Before the Storm [writing]

fourteen| viper's den

A/N: im having trouble adding pictures like i do every chapter soooo imma go back to the old ways :)

- Andrea Pierce -

It must've been around midnight when I was finally able to sneak out of the house, going out the window all the way down to catch my ride.

Todays event played over and over again in my brain, causing a smirk to be plastered on my face until I got in the car.

"You're late." Landon said as I rolled my eyes and buckled my seat belt.

The bigger man started the car, making sure no one was following us before driving away from my house. I played with the strap of my gym bag, counting the number of sown in stripes that were on the strap.

10.

That's the number of fights I won.

Landon and I met through our dads. They both work together and the De Luca's were often at our house for dinner or just play dates. When I was fifteen, Landon's parents died in a car crash. He and his brother had to move to Crampton with their aunt, he was only seventeen. We came down to visit them a few weeks later, that's when Landon introduced me to the fight scene.

We were both angry kids, him because of the death of his parents and me because of my mother leaving. We both took those tragedies harder than our siblings. It's why I found comfort in the scary man.

He coached me, helped me train, made bets on me, set up my fights and much more. Landon became a very important person in my life, until he made the wrong deal.

He signed my life away to some mobster, Alejandro Cortese, just to get more money. That means I fight whenever and whoever the big boss says, or I'm dead.

"Suck a dick, Landon." I answered back to him as he ran a red light with not a single care in the world.

"Everything's in here, learn it and use it."

He said before placing a folder on my lap. It took a lot for me not to open the window and throw everything out. This folder meant I was fighting a man.

Since they're bigger than me, Landon compiles a list of all their weaker points so I have a slight advantage. It's not cheating, it's being smart and not wanting to die on the ring.

Pugnamus usque ad mortem.

We fight to the death.

It's not always applied, especially since the boss wants to keep the money rolling and can't do that if all of his best fighters are killing each other.

But Friday's are death days.

"Am I really fighting Max?" I questioned with a frown, trying to ignore the twist in my stomach as I stared at the picture of the redhead.

"Is there a problem? You've fought him before."

"He fights dirty, Lando. He pulled a knife on Wolf last time." I told him, causing him to grip the steering wheel tighter. My shoulders deflated, leaning back on the seat and sighing.

"I wish I made the rules, Andy... I really do." He mumbled as we reached Viper Den.

The sketchy building did nothing to appease my nerves as I tied my hair in a high ponytail and cracked my neck. I needed to get in the head space of Scarlett.

My alter ego.

My fighting persona.

Scarlett doesn't hold back when she's in the ring. She's smart, assertive, vigilante and snobby. She knows she's better than everyone else, and she'll prove it too.

I needed her arrogance and courage before even stepping inside of the den. One ounce of fear would jeopardize everything I've worked hard to achieve and would make it seem like I was scared.

Which I am but they don't need to know that.

"Are you ready, Scar?"

"More than ever." I answered before we both got out of the car, my gym back swung over my shoulder as Landon's shades were on his face. Gold brass knuckles lightly glinted when the street lamp hit them, making me feel a bit safer even though I could hold my own.

I never liked being one of the only woman to fight for Alejandro. There used to be six of us; Juno, Hydra, Killa, Nova, Lilith and I.

Juno and Killa died on the ring a couple of weeks ago, during death day. They were brutally punched over and over again, until their blood covered the pavement. They were good people, a bit crazy and paranoid but still good people.

Hydra retired after getting her skull smashed against the pavement and falling into a coma. It wasn't fair but again, who is when you fight for the death?

Nova and I still fight tho.

And Lilith... well I don't know what happened to her. She was before my time, though I heard her boyfriend paid her debt for her. I'm not sure. Landon never goes in detail about what happened to her but I guess it's for the best.

"Remember, keep your guard up and don't mistake his stance for fatigue. He'll use it against you. Be vigilant." Landon shouted as I entered the locker room, needing to get ready for the big fight.

"If it isn't my prodigy." Alejandro said, huffing a grey cloud from his cigar as I clenched my jaw.

"Boss."

"You ready for the big fight, Scarlett? I know you won't disappoint." He stated with a grin and it took a lot of restraint not to jump at his throat.

I hate him.

"I won't, boss."

"Good girl. Get ready, you have five minutes."

Was all he said before leaving the locker room, his band of baboons following closely behind as I tried not to glare at Andrew who had a dirty smirk on his face. The older man always trying to get handsy with me, even after I broke his hand. Twice.

I took off my shirt, leaving me in a sports bra and my shorts. I had a white wolf stitched on them, the symbol of Landon's gym where I trained.

I looked at myself in the mirror, warming up my muscles and tapping my ankles like I always did before a big fight. It stems from an old injury that had me in a cast for four months.

You can do this, Andy.

Nothing you haven't done before.

I cheered myself before hearing my name being shouted over the intercom and loud cheers and screams coming from the crowd.

It's now or never.