Chapter 1
It was morning the cold snapped me to the realization of what had transpired, Sweat dripped down my nose. My broken glasses keep sliding down my bloodied hands leave a mix of sweat and blood dripping down my face. His body layed broken and disfigured his right arm overstretched with all of the fingers broken, his left arm is gone…oh god the blood. Why so much blood? Night is ending the sun is breaking across the blue ridge mountains the morning dew fresh on the grass it is so cold.
Let me start from the beginning, two weeks ago I met Mason a guy at the gym who told me about this club where you can make some money by fighting. At first I was thinking there was no way i could fight for money, im not well off but I do well enough, at least thats what i thought. Im pulling into my driveway Im behind the mailman I see her get out the sun gleaming off of her bright red hair. A stack of mail tucked under her arm, She waves and smiles I return the favor. As she got back into the truck I can’t help but check her out. I park and grab my mail without looking at it, and continue up the driveway. I park and start thumbing through the stack my attention gets locked on a tan envelope marked urgent. the Red letters IRS poked through my heart sank. The gist of the letter apparently when you buy property in North Carolina you are supposed to pay a property tax. As I had said I don’t have a lot of money, I get by but nothing like the 5500 they said i needed to keep my new house. So without out a lot of options I start selling everything, my TV, Gaming system everything. So after everything i’m still 1000 shy from getting these people off my back. Out of Options I call Mason, he informs me that its 500 a fight 1000 if I win. It looks likes it was meant to be. So I made the arrangements, Masons voice cracks on the phone, I swear you can hear the saliva dripping off his lips. So he tells me that if i’m serious he needs to see me fight, now i should mention at this point I grew up with three older brothers, One became a US Army Sniper, the other a golden glove winner and max well lets just say He works for the government as well. So as the youngest it was kill or be killed I know how to handle myself in a brawl…well at least that’s what I believed.
Mason set me up for a under card fight to promote the fight he said that in order to get the payed fight, I would need a great showing and draw a lot of attention, a street brawl in the basement of local pub, the Shovel Head. Okay so i show up dressed to fight, the man I was to fight was about six foot five his name tiny, which he was anything but. Tiny was covered in scars and tattoos, a long dragon black and white, wrapping around his chest which I could barely see through the thick hair on his chest and the god awful smell like cigarettes and rotten flesh. He is missing some teeth as he grins shadow boxing at me from across the room, I can hear the crowd as I enter the ring. Mostly boos and laughter my size across from him i’m five two a buck ten soaking wet across from me a six five three hundred pound giant, a small guy in a black hoodie comes between us seeing us I guess he couldn’t help himself he steps up on a small wooden crate. Listen up maggots! the announcer says. Tonight we have a special treat for you pricks! A real David and Goliath fight tonight as Tiny a local favorite takes on the new comer a scared little Rabbit. Without further delay ring the bell!
Ding..Ding..Ding the metal bell sounds Tiny rushes in going straight for me, now one thing my brothers taught me was because of my size i know that going head to head is not going to work. Tiny opens with a large right hand, I lean to the right picturing the swing as his hand blows past my left ear i feel the wind run through my hair…HES GOING FOR THE KILL! just out of instinct i grab his arm turn and lean forward. Using the momentum of Tiny’s punch to roll him over my back, and on the hard concrete floor. The wind was knocked out of him I could hear a rib crack, Tiny gasped for air and rolled over to his stomach. I know that if he gets on his feet its over he would not fall for the same trick twice, the crowd roars my heart is racing everything is foggy all i can see is him trying to get back on his feet. Without thinking my foot as if its on rushes quick to meet the side of Tiny’s head, Smack a small white object fly’s out of his mouth his eyes roll back into his head I’ve done it! Tiny’s body lays flat on the floor. Blood starts pooling up around his head the little man in the hoodie comes over with a small mirror places it next to Tiny’s mouth and nose, fog, he was still breathing my heart sank…DING..DING…DING.
The match was over the announcer lifts my arm into the air..RABBIT WINS! the crowd damn near deafens me roaring in excitement. As i leave there is Mason just grinning from ear to ear, you beat em feel proud you beat next weeks sure shot which means you take his place. Almost over a sense of relief washes over me as Mason hands me a small index card. Here are the details for next week fight like you did tonight and you will be a star! He says laughing through his yellow teeth. My head began to hurt the rush starting to leave i’m light headed still amazed that i made it through the fight. The entire drive home was like auto pilot, I don’t even remember driving back just replaying the fight over and over in my head. I place the truck in park and climb out i look down at my feet i still had blood on my boot tip from tiny, a smirk as i bend down to wipe it off with the tip of my index finger. I unlock my door throw my keys down into a small glass bowl i leave right by the front door. I lay down in my bed not even taking my clothes off still replaying each move in my head like a crazed edition of sport center. I place my right arm over my eyes and drift off to sleep. The next morning i wake up to a screaming alarm…8:15 am SHIT i over slept!
Chapter 2
Now I have stated i’m NOT a professional fighter, in all actuality i’m nowhere near a hard labor type job i’m just a cashier at the local market I don’t do heavy lifting i run the u-scan so i don’t even deal with customers unless they cant figure out the machines. pays not great and my boss is a prick, but it pays my bills. I hop in the truck and start it up, the drive to work takes at most ten minutes if I catch all green lights. I have never been late so i’m not speeding to get to work..wouldn’t you know it a red light of course that’s my luck. Stopped at the light not even thinking i look over there it is the Shovelhead Saloon…Cops? That feeling comes rushing back my heart skips a beat as i see cops everywhere. Why are there cops there i don’t understand. All of a sudden all of the cops look over at me. Oh no they know about the fights, maybe someone taped it and put it on you tube, did i Kill Tiny? all these questions start racing through my head. Just then i snap out of it as a loud obnoxious horn is blaring right behind me, Green light, I almost pissed myself, i floor it not even thinking. I pull into work still shaking, he was still breathing right? The mirror fogged up I know it did. Did he get up? I cant focus i clock in and start drifting off behind my little podium, replaying that fight in my head over and over and over. Suddenly a strong grip grabs my shoulder. I turn to see a large bald man staring deeply at me a angry expression with a curled lip hiding behind a large salt and pepper beard.
Well? In a deep firm voice. Why where you late this morning that’s not like you to not even call? do you know how worried we where? Sorry Bill, I respond. Bill was one of those people you seen getting made fun of in high school because of his weight, staying in entry level jobs so long upper management promotes just because he has been there for so long he can do the job in his sleep not that it requires much thought to begin with. I overslept it wont happen again, I say in a weak scared tone. Bill who i just noticed is holding his favorite clip board the see through one with the name of the store on the back, starts flipping through pages. Okay he says in his I want to be tough voice, I guess since this has never happend before I will let this one slide, just don’t make it a habit don’t make me show you my bad side. I smirk not even thinking and say sure boss I promise, as he turns and walks away. Well that’s enough drama for me today i think to myself. I turn to go back to my train of thought but I cant seem to catch a break today everyone is just staring at me like in high school when the principle calls you out of class. Good God let this day be over already.
Lunch finally comes I always go out to my truck and tune into the radio but today I have a phone call to make, so i reach into my glove box and pull out my phone. i start dialing Mason hoping he has some answers….the person you are trying to reach does not have a voicemail set up please try your call again later. Damn voicemail. After three attempts I figure he must be busy ill try him again when i get home, no big deal. I turn the switch and hit the power button on my radio. I am a sucker for old country, 105.5 my channel if i park at the far end of the lot i can barely pick it up. Breaking news..local businessman Mason Hughes found shot this morning, my heart is going to seize if this keeps happening, no suspects as of yet but local athorites say he was found just outside of a local bar with a gsw to the head, if you have any information please call crime stoppers at…oh no what if they link me to him i just called his phone three times, wait he didn’t have a voicemail set up, can they still trace my phone? so many questions are racing through my head, but wait i don’t have anything to fear so i knew the guy doesn’t mean i was with him. Hell i just go to the same gym as him, and was seen entering said bar with him last night, damn it just stop thinking about it i’m just working myself up for no reason. I pour myself out of the truck, check myself in the mirror, lord i’m pale, head back into work. Just have to make it through this shift then i can go home and figure this out.
The workday ends and like normal nothing of interest at work just people going about their day oblivious to me and I to them, a trained chimp could do my job I once joked with a co-worker. The drive home was normal as well, slight traffic i couldn’t bear to even listen to the radio. I wanted to forget the whole thing..there’s red probably the only good thing to happen today as she walks to the mailbox the sun glistens on her shiny red hair she smiles again and waves, I raise my hand and manage a smile her way, sorry red just cant today. I pull in and park grab the one letter that’s in my box. No return address? Okay then i tear the edge off and pull out a piece of notebook paper the only words written on it…Cheater.
Chapter 3
Cheater? What the hell? I have never cheated at anything other that video games with my brothers and who doesn’t? What the hell have i got myself into i cant believe someone thinks i could cheat, wait i’m single no family, i have not taken any tests since last year in high school? what could they be referring to? THE FIGHT? No, no way everyone seen that i won that fair and square. now mind you i haven’t looked up yet just focused on that one word written like a two year old’s hand writing. Then a real surprise there he is Tiny!
Tiny! I exclaim, what the hell is going on? he just starts laughing through two black eyes and a taped up nose. well rabbit just thought i should let you know the cops came by my house today. Oh no they know about the fights? he just starts laughing again. Please kid don’t worry first rule don’t snitch on fellow fighters. I feel a sense of relief wash over me, Plus who would ever believe that a punk like you could whoop my ass like this, he laughs in pain at me. But i did didn’t i? wanna another taste? I proclaim like a ass. Tiny stands up glaring down at me, Listen kid, i’m here as a warning don’t waste my time what happens in the ring stays in the ring, i’m putting my neck out just being here. Sorry I say, I didn’t mean it just got under my skin a bit after last night. He grins as he hits me on the shoulder, no worries just thought i would let you know your manager was shot last night people think i threw the fight to get out of fighting next week, a lot of powerful people, lost a lot of money last night on you. Did you? i ask very cautiously. NO you won fair and square but my word doesn’t mean as much in paper, and your boss made a killing last night no pun intended. wow smart and funny i think to myself, wait i just got this letter do you know who would send this? Tiny reaches out with his massive bear claw of a hand still wrapped in bloodied cloths and takes the letter. Yep, looks like mickey’s hand writing he did the same thing to me after my first fight, he has a short temper and even shorter trigger finger, be careful. Well you survived him right? Tiny glares up from the letter, Why are you fighting you have a nice home, a job, car what else could you need. I avoid the question, listen he says if you have a problem that’s your business but i didn’t survive mickey he made my life a living hell, he has his finger in everything my next month of fights all where designed to end me, like three on one four on one and so on. With your manager gone you don’t have to worry just don’t show up to the fight and your golden, the only reason i know where you live is because my manager lives up the street and remembered you. I cant, I burst in, I need the money or i ..Tiny cuts me off, MONEY? are you prepared to lose your live because of money? listen your a grown kid ill let you decide how to live your life just know my slate is clean i warned you if you don’t listen its your own damn fault. Tiny starts walking off not even looking at me, maybe he is right i have some of the money i could make a half a payment and ask for an extension, do i really need to fight? See this is when hindsight is twenty twenty i should have listened to tiny i really should had. Because my one fight and out was about to be a lot more than what i was expecting it to be.
to be continued….
Drama
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