Heya readers
Sorry for how slow this fic is coming, but it's getting there! Well, when you're working on three fics at the same time, some get more attention than others, but there we go.
Big thanks to Meian16 for his help!
Chapter Eight
An hour later, Cam and Barry arrived at the Warehouse near the river where the tournament was to take place.
"So how do we do this?" Cam asked as he drove the van to a dark alleyway and parked it.
Barry thought for a moment.
"Well, we can't go through the front entrance." He said, "And if I know this underground clubs there are guards everywhere to keep those uninvited out as well as be lookout for cops."
Cam nodded in agreement.
"I suppose our best bet is stealth mode or go via the sewer way." He said pointing down at a sewer lid near his feet.
Barry looked at the sewer lid then up at Cam.
"Well we aint like the New York Ninjas or the Chicago Knights when it comes to stealth so maybe the sewer route is our best bet." He said to which Cam lifted the lid.
"After you mate!" the Rhino said to Barry and the Warthog went down the rungs and once he was clear, Cam followed suit and replaced the lid back on.
He then placed a red flag by the rungs.
"So, to pinpoint where we left the van." He said before turning to Barry who gestured with his head to follow him.
"This way!" he said, "But stay in single file, don't want to fall in the sewer water!" he chuckled.
"Too right!" Cam laughed "Remember the time we salvaged near the waste receptacle, and we got covered in sewage because we were under the main pipe?"
Barry burst out laughing.
"That so wasn't our finest moment!" he laughed "We stank to high heaven, and it took days to get the smell out of our clothes and us!"
"And no-one came near us for a while either!" Cam agreed "In fact I remember we used that to our advantage when we wanted to watch the Football Game in the movie room! We had the whole place to ourselves!"
Barry laughed again.
"I think I remember we considered pulling the same stunt if we wanted the movie room instantly!" he chuckled.
"Well, we decided that we didn't want to spend time getting the smell out that could be used for other things." Cam remembered.
"Yeah!" Barry agreed "Like pool tournaments or arm wrestling!"
He walked on a little further and stopped holding up his fist to Cam.
"I think we're close!" he said as one of his ears pricked up.
"Yep! I recognise the sounds! We're nearly there!" he cheered and kept leading the way.
"Awesome man!" Cam said excitedly, "Right behind you!"
Meanwhile, the sounds Barry heard were what he wanted to hear, as the warehouse where the Tournament was taking place was alive with excitement.
Many people in street clothes were gathered outside, many were in groups talking or spitting lyrics, as well as taking swigs of drinks from cans or bottles or smoking.
Some were even practicing fighting or exchanging drinks, cigarettes, or drugs.
All the while, some tough men and women stood near the doors making sure no-one entered without paying or being inspected.
From around a corner, Samuel and Alexandra arrived after getting a taxi from their hotel. Samuel puffed up his chest ready to walk in, yet Alexandra was nervous.
"Here we are!" Samuel grinned "And quite the turn out!"
"I'll say!" Alexandra agreed scanning everyone and snuggling closer to her boyfriend.
Samuel sensed her fear and head her close to him protectively as they walked to the entrance.
As they got closer, several looked over at them, then a few voices sounded.
"It's him! It's Sam! Sam the Man!"
Several men in baggy tracksuits started to dance and hum in rapping tones when they saw Samuel and Alexandra, and some clicked their tongues and whistled.
"Yo, that's him! He's gonna be in tournament too? And look, his woman's with him too!"
"Sure is him! I wonder if he's gonna survive tonight?" someone else yelled.
"Can't wait to find out!" another agreed.
Samuel walked confidently and kept holding Alexandra close as they approached the entrance and two large tough men looked down at them from checking lists attached to a clipboard.
One of them, a large white man with tattoos looked at them.
"Evening sir, m'am" he grunted at the couple.
"Likewise." Samuel said politely giving a salute "I'll be taking part in the tournament here tonight!"
The Guard frowned.
"Okay, and your name?" he questioned cocking his head on one side.
"Sam." Samuel replied.
"Sam what?" the guard snapped as he looked at the list.
"Henry." Samuel replied and the guard muttered as he checked the list then he found the name and tapped it.
"Ah yes." he said then looked at Alexandra.
"You fighting too miss?" he asked eyeing her appearance and skeptical of the fact she could be a fighter.
Alexandra's eyes widened as she looked up at the guard.
"Who me!?" she squawked.
"No, she's not. She's here just to watch." Samuel said quickly.
The guard frowned.
"Really?" he asked, "Well spectators are to go over there!" he gestured to the side of the building where there was a queue of men and women in street gear as well as smart suits waiting to go in and get seated for the fight.
Sam looked over and then at Alexandra.
"I see..." he muttered then turned to his girlfriend.
"You gonna be okay?" he asked.
Alexandra bit her lip looking at the crowd then turned to Samuel taking a deep breath.
"I think so Sam," she replied, "I got my pepper spray as well as knowledge of what you taught me."
She added the last part with a wink.
Samuel smiled.
"That's my girl. And if you need any help at all, you know what to do!" he said kissing Alexandra and she hugged him kissing him back before stepping back.
"I do hun." She said confidently "I love you."
"I love you too" Samuel replied, nuzzling Alexandra's nose "I'll look for you in the crowd".
"I'll be cheering the loudest hun!" Alexandra grinned "Good luck! I'll be watching you!"
"I'll do my best." Samuel promised then Alexandra kissed his cheek then walked off to the other entrance to join the crowd.
Samuel watched her leave biting his lip hoping she would be safe within the wild crowd.
Despite the fact Alexandra had been to these types of fight clubs before and had gotten used to them, thanks to him teaching her a few moves as well as using mace, pepper spray and a stun gun, he still worried for her as she wasn't a fighter.
"Hey kid."
The voice of the guard brought Samuel out of his daydream, and he turned around to see the guard gesturing with his hand to the door.
"Please go right in!" he instructed.
Got it. Thanks." Samuel nodded then walked inside the building and made his way to the room where the other male fighters were gathered.
It was a large room with tables and benches and all the fighters were changing or practicing their moves.
As soon as Samuel walked in, they eyed him hungrily.
"Fresh meat for the grinder!" one growled.
"Ready to die?" another snarled.
"There's no turning back!" a third drawled.
Samuel narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists showing he wasn't afraid.
"And you are?" he asked.
"Fighters competing for glory!" one male fighter who stood over six feet tall wearing black shorts and cropped black hair.
"I see." Samuel said causally "That's all that matters to you huh?"
"Indeed, we're all here to fight to win the big prize." The fighter said.
"To each their own then?" Samuel shrugged as he looked at everyone who still eyed him, some looking rather amazed he was acting like it was no big deal.
Just then another fighter, a man with red hair in a long braid and wearing orange shorts pointed at Samuel.
"Aye! That must be the one we keep hearing about. The one named Sam!"
A few gasps were heard as they heard that.
"That is him, he's done well to have gotten this far!"
"Heard he's one of the best around. And he's not even from here!"
"Aye indeed! but then again, we aren't! Some of us anyway!"
"I've heard about him. No matter what you do to him, it's almost like he doesn't feel pain at all!"
"That is true," the tall fighter said, "At least that's what the rumour is!" he looked at Samuel and folded his arms.
"Do you feel pain at all?" he asked cocking his head on one side.
Samuel frowned.
"Huh? What kind of question is that? All of a sudden?" he demanded.
"Rumor has it that you feel nothing at all in a fight, no matter what. Is it true?" the tall fighter asked.
"Yeah, is it true?" many voices were heard around.
Samuel looked confused as he looked at the fighters who all had their eyes on him.
"Don't know where that came from." He said "Of course I feel pain. Doesn't everybody?"
"Yet why does it not bother you?" the tall fighter asked.
Samuel shrugged.
"Just learned to push it to the side and not let it keep me from my goal. But trust me, I feel everything like you would."
The room was silent as they looked at Samuel.
"Can't let a little bit of pain get in your way!" he added with a shrug.
"Resilient, eh?" the taller fighter asked.
"You can say that!" Samuel replied.
"At least we know you're not drugged or roided up." The red headed fighter said nodding at him with respect in his voice "You just seem to have a high tolerance for pain."
A few voices were heard in agreement.
"For sure!"
"Yeah!"
"Agreed!"
"Some of us take drugs to numb it! or are so high we tolerate it!" the taller fighter said, "Not that I do anyway." He added quickly.
Samuel narrowed his eyes as he heard that since he never liked the idea of using drugs or steroids to get by.
He often saw it as cheating using drugs to numb pain when fighting or competing as it took away the challenges that came with the job.
"Helps us cope!" a few voices piped up.
As much as Samuel wanted to speak his mind, he kept his mouth shut and nodded.
He knew when it came to these underground fights that if one stood out or spoke out the wrong way, it would mean trouble or all fighters ganging up on him.
"Understandable." He said in a soft voice as he sat down on a nearby chair.
"So!" the taller fighter asked deciding to change the subject.
"Do you think you can get far in this tournament?"
Samuel looked at everyone and shrugged again.
"Depends on the competition here." He said in an honest tone "I've gotten this far."
"Well may the best fighter win!" the taller fighter said.
"Yeah!" the red headed one agreed "We're all in it to win it, so last standing wins!"
"Likewise, to you both." Samuel said sincerely "I do wish you luck. And no hard feelings I hope?"
The two fighters nodded, and the others agreed.
"Might as well get warmed up and ready!"
Meanwhile, Alexandra had made it inside and was making her way through the crowds to find a good seat.
The warehouse was packed with spectators, all screaming and shouting for the fight to start, some were even pushing and shoving as they shouted abuse, and some held up posters or waved merchandise around cheering for their favourite fighter.
In the middle of the crowd was the ring along with the cage surrounding it where a referee was standing, and a few showgirls were prancing around in skimpy gear riling up the crowd.
Alexandra had to practically shove a couple of people out of the way to get a good seat and she soon found one where she got a good view of the cage.
She was glad not to use her mace or stun gun, even though she noticed some rough looking men were eyeing her up hungrily.
She frowned as she sat down and kept her purse on her lap, keeping her eyes on the cage eagerly waiting for Samuel to make his appearance.
"If any idiot tries anything." She thought "They'll get an eyeful of mace or a stinging in their crotch!"
At the same time, Cam and Barry had made it to the Warehouse and had found a spot behind the bleachers in the audience not far from where Alexandra was sitting to watch the fight.
"Whoa man Barry!" Cam exclaimed "It's a huge turnout!"
"Well, what do you expect Horns?" Barry asked "This is the final big fight, only the best of the best have made their way here to win the big bucks! Whoever makes it out the cage last is gonna be a rich boy, or girl!"
"Then the fighters are gonna be giving all they got!" Cam mused as he watched through the gaps of the bleachers "It's gonna be a bloodbath in places."
"Wouldn't be surprised if the final fighter spends the money on serious surgery or dentistry!" Barry commented "I remember seeing some fighters emerge with less teeth than a pensioner!"
"I remember too!" Cam agreed "One guy I remember from my gang life days, his nose was never the same again, neither was half his face because of the bashings he got!"
Just then the lights dimmed, and the shouting of the crowd got louder.
Cam and Barry moved closer to see clearly into the cage and two smartly dressed men entered the cage and addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I bid you all welcome! The time has finally come for Chicago's Annual Brawl Out Tournament!" the first one shouted into his microphone and the crowd cheered more.
"Thank you all for coming and joining us on what's sure to be a history making night!" the second one bellowed and again the crowd yelled louder with support.
"And what a series of fights we have lined up for you all tonight!" the first one said.
"In the end only one can be called the winner and champion!" the second one continued to the shouts and screams of the crowd.
"And so, without further wait, let's get the first fight of the night underway!" the first man shouted punching the air with his fist and he stepped back as music began to play to announce the fighters much to the excitement of the crowd and Alexandra, Cam and Barry being amongst them.
Cam and Barry along with Samuel and Alexandra have made it to the tournament and the fight is about to begin!
Stay tuned for the action in the following chapters!