Chapter 94:
December 14, 2008, at the HSBC Arena, Buffalo, New York, with 12,000 people in attendance; the pay-per-view was Armageddon. In retrospect, Haley would find it ironic that the end of the world as she knew it began on the so called End of Days. She would have plenty of time to brood over that little irony in the coming months.
Tonight however, she was focused on one match of the entire seven match card. While most of the attention was on the triple threat match tonight for the WWE Championship between Triple H, Jeff Hardy and Edge, her focus was on the match where she would be guest enforcer. They were the fourth match on the card, right after Finlay's Belfast brawl with Mark Henry.
Haley had spent most of the day prepping for the pay-per-view event. She and Candice had spent the morning at a day spa, getting waxed, scrubbed and polished for the HD cameras, then they had arrived at the arena just after lunch and went right into hair and make-up. Haley's auburn hair was curled into ringlets, only her side swept bangs straightened among the mass. To keep the curls back off her face, Marcie had tucked a silver headband behind her ears. Her make up had been done lightly in shades of pinks and browns to bring out her natural coloring.
Back in the locker room, Haley changed into her outfit for the night, which consisted of metallic red skinny jeans, black knee high heel boots and a sheer black see through drape like top with three quarter sleeves over a black lacy bra top. Silver chandelier earrings framed her face and matched the silver charm bracelet on her wrist. It was the last pay-per-view of the year and the most important barring Wrestlemania 24 to her, she was going to look her very best.
Everything was much more personal tonight. Wrestlemania had been about achieving a lifelong dream, Armageddon was about retribution. The seriousness of what this match meant was in her expression as she studied her appearance in the mirror. Her normally bright bubble smile was missing, replaced by neatly controlled mask she had adopted from Triple H.
"Hales?" Dave knocked on the bathroom door. "You almost ready? Finlay and Mark Henry are making their entrances, we're on soon."
Haley straightened her top with a couple of quick tugs before opening the door and stepping out in the main area of the locker room. "I'm ready."
Dave let out a low whistle. "Wow, eat your heart out Randy Orton, look at my girl."
Her smile returned at Dave's statement. "Thanks! I wanted to really look good tonight it being the last pay-per-view of 2008 and all."
"You look better than good, Haley." He kissed her lightly. "You look fantastic."
"And you look ready to unleash some punishment." She glanced over his black wrestling trunks and pads. "We're going to win tonight."
"Of course we are." He squeezed her shoulders. "You'll make sure there's no cheating and Orton can't beat me clean."
"A fact I'm very grateful for." Haley said quietly. "He can't touch me when you're around. After tonight, we'll put him out of our lives, hopefully."
"Well not completely." Dave shook his head. "It'll take more than one match for me to end this feud with Orton, but rest assured I will. I don't want you to worry about him anymore. Orton is my problem now and I'll take care of it. After tonight, you can stay away from him."
"Sounds good to me."
Twenty Minutes Later…
"The following contest is schedule for one fall." Lilian Garcia announced to the sold out crowd in Buffalo, New York.
Saliva's opening guitar riffs hit the airwaves and the crowd began to cheer. The stage was set up to look like castle ruins and emerging from the stone was the Animal. Batista was fired up, performing his entrance with an intensity that let the crowd know he was still stinging from the RKO he'd received last week after he and Cena had won their tag match last week.
His pyro effect exploded impressively over the castle sets and he paused before continued his path to the ring. Through the smoke and ruins, Haley emerged, her hand held out for Dave's. The crowd reception was welcoming as the couple made their way to the ring.
"Introducing first, being accompanied by the match enforcer, Haley Mariano, from Washington D.C. weighing 290 lbs, Batista!"
Batista let Haley climb the steel steps first following closely behind her. He held the ropes open for her to enter the ring, before crossing the canvas to mount the far turnbuckle, posing for the fans. He paid the opposite turnbuckle the same attention while Haley stood beside Lilian, eyeing the entrance warily.
Saliva's music faded and Batista hopped down and crossed to her side. He wrapped an arm around her protectively and they both waited for the opposition.
I hear voices in my head
They counsel me
They understand
They talk to me
Boos rose from the sea of fans like a tidal wave. With Cody Rhodes and Manu shadowing his footsteps, Randy Orton appeared amongst the ruins. He began his slow, methodical walk to the ring, ignoring the crowd and keeping his eyes on Batista the entire time.
You got your rules and your religion
All designed to keep you safe
But when rules start getting broken
You start questionin' your faith
I have a voice that is my savior
Hates to love and loves to hate
I have the voice that has the knowledge
And the power to rule your fate
"And his opponent being accompanied by Cody Rhodes and Manu, weighing 235 lbs, from St. Louis Missouri, Randy Orton!"
He slowly climbed the steel steps, and slipped through the ropes, looking every inch the Viper, crossing to the far turnbuckle.
I hear voices crying
I see heroes dying
I taste blood that's drying
I feel tension rising
He climbed to the second triangular pad and straightened, staring out into the sea of nameless faces. And then, with just a hint of a smirk, he lifted his arms into his signature pose.
I hear voices in my head
They counsel me
They understand
They talk to me, they talk to me (Yeah...)
They tell me things that I will do
They show me things I'll do to you
They talk to me (talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
They talk to me (talk to me, talk to me, talk to me)
He gaze cut over to Haley as though he were trying to look right through her. She shuddered and inched closer to Dave. He squeezed her shoulders reassuringly and led her towards the ropes to help her exit the ring, aware that Randy's eyes never left the pair.
"Just stay out here, Baby." He said when she stood on the apron outside the ring. "I'll take care of the rest, you just make sure the ref pays attention."
"Good luck." She smiled weakly at him, uncomfortable under Randy's scrutiny. "I love you."
Batista grinned, cupping the back of her head and bringing her mouth forward to meet his. It wasn't the chaste peck they usually exchanged when they were in the arena. He made the world fall away, the fans, King and Cole, Mike Chioda, Lilian Garcia, Cody and Manu and even Randy ceased to exist. Dave was the only thing she was aware of for those few precious seconds.
"I love you." He told her when he pulled back. "Don't you worry about a thing."
She could only nod in response, still breathless from his kiss. She lowered herself down to the floor below and waited for her head to clear. When it did, Mike Chioda was reminding Randy and Dave of the rules of the match, but Randy wasn't paying attention to him. He was staring at her and the expression on his face was so intense she took a step backward.
"Eyes here Orton, not on my girlfriend." Dave snapped, garnering the Legend Killer's attention.
"Ring the bell!" Mike ordered and seconds later, the bell rang three times to signal the start of the match.
Haley stepped closer to the ring again as the two men began to circle each other, daring the other to strike first.
"Come on Randy!" Cody urged his mentor.
Haley remained silent, sucked in a deep breath and held it while butterflies waged a war in her stomach. "Please God," She breathed out a quick prayer.