The Submissive

Chapter Six: The Strongest Man

Bella Swan

The fights took place in the basement of the abandoned warehouse, it was dark and probably teaming with all manner of rats, cockroaches and other nastiest that I didn't want to think about. Emmett had kept both his hands on my small shoulders as he guided me through the crowds of people already in the basement cheering and yelling about the fight currently in motion. Emmett told me he wanted me right up front where he could keep a close eye on me and I understood why. This was as far from our little sheltered lives in Forks as you could possibly get. In fact you couldn't possibly imagine that a place like this was so close to our sleepy little town and even if you could imagine it, you'd have to times it by ten to get a true sense for what this place was truly like when inside.

You could smell alcohol everywhere and I mean everywhere, I wasn't talking about the chilled inviting kind for hipsters in a dive bar, far from it actually. I'm talking about the cheap kind, the drink that's one step up from paint thinner. For all I knew this was the scent of the same drink people concocted in prison toilets. The entire building stunk of damp and mould and the people well they smelt like the streets and plenty of regret. This was the type of place that if you saw it in a movie you would be turning to your friend and telling them "I wouldn't have even gone in there"

I should have been going out of my mind with fear and begging Emmett to take me home but I didn't. I had walked into this bare pit on Emmett's arm, he was the tallest and strongest man here, I came in with him and I was going to walk out with him. Unknown to all of these thugs and criminals the champ had just arrived and he was going to leave with all of their money.

When we arrived at the front of the cage, Emmett kept me close to the cage door so we could blow out of here if needed. He spoke to a baud guy across from us in a cheap tight suit holding a black book, Emmett then handed over what must have amounted to thousands of dollars and placed the bet on himself to win, not that I could hear him over the crowds around us. When Emmett returned to me he took off his jacket pulling it over my shoulders before proceeding to take off his black t-shirt revealing his Greek god frame beneath.

He handed it to me which I kept for him trying to hide my delight about just how good it smelt. The current fight ended with a knock out you could hear across the room, I looked down to the cage floorboards, my breath catching in my chest at the sight of discoloured broken teeth still coated in blood being brushed away. I looked up at Emmett who leaned down to me placing a small and very welcomed kiss to my cheek for reassurance. The cage was cleared out and it didn't take Emmett a second before he was making his way inside to the delight of the crowd who may or may not have recognised him from previous fights.

I knew if I saw a man with Emmett's frame where my bids would be placed.

Emmett turned to face me through the bars and I edged closer to them gripping at the cage.

"Good luck" I said with a smile trying to conceal how nervous I suddenly felt for him.

"You better hope I win"

"Why's that? What's my prize?" I asked him

"When I do, we're going to a hotel."

I looked around the crowds of people cheering for Emmett as he brought his opponent crashing down to the floor hard. The basement was so dark and disgusting but it was full of life and excitement. All eyes were on Emmett, watching the way he dodged blows and took each hit like a champ. Whenever Emmett sent his opponent down to the floor he would look through the crowds for me, pausing to smirk or even daring to send me a wink. Every time our eyes met it made my toes curl. This feeling was quickly followed by overwhelming and uncontrollable guilt, for Emmett's actions and my inactions.

There was all manner of life around me, deep down it was a lot to take in and deal with but I kept it together. Knowing I was an arm's length from prostitutes, pimps, criminals and even gang members was a lot for this sleepy town girl to take. I wanted to know more about Emmett's journey to the cage fights, what had first convinced him to do this and how exactly he went about finding this place to begin with. I wondered how much Rosalie knew about all of this and if she was aware of it at all. Emmett was a vampire, he wasn't going to come home with broken bones and bruises.

The idea that Emmett had let me on a possible secret was enough to keep me on the edge of my seat. Emmett was even more daring than I had imagined, he had this whole other side to him and tonight I was seeing him at his best. Down here he didn't need to hide his power, his dominance or even his arrogance. He was in complete control of what happened inside that cage and after we left here tonight I wanted Emmett to continue with that same level of dominance.

I felt like a horrible person for not only being here but for lying to Edward. If I was in my right mind I would be in the Cullen's house right this second, I would be sitting in their den with homework I had yet to finish and probably a stolen apple or orange from their kitchen. I would have been keeping my head down and staying out of Emmett's way as he watched a sports game of some kind.

There was so much that should have been done so differently tonight and Emmett was not to blame for leading us here. He had given me the choice every step of the way leaving it all in my hands. So I was to blame for all of my actions no one else.

Around me there were people with knives, pepper spray and guns but I was holding it together very well. I had my hands stretched out in front of me clinging to the cage as I watched Emmett throw his opponent around like a rag doll. Emmett was the best fighter here, the biggest threat in this basement and if need be he would tare everyone down who stood in his way of getting to me if something broke out. Beside me girls were talking about him and the things they do to him and for free, they even spoke about what size they believed him to be down there, like he was an animal. But it was the talk to be expected down here I suppose, this was the place people came to free themselves from their own circumstances and that's what I found a strange level of comfort in.

I needed this escape, this break from reality and although it was the furthest place from where I should be, it was where I wanted to be.

Emmett looked my way as his opponent attempted to pick himself up from the floor, the crowds cheered as Emmett made his way over to me smiling, I smiled back at him and he brought his taped hand through the cage and laced his fingers over mine.

"Look at you" Emmett said to me making my smile widen.

He turned and returned to his fight and I ignored the girls around me who began staring at me.

Of course he won in the end, there was no doubt in my mind that he would. The bell rang and the man who arranged the fight came up to the door to the cage looking my way.

"You comin?" He asked me after seeing my encounter with Emmett.

I found myself nodding and quickly followed him into the ring. Emmett held his arms up in celebration and the crowds were rattling the cage around us, cheering him on.

Emmett saw me coming into the ring and he smirked knowing I was out of my own comfort zone.

For some reason I just couldn't explain I leapt up into his arms, Emmett caught me of course, my legs wrapping around his waist, one of his hands on my lower back and the other cupping my butt. Emmett was as stunned as I was in that moment but the crowds continued to cheer. He looked down at my lips and back to my eyes. We both knew he had done it. I was breathing heavier now, I reached up to the top of my head and parted my hair to the side making Emmett's jaw drop ever so slightly.

"There you go, Emmett. Ten grand even" The man who led me into the ring announced as he came to Emmett's side.

Emmett looked to him and took the money from his hand, some of the money even appeared to have blood stains on it, not that it mattered to us in that moment. We were both still lost for words. I kept my eyes on Emmett and found myself reaching for the neckline of my top pulling it downward and encouraging him to put his winnings down my top to the delight of the crowd. Emmett kept his eyes on mine and lifted his hand up, I tilted my head back ever so slightly as I felt his hand sink beneath my top, tucking the money into the cup of my bra. My head coming forward to look him in the eye as in that moment, Emmett intentionally brushed his hand over my hardening nipple before bringing his hand out completely.