DALLAS TEXAS ➝ 26 February 2019

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My matted hair blew backwards, when a large gust of air hit me ― a sickening crack coming from my nose, alerted me that the bastard that I was fighting in this underground illegal ring had just broken my nose the day before I was to start my new school.

"Dick," I muttered under my breath, as I threw a punch at his abdomen ― which was a low blow, to knock the wind out of him so I could do my next move, and throw him onto the ground with one hand.

I pinned my arm across his neck as the referee started to count down from ten ― unless this man decided to tap out, which I could tell was about to happen very soon. If there was one thing I learned from my father, it was having a high tolerance to pain.

His fingers tapped repeatedly against the thin skin on my forearm, indicating that he was tapping out ― and that I had one the two grand that was on the bet for our fight. "Jesus, lady. What do you do to get yourself so strong?" He muttered, and I walked towards him so my face was mere inches from his chest.

"Patience, and practise ― along with a lot of determination." I say, before turning on my heel and grabbing the money the referee was holding out too me ― if only the man that I was fighting knew he was just beaten by an eighteen year old, maybe he would've tried harder.

I pushed myself through the crowded female changing rooms ― which is quite shocking because where I lived in New York ― there was very little female fighters in the illegal fighting clubs.

I opened my pin coded locker and pulled down my hood ― I didn't like anyone getting a good glimpse at me, partly because I never knew who would be working for him. I mentally shuddered at the thought of him, "That's got to hurt like hell." A soft, but almost harsh voice says from behind me ― and I jump, startled at the intrusion and turn around to find a female ― maybe in her mid teen's, with blonde hair and blue eyes, parted lips and a cut lip looking at me.

"Sorry," I muttered quietly, "I'm not used to getting talked too." I say, throwing my hoodie into the locker.

"I've noticed, you get changed, you fight, you change, you leave. Don't you have ― how do I say this without being mean, don't your family ever care about where you get these much bruises from?" She questions and I freeze up ― the mention of my family, putting me of kilter. A harsh breath fluttered through my lips as I look at her.

"Let's just say, I don't particularly have a good relationship with my so called 'family'," I say, before throwing the last of my stuff into my locker, "Look. I really have to go ― I start school tomorrow, I need to be fresh as a daisy." I say, sarcastically.

"What school are you going too?" She questions ― tilting her head to the side, looking at me with her big blue eyes.

"Collin high school." I say, cocking a brow at her.

"So do I! Do you want to uh ― hang out, my brother always leaves to go with his best mate ― who also happens to be one of the headmasters ancestors. So I'm almost always alone." She says, and I chuckle.

"That would be great," I responded, enthusiastically as I begin to head to the door.

"I ― uh, didn't get your name." She says, and I turn to face her with a sweet smile ― which was totally unlike my normal personality.

"It's Jessica, Jessica Rock but I prefer Jess." I say.

"I'm Abigail Colby, Abi for short." She says ― and I smile at her, give her a quick wink and I slip out of the changing rooms ― now happy with myself, that I had made at least one friend that I could hang out with tomorrow but as I knew, I couldn't let her get too close.

Because when they did, I always have to either run or they end up dead because of him.

☙☙☙

    The hot water rolled over my head as I washed my hair ― yet efficiently. It was at that moment when my phone decided to start blaring, Bad bitch by Bebe Rexha around the room. I almost cursed at the timing of my old friend before slipping out of the shower and wrapped a towel around my waist tightly. 

My hand reached for my phone, which was on the cabinet. "Lallita, this better be good and you better be on the prepay." I warn her and she chuckles, a soft one that shouldn't be involved with me or my father. 

"Don't worry, I'm on the prepay. It's getting worse, you father is hell bent on finding you ― that he sent out one of his members out and they almost caught you at the fighting ring." Lallita says and I stumble.

"How the fuck? I never told anyone where I was." I growled out and she sighs lightly. 

"Somehow, he managed to find out what phone you had and track it. You need to get a new phone, now Jess." She says, and I sigh before silently nodding ― then realising she couldn't see me. 

"Okay, La." I answer and she says her quick goodbyes before hanging up her phone ― and I do the same. I finally, after a full day of doing stuff, slipped into my bed and closed my eyes ― a stifled yawn making it past my lips as I fell into a deep slumber ― worrying about my father finding me and the next few days at Collin high school with people that didn't know my true identity.