"Sometimes we feed the hurt inside us like a wild bear on a chain just to see how angry we can make it before letting it go."

~ Atticus

"He left a note on my bed, apologizing," I told Dan about Jonah's sorry note.

"I mean, that's more than you ever did with Stacy. That's gotta count for something, right?" Dan said while adjusting the rearview mirror.

True.

"I've been giving him the silent treatment but I guess it's time to stop. I'm being too crazy about this." I sighed, "Anyway, why am I letting you drag me to this thing again?" I raised a brow while noting the time, it was just before 9 p.m. and we were on our way to a fight.

He gave me a cheeky smile, "Because it's the first time Andy and I managed to get more bets than Baxter on one of the fighters."

"Right," I rolled my eyes playfully. "How's work?" I almost regretted asking him.

Almost.

He was silent for a few seconds before he started, "I haven't told Emily yet but, uh, we might be expanding into the city and provided it all works out like I've planned, I'll be leading the project which means-"

"Oh my God, which means you'll be moving to...Chicago. This is amazing. You'd be able to see Emily more-"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, it's all still very uncertain. And I don't want to tell Em until I'm absolutely sure, otherwise, I'll be setting her up for disappointment." Dan urged me to tone down my excitement.

"I really hope it works out." I smiled.

"Me too," he whispered while pulling up in front of a large warehouse.

The building was old, with cracks in the walls, shattered windows, and rusted rails. I felt a shiver run down my spine when we entered through the creaky doors. It was the wrong day to wear a thin fitted shirt because the moment we entered, all eyes were on me. Fortunately, I had my red flannel wrapped around my waist. I quickly untied it and put it on.

Dan maneuvered us through the crowd, I held onto his arm tightly so I wouldn't lose him. Suddenly a loud drum roll blasted through the speakers, "Welcome, to the fight of the night. Sicarius versus King Kong." The deafening bell went off before the announcer yelled, "Let the fight begin!"

The crowd erupted in cheers for the hooded figure who entered the caged ring. They all began chanting his name, "Sicarius" repeatedly. He wasn't buff or large, instead, his muscles were naturally toned. I could see his veins popping, like a trail of tributaries mapping his body. Clearly distracted by the fighter, I accidentally bumped into someone who was carrying a beverage. To my luck, the front of my white shirt was soaked. I felt the soda trickle down my stomach to the waistband of my jeans.

"You seem to have a habit of headbutting things."

Tobias' words rang through my ears. He wasn't wrong. I seriously did have a habit of headbutting people.

"Watch where you're going." Dan glared at the stranger but I pulled him away before he could start something. "Go sit up there. I'll be able to see you from there. Don't go anywhere, I'll be back." Dan instructed.

I managed to prop myself onto the windowsill Dan had pointed towards and began to watch the fight. The previously hooded figure, Sicarius, was plummeting his fists into the other fighter's stomach. He grabbed his opponent and scissor-kicked him in the face which caused King Kong to fall on his back. But King Kong was larger in size, he managed to throw a few punches at Sicarius, who then had to forgo his advantage and step back.

Sicarius had excellent technique but his opponent dominated with brute force. I watched as the two battled for dominance until the sound of a loud crack reverberated through the warehouse. It was the sound of Sicarius' fist colliding with King Kong's jaw. With a dazed opponent, Sicarius sent King Kong flying across the ring.

King Kong tried to get up but Sicarius was smart to take the opportunity to climb on top of his opponent and straddle him. He rapidly smashed his fists, one after the other, into his opponent's face, ultimately knocking him unconscious. I expected it to be over, but I was wrong. Sicarius wouldn't stop, even after knocking his opponent out, he kept throwing punches.

After that, all I could see was blood. Dan and some of the others climbed into the ring and pulled Sicarius off. And that was when it hit me.

Sicarius was Tobias.

I immediately jumped down from the windowsill, pushing through the crowd, trying to leave. Flashes of what I had just witnessed kept appearing in my mind as I rushed out of the warehouse. As soon as I reached outside my heart started racing faster, my legs felt wobbly and I just couldn't breathe.

Breathe.

Inhale. Exhale.

In. Out.

"What's a pretty little thing like you doing in a place like this?" I heard someone whistle from behind me.

Fuck.

"What's an ugly fucker like you doing in a place like this?" I didn't know where I had found the courage to muster up such a remark but I was glad I did.

I'm going to die. Or worse.

He was large and bald with tattoos crawling all over his skin. I felt my body stiffen and panic set in. He eyed me with a predatory hunger, reading to attack. "About to have some fun." He smirked, walking towards me with a smug look on his face, eyeing my body, especially from where my shirt was still damp. He lunged towards me but I dodged his attack, gaining some distance between us.

You can do this. Just breathe.

When he tried again, he succeeded in shoving me against a car, holding my hands above my head.

Think. Think. Think.

Before he could get any closer or I could scream or knee him in the groin, his attention diverted to something behind us. His lustful eyes turned fearful within seconds as he hastily began retreating his steps. "Fuck." He breathed out shakily before disappearing.

I turned around to uncover the mystery of what it was that caught his attention and scared him off but I was met with emptiness. I scanned my surroundings only to witness a figure being consumed by the shadows.

Seconds later, Dan emerged from the warehouse with an angered expression. "Why would you leave like that? You were supposed to stay somewhere I could see you, Ariel."

I knew it was incredibly foolish but I shrugged it off, not wanting to create a scene. "I just needed some air."

"There's a lot of assholes at fights like these, you know that. Don't wander off like that." His concern was so pure and heartening that it made me crack a smile.

"I know, I'm sorry. Thank you for always being there for me and for loving Emily the way you do." I smiled at him with glossy eyes, overwhelmed by my feelings.

"Hey, don't go all sentimental on me." Dan sighed as we walked back into the building. "Nothing happened, though, right?"

"Nothing I couldn't handle."

————

Emily and I made our way to our usual booth at Jim's diner for lunch. We both climbed in to sit next to the window, opposite each other. "I'm so goddamn hungry," Emily complained while scanning the menu.

"It isn't even that hot yet and my boobs are literally sweating," I told her dramatically.

"You always sweat. Even in the winter." She chuckled.

"What would you ladies like to order?" The waitress, Miss Jazz, asked.

"A hotdog with coke. Actually, make that two hotdogs, I'm starving. Thank you," Emily informed her enthusiastically.

"Loaded fries and a glass of OJ." I smiled at her while flipping open my sketchbook. It revealed the drawing I had made at the riding club. It was so hard to believe that the person in the sketch was the same Tobias I had seen yesterday.

"Dan told me Tobias almost killed the other guy last night," Emily whispered while leaning over the table like it was some big secret.

"Yeah, it was, uh, difficult to watch. I mean, up until yesterday I thought he was just some guy with issues but, Em, it was crazy watching him behave like that," I tried to explain.

"Hot crazy or, like, serial-killer crazy?" she asked teasingly.

After thinking for a moment, I chuckled, "A little bit of both." I propped my elbows onto the table and held my face with both my hands.

"Dan said he's older than all of us," she said, doe-eyed.

"How much older?" I asked skeptically.

"Like twenty-three or so," she replied.

Changing the subject, I beamed. "So, how does it feel to lose your relationship virginity?"

Emily had never dated before, mainly because she was fawning over Dan her whole life. It was the same with Dan. They were practically already a couple, minus the label and sex. I, however, dated one guy in high school. I was sixteen, he was older and it had ended badly. I was naive and stupid, failing to realize how he was just using me. Emily and Dan hated his guts. Fortunately, it had never made it past third base. I guess he was one of the reasons why I was insecure about myself.

Emily's voice pulled me back, "To be honest, I can't stop blushing around him. I mean I used to feel butterflies around him before too but now, it's just..." She giggled, "It's like I can't breathe around him and he knows it," she explained. "And, um, the way he kisses—"

"Woah. Woah. Woah. I do not need that mental picture, thank you very much. I mean, if this was some other guy, I'd have been like 'lay it on me, sis' but this is Dan we're talking about," I rambled on in a hurried tone which made Emily burst into a laughing fit.

When I mindlessly turned to my right, I recognized a group of guys from the fight, but I quickly averted my gaze. I overheard them talking, "Did you see how he smashed that pathetic King Kong?" one of them commented.

"Can't wait for the next round, man."

"Apparently, he's fought before. In the city."

"Damn, I wonder why he's in town."

"I heard he's looking for someone. Someone who fucked him over."

"Anyway, did you hear how someone beat the shit out of Jax?"

"Jax is a son of a bitch, I'm sure he deserved it."

"Yo, Anderson. Over here," one of them called out to someone who had just entered the diner.

"Speak of the devil," Emily sang in a hushed tone.

My heart skipped a beat when Tobias came into view. I tried not to stare at him but he looked so mysterious and intriguing. I couldn't help but eye him, taking in his appearance. His cheekbone was bruised and the side of his lip was split. He walked towards the group of guys slowly, my gaze stalking his every movement. He wore a black v-neck which exposed his collarbones and a chain around his neck. I couldn't believe he was the same person I saw yesterday.

"I heard he's looking for someone. Someone who fucked him over."

One of the guys flung a bunch of keys towards Tobias which he caught with ease, the veins tracing his arms throbbing in the process. He spared me a glance, catching my deep stare before turning around to leave. I immediately averted my gaze, giving myself whiplash.

"What was that?" Emily narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously.

"What?" I chewed on the inside of my cheek, "What was what?"

"You're being sus," she remarked.

"You're being sus," I mimicked her.

————

Zombies are real.

Please don't forget to vote, comment, and share if you enjoyed this chapter.

Love, Ari