Page 19 of Sadistic Retribution (Rise of Phoenyxx #2)

Trikk

Where the fuck is it? It has to be here somewhere!

I'm combing the entire forest, going tree to fucking tree. Pushing, pulling, digging—everything. There is nothing! It's not in any of the buildings that we can access. I need my Bambi—now!

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I swipe it open, seeing new messages in our group chat.

Purge: We have new info. The Morgue is confirmed. Our girl is likely there. It's somewhere on this property, connected to the tunnels.

Synn: And I made a deal with female Hitler to get that info. Now I have to be engaged—for real.

Razor: We reached Harris. He's looking into it too. No clue where the asshole is though.

Me: Bro!! The fuck? I've been combing every inch of the forest, nothing. What now?

Purge: I suggest checking the actual grounds more thoroughly for now.

Me: Roger that!

No response from Ghost, my love brother. I’m really worried about him. We bonded young, thanks to our similar fathers. Mine is just more concerned about money than power. Ghost's… his father is all about the fucking power.

Trikk Age 8

I run in through Ghost’s kitchen, sliding across the super-clean floor. I did take off my shoes—they better be happy with that.

I jog into the living room, hearing voices behind his father’s closed office door. “Well, Son? What do you have to say for yourself? You had a direct order!”

I hear a sniffle, and a small voice answering. “I-I’m sorry, Father. I’ll do better.”

A pause, and I squeeze closer to the door, listening.

“Oh, yes you will,” his father says. “You will run that maze until you make it through the whole thing unseen. My men will be in there, with instructions to go harder with each failed attempt.”

What the hell? What is he being made to do? I can’t even complete that thought, when a loud slap sounds. I hear Ghost cry out, then the unmistakable crack of a whip lashing down onto bare skin.

I don't think—I just turn the handle and burst in. “Get away from him!”

His father turns, fury all over his face. He sneers, reaching out to grab me. He tosses me onto the floor, next to Ghost. “You want to be my son’s protector? You will take his punishment, then.”

One of his men pulls off my shirt. Ghost struggles to cover me, but he’s too weak. I close my eyes, waiting on the lash. When it comes, I scream. Blinding hot, searing pain goes across my back. He keeps going, lash after lash.

Before I pass out, I turn my head to see my best friend. “I’ve got your six, bro.”

I come out of the trees, my eyes scanning the grounds. There are multiple storage units scattered around. I don’t see anyone around. It doesn’t surprise me there aren’t any groundskeepers, there never is.

I move, going to the first one. I try it—it’s locked, of course. I check it out. It looks like every other storage unit. I move on to the next, and the next. They are all the same.

Wait a fucking minute... I saw something right past the electric fence when I was wandering. It was small and square. Another storage unit? Or an entrance to The Morgue?

I jog my ass back over to the perimeter of the fence. I get as close as I dare, squinting in the sunlight to see the structure.

I see it—at least a mile back. It looks similar to the other sheds. Fuck! What if...?

I shake my head, kicking my ass into gear. I practically sprint back to the dorm, to share this with the guys.

Phoenyxx

“Get up, time for some fun!”

I jerk awake, glaring at Skull and Horns standing in my cell. “What the hell now?”

They just pull me out of bed and shove me into the hallway. 6 is out there, too, looking as dazed as me.

“The fuck?” I try to ask, but they shush me with a slap.

“You two are going to fight for us. We need entertainment.” Skull announces.

“Like hell!” I yell. “I’m not laying a hand on her!”

Demon Horns shakes his head, going over to 6. He pulls out his taser, and he hits her with jolts of electricity. She convulses and crumples to the floor.

“Stop! Don’t!” I beg.

“I’ll do much worse if you don’t comply. Want to see your little friend get double-stuffed by cock?” Skull threatens.

I shriek in outrage. “Don’t you fucking touch her again!”

6 stands slowly, legs trembling. “We have to, 11… let's just get it over with.”

Before I can reply, she moves like lightning, lashing out and punching me dead in the face. Then she pushes me.

“Hey! Wait a minute!” I say to 6, in vain. She keeps going, anyway, coming for me again. My knee-jerk reaction is to hit back. I swing on her, glancing off the side of her head. 6 moves out of my way. I jog around, aiming a kick toward her knee.

I don’t quite hit it, but I nail her calf enough for her to go down.

6’s eyes light up with fire.

“Uh-oh,” Skull laughs. “Time for the popcorn!”

Shit. 6 jumps up, coming at me like a train. She doesn’t hold back, punching, kicking, and even biting me! I yowl in pain, but she doesn’t stop coming.

She hits me with a vicious kick to my pussy, doubling me over, my air pushing out with the force of it.

She chops the back of my neck while I’m hunched over, pushing me to the floor.

Once I’m down, 6 jumps on top of me. With a snarl, she punches me several times in the face, then circles her hands around my throat.

She is shockingly strong as she squeezes, and I can’t take a breath. I start to sputter, and my eyes blow open wildly. Spit flies from 6’s mouth, and she just squeezes harder.

The blood drains from my face, and I get weak.

“Just pass out!” She yells in my face.

My body decides to listen, and I thankfully black the fuck out.

“Fight time!” Jester struts into my cage, doing a little dance. They must have put me back in here. I groan out loud, hoping he means I’m just watching a fight.

“Who?” I ask.

“You, silly 11! Your turn.” This psycho is way too happy about this. He grabs my arm, hauling me up. “Come on! 6 is going to help you change.”

I reluctantly follow him, dragging my feet. He takes me to 6’s cage, where she’s coming out. Very unlike her, she has nothing to say. She takes my hand, pulling me into the changing room.

I stand there awkwardly, waiting for her to tell me what to do. She rushes off out of my sight, then comes back a second later, arms full of clothes and shoes.

“Here, change into these,” she says. I look down. It's a sport bra, shorts, and sneakers. I'm not at all weirded out the shoes are my correct size.

“Any advice?” I ask her, as I struggle into the change of clothes.

She shrugs. “Don’t lose.”

“No shit—what should I do?”

She thinks for a minute, then tells me, “Don’t let her get you on the floor. If you can, put her in a chokehold until she passes out. Otherwise, wear her down by going on the defense. Try to avoid her hits and kicks.”

“Thanks, 6, I’ll do my best.” I gulp, scared out of my mind.

6 pulls me into a hug, rubbing circles onto my back. She draws back, tears shining in her eyes. “Sorry I had to hurt you.”

I take her hand, squeezing it in assurance, letting her lead me into the arena. It's packed again. I see so many pairs of eager eyes, practically salivating at the upcoming bloodshed.

My heart pounds when I see my opponent. I don’t recognize her. She's muscular, but petite. Long, brown hair, and a sneer on her face.

I ask 6 quietly, “Who is she? I haven’t seen her before.”

“She’s from another block. She's ruthless, and petty. She'll try for low blows. Be on your guard.”

Fucking great. I breathe out, steeling my spine. I put my head up, faking confidence as I step into the ring.

My opponent laughs loudly. “Really? Too easy! I'm going to fuck you up, little girl!”

My blood boils, and I snap back. “Bring it, bitch. I will end you.”

The voice of Demon comes through the arena. “Attention! This is 11’s first fight! This will be good! Okay, ladies—ding-ding!”

My opponent bolts straight toward me, head down, barreling into my stomach and knocking me back to the ropes.

She pins me there, rearing back for a punch.

I think quickly, bringing my knee up, getting her in her crotch.

She yells, stumbling back. I take that opportunity to move away and put myself slightly behind her, hands clenching, hoping I can put her in a chokehold.

She comes toward me, leg sweeping out, knocking my legs out from underneath me. I catch myself before hitting the floor and push back up—and just go for it.

I swing, catching her in the eye. Satisfaction runs through me when I see her eye immediately start to swell. I swing again, getting her in the mouth, splitting her lip. She spits blood, and that familiar rush comes.

I bellow, wrapping my arms around my opponent’s waist to take her down. I almost succeed, taking her to her knees, but she’s strong. She pushes up, slamming me backwards into the ropes. She pulls some kind of crazy move—she drags me backward and spins. I hit the floor—hard.

My opponent straddles me, turning me onto my back. With a roar, she unleashes on my face and torso. I struggle, but I can’t even move my arms, let alone get out of this. Blood rolls down my face, and my vision blurs. I see stars, desperately trying to hang on to consciousness.

Before I pass out, the loudspeaker crackles. “Ding-ding! We have a winner! 7!”

7 gets off me, pumping her arm into the air with her victory. I manage to sit up, dizzy. I struggle to stand, and Demon rushes in, lifting me from the floor. He carries me out bridal-style, back to the cells.

He passes mine, and my brows wrinkle in confusion. He walks to 3’s cell, opening the door, and dumping me in. Before I can utter a word, the door locks in my face.