Blood and Silver

The Predator and the Prey

I woke up the next morning, okay maybe it was the afternoon already, groaning as a I crawled out of bed. I barely had time to shower and scarf down the last of my cereal before pulling on my uniform and running towards the subway station for work.

The diner was packed that night, the scent of grease and burnt coffee thick in the air. The hum of conversation mixed with the sizzling of the grill, and my sneakers stuck to the tile with every step. It was the kind of place that had character—the neon sign flickering out front, the torn vinyl booths patched with duct tape, and the regulars who had been coming in long before I started working here.

"Hey, sweetheart, coffee here’s colder than my ex-wife’s heart!" Frank, one of the regulars, barked from his usual stool at the counter. He was a trucker, always reeking of motor oil and cheap cigarettes, at least always leaving an extra five bucks to make up for his mouth.

I forced a tight smile, grabbing the pot and refilling his cup. "Maybe your ex-wife just had good taste."

Reese, my coworker, snorted from behind the counter but wisely kept his mouth shut. Frank cackled and took a long sip, smacking his lips. "You’re a feisty one. Wouldn’t last a day on the road." He leaned over twirling a lock of my long, dark hair between his fingers.

"Thank God for that," I muttered under my breath, grabbing another order and heading toward a table in the corner. The hours dragged by, and my shift ended just before midnight. My muscles ached, and my head was pounding, but I didn’t go home. Not yet.

The underground fight ring isn’t exactly legal, but that’s never stopped me before. Hidden beneath a rundown bar on the outskirts of the city, it’s a place where rules don’t exist and the strong thrive. I strip off my diner uniform in the grimy locker room, swapping it for black sportswear, wrapping my hands in tape with practiced ease.

“Back again, Voss?” A familiar voice calls from the doorway. Nate, the ring’s unofficial organizer, leans against the frame with a smirk. He’s built like a linebacker, all muscle and bad decisions.

“Couldn’t resist,” I reply, cracking my knuckles. “Got someone for me tonight?”

He chuckles. “There’s a new guy looking to prove himself. Think you can take him?”

I roll my shoulders, adrenaline already pumping. “Only one way to find out.”