The room wasn't just nondescript, it was barren. A rusted-out steel chair was bolted into the center, a naked bulb hung from a thin copper chain hung over it. It was so bright, it inscribed purple spots if one looked at it too closely, and hot enough to draw a soft sheen of sweat from the woman cuffed to the chair.
She didn't look away, though -- the dilapidated chair might as well have been a throne. Her back was straight, a cold stare affixed just past the light shed by the bulb, following the rhythmic clatter of high-heeled shoes on the bare concrete floor.
Alexandra Pierce couldn't see the other woman, but familiarity robbed her of the need.
''You know I didn't want things to go like this,'' the woman in shadow said. ''If you'd just been reasonable about this...''
The Director sneered, the thin line of her lips twisting. ''Do not expect I will ever 'understand' your betrayal. I expect such activities from Dr. Riley and Drusilla, but not from you.''
Kathryn Shaw stalked into the pool of light, velvety red dress clinging to her curves. A smile slinked across ruby red lips. ''Oh, come on, you know bad things come in threes, even for the almighty Alexandra Pierce.'' Her tone was light, airy -- as if her old friend wasn't shackled to a steel chair before her. ''You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. I learned from the best.''
Pierce said nothing, but her frigid stare remained unblinking, and the woman wrestling fans (especially the male ones) knew as ''Katsidy'' cleared her throat nervously. ''Don't make this uglier than it needs to be,'' Shaw warned. ''Just renounce her, let her have her life and you can still open presents with Quinny. I got her the cutest pair of shoes.''
''Do you truly think it will be that easy?'' The Spider in the Web's eyebrow didn't quite arch -- just quirked.
''It kind of is. Tell her it's not her, it's you. Maybe cry about how unfair you're being. It doesn't really matter what -- ''
''And if I refuse?'' Each word was clipped short.
''We both know you're not going to do that. But let's pretend. You broke the rules, Lexi. You exposed our operation to an outsider because she makes your pussy wet. You got week, you got soft, you got old, and you got caught.''
''Do you hate her that much?'' Pierce's voice was quiet, like a diamondback's rattle.
''The Alex Pierce I knew would have hated her more.''
''You will pay for -- ''
Shaw bent over the seated Spider, French manicure clicking over the shiny steel handcuffs binding Desade to the chair. ''No, I won't. You know I'm not stupid enough to not cover my ass the moment I agreed to stand witness. You so much as breathe on me when you've got a cold and you'll face a full inquiry.''
''I will not turn from her.'' Alexandra was fir, her always-hard eyes unflinching from her oldest friend's hazel pools.
''You will. Because you're a realist. You know which way the wind is blowing -- you have for weeks. You know it can't work, and you know you won't risk everything just to be the other woman in her marriage.'' The Siren's voice lost the come-hither tone she so favored. ''And you'll do it because I know every deep, dark secret you have and I'll start sharing if you don't. I wonder how Kieran would judge you if he knew the truth? Or Quinn? Or how she would.''
Pierce's lips were so dry and she pressed them together so hard, they'd stuck together. ''I think I love her, Kathi. You know that. Why are you doing this?''
Katsidy straightened, smoothing the wrinkles from both her dress and her face. ''Because someone has to.''
They both knew it was a lie. Shaw turned for the doorway, lingering there. She grinned over her shoulder. ''You of all people should know love doesn't last forever. You're smarter than this.''
It wasn't until Shaw closed the door behind her that Desade allowed herself a small smile. She was smarter than this, and before all was said and done, Kathryn Shaw would learn what that meant.
Pierce's second guest of the afternoon banged down the hall just minutes later, the same woman whose name Shaw and Pierce had avoided mentioning. Her voice preceded her -- but it always did.
''What the fuck?''
Amy Campbell's bright green hoodie and neon hair provided the room with more color than it had ever seen before she staggered in, collapsing to her knees in front of the Director. She was in control of her actions, though -- bent on those knees to allow her full weight to fall back when she yanked at Desade's cuffs. ''Are you okay? What is all this?''
''I am -- '' Pierce couldn't help but smile, at least a little. ''I'm fine, Amy. This is... not unexpected.''
''No, it was completely unexpected. Just not much of a surprise.''
Pierce frowned slightly. ''I meant the cuffs. I have to make a choice. They simply require the assurance that I will stay to make it.'' The shrug following was almost indolent. The words were not. ''I do not mean to make this easy for her.''
''I might be here by choice,'' Amy sighed. ''But if the choice they've given you is about me... well, I don't know if there's a right or wrong answer, but I doubt I'll get out of this building with a heartbeat if Shaw has her way.''
''You will.'' The Spider's quiet voice normally lost its edge when speaking privately with the other redhead, but, whether it was Katsidy's betrayal or something else, there was more Desade in this room than Alex. ''She knows you will come back for me.''
''I'm not going anywhere until you are, and I know they're probably listening in on this, but after her going out of her way to dig her claws into my marriage, life and now you... if I get within a hundred feet of that dumb ****, she won't be leaving.''
The rant was more expected than the handcuffs, and Desade shook her head. ''I need you to go. I need you to do something for me.''
''I don't need to leave the building to break her back, Alex.''
A soft snort escaped from Desade. ''That is true, but it is not what I want you to do. You would only make their case for them -- that we are a liability. I have something else in mind.''
''I expected you to be colder in here, but I'm not Lauren or Ashe. I'm staying, and I'm making Shaw bleed the moment they're dumb enough to put me near her.''
The Spider snapped her head to the side, tossing the curtain of hair from her face. ''No, you aren't, and that is precisely why I need you to do this. This is not a problem that can be solved by punching it.''
The smaller redhead had reclined on her knees, sitting with her back straight and hands limp on her legs. She was searching Pierce's stony expression for some kind of sign. ''Don't make up busywork just to get me out of Dodge.''
Desade's smile was not as unkind as it had been earlier -- but that was not saying much. ''I wouldn't dream of it.'' She glanced over the nearly barren room. ''Find me something to write with -- I need you to see someone.''
Amy was happy to oblige at least one of her wishes, pulling a Bic from her front pocket and handing it to the Director. She extended her right hand, palm up. ''And an arm. I've only got that pen because I actually had to sign in to see you -- and after that search, I'm surprised they let me in here with clothes on. Use the fingers if you run out of space.''
Alexandra Pierce scrawled a name and an address across Amy's flesh in a fine hand. She suppressed a smile as the SCCW Champion squirmed, wrenching her arm free. The movement drew a blue line on her veins. When Desade finished, Amy looked down at her forearm.
''You're kidding, right?'' Campbell raised a dubious brow.
Pierce's smile was all the answer she gave. ''Do not let Kathryn see that. Find them and bring them here. Quickly.''
With a reluctant nod, Aimz made her way to the door. She looked over her shoulder, just as Katsidy had. No words passed between them.
None needed to.
Kathryn Shaw had been right: bad things come in threes, and Amy would be getting Alex's third.
But this hasn't happened yet.
To borrow a phrase, we now return you to the normal timeline, already in progress.