The crowd gathered outside the sports building, standing in line to go inside. The place usually held unofficial combat sports. I slipped through the back entrance unnoticed. My cap hung low on my head, sheltering my eyes. I left the crowd behind me. My hands in my pockets and backpack slung over my right shoulder as I walked along. My sneakers echoed through the empty hall as I entered the locker room.

"You're late?" Raf boomed out, his arms folded across his chest.

I waved him off with a smirk.

Raf came over to help me prep for the fight tonight. My opponent was a lean Russian guy, and I wanted the best to be in my corner. This was many of the legal fights Big Ben managed for me, and I had to win, well I planned too anyway.

I felt nervous tonight, and I didn't know why. The feeling was strange and I couldn't shake it off. I shook my head hard. There was no time for weakness. I had to get my head in the game.

The UFC agent could be in the crowd. I had to give it my all tonight, no distractions. Taking her offer would change my life completely. I just had to deal with Big Ben on the matter.

"Come on... let's warm up D." Raf suggested, placing on his punching pads. "We need you strong tonight."

I nodded and slipped out of my clothes, standing in nothing but my jock's underwear. I grabbed my fighting black shorts out of my backpack and put them on, as well as my knee pads and punching gloves. After I loosened my tight muscles with exercise, I sparred with Raf for fifteen minutes. He made sure I drank a full bottle of water for hydration.

The sport building manager entered the locker room. "It's show time!" he called out, ushering me along.

Raf walked behind me. I heard the faint echo of the crowd. The noise grew louder as we approached the entrance to the ring. I walked into the small arena and was met with cheers and boos. Bright lights burned on me as I walked to the center ring, a steel cage surrounding me. It oddly looked like a prison cell, and I scoffed internally.

The building was small but held a crowd that filled every space. It wasn't a well-known fight, but the promoters did a pretty good job for a nobody like me. By the sound of it, it looked like the jeering crowd was more to support my Russian opponent. As soon as the guy stepped out of the entrance, the crowd went berserk calling out his name.

"SERGEI!" "SERGEI!" "SERGEI!"

Fuck. I had my work cut out from me.

He entered the cage, wearing deep red fighting shorts, glaring at me like an eagle in the sky about to grab his prey. I glared back at the bastard and turned my back to him, giving Raf my attention. Raf spoke words of encouragement. He added pointers and fighting strategies I could bring to the fight. I nodded all the way.

I was called by the ring announcer. It was time for my opponent and me to stand in the middle of the ring.

"In the right corner... weighing at 185lbs, and standing at 6 ft, ½ inches... all the way from Detroit, Michigan stands DIMITRI 'BLEEDER' HAWKE!!!" the ring commentator shouted into the mike. A low cheer rumbled from the crowd.

"In the left corner... weighing at 190lbs and standing 6 ft tall... all the way from Moscow, Russia stands SERGEI NIKITIN!!!"

The crowd went wild, chanting the man's name. Damn! I just have to turn their opinion around. I seethed internally.

I scanned the crowd and caught a glimpse of Big Ben and his goons seated in front. I tried to see if I could spot the UFC agent, but I couldn't see her in the sea of faces.

The bell rang to fight!

***

Twenty-five minutes into the fight and I was finally gaining momentum on my opponent. I took an upper cut in my left rib, but recovered quickly. I had to defend myself against his harsh and strong attacks.

But I finally had the upper hand.

I gave one lethal right kick into his exposed abdomen, forcing him into a slump.

He fell knee first to the ground. It took a while to get the Russian down. I finally had an opportunity to knock him out. I glanced at the crowd overlooking, alarmed faces watching me beat up their champ.

I fed from their anger and awe.

I circled around my opponent, about to knock him out. Still glancing ahead. But a glimpse caught my eye in the middle of the crowd. I involuntarily did a double take and noticed it was Kyle pointing in my direction, speaking to someone beside him.

My eyes quickly slipped to who he was talking to, and I saw a familiar blonde-haired woman watching me. Her mouth was moving in silent conversation.

Time itself seemed to decelerate, as everything around me seemed to be in slow motion. A second ago, I was pumped with adrenaline, but my thumping heart seemed to decrease a beat at a time, as I recognized the woman was Sassi.

What the fuck!

I frowned in confusion. If that was Sassi, then that means... my eyes lingered to her right, to the woman standing beside her. My whole world came to a complete stop, as the crowd and every noise drowned out, as I stared at the beautiful woman dressed in reddish purple before my eyes.

Lillie!

She was staring straight at me.

"OOOMPH!"

I felt a hard fist in my cheekbone, throwing me off balance.

Fuck!

The moment of silence died out.

Reality crept slowly up as time resumed itself in fast motion. The crowd became louder and louder, and I heard Raf's voice muffled in the distance. I shook my distracted head hard. I hadn't noticed that the Russian stood up, sending another brutal fist in my direction.

It was too late to react. His punch to my jaw knocked me, sending me in a downward spiral.

The crowd and their cheers slowly dulled to a mute, as Raf knelt in front of me in a blurry state. Everything faded to darkness as the crowd reacted.

The last image in my mind... was Lillie.