Still Alive
Dean barely managed to open his eyes as the door to his cell clanged open. I actually got some sleep, thought Dean to himself, as his vision cleared and he was met with the unwelcome sight of the mayor hovering above and smirking down at him.
"Good morning, Mr. Ambrose!" boomed the mayor as he nudged Dean forcibly with his foot which caused Dean to roll onto his wounded back.
Dean let out a hiss as his back touched the rough floor but the pain wasn't as incredible as Dean realized it could have been. That lotion or whatever Seth put on my back must still be working, thought Dean, as with trembling arms he was able to maneuver himself into a sitting position on the floor.
"Leave us," commanded Cena to his henchmen as he dismissed them with a wave, "He's in no condition to be any threat to me. I'll yell if I need you." The guards scurried away at Cena's words and left the mayor and outlaw alone to talk.
"You might as well leave now, Cena," said Dean as he carefully brought himself to a sitting position and rested his back gingerly against the bars of his cell. While Dean's body was incredibly weak, his voice was still strong and had a dark tone to it as he glared up at the most powerful man in the city. "I've got nothing to say to you."
The mayor clenched his hands into fists at the outlaw's blatant show of disrespect but, after a moment, let that go for now and instead fixed Dean with a fake smile. "What a shame. I've got plenty to say to you, Mr. Ambrose. I'm curious as to what makes you tick."
Dean let out a humorless bark as he shook his head. So the mayor wants to play mind games, thought Dean as he tapped his fingers on his collarbone, let him try.
"I would be most grateful if you would kindly inform me of the whereabouts of your hideout," started the mayor seemingly casual as he remained standing and leaned against the opposite side of the cell from Dean. But there was nothing casual about the mayor, every word was thought out, every movement calculated, constantly watching Dean to see how he would react.
Why is he asking me this? Thought the outlaw to himself, as he stared right back at Cena. He knows I won't tell him. Doesn't he already know this? Didn't Seth tell him? Dean decided to just play it safe and remained silent.
Cena just smiled again and tried a different tactic. "Don't you care about your men?"
That got Dean's attention as he looked up sharply at the mayor. The outlaw said nothing but his expression told Cena all that he wanted to know.
"Awww, you do, don't you," said Cena mockingly as he placed a hand over his cold heart, "That was your first mistake. You should know better, Mr. Ambrose, you can't trust anyone in this world."
"I don't agree," stated Dean strongly as he rested his elbows on his knees. "Trust is a fundamental part of being human."
"Fuck! You're more sappy than I'd thought you be," snorted the mayor as he stalked over to Dean and towered over him, hoping to intimidate the outlaw. "In fact, you're nothing like I'd thought you be. I thought I was dealing with a grizzled, bitter war veteran who was stirring up trouble for the sake of it. Turns out I was dealing all along with a young idealist."
"I aim to please," said Dean cheekily as he grinned up at Cena refusing to be intimidated by the older man.
Cena's mood suddenly turned dark as he crouched over the outlaw and fixed him with a dangerous glare. "Tell me where it is!"
"Where what is?" asked Dean with an innocent smile.
"The hideout," snarled the mayor as he struck the outlaw across the face.
The blow didn't knock the smile off of Dean's face as he responded smugly, "Nope."
"It'll be worse for you if you don't!"
"Fine."
"You'll tell me sooner or later!"
"I doubt it."
"I'll let your men live if you tell me where it is, now!"
"I've got no reason to believe you."
Face red with anger the mayor stood up and kicked Dean harshly in the mid section. "I promise you, Mr. Ambrose, before I kill you, you will learn to fear me!"
Dean coughed as he tried to sit back up. Despite the situation he was in, Dean began to laugh. He couldn't help it. Dean always laughed at the most inopportune times.
"What's so funny, Mr. Ambrose?" asked the mayor barely able to control his anger.
"You," laughed Dean hysterically, wiping a tear from his eye. "You do realize that you are about the most cliché villain ever, right?"
The mayor gave Dean an odd look. "How have you managed to survive all this time?"
"It's my wit and charm. I'm irresistible," stated the outlaw with a shit-eating grin.
"What were you and Mr. Black talking about last night? You two seemed really chummy for him just having betrayed you and all," questioned Cena quickly changing tactics.
The grin never faltered from Dean's face. "The little shit wanted to mess with my head. To be honest, I thought you sent him. He was asking me the same questions you are right now. What's the matter, mayor? Is there dissension among your ranks? That seems dangerous for a man in your position."
"My men would never even think of screwing me over."
"Confident."
"Practical. Fear and money are powerful tools to getting those who work for you to do whatever you want them to."
"That's an interesting opinion on power."
"It's not an opinion. It's a fact."
"What a sad life you must lead. I almost feel sorry for you."
"Think whatever you want about me if it makes you sleep at night," shot back Cena as he glared disdainfully at Dean pacing back and forth in front of him. "Doesn't change the fact though that my opinion has gotten me in charge of this entire city and yours has led to your death."
"I'm not dead yet," said Dean still grinning.
Cena returned the outlaw's grin with a cold one of his own. "You're as good as dead. Make no mistake, Mr. Ambrose, you will not walk away from this one. The only thing you can change is whether your men live or die."
Dean's grin faded as Cena stalked up to him.
The mayor grinned, exposing his teeth; he had Dean right where he wanted him. "Publicly confess your sins. Denounce yourself and your Merry Men's actions. Proclaim that whatever sentence I give you is just and warranted. Then and only then will I pardon everyone else connected with you."
"You don't even have any of my men in your custody. Why would I do that?"
"Oh, they'll come out of whatever hole they crawled into when I dangle you in front of them," stated Cena confidently.
"I've taught them better than that."
"Have you? You would gamble with your men's lives like that? Men whom you trust and care about."
Dean gulped and looked away. The mayor had him there.
Cena smirked and straightened up. "Get him cleaned up and give him a new shirt," directed the mayor to the two guards standing outside the cell as he began to walk away. "I want him looking halfway decent for the show tonight."
"No fucking way, Punk!" shouted Little Rome. "After what that little fucker did…how can you trust a fucking word out of his motherfucking mouth?"
"You've got a better fucking idea!" shot back Friar Punk as he balled his hands into fists. He wasn't going to start a fight but he would damn well finish it if one started.
"How can we trust that little shit," hissed Randy as he paced back and forth in the far wall of the room.
"I'm not sure that we can, but how can we let an opportunity to rescue Dean slip from our grasp," said Punk evenly as he looked from Randy to Little Rome.
"I can't believe you didn't pummel his smug, little shit face in," snarled Little Rome as he ran his hands through his hair in frustration.
"Don't worry. I got a few, good shots in before I let him speak," smiled Punk at the memory.
"Good. But that still doesn't change the fact that this could be a trap," said Dolph speaking up for the first time since Friar Punk had walked into the room and informed them of Seth's plan.
"That's a chance I'm willing to take," sighed Punk as he looked around the room. "Question is…are you guys willing to take it too?"
I know this update is a long time coming. I'm sorry to my readers for taking this long to update the story. I do still intend on finishing it as well as all of my other stories that are still incomplete.
Thanks for sticking with my story. Please review, if you please :)