The Plan

Chapter 30: Warpath

Rhea rolled her shoulders as she walked the halls after attacking Liv. This was the most she had felt like herself in weeks and she was absolutely basking in it. She ran her tongue across her teeth, adrenaline pumping as she plotted on her next victim.

Her feet carried her towards the women's side of the locker rooms, stealthily peeking in until she found just exactly who she was looking for.

Raquel knew she was concussed the second her head hit the mat. The pain in her neck and the back of her head somehow was much worse than the absolute throbbing that was occurring right where Liv connected with her temple.

She sat alone in the locker room, ice pack pressed to her temple, her jaw tight with frustration. She had spent months standing beside Liv, believing in her, trusting her, and for what? To get humiliated and blindsided in the middle of the ring?

She knew she should have known better. Dominik had seeped into Liv's mind like a poison and she watched it in real time. She should have done more to prevent this.

But Raquel didn't; she let the fear Dominik put into her keep her from trying to save her friend. And now, she was left looking like a fool in front of the entire world by that same friend.

The door creaked open, but Raquel didn't bother looking up. She figured it was some medic coming to check on her or Pearce or somebody.

Then she heard it; that very familiar low, mocking chuckle.

"Wow, chiquita...you really are pathetic."

Raquel's grip on the ice pack tightened as her entire body went rigid.

She lifted her head slowly, already scowling before her eyes even landed on the woman standing before her.

Rhea fucking Ripley.

Raquel took a deep breath, setting the ice pack down and rolling her shoulders back, trying to brace herself for another confrontation. She wasn't going to get blindsided two times in one night.

"What do you want, Ripley?" She muttered.

Rhea leaned against the doorway, arms crossed over her chest, her dark lips curling into a wicked, taunting smirk.

"Oh, I just came to see how you were holding up," She said, voice dripping with fake concern.

"I mean, damn, Raquel. You let Liv Morgan of all people outsmart you? Liv Morgan?" She let out a low whistle, shaking her head. "That's embarrassing even for you."

Raquel clenched her jaw, but she refused to let Rhea see how deep the words cut.

"She played me," Raquel admitted with a small shrug. "It happens."

Rhea snorted in disbelief. "It happens? That's your excuse?" She tsked, stepping forward, closing the distance between them.

"You let a five-foot blonde who weighs as much as my left leg knock you on your ass and turn you into her personal punching bag and bodyguard and all you have to say for yourself is 'it happens'?"

Raquel stayed quiet, keeping her expression blank as she looked at the ground.

"My god, you're pathetic." Rhea muttered.

She tilted her head, sizing her up. "It's funny, really. You and Liv? You were so proud of 'taking' judgment day away from me. So proud of ripping my family away from me. But look at you now."

She leaned in just slightly, her voice lowering to a taunting whisper.

"All alone."

Raquel's eye twitched.