“Keep your guard up,” I hear Linc roar at Sage just outside the cage. Linc has a good angle to see that Cyrus had edged his foot up onto the cage wall. And just before Sage lands another haymaker that should have put Cyrus on the mat, the heavier man leaps forward from the cage. He finally manages to wrap Sage up in a bearhug and drags him down to the mat. Sage quickly wraps his legs around Cyrus’s to keep him from moving, but he finds himself unable to effectively punch from the clench as Cyrus hugs his upper arms to his body. It looks for all the world as though Cyrus is simply hugging him close and lying on top of him, as Sage struggles to land short punches into Cyrus’s midsection.
The referee gets close and watches Cyrus for a few seconds, who is lying on top of Sage while he gasps for breath. “Let me see something more,” the referee warns, “or I’m going to stand you up.”
When Cyrus doesn’t respond, the referee looks to Sage. “Get this fat fucking slob off of me,” Sage bitches. “This fight is over, stand us up and let me put him down for the night.”
“That’s enough,” the referee agrees. “Time!” He calls out to the judges as he pauses the fight briefly to reset, first helping Cyrus back to his feet. The referee points Cyrus towards his corner, then turns to help Sage to get back up.
Sage waves him off, then rolls over to his hands and knees before rising up, one hand and one knee still on the mat. A gasp ripples through the crowd from thousands of throats, and I realize it was even torn from mine, as Sage pauses and watches Cyrus suddenly run towards him before the referee can get him to his feet or officially restart the match. Time seems to slow, and I could hear a long, drawn out yell from either Linc or Talon as Cyrus leaps up, his knee crashing into Sage’s temple and sending him flying backwards, completely limp, as he crashes back to the mat unconscious.
The entire arena breaks out into roars of outrage and what sounds like a woman’s scream of horror. The scream cuts off abruptly as Miriah grabs my arm, startling me and making me realize that horrible, desperate keening had come from my own throat. “Oh God, please let him be all right,” I gasp as I rush to get to the aisle and push my way down towards the octagon.
I don’t know how I expect to get there, though. The moment Cyrus’s knee connected with Sage’s face, chaos ensued around the cage.
I watch from a distance as the referee grabs Cyrus and practically throws him towards the cage’s gate, his voice clearly carrying to the judges and ordering a disqualification. Cyrus howls in protest, just before the gate opens and EMS rushes into the cage, followed by all of the support staff from both corners.
Linc runs over to Sage, who is already surrounded by first responders working to immobilize him, while Tal makes a beeline for Cyrus, who is almost completely surrounded by his trainers.
“I’m going to fucking end you, Cyrus!” Tal cries as he charges at the group, throwing one of the trainers out of the way. Before Tal can get his fists up, Cyrus reaches out and slaps at his head, laughing.
“I fucking wish you would try!” he taunts Tal as his trainers come together and quickly usher him out of the cage.
“This isn’t over, you hear me?” Tal roars as Cyrus retreats. He tries to follow him out of the cage, but I’m finally able to push my way to the front, and I intercept him in the crowd.
“Oh, Tal, please tell me he’s all right,” I beg as I grab at his arm.
“Fuck, Cyrus can wait,” Tal mutters as he stops beside me. “He has to be okay, Eden. Come on,” Tal says as he drags me up the stairs to the cage.
Chapter Four
Eden
Nothing has ever been as terrifying as watching Sage get carried off on a gurney, strapped down tight to keep him from moving. Until, of course, I noticed he wasn’t moving and found myself shifting into a new, higher gear of fear. Tears flow freely from my eyes, and I don’t even care. I always hated seeing him hurt, but he’s never been down like this before. And the worst part is, Cyrus doesn’t even look concerned while the paramedics and team doctors tend to Sage. No, he just blows up and starts raising hell when the judges come over to talk to him – no doubt telling him that he’s been disqualified for an illegal hit. Tal keeps walking towards Cyrus and his group of trainers, who are now standing near their entryway on the far side of the arena, but I keep a death grip on his arm for as long as he lets me before hurrying to catch up to the paramedics.
Miriah and I follow our families outside along with half of the crowd as they take Sage to the ambulance. I can barely even get a glimpse of the paramedics lifting Sage into the back, and then they’re driving away with the lights and sirens on.
They wouldn’t be in a rush unless it’s serious.
“The ambulance is probably just precautionary,” Miriah says as she pulls me into a hug. “You know how it is, fighters get knocked out all of the time!”
“Yes, but this one was different,” I tell
