Chapter 26: Thief!
It comes as no surprise to us that Isabel manages to make sure her first fight is with Marlon come the evening. She's stripped down to a tight black tunic that sticks to her skin like it's made of silk, and tights that look as though they have been painted on her long muscular legs. Her hair is pulled back in a simple bun and she looks almost demure as they count in the first round.
Sam, Chrissy, Mitch and I are all packed together near the little raised area where the fights happen, our hands tightly clasped with each others' as we hold our breaths. Marlon looks meaner and larger in the flickering light of the torches that folk have set up around the fight ring, his fist is at least the size of Isabel's face.
I'm worried about her, imagining what worse damage he could do than busting her lip and swelling her eye.