(S1) Chapter 10 - Keep your Hands up
“Let’s go!”
“Kick her in the face!”
“Keep your guard up!”
The roar of the crowd surged through the arena like a crashing wave. Voices shouted from every direction beyond the octagon fence, echoing beneath the blazing overhead lights.
The ring glowed under the spotlights, ensuring that no matter how far someone sat in the stadium, they could see the two fighters inside.
Ava ignored the noise completely.
Her sharp violet eyes focused on a single thing—the movement of her opponent.
Across from her stood a woman with tightly braided blond hair, wearing a black sports bra and black-and-red shorts decorated with the sneering face of an oni demon.
The woman moved constantly, shifting her feet left and right, forward and back.
Ava circled slowly.
Patient.
Measured.
Like a panther stalking prey.
The moment the woman stepped back—
Ava exploded forward.
The woman reacted instantly. Her leg snapped upward in a lightning-fast kick aimed straight for Ava’s head.
Ava ducked.
The kick passed inches above her face, cutting the air with enough force that she felt the cold breeze it left behind.
The failed strike twisted the woman’s body into an awkward position.
That was all Ava needed.
She lunged behind her opponent, locking both arms around the woman’s torso. Ava hooked her own leg behind the woman’s ankles and yanked backward.
The woman lost her balance.
Ava slammed her to the mat.
Bang!
The crowd erupted in cheers as Ava immediately mounted her opponent and began hammering punches toward her head.
To the woman’s credit, she fought back fiercely. Her arms snapped up to guard her face while she twisted her head side to side, trying to avoid the worst of the blows.
Three clean strikes slipped through the defense.
Each punch slammed the woman’s head against the padded floor.
Still, the woman managed to hook her leg around Ava’s waist and twist sharply, making Ava lose balance.
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The woman rolled, attempting to reverse the position and climb on top.
But Ava reacted faster.
She drove a brutal kick into the woman’s stomach.
The impact sent her opponent stumbling backward across the mat.
Ava surged to her feet.
Before the woman could fully stand, Ava rushed forward and threw a powerful right hook.
Her fist connected squarely with the woman’s chin, making her collapse onto all fours.
Ava didn’t stop.
She rained punches down until the referee rushed in and grabbed her from behind.
“That’s it! That’s it!”
The referee waved his arms.
The match was over.
Ava stepped away, breathing heavily as the referee signaled the end of the fight.
She raised both hands into the air.
The adrenaline of victory surged through her veins as the crowd roared for her first win.
?
Ava stepped out of the cage where Coach Pierce was already waiting.
“That was a great fight, kid!” he shouted over the cheering crowd. “Great fight!”
Ava grinned widely around her black mouthguard.
She inhaled slowly through her nose, trying to calm the pounding rhythm of her heart.
Together, she and Coach Pierce pushed through the crowd toward the locker rooms.
Once they entered the hallway, the deafening noise of the arena faded into a distant murmur.
Security guards walked beside them, keeping fans from approaching.
Coach Pierce opened the locker room door.
Inside, a man in a white suit and matching hat sat calmly on one of the benches.
As if he had been waiting.
Coach Pierce immediately bristled.
“Who the hell let this man in? Sec—”
Before he could finish, Ava raised a hand.
“It’s okay, Coach Pierce.”
She removed her mouthguard and nodded toward the man.
“He’s my uncle. Can you give us a minute?”
Pierce raised an eyebrow, clearly confused, but eventually nodded.
“I’ll be right outside if you need me.”
He stepped out and shut the door behind him.
Leaving them in awkward silence.
Only the faint, distant roar of the arena filtered through the walls.
The man in the white suit smiled warmly.
“That was a great fight, Ava. You’ve really grown over the years.”
Ava crossed her arms and studied him.
It was impossible to miss the wealth surrounding him.
Even standing still, he looked expensive.
“It’s good to see you, Uncle Colin,” she said. “Honestly, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”
Colin opened his mouth to respond—
—but suddenly doubled over in a violent coughing fit.
Ava quickly grabbed a bottle of water from a nearby table and handed it to him.
He took a few careful sips before the coughing eased.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
Ava nodded.
“So what brings you here, Uncle Colin?”
Colin smiled.
“Can’t I come watch my niece’s first UFC fight?”
Ava raised an eyebrow.
“I’m surprised you even knew about it.”
“If you told your father, he would have came too,” Colin replied.
Ava stiffened.
“Why didn’t you tell your father?”
She shrugged.
“He didn’t care when Mom left. Why would he care now?”
Colin removed his hat and sat down slowly. His blond hair fell across his shoulders like waves of gold.
“He was going through a difficult time.”
Ava’s eyes flashed.
“He wasn’t the only one.”
Colin raised both hands.
“I’m not here to talk about that. That’s something you and Henry need to work out.”
“Then why are you here?” Ava asked coldly. “And don’t say it was just to watch my fight.”
Colin studied her carefully.
“I did come to watch your fight. But I also came for another reason.”
“What reason?”
“You’ve been discouraging your father from playing the game.”
“I’m not discouraging him,” Ava snapped. “I’m waking him up to reality.”
Colin sighed.
“No, Ava. You’re making him doubt himself. You’re making him want to turn back instead of moving forward.”
“What are you talking about?” she shot back. “He’s still level zero after a week. How can someone move forward if they refuse to move at all?”
Colin wiped his face with a handkerchief.
“I think I’m a little overdressed for this place.”
Ava frowned at the sudden shift in topic but still pressed on.
“If he’s doing nothing in the game, he should quit.”
Colin’s expression hardened.
“Your father is doing more than you know.”
Ava stepped back slightly, surprised by the sharpness in his voice.
“But what do you know, Ava?” he continued. “You read a few articles online and now you think you understand everything?”
The surprise quickly turned into anger.
“You’re right,” she said bitterly. “I don’t know much about the game.”
Her voice rose.
“I’m too busy living in the real world while Dad hides in a fantasy one!”
She took a breath before continuing.
“But I do know this—you’re the reason he lost his job!”
Colin’s gaze remained steady.
“I was helping him.”
“How?” Ava demanded. “By buying Uncle George’s shop and leaving him unemployed so he can play games with you all day?!”
“He needed to move forward,” Colin replied calmly. “That job was holding him back.”
“And now he’s doing the same thing in the game!” Ava snapped. “What’s the difference?”
Colin glanced at his watch and stood up.
“I need to leave soon.”
He paused.
“But before I go, how about a bet?”
“A bet?”
Colin nodded.
“I want you to join us in game. I want you to see him improve for yourself. If Henry is truly doing his best—and if the game is helping him change—you have to continue to play the game wits us .
Ava folded her arms.
“And if it’s not?”
“Then I’ll convince him to quit,” Colin said. “And I’ll give him the business I bought from George.”
Ava studied him carefully.
“I’ll think about it.”
Colin handed her a small card.
“If you decide to take the bet, call me.”
He walked toward the door, but before leaving, he paused.
“You’ve grown into a strong and beautiful woman, Ava. Your dad would be proud.”
He opened the door and looked back.
“Give your father a chance. You might be surprised.”
Then he left.
The door clicked shut behind him.
Ava sank slowly onto the bench, her shoulders slumping.
Reaching into her gym bag and she pulled out a photograph torn in half.
Her father stood in the picture, smiling while holding her as a child.
His other arm wrapped around someone—
But that half had been ripped away.
Ava stared at the photograph.
Then at the card in her hand.
