“Pidge,” Charlie said, but I didn’t listen to him. I crossed the tent and stood in front of Ghost, shoving my way in front of the guard.
“Where does it hurt?” I asked him.
He showed me his arm with a sniff. I felt it gingerly, and he let out a yelp. It was definitely broken.
As I handled Ghost’s broken arm, I felt a tingling sensation spread through me. My entire body began to grow warm, and pinpricks edged along my palm. It was a strange sensation… like magic was about to come out.
What was going on with me?
Ghost’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth to say something, before a guard put their hand on my shoulder and wrenched me around. “Hey, girlie, you don’t make the rules around here,” he growled. “Don’t forget, we’re still in charge.”
“If he doesn’t want to fight, he shouldn’t be forced to!” I insisted.
“Pidge, that’s not how things work,” Charlie said calmly. His tone told me to back down.
Tony stood. He was looking to get a rise out of Charlie, and I knew it as he said, “Wahkin needs to keep his bitch in line.”
Charlie immediately jumped to his feet. My eyes narrowed as I faced Tony, and I said, “Don’t you have another fight to lose somewhere el—?”
Tony’s fist cracked against my cheek, and I went flying backward. Kallie caught me before I fell, but that was the only thing I noticed. My vision was thick with stars, and my head pounded, on the verge of losing consciousness.
There was shouting, and the sound of a scuffle. Kallie gently laid me on the ground, and I propped my body against Marcus, who knelt beside me. There was a lot of shouting, and it hurt my already aching head.
“Charlie, Charlie, stop, you’re gonna kill him!” I heard Chancey plead. He and a couple of other guys were wrenching at Charlie, trying to drag him off Tony. Tony wheezed for breath. Charlie had put him in a headlock with one arm and was smashing his face in with the other. No matter how many guards tried to rip Charlie off of Tony, he couldn’t be pried away.
I managed to stumble to my feet. Drunkenly, I put my hands on Charlie’s arm. “Charlie, stop it,” I slurred, pushing at him.
I had the strength of a mouse at the moment, but at my touch, Charlie let go. He flattened on the ground, and the guards backed off. A couple of medics rushed forward to treat Tony.
“Pidge, are you all right?” Charlie asked, taking me into his arms.
I couldn’t answer— my head was still spinning. Charlie tenderly felt my cheek, and I gasped. A bruise was already starting to form.
“Charlie, you need to get her out of here,” Chancey said roughly, casting nervous glances at the guards. I didn’t know if Charlie would suffer consequences for what had just happened. Charlie grabbed my shoulders and guided me away. Kallie and Marcus hurriedly followed.
“Over here,” Marcus said. We trailed him to the empty staircase where we’d come in. Blood dripped on the floor from Charlie’s hand. He’d busted open his knuckles pounding Tony’s face in.
“Pidge, you can’t speak up here,” Charlie said in a strained voice. His thumb brushed my bruised cheek, and I almost cringed away.
“I was just trying to help Ghost,” I pleaded. I only wanted to help people and do the right thing, but as I’d known all my life, me doing the right thing typically resulted in thewrongthing happening.
“I know, but there are rules,” Charlie said. “He’s only got two more fights. He’ll make it.”
“He shouldn’t have to fight against his will—”
“It was a mistake bringing you down here.” Charlie’s voice was thick with disappointment. “I knew it was a bad idea. You got hurt by some jackass who was trying to get back at me for losing his fight. This is a rough crowd. Too rough for you.”
“I can handle it!”
“No, you can’t.” Charlie let out a heavy sigh. “Just… go, pidge. You can’t come here again.”
My spirit physically dropped, and I felt like melting into the floor. Charlie turned his back and mumbled, “Take care of her, guys,” before he slipped back into the fight club.
Marcus grabbed my arm and led me upward. I felt tears forming at the corner of my eyes.
“Let’s get you to the infirmary. That was a bad hit,” Kallie said. “You might have a concussion.”
“I don’t care.” I wiped at my eyes. I can’t believe Charlie had kicked me out.
