PASSION AND PUNISHMENT

Chapter 3

NATALYA

We round each other up when flame suddenly lunges forward as i shuffle back and miss his punches.We both are looking for a way to just finish it off quickly. He again starts punching as i raise my forearms to shield my face and chest. Just as i was thinking to start attacking him, he roars and grips the back of my neck tightly and starts kneeing me in my stomach . I almost throw up but when nothing comes out, he hits again, and again. I stagger backwards and he takes the opportunity and punches my nose. FUCKKK .It hurts a bitch. I spit out blood. I can no longer breathe through my nose. Its fucking clogged with blood. My head starts ringing and i lose control of my body as he goes backward and bouncing on the the ropes of the ring charges towards me at full force. I want to stop him but my body refuses to listen .Its too late when he gives one last punch to my ribs and i cough out blood. I fall back with a thud. My vision starts going black . This is it. This is how i die. If not even this will kill me, seling by body definitely will. I dont think ill be able to bear that. Sorry mom.... I couldn't make it...
Im sorry...i tried..
Just as i wa about to pass out, i hear shouts...
"STAND UP!! This is not over yet !! I said STAND UP!! "
Is it that man? He still thinks i can win? I blink my eyes as i hear him shouting at me to stand up.
" Is that what you want? Do you want to give up just yet? You dont know your potential Natalya.. you can do this. I know it! STAND THE FUCK UP AND KNOCK HIM OUT!!"
That seems to get my attention. I breathe through my mouth and get up to my knees. Fuck.. i definitely have some broken ribs. When i see the referee about to ring the bell, i stand up and run towards flame, whose back is towards me. Hes busy celebrating and waving at the crowd. Its not over yet ,asshole. Its not over until its over.
I jump on him and wrap my legs around him and my arms around his neck. Getting him in a firm chokehold, i increase the pressure as he starts thrashing around. He elbows my side and im about to lose my grip when that man shouts again, " Do not loosen your grip Natalya !!!" I increase pressure again and he starts wheezing. He starts elbowing my sides desperately as pain shoots through my ribs. Fucker knows where to hit.
I get confused when he goes to the middle and stops, I dont know what hes planning to do. Just then the man shouts again, " Get away from him, NOW!!", I do as he says and get off him just as flame throws himself on his back .
" GET HIM!!" I scramble and chokehold him again as he fails to stand up. Shitt.. He would have crushed my ribs then and there if i didnt get off his back. Flame starts wheezing again as i cut off the last of oxygen supply he needed and he sags on the floor. My eyes widen as he goes still in my arms. I dont loosen my hold for a solid five seconds just to be sure and the bell rings. I loosen my hold and his body falls down. I move back and keep staring at his body which doesnt move a bit. OH GODDD!! I DID IT!! I FKIN DID IT!!!
Deafening cheers erupt around me and the host screams into the mic ," AND HERE WE HAVE OUR WINNER !!! "
I look back at the man and he mouths a " good job" at me . I try to stand but pain shoots in my chest and i fall backwards . I guess its not a problem if i fall asleep now. Or is it ? Doesnt matter.... My eyes fall close as darkness envelopes me.

ARTYOM IVANOV

The ring is cleared as both the players are shifted to the waiting room. I am just about to go there when im interrupted by someone.
"Mr. Ivanov ! I hope you enjoyed todays match? It was specially arranged for you", i take a look at Igor's smirking face and i would want nothing to wipe it off his face by punching all his teeth out.
I dont beat around the bush and ask him with a deadly stare, " How much ? "
"What ?"
" I asked how much ?"
" I didnt understand , Mr. Ivanov...?"
" How much does she fucking owe you Igor? " i ask through gritted teeth . Im losing my patience. I almost lost my shit when i asked him why a 14 year old girl was fighting against an experienced ring player and he told me that she chose to fight instead of going into sex slavery to pay off the debt she didnt even take . But i couldn't interfere, its the way things work here.After all.. there was a time i was feeding my family by fighting in this same fucking ring.
" 2 million, sir. Her father owes us 2 million." He says with a tilt of his head confused why i asked such a question. I take out my phone and call the first contact on my phone. Its rings twice and a voice from other side speaks
" Brat? "
" Ill be sending you an account number. I want you to wire 2 million to that account right now. " i say with a clipped voice.
" 2 million? Now? "
" Yes Alexei . Now."
" Okay .. send me the account number ,ill wire it right now. " and i end the call.
:" Give me your account number. You'll get you 2 millions in a couple of minutes. Where's her dad?"'
"Wh- what??" he asks confused. Jesus.
" I said you'll get your money ,Igor. And you'll forget you had the girl understand?" no answer.
" DO. YOU. UNDERSTAND ?" i say in a low dangerous voice. maybe i should make him understand.
" Ye- Yes Mr. Ivanov." Good
" Now tell me did you find her father?"
" No sir, he's dead. We found his body today. I got the news between the match. A drug overdose." Shit.
"What about her family?"
" No family. It was just her and her father." Double shit.
Theres no use hiding that I do care for her. Her sheer determination and courage reminded me of my wife.
My Wife.
The word only causes a low pain as it settles in my heart. Its been over 10 years and I still cant forget Ilya. My love for her and my loneliness only kept increasing over the years. It had always been her. No one can take her place in my life. She had been pregnant when i lost her. She really wanted a daughter as we already had a son. I suddenly think of Natalya as i imagine how my daughter would've been. She had the same blue eyes as Ilya. Jesus..I must be going mad.
I leave Igor behind and stroll towards the waiting room. I see Natalya and the other boy from the ring on two separate beds with meagre medical bandages on them. The ring doesnt care what happens to the fighters. They only care about the money they bring in.
I call for one of my men and order him to shift Natalya to my car as I take her to the nearest hospital.