“In this corner! Weighing in at an impressive two hundred thirty-five pounds… Undefeated for the last 18 bouts… It’s Twister!!”
The crowd roared delightedly as Twister raised both fists over his head and shook them. The cornerman slipped a mouthguard between his lips and he gave us all a diabolical, black-gummed leer.
“And in this corner! Weighing in at two hundred twenty pounds… Untested and unbested, it’s newcomer… ODIN!!!”
Auger shook his hands over his head and scanned the crowd, letting the enthusiasm wash over him, pumping himself up. His gaze flashed over to Winsor and Callie, and for a second she saw his cocky grin twitch a little, just at the corner.
When the bell sounded, time immediately slowed. Everyone pressed ahead breathlessly. Callie and Winsor leaned forward in their chairs.
CHAPTER 5
Auger
When the bell rang, Auger leapt from his corner with his fists up around his ears, circling the mat with Twister. The light seemed to thicken as though they were in a silent tunnel together.
Twister grinned and leered, but Auger couldn’t look directly at his face. He trained his senses on knowing his opponent’s body: how his shoulders showed his intentions, how his torso flexed with his already-labored breath, how his stance was wide, too wide.
Auger made a mental list of these things as they circled. Twister came in with a feint and he just swayed away from it, bouncing off on his toes, dancing around.
Twister shook his head fiercely, silently telling Auger that he wasn’t planning on just dancing for the next three rounds. Little did he know, Auger wasn’t planning on three rounds at all.
He came in with a right cross. Auger saw it coming and told himself to take it to see what Twister was made of, but his body wouldn’t obey. He dodged easily instead, then bounced to the left. Twister pivoted on his heel all clumsy and slow.
Some animal intelligence started to settle into his body, eagerly waiting for the next throw. He knew Twister now: eventually the big steroidal husk would over-reach, and there would be an opening to crush him.
Twice more, he came in with a powerful but imperfect throw, and Auger just stepped aside. He didn’t even dance on his toes. His relaxed posture was an extra insult. Then Twister attempted a combination and Auger simply swatted the left jab away as though it had been thrown by a teenager.
Was that me making that sound? Did I just laugh at him? Oh shit.
Instantly enraged, Twister threw an illegal elbow, narrowly missing Auger’s cheekbone.
Auger heard himself snarl in response, and the light turned to amber. He realized suddenly why Twister’s stance was so wide: he was waiting for a knee strike or heel strike.
No.
Auger knew he had to end it before that happened. He stopped circling and stood, making himself an easy target. Twister took the bait and snorted before throwing his heel in the air.
Raising a hand almost lazily, Auger caught the strike in midair. He paused with Twister’s heel in his hand to see the look of shock on his face. With a cruel grin, Auger slammed a single overhand punch to Twister’s temple with all his weight in it. Twister crumpled onto the mat like a rag doll.
As Auger stood over him, time immediately sped back up. The sounds and lights of the room slammed in on him like a tidal wave. He heard the roar of applause and realized it was over, already over. Orion rushed into the ring and shoved him away.
Auger bounced nervously on his toes, his whole body alive and sparking with unused energy. His taped hands opened and closed at his sides, straining the hand wraps. Every breath felt like a powerful wind filling his lungs, but he had nowhere to go.
Orion sat over Twister’s hunched form for a few more moments, barking in his ear and slapping his shoulder. Twister shook his head then straightened to sitting, a furious scowl on his face. Orion raised a thumbs up to the crowd, and a few people clapped appreciatively.
Auger stepped forward cautiously, wanting to see Twister’s eyes for himself to know he was all right. Shame began to creep into his mind again, reminding him that he wasn’t supposed to be in the ring at all. Not ever. As Auger got close, Twister snapped, glaring like a wounded animal.
“Get the fuck outta here!” he snarled.
Auger raised his hands. “I was just checking on you. Forget it.”
“Fuck you, man,” Twister growled. “One round? One lousy grand? You better hope I don’t see your face again, you—”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s enough!” Orion said sharply, dragging Twister to the ropes and out of the ring. Auger walked backwards and ducked through the ropes at the other corner, shaking his head in disgust.
I remember why I hate this, he thought as he strode toward the door, bowing his head and avoiding eye contact with the crowd.