Both men looked exhausted, panting and bleeding. Gunther’s brow was cracked open and Rex’s nose was freely pouring blood. They came at each other again, and ended up back in the same grappling position. I understood that I was watching a match between two extremely talented, deadly individuals, and that I was probably missing the finer points of the battle. All I could think about was my Rex, his body, and his freedom. Rex was marginally larger, but Gunther was fresh, and again Gunther gained advantage. This time, though, instead of throwing Rex, he slipped around behind him and wrapped his arms around Rex’s neck. He held him there, arms in a chokehold, and flexed.
Rex’s tongue nearly popped out of his mouth at the force of Gunther’s arms. The crowd went crazy, and a sharp thrill of fear ran through me. The people were screaming, going insane, as Gunther and Rex slowly sank down to the ground. Rex was weakly smacking at Gunther’s face, struggling to get out of the hold, but he wasn’t able to. Gunther dropped to his knees and Rex was down on his seat, slowly turning blue. I could see the end coming, Rex murdered before my eyes in the middle of a ring of murderous men. I could feel another scream begin to well itself up through my body. I couldn’t believe that Rex was going to lose, that he was going to die. I couldn’t believe that my end was coming, in a dingy bar basement.
Before I could release myself, Rex reached back with his right hand and pressed his thumb against Gunther’s eye. With every last ounce of energy he probably had left, Rex pressed his thumb into the eye. Gunther screamed, but didn’t let go immediately. Rex continued to press harder, and Gunther kept screaming, until blood began to run down Rex’s hand. Gunther let go and whipped himself backward, holding his eye and screaming, blood streaming between his fingers. Rex collapsed onto his stomach, coughing and choking but alive and breathing. The two men writhed separately, both dazed and in pain. The crowd went insane at the sight of more blood, and I felt sick, ready to throw up at any second.
Hope replaced the fear that had filled me as Rex slowly gained his feet. Gunther was still on his knees holding his bleeding eye. Before he noticed what was happening, Rex landed a violent kick to his nose, cracking Gunther’s head back and sending the man sprawling. Rex didn’t pause. He immediately jumped on Gunther and began pummeling him with his fists. The crowd went crazy, screaming and shouting, as Rex slowly stopped hitting Gunther. He stood up, panting and bleeding, but alive. Gunther lay on the ground, not moving.
The crowd went insane. They converged on Rex and lifted him into the air. It was complete chaos in the room. I glanced at Michael, but he was gone. I looked around, but couldn’t find him in all the chaos. I could feel Spud and Clutch still looming near me, and decided that it was time. I turned toward Spud and smiled big for him.
“That was amazing,” I yelled over the crowd. Spud grinned at me. I took a step closer to Spud, stood on my tiptoes, and put my lips near his horrible ear.
“I hope you never touch another woman again you fuck,” I said, and then I kneed him in the balls with all my strength.
Spud immediately doubled over, holding his crotch, then fell onto his side. I kicked him again for good measure, body full of adrenaline and rage.
Clutch looked at me blankly for a second, and then shrugged and looked away. I immediately scanned the room for Rex and spotted him nearby being congratulated by a bunch of different men. I pushed my way toward him, through the mass of yelling and cheering bodies, and broke free, running directly into him. I threw my arms around his neck and was kissing him before I knew what I was doing. Relief flooded through me, pure relief washed over my body as I hugged him, tears coming to my eyes. I knew we had won, I knew Rex was free and I was free, and we would have a chance together. Part of me thought it was over, and all I could think about was how unfair it was that I wouldn’t get more time with him. And yet there we were, hugging, alive, and victorious.
He kissed me back, his arms around me, and when we pulled apart we laughed harder than we had ever laughed before.
Finally the commotion died down, and Rex held me in his arms.
“Did they hurt you?” he said.
“No, I’m okay.”
“I’m so fucking sorry. Michael is going to pay for this.”
“Where did he go?” I asked.