Read Circus Escape for Free Online Page B

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    Sally paused in front of her, moved her front leg in a wave-like movement. Nessie blew another kiss, this one for Joy only.
    "Win," she yelled. Her word lost in the multitude of voices around her. "Win," she yelled again.
    Sally continued moving around the edge of the circle, revving the crowd into a frenzy of excitement. There was plenty of anticipation pulsing through Nessie as she leaned back for a moment to catch her breath. The thought of Joy, a woman who got to be with the mechas all the time, was exhilarating. All the things she wished to do. But there was something else. Ever since she'd put her arms around Joy's waist on the steambike an internal circuit had been completed, and she was drawn to Joy in a deep unexplainable way. For the first time, she knew that while she was ecstatic about the fight, she couldn't wait to see Joy again and kiss her again—plus a few other things, but they would have to wait until much later. That was, if Joy had the same attraction to her.
    "Sally!" Nessie jumped up to get a better view as the Crab rushed into the ring, snapping its front claws. A knot formed in Nessie's stomach like a piece of metal had thudded into her.
    The big screen flashed between images of the mechas and the crowd, but everyone was watching the arena and the mechas instead of the screens. Flares had been lit on the other side of the arena, banners were waved high, and the security, with their blue and red lights flashing on their helmets, rushed to put a dampener on things and settle down the crowd's energy.
    "Fight, fight, fight."
    Sally and Cate kept moving around the ring. Nessie held her breath. They faced off each other in the centre.
    "Winner takes all."
    Calmness shivered through the crowd as they waited to see who would start. Who would inflict the first damage? The crowd watched closely, not wanting to miss one second of the real-time performance.
    Nessie's hand moved to her throat and she kept the other on the railing to stop herself from falling over. She felt as if she was about to burst from the excitement palpitating through her body.
    In a flash, it started. It was so quick Nessie missed it even though she was looking straight at the mechas. She gasped as she watched the aftermath. Sally fell sideways from a single blow. The mechas moved fast now that the real fighting had begun. Nessie blinked. Cate now stood over Sally, a leg in one of her claws. She was ready to clamp down.
    "No! No! No!" Nessie screamed. Those beautiful legs .
    Cate's claws closed. Sally's severed leg tumbled to the ground, sparking electricity from the cords poking out. Nessie screamed, long and hard, the sound ripping out of her throat as if she'd been the one whose leg had been severed.
    Cate picked up another of Sally's legs.
    "Nooooo!" Nessie yelled, her blood rushing from her head and collecting in her toes, leaving her lightheaded. She couldn't take much more of this. She swayed on her feet.
    "Ya all right, Miss?" asked the man next to her. He didn't wait for an answer before turning back to the delight in the centre of the arena.
    Nessie nodded. Swayed. I will not … She fell backwards into her seat as if she simply had to sit down right there and then.
    *~*~*
    "Told you this would be easy."
    Kris's voice irritated Joy. "I'm only losing on instruction. You wouldn't beat me in a real fight."
    "Yeah right, you keep telling yourself that," said Kris.
    Cate's other claw clamped closed and severed another leg. Joy cursed.
    "Language," said Jim.
    Joy repeated the swear words a few more times as she pulled at levers and pressed buttons, trying to get out from under the Crab. But she just couldn't get enough power. It didn't help that she had now lost two legs and leaked electricity.
    "Come on baby, not like this." She said to Sally. Not like this. You did so much better in the practice sessions . She tried to flip Sally back on her feet, but Cate pushed her back down to the ground.
    Kris laughed.
    Joy's eyes flooded with