Life in the Ring. (Editing)

Life in the Ring.

                                                                                   Chapter 1

His stance is not wide enough and his weight is not distributed evenly. He is off balance. I could take him down with a quick leg sweep. His eyes keep darting around to people surrounding us, scanning their faces. He is poorly focused. I can take him out with an upper-cut when he looks into the crowd. His wrists are weak. I can tell by his punches that he is a newbie. Not that he has landed a punch on me. He is slow. I can dodge and retaliate easily. His muscles are tense, he didn't stretch properly. This kid has a lot to learn. 

I focus in on his muscle movements. He extends his arm to land a hit to my jaw. I see it coming. Swiftly, I grab his fist. Pulling him forward, and thrust my knee into his abdomen. He is doubled over, trying to regain his composure. This match was over from the moment it began. In one swift motion, I follow up with an upper-cut. He is now laying on the hard ground, unconscious.

I won. I still feel nothing, my face is relaxed and blank. I knew I would win. Black Mamba always wins. I hear yelling around me, the yelling of my fans. I listen closely to the announcer. "Black Mamba remains undefeated!!" he yells into the microphone. Great. I slide through the ropes to get out of the ring. I walk through cheering fans. Elbowing people that crowd around me. What can I say? I love my personal space. 

 I walk up to Killer, the man in charge of this whole operation, to get my winnings for the night. "Yo Killer. Were is my money?" I yelled to him, pushing through crowds of people. "Got it right here, Tori. Damnit, I mean Black Mamba." he replied. I grab his colar and pull him to my height. "I know I've known you for years, but you can't call me by my name here." I have known Killer since I started fighting. His real name is Dave, but we don't go by real names for safety resons. I started fighting nearly 5 years ago, seeing as how I am turning 17 in a couple weeks. "5 matches at 400 a pop. 2,000 tonight for my top fighter." He ruffled my hair, then handed me the money. I flipped through it, all in 100's. Going to have to stop at the bank on my way home.

"Killer I need to tell you something." I mumbled. "And what's that?" He questions. "Tonight was my last night at the Undergrounds, at least in your ring anyway. I have to skip town. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you." His face fell, and he pulled me in for an embrace. "Aww kiddo, I'm gonna miss ya. You are my best fighter. So, where ya goin' kid?" "Detroit. Don't worry I will come back and visit."I tell him, hoping that I wont break this promise.

"So... ya know how certain rings are linked?" "Yea, kid. What you getting at?" "Well I was wondering if we were linked to a ring in Detroit? So I can keep fighting. I gotta take care Kaleb, and I don't think a 9 to 5 desk job is gonna cut it." "Okay I will make some calls, then I will text you the info. But the Diamonds are going to miss the hell out of you." "Yea I know. I have to go tell Panther that he is being brought up to the big leagues. Now that I'm gone, he is your best fighter. Don't let that little shit get cocky. You know how he has been wanting my spot for years." 

"Okay, darlin'. I'm sure he is going to flip shit. Bye, I love you. You will always find home here." "I know, but I have to think of Kaleb. Bye Killer." I said as I brought him in for one last hug. I felt him kiss the top of my head. He has been a father to me since I met him. Jeez, I'm going to miss it here. I love fighting for them. Well, loved.

I walked over to the third ring, where Panther was having his final match of the night. He was against some dude named Rapture. Rapture was getting his ass handed to him. Panther gave him one final spin-kick to the side of the head and Rapture was down for the count. Panther hopped out of the ring and met eyes with me. I pointed at him the curled my finger. He started towards me.

"I gotta tell you some good news... you are being bumped up to top fighter." His eyes widened. He picked me up by the waist, as if I weighed nothing, and hug/shook me. Then the epiphany came. He put me down gently. "Wait that means you aren't the top fighter anymore. What happened?" "I'm leaving tomorrow." His eyes widened bigger. "But, why?" "Its just something I have to do. But I already told Killer I would come back and visit. I have to go, Kaleb is waiting. You have my number still?" he nodded with a glint of sadness in his eyes. "Text me if you are ever in Detroit. I love you, man. See ya around." I hugged him tightly and he hugged back tightly, squishing my small figure. I let go and turned around to head out of the warehouse, and into the dimly lit parking lot.

I need to get home and shower. I smelled like beer and sweat. I put my money in my bag, and hopped on my jet black 2013 Kawasaki  ZX-10R sports bike. I pulled out of the lot, and took a sharp left. I was home within 15 minutes. 

"Tori!!" I herd as I walked through our apartment door. My 7 year old brother Kaleb ran at me, and gave me a big hug. I picked him up, and walked to the kitchen where Gretchen was seated on a stool drinking a cup of tea. "Thanks so much, Gretchen." "No problem, dear. I always love watching after little Kaleb. There is left over casserole in the fridge, darling." "Thank you so much!" I gave Gretchen $25 for watching Kaleb, and let her go back home. It was a good thing she lived right next door to me. She always watched him when I had to work. She doesn't know where I work though. But that is okay. 

"Kaleb, honey. Go play your D.S, I need to take a quick shower, then we can go to bed. We have a big day ahead of us tomorrow." I said as I grabbed a towel and walked for the bathroom. We lived in a decent apartment, nothing to fancy. It was easy to pay for since I made good money fighting each night, but most I put in the rainy-day fund.

I was exhausted and it was close to midnight. I stripped and stepped in the shower and let the warm water soothe my tense muscles. Fighting is a really good workout. I got out, dried off and tossed my jet black hair into a messy bun. When it was down, it fell to the small of my back. If you haven't already figured it out I am, indeed, a girl. My name is Victoria, but I go by Tori. I'm about 5'2. I know, I'm short. I have light tan skin that pairs well with my bright emerald green eyes. My face is a heart-shape with a light sprinkling of freckles across my nose. I am thin, but toned. I have good muscle that took along time to gain. I'm light but I can take down guys 3 times my size. My brother and I look a lot alike. He and I have the same hair, skin, eyes and face shape.

I am on my own taking care of my brother because our mom died when I was 12. My dad hit a down word spiral, and became an abusive drunk. I ran away with my brother when I was 15. I made sure he never hit my brother. I protected him and I will always protect him. I got all of it, the hits, the burns, cuts, bruises and broken bones. I have a lot of scars from that bastard. I wasn't about to let that happen to my little brother. My dad used to be a great guy, and a very wealthy business man. He was rich. Before I left, I had wired money into a separate account that only my mother and I had access to. That account is sitting at about 4 million. We are well off. I could afford to buy an beautiful house with a big back yard for Kaleb to play in. But I cant. Because if I did, my dad would find us. And i'd rather die than let that man anywhere near Kaleb.

I enrolled us both into schools in Detroit. Kaleb is in the 3rd grade. I am in my 11th year. Him and I will be starting school next Monday. That is 3 days away, so we have a little time to get settled into our new apartment. I sent most of our stuff there in a moving van. Tomorrow, my friend Kimmi is going to drive my bike to Detroit. I am going to be taking Kaleb and the rest of our stuff in my SSC Ultimate Areo sports car. I loved that car so much. Kaleb loved it to. Like most boys, he had an obsession with race cars and everything fast.

With teeth brushed, I walk out and see Kaleb all curled up on the couch. I pick him up bridal style and carry him into my room. I wanted him sleeping next to me on our last night here. After tucking him in, I crawl into bed. I snuggle deep in the covers and let sleep overtake me.