Around Every Corner

Chapter 2

When I walk out of the changing rooms, my father is waiting for me, leaning against the wall. When he sees me he straightens up and clasps my shoulder with a calloused hand. He leads me over to the entrance of the ring.

"Change of plans, son. Your original opponent backed out al the last minute. My guess is he found out who was fighting him." He smirked. "Now, you're going to get in that ring and wait until someone challenges you. This way we get more money if you win."

I sighed. For him, it was always about the money. Never about if I was getting beaten to a pulp, which, admittedly, had never happened before, but still, there was always that possibility.

I started to make my way up to the ring. The ring was painted a dark blue that was peeling away with age. There were splashes of red on the floor, which was most defiantly not paint.

Once I stepped inside, everyone else started to crowd around.

"I challenge anyone here today that they cannot stay in the ring with my son for two minutes," shouted my father over the chatter of the crowd. "In fact, m so sure no one can do this, that I'm offering double money."

I whipped around to stare wide eyed at my father. He had never offered that much money before. Had never even discussed it with me. I started to sweat. I was sure I could do it, but the amount of money on the line was making me nervous, which I did not need to be a few minutes before a fight.

Distantly, I heard someone with a deep voice shouting, but it was drowned out by the surprise gasps of the crowd. People started to look around, looking for the person who was going to accept the challenge.

The shouting got louder and the crowd started to become quiet as they figured out who it was.

Valentine Morgenstern

He was storming up to the ring, dragging Clarissa behind him.

"I accept the challenge on behalf of my daughter." He bellows.

A deadly quiet passed over the crowd. It was then that I remembered hearing about a Valentine something or other owning this place. This must be him. That must be why Clarissa was allowed inside. And now, apparently, to fight.

She was stumbling behind Valentine, her upper arm locked in his vice-like grip. As she got closer, she started to panic. I had known from the second that Valentine volunteered her that she didn't want to fight. She probably couldn't even make a fist properly.

When Valentine got to the edge of the ring, he released his daughters arm and she fell into the ring, landing on her side.

She got up, wiping her hands on her top to get rid of the non-existent dirt. This place may be illegal and all, but it was kept clean.

She looked at me. She looked so innocent and fragile in this house of horrors. I knew I needed to help her get out of this.

The crowd started cheering. Bets were being placed by people with smug smiles on their pathetic faces. They could see the chances of me loosing and they weren't very big at all.

A bell rang and I laughed under my breath a little. They weren't really expecting me to fight her, were they?

I look around at the crowd, my gaze landing on my father. I raised my eyebrows a little. You can't be serious...

But he just screamed at me to make a move.

I look back at Clarissa. She was shaking now. Although she had her fists clenched to try and look unafraid. So I was right, I thought to myself. She doesn't know how to make a fist.

"Clarissa, right?" I ask her over the road of the crowd. If they didn't shut up, the police would be called and then, well, we'd all be screwed.

She looked taken aback by my question.

She shook her head slightly.

"Clary" she replies so quietly that I have to strain my ears to hear her. She has a voice to match her looks, you know, excluding the ratty clothes and scrapes. It was beautiful, like a pixies voice. "Clary Fray."

Fray? I thought she was Valentine's daughter.

"Listen," I say, keeping my voice low enough so that only she can hear me. "I don't want to hurt you. In fact, I want to help you."

She didn't seem to believe me.

"I do," I say, trying to reassure her. "Really."

"Oh yeah," she replies. "And, just how do you plan to do that. In case you haven't noticed, were kinda surrounded." She says, stretching out her arms to indicate the masses of men surrounding us.

I sigh.

"I have a plan."

"No you don't."

"Yes I do."

"What is it then?"

Damn, this girl is killing me.

She raises her eyebrows expectantly.

"Okay, fine. You got me. I have no plan. But just give me a second – "

I get cut off by the sounds of police sirens wailing through the building.

"Shit..." I curse under my breath.

We had to get out of here. Now.

I look around to see everyone scattering. I scan the crowd of fleeing people for my father and see him running with everyone else.

"That fucking bastard!"

I knew he was bad, but I didn't think he would do this. He had my back when this happened last year, apparently he didn't give a flying toss anymore.

I face Clarissa – Clary – again. She looks confused, as if she doesn't understand why everyone is running. She probably doesn't even know these things are illegal.

I grab her hand and run out of the ring without giving her an explanation. She comes willingly. I head for the door, grabbing my bag with all of my clothes inside. I throw the door open and chance a quick look behind me. The police are here. Some of them already have spectators pinned down on the floor, handcuffing them. None of them have seen us. Good.

I pull Clary out of the door and slam it shut behind us.

I throw her my bag and tell her stay here and look for my keys and to keep under cover while I look for the spare car the fucking bastard and I keep around here. She would just slow me down.

I sprint down the street, scanning for the car.

After about a minute of running I spot it. A black BMW M3 Frozen. It was what I brought from my share of the winnings that I save up for since I was twelve. The fucking bastard insisted that I keep it here for this situation. I guess he forgot. Luckily, I never did.

I looked around, making sure there was no one watching before I made my way back to Clary, walking this time.

I found her exactly where I left her, except she was trying to hide behind a bush. Her red hair gave her away though.

"Clary."

The bush rustled and Clary emerged, a leaf caught in her hair.

"Did you find the keys?"

I could still here the sirens, although there were less of them than when they first arrived.

She nodded her head.

"Come on then, I found the car." I turned to walk away and realised after a couple of steps that she wasn't following.

I stopped and turned my head to look at her over my shoulder.

"Clary? You coming?"

"I don't even know you."

"No. No you don't." I say turning back around to completely face her again. "But I'm your only chance of getting out of here without it being in the back of a police car."

"You could be an axe murderer or something." She says, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

I put my hand over my heart and say, "I, Jace Herondale, here by swear that I am not, never have been or never will be an axe murderer or anything remotely close."

She still didn't seem convinced.

I sighed and dropped my hand.

"Okay, if you still don't believe me, you can get a sniffer dog in to search my car or whatever you want to do to put that pretty little head of yours to rest." I say patting her head.

She swats my hand away and rolls her eyes but what I said must have put her at ease somewhat because she starts walking.

In the wrong direction.

I roll my eyes and jog to catch her up and change her direction so she is walking the right way.

AN: Hey guys, like I said before, I'm so sorry for not updating but things came up and school things that made me completely forget about this. I promise to try and keep this story going and try to update every week or two. Thanks for reading!

Till next time, au revoir!

~LauraLightwoodHerondale

(Links for Jace's car on my profile)