Chapter 10
The day, that I have been drading the most has come. Yesterday Rocky, Adrian, Apollo, Mary Ann and myself flew to Vegas fort he exhebition fight. I was still not comfortable with the idea that Apollo want to fight Ivan and I should be ashamed of myself, but I honestly feel like he has no chance. He is one of thr greatest no doubt, but hes time has past. I just hope and pray that Ivan isn´t going to hurt him. Although Apollo has been training with Rocky like a maniac the past few weeks he wasn´t in a ring in 5 years!
We are all sitting in Apollos Hotelsuite. I got a suite for myself. Didn´t matter how much I argued, Rocky insisted that he payed for the room.
„Men, Stalion I can´t wait to get into the ring!" Apollo can´t contain his exitement.
„Easy Champ, you still have a little bit of time bevore we have to get going."
Adrian and Mary Ann come out of the bathroom and smirking at me.
„What? Why are you looking at me like that?"
„Well, since you get to sit front row" Adrian starts while smiling at the two men „you need to wear something elegant"
My eye bludge out. She isn´t saying…
„We got you a nice dress. It´s not to fancy and it´s in black so represants your style." I never liked wearing dresses, but since Rocky and Apollo managed to get me into the show, although I´m not 21 yet I guess there is no other choice then to wear a dress.
„The dress and the high heels are in your room, honey" Mary Ann adds. She goes over to Apollo, who sits in a chair and takes a set herself on the arm of the chair.
„Well Ladys, better get ready now. Don´t wanna be late for my own fight."
On the way to my room I keep looking to see if I can spot anyone from Ivans team. He told me they´re also staying at the same hotel. I open my door and the dress that both women picked out for me is laid out on the bed. Next to it are a pair of simple black high heels.
I take off my clothes and jump into the shower the hot water hitting my sink makeing me relax instantly. My head just won´t stop overthinking. I have such a bad feeling regarding the fight. What if Ivan loses? What if Apollo loses? I don´t want to tell anyone about Ivan and I bevor the show isn´t over? Although if Apollo loses he´s going to be so mad anyway. I love all of them, but I also know what they think about the russains and I can´t imagine that they´ll suport the relationship. On the otherhand what´s going to happen, if Ivan loses?
I force myself to push those thoughts aside. In a few hours I´ll have the anwser anyway. Steping out of the shower I dry myself off with the towle and quickly blowdry my hair. I decide for the special occassion I´ll curl my hair and even put some mascare and a little lipgloss on. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, really hating to admit it, but the dress looks gorgeos.
As I open the door, Apollo is already standing there his hand raised ready to knock.
„Wow, Lexi you look beautiful" Haven´t heard „Lexi" in a while. Mick and also Rocky always called me that. „Ready?"
„Yeah. How about you?"
„I was born ready." he winks at me.
„Welcome one and all to the city of lights, Las Vegas and oe oft he most unusual event in years: East meets West. Age versus youth in a goodwill exhibition match. As the former Champion Apollo Creed takes on a mountain of muscle form the Soviet Union, Ivan Drago." The comentator reads my lines.
„It´s Ivan.. Ivan Drago" he just looks at me. „You´re one of them?" he scoffs at me. I let my head down and go to my seat. My heartbeat is so extremly fast. I just hope that after that is over we can all just be normal with each other. Turning around I see Nikoli Koloff and Ludmilla talking to Mary Ann who sits a few rows behind me. I see Adrian on the complete other side as the music starts to play and Apollo really didn´t dissapoint when he promised us a show. The ring is powered up while James Brown performs Living in America.
Knock me out, Hit it
Superhighways
Coast to coast
Easy to get anywhere
I see the look on Ivans face in the middle of the ring. He seems pretty overwhelmed with everything. Maybe they don´t have that kind of persormance in Russia.
Transcontinental
Overload
Just hinde behind the wheel
How does it feel
When there´s no destination
That´s too far
And somewhere on the way you might find out who you are.
Apollo appears on top of a heads bull thats being lowerd to the ground. He´s smiling and dancing. As my eyes go back to Ivan his look completly changed. He´s eyes are not confused anymore. There cofused, ready and angry.
Living in America
Eye to Eye
Station to Station
Turning my head, Koloff and his wife look just as lost as Ivan a few moments ago.
Hand in hand
Across the nation
Got to have a celebration
I spot Mary Ann clapping and being happy for her husband. Now I can see Rocky, Pauli and Duke coming out looking as surprised as everyone.
You may not be looking for the promised land
But you might find it anyway
Along the route
Old familiar names
By now Apollo is dancing aroung James Brown. He´s having a blast.
Like New Orleans
Detroit City
Dallas
„That´s gonna take a while" thinking to myself while smiling.
Pittsburgh PA
New York City
Kansas City
I look over to see Adrian looking cofused at Rocky. He just smiles back at her and returnes the look.
Atlanta, yeah
Chicago and LA
Apollo enters the ring pointing to Ivan who just look him up and down.
I live in America
Head to head
Toe to toe
Say it loud
It will make you proud
My nervse are on the edge just hopeing that everything will go well.
I know what it means
Eye to eye
Tooth to tooth
This ist he undisputed truth
All the way
With your badself
I feel good.
The crown is standing an cheering as the song finishes. Ivan is standing in his corner not taking hes eyes off Apollo, while his trainier talks to him. Apollo on the other hand is still jumping around the ring.
My seat is places so that I´m in Apollos corner. I can hear him saying to „Thanks for getting me here" to Rocky.
The anouncer enterst he ring. „Ladies and gentlemen, welcome. I would like to announce the presence of a true fighting champion, that defines the word courage. The Italian Stallion, Rocky Balboa." The crowd explodes with cheers.
„Tonight´s special event features two great athletes. In the blue corner weighing 221 pounds the former heavyweight champion of the world, the Dancing Destroyer, the King of Sting, the Count of Monte Fisto…" I should have seen that one coming. Apollo was never short with names. „The Master of Disaster, the one and only Apollo Creed!" The crowd is anticipating a great fight.
„In the red corner" he didn´t even propaly start the intruduction and Ivan is getting booed out oft he building. „weighing an even 261 pounds, gold medalist and undefeasted world amateur champion, from the Soviet Union, the Sibiran Bull, Ivan Drago!" The crowd still booeing him but I start to clap for him, wondering if anyone including Ivan saw that. „I want you!" Apollo yells.
The two fighters come tot he center of the ring for the instructions. Apollo trash talks Ivan who just stares at him. Throwing his hand in the air, Ivan quickly puts his fists under making Apollo stop. I can read „You will lose" from Ivans lips.
Both men take their robe off and the bell rings in the first round.
The comentators next to me start to talk.
„Creed dancing around. Creed backpadling now. He´s been away for five years."
„Come on" a fan yells.
„Neither fighter ready to throw the first punch."
Apollo ist he first with a left jab and anotherone but as he´s moving around he slips. I´ve never seen him slip in the ring.
„Creed is over the hill, and the Russain hasn´t fought anybody."
I hear Duke yelling „Keep moving! Stick him!"
Now Ivan moves in again but Apollo hits him with a left hand and Ivan moves back not even having his fists raised.
„Get your hands up!" Apollo yelles at him while throwing another left hand but Ivan quickly moves aside starting to hit Apollo now repeaditly and then he throws him against the ropes. I watch in horror as he beats on Apollo while he spits up blood.
„Get out of the corner" Rocky tries to comunicate with him while Ivan throws one right hand after the next.
Thankfully the bell rings but Ivan just won´t stop punching Apollo. Now Rocky and Duke enter the ring separating the men.
„What are you doing?" I yell terrified now seeing Apollo as Duke drags him in the corner. His face and mouth are covered in blood. He needs to stop the fight!
Rocky comes over and kneels bevore his best friend. „Champ, I have to stop this. This fight is finished. I have to call it." Apollo just shakes his head.
„Champ, you can´t do no more out there."
Apollo coughs while spitting up blood. „I´m here to fight. Promise me you won´t stop this fight"
I let my head sink. How can he still be so stubborn! He´s wittnessing first hand the strenght of Ivan.
The bell rings for round two as Apollo comes out of the corner but he still appears to be half out of it. Despite all he´s still dancing. I look at Ivan despratly pleading with him with my eyes to slow down just a little bit.
Either he doesn´t see me or ignores it throwing the first punch in the second round. Another to the jaw and a left to his head! He´s pounding on Apollo without mercy! Over and over again in the ribs and on his head.
The referee tries to step in but Ivan just throws him across the ring as if he were just a doll. „Stop the fight!" Duke finally yells. Rocky grabs the towle but hold in for a second.
„Throw the damn towle!" Why is he waiting?
Ivan won´t stop and Apollo barley has his eyes open by now.
„ROCKY, please! His KILLING him!" I yell, tears now streaming down my face. He hears me though and throws in the blood stained twole but in the same moment I see Ivans hand colideing with Apollos head. His head swings back and he starts to fall to the ground.
I rush in the ring with Rocky and Duke already kneeling beside him and the stupid press surrounding us.
„Get out!" I scream at them but they´re just hot about the headlines that they´ll write.
„The winner: Ivan Drago!" People are surrounding us some steping over us to interview Ivan.
„I cannot be defeaded!" I hear Ivans voice.
„Is he okay?"
Duke keeps yelling at the people to get out of thr ring. „Get a doctor!"
„I defeat all men. Soon I defeat real champion and everyone will know my name. DRAGO! DRAGO!"
It´s absolutly pandemonium! „Send a doctor!" I scream and Rocky joins in „Let him breath!"
„You can do it, Apollo! Please, you can make it!" I cry histericaly fearing for his life but what Ivan says next makes my heart stop.
„And if he dies, he dies" My body freezes when I hear these words from his mouth. I slowly lift my head and look into his eyes. His usally so beautiful blue eyes, now are just black and full of hate.