Sledge

The door to Sledge’s room was open. I slipped into a shadow and stood very still. My heart was racing, but I made no sound. Sledge was alone, sitting quietly in a simple chair next to a plain wooden table. No works of art hung on his walls and no plush rugs lay on his floor. His room was simple. Not at all like Cutter’s.

The night air was humid, and I was still sweating. A cool breeze blew across the back of my neck. A chill ran between my shoulders and I felt a slight shiver.

In his hand, Sledge held a small glass vial. The vial contained a thick blue liquid. Sledge looked at his hand, but his mind was elsewhere.

Another chill ran down my spine. I’d never been this close to Empire’s most famous fighter. I hid in the shadows and looked at him. Massive, dense muscles packed his short frame. His skin was marked with too many scars to count. His ears were mauled, and patches of his thick, black hair were missing. A huge blue hammer with a red handle was tattooed across his back.

There he was, so close, just a few feet away. I could smell him.

A strong grip pressed my arm and pushed me into the room. Sledge rose from his chair.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I’m…"

Before I could say it, the man who shoved me interrupted.

"She’s just another rich brat looking to get fucked. Go home little girl, we don’t need your coins or your pussy."

His powerful hand was on me dragging me back to the door.

"Wait! Give me a minute! Wait! I have information about Cutter! Let go of me!"

His grip relaxed and I jerked my arm away.

"What information?"

"It’s private."

Sledge and his old friend exchanged glances.

"We can beat Cutter without your help, little girl. Now run along."

He reached his big hand out to grab me.

"Wait a second," said Sledge. "Just hold on…."

Sledge gave me a hard look.

"Maybe we should hear what she has to say. How can it hurt? Let’s face it, man, I need all the help I can get."

Hunter would do anything for Sledge. I could see it in his face, in his eyes. They shared a bond reserved for those who had survived the arena. No more words were needed. Hunter slowly closed the door as he left.

Sledge motioned for me to sit down. I could have touched him. He was right there.

Sledge rolled the glass vial around in his callused palm. He talked to himself more than to me.

"They say I can’t beat him. They say he’s too fast and I’m too old, he’s too quick and I’m too slow."

A sad smile came to his face. He looked down at the vial in his hand.

"Everything is against me. I need all the help I can get."

Sledge held the glass to the light and looked at the thick blue fluid.

"It’s a pretty color, don’t you think?"

He drew a long deep breath.

"You know, I’ve never cheated. Others do it all the time, but not me. Still, I don’t want to go out a loser."

Sledge set the vial on the table and turned his attention to me.

"I know you’ve just been with Cutter. I can smell him mixed with your sweat. Did he send you to taunt me?"

I leaned forward in the chair.

"No. No, it’s not like that."

He looked at me closely and I looked back at him. His face was worn and his dark brown eyes were tired. He knew his days of glory were behind him. He had risen out of the pit, fighting on obscure planets for little or nothing.