An hour passed
My hands were steady again.
Breathing even.
The sting in my knuckles had dulled into something manageable.
The facility was quieter now — only a few lanes occupied.
Section E stood near the far wall.
Observing.
They weren't loud like the basement crowd.
They never are.
Raven leaned against the concrete pillar.
Nova's arms were crossed.
Benjamin was watching me like he was calculating something.
They knew why I was here.
Not because I loved chaos.
But because I hated feeling unprepared.
I adjusted my stance again.
Focus.
Silence.
And then the door opened.
Heavy footsteps.
Familiar.
I didn't turn.
Didn't need to.
I felt it.
Keifer walked in, pulling off his jacket, distracted — like he was here to clear his head.
He hadn't seen me yet.
He signed in quickly, jaw tight, eyes unfocused.
He stepped toward the empty lane two rows behind me.
Still hadn't looked up.
Section E noticed first.
Nova's gaze shifted.
Raven straightened slightly.
Benjamin's smirk faded.
And then —
Keifer finally glanced around.
His eyes landed on Section E.
Recognition.
Confusion.
Then—
They moved.
Slowly.
Toward me.
He followed their line of sight.
And that's when he saw me.
Standing there.
Already training.
Already composed.
Already ahead of him.
The shock this time wasn't explosive like in the ring.
It was quieter.
He thought tonight was about discovering something new about me.
Turns out?
He still didn't know the half of it.
His steps slowed.
I could feel his stare on my back.
Heavy.
Searching.
"You're here too?" he finally said.
I lowered my hands calmly before turning.
"Why wouldn't I be?"
His eyes flicked to my wrapped knuckles.
Then to the faint bruise near my lip.
Then back to my stance.
"You just fought," he said quietly.
"And?" I replied.
Section E was silent.
Watching the shift.
Watching him realize this wasn't an impulsive decision.
This was routine.
"You don't stop," he muttered.
I tilted my head slightly. "Neither do you. You're here."
That hit.
Because he couldn't argue with it.
Section E exchanged glances.
Raven finally spoke, voice smooth.
"She's been coming here longer than you think."
Keifer's eyes shifted back to me.
And there it was again.
That realization.
He didn't know everything.
And maybe that scared him.
The room felt smaller.
Charged.
Not loud.
Just tight.
Silence.
Even Section E felt that one.
And Keifer?
He looked like he understood — but didn't like it.
At all.