Thicker Than Blood (Thicker Than Blood #1)(92)
“Almost,” I said, nodding. Tying my hair up into a tight bun on top of my head, I turned to face Leisel. “Are you sure you want to be there?” I asked her. “I have a feeling it’s going to get ugly.” And I don’t want you getting upset, I added silently.
Leisel’s lips pulled back in a surprising snarl. “Don’t you ever ask me something so stupid again, Evelyn.”
I started to smile, a genuine smile, as I reached for her. “I love you, Lei,” I whispered, crushing her to me, ignoring the pain it caused my body.
Hugging me back, she squeezed me tighter than she ever had before. “I love you too, Eve.”
“Promise?” I asked, choking on my own emotion.
“Promise,” she said. “Always.”
? ? ?
The makeshift arena was located outside, at the far end of Purgatory’s south side, and situated only a couple of dozen yards away from the gate. It was a simple setup, several thin metal poles jutting up from the ground with rope fashioned around them to create a ring of sorts, encircling a small beaten-down stretch of lawn.
Cages of infected, like the ones at the Drunk Tank, were here as well, at least four that I could see as I quickly scanned the area, trying to take in as much as possible as quickly as I could. The infected were wild, riled up and crazy for blood, making the ones at the bar seemed almost subdued. I tried not to look at them, their rotted sallow skin, balding heads, and snapping mouths—even without teeth, all of it only making my churning stomach worse. But I could hear them, above all the yells and catcalls as I entered the arena, their groans of hunger standing out above the rest.
Alex was there among the gathered crowd of spectators, waiting for us. Leisel went to him, slipping her hand in his and smiling up at him while I scanned the large crowd, my nerves kicking into overdrive when my gaze found E. He stuck out, even in a crowd this size, his large frame and thick Mohawk overshadowing nearly everyone else. His face was a mask of calmness, though his dark gaze spoke of death and violence.
Tearing my gaze away from him, I glanced back to Leisel and Alex.
“Don’t spill too much blood,” Alex said, trying to smile. “Don’t want to be slipping all over the place during my fight.”
I tried to smile as well, but we both only ended up grimacing at each other, neither of us liking what we had to do.
“Just a few more days,” Leisel said, her eyes darting between us. “And we’re out of here. Right?”
“Right,” Alex said, nodding down at her.
I nodded as well, pulling Leisel in for a quick hug. “Definitely,” I said, but I didn’t share their optimism. I was still at the mercy of E’s generosity, and who knew when he’d come through for me.
As I headed toward the makeshift ring, I found E easily among the crowd again. His eyes were still on me, his hard, unwavering gaze seeming to suck the energy straight from my bones, making my arms and legs feel like jelly. Attempting to avert my eyes, I found it difficult, feeling myself unwittingly looking at him over and over again.
The crowd grew more agitated. People shouted as I made my way through them, their arms held high, hands full of food, clothing, or bottles of homemade liquor. A chalkboard had been set up near the fence, where a scruffy-looking man was taking bets, writing down names, odds, and amounts. A caged infected had been placed near him, yet he was oblivious as it growled, rattling its cage as it reached desperately for him.
I reached the ring at the same time Liv did, her pink hair shining even brighter beneath the sun. Her hands were wrapped possessively around another woman’s bicep as she dragged her under the rope and shoved her into the ring. She was a bony little thing, my opponent, with a lithe ebony body and raven-black hair. From her mannerisms, I guessed that she was a dirty fighter, probably lacking any real skill. She looked at me, her eyes flashing cold and empty, while Liv smiled a cruel, knowing sort of smile that suggested to me this was going to be anything but a fair fight.
Behind Liv, Jeffers stepped into the ring, his arms spread wide in welcome. He appeared older in the daylight, tougher and meaner as well, his age more apparent in the daylight. The strip of gray in his hair looked almost white, a stark and menacing contrast to his black locks.
“Fighters ready?” he shouted loudly, beckoning us both forward with his fingers.
My opponent and I moved forward until we were toe-to-toe. This close to her, I could see the scars covering her body, hundreds of them crisscrossing her face, neck, and arms, and I began to wonder if I’d misjudged her. She’d quite clearly had her share of fights, and yet here she stood.
“Today for your gambling pleasure we have a new challenger for our reigning champion, Miiiiiis-ty!”
At the mention of her name, Misty thrust her clenched fist up into the air. The crowd answered with an unholy roar, chanting her name over and over as well as screaming for my blood.
Misty wasn’t paying them any attention, almost as if she couldn’t hear them. Her eyes were fixed on nothing in particular; she looked toward the sky, the ground, anywhere but at me or the crowds. Liv, however, was staring at me. Grinning at me, actually.
“Straight from the wild, we have Eve!” Jeffers turned to me with a grin. “Some might even call her a wildcat!”
The crowd roared again, and my stomach turned somersaults at the mention of my nickname. Chancing a glance to where I’d last seen E, I found him still there, his tattooed arms crossed over his chest as he stared at me.