Hearts of Delmar (Book 1 of 2)

Chapter 24: FUPAR!

Nicole took her seat in the VIP section of the arena, next to Vicki. Silverback and Dee arrived a moment later, Dee staggering drunk already.

"Where's Jack?" Nicole asked.

"He's not joining us." Vicki said calmly.

"What do you mean he's not joining us, Vinn might die and he's not even going to provide moral support?"

"Trust me, Nicole, he's providing more support than we are. Just keep it together and be brave." She whispered cryptically.

Jack, dressed in all black and sitting atop some form of radio tower, adjusted his ski mask, opening the instrument case and removing the rifle. He steadied his mind and peered out to the arena in the distance. 812 yards, windage 15mph. He loaded the round and locked the bolt in place, getting settled in, and clicking the safety on.

Vinn sat in a metal chair, shirtless and covered in tribal paint marking his clan and making it easier to see which one he was from the nosebleed sections of the crowd. He breathed deliberate breaths, thinking about Nicole's smile as the playlist droned out a soft trancelike melody. He wrapped his wrists in bright green bands, checking the clock, 5 minutes left. The playlist switched tracks, and a Viking mantra began playing. The fur on his neck stood up as the tension built and at the 40 second mark. The track went full Deathcore, the volume jumping up. His pupils dilated and his already light red eyes began to go a rusty dark color. His head began to nod to the beat, his confidence building as the doors opened and the end of the tunnel glowed a soft white, the sound of the crowd building up to a dull murmur entirely drowned out by the barrage of drums and bass rattling his ears. He stomped his way down the tunnel, tossing the earbuds aside and feeling the brisk cold hit his face, and the light of the arena. He peered up at the VIP section.

"I LOVE YOU VINN!" Nicole shouted, hanging dangerously over the rail.

"I love you too." He muttered to the void as Kraken, wrapped in black and yellow, stomped up to him and stopped, towering over him with a confident stretch compared to Vinn's nervous slouch.

"After I make you my bitch, your bitch is next." He growled.

"Stay calm, wait it out." Vinn said inside his head, looking up into the eyes of the devil and holding his rage. The gong sounded, the crown settled down. The gong sounded a second time. Silence. They took 3 steps backward, leaving the very center circle as the third gong sounded, waiting for the 4th to start. The last gong sounded.

"FUPAAAAAR!" rung out in the arena

Kraken burst into a sprint, locking antlers with Vinn and scrunching him down with overwhelming power, lifting him to his feet with an uppercut to the ribs. Vinn swung back hitting only a blocking arm and taking an unexpected knee to the side, followed by a right hook that put him in the dirt. Kraken chuckled and circled, playing with his food a little.

"Get up little soldier." He growled.

"Oh, I'm just enjoying the scenery." Vinn huffed, hopping to his feet and switching positions. Vinn pretended to hesitate and then stepped into the striking zone, taking another hit to the face and turning with it, throwing a back kick that Kraken seemed to just absorb like a wall, barely wincing. Vinn ducked a power swing throwing a few rapid hits to the chest. Kraken held his hands out as if to just let him swing to prove a point, and after several more hits, he grabbed Vinn by the antlers and pulled him down right into a rising knee, rolling him to the dirt again. Kraken beat his chest like an ape as the crown roared with a combination of cheers and boos.

"He is so fucked, isn't he?" whispered Dee to silverback.

"Don't think like that."

"We're both thinking it."