Inside of Me
Chapter 1

Mina Hardy let out a long breath, staring at the second set of blue curtains that led to the entrance ramp. She shifted her weight from foot to foot, nerves buzzing through her. The redhead tried to prepare herself mentally for the moment that she stepped onto the steel ramp.

"You're up," the technician to her left announced, and she nodded, facing the curtains. Mina took one last breath, and stepped through. The velvet brushed against her, and the curtain temporarily blocked her view. Music began to pound through the speakers as she stepped onto the steel.

She wasn't sure what kind of reaction she was expecting, but it was definitely a lift when she heard the excited cheers of the crowd. She knew most of it was due to her entrance video ultimately displaying her last name. The redhead felt entirely self-conscious in her tight-fitting halter top and pants, but she tried not to show it as she entered the ring and accepted a microphone. "Hell-o Atlanta!" she said, receiving a short pop from the crowd. Mina grinned, and then leaned against one of the ropes. "I have a match against Gail Kim for the Women's Championship tonight," she told them, trying to steady the beating of her heart. "You all know my mother, Lita?" she said, and the crowd cheered. "Well, when my mother was still wrestling, Gail Kim was wrestling as well, and in fact, won the title the first night she had. Twenty years later, she's a champion again. Gail, I hate to break it to you, but your time as Women's Champion is over. You think you're so great, winning the championship your first night. I'm here to tell you that it can be done again. Better yet? Why don't I show you?" Mina waited for Gail Kim's music to begin, satisfied at her own speech. The crowd seemed to like her, in the least.

Instead of Gail's music starting, however, there was a burst of fire from the entrance ramp. Mina froze as a large, bald man made his way to the ring slowly. It took a moment, but she placed a name to him: Kane. She bit her lip, remembering the people she knew to stay away from.

Kane was at the top of that list.

Mina exhaled softly, keeping her calm. Her body was tense, but she barely blinked as Kane stepped into the ring over the top rope, taking his swell time. His eyes bored into hers, and Mina knew full well he was trying to intimidate her. She raised a single eyebrow, forcing herself to lean against the ropes. The position left her vulnerable to any attack, but she wanted to get her message across: she was not afraid of him.

Backstage, Matt Hardy was trying to calm down his wife. "Lita!" he cried, trying to get her attention, but her eyes were still riveted on the monitor.

"He was supposed to be suspended!" she yelled.

"Lita, we'll get to the bottom of this," he promised her, trying to conceal his own worry.

"What if he tells her?" Lita whispered, her voice dropping suddenly. Her breathing came fast still. "What if..." she closed her eyes, pursing her lips to cut off any tears and sobs that longed to escape. Matt took her in his arms, hugging her to him tightly, his eyes on the monitor as Kane stared Mina down.

"No matter what happens, we'll get through it. Kane is her biological father, but I'm her dad," he told her soothingly.

"We have to go out there..." she whispered, her voice muffled against his shirt. She didn't make a move to go, and neither did Matt. Both of them knew any efforts to stop Kane would be futile. Lita lifted her head, watching as Kane spoke to Mina.

All she could do was watch as the world she had created around her daughter for their family's good came crashing down.

"Mina Hardy," he said, and she stared right back at him. "So you're finally a WWE Diva," he stared back at her. "You realize that half of the reason you were picked was because of the wrestler blood that runs in your veins?"

Mina pushed off from the ropes, making a half circle in front of him before speaking. She was sure to keep her stance ready to fight; her right shoulder facing him, her feet spread slightly apart. "I'm full well aware that part of the reason I was picked was because of my heritage, but I also know that my wrestling skills aren't lacking in the least." It unnerved her that his response to her reply was a smirk.

"Mina... Have you ever wondered why you don't like your father?" he asked, and she froze. "Have you ever wondered why you have one blue eye, and one green one?" Mina took a step backward, her body tensing once more. He was hitting home, and she didn't like the smirk still in place on his face. 'His eyes...' she realized suddenly. 'One blue...one green...' Knowing what she had noticed, Kane continued, stepping closer to her. "Ever wonder why you're so much taller than all of the other Divas?" he tilted his head. "But you're right. Wrestling is in your blood. Your mother revolutionized the Women's Division. Your father," he chuckled, lopsided grin back in place. "Well, Mina... I think I'm a pretty damn good wrestler...what do you think?" it wasn't said as a question. Mina felt her back touch the turnbuckle, and she raised the microphone to her lips.

"You aren't my father," she snapped defensively, her hands sweating. 'One blue eye, one green...tall...' the characteristics that she shared with the man before her flew through her head. She placed a fist to her forehead, trying to rid herself of the thoughts. "My father is Matthew Moore Hardy," she told him, her tone wavering as she mentally doubted herself. Everyone had been looking at her funny earlier; as if they knew something that they wanted to tell her, but couldn't.

Was this it?

"No!" she yelled into the microphone.

"You know the truth!" he yelled back, and she shook her head. "Why are you denying it? Look in a mirror, Mina. You're my flesh and blood, my child," he paused until the ferocious booing of the crowd dimmed. "Lita and Matt stole you away from me!"

Mina tried to focus her eyes somewhere else, but they kept falling back to him. Was he really her father? There was a pit of cold in her gut, and she knew it was true, but her mind continued to deny it. Why would her parents lie to her for all these years if it was? She swallowed tightly. Mina ran a hand through her hair, and brought the microphone up to her lips. "What do you want with me?" she whispered, her voice hoarse.

"I want you to give me the chance to be in your life, to be what your mother would never let me be...a father."

Author's Note: Sorry about the ending, I wanted to end it while I could. If I kept going, the chapter would never stop. I hope you guys liked it though! Please review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story itself and any original characters.