A/N: What?! Another update so soon? Yes! Here you go! You deserve it! I'm sorry last chapter was a bit difficult to read. I hope this chapter makes up for it :D


The next day, rumours of Regina's lock-down had spread very quickly at Dragon Claws. The fighters living on "The Queen's" floor heard and saw the commotion. They, of course, did nothing to stop it. They are fully aware of the manager's wrath and it would do them no good if they too were put on lock-down.

Graham received a text message from his friend as she was heading back to her dorm the night before. He was the first to know that Regina had planned to escape and he tried to buy her some time by distracting Robert Gold.

Gold, on the other hand, could not be fooled and knew what the trainer was trying to do.

"If you know what's good for you, Graham, you will get out of my way." The old manager warned.

Graham was worried about Regina, some of the fighters mentioned that they heard Mr Gold hitting the young brunette.

When the trainer got a bit of free time between his training classes, he used that time to slip upstairs to the dorms and check on his best friend.

Upon reaching Regina's door, he was glad to find that there wasn't anyone around. He took out a piece of paper from his pocket and slipped it through the tiny gap underneath the door. He knocked on the door before heading back downstairs.

*.*.*.*.*

Part of the lockdown included no meals. Regina was starving by mid-day. She didn't have much food in her room. Just some packets of chips and biscuits. She wasn't sure how long she was going to be locked in her room so she felt it would be best if she rationed her supply.

She couldn't sleep at all last night. Each time she tried to close her eyes, she would have a flashback of Gold touching her and hitting her.

Being in the ring for as long as she had, she had been used to getting hit but this had a thick layer of betrayal and abuse.

Each time the flashbacks happened, her body would start shaking involuntarily.

Exhausted, Regina spent the day lying in bed. She wasn't sure if she had the will to continue living.

She wished she was with Emma, all the way on the other side of the country.

Regina picked up her phone and searched through her contacts for Emma. Before she hit call she stopped herself.

What's the point? I'm never going to see her. I will only burden her with my problems. She thought to herself.

Regina dropped her phone on the bed and sighed. She closed her eyes and tried to sleep.

She woke up to the sound of knocking on the door. She did not bother to get up and answer it since she was unable to open the door.

The brunette turned and looked at the door as if she had x-ray vision and could see who had knocked on her door.

A piece of paper sitting on the floor just in front of her door caught her attention.

Regina got up and rushed to read the note.

Regina,

I hope you are alright. I tried my best to stall Gold but he knew what I was trying to do.

I will come and bust you out at 2 a.m. tonight.

Get ready.

Graham

The note sparked a new sense of hope. She was glad that she didn't unpack her duffel bag.

Paranoid that the note might get discovered and their plans get stopped prematurely, Regina tore up the note and flushed it down the toilet. She will just lie in bed until Graham came through on his promise.

*.*.*.*.*

The training that day was strange. Everybody knew what had happened to Regina. Some were emotionally affected. Others felt that the punishments were too harsh. But none dared to voice out their opinion for fear that they too would be punished.

The morning started with hush whispers of rumours spreading around. As the day went on, the entire gym became quiet save for some commands from the trainers.

Nobody could focus on the training but they knew that they had to if they didn't want to get on Gold's bad side.

The minute training was over, everybody cleared out of the gym quickly. Nobody stayed behind for personal sparring sessions which meant that the day ended quite early.

Graham went to his room and prepared for Regina's big escape from the hell known as Dragon Claws.

*.*.*.*.*

Regina sat on her bed with her knees tucked under her chin. She didn't know how long she had been in that position for.

Ever since she read the note from Graham, all she could think about was leaving the place she had been calling her home, behind.

The brunette may not have liked it there but she had learnt so many things that made her one of the best fighters there.

Now she wondered if that was even true. Was she ever that good or was it all an illusion created by Gold.

Regina finally decided to sleep the rest of the day away so that she would have the energy to run away later that night.

She got under her covers and rest her head on her pillow. She wondered if she would be able to sleep in a bed again once she left the place.

The young fighter closed her eyes and thought about Emma Swan. She pictured what life would be like if she was not Regina 'The Queen' Mills.

The idea of seeing the blonde again gave Regina some hope but she doubt that she could travel so far and not get caught by Mr Gold's lackeys.

She shook the negatively out of her head and tried to sleep.

*.*.*.*.*

Tap! Tap! Tap!

The soft tapping on the door stirred Regina awake. The brunette looked at her clock that sat on her bedside table.

02:08 a.m.

That must be Graham. The young fighter realised.

Regina ran over to the door and knocked twice to signal to her rescuer that she was ready.

"I'm breaking the lock. Hold on." Graham whispered through the door.

The brunette waited patiently.

Finally, a metallic clang could be heard. Regina assumed that was the sound of the padlock being broken by a bolt cutter.

She tried to open the door to see if her friend had successfully released her from her prison.

Regina turned the doorknob and opened the door slowly and peeked outside.

She was relieved to see Graham's scruffy face.

"You did it." The young brunette whispered excitedly.

"You ready?" the man asked. The look of urgency evident in his face.

Breaking the lock was the easy part, leaving the building would be a little tough. They don't have much time before somebody sees them. There were cameras everywhere.

"Yes," Regina said before grabbing her bag that she had left next to the door and pocketing her phone into her back pocket.

She slung the bag over her shoulder and followed Graham as he led her down the stairs.

They practically ran down the seemingly endless flight of stairs with as minimal noise as possible.

When they finally reached the ground floor, Graham signalled for Regina to wait while he went and checked if the coast was clear before they move through the main lobby, the only way in and out of the building.

Satisfied that they were alone, the trainer returned to the staircase landing and left her into the lobby.

The main doors were locked and could be opened with an access card that only the staff had.

Graham tapped his card on the card scanner to unlock the door. He opened the door and held it open for Regina to pass through.

"Bye, Regina. Good luck." The man whispered.

"You're not coming?" the brunette was surprised.

"No. I'm going to make sure that Gold doesn't find you."

"He will crucify you. You will be the first person he will suspect. Come with me. Get out of this hell while you can." Regina whispered.

Graham looked into the brunette's chocolate brown eyes. He could see the determination in those eyes. He knew that Regina would not budge until she got her way and she was right, he would be the first suspect and he may not survive the punishment for aiding a fighter who was being punished leave and breach a contract.

The trainer turned and looked inside one last time before closing the door behind him.

Regina held his hand and they ran down the street towards the bus station. They have quite a distance to go but there was no looking back at the life they were leaving behind. The adrenaline from their newfound freedom was exhilarating.