Page 12 of Spider

“Right, come on,” Star says as she removes her seat belt. We all follow as we pile out of the truck.

“Don’t worry, we do this a lot. It always works out okay,” Dixie says as she smiles up at me. “We’ve only got into a fight once before,” she adds.

“You got into a fight?” I ask. Dixie just laughs and hooks her arm through mine, leading me inside the old factory.

Loud music echoes off the walls and there are people everywhere. We creep through the crowd and huddle in the corner where the MC won’t spot us. “What do you think is going on?” Maggie asks, trying to peer over people.

“I don’t know. I can’t see,” Star says, trying to crane her neck.

Suddenly the music changes, the lights dim, and a man’s voice comes on. “Ladies, gentlemen, all you beautiful people! Except you Gary, because you’ve got a face only a mother could love,” he says. Everyone laughs before he continues. “Now, I know it’s a surprise that I announced tonight. 2 fights in one week is insane. It can’t be done I hear you say! Well, I have done it. So, kiss my boots and lick my fucking asshole, because tonight I bring you a fresh new challenger. One that has been causing a stir all the way from the big city! Please welcome the one, the only SLEDGEHAMMER!” he yells, causing everyone to cheer and clap.

“Back here. Climb up, because you can see better then,” Star says, yanking me back. We climb up onto the ledge that is overlooking everyone, watching as a muscled guy with tattoos walks into a circle that everyone has formed. We spot the brothers on the opposite side, their attention focused on the fighter.

I frown as I look at each of the brothers. “Hey where is—” I ask but I’m cut off as the guy in the circle starts introducing the next fighter.

“He’s back again. For a second time this week, he graces us with his presence. He hasn’t lost a fight yet; the man, the warrior, the fucking legend SPIDER!” he yells into the mic. The crowd go wild, chanting his name as he enters the circle.

“Holy shit, Spider is fighting,” Maggie blurts out next to me.

The guys signal and a bell rings out as the fight begins. It’s brutal. The sounds of their hits landing, the skin on their knuckles split, and blood and sweat covers the Sledgehammer’sbody. Spider’s cut above his eye has opened up again, causing blood to run down his face. They break at the end of the first round, but I don’t take my eyes off Spider. He’s fighting like none of us are here, like he’s programmed, fighting like a machine. His body is covered in a sheen of sweat, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he grabs a bottle of beer and drinks it in one go.

The bell for round two rings and they are at it again. My nerves are on edge as Spider takes a few hits and stumbles, but then something changes in him. Like a switch, he’s steady on his feet and he is launching his entire body. His fists slam into the side of Sledgehammer’s face. Stunned and dazed, Spider continues his assault, landing punch after punch.

“Go on Spider, fucking slaughter him!” Star yells, getting carried away.

Maggie yanks her back, telling her to be quiet, but it’s too late, because even over the noise of the crowd, Ghost hears his ol’ lady’s voice. His gaze snaps up and pins Star.

“Oh shit,” Star mutters.

I feel my top being pulled, but my eyes are transfixed on Spider. He swings his fist back, slamming one final time into the side of Sledgehammer’s face. He’s out cold before he even hits the ground. Spider stands over him, his chest heaving as the guy on the mic grabs Spider’s wrist and holds it up in the air, declaring him the winner. The sound around me dies out as Spider looks to Ghost, before following Ghost’s line of sight to us. His eyes land on mine and I know I sound crazy when I say it, but I swear I can feel his gaze on me.

“Come on, we need to go now,” Star says, again breaking me from my trance.

We all run, squeezing through the crowd as we try to get out and back to the truck as fast as we can. I don’t know why, because clearly they’ve spotted us. I’m not sure how we are goingto explain our way out of this. As we get near the entrance, a guy grabs my arm, pulling back and separating me from the others.

“Hey beautiful, where’s the fire?” He smiles. I try to yank my arm free from his grip, but he doesn’t let go.

“Let go of me,” I demand.

He smiles as he leans in. “I will let you go once you’ve given me a kiss,” he says as he puckers his lips.

I lean away. “Get the fuck off me,” I snap.

“Oh, come on, lighten up. Or maybe there are ways I could lighten you up?” he asks, grabbing my behind with his other hand.

I try and fight him to let go. “Get off me!” I protest, trying to look around for the others, but I can’t see them. They’ve gone without me.

“The lady said to get off,” a deep voice says from behind me.

I turn and see a shirtless, sweaty and bloodied Spider stood glaring at the guy who has hold of me. The guy lets go of me and I lose my balance, falling to the floor. Spider swings his fist out and smashes it into the guy’s face. He falls to the floor beside me, and I gasp as Spider holds out his hand for me. I place my hand in his as he helps me to my feet. The crowd surround us, and as I place my hands on his chest to steady myself, I quickly realise after a second where my hands are and I quickly snatch them away.

Spider smirks as he takes my hand in his. He leads me through the cheering crowd to outside where a berated Star is stood sulking while Ghost chastises her.

I pull my hand free from Spider’s and stand in front of Star. “It was my fault,” I lie.

Ghost raises his brow. “Your fault?” he counters.

“Yeah, I had heard about these fights and wanted to check them out. I had no idea you guys would be here,” I lie again.

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