Knuckle Up

Prologue

The dangers of life rest in the palm of our hands. We control the outcome and presence of what we want. Every hand we shake is a new adventure or a painful goodbye.

My fists have always been my answer to every bad day or moment where I feel hopeless and afraid. It’s the burning ambition I’ve been given by the gods of Martial Arts. I shared nights fighting men who believed I was just another girl with a broken heart from a lover but they didn’t know my story. How could they when my fists knocked them out cold?

“Sounds like you are fighting a newcomer who decided he is tough enough to face the wrath of Athena,” Coach Mason said stepping inside the locker room.

"What happened to the guy who paid money and had a big mouth of him?" They are always very vocal about winning but their opinions walk very hastily out of the room when our fists clash.

"Apparently, you are not worth his time," Coach Mason noted with a smirk and swift raise of his shoulder like he thinks the guy is running scared of me.

"But I am worth the time to a newcomer who has never even heard of "the great Athena," I used my fingers as air quotes.

I was the wild child in the underground and many were brave to face me. They learned their lesson very quickly and some gave their respect but the rest couldn't move on fast enough that their asses got handed to them by a girl.

"He agreed on the full price to face you," He assured me.

I tried not to be smug about it when I responded to his reassurance. "So, this guy truly believes he can beat me?" I was curious about this fighter.

Coach Mason lifted his shoulders. "He really wants to go toe to toe with Athena,"

"Well, then. Let's go make their dreams come true," I rechecked my gloves and gave a few, quick jabs

“I wish we can get you out of the underground,” It's been coach Mason's dream to get me signed. We've competed in various, small arranged fight together and has done well. I just didn't feel ready to fight in championship fights. The media gets involved and everyone suddenly are investigators.

I shrugged. "Can we not go there again?" Here, in the underground, I can be whoever I want and choose to be Athena.

"The president of UFC is already asking out about who this mysterious, Athena fighter is,"

“My family name is a curse and there is no way I am going to use it to get forward in life,” I was going to reach my success by doing it the right way. Other fighters can achieve greatness without having to be legacies.

"You can't always fight in the underground. You have to get you out there," Coach Mason was determined to get me signed.

“Why says I can't?" Throughout my whole childhood, I was kept from doing what I want. I had to sneak out just to compete in kickboxing. I was done with that life when I moved out of my parent's home.

“You've got serious skill, Sabrina. The type of skills, famous fighting companies like UFC want," Coach argued still trying to convince me to rethink my decisions.

“For now, I am good with where I am," I slipped my mouthguard into my mouth and stepped out of the locker room when I got called and I was met by an acclamation of fans who were Athena fans.

There wasn’t much of a ring to fight in since it’s underground and this is pretty much illegal. People form a circle and if they don’t move out of the way quick enough, they get hammered as well. There were no rules except for no cheating but who needs to bend the rules when you’ve got fists and poise?

“So, where’s the so-called guy I am fighting?” I asked Coach Mason gazing through the well-accumulated crowd.

“There,” The coach pointed at someone from the crowd and I couldn’t make out his face until he slowly started to emerge from the crowd.

My arms fell at my sides when familiar hazel brown eyes met mine and I didn’t know if this was some kind of joke or if my boss was really going to scuffle around with me.

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