Projectile vomiting seemed very likely as Karmin stood at the center of the ring, awaiting her first opponent for the night.

She kept glancing over her shoulder nervously, her eyes catching the three people, who were there for both moral and probably, medical support. Maddox's expression was stoic as he crossed his arms across his chest, whereas Viola kept biting her nails anxiously. Rhys was the only one who attempted a smile when she looked at them, only to exhale sharply when she turned away.

The entire club was quiet, peering at her as she clenched her fists and hunched her shoulders. Her nerves had multiplied to a hundred from the drive to Watkin's Manor. She couldn't get a full breath in as if fear had settled onto her chest like a pile of rocks. Her hands shook to the point she couldn't hold a cup of water without it spilling over the rim.

She just wanted this to be over already.

She wished she could fast forward the fights and skip to the point where she was safe and sound in her bed.

But the night was only beginning when the crowd parted to let through a man. The room was filled with cheers as Karmin gazed at him, pushing back her shoulders and raising her chin to hide her terror. However, it didn't work when she saw who it was. Under those thick curls sat the same eyes that stared back at her in pure anger while she took his own brass knuckles to his face.

But there was something different about him. He was taller, and his gang tattoo was written across his chest, instead of his bicep.

"To start the night, we have Karmin Desai against Andres Rodriguez," announced the referee.

Rodriguez? He had to be Mateo's brother. Damn it. Now the entire family was pissed off at me.

He smirked at her with the same crazy glint in his eyes. Just like his brother. She didn't know if that was a good or bad thing. Karmin knew how Mateo fought, but it was also one of her most brutal fights.

"This is common knowledge, but no weapons of any kind will be permissible. Is that clear Mr. Rodriguez, because your brother had some issues with that?" asked the referee with his brows raised.

"We're all good," replied Andres as he flexed his muscles without taking his stare off Karmin.

His eyes followed her as if she was the prey and he the predator. His lion-like gaze never strayed, and she felt like a deer, cornered. But she had every intention of flipping it.

She was no weak, defenseless Bambi.

Sure, she had the same doe-eyes and pranced around in soft-pastel dresses, but she wasn't weak. Bambi had nothing on her, except for those long, curled eyelashes she could never get right.

She was knocked out of her thoughts when the bell rang. Immediately, she shielded her hands, intently watching him and his every move. Her eyes scanned his posture, noticing he was putting all of his weight onto his heels. He was heavy-footed, which meant he was slow.

Karmin could work with slow.

Andres clambered towards her, his mouth turned down into a concentrated frown. Swiftly, he swung his arm, but she dodged to the side, feeling the whoosh of air from the force on her cheek.

He chuckled loudly over the cheering, and she wasn't prepared for what came next. A flurry of jabs came her way that she was able to duck and swerve easily. However, it wasn't until it happened did she realize his plan.

Karmin was so focused on evading his attacks that when his foot hooked her ankle, she didn't have enough time to counter it. Her back hit the ground and with that, the crowd cheered, and groaned on her behalf.

The next thing she knew, the air was knocked out of her lungs once Andres's foot made contact with her stomach. She wheezed, gasping for air, but she didn't have the luxury when he raised his leg once again. Without thinking, she grabbed hold of his foot, hugging onto it for dear life.

"What the fuck?" he roared as he attempted to wiggle out his foot from her grasp.

He struggled, but Karmin kept an iron grip and even seized his other leg to keep him in place. Andres got fed up, crouching down to tear her fingers off him. Her grip was slackening, so, what did she do?

Like every other sane person, she bit his hand. Hard. Her teeth sunk into his flesh until the point she drew blood. It tasted metallic, and it was disgusting.

I would make a terrible vampire.

Andres shrieked in pain, getting to his feet abruptly. It was so quick, he couldn't balance himself, and Karmin noticed. She pulled at his legs roughly, sending him to the ground promptly. He fell with a thud, giving her the opportunity to jump to her feet.

She took in deep breaths, savoring the chance to recollect herself. It was short, but it was enough when Andres rolled over, getting up. Karmin smirked when he rose, and before he could settle back on his feet, she landed a quick kick to his chest.

He flew back, his back hitting the ropes, just like she had during her fight with Nadeem. Just as she thought, Andres recoiled forward, unable to stop himself. His surprised face was the last thing she saw when she readied her fist, driving it with her elbow.

With the force from her hit and the ropes, the punch landed swift and fast. He fell to the ground, almost comedically. His eyes twitched, but he didn't move. He laid there unmoving with nothing but the people around her cheering. Karmin gazed at her hand, twisting it in the light, shocked.

Oh, I did not mean to do that, but I am not complaining.

Karmin smiled, raising her hands excitedly. She turned her attention over to Viola, who had been hiding her face in her hands, now look up, jumping on her feet happily. Maddox and Rhys high-fived, the two of them smiling at her.

"Go Karmin! That's my girl!" roared Viola.

She chuckled, sending her a flying kiss. Karmin caught Maddox's gaze and sent him one too, only for him to roll his eyes, and break the stare.

"We have our winner, but it doesn't end here," screamed the referee over the loud noise as Andres was dragged out of the ring. "Please, step up Sahra Omar."

A woman, who looked like she was in her 30s stepped up. If Karmin had seen her on the streets, she would never think Sahra was a fighter, much less a gang member. Her rich, brown skin sparkled in the light, and a black hijab covered her head. Her face was stern from her lips set into a thin line, and the creases between her brows. A gold locket sat around her neck, standing out against her dark attire.

Okay, she can do this. She wasn't badly injured during this fight. She could hold out for two more.

Before the bell rang, Sahra stepped forward, tucking her locket into her shirt, and then extended her hand respectfully. Karmin eyed it carefully and shakily slipped her hand into hers.

"Good luck," said Sahra apathetically, her voice soft.

"Are you trying to psyche me out?" she asked warily.

"Not at all," she smiled, but the second the bell chimed, Karmin was yanked forward, a knee to her stomach, causing her to groan in pain and clench her abdomen.

"To think I believed you," coughed out Karmin.

"I'll make this quick, kid," Sahra assured, clasping her hands tightly around Karmin. She didn't know how she did it, but the next thing she knew, she was on the ground, writhing in pain from the hard contact.

Sahra grabbed the front of her shirt, lifting her up slightly. Karmin's jaw exploded with pain when the first punch came. Then the next, and the next until she could feel blood pouring out of her nose.

"Wait, wait," stopped Karmin, breathlessly.

She hesitated, and in that split second, Karmin brought forth her leg, striking her knee roughly. Sahra grunted, losing her balance, but as she tried to catch herself, Karmin pulled her forward and rolled them over until she was on top.

The crowd roared, filling Karmin with energy and encouragement. She landed a few hits with her fists and elbow, Sahra's face beginning to look a lot like her own. Once she was satisfied, Karmin put her forearm against her neck, pressing down tightly. Her heavy breathing became even heavier when Sahra began to squirm under her grasp.

No matter how much weight she put into her hold, Sahra kept fighting back. Her arm began to tire, and her thighs cramped from leaning forward. Just when she thought she had her, Sahra used her legs and flipped Karmin over her. The two of them laid on the mat, their heads slightly touching.

"Let's go, Karmin!" screamed Viola.

"Get the hell up, you idiot!" shouted Maddox.

Karmin sighed irritably, rolling to her side. She put a foot forward and then the other, lifting herself up. She swayed slightly, the blood rushing to her head. She sniffed, wiping the blood off her nose. From her right stood Viola, who looked sick to her stomach from seeing Karmin's state. She gave her thumbs up, attempting to soothe her nerves.

However, her attention quickly deviated when she caught Sahra getting to her feet. Karmin smirked when she realized that her back was facing her. Her grin widened when she saw that the necklace that was once tucked away, was popping out.

She quickly lunged towards her, jumping onto her back. Sahra gasped in surprise from the sudden weight, but Karmin seized the necklace, twisting it around her bloodied fists. She tightened it around Sahra's neck, cutting off her airflow.

Sahra attempted to shake her off, but she stayed in her place stubbornly. She began to walk forward, and all of a sudden, she ran back towards the poles. Karmin's back slammed into the metal pole, and pain tingled down her spine. For a moment, her grip loosened around the locket, slipping against her aching her hands. But she hardened it again, the metal pressing into her skin harshly.

Karmin moved her head away as Sahra tried to claw her, but no matter how much she tried, it didn't work. Her breathing got shallow as she fell to her knees, no longer having the oxygen to fight back. Just before she went unconscious, she tapped out.

Karmin let go quickly, holding the ropes for support to ease her breathing. Perspiration rolled down her forehead and hairline, mixing with the blood. The exhaustion weighed heavy over her, and she wasn't sure if she could get through one more fight.

She eyed Sahra carefully as she sluggishly rolled to her feet. Without another word or so much of a glance, she stumbled off the ring, her head low and her hands pressing against her throat.

With her declining energy, she pushed herself up, clambering to the other end of the ring towards her friends. Her legs felt heavy as if they were replaced with marble. Relief ran through her thighs when she fell to her knees, quickly grabbing the water bottle from Viola's shaky hands.

"You're doing amazing, babe," she encouraged with tears filling her eyes.

"And how are you doing?" she asked breathlessly, taking desperate gulps of water.

"Don't worry about her. We got her," assured Rhys, his own set of sweat gleaming in the light.

"Karmin Desai, your next fight is up!" shouted the referee, interrupting their conversation.

"Give her a second!" screamed Viola, glaring at the man. "Asshole," she muttered as she ripped open her purse, taking out a packet of napkins. She gently took hold of Karmin's face, wiping the blood from her nose.

Karmin winced, moving her head away and passing her the bottle back. "It's okay, Vi. I should go." She glanced at a silent Maddox and turned to leave only for someone to grab her hand.

The same hand she was tracing lines and skimming over the callouses that decorated his skin not too long ago.

"One more fight," said Maddox seriously. "I promise after this, I'll buy you all the French fries you want."

"And cookies?" she asked softly.

"And cookies," he promised with a small, but tense smile.

"Throw in some chicken nuggets, too," added Rhys, laughing deeply.

Karmin coughed out a chuckle, slowly getting up to her feet but wavering slightly. Her eyes glazed over a bit, feeling dizzy. She blinked quickly, attempting to get her eyesight back to normal.

The man that stood across from her had pale, ebony skin that almost glittered in the artificial light. However, the skin on his arms and torso were covered in thick, white scars with some of the areas a sickly pink. His hair was cut close to his scalp, making it difficult to discern whether it was black or brown. The way he stood with his hands behind his back and the blank expression on his face made it seem like he was ex-military. There was something so unsettling about his grey eyes that looked as if they've seen too much.

"Are you ready, now?" sassed the referee with a tiresome look. He took her glare for an answer, as he continued. "For the last fight of the night, we have Lance Beretta, our reigning champion over the years of fight club. Remember to put your bets in folks, so without further ado, let the fight begin!"

Reigning champion and the fact he looked like he enjoyed eating nails for breakfast was a terrible combination. Please universe, I've come this far with 20,000 dollars. Don't mess this up or we're gonna have to talk.

The bell boomed in her ears, and the next thing she knew, Lance was rushing towards her. Her eyes widened, and without thinking, she dodged out of his way. Her feet were heavier on the mat, barely escaping his hands.

She needed to figure out how to take him down. But the way he moved with certainty, made it seem like he had no weaknesses. Not to mention, her brain wasn't working at its full capacity from the exhaustion that settled in.

Lance wasn't fazed by her getaway as he turned his attention back to her. He suavely walked to her, his eyes dead set on her.

She put up her hands, preparing herself for his next attack, and when it came, she thought she was ready.

Karmin threw her arm back, a punch coming his way, but when it connected, he barely flinched. He rubbed his jaw, and immediately, grabbed her by the neck, lifting her up until her feet dangled. She opened her mouth, trying to scream, but the words were caught in her throat. The crowd gasped while others screamed, whether it was from fear or excitement, she would never know.

All she could see were bright stars and black dots, and blinking only made it worse. She grabbed at his face, trying to stop him. And he did stop.

When he sucker-punched her in the face.

She slumped to the ground, groaning and writhing in pain. Her brain felt fuzzy and her entire body succumbed to exhaustion.

Karmin tried to roll to her feet but didn't have enough time, when Lance seized her hair, dragging her through the ring.

"Let go of my hair, you life-sized G.I. Joe!" she screamed, the pinching off her scalp creating tears in her eyes.

It seemed like he didn't appreciate the comment when he lifted her up by her hair. She swayed and she knew she would have fallen if it wasn't for his grip. Karmin tried to swing, but they were slow and weak. Lance grabbed her arm and bent down to take hold of her legs. Her cries were caught in her throat when he lifted her up above his head. He did it with ease as if she was as light as a feather.

The crowd gasped, but she couldn't hear them. Her ears buzzed and her head lolled back. The entire room was upside-down, covered in blurry movements and bright stars. It was kind of nice up there, but then it happened.

He heaved her to the ground, and suddenly, she was the feather falling. But when they fell delicately, she was slammed onto the mat. Karmin screamed in pain from the harsh contact, her skin and bones beginning to feel like they were going to tear.

Tears rolled down her face as she tried to form a coherent sentence. Anything. She wanted to say something. For him to stop and let her go or to end it all, but nothing came out. Her throat closed up as she laid facing the lights above.

I have to get up. I need to do something.

That only she got was a kick to her stomach, forcing her back onto the mat. And then came another one.

I can't do this anymore.

So, she reached out her hand and lifted it slowly. It hovered above the mat, debating whether or not to give up.

Losing this fight would take her down to 15,000 dollars which was enough.

But it wasn't good enough.

But when she saw Lance stomp towards her again, she couldn't keep going. She just couldn't.

It's okay, Karmin. You did enough.

And that was when she left her hand fall.

The bell went off again, and he was supposed to stop. He was supposed to leave. The fight had ended, but Lance didn't stop.

He landed a kick to her spine, and the crowd cried out in refusal. He swung his leg back, but before he could strike her, someone blocked her.

"The fight's over!" shouted Maddox, shoving Lance away from her. "Leave, or I'll fucking make you!"

"Yeah, what he said!" screamed Rhys. "Bitch," he added quickly.

Viola came to her side, helping her up and hugging her tightly. Karmin felt tears fall onto her face, mingling with her own. "You're going to be okay, love," she soothed.

There are not enough French fries in the world to help with this pain.

***

Hi!!

Author's Note:

Woah, this was a super intense, action-packed chapter! Was it too much?

I promise there are sweeter chapters coming up!

Until next time – m.k.t