“Oh comeon, Charlie, we allknow,” Ava said in a scathing voice. “Get with the program.”
She was implying something, and I didn’t think it had anything to do with the fight club. I was totally confused, but she left me no time to think about what she said, because she surged into a completely different vein of conversation.
“You know what we’re missing here at the Institute? A theater program,” she said confidently. “Marcus was a theater kid, you know, he told me, so I think we really need to get some acting classes around here. I don’tknowif I’d be good at it, but like, why can’t I be an actress? That’s a thing I can do after I graduate, right? I’ve read three books on acting in the last two days, so I think I can handle it.”
“What about anthropology? Did you finish your application for your major?” I asked.
Ava froze beside me. “Anthropology? Hm… yeah, I forgot that was a thing. I guess I’ll just quit. It’s not like I’m doing well enough in class for Hemlock to accept me into the program, anyway.”
She’d forgotten about that, too? Professor Hemlock’s anthropology program was all she’d talked about for days after she’d found out about it. Now she was getting obsessive about acting, something she’d never indicated an interest in before, and giving up on her lifelong dream of being an explorer.
Whenever she got impulsive, that wasn’t a good sign. “Ava, you can’t just tank your grades,” I started. I didn’t know how to go about this, but someone had to bring her back down to earth.
She giggled, then gave another huge gasp, as if she’d forgotten yet another critical piece of information. “Oh, shit! I told Ivy I was going to do the— oh, but I also promised Kallie that I’d— you know what, never mind, I’m already late to see them both, I’ll just have to make up some excuse. I have to go, I’ll see you later, Charlie!”
My heart sank as I heard her skip off. Oberi remained by my side and whimpered. The heavy truth formulated around me as I was faced with reality.
Ava was sicker than I wanted to admit. I knew her bipolar was bad, but it was starting to get out of control.
She couldn’t take care of herself when she was like this. Hell, she could barely function. I had to be the one to look out for her.
Protecting Ava became more important than ever. She was a loose cannon right now— who knew what she’d say or do, and if I didn’t have immunity from the guards, I couldn’t shield her from the consequences of whatever her mood swings provoked her to do.
Staying in this fight club was my only means of keeping both of us safe in this hell. Which meant that if I wanted Ava to be safe at the Institute, I needed to win my first fight.
I had no other choice.
* * *
I bounced on my toes and shook the nerves from my shoulders. The locker room was quiet, but I could hear the voices of a thick crowd outside the doors. My first fight had arrived, and I was itching to get into that boxing ring and beat someone’s ass.
“You nervous?” Chancey asked.
I threw a few punches into the air and felt the air particles move around my fists, then across my bare chest. I didn’t wear gloves, because I couldn’t feel the air as well through them, so I’d just taped up my hands. There were no rules that said I couldn’t use my magic to enhance my senses. I just couldn’t use it against my opponent— like suffocating him to gain the upper hand. The guards wanted a show, not a slaughter.
I scoffed at Chancey. “Me? Nervous? Hell no.”
I’d been ready for this since the day Captain offered me a spot in the ring. Hell, I’d been itching for a fight long before that. I’d gotten a taste of it during the Darke Games, and I wanted more.
Problem was, you couldn’t get in a fight around here without repercussions, and I wouldn’t let Ava and Oberi get caught in the crosshairs. Which was why Oberi wasn’t here. I’d insisted Ava take him for the night. I didn’t want him seeing this. I’d made up some lie to her about where I was, and I hoped that she believed it, but to be honest, I wasn’t even sure if she’d remember by tonight. She was in a really complicated headspace right now.
Down here in the basement of the Institute, there were no such repercussions. I could let out all my pent up rage and beat the hell out of my opponent, and no one would do shit but cheer for me. Call me crazy, but I was ready to taste blood. I was ready to bebad.
“Good,” Chancey told me. “You have nothing to worry about. Just make sure you give them a good show. You have one shot to impress the guards. I know Captain said you get three fights to prove yourself, but truth is, this first fight is where you have to impress them. Lose this fight, and you’ll be hard-pressed to get on the roster again. Win, and your bets will skyrocket. You’ll be making more cash than you’ve ever laid eyes on.”
“Haha,” I said dryly, though Chancey sounded amused at the joke.
“But hey, no pressure,” he added.
I chuckled under my breath. “Yeah, man.No pressure.”
The pressure didn’t scare me. I’d made it through the Darke Games fighting monsters from hell. I knew I could handle another supernatural inside a boxing ring.
The door to the locker room creaked open, and Captain’s deep voice boomed through the empty space. “Wahkin, you’re up!”
Chancey placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’m right beside you, buddy. Let’s give them one hell of a show.”
I nodded firmly, then followed the sound of Captain’s voice out of the room. The air expanded to the large training area, but my magic met resistance against a crowd. There must’ve been over a hundred people encompassing the boxing ring, all waiting to see how their bets panned out. Some of the voices came from above me, and I heard the sound of something clink against metal. I realized the crowd was seated in bleachers that weren’t usually there during training. I could make out the voices of students as well as guards, though I couldn’t pick anyone specific out of the crowd.
