Part Twelve

Matt followed Jeff into the kitchen and they had begun discussing the maps once more when the cell phone began ringing again. The phone still in his hand, he reached down and clicked on the phone. "What'd you forget, Jericho?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Was I interrupting something? Maybe I should call again at a more convenient time."

"Raven! Wait! Don't hang up," Matt shouted, jumping up out of his chair.

Jeff launched himself out of his chair and tore into the living room to retrieve the tracking unit. He sped back into the kitchen, jumping over Matt's chair which had fallen over when he realized who was on the phone. Reaching towards his brother, he plugged the tracking unit in the phone, then pressed the button to start the call tracking.

"Oh, so you do want to talk with me. I thought you might," Raven sneered into the phone.

"Let me talk to Lita."

"Listen to me, Hardy. I called you, not the other way around. I decide who you speak to and when."

"What is it you want Raven? Whatever it is, we'll give it to you. Money? We'll give you however much you want. You already have her car. Take that and just leave."

"What I want is respect. What I want is my credibility back. What I want is to be the champion I deserve to be. To hear the fans chant my name night after night. To feel the adoration and their love and support."

"Vince is never going to let you back in the fed, not after what you've pulled here. There's got to be something else, Raven." Matt was trying to egg him on, anything to keep him on the line long enough to get a location.

"I'm afraid I must disagree. Viewing audiences would eat this up. And Vince loves ratings."

"What are you proposing?"

"A match, of sorts. For rainbow-boy's title. A chance to beat him to a bloody pulp and regain the love of the people and respect of my co-workers. Then when I'm done with him, I'll end your career too, Matthew. Of course, it would have to be strictly on my terms, and I call all the shots. I couldn't have you showing up with the friendly men in blue or anything like that. I'm not stupid you know."

Matt started to tell him he was nuts, but thought otherwise. Jeff, who had been listening as closely as he could to Matt's earpiece, was nodding his head furiously, motioning to Matt to accept the fight. Jeff looked at Matt and mouthed silently, He's delusional. Accept the fight!

Matt nodded to his brother, then turned back to the conversation.

"Let me talk to Lita first."

"No."

Matt stood his ground. "Let me talk to Lita, or no deal. Why should we agree to fight you if you've hurt her?"

Back in the cabin, Raven stalked over to where Lita sat tied to the chair, a knife in his right hand, the cell phone in his right. Lita's eyes grew large as he swiftly brought the knife towards her. She sighed in relief when he used it to slice through one of her bonds, freeing one hand.

"Hello. Raven? You still there? I said let me speak with Lita." Matt was getting panicky as there had been no response on the other end.

Raven glared at Lita, then spat into the phone, "Just for a minute, Matthew. Here's the girl." He handed the phone to Lita, continuing to stand over her.

"Matt?"

"Oh my god. Lita? Are you ok? We've been so worried about you. Please tell me you're ok."

Lita couldn't help it as tears sprung to her eyes. The sound of his voice was one she wasn't sure she'd ever hear again. She willed them away and answered, "Just peachy, Matt. Just peachy. I miss you guys too. I want this to be over."

"Has he hurt you? So help me, if he has, we'll both kill him…"

"No, Matt, he hasn't. I'm holding my own here. Ok?"

"Where are you Lita?"

"No, it's fine Matt." She knew she had to speak cryptically. If she told him where she was, Raven would go ballistic. "I'm sure your Dad would be here if he could. I know how much he loves that place. He's usually there around Thanksgiving though, isn't he? Tell him I said hello and I'm ok."

"What?" Matt was slightly confused, but caught on quickly. Behind him, Jeff was bouncing around with anticipation, trying to write down what Lita was saying.

"And tell Jeff to be careful, ok? Raven told me he's the new champ. He may be the Undisputed Champion, but it'd be a shame for him to have his career ended at age 22. He's got a whole road of achievements ahead of him. I don't want to see him hurt."

"I will Li. I promise. I understand what you're saying. Anything else you need?"

"Yeah, can you please go to my house and check on my cat, Louisa? I'm sure she's out of water by now. Don't let her out or she'll wander off into the area behind the house. She'd be lost for days. And,…"

Raven ripped the phone out of her hand. "That's enough," he told her. He turned his attention back to the Hardys on the other end. "That's enough chit-chat. You can see she's just fine. So, do we have a deal or what Hardy?"

Jeff reached over and took the phone from Matt. "You've got a deal. I look forward to beating you senseless."

Raven laughed. "Somehow, I doubt that. I'll be in touch boys. Later." He clicked off the phone and turned to Lita.

"Aww. What's with the tears, red? Homesick?"

"Shut up." She wiped at her eyes, not wanting Raven to know she had been affected. She had to remain tough.

"Now who's telling who to shut up?" he smirked. "This game is just starting to get interesting. And I hold all the cards." He laughed again and bent over, picking up the rope he had cut, intent on tying her free hand again.

"Can't you please just let me keep this one free? My shoulders and arm ache so badly."

Raven just rolled his eyes. "I'm afraid not. Unfortunately, you've shown me you're not trustworthy."

If you only knew just how much she thought. I hope Matt and Jeff understood what I was trying to tell them.