by Lane Hart
The second round is almost exactly like the first, Sage scoring points easily as Cyrus continues trying to drag him to the ground. It’s a championship fight with five rounds, each five minutes long. By the end of the second, Sage has worked up a decent sheen of sweat and has a slight trickle of blood coming from his nose, while Cyrus looks like he’s spent the entire fight headbutting a cactus. His face is so ripped and bloody that all you can easily see is the whites of his eyes, which look wild and terrifying through his bloody mask.
I’m on my feet cheering as the bell rings to start the third round. While we’re not close enough to the ring to smell the blood, Sage certainly can, and it becomes obvious as the two men crash together that he’s looking for a knockout. He staggers Cyrus back to the wall of the cage with a series of overhand rights and crushing left hooks. My throat becomes raw from my screams, certain that Sage is about to take the title.
“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 her. “Kneeing someone in the head when they’re down is illegal for a reason! It’s dangerous.”
“I know,” she says. “Sage probably has a concussion, but I’m sure he’ll be fine. We need to stay optimistic. No point thinking the worst…” she trails off.
When I finally spot my dad in the crowd, I grab Miriah’s arm and rush over. “Have you heard anything?” I ask when I reach him and my mom.
“Not yet, no,” Dad says. “Never seen anything like that,” he grumbles, which doesn’t exactly help.
I pull out my phone, intending to call Tal when his name lights up on the screen with an incoming call.
“It’s Tal,” I tell them before I answer. “Tal, how is he?”
“Not great, but at least he’s conscious again. The ambulance is taking him to the local hospital for tests. That’s all I know right now.”
“We’ll meet you there,” I say in a rush. Not only am I worried about Sage, but this can’t be easy on Tal either – watching his brother go down and not wake up for so long.
“Good. See you then,” he says.
“He’s conscious,” I tell Miriah and my parents with a sigh of relief. “Tal says they’re going to do some tests. I want to go, to be there at the hospital even if all we can do is wait.”
“Jesus. I hope the boy is okay,” Dad says.
“Yeah, me too,” I agree.
For the next few hours, time slows down as I sit or pace in the hospital waiting room that is full of friends from Havoc. Everyone is uneasy. Linc, Sage’s dad, came out to tell us they were doing an MRI and it could take another hour or more to get the results from the doctor.
After about two hours or so, Linc and the twin’s mom Claire come out, both looking extremely relieved. “He’s going to be fine,” his mom says, which is met with applause from all of us.
“He has a concussion,” Linc adds when we all get out of our seats to give him and Claire a hug. “There is some swelling of his brain, so they’re going to keep him tonight to make sure it doesn’t get any worse. If it doesn’t, he’ll be able to go home tomorrow.”
“Thank fuck,” Mace mutters to which Miriah rolls her eyes and says, “Dad, we’re in public!”
“Thank fuck is right,” Linc says with a chuckle. “Anyway, we appreciate you all coming out to watch the fight and waiting around here. It means a lot to us. I could probably sneak some of you back to see Sage before you leave.”
Several of the guys follow Linc and Claire back to the locked doors, and Linc holds it open for everyone to go through. Then he turns to me and says, “Aren’t you coming, Eden?’
“Oh, well, I want to, but I wasn’t sure…”
“He would never admit it, but I’m sure Tal could use a friend after this stressful night.”
“Yeah, me too,” I agree. “I’ll be right back,” I promise Miriah.
“Go on, take your time. I can ride back home with my parents and brother.”
“Are you sure?” I ask.
“Yes, go! Call me later,” she says when she gives me a quick hug.
“Okay. Have a safe trip home,” I reply before I jog to the door Linc is still holding open. “Thanks,” I say to him, meaning for more than the door but for letting me go back.
“You know we still think of you as family,” Linc tells me as he leads the way down the hall to the large group filling one of the hospital room doors.
I’m not sure how to respond to that, so I don’t say anything. At one time, years ago, I did feel like I was part of the Abrams family. Then the breakup happened; and while Linc may refer to me as Tal’s girlfriend, he’s mistaken.
Speak of the devil…Tal slips out of the room just as we approach.
“Hey,” he says before he throws his inked, muscular arms around me. I hate that he smells so strongly of alcohol and weed, but it occurs so frequently lately that I’ve started to find it…comforting. No matter how many times I’ve tried to get him to drink and smoke less, it hasn’t done any good. Tal doesn’t listen to anyone. The more you tell him not to do something, the more he enjoys doing it.
“How are you holding up?” I ask when I pull back.
“Me? I’m not the one who took that asshole’s knee to the head,” he grits out. “I’ll fucking kill Cyrus with my bare hands the next time I see his cheating ass.”
“The IFC will handle him. He’ll probably be disqualified from the league for the rest of his life,” I assure him. “Right now, you just need to worry about Sage. I’m so glad it wasn’t anything more serious.”
“Yeah, me too,” he agrees. “Concussions are no biggie. Every fighter gets one now and then, and we always recover.”
“Yeah,” I say, even though I know they can be more dangerous than he’s letting on.
“Come on. I know you want to see him for yourself,” Tal says with a smirk before he takes my hand and pulls me into the crowd at the door until we’re standing in front of everyone.
It is a huge relief to see Sage sitting up in bed in his hospital gown, not only awake but with a smile on his face as he talks to everyone.
When he sees us, his handsome face brightens even more.
“There’s my girl! I was wondering where you were,” Sage says. At first, I think I must have misheard him, but then the rest of the room goes completely silent.
“What did you say?” Tal asks, quickly dropping my hand while I glance over my shoulder to try and figure out which woman he’s talking to. I didn’t know he was dating anyone. In fact, that idea makes me furious since he broke up with me to focus on training.
But other than his mom Claire, who is on the other side of the room next to his bed, I’m the only other female in the room.
“Don’t look so worried, baby,” Sage says. “Come over here. I’m fine, I promise.” He holds out his arms wide like he’s…waiting for a hug.
“Ah, what?” I whisper, looking up at Tal, who has gone pale.
“I don’t fucking know,” he mutters.
“Get your ass over here, Eden,” Sage says, leaving no doubt that he’s speaking to me.
“Oh, um, okay,” I say as I take a few slow steps forward, unbelievably confused. When I’m close to the bed, Sage reaches out and grabs my arm to drag me closer, and I go, letting myself sink into his warm embrace. It’s been so long since we’ve been this close. I had forgotten how good it feels.
Tal may look like Sage, but it’s never felt the same when I’m with him, as much as I hate admitting it. It’s not like Tal isn’t aware. He knows that I’m not in love with him and vice versa.
But I can’t let myself get attached to being in Sage’s arms again, not when it nearly killed me to get over him.
I start to pull away, but then Sage presses his lips to mine for a full-on kiss with tongue and all. It happens so fast that my head spins. I don’t even have time to kiss him back before it’s over.
What the hell is wrong with him? Why would he do something so cruel to me in front of his friends and family?
I start to jerk away, and then there are arms around me, yanking me out of Sage’s reach.
“What the fuck are you doing, man?” Tal snaps at his brother.
Sage’s golden eyebrows dip as his forehead creases. “What do you mean? What’s your problem? Last I checked, I can kiss my girlfriend whenever I want.”
I’m not exaggerating. Everyone in the room gasps, the loudest of which is their mom Claire.
“Honey, are you feeling okay?” she asks, placing her palm on his cheek as tears fill her eyes.
“I told you I’m fine,” he assures her. “I still don’t know why you brought me here, though.”
“You’re here because you were knocked unconscious during the fight with Cyrus and wouldn’t wake up!” Linc explains.
Sage just stares blankly at his father and then glances around the rest of the room before asking, “Who the hell is Cyrus?”
“Oh my god!” Claire exclaims as she turns around to bury her face in Linc’s chest as she sobs. “He doesn’t remember!”
“Remember what, Mom?” Sage demands. “Calm down. You’re getting worked up over nothing.”
“I…I don’t understand.” Linc looks at his son in concern. “The doctors examined him…”
Releasing his grip around me, Tal lets go to step in front of me. “Sage, bro, what year is it?”
“Are you joking?” Sage asks his twin. “Do you think I’m so stupid I don’t know what year it is?”
“It is a stupid question,” Tal says. “Just answer me, Sage. Please?” he begs.
“Fine,” Sage says with a roll of his eyes. “It’s…” he starts. “It’s…well, fuck, I swear I know, it’s just not coming to me right this second!”
Claire cries harder while Linc tries to console her. I don’t blame her. Seeing your child in this kind of shape has to be heartbreaking. God knows it’s awful for all of us to see Sage’s expression as he struggles to piece together his fragmented memories.
Pulling out his phone, Tal brings up a video then turns the screen so Sage can see it. “Do you remember any of this? Tonight, you fought Cyrus Cutler for the welterweight championship title…”
“Get the fuck out of here!” Sage says with a chuckle. “I’m nowhere near ready for a title fight. I only have seven fights under my belt, and I lost two of them. I’ll be lucky if I even make it to the IFC.”
“Oh my god,” I mutter. “He thinks we’re still in high school!”
Of course I remember every fight Sage has had. His record when we graduated was seven and two back then.
“We are still in high school,” Sage replies. “At least for a few more weeks, right?”
“Shit!” Tal shouts. “Where is the goddamn doctor?” he asks his parents before he hurries past me and out the room. Linc and Claire follow close behind him, while I’m left standing there in shock with the other guys Sage trains with. Like them, I have no idea what to do.
“Baby, what’s going on?” Sage asks, holding out his palm for mine.
I take two hesitant steps forward to put my hand in his.
“Why is everyone freaking out? You know I’m okay, don’t you?” he says as he lowers his lips to press a kiss to the top of my
knuckles.
“Ah, yeah,” I reply. I don’t know how else to respond. “I think…I think you may have a little bit of memory loss from your concussion. I bet it will all come back to you soon, though.”
“Oh,” he says. “I feel fine, so I couldn’t have forgotten much.”
“Just a few years…”
“Years?” he exclaims as his breathing starts to come faster.
Shit, I don’t want to upset him.
“I bet you’re just exhausted, always training too much and not eating enough to try and make weight,” I say while giving his hand a squeeze. “Get some rest; and in the morning, everything will probably be right back to normal.”
“I am sleepy,” he says. “Will you stay with me?”
“Stay with you?” I repeat in surprise.
“Yeah, tonight.”
“I…I’m…” Nothing comes out but a stammer.
Thankfully I’m saved from answering him when Tal returns with a guy in a white coat.
“Sage, we’re going to need to do a few more tests, okay? I think you should tell your visitors you’ll see them tomorrow.”
“Okay,” Sage agrees. “Except for Eden. She’s staying.”
“You are?” Tal snaps.
I turn to face him with a wince. “He asked me to. I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t…”
“This is so fucked up,” Tal grumbles with a shake of his head.
“Yes, it is,” I agree.
It’s so stupid of me to be enjoying Sage’s attention, knowing that in a few minutes or hours he’ll be back to his normal self, the one who thought fighting was more important than me. It’ll hurt me all over again when he pushes me away, but I’m a glutton for his punishment. The only way I’ll leave him now is if I’m dragged out of the hospital room kicking and screaming.
Which, based on Tal’s scowl, could very well happen.
Chapter Five
