Chapter 32
The Three Rules of Pit Club
I was huddled in my corner, just watching the events unfold. With so many new people all around, one couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated by how there were so many people that suddenly came from out of the wood works.
“Can’t believe they let us use the real arena this time,” the giant Mountain of a man from last night called out, apparently he was Mousey’s uncle?
“Yeah, you know why though, right?” Speedy Slovak, the guy who had fought with and nearly lost his hand to the monster of a man replied.
“Yes, because they want us to go all out. They even have the special clear shielding in place to protect the crowd should Skills go wild.” Another fighter chimed in, though I did not know who he was, most likely new.
“Well yes, that is why we can go all out. But the real reason we are allowed to go all out, is because of her,” Speedy Slovak said and pointed at me and my entourage in the corner. I was there in the corner, my head on a swivel, while Mr. Yi and Markan stood protectively in front of me, arms crossed over their massive chests glaring down anyone.
“Wait a minute,” Slovak said as something apparently chose that moment to come to his mind. Then apparently not seeing the two guards, or not caring about their opinions, Slovak got up and carefully edged his way closer. Though he made sure not to get close enough to make either of my two protectors feel the need to shove him away. That’s when he slightly hunched down so he could lock gazes with me.
I stared at him like he was crazy, and I was trying to understand what exactly he was doing.
“Yeah, that’s her!” Slovak shouted out back to his friends. Then yelling to everyone he continued, “she’s the real deal. She reattached squeezy.”
Then proceeded to move about and wave his left hand wildly.
“Oh good, you mean she made you twice as likely to get lucky tonight?” A burly fighter who had a spiked red mohawk and eye liner going. He better hope he doesn’t sweat, otherwise that looks like it will be painful. Still, he apparently understood the pageantry part of these games.
“Exactly,” Slovak responded, adding to the joking atmosphere and overall getting most of the males who were in the common room to relax and laugh wildly.
From there, their comments got more and more crude, which was why I started thinking back to what was said. There was something, one of their comments seemed to hint that this was actually a second, apparently larger staging area? Maybe yesterday’s venue was smaller due to the expected smaller draw on a Thursday night? I don’t know, I’m just here, apparently.
The entire time I was in the corner, Death Machine, aka my music teacher Madame Voyou, just stayed at the far end of the room. Apparently, she wanted nothing to do with me. That or she was psyching herself up for her matches? I didn’t know.
As time went by, more and more people filled the area, causing the once large buffer zone that separated people from Markan and Mr. Yi to gradually decrease, until finally they were right on top of me.
“Hey is that her?” A younger looking warrior called out. He looked somewhat familiar, as if he was a graduating Senior from last year, but I didn’t really know.
“Yes, that’s her,” the members who had heard Slovak’s comments from earlier noted.
With that, the former Senior got close and again exaggeratedly crouched down to look me in the eyes. Come on, I know my hood goes over my head a bit, but this is excessive. Still, he locked gazes with me, and for a second I saw the look of dawning realization flood his face. Just when I thought he was going to out me for being in his same school from last year, thus blowing my whole cover, he hits me with a sucker punch.
“Yeah, those are the most amazing eyes I have ever seen,” the Senior says, and then reaches into his waistline for a silver coin that just happened to be right there. At which point, he proceeds to go over to one of Slovak and hand him the silver piece. “You were right, here it was worth being wrong.”
Looking at the obvious pickup line, I just shake my head. That line was so old it should have died in my past life.
“Told ya,” Slovak crooned excitedly as he held up the same sliver coin. Then he too proceeded to put it directly into his waistline.
BLEH!
Who would put coins in their underwear like they are a cheap gum dispenser? I think to myself as I just hope this ends quickly.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Of course, almost as if reading my mind, that is when Salvatore, the announcer along with the two ring girls comes in.
“Hey, quiet down, quiet down,” Salvatore, or Sal as he likes to be called, gestured with one hand then waited until everyone was quiet, before beginning.
“All right, as you can see today’s competitions are on a grander stage. In addition to the prizes for winning your fights and moving on, the Imperial Army is here scouting for talents. They apparently have ten officer ranks available, along with a few dozen lower enlisted spots as well. The top ten winners of the tournament will be given a shot at those ten officer spots, first. From there it will go on to how well everyone does if they open up more slots.”
Clamor.
At that comment, everyone took in one loud breath, which seemed to have been amplified in the confined room.
“Don’t worry, again you will all get paid, and the military choices are optional, but they are there. Of course, this means that while you can go all out, use your Skills freely, no dirty or late hits. There are generals, and high-ranking dignities here with their kids.” A slight pause, before he notes, “there are also dignitaries from other countries as well, which means we have to put on our best show. To show the world what the PIT CAN OFFER!”
“HARUAHH!”
With that, everyone cried out in some sort of ritualistic chant for the Pit. Not going to lie, I slightly jumped at how loudly and decisively everyone replied in unison to the command. Fortunately, the hood and covering robe kept my shock mostly hidden.
“That said, as you can see there are a lot of fights that need to be run through today. The matches and draws were random, and have been pasted on the board.” Sal said, while gesturing to the large board in the back.
“All winners from yesterday are in the upper tier, and will receive a first round bye. All losers from yesterday find themselves in the main brackets of today. Today, everyone starts off fresh for this new lineup.” A slight pause as he stresses.
“Again though, no playing around. No cheap blows. No pageantry, we don’t have time for you to play with you food. If you have the match, win the match.” With that last comment Sal seems to lock gazes directly with Johny, who had won the match, but then almost lost it due to not taking the fight seriously.
“For many this will be your first time here, it can be intimidating. Take your time to calm down as you walk to stage. And know that we have the best damn Healer I have seen in the past ten years right here. We also have Madame Bloom in the audience should anything get too crazy.” Sal stated.
Hearing his words, I felt both uplifted by the compliment, then brought back down to earth by the comment about Madame Bloom being here. Yes, I too can feel a bit of relief knowing that I am not alone, but not going to lie, the thought of needing her did sting a little. At least, it did at first, until I looked around and saw how many people were here, and that it might not be so bad to need help today.
Then as a final word, Sal added, “should you have any questions, or concerns, bring them up to my two girls Lucia, and Luna.” He said, pointing first to the blond ring girl, then to the dark-haired ring girl. “They are my two assistants for a reason. Anything they say goes. They tell you to leave, leave. They tell you to stop, stop. They tell you to leave via the common exits, you do.”
A slight pause, before Sal added, “a reminder, if they tell you to leave via the common exits you have been kicked out of the Pit, all earnings to that point will be forfeit, and you will be blacklisted from ever coming back here.”
“Now, you can tell me the three rules of the Pit that we must follow so you are not forced to leave via the common exit?” Sal asked.
Then as one they began to speak the rules out loud. Rules that were apparently on the wall behind Sal that he was now pointing to.
“Follow all directions given.
Do not flirt with the Ring Girls.
Do not harass the Healer.”
I could be wrong, but it seems like that last line was added recently, as the paint for that line seemed a lot more vibrant than the other two slightly faded lines above it. If it was new, then I could feel somewhat flattered by its addition. As it did seem like things were progressing quickly now that they had me. That or, they didn’t want Madame Bloom to get mad and leave, as she was likely the real reason why we were now in this updated building. Having her in the stands was a true testament to why we had apparently upgraded our surroundings.
“Any questions?” Sal asked.
Silence.
“Good,” Sal responded after a single one count, “I’m going out there to start everything up. Contestants get ready to go when the match before you is called. We will be going two male contests then one female, to stagger the matches. Use this time to go to the restroom or use any amenities. First timers, I’d advise you not to eat or drink. Nothing is more embarrassing than losing while being covered in your own vomit. Except for of course, winning and still being covered in your own vomit.”
BLEH!
I was not the only one who had that same reaction. While I would definitely get rid of the mess, with my Trash Skill, the optics would be bad.
“All right, with that great mental image, I will trust you all to act like adults back here waiting for your chance to shine.” Sal stated. While it was clear that a few bulkier people were gathered as support staff, the number of staff members to contestants was extremely lopsided. Meaning that if the contestants did decide to go wild, there would be little the staff could do to prevent complete anarchy.
“Girls,” Sal began, calling the two ring girls, Lucia and Luna to attention, before bowing gracefully to me and adding “and Madame Healer, please be ready to leave in five. You will be the introduction.”
As Sal went to go up the scaffolding to the announcer’s booth, I could finally hear a dull musical number being played. Then as soon as Sal opened the curtain, allowing waves of focused lights to shine on him, the crowd erupted.
Upbeat music.
Then almost instantly the sound of what had to be a live band started playing. The same way a college football game would have from my past life. Mentally I wondered if anyone from my school was here playing? Then shook my head against that, as this would likely be from the war college, or a professional band brought in to add ambiance to this event. Maybe they were from royalty and dignitaries that were in the stands.
“Have you come to be entertained!” Sal’s electric voice boomed out over the packed arena.
“YEAH!”
The crowd responded, and I could all but feel the force of their excitement behind that chant, all directed at Sal. While closing the curtain behind him did limit some of the noise, the vibrations and tremors that began to form from so many excited people all cheering in unison could be heard.
I was so lost in my own little world, trying to calm my own heart against the intense vibrations of the crowd, that I almost missed the moment when the two ring girls, Lucia and Luna, came to get me. I kept repeating their names in my head each time I saw them, trying to remember them.
“Come on, it’s almost time.” Lucia, the blond called out reaching past Malkan and Mr. Yi to grab me. Luna, not to be outdone grabbed my free right hand, once Lucia managed to work me past my two protectors. Then the five of us began making our way through the crowd. Lucia and Luna effortlessly guiding people out of our way, as Markan and Mr. Yi held up the rear.
That’s where we stood. For a moment I wondered how the girls would know when it was time for us, but the music being played made it easy to know our cue.
Slowly dying drum rattle.
Silence.
Then Lucia said the three words that would truly set off this night of chaos and anarchy.
“It’s go time!” Lucia screamed excited.
Then like that the curtain was moved, revealing a sea of blinding lights all directed at me.
Lucia screamed excitedly as she and Luna half-dragged, half-pulled me through the curtain into a bright wave of light that seemed to blind me almost instantly. I almost stumbled at the lights, but fortunately Lucia and Luna’s grips on my arm kept me from stumbling and falling right then and there.
Their bodies moving gracefully down the smooth ramp that I know for a fact I would have tumbled down head over keister on, had they not stabilized me.
Blinking a few times, I finally managed to get my eyes to adjust, only to almost lock up in fright at just how many people were in this newer and apparently much larger arena.
While the last place we were in held thousands, this one held tens of thousands of people easily. And unlike the other one, this one was above ground. Where people would fight below the stars and the Gods alike.
per day, until our reign on the top 50 stops.
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