Lucie Part Two

The gym nearly vibrated with the noise of the members of the rival clubs. Keisha, lean and intent, sat in her corner of the ring, attended by her sister Araya and her boyfriend, Max.

"Someone's been sleeping with the enemy," she whispered to Max. The couple eyed the approaching competition: Lucie, Emma and now Ron. Keisha wasn't really surprised. Ron wasn't breaking any tournament rules. And also, Ron thought a good fuck meant true love and was attending Lucie the same way Max took care of Keisha. Likely without Max's inclination to cheating, Keisha speculated, knowing Ron as she did.

Keisha saw she was a bit taller than Lucie when the Ref finally called together to go over the rules. But Had the edge in weight and muscle mass. At close range, Keisha gave Lucie an appraising look.

"I'd be more worried, little thing, but you only knocked out Ron," Keisha said, tauntingly. "Fine choice for the bedroom, though!"

Lucie gave Keisha a faint sneer. "You would know..."

"I had your man, Miss Lucie, and the only place he's of use is in the sack!"

"Bitch!" screeched Lucie.

"Ladies! Back to your corners!" the Ref shouted, pushing the women apart.

When they came out at the bell, Lucie was still angry. Keisha looked pleased.

Keisha dodged her rival, keeping her distance, striking only when there was a clear opening. Lucie kept after Keisha, hammering at the taller girl's stomach and jabbing at her face. Keisha absorbed the stinging blows and tried to provoke Lucie as much as she could.

By the second round, she had Lucie's measure: the young Haitian girl had a strong punch and had speed on her feet, but she didn't think too much about defense. Keisha ducked and swerved from Lucie's fists and then fired her own, detonating on Lucie's head and mid section.

Keisha pressed the assault later on, seeing Lucie's punches weren't coming so fast. She focused on Lucie's body as the gaps in her defense grew larger. Keisha wanted to ware Lucie down and by the end of round five, the plan was working.

The sixth round began with Keisha slugging Lucie hard. Mid way, Lucie threw a round house right at Keisha, momentarily leaving her face exposed. Keisha ducked and instantly slammed home a left-right.

Stuned, Lucie's vision jarred violently. Keisha uncorked two more shots, one landing directly on her opponent's belly, followed by a brutal right cross. Then the beating accelerated, impacting all over Lucie's body.

Lucie crouched, raising her gloves to her face. Keisha continued her attack until the Ref separated them.

When Lucie came at Keisha again, there was an explosion. Keisha delivered a hook to the smaller girl's chin, sending her backward into the ropes. Keisha then uppercutted Lucie, landing the girl on the canvas, on her ass, slumped against the ropes.

Lucie struggled to move. Through the daze that was flooding her brain, Lucie heard numbers being called out. The edges of her vision grew darker and she smiled at the relaxed feeling moving through her.

Just as the Ref called out "Five," Lucie began, rope by rope, to pull herself to her feet. Lucie's eyes were glassy and distracted and her movements were sluggish. By "Eight," Lucie stood flat footed and swaying before Keisha.

Lucie swung wildly, twice at Keisha, who easily swerved out of the way.

"Come...on...Ron...fight me..." Lucie mumbled.

Keisha saw clearly that Lucie was out on her feet, dreaming of going at at it with her new boyfriend. Pressing Lucie's arms to her sides, Keisha steadied her opponent, tilting Lucie's chin upward with mock affection.

The sound of Keisha's hay maker reverberated around the gym like thunder.

Lucie dropped sideways, landing with a meaty "thud" on her back. Except for the slight twitching of her hands, the unconscious Lucie made no movement. Her body as limp and her face, tilted toward Ron and Emma, was passive in sleep.

The pain of the beating had vanished into sleep. Waves of contentment surged through Lucie's sleeping body like waves washing in a beach.

Then the darkness disapated from Lucie's eyes like evaporating fog. Ron and Emma were talking to her, asking about fingers. Lucie dreamily told them how many she saw.

They sat Lucie up in time to see Keisha struting around the ring, cheered by the spectators. On her feet and still groggy, Lucie felt good in Ron's arms.