(A/N: Starting from Chapter XXVI, it was RAW. Sorry I didn't put that in.)
Dangerous Business
Chapter XXVIII
Liz looked at herself in the mirror that was lying against a black storage box, studying her reflection. Red, puffy eyes blinked back at her. She scowled at herself, tugging at her simple outfit as she headed for the ring. So maybe the fans might be disappointed-but she frankly couldn't care less at this moment. Her hands shook with violent fury building in her, the image of Dominique being rushed into the hospital burning into her mind. Her jade eyes narrowed as she headed out to the ring. The fans screamed as she walked to the ring, but she didn't acknowledge them. Her eyes were on the steel cage, suspended above the ring. Her expression didn't give anything away as she stood into the middle of the ring.
"Does she knew what she's getting into?" cried the King.
"This could be the last time that we see her in this ring, King," J.R. stated gravelly. He was shocked when the King didn't respond with a comment about 'puppies'. The fans started booing Evolution before they even stepped foot onto the ramp.
Liz leaned against the ropes as the cage lowered, and Evolution slid into the ring. She closed her eyes halfway-still keeping a wary eye on Evolution. A slight shiver went up her spine as the steel cage slowly hit the ground. Silently, she gazed upward, at the open top. Stepping forward, she let Evolution encircle her. The bell rang. Liz closed her eyes tightly, feeling their movements through the springy mat and their steady breathing. Randy tried to spear her from behind, but she turned with a low roundhouse kick, her foot slamming across his neck, the bottoms tearing the skin. A spilt second later, both Rick and Hunter leapt for her. She dropped to the floor, yanking Hunter's kneepad away. As she leapt for the ropes, she brought her foot against his unprotected knee. Once behind him, she dropkicked the back of his knee. Rick grabbed her hair, and in return, she gave him a low blow.
Finally, she released all of her pent-up anger in a storm. Rolling backward, she leapt to her feet. Randy threw a punch, which she ducked. She brought her fist up into the bottom of his chin. As he stumbled back, she grabbed his head and brought it down in a chin-breaker. He snapped to the mat, and she whirled to face both Hunter and Rick. She dove for the ground, hooking her arm around Hunter's right knee and bringing it down into the canvas. Rick was on her as soon as she landed, his boots snapping against her sides. He pulled her up, shoved her into the ropes, and bent down. Hunter struggled upward, and stood behind him. She leapt onto Rick's back as she approached, using him as a springboard. Liz pulled a swinging DDT on Hunter.
"That's a nice swinging DDT… But, King, how long can she hold her own against 3 great wrestlers?" J.R. asked, but received no answer.
Randy and Rick collectively pulled Liz up. Randy lifted her up and delivered a backbreaker. She flipped onto her stomach as she hit the ground. This time, Hunter lifted her onto his shoulders, and sent her flying into the steel. She felt déjà vu as her injured side slammed into the unforgiving steel.
Liz swore softly as the three headed toward her. Clasping the ropes, she slid between the 1st and 2nd, swinging her feet out and catching Hunter and Rick. Randy grabbed her foot and dragged her out. She launched upward suddenly, thrusting the heel of her palm into his nose, almost grinning when she heard a crack. He stumbled back, clutching at his nose.
Hunter punched her in the back of the head, and she hit the mat, coming up at him quickly. As she rushed at him, he lifted her up in a vertical suplex. Before she even got to her feet, he picked her up and tossed her into the steel again. Rick dragged her away from the ropes and hooked on the figure four so the most pressure was applied on her injured leg. She lifted her head, feeling the pain rack her body. Rick Flair grinned at her evilly.
Liz smiled back at him.
* * * * * * *
Rob Van Dam watched the match intently, scowling as Liz's body crashed against the steel for the second time that night. His eyes reflected the images on the screen, and the man next to him smiled. "Still pining after her, huh?" he asked, and chuckled slightly. Rob didn't reply, but his fists balled up, and he hardly resisted the urge to punch the man.
"When will this game of yours be done?" he asked quietly, blinking slowly. "Haven't you caused her enough pain?" his voice was weary and tired. And he was tired-tired of bending to this man's will, tired of acting indifferent toward her…
He laughed again. "This started with you, Van Dam. I want you to remember this. The reason you two broke up was because of you. But then… Let's just say that I'm getting on Vince's good side."
"He hates her. You're hurting her, so Vince will give you what you want," he said flatly.
He grinned, "You've finally got it." The man leaned closer, and Rob turned to him. "And until this is done, you're going to do whatever I want whenever I want."
"And if I don't?" RVD challenged.
He smirked, and replied, "Then your precious Elizabeth is going to have an unfortunate accident…causing her death." Rob stiffened as he looked toward the man, hatred flaring in his face. The man just smiled at him proudly as he continued. "Next week…If she survives this match," he added as an afterthought, "It will be you two against Steven Richards and Victoria. Just like old times, huh?" at Rob's acid look, he grinned further, "You'll let Steven get you down with a Steven Kick, and you'll just be able to make the tag. Steven and Victoria will decimate her. And when she reaches for the tag-if she can-you're going to leave her there," his eyes twinkled at the fury on Rob's face. "You're going to watch as Steven and Victoria slowly destroy her. You're going to smile, and laugh as they do. And then, at the end of the match, you're going to go back down to the ring. You will take out a sledgehammer, and hit her twice in the ribs…as hard as you can."
Rob glared at him, his fists shaking. "I'm not going to do it, you sick son of a-"
He shook his finger, and pointed it to the screen, "Two sledgehammer hits…or dead?" he questioned, and grinned at Rob.
"When this is done, I swear to God that I'm going to kill you, Heyman," Rob spat.
Paul challenged him with his eyes. "Who said that this is going to end?" After the brief silence, he stood. "It's unfortunate that I'm one less…client…short, but everything will go to plan," he said confidently. "Or else," he added. RVD didn't acknowledge him as he watched the match. The door slammed shut behind him, and Rob let out a breath of air.
He stood up abruptly, slamming his fists against the wall in anger. Rob swore at the pain cursing through his hands, but his thoughts revolved around what Heyman had just told him, no, ordered him to do. Heyman was raising the stakes… Groaning, Rob wished that he was the one that was in the coma, and not Dominique. Blinking, he looked up, the possibility of ending his useless battle hovering in his mind. But it did just that-hovering just beyond his reach. Licking his lips quietly, he laid down on one of the benches as he thought. What would Liz say if she knew?
'She'd tell me to go against him. That she could handle herself,' he thought to himself wryly. The thought had occurred to him a lot, but could she couldn't hold her own against a monster like the Big Show. Vaguely, he wondered what she would do if she was in his shoes. 'She wouldn't be,' he told himself in loathing self-hatred, 'Because she would never stand for all of Paul's shit.' He looked up at the screen, watching as Evolution closed in around her. It would only be a matter of time until a sledgehammer came into play. Did he have the strength to use one against her? Swallowing, he wrapped his arms around himself for warmth. Deep down, he knew that Heyman would eventually grow bored with this-this game. Eventually, he would stop the threats. But by then the damage would be done-and he still might try and hurt her. So what would be the difference if he ended it now? Rob pressed his palms into his head. He couldn't stand watching her being plummeted by the Big Show. He had to keep him away until Liz became a stronger wrestler. He had to keep away from her. And that was what killed him the most.
His love for her made his life worth living…but it was slowly destroying him.
* * * * * *
Author's Note: Today I just uploaded like the 27th chapter! So I'm ahead of myself! Anyway, I'm only allowed on the computer until midnight and it's like 1 o'clock so I'm probably going to get in trouble. Oh well. I was just looking up something on the computer, and so far the longest story (in wrestling) is 439,073 words. Personally, after the first 200,000, I'd start a sequel. J
Anyway, that was pointless, but that's okay! Apparently, by some things I've been looking at, when I hit 100 chapters, we'll have like 200,000 words. Ha! It took me 6 months to get the first like 28 chapters on. So yeah, a year and a half from now, we *might* be close to 100 chapters, if I even make it that long!
Okay, I'm putting an end to my pointless rambling. Please review!!
~LittleKnux2008~