The noise recedes, the spotlights fade away, and I am going down, content material.

***

“Give him some respiration room,” a girl’s voice is saying. “Again off. Natasha, go inform James to convey the automobile.”

This is mindless.

“Riot. Are you able to hear me?” Pax. That is Pax.

I attempt to transfer. My limbs are like rocks tied to my torso. My lids are so fucking heavy. Yet one more strive, and I blink to stabbing gentle.

Ow, fuck.

“Hey.” Pax is a watery, hazy silhouette leaning over me, darkish hair framing her pale face. “There you’re.”

“Drink a few of this,” the primary voice says, and Ellen Morris enters my imaginative and prescient area, holding a bottle of one thing blue. “Simply Gatorade. It’ll show you how to really feel higher.”

Sitting up proves kinda onerous, however then the referee is there, serving to me. Ache stabs my ribs, and I maintain a yelp behind my tooth with some problem. I wrap my arm protectively round them. My head is pounding, and my imaginative and prescient is a bit fuzzy.

Ellen presents me once more the bottle and I swallow just a few sips of the candy drink. “The physician is right here,” she says, “simply to check out you.”

Pax offers me a reassuring smile. She’s kneeling subsequent to me—and that’s once I notice we’re not within the ring anymore however within the locker room.

Whoa. Guess I used to be out for greater than only a few seconds. I’m sitting on one of many lengthy benches beneath the lockers.

The physician sits down subsequent to me, a middle-aged man in a darkish swimsuit. He checks my eyes with a flashlight, listens to my coronary heart, takes my pulse, and pronounces me okay.

“Can’t rule out the potential of a small concussion,” he says earlier than he will get up. “You must search medical consideration if you happen to go out once more, or have sturdy complications and nausea. In any case, I do suppose just a few days’ relaxation would do you good.”

Man, I believe so, too. I really feel weary to my bones.

However Pax is right here. I attain for her and she or he climbs on the bench beside me, rigorously slips an arm round my again.

“Hey you.” She smiles at me, and it’s watery however vibrant. “You probably did it.”

“Instructed you.” All I would like is to curve up in mattress together with her, protected in my arms, and sleep for days.

“And also you received the battle.” She laughs, then presses her lips collectively.

“What’s the matter?”

“Nothing’s the matter. You received. It’s loopy.”

“You didn’t suppose I may do it.”

“No.” She lifts my hand, nonetheless taped and bloodied, and kisses it. “You didn’t suppose you would do it.”

“Pax guess on you,” Ellen says, sitting on my different aspect. Pale strands have come out of her hairdo and dangle round her face. She’s smiling. “She’s the one who discovered me. The explanation we’re right here. And the explanation you’ll be free.”

“Freed from what?”

“Of the company. Of every little thing that ties you all the way down to a life you don’t need.” She smiles. “You see, nearly everybody guess on the Crusher. However Pax and I, we guess on you.”

“Why didn’t you guess on Crusher? Your son?” I shake my head, then suppose higher about it when the pounding headache intensifies. “Why did you give me your scarf? Why did you need me to win?”

“As a result of, my expensive boy.” She lifts her hand, pets my hair. “Yours could be the one actual victory. And I’m fairly keen on you, as effectively.”

“Thanks,” I inform her and lean in to kiss her wrinkled cheek. “For every little thing.”

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