Street Fighter

Game, Set, Match!

The moon had risen up just past my window and although it was not quite full it lit up the streets which otherwise would have been darkened by the lack of street lights. I had been told that they had removed all lights shortly after the curfew was put in place.

Double checking my shoulder bag I was reassured that I had everything I would need. The Mackenzie's had left about one hour ago and I had a bus to catch.

My casual street clothes covered my fighting gear that I had donned underneath. Even just resurrecting it out of my cupboard got my excited and my blood pumping in anticipation. I passed Justin on the way down the stairs and he just gave me a knowing nod, to which I grinned. I was very excited to say the least.

The stop that I got off at was a couple of blocks from the actual gym. The night was clear and the air was crisp as I walked the distance to the building. Above me the stars and moon were strangely calming as they floated high in the sky.My heart rate slowed down and I inhaled the fresh air deeply.

Rounding the corner I could see the familiar wooden door and faintly I could hear the cheers coming from inside. Composing myself I looked around once more.

I was ready.

Ash met me in the hallway as I was heading to the changing rooms to prepare for my first fight of the evening. I could tell that she was in panic mode and I hurried to her.

"Whats wrong?" I enquired of my friend. "Nothing, just trying to find you" she replied, beginning to calm down. Turning back to my bag I took off my hoodie and jeans, only to replace them with my fitted fighting shorts, crop top and satin hooded robe like the ones boxers wear before a fight.

It was black with silver cursive writing on the back spelling out my ring name, Rogue and a howling wolf below it. My hair was slicked back up off of my face in a high ponytail and I had painted my face with black chalk, like a kind of war paint.

My steely gaze reflected back at me from the mirror, my palms were clammy but it was only from the build up of nerves. Grabbing my gloves and taking a final look around the room I headed down to the ring.

Coming out of the side door to the left of the ring I was greeted with the deafening cheers of the crowd. This is what I was born to do.

Striding up and into the ring Ash came over to me, grasping my arm and holding it up to the crowd. This resulted in an even louder cheer as I was introduced into the fight. Once the noise had decreased my opponent was introduced, it was a male with the cage name Downtown Assassin.

As he turned to face me I recognised him as my lab partner from the other day, Mr Luke Marshall. He looked smug and wore a slight smirk as if he had known who I really was all along. My immediate response was a need to wipe it off of his measly face, he was going down and I was going to enjoy every second of it.

Glancing past him and over to the side of the ring, outside of the cage I noticed two other hooded figures. A girl and a guy, all three of them appeared to look very similar and it was then that I clicked, they were the three new fighters. It seemed as though an air of mystery surrounded them, like they were trying to hide something.

I was getting distracted, forcing my mind off of the three fighters I turned back to my opponent. The referee stood proudly in the middle of the stage and started introducing us to the audience.

I could feel the excitement radiating off of the crowd of people surrounding the ring, and it only increased the anticipation I was feeling.  

After the introductions had been made Luke and I walked into the centre to shake hands, before retreating back into our corners to prepare. Ash was there standing out of the ring giving me a quick pep talk. "Watch his eyes, it is likely that someone as seemingly cocky as he is, will glance before he strikes. Preempt his next move but don't stay on the defensive."

I just grinned, I had a good feeling about this match. Especially as I was on my home soil and most of the crowd knew me and my reputation. Ash then passed me my gloves and mouth guard. Luckily with my fingerless fighting gloves I could firmly place my mouth guard into my mouth before quickly taking a swig of water.

I was raring and ready to go, I had been waiting for this moment far too long. The referee stood in the middle with Luke on one side and myself on the other. While I stood, mentally preparing myself for the fight he seemed too distracted with boosting his ego.

Revving up the crowd and trying to distract me and seemingly every other female in the spectators seats.

"When I say break, I want a clean break." The referee started laying down the rules in the preparation of the start of the fight. "In the event of a knockdown you will be directed to a neutral corner. You are both professionals, I except a good, clean fight. Protect yourself at all times."

Tapping my gloves together I signalled my impatience and the referee shot me a stern look before directing his attention back to the middle. "Okay, touch gloves. Good, back to your corners." We both followed the referees instructions perfectly and then returned to our corners.

"Judges ready?" our referee called. "Ready? Fight!!" I had already been anticipating the start call and as soon as I was officially released I had met Luke in the centre and begun circling around him.

The crowd was behind us, cheering and yelling their support even though the first hit had not yet been made. I kept my eyes on Luke the whole time, desperately hoping that Ash's wager would pay off. It did, his eyes flickered to the right momentarily just as his right fist shot out at me.

I wasn't fast enough to completely avoid it and his fist caught me on the side of my cheek throwing me backwards but luckily, not quite into the fence.

In amongst the cheers for Luke I heard quite a few boo's, but whether they were directed at me or Luke I couldn't be certain.

Walking back into the centre I maintained a poker face as I searched for an opening in my opponents defence. Then it came, his eyes flickered down as he raised his knee for a front kick where he knew my defence was weak. Stepping sideways and backwards slightly I deflected it with my arm. Then, twisting myself around so that I was standing next to him I used my leverage on his leg to spin him away from me, managing to land a blow to his side, potentially winding him.

The anger in his eyes was evident as he turned back to face me. It seems he was not so used to losing at his own game, especially to a girl.