Chapter 14

A Deal with the Devil

"Kurt, I can't really talk right now. I've got more than half of those fans wanting to rip me apart. Not to mention that Melanie is trying to juggle her job and her relationship with Brock." Stephanie said grimly. " I think it's because I've got my aunt flo putting me in a bad mood."

Kurt scratched his head. He was trying to relate. Stephanie gave him a hint.

"Kurt, my aunt visits me every month." She said. Kurt Angle's eyes lit up.

"Wow Steph. You're lucky to have an aunt visit you every month. I wish I had an aunt like that. All mine does is send me medicine during the holidays." He said. Stephanie spelled it out for him.

"I had PMS. You do know what PMS is, don't you?" Kurt half-heartedly mumbled, "Yeah…pretty much," But as Stephanie left, he wondered aloud, "What the heck does PMS have to do with her aunt flo?"

Friday night. Melanie was in her hotel room. She pressed the play button on her answering machine. All 8 messages were from Brock. 8 in less than 24 hours. Melanie didn't want to speak to him. I let him down. He was honest with me and I'm just leaving him to rot in limbo. She thought as she removed her shirt and jeans. She began searching her room for her nightclothes when the phone rang again. Don't pick it up… it could be Brock.

Despite her thoughts, she picked up the receiver.

"Hello?"

"Mel. It's Brock. I'm glad I caught you."

Melanie sighed. He was going to ask her the question again. How she felt about him.

"Mel? Are you there?" Brock said. Melanie panicked

"Brock, I really can't talk right now. I'm working on some paperwork for Smackdown." She said quickly.

"Melanie, we really need to…" He started. Melanie hung up the phone before he could finish.

She was in her backyard again. The gun was still pointed at her. She dodged out of the way as a shot was fired it was her mother's murderer, trying to kill her. The figure chased her until she came to the edge of a cliff that seemed to have come out of nowhere. At the bottom of the rock face were jagged rocks. The water was crashing up against the cliff. The figure was inching closer and closer. Melanie turned toward the edge and spread her arms. The wind picked up and suddenly she felt someone's arms wrap around her waist. She turned her head slightly to see who it was. It was Brock. His face was tranquil and relaxed. He had a small smile on his face. She looked past him and saw the figure coming closer a little more quickly. She turned her head toward the ocean again. The sun was coming up, braking through the clouds ever so slightly. Brock moved his head closer to her ear.

"You can trust me Melanie. I won't hurt you. I promise." He said softly. Melanie began cry.

"I can't. What if I'm not strong enough suppose I hurt you?" She said softly. Brock took her hands in his own and kissed her gently on the cheek. The wind blew more energetically.

"The hardest part," He whispered quietly, "is letting go." A tear rolled down her cheek. Somehow, she knew what he meant. He spread their arms out, as if they were about to fly. Melanie took a deep breath. She heard a gunshot as they both dived off the cliff. Melanie braced herself for the impact

Melanie's eyes jerked open as she stared at her ceiling. Another dream. She had the first part of her dream before. She always wondered what it meant. The tire swing, the hooded figure, the fact that she was little again. Some of it was obvious. It was a similar reenactment of the night her mother died. The hooded figure had to be her father. It had to be. Who else? But she had never had a dream about Brock before. Why were they at the end of a cliff?

So many questions.

The December 5th edition of Smackdown kicked off in Miami, Florida. Melanie was in the middle of the ring with Stephanie.

"Steph. I'm asking you to please let Brock tell his side of the story. He doesn't have to come here. I've arranged for him to speak to us via satellite." Melanie said. Stephanie sighed.

"Fine. Put him on." She said. Suddenly, Brock was on the Smackdown TitanTron from his home in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He seemed tired and restless. Almost like a caged animal, waiting to get out.

"Thanks Melanie." Brock said. "And I don't really have any excuses for what happened at Survivor Series. I got what I deserved for associating myself with a slimeball like Heyman." He said passionately. He paused for a moment, looking into the camera lenses. He couldn't see Melanie, yet she felt as if he was looking right at her. Brock continued.

"But I've learned from my mistakes, and now I'm gonna fight like hell to punish Paul and his giant puppet in the most brutal fashion imaginable!" He said glaring into the camera. Just then, Big Show and Heyman entered the ring, pushing aside the two GM's.

"Just so we're clear, Brock Lesnar didn't screw Brock Lesnar," he insisted. "We screwed Brock Lesnar! We enjoyed screwing you! If we could turn back the clock when Melanie came along, when Big Show and I came up with this whole plan, we would screw you all over again!"

Melanie gasped. She flashed back to the last time she had that dream of her mother's death. That night she couldn't sleep, her window was open and she had seen the dim figure walking out of the hotel and into a limo. That was Paul going for a ride with Show. How could she not have known? She turned her attention toward the screen where Brock was looking unusually clam.

"Well Paul. I hear there's gonna be a No. 1 Contendership match. The ideas of Angel, Edge, Benoit or Guerrero facing Show At Armageddon sounds like one hell of a title match." He said smirking. " I can't wait to see it… in person." Melanie shook her head and grabbed the microphone out of Heyman's hand.

"Brock, no! Stay at home. You're suspended. If you come, your suspension may be extended." She pleaded. Brock groaned.

"Mel, you flat out refuse to listen to me when I try to talk to you. You were my last hope. Now, I guess I'm not even gonna bother listening to you until you give me an answer." He said. And with that, Lesnar stood up, removed his microphone and left the screen, making everyone in the ring feeling very uncomfortable.

Security guards surrounded the arena, preventing Brock from entering the arena. But the following week, Brock was at an autograph signing. The next person in line placed an issue of WWE magazine in front of Brock.

"And what your name?" Brock said without looking up."
"Kurt." The voice said. " Kurt Angle." Brock looked up. Angle was standing there. He had something to say. They stepped into another room and Kurt began talking.

"Listen, I'm just gonna come out and say it. I'll help you get your suspension lifted if you help me beat the Big Show by being in my corner this Sunday, at Armageddon." Brock raised a skeptical eyebrow. Kurt had to give him a good reason.

"Brock, not only could you get your hands on the agent that screwed you, but you'll be the first in line for a title shot if I walk away with the belt." Kurt said. Brock shook his head.

"I don't know Kurt." Brock said hesitantly. Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Brock, don't tell me for a second that you haven't thought about you and Melanie…you know. Together?" Kurt said. Brock looked up. Of course I have. Kurt saw the look on his face and realized he had struck a nerve.

"Well, it's right here Brock. You win the title; Melanie falls head over heels in love with you. You could face an Olympic champion and perhaps beat one? If you help me out, I'll help you out." Brock paused for a moment, then answered.

"If…if you can get my suspension lifted…I'll think about it."

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