Gary relaxed and let the ice cold water rush over him. He let all the anger and adrenaline wash away, just like the blood was washing away at his feet. It hadn’t been a tough fight, just tough enough to get a few cuts and bruises. He stayed in the shower long enough to cool down and calm down. He could only remember flashes of the fight, a punch here or there. He could see the right hook that had floored his opponent, smashing into the poor sucker’s jaw; teeth and blood spewing. He saw in slow motion the kick to his opponents head as the guy lay on the ground, blood spilling across the hard concrete floor. He remembered kneeling over the bloodied man, arm drawn back and fist clenched, ready to strike again but interrupted by the high pitched shriek of the whistle. The inevitable ‘end of fight’ whistle. He became a monster for the duration of a fight but the second that the whistle sounded, he just stood up and walked away. Behind him the man he had left on the ground had received a wave of abuse from the onlookers who’d lost money betting for the poor guy. Idiots. Gary had thought. He didn’t stand a chance. Next time they’ll know.

He got out of the shower and looked at his phone. 3:23 am. No new messages, no missed calls. He sighed, dried quickly and got dressed. The ‘dressing room’ was nothing more than a filthy room with a bench. The New York underground fighting league… the height of comfort. He lit up a cigarette and started through the twists and turns back to the main chamber. The league was currently being held in the basement of a closed down textiles factory, but god knows where it would be tomorrow. The screams and shouts of fighters and spectators alike drifted through the corridors. Gary entered the main room again just in time to see a muscular Asian man smashed against a wall by a giant of a Caucasian. Harsh. Wonder if I’ll face one of them tomorrow? he thought idly. Once he’d picked up his cash from the win, Gary headed up the stairs and out into the street. The air was cold and crisp. He shivered. Another day at the office…

He walked slowly along the dark alley, thoroughly enjoying his cigarette. One a day, that’s what he allowed himself. He had to keep fit for his ‘profession’, so any more than that was suicide. He stopped for a minute and leaned against the wall. With his eyes closed he took the final drag out of his saving grace. Until tomorrow old friend. He flicked the butt and watched it spiral to the ground. It made a soft splutter as it landed in a puddle and fizzled out. When he looked up again there was a man standing at the end of the alleyway. Gary headed towards him.

((That man is you Tak ))

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