Page 139 of Sacrifice
“Good. Go out there and do your thing.”
I give the bottle and towel to Sal. “I’ve got this.”
He pats me on the shoulder as they leave me in the ring for round two. I hear the gate close behind me, the crowd’s roar starting to build again as the referee comes back to the center of the mat. His hands go in front of him and we’re off.
Hunter comes at me aggressively, just like Sal said he would. He throws a right-left, which I easily block off my elbows. I counter with an overhand right that lands solid but high on his head. Davidson turns as the punch crunches into him and I don’t see the kick when it comes.
His foot smashes me in the back of the head, right beneath my skull. I bend slightly in response and he kicks again. It takes the wind out of me, sending a spiral of pain through my spine. My adrenaline is so high that I know I’m not registering all of it.
He starts to kick again, but I step inside and blister him with a few shots but I don’t feel the same strength behind my punches.
Something’s wrong.
He comes straight back at me again, smiling. We trade punches, half of them hitting, half not, but it makes for a good show because the crowd’s noise amplifies. We begin to break when he pulls my head forward and slams his elbow against my spine.
Motherfucker.
“Get outta there!” Sal screams at me, his voice riding above the crowd. “That was illegal, ref. Come on! This isn’t a back alley. This is a sanctioned fight!”
* * *
JULIA
“That staggered him,”the announcer comments as Crew wobbles as he backs away from Hunter. “You know, it really looks like Davidson is targeting Gentry’s neck.”
“If you recall, Nate, that’s the exact location where Gentry was injured the first time they fought.”
“Wow, I can’t believe Davidson would stoop to that level.”
“Well, I don’t think Davidson thought Gentry would be standing here for round two, either, Nate.”
“Macie,” I breathe, watching Crew get himself together again. She’s at my side, holding on to me. We watch him stalk towards Hunter, but something seems off. Crew’s stumbling and his arms aren’t up as high as they were before. The announcers notice it, too.
“Gentry is a little slower this round, I think. I’m not sure if he’s being more careful or if that kick to the back of his neck hurt him. You have to remember, Gentry hasn’t been in a situation like this in years.”
“Maybe ever,” the other announcer says. “Right now, he’s giving the naysayers fuel that said he shouldn’t even be in the cage with a professional like Hunter Davidson.”
“Fuck you!” I say to the announcer, tears starting to hit my eyes.
Watching this is torture. I want to close my eyes and not watch, but I can’t bear to not see what happens.
Macie and I stand together, watching the action on the screen. Crew throws a couple of punches and misses. Hunter takes a step back and taunts him, his arms out to the side, his hips swaying back and forth. He says something to Crew, but I have no idea what. The crowd goes wild at Hunter’s show and he just plays it up more, like an actor on stage.
I watch with bated breath as Crew goes in for a takedown, something I’ve seen him do a million times. I watch as Davidson’s foot in seemingly slow motion connects with Crew’s face.
He drops to the mat. My stomach falls right along with it.
SIXTY-ONE
CREW
I’ve felt this pain once before. Ironically, or not, it was against Davidson that time, too.
The back of my neck burns from the bottom of my head all the way down my shoulders. The pain pierces through the adrenaline that normally keeps any real discomfort at bay during a fight.
Hunter is on top of me within seconds. He throws punches at my face, which I’m able to block easily thanks to many rounds with Victor. He’s on top of me, wailing away, and I know I gotta get outta here. This is not the place to be.
I try to roll him off, but the pain in my neck puts me back flat against the mat. My elbows are in tight, my hands in front of my face, and I’m rocking back and forth blocking everything I can.
