Teddy Long knew that the situation was well out of control. The fact that three of his wrestlers had vanished without a trace was one thing, but he had to deal also with the possible kidnapping of Rey Mysterio from the hospital right under the nose of the hospital staff. Not to mention the mysterious circumstances surrounding Dave Batista's heroic exodus from the hotel covered in blood.

Oh yes, he wouldn't be able to identify control if it stared him in the face.

He had no choice but to call the local authorities and pray that the press wouldn't get a hold of this.

He sat in a separate part of the hotel's lobby along with Michael Cole, Tazz and a police detective while numerous 'uniforms' surrounded the area. By then, it was well known among the roster what the situation was and everyone showed their concern and support by being there for whatever they might be needed.

After much interrogation of the roster and the hospital staff it was understood that Chris Benoit, Eddie Guerrero and another man were the ones who had "kidnapped" the Mexican but for no apparent reason! All attempts to find them had been in vain and now all attention was turned on identifying the third man who was seen with the two wrestlers.

"I don't understand why they would take him?" Cole asked but he wasn't really expecting any answer. Tazz sat beside him silently while Teddy was busy giving descriptions of Benoit, Eddie and Rey to the police.

"It makes you wonder…" Tazz began

"Wonder what?" Cole turned to face him.

"Who else is missing? Who else is involved…"

"Hey Tazz…" Cole interrupted as a thought popped into his mind.

"What?"

"Do you think Adam knows? Has anybody told him?"

Tazz shook his head and lifted his shoulders showing his ignorance.

"Well… do you think we should call him?"

Tazz was about to answer when he spotted JBL heading their way. He had a look of fear and anger in his face.

"I can't find Mark Callaway anywhere"

That silenced the lobby and everyone turned to look at John. Teddy just fell back and sat audibly on the couch feeling the ground disappear under his feet.

"Who is Mark Callaway?" The detective asked.

"The Undertaker… He is one of our top wrestlers" Michael Cole answered.

"Wait… hold on… maybe he is third person we are looking for" Tazz proposed.

"Well, what does he look like?" the detective asked.

"He is tall with long black hair" Bradshaw indicated.

The detective searched his noted and raised an eyebrow.

"Well, according to the statement given by the nurse on call that night, the third man was blond… tall, long hair… but blond!"

"So where the hell is he?" Cole asked JBL, who just raised his shoulders.

The detective walked away towards a couple of policemen who stood by the hotel door and started giving them orders. None the roster could hear what they were saying, but they saw his picking up his cell phone and stepping out to have his conversation.

Every one in the lobby stood silently. No one wanted to speak anymore, no one wanted to think what was happening…

What was happening?

The events were going too fast for anyone to grasp.

And where on earth was Dave?

Tazz had a gnawing feeling that his disappearance was certainly connected to all this. He couldn't believe that he was capable of hurting Rey, one of his best friends… no there had to be an explanation. He was angry however, because Dave had run away, because he had fled the crime scene and left poor Rey Rey there to bleed… to die…

But Rey hadn't been dead. He was taken back to the hospital.

His anger grew when he thought of two more men he considered to be Rey's friends kidnapping an already fragile luchador. Chris and Eddie where Rey's best friends…no, they where his family! This made no sense. The more he tried to think past this tangled web, the more he got lost and more questions came.

Michael Cole was standing next to the couch looking out the window. To him time had stopped the minute this situation had become known.

It was weird though. Michael remembered throughout his entire life there would be long periods of time where everything just stood still, where nothing happened and time passed by slowly, uneventfully and some times happily.

And then there were times, where he swore that God was playing some trick on them because every major change, every disaster, every problem, every accident and everything that could possibly go wrong would happen occur.

Now as he stood by the window, he somehow knew and appreciated the calm before the storm. He knew that a big hurricane was coming towards them, one that would change them all for ever. Something sinister loomed ahead and he didn't like the way it made him feel. His heart knew that what lay ahead was far more complicated than they would ever understand.

He heard noise coming from the elevator and the familiar alarming voice of Randy Orton calling them. The ones who had been sitting stood up and those who stood gathered closer to hear what was so important. He came to the lobby and looked each one.

"I just spoke to Hunter and Shawn back at the states and guess what they told me?" He didn't wait for them to ask. "They said, Adam Copeland took the plane and flew to London. Eddie called him. They didn't know what he told him, but he just took off only saying that he was coming to the UK because Rey needed him."

They all stood silently looking at Randy but the look on his face left no margins for mistakes or jokes. He was telling the truth.

"So who is Adam Copeland?"

They were startled by the voice of the detective coming from directly behind them. Those who felt awkward turned and stepped back leaving the difficult task of explaining to Cole, Tazz and Randy.

"Well?"

Tazz looked the other two men and decided to speak.

"Adam Copeland is another wrestler but from the Raw brand. He is Oscar Gutierrez's partner."

The word partner was spoken slowly and meaningfully. The detective was quick and caught up.

"Well is he tall with long blond hair?"

All three nodded.

"Maybe he is the third man" Randy proposed.

"Would he have any reason to take away Mr Gutierrez from the hospital?"

None of them could think of a reason.

Cole had recognised that this was one time where everything changed. The news about Adam's trip to England was certainly a surprise but nothing life altering. However, all sounds died and he felt like he was falling into the void of the abyss when he saw… him…

----------------

Dave was standing at the door of the hotel. All who were present fell silent and Cole knew that they were sharing the same sentiment… tumbling down a bottomless void. All words faded at the sight of the huge muscled man looking back at them with despair. His chest was heaving, no doubt from the running and his hands were shaking.

Two police men took a careful step towards him, one hand on the baton the other slightly extended, ready to grab him and strike him if he resisted arrest. It was the wave the detective gave them that forced them to step back but remain alert. The detective moved towards Dave but Cole's hand stopped him.

"Please detective… let me talk to him"

Dave still stood at the entry looking at his friends. His eyes fell upon Cole who was brave enough to step closer. He was saying something, Dave realised that, but he couldn't hear him. His lips were moving speaking words but no sounds were registered in his mind. He wondered if he had finally gone insane.

Finally?

It was only once he felt the touch of Michael's fingers on his shoulder that he was able to focus. The shock from feeling human flesh touching him was enough to bring him to his senses… even temporarily. He blinked several times and looked at him.

"Dave… hey, buddy… are you OK?"

Dave was still out of breath. And he still shook. He was in shock. Cole tried not to look disgusted from the blood that had dried not only on his clothes and body but also on his face and his lips. His fingers gripped him a little tighter and tried to lead him further inside. To his surprise Dave took one step.

"Michael" his voice came out rasp and low.

"It's Ok… "He tried to soothe him. The other wrestlers began to approach, genuine concern in their eyes. They just couldn't think of anything that could have possibly brought the Animal in such a state. They had never seen him so afraid. The sight of the huge man covered in blood was intimidating. If they didn't know what a nice person Dave was in reality they wouldn't dare come closer.

But this was Dave… and this was Rey's blood! Tazz let a shudder run up his spine as he too approached.

'My Lord… My God… help us' he thought and momentarily closed his eyes trying to find the strength the face this.

"Michael" Dave repeated.

"What is it?" he asked, all his focus and attention turned on him.

Dave gripped on Michael's shoulder, holding onto him for dear life. He looked deep into his eyes and let a tear slip his eyes.

"What happened?"

The question echoed in the lobby and it had the same effect of an atomic bomb.

"What do you mean?"

"I… I can't remember anything… my head… it hurts so bad… I feel it's going to explode…" Dave reached at rubbed his temples with his bloody hands. It was only then that he saw the blood…

"Michael… whose blood is this?" he asked and looked around his friends with a feeling of emergency, fear and agony on his face. Everyone else looked at him stunned.

'He really doesn't remember? He really has no idea? How is it possible?' Tazz wondered.

This was a moment that needed subtle handling. For Dave to behave like this, it meant only one thing: fragility. The manipulations had to be careful as his mind was balancing dangerously between reason and madness. So when Randy took the initiative and spoke…

"Dude… it's Rey's blood… don't you remember?"

…Tazz could only curse at the plain stupidity of the Legend Killer.

Michael felt Dave slack under his grip and grabbed him with both hands steadying him.

It wasn't enough.

Like a lightning hitting the ground all the images came in his mind… all the images, all the feelings the bad and the sinful, the burning blood eyes, the sick voice and metallic tang of blood, the pleasure of the flesh… everything…

And it hurt…

It hurt so much…

He thought he heard someone scream far away…

He realised too late that it was him.

Then everything went black and he fell to the ground with a remaining hint of happiness that finally darkness had claimed him.