The warehouse was in a bad side of town, close to the docks.

From the outside it looked like just another of the many vacant buildings around it. The windows were boarded up, 'For Rent' signs across the front. Graffiti covered covered most of the walls.

Walking round the building, I noticed light spilling out through gaps in the boarding. What drew my attention was the stylised wolf head, with EEE in it's mouth, hidden amongst the graffiti. Hookwolf.

Finding a door that wasn't blocked up, I banged my fist on it. A small hatch opened and a pair of eyes gave me a dismissive look. "You're a little young aint ya?"

Ignoring the question, I held up some money. A roll of fifties I took off an Empire thug last week.

Grunting, the man grabbed the money and opened the door. He barely spared me a glance as I walked past. He was too focused on counting his money. Immediately inside, I turned and went up the stairs.

Growing up, I'd listened to Dad and his friends from the docks talk about places like this. The news networks called them "underground arenas", "Illegal blood sports", and "fight clubs." The people who came here just called it The Pit.

The entire ground floor had been cleared and wooden walls had been erected to create a large box. on the second floor, the floor had been torn up to let people look down into the arena.

The second floor was packed with people who were doing just that. Pressed in tight, they shouted and screamed as a pair of men beat each other bloody. The smell of sweat, blood and mold filled the air along with the stink of a nearby generator that was providing power to the lights.

Standing at the back of the crowd, I made sure my scarf was in place for when my hood came loose.

Below me, one of the fighters had stopped moving. Once it was clear he wasn't going to get up, a section of the wall was moved aside and a pair of men carried him away while the victor staggered out under his own power.

A man stepped out onto a wooden platform that stuck out over the pit, "AAAAAALLLLRRIGHT! Victory goes to 'Crusher' Krill!" He shouted.

"I know you're all here for the big event, but first! some entertainment." behind him, the crowd parted and two young women were lead towards the edge of the pit.

Both were young, pretty and terrified. One looked japanese, her long dark hair was matted with blood and there were tear stains on her cheeks. The other girl was taller and had to be restrained by two men as she continued to thrash and hurl abuse at her captors and her dark skin was marred with bruises.

I started to push my way through the crowd as the 'commentator' turned to the girls.

"Okay ladies, It's quite simple. Two in, one out. Understand?" The taller girl said something that was lost to the noise of the crowd and the commentator laughed. "Oh, and just in case you get any ideas. If you refuse to fight, we'll let the dogs have you both. You have 3 minutes."

With that, both girls were pushed over the edge and allowed to drop into the pit.

giving up on subtlety I grabbed the nearest person, a large man with tatoos on his neck. In one movement, I picked him up and threw him at the commentator. The two collided with a satisfying crunch and fell into the pit below.

The crowd parted and I took two brisk steps forward and jumped. The wooden platform creaked as I landed on it. The anger I felt at these people helped fuel the warmth in my body.

I didn't trust my voice not to waver so I kept things simple, "Leave...NOW!" My eyes flashed red under my hood.

There was a moment of stunned silence from the crowed before several people laughed. I tried to ignore the rush of embarrassment. A large man in loose fitting pants and a tiger mask stepped forward and brought his foot down on the edge of the platform. The wood shattered and dropped me into the pit.

"Fifty grand for whoever deals with the nigger-lover!" he shouted as I landed.

Three men immediately jumped in after me. Trying to look tougher than I felt I walked slowly around the ring, putting myself between the two girls and the thugs.

Aparently forgetting I had just thrown a man, two of the thugs laughed while the third charged at me and the crowd screamed for blood. .

As he swung at me I stepped forward into his punch, putting him off balance and then I punched. Hard.

There was the sound of breaking bones and he flew across the ring, hitting the wall with a dull thud.

His friends had a moment to look surprised before I was on them.

Closing the distance I caught the first in the stomach, doubling him over. The last thug lashed out, hitting me in the side of the head.

I took the hit and rolled with it. spinning around I brought the back of my hand into his nose. As he hit the floor, I punched the wall in front of me. There was a flash of flame and the wood exploded.

"Go!" I shouted to the girls. The taller girl immediately grabbed the other and pulled her towards the opening.

More men jumped down and I stepped back from the hole. I needed to buy those girls some time to get away, so I couldn't escape yet.

This time, they came at me in groups. hoping to drown me in numbers but mostly they got in each other's way. The world was a mess of limbs as I ducked and weaved about. Blocking what I could and moving with the blows when I couldnt.

Slowly, I took control of the fight, moving towards the centre of the ring. With every punch I blocked, every hit I took, the world got slower. Taking the energy from their attacks I got stronger and faster. The heat in my body was building rapidly and my hair was starting to glow.

Walking in here tonight, I had been nervous, almost scared. Now all that was lost to the thrill of the fight.

Striking out at the nearest thug my fist exploded. A ball of fire and concussive energy throwing him back. I let the recoil throw me into a spin, lashing out with my foot, which caused another explosion and put the ganger into the wall.

Deciding to make a point, I punched the ground below me. A wave of fire and force radiated outwards, sending everyone but me flying and shattering the wooden walls of the arena.

My fire only burned what I wanted it too.

Above me, the crowd had scattered. Only those who belonged to the Empire had stuck around when it became clear this was a cape battle.

Stormtiger hit the ground opposite me. He didn't move at first, instead he hung back, sizing me up. Maybe he was hoping my power would wind down if he waited? [I]Not a chance.[/I]

"You're strong. The Empire is always looking for new capes. Your choice, join, or die." He said, his voice calm and confident.

With my hood up, all he could see were two glowing red eyes under my hood. "Go to hell."

He shrugged, "The nigger and the chink won't get far either way, my men will see to that."

I almost didn't see him move. He punched the air in front of him and a ball of condensed air smashed into my chest.

The blow knocked me off my feet and sent me skidding across the floor. Any of his men that were caught in the blast fared no better.

I rolled to a stop and tried to climb to my feet but he had already closed the distance between us. He must have been using his power to move that fast.

Caught off balance, I was forced to roll and dive frantically until I created a blast of fire that put me in the air and forced him back.

I managed to land on my feet and bring my arms up to guard myself before he closed in again.

I dodged a couple more hits before he landed a slash across my forearms. His 'air claws' carved deep furrows into my arms and I had to bite back a scream as another air blast sent me flying.

When the world stopped spinning, I was on my back looking up at the ceiling two floors above me. I could feel the wounds on my arms already starting to heal.

I climbed, unsteadily, to my feet. smoke was pouring out of my hood. Across from me, Stormtiger smirked.

I wanted to wipe that face right off his expression….Er….I shook my head to clear it.

I. Had had. "Enough!"

As I shouted the word, I punched the palm of my hand. Fire erupted around me and my hair burst into flames, destroying my hood. I charged forward, fire exploding from my feet, driving me forward.

Shocked, Stormtiger fired more blasts at me. -Too slow!- His only ranged attack was his air blasts. Powerful, but they moved in a straight, predictable line.

Dodging from side to side, I stepped around his blasts, rapidly closing the gap between us. He switched back to his claws, swiping for my neck.

Ducking under the swipe, I rammed my fist into his stomach, the explosion knocking him back. I closed in again and rained down hit after hit, while the air condensed around him like a shield.

A powerful blast of air pushed us apart but it was a desperate move and most of the energy was wasted.

Not giving him the chance to recover, I blasted towards him. Pulling my arm back I forced as much energy as I dared into the blow. I hit his face with an explosion that lit up the entire warehouse and sent him through the same door I'd come in through.

I held my breath, Stormtiger stirred and tried to stand until half a brick, thrown by one of the girls I'd saved, hit the side of his head and he stayed down. Breathing heavily, I let the fire go out. Releasing the energy I'd built up through the fight.

I could hear sirens in the distance, "Well…" I said, "That was a thing."