "Oh hell yeah."
"Can you take the Acolytes or someone with you?" Stephanie asked.
"Hey, you're back," Jeff said.
"It appears so," Stephanie replied.
"Great," Jeff said. "Was it Test?"
"Yeah," Stephanie said.
"Take me to him," Jericho said.
Stephanie led Jericho and Jeff Hardy to the area where she had left Test. He had just barely gotten the trashcan off of him before Jericho and Jeff began to beat him up.
"Sounds like someone is having some fun over here," a low voice said.
Stephanie turned around and threw her arms around her father. "Oh Daddy, you'd be so proud of me. I pretended I wasn't scared the whole time. I think it helped."
"I'm proud of you anyways baby girl," Vince answered, hugging his daughter tightly.
"Stop," Test whispered in anguish, blood flowing from his mouth.
"What?" Jeff asked. "Did we go too far?"
"I was just making sure he couldn't run away before the cops got here," Jericho answered non-chalantly. He walked back to Stephanie and gathered her in his arms. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Stephanie replied.
"I never want anything to hurt you again," Jericho whispered into her hair.
"That might be asking a bit much," Stephanie said softly.
"I don't care," Jericho said.
About thirty minutes later, Test was being handcuffed while a detective took Stephanie's testimony. As Test was being walked out of the arena she stopped him.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"It's really over now," Stephanie said in a tone that dared Test to disagree. He hung his head in defeat.
"The Princess awakens," a sarcastic, bitter voice said. The voice was so familiar, but she couldn't seem to place it.
She tried to remember where she was and who she was with, but the last thing she could remember was Jericho kissing her before she climbed into the limo. "Chris," she whispered desperately.
"Not even close," the voice said, taking a menacing tone. "I guess I hit you a little hard."
"You hit me?" Stephanie asked, trying to open her eyes again. All she saw was a blinding flash of light.
"Well, yeah," the voice said. "You weren't taking too kindly to the idea of being kidnapped."
"Kidnapped?" Stephanie asked, nearly choking on her words.
"Don't get scared on me Steph," the voice said. "I was so sure you would be a trooper and keep things interesting."
"Who are you?" Stephanie asked fearfully.
"You know who I am," the voice laughed. "Don't play dumb dear, it doesn't suit you."
Stephanie gasped. She didn't open her eyes to confirm her suspicions, but she asked, "Test?"
"And you didn't even have to open your eyes," Test said. He pressed a cool washcloth against her temple. She pushed his hand away and held the washcloth to the side of her head.
"You asshole," Stephanie hissed.
"I figure we should take turns ruining each others' lives," Test said, "and it's my turn."
"What the hell do you want this time?" Stephanie asked angrily.
"I wish I could say that it's something you could give me," Test said. "Unfortunately for you, I just want to see you miserable."
"You bastard," Stephanie said, finally opening her eyes.
"I've been called worse," Test said.
"How long have you had me?" Stephanie asked.
"You haven't kept track?" Test asked. "I guess that's for me to know and you to find out."
"Chris is going to kill you," Stephanie said.
"Probably," Test said, nodding his head in agreement. "I'm pretty sure it will be worth it."
I never thought you were some kind of sick person," Stephanie said. "I thought you had decency until about a month ago. I thought you were still human until about five minutes ago."
"Ouch," Test replied. "A zinger from the Princess."
"That's probably what you want huh?" Stephanie asked. "Or do you want me to start crying and begging you to let me go?"
"Interesting picture," Test commented.
"It's never going to happen," Stephanie said.
"I've had greater disappointments," Test said. "You know a lot about being kidnapped, don't you Steph?"
"I know a lot about psychotic ex-boyfriends too," Stephanie said.
"I'm guessing that's me," Test said dryly.
"You want to know something Test?" Stephanie asked. "The whole time I was seeing you I was going out with Jericho."
Stephanie saw anger flare in his eyes and she had to try hard to suppress her smile. "I pretended you were him. Let me tell you, you fell far short as a fantasy."
Test stood quickly and pulled his arm back to hit her. He caught himself just before he swung his arm. "I'm not going to let you manipulate me."
"Isn't that what you do best?" Stephanie asked. "Let women use you?"
"Shut up Stephanie," Test warned.
"Are you going to hit me Test?" Stephanie taunted him. "You want to know the biggest difference between you and the Undertaker as kidnappers?"
"What?" Test asked.
"I was afraid of Taker," Stephanie said. "You are weak Test. I'll never be afraid of you."
"I doubt that," Test said. "I'll bring you some food later."
Stephanie watched him leave the room. She finally looked at her surroundings. She was in a small room with one door and no windows. She had been lying on the small bed and Test had been sitting on the only chair. There was a table with a couple of bottles of water on it.
Stephanie hugged herself and reminded herself that she needed to appear in control of the situation. She knew Test didn't have a huge amount of confidence. If he thought she wasn't afraid of him he might think he had messed up and would let her go. She couldn't let him know that this was her worst nightmare.
*** The next night ***
"C'mon!" Test hissed in Stephanie's ear as he pulled her along a dark alley.
"What are we doing?" Stephanie asked.
"Scaring the crap out of your dad and your boyfriend," Test replied.
"Are we at the arena?" Stephanie asked, trying with all her being to disguise the hope she felt.
"Can't you hear all the people cheering?" Test asked.
"We could be at a concert or something," Stephanie pointed out.
"Anyways," Test shrugged. He knocked on a door and it opened.
"Hey man," Test said, slipping the man at the door a twenty-dollar bill.
The man nodded as Test slipped into the arena with Stephanie in tow. She let him drag her down the hall. She was at a Smackdown taping. All she had to do was escape from Test for a few seconds and she would be fine.
"Sit," Test ordered when they stepped behind some metal sheets that were at least fifteen feet tall. Stephanie obeyed and quickly surveyed her surroundings. She noted that Test was taking a camcorder out of the backpack he had carried with him.
"What are you doing?" Stephanie asked.
"I'm making a ransom tape, of sorts," Test replied. "Except I don't want anything."
"You just want to ruin my life?" Stephanie asked.
"Pretty much," Test said. He set the camera on a tripod and began fiddling with it. Stephanie slowly inched toward the metal garbage can on her left. When Test turned around, she was ready to pound his skull in with the lid. She put the trashcan over his head so he couldn't see and she began to run.
Jericho left his dressing room, feeling like he should be out looking for Stephanie. He hadn't gotten any sleep the night before. He had been up with Vince, Shane, and Linda. They had called hospitals, police stations, and any friends who might have leads on her whereabouts. Vince hadn't scheduled him in a match, but he did need to be in the ring when Vince asked Test or whomever the kidnapper was to return Stephanie.
He was nearly to the ramp when someone ran into him. He grabbed the woman by her arms to steady her. "Steph?" he asked, feeling a sense of profound relief.
"Chris!" Stephanie exclaimed. "Oh, are you a sight for sore eyes?"
"I could say the same for you," Jericho replied, gathering her in a tight hug. "Where were you?"
"Long story," Stephanie said. "Actually it isn't. Test kidnapped me. Luckily he's not the world's greatest abductor. He's probably rolling around in a garbage can somewhere backstage."
"Jericho!" someone called from down the hall. "Any word?"
"Yeah!" Jericho called back. "You want to go kick some ass?"
Jeff ran down the hall. "Oh hell yeah."
"Can you take the Acolytes or someone with you?" Stephanie asked.
"Hey, you're back," Jeff said.
"It appears so," Stephanie replied.
"Great," Jeff said. "Was it Test?"
"Yeah," Stephanie said.
"Take me to him," Jericho said.
Stephanie led Jericho and Jeff Hardy to the area where she had left Test. He had just barely gotten the trashcan off of him before Jericho and Jeff began to beat him up.
"Sounds like someone is having some fun over here," a low voice said.
Stephanie turned around and threw her arms around her father. "Oh Daddy, you'd be so proud of me. I pretended I wasn't scared the whole time. I think it helped."
"I'm proud of you anyways baby girl," Vince answered, hugging his daughter tightly.
"Stop," Test whispered in anguish, blood flowing from his mouth.
"What?" Jeff asked. "Did we go too far?"
"I was just making sure he couldn't run away before the cops got here," Jericho answered non-chalantly. He walked back to Stephanie and gathered her in his arms. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Stephanie replied.
"I never want anything to hurt you again," Jericho whispered into her hair.
"That might be asking a bit much," Stephanie said softly.
"I don't care," Jericho said.
About thirty minutes later, Test was being handcuffed while a detective took Stephanie's testimony. As Test was being walked out of the arena she stopped him.
"What?" he asked irritably.
"It's really over now," Stephanie said in a tone that dared Test to disagree. He hung his head in defeat.