Page 46 of Bruised Hearts

Even though it was wearing her down, it was allowing my body some much needed time to rest. I was scared to blink because my body might shut down and I would go to sleep. Using her elbows, she pushed me back and threw a jab. Grimacing, I used my strength to push her back against the ropes. While I leaned into her, I threw more hits to her rib cage. Tricky was still tagging me, but the power was slowly leaving. Sending one last blow to her side, I damn near fell to the ground when I heard the wind knocked out of her. Her legs buckled again, and Tricky grabbed the rope to stop herself from falling. They sounded the bell, making me curse loudly. Walking over to my corner, I sat down pissed.

“She almost went down.” Fixer gave me water while Pippy got to work.

“I saw that shit. Now you know what I feel when I sit eleven rounds of getting my ass whooped but make it to the twelfth.”

“What, pain?” He laughed, but I was serious. My body was begging me to take my ass home.

“Hope. Everything you fought for. Everything you lost. Everything you want to gain. It all comes down to this round. Nothing is impossible if you make it this far.”

“Cus I damn sure didn’t think you were gone last.” I cut my eyes at Fixer briefly but focused back on Landon.

“Her body is weak, and she’s tired from fighting your ass off the ropes for two minutes. You got some rest. Now it’s time for power.” Adrenaline ran through my body.

“Everything?”

“Everything you got. Put it all on the line. Don’t wait for an opening, take it. I want you swinging for two minutes straight. She’s going to come out trying to do the same, but you can deal with the pain later. If you hit the mat, get up. You been down there before, so don’t get in your head. Ain’t nothing after this, so make sure you leave nothing.”

“Okay, got it.”

“Ariyah, this is where your training with Swift is going to get you the win. You get me?” I smiled before nodding. He wanted me to use my speed with the power. He didn’t directly say it because these people still trained with Danger and that was his strategy.

“Got you.” Standing up, I said a silent prayer as they put the guard in my mouth. My eye was damn near closed, and my arm felt like it was about to pop out its socket. My legs were damn near jelly, but Landon was right. I was still standing and that’s all that mattered. Making my way to the middle, I geared up for the fight of my life. I knew Tricky wasn’t going to make this easy, so I mentally prepared myself to take the pain she was about to bring. The bell sounded, and we both swung at the same time. Both of us knew it came down to this, so neither of us let up. Blow for blow, jab for jab, hook for hook. We were leaving it all on the mat.

My ears were now ringing, and my eye was completely shut. I could barely see her, but I could still feel my hits connecting. Knowing if we continued like this, we would both be standing when the bell sounded. Thinking back to the night I was training Swift, I mirrored my actions. It was the only time I knocked him out while sparring, so I prayed this worked. Right. Right. Left. Step back, uppercut. Repeat, this time speed it up. The crowd erupted, but I had no idea why. I kept my mind in the past on me and Swift’s fight.

Body, body. Step back, power shot to the head. Step back, hook, hook, left. The crowd was now screaming so loud, I knew we were nearing the end. I went crazy giving it everything I had. My arms were screaming. Fuck them! My lungs were burning. Fuck them too! Giving one last swing so hard I damn near fell, I heard something snap. Opening the half good eye I had left, I saw her go down. I had no idea if she was going to get back up, but the tears started falling. Even if I still lost, they now knew I belonged here. They couldn’t say the only reason I was here was because Landon called in a favor.

“Eight. Nine. Ten!” Falling to my knees, I let out a scream. Not one of those cute ones either. An ugly cry that didn’t even seem human. I couldn’t believe it. We did it. Someone pulled me from the mat, and I saw it was Fixer. Him and Pippy were screaming, jumping, and bumping into my already bruised body. Even though they were happy, they weren’t who deserved this moment.

“Landon, we did-…” I turned but didn’t see him. Walking to the ropes, I looked around, but I didn’t see him. How the fuck did he disappear that fast? Fixer pulled me back to the middle, so they could officially call the fight. Walking over, I looked over my shoulder once more, but he really was gone.

“Winner, by way of knockout. Ariyah Novaaaaaaaaaa Stevens.” Fixer threw my hand in the air, and even though I was sad Landon wasn’t here to bask in this with me, I celebrated my win. Hugging Tricky, I thanked her for giving me a chance, then got ready for the questions.

“Nova, no one, and I mean no one, saw this ending coming. We saw Breaker come in and we all know he’s the comeback king. Was that your strategy all along?”

“I’m not gone lie, about halfway through the fight, I thought yall was about to watch me die.” Laughter erupted throughout. “Tricky beat my ass.” The crowd laughed with me, as I turned towards her. “No for real, you tore my ass up tonight. You’re a great fighter and I appreciate you for this chance.” Tricky embraced me and we both just held each other for a while. Yeah, this was a sport, but while everyone looked on, we took on a lot of pain. I went silent for a moment. I didn’t know how transparent I wanted to be, but said fuck it!

“I learned something tonight. I spent most of my life trying to prove I was enough, to people who already decided I wasn’t. I thought getting this fight would help me prove something. Then I got in the ring and started losing, so I said to myself, maybe that proved something to me. Leaving this fight, I realize neither one does. Winning doesn’t make me enough, and losing wouldn’t have made me less. I was enough when I walked in this bitch, and now I’m leaving as THAT BITCH!” The crowd erupted.

“For everybody that thought I wasn’t ready… Yall was almost right.” The crowd laughed with me. “But almost doesn’t count. Landon, thank you.” Passing them the mic, I ran to the ropes and threw my hands in the air. I didn’t care what other questions they had, because nothing else needed to be said. Stone walked up and hugged me. I exhaled because I thought we would never have this moment. I finally made him proud.

You don’t know the feeling in the car with a bottle of liquor. A pistol, a lonely killer. Ain’t no love at the top, just a lonely nigga. Ain’t no love at the bottom either. All these blood sucking leachers and bottom feeders. All these sores on our feet cause we over stepping. He just caught his first one, so you know he reppin’. He just a lonely lonely baby. Peter Piper picked the pepper. I pulled the stick out, hit him. Then I left him. She pulled my dick out, hit her on the dresser. We fucked my aggression out. She like a pretzel. How I fold her up and put it in her. She fucking a lonely nigga that’s a killer.

- Da Baby

Round 9 Landon vs Everybody Else

28- Landon “Breaker” Mercer

When Titan pulled up to Pop’s house, I sat there for a minute before getting out. I wanted to check the highlights to see who won, but after thinking better of it, I got out the car. Me going to her fight wasn’t about helping her win. It was about helping her see she belonged in that ring. Whatever the outcome was, she now knew she deserved that shot. By the time I left, I had accomplished that. Walking inside, I was shocked to see they ass was still up. They were loud as fuck and talking shit. I thought I was gone have a drink or two with Pops, but everyone was sitting in the great room. Including Nana.

“Damn, what yall do, have a party and didn’t invite me?”

“Actually, we did. A fight party.” Moms turned her head hiding a laugh, but nobody else could hold theirs in. I guess I was missing the joke.

“I guess I just raised two dummies. Well, technically Devin raised you, but I definitely raised that dummy. Yeah, I only raised one. You gotta take credit for your fuck up.” Nana really sat there and broke that shit down.

“Wait, I’m the other dummy?” I looked around the room waiting on someone to answer me.