Chapter 11
A Winner, A Looser, and the SurvivorThe crowd was roaring in the arena as Melanie stepped through the curtains. The elimination chamber was already lowered, ready for her to perform in it. She stepped into the structure; her heart began to beat faster and faster. The crowd encouraged her to sing, chanting her name over and over. She nodded to the fill-in band as she took a deep breath.
I -I hear... a voice say, "Don't be so blind"...
It's telling me all these things...
That you would probably hide...
Am I... your one and only desire...
Am I the reason you breathe...
Or am I the reason you cry...
Always... always... always... always... always... always... always...I just can't live without you... Melanie sang. This was it. The chorus was coming up. She closed her eyes.
I love you... I hate you... I can't live without you...
I breathe you... I taste you...
I can't live without you...
I just can't take anymore...
this life of solitude...
I guess that I'm out the door...
and now I'm done with you...
I feel... like you don't want me around...
I guess I'll pack all my things...
I guess I'll see you around...
Inside... it bottles up until now...
As I walk out your door... all I can hear is the sound...
Always... always... always... always... always... always... always...
I just can't live without you...
I love you... I hate you... I can't live without you...
I breathe you... I taste you... I can't live without you...
I just can't take anymore...
This life of solitude...
I guess that I'm out the door...
and now I'm done with you...
I love you...
I hate you...
I can't live without you...
I left my head around your heart...
Why would you tear my world apart?
Always... always... always... always... Melanie paused. The arena went dark as a red light shined on her hands.
I see... the blood all over your hands...
Does it make you feel... more like a man...
Was it all... just a part of your plan...
This pistol's shakin' in my hands...
And all I hear is the sound...
I love you... I hate you... I can't live without you...
I breathe you... I taste you... I can't live without you...
I just can't take anymore...
This life of solitude...
I guess that I'm out the door...
And now I'm done with you... She threw her fist into the air. At that very moment, the crowd gasped as the outside of the chamber exploded, surrounded by fire.
I love you...
I hate you...
I can't live without you...
I love you…I hate you...I can't live without you...
I just can't take anymore...this life of solitude...
I pick myself off the floor...
And now I'm done with you...
Always...
Always...
Always...
The crowd applauded Melanie as she exited the chamber to let the Raw superstars fight. When she arrived backstage, Brock was standing there, grinning.
"That was amazing." He said embracing Mel. " I didn't know you were going to perform in the Elimination Chamber while it was on fire." Melanie shrugged.
"It was Stephanie's idea. She wanted to outshine Eric Bischoff." Brock nodded. Heyman pulled Brock aside to speak with him, expressing his concern, saying Brock has not been the same since Hell in the Cell. Brock turns toward him.
"Paul, you've been there for me since day one. I've always trusted you. But Melanie says I can do it" He said passionately. "There's not a damn thing anyone can do to stop me from keeping my title. How about both you and Melanie accompany me to the ring?" Heyman sighed.
"I still have the up most confidence that you'll give Big Show one hell of an ass kicking. I will do everything humanly possible to ensure that my client leaves Survivor Series the WWE champion" Heyman said grinning.
As the last piece of confetti and ticker tape fell from the roof, Brock made his way down to the ring accompanied by both Paul Heyman and Melanie. Big Show was in the ring, eagerly awaiting Brock. The bell rang, and the match began.
Over the past few weeks, the crowd had always jeered Brock for his conceitedness. But tonight, the crowd was solidly behind him for the match. Immediately, Big Show begins to hammer away at Brock's injured ribs. He stumbled around the ring, trying to get away. Melanie ran to his side when he rolled out of the ring.
"Remember what we talked about." Melanie said simply. Brock nodded and headed back into the ring, where the hungry giant was waiting. Brock dodged another attack on his ribs. Through out the match, Brock used agility and speed to get Big Show on his knees. Quickly after, Brock executed a German Suplex. Melanie and Paul gasped in unison as he performed yet another German Suplex. The crowd began chanting Brock's name.
Brock then Irish whip Big show into the turnbuckle, or what he thought was the turnbuckle. The referee was in the corner and got knocked down by the whip into the corner. Brock picked up a confused Big Show and performed a belly-to-belly suplex, followed by an F-5! The referee begins to crawl over to the center of the ring where Brock was pinning Big Show. Melanie jumped up and down as Paul Heyman left her side.
The referee counts… ONE... TWO... just then, Paul Heyman pulls the referee out of the ring. Melanie stood up; her blood began to run cold. What the hell is he doing?
Brock sat up. He didn't hear the three count, yet Big Show was still down. He looked at Heyman, who backed away from the ring. Suddenly, Brock understood. Heyman screwed Lesnar.
Brock dashed out of the ring in pursuit of Paul Heyman who was running in circles around the ring, screaming. Paul raced past Melanie into the ring where Big Show was standing in an upright position. Melanie's instinct set off alarms in her head. It was a trap.
"Brock! No! Listen, Stop chasing Paul! It's a…" Before Melanie had time to finish, Brock shoved Melanie out of the way making her stumble backwards hitting the barricade. He rushed into the ring where he ran into Big Show. He hit him with the steel chair Heyman provided for him. Show lifted Brock into the air and choke slammed him onto the mat. Paul revived the referee, dragging him into position to make the count.
ONE…TWO…THREE "Here is your winner, and the new WWE champion, The Big Show!" The announcer said
Paul Heyman walked into the ring and shook Big Show's hand as he raised the WWE title over his head. Brock began to get up and the two men scurried out of the ring and into a getaway car.
The crowd was silent after what they had just witnessed. Melanie started crawling into the ring towards Brock's broken body. The pain in her head returned as she helped him to his feet. They were face to face in the middle of the ring. The whole thing was a set up. All of a sudden Melanie couldn't bear to look him in the eyes. She began to sob.
"Brock, I should have known! I can't begin to explain, I can't, I just…. I am so sorry." She said miserably. Brock lost his balance for a moment and shook his head.
"No. I should be sorry. I didn't mean to push you. There was no way you could have known ok? " He said holding her. "We're going to fix this." Brock whispered. Melanie lowered he head in shame and guilt. For the first time in his life, Brock felt helpless. The future was ambiguous, altered because of his loss. What next?
Brock touched her face, wiping away her tears. The crowd fell silent as spoke to her
"I'd rather loose the title than loose you." He said. Melanie looked at the floor, soaking in the words Brock had just said to her. Did he mean it? She thought to herself. He had a genuine look on his face. She looked up at him, not knowing what to say. She reached her hand up and brushed it against his cheek. He reached for her hand and took a hold of it with his hand. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her face up to his own. He gently pressed his lips against hers. At first, Melanie did nothing. She placed her free hand on his chest to push him away, but she felt his heart beating. It was beating faster and stronger by the second. She knew then that he meant every word he spoke to her.
The crowd began to cheer loudly as Melanie returned the kiss. She began to see images alternating in her mind. She was in a hotel room with Brock. She felt herself being lifted up and was being thrown against a mirror. She felt blood run down the back of her head. She opened her eyes and broke the kiss.
Brock was standing in front of her. She was back in Madison Square Garden and she had just finished kissing her client. Fans were cheering and whistling. She touched the back of her head. There was no blood, no pain. Brock began walking toward her, but she pushed him away.
"Mel, what's wrong?" Brock asked. Melanie realized what she had done.
"I have to go." She said quickly. She turned around and started up the ramp, leaving Brock in the middle of the ring, speechless.
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