The Unholy

Prologue

Stephen James as our one and only Hale.

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Two Months ago.....

            "Welcome to the channel thirteen news, my name is Henrietta McCoy, here to bring you the latest in downtown Seattle's news. Starting out here, reporting from the fight dome, a highly equipped sports dome that hold competitions for the UFC fighters comes a story unlike any we have had lately." The middle aged women on the television stops for a moment, to look at the sheet of paper in front of her to see if what she was reading was actually true.

          "It is reported that a man by name of Hale Stryker, an amateur to the mixed martial arts profession and a well known decorated war hero, had beat a man so bad in the ring that he sustained brain damage. The victim Dawson Radcliffe, died several minutes after the fight had ended due to massive injury.."

  I rolled my eyes and shut off the television with a click of a button from my couch that sat in front of it.

   I was told that I shouldn't watch the news, as they weren't saying good things about me, and although I tried to listen, I couldn't help myself. I deserved to feel the pang of guilt that crept up when I thought about the incident that happened only two short days ago. I did feel guilty, but if I had to do over again, I would in a heartbeat.

   The UFC tried to keep it under wraps, but since I was the most popular amateur to step foot in the ring in decades, they warned me that the possibility of someone handing out info for money was high. Now that somebody has actually given out the information, I couldn't fathom that I was the one to actually do that, that I was the one that ended that mans life. 

   I've done it before, killed, on many occasions with my time that I served in Iraq. It was different this time though, a decision instead of an order. I guess that's the difference between a hero and murderer, an honorable man and a sinner.

  A light buzz came from my phone from where it was placed on my coffee table, and I leaned forward, wincing when I jostled my broken rib to see who was calling. When I saw that it was my lawyer, Serena Mendes, I sighed and rubbed my hand down my face. I knew she was calling me to either say that I'm free to go, or to turn myself in on charges of manslaughter. 

  The phone flashed several times before I actually picked it up, I knew that I would have to take this call sooner or later but I really didn't want to hear what the verdict was. I knew I was in the wrong for this but he deserved it. I need to suck it up and just deal with the consequences of my actions.

"Hello?" I spoke, apprehensive.

"Hale? This is your lawyer speaking, Serena? I was calling you to inform you of the standings of your case. I wanted to make sure you heard from me yourself." She said, I couldn't make out the tone of her voice, and it annoyed the fuck out of me. I would have to give her props though, She was one of the best lawyers in Seattle.

"Yeah, okay. Can just tell me what it is?" I was being an asshole but I couldn't help it, everyone was setting me off these days.

"Sorry.." She said with a sarcastic tone."..It's clear Hale, the charges are being dropped. The courthouse looked at your history as a war hero and gave you a little leeway, that and the fact that your profession is considered a dangerous sport. It turns out Radcliffe signed a waver, just like everyone did, saying that he was conscientiously aware of the risk he was taking by fighting. Your free to go Hale." She exclaimed, as I let out a breath of relief. I could manage prison, but damn who wanted to go to prison?

"So that's it? I'm just off the hook? I can just go back to fighting?" The thought had me excited, fighting was my life. I could feel the thrill of the crowd roaring my name from my couch. 

"Welll....That's the catch Hale. I did a little research, Radcliffe had some friends in very high places. They have made sure no one would sponsor you again, or allow you to sign back up on a roster. You've been blacklisted Hale." She spoke hesitantly.

"What?" I stood suddenly, anger coursing though me, the pain from the fight with Radcliffe echoing throughout my body.  

"Also, Hale..I would get the hell out of dodge if I were you. We both know the UFC doesn't do everything completely legal. I overheard some guys talking about a hit on the new fighter that killed Declan Radcliffes brother. Declan is all the way in Atlanta Georgia though so he must have some connections here." She was frantic now, talking swiftly with her voice worried. 

I walked to the eight foot windows and looked out at the street below me from my penthouse. The buildings were blocking the stars and the dim glow from the windows, lighting up my apartment. 

"Hale?" She asked.

"Why is this Declan in Atlanta?" I asked her seriously, if he had a problem with me, I would bring the fight to him. Nothing I've done was wrong, and lucky for him I was in the mood for a good fight.

"Declan is fighter like Dawson was, they took two separate routes though. Dawson chose to go Pro, and Declan..well..he chose a more..unconventional route. As in Illegal underground fight club route." She said quickly, I could tell she was antsy to get off the phone with me but I needed answers and I needed them now.

"I really have to go Hale, Leave town. Tonight." She cut the conversation short before I could say anything else, and I groaned in frustration. 

 Was he really after me? I mean yeah I killed his brother, but Dawson had it coming. 

Immediately I knew what I had to do. Without moving my ribs to much, I limped into my bedroom. Once there I ducked and pulled out my duffel bag from underneath my bed and headed to my closet.

Looking through the closet I finally found what I was looking for and picked up the heavy piece of metal, a crow bar in particular, and kneeled to the floor to start ripping at the floor boards. When I had enough of them up I started to use my hands to pull the last pieces of the floor. 

  When all the pieces were finally up, I looked down into the hole and reached in to grab my emergency money.

My safe that contained most of my life savings in it. I spun the lock and it fell open revealing millions in cash, money thay i've saved up from winning fights, and I put into my duffel. I grabbed some extra clothes, all my identification and some other things I knew I would need. 

Walking back out to the living room and slipping my shoes on, I sighed and hung my head. I'd miss this place, it wasn't much but it was mine. I wouldn't however, wait around and let some punk kill me in me in my sleep. All the more that Declan will pay for when I finally get my hands on the little fuck. I didnt even know this punk and he's made it to the top of my shit list.

  I grabbed my phone, a pen, and a piece of paper. Scrawling out a note to my land lord saying he can keep my stuff and to take back the apartment. I walked out the door with my head down and my hood up.

The lawyer made me paranoid, and I couldn't die yet.

I had a fight waiting for me in Georgia.

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Short, but it's only a prologue.

-Squidly