_________If lonely's a taste, then it's all that I'm tasting...

Angst is written all over the tense atmosphere surrounding the wrestlers' workplace, all observing the show unfolding with the greatest care, apprehension taking over each time a loved one steps foot in the squared circle .

As minutes pass by and Becky witnesses her former allies marching down the ramp, Carmella and Aries being designated as the ones filling the handicap match spots, Vince's plan appears clearer to a very focused redheaded.

The clouds that previously obstructed her vision had disappeared and now offers her the opportunity to wrap her troubled mind around the Devil's intentions, willing to plounge anything he'd touch and everyone he'd approach into the darkness of insanity, into the obscurity of unknown.

Sasha attempted to analys the situation during sleepless nights, staring at the ceilling in hopes God would have mercy of her cause, pardon her sins and give her the smallest of clues.

The war they all were certain they built themselves up, determined in making a valid and lasting impact, their names forever written and their blood staining the History books, is nothing but an illusion.

Nothing but a morbid circus the devious McMahon put up for his own amusement, wrecking not only hopeful dreams but stomping upon his own son's hunger for a change, destroying brick by brick each achievement he'd manage to build.

Two vindicative and unyielding stables battled in the center of every single show, the freil order expressed through an uneven card vanishing away as their brawls would constantly take time out from others' matches.

How come anyone introduce a revolution full of optimist promises when the soldiers are already so sure this is what they're currently dying to bring ?

The bell rings to announce the handicap match's beginning and no sound can be heard in the backstage area. Everyone is holding their breath, utterly concerned to witness yet another destructive and heartbreaking scene - their minds far from being as perverted as Vince's.

Time seems like frozen still while Austin is the first to walk towards the one who once was his ally, the entire scene cautiously watched by every member of Banks' team, unsure if their enemy would truly go to such an extent in order to prove their point.

Sasha nervously licks her dry lips, her whole brain apparently victim of a never ending dilemma repeating inside : would she dare break character to save an old friend, going above Vince's constant warnings - which Owens is well too familiar with, granted of numerous strikes and suspensions - regarding the subject ?

Would she eventually lead her stable straight to the wolves' territory, even though it could possibly be another of Dean's vicious mindgames ?

The closer Austin gets to Becky, her precious soul aching from the countless betrayals she can't seem to escape from, the faster Banks' heart race - aware that her reflexion's time could get grandly shorten.

She catches a glimpse of Seth to her left, subtly nodding in her direction to inform her than no matter her final call, he'd execute her commands and honor the trust she managed to put back in him.

The utter fear to make the wrong decision quickly starts to eat her up inside, her mind becoming blurrier and her hands clasped so tight it'd practically bleed - her nails' marks easily perceivable on her freil palms.

Everything shut down the second she witness an unexpected scene : a close-up on Aries' tense features, barely voicing a "I refuse to hurt you." that even astonishes Lynch who's staring deep inside his sad blue eyes, looking for the lightest shift of expression.

Carmella confirms to the Irish this is far from being an act, standing on solid ground near the two wrestlers, unbreakable principles and fiery eyes shining bright.

Once Becky comprehends their actual motives she rapidly demands a microphone, ready to let go of the thunder awaking inside of her undying spirit.

"This madness needs to end." She angrily spits out before ceremoniously summoning Sasha and her teammates, confusion floating in the air while all four members rejoin the Superstars currently standing inside the ring.

The Boston native attempts to stand as close as possible from Lynch, her gentle heart uncapable of fooling her disturbed and sinful gaze, until a manly grip roughly falls upon her arm, preventing her from going any further.

"Wait, what if it's another trap ?" Escapes from an unusually worried Rollins, not willing to let go of her before she actually realizes the damages a misplaced trust could inflict to them.

Their stares connect for a little while, both effortlessly reading each other's concern and ultimately agreeing that the sole choice they have is to face whatever consequences will result from their actions.

"Forgive me. I wasn't able to figure it out earlier." Becky's shaking voice makes its path through Banks' ears, provoking a slight jolt in her as she knows the sole times Lynch would crack are the times an indescribable pain's about to crash upon one of her closest friends.

She still remembers how tears couldn't appear to stop rolling down her beautiful face moments before announcing to Bayley they may consider letting her go, back in their turbulent NXT's journey.

The company always mistreated and neglected their biggest and most unique talents, ruining their possible glory for the sole reason they couldn't see that the names they despised so much were actually the ones capable of carrying the WWE brand for decades.

The managers would force certain potentials, the ones with huge egos but lack of loyalty, to trade meaningless relationships for a golden ticket to the very top. Except they'd always forget to mention that a title reign, if you have no one to share it with, is useless.

Yet for other potentials, the ones victim of their own purity, the road they decide to take in order to keep moving on after the person they loved suddenly changed into traitors are the result of their own choices.

Becky should take the knife Banks mercilessly planted in her back, crying out of pain and sorrow to ultimately break her the way she broke Lynch in the first place.

Instead she simply puts it inside of Sasha's trembling hands, offering her the chance to strike back or put an end to the endless revenge's cycle.

The same way she stole Becky's innocence all these months ago with a simple clip rolling from the titantron, Becky is about to offer her what she's been craving for even more than a championship reign : clarity.

The moment it begins to unfold an unrequested weight crashes upon Sasha's heart and a thousand of rhetorical questions hit her brain, the truth she's been chasing revealing before her teary eyes.

It hurts her like an insatiable demon tearing apart her soul, breaking the bridges of trust she fought so hard to rebuild between her and him.

The same person who instantly took notice of her unlimited talent and surprising resiliency, the first day he layed eyes on her in the Performance Center.

The one who remained in her mind, one way or another, for the better or for worse, since that special encounter.

The one who has always been very high on Sasha's abilities, witnessing every bit of her journey.

The person who had her phone number and was close enough to her to know exactly when to throw a bomb in order to provoke a complete breakdown.

The same person who brought Emma into the crew in the first place.

The only one who could have known the blonde's intention to bury the hatchet with Banks and therefore, be at the right place at the right time to take the fateful picture.

The wrestler who went straight inside of Vince's office the night he lost his title, pretending that he just had been yelled at out of the place and repeatedly went back there because the McMahon didn't take lightly to him countlessly "breaking character to shelter his love ones".

The one who couldn't just move on and accept that his most valued prize got ripped off from his grip and offered to a man he's constantly lived in the shadow of, jealousy running deep between him and Zayn.

Heartbreaking images reveal to a motionless Sasha the actual way events unfolded, showing that Vince indeed summoned Owens right after his match, assuring him than he'd regain his rightful championship.

Of course a very special condition followed that promise, the Canadian had to agree and cooperate with the Devil itself - concluding than it'd be the perfect opportunity to spark up chaos between the kids he's never wanted to give a chance to in the first place.

Therefore in becoming Vince's snitch Kevin sold his soul for a blinding gold, craving glory as his business card was stained by gore and guts.

The revelations still unfolding not only shock her acolytes but both Austin and Carmella as well since they're linked to their leader.

Ambrose was too eager to reach levels everybody constantly assured to him and his allies they would never even carress.

In consequence he himself would receive precious informations about Sasha's stable from the McMahon, relaying what Owens would tell him - never without a slight twist to it.

By the end of the clip, two meaningful sound resonate through the entire arena as each spectator fell silent.

The first is Sasha's knees colliding with the harsh canvas, mimicking the movement of her heart and hopes sinking in the sea of her sadness.

The second comes from Seth who rushes toward Owens, quickly sending his hard hitting fist into the Canadian's jaw - projecting every ounce of hatred burning inside of his lively entity - before being restrained by Aries, Carmella and a horde of referees.

"How could you do that to her ?" He howls repeatedly while struggling to get out of their grip, desirous to make him pay.

"I did it to protect her." Kevin mumbles back while still fixing the ground, unable to meet Sasha's teary eyes, at that point battling through both the excruciating pain and the difficulty she has to breath, the entire scene way too much for her soul to handle.

Becky kneels near her, wrapping her freil hands around her long time friend, rival, enemy but overall sister's trembling body.

Familiar faces are barely distinguishable on the ramp - her vision blurring the same way Rollins' sanity currently is - the ginger one pushing a reasoning Ambrose out of his way as she can only overhear "I never wanted any of this."

He eventually makes his way inside the ring, entirely ignoring Owens since he knows if he were to throw the smallest glance at him, he'd ultimately lose his head.

Unsure of what to do next, he stops beside a crumbling Banks and awkwardly lays a hand on her bare shoulder, repeatedly whispering : "I'm so sorry."

After all these valuable bonds she forged and broke without ever turning back, the fact the one she was so sure would live on forever, his name's letters encrusted in her soul until her very last breath and beyond just vanished in the dark destroys her.

It's like he played for a while with the missing pieces of her already broken heart, putting it all together just before wrecking it all another time.

It hurts so bad to realize you've been manipulated for so long, only distinguishing half of the person's silhouette you trusted the most.

Rapidly she makes herself the remark that if everyone she cares about left her, it must be because such a monster isn't deserving of their presence.

In this instant, even though these people surround her, she couldn't feel more alone.

The crowd's noise eventually fades away, drown by the memories she used to hold on to during the sleepless and tormented nights, his soft green eyes and eternal friendship always able to reassure her.

But in the end, it was nothing else than a big, heartbreaking, crushing lie.

______

Sometimes silent can prove to be way louder than any cutting words. Sasha is continually haunted by it, the burning fire frequently resting in her eyes now replaced by occasional tears and her fighting heart now devasted, defeated.

Alone inside of her rented car she's reflecting on the two biggest mistakes she's ever made : the first was to doubt herself too much, the second was not to doubt him enough.

Her gaze slowly wanders through the window, fixing it upon random wrestlers just passing by on the parking lot, eventually locking eyes with the one she'd refer as the "Devil" for so long.

In the end she recalls herself that she couldn't have been more wrong because from day one, she's been aware of Vince's horrifying intentions.

No one could ever cast doubt upon his true colors. That's what a true Devil looks like, so pure and benevolent in appearance yet so vile on the inside.

Her lamentation seems to be about to continue for an eternity, her dry eyes unable to drop another tear and her hurtful heart pounding through her confused head, until a sudden buzzing invades the confined place.

Sasha barely has time to go through the contact's text message before Graves' name appears on her screen, urging her to pick up.

As she expects another catastrophy to fall from the skies, she's anxiously preparing herself to mumble senseful sentences, even if she needs to try again and again to express her feelings - although such sorrow can't be described, only experimented.

But what she hears at the other end of the phone immediately shuts her up.

"I lost everyone I cared about, I can't lose her too." Seth's hoarse and heartfelt voice travels from Corey's cell to Sasha's heart in a matter of seconds, ultimately unleashing a wave of reassurance.

"Then get off your ass and do something about it." Graves roughly retords on a cold tone, seemingfully dialing her in to let her know that Rollins' intentions are exactly what he's saying they are : honest.

The call abruptly finishes and leaves Banks processing with the grandest difficulty all the astonishing events of the night, imagining herself inside of a crazy roller-coaster of emotions, ready to derail at any giving moment.

The facade she used to have shattered in pieces when she recognized Kevin's face on the titantron but on that exact moment, Sasha esteems that it isn't necessary anymore.

It isn't because not only wasn't it good enough to prevent her gentle heart from breaking once more but also because someone finally seems to accept her for everything she is, for every flaw she harbours and every delicate parcel of her entity - breakable but most importantly real.

Even if she'd die inside countless times, Seth would effortlessly revive her, offering the most precious present one could dream of : his undivided attention, care and love.

____________

E L E N A ;

e d i t : to apologize for being M.I.A as hell and since update day is saturday, I decided to double update for you guys ♡

I honestly think I never had such a block for any other chapter or thing I've wrote, ever.

It was so hard to find / keep inspiration for this one since it's a pretty heavy one when it comes to emotions and I quickly got so worked up about whether or not I'd be good enough to carry them.

I tried my best so hopefully it's at least bearable - well besides the fact it's heartbreaking, obviously.

The book is getting closer and closer to its end and I still can't believe some of you actually took the time to read until that point, it means the world + be ready for a full "thank you note" on the very last chapter.

love ya all guys xxx

ps ; I've literally looked for / watched at least 4 scenes of traitor's revelation and each time, I was just staring at my screen with a wide open mouth because I was so shocked. If your reaction is a fraction of that, my duty is fulfilled haha.