| Part VII |
| Across the arena Kane leaped out of his chair. �Where is Alex?� he growled aloud. Jesse was off to one side with Hunter, Jim, X-Pac, IceWolf and Leah. They were joking about the match. Ice and Leah�s heads snapped toward Kane, knowing he didn�t use his voice unless absolutely necessary. �She said . . .� Jesse began. Kane crossed the room and grabbed him by the shirt. �Where is she?� he demanded. �She said she had plans.� Jesse stammered as he was lifted off the ground in Kane�s frenzy. Hunter and Jim were next to Jesse, trying to get Kane to let go of him. �Baby.� Storm hurried to Kane�s side. �What is it?� she asked. �Let go of Jesse. You�re choking him. She requested. Kane loosened his grip allowing Jesse�s feet to return to the ground, but did not release the smaller man�s shirt. �Where did she go?� Kane demanded slowly. �I don�t know. She didn�t say. She just said she wouldn�t be alone.� Jesse answered quickly. �Tori is in the building.� 'Taker announced. �We need to find Alex NOW!� Kane and 'Taker ran out of the room, the girls and the rest of the men behind them. Jim was on his radio yelling at his security team to check in. He was ordering them to check every exit and entrance. As they stepped out of the dressing room, Vince was running down the hall toward them with Shane steps behind him. �The police just called. Tori escaped. She attacked one of her guards and took their keys. They obviously think she�s headed here. They�re sending some officers.� �We can�t find Alex.� LaShana informed him. �Where was Alex going? Did she say anything to anyone? IceWolf asked her sisters. �No. RIP answered, shaking her head �She was distracted before the match but that was probably just nerves. Kanike mentioned. === Back across the arena Alex rolled to her right, barely missing Tori�s assault. Alex got to her feet and kicked Tori in the back while Tori still had her back turned. She then struggled to her feet when Tori hit her with a broom that had been left in the corner. She rolled away as Tori attempted to kick her. Alex forced herself not to panic as she got a good look at in Tori�s eyes. Alex didn�t feel the hatred from early in the day. She felt an eerie sort of calm and coldness. �Try talking to her.� Alex thought. �Give them time to get over here.� Shortly after Kane told Alex that she was one of his brides, both he and 'Taker had made sure she was well trained. However, Alex knew Tori had a mild advantage in that she was almost a foot taller than Alex was and more importantly . . .Tori had lost her tenuous grip on reality. �Tori, the police know by now you�ve escaped. It won�t take a rocket scientist to figure out you came here.� Alex reasoned. �By the time they get here.� Tori began in a cold flat voice. �You�ll be dead and Kane and I will be long gone.� She informed her. �Tori, Kane doesn�t love you!� Alex snapped without thinking. �HE DOES LOVE ME!!� Tori screamed hysterically. �Good Alex, piss off the psycho a little more.� She scolded herself. �He does love me.� Tori replied again. �It was you . . .you and those other sluts that took him away from me.� As she spoke, Tori walked toward her. It was then that Alex noticed Tori had a knife. === �We need to spread out! Search every dressing room.� Vince ordered after announcing that the police that had finally arrived. ~Dressing room? 'Taker repeated. ~Brother, where was Alex earlier when you found her? 'Taker asked Kane. ~In a dressing room on the far side of the arena. Kane responded already running in the direction. The girls, 'Taker and the rest of the guys right behind him. === Tori stepped closer and closer to Alex trying to back her up against the wall, �You were jealous of how much Kane loved me!� Tori screamed, gesturing wildly with the knife. As she approached, Alex had stopped listening; she was waiting. Alex was trying to judge the distance for what she was about to attempt. Tori got to what Alex hoped was the appropriate distance, �I really hope this works.� She asked silently. The next step Tori took, Alex reacted automatically and the way she�d been taught. �Step back, turn head, turn waist, twist, kick.� She rambled through her head as her body reacted. �YES!� she thought. She had knocked the knife from Tori�s grasp and it skidded across the room. �I owe X-Pac a sloppy kiss for that one.� With Tori distracted Alex swung hard catching Tori in the jaw to knock her off balance. === ~Can you find her? 'Taker asked Kane. ~She�s scared. Something�s really wrong. Alex isn�t scared of Tori. Kane stated. ~She can�t concentrate. Jericho walked out of his dressing room to see everyone hurry past as they made their way across the arena. �Shane?� Jericho grabbed his arm as he trailed behind everyone. �What�s going on?� he asked. �Tori escaped from jail. And we can�t find Alex.� Shane informed him as he continued behind the crowd. Jericho dropped his bag and ran to catch up with everyone. === Alex dodged Tori�s fist and speared her to the ground. Tori rolled until she was a top Alex and grabbed her head. With strength born of insanity, Tori proceeded to beat Alex�s head on the floor. �You took him away from me!� she screamed. �He loved ME and you took him away!� Alex tried kicking and squirming to break Tori�s hold on her. However, after the third time her head connected with the floor, she began to see stars. *Kane? She tried, but her mind refused to focus. After another minute the room went black. A few seconds after Alex lost consciousness Kane, 'Taker and her sisters came through the door. Upon seeing Kane Tori let go of Alex, sending her head to the floor one last time and rose to her feet. �I knew you�d find me!� Tori exclaimed. �I knew if I came here, you�d find me.� Tori walked toward Kane oblivious to everyone but him. ~Step away from me! Kane ordered everyone. Just then Jesse, X-Pac, Matt, Vince, Shane, and Jericho tried to enter, ~Keep them out! Kane ordered. Jim, Ice, Leah, and Hunter pushed them out into the hall, closing the door behind them. �Let Kane handle this.� Hunter suggested. �What about Alex?� Jericho asked. �Was Alex in there?� Matt asked. �Yeah.� Leah answered, nodding. �She�s on the ground. We couldn�t get close enough to her.� Ice continued. Jim slipped his arm around her waist, �I�m sure she�s okay, baby.� Jim tried to sound confident to reassure her. �Tori.� Kane began calmly. �What are you doing here?� his eyes glanced down to Alex, to see her not moving. He fought the initial instinct to run to her side. The sight of his bride in danger, for the second time that night, almost more than he could bear. The girls moved along one side of the room while 'Taker, Steve, and Jeff moved slowly along the other, out of Tori�s line of sight. The girls all tried calling to Alex telepathically but to no avail. �I came so we could be together. I know you didn�t mean for them to put me in that horrible place. It was all a misunderstanding.� Tori rambled. �She has finally snapped. LaShana observed. �We need to get to Alex. Look. RIP instructed. The ladies all looked at Alex, who still had not moved, to see a pool of blood surrounding her head. It was starting to mat and seep into her hair. Jeff, Steve, and 'Taker were still moving along the other side of the room. �Tori. You and I cannot be together.� Kane reasoned. �You�ve hurt people I love.� Kane took a step closer. �You don�t love them!� she screamed. �You love me!� Tori took a step back and bumped into Alex. �You think she loves you!?� Tori screamed, pointing down to Alex. ~If she touches Alex again, this plan is over. 'Taker informed Kane. Kane noticed that Steve and Jeff were now standing in front of 'Taker. With �Taker having seen Alex bleeding, Steve and Jeff were now struggling to block his attempt to rush Tori to get to Alex. ~She won�t harm her again. 'Taker added. Kane nodded his acknowledgment. �Tori - step away from her.� Kane asked calmly, holding out his hand to her. �Why?� she gritted. �So you can save her? NO!� she screamed. �I hope she dies. I hope all your bitches die!� Tori�s focus shifted and she saw Storm and the other girls. �YOU!� she screamed at Storm. �He doesn�t really love you.� Her face splitting into a twist grin. �Every time you weren�t there . . .he came to me.� she spat at her. Storm stood still for a moment, then moved back toward Kane. �Get to Alex. She ordered the other ladies. �Do you really expect me to believe that?� Storm asked condescendingly. She walked back and stood in front of Kane. Storm leaned back against him as Kane put his hand on her waist. �We have something your insanity will never grasp.� Storm informed her. ~You�re making her angrier, love. Kane warned. �As long as she�s focused on me and not Alex. Storm explained. �You have no concept of what love is.� Storm continued. LaShana, Kanike and RIP were now close enough to Alex, but couldn�t reach her because Tori was still in the way. -Tell 'Taker to grab Kane. Storm requested of Kanike. -He won�t do what needs to be done. Kanike nodded slightly to Storm to let her know she�d heard her. A moment later, Storm saw the confused expression on Steve and Jeff�s face as 'Taker started moving away from them and toward Storm and Kane. �Are you so far gone to think that Kane ever loved you?� Storm continued as she stepped away from Kane. �He loved me before you came along!� Tori gritted, in her fury Tori walked toward Storm. �Kane and I have been together long before you.� Storm informed her. �She�s goading her on purpose, right? RIP asked -To get her angry enough to attack without thinking. Kanike replied. �But Kane . . .LaShana began, before she noticed 'Taker was moving back toward Kane. �And we�ll be together when they drag you back to jail.� Storm informed her. Tori shrieked . . .and everything seemed to happen at once. Tori leaped at Storm her hands outstretched reaching for her. Kane moved to grab Storm to pull her out of the way. 'Taker ran the short distance to grab Kane. Storm knew she had goaded Tori enough and was prepared when she struck. LaShana, Kanike and RIP quickly ran to Alex�s side to check on her. Steve and Jeff moved as well. �Alex, can you hear me?� RIP asked. When Alex didn�t respond, -Alex, are you all right? LaShana asked. As RIP reached to lift her head, �No, we shouldn�t move her.� Jeff suggested. �There�s so much blood. Where�s it coming from?� LaShana asked, her voice shaky. �Jeff . . .look in the bathroom, see if there are any towels.� RIP suggested. He rose and ran toward the small room, returning with a hand full of towels, �We have to stop the bleeding.� �I think it�s coming from her head.� Steve assessed. He looked around the room and spotted the knife, �I don�t see any other wounds.� �Why won�t she wake up?� Kanike asked. At that moment there was a scream from across the room to draw their attention. Storm had grabbed Tori by the side of the head and flipped her. However Tori was up quickly; she turned to swing wildly at Storm. Storm ducked the shot and hit her with a knee to the stomach. �Taker had pushed Kane against the wall in an effort to keep him still but he was still struggling. �Help 'Taker.� LaShana instructed both guys. Steve and Jeff ran across the room and used their added strength to hold Kane in place. ~LET GO OF ME! Kane ordered his brother. ~She can take care of herself! 'Taker reminded him. ~She had to watch you earlier. Now it�s your turn. Tori came at Storm again, still blinded with anger. Storm tangled her ankle with Tori�s and Tori went down hard, face first. Storm got to her feet and grabbed Tori�s arm while Kanike ran over and grabbed the other. They both dragged Tori to her feet, and slammed her against the wall. Kanike twisting Tori�s arm behind her hard as Tori began to struggle. The group outside came through the door after RIP called to IceWolf. �We need an ambulance!� LaShana demanded. However Jim was already on his radio having seen the blood seeping through the towels around Alex�s head. Shane stepped back into the hall to yell for the police who had finally made it to that side of the arena. Hunter and Jim took over for Kanike and Storm at holding Tori as they rushed to Alex�s side. Steve, Jeff and 'Taker had released Kane and he rushed to Storm�s side before she could get to Alex. He held Storm to him refusing to let go. ~You enjoy making me crazy, I think. Kane stated. �No love. Storm shook her head smiling. �But you would not do what needed to be done. You are too softhearted. She stated tapping his chest. �You were trying to reason with someone who is delusional. She is insane. Storm emphasized. Jericho was making his way through the crowd of people to get near Alex. Just as he reached the circle of women surrounding her, police and paramedics finally made it to the room. Paramedics disbursed the group near Alex so they could work. Police took over for Hunter and Jim by placing Tori in handcuffs and leading her from the room. Steve pulled one of the officer�s aside to point out the knife, having them gather it for evidence. �How long has she been unconscious?� one paramedic asked. �A few minutes at least.� LaShana answered. �She wouldn�t wake up.� RIP continued. �Her head is continuing to bleed.� he reached down to take Alex's wrist. �I�m losing her pulse! We need to get her to the hospital. NOW!� The second paramedic shouted. |