The next day, Axel, nursing the mother of all hangovers, sat on a quiet bench in one of the artificial parks that dotted Hades Station. It had fake grass, fake trees, fake streams, and, of course, a fake sky. Arena regulars didn’t tend to hang out in places like this, making it the perfect spot for his meeting with Caraxus. The only problem was, Caraxus was about an hour late.

The longer he waited, the more Axel stewed. Had he done the right thing? What would Rose think? Would she be happy that he had enough money for them to leave or angry at the way he’d gotten it? Unable to find an answer, he took out a little flask and had a swig. Nothing cured a hangover like getting drunk again.

By the time Caraxus showed his face, Axel had been waiting and drinking for about two hours.

‘Where have you been? You’re late,’ Axel said.

Caraxus bared his teeth. ‘You’re lucky I came at all.’

‘Whatever. I did what you asked. Now give me my damn money.’

‘You did what I asked? You actually believe that?’

Axel shrugged. ‘I threw the fight, didn’t I?’

‘Yes, I know. Unfortunately, so does everyone else that was in that fucking arena.’

‘Who cares? I lost. That was the deal.’

Caraxus stepped close to Axel, towering over him. ‘I care. You made what we were doing so damn obvious that now the Apollo Corporation is breathing down our necks. Do you have any idea how many people we’ve had to bribe to make this go away?’

‘No,’ Axel said. ‘And I don’t give a damn. Give. Me. My. Money.’

Caraxus’ eyes turned icy. His lips peeled back into a snarl. ‘You’re not getting a single credit. In fact, count yourself lucky you’re getting out of this alive. If it wouldn’t cause us yet another headache, I’d have you sliced apart piece by piece.’

***

‘Go away,’ Axel said to whoever was knocking on his door. He’d gone two weeks without having a conversation with anybody, and he didn’t intend to break that streak now. He sat slumped on his couch, naked, apart from a pair of stained underwear. A couple of empty liquor bottles stood next to him, but that wasn’t even the worst of it.

The unmistakable stench of oblivion dust filled the air of his darkened apartment. The addictive substance was the only thing that took away the pain now, the only thing that gave him any relief. Axel reached for the small baggy next to him and tipped the remaining grains into his latest glass of whiskey. They lasted longer that way.

However, before he could take a swig, the door slid open.

‘What the hell—’ Axel began, but stopped when he saw the face looking at him. Rose. Frowning, furious even, but still Rose.

She shook her head. ‘Axel, what have you done to yourself?’

He turned away from her, choosing to stare at the floor.

‘Axel.’ She tried again but still got no response. Pursing her lips, Rose strode across the room, grabbed Axel’s chin and tilted his head towards her. ‘Axel, look at me.’

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He squeezed his eyes shut. ‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because I don’t deserve to look at you. I’m a disgrace.’

Rose snorted. ‘Yes, you are. We agree on that much, at least.’

‘I’m a failure. A loser. I’m not good enough for you.’

‘Not in this state, you’re not.’

‘Not in any state. I failed you. I failed our baby. Now you’ll both be stuck here for your whole lives, and it’s all my fault.’

Rose froze. ‘You think that’s why I’m upset with you?’

‘What other reason is there?’

She waved her arm around the room. ‘Seriously? You’re seriously asking me that? Look at what you’ve done to yourself.’

Kneeling in front of him, Rose placed a tender hand on Axel’s arm. ‘Axel, I’m not upset that you lost. You never stood a chance. I’m upset that you turned to drugs and alcohol instead of me. We’re supposed to be a team, and you just ran off without me. That’s not okay.’

Axel’s mind raced. They were supposed to be a team, weren’t they? But he didn’t deserve her. She’d be better off without him. He had to stay strong. He couldn’t break.

‘I love you, Axel,’ Rose said.

He opened his eyes. ‘I’m… I’m sorry. I was just so…’

‘It’s okay. I understand. But from now on, we’re in this together, agreed?’

‘But your father. He said—’

‘To hell with what my father said. He doesn’t get a say in this. Now, are we facing this together, or not?’

‘We are. Of course we are.’ She loved him. Axel wouldn’t abandon her, and he wouldn’t let her down again. Somehow, they would get through this.

Rose beamed. ‘Good. Now let’s get down to business. Letting the Syndicate talk you into match-fixing was stupid. Screwing it up was even stupider. But I think I have a way to make everything right.’

‘You do?’

‘I take it you haven’t been keeping up with the news?’

Axel smiled sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head. ‘Er, no. Not really.’

‘Then you don’t know who’s visiting Hades Station next month to present the trophy to the tourney champion?’

‘No.’

‘Marcellus Clay.’

Axel practically jumped out of his chair, all traces of his earlier depression blown away. ‘Marcellus Clay? The Marcellus Clay? The Golden Hawk?’

‘The one and only.’

Axle shook his head, barely believing his ears. Meeting Clay was something he’d dreamed of since he was a young boy in the orphanage. Only…

His smile faltered. ‘That’s great and all, but how does it help us?’

‘Because you’re going to challenge him,’ Rose said, still beaming.

‘I’m what?’

‘You’re going to challenge him to an exhibition match.’

Axel half laughed-half choked. ‘Are you insane? Why would he accept? I’m a joke. I’m the guy who got drunk and threw a fight. He’d never accept a challenge from me.’

‘He will,’ Rose said. ‘Because you’re going to convince him that you’ll give him a good match. Show strength. Confidence. He’ll respect that.’

‘I don’t know… even if he accepts, how does it help us?’

‘Because when you beat him, you’ll win your place on the Tour.’

‘The tournament is done, Rose. The final rankings are set.’

Rose harrumphed. ‘Who cares about the tournament? You really think the GGF would leave the young fighter who beat the Golden Hawk rotting in a place like this?’

‘No, maybe not. But you’re forgetting one crucial fact. There’s no way I can beat him.’

‘Not in those tighty-not-so-whities you won’t. You need to get back into shape fast. What do you say? Are you ready to stop being a washed-up slob and start being the Hornet again?’

Axel stared at her for several moments. Could he do it? Could he challenge the Golden Hawk? He looked at Rose and saw her confident smile and the gleam in her eyes. Yes. Yes, he could.

Picking up his glass, Axel strode over to the sink and emptied it. ‘Let’s get training.’