Episode 7: The Cage Match
Jaden sat in his dorm, fists clenched so tight his knuckles had turned white. Tomorrow morning, he'd be locked in the cage with Blaine Mercer.
No ball. No rules. Just fists, blood, and survival.
Leo whistled from across the room. "Man, you really fucked yourself with that one."
Jaden didn't answer.
Leo leaned back against his bed. "Don't get me wrong, Blaine's a prick. But he's also a goddamn psycho. You think he's just gonna throw a couple punches and call it even? He's gonna try to break you."
Jaden exhaled sharply, but he wasn't scared.
He was fucking pissed.
At Blaine. At this place that let guys like him get away with anything. At himself—for not keeping his cool. For letting Blaine get inside his head.
And, if he was honest… for thinking about Abby at a time like this.
He pulled out his phone.
Abby: You okay?
She must've seen the bruise from yesterday on his story before he deleted it.
Jaden: I'm fine.
A pause. Then—
Abby: Liar.
Jaden smirked, just a little.
Jaden: You always know, huh?
Abby: Of course I do. Tell me the truth.
Jaden: Got into a fight. Got a bigger one tomorrow.
Another pause. Then—
Abby: Do you ever stop throwing yourself into danger?
Jaden hesitated. He wanted to tell her everything.
But instead, he just typed—
Jaden: No.
Abby: Then win.
Jaden's heart twisted.
God, he wanted to see her. Feel her. Everything else in his life was a fucking disaster, but she was the one thing that still made sense.
Jaden: I wish you were here.
Abby: Me too.
Jaden exhaled, pressing his phone against his forehead. She was too good for him.
And he wasn't going to let some shithead like Blaine stand between him and the future he wanted.
Tomorrow, Jaden wasn't just going to fight. He was going to fucking win.
The Cage
Morning came fast.
The "cage" wasn't actually a cage—it was a walled-off area behind the training facility. The ground was gravel, not grass. No soft landings here.
The entire squad stood around the edge, waiting. Some excited. Some nervous. Some just eager to see blood.
Jaden stepped inside. Across from him, Blaine cracked his knuckles, already smirking.
"You ready to get your ass beat, Carter?"
Jaden rolled his shoulders. "Better question—you ready to lose those teeth?"
Coach Vance stepped forward. "This ain't a fucking street fight. This is about dominance."
He glanced at both of them. "Fight 'til one of you can't stand. No refs. No stopping. You want to prove you're the best? Then prove it."
He stepped back.
"Go."
Blaine charged first.
Jaden barely dodged, but Blaine was fast. Not just a brute—he knew how to fight. He came in low, swinging hard—Jaden blocked, but the impact rattled through his ribs.
Fuck, he was strong.
Jaden didn't have time to recover before—CRACK.
Blaine's knee slammed into his stomach.
Pain exploded through Jaden's body. He staggered back, vision flashing red. Blaine wasn't here to fight—he was here to break him.
"C'mon, Carter," Blaine taunted. "That all you got?"
Jaden clenched his teeth.
No. Fuck that.
He lunged.
Blaine swung—Jaden ducked. The moment Blaine overextended, Jaden drove his fist straight into his ribs.
Blaine grunted. Jaden pressed forward, hitting him again—a clean shot to the jaw.
Blaine stumbled. He wasn't laughing now.
Jaden saw his chance. He rushed forward—
Then Blaine grabbed him by the throat.
The world tilted as Jaden was slammed into the gravel.
Sharp pain ripped through his back. He gasped, but Blaine was already on top of him, fist raised.
CRACK.
Jaden's head snapped to the side. Blood dripped from his lip.
The crowd was roaring.
Blaine leaned in, whispering in his ear.
"I hope your little girlfriend likes broken boys."
Jaden saw red.
His fist shot up, slamming into Blaine's throat.
Blaine choked. Jaden bucked up, flipping him over.
Now Jaden was on top. Now Jaden was the one swinging.
One punch. Blood. Another. More blood.
Blaine tried to grab his wrist—Jaden broke free and drove his elbow down hard.
Blaine's head bounced off the gravel.
Silence.
Then—
"STOP."
Vance's voice cut through the madness.
Jaden's breath was ragged, his body covered in sweat and blood.
Blaine wasn't moving. His face was a mess of bruises, split skin, and swollen flesh.
Jaden slowly got off him. He had won.
The players watching? Some were cheering. Some were staring at him like he was a fucking animal.
Leo met his gaze. "Holy fuck, dude."
Jaden looked down at his fists. His own blood mixed with Blaine's.
Vance walked over, looking at Jaden with something close to approval.
"You're still standing," he said simply.
Jaden wiped his mouth. "Yeah."
Vance's lips curled into a twisted smile.
"Good."
Aftermath
Jaden sat in the locker room alone, staring at his reflection.
Bruised knuckles. Dried blood on his cheek. A small cut over his eyebrow.
He didn't even recognize himself.
His phone buzzed.
Abby: You okay?
Jaden stared at the screen for a long time.
He should tell her the truth.
That he wasn't okay. That this place was turning him into something else. Something darker.
Instead, he just typed—
Jaden: Yeah. I won.
Abby: Of course you did.
Abby: Come back to me in one piece, okay?
Jaden exhaled. He wasn't sure if he could promise that anymore.
But he wanted to. For her.
He clenched his jaw.
Whatever happened next… he had to survive.