Chapter 15: Knockout

“You can accomplish anything with a smile and a winning attitude.”

-Ordynion, Imwean God of Pleasure, 112 B.U.

Yin was thrown against the chain link fence, hard enough to deform the metal. She dropped to the sanded ground, wheezing at a sharp pain in her chest—maybe broken ribs—and she felt like her head was on loose.

The audience jeered, throwing unkind remarks in a multitude of languages. Yin would have been offended if she didn’t have bigger things to worry about.

The Bull crossed the ring in just a few steps. He brought up a giant foot to stomp the life out of her, accompanied by a rumbling bellow that was equal parts bloodlust and pain.

Yin forced herself to move. Pitching her weight to one side, she managed to roll over just as the Bull’s foot came down. She narrowly avoided the attack, rewarded by a shower of displaced sand. Yin got to her feet. She stumbled back against the fence, wheezing, one arm around her chest.

The Bull’s bloodshot eyes swiveled to track her. His lips peeled back. Saliva pushed through the gaps in his teeth and trickled over his lip. He reared back for a punch.

Yin couldn’t take another one of those.

She dropped forward, the heavy fist grazing her scalp as it went past. The air pressure of the blow was enough to make her double-take, a wall that slammed into her and sent her shivering.

But there was no stopping this fight. Even if the forfeited, she had no doubt that the Bull would crush her flat anyway.

I’m still faster, she thought. I can do this.

Yin rolled between the giant’s legs. Her chest screamed, broken ribs rubbing against each other, but she kept going. She bounced to her feet, ready to launch a barrage against the Bull’s unprotected back.

But when she looked up, a punch was already coming at her face. Time came to a crawl. There was no time to dodge. Yin watched as the fist crept closer, excruciatingly slow. There was nothing she could do but watch.

She didn’t feel any pain when it connected.

Everything went white. The last thing she heard was the crowd roaring.

Roaring for the monster.

By the time she hit the ground, all sense had been knocked out of her.

*****

Yin slowly came to. Everything from her waist up was hurting, a hammer pounding on her head. The first thing she became aware of before she opened her eyes was the stench of old garbage.

Then a hard slap on her cheek.

“Hey!” someone called. “Are you awake, girl?”

With a monumental effort, Yin got her eyes open. She stared up at a strange, pock-faced man. Looking around, it became apparent that she was in an alley, next to an overfilled dumpster.

“Who in fuck are you?” Yin groaned.

“Bouncer,” the man said. “We met before. You twisted my arm pretty good.”

Yin didn’t recall anything like that, but it sounded like something she would do. “Ah. You here to kill me?”

The bouncer shook his head. “Nah. The boss told me to dump you out here, but it… didn’t seem right. You’re just a kid, and all.”

Yin scoffed. She hissed as something in her chest flared up. “I don’t need your pity, guy. Get out of here.”

The bouncer got down on one knee, lips pursed. “Or what? You won’t be moving much with wounds like that.”

It didn’t take Yin long to realize he was right. Her hands and feet were numb, and she couldn’t do much more than wiggle uselessly.

“I’m Lax,” the man said. “You’re Yin, right?”

Yin didn’t respond.

“I’m going to get you back to my place so I can treat your wounds. Is that alright?”

She stared at him, lips squeezed tight.

Lax sighed. He sat back. arms resting against his knees. “You’re not making this easy for yourself. Look, you’re not gonna see many friendly faces around here. Let me help. Say yes, or I’m gone.”

Yin’s bravado broke. Her face screwed up, and bitter tears pushed through the corners of her eyes. “I was supposed to win…” She growled, teeth clenched.

“That’s what they all say. The ones that live that long. Trust me, you’re one of the lucky ones. The underground matches aren’t like the clean ones. No one’s going to bat an eye if some no-name fighter bites it. Now, what’ll it be? Do you want to rot here until someone comes along to finish what the Bull started, or do you want me to help?”

Yin contemplated for a good minute. Finally, she swallowed her pride. “Help.”

“Can I get a please?”

“Please.”

Lax nodded with a smile. “Good.” He leaned down and brought Yin’s arms over his shoulders, then lifted her up with a heave and a huff of exertion.

“You’re heavier than you look,” he said.

And started walking.

*****

Yin was brought to Lax’s home on the outskirts of the Ruins. To call it ‘rustic’ would be charitable—the plastered walls had holes in places, patched with plastic tarps, and the windows were so smudged you could hardly see through them.

The bouncer carried her inside into a cramped living room. An immediate chorus of shrill voices met them, followed by the patter of feet. A small group of children gathered around him, then quickly backed off, gone silent.

A plump woman with grey-streaked hair entered the room from a kitchen separated by a sliding door. She said nothing as Lax walked past, arms crossed, but her dark glare spoke plenty. She didn’t approve.

Lax brought her to a bedroom, barely wide enough to hold a narrow cot, and set her down on the thin mattress. Yin groaned as she let herself relax, aches thumping, head squeezed in a vice.

“Rest for now,” Lax said. “I’ll take care of everything.”

“Thanks,” Yin worked out.

“Do you have any family I could contact?”

Yin thought about her response. “No,” she finally said.

It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this. I was supposed to be a hero. Heroes always win.

“Are you sure? No estranged aunts or uncles?”

“I’m sure.”

I can’t go back. Not until I win.

I’m not useless. I can’t let him think that. I’m not, am I?

After Lax left the room, Yin wept.