Page 19 of Dynamo
He grinned and attacked again. This time Knuckles punched high.
Like lightning, I ducked under his reach and pummelled his side. Knuckles cursed and hit the ground as his tree trunk arms swung at me. If Knuckles got me in an embrace, he’d break ribs, so shoving away, I lashed out, and Knuckles dropped to a knee.
Quickly, I was up on his back and attempting to lock in a chokehold. Unfortunately, my arms were slick with sweat, and I didn’t get it secured. Knuckles slung me over his head, and I crashed into the chains.
I took a few seconds to study Knuckles. We were both assessing our next move. Knuckles still had the arrogance that he was capable of winning with power, and that was his mistake.
Stomping, Knuckles launched a flurry as I climbed the cage walls and jumped from above. My thinner frame swung through his defence, and my fist smashed into his jaw. Using my momentum, I scrambled around the thick body and redid the chokehold. This time I locked it in, and Knuckles scratched at my arms.
In an unexpected move, Knuckles dropped backwards, and the air left my lungs in a wheeze as my back hit the mat.
I let go, and Knuckles rose and slammed me into the floor a second time.
A rib cracked, and I yelped. Anger swept over me. Fuck, I should have expected this. As Knuckles moved to repeat the move, I rolled away and stood. Vicious eyes glared with pure rage. Knuckles was pissed I’d got the lock on.
He launched an uppercut, and it glanced off my chin, rattling teeth. Slasher yelled something from outside, but I ignored him as I focused on the tank bearing down on me. I scissor-kicked as he got close and knocked him back. Knuckles shook it off, attacked, grabbed me in a hold, and threw me into chains again.
The hits were starting to take a toll, but I needed to bring him down now. I rose, slower this time but even more determined not to lose. Taking a chance, I ranand leapt. My fist flew, hitting Knuckles’ eye, and he roared. On a roll, I swept his legs, and Knuckles went down like a tree. Instantly resuming the chokehold, this time I wrenched backwards, arching his spine and stopping him from rolling. Knuckles struggled to break free, and in a quick move, I smashed his face into the mat before reapplying.
Now it was just a matter of time. Slowly, Knuckles faded. Seconds ticked past, and I fought with everything I had to stop being bucked off, but finally Knuckles hit the mat unconscious. The ref declared me the winner, and I rose unsteadily. Knuckles had done damage.
Two black eyes were forming; my cheekbone was shattered, and my jaw felt wrong. My nose had also been broken. In addition, I had at least three cracked ribs, a possible concussion, a sprained wrist, and gashes to my back where the chains had cut into my flesh. But I remained undefeated.
I hobbled over to Slasher as the door opened, and he reached up to help me down the steps. My rapidly swelling eyes landed on Mike standing in the throng, fury burning in his expression.
I nodded before limping away. I think I’d also pulled my hamstring.
“How long did the fight last?” I asked. Yup, my jaw was fucked.
“Twenty minutes,” Slasher replied grimly.
Wow, that long? Hadn’t felt like it. The crowd roared, and I turned and saw Knuckles standing in thering. He raised a fist in respect before his eyes rolled up and he hit the mat hard.
Yeah, as much damage as he’d caused me, I’d returned it. Slasher walked me to the dressing room where Wisecrack was waiting. Instantly, all the pain I felt disappeared as he blocked it. Slasher’s hands glowed blue as he checked me over, seeking the worst injuries.
“How are you breathing?” Slasher snarled as he hovered over my ribs. “One pierced a lung.”
“Can’t feel anything…” I giggled, patting Wisecrack’s hand.
Wisecrack glowered. “What were you thinking? Everyone knows Knuckles is a lunatic!”
“That I could kick his ass, and I did!” I retorted.
“This shit needs to stop,” Wisecrack growled.
I held his gaze. “What shit?” There was a warning in my eyes, but my brother didn’t care.
“You’ve been on this track of destruction ever since…” Wisecrack began and stopped.
“I dare you to say it,” I spat.
Slasher straightened, his glance flicking between us.
“You don’t talk about it.” Wisecrack stayed calm.
“Because I don’t want to. Who says I have to?”
“Bottling it up—”
