The Beautiful Dark

Chapter 2 - Knockout

AN: I spent many hours laughing over the idea of this chapter, then spent several more writing it. So please, feel free to take this chapter light-heartedly and laugh (you'll definitely know when)! Without further ado, meet Xibyl Winters! Your heroine for the remaineder of this novel.

Saturday, December 13, 9:18 pm

All around her, the gathering spectators raved and roared, battling to be heard over the distorted voices. Combined with Kate's frantic shouting in her ear for the past half hour Xibyl Winters realized she could barely hear anything above the ringing sensation that had built up there. That alone scared her almost as much as what they were witnessing below-what they paid to witness.

Her heart beat like an enraged maniac, pounding against the cage of her ribs just as the two fighters in the shoddy cage below beat on each other. And no one stopped them. In fact, the mass of no less than three hundred onlookers cheered them on as they lunged towards each other. It was primal, heady, and violent. Like she'd been transported back in time to witness the Romans' and their Colosseum that had sported the gladiators and their vicious fights. She was certain she hadn't, that she was still in Richmond and safe as a babe. Well, the safe part may or may not have been an exaggeration.

She watched-helpless to do much else-as the two men battling it out bounced on their feet before engaging in sharp blows, counters, and pins that sent them tumbling around on the mat in the cage. Loud cheers erupted throughout the mock balcony with each hit or successful pin. The two men were equals, in height, weight, and it appeared abilities as well. It was anyone's guess who would come out the victor, if anyone came out at all...

All around Xibyl people shouted out curses and praise, she realized they were all just as blood thirsty as the fighters below. The thought was so mortifying that she almost shrieked as a man stumbled against one of his mates and spilt his beverage all over her white top. Before she could respond Kate was there, grabbing the lanky giant by his arm and sending him tumbling into the uncoordinated fray with a curse.

"Watch yourself, bozo!" Somehow her voice punctures the haze-and the ringing-restoring Xibyl from the haze she was lost to. As angry as she was, Kate's words were instantly lost on the offender as he turned to his mates and they badgered him for 'getting his ass whooped by a girl'.

God, she realized. She's just as frenzied as the rest of them!

Shaking her head in astonishment at her best friend, the one who'd brought her to the animalistic cesspit, she turned back to the fighting below. The worst part? It wasn't the constant jostling or even her damaged ear drums that filled her with a heavy dose of 'what the hell am I doing here's. It was the simple, terrifying, fact that she could hear them. The awful sound of thinly concealed knuckles cracking against muscled flesh filled her with a primal kind of fear. The hairs on the back of her neck pricked and she realized with uttermost certainty that any minute now one of them could fall and never get up again. Their lives were held at the mercy of their opponent's skills and whims.

"Xibyl," Kate's voice punctured the sudden wave of fear. Turning away from the fight below, Xibyl realized the busty blonde actually did look concerned for her now.

Well, sodding late for that, Miss! She wanted to shout.

"You look fit to heave; you're so not cut out for this!" she shouted to be heard over the crowd.

Xibyl scowled and gave her the best 'are you fucking kidding me' look she could manage. "Why did you bring me here?" her voice choked, she choked. The fear shooting through her was disguised by sickening sweet bursts of adrenaline now. Somehow, her mind had convinced her body it was her life hanging in the balance now, not the two fighters battling it out below.