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Chapter 14 – Shane's Plan

Shane sneered just as the ring broadcasters introduced the viewers to the live show. Raw had just begun and soon the surprise would await the champion in just a few minutes.

"This should be good," Shane told himself. "I hope you're ready Champ because tonight, I've got a surprise for you that's gonna rock the whole arena down."

He loved the idea of seeing the smirk got swiped off the face of the self proclaimed legend killer. Shane could imagine Randy's reaction when he found what was to be in store for him.

"Well I think that's my cue to go. I can't keep the fans waiting."

He stepped out of his office and began walking down the corridor to head to the stage. That smirk on his face had not faded and if anyone saw him pass by, they could tell that he was in his best mood.

If only they knew what went through the mind of the general manager of Raw….

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Maria was sitting on the table alone with her mind filled with endless thoughts. She was happy that her friendship with Randy was back on track. But that wasn't enough to beat her depressed mood. Her guilt had still haunted by the fact that she didn't tell Randy her secret.

She knew she had to but she couldn't bring herself into telling him, especially now since they had broken that barrier between them. She made a weary sigh and ran their hand through her brunette curls. Maria was going to get something to eat but then she found that she was too upset to eat. So she went up to the counter and bought a fruit smoothie instead.

Just as she had taken a straw for a drink, her eyes were now onto a woman entering the room. Maria could only frown by the appearance of a short diva smirking at her. Knowing that she would end up in a fight with her, Maria walked past her as to pretend that she didn't exist. However she didn't get to reach for the door when Melina grabbed her arm to stop her. Maria flung her arm away from her and her green eyes turned fiery with irritation.

"What do you want?" Maria spat.

"This is what I get for trying to say hello?" Melina asked with a smirk. "And I don't recall you telling me congrats."

Maria scoffed. "Congrats for what?"

"For being the number one contender for the women's championship. It's obvious that I should get the opportunity because you don't have what it takes."

"I do have what it takes!" Maria snapped. "A lot of people saw that I've got potential."

"But unfortunately none of us didn't get a chance to see it," said Melina. "The match got cancelled and why did it? Oh right I remember now you fainted! That was hilarious."

If she was at all angry, Maria definitely was now.

"I didn't faint okay?!"

"Yeah right," said Melina with a grin and rolled her eyes. "You don't have to deny it. Everyone knows that you're not champion material anyway."

"Who are you to judge me? I can be a fighter just like the other divas in that locker room!"

"Well you are then how come you didn't show in your match last week?"

Maria opened her mouth again and was quickly she closed it back. If she told her then that would be a stupid mistake to make.

"I thought so," said Melina as she crossed her arms over her chest and her smirk was still there. "You didn't have any guts to show your face to the world because you know you don't deserve it. I'm glad Shane took notice of that otherwise he wouldn't have picked me."

"The only reason he chose you is because I've been told that I can't compete!"

"Oh really? And why's that?"

Before the brunette diva could come up with a lie, another diva came into the scene and had her stare down was made as Melina was facing the women's champion herself.

"Melina if you don't leave here in the next three seconds, you'll find yourself with no hair on your head before our match tonight!"

Melina scoffed. "Excuse me? Can't you see we're having a conversation?"

Maria gave her a knowing look and then rolled her eyes afterwards. "Well as far as I know this conversation is over."

"Fine. There's just one thing I want to do before I go."

Maria found herself stumbling back a few steps after receiving a hot slap from Melina. As furious as she was she was about to do the unthinkable and Mickie had appeared to predict what Maria was going to do and quickly took her fruit smoothie from her and grabbed her in the process.

"Let's just go Maria," Mickie whispered in her ear. "She's not worth it."

Maria felt like she was about to explode but she knew that she had calm herself down for the sake of her health of her unborn child. The only thing that she could do was to simply glare at the short dark haired diva flashing a smirk that she had always despised to see.

"I'll see you in the ring Mickie," said Melina as she turned to leave and then turned back to face them at the doorway. "And maybe you should bring that bitch of a friend with you. That should give her an idea of who is the real deal around here."

She made a strut and soon she was out of sight.

"I hate this Mickie!" Maria said with a yell. "I hate the fact that I can't do anything to defend myself! I'm not weak like she was implying!"

"I know where you're getting at," said Mickie as she sympathized with her. "Believe me I know how you feel. But you can't let her crawl under your skin. It's bad enough for her to find out that you can't compete because you're pregnant."

Maria sighed. "It seems so hard to not get angry, especially when she's around."

"Can you at least try? Not for me but for the baby, okay? That should be your first priority now."

"I know," said Maria and made a small sigh.

"Let's go find Candice and Torrie," said Mickie as she gave her back the fruit smoothie.

Maria could only nod as they began to walk out of the room together. She began to take a sip of her drink. The smooth creamy drink was the only cure she needed to take her mind off things. At least for now.

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Shane made his presence known when he had stepped onto the stage. His smirk was still there as he walked down the steel ramp and soon he was in the ring with the microphone in hand. The thousands of fans in attendance were anticipating of what he had planned for that evening. His theme song faded and waited for a few seconds for the crowd to quiet down a bit before he would make his blockbuster announcement.

"I'm sure you all want to know what I'm here so I'll just cut to the chase. Tonight is going to be like no other. Tonight I promise you a night that you will never ever forget. So get your cameras ready people because tonight you're in for a special treat."

And what a special treat it was going to be. Shane's smirk grew wider as he turned to the stage and continued on talking.

"Now I would like to call out the wwe champion," he said. "I know you're back there Randy so you come out in this ring. And I want you out here now."

Shane waited for a response. A few seconds flew by and still the person he called out had not arrived. Then about a minute later, the fans roared with excitement when another entrance them hit and soon the wwe champion came out to the ring. The two men were now face to face in the ring and Randy had a look of curiosity on his face as he wondered what Shane had next in plan for him. Randy got a microphone from a crew member outside and turned to look at Shane again.

"I see that look on your face and you must be wondering what I've got planned for you this time," said Shane. "Well Randy I've got a surprise for you."

"A surprise?" Randy said slowly. "Well let me have it then."

"Not so fast Champ," said Shane with a smirk. "Do you remember when I said that tonight is going to be like no other?"

"Yes I remember," said Randy. "You did mention that."

"Well Randy tonight is going to be all about you," said Shane. "Well of course you're the champion so how could it be not right?"

Randy was getting annoyed by Shane's use of sarcasm and he didn't take it lightly.

"You may not like the fact that I'm the champion but that didn't bother me to say the least," Randy spat. "I couldn't care less of what you think because guess what? I'm still standing with this belt on my shoulder and I'm intending to stay champion for a long time!"

Shane sulked when the crowd was cheering for the self proclaimed legend killer. He hated to hear them cheer for Randy. But he simply shrugged them off and continued on and this time his smirk was back on his face.

"Sometimes I wonder Randy," Shane told for a moment and then continued on. "Sometimes I wonder Randy if you will find yourself…standing after tonight."

"Just what are you trying to imply?" Randy questioned, his brow was now raised in slight confusement.

"Well let's just say that tonight is your chance to prove to me that you do deserve to be champion," said Shane. "Okay it goes like this. Tonight you're going to be in a Battle to Survive."

"And what the hell is that all about?"

"It's simple really. I'm putting you in four matches."

"That's it?" Randy scoffed. "You think that's going to intimidate me? That's not going to happen!"

"We'll see about what, won't we?"

At that moment, Randy did felt the least bit worried but as stubborn as he was, he wasn't going to admit it. Not to Shane's face.

"Alright so you're putting me in four matches. That's my surprise?"

"Oh yes indeed," said Shane with a smirk. "First off you'll face against Mister Kennedy. And then onto match number two, it's going to be a triple threat match against Cade and Murdoch."

Randy mouthed the words triple threat match and that made Shane's smirk grw wider than before.

"In match number three, you're back into a singles match against the Samoan bulldozer Umaga!"

"What?!" Randy said with a yell, although he wasn't holding the microphone anymore. He was now furious with Shane's announcement but unfortunately, the general manager wasn't done yet as he had one more match to announce and he knew that it was going to rock the whole arena.

"And I have saved the best for last," said Shane. "The final match in the Battle to Survive…you'll be facing against the 'Big Red Machine' Kane!"

The last announcement had Randy's jaw dropped. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"Oh I should also mention something," said Shane. "Look above you."

Randy looked up at the ceiling and then there was something that made his blue eyes grew wider with horror….

"In the last match of the evening, you'll be facing Kane in the steel cage match."

Shane made a pat on the shoulder as Randy was still staring at the steel cage that was hanging high above him.

"Good luck Champ," said Shane with a smirk. "I think you'll need it."

And with that being said, his entrance theme hit the speakers and then left Randy alone looking up at the cage above him. From that smirk on his face as the dumbfounded champion turned to stare at him, Shane was pleased to see that look on his face, the exact expression he had longed to see.