Chris' cell phone rang while he was in the bathroom taking a shower before heading to lunch and the autograph signing afterwards.

"Dude, you phone is ringing" Paul London yelled from the room.

"Just leave it…"

"This is the fourth time man… maybe it's important."

Chris exited the shower and dripping checked his phone. Paul was telling the truth. He had four missed calls. Checking the caller, he sighed when he saw Adam's number.

"Oh fuck…"

"What? Who is it?"

"It's Adam."

He didn't pick it up. Instead he used the room telephone and called Eddie's room across the hall.

"Hello?"

"Eddie… it's Chris… Listen… Adam has called me four times…"

"So?"

"So?" Chris yelled back in surprise. He couldn't understand why Eddie still couldn't get it.

"Eddie, stop acting like Kurt and think for a second will you? It's Adam and he probably wants to talk to Rey. If he is calling me then it means he can't reach him and he is trying to find him through us…"

"So answer the god damn phone."

"And tell him what? Just blurt everything out? Oh that's a good idea… brilliant… Listen Eddie…" he continued lowering his voice not wanting Paul to hear the rest of the conversation, "if I answer I will have to explain where he is and why… oh fuck…"

"What?"

"He is calling again…"

"Chris, answer it and figure something out until Rey gets back…"

Chris hung up and looked at his cell phone. He hated lying to his friends.

"Hello?"

"Why aren't you guys picking up your phones? What do you have them for… hand accessories?"

"And a good day to you too, Goldilocks. I was taking a shower… what do you mean 'us guys'?"

"I called Rey, Eddie and you but no one answers. You are the first to pick up. I have been calling for an hour… what the hell is happening?"

Chris felt the urge to strangle Eddie for tricking him into this. He bit his lower lip.

"Nothing is happening… stop acting like a jealous wife… we just got here, we are all tired from the long trip."

"I'm sorry man. I just want to talk to Rey. I had a bad feeling all day long… I just want to speak with him… do you know where I can reach him?"

It took a few moments to come up with a lie.

"I don't think he is in his room right now. He had some last minute arrangements to make with the producers concerning his schedule, so he is probably with them. That's why you can't reach him… I tell you what, if I see him, I'll force him to call you… alright."

"Ok… again sorry man, I didn't mean to take it out on you."

"No problem. Bye"

"Bye"

Then he hung up. If Adam had seen Chris face he would have seen right through his lie. Adam's feeling was correct. He was right to worry. If he knew what had happened on the plane, he would have freaked out.

"Why didn't you tell him Rey is in the hospital?" Paul asked from across the room.

"What? What do you know about it?" frankly he was surprised.

"That was Adam wasn't it?"

"Yeah!" he replied trying to get to the bottom of this.

"I know they are together."

"How do you know?"

"Rey told Kidman a few weeks ago and he told me a few days before leaving WWE… we are still good friends, Billy and me. He confides in me… but don't worry I won't tell anybody. I was surprised to find out you knew given the fact you have been on Smackdown for a short time"

Chris lifted his eyebrows and headed back to the shower.

"Please Paul you have to understand this is not our business. If Rey is ready, then he will let everyone know. For know we better keep our mouths shut and don't tell anyone… OK?"

"Sure" Paul answered as he lay back on his bed. Frankly he had no idea about the rest of the story and Chris figured as much. He was as dense as Kidman this kid. There was a sense of sincerity and freshness about Paul that Benoit welcomed. Paul was no threat to Rey's secrets. He would never reveal the little he knew so far. He was a man of his word. He smiled to himself as he entered and continued his shower.

Rey had been sitting in the same chair for about an hour, waiting. The doctor had left to make some phone calls and check with the hospital for the blood tests. He was bored out of his mind, and he was starting to get tired… again… He rubbed his eyes wondering when they would be coming to take him for the tests. A man passed him while talking on his cell phone. Then it hit him; he had forgotten to turn on his own. Adam would be worried… Sure enough turning it on, he saw he had a text message from him.

'How was your trip? Call me as soon as you can. Pepe!'

Rey smiled at the last word. It was a nickname he had come up with and despite the fact Adam pretended he didn't like it, Rey knew how much he loved it when in their private moments Rey called him like that… Just as much when Adam called him by his birth name… while they were making love.

That last thought made Rey blush, but he was prudent enough to control himself. Not thinking twice he dialed Adam's number. It rang once… only once.

"Hello" Adam's voice sounded hasty.

"Hey… I just got your message… sorry I didn't call you sooner."

"It's OK… Chris told me you were tied up with the producers and…"

At that time, form the hospital's speakers a female voice announced loudly

"Dr Scholl to the OR. Dr Scholl to the OR"

"Rey? Where are you?"

Rey bit his lip. He was betrayed by the announcer.

"Don't freak out… but I'm in the hospital…" and waited to hear his screams.

"What are you doing there? Are you alright?" his voice was out of breath, full of concern but he didn't scream.

"I… um… I had a fever during the flight…"

"Fever? And they took you all the way to the hospital for a fever? Rey? What aren't you telling me?"

Rey didn't want to tell him. There was no point in worrying him… but Adam's persistence was more he could handle right now. He was tired, sleepy, weak, hungry, thirsty…

"Rey… are you still there?"

"Yeah" he felt his mouth dry. His tongue seemed to be sticking to his palate.

"Well? Please… you know how worried I am…"

"Ok… it was a really high fever. They said I was rambling things… they couldn't wake me up. The doctor gave me a shot with antipyretic and that's it."

"What do you mean? Do you have a fever now?"

"No. When I woke up, I couldn't remember anything. It was like I hadn't slept at all, like I never rested… like those hours I passed with the fever never existed for me." Not hearing Adam speak on the other end of the line, he continued. "So when we came here, they convinced me to do a standard check up, just to make sure. It's nothing really… don't worry."

That seemed to ease his lover a little. However, the long distance separating them was not helping the situation. Rey thought of telling him about the dream but he immediately brushed off the idea. He saw no point in it… it was just a dream… just a dream…just a dream… Adam's voice woke him up from the trance he seemed to be falling from thinking about his weird nightmare.

"Rey, you better do what those doctors tell you alright. Don't play with your health. Tell them about your surgery OK?"

"Anything for you… anything…" Rey whispered lovingly. Adam shook his head. The little Mexican creature sure knew how to manipulate him. He knew him so perfectly, he knew what to say, how to say it and most importantly when to say it.

"It's not for me, but for you…" Adam tried to resist the tickling feeling Rey's voice was causing in his stomach.

"Si senior…"

"Don't joke about it I am serious" but Rey could feel Adam crack.

"Si Pepe…"

This time Adam laughed.

"Adam I have to go. The doctor is coming. I'll call you back when I'm done."

"You better…I love you Oscar" Adam spoke quietly.

"Me too. And Adam… be careful…"

Adam found it strange that Rey was the one telling him to be careful but he didn't ask. Rey had already hung up.

The doctor stood a few feet away from Rey waiting patiently for him to finish his call. When it was over, he waved Rey to follow him. It was going to be a long day for all concerned.

Two hours later he was leaving the hospital with the WWE doctor looking for a taxi. Rey felt as terrible as he looked. He had been led into an examination room where a nurse had taken two measures of blood. Then a doctor had performed a check-up, focusing on his lungs. Then they had to wait… again… The blood tests showed no infection, nothing out of the ordinary, his lungs were fine, he had no fever, no virus… nothing that could explain his fever on the plane.

They got into a taxi. Rey exhausted sat on the back seat as the doctor sat in front with the driver. Rey was too tired and his body ached. A headache was forming behind his eyes and he rubbed them trying to chase it away. He still hadn't eaten anything and he still wasn't hungry. Thinking about his schedule today only made his heart sink. He had to attend to an interview and an autograph signing. Then tomorrow they would be performing in front of a huge crowd. He sighed. Rey had to get some rest. The doctor's phone rang.

"Yes?... No, we'll be there in about half an hour… No he is fine. The tests showed nothing out of the ordinary… But I don't think he should… He is too tired… Fine! Where is the interview?... Ok… we'll meet you there…" he hung up and turned back to Rey with an angry look on his face. Obviously whoever had just called him had upset him. "We don't have time to go to the hotel and change. We'll meet the others for the interview downtown. Will you be alright?"

Rey nodded. Although he wanted to sleep, for a day or two maybe, he assured the doctor he was up for it.

"Yeah… I'm fine. I have my mask ready. Let's go meet the others."

The drive was long and tiresome. Rey had closed his eyes, leaning back, resting. His body was completely worn out, his mind numb. He looked out from the window. It was afternoon and it was cloudy. The taxi turned to a large avenue and after a few feet, it came to a halt in front of a huge mall. The singing would be taking place here, in a music store. They had set up barricades for the crowd which was already forming a line, waiting patiently the singing to begin. Rey wished he didn't have to do it. He simply didn't have to strength. He took out his mask and put it hastily on his head. They stopped in front of the entrance where reporters and many other people stood waiting. They were the last ones to arrive. The other wresters had already turned up and they were setting up for the interview.

Rey sat next to Booker T. Benoit sat with Eddie while Batista was sitting on a desk with Mark. The other wrestlers were also there signing and chatting with the fans that flooded the area. Rey took a deep breath and started the singing.

This was torture.

For about two hours non stop they signed, talked, smiled, shook hands and took photos with eager fans of all ages and both sexes. Rey could spot Eddie from a distance giving him once in a while glances, checking up on him. Rey would just smile back at him and continue.

His head was about to explode. He couldn't take any more of this. The thumping increased as he rubbed his temples.

"You OK man?" Booker asked.

Rey nodded and smiled.

"I'm fine. Just tired."

Thankfully he didn't have to do it much longer. The singing stopped and the interview would follow. As they stood up and walked towards the main hall where the interview would take place Eddie approached him and placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Well, what did they say? At the hospital?"

"Nothing… they found nothing at all."

"You were in the hospital for hours and they found nothing?"

"Nothing" he said keeping his voice low.

"How do you feel now?"

"Like crap Eddie. I feel terrible. I don't think I can go on like this. I am just too tired…"

Eddie could figure out as much. He didn't have to see Rey's face to know. His eyes betrayed him even with the mask on. The black circles were visible and his body language was a dead giveaway. He moved slowly, shoulders hunched, almost dragging his feet and his arms hanging heavily.

"I… I just want to sleep…"

"Then why did you come here in the first place?"

"Kind of had to… you know…they didn't give me much choice. Besides, the fans are worth it, don't you think?" He paused. "Anyway, I have to call Adam again…"

"Jeez… is he the jealous one or what?"

Rey smiled. He didn't have the strength to laugh. He took out his phone and rang Adam.

"Hey Oscar"

"How did you know it was me?"

"There is this thing they have on cell phones…it actually allows you to identify the caller's number…"

"Oh… right…" Rey had completely forgotten about it.

"So what did they say?"

"I spent three hours of my life in the hospital, and they didn't find a thing… I am as healthy as can be. Nothing wrong with me…"

"Well that's good news…right?"

"Yeah"

"Rey are you alright. You sound a little weird"

"I just finished the signing and I am heading for the interview. I am tired, and I have this headache I cannot seem to shake off. But don't worry; it's nothing a good long sleep won't cure."

"Rey why did you have to go there? You ought to be resting"

"Eddie asked the exact same thing."

"And …?"

"I have to do it; for the company, for me and most of all for the fans… But don't worry. I am not staying long. As soon as my interview is done, I am out of here…"

"Get some rest alright? Please!"

"OK…You know you are costing me too much money… talking to you on the phone is going to make me broke…"

He heard Adam laugh.

"I have to go. We are about to start. Talk to you later."

"Later Oscar".

The interview went fairly well. Rey spoke after Eddie, for his upcoming match, his feud with Eddie and answered all the questions the journalists had to ask. Fortunately it didn't last long. He left the interview area and let it to the other wrestlers following. JBL spoke, then the Undertaker, followed by Randy Orton, Chris Benoit and last Batista. He sat at the back waiting patiently, quietly, taking his distance form the others. He spotted Eddie talking the Benoit and because he didn't feel like talking to anybody, he stood up and headed for the men's room. Hopefully, it would be empty.

No such luck. He sighed and turned back towards the crowd.

"Hey Rey… we are going out, are you coming?" Booker asked.

"No thanks Book… I am going to the hotel… I'll see you tomorrow."

He was about to step out to the night streets when a hand grabbed him from the shoulder and stopped him. Eddie and Chris were right behind him.

"I'm just going to the hotel and sleep." He said to them before they had a chance to speak.

Eddie opened his mouth to speak but Rey shouted back interrupting.

"Eddie… I AM FINE! Can I go rest now?... Thank you"

And stormed out. His yelling had taken his two friends by surprise. He waved at a taxi and entered before they could bother him any more. They couldn't… wouldn't understand him anyway. His head had exploded a long time ago from the splitting headache and all he wanted to do was collapse in a quiet room, away from any kind of noise. His mask was tucked away in his jacket pocket and his short hair was disheveled. He rested his head back and let the driver take him to his hotel. His eyes gazed outside to the unfamiliar background, to the streets, the people, the neon lights that hurt his eyes. He fought really hard not to fall asleep. The distance seemed interminably long.

He removed his clothes with sleepy mechanical movements and threw them on the floor. He sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his face. This headache wasn't getting any better.

'Shit'

His head throbbed so loudly that it almost made his eyes water. Then he remembered his uncle's rosary. He had no idea why it popped up in mind at this point, perhaps for help, but he searched the pocket of his fallen clothes and found it.

He hadn't noticed it before. It was smooth and cold to the touch. Rey took in his palm the small silver cross that hang from it. He brought it close to his face and studied it carefully. The two crossed bars weren't exactly straight; they did seem sort of crooked, bent, like it wasn't really a cross at all. But even in the darkness he could distinguish the fine carvings. He marveled at the delicate job. Most of them Rey couldn't understand and he figured they ought to be religious of some sort, but something else caught drew his attention. He flipped the cross over.

There…

A pentagram, right in the middle of it, right where the two bars connected… right in the heart of the cross. A pagan symbol, a non Christian symbol. But what was its meaning there? What was is doing carved on this cross? It was beginning to feel strange to the touch. His hand gripped it tightly between his fingers, refusing to let it go despite the fact it was warming his flesh rapidly. He slowly realized that his body didn't obey his mind and his will to let go.

A strange sensation consumed him increasingly, bit by bit as he stood in the middle of the room, not moving, hardly breathing, clutching the rosary, staring at it. A new kind of fear was before his eyes, a different kind. The room seemed to darken suddenly. No sound was heard, not even his own breathing. A cold hand crept from behind the shadows, something evil, from a dimension beyond, purely satanic and mocking him came in front of his face.

It couldn't be seen but it was felt as it started to take over his body bit by bit like faint shadows engulfing him, consuming him bit by bit. Rey could clearly hear a voice he had heard before, the voice of his dreams, speaking to him, hissing, whispering words he couldn't understand, but words that made his skin crawl, his heart brake, his mind shatter.

The voice was all around him, in him, passing through him. And it felt rotten, decayed, filthy, diseased, and at the same time it felt so good, exciting and welcoming. Rey denied the new feeling; he denied it with all the strength he had left. Then the voice laughed; a screeching, high pitched noise that scorned his effort, his pure heart, his faith, his innocence. Like a hot wind, this sensation, this new evil spirit changed. It didn't feel exciting any more, nor good and welcoming. Rey opened his eyes wide in fear as he saw it open its dark immense black wings roaring loudly and attacking for the first time.

Pain shot through his hands but he still didn't let the cross fall. He couldn't; his fingers were frozen together, closed in tight fist. His mind registered the pain coming from his wrists. He screamed as two distinct holes opened one in each hand, one on each wrist and blood started to flow. Rey looked at them in disbelief…but the suffering was too great. It was something more than physical pain. He felt an immense amount of distress, of emotional suffering, of hurt and sadness and he didn't know why.

The first attack was almost complete, the new entity had almost taken over, it had put its plan into motion; a devious plan; and it had found the perfect victim… Rey's pain was too exciting, it was so pleasuring to feel his pain… soon it would have everything… soon…

Once last time, it attacked; a searing pain ran through his body ending in his bleeding wrists.

Rey's knees buckled as his eyes rolled back. He fell on the bed moaning, like a ragged doll, still holding the rosary, blood dripping on the clean white sheets.

End of chapter three

Reviews are welcome.

Warning… From this point forward the story gets darker and darker.

Warning… It contains some serious religious themes, so you have been warned.