Several years had gone by. The fights of yesterday were old and forgotten news. The outside world had grown into a distant memory to Vinnie. The world had turned its back on him and he had turned his back on the world. The prison cell was his home now, the prison itself his oasis. He had grown accustom with the confines of its grey, mossy walls. The prisoners were now his family. His violent and often murderous… family.
On the outside world, his fighting had lacked discipline and distractions of the world had weakened Vinnie’s resolve. Defeats had only played further mind games on him in such scenarios. In here, he had dedicated the last 4 years of his life to crafting his body into a finely tuned weapon. The books strengthened his mind, the weights his body and the environment his overall toughness.
Routine and blindness of the outside world gave Vinnie the discipline he needed. Yet this day, something unusual had occurred. Vinnie had a visitor. Not once had Vinnie had a visitor in his 4 year stay thus far. This moment that would forever be etched as the beginning of a far grander sequence of events.
Vinnie was escorted by two unfit, rotund guards talking about their “soccer” game, and how their player had clearly been injured. It disgusted Vinnie, what did a sport of sissies know of injury. He was escorted into a small interrogation room, where he was met by a rather portly brown man behind a small wooden desk.
“That will do guards, he poses no further threat to me.” Said the mystery man. Vinnie maliciously smiled at the sheer arrogance.
“My name is Shabz. Shabz Patan. I currently manage the Heavy weight champion of the world and have for the last 3 years. I’m also a fight promoter, the best…and have I got an event planned. I have come here to this prison to secure my final 2 prized fighters for the greatest world tournament the world will ever see.”
He placed a sheet of paper on the table. It appeared to be a list of 6 names so far.
“Eight Entrants. Each as deadly at the last.” The fat man proclaimed. They were all supposedly famed fighters from the last decade, reaching some level of success across the globe. Each a specialist fighter in their own art form. Shabz verbalized the list as Vinnie ran through it.
- “Habaz “Anger Management” Valentine”
- “Garas “The General” Garikipati III”
- “Adusius “Black Bird” Bandarias”
- “Prasadh “Angada Angada” Mohanadhasan”
- “Papa Geppi “the Brother Bather” Ho”
“And the reigning Champion of the world…A man with no equal and unchallenged for past 3 years…
He took his crown by crushing the former champ, Prasadh “Angada Angada” Mohanadhasan, in a savage beatdown – the thought of which makes people cringe even to this day.”, Bellowed Shabz enthusiastically,
- “KD “The Ascended”, “The Beast of the Jungle”, “The RICH!!!” and “Pet rat of Shabz”.
Two names on that list held meaning to Vinnie. Vengeance…was being offered up on a pedestal. Prasadh…Garas…His blood rose at the thought of the confrontation .
“Your reputation precedes you on the outside still, Vinnie”, Said Shabz, “I want you to be one of my fighters. You have history with two of these great fighters. A grudge match many on the outside have longed for” Stated Shabz.
Vinnie paused. Flashes of his weeping Ex-wife coursed through his memory, along with a premature end to his championship bout. Standing over Garas victoriously before being sentenced in here for a decade. A life long forgotten had been given new life.
As Vinnie sat in the waiting room, he felt an urge to break the over-indulgent fight promoter’s face. His chubby, smug facial features. His rosy, bulbous cheeks. Those perfectly round spectacles. On a normal day, Vinnie would have broken this fat buffoon. Unfortunately, this was no longer an ordinary day. Redemption was being granted for himself – if he would but reach for it. Vinnie just then noticed that something was amiss. Even should he agree, they would be one fighter short. He would be the seventh…with the eighth being from here. No one was left though. Not since the old days more than 3 years ago with his bitter prison rivalry – with “Casimiro ”The Portuguese” “. But he had been missing for the last year. They say the guards beat him to death, but there was never any evidence of it.
Vinnie’s curiosity had gotten the better of him. The Fight Promoter had piqued captured his interest and would therefore not be beaten to a pulp. Who else in this prison would be capable of standing toe to toe with the reigning champ. This…”KD” fellow? With Vinnie himself? The answer came as swiftly as the question.
The door slowly opened, and a figure made himself known to the room. It took but a glance for fear to spread to Vinnie’s gut. What hidden monstrosity had his own domain hidden from him, all these years… this mystery fighter…!?
“It…can’t be…!?” gasped Vinnie in shock, as his eyes widened and remained unblinking.