“Where are you going?” I ask with a smile on my lips. I’m learning a lot about myself the last few days, one of which is that I am insatiable when it comes to this man. And orgasms. I’m pretty big on those.
“Pit Battle today,” he comments as he begins to pull on his clothes, the lightheartedness to his tone gone. “You should stay in here.”
I frown. I vaguely remember him saying something about that happening but honestly, I’ve been so distracted I hadn’t thought about it. I don’t really want to sit around all day if he’s not here.
“Who’s fighting?” I ask, even though I likely won’t know those involved. He freezes for a moment before continuing to pull on a shirt. I sigh, missing the sight of his glorious back already.
“Cole and Marco,” he says. I wrinkle my nose. I don’t know who Marco is, but I’ll cheer for anyone going up that tattooed asshole, Cole.
“Why?”
Ax shrugs as he sits down and begins to lace up his heavy boots. “Marco challenged Cole after Cole fucked up one of his guys.”
“Fucked up how?”
Again, Ax hesitates, and I snort.
“I’m not some delicate flower, Ax. What did Cole do?”
“Raped his friend before skinning him alive and giving him to our resident cannibal, Chip. Likely what he would have done to you that day if I hadn’t come along.” I feel some of the blood rush from my face. Then I think of how big a bullet I dodged.
“Are you fucking serious?” I exclaim. “Why the fuck did Marco challenge him then? How is Cole allowed to get away with that shit?”
I see a flash of annoyance in his eyes. “Who do you think is going to stop him? It’s the Tomb, babe. Shit happens, and we sort it in The Pit. Way it’s always been done.”
“Well, I kinda figured you would stop him since you’re supposed to be the leader and shit,” I comment. His annoyance quickly turns to anger.
“What do you know about it?” He scowls.
“Little girl comes into the fucking Tomb and thinks it’s going to be all roses and rainbows, huh? That someone couldn’t fucking kill you at any turn with no repercussions. This is The Tomb, baby. Get used to it.”
Fury rises up inside of me and it takes a moment to formulate words, my mouth needing to catch up with the anger I’m feeling.
“Who the fuck are you calling little girl?” I say, jumping to my feet despite my nakedness. He looks me up and down and smirks and heat rises to my face.
“I call ‘em like I see ‘em,” he retorts, and I don’t hesitate to reach out punch him. Hard. He turns his head back to me with gritted teeth, reaching out and grabbing my chin. I struggle in earnest, unlike last night there is nothing sexy about this.
“You know nothing about what it’s like to try to lead these savages,” he grits out as I push back, finally breaking free. My chest is heaving, I don’t remember the last time I was this pissed off.
“I know a real fucking leader doesn’t do nothing when his people are brutally fucking murdered,” I hiss back at him. His jaw clenches and we stand off staring at one another.
“Don’t you fucking dare leave,” he finally says, stomping off and slamming the door behind him. I let out something between a scream and a huff, unable to contain all the anger inside of me.
No wonder Cole and his fucking guys do this shit. There’re no goddamn consequences! What the hell is the point of having a leader if they don’t do shit. I stomp around the room, picking up and putting down objects at random as I try to get a grip on myself.
I’ve been in such a haze of orgasms the last few days I’ve completely ignored the fact I’m with someone no better than the rapists and murderers in this place. Guilt replaces my anger as I realize after all of Josh’s training and his sacrifice, I’ve ended up whore to a despicable man. Shame fills me at the thought. I haven’t even thought about trying to get out of here in days. I’m the pathetic little girl relying on a man to save me. If I’m being real with myself, I think that’s why I am really angry.
Josh’s sacrifice means nothing if I spend my life here, whatever short life I’ll have left, if I can’t find a way to escape.
Shouts and cheers from the yard bring me back to the moment and I realize the battle must be starting. With renewed determination, I scrounge around the room until I find a random shirt and rip it to shreds, creating a new wrap for my chest. I dress as quickly as possible, tossing a couple apples into my pockets.
First, I’m going to find Theo. I need one ally in this place that doesn’t only want me for my body. Then, I will start to work on my escape. I don’t need Axle for this, I’ve done fine on my own all these years.
I stride out of the room with confidence, resisting the urge to peer over and see what’s happening below. Ax did say Pit Battles were to the death. I suppose it would be too much to hope that Cole will lose. The corridors seem barren of life, and I assume everyone is below watching. Hopefully Theo is around.
I find him outside his cell, looking down on the yard below. He glances at me only briefly before bringing his attention back to the battle.
“Who’s winning?” I say as I step up beside him.