Taking long strides down the darkened sidewalk Cammy wished to herself that she had brought a sweater. But she didn't figure she would get cold on a summer night in Florida. Maybe it was just because she was only a few yards away from her destination. She rubbed her hands up and down her arms one last time before pulling open a huge steel door.
The building was huge. The walls were lined with boats of all shapes and sizes. It was a storage building for all the people who could afford boats, but not to live on the water. You call them thirty minutes before you want to have your boat in the water, drive on down and they have it done for you; all at a cost, of course.
Cammy could see this as a battleground. There was plenty of open space for a fight. Sadly Cammy had noted upon entering that there obviously wasn't a fight going on tonight. Her adrenaline subsided. She really didn't know what she was thinking. That she could just waltz in here and there'd be a fight going on. That she'd find what the United States Air Force couldn't. Cammy pressed her back against the wall and let her bottom slide to the ground.
She sat in the dimness for a moment. Moonlight was shining slightly under the sides of the aluminum building. Not enough to illuminate, but it added a slight glow to the floor. Cammy's eye caught a small yellow piece of paper about to blow under the paneling in the building. She grabbed for it and brought it close to her face to read. It was hand written, but had been copied from a machine. '3:00 am/pier'. It was a shot in the dark, but Cammy left her car at the boathouse and headed down the white sand beaches towards the pier.
After about two minutes of walking on the soft sand, Cammy decided it would be better if she took off her shoes. Two more minutes later she realized that the sand by the water was harder and easier to walk on. So she walked along the shoreline. Cool water ran over her toes occasionally. Her stomach tightened as she came upon a bon fire. There was a fight going on but the police were there and breaking it up. Cammy continued forward. It was a longer walk to the pier than she expected but she arrived after about thirty minutes of walking. It came into view and there was more than a few people there. Cammy strode forward putting on the toughest face she could muster. A taller red head guy saw her coming and yelled.
"Woo WEE! Got a groupie heading this way boys."
He grabbed a cowboy hat from someone who was standing next to him and ran to Cammy. She stopped while he talked, southern accent thick and cheerful.
"Hey there. You here ta see all the tough guys fight it out?"
"No."
"What?"
"I'm here to fight?"
He started laughing Cammy showed no such amusement. She spoke again, voice firm.
"Are you going to sign me up?"
The red head straightened up and wiped tears from his eyes.
"Darlin', you know that this is a street fight. No rules. We ain't responsible for any injuries you might sustain. And believe me, you will."
"I understand cowboy."
"Aw, that was almost as cute as you are."
"So I'm in?"
"Yeah, just be ready, yer up in five minutes."
Cammy nodded and slowly walked behind Cowboy. She got a few stares and things but shrugged most of them off. Hell, she'd be staring at herself too. But none of these men knew what kind of strength and skills Cammy had hidden.
She mentally prepared herself for the fight. She was thinking back to every time her instinct had just kicked in. It wasn't like she could think back to her training. But that's what she was working towards. She saw Cowboy grab a man's arm and point towards her. The man was huge. Built like a wrestler, but somehow more intimating. It was the kind of intimidation that no amount of speeches, make-up or hype could create. It was pure attitude. His bald head gleamed slightly in the moon light and he walked towards her speaking, his voice gruff.
"It's not like I haven't ever hit a woman. Here I come, sweetheart."
Cammy's eyes widened and she crouched low in a defensive stance like her father had always taught her. He stopped, smiled and rubbed his bald head.
"I'll give you the first hit girly. No need for that."
Cammy straightened up and let her arms drop to the sides. He was way taller than her. At least 6'7. He had a foot and a half on her. He lightly tapped his chest indicating a spot for her to hit. All the other men there started laughing and the wrestler encouraged them. Cammy brought her eyebrows down in frustration and took a step back before sprinting forward. She stopped just sort of him and jumped into the air, connecting her foot with his jaw. She landed a little unsteady on the soft sand. He landed very unsteady on his side with a loud thud. The crowd was silent as the wrestler rose, wiping bloody sand from his face before speaking hatefully, rage very apparent.
"You want to play that way huh."
With that said he reached forward with both of his hands and grabbed Cammy by the waist. He lifted her from the ground as she kicked and beat on his arms. But he was just too big. She couldn't reach any vital parts. He yelled and lifted her almost all the way above his head as he threw her towards the water. She hit the water and sand at the same time, the five inches of water offering no cushioning. Her body skidded on the sand until it slammed into one of the columns of the pier. She screamed as she felt the barnacles cut through her shirt and into her back. The salty water burned the wounds as it splashed over her fallen form. No one came to help her. That's how these fights worked. Cammy gripped her fists in the soft wet sand and gritted her teeth, taking in the pain. Wet pieces of hair were stuck to her face but she paid them no matter as she stood, shakily, and yelled.
"We're not done!"
Her accent flared in her anger.
"Okay then. Let's go on."
The wrestler came towards her again, but now she was ready and angry. She sucked in her gut and took in his initial punch to it. She countered his with a tight, swift jab to his right side, just below the ribs. He wasn't expecting her strength. His head fell forwards with an audible grunt and she smashed his nose with the palm of her hand. Everything flashed. In an instant, a blink of an eye she remembered Ken being beaten…by her. She was trying to kill him. What was he doing there anyway? Her distraction wasn't good. She flew sideways when a rough hand connected with her jaw. Her body hit the sand, hard. The fine granules stuck to her wet clothes and body; making her feel heavy. She rolled to standing, a hard task, but efficient.
"You broke my nose bitch."
The wrestler reached up to his face and cracked his nose back into place. His face was covered in blood, a little shiny in the light. So much for make-up not being intimidating. Cammy ran towards him again. She used the ground as a vault as she pushed her body towards his chest, feet first, horizontal to the sand. She hit him directly in the rib cage. A moan escaped his lips and he fell to his knees gripping his chest. Cammy regained her footing and stood above him. She hadn't noticed the crowd the entire fight. But they were cheering her on. Her white shirt was almost completely ripped apart and twisted sideways. It was wet and showed through to her yellow and black striped sports bra. Hair was strewn across her face; one of her braids had come totally lose letting her long hair fly. The man held his head low in defeat and Cowboy came, grabbed her sandy and bloody hand before he raised it high and announced.
"The Killer Bee wins!!"