"Hey! Wake up!"
"Is he waking up...?" Dean asked, clearly annoyed.
"He will soon." Seth replied calmly, keeping his anger under control for now.
"If not, I'll do it for him." Roman growled, pacing the floor.
Alex felt ice cold water dumped on his face and another smack to the face as he woke up, his eyes squinting to the overhead light in his direction. He tried to make out his surroundings.
It was an abandoned warehouse; One that was torn down and if he had to guess, they were probably in the middle of nowhere.
When he tried to get up to move, he saw that his hands and feet were tied up really good.
In this case, it was more so his ankles were tied to the rope connecting the chair and his hands were also hand cuffed to the chair.
He shook his face, the water still dripping down his face. He picked his head up, seeing it was Seth, Roman and Dean. All three of them dressed in black. They even had on the masks they use to wear in the Shield during their Wrestle mania entrance.
"Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Seth took off his mask, as Alex was still trying to figure out what was going on. Why was he here in the first place?
"Where am I, Rollins?" He coughed, trying to sit up straight.
"Just somewhere where we can all catch up." He said calmly. "I thought we could catch up, you know what I mean? I share something with you, you share something with us. Just a simple conversation."
"Then if its that simple, then get me out these damn things." Alex said, irritably.
"Yeah, we can't do that, buddy." Dean crossed his arms, circling him. "We can't really do that until we get some things straight."
"This warehouse isn't the place then. Why the hell am I in here? What the fuck is going on?" He was trying hard not to panic but these guys were known to be pretty fucking dangerous, especially when they were a team.
"What are you panicking for, Alex?" Roman chuckled, walking over to him. "It's just us; Your co workers. You shouldn't feel nervous...unless you have something to be guilty of. Something that we don't already know about."
"He looks like he's about to shit on himself." Dean smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"What are you so afraid of, Alex? Come on...it couldn't be anything bad could it?" Roman smirked as well, but his eyes said don't fuck with him.
"This is bullshit. I will have all three of you fucking arrested. Don't start with these dumb ass fucking riddles. Now tell me what's going on!" He yelled at them, trying to break out the handcuffs that were too tight around his wrists. He was squirming and moving but failed miserably. The restraints were too tight on him.
"Arrest us for what, exactly?" Seth went up to him, pulling him up by his hair to stare at him, the look on his face ready to kill at any second. "Because we really didn't do anything wrong. If anything, we are fixing injustice."
"This isn't the fucking WWE, we're not on live television right now." Alex said mockingly. "Now enough with this Hounds of Injustice bullshit. Rollins, you better tell me what the fuck is going on or else I'll.."
"You'll do what exactly.." Seth narrowed his eyes at him as all three of them moved closer to him. "Are you really trying to fucking threaten me like you did Taryn?"
Alex's face was surprised. "What? I don't know what the fuck you are saying."
"Be a man and stop with this shit, Alex." Seth had his fists balled up. "I know what the fuck you did to Taryn. I know you had raped her back in school. You had fucking threatened her not to say anything or else. And unfortunately for you, no one is going to come and save you."
Alex chuckled, giving all three of them a dirty grin. "I don't know what you are even talking about. Don't you know she's a lying bitch..."
Roman punched him right in his nose as he screamed out in pain, knowing his nose was broken.
"First of all, I suggest you watch what the fuck you say about Taryn.." Seth warned him, ready to get his hit in. "Because what Roman did, that was only just a sample. We can do much worse. You wanna find out?"
Dean then pulled out a rusty crowbar, gripping it in his hand. "I can easily shove this down your fucking throat. I mean it seems with how you acted back in school, you're into that sort of thing."
"Fuck you. All three of you." Alex yelled, trying his hardest to break out the cuffs but they only hurt his wrists even more. Even the rope around his feet didn't do him any good. "She's the one that did this. She was begging for it. I didn't do anything wrong! I gave her what she asked for and she took advantage!"
"Sounds like something only a piece of shit would say. Of course, in this case that would be you." Seth shrugged, not even fazed by Alex insulting him. "So you are telling me that Taryn is lying about her being raped. That she fucking asked for it. And that you were so called helping her, after she told you to stop several times? Or maybe it was just the fact that you recently threatened her to not say anything.."
At this point, Seth couldn't resist as he just swung him in the jaw hard, with Alex yelling out in pain. He spat out more blood, glaring at all three of them.
"It would be pretty fucked up if someone found out about this, and the fact that you also ran an illegal abortion operation." Seth also pointed out. "To add to that, it would hurt your career as well as your future."
Alex chuckled once more, a smile wide across his face. As far as he was concerned, they had no proof and it happened a long time ago.
"So what? So what that I raped Taryn. It was fun. Me and my friends got in on it. And now after figuring out that this bitch had attacked me all those years ago, I would do it again and slit her fucking throat in an second!" His face twisted up, just pushing them even more. "And as for that operation run, it's not like anyone will find out. It has happened years ago and neither of you have any proof anyway. So all of you and Taryn can say whatever the fuck you want. No one else will believe you and I will never get caught. So go ahead; Do your fucking worst."
He didn't care if all three of them beat him down until he passed out. It's not like Taryn would even be bold enough to go to the police anyway. And it all happened when she was 16, so they couldn't even do a rape kit on her anyway. He was gloating more and more about what he had done.
Alex was confused as all three of them exchanged looks with one another, grinning as though there was an inside joke that Alex wasn't aware of.
"We had a feeling you were going to say that. That's why we had this going on." Seth nodded to Roman as he went under Alex's chair and held up the incriminating evidence that had Alex's expression go pale.
It was a tape recorder of everything he had said. Confessing to everything he had done and much more.
"So..you were saying?" Seth had a devilish grin, holding the tape player, pressing the button as it played back everything he said.
Alex was shaken up. He knew the Shield had won and if that evidence got out, he would be seeing maybe 45 years in prison.
It was pretty clear that the Hounds Of Justice were holding all the aces.
"So what is it that you want?" He said through gritted teeth.
"Well first things first." Seth went over to the bag as he pulled out documentation, shoving it in his face. "Stephanie and Hunter had this officially written and dated so you'll see this is not a fake piece of paper. You are going to sign your release of the WWE for good. And that you don't plan on returning anytime soon."
Seth handed him a pen as Alex looked up at all three of them.
"Sign the fucking paper. Now!" Seth barked at him.
As Alex was about to say another sarcastic remark, Dean swung his crow bar over Alex's crotch, which made him scream out in pain, tears in his eyes.
Alex took the pen in his mouth as he worked it, trying his best to write in his signature.
It wasn't perfect of course, but he did sign on the dotted line as ordered.
Seth then put the document in the envelope and he put it inside the envelope to make sure he would give it to Stephanie and Hunter.
"So what now? You're going to kill me?" He sneered. "Because it won't make a difference. You would have criminal murder charges and then once everyone finds out, its the end for all three of you, especially for your WWE careers. That wouldn't look too pretty for any of you."
Seth, Roman and Dean looked at each other and started laughing. Alex was even more confused and he was getting upset by the minute.
"Why are all three of you fucking laughing?" He growled, looking at them.
"Man, you need to relax." Dean shook his head, grinning. "Did you really think we were gonna kill you? No way man. That would be too easy."
"Fun. But too easy." Roman agreed.
"You can leave anytime you want too..." Seth said casually, walking over him. "That is...if you can..and if by a miracle from God, that someone will find you."
"Which probably won't be anytime soon." Roman added as he tightened his grip on Alex's shoulder painfully, as Seth went over to his bag, grabbing chains as Dean had tightened them around Alex's wrists, making it even harder for Alex to go anywhere.
"Wh..what are you saying? Someone will find me!" He ordered. "I have family you know. I know neither of you are that stupid. You know who my parents are! My parents would not let anything happen to me."
"I don't know about that." Seth's grin became wider. "In fact, they already know about this and agreed to this little meeting."
"What?" Alex whispered in disbelief. "You're lying!"
Seth pulled out his phone, playing back the conversation between him and Alex's parents. Seth watched the shocked look on Alex's face, enjoying every moment.
"I can't believe this..." Alex's mom said, breaking out in tears disgusted.
"Well we know its hard to believe...but we have shown you the proof." Seth explained.
"It would be pretty embarrassing and even downright disgusting if this was out in the open for the whole public." Hunter said.
"I agree with Hunter." Stephanie told them. "Rape and abortion? Alex Riley would put your whole family and this company to shame. Do you really want that? Do you want your son to ruin everything?"
"No. No we don't." Alex's father said quickly. "Whatever you have to do to him, make sure its done quickly and quietly. I never want to even see or think about this piece of shit I call my son. Never again."
"Those other girls...and what he did." Alex's mother sniffled again. "He's better off gone. He's better off away and he would only bring our family to shame. Whatever you need to do to get rid of him, we approve of this."
Seth didn't tell Hunter and Stephanie of Taryn's secret of being raped and pregnant as he had promised her. However, Stephanie and Hunter knew Alex Riley and Seth told them of Alex threatening Taryn. Once Seth Rollins told them the secret of what happened back in high school, even going as far as to doing some digging to get the other girls confession of being raped and forced to have an abortion, they agreed to help all three of them set it up, and stopping by his parents house to prove it to them, voice recorder and every bit of proof they needed.
Alex couldn't believe his own parents betrayed him in this manner.
"You can't do this..." Alex shook his head frantically. "You can't just leave me in here, tied up like this!"
"Don't worry, Alex buddy." Dean smacked his cheek as he winced. "We'll come back for you..if we remember anyway."
"In the meantime, we left you something to eat." Seth kicked over a tray with one slice of bread and a small cup of water. They all know it wouldn't be enough for him anyway. That was enough for a bird to eat alone.
"This is bullshit!" He yelled, trying so hard to break out of his restraints but they only dug more into his skin.
As he barked more obscenities at them, the Hounds grabbed their things, with the tape recorder as they all went to the exit, leaving Alex in the dark. With no food, little water and with little air in the warehouse.
Alex had a 5% slim chance of even surviving.
"YOU CAN'T FUCKING DO THIS!" Alex yelled at them once more, struggling as he choked back a sob.
Seth turned to stare at him, his eyes were dark. "It's already been done."
And with that statement alone, Seth closed the warehouse door, locking him inside and adding a bolted padlock to it.
Seth blew out a heavy breath, Roman patting him on the back as Dean lit himself a cigarette as they all headed back to their car.
"You alright?" Roman asked as Seth nodded, focused and relaxed.
"Much better now." He confirmed. "Thanks guys."
"Always." Dean grinned. "But don't get too soft with this bonding shit. I don't have a tub of ice cream and tissues nearby."
"Shut up, dumbass." Seth laughed as they got in the truck, heading away from the warehouse.
Seth had made sure that Alex would never hurt Taryn again.
He would never let anyone hurt her again no matter what it took.
One week later..
Taryn was in the gym, working out yet another hour sweat. The WWE was having Slammy awards tonight but she wanted to get a good workout in when she could.
She finished lifting the weights, sweating down her back. She stretched as she grabbed her towel nearby, wiping the sweat off her forehead and drinking her bottle of water.
She opened her bag and saw the diet pills that Stefan had forced her to take. She didn't hear anything from him yet.
"Probably having the time of his life with my sister, gloating about how much of a horrible wife I have been.." She wiped away her tears.
As much as she hated to admit it, she knew Stefan still had a hold on her. She couldn't stop thinking about his words. The way he ridiculed her. He truly damaged her self esteem and didn't realize it until it was too late.
Of course, her self esteem was broken in the first place because what happened in her past, and she was still very self conscious about her weight as well. She didn't tell Seth this but she still took the diet pills secretly. She just felt this need to lose the curves and be thin as possible.
She still surprised herself that she was so open with Seth. The one person she hated more than anything. Her nightmare. Her worst enemy. The two toned arrogant asshole was actually someone who was caring and down to earth when he wanted to be. He still had bits of his arrogance but it wasn't as bad as Stefan.
Then his eyes...his soulful brown eyes. He didn't judge her. He didn't ridicule her. He actually showed how much he cared.
That was the part that scared her. It scared her shitless. She just didn't understand why though. What else could be the reason?
"You know what the reason is..the more you keep denying it, the more its going to drive you crazy.." the voice in her head told her.
She wish she had a off switch to turn that voice off right about now.
"Well if it isn't little Taryn.." She looked to see it was Liv Morgan and Zahara. "Hey there freak."
"Nice to see you too, Zahara." She gave her a fake smile before she headed off to the locker room.
"You know I heard about your husband cheating on you with someone much better. He's made a pretty smart choice if I say so myself." Zahara smirked, crossing her arms.
"I was betting on it." Liv Morgan added. "I mean, get real Taryn; Do you really think any man wants to be with someone like you? Someone who is fat, creepy and always having a Gothic look."
"You know things never change, Liv." Zahara pressed on. "I mean, back in high school, you were always so creepy and disgusting. No wonder every guy kept rejecting your sorry ass."
Taryn slammed the locker door, staring at both of them, especially Zahara.
"Listen here, you tattooed face whore." Taryn said unusually in a calm demeanor, staring her right in the eye. "Maybe if you weren't such a self centered piece of shit, Seth wouldn't have dumped your sorry ass in the first place."
Zahara then felt as though she got smacked across the face by that remark. "You don't know shit about me and Seth. He still wants me!"
"Whatever. I don't care. I don't know why he dumped you and honestly, I don't give a fuck. But I applaud him for doing so because he deserves so much better. Not only that, who in the hell would want to stay with someone who doesn't know anything about the WWE, let alone doesn't know how to wrestle and is only there for eye candy. You are nothing more than a 10 second conversation when your name is popped up." She continued. "Get real, Zahara; The only reason why you and your scrawny ass pit bull right there is taking shots at me is because you know good and well that you are jealous and bitter that you are filled with nothing but failures. You only used Seth to get ahead in this business and now ever since he dropped you, you don't have any else left to help advance your career. Of course, you can always get down on your knees right?"
"Why you little fucking-" She screeched as Liv had to hold her back.
"Oh and before you call me the usual term bitch, since that is your favorite vocabulary word, I suggest you take a look in the mirror, rethink your priorities and see what else you have accomplished. Which of course is absolutely nothing at all. Now if you're done wasting my time, I have a career to train for."
And just like that, Taryn left the both of them as she decided to just head to her hotel room to shower. She had enough on her mind to stress about and Zahara and Liv were not going to be added to those issues.
Not if she can help it.
WWE RAW: SLAMMY AWARDS
Most of the WWE superstars and Divas were dressed a bit formal and others were dressed in their ring gear. Taryn felt too self conscious to dress so she stuck to her usual all black attire. She wore a mesh black top with black jeans and boots, with her red and black eye shadow.
She saw as they did the nominees for different WWE categories. She was watching backstage and she clapped when Roman and Ariel won for best WWE couple of the year against their feud with Rusev and Lana a couple months ago.
She had a feeling that she wasn't going to win a slammy this year and she was fine with it. The only thing she was really focusing on was getting the WWE Women's Championship.
She saw Seth had come out, winning two Slammys for Hated Superstar of the year and the Double Cross of the year, betraying the Shield storyline.
She smiled, seeing Seth in a suit.
"You know you deserve to be slapped for breaking up the Shield." She retorted, a small smirk on her black cherry lips. "But...I am happy you won this year."
To his surprise, she hugged him. "I am very proud of you. Did you have to call the WWE universe idiots though? They were the ones that voted for you in the first place."
Seth shrugged, doing his little puppy face look. " What? They like it when I call them that."
Taryn giggled, knowing that Seth could be such a dork.
"And so handsome and beautiful..." She found herself thinking unusually. She shut off that thought as she smiled at him shyly.
He returned her hug, fighting the urge to just kiss those tempting lips.
She saw Ariel running down the hall as she hugged her sister happily, holding her Slammy in her hands, as Roman dressed in his suit as well. Ariel was wearing a red skater dress with matching red converse.
"I won another Slammy!" Ariel squealed. "But Samoan Thor here wouldn't let me do my speech."
"Because we all know how the speech was going to go and I don't need to be falling asleep during it." Roman joked, as Ariel gasped, offended as she smacked him on his chest.
"I'm joking babygirl, relax." He kissed her as she rolled her eyes, laughing.
"Congrats man." Seth shook Roman's hand.
After a couple more matches, the next category was Diva of the Year. Lita was presenting the Award. Lita was one of Taryn's idols and watched all of her matches growing up.
She read off the nominees and Taryn saw as usual, she was one of the nominees like last time. Tonight wouldn't be any different in her opinion. If any of her friends won, she would congratulate them and truly be happy for them like always.
"Did you guys here about Alex Riley being released from the WWE?" They heard Sasha and Naomi say as Roman and Seth exchanged a glance at each other. Jimmy and Jey Uso were right behind the ladies.
"Seriously? Finally.." Ariel muttered. "Wherever he goes, best of luck."
Taryn was more shocked if anything. But at the same time she felt a sense of relief, knowing he wouldn't be working in the WWE anytime soon.
"Yeah he just asked for his release. Apparently he was sick of the company." Sasha shook her head. "I never really liked him anyway."
"Yeah. me neither." Taryn said numbly.
When she looked up at Seth, his facial expression was a bit off. He just seemed too cool about it.
She didn't have time to think about it as Lita was now ready to announce the winner for Diva of the Year.
"And the award for Diva of the Year goes to..." She opened the envelope as she read it and looked up at the audience smiling.
"Taryn Hilton!" She announced
"Wait what?" Taryn couldn't believe it. She won? She actually won?
"Yes!" Naomi cheered. "What are you waiting for girl, go get your award!"
"Hurry up!" Ariel agreed, cheering her sister.
Seth smiled and watched as Taryn quickly headed out there, her theme playing as the WWE Universe cheered for her, ignoring a few boos here and there. Lita hugged her and said congratulations as she accepted her award.
Taryn couldn't hide the smile hidden across the face, holding the award in her hands. She was so proud of herself right now.
"Wow...umm.." She couldn't even come up with the words to do a speech. "I have to be honest, I didn't expect this, really. I wasn't exactly dressed for the part seeing as how I'm dressed like a vampire but y'all don't mind." She laughed as the WWE Universe still cheered, starting to settle down.
Taryn took a moment to take it all in as she continued to speak to her dedicated loyal fans.
"But seriously though. Thank you to those that have stuck by me. That voted for me. Thank you to my sister Ariel who taught me how to be more than a diva. She taught me how to be a woman. To be a champion at heart. And hell...thank you to Seth Rollins, who gave me one hell of a fight from time to time." She confessed. "And trust me when I say, that the WWE Women's Championship will be mine, and that there is more to come, with this wicked outcast around."
She held up her Slammy as the crowd cheered as she headed to the back, with everyone congratulating her.
"I had a feeling you would win." Seth grinned as she shrugged her shoulders innocently. "And thank you for including me in your speech. I knew I would be in there too."
"Oh shut up, jackass." She giggled as she walked off to the back.
"See, I told you those two want each other!" Ariel whispered to Naomi who agreed.
"It will happen. Everyone can see it except those two." Naomi side eyeing Seth.
"Or in this case, we can all see it except my baby sister." Ariel twisted up her face, annoyed and impatient. "She better hurry up and recognize fast."
WWE Raw had ended for the night, spectacular as usual. It was damn near hard to escape the crowds, especially since they were in a city like LA.
Taryn had made it to her hotel suite, still smiling at her Slammy when a note was sticking out of her door. Her anxiety skyrocketed seeing it. Ever since those threatening notes, she just wanted it all to stop.
She snatched the note, prepared to read the next message until it was one that surprised her.
She saw that a red rose fell out of it. She picked it up, lightly touching the petals. She opened it to see the message
"Congratulations.."
-S. Rollins.
"Oh you dork." She smiled to herself.
"So I take it you like the message.." She heard his voice as he appeared behind her. He was wearing his usual band shirt of Metallica, skinny jeans and vans. He had his hair pulled back in a low bun and he wore his glasses.
"It's ok.." She teased him, knowing she couldn't hide that smile on her face. "Thank you..."
"It's no problem." He smiled at her.
"It's like one of these kinds of notes you get in school, you know?"
"I haven't written notes like that since sixth grade but I was sure it was a yes no or maybe question?" Seth made a face as though he was thinking hard, wiggling his eyebrows which Taryn snorted laughter. She blushed quickly, knowing she hated how she laughed like that.
Of course, it didn't seem to bother Seth at all.
"So...all packed for tonight.." She asked him, changing the subject.
"Uh yeah I am." He nodded, rubbing his hands together.
There was no one else in the hallway except them. The tension was so thick in the air between them that not even a knife would be able to cut through it.
She couldn't believe how handsome Seth was. Even his blonde patch was fading and his hair was going back into that usual dark color.
She wondered how his touch would feel...maybe even more..
She heard Seth calling for her as she looked at him again.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" She cleared her throat.
"I was asking if you wanted to grab some food before we had to get some sleep, since we have to be up in the next two hours anyway?"
"No it's ok." She still smiled at him. "I better get some sleep now while I can."
She turned the key to her hotel room, ready to call it a night until Seth cleared his throat.
"What's wrong Seth?" She asked him, curiously.
Seth picked up his courage as he looked at her intensely. It was now or never. He would lie if he said that he wasn't nervous.
"Will you go out on a date with me tomorrow night? Since we are off for the next three days, I want to take you out on a date tomorrow night at 7?" He blew out a breath, anxious to hear her answer. He shoved his hands in his pocket.
He kept his composure as he could see that she was still trying to process what had just happened. He knew he would probably get rejected but he had to take a chance.
Taryn closed her eyes and opened them back up, staring up at him with a smile. She had been thinking carefully for awhile before she gave him her answer.
"Yes. Yes I will."