Dark Saviour

Chapter 30 - Evil Chickens and Flying Pink Cows.

….

Undertaker tried to stifle a yawn as he glanced at the glowing digits on his nightstand. It's only 3:00? How can it only be 3:00 in the morning? he thought bitterly as he rubbed his eyes before arching his back to stretch it out and relieve some of the kinks that were beginning to form.

Taker didn't know how he could be so annoyed at himself that he would lose a night's sleep over it. He never used to have any problems like this before. Undertaker rolled onto his back, his eyes closed, trying to clear his mind and get some sleep. However, as the minutes ticked by slowly, he realized that it was futile. Sighing, he got up, dressed and headed out the door, deciding that if he wasn't going to sleep then neither would his brother. Once he reached the door, Undertaker knocked and waited to hear Kane's telltale growl to be left alone. When Taker heard nothing, his brows furrowed in confusion.

"Glen?" Undertaker called, opening the door an inch, expecting a pillow to be thrown at him. Once again, he was met with silence. "Glen?" Taker called again, opening the door wider as he flicked on a light. As his eyes quickly scanned the room, he found Kane sitting in a corner, curled up in the fetal position.

"What's up with you?" Undertaker asked, walking into the room to stand in front of his younger brother.

"Nothing," Kane muttered, not meeting Taker's gaze.

"Then why are you sitting here in the dark?"

"No particular reason," Kane replied, still not looking up at his brother.

Undertaker rolled his eyes at the man on the floor. "Get up. You're shaming both of us."

"How could I be shaming you?" Kane asked, confused.

"By association," Taker explained. "Now get up."

Kane shook his head, his eyes darting around. "No."

"Why not?"

"I'm quite comfortable where I am, thank you."

Taker's brow furrowed in confusion. He had never heard his brother say thank you in his life. At least, not without some creepy smile on his face to accompany it . . .

"So, what are you doing up this late?" Kane asked.

"Couldn't sleep," Undertaker shrugged.

"Ah."

"You sure you're all right?" Taker asked.

"Of course I am," Kane nodded. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"You're acting way too polite," Undertaker answered. "Which is a hell of a lot creepier then your usual psychotic self."

Kane shrugged. "I didn't notice."

"Sure you didn't," Taker said as he rolled his eyes.

"I didn't," Kane replied innocently, smiling slightly.

Taker shook his head. "Are you going to tell me why you're hiding in the corner or is it better if I don't even ask?"

"I'm not hiding in the corner."

"Don't give me that bull, Glen, I'm not in the mood for it," Undertaker replied. "Besides, you never sit in a corner like that unless you're hiding from someone or something."

"I'm not afraid," Kane responded curtly.

"Uh-huh," Taker nodded, not believing his brother one bit.

"I'm not."

"Okay, you're not," Undertaker said, holding his hands up in defeat.

"That's right, I'm not afraid."

"So, if you're not afraid, then why don't you sit on your bed or in a chair?" Undertaker asked, staring at his brother.

"Because . . . as I said before, I'm quite comfortable."

Taker rolled his eyes. "Of course you are."

"I am."

Undertaker perched lightly on the edge of the bed, watching as his brother's eyes darted nervously between him and a crumpled box in another corner of the room. As Undertaker began to study the box intently, his attention was diverted from it when Kane cleared his throat. Turning to face his brother, Taker stared at Kane expectantly. "What?"

"I was just beginning to wonder what you wanted," Kane explained.

"What I wanted?"

Kane nodded. "Yeah, you must have come here for a reason."

"Couldn't sleep," Taker shrugged.

"Right," Kane smiled sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. "And there goes the flying pink cow."

"Now you're seeing things," Taker shook his head. "That's just great."

"I'm not seeing things," Kane scoffed.

"First, you're scared of a crumpled box," Taker stated, holding up one finger for effect, before holding up a second finger. "Second, you're talking about a flying cow . . ."

"A flying pink cow," Kane corrected.

"Fine," Undertaker rolled his eyes. "A flying pink cow. I think your imagination is getting the better of you."

Kane shook his head as he rolled his eyes in reply. "What do you really want?"

"What do you mean?"

"What do you really want from me? Why are you here?" Kane asked, looking directly at his brother.

Taker sighed, closing his eyes. He really didn't know what brought him to his brother's room. Maybe he just wanted to talk to someone, anyone, about what was going on in his head. But what is going on in my head?

"I couldn't sleep so I decided that you shouldn't be able to sleep either," Undertaker answered finally, going for the half-truth.

"You sure that's all?" Kane asked, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Of course that's all," Taker answered. "What else would it be?"

Kane shrugged. "I don't know," he paused as he met his brother's gaze. "You just seem to be out of it lately."

"I have?"

"Yeah, you have."

"Oh," Taker said. "I never noticed."

"So I've noticed," Kane replied. "What's eating you?"

"Nothing."

Kane rolled his eyes. "You know you're a lousy liar."

"That's the truth."

"Sure it is," Kane rolled his eyes again.

Taker sighed again. "I don't know why I'm here, honestly."

"I see," Kane said, letting his words hang in the air as his eyes darted back to the box again.

"Okay, what the hell is in that box?" Undertaker asked suddenly, causing the younger man to jump slightly.

"Nothing," Kane answered a little too quickly.

"I don't think so," Taker replied. "There's something in that box." he said as he got up and made his way over to the crumpled item.

"Don't open it!" Kane shouted.

"Why not?" Undertaker asked, looking over his shoulder to see Kane finally getting to his feet and stepping away from the corner.

"Because he's trapped in there and I don't want him to escape."

"He?" Taker looked at his brow in confusion.

"Yes, he. Bob is in the box."

Now Undertaker was even more confused. He looked between the box and Kane. "You mean Shawn's rubber chicken is in that box?"

Kane nodded, looking at the box nervously.

"Why is the chicken in the box?"

"Because it's an evil chicken and needs to be locked up," Kane answered as he stood next to his brother.

Taker shook his head as he smacked Kane upside his. "It's made of rubber, Glen. It can't be evil."

"Oh, yes it can," Kane insisted. "If you're so positive Bob can't be evil, then you take him. You take him out of the box, take him to your room and look after him till Shawn comes to pick him up."

"I'm not taking the thing anywhere."

"See, you believe me. Bob scares you too."

"I'm not scared of that stupid thing," Undertaker replied. "I just have too much on my mind to reinforce your idea's about an inanimate object."

"What could you possibly have to think about that would bother you so much?" Kane asked, staring at his brother. "What's so bad that will stop you from proving me wrong?"

Taker shook his head. "I've got a match to prepare for against a guy who wants to end my career."

"So? You've dealt with that hundreds of times before. What's different this time?"

"I'm not as young as I used to be," Undertaker replied.

"Oh, brother." Kane sighed. That is so it. I mean it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Jeff is back and will be fighting at the Pay-Per View tonight. The exact same Pay-Per View you'll be fighting Adam in, so that you can remain with the WWE. It has absolutely nothing to do with that, he thought sarcastically. Oh, how he wished he could say it aloud without risking personal injury as Undertaker's eyes flashed briefly in warning. Kane put up his hands in defeat.

"It's the truth. I'm not as young as I used to be. Plus, I'm not used to these TLC matches," Taker insisted.

"Look, you've kicked ass in a plain old ladder match," Kane said, reminding his brother of his one match against the younger Hardy all those years ago. "Now you have tables and chairs on top of the ladder. It's more weapons at your disposal to inflict damage with."

"True," Taker inclined his head in agreement.

"So, there's nothing for you to worry about. You're going to be phenomenal," Kane smiled.

Undertaker shuddered inwardly at the all too familiar creepy smile the younger man had on his face. "And there is the old Kane I know."

"Thought you were rid of me, did you?"

Taker shook his head. "The world would end the day I was rid of you."

….

After harassing his brother for another couple of hours, Undertaker finally made his way back to his room, feeling like he could actually get some sleep. Once he was inside the dark confines of his room, Taker let himself fall onto his bed, still fully clothed, and closed his eyes. He had just started to fall asleep when he heard a soft knock at his door. Growling irritably, Undertaker opened his eyes a crack to glare at the clock.

Who the hell would be bugging me at 6:00 in the morning?

Not really caring who was at the door, Taker let his eyes close again while he buried his face into the pillow. He hoped that whoever was trying to wake him would take the hint and leave, but, to Undertaker's annoyance, they continued to knock on his door. When he continued to ignore them, the knocking turned into pounding. Sighing in frustration and exhaustion, Taker willed energy into his limbs as he dragged himself out of the comfy bed and toward the door.

"What do you want?" Undertaker growled, when he opened the door to find Edge standing on the other side, his hair a mess.

"I need to talk to you," Edge whispered quickly, as he looked from side to side, running his fingers through his tousled hair.

"There's nothing to talk about."

Edge looked up at Taker, silently pleading with the bigger man. "Oh, yes there is," he continued to whisper.

Sighing, Undertaker stepped aside to let the smaller man into the room, closing the door behind him. "Why are you whispering?"

Edge looked around him nervously. "Because I don't want to be overheard."

Taker's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"I need to know what's really going on here, Mark."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Yes you do," Edge replied. "I need to know what is really going on between you and Jeff."

Undertaker blinked in surprise, any thought of sleep abandoned as he tried to figure out where this was coming from and how to respond. "There is nothing going on between me and Jeff."

"Oh, come on, Mark. Don't lie to me," Edge snapped. "If there wasn't something going on between you two, why would you be so worried about Jeff getting hurt again? Why would you swear me to secrecy?"

Taker didn't answer immediately. Instead he moved to a chair and sat down. "Simply because I didn't want to have this become common knowledge."

Edge took up a chair next to the Deadman so that he could look him directly in the eye. "There's more to this then you're telling me and I know it."

"There is nothing more to this than what you already know."

"Then why were Layfield and Dave talking about attacking you?" Edge asked, his expression serious.

"They were what?" Taker looked at Edge in confusion.

"They were talking about attacking you," Edge replied. "JBL was wondering why you still breathed? Why Dave hadn't taken you out yet?"

"Why would he want to know that?" Undertaker asked, his throat going dry at the thought of what it could all mean.

"That's why I'm asking you," Edge answered. "What's going on, Mark? Why is Layfield reporting to Cena?"

Taker closed his eyes, trying to repress a chill that crept up his spine at the mention of Cena. His worst fears were confirmed. Cena did have help on both brands. He had the muscle of Batista here on SmackDown and the power of JBL on Raw.

And who knows who else he has on his side . . .

"Mark?"

Undertaker opened his eyes to see Edge leaning toward him, worry reflected in his eyes. "I don't know why Layfield would be reporting to Cena," he answered slowly.

"And there goes the flying pink cow," Edge stared at the Deadman, trying desperately to read his face. "I know you must have your own suspicions."

Now he's seeing flying pink cows? What the hell are these people smoking? Taker thought, shaking his head before looking away from the other Superstar. "I believe that they are working together for one reason or another."

Edge nodded, partially satisfied with that answer. "What does Matt have to do with them?"

"Matt?" Undertaker asked, in surprise.

"Yeah," Edge replied, still watching Taker's expression carefully. "They said that they threatened Matt at some point."

Undertaker shook his head. "I have no idea what Matt has to do with anything."

"You can't think of anything?"

I have no idea where Matt fits into this. Unless . . . what if they're talking about Jeff? What if they didn't threaten Matt directly, but threatened his well being to Jeff? To get him to do what John asked of him? Undertaker's thoughts ran wild as he started to draw connections between his conversations with Jeff and what had happened to the kid.

"Mark? Can you think of anything that might tell me why Matt is involved in this?" Edge asked, staring at the Deadman fully as he watched the emotions swirl in the Deadman's eyes. He could almost swear he saw Undertaker making connections between the information Edge had just given him and the information Taker kept so well hidden.

Taker finally shook his head, trying to clear it of the thoughts that swirled within his mind. "I have no idea why they would be going after Matt."

Edge sighed, putting his head in his hands. "I need you to tell me the truth, Mark."

"I am telling you the truth."

"But not the whole truth," Edge retorted, looking up at Taker meaningfully. "You're keeping something from me."

"No, I'm not."

"I don't care how much you deny it. I know the truth," Edge said, waving off Undertaker's words. "If I'm going to help you do this, I need to know what is really going on. What exactly I'm getting myself into?"

"I'm not even sure I know what's all going on," Taker admitted. "I've only got my speculations."

"Then what do you think is going on?" Edge asked. "Why do you want me to help you do this?"

"I want your help because I need it. As far as what I think is going on, I cannot say," Taker replied.

"Why not?"

"Unfortunately, what I suspect, is also under secrecy."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Edge asked, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"It means that I can't talk about what I know or what I suspect," Undertaker explained. "Someone else has made me promise to remain silent on the issue."

"But you are asking for my help?"

"And I'm telling you all that you need to know to help me."

"I don't understand," Edge confessed, shaking his head. "Why are you allowed to ask me to help you, but not allowed to tell me why you need to do it?"

"It's a complicated issue," Undertaker shrugged.

"Oh, really?" Edge replied, leaning back slightly. "Try me."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"As I've said before, it's not mine to tell."

"But I'd like to know what I'm getting myself into," Edge insisted. "I'd like to know if, by helping you, would I become the next target? Will I have to worry about someone trying to run me out of the wrestling business?"

"You don't have to worry about anything," Undertaker said reassuringly. "Once this is done, things will go back to being peaceful around here."

"You're sure about that?" Edge asked, unconvinced.

Taker nodded. "I'm positive."

"Good, because I'd hate to have to tell Hunter to come over and have a talk with you."

"Hunter?"

Edge winced, slightly upset with himself for bringing up Hunter. "He was with me when I overheard Layfield and Dave talking about you and Matt," he said sheepishly.

"I see," Taker merely nodded.

Edge stared at Undertaker expectantly. When he didn't say anything else, Edge cleared his throat. "Umm, you're not going to ask me why he was there?"

"Does it really matter why he was there?" Taker asked, tilting his head to one side.

"No, I . . . uh . . . guess not," Edge replied nervously.

"I don't care what he was doing there," Undertaker said, easing any fears Edge might have had. "Though I am surprised Hunter isn't with you right now, hounding me for answers."

Edge shook his head. "I asked him if I could talk to you alone," he shrugged, omitting the fact that Hunter actually thought he was talking to Matt and not Taker. "You know, since we're on the same brand and are fighting each other tonight, it would be easier for me to talk to you than him."

Taker nodded. "And he listened?"

"Yeah, he did," Edge smiled softly. "He's surprising sometimes."

"I'll say."

Edge smiled thoughtfully. "He's an odd man."

"Would you be able to convince him to not talk about this with everyone else?" Undertaker asked warily.

Edge nodded. "Oh, yeah. I already asked him if he could keep it quiet until I talked to you."

"Good," Taker replied, keeping his emotions tightly leashed, only allowing himself to smile inwardly.

After a moment of silence, Edge looked up at Undertaker, his expression serious. "Do you really want to go through with this?"

Taker simply nodded in reply.

"I mean I could probably still get things changed if you want?"

"I don't want things changed. Not in this matter," Undertaker replied.

"I'm not suggesting that you're weak or . . ."

"I know you're not," Taker interrupted. "Besides, you trying to change my mind would give the impression that you were scared of the consequences of your actions. Maybe even scared of what I would do to you afterward."

"I guess . . ."

"Don't worry," Undertaker chuckled lightly, shaking his head. "Things will go on as planned and that's all there is to it. If anyone asks, you had nothing to do with it."

"But I'm part of the match, Mark," Edge insisted. "People will know I knew."

Taker shook his head. "It will be a last minute change. Call Vickie if you need to and get her to call you into her office."

"Why would I do that?" Edge asked in confusion.

"Because then you could say that it is right then that things changed," Undertaker answered simply. "It would give you and Vickie and alibi."

Edge nodded. "Right. I get it," he smiled as he got up from his chair. "So, I guess I'll see you at the arena?"

"You'll see me there," Taker replied.

"Great," Edge said, rubbing his hands together enthusiastically. "Time to get this show on the road and kick your ass out of here."

"You do that."