13

GLYNDON “Tell me why we’re here again?” I wince at the loud sound of rap music, chattering, and people. So many people. “Because we stan violence, duh.” Ava cheers while swaying to the music. “You know, this unorthodox fascination with male violence could be a manifestation of unpleasant tendencies.” Cecily slides her glasses over her nose. “It’s kind of toxic.” “Call me queen of toxicity then, because I get to stare at this divine beauty.” Ava nudges Annika. “Isn’t that right, Anni?” She fidgets, watching the crowd surrounding us as if they’re aliens out to kidnap and enslave us. Like Cecily and me, she wasn’t keen on coming to the fighting ring, but democracy doesn’t win with Ava. Besides, despite Ces’s psychological profiling just now, she wasn’t vehemently against it when the idea first popped up. It’s good to get some air and change the scenery, is what she told me before the three of them dragged me to this underground fighting ring downtown. And surprise, most of the fighting ha