Mere seconds later, Hans and Heinrich screech to a halt beside her, and with great effort, haul her back from the edge as paramedics flood the ring, pushing past them in an effort to get at Butch below the camera’s view.
Fighting against their grip with nail, fists and kicks, and with her hair flailing, Wisdom nevertheless relents, breaking down in tears as she slides to the mat, gently aided by Heinrich as he shields her from the bustling medics. Hans tries to force his way down to Butch, slipping unconsciously into his native tongue as he catches full sight of his friend below and stopping dead in his tracks. His face turning ashen, he’s pushed back and out of the ring by security alongside Logan Neilson. With a shared look of shock between them, Hans makes for the commentary table, elbowing his way through to Vanessa and Jason.
Catching Jason’s eye, who tugs on Vanessa’s blouse sleeves, as she frantically searches the other side of the ring for Hans; standing on her commentary seat, Hans then reaches up to ease her to the ground.
(Vanessa): Oh my god, there you are honey!
Hans pulls her into an embrace, grateful at her presence at this time. Vanessa pushes back before too long though, and grasps a hold of Hans’ left shoulder with one hand, and pulls his arm across his body with the other, as Jason steadies himself against Hans’ back as the throng of HWA staff continue to pour into the area around the ringside.
(Hans): What are you doing?
(Vanessa): Not now honey…
With a speed borne of worry, she traces her fingers over his arm, until she locates a near imperceptible puncture mark on his arm, the slightest scab forming over it the only giveaway. With one hand going to her mouth, she looks up at him, the words beginning to flow.
(Vanessa): We need to get you to a doctor now!
(Hans): What, I don’t…
(Vanessa): Now!
She pushes him back, as Jason begins to haul from the other side as well.
(Hans): What’s going on?
He braces himself, nearly causing Jason to fall over as he loses his balance. He gently cradles Vanessa’s head in his hands, tilting it up as he lowers his head.
(Hans): Why do I need to go to a hospital?
Almost panicking, Vanessa stabs her finger at the puncture mark, drawing Hans’ eyes onto it for the first time.
(Vanessa): Ronnie injected you with something during your match honey… oh my god…
Her hands go to her mouth as she goes over the events in her mind; Hans’ eyes focusing on the blood fleck as a ghostly grimace forms. Shell shocked; he stands rooted to the spot, hands falling to his side.
(Vanessa): Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!
Silent, Hans can only turn his eyes to Vanessa, shock and horror etched upon his face as the enormity of what he’s been told sinks in.
With a lump in his throat, he struggles to voice anything at all, as behind him, Jason begins to get the attention of one of the medics.
Vanessa throws herself into Hans, wrapping her arms around his waist and begins to sob. Still searching for his voice, Hans’ head drops down, his chin and nose disappearing into her fiery red locks while his own arms go instinctually around her.
A trickle of a tear begins to run down his right cheek as his eyes clench shut.
The next few minutes pass in a blur, as two medics tear them apart, Jason lending his shoulder to Vanessa as Hans’ shoulder is examined. Strapping him to a gurney only causes Vanessa to tear up even more, while from inside the ring, Heinrich; still refusing to leave Wisdom, catches sight of the gurney racing past them.
He leans out between the lowest two ropes of the ring, as Jason comes to a halt, frantic gestures and panicked looks soon follow as Hans is raced out of the arena, while in the background the top of the crucifix begins to slowly come out of the ring, a fresh howl ripped from Wisdom’s throat greeting it as the scene fades to black.
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