Mum enjoyed the birthday cake, and I went to bed with a strand of silver wrapped around my wrist and my heart.
I’d always shied away from anything that could be interpreted as a date with Maddison. But now, nervous energy infused my body at what might happen. Sure, there had been the occasional party and other ‘social’ thing that I’d showed my face at. But overall, I didn’t like crowds of people or many people in general.
But there was something different about tonight. Like it was due to me—to us—or something.
Maddison picked me up, and we drove to town. Not a part I was familiar with, but whatever. Black fitted jeans, my one and only ‘pretty’ top, and the single pair of heels I owned would have to do. But as we walked to the venue, my concern about dress code morphed into a new worry.
There weren’t people lurking at the entrance, no line to get in and wait, just a black door, a small shutter like a letterbox, and that was it. No signage or flashing neon, no carpet, or any of the other trappings I’d have expected at a club.
Maddison knocked on the door and waited. The shutter slid open, and two beady eyes peeked out. They took one look at Maddison before disappearing again. The lock snicked and preceded the door opening. Maddison pulled me through into darkness.
We were surrounded by a gloom that took my eyes a while to adjust to. The low-level thud of music echoed through the walls. Maddison grabbed my hand and gripped it tightly in his. The action transported me back to our first day at school together. It immediately set my pulse racing in panic at what we were walking into. This wasn’t a usual club and nothing like I was expecting from our night out.
After weaving through the dark corridor that seemed to have a steady gradient upward, we came out in a large room, where music emanated. A bar lined the back wall, and the space seemed to be built on layers. My eyes rushed around, trying to take everything in. Maddison pulled us over to one of the railings that looked down on the levels below, and right in the centre was a ring of sorts.
“Come on, let me get you a drink.” Maddison pulled me over to the bar on our level, and my feet dutifully followed.
“This isn’t quite what I was expecting, Mads.” I kept my hand firmly wrapped in his.
“I wanted to show you where I might be soon.”
“What do you mean?”
“Here. I’ve got a job here. Got to start making money somehow.” He smiled at me before ordering two beers.
The music thudded through the walls, limiting any conversation to a few shouted sentences.
I leaned into Mads, wanting to get some answers. “What is this place?”
“It’s a club. I told you.”
“But it’s not got a dance floor.”
“It’s just got a different clientele. Stop worrying.” He leaned back on the bar and looked… different here. His confidence was like a shield around him, and instead of looking nervous and intimidated by this place, he was soaking it in. The boy I knew so well was very much the man he’d grown into here. And he fit in. He’d ruled the sports field and the school corridors, so why should it be different out here?
He nodded his head to the side and took my hand. Again, I squeezed his hand, making sure he didn’t lose me in the dark. He made his way down a couple of levels, and the ring I could see from the top became clearer. It was a cage on a platform with space for people to watch from the level above.
“What’s this for?” I asked as Mads seemed to have stopped leaning over to watch the empty ring.
“It’s a fight ring.”
“A what?” I shrieked, although it didn’t carry in here with all the noise.
“A fight ring. People go up against each other, place bets, and drink. It’s what this place is about.”
“Is that safe?” It was the first question of many out of my mouth. “This, I don’t…” I started to look around again and noticed some of the other patrons. There was a mix of mostly men, some in suits, some in leather, and all gathering.
I pulled Maddison’s attention, forcing him to look at me. “Is there a fight tonight?”
“Yeah. I thought it would be cool.” I could see from his face that he was fired up to see what was coming. Even in the shadows, his eyes glinted with excitement.
Before I could protest, a roar went up around us, drowning out the music. There was no announcement or fanfare like a boxing match on TV. Maddison pulled me closer to him and put his arm around my shoulder.
We both watched as two guys made their way into the ring. They were bare-chested and wore dark shorts with strappings decorating their hands and knees. The men started to circle each other, sizing the other up. The din quietened, all eyes now looking down on the spectacle below.
The first guy stepped forward and swung his arm, connecting to the other’s jaw. A spray of liquid spluttered out as his head snapped around. I looked away, hiding against Maddison.
I don’t want to be here.
Watching someone beat up another person was not what I’d wanted from tonight. I thought we’d go to a club, have a drink or two, dance, and laugh. “I want to go.”
Maddison didn’t hear me but continued to watch below.
“Mads, listen. I want to go.” I tugged on his arm, but he brushed me off, keeping his attention on the fight below.
With my stomach churning and fear ready to overrun my bloodstream, I took a step away from Mads, sure that I could make it back out without him.
“I’m going!” I screamed at him. He finally heard me, and his face morphed from excitement, to worry.
My feet inched back, but I bumped into another spectator, and I turned so that I didn’t run into anyone else. I walked back through the people who seemed to have appeared from nowhere. I ducked and dived, back up the levels until I saw the bar, then around the edge and into the entrance of the corridor.
I took a breather before going farther and looked back. Maddison was a few feet behind me, following in my path. Relief flooded me but didn’t calm the shakes that now wrecked me.
“Come on.” He’d caught up with me, pulled me against him and led me out.
When we were out in the open, I took a deep, calming breath. “Take me home.”
Maddison at least agreed with no argument. He nodded and pulled me against him again. As we walked back to the car, I could feel his heartbeat keeping time as I rested my head against his chest. I focused on the rhythm and let it calm my racing heart.
We sat in the car, and I waited for him to start driving. “I’m sorry.”
“Okay.”
We didn’t say anything else the entire ride home. My fingers fiddled with the small cat on my wrist, smoothing it in between my thumb and forefinger. All I wanted to do was bolt from the car and run back to my room where I could forget about watching people throwing punches for fun.
“Hey, I’m sorry.” As if he knew my intention, Maddison took my arm before I could flee the car. “Look at me,” he pleaded. I raised my eyes to his, and I saw the confusion and worry there. “Are we okay?”
“Just, don’t take me back there. I wanted a date for my birthday, not a fight.” I pulled away and opened the door. And I realised that it wasn’t just the fight or the place. It was the disappointment of the non-date. I’d finally agreed to let Mads take me out, and it was an epic failure. And worse, what on earth had Mads got himself mixed up in?