Prelude
Screaming. Cheering. People are touching me. I heard people speak in slow motion, their mouths moving but the voices distorted and far away. All I could taste and smell was iron. Painfully I managed to push through the crowd, somehow I dragged myself into the locker room.
Florescence flickered overhead, my blood had left a trail I didn't notice until I was staring at the gray tile at my feet. I grabbed the porcelain sink on the wall near the bathroom stalls to steady myself, watching my blood flow down the drain. Slowly, I looked up. In the mirror a girl stared back at me, blood dripped down half of her face, one eye was sealed shut and black. Blackened bruises blemished her pale skin and she looked scared.
I needed my mom. Splashing water onto my face helped a little bit, snapping me into reality and helping wash away the blood. This was the last time I was boxing orcs, they went down just like any other person but it took longer and they hit back hard.
My head spun as I stumbled around to my locker. Finally I found my bag and rummaged through it to find my phone. I dialed who I hoped was my mother, putting the phone up to the side of my face least damaged and sitting on the bench near by.
“Billy? Where are you?”
“I need help,” I slurred my words and a mixture of blood and drool ran down my chin, “can you come get me?”
“What are you saying? Where are you?”
“At the gym.”
“You’re fighting aren’t you? How many time have I told you-” I zoned out and wobbled on my weak legs, “Billy, don’t go anywhere I’m coming.”
The phone disconnected and I shoved my phone back into my bag. I could only look up at the ceiling tiles above me for a long time, slowly I reached for the pendant around my neck. If I just took it off for a minute... I sighed and took the risk, pulling the amulet off and setting it beside me.
Immediately I felt it, the pain began subsiding and I could finally open both of my eyes. Before it got out of hand I put the necklace back on and shook my head. When I was severely injured like this I had a little bit of leeway with the curse. Normally even just a couple of moments without the amulet on, things got weird.
Next step, facing Vin. The office was tucked into the corner where the fighting ring entrance was, someone else was inside- screaming at Vin who was screaming back.
“You’re a conman, you never said nothing about a damn warlock.”
And it was me who was the subject of discussion, “she don’t use magic in her fighting. You saw the fight, you saw the amulet.”
I paused on the other side of the door. It wasn't the first time someone accused me of cheating, but it didn't matter- it still filled me with rage. I had to dull my senses so much to just have a normal conversation, it would be plain slaughter if I was unhindered.
"Amulet? You mean some sort of healing ward! There's no way even a warlock could have lasted against-"
"Lasted against what?"
I had enough eavesdropping, so I strode into the room and the older man who was causing a ruckus turned to me. His scarred face turned pale and he cleared his throat before walking past me and leaving the room.
Vin sighed and ran a hand through his head, “shits getting rough with these out of towners coming into Briar.”
“As long as I get paid- I don’t care what belly aching they do.”
“Fucks sake. You let that pig woman hit you too much. Here,” he handed me an envelope stuffed to the brim with money, “your concessions.”
“Vin.”
“What Bills?”
I shook my head, “never mind. See you next week.”
“Be safe out there kiddo, don’t get dead.”
That’s always a possibility in this town. I headed outside and stepped out into the cool air, it felt nice against my bruised skin. I hope mom brought ice. My hand rummaged through my jacket to take out a cigarette. I lit it and leaned against the wall, I was once again the strongest- and that was going to make me a target. Speaking of which.
Two men walked with purpose towards me, through a blurry eye I could make out one of the silhouettes, making my skin crawl. With a spiked mohawk and large frame, there was no mistaking Saul for anyone else in Briar. This guy was the bane of my existence and sworn enemy, self absorbed weirdo. He leaned against the wall next to me and his little buddy James leaned against the wall on the other side, blocking me in, “well if it isn’t the white dragon. Took a beating there didn’t you?”
“Go fuck yourself.”
“So feisty. I hope you’re this feisty after I bruise your face next week.” He leaned closer to me and I winced as he reached for my face, tracing his thumb against my cuts. I smacked his hand away from me making him scowl.
“That’s not happening. I’m winning and you’re going to be my win number 100.”
"You're always so confident."
"Obviously. I was younger, weaker. I will not lose to you ever again."
A smirk appeared on his lips and he grabbed my chin roughly, “how about we make this interesting. I win and you work for me.”
“Sounds like a shit deal to me,” I shoved him away from me and grumbled, "I'm no gangster."
"Don't be like that Billy. Of all the people in the city who want you in their groups, I'm the best choice."
"What the hell do you want from me, really?"
“There's a lot of people who want a lot from you, little dragon. Kinslayers like us-"
“We are not the same,” I flicked the cigarette at him as the old station wagon pulled up, “see you next week, loser.”
I stumbled forward and he caught me, holding me up, “you okay?”
I grumbled under my breath and reoriented myself, moving forward unassisted. I crawled into the back seat and laid my head on the pack of ice mom had set back here for me.
“What is wrong with you? Why do you keep doing this to yourself?”
I grumbled into the seat and waved her off dismissively.
“I swear Billy. I love you to death, but you gotta stop. You’re killing yourself. I don’t want my baby dead.”
Her words deflated me. I laid in silence perfectly still as she drove forward. I couldn’t just stop, I’m sorry mom. Guilt filled my stomach with knots and my heart felt heavy. Slowly I lifted my head up, we were going up the hill over the tracks and just as we got to the top the car stalled.
“It’s fine, let me just turn it off.” She shifted gears on the car and revved the engine again. She turned to me with a small smile on her face, “I love you Billy.”
Then light flooded the car. Slowly, painfully slowly I watched the car caving in. The blaring horn of the train came too late, just in time for the world to fade to black.
