Page 31 of A Love Like Venom

Not saying anything I move in fast keeping my guard up until I try to make contact with his body. I go for a strike followed by a cross punch.

Both fall flat which annoys me further.

Nostrils flared I try the combo again and add in an uppercut.

He dodges them all and throws out another right hook. Snapping my head back his hand brushes the side of my jaw.

"You expect me to believe that?" He scoffs.

"I don't give a fuck if you believe me or not," I spit back.

"She's the only one since Caitlin I saw you drop the mask for. She means something to you, Snake. Just fucking admit it." He growls then delivers a sucker punch to my face.

Blood once again fills my mouth and I spit out the excess.

My head feels heavy as my vision begins to blur. Blinking rapidly, I try to diminish the black spots. I can feel a dull ache that presses on the back of my skull. Enough to let me know he's caused some damage but not enough to faze me.

His words however have a much greater effect. Stinging true with just how right they are.

And I'm not used to someone calling me out on it.

It's harder to deceive people when the mask is cracked.

It's impossible to do when it's off.

I made the fatal mistake of removing it in front of him.

I'll make sure the next time I see Alice Hall it'll just be me.

Laughing darkly, I retaliate, "Tell me, Oak, have you admitted the guilt for being the only one to survive afterordering your comrades to push ahead?" It hits him harder than any physical blow.

With a roar ripping from his throat, he comes barreling at me. Then all I can hear is the sound of flesh hitting flesh. Blow after blow we continue to beat the shit out of one another. Blood runs down my face and trickles down my neck. We are nothing but our inner demons. The darkness taking control and letting us wreak havoc on one another.

We don't hold back. Each hit stronger than the last.

As much as Oak is the bigger guy, standing taller with broader muscles, it's also his biggest downfall. He's starting to grow tired. Exhaustion begins to settle in his muscles. There's just too much weight to carry.

And although I'm not a small guy I'm not the biggest guy out there either. Not compared to Oak who is nearly seven foot tall and built with hulking muscles.

No, I'm more ripped. Mostly lean muscle with more mass in my arms and shoulders. I'm fast on my feet and have longer stamina. My physique is built for fighting. It's meant for the endurance.

As his movements are starting to slow mine are agile.

And you're damn right I fucking capitalize on that shit.

Giving one last powerful kick that clips the underside of his jaw he falls heavy to the ground.

Breathing hard and ragged I finally allow my body to have a break. My lungs feel like they are on fire. Blood is splattered across my body. My knuckles are bruised, and some are busted open. When I go to spit again, I feel that my bottom lip is split.

Huh, I didn't fucking feel it.I laugh at that.

How many times has pain caused me to turn numb?

After what feels like a long minute Oak raises himself up to a sitting position on the sweaty and bloody mats. He's not breathing hard, but his breaths are choppy.

I've managed to do quite some damage. His nose is crooked, no doubt from me breaking it. There's a split in his eyebrow. A bruise already beginning to form on his jaw. The whole right side of his face swelled.

And to think this isn't the worst we have done to each other.

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