LEAH WAS SHOCKED, her jaw hanging agape as several other agents flanked Travis off the stage. The entire agency had just witnessed her own brother kill someone in cold blood despite being told not to, leaving the opponent's body on the stage motionless and very much lifeless. She took no hesitation before sprinting towards her brother just as the other agents left his side to clear up the dead body.

Of course, as Julius Cain's favorite little tag team, Travis Lane didn't have to suffer the consequences of going against the rules. He was let off with a quick scolding and that was it.

"Travis, what on earth did you just do?"

Her hands immediately flew up to assess the damage, gently tilting her older brother's face left and right to see if he had received any injuries that were too serious. Thankfully, most of the blood on his face wasn't his own. Knowing that he was well, Leah's fingers slowly stopped trembling.

"Leon Gray killed our sister. I had to kill him." Clenching his jaw, Travis moved away from Leah, causing her hands to drop down to her sides. He gestured towards the freshly cleaned stage. They had been more prepared than the last time a death happened. "It's your fight now with Candice."

"She's my best friend. She won't hurt me."

"It's the betrayal of the people closest to us that hurts the most." Travis wrapped his arms around Leah, pulling her into his embrace before resting his chin on top of her head. The coppery smell of blood stung Leah's nose but she kept silent, finding solace in her brother's comforting hug. "There's something off about Candice. Just be careful, okay? Trust no one but yourself." Then, in a softer voice, Travis whispered, "I can't lose you too."

"It'll be fine, Travis." Wiggling herself free from her brother's hold, Leah stood to the tips of her toes. She found a clean spot on her brother's cheek, untainted by blood, and pressed a kiss there in a rare moment of affection. "You'll see."

The crowd had long since recovered from their initial surprise of the previous match. As far as the naked eye could see, the floors of the ring had been cleaned up, leaving nothing but a mere pink stain on the flooring. The audience was split into two, one group chanting Leah's name with enthusiasm and vigor while the other half supported their reigning queen unwaveringly.

Candice was already on the stage when Leah finally stepped onto the platform. Her posture was still and her face was emotionless. Knowing Candice, this was a sight to see. Candice Clair was known by her friends for her signature mischievous smile and relaxed stance. In fact, she had always preached that when one was relaxed, they would be at the optimum condition and position to fight because there'll be enough space to freely move around and counter the opponent's attacks.

The bell had already rung, the proper introductions made and broadcasted. However, both Candice and Leah were blind and deaf to the world. Leah stood observing Candice's every move. As the seconds ticked past, her frown worsened when she realized that the Candice that stood in front of her was no longer her best friend.

It was the queen of this killer empire.

The queen moved first, her movements so quick that Leah only missed the first punch by the breadth of a hair. Her jump away from Candice's attack was so sudden that she couldn't propel and land herself properly, causing her to tumble to the ground instead of making a graceful landing.

"You know, I really don't mind a nice waltz but this is making me really anxious. You're scaring me, Candice."

Pushing herself back onto her feet, Leah desperately tried to ignore the burning ache on her right elbow, the area most of her weight was focused on when she had landed.

Candice's face was emotionless, nearly robotic as she hurried towards Leah. With a jump and a kick, Leah couldn't even dodge before she was smacked back down on the floor, thrown like a ragdoll. It became a routine. Whenever Leah got up, Candice was there to knock her back down.

"Snap out of it!" Leah cried, successfully blocking Candice's roundhouse kick before finally landing a blow to Candice's stomach. The blonde staggered back a few steps from the force before her face scrunched up in anger, the corners of her lips turning down. "What's wrong with you?!"

Just like the previous time, Candice didn't reply. Instead, she doubled up her efforts. Blow after blow, Candice became as ruthless as Travis was in the previous match and ten times as skilled. Leah was cornered within seconds, desperately holding up her arms in an attempt to block.

"I won't fight you," Leah said, tears threatening to break through as pain tore through her flesh. "You're my best friend."

Finally, Candice spoke. Her attacks stopped as she leaned forward and grabbed the very stunned Leah by her collar, pulling her in so that she could speak right by her ear and away from the nosy crowd that watched their every action.

"You're not my friend," she spat out bitterly. "You're an enemy the very second you sided with Julius Cain and promised to protect him. You're forgetting that he is the reason why your sister is dead and you're about to join her."

Just like that, Candice kicked out, her right heel colliding with Leah's abdomen as she stumbled to the ground, clutching her stomach as she wheezed for air. Falling to her side, Leah barely even had time to properly catch her breath before Candice was on her, her bare knuckles hitting against Leah's cheekbones as stars began to fill her vision.

"There can only be one queen," Candice hissed out, ready to land her final blow.

Leah braced for the impact as best as she could. By now, she could feel blood dripping down her face, the source, the origin of the wound too many to precisely locate. Her head was starting to feel lighter as if she was in the clouds as she stared up at the ceiling.

Just one more hit and it would probably be the end of Leah Lane.

That impact never came, however. Rather, a far bigger catastrophe shook the entire ground. Screams came from all around, panic echoing into the arena as Candice glanced back up. Everyone was running, some towards the upper grounds while others headed in the direction of the weapons vault. No one was rooted in a spot and the match was over without a winner.

To her side, Leah could faintly hear Travis's voice accompanied by Nathan's. He was shouting something over the commotion but the ringing in her ears was too loud and it blocked out her friends' voices. Candice's weight was long lifted away from Leah's body when she had fled. Leah didn't know why she left so abruptly in the middle of a task she had seemingly set her mind to accomplish. Nevertheless, she was grateful for the relief.

"Leah, please. Leah, wake up. Wake up!" Travis was on the ground, cradling Leah close to his chest as another explosion sounded two rooms or so away. The ground trembled as more screams reverberated from the background, many people losing their balance.

"The entire building is going down," Nathan screamed, his eyes darting back and forth to survey their surroundings. "We have to go."

He needn't be told twice. Travis's hands immediately went under Leah's knees, lifting her into the air as he and Nathan started running. Time was against them and danger lurked in every corner.

"So this is Cain's grand plan?" Travis asked, panting as he ran. "Bomb the building and kill everyone here?"

They hurried up the steps, the elevator no longer in operation due to the state of emergency.

"This building is stocked with multiple helicopters and other modes of transportation. In his words, those who matter will make it out alive. Devora and Markus are already waiting upstairs. Last I heard, Dallas was already on his way to a nearby safe house with Julius Cain. That's our rendezvous point."

Nathan spoke so hurriedly that he sounded like he was rapping a verse.

When they finally made it out to the rooftop, they were hit with a strong gust of wind. Leah's eyes might be closed and she might be slowly slipping out of consciousness but she could still feel the warm sunlight against her skin.

It felt amazing to finally be free.

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