Half an hour had passed since their take off and the wrestlers were still feeling very excited about their trip. For most of them this wasn't the first time they were traveling abroad but every time was like the first time. They were groups of people forming on board. Rey's seat was at the end of the plane so he could see all the way to the front. There was Tazz, Cole and Teddy Long talking with Dave Batista and JBL, London talking to Nunzio and Melina; Booker T was sitting quietly with his wife Sharmell and Orlando Jordan, Heidenreich was talking to Bob Holly about their upcoming match, Mark Callaway was reading a book; There were too many people talking and still too much noise for Rey's taste. Usually during travels like these he would be so excited, he would talk to everyone and have so much fun. But now it was different. His headache was still bad and it had spread to his eyes and the back of his head. But it wasn't the only reason of his silence. There was something bothering him that he just couldn't put his finger on. He gave up trying to figure it out and pushed his seat backwards deciding to get some sleep, feeling some sense of security having Eddie beside him.

"Are you ok homez?" he asked

"Yeah… I'm just very tired."

"Then get some rest. I'll be here"

Rey didn't answer. He closed his eyes and immediately fell asleep.

Eddie stared at the small man next to him and smiled.

'Unbelievable' he thought to himself. He was always surprised by him. Rey was such a bizarre man. There were times he just wouldn't stand still, he wouldn't stop talking and laughing, making jokes and having fun; and there were times like this one, that he would just shut down, go out like a light. Rey had the incredible ability of sleeping anywhere anytime. He had seen him sleep on large crates, on chairs, couches, armchairs, airplane seats, arena seats, cars, buses, trains, even on the floor. He on the other hand, he couldn't sleep except on a bed. Sometimes when the trip was long and tiresome he could get a shuteye but not for long. Rey… he had seen him sleep for hours on end. And he was jealous of that. For Eddie these travels were endless, he counted the minutes and the hours passing slowly trying to keep himself busy by reading, talking, watching TV… anything. Sometimes Rey would feel guilty for sleeping all the way. He would wake up and keep him company for as long as he could. Those moments Eddie really appreciated and remembered most fondly. It was the time were most of the passengers were sleeping and Eddie was alone with his thoughts and his own demons. Rey, always beside him, always a partner in life and in crime sometimes, would wake up and talk to him for hours, whisper in his ear. There were times when they played jokes on the others, but Eddie loved the talks they had, endless ones about love, hate, their families, their matches, the gossips in the roster, their future plans, their loved ones… Rey confided in Eddie and Eddie confided in Rey.

Eddie realized he was looking at the small luchador. He caressed Rey's front gently and saw him smile contently.

"It's soothing" he spoke faintly.

"I didn't mean to wake you"

"You didn't. I am not asleep yet. Eddie you don't have to stay with me while I am sleeping. I know how bored you are…" his voice trailed off.

Eddie kept caressing Rey's front. He thought he was a little warmer than usual. His fingers trailed to his cheeks.

"Rey? Are you sure you are OK?"

Rey opened his tired eyes.

"Just tired…"

"I think you have a fever."

"Just tired" he whispered again and turning his back on Eddie fell back to sleep.

He kept looking at him worriedly. He decided to leave him alone for now and rest. Perhaps with some sleep the fever would fall. He got up from his seat and spotted Benoit a few seats ahead.

"Hey holmes, how is it going?" he asked

"Good…" Chris answered.

"Who do you have a match against?"

"I am wrestling JBL" Chris answered with a grin on his face.

"Yikes… Good luck…. You are going to need it… really!"

"Yeah I know… " Chris smiled showing his teeth.

"So are they planning on giving you the title?"

"I don't know yet. It is still soon. I think Dave is next in line. How about you? Aren't you in the middle of a feud with Rey-Rey?"

Eddie fell silent.

"What? What did I say?" Chris asked

"Nothing man… it's just that I am little worried about him that's all."

"Is he ok?" he asked keeping his voice low.

"He is sleeping right now. I think he is sick. He has a fever."

"We should tell the doctor. I think he is on board with us somewhere in the front with Tazz." Benoit added and started to get up. But Eddie's hand grabbed him and pushed him back down to his seat. "Why did you do that? If Rey is sick, then we should tell someone…"

"No esse. Just let him rest. He hasn't slept for two days and he just came from Mexico visiting his sick uncle… just let him sleep…"

Chris' face twisted in surprise.

"Let him sleep? What's up with that? Eddie, if he is sick we should tell them."

"No… no…" he hesitated. "I think we should wait and let him sleep it off. Besides we are here too."

"What is going on? What are you talking about?" Chris got angry. He knew that in the past Eddie wouldn't have taken any chances with Rey's health. Now seeing him act so weirdly and secretly made him suspicious.

"Keep you voice down you idiot" Eddie silenced him.

"Does it have to do with the time Rey was in the hospital a few months back?"

He didn't get an answer. Eddie felt really stupid for starting this conversation.

"Please…" he gave a pleading look to his old and best friend, Eddie. "Rey is my friend too. I care about him like you do. If there is something wrong or anything I can do to help, please tell me."

"Rey would really appreciate you concern, but back then we made a decision and if someone should tell you the truth it should be him" Eddie's eyes were piercing Benoit with care and sadness. "I can't tell you what happened, and to tell you the truth I don't think I want to remember what happened… all I can say is that Rey has changed since then and he is still not out of the woods yet…"

Chris was still confused, if not more. Eddie grabbed his shoulder and squeezing it he continued.

"Chris… what happened to him is…"

"What?" he interrupted impatiently

"… It is too much to handle alone. And we may think we are helping him, but in the end he is alone in the dark searching for a hand to pull him out into the light. There is nothing we can do but be there for him in his moment of need."

"Eddie… your talking is really scary man… what could be so horrible…" but he stopped in mid sentence. He looked into Eddie's eyes in surprise and fear. "No… no… it can't be…" he said almost to himself. It was like the truth was suddenly revealed to him, the whole truth naked, ugly and putrid staring him in the face, hitting him with the force of a freight train.

"The newspapers were right weren't they? All those things they wrote about were the truth; not the lies about Rey's knee!" Chris voice was falling lower and lower as the memories of the things he had read were coming to his mind.

"Oh, my God! Everything they said was the truth?" he starred at Eddie, his old time friend. Eddie just looked back blankly failing to understand how Chris had put it together so quickly. No one else had done so, so far. Either Chris was the smartest guy of them all, either the rest of the roster were complete idiots. In any case the concern in Chris eyes leaved no margin for mistakes. Eddie just shook his head in a meaningful 'YES'.

"All those things?"

Again he nodded.

"Jesus Christ… save us…" he mumbled and covered his face with his hands. He swept it with his palms. "How can it be? I remember being so angry at them for writing such things… and all this time, it was the truth!" and stared into the void in front of him. "But who… who could do such a thing?" he asked a few moments later trying to get a grip of himself.

Again he didn't answer. He looked back meaningfully. Eddie had no idea how they had even got to this point, let alone what to say next. He was worried and sad, but he remained silent. He lowered his head and looked around just to make sure no one was listening.

"Was it someone he knew?" Chris continued his question.

"No… it was… um… it was Jacob Mandeson"

Chris lifting his eyebrow asked.

"Who the hell is that?"

"Jacob Mandeson was… Adam Copeland's father…"

Chris was left speechless. Before he could react Eddie continued his speech.

"Chris, what we have told you so far you were never meant to know. You found out by accident, because you have more sense in here to know how to put two and two together. I told you because you are one of the best men I know in the ring and out of the ring… so my answer is YES. What those papers wrote the first time was the truth. Someone talked to the press and told them everything… every gruesome true detail. And the whole story was so unbelievable, so twisted, pervasive… that it was easy to discredit it as a lie. Rey made up the lie about his knee and when Vince told it to the press, they bought it."

"I don't understand…" Chris whispered keeping his voice from breaking.

"Think about it esse. The press was told a story. It was unbelievable, frightening and too scary to be true… with torture, rape, death... it sounded like a bad B-movie to begin with. But they followed it. Then Vince told them the big lie to cover up the truth they already knew… It is a classic political strategy. Cover the truth with a lie… When Vince spoke to the press, refusing the accusations and even threatening with a lawsuit, the press immediately bought his lie and rejected the story. After all they didn't know who had fed them such a perversity in the first place. Vince's social stature and credibility was enough to back them down…"

Eddie got quiet for a moment thinking how to continue and salvage all he could.

"Chris… I have known you for a long time… a long time… and you are like a brother to me… you must understand that you cannot talk to anyone about this; not even Rey. Do you understand me?" Eddie said seriously and angrily.

Chris could only nod. He was left speechless. Eddie gave a last glance and got up to leave. With the whole draft lottery, perhaps Chris' help would be very much needed; especially now when Kurt had gone to Raw leaving Eddie alone to deal with Rey.

Eddie left somewhat in a hurry. He didn't want to stick around any more. He walked to his seat and saw Rey. He was still sleeping, deeply as far as he could tell. But there was something bothering him. He was worried about his fever. He touched his forehead and noticed he still had it, and it had risen since the last time… he was sweating and breathing a little faster than before too. But what made his heart twist a little more was that Rey showed no reaction to his touch or his voice.

"Hey buddy… wake up…" he called to him softly, but he showed no reaction to his words or his touch. He shook his shoulder to wake him up, but still he didn't respond. Maybe he should go find that doctor…

He looked up from his seat and looked ahead to the plane searching for the doctor's familiar face. But he was too far back and the plane was too big so he decided to go look for him. As he walked amidst the seats, he was greeted by some of his friends. He remembered that, Chris was it, he had seen him with Tazz. Spotting the Smackdown announcer sitting with Cole, he picked up his pace.

"Hey Eddie!" Cole greeted happily.

"Hey guys have you seen the doctor? Benoit told me he was with you a few minutes ago."

"Yeah, he's just gone up ahead… someone sick?" Tazz asked.

"Um… It's Rey… he has a fever and…"

"Eddie what is it?"

"I left him sleeping but… when I tried waking him up, he wouldn't even stir… and I'm worried." He replied keeping his voice as low as possible.

Tazz and Cole were sincerely surprised and a little scared. Eddie had a feeling they knew a little more than the rest of the guys because they were close to Vince. Usually he told them everything so that they could keep an eye on them. So when he saw the look on their faces, the idea that they too might know more than they showed popped into mind. But if they knew, they sure did a pretty good job at hiding it. However, this wasn't the place or the time to discuss it.

"I'll go get the doctor" Cole volunteered as Tazz got up from his seat and followed Eddie all the way back to his seat trying to look as casual as possible.

When they reached Rey, he was in a bad shape; even worse than before. He was sweating a lot and he was delirious. He was babbling, whispering words either man couldn't make out. His color was white and his eyes where closed shut… Eddie stopped breathing when he saw him. He swallowed hard and it was Tazz who brought him to his senses.

"Rey?" he spoke his name. "Wake up…"

Eddie pushed Tazz and grabbed Rey from his shoulders shaking him hard. Once again Tazz stopped him.

"Eddie quit it… he is not answering…"

Cole then arrived with the doctor. Eddie stepped back with Tazz and Cole and let the doctor take care of his friend. By that time, the entire plane had noticed what that something was going on and they were all on their feet concerned.

"Guys stay in your seats… it is nothing…" Tazz yelled trying to calm down the wrestlers and make the ones approaching go back to their seats.

The doctor took Rey's pulse from his neck and then checked his fever. He opened his eyes and saw that his pupils were dilated. He took a syringe out of his bag and injected it into a vain in Rey's left arm. A few moments passed and Rey was still in the same bad condition. Eddie, Cole and Tazz were holding their breaths, waiting as the doctor checked Rey's pulse again. But when Rey started to relax and his breathing became softer and more controlled, they sighed in relief. His sweating stopped and his body fell calmly back on his seat.

"What happened?" Tazz asked

The doctor took them a little further from the curious wrestlers who were close enough to hear them.

"He had a really high fever and his pulse was racing… I have never seen that happen before in such a short time."

"What do you mean?" Cole whispered.

"Well, usually it takes a long time to reach that level of fever. No one gets sick and develop such a high fever in a matter of minutes!"

"Rey was pretty tired…" Eddie mumbled, letting his gaze fall upon Rey's sleeping form.

"That doesn't explain it. Everyone on this plane has had sleepless days and nights at some point in his life; we have all been tired but in my entire career, I have never seen that. Besides, one thing that worries me the most was his ramblings."

"He was hallucinating?" Tazz was surprised.

"I think so… I can't be sure…"

"What he was saying?"

"I couldn't understand. He wasn't speaking English."

"Spanish maybe?" Cole suggested.

The doctor shook his head. "No, I speak a little Spanish… and what he spoke didn't sound like it. In fact it didn't sound like any language I have heard…"

That last statement made the three men raise their eyebrows. Eddie left and sat next to Rey. Touching his front, he realized it was cooler now.

"What did you give him?" he asked.

"I injected him with a strong antipyretic to drop the fever. It will keep him calm and allow him to rest properly for a few hours."

"Then what?" he continued.

"I have no idea. I can't tell in here. But when he wakes up and if he still has a fever we will take him to a hospital for further examination. I'm sorry. That's all I can do right now. The best thing to do is let him rest."

"Thank you doctor." Cole said.

"We will stay with him…" Tazz added. "Thank you"

The doctor left saying that he would come again to check on Rey. A few wrestlers approached Tazz and Cole curious and a little worried about Rey and what had happened but they kindly didn't let them come closer. Tazz left Rey and Eddie and went in the front with the rest of the roster to explain.

"It is nothing. He had a fever that's all. He is fine now. The doctor took care of him. We should let him rest and I'm sure he will be on his feet again in a matter of minutes…"

He stayed with them and answered some questions but after reassuring them, the conversation turned to other matters. Benoit left the group and walked to the back where Eddie was sitting. Cole had left promising he would return in a few minutes.

"How is he?" Benoit asked pointing at Rey.

"I don't know. He looks fine I guess…"

"What do you mean?"

"It was scary. I was shaking him really hard and he just wouldn't wake up… I left him for a couple of seconds man, no more, to call the doctor, and by the time we got here he was worse…"

"Do you think it has something to do with… you know… Jacob…" Chris asked, uttering Jacob's name in a low whisper.

Eddie looked at Chris in surprise. "I don't know… I don't think so… it wouldn't surprise me, but I don't think this fever has anything to do with him… no… it must be something else…"

"Hopefully, it is over. What did the doctor say?"

"He didn't have an answer either. He was at a loss of words. He gave him an injection and that's it. If the fever rises again, we will take him to a hospital as soon as we land."

Chris looked at Eddie and he immediately felt sorry for him and Rey. He was in Raw when the story with Jacob had happened and he hadn't paid much attention to it anyway. Adam was gone for all this time, but he was never close to him so he didn't think much about it. Now it was different. After the draft lottery, he was back on Smackdown and with his old friends. Eddie was there and Kurt too, even for a while, even though he had gone to Raw. And of course Rey was here… Rey… he had known him since the days of ECW and WCW. They had been good friends back then, in good times and certainly in bad ones. Now being back on the road with them he had no other choice but to get back together with them, renew the strong bonds they had forged all those years back. It was true the moment Chris knew he would be leaving Raw for Smackdown, Adam had approached him and strangely told him how jealous he was of him. Then, it was the first time he had started to suspect something was wrong. He had kept to himself. He hadn't talked to Adam about it because that damn Canadian was so secretive and stubborn. He confided only in Jay Reso and Chris Jericho.

Now, everything was revealed to him, like a big heavy red velvet stage curtain being pulled to expose the truth, the awful, dreadful and terrifying reality he wished he didn't know. But like Eddie, he too felt incapable of ignoring the small luchador. It was impossible to resist his charm, that delightful smile, those angel eyes. The moment he set his eyes upon Rey he found himself bound to him, unable to overlook him, unable to do anything else but love and care for him. His mind didn't have the time to process what he had found on that plane, what Eddie had confirmed in his own words! He knelt next to Eddie and looked him deeply and sincerely.

"Don't worry man. He'll be fine. I know him. He is a fighter and he has faith" Chris added.

Eddie just shook his head feeling tired. He wanted to close his eyes and like very night he wished everything was just a bad dream. For as long as he could remember, every single night he would go to sleep wishing none of this had happened and like every day he would be reminded of the cold truth just by looking into Rey's eyes. No matter how hard he was trying to hide it, Rey's eyes would betray him.

"Eddie… you are tired. Go get some sleep in my seat and I'll stay with Rey" Chris suggested.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah… go… I'll come wake you up when I'm tired…" he smiled gently. Eddie got up and slowly walked to Chris seat and silently fell asleep.

Chris in his turn sat next to Rey. He looked so much better now; calm; cool; peaceful; just beautiful; he could certainly see why Adam was so in love with him… it's hard not to.

The night outside was quickly falling and soon the plane lights dimmed allowing the wrestlers to relax and sleep. Eddie was heavily sleeping for once and only faint whispers sounded coming from familiar mouths. Chris had no idea how many minutes had passed… maybe it was hours… he didn't know. Slowly the plane buzz seemed to fade along with the soft voices and the whispers. His mind never registered his eyes shutting or body giving up to the tiredness he didn't know existed. He just fell asleep in the comfortable warmth surrounding him, holding Rey's hand in his own feeling safe and secure.

Chris was never a heavy sleeper. When he felt Rey's hand stir in his own he immediately woke up almost startled. He looked at Rey next to him. His eyes were slowly opening and once he saw Chris he gave him a large childish smile.

"Hey…" he whispered

"Well, good morning sun shine! How was your beauty sleep?" Chris joked.

"OK, I guess… I think I passed out cold… are we there yet?"

"No, we still have a few more hours to go… Rey…" Chris hesitated. Rey sat up straight in his seat and looked at him intensely and curiously.

"What? What is it?"

"Do you remember anything?"

"Like what? I don't understand what you are talking about"

Chris wasn't sure if he ought to tell him but he decided to let him know. After all, the doctor would come to check up on him anyway.

"While you were sleeping… well… you had a fever."

"A fever? I don't remember that."

"Really? Rey, your fever developed in a matter of seconds… minutes perhaps. Within moments you were out of it, rambling, speaking incoherently in a language nobody understood…"

Rey couldn't help a chuckle escaping his lips. It sounded so funny and weird, like a bad movie.

"Chris this is ridiculous…"

"Rey it's not funny." Chris scolded him. "The doctor was here and if he hadn't given you an antipyretic injection, I don't know what would've happened. You were writhing; sweating… you looked to be in serious pain. How can you not remember it?"

Rey lifted his shoulders up.

"Chris… I'm sorry. I have no idea what you are talking about. I don't remember any of it. I feel fine." And he smiled innocently, the smile Chris knew his friend possessed, the one that had got him out of trouble many times.

"I'll go get the doctor to check you up" he said and got up from his seat. Rey didn't manage to stop him. He sighed and resigned fell back on his seat. He looked out from the window. It was still a little dark outside, but the sun was starting to rise, spreading a beautiful mix of colors, orange, blue and a fiery red across the horizon. No cloud was visible. He rested his head back and let the first sun rays warm his face, absorbing the heat he seemed to need so much. Soon the doctor came. Chris was with him, followed by Eddie, Tazz and Cole. Rey was really surprised by the crowd. He looked up at each one, the concern on their faces, and maybe the… fear, was it? He couldn't tell. The doctor sat beside him, took his pulse and measured his temperature.

"How do you feel?" Eddie asked.

"Um… fine I guess. Chris told me what happened and I… I don't remember anything"

"You are still a little pale, but everything else seems to be normal. No fever, no signs of sickness. Weird. But I am still worried about that incident and I would like to take to the hospital for a few tests as soon as we land just to make sure."

"No please doctor…"Rey begged. He had seen his share of hospitals in the past, and he sure wasn't in a hurry to get into one again. Last time, it hadn't ended well. And Adam wasn't with him this time. "I don't want to go to the hospital. I am fine."

"Rey Rey… listen to the doc will you?" Eddie yelled at him.

"Eddie, I said I'm fine."

"Guys stop it" Chris tried to calm the voices down.

"Please Rey" the doctor continued calmly. "All I want is to do some blood tests just to make sure you are alright. It won't take much of your time. Maybe it has something to do with your lungs, we have to be sure. You can't take any risks, especially if you are going to wrestle."

"But my lungs are fine. I never had a problem since the operation."

"Rey!" Eddie yelled again "For God's sake! Would you listen to the man?"

The doctor looked at Eddie almost angrily. The Latino wasn't helping him at all.

"Eddie shut up" Chris finally told him.

"No you shut up…"

"Guys, will you stop it" Tazz interfered.

"It was scary man." Cole told Rey.

"I am sorry…" Rey's voice trailed off. "I didn't mean to scare any one… it's just that it sounds so weird and if it had happened, wouldn't I feel it? Wouldn't I know?"

"It was terrifying, something I have never seen before. You gave us quite a scare there. It was like you were possessed. You even spoke a strange language" the doctor followed always calmly. "All I want is to make sure you are OK."

Rey gave up. He just nodded accepting the doctor's advice. As soon as their plane would land, a car would be there to drive him and the doctor to a hospital. Rey didn't want to do it. Being away from Adam was one thing, but being in a hospital in a different continent was a whole different ball-game. He was miles away from him, and should anything happen, he wouldn't be able to come. He needed him and missed him more than he had imagined. Now this incident had him worried and maybe a little frightened. He didn't want to pass it on to Adam. He didn't want him to worry too. He had almost regretted coming to this trip. Once the doctor, Tazz and Cole left, Rey was left with his two friends.

"Eddie?"

"What esse?"

"Don't tell Adam… about the plane and the hospital. It is probably nothing, so there is no point in worrying him alright?"

Eddie agreed. Chris, although he didn't know officially about Rey and Adam, he nodded too.

"Do you want something to eat?" the Canadian offered.

"No, I am not hungry thanks" Rey declined. He was surprised with himself at this statement. He hadn't eaten anything for a day, was it? Yet his body didn't register the need to feed. Perhaps he should try and eat something. No point in worrying them more and he could tell they were just by looking at them. "Um… on second thought… I think I would like to eat something"

"I'll go see what I can find" and left.

Rey sat back and turned his gaze to the window. The sun was shining brightly outside. They were flying above the clouds, so he had no idea of the storm taking place below. Up here it was beautiful and peaceful. He kept his eyes on the window, but he could feel Eddie's upon him. He felt his fingers touch his face and turn it towards him. But before Eddie could speak, Rey interrupted.

"I'm sorry bro. I'm sorry." He let his head fall on Eddie's shoulder and closed his eyes, sighing. Eddie caressed his head and his short hair, trying not to show his fear. He didn't like what was happening so far and Rey's reaction was strange.

"Do you want to sleep?" he asked never stopping his fingers from stroking his hair. Rey had nuzzled on his shoulder and had wrapped his arms around his waist, like a small child searching his father's protection. Eddie passed his arm around Rey and held him close to his body. He smelled so good. He squeezed him and when he heard Rey breathe happily, he smiled to himself. He didn't need Rey's answer to his question.

Chris walked back to them holding a sandwich and a bottle of water in his hands. He met the eyes of Eddie and when he saw Rey cuddled contentedly against Eddie, he silently gave him the sandwich and the water and returned to his seat.

Red

Red liquid… and no sound… like a void.

A hollow sound of a droplet falling on thick liquid tore the void. The red liquid rippled as another one fell.

Red became black, rotting fast, spreading the disease further and further covering everything until all was dark.

A flash… then another… then another… in each flash something was slowly being revealed bit by bit. Flash… blood… flash… Adam's face… flash… bleeding… flash… dying… flash… his eyes empty, glassy… flash… Rey holding Adam in his arms, covered in blood, sticky liquid on his hands, his face… flash… Rey is laughing… flash… his hand is holding a knife… flash… he is stabbing Adam… flash… cutting his neck as the blood oozed from the wound… flash… Rey is laughing evilly, thrilled, his laughter a mix of pleasure and pain… flash… his eyes teary… flash…the blood doesn't stop dripping… flash… it rises and rises… flash… until it drowns everything…

A final flash… then it all turns dark blue. Rey stands alone, covered in blood. Adam's gone. Darkness is around him creeping, lurking… a voice sounds. It seems to be coming from within him, but somehow it is not his own. It is not his voice… he knows it. He lets the knife fall from his hand and it splashes on the thick bloody ground as his body starts to shake…

'From cold or fear?' he asks himself.

'Fear' the voice affirms.

'Who are you? What do you want?'

'You; your soul; your purity; your love; your innocence… your suffering'

'Why?' he wants to cry. 'Why did you make me kill him?'

'Because I can' the voice echoes and makes the blood ripple under Rey's feet.

'No… leave me alone' Rey staggers back, trying to escape the voice. The tears are filling his eyes and they don't allow him to see but a blurry dark image. He stumbles and falls backwards on the bloody ground. He turns and sees corpses… dead friends on the floor mutilated, cut open, slashed, long decayed. Their bodies, their faces are barely recognizable… Rey starts to sob violently. His hands shake and it is then he realizes he is holding the knife once more…

'Why do you cry angel? Fear not… this is what shall come to pass should you not obey me'

Rey drops the knife and covers his ears with his bloody hands.

'Go away… leave me alone…I won't follow you…' he screams.

'GO AWAY!' the voice rumbles angrily. Then a laughter rips the air… it hits him like a thunder and he feels his knees buckle as he falls on the ground still covering his ears, still screaming. The voice surrounds him, envelops him. A dark cloud forms around him and he feels cold sharp claws grabbing his flesh, tearing it open, freezing beastly hands prying him and something far too horrible and far too evil entering his body, invading him, taking over control.

'It begins and ends here… my angel… with you… like it always has…' the voice calms down.

Rey doesn't scream any more. He doesn't move. He stays on his knees for a few moments, looking emptily at the nothingness before him, emotionless. Then his body gives up and he starts to fall like a ragged doll. He falls and falls. He lets out a harsh moan and he finally falls in a pool of blood, helpless as the red thick liquid covers his body anew and enters his mouth.

Rey woke up gasping for air. His body jerked violently and for a moment fear is all that he could feel. A strong hand grabbed his shoulder and brought him back to reality.

"Oscar… calm down… it was just a dream…" Eddie's voice assured him but Rey was still scared from his nightmare.

For a moment Rey was lost between the dream world and the real world. His mind balancing dangerously, unable to focus until Eddie snatched his chin and turned it facing him. He took his face in his palms and whispered.

"Oscar… it's me. Wake up…it was just a dream…"

Rey still gasped.

"What?"

"Just a bad dream… just a dream. It's over. It's over."

A few moments passed before Rey could relax and manage to put his wild emotions under control.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No" he said angrily, but regretted it the next minute. "I'm sorry man. It's just that it was so scary and it felt so… real" he wiped his forehead with his trembling fingers. Eddie just stared back, not offended but worried. No one other had noticed them despite the fact they were all awake. Soon they would be landing and they were too anxious the get off the plane and go sightseeing or whatever they had planned.

"It's OK holmes." Rey smiled at him. Eddie perhaps had no idea how much he was helping just by being there for him. For a moment he thought of asking him to accompany him to the hospital, but he didn't say it. He thought he was just being childish and selfish about the whole deal. Besides the fever was gone and the dream was exactly that… a dream. It was not the first nightmare he had and it certainly was not going to be the last one.

At that moment the "Fasten you seat belts" sign lit up signaling their descent to the ground.

Getting out of the airport was done fairly quickly. All the wrestlers entered the bus that would carry them to the hotel, all but Rey and the doctor. They would take a taxi heading to the hospital. Eddie and Chris had offered to accompany him, but Rey refused. Besides, he knew they had to attend an autograph signing downtown and later an interview. He said he wanted to do this alone.

"I'll be joining you in a few hours anyways."

He watched their bus leave as he stayed behind.

"How are you feeling?" the doctor asked.

"I'm fine. Can we go and get this over with?"

"Sure"

They took a taxi and drove to the hospital.

This is the end of the second chapter…

What do you think so far? Reviews are welcome…