Deep Haven
“Where are you from?”
Ari slowly turned her head to the other. Out here the grass was so green. The air was clean. She flexed her fingers feeling the dirt in one hand and Soren’s calloused fingers in the other. Ari took a deep breath eyes closing as she relaxed. Out here she was safe. She was free. Her head turned again, eyes staring at the clouds above.
“Why do you care?”
Her accent was posh. She screamed upper class. But anyone that knew her well knew that was far from the truth. Soren's fingers danced on her palm. He inched closer, placing his head on her shoulder.
“I’m interested in knowing more about you. I enjoy listening to your voice, cupcake~. Most girls I know can barely hold their ground. Like who taught you how to punch, Cupcake?”
“Stop calling me that.” Ari sighed closing her eyes to think about her past. Before the company…and before dad. Living on the streets. She hummed lifting her hands to the sky above, “Well. I wasn’t born up here that’s for sure. Where I was born, you had to train yourself. Either train yourself or you might as well off yourself. Anyone who can’t survive hand to hand combat would die in seconds down there. You know the place no one speaks of. The dark side of all of this. Deep Haven.”
A young girl scavenged through the scrap pile. One good gear meant food for the week! If only there were working gears. She rubbed her cheek, grease from her hands transferring to her face. She wasn’t alone in this scavenge. A small gaggle of young ashuri and human children scavenged through the piles.
She searched day and night through the riches trash to find things to give the Keeper. Shiny clean parts. That’s what the Keeper paid for. She licked her lips clean as coal dust fell on her from above. She hated this place. The rich tossed their trash in the dirtiest possible holes they could find in hopes that the Deep Haven wouldn’t be able to use them. But Havenites always found a way.
She gasped softly as she found a perfect part. Yes! She stood up excitedly turning to leave the herd. But one step and she whipped around. Her hand caught her assaulters. Peaceful only a moment ago, now turning on her as she held the key to getting a meal. The female huffed stuffing the part in her pocket before beating the other off her.
That’s how Deep Haven worked.
Kill or be killed.
Her punches were well placed, blocking her opponents strikes with care. One wrong move and she would be vulnerable. A sharp jab to their side, a punch to the face. Aim for the weak spots. A slip up and the fighter managed to land a strike on her. Ari stumbled back holding her jaw. Fuck. She spit to the side a tooth falling out as she did. Typical. Her hand wiped the blood her mouth before she raised her fists again showing him she was far from done. He laughed raising his fists again. The crowd cheered on. This meant more bets would be placed. More cash to be split. Ari had to win this….
Soft eyes looked over her features in the locker room mirror. She carefully touched a forming bruise on her cheek before wincing back in pain. jerk. All of them were. She wouldn’t have hit his face if he didn’t hit hers. Ari clicked her tongue pulling out her bandages and unrolling them. Whatever. All that mattered was she won. That meant food…for at least a day or two. She carefully wrapped the bandages over her toned arms, rubbing spots that were bruising before covering them up.
“Hey babe~ Sorry about that.” A familiar voice said touching the mark on her cheek. Ari pushed his hand off quickly putting her stuff up and locking the locker. Last thing she needed was her shit being stolen.
“Fuck off.”
“Woah woah! I was just delivering something from the boss sheesh. Might wanna give it a read.”
A letter was shoved into her hands. She swallowed hard looking at the sealed letter.
No…no no no…
That was the catch about the fight club. If you win too much the house got rid of you. Everyone knew who would win. It took out the mystery. The excitement. Nobody likes a champion. Ari shakily opened the letter. There it was. The summoning to the office. No one ever came out of there alive. Ari turned back to her locker pulling out her bag and quickly packing it up. She didn’t stay to explain anything to the ashuri behind her. She knew better than to lock herself in a room with another killer.
Soren snapped in front of his partner before laying back down, “Hey. You zoned out again.”
Ari blinked pushing back into the ground, “sorry. It doesn’t matter what my past is. It matters that I’m here now.”
Soren stayed quiet falling back into the grass. He huffed still curious about it but Ari wouldn’t budge from her want to keep things secret. The snow leopard looked over one last time thinking about trying to convince her but a glare from Ari kept him quiet. She smiled then laughed ruffling his hair and pulling him back to rest against her. He didn’t need to know the truth about things. He only needed to worry about himself. Ari would make sure of that.