"What are we doing here, Mark?"

The both of them stood inside an empty training room. It was made especially for underground fighters but it was still 12pm — most fighters would come later on in the day.

Mark turned around to face her "I know what category the Ghost Rider is in."

"How?" Scar entered the empty ring alongside him

The both of them stood on opposite sides of the cage "Because he fights like a Phantom - completely free of emotion and holds himself with no remorse for what he's done, on the other hand he'll beat everyone one of his opponents to death like a Savage."

"How do you know?"

The thought of facing a Phantom made the hairs on the back of her neck stand — to even think about someone with a mixture made her mind race.

His gaze glued itself to the floor "Because I used to be one." he shook his head "Trust me, I know the look in his eyes, Scar. I've seen it in myself when I used to look in the mirror after every fight - empty, hollow...and cold."

"What are we doing here?" she asked, trying to change the subject

Mark sighed "I'm going to help you,"

"I don't need your help" she scoffed

He narrowed his eyes "Then get past me. You want to leave this ring? Go through me first."

"Whatever you say," Scar muttered while approaching him with an unimpressed look — she was five steps away from him before he swiped her legs making her fall on her back "What the hell!"

He stared at her with a blank look "First lesson of fighting a Phantom Savage. Always have your guard up."

"Get out of my way," she hissed — Scar once again stood up, only for him to, once again, swipe her feet.

Mark didn't like that he was hurting Scarlett.

He hated seeing her hurt in general which was why he had to train her.

No one had ever faced a Phantom Savage so there was no way in predicting their behaviour, except in her case — he was one.

"Get up" he stated "Go again."

Scarlett got on her feet while making sure to distance herself away from him so he wouldn't make her fall again.

She spent one hour trying to get past him before giving up and letting him train her, it felt different to see Mark in such a dominant manner.

Two hours turned into three, which turned into four.

Soon enough the both of them had been practising for eight hours straight and the Arena was opening up soon. Mark and Scar returned to the Hotel room so that they could prep.

"How long have you been fighting for?" Mark sat idly on her bed, patiently waiting for her to come out of the bathroom.

Scar could still hear him through the weak door "Around 13 years - you?"

"Ever since my sister died,"

Scarlett emerged from the bathroom with her face paint intact and her usual fighting clothes on "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."

"No, it's okay..." Mark muttered — And for the first time it actually felt like it was okay.

Scar would never know the effect she had on him but as he sat in front of her while she wore her fighting 'armour' he couldn't help but feel a warm sensation run through his chest and unlike her, he knew exactly what it was.

Scar grabbed his hand automatically, wanting to comfort him while unknowingly making electric shocks shoot through his veins "Let's go, the cages aren't going to wait forever."

"Lead the way." He sighed — They both started to head out of the Hotel hand-in-hand.

As they neared the Arena Mark couldn't help but feel like it was second nature to be with her, like holding her hand was instinct instead of just choice, like having her next to him eased away every worry life could throw at him.

Scarlett used her free arm to push the big metal doors open, soon finding themselves along ringside

The crowd around them screamed in excitement as her eyes feasted on the sight before her. 'The Ghost Rider' was in the middle of his match — beating his opponent with a blinding fury...

For the first time in a while Scar felt a surge of worry bolt through her, she had never killed anyone and this stranger made it look all too easy.

Her mother was a Phantom, her father was a Gallant — Scarlett never got to discover what she, herself, was. 

As if sensing her worry, Mark squeezed her hand, snapping her out of her thoughts "It's going to be okay, you've practised with me, and chances are you have more fighting experience than this guy," he whispered in her ear, making her relax.

Scar stared for a moment longer but leaned into Mark's arm "You're right. You've taught me all the little tricks someone like him may have - If I do face him, I'm ready."

"That's the girl I lo— The girl I know..."

She only gave him a weird look before the announcer caught her attention "YOUR WINNER BY DEATH!" the crowd cheered louder — they always did enjoy a good fatality "IS THE GHOST RIDER!"

It seemed as if his eyes only stared at Scar for a second longer.

She didn't know who the fighter was at all, or at least she didn't remember ever meeting such a man, he had a toned body — pretty much like every other fighter but it didn't make sense...he looked like any one else, so why did she feel so unnerved when he looked at her.

"OUR NEXT FIGHTER IS THE ONE AND ONLY!" Scar snapped out of her thoughts, bringing her sight to the now empty cage in front of her "CRIMSON ROSE!"

She made her way onto the ring before facing her opponent — the fight went by fast, each of them were Phantoms meaning their actions were unpredictable but in spite of this Scarlett still won another four matches.

"Why didn't he fight me?" she asked Mark — it had been a good ten minutes since her last match

He turned to face her "I'm not sure..."

"I know his here, Mark!" she whispered to him "Its like I can feel him watching me."

Mark wasn't a fool, he had the same feeling but he didn't want Scar to worry "Listen. You're thinking too much...this guy probably already left the Arena - you have no reason to worry."

"Fine, I guess you're right."

The announcer took centre stage once again "OUR NEXT FIGHTER WILL BE, SHADOW" the crowd cheered once again as Mark started to approach the stage.

"No..." Scar voiced as her eyes widened — Mark visibly stiffened as his opponent entered the ring.

The rule for underground fighting was that each match was planned out by the judges, but if a fighter volunteers to fight a certain person, they can. So, the only question going through Scarlett's mind was; why the hell did the Ghost Rider keep volunteering to face Shadow?

The Ghost Rider landed his first punch on Mark's jaw making blood spurt from his mouth — the sight made her stomach churn.

It only got worse as the fight progressed. Mark would land a few kicks and punches but in the end he was the one covered in blood. Soon enough Scarlett couldn't handle seeing him get beaten so ruthlessly and quickly made her way over to the announcer.

"Let me guess..." he lazily stated "You want to forfeit. Again"

She nodded her head "You're correct,"

"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked one more time — a forfeited match was a bad match and announcers everywhere tried to avoid it as much as they could

Scar narrowed her eyes "Yes. Now end it."

"He's lucky to have such a caring girl." The announcer said lightly before making his way into the ring "YOUR WINNER BY FORFEIT IS," the audience groaned in frustration "THE GHOST RIDER!"

The man in the cage stopped attacking Mark but instead leant close to his ear and whispered something. Mark's eyes widened and for a second, an unreadable expression washed over his features — The Ghost Rider turned around to face Scar with a glint in his eye.

She only glared back with respite.

* * *

"What did he say to you?" Scarlett asked lightly

Mark laid in the bed beside her — the both of them returned to the Hotel and his wounds were bandaged and cleaned "Nothing,"

"I'm not a fool." she rolled over to her side so she could face him, instead of laying on her back "I saw with my own eyes-"

Mark only reached out his arm and pulled her closer to his body "Scar, just leave it. All he said was that the next time we'd fight, he'd kill me."

"I won't let that happen." Her lips moved to the thoughts of her mind, making her curse herself.

He smiled gently "I know you won't - you never have before and you never will now."

"There's the smart nerd I know," her eyes drooped with tiredness before eventually shutting "...Get some sleep, Mark. You don't have to worry about him."

His gaze continued to stare at her fragile and soft features as Scar's steady breaths travelled through the small room — Mark couldn't help but feel jaded by the Ghost Rider's words.

He didn't like telling Scarlett lies, but he decided this one time was okay. The frightful words that had him on his highest guard echoed through his mind as his arm tightened its hold around her waist.

"...Tell Crimson Rose to back away from the title, if she doesn't I'll kill her — take this as a final warning..."