Free Burning Attraction by Ashley Beale Page B

him.
                  The basement fills up and Mason, Aubrey, and I all get front row access again at the makeshift ring. Mouse does his little speech and explains how there is four rounds, and the victor in the end is the ultimate champion of the underground fighting. There will be no changing this title the rest of the year. Avery would have kept it but a lot of people complained he only beat one person to get it instead of the other top fighters. That is why they're doing this. Mason explained that part though, not Mouse.
                  "Round one, let’s welcome Tyyyylerrrr "Twitch" Tyyssoonnn!" A good sized looking man comes running out as the crowd errupts, including Aubrey and myself. I know that Avery isn't in this round, so I don't mind doing some cheering. Then Mouse calls in the second contender, "ladies and gents, this is a crowd favorite, welcome us Scott "Vortex" Blacckkmoreee!" Once again the crowd erupts. We watch as the two of the guys duke it out, and Scott ends up being the winner of round one.
                  There is a slight pause between rounds, letting the winner take a break and catch his breathe. I look over to Mason, "does everyone have a nickname?" I've never heard Avery be called Kill Switch by anyone, but I notice all the fighters have nick names, plus there is Mouse and Porkchop. It's just weird.
                  He laughs at me, "yeah, Mouse is the one who gives everyone nick names. He got his nickname from the last person who ran the fights, and told him to keep the tradition going. Everyone who fights or runs the place has to have something. The people running it do so that way they don't get their real names given out around the public. It saves them in a way. The fighters get them because it helps separate them or some shit like that. Plus, it makes them seem tougher. A fighter can choose his own nick name but many of them don't have one. Avery's came from back in Washington he said though."
                  "Oh, well it makes sense I guess. You didn't know him back in Washington?" Mason and Avery seem like such good friends, you would think they knew each other for years.
                  Mason just smiles, "do you think people up in Washington have southern accents?" He laughs and shakes his head in amusement. "Nah, we met at orientation. Hit off good I guess, I don't know. He is a real good guy you know."
                  "Yeah, I do know," I say back, smiling politely.
                  Mouse is back up on his soapbox, so we stop the conversation there and I'm thankful. I know he had more meaning behind his words and I don't feel like hearing anymore. "Okay ladies, what you've been waiting to see. Oh, and you two guys, but for a different reason. Get your hands ready as our winner Scooottyy "Vortex" Blaaaaccckmoooore takes on the one, the only, Piiiiierce "Skull Crusher" Daniiielllsoonnn!"
                  Both guys run out from different spots. The guy, Scott, looks all cleaned up, like he hasn't even been getting used as a punching bag the last ten minutes. The horn blows and Scott is knocked out in minutes. The poor guy probably never had a chance against someone like Pierce, I don't know why he even attempted. As they crown Pierce the winner, he looks right at me and grins. I smile politely but look away from him. I hear a laugh escape Aubrey, so I glare at her, but that only makes her laugh harder. I can feel Mason tense up too, he really isn't happy anytime Pierce even looks in my direction.
                  Thank goodness he doesn't come talk to me at all, he leaves as they prepare for round three. Mouse gets back up and starts his announcement. "And now for round three, we bring you out Oweennn "Rif Raf" Mannnssonnnn!" The crowd erupts again but not me this time, knowing this is the round that Avery shows up in. "And now, the one you've all been waiting for. The one