Life After Champion

June

   11 hours, 39 minutes, and 15 seconds.

   14, 13, 12, 11, 10...

   9, 8, 7, 6, 5...

   4, 3, 2, 1...

   11 hours and 38 minutes.

   With nothing but the constant tick of clock, I'm left to think and, out of habit, analyze the room, memorizing all the pointless little details. The terror of what's happening, and what's going to happen, has long since passed.

   My whole body is sore from sitting tied to the chair for so long.  My back aches and my legs fell asleep. There's deep indentations on my wrists and ankles from where the ropes are digging into me. Half of my skin is covered in dark, dry, blood and  tons of bruises ranging in colors from yellow to dark blue cover me. My clothes are soaked through with sweat and my hair, no longer in its neat ponytail, is everywhere. My shoes, as well as the surrounding area, are covered in my own vomit. My arm is throbbing and I have a pounding headache, the pain never subsiding. My arm may be broken or fractured, it feels like it, but I'm not sure.

   I'm worried about my head though. Head injuries are a serious matter. If it's bad, and gone untreated, it could potentially lead to death. I could have an epidural hematoma, which would mean there's bleeding between my dura matter and the skull bone. Or I could have a contusion, where there's a bruise on my brain which could cause swelling. Or if my head was jarred enough upon impact with the wall, a concussion. Even a skull fracture is a possibility. They could all lead to casualties, but it doesn't matter. I'm going to die anyway. But, oddly enough, it comforts me to run through the facts in my mind.

   My head rolls to the side a bit and more hair falls into my face. One of long brown locks is stained a deep scarlet from my blood. A laugh bubbles up inside me at the cruel irony of it all.

   A shudder rips through me as I remember Day's capture all those years ago. How he was beaten and left to burn in the sun, a piece of his blond curls stained red as well. Tears start pouring down my face as the memories come flooding back. Day's mother and brother dying. His near execution at Batalla Hall. Him being shot in the leg and his cries of pain. Eden being taken away from him. It's all just too much for me to handle. The thoughts continue to haunt me. My shoulders shake and my vision goes blurry.

   The tears continue to silently fall as I slowly but surely slip away into unconsciousness...