Chapter 35
When Jecina showed up for work the following Monday, without Jon, Dean was positively giddy. Not having his twin at work, on a Monday, on live television, made something warm stir inside of him. If only he could make it permanent and wished he'd hit Jon a few dozen more times to possibly paralyze him. However, he didn't realize Jon had sent Jecina to the arena alone for a reason and his twin was lurking in the shadows until the show began.
"Where's Jon?" Lilianna asked as she approached her friend, seeing the apprehension written all over Jecina's face.
"Around…" Jecina stopped, frowning at the turtleneck Lilianna had on and tilted her head. "Since when do you like turtlenecks?" Last week, she had worn one during the elimination tag team match too.
Lilianna refused to worry Jecina since she already had enough to deal with concerning the twins. "Trying something new. You don't like?"
"No…it looks good on you." Why did Jecina feel like she was being lied to again? "Are you sure everything's okay, Lili?"
"Fine as wine, honey, I promise." Lilianna squeezed her shoulder with a tight smile. "I gotta find AJ's locker room to find out what's going down tonight. See you later, Jeci."
Something was going on with Lilianna. Even with makeup on, she could tell the woman was sleeping and had started drowning her sorrows and heartbreak in liquor. Vodka was her favorite. She just hoped Lilianna didn't go down a dark path when it came to drinking on the road and limited herself. Shaking the negative thoughts out of her head, Jecina headed to the cafeteria to start cooking, knowing Stephanie had to hire other caterers for the shows the past week.
Whatever Jon had planned for Ambrose, she just hoped he was safe.
Halfway through Raw, the unmistakable music of Jon Moxley's blasted through the arena speakers as the crowd rose to their feet, cheering and screaming. He was the more popular between the two twins. Dean snarled, watching his twin brother gingerly make his way to the ring with a black t-shirt on, blue jeans and a black leather jacket. His hair was wet, splayed over one of his eyes and he had a bruise on his cheek from one of the many chair shots he received at the hands Dean. However, Jon had a purpose for being here tonight as he stepped into the ring, ignoring the twinge in his back from bending to go through the ropes. He grabbed a microphone and did the cutthroat motion with his hand to silence his music, his face all business.
Jecina was, once again, in front of a monitor, watching with bated breath and clasped hands against her mouth.
"You know, for the past 2 years since I've been in WWE, I've taken my share of beatings…and most of them I've deserved. I admit it, I'm not a nice guy and I've never been a nice guy. I'm nobody's hero, never claimed to be and never wanted to be. There's only ONE thing in this world that makes me happy, ONE thing in this world that keeps me going and ONE thing in this world that I love more than anything and that's wrestling. I love professional wrestling. Sports-entertainment, whatever you wanna call it, I love it. This is what I've wanted to do nearly my whole life, ever since I was a little boy watching videotapes after videotapes of wrestlers I stole from the local Blockbuster." Jon paused, walking around the ring holding the microphone and stopped to stare in the camera. "Like I said, I've deserved most of the beatings I've taken throughout my life, but last week…when Dean Ambrose decided to stab me in the back and try to END my career and take away the love of my life…he crossed a line. And now, I have something to say to him, so Dean Ambrose, get your ass out here, so I can say this to your face, BROTHER!"
Dean's music hit as he sauntered out on the stage with a sadistic smile, tilting his head down at his brother in the ring. "Wow MOX, you don't look so good. Too many chair shots to the back and head, eh?" His eyes suddenly grew colder. "Go ahead, punk, say your piece and then get out of MY ring."
"Your ring? That's rich! I've been carrying YOUR ass in A&M for over a year! Swallowing MY pride and doing what's best for business, as the Authority likes to say! And what did it get me? My own brother, my twin, stabbing me in the back with a steel chair and trying to end my career!" Jon began to laugh, the sound bone-chilling as he rubbed the back of his neck harshly. "You know, Ambrose, I wanted to plant your ass in the mat for a while now, but I didn't do it because of the success we were having as champions. That's over though now. I called you out here for one reason and one reason only – I want revenge."
"Coulda, woulda, shoulda, Mox."
"Oh don't worry, I WILL get my revenge and I know exactly how it's gonna go down. I have a gift for you." Suddenly, the lights began flashing on a contraption lowering from the ceiling of the arena. It was a black cage with various items and weapons dangling from thin ropes. The cage didn't have a roof. "YOU PUT ME IN THE HOSPITAL, AMBROSE!" Creepy music filtered through the speakers while the cage lowered around Jon, surrounding him and he began laughing harder, a sadistic smile forming on his own face. "So I'm gonna put YOU…in an asylum."
Dean balked at the structure surrounding his brother, his heart pounding in his ears and didn't realize exactly what Stephanie meant by an Asylum match. "W-What the hell is that?!" He squawked in the microphone, mystic blues wide.
"Oh my god…" Jon had been on the phone with Shane McMahon extensively throughout the past week and Jecina had only caught bits and pieces from the conversations. The cage structure looked downright deadly, especially with all the weapons attached to the top. "Jesus…"
"See, I talked to Shane McMahon, and Shane said I could have ANY type of match I want at Extreme Rules. So welcome to the first ever Asylum match!" Jon announced, sounding proud and felt right at home in the cage, walking around the ring to present it. "You and I are gonna be STUCK in this cage and as you can see, I decorated the place myself with just a FEW of my favorite things! Could be a few more come Sunday." That was a promise because Jon had a few more ideas in mind to add to the structure. "Now, you've never been in this type of structure and hell, neither have I, so who knows what the hell is gonna happen!"
Dean already envisioned bouncing Jon's head off every part of that steel cage, his fist clenching at his side while holding his own microphone.
"This is international waters, baby, this is NO MAN'S LAND! This ain't extreme rules, this is NO RULES!" The creepy music kept playing while the lights flashed to give a more dramatic effect. "And I know what you must be thinking – you're thinking there must be some kind of way out. Maybe I can climb over the top to the floor, or maybe go through the door. UH-UH, no, in this Asylum, baby, THERE IS NO ESCAPE!"
"I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS!" Dean shouted, not bothering to use his microphone because it slipped out of his hand from shock. There was no way out except pin fall or submission? SINCE WHEN?
"Dean Ambrose, when you enter MY world, all you're gonna do is scream, and cry, and beg for mercy, which THERE WILL BE NONE!" Jon promised, his voice growing lower and lower with each word spoken. "When that door closes, and you enter this Asylum, Ambrose, I promise you it will be the LAST thing you ever DO!" Dean would not walk out of the Asylum match because Jon would make sure he was wheeled out on a gurney, even if he had to join him.
The segment ended with the crowd BUZZING over the news and first ever Asylum match, the cage structure already rising back up to the top of the ring.
"What the fuck did you do, Dean?" Roman groaned, putting his head in his hands and couldn't believe what his best friend had gotten himself into.
That was badass. Baron had to admit he was a tad jealous this wasn't his match and couldn't wait to watch Jon Moxley tear Dean Ambrose apart.
AJ nodded his head at the segment and actually applauded, along with Karl and Luke, even Lilianna was intrigued by the announcement.
Lilianna was also worried about Jecina and excused herself to go check on WWE's favorite caterer. Jecina was on the verge of having a panic attack and currently stirring batter in a bowl, needing to get her mind off what she just witnessed. The Asylum match would shave YEARS off both their careers! Jon's back wouldn't be healed in time and he was about to step in the ring with his psychotic brother, who WASN'T injured! Nausea had settled in and the only way to get rid of it, and get her mind off everything, was baking. Cakes, cupcakes, pies, any kind of mouthwatering, fattening dessert would do.
"Jeci…" Lilianna slowly walked up, seeing the woman hadn't stopped mixing and placed her hands on top to stop it. "Come on, you're coming outside with me for a minute."
"No, I can't…"
"Yes. You. Can." Lilianna snatched the bowl and mixer from her, setting them down on the table. "Take the gloves off." It was an order. "You're coming outside for some fresh air. You need it before you wind up exploding all over this delicious food you made."
Grumbling, Jecina knew better than to argue with Lilianna and took her apron off, following her out of the kitchen. She ignored all eyes that landed on her, not wanting to talk to anyone else besides Lilianna and Gabriella, if she joined them. Everyone else could go screw themselves, as far as she was concerned. The moment they were outside in the warm summer air, Jecina inhaled and exhaled several deep breaths, finally letting the tears flow down her cheeks. She had tried holding them back in the kitchen, but now that she was out of there and away from everyone, the dam had broken.
That's what Lilianna wanted to see happen, for Jecina to let her emotions out instead of keeping them bottled up inside. She rubbed her friend's back, staying silent and waited, knowing she wasn't due to go out to the ring as a valet, again, for another hour. There was always time for her best friend, especially when Lilianna knew she needed her. Jecina cried for 10 minutes and finally calmed down, hiccoughing a bit while leaning back against one of the WWE equipment trucks.
"Feel better now?"
Jecina shook her head with a soft sniffle, wiping her tears away and could feel the exhaustion piercing every part of her. "He's out of his mind." She finally spoke after another 5 minutes passed by, her voice barely above a whisper. "This match is a mistake. They are going to destroy each other and I know Ambrose deserves it, but Jon won't be 100% for this, Lilianna. He's going to wind up more hurt than he is now and there's nothing I can do about it."
"I know, honey, but you can't get yourself sick over this. I know I haven't…been the best friend lately with what I'm going through, but you can't let yourself fall apart over this. You have to stay strong and believe he knows what he's doing. Ambrose has this coming and if you thought Moxley wasn't getting revenge for what happened…" Lilianna trailed off, not needing to say more and could see the knowing expression developing on Jecina's face. "I know you're worried about him, hell I am too."
"You've been fine and you got a lot going on right now, Lili. I don't blame you for closing yourself off from everyone." Jecina muttered, hating when Lilianna became the voice of reason and took another deep breath, trying to ignore the guilt washing over her. "Dean is doing this because of me."
"No, Dean is a dick and he's doing this because he wants to hurt his brother." Lilianna corrected with a snort, planting her hands on her hips. "Trust me, this isn't just about you. And this is a LONG time coming, especially after the first beating that asshole gave Moxley."
"Oh my god, Jecina!" Gabriella rushed out with a frown, clobbering the woman with a tight embrace. "Christ, are you okay?! I had a match after that segment and I couldn't come check on you until now!" She was sweating from head to toe and needed a shower, but wanted to check on Jecina first.
Jecina nodded, not minding the sweat and appreciated Gabriella coming to see her. "I'm worried about Jon, but you already know that. Lili made me come out here for air and that's why I'm not in catering right now."
"I figured. I overheard someone say Lili dragged you out here, so that's why I was running."
"Yep, she needed to come out here and get her bearings in order before she wound up making a million cakes." Lilianna cracked a grin as Gabriella began giggling and Jecina tried hard not to, but it was no use.
"It's impossible to make a million cakes in one night, Lilianna."
"Shit, I'm sure you got a magic wand somewhere in there that can create a million cakes." Lilianna retorted seriously, folding her arms in front of her chest. "You are the best caterer and baker I've ever seen and I don't think anyone can disagree with that."
"Agreed."
"Since when did this turn into pick on Jecina day?"
"You're smiling and laughing, aren't you?"
"Yeah…" Jecina rolled her eyes at Lilianna's smug grin and another smile formed, feeling both women clobber her with a triple hug this time. "What are we gonna do if we're all separated from each other?"
"Call, text, skype each other until we pass out, shit like that." Lilianna had answers for everything it seemed and Gabriella couldn't stop laughing.
"What she said."
It wouldn't be the same because the powwows they had, like now, couldn't happen anymore if they were sent to different shows. Jecina didn't have just Jon to worry about losing, but she also could lose her best friends because of this stupid draft. What the hell was WWE thinking? She understood shaking things up a bit, but…this was drastic. The fact the weeks were crawling back slowly than a snail didn't help matters any either.
It was going to be a rough ride until July 19th arrived.