Silence

9

I was the first one in science class again. Keeping my head down, I hurry to my seat in the back of the class room, making sure I didn't make any jerky moves. Slipping into my seat, I notice that Mr. Williams wasn't sitting behind his desk. He was always running late it seemed.

Just before the bell rang, he flew into the room. "Sorry I'm late. An old friend called me about something." His eyes met mine and he gave me a small smile. A spark in his eyes told me that he knew how I got my black eye and I winced. If he knew, then Wolfe might know the truth as well. He would know that I lied to him.

"Ms. Stone, could you stay after class, please?"

"Yes sir." Letting out a sigh, I try to focus on the lesson, but I couldn't. An hour passed with me just doodling in my notebook. When the bell rang, I waited until the rest of the students were gone before slowly standing up and walked to the front of the room. "Yes sir?"

"What did the men want last night?" He asked and my heart stopped. I knew I couldn't lie to him. I dropped my eyes, toying with the strap on my bag. "They wanted me to drop the fight tonight."

"How bad did they hurt you?" I just shrug, mindful of my ribs. "Not too bad, just a few bruises and a black eye... I'm not going to." I say quickly, not wanting him to think I was a quitter that got scared easy.

"What?"

"Drop out of the fight. You, Dave, and Wolfe have put too much time and effort into this thing. I won't let all of you down."

"They won't be happy if you fight." I just shrug and start towards the door. "Did they threaten you, to get you to drop or throw it?" His voice stopped me, but I didn't turn around. "Even if they did, and I'm not saying they did, I wouldn't let that stop me." Before he could say anything else, I left the room and made my way down the hallway towards the parking lot.

When I stepped outside the doors, I found Bobbie waiting for me. "Hey sis," he said with a weak smile. "Bobbie."

"I forgot to ask. What time does the fight start?"

"The fights start at five, but mine's at six." He nodded slowly and I glance around the parking lot, quickly spotting Wolfe's truck pulling towards me. "I'll be there."

"Good." I smile at him, but it didn't reach my eyes. "Bobbie?"

"Yeah?"

"No matter what happens tonight, I want you to know that I love you; you're forgiven." A startled look settled over his face. "What do you mean, 'no matter what happens'?"

"Nothing." I knew he was going to argue with me, so I just waved goodbye and hurried towards my ride. Opening the door, I quickly get in and slip my seatbelt on. "How was your day?" Wolfe asked as we pulled back on the road. "It was alright. Everyone kept staring though." I chuckled. "It's like they've never seen anyone with a black eye before."

He laughed softly and I found myself smiling. The whole way to the gym, I kept waiting for him to call me out on the lie I had told him this morning, but he didn't say a word. He told jokes and we laughed, but I could tell that something was bothering him. When he parked in the gym parking lot, I noticed that many of tonight's fighters were already here.

I jumped out of the truck and instantly regretted it when a shock of pain hit me. Taking in a deep breath, I grab my bag and hide the pain. I would take a pain pill now before practice and then again just before my fight. But I knew that I would have to be careful, to protect my ribs in case they are broken.

Wolfe held the door open for me and I gave him my best smile. "You're fighting Red tonight." He told me as I headed towards the office. Dave had always let me stash my things in there if I didn't feel like going into the locker room.

"I didn't know who I was up against. I've heard his pretty rough."

"He is." I just shrug. "I guess it'll be a fight worth watching then, huh?" Wolfe chuckled and followed me to the punching bags. Normally, I would have slipped into the ring, like I have done since my fist fight. He didn't say anything, but I felt his eyes on me.

I knew that I had to get my muscles warmed up and loose, but I also knew that it would be painful. I quickly take a pain pill, swallowing half of my water with it. Nodding at Wolfe, I walk up to a bag and swing. The first several punches stung badly, but afterward, I could block the pain out.

I warmed up until thirty minutes until the fights started. Slipping into the locker room, I slip into my fighting clothes, glancing at the huge black bruise that rested on my ribs. Keeping my ears glued to the door, I waited. I watched as each fight slowly passed, some won, some lost. Dave caught my eyes and slowly nodded. It was time.

I took two more pain pills before stepping out, Wolfe immediately by my side. He walked me to the ring and I could feel eyes on me. Looking around, I quickly spotted my brother sitting in the back. Standing as close to the ring as they had been allowed were the five men who had jumped me last night. When they saw me, the main one just smiled at me. I knew that he was trying to psych me out, but there was no way I would let him. So, I just flashed him my biggest smile and slipped into the ring.

Dave introduced us and the crowd screamed. It would seem that we were both favorites. He told us the rules that we probably had memorized deep in our minds. Red and I nodded at each other, Dave left the ring and it was on. As we circled each other, Red spoke softly. "I'll go easy on you if you make it quick."

"Make what quick?" I asked, feigning confusion. He blinked twice and I smiled at him. "I don't scare easy and I'm not a wimp." He swung at me and I blocked it, slamming my right fist into his face.

His head jerked back, his lip bleeding. His foot flew out and landed on my side. I hissed softly at the pain. I knew that I wouldn't be able to hold back if I wanted to win. I had to win. This fight wouldn't be drawn out and slow. I had to end it as fast as I could.

Red circled me again, landing to more punches. My fists connected with his face again, the sound of his nose breaking reaching me. Punch after punch we exchanged, tearing each other's flesh. I could feel everyone staring, watching.

"Take her Red!" The man yelled and Red paused for just a moment. That was his downfall. I surged forward, unleashing everything I had kept damned back. My fists found their marks, and I could see that he could tell the difference between my earlier ones.

My right hook left him stunned, giving me enough time to step back and deliver a roundhouse kick, knocking him out. Red slowly fell to the mat, unconscious. For several seconds, the gym was deathly quiet. Then suddenly, everyone surged to their feet, cheering. And then, everything just slowed down for me.

I saw Bobbie quickly leaving and I smiled. My eyes drifted to where Wolfe was standing and my heart dropped. Wolfe's back was to him, so he didn't see the gun being pulled out of the jacket of the man who had led the others. I didn't think as I lunged forward, clearing the rope. "No!" I screamed as I flew behind Wolfe, throwing my body between him and the weapon.

The sound of the gun firing filled the gym, and everyone panicked. Something slammed into my chest and my body hit the floor. I could hear Wolfe yelling for me, but it sounded muffled. My chest was burning and slowly pressed my hand and lifted it, staring. Bright red-coated my hand as I just stared at my blood. Hands were grabbing at me, someone yelling for me to hold on, but I blinked and darkness over took me.