Chapter 1: Artemis
It was the new girl. She sat in the back of the bar, her head hooded, just like every other person that walked into the bar who wanted to cause trouble. She sat alone. It seemed as though she was waiting for something or someone. She never left.
Tyler sipped his drink as he stared at the back, watching to see if she would move. She didn't seem to budge, not one move. He sipped the liquid again, and watched.
"What are you doing, Tyler?"
Tyler looked up to the man named Sid, a former boxer whose career was ruined because of a slight mishap with his left eye. He ran the place which included illegal boxing tournaments down in the basement.
"I wouldn't mess with you if I were you," Sid said.
"Why not? She's just like the rest of 'em."
"You'd be an idiot to mess with that gal." He set down his tray and nodded. "She's been in here every day for the past twelve days. I didn't bother going over to ask why she was here so often, but I got one of the girls to ask her. She said she was looking for a fight."
"A fight?"
Sid nodded. "That's right. So she's been sitting there with her head hooded, scaring off my customers."
Tyler crossed his arms. "Well, if she's looking for a fight, I'll give her one." He raised himself out of the seat. As he did, the girl slowly turned to look at him. A crooked smile fell across her face.
"Something tells me you better watch your back," Sid said.
"I'll be fine," Tyler replied. "Hey… you."
The girl stood, and walked past them, heading straight for the lower level.
"Did she hear you?" Sid asked.
"I don't know." He shook his head, trying to get the strangeness out of his head. Unfortunately it didn't help.
"I think she just personally invited you to get beat."
"Shut up."
Tyler headed downstairs hearing the laughter coming from Sid behind him.
The ring was occupied with two amateur boxers, one obviously better than the other. Tyler felt bad for the guy with his head smashed into the mesh. He looked around to see the girl sitting in a chair outside on the opposite side of the ring. She stared straight at him.
"Hey, ref," Tyler said. "I'm next."
"Who's your opponent?"
He pointed to the girl. The ref raised an eyebrow, and ended the current fight. It was a clear win anyways.
Tyler stepped inside the ring and took off his jacket, then his shirt. The girl slowly stepped inside the ring and walked to the opposite side. She stood with her hands on her hips.
"You shouldn't do this," she said.
Tyler smirked. "What, you scared to have a fight? I'm not afraid to hit a girl. Why do you have that hood on your head? Are you ugly?" Laughter filled the room.
She cocked her head. "Do you ask so many questions?"
"Come on!" He said. "I'll take you on. I saw you laughing at me."
The girl unzipped her jacket, before finally sliding the hood off her head. She tossed the jacket in the corner and replaced her hands on her hips. Long, dark hair draped over her shoulders. Emerald eyes stared at him.
"I didn't expect this," Tyler muttered. He was younger than he expected, and pretty. "What's your name?"
"You said you wanted to fight me," she said. "Go ahead. Your move."
Tyler eyed the ref. He nodded.
He started to move in a circle. She followed. Then, he made the move: a punch.
She caught his fist, twisted it behind his back then kicked him into the mesh. This was going to be an easy fight.
He picked himself up and charged at her again. She slid under his legs.
The next thing he knew was that his face was pressed into the floor, and excruciating pain was coming up from his legs.
The ref broke them apart.
"Had enough?" She asked.
Tyler hopped up and began to charge again.
The girl landed a round kick. Hard. He crashed into the mesh again, and fell hard into the floor. Wind was knocked out of him.
The girl watched him gasp for breath.
"I think I broke ribs…" he groaned.
The ref called off the fight. "What's your name?"
"Artemis," the girl replied, picking up her jacket. She walked out of the ring, and back up the stairs.
Sid watched walk through the bar her head covered once again. She flashed him a smile.