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I forced a sht In so e swathes of material and massive nonsensical artwork of blizzards and forests, of darkness and wolves, of a violent world Sculptures uided us like sentinels A e, i, and entirely too real

The ath alert, searching for danger

Grunting and panting cae door as we passed

Clue cocked an eyebrow, staring at the door as if she had x-ray vision "I wonder what goes on in the private zones More fighting, or do you think the victor steals a woman from the crowd and makes mad passionate love to her?" Her voice turned dreamy "He’d be hot and sweaty and slippery with blood, but his kiss would et She’d let herself be consuh to protect her"

I shook ently at my dreamer-best-friend Clue had been the result of an illicit affair between a Chinese diplomat and a Thai prostitute Born out of wedlock, she’d been throay like rubbish when she was just teeks old

Weraped and mutilated in a rural Sydney suburb

Clue batted her eyelashes, blowing me a kiss "You can’t tell ht a battle to win you? I know you don’t have physical needs like the rest of us, but that has to turn you on"

This tihed with my heart and not just out of require responsibilities than chasing a e" I refused to dwell on urges that wokefor another’s body--too bad I never found anyone I wanted--not even Clara’s father

"But think of it, Zelly Muscles, gruffness, barely restrained violence--a entleness" She fanned herself dra about it"

I rolled my eyes "You’re way too much of a romantic for these tio if you wantperfect pearly teeth "I was born six hundred years ago That’s why I hanker after it so much Men these days ork in offices and eat pies for lunch need to get in touch with their sielding forefathers"

"You’re getting worse" I smiled Clue had two fascinations in life: men and past lives She swore she’d lived countless times before, and as much as I liked to joke and pluck holes in her tales, I couldn’t ignore the fact that she knew things Things she shouldn’t know for a discarded child with no education

"You’re an old soul too, Zel I can tell I haven’t figured out where you’re from, but I will"

I didn’t have the heart to tell her she rong I acted old beyond h bad fortune to last me forever If I had lived before, Ipsychopath to warrant the trials I’d endured

I squeezed her hand as we turned left at the end of the corridor and promptly slaht ers, I moved forward, almost in a trance

The double doors had been crafted frosurrounded by piles of coins, sunshine, and young children Fantastical turrets of a castle rested in the distance

My heart hurt as I looked at the next door If the first had been heaven, this one would definitely be hell

The young man now faced the viewer, but his features were blank No nose or eyes or ht while lightning and storm clouds brewed But what killedin the other portrait were now in pieces, scattered on the ground insnow

"Whoa, that’s a bit

I snatched her hand back and pressed the other door to open it I wanted away from the scene; it caht, pretend to forget

Troubles

I could never forget about the to fall But I was done , so it didn’t matter

The instant the door cracked open, noise assaulted us A potent runts of pain, lilts of feement, and the smooth beats of music

We entered a cavernous dark rooned arena It welcoh walls Lining the perirandstand held black couches, La-Z-boys, and luxury daybeds Each one had its own podiu like fireflies in the dark

"Ohon theexisted: a Mixed Marital Arts cage, a boxing ring, a Muay Thai ring, mats for close combat, and bare floor for other barbaric blood sports Each space was croithon their feet ready to meet a new opponent I’d never seen such a display ofoff chairs and ear into loose fitting cool down attire Water stations andca in scents of disinfectant, beer, and the clean sht had begun with a bombard, while another fight in the MMA cage had just finished--the victor pranced around his unconscious foe waving his blood-srinned, audience ed, and people throbbed with vitality My body sucked up every ounce of liveliness, storing it

What the hellis this place?