Babel Novel
Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Chapter 34
Cynthia checked her number with a quick glance–it was on the higher side, which meant she could save her energy for later. The noise level kicked up a notch inside the packed place, making her turn to see what was up. Some dude, all bare–chested and muscles on display, was standing on the stage like he owned it. He just booted the guy he beat right off the side–like, the poor dude nearly flew across the room. Nobody bothered to help him; they were too busy throwing shade.
“He’s so bad, he might as well just stay home.”
“Get up, man! Go fight!”
“Losing’s worse than getting caught with your pants down.”
The defeated guy could only lie there while the crowd lost interest fast and looked back to the main event. The host moved on to call out number seven, but nobody answered the call. If someone chickened out, the mean- looking guards were on them in a heartbeat, dragging them off–probably nothing good waiting for them. “Number ten,” the host yelled, with a few more passes and still nobody stepped up. Cynthia checked her badge, a sly grin spreading on her face. She was so ready. Then, “Number thirteen!” That was her. She tightened the strings of her mask and took her sweet time walking up there. After a bunch of no–shows, people started whispering when they saw her–a girl in the ring.
“She walking into a world of hurt.”
“That chick must be desperate.”
They kept on gossiping, but Cynthia just flashed a cold smile and climbed on stage like she meant business.
The champ, Samuel, was already up there. He threw some trash talk her way. “Darling, if you’re broke, just come with me. Why get yourself all banged up?” He was one of those tough–guy types who seemed to never lose, so full of himself that one could see it from a mile away. When he saw Cynthia, not looking like much with her slim figure and all, he turned the ego up to eleven.
But Cynthia wasn’t about to show fear–her eyes were pure fire. The moment the host stepped back, she moved like a bolt, her moves quick and sharp. She flipped him right onto his back, and the crowd were so shocked that one could hear a pin drop.
Samuel jumped back up, now taking her seriously, ready to rumble for real.
Cynthia’s smile turned all kinds of mischievous. “When this is over, you’ll be the one calling me boss,” she quipped before going for another hit.
This guy had been coasting by on his size, thinking he could just bulldoze through–but Cynthia, she was slick about it. She dodged and weaved, picking just the right spots to hit. She knew well about the human body
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Chapter 34
structure so it was like she had his off switch. She’d smack him on the leg, and down he’d go. Samuel was stuck, just taking hit after hit until he was absolutely out of gas. Pretty soon, everyone was cracking up, betting on when he’d conk out for good. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Cynthia was completely owning the match. Planting her boot on Samuel’s head, she flashed a mean grin. “What’s my name?”
Samuel wasn’t about to let that slide. He kept his lips sealed, not giving her the satisfaction.
But she wasn’t playing games. Cynthia moved like lightning and nailed his weak spots perfectly.
“Ouch! Okay, okay! My bad, please!” Samuel was yelping in no time.
“Think you’re the top dog around here?”
“Nope, not anymore!”
“Then beat it.”
“Gotcha,” Samuel said, trying to save face. He stood up, acting like he was walking away, but then turned for a cheap shot.
Cynthia was ready for him, though. With a swift kick, she sent him flying off the stage, ending up in a heap on the dirt floor.
At that moment, within a hidden room on the second floor of the basement, a pane of one–way glass was installed opposite to the fighting ring, allowing the person inside to clearly see everything that just happened on the ring. A guy with a killer vibe was watching. He said to his assistant, “She the one?”
“Boss, you sure?”
“Tell the host. I wanna fight with her.”
“But, boss, your health…”
“Just do it.”
With that, his assistant, Bobby Thomas, bolted.
Nobody else felt like stepping up after seeing Samuel bite the dust.
Cynthia didn’t expect those fighters were so timid.
The host up the last challenger. Though
s trying to keep things exciting. He got a secret tip and then called dressed in casual clothes, the newcomer had an air of mystery, like he could be royalty in another life. No one else
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Chapter 34
dared to bother him.
The host nodded politely at the guy and signed them to begin.
The guy said in a voice; “Let’s go, Miss.”
Cynthia wasn’t used to starting a fight with manners. She was ready to counterattack, but the guy just stood there. Finally, she lunged, but it was clear neither was going full throttle. Several rounds passed, and neither could gain the upper hand. Time ticked by, and the host jumped in. “Time’s up. We got two winners!”
Cynthia’s heart dropped. That means she only got 2.5 million dollars. That was far from enough for that herb she needed. As she was feeling frustrated, she heard the guy said into the mic, “She’s the champ. She held back for me.”
Cynthia turned around, astonished, just as she locked eyes with the man. She noticed a mole at the corner of his eye, which seemed especially captivating when he smiled at her. Amidst everyone’s
surprise, the man left the ring. In the end, Cynthia got her wish and received the prize money.
It was past midnight in the suburbs, so Cynthia hoofed it to the main road for a cab. As the last of the crowd split, motorcycles zipped by in the night, their headlights fading out.