Title: Set Me Free

Genre: Supernatural/Drama

Pairings: Possible implied Hunter/Shawn, Taker/Shawn, Cena, JBL and various others IF I continue this. Chances are if you normally read my work then you know what usual suspects to expect

Rating: 'M' for...well I dunno. Chances are this will need an 'M' rating eventually

Summary: Pretty much Undertaker as in the Lord of Darkness and not "Mark". So this puts a supernatural twist on the current story surrounding him, Hunter and HBK. Taker and Hunter are the last of a generation and Hunter doesn't want to be left alone...or so he says. Meanwhile, Undertaker's grave is in need of another soul before he can finally rest in peace. Not going to say much else so just read on.

Disclaimer: You know the drill. I don't own nothing but parts of this completely bogus plot. WWE is owned by McMahon.

~x~

Set Me Free

Shawn Michaels woke up with a start, his body shivering from the icy wind. He sat up in bed taking a moment to let his eyes adjust. His room was pitch dark except for the one scented candle burning on his windowsill, the curtains drawn back to keep from catching on fire. He looked around his room noting that both set of windows were closed and that he was pretty sure he turned the heater on before bed rather than the thermostat.

Another breeze swept through the room and Shawn shivered. This time it was strong enough to blow out the candle light leaving Shawn in complete darkness except for a hint of moonlight seeping in through the window right across from the foot of his bed. Shawn lived alone and had been for some time now. His ranch was rarely quiet due to all the various animals that lived outside in the woods behind his home as well as his own animals. His ranch was also pretty far away from other civilization completely isolating himself to avoid stalkers. However, this strange, unexplained wind had him perplexed and thus the most terrified he's ever been since the day he almost lost his soul.

Shawn heard a loud click, which was the sound of his door opening. There was somebody in his house and though the fear almost kept him rooted in place, he somehow managed to scramble off the bed, stumbling across the room to the closet where he kept one of many shotguns and cross bows. He grabbed the first thing he could get his hands on, which was a crossbow before shutting the closet. He leaned with his back against the closet door preventing anyone from creeping up behind him and just waited for the door to open. As soon as it opened he planned to shoot without question aiming for the shoulder and then the head if it really was criminal.

The handle on the door turned and then the door slowly creaked open. Shawn was terrified but he held the weapon steady waiting for a body to come into view. A strong wind whipped through his room forcing the door wide open, but no one was there. Out of confusion and terror, Shawn lost control of his body dropping the bow on the carpet. Trembling he bent over to pick it up but when he stood back up, he damn near died of heart attack. "You..."

He flatted himself against the door as best as he could in a vain attempt to distance himself, but of course it was no use. He was trapped between the door and cold, green eyes staring back at him. "Michaels."

Shawn winced, not liking the way his name was being said nor the way he was being referred to by his last name rather than his first. He stared back at the man who he once defied on a regular basis during his run in the WWE, looking rather confused about this very unexpected visit. Then again, he owed this man something that he never collected in the end- possibly out of pity- but he had hoped the Phenom would let him be. After all, he gave up the fight the second time around. He realized that he was in over his head and admitting defeat he walked away with his head held high retreating to a peaceful life of solitude while his adversary celebrated his triumphant victory in his absence. That was the deal that had been made and he had hoped that was the end of it.

"If only Hunner looked at me with such fear in his eyes." Taker tilted his head to the side studying Shawn. He was still flattened against the door, frozen in terror as he looked upon him. The sight was pleasing to the Undertaker. "He doesn't even look at me with that fiery defiance you once captured my attention with."

Another cool breeze whipped through the room hard causing the end of Taker's coat to flap loudly startling Shawn even more. The blonde man shivered, but never once did his eyes leave Taker's for fear of what he might do. For to look away from him would be disrespectful and Shawn was past the stage of playing games with this man, especially now that he knew the truth. Taker was no ordinary man and Shawn had no desire to go up against him anymore in any kind of way. That ship sank a long time ago along with his career, but unlike some people, Shawn had no regrets. It was a fitting end to a historic career and aside from losing to Taker, he couldn't have been happier.

Shawn dropped his head momentarily, his eyes rounding on the bow. He would never- could never- hurt the man standing before him, but that thought did not change the fact that Taker broke into his house and that he, HBK, was scared to death. He kept opening his mouth to speak up, but it was like he lost his voice. The fear he had of this man seemed to have grown despite being a time almost a year ago where he feared nothing. How quickly things can change after one match...after one night...

The Undertaker snapped his fingers and the candle light that was once out sprung back to life, the dancing ember shining light on a face he had not looked upon in a little over a year. Time had been very kind to HBK, something the man who's heart was filled with darkness could actually appreciate. He reached up taking Shawn's chin between his thumb and index finger, turning his head so that he could see the beating pulse of Shawn's neck as it pumped furiously indicating the man's terror. He turned his head back around forcing their eyes to meet once more. "Do you know what I want Shawn?"

No. Shawn did not know what Taker wanted, but he had a hunch that maybe the man had come to collect a two year old debt owed to him. However, Shawn couldn't understand why Taker would change his mind. Shawn dropped his eyes, lashes falling heavily over frightened eyes. "My soul," he whispered.

The Undertaker was silent for a long time leaving Shawn to sweat it out. Taker loved seeing the fear in a mortal's eyes and he fed off of its delicious aura. He finally let go of Shawn's chin moving away from him. He paced the room for a few seemingly ignoring Shawn who dared not move- at least not yet. Five minutes then ten minutes passed before the heavy boots of the Undertaker stilled and his eyes locked with Shawn's once more. "I already own a piece of your soul Shawn and it's the most precious of them all."

Then why are you here dammit? Shawn dared not say this aloud as well. Instead he held his tongue deciding that he was probably on a "need-to-know" basis with Taker. That much he did not mind so long as it meant he would not be getting these frequent visits from one of his mortal enemies.

"Two weeks ago while you were out playing with your new hunting friends, I challenged Hunter to a rematch at Wrestlemania, but he disrespected me by simply walking off without giving me an answer. I gave him the benefit of the doubt for he was in the middle of doing his job and I rudely interrupted." The Undertaker took off his hat brushing it off as he continued to speak, his voice echoing about the room. "I let the incident slide and the very next week the same question was posed to him and the response I received was unacceptable. Hunter refuses to face me at Wrestlemania and there isn't a soul left in that company worthy of putting me to rest except him and he knows it. If I cannot get what I want nicely, I will resort to other methods Shawn until he agrees to take his rightful place as my opponent in a few weeks."

Shawn wasn't sure if he should speak up or not. However, what Hunter did at work had absolutely nothing to do with him. Sure they were best friends, but whenever they were together business never entered the conversation. That's why Shawn did not understand why he was being roped into the discussion. Last year he couldn't help but attempt to talk Hunter out of it and it sounded like Hunter got enough of Taker last year to last him a lifetime. That should have been good news except that when Taker was unhappy, it did not usually bode well for those he were unhappy with. "I'm sorry to hear that Taker, but I fail to see how this has anything to do with me. I have not spoken to Hunter in weeks and if he won't face you then I assure you it's not because I talked him out of it."

Amidst Shawn's explanation, the Undertaker began to chuckle. "Oh but you see Shawn, this has everything to do with you." Taker put his hat back on and motioned for Shawn to come closer. "Come. Sit. I mean you no harm for the time being."

Shawn did not like the sound of that at all. He cut his eyes towards the crossbow seated comfortably at his feet, but he was too nerved up to even think about using it so he cautiously crossed the room, arms folded over his bare chest and took a seat at the end of the bed, not liking how Taker was standing ominously over him. Shawn stared at his feet and in the back of his mind he was already making plans to choke Hunter.

"You are his best friend Shawn. The two of you are so close that you could have been soulmates if it were not for your massive egos. Your souls often dance as if they are but one. It almost saddens me to know that such a fitting union will go to waste." Taker looked down at Shawn, reaching out to cup the side of his face. "Look at me."

Shawn raised his head wishing Taker would stop toying with his fear, but he knew all too well that Taker was a master at head games. Shawn used to be well enough to hang with him and combat him with little head games of his own, but he was beyond that now. That part of him was lost after his final defeat two years ago. "What do you want from me?" he asked quietly.

Taker's lips curled into a small smile though it wasn't exactly pleasant. "You are a smart man despite the blonde strands that make up your fine hair." The gloved hand moved to twirl a strand of Shawn's hair, moving pieces of his silky locks behind his ear. "Do your best Shawn. I'd hate to resort to other means." Taker extended a hand pulling Shawn to his feet, looking down upon the now humbled individual. "You should sleep now." Taker wiped a hand over Shawn's face, the blonde's eyes closing and his body growing limp falling into Taker. The Lord of Darkness lifted him into his arms bridal style and laid him on the bed. With one last stoic glance at the blonde, the Lord of Darkness disappeared amidst the darkness. He would get what he wanted and Shawn was most certainly the key to it all.