their guns at Boom Boom’s head.
“How about you give us all the gold coins?” says the guard standing next
to me.
“Yeah, then we can talk,” says the other.
I’m just about to take down both guards when Boom Boom calmly replies, “I don’t
think you want to do that. Unless, of course, you want to explain to Remy why I
wasn’t able to deliver his payment?” Boom Boom shakes the bag, causing the
coins to jingle.
The guards gulp and step back.
“Er, no, we wouldn’t want that at all. F… follow me.”
The guards hurry inside the dark factory. Boom Boom shrugs and follows them,
her burlap bag swinging at her side. I bring up the rear.
We walk down the dark, deserted hallway in silence. All the windows are boarded
up, preventing any moonlight from entering. If it wasn’t for my goggles I
wouldn’t be able to see at all.
We stop at a steel door in the back. One of the guards presses his finger
against a scanner, and the door slides open. Bright light floods the hall.
The guard gestures toward the door. “Enjoy your evening, kids.”
The guards quickly scurry off.
I turn to Boom Boom and ask, “You ready?”
“I guess,” she replies. “Let’s get this over with.”
We both walk through the doorway, which immediately shuts behind us.
When I first walk into the room, I’m nearly overpowered by all the sights,
sounds, and smells. The center of the factory has been remade into a
brightly-lit auditorium with stadium-style seating. In the center of the
auditorium is a 20-foot tall steel cage, and two bare-chested guys in shorts
are furiously trading punches as the crowd cheers like crazy.
There are over 2,000 people in attendance. A couple hundred are crammed on the
floor surrounding the steel cage. The rest are sitting in the auditorium
chairs.
You’d think the people who’d attend an illegal steel cage fight would be
criminals, but I actually recognize a few famous and respected members of
society. A lot of them are wearing disguises (wigs, hats, fake mustaches,
shades), but our goggles can see through all that. One of the people I notice
is the son of a sitting senator. Another lady is an assistant to the Detroit
mayor. My goggles also point out a couple actors, athletes, journalists, and
television reporters. Apparently this is where the rich and famous go to have a
little illegal fun.
I have to hold my breath as we get closer to the steel cage. The combined scent
of sweat, body odor, perfume, and cigarette smoke is suffocating. Poor Boom
Boom gags a few times as we make our way down to the floor, especially when we
cut through a cloud of smoke.
I grow angry when I notice all the older guys gawking at Boom Boom and
muttering disgusting comments. One pervert shouts, “Hey baby, how much for an
hour?” Another douche bag actually slaps her ass and says, “Yeah, baby got back
for sure.”
Boom Boom ignores the catcalls and walks on. I, however, can’t ignore it. I
slug the guy who slapped her caboose right across his face. He tumbles out of
his chair, spilling beer all over his shirt.
Boom Boom grabs my arm and drags me into the crowd.
“Keep your cool, Lance.”
I swallow my pride and let Boom Boom drag me away. She’s right, of course. If I
make a scene, we can kiss our bounty goodbye.
We’re now so close to the steel cage that we can hear the fighters talking
smack as they trade punches.
“The short, feral looking dude in the white
“How about you give us all the gold coins?” says the guard standing next
to me.
“Yeah, then we can talk,” says the other.
I’m just about to take down both guards when Boom Boom calmly replies, “I don’t
think you want to do that. Unless, of course, you want to explain to Remy why I
wasn’t able to deliver his payment?” Boom Boom shakes the bag, causing the
coins to jingle.
The guards gulp and step back.
“Er, no, we wouldn’t want that at all. F… follow me.”
The guards hurry inside the dark factory. Boom Boom shrugs and follows them,
her burlap bag swinging at her side. I bring up the rear.
We walk down the dark, deserted hallway in silence. All the windows are boarded
up, preventing any moonlight from entering. If it wasn’t for my goggles I
wouldn’t be able to see at all.
We stop at a steel door in the back. One of the guards presses his finger
against a scanner, and the door slides open. Bright light floods the hall.
The guard gestures toward the door. “Enjoy your evening, kids.”
The guards quickly scurry off.
I turn to Boom Boom and ask, “You ready?”
“I guess,” she replies. “Let’s get this over with.”
We both walk through the doorway, which immediately shuts behind us.
When I first walk into the room, I’m nearly overpowered by all the sights,
sounds, and smells. The center of the factory has been remade into a
brightly-lit auditorium with stadium-style seating. In the center of the
auditorium is a 20-foot tall steel cage, and two bare-chested guys in shorts
are furiously trading punches as the crowd cheers like crazy.
There are over 2,000 people in attendance. A couple hundred are crammed on the
floor surrounding the steel cage. The rest are sitting in the auditorium
chairs.
You’d think the people who’d attend an illegal steel cage fight would be
criminals, but I actually recognize a few famous and respected members of
society. A lot of them are wearing disguises (wigs, hats, fake mustaches,
shades), but our goggles can see through all that. One of the people I notice
is the son of a sitting senator. Another lady is an assistant to the Detroit
mayor. My goggles also point out a couple actors, athletes, journalists, and
television reporters. Apparently this is where the rich and famous go to have a
little illegal fun.
I have to hold my breath as we get closer to the steel cage. The combined scent
of sweat, body odor, perfume, and cigarette smoke is suffocating. Poor Boom
Boom gags a few times as we make our way down to the floor, especially when we
cut through a cloud of smoke.
I grow angry when I notice all the older guys gawking at Boom Boom and
muttering disgusting comments. One pervert shouts, “Hey baby, how much for an
hour?” Another douche bag actually slaps her ass and says, “Yeah, baby got back
for sure.”
Boom Boom ignores the catcalls and walks on. I, however, can’t ignore it. I
slug the guy who slapped her caboose right across his face. He tumbles out of
his chair, spilling beer all over his shirt.
Boom Boom grabs my arm and drags me into the crowd.
“Keep your cool, Lance.”
I swallow my pride and let Boom Boom drag me away. She’s right, of course. If I
make a scene, we can kiss our bounty goodbye.
We’re now so close to the steel cage that we can hear the fighters talking
smack as they trade punches.
“The short, feral looking dude in the white
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