The crowd roared as Chuck's body slammed violently against the gilded cage. The air was knocked from his lungs, forcing a sharp gasp from his mouth. His fingers curled around the metal bars.
"Fuck," he breathed, glancing back at the giant who had just tossed him like a rag doll.
The giant laughed, raising his hands to hype the crowd. None of Chuck's punches or kicks had affected him in the slightest.
"They'd better make sure this is worth it," Chuck grumbled through gritted teeth, spitting blood to the side. "Because this motherfucker really irks me."
With that, he pushed himself off the cage and faced his opponent. The moment he straightened, the crowd fell silent for a split second before another wave of cheers erupted.
*****
Meanwhile…
"The call. They realized I was onto them."
Silence settled between Scarlet and Yuri. The latter continued working on Scarlet's face while Scarlet watched her quietly. The roar of the crowd reached even the makeup room, faint but persistent.
