"So explain to me, why you have to go out there? You're not part of the match are you?" Lizzie questioned as they weaved through a maze of hallways. Lizzie didn't pretend to know much if anything about wrestling, she had never gone to one of Carrie's indie events, just the thought of blood made her queasy. A week had passed since Carrie's debut, but she hadn't shed much light on what her job entailed, so her friends were left in the dark, Lizzie the most so.
"Because as things stand now, eighty percent of my job is going wherever Kane goes. Stand at ring side, cheer him on, make sure his opponents fight fair that sort of thing." Carrie was doing her best to stay optimistic, trying to believe that she could in one way or another be useful to the big red machine. 'He doesn't need much help, if there's something Kane can't handle what are the odds I can? I was sent here to do a job, and I have to do my best, I'll figure out something I'm sure of it.' She continued to try and convince herself.
"Kane has you to cheer him on? Miss positivity? Oh he's screwed, most completely screwed." Sidney laughed at his friend's expense.
"Hey! I am a ray of sunshine on a cloudy-" As they rounded the corner a large palm grabbed Carrie's shoulder. She turned, looking upwards to see his towel topped head. Kane's large frame loomed above the group requiring them to tilt her head back to see his stoic face. Carrie still hadn't gotten completely used to his Goliath like size.
"Carrie don't come to the ring tonight." Kane stated coldly.

"What?" Carrie's smile dipped for a second but as it always did it crept back up. "I know you're still mad at me for eating the last of the fudge I got you at that stupid Bear world. I couldn't help it though I eat when I'm stressed!"
"I still can't believe you went there. I've tried to take you to almost every zoo on the west coast and you wouldn't budge, this bully comes along and-"
"What did you call me?" Kane backed Sidney into a wall.
"I called you a bully." Sidney's tone wavered, his confidence fleeting as Kane's shadow engulfed him. "I saw how Carrie looked last week, you wanted to scare her off and you used your freakish strength to push someone a third of your size around." Sidney's compulsion to stick up for his friend overrode his better judgement.

"You're saying these things . . . like I should care about your opinion. . . I don't. Throwing around people smaller than me . . ." Kane gave Sidney a shove of his own. "Is my job." He contemplated truly showing what he was capable of but he decided against it. 'There must be something in the water up in Oregon, don't know when to keep their mouths shut. Carrie I can deal with, but this elf . . . Sidney right? He's rubbed me the wrong way since day one. He reminds me of that Caribbean idiot . . . doesn't know his place.' Kane scoffed, once he felt content that he had established himself as the alpha male in this scenario he took a few steps back.

"Ok testosterone much!" Carrie clapped her hands together to break the awkward silence. "Back to my original point! I Know you're mad Kane but-"
"I'm not mad I-"
"You sound mad." Janet who had been standing there silently put in her two cents. Though she had a point, Kane both sounded and looked angry, once he faced her with said mad look she retracted her statement. "Nevermind go on." She put her hands up in a sign of surrender.
"I don't need any distractions." He spoke slowly as his eyes traveled over the group eventually landing on Carrie. 'What if she helps Edge? This match does determine how long her contract will be. I'd swallow shards of glass before I let that happen to me again. I won't let that hippie headed buffoon conspire against me and win.' His eyes grew more and more resentful as he clenched and unclenched his fists.

"Kane you're being unreasonable! I can carry my own weight, how do you expect me to fuck up standing outside the ring?!" As the words left her mouth it clicked with her what Kane was thinking, her eyes popped open with epiphany then softened into sympathy. 'He thinks no one is on his side, not even me. He thinks just like everyone else I'm out to get him.' She let out a deep sigh, calming her tone. "Kane I know what you're thinking and-"
"No. You don't." He barely knew what he was thinking about, his mind was swirling. 'She's trying so hard to make it work but if I let her come with me . . . if she helps him . . . If Edge hurts her . . . If I hurt her.' His breath picked up as he remembered how he had unintentionally hurt Lita, leading to catastrophe. 'Women make things so complicated. It was so much easier before, just bash skulls and leave' A gloved palm reached up to his forehead.
"Kane trust me I-" Again Carrie was cut off.
"I don't trust anyone." He began to walk away from the group. "And this isn't a discussion, don't come to my match." Kane knew he was hurting her feelings, but it was better than one of them getting hurt on a more physical level. Part of him also knew the chances of her listening to him hovered around slim to none, but he had to try, he wanted to preserve things as they were. 'She wont let this go anytime soon.' He winced contemplating the argument that was waiting back in the hotel. To Kane that prospect was worth it, he felt he could hold on to his friendship with Carrie, as long as no one else interfered. Kane was a monster, Carrie was unrelentingly stubborn, which led to inevitable fighting. They matched each other step for step, eventually cooling each other off and fizzling out the fights, that's why their friendship would work, would last.

"Bully." Sidney spat at the retreating monster.
"You keep opening your mouth." Kane turned around taking long strides to meet Sidney. 'If he keeps plowing that bullshit in Carrie's head she'll start to believe it. I don't care how tight of friends they are he's not ripping her away from me.' Kane leaned down to face Sidney eye to eye. "You know we could split hairs on weather or not I'm a bully, but I don't have the time, or the patience. I'll just cut to the chase, I don't like the sound of your voice, and when I don't like something I get rid of it." He grabbed Sidney by the throat.
"Kane, bring it down a notch or two ok? You're not really winning any points for your not bully case." Carrie pulled at Kane's thick log like arm. "Please let him go." Carrie was very much worried Kane would plow Sidney's less than built body straight through the wall behind him. Kane grimaced, first ignoring Carrie as he lifted Sidney off his feet. Once Kane turned and saw Carrie overcome with concern he dropped the smaller man.
"Happy?" Kane spoke to Carrie while looking down at the man coughing on the floor.
"Fucking elated." Sidney wheezed.
"What did I just say?" Kane went to pick Sidney up again, but this time Carrie wormed her way between the two.
"Ok Ok you made your point! Sidney if you say one more word I swear to IHOP I'll beat you down before Kane gets to you!" She turned around to scold her friend, before turning back to Kane. "Look I'm sorry Sidney called you a bully but you can't fly off the handle like this every time-"
"I don't care what he calls me. You've heard what they say about me, I'm a freak, a monster, a demon, grotesque . . . the list goes on Carrie-"
"Maybe that's because-" Sidney finally back on his feet went to speak only for Carrie to turn to him and punch him square in the stomach, knocking the air straight out of his lungs.
"No one is listening! Sidney shut the fuck up! Kane I'm not really asking you if I can come to ring side, I'm telling you!" Carrie ended with a frustrated sigh.
"Is that right?" Kane looked over the rag tag group one more time. 'Nothing but trouble.' He scowled at Sidney who was now rubbing his belly. 'At least I know it's not just me she flips on.' He gave a quick smirk. 'But still can I trust her?'
"You bet your black boots it is!" Carrie stated with authority, a confident smile across her face.
'I guess I don't have much choice.' Kane's nose wrinkled in displeasure and without another word he walked off.
"That could've gone better." Carrie rolled her eyes, letting out a both relieved and frustrated sigh glad the confrontation was over, upset nothing had gotten accomplished.
"Don't worry, he's not mad." Janet successfully got a laugh from the group as they too resumed their walk.

"Tick Tock Tick Tock" A tap on Kane's shoulder caused him to turn around.
"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?" Kane rose a fist to hit the man who had attacked in the hallway days ago. To say Kane wasn't in the mood was a vast understatement.
"I could ask you the same question." Was the only response, no flinching, no back step, the man continued to just stare unwaveringly at Kane.
"What?" Kane's fist did not drop but he paused, leaving it lingering in the air.
"I've been watching you Kane. The old you would've left that man thrashed and mangled on the floor. Instead you left him with a warning, to win points with your new lap dog. You should know by now women don't bring happiness, more importantly you don't deserve happiness." This man struck the one nerve he knew he could continue to hit, Kane had no friends, no currently close family, no concern about physical harm, but he had one thing, all he had was Carrie.

'Lap dog? Why is he going on about that? Why does he keep taking jabs at Carrie? What Lesson?' He didn't voice those questions, because truly it didn't matter, much like Sidney's this man's opinion meant nothing to Kane. He just smirked, causing the man to cock his head to the side in confusion. "It's a misconception people have been getting lately, that they have me all figured out. I'll show you what I really am, I plan on decimating Edge tonight, then she'll be out of my way in two weeks. You don't know what makes me happy, I'll clear up any doubt, I'll show you what really makes me happy . . . the sound of broken bones . . . of agony . . . of fear. "

"You're fooling yourself Kane."
"What?" Kane was not a man of many words and it was showing.
"Like I said I've been watching you. Not just in the arenas, all over, everywhere you go. For something you cant stand you sure seem to spend a lot of time with it."
'It?' Kane had heard enough, and with a heavy grunt Kane swung a sweeping clothesline at the man who was trying hard to get in his head. Looking down Kane was somewhat surprised at the the haste of which the laid out man was getting to his feet. Confusion lead to anticipation as Kane gave a crooked smile. 'Good get up. THIS is what makes me happy.' Once at his level Kane struck the man down again, this time with a heavy right hand.
"Last night." The man groaned, it was taking him considerably longer to gather his bearings after the second blow, he had to buy himself some time. "Last night the two of you sat outside the lobby for two hours and nineteen minutes, I counted. What could you two possibly have to talk about tell me Kane what could it possibly have in common with the monster?" He had stunned Kane for long enough to get to his feet once more.

'He's not bluffing. He really is watching. From where?' Kane tried to remember if he had seen anyone looming about. He couldn't imagine missing someone of equal to his own stature. In his defense Kane hadn't been paying much attention to the surroundings the previous night. It had taken all his concentration just to follow Carrie as she went on and on about everything and anything, trying to keep up as well as succeed at producing small talk of his own. Had she not looked at him expecting such he would have been content to just listen to her ramble on, it seemed to come effortlessly to her v.s Kane in which every word was an awkward struggle. Despite Kane's stiff conversation skills it didn't seem to have phased Carrie at all, she had been patient, encouraging even glad. To not be engulfed in silence, to not be pushed into barking out violent ultimatums, had been a change Kane subconsciously welcomed.

While reminiscing about those hours Kane was jolted back to reality by a strong slap to the face, the contact emitted a sound reminiscent of a cracking whip. "Can't say I appreciate you using all your free time to stalk me." Kane tried to seem nonchalant as he rubbed the red mark appearing across his pale skin. Inside he was fuming, he did not like being the prey one bit. "What is it exactly that you want?"
"Just a few things." At this Kane waited less than patiently to hear requests he was sure he had heard time and time before. Kane's muscles were tense, at any moment he was ready to snap.
'Who does he think he is? Trying to boss ME around.' Both fists balled up. That was the million dollar question though, who was this man.

"Unfortunately the first thing I want you can't give it can only be taken."
'The hell is he talking about? Who is he the riddler?' Kane had no tolerance for play on words, Kane went to grab the man's throat but stopped once he spoke again.
"The wrath filled demon inside of you has been subdued Kane! I need him back, I need him to make me famous!" Those words sounded familiar but Kane gave them little to no thought.
"I don't have time for this." Kane snorted as he turned his back and began heading in the way of the curtain. 'There's no reasoning with crazy that's one thing I know. And I'm not one for reasoning in the first place.' Kane tried to lower the tension his body was stuck in, at this rate he would strain something while pummeling Edge into soup.
"It's been replaced . . . by another one of the seven deadly sins, lust!" The man had succeeded at stoping Kane's movements, grabbing his attention once again, though Kane still refused to turn around. "Your lust for the fairer sex has distracted you. To get what I want it's as simple as eliminating my competition." The man gave what seemed to be a light hearted shrug.
"Trust me when I tell you." Kane turned his head to face the man still waiting for him. "I haven't lost my wrath. You love watching me so much? Watch the wrath I unleash on Edge."
"I'll be waiting." The man nodded as Kane walked out of view.

"Why am I not surprised to see you here?" Kane's flat always irritated tone reached Carrie's ears. As she looked up Kane saw a look he hadn't quite expected, apprehension. Carrie was rocking on the balls of her feet, biting her lip as she waited by the curtain. "You look scared." Kane stood there for a moment waiting for his music to hit. Awkwardly he rose his hand, after some inner conflict he committed and laid it on Carrie's shoulder in a comforting gesture.
"Just . . . got a lot on my mind." She was still mulling over what she planned to do when out there. 'I hate feeling useless. . . . it's the worst.' Her stomach turned at the thought.
"Like what exactly?" Kane began to ponder the possibilities. 'Did he get to her too? Call her a lap dog? Or is she thinking about Edge? Is this when she betrays me?' And with that thought ingrained in his mind his theme began to blare through the arena.
"All suppressed." Carrie shook her head as if to wake up.
"Right." Kane adjusted his pads before starting his walk to the ring, Carrie followed a few strides behind.

After climbing over the top rope Kane rested his foot against the second to allow Carrie to walk between them. Carrie first took a minute to appreciate where she was, in a WWE ring surrounded by a sea of spectators, she was among superstars, only one thing took away from the poetic picture. "Are we supposed to be making out?" Carrie asked nonchalantly.
"WHAT?!" Kane almost choked on his tongue as he forced the word out. Carrie wasn't even looking at him, her head was tilted slightly to right as she gawked at the unsanitary display of affection that was taking place in front of her.
"I was kidding! Don't worry I'd never just jump on you like that, I respect your boundaries, I promise." Carrie couldn't tell what Kane was thinking, he had an unwavering grimace on his face, but other than that he read blank as a slate.
"Good." Kane moved in Edge's direction, he wouldn't allow Edge to have the happiness he himself would always be deprived of.

"Whoa Whoa Whoa! This is all the thanks I get for all my troubles? Can you say ungrateful? Or just plain jealousy? Lita is one of a kind, a minx with no comparison. I can understand that nothing will make up for the loss. I thought you wouldn't notice the depreciation in value but hey you're smarter than you look! Sorry Carrie you have an awesome personality, spunky for sure but there's a big difference between ordinary and extraordinary." Edge shrugged quickly at a sour faced Carrie before laying on another heavy kiss on Lita.
'When did everyone get so pompous? When did everyone start thinking they know how I feel? What I want? I'll knock him down a peg. I'll show them all, that nothing has changed, that to my very core I am and always have been the personification of hell. All these games and riddles they're putting me through, it's only delaying their own dissension into the pit.' Kane had something to prove, he had to prove to himself that despite everyone trying to influence his actions, he was still in control, and there's no better place to demonstrate control and dominance than in the ring.

"So I'd be jealous if I were you too, but hey you got a conciliation prize out of it. Which you're trying to give back, quite rude. But how many manners can you expect out of a monster. Am I right?" Edge looked over to Lita for validation. Lita looked from her man then over to a seething Kane then back to Edge.
"Manners aren't what matter babe just what you do in the ring." Lita gave Edge an encouraging yet conveniently quick peck on the lips.
"That's exactly right." Edge didn't read any farther into the exchange and continued to run his mouth. "Then I'll do what I do best, come out on top." Edge had a cocky grin plastered across his face.

"Get out of the ring." Kane kept his eyes on Edge as he spoke to Carrie.
"You got it partner!" Carrie saw no reason to argue that point, though she did sneak in a small hug, of which Kane seemed to vehemently disapprove of. She could feel his entire body tense under her light grip before she finally detached and left the ring. Kane's eyes unglued themselves from Edge for a moment as they shifted slightly to watch her leave.
'That skin.' An almost electrical surge flowed through him at the touch. 'Lust.' He remembered the conversation from not long ago. It was true, Carrie was stirring urges in Kane on both a emotional and primal level. 'Don't lose your grip on reality.' He remembered how Lita had described their relationship once it was over. 'I have nothing to offer her.' He tossed the conversation, the memories and the urges aside using all his energy to fuel the more comfortable emotion of anger. With that the two men locked horns in the center of the ring, Kane's brute strength prevailed and with apparent ease he tossed Edge to the mat with a thud. 'Wrath.'

Lita was incessantly loud, clapping, slamming and screaming as the match unfolded, contrary to Carrie who was uncharacteristically quiet. She had opted to remain silent and still, content with studying the match. Smiling when Kane had the upper hand, holding her breath when he was getting beaten down, chewing on her bottom lip through the majority of the match. "The Ogre is more afraid of you then you are of him!" Lita approached Carrie at ringside.
"Don't call him that!" Carrie met her face to face.
"Or what? Don't act all high and mighty like you're better than me. I brought you here to do one job, to be a valet to Kane, to calm the monster. You couldn't do that, now you can't even pretend to care how this match goes, pretend to be supportive, you're nothing but a waste of everyone's time. You're useless!" Lita spat, before giving Carrie a shove. She felt as though Carrie was throwing away an opportunity of a lifetime. Lita was one of those people Kane worried about, the kind of people who would use you as a stepping stone to get to where they wanted to be and here was Carrie standing all but motionless not seizing any chances, not making any alliance any game changing moves. That notion would abruptly change as Carrie shoved Lita right back.
"What I care about, how I chose to support Kane, is no longer your business." Carrie pushed Lita a second time. The word useless had a pavlovian response to Carrie, it mad her adrenalin spike, it put her in fight or flight response every time she heard it, tagged with Lita's down talking to both Carrie and Kane, the choice between the two was obvious.
"Support?" Lita tackled Carrie to the ground. "You're not doing anything!" Grabbing Carrie by the hair Lita kneed Carrie in the face. From the ground Carrie pulled at Lita's ankles yanking the diva down with her. Once on top Carrie threw a wound up punch straight into Lita's center of mass.
"Exactly." Carrie panted as they began to outright brawl at ringside. 'Kane's not used to the fans cheering for him, let alone some spastic girl shouting from feet away. He needs to stay focused.' Unbeknowngst to her, the match had come to a halt as all three men in the ring had stopped to appreciate the fists and elbows currently being thrown between the two women. 'I'll prove my worth, I just need to bide my time.'
'Carrie?' Kane was shocked, here she was with among the people who had given birth to her WWE career and despite that, from his vantage point, she had made her loyalty clear to everyone, she had chosen him. Kane couldn't help but smile, it wasn't one sided, Carrie backed up her word, she wanted this friendship as bad as he did. 'What do I do with this match?' It was a catch 22, win the match, Carrie's contract was shortened, lose the match prove the riddler behind the curtain right, that wrath had been deluded in Kane, he wasn't the same monster he used to be.

"If you two don't break it up I will have you both thrown out." The ref finally made an attempt to take control of the chaos.
'Well that's not a step in the right direction.' Carrie put her hands up in surrender getting thrown out would not bring her one bit closer to her goal. The women momentarily parted ways, but control was shorted lived, the match only went on for a few minutes longer before the dynamics changed.
"I'll show you what support is!" Lita took noticed of incapacitated ref, that Kane had inadvertently knocked into the turnbuckle. Edge also after a low blow and feverish kicks to the ribs had gotten the monster down on one knee. A few elbows to the skull dazed the giant and he faltered more, eventually caving, his head hitting the mat. This was a moment Lita had been waiting for, she slid Edge's champion gold over to the ultimate opportunist.
'Oh shit Oh shit!' Carrie grew wide eyed, Kane was in serious trouble, she had to do something. 'Nows my chance to prove I'm not a waste of space, I'm not useless.'

Carrie scurried under the ropes into the ring, Lita on her coattails. Without time to think of a better plan she simply stood between Edge and the still floored Kane. Her arms and legs spread to their capacity in an attempt to conceal the mammoth man from harm. Edge who had the belt held over his head ready to strike hesitated only for a minute, once he saw Kane begin to stir, Carrie was only an obstacle in his way. With a bellowing thwack hard metal connected with Carrie's skull. In a swift motion she crumpled to the floor like a marionette with it's strings cut. Before Edge could get to his real target, his window of opportunity had closed. "Babe!" Lita shouted as she pointed out the ref was getting to his feet, Edge had to sneak back the belt or risk getting disqualified. Any televised loss by a champion opens a window for number one contendership and that was the last thing Edge wanted, he chucked his belt out over the ropes.

Kane had been catching his breath, trying to regain the energy that Edge had chopped away at. He hadn't seen Carrie's suicide sacrifice and wouldn't have been much help even if he had. As he got back to his feet the picture became clear. Kane stared down at Carrie who was laid out cold, contorted on the floor, even from his hight he could see some blood leaking from her head, dampening her auburn hair. The normally boiling hot blood speeding through his veins turned ice cold, his eyes glossed over like a shark's, his whole aura had a sheen of pure madness and rage. 'How could she be so stupid? I told her to stay away!' His stomach turned slightly. 'That's where friendship with me gets you.' He could see the look of pain lingering on Carrie's face, a moment captured in time, her last conscious thought before hitting the ground was one of strain. It almost looked as if she was sleeping, having a terrible nightmare. 'She did this for me. She sacrificed that thick skull of her's for me?' Kane was perplexed by the situation as a whole, it took him a minute to let it all sink in. Once it had, he was determined to regain control, he turned his attention to Edge.

"Maybe you two do have something in common. Just big targets, gluttons for punishment!" Edge simply couldn't help himself when it came down to verbally assaulting his opponents.
"Babe shut up!" Lita tried to talk some sense into her boyfriend as she was escorted out of the ring by the ref, it was too late by that point Edge had dug himself a hole he could not get out of. Kane charged a few paces and grabbed Edge by the throat, lifting him to the highest elevation his stature would allow, he watched Edge's long legs flail for a moment before slamming the man down to the mat with thunderous force. Kane proceeded to press his boot against Edge's throat. Kane was getting a twisted rush from watching Edge writhe in pain, he couldn't even hear the ref demanding he back off.
'I want you to feel it Edge. You think this is all some game? I want you to feel, the pain, the desperation and agony I feel every day! I want you to loose all hope.' His demented smile grew as he could see Edge's eyes go bloodshot. Kane didn't get to bask in his entertainment for long.

A faint sound of groaning could be heard amongst Edge's gasping and sputtering. Kane immediately lost all interest in Edge as he turned and realized Carrie was regaining consciousness. He stood over her as he watched her move ever so slightly, squirming on the ground as her head throbbed uncontrollably. Kane glanced back at where he had left Edge to see if the man was stupid enough to resume an assault, but by this point both Edge and Lita were halfway up the ramp. The referee began a ten count, all Kane had to do was wait, but monsters wait for no man.

Kane lifted Carrie off the mat, cradling her in one arm, holding her tightly to his chest as he awkwardly got them out of the ring. "Kane?" The word was slow and groggy, her eyes unable to focus on any given spot. Kane didn't respond just continued walking. "Did you see?! I saved you! I did something." With a drunken sounding chuckle Carrie's head bobbed slightly, before returning to a resting spot between Kane's arm and his chest. "Did you win?" Carrie tried to see Kane's face but her current position wouldn't allow it. Kane cringed as he felt her warm slick blood smear against him. His demeanor made sure everyone cleared out of his path as he stomped his way in direction of the medical station.
"Don't worry about it." Kane finally answered as held her tighter. 'Idiot! What were you thinking? Over a match? Over a match that it was you better interest for Edge to win? You got hurt over that? For me? I don't bleed this bad, should've just left it alone! I can take care of myself! I can take care of us! From Edge from the stalker from myself, now I have to protect you from your own stupid decisions!' After his bold declaration of total protection Kane felt Carrie go lax in his arms, which made him nervous, he didn't know what to do in this situation, before he could reach his destination he was spotted.

"Carrie!" Lizzie called out, Carrie's three friends had been running around looking for her since Kane had carried her out of camera view.
"She's hurt!" Kane barked bluntly. He was starting to feel queasy as deja vu crept over him. It was nothing life threatening like the car accident he and Katie had been in but the feeling of Carrie's blood was sending him reeling, he was loosing control. 'Not again!'

"We'll take her from here." Once the group finally reached the medical station an EMT tried to take Carrie from Kane's hold, but in a protective stance Kane recoiled. As much as holding her was sending him to a very dark place, he didn't want to let go. Kane felt Carrie was safest in his arms, he could protect her better than anyone could he was sure of it, everyone else was a liability. After staring down the EMT for a long minute or two Kane relented and put Carrie down on the stretcher. Without another word Kane left the room.

'You big idiot!' He knocked a row of leather bound knuckles into the side of his head. 'What's with all these emotions? Monsters don't need emotions! What am I doing this for? What am I gaining other than unwanted stress and a constant tease of what I'll never have. Is friendship worth is?' Kane's hands went to the back of his neck massaging tense muscles and bundled nerves. He knew the answer to those questions but he threw himself into a stage of denial. 'Stupid urges!' he felt like his body was tricking him into acting a way he never normally would. 'Women equal-' His mantra was shattered as a blood curdling scream emitted from the section he just left. One of those urges shot through him, compelling him to run to Carrie's side as fast as his bulky body would allow. Kane swung open the door, the handle denting the wall with a thud. Scanning the room the first words out of Kane's mouth were: "What did you do to her?"