3:00 A.M

~10~

"What happened, Ash?" Jacob asked me in a stern voice. I totally saw this coming. I tried to look confused and furrowed my brows. "I have no idea what you're talking about, buddy." He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Ash.." he started with a warning tone. I sighed and looked out of the window mumbling a nothing while frowning. I can sense him clenching his jaws. I know he s my best friend and best friends share everything and i have no problem telling him what happened but honestly, i wasn't in a mood to talk about it. I do owe him an explanation tho. Deciding that I'll tell him later i looked at him. I found him looking at me too and I felt uncomfortable under his gaze. I shifted in my seat and chewed the inside of my lower lip. "Jake, I'll tell you what happened later. I'm not in a mood to talk about it right now. I need to get my frustration out so will you please.." I said tilting my head to the side motioning him to get going. Being the understanding person he is, he nodded his head and smiled at me starting the engine.

The rest of the ride was uneventful and soon we arrived to our destination. I looked out the window to see an old abandoned warehouse. It had grey and black burned walls with a wrecked entrance gate. I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins as I walked to the gate with Jacob behind me. A sense of calmness washed over me from what I knew I'm at the right place. As I entered the gate, screams and hoots were heard from the basement and I smiled to myself. I dashed towards the changing room. I quickly changed into my gear and put black mask on my face shielding my identity from this world.The mask only revealed my eyes and to hide them too I wore grey contacts. I put on my running shoes and made my way to the basement.

Also known as the Arena. The Wrestling Arena.

It is an illegal fighting tournament which is connected to the underworld. The police and the clean world isn't aware of it and if someone does know, they never tell on this because then the fighters won't sit quite and everyone knows this. Fighters come here to take out their frustration or simply just for fun. Yes because watching someone bleed is fun. People come here to place bets and earn money and to watch people fight, till they black out, for entertainment. I scoffed at that thought. Me? I come here to let my frustration out and to manage my short temper. I don't fight for fun or for fame neither do I fight for money or entertainment so when I fight I actually show mercy to my opponents but when they play harsh then, baby ,the Romano Knight doesn't hold back and that's when the hell breaks loose.

 "Name?" the lady behind the table asked me as I walked to the participants room. 

I smirked at her knowing she isn't able to see me, my eyes twinkled with excitement and wickedness. "Romano Knight." I said simply in a deep voice. Don't judge me. Deepness in my voice come automatically in here. Her eyes widen at the sound of my name and she backs up a little. "Oh god, I'm sorry. I didn't recognize you in this dark." she rushed her words and I detected fear behind them. "Go on in please. You're in in five minutes." I nodded my head and walked in. Everyone turned their heads to see me as I walked in and to the other door from which I'll go enter the arena. As I made my way, they cleared the path for me. Smugly I held my head high with a confident aura around me. I reached the door when I heard a voice. "Well well well,If it isn't the most feared knight." I smirked turning my head to see my friend Joseph Brown known as Beast Josy around here. We fist bumped and stood there in silence as i waited for the five minutes to end. 

"And our next fight will be of Rosy cheeks agaiaanst your favourite, yes you guessed right! ROMANO KNIGHT!!" I heard my name being called out and the crowd went wild. Everyone cheered my name but i heard some boos too. I chuckled at that. 

Joseph patted my back as my opponent, 'Rosy cheeks' entered the arena very confidently roaring and flexing his muscles as he made his way to the ring, in the center of the crowd. I snickered at the name Rosy cheeks. I mean are you for real? Which sane male fighter calls himself Rosy cheeks and be proud of it? I rolled my eyes and got prepared by jumping a little and taking deep breaths. "Good luck, buddy. Kick that bastards ass." Joseph winked at me and smiled. I smiled back and turned to enter the arena. When I stepped forward, people cheered very loudly and patted my back. Taking confident strides I went over to the ring. 

We shook hands as it was a rule before the fight starts. I nodded at him  checking if he was a good one or a grasshole. He sneered at me and motioned to slice my neck. Okay so a grasshole it is. My eyes hardened and I stood in a confident stance. Our eyes locked and I bet my eyes glowed fire because I saw him visibly tense up. You good for nothing brat. My mother's words ringed in my ears and I felt such rage that I got certain who the winner will be. The sound of a loud whistle was heard and whatever happened after that was a blur.

Punches and kicks were thrown. My right shoulder and left arm were hurting badly but I ignored the pain. I felt my hands being balled in a fist and were hitting something hard. I felt cold fluid on my knuckles and fingers and on my lips too. I felt something hard, probably a fist, collide with my right cheek and my head was whipped to the left. Very soon I was beneath a very heavy weight. Rosy Cheeks might sound girly but he was damn heavy even for a man. I grunted and tried to push him without any luck. "You brat!" he spitted out. Hearing those words a fire ignited within me and with a force I didn't know I had, I pushed him off of me and he went flying to the other side of the ring. I stood up wiping the blood from my mouth. "Don't you dare bark anything about me." saying that i ran to him and punched him on the face. I heard a crack and I knew I broke his nose or maybe his teeth. I punched him repeatedly. First he was fighting back but now I can see he can't stand it any longer. He was in his weakest state and I knew I'll end it well today. As I held my left fist in my right hand and got ready to elbow him, the crowd went in a frenzy but I heard a voice from somewhere in the crowd that stopped me. "You're not a monster." A voice yelled. I halted in my action. It was as if that voice brought me back to consciousness. I blinked a few times and shook my head. The crowd was still cheering for me to end it with the hit but now I couldn't. I took a deep breath and locked eyes with Rosy Cheeks. I felt an uneasy knot in my stomach probably caused by the sight in front of me but I knew I have to do it for the sake of my reputation here. I did the most reasonable thing I could think of. I acted like I was actually hitting him with full force but just when my elbow was a few centimeters above his face I restrained it to hit the face and just lightly touched his upper lip and pressed it lightly. Our eyes remained connected this whole time. His eyes showed fear but soon was replaced with relief. He knew what he had to do and he grunted and closed his eyes faking unconsciousness. I then stood up breathing heavily and bowed to crowd scanning it to find the owner of the voice. My eyes met Jacob's and he gave me a thumbs up with a sad smile but I knew it wasn't his voice.   

Turning around, I walked to the room I came in from. Josy gave me a bear hug as I entered. "That was so beasty, Romano." he beamed but seeing my grim expression his smile slipped off his face. "I'll get the first aid kid. Meet me in your room." he told me giving me space that he knew was much needed. I nodded and walked out of the room to the first floor and tried to walk to my room. The pain from the punches and kicks was getting to me now but even though I wasn't happy for how I acted in the ring, I still felt better. I stumbled many times on my way but managed to ascend the stairs without falling. When I was only a few steps away from my room, my legs gave out and shutting my eyes I waited for my body to hit the floor.

But that never happened. Strong pair or arms wrapped themselves around me and steadied me. When I stood up, those arms picked me up in bridal style. My eyes still shut I felt someone staring at me. Slowly opening my eyelids, my eyes met a pair of green ones staring intently at me.

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Hola !! Another long chapter. I hope you like it. Please vote if you do and comment you opinions below. 

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-BlackRose

P.S pic of Joseph Brown on top^