In the Darkness of the Night

Chapter1

The room was dimly lit and stank of beer, sweat and blood. Two young boys stepped into the center of the caged ring in the center of the room. One boy was significantly larger than the other; he stripped off his shirt and began warming up his body for the fight. The other smaller boy stepped into the ring on the opposite side cracking his knuckles and flexing his fists. Inhaling deeply he calmed his breath and waited. Men and boys gathered around to watch the fight.

                “I got fifty on the big guy!” a man shouted raising his beer, and the bets started pooling. Shouts and laughs rang through the room. The small boy kept focus on the center of the ring.

“Alright boys, get in position!” A burley man barreled into the center of the room, the small boy watched his face. “You know the rules in order to win your opponent must be unconscious! Whoever wins gets the prize money, and moves to the next round in two weeks! Anything goes!”  The two boys stepped into place as the man spoke, each sizing the other up. The man backed out of the center of the circle. Arm raised, both boys readied themselves.

“Fight!” The man brought his arm down, signaling the start of the competition. The drunken men yelled and raised beers and fists, their eyes begging for blood. The taller boy smirked at his opponent fists raised, “So Squirt, how old are you? Twelve?” The smaller of the two didn’t speak but raised his fists in response. The taller boy had brown hair, shaggy, curtaining his eyes. Shaking his bangs from his face he punched out at the younger boy.  His blows were easily dodged, and the younger boy backed away. 

Smiling the younger boy waited for his opponent to advance again, after his astonishment wore off. Pushing forward the brown headed boy raised his fist and swung, again and again. The younger boy blocked what he couldn’t dodge and waited for his opportunity to strike. The larger boy was tiring quickly, the younger boy ran up and jabbed into his opponent’s stomach. Again he struck out and again. The boy heaved over coughing, holding a

a hand to his stomach. Angrily he pulled himself up as the younger boy turned around and started to walk away. Coming up behind him the older boy he threw a kick at the shorter boys head. At the last second he ducked, and swept a leg into his opponents standing leg. The heavier boy fell with a thud and the crowd yelled for him to be finished off. The younger boy kneeled gripping the shirt of the older boy, “I’m Seventeen.” And he punched the boys temple knocking him out.

The crowd looked at the younger boy in astonishment, and then bellowed cheers for his victory. The man who called the fight joined him in the ring, “What’s your name kid?”

“I’m Bryson.” The boy replied.

“Well, Bryson, congratulations!” He held up Bryson’s left arm and shouted, “Our winner! Bryson!”  The men cheered, and moaned at their losing and winning bets.  He handed Bryson the cash prize. " Alright kid, i don't know how you did it but your in the next round. Be here in two weeks. Same day, same place same time. Got it?" The boy nodded adjusting his jacket and tugging nervously at his hat.

"I'll be here." He replied. And after a curt nod from the referee her ran for the stairs and out into the cool night air.After a few deep breaths cash in hand his pace picked up again. The dim street lamps flickered overhead as he dashed into a dark alley. Noticing somthing ahead he skidded to a stop but a few seconds too late, because he bumped into the figure face first and his hat fell to the ground and a black spill of curls fell.