LOVED BY AN ANGEL
Caroline Havens: At Work
[2nd Secret Base of Mayor]
What should I do? Cupra is unconscious and all these are my friends. Brother, Master are taken away somewhere else.
The Grunt kicked me in my stomach. It hurts, so bad. If I was untied...
I tried to move my hands but they were tightly tied with thick rope.
If I was free, I'd smack his face at least 20 times. Just a little luck and my misery will be over—please, my rope, open! The moment I'm free, I'll beat all of them.
I've watched enough fighting scenes to know how to fight for real.
"Hey, looks like he's trying to get up!" one of the Grunts spoke and laughed.
Then one of them came near my hands and spoke.
"I'll open you!"
"Huh?" Others darted their eyes on him.
Could he be the odd stick? The good guy turned bad one??
"But on one condition!" Condition? Anything I can do!
"What is it?"
"You have to beat one of our guys in a fight and I'll leave all of you!" That's... perfect! Finally! My chance is here.
Everyone there burst into laughter as he was opening my ropes.
"Damn Gel! You always crack the best jokes!" Joke? I'll show them what I'm made of!
I stood up and looked around. Other than Cupra, everyone was tied far on a different pole and couldn't talk to us. Otherwise, they'd stop me from doing it.
Now is my time.
The Grunts made a circle, giving me space, and a man came in the center.
"He is..."
The Grunts started smacking the poles to make a drum sound with a metal bat.
"MAD-LOVISKI!" Loviski? What kind of fighter name is that? Cool as hell. Mad respect for Mad Loviski.
Mad's wrists were covered in bandages. A jacket open, revealing his abs. No matter how many biscuits he got on his stomach—he breathes the same air as me.
That's enough motivation for me to wreck him.
"Let's start the battle! Woohoo!"
The hall was covered in darkness as the gates were closed and a bulb over our heads was turned on.
Is this getting like a real match? It's so cool!
A Grunt grabbed a mic and two speaker boxes were installed around us. They really are getting in vibe, right? I swear if these people are spared,
I'm gonna hire them all!
"Let's start the match!" I felt the blood surging through my veins.
"On the right side! We have MA.....AD LO..VISKI!!"
Now it's my turn.
"ON the left side we have our challenger! Nickel from NYCO BROTHERS!" They know about me? Well! I gotta shine now. It's do or die.
Mad started doing little jumps and moved.
I remember the rules of fighting. Protect your chin, move as much as possible but hold your ground when needed.
He suddenly hopped right in front of me and connected a jab on my left temple.
"Urghh.!" I forgot to move my hands. Don't worry, it's just warm u—
"Blergh!" He punched me in my abdomen and then kicked on the right side. Thankfully, on instinct, I took the hit on my hand and fell to the ground.
I was about to stand up, but he stomped his foot on my waist.
I can't breathe! My breathing was starting to—
"Looks like you're already over, pussy!" Damn him!
"Don't underestimate me!" I won't lose. I pressed my fingers on the ground; the coarse floor screeched against my fingertips.
I pushed with all I've got.
"I respect you for that. Let's see what you can do." Mad backed off, and I stood up, firm and angry.
I have to focus! Watch his hands, his movements. He hits directly—what can I do? If I hit his vital points? That's a cheap trick. I will break his concrete wall of ego on his face.
I moved my shoulders, protecting my chin, and went for a hook—but he grabbed my wrist, took my arm, and held me high from his back.
He threw me to the ground. My back hit hard; my chin was joined to my chest, so my head didn't hurt that badly.
I remembered the day brother forced me to join a gym. I'll give him a treat after all this wraps up.
"Get up, lad! Where's your estimation?" he snickered.
My spine hurts, but the pain doesn't seem to instantly hit. Is it because of adrenaline?
I stood up. Now I know he can grab hands. I gotta pay attention. I have to outsmart him.
A breeze slithered past my shoulder. I felt as if Master was cheering me.
"Come at me, you fishbone!" I mocked him on his figure.
He came near me, and now I have to wait for him to punch.
He growled and hit me on my chest. I did catch the punch—but after it connected. I will not lose.
I caught some breath.
The pain started to hit, but adrenaline was pin-pointing, and I clenched my fist. I felt a sting, as if my nerve was being cut, after tightening my arm and shot a punch straight at his stomach. He jumped a little back and dodged it, then pulled me near him. Hit me on my leg, and I fell.
I nearly punched him. I can do it.
Grunts were watching us, while Cupra was still unconscious.
I stomped my fist on the ground and got up.
"I was just warming up!" I declared.
"H...uh? The hell?" My feet tightened. I know he punches the face, so I covered it with my fists. I tightened my stomach.
I...
My thoughts were flowing as a blood drop trickled down my nose.
Brother's face was flickering in my mind. I won't let you down, I swear.
I let out a heavy breath.
Mad looked and sprinted towards me. A punch came towards my face. I lowered my head and took it on my forehead. I slammed my palm like a slicer on his ankle.
The day when I broke a bone trying to fight a roadside thug. I remembered it as if it was replaying now.
His hand bent a little and I punched under his chin in that moment. As he was looking down, I twisted my hip and punched again on his nose.
He failed to protect it and fell on the ground.
He held his nose and cried in pain. In response to my punch, he stood up and jumped to do a kick. I've never seen someone do this normally. His ego must be flared up.
I landed my wrist on his kick and changed its direction with the split moment. As he landed on the ground, I grabbed his waist and pushed him down. We both stomped on the floor. The sound echoed in the hall as the Grunts were cheering for MAD.
I stood up. Suddenly my left temple started to hurt, my vision was obscuring, I remembered the first time I was blacking out; it was the same as now. I maintained my composure. Is it after-effects of brushing off his temple punch?
I maintained my composure and he stood up.
He came towards me and started doing boxing. He threw consecutive punches at my face and I was blocking it all with my hands.
I saw an opening and threw a fak sau at his neck, his body loosened for a second and I threw a false slap to divert his attention and punched on his loose arm to weaken it.
Is he going for a kick again?
The Grunts started cheering for him.
"MAD! MAD! MAD! MAD!.."
This has no end to it.
He jumped and kicked. I guess my Wing Chun training would pay off now.
I brushed my palm and moved his kick from hitting me. He landed on his feet and looked back.
My decoy slap made him dodge it instinctively, slightly tilting to the left—where my hand slammed into his jaw.
He threw a punch at me. It was a weak one, so I grabbed his arm, locked my fingers and—
PUNCHED in his solar plexus. He fell on his knees.
His nose was dripping with blood. I also fell on my hip, catching my breath. I choked two times while trying to breathe. My spine was paining as hell. My fingers were trembling and my eyes were wobbling.
"Water! Wate.?" I pleaded for water. A Grunt actually brought it.
I drank it and leaned on the pillar, cleaning my blood from my clothes. Mad was taken away.
"You'll free us all, right?" A Grunt came in front of me and crouched.
"I was just joking!" He smiled from his eyes. Damn him. For god's sake, I wanna punch him.
Suddenly he got a call. The rest of the Grunts were taking the speakers away and some were mocking Charles and others far away.
—Hello! Nickel? Can you hear me?
It's... Master! Miss Caroline is safe? Thank god. I felt so easy for that moment.
"Yeah I can. They—ey tied us all to pillars."
I have to share as much info as possible.
-Tell me how many people are with you?
A... I looked around and counted everyone.
"I, Cupra is unconscious, Cass, Hoddy, Natasha, Suzie, Charles, Julius." All of us are in danger.
"I'm scared. I don't know what to do." Master, tell me what should I do?
"Only God can save you," the man holding the phone spoke.
-Hey. Sorry I rejected Pursera as your date
"Huh?" What does she mean by that? Pursera? I remember her number and... Oh!
-Call Pursera and tell her your feelings
"What? H-Now?" How? There are too many people, I don't have a phone.
-I know that Mr. will let you do your one last wish. Last wish!
Last wish? Am I gonna die? Or is it master's planning? Think Nickel, think!
"Who is she talking about?" the man asked.
"She's actually my girlfriend. I‐I couldn't confess." Yes! That's a good made-up plan.
Thank God I understood.
"Kay! Make it short." Yeah!
The call hung up, and then another call was being dialed. I saw Charles was getting kicked, and the grunts were torturing them through verbal abuse.
Cupra was slowly waking up. I have to make it fast and save everyone.
My whole trust is now on you, Pursera.
-...
The call was picked up, but no greeting was there. The grunt gave me a signal to speak.
"Hello! Pursera!? It's me, Nickel!"...
What should I say so she can find me? By her behavior, she kind of liked me and is a princess. So she might be able to track me? I have to tell her a little detail or something.
The after-effects of the fight were making me dizzy. I have to make it quick.
My voice was fragile, like a kid who's about to cry.
Now only God can save me... us, everyone.
-...
"I wanted to tell you something. Are you listening?"
[CASTLE OF PHINIXIA]
"Sir! We have tracked Lady Pursera Phinixia Quincourt!"
[3rd Floor of Reverie]
[Mayor has finally started the project. And ..l-..z is about to rise]
[Castle of Phinixia]
"Send all the forces! Contact the Ministry of Royal Heritage!"
[Base of Mayor]
-I can hear you.
A big thud was heard at the back of the hall. A door opened.
Thank God!
"Come find me..."
Every grunt around me glared at me.
Everyone's gaze shifted towards someone.
"I'm calling you..." Cupra looked at me slowly. Goosebumps rose on my skin as I was about to black out.
"Save me..." My eyes were giving up. I let out my last breath. My head was slowly getting lighter. I mustered up my courage for the last words.
"PURSERA... I trust my ever..-ythin..g to y..ou n..-Ah..ow..."
My eyelids shut down.
My head was supposed to hit the pillar behind as I was fainting.
I feel warm.
Something around my cheeks held my head.
I heard metal objects, like a crowbar, falling on the ground. No one was moving.
....