After She Falls by Carmen Schober

Author:Carmen Schober
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Contemporary;Christian fiction;FIC042040;FIC042100;FIC027020
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2021-09-28T00:00:00+00:00

13

ADRI PEERS THROUGH TWO THICK BLACK CURTAINS. Max stands behind her, his eyes also fixed on the stage where fighters weigh in. The walls rumble as rap music fills the convention center, and a man with a slick voice officiates.

“Let’s hear it for the challenger, Tamie ‘Tornado’ Ross!”

Adri’s nerves surge. The packed crowd cheers as Tamie, a young, tan blonde with impossibly long legs, walks onto a crowded stage plastered with sponsor posters. There, she teasingly strips off her Daisy Dukes to reveal her perfectly muscled body, which is barely covered by a pink bikini. When an official announces her weight, she blows a kiss to more wild applause.

Max nudges her. “You and Renux are next.”

She exhales. Between hunger pains, soreness, and anticipation, her nerves are raw. When the song changes, signaling her entrance, she looks up at him uneasily, but he gives her a reassuring smile.

“Relax. This is the fun part.” He flashes her his most serious face and makes her laugh. “You just go out there and look mean.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time for our co-main event of the evening—the Women’s Strawweight Bout between Adri Rivera and former Coronet Flyweight Champion Sabine Renux!”

Max’s grip tightens on her shoulder as the crowd cheers. The man with the microphone glances in her direction.

“Introducing the challenger, Adri ‘La Tormenta’ Rivera!”

Applause mingles with boos as Adri walks through the curtain, but they sound strangely muffled, thanks to her nerves. Max follows closely behind, and she’s never been more thankful for his steadying presence. All eyes are fixed on them as she peels off her jacket and steps on the scale in a black sports bra and leggings. On the scale, she has a clear view of the vast room. At least two hundred faces stare back at her, interspersed with camera operators and officials.

“One hundred and fifteen pounds!”

More applause, followed by more boos as music vibrates beneath their feet. She breathes a sigh of relief and takes her place beside Max as the official takes the microphone again.

“And now, the champion, Sabine ‘Medusa’ Renux!”

The applause is louder as Renux approaches the stage, followed by her team of coaches, all clad in matching athletic apparel.

“She’s big,” Max says, almost too quietly for her to hear. His voice holds a hint of concern.

Adri keeps her face expressionless as Renux walks to the scale, but her heart thuds so hard it hurts. Renux is a much older fighter at age thirty-eight, but her body is as impressive as ever as she strips off a designer track suit. She’s built more thickly than Adri, and her short hair is slicked back, revealing a sharp chin and dark, confident eyes. She grins at the enthusiastic crowd.

“Face off, ladies!”

Adri meets Sabine in the middle of the stage where they face each other. Adri makes her face as smooth as stone—something Roman taught her to do a long time ago—but Sabine stares back at her with a confident smirk that has its intended effect. They break away, and Sabine turns to her coaches, while Adri turns to Max.

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