Dark and Brutal

Panic

Vic is smiling at Rhea, but she doesn't smile back. In fact, the only thing Vic sees on her face is stress. Rhea shoves past Vic, bumping her shoulder on the way by.

She turns in shock and watches as Rhea walks away, not stopping for anyone who's trying to tell her how good she did. Vic huffs.

"What the fuck is her problem?" She asks.

"Where's Buddy? Did you see him? Is he at the hotel? We need to call him." Damian replies without replying.

"He's not here. He had a show or something, I think." Vic says, trying not to be obvious that she knows so Damian doesn't get suspicious.

"Fuck what do we do?" He asks frustratedly.

He can't go anywhere since he has a match starting soon. Vic doesn't understand what he's going on about and shrugs in annoyance.

"Who cares? She's being a bitch." She says.

Vic storms off and walks towards The Judgment Day's dressing room. Dom saw her heading in that direction and is hot on her heel, walking into the dressing room behind her.

"What the fuck is your problem, Rhea? You just retained your title and people are trying to congratulate you and you ignore everyone? How fucking rude can you be?" Vic rants.

"Rhea.." Dom speaks softly.

"And to shove past me like that? What did retaining give you an ego boost?" Vic continues.

"Rhea.." Dom repeats a little louder.

"You're being so unprofessional and inconsiderate right now!"

"Rhea!" Dom says with a softly raised voice and grabs Vic's arm.

Vic looks at him then back at Rhea. Only just now realizing she's on the floor with her knees tucked to her chest, crying quietly.

Dom walks over to her and kneels down next to her. He wraps her in his arms and pulls her close.

"Just breathe, Mami." He whispers.

Vic looks at them in a state of confusion. She's never seen Rhea like this before. Rhea's always been the strong one.

"Get out!" Rhea screams at her.

Vic jumps a little and remembers she has Buddy's phone number. She looks to Dom and Rhea on the floor one last time. He's handing her water and rubbing her back.

Vic steps out of the room and closes the door, finding another quiet room and shutting that door behind her as well. She dials Buddy's number and he answers almost immediately.

"Wow. When I gave you my number I didn't actually think you'd call." He chuckles.

Vic sighs and scratches her neck, unsure of what to say. Buddy's laugh fades as he realizes something's wrong.

"Is it Demi?" He asks.

"How did you know that? What is wrong with her? She was horrible to everyone, then I found her having a panic attack on the floor and she screamed at me to leave. I don't understand what I did wrong. One minute she's finger fucking me on a plane, the next she's screaming. What the fuck is wrong with her?" Vic rants.

Buddy pauses before replying.

"On the plane? Oh we're circling back to that." He says with a laugh.

"Buddy.." Vic says.

She hears him take a deep breath before getting serious again.

"This isn't anything you did. You have to understand that before I ask you to do something for me. This is for Demi to talk to you about when she's ready and able. But for now, this has been going on since I've known her. She gets these panic attacks typically after a show. She goes so hard that by the time it's over she's exhausted and all she knows how to do is cry. Her body literally just gives out. She works 24/7."