-Elias

The crowd roared. My head pounded but I didn't stop. It was win or lose and I refused to lose. I never lost. I rounded my opponent and faked right. He fell for it. As he went right I went left. I punished him hard in the side of the head. He fell down and jumped on top of him. I didn't stop until I was pulled off of him. People were yelling, and the lights were to bright. Liam slapped me in the face. "Congratu-fucking-lations Crow. You won. What did I tell you?" Liam asked me. He laughed as he walked away.He didn't check up on me. He never did. He told me to not show my weaknesses in crowds like this. That if I did they would exploit it, that I wouldn't have my status anymore because people would come after me. Not that I did anyways. I refused to show weakness anywhere, at anytime.

I got out of the makeshift ring and walked to what they called a locker room. It was just a bathroom with a bench. I walked over to the bench and grabbed my bag with all my stuff. I wiped my face off with a towel and washed my hands. As I walked out I noticed the crowd was dispersing. I made my way around trying to find Liam to get my cut of the fight.

I was a fighter. I fought for whatever kind of money I could. I needed clothes, food, and shelter somehow. Sure it was illegal but I couldn't risk anything else. I couldn't risk getting caught. It's been 3 years since the night I killed my father. I never regretted it. I never regretted setting myself free. To completely set myself free I changed my name. Everyone knew me as Crow, the only person who knew my real name was Liam. Said he needed to know where I came from and who I actually was if he was going to put me in this job.

When I first ran away I didn't stop running for 2 and a half weeks. I slept under bridges, park benches, under trees, in trees. I slept anywhere I could. I had run from a smaller suburb outside of Lincoln Nebraska to Chicago Illinois. I ran until I couldn't anymore. I didn't know where I was running to just that I ran away. A few nights in Chicago got me into trouble I had run into a bad group of older teenagers. They wanted to use me as a plaything. Beat me up and drug me kind of thing. When they cornered me I pulled the knife out and started stabbing them. I know I killed 2 out of the 4. I seriously injured the other two. Before I could run Liam found me. He grabbed me and brought me to his 'office.' It was a room adjacent to the locker rooms in the underground ring. He sat me down and said he would give me food, and shelter but I had to start fighting for him. I had agreed quickly thinking I could get a nice bed and a hot meal. I answered all of his questions and when he took me to my 'room' It was a small room in a run down house. He gave me a water bottle and a bologna and mustard sandwich and said to be ready at 4 am for training. Ever since then I had been training hard. I had told him I refused to lose. I wouldn't fight until I was strong enough. Strong enough to win. He had agreed and for 5 months I trained rigorously. He told me I would receive 20% of my winnings in my fights. He would keep the other 80% for room and board, food, training costs, and a bunch of other bullshit. I didn't care. I just wanted a place to stay. Over the years I argued with Liam over my cut. So now it was 50-50.

Once I had found Liam he as talking to some other people. I walked up to him and waited for him to finish. He had warned me not to interrupt him when he was taking to people. I honestly didn't give two fucks but if I wanted my full cut I had to play nice. I waited for about 5 minutes before he looked over in my direction and told the other people to get lost. Not very important then... I thought to myself

"You want your cut?" Liam asked me. "I wouldn't be standing here waiting if I didn't" I replied. He rolled his eyes, huffed and walked over to his office. He took his sweet time like he always did. I seriously wonder if he thinks I'll just walk away without my cut if I waited long enough. 20 minutes later he walks out and hands me my stack of cash. I counted $560. That was pretty low considering I had a 9 month streak. The longer the streak the more money it takes to fight me. I gave him a look. He just stared back. "This is short" I told him coolly. "No that's your cut 40-60" He replied to me. "What the fuck Liam no its not. It's supposed to be 50-50 when the fuck did it go to 40-60?" I asked pissed off. "Since you sent that kid to the hospital Crow. I told you if you kept sending kids to the hospital I was going to lower your cut." "It's not my fault that he just sat back and took it." I told him angrily. "No you idiot you hit the side of the his head, you probably put the little shit into a coma. He was unresponsive. Be more careful or I'll reduce your cut even more." He told me. I was pissed, he wanted a fight so I fought. He wanted me to knock them unconscious. So I did. Then he needed me to lighten the fuck up. This was bullshit and reminded me of a certain time that I refused to allow to happen again. "Liam. Give me all my fucking cut or I swear to God I'll send you into a coma" I replied angrily as I dropped my bag slowly beside me Liam gave me a look. He took a step back and I swear steam could've come from his fucking nose. It took a second but he walked back and gave me the rest of my cut.

I nodded, picked up my bag and walked out of the gym. I made my way to a grocery store I worked at. I walked in. Changed into my uniform, clocked in and waited for my 11 hour shift to be done. I worked stocking the shelves and minding my own business. The hours dragged on and as the sun came up and started going back down. I clocked out. I walked to Liams house. I still lived there because I was saving up for my own apartment outside of Chicago. It was cheaper, and honestly a little safer. Not like it mattered for me though. I carry around that knife that I stole from my father's house. I always have it on me. No matter where I go. It's a little reminder of what I've done to get to where I am.

I walked through his house. It was quiet. I think Liam was out, or he was asleep. I took a hot shower, ate a PB&J and went to sleep until I woke up. It was 6pm but after no sleep the night before I needed my sleep, especially since I am training in a few hours. I knew I didn't have fight tomorrow so I would push myself. There was always a way to become stronger. Whether it's mentally or physically. There was always a way, and I wouldn't stop until I got to where I needed to be.

Sometimes it feels like I will never get there.

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Alrighty another chapter down. This one I knew we needed a bit of context about Elias life. How he makes money, where he lives, etc. It bugs me when some of these stories are very unrealistic. So I'm trying to make mine at least sound realistic.

Anything that you liked, didn't like, would've changed? Be honest, but be nice please.

1401- Words