Chapter 3 - The Vault

'Turn pain into power.'

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Bella's head hung low as she tried to keep her identity hidden under the hood of her jacket. Her hands rested themselves inside her pockets as she trudged down yet another alley of New York. It was fortunate that people seemed to distance themselves from the place she was currently in. Though it's not like she can blame them. She was in one of the dangerous and less populated areas of the city. Said spot was also a lair where gangsters and people who carry bad news often lurked in. That said, civilians were scared to even place a single foot on the area.

Despite having a reputation as one of the world's fiercest assassins, Bella knows best not to reveal her identity. Especially since enemies of hers are also lurking around. Having her face revealed to the public is definitely not a good idea.

Naturally, the last thing she wanted was someone recognizing her.

Her hands laid hidden in the pocket of her jacket as she skipped over the pavement, purposely avoiding the puddles on her way. The place was hideous, to say the least. Bella did not want her clothes nor herself getting dirty.

Though it's not like she had much of a choice as she walked through the alley.

"Fucking disgusting." She muttered, glaring at a rat that stood a couple feet away from her.

Her eyes lit up upon spotting a pair of familiar metal doors. A sign that read 'The Vault' was perched on top. She pulled up her crimson mask, covering her face and her identity with it before withdrawing a hand from her pocket and proceeding to knock.

The doors were hastily pulled open, revealing a man with a big figure and tall stature. "Name and purpose?" He questioned, staring at the woman sharply.

My eyes light up as I spot a very familiar pair of doors. 'The Vault' a sign perched on top of the doors read. I withdraw a hand from my pocket and proceed to knock at the door.

After a couple seconds, the doors were pulled open; revealing one of their guards. "Who are you and what do you want?" He asked, giving me a harsh stare.

"Red. I came here for a fight." She answered.

The Vault was a place for people to injure another without much consequences. It was a fighting ring, hidden from both the public and the law. Though it was no stranger to people like her who was familiar with illegal works and deeds. Said place was also often visited by people with fame, wealth, or power. That was probably the reason why the Vault wasn't yet raided by the police force, someone was probably protecting them on the side of the law.

Money was what ran the Vault. Bets are placed among fighters, fighters themselves must offer up a sum of money before having to fight, and the place also sold drinks, drugs, and rooms for people to stay in.

So as long as you had money to offer, you are welcome to join as a fighter anytime.

Being someone who was usually busy with her missions, Bella did not have a schedule for her fights unlike most. Her visits were not that frequent, only being able to visit the place once or twice each month. Though the current year was quite a hectic one for her, her last visit to the place was a couple months ago.

Her job was an assassin: someone who dealt missions that are far illegal than what one can imagine. Being a fighter in the Vault was simply a hobby for Bella's. A way to spend time whenever she had nothing better to do.

The people in the Vault knew her as Red: the fighter who was reigned the champion. Fighters also knew of her identity as the assassin, both her aliases for the fighting ring and as an assassin were, after all, the same. When Bella heard of a new champion being crown while she was away, she couldn't help but see who it was, also feeling the need to know why they named someone the new best without having to fight the former.

The brunette walked towards one of the people who managed the fights, pulling her hood down before catching his attention.

"Ethan."

"Ah, Red! Nice to see you again." Ethan greets, clutching his clipboard to his side.

"Nice to see you too, Ethan. There's a new champion, I heard?" Bella asked, her voice coming out muffled due to the mask she wore.

"Yeah," He replies sheepishly as he brought up a hand to scratch the back of his neck. "You see fights have gone a bit bland, we've been losing customers so we had to crown a new champion until you decide to return."

"Where were you anyway?"

The woman shrugged, efficiently dodging his question. "I've been here and there. Come on, you do know my job right?"

"Of course I do." Ethan chuckled as he glanced down at his clipboard. "I'll arrange a fight for you. Would you like to fight the new champion?"

"Why not? The former champion against the new one." 

"Very well then. Your fight is the last, you can get comfortable for a couple." He informed, gaining a nod from Bella before she made her way towards the back, going down a series of stairs before entering underground.

The Vault had two parts: The top floor which acted like a club of sorts. And the underground where the fights were held. Despite being located in such a shady place that seemed too small for accommodation, the Vault was big enough for the services they provide to take place. The underground floor was spacey enough for a ring to be positioned in the center, seats circling around it, and a balcony providing a view from above. 

She entered one of the changing rooms, pulling open the locker that belonged to her before pulling out her stuff and changing into the proper attire. Stretching her arms, she took off the hoodie she wore, revealing the sports bra she wore underneath before putting on a black tank top. She had already worn her leggings so there was no need for her to change her pants. Grabbing the hem of her top, she tucked it underneath her pants, making sure that her tank completely covered her torso.

Sure, granted the chance Bella would rather wear her sports bra alone to a fight. That is, if she didn't have anything on her back to hide. On her back was something she had sworn to keep hidden. It was a small tattoo of a gladiolus flower: a symbol of strength and integrity. It was an insignia marked on every assassin that graduated from Combattere L'Academia.

The tattoo was no stranger to her world. People who held said mark stood as a threat to everyone. After all, only the best and refined killers manage to graduate from the academy she did.

She pulled her long, brown locks into a tight ponytail before bending down to put on her shoes. Her mask remaining to cover her face, keeping her identity hidden. Bella warmed herself up as she waited for her name to be called.

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Give it up for our favorite fighter! Red!" The announcer's voice blasts through the speakers.

The crowd became wild the moment she exited the doors and made her entrance. Climbing up the ring, she looked at her opponent straight in his eyes. The guy she was to fight was big, maybe twice the times bigger than the size of her body; that's quite big considering she was taller than average. But as they say:

The bigger you are, the slower.

Her opponent launched himself towards her direction the moment the whistle was blown, signaling the start of their fight. Bella swiftly dodged to her right, effectively avoiding her opponent before swerving her way behind him. She pushed her feet off the ground, sending a kick towards the man causing him to stumble down to the ground.

Slowly, her opponent managed to stand back up on his feet, intending to send yet another attack towards the woman. Bella waited for him to stand up fully, and when he did, she sent a series of punches his way before landing a final kick to his gut, making him scurry back.

The woman smirked, already knowing who was going to come out of the fight victorious. Bella stretched out her leg, holding both her arms in place in front of her torso as she sent a roundhouse kick towards the man's temple, leading him to fall unconscious.

Everyone had starting counting from ten and as she had expected, her opponent remained on the floor the moment everyone reached to zero. And as they did, the crowd burst into a load roar, now cheering for the former champion successfully reclaiming her throne.

'This was their new champion?' Bella pondered, wondering why it took her no longer than fifteen minutes to defeat him.

Nevertheless, one thing was clear: Bella Ryan was the one who came out victorious. She was the one left standing once the fight had ended. The brunette smirked, as she savored the feeling of victory that came quite often. She closed her eyes, pumping her fist to the air as her lips broke into a grin, despite being held hidden under her mask. The howls and roars of the crowd brought her the same satisfaction she felt in her past fights, her past victories. Needless to say, it was one of the thing Bella Ryan fought for: Respect and admiration.

She was idolized and feared by many. Not simply because of her reputation, but rather because she was able to live up for her name. Bella-- or Red, rather, had proved herself powerful. She had long proven herself worthy of their respect.