One Hundred Tears In The Sunset

Chapter Seventeen

Are we animals?

We shall fight,

We shall win,

Or we will die...

*

The camp was silent. A hollowness seemed to fill the air. Dark grey clouds ready to burst formed above the trees, a cold chill swarmed around the branches. The fire that usually roared was cold and dull. Nothing seemed to move apart from the large tall ginger man who stood in the middle of the camp. His dark gaze was turned up to the sky in wonder. He was an middle aged man with a deep scar running along his neckline which was usually hidden by his shirt collar, today in the grey light it looked purple against his pale skin. Sims caught the first drop of rain on his eye lid. A hundred more drops fell in a crazed thunder, in the deep shadows of the storm it looked like the man was crying. He didn't move, letting the icy drops cling to his skin. Sims was waiting, it wouldn't be long now.

*****

He couldn't move. His hands were tied so tight that the rope dug deeply into his skin, he could feel blood rolling down his fingers. Brooke lifted his aching head. Something was wrong. He couldn't see properly, his vision was blurred, his head thick and dizzy. It felt like he was drunk. Brooke blinked a few times and stared at the stitches on his arm. What the hell had happened? He couldn't remember anything,

"Ya awake at freekin last!" A voice snapped in the dim darkness,

"Clarence? Whart's happaiing..." Brooke slurred he couldn't seem to get the words out, his tongue was thick in his mouth,

"That Sims man has tied us up 'e has the princess and...." The rest of Clarence's words dried out as Brooke remembered in a flash,

"Wa've goot ter gip out." He managed to say,

"There's no point. I heard them talking and their gonna get us in a bit to watch the fight."

"Watch thre fighp? What fighp?" Brooke asked in dread....

******

It seemed fit that it was raining. Hard cold drops of never ending rain. It wouldn't have been right if the heavens were dry. The fabric that was wrapped around her hands would protect her knuckles. That was what Bale had said when he wound it tightly around her. She was sat in a small tree shelter on the borders of the camp. Sims had gave her a shirt and trousers to wear instead of her pale blue dress. The boots which she'd wedged on her feet were too small and dug painfully into her toes. At first when she was alone with Sims, she'd tried to refuse, but the man had only shook his head with a chuckle,

"I got your lad Princess. I got him tied up and drugged up proper. I got the kid as well. So yeah, you're going to fight and you're going to fight good and proper!" He had said,

"But you do not understand! I am ill! I have fever! I have never fought anyone in all my life, I'll lose!"

"Ah you're right lass, but the other camp won't take any other bet, they want a pretty virgin and there aren't many of them around here. I have nothing to loss Princess. You lose? You join my son. You win? I get my son."

"But maybe we could get him? Me and Brooke could go and help him escape?" She'd grabbed his hands and stared in his eyes, "We could do it! Just let Brooke free!" Sims had stared at her with sad eyes,

"I can't risk it Princess. If I could just help him escape I would have done it myself."

"Please Sims. Please, do not make me do this." She had lost all her pride and fell to her knees, begging him but the man only shook his head,

"I'll get Bale in here. Don't worry he won't touch you! I'll have a word. Now rest up, only a few hours left."

And now Teyha sat on a hard wooden chair waiting. She wasn't tied up and no one watched her. I could run. I could run and never look back. But then Sims would never set Brooke or Clarence free and so she stayed in the seat and waited. The day had passed slow with Bale visiting every hour to bring her food. Teyha didn't talk to him, or look at him. She still remembered his cold hands touching her bare skin, it made her feel sick with dread,

"It's t'at one, 'ello pretty!" A loud voice cat called from across the camp breaking into her thoughts. The Princess raised her eyes and stared at the group of men who had stepped into the camp. More followed them. They were large muscled men with bald heads, large beer bellies, and tattoos running along their fat arms,

"Ya wan'ta get dirty with me girl!" Another one shouted. Teyha went to stare back at the floor but a voice filled her mind,

Raise your eyes and meet their dirty glares, girl. You are not weak!

The voice sounded like her Aunt Jenna. She knew it was just herself but the Princess listened to it and lifted her grey eyes back at them. They laughed and pointed at her,

"I think she likes ya!"

You can not act the Princess now Teyha! Think about it. What would Brooke do?

Teyha chuckled with a smirk. She stood up slowly and leaned against the bark of the tree glaring at the men,

"She want's me!" A man pushed his mate and started walking towards her. Teyha felt her gut drop. She almost panicked and fled...

You need to clear your mind Teyha. You need to act not think!

So she kept the smirk on her lips and folded her arms tightly. The Princess detached herself with a simple ease. It was no different from hiding her emotions, it was just acting. The ugly man stood in front of her. His brown rotten teeth in a wide open smile, he smelt of cheese left in the sun,

"''ello girly." He breathed,

"Hello." She said softly. His friends laughed behind him,

"You wanna come back to my tent before the fight?" He laughed. The princess barely blinked when he placed a grubby hand on her shoulder..

Show him no one touches you!

Teyha without even knowing what she was doing lifted the heel of her boots and crashed it between his open legs. The man's face opened in shock, pain and then pure anger,

"You little b***h!" He grabbed her hair and Teyha felt the fear pour back into her,

"Hands off her now Egg." Sims was suddenly behind her glaring at the man. Egg dropped her hair quickly,

"Hey!" He held his hands up, "I was only having some fun and she goes and kicks me where it freeking hurts!"

"Then it's your own fault, go on back into the main camp." The ginger man waved his hands and Egg turned away with a snarl, "I think Princess, that perhaps you are stronger than I first thought. Maybe there is a chance after all." He muttered softly his beady eyes still fixed on the ugly men in wonder.

*****

It was time. The air seemed to hold her breath in wait, but she still cried down a hundred tears of fat falling raindrops. The campers gathered in a circle. They were smiling and cheering. Drinks clasped tightly in their grubby hands, the sickly smell of body odor and vodka filled the camp. Bets were made and shouted into the raining cold air. Women wrapped themselves around the shoulders of beefy men. Teyha couldn't see much from where she stood, only the backs of people as they crowed close together waiting for the fight to begin,

"You'll want to stay out her way and then strike when she least expects it." Sims was muttering softly, his beady eyes searching frantically through the crowds,

"Sims. Please. I am ill." Teyha muttered and tried to fight the overwhelming urge to vomit. Her pulse was racing, her whole body drenched in sweat and rain. The Princess managed to raise her head and search the camp, but she couldn't see the dart of blazing blue eyes,

"You're going to be fine." The man muttered softly and took her arm gently, "I'll let you see your lad before you fight. Perhaps it will give you some strength." Sims lead her carefully and slowly away from the shouting circle and into an almost deserted part of the camp. Teyha's heart hammered with each step she took, "He's in there. Don't try anything funny Princess. You can not escape." She nodded and bent down slowly stepping into the small tent,

"Brooke?" Teyha whispered when she saw him. His hands were tied tightly to a wooden post that was fixed deep in the muddy ground, his whole body was covered in a fine sheen of sweat, blood clinged to his flesh like a second skin, blue eyes open and staring emptily into space. Next to him the slumped figure of Clarence sat, the boy offered a forced smile when he saw her,

"You have to run." Brooke finally whispered and met her gaze, "You have to run now and never look back."

"How can I leave? I can not leave you! " She cried,

"Do not care about me! This is all my fault!" He snarled and turned his eyes from her gaze. The Princess darted forwards and grabbed his wrist softly. She could see now how far the rope had dug in thick blisters and bleeding welts covered them. She hid a shudder. How much pain he must he be in.

"You should not think like that. We will get out of this." She spoke softly,

"No, listen to me Teyha." He raised his blue ocean eyes and met her scared grey ones, "You will run. If you even dare think to fight. I will..." He seemed to struggle to find the words and sighed softly shaking his head, "How do you even think you will win? Have you ever fought before in all your life?"

"I use to watch my father." She muttered softly. Brooke laughed at that,

"Oh well thank god for that! We have a warrior among us! Her this Clarence? Teyha knows how to fight! We're saved!" He laughed again,

"Brooke." The boy blinked, "Don't speak ta the Princess t'at way. She's only trying ta help." Teyha smiled gratefully at Clarence and then turned her gaze on Brooke,

"You're right of course. I will probably lose but I have to try, I am not running." She dropped her fingers from his wrist and turned away,

"Do not do this Teyha!" He called after her,

"You forget. I am already doing this." She said softly not looking back. She couldn't look back or Brooke's endless blue gaze would have made her cry, and I have to stay strong,

"You ready Princess?" Sims said softly when she stepped back out,

"No." She muttered softly but the ginger man didn't hear her,

"The girl your fighting is called Paige but they call her Titanium. She's tough but her last fight has weakened her. Aim for her lower left leg, that's all you need to do and be quick, your speed and size will be a bonus here. She'll tire easily if you keep moving and then bam! Strike her leg."

"Her leg, right." Teyha mumbled. She was composing herself, taking deep breathes and begging her fever would hold off just for a moment, "I am not a damsel in distress." She said louder and Sims looked down at her with a smile,

"That's the spirit girl. OK here we are." They had stepped up to the crowd. A fight was already underway. Two girls were locked deeply into a fierce embrace. Teyha blinked and watched the smaller girl kick out at the large girl and smash her fist against her face. The fight was over in a manner of seconds and the smaller girl rose her tear stained face filled with thousands of cuts and bruises. Black long hair and a small elf face peered back at the crowd. The Princess realised in utter shock it was Rose, her old maid who had escaped,

"We have our winner! Fighting for her freedom and still unbeaten the Black Rose!" A skinny man with long white hair darted into the circle and lifted the small girl's arm. The crowd stamped their feet and cheered loudly. Teyha tried to dart forward and reach Rose but the girl was being led away by a large lady,

"Rose!" She shouted but the crowd was too loud and the maid was gone in seconds,

"You're up now Princess." Sims gripped her hand and pulled her through the roaring crowd. She lifted her gaze and met every eye that started at her. She could hear bets being made against her and with her,

"Now up for the big fight!. Sim's new star fighting to win back his son and the unbeaten warrior fighting for her life! It's gonna be big! Please stamp your feet for Paige The Titanium!" The skinny man was shouting loudly. Teyha closed her eyes

Find your place. Focus. Detach yourself.

"Fight well my girl and we will be rich." Sims grunted and gently pushed her forward into the circle. Teyha stumbled slightly and the crowd laughed. She curse softly under her breath. Great way to start. The girl in front of Teyha was huge. Big boned and looked more of man. She had long bleach blond hair that was tied tightly into a knot and big brown eyes that gazed fiercely down into hers. The crowd was silent as they waited. Teyha took a last breath and it began.

****

They were brought out and tied down on a huge tree. Bale grinned sickly at Brooke,

"So you can be sure to see every punch she gets to her pretty face." He chuckled. Brooke pushed forward in his ropes and almost managed to land a blow to the the man's face but Bale backed away with a laugh,

"You know when she kisses she makes this slight gasp on your lips."

"'e's lying Brooke. He never got a freeking chance to get 'is shitty hands on 'er." Clarence said quickly but it didn't matter to Brooke anymore. A red mist seemed to have clouded his vision. This wasn't suppose to happen...I was suppose to be making her life better!

"She begged me to take her. She said she wanted a real man." Bale mocked. Brooke fought in against the rope but they were too tight. If only I could free just one hand I would be able to get free! "And after this. I will take her and fuc..."

"I will kill you". Brooke said softly. His anger was so raw he found it hard to even think,

"Nope. You won't coz your never getting out of those ropes even if your Princess wins." Bale laughed and turned his gaze to the circle. Teyha was standing and staring at a huge girl, "And so the fight starts. Who do you think will win? I'd like to say Teyha but Titanium has never lost a fight, excuse me gentlemen I want to watch this close up." Bale walked away with a grin. Brooke snarled softly under his breath and pulled at his ropes. He stared up at the fight. The crowd had parted leaving a small gap in the circle, almost as if they wanted him to see the fight. Teyha was standing and staring at Paige with deep dark eyes. Her back was straight, her chin held high. Paige laughed and started running towards Teyha but the Princess ducked and darted away quickly,

"Good girl. Come on Teyha." Brooke muttered softly. He could hardly breath as he watched Paige growl and twist around trying to grab Teyha but again the Princess was too fast and skipped to the other side. The campers laughed loudly as they watched Titanium pound around the circle trying to grab the smaller girl. To someone who didn't know Teyha, she looked like a small warrior but she was acting, Brooke could see it when her grey eyes darted over to him. She was terrified. Paige tried to grab the Princess again but this time Teyha bent and kicked out her small foot landing a solid blow to her leg. Titanium roared and this time when her fat hands reached out they caught the Princess,

"NO!" Brooke shouted and pulled on the ropes. His skin ripped in the process but he hardly felt the pain. Paige laughed loudly, the crowd stamped their feet, Clarence pulled at his ropes as well. At the edge of the campers Sims stood still and watched in silence. His face blank of emotion. Paige lifted Teyha up by her golden hair until the Princess's feet were hovering above the earth. They were eye to eye now, staring at one another in silence. Brooke pulled again and the rope seemed to loosen a tiny bit. Paige grinned showing ugly yellow teeth and held up a fat fist. The crowd screamed in excitement. The noise was deafening and crazed. Teyha kicked out but she couldn't get a decant blow to the other girl and the fist came down on her hard and cold. A loud thundering in the cheering air. Brooke roared but he couldn't get free. If only I could bend my wrist in. I could get free. A sickening idea filled his mind...there is a way...He lifted his head and watched as Paige landed another blow to Teyha's face. A huge bruise had already started to form along her pale cheeks. Brooke closed his eyes.I will have to break my wrist. I should be able to twist my hand out if I could break it. The pain would be bearable he decided, compared to watching Teyha's pain. Brooke gritted his teeth and closed his eyes.

I will do anything to protect her.

***

Teyha closed her grey eyes as the fist slammed down into her face again. She tried to think of something, a plan, but no matter how much she struggled in the other girls grip she couldn't free herself. The crowd was so loud, they were stamping their feet in a crazy roar. There was nothing she could do. Teyha lowered her head in defeat and stared at the earth. Another iron punch slammed into her face. She could feel blood rolling down her cheeks like the tears which she held back,

"I have won!" Paige shouted into the air! Teyha frowned. Did the girl think she had passed out? "I am Titanium!" She roared. The crowd cheered with her. The Princess relaxed fully in the girl's grip. An idea was forming in her mind, it was worth a shot, she had nothing to lose now,

"We have our winner then!" The skinny white haired man shouted above the roaring crowd. Paige laughed and flung Teyha to the earth. The Princess took the blow to the floor. She carefully opened her eyes and watched as Paige turned her back on her and lifted her hands into the air,

"I AM TITANIUM!" She screamed. The Princess pushed her hands up on the earth and shot out quickly. Her leg connected with Paige's leg strong and fierce. The crowd laughed and stamped their feet! They were getting more entertainment! Titanium fell back in shock. A wave of disbelief filled her face as she fell down to the floor clutching her injured leg,

"And I am Teyha, nice to meet you" The Princess said softly. Her whole face was filled in pulsing pain but she managed to smile. Paige roared and slowly got to her feet. She looked like a giant ready to squash the world,

"I will kill you girl!" She jumped forward and Teyha tripped backwards struggling to avoid the huge hands which seized for her. The Princess landed in the crowd and they pushed her forward. Paige grabbed her neck with ease and squeezed tightly, "I will kill you." She hissed again. Teyha couldn't breath, the huge girl was strangling her. Small circles of colours filled her vision, pins and needles pulsed in her body, her head became dizzy. So this is how it ends then. Strange how I once wanted to die once but now I long to live for a few more moments...

The loud clomps of horse shoes on mud filled the air. The hold on Teyha's neck loosened a bit and the Princess managed to suck in a deep breath. The crowd silenced in a swift second,

"It's the bleddy castle guards!" Someone hissed and a thick chaos erupted. The crowd turned and pushed at each other struggling to escape quickly. Panic filled Paige's eyes and she dropped her grip on Teyha making her fall to the ground for the third time.The Princess looked up and saw the dark figures of black horses trotting through the camp. Guards were sat on top of them searching the crowd. It was then she saw him. The black mop of hair and tree green eyes, a look of pure anger on his face as he gazed around the fleeing bodies. Teyha felt fear pulse into her as she waited for Mr Blairs to see her,

"What the hell are you doing?" A dart of blue eyes rushed in front of her. She stared up at Brooke and Clarence who stood beside her, "Come on. We've got to run Teyha, unless, unless you want to go back?" The Princess stared at Brooke with her grey eyes. His hands were bruised and one of them seemed twisted in a wrong angle. Blood was rolling down his arms and face. Beside him Clarence seemed unharmed but his brown eyes were filled with worry,

"Of course I do not want to go back." She whispered and carefully got to her feet,

"Then we have to run, now."