The Pits

Jade stumbled off the E-train platform, her vision already starting to blur. Not now. Not fucking now. Her boots hit cracked pavement as she forced herself into a run, each step sending jolts through her aching body. The familiar nausea clawed at her throat - the same sickness that had made her throw up at work earlier. But this time it was worse. Much worse.

Jade's trembling fingers found the wrapped candy in her pocket. She tore at the plastic, nearly dropping the sweet before shoving it into her mouth. The sugar hit her tongue - strawberry, artificial and sharp. Her knees buckled as she pressed her shoulder against the nearest wall, rough concrete scraping her skin through her thin shirt.

The candy wasn't enough anymore. Nothing was. Her body craved something else, something raw and violent that only the Pits could provide. She needed to fight, needed to feel that surge of power course through her veins.

"Void," she spat, pushing off the wall. Two more blocks to the warehouse entrance. Just two more blocks. Her boots scraped against broken pavement as she forced herself forward, each step a battle against the darkness creeping at the edges of her vision.

This part of the city was no place to show weakness. Jade kept her head high despite the tremors wracking her body. Shadows shifted between the abandoned warehouses, predators waiting for any sign of vulnerability. Her hands shook as she gripped her bag tighter, fighting to keep control.

The massive mining drills loomed overhead like dead gods, their skeletal forms a reminder of what this colony had once been. What it had promised. What it had failed to deliver. Just like her body was failing her now, betraying her with this... this THING she couldn't control.

In the shadow of the warehouse, Jade changed quickly, efficiently. Sports bra, tank top, wraps - each piece of clothing another layer of protection. Another way to hide the pretty girl who'd learned the hard way that beauty was a liability in a place like this. Her fingers moved automatically, wrapping her chest tight, the familiar ritual steadying her shaking hands.

She dug through her bag, counting the remaining candies - three strawberry, two orange. Not enough. The sugar helped ground her when the darkness threatened to take over. Next came the Vick's, almost empty now. She dabbed more under her nose, the menthol sharp and clean against that metallic stench that wouldn't leave her alone.

Jade pulled her hair back tight, twisting it into a severe knot that emphasized the hard angles of her face. No softness. No weakness. She smudged dark grit from the pavement under her eyes, making them look hollow, dangerous. The girl in the window of the closed warehouse stared back - a weapon, not a person. Perfect.

Down the street, the cacophony of the Pitts had already begun - shouts, grunts, and the occasional cheer echoing from the warehouse at the end of the row. Jade's heart pounded in response, adrenaline surging through her like a wild river.

Her muscles tensed at another round of cheers from inside. Through gaps in the warehouse's metal siding, fluorescent light spilled into the alley like searchlights cutting through fog.

Standing, she swung her trusty bag over her shoulder. The warehouse door loomed ahead, its surface scarred with rust and graffiti. Music thumped from within, bass-heavy beats vibrating through the metal walls. Three guys lounged against the wall - the usual suspects, mining overalls and metal and too many piercings. They'd been late, just like her, judging by their scowls.

A series of rapid knocks against the door - three short, two long. The sound of bolts sliding back followed, and a slice of harsh light cut across her face as the door cracked open.

"Well, well... if it ain't Little Miss Sunshine." Spike filled the doorway, metal glinting from various piercings. "You're late, Jay."

"Shine haulers had the main tube locked down." She squared her shoulders, fighting back another wave of nausea. Mining colony folk called it shine for a reason - it left everything with that telltale gleam, from the workers' clothes to the recycled air processors. "Had to cut through the lower levels."

"Through Processing?" Spike's eyebrows shot up. "Damn, girl. That much raw shine would drop most people."

"Better than breathing recycled air for two hours." But he was right - her head was pounding worse now, the remnants of processed Veridycium hanging in the air like invisible smoke.

"Yeah? These boys been waiting twenty minutes." He jerked his thumb at the three behind her. "Why should I let you jump the line?"

Jade met his eyes, pushing past the pounding in her head. Her voice came out soft, smooth. "Because you're going to do me a favor, Spike. Just this once." Even though she'd gotten him to do this favor several times.

His pupils dilated slightly, expression softening. "Fuck's sake, Jay..." He stepped aside, swinging the door wider. "Get your ass in here."

"What the fuck, man?" One of the waiting fighters pushed off the wall. "We've been-"

Jade's fingers twitched as this thing surged inside her, begging for release. But a back-alley brawl wouldn't cut it - not with this much power screaming to get out. She'd learned that lesson the hard way, back when she thought any fight would do. Back before she understood what she could do to someone. What she had done.

She needed the ring. Needed Frank's watchful eye and the Pits' unspoken rules. Needed somewhere she could let go without bringing the whole fucking colony down around her.

"Did I fucking stutter?" Spike's voice carried that special edge that reminded everyone why he handled security. The fighter shut up, but his glare promised Jade would pay for it later.

The warehouse interior hit Jade with a wall of noise and sweat-thick air. She navigated through the crowd, dodging elbows and shoulders as fighters and spectators jostled for position around the makeshift rings. The familiar scent of blood and antiseptic tickled her nose.

She made her way to the back pits where newer fighters tested their worth. The lighting was worse here, casting long shadows across scarred faces and battle-worn bodies. Frank's towering form stood out against the crowd, his broad shoulders and military bearing commanding respect without a word. This was his ring, fight or fuck off.

"Hey, Frank." Jade slipped in beside him, having to crane her neck to see his face. At her full height, she barely reached his shoulder.

Frank didn't move, his dark eyes fixed on the two fighters circling each other in the pit. His jet-black hair, now streaked with gray, caught the dim light. The pinkish scar on his right shoulder drew her attention, standing out against his dark brown skin - a reminder of his mysterious past in Special Services. She'd always suspected he'd torn out his military tracking chip himself, though she never dared ask.

His gaze finally shifted to her, concern etching deep lines around his eyes. She recognized that look - he'd witnessed her lose control before, seen the aftermath of her episodes. The protective glance reminded her of an uncle watching his niece walk into trouble.

Jade's fingers drummed against her thigh as she watched the fighters trade blows. The shorter one telegraphed his punches - sloppy form that would get him killed in a real fight. The taller opponent caught him with a right hook that sprayed blood across the concrete.

"Get me in the next fight, yeah?" Her skin crawled with pent-up energy. The nausea from earlier twisted into something darker, more urgent.

Frank's weathered face creased as he watched her trembling hands. "Looking rough, Jay. That thing inside you... you can't keep fighting it forever."

"Watch me." She rolled her shoulders, stretching muscles that ached for release.

"Not everything that makes us different needs to be buried." His dark eyes held hers. "Sometimes the real fight is learning to live with who we really are."

The crowd's roars echoed off metal walls, feeding her restlessness. "Come on, Frank. You know I need this."

He grunted, his attention back on the fight.

Jade watched as the tattooed fighter's arm tightened around his opponent's throat, muscles bulging beneath ink-covered skin. The crowd's cheers turned to murmurs of unease. Her stomach clenched - this wasn't right. Tournament rules were clear: tap out means stop.

The losing fighter's hand slapped the concrete three more times, face turning purple. Blood vessels burst in his eyes as he clawed weakly at the arm crushing his windpipe.

Frank's massive form cut through the crowd like a battleship through waves. In two strides, he reached the fighters. "Enough!" His voice boomed over the spectators. He grabbed the tattooed man's arm and yanked it away with frightening strength. The other fighter crumpled to the ground, sucking in ragged breaths between coughs.

Frank's boot connected with the tattooed fighter's backside, sending him sprawling out of the ring. "Get the hell outta here," Frank growled. "We don't ignore taps in my pit." The crowd murmured, some nodding in approval, others grumbling at the abrupt end to the fight.

The tattooed fighter—Kai, spat blood onto the concrete as he gathered himself from the floor. His eyes burned with humiliation as the crowd's murmurs washed over him. Jade felt the familiar pull, that dangerous craving for conflict that lived beneath her skin.

"I'll take him," Jade called out, stepping forward before Frank could announce the next match.

Frank's head whipped around, his weathered face creasing with disapproval. "Jay, no. Not this one."

Kai's eyes narrowed as he registered her challenge, his embarrassment morphing into something darker. "The little girl wants to play?" He wiped blood from his split lip, sizing her up with a dismissive glance. "I don't fight children."

Perfect. The condescension in his voice was exactly what she needed—fuel for the fire building inside her. That restless energy coiled tighter, begging for release.

"Scared I'll make you tap out too?" Jade stepped closer, her voice carrying across the suddenly quiet pit. The energy beneath her skin pulsed in time with her heartbeat, ready to explode. "Or maybe you only fight opponents when you can cheat?"

Kai's face darkened. "You don't know who you're fucking with, little girl."

"Neither do you." The words slipped out before she could stop them, dangerous in their truth.

Frank moved between them, his massive frame blocking Jade's path. "I said no, Jade." His voice dropped low enough that only she could hear. "He fights dirty. Let it go-."

She wasn't listening, she couldn't. The power was screaming now, a roar in her ears drowning out everything else. She grabbed Kai's shoulder. "Come on, tough guy. Show me-"

The instant her fingers touched his skin, electricity surged through her body. The metallic taste flooded her mouth, sharp and overwhelming. Her vision blurred as raw energy surged between them, hitting her like a freight train. She'd never felt this from another person.

Kai's eyes widened in recognition. His skin burned hot under her palm as their energies clashed and sparked. The lights above them flickered, casting wild shadows across his face.

"You're one of them," he whispered, voice thick with shock and something else. Fear? Excitement? "How did you-"

A firm grip on her shoulder had Jade moving on pure instinct. She spun, channeling that overwhelming surge of energy through her arm and into her fist. The power exploded from her like a lightning strike, raw and uncontrolled.

Her knuckles connected with flesh. Time slowed as she watched Frank's massive body lift off the ground, suspended in that terrible moment of recognition. His eyes widened in shock before rolling back as the force threw him across the pit. He crashed on to the concrete with a sickening thud that shook dust from the rafters.

The warehouse fell silent. Frank lay motionless, his powerful frame crumpled like a discarded coat. Blood trickled from his nose, stark red against his ashen skin.

Jade's heart thundered in her chest as euphoria coursed through her veins. The energy sang through her body, electric and intoxicating. She'd never felt so alive, so powerful. Every nerve ending crackled with potential. It scared her.

But the high crashed against the horror of what she'd just done. Frank. Oh god, Frank. Her hands trembled as she stared at his still form. The man who'd protected her, trained her, kept her safe - and she'd just punched him so hard it thru him across the room like a rag-doll.

The dust settled around his unconscious body while the crowd stood frozen, their shocked faces illuminated by the flickering fluorescent lights above. Jade's stomach lurched as the magnitude of her actions hit her. She'd lost control. The one thing she'd promised herself she'd never do. Again.

Jade stared at her hands, still crackling with energy under her skin. The room spun around her as the metallic taste flooded her mouth. She couldn't tear her eyes from Frank's crumpled form on the floor.

"Your eyes..." Kai whispered, his voice cutting through the silence. "They're glowing."

She looked up to find him backing away, face twisted with awe and disbelief. His gaze never left hers, like he was witnessing something impossible.

The crowd's shocked murmurs grew louder. People pointed, their faces contorted with fear and fascination.

"Did you see that?"

"Fuckn' knocked Frank across the room!"

"The Void! - her eyes—they're shining!"

"It's the shine. The Ridy. She's one of them."

Jade's stomach dropped. The whispers crashed against her like waves, each one driving home what she'd done. What she'd revealed. The power inside her pulsed, begging for more release, but she fought to contain it.

The overhead lights suddenly blazed to full brightness, blinding after the dim fighting pit. The warehouse door crashed open with the shriek of stressed metal.

"HMS SECURITY! EVERYONE FREEZE!"