Don't be Yourself!! (On Hold, Sorry!)

Fourth Chapter

After looking over my shoulder for what seems like the billionth time, I step through the worn down warehouse door. I swear that somebody must have followed me but I couldn't change now, I was already being welcome.

The crowd split in two and the murmuring with awed expressions started. I was a legend when it came to these things. All because of my father I can't find and the reputation I earned by following in his footsteps. I was told that Daddy was one of the greatest fighters around and I have even once seen a video of him fighting. He's my hero.

"Where do I fight?" A collect gasp answered my question but then a man steps out of the crowd. He looks in his early or mid-twenties. His face is a type of beautiful flawless while his whole body is ageless. I couldn't tell the color of his hair since it was in a black beanie that matched his black shorts. He didn't have a shirt on and you could see the sweat, I'm guessing from a previous fight, run down each ripple of his muscles.

"Right here is where you place your bet, admission money and get your match time." His voice was deep and he led me over to the booth and waited as I bet on myself, bought my place in and got the time for me to fight in an hour. I look up to see his bright sky blue eyes watching my every move. "My name is Drake. I've heard a lot about your father. We never expected to see you here, to see such a legend like you fight. What are you going by nowadays?" He held out his hand and politely shook it softly.

Quite frankly, I was a little disappointed. I was hoping that nobody would know my father her and I could just fight as myself, not my father's child. "I go by Paige Moore. It's nice to speak to you, Drake, but I have to get warmed up."

"Of course, just follow the signs and you will see a vacant room." I couldn't get away from him fast enough as I became apart of the big throng of people. There was something off about that man but I had to be nice since he was the boss of the corporation in this part of town. This place was the best place for me to get money while I wait for my acting check.

I found a room and happily inhaled the smell of sweat, violence and determination. I stripped off my clothes I wore that day as Paige Moore and slipped into a sports bra and loose fighting shorts. Cracking out my stiff muscules, I got to work.

~~

"The only rule, don't kill each other. Fight!" The ref walked to the corner of the fighting box and the bulky man I'm against started to move. I'm pretty calm, but by the way his movements are a little too fast and he can't seem to stay off his toes as he scirts toward me, he isn't.

Finally, he is close enough to me for him to take a swing. He does exactly that and I duck out of his line of fire. It keeps going like that for 3 hits then finally, I fist my hand and am able to get him in the abdomen. I hear his breath leave him and the crowd cheers. I turn to his back and he follows me. I get in more hits to his stomach and back but he also gets some into my ribs and one to my jaw that takes a lot of effort to just shake off.

I punch him in the cheek and that makes him stagger back. His bottom lip starts to bleed and I think a bruise might be forming to prove I was there. I'm about to take the punch that knocks him down but then I hear a familiar voice from the crowd. "PAIGE?" I look over only to see a confused Trystan. The bulky man takes this moment to punch me square in the stomach.

I loose my breath and I taste copper in my mouth. Spitting on the ground, I quickly look up and use the rest of my strength to knock him out. He hits the ground with a loud thud and the crowd goes wild. I sink to my knees and spit more blood.

That.. that bumbling idiot! After the ref raises my hands, he hands me the money I earned in a bag  then I walk off the stage. I can see Trystan trying to move the crowd to get to me but I just keep walking to the room with my clothes. I'm in the midst of getting dressed when Trystan walks in.

I'm still in my fighting sports bra but I changed to my jeans. "I don't want to seem like I'm a creep for following you here. Also, I'm going to keep my cool this whole time." His voice monotone as he steps into the room and closes the door behind him. He takes a deep breath. "I don't mean to pry either but, WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE? YOU COULD GET HURT HERE! HELL, YOU DID GET HURT! LOOK AT YOU! YOU HAVE BRUISES EVERYWHERE!" He was pacing back and forth in front of me with his hands running roughly through his dirty blonde hair. He stands with a stance that lets me know that he is done and expects me to answer him.

"You have no right to be here. Just go home." My voice is soft yet firm so he knows I'm not joking. I slip on a t-shirt then let my hair fall down my back.

"How can I just go home?! Look at you!" He strides over to me and lifts my shirt so the bruises I didn't know I had can show. "Does it hurt?" Gingerly, he presses down on one that is by my ribs and I can't help the gasp that escapes my lips. "See, you're in pain. Let's get a doctor to look at you."

I laugh which hurts but I won't show it. "And spend the money I just earned? I have no insurance and I need to pay rent and things. I have been fighting since I was eight, it's what I do. I've been in worse shape." I shrug and grab my money to tuck it in my waist band so nobody can mug me. We are in a bad part of town. "I have to make one more show, and don't worry it's not fighting, then I'll walk you home. I don't want you getting beat up, it's a bad part of town."

I walk past him, into the crowd, and I walk back into the box that was just cleaned of mine and the opponent's blood. "I just came up here to say, that I'm glad I was welcome here, I'm guessing just like my father was. Or he fought his way in here." There was a soft chuckle around the crowd. "My father was the man and I plan to follow in his footsteps until I die. Which could just very well be in an arena. I'm living in this area so I will be by frequently, hoping to kick all your butts. Well, I have a house to get to." I go through the ropes and jump down beside Trystan but I don't look him in the eyes.

He puts his hand on the small of my back to guide me out of there. I don't admit it but I welcome his gesture because I feel like I could fall any moment. When we are out of there, I'm hit by a gust of cool wind and I find myself leaning into Trystan, too tired to support all my weight. "Would you like me to carry you, Paige?" I shake my head, not yet anyways. "I know you may not want to talk about it but, I'm curious."

I know what he's talking about and since I wouldn't like to fight, I just say the simplest sentence I can think of. "My real father fought people like that, I'm following his footsteps." I close my eyes to try and push down the wave of nausea I get, but I just can't so I quickly run off to a bush. I feel him behind me, holding my hair. In between my lunch coming up I say, "This is normal, so don't worry." Once I'm done, and I'm just standing there coughing, Trystan carries me so where I have to wrap my arms around his neck while he rubs my back.

I can feel his body moving up and down so I know he is walking. His steady movement and the hum I hear from his deep voice soothes me gently to sleep.