Rise

Cooper - The Brawler

Part I

The bell rang to life silencing the murmur of the crowd as the first round started between mid weight newcomer Cooper Brooks and heavyweight all-star Christian Valdes. Brooks got to his feet, a young mid twenties man, well built and not the kind of man you would want to make angry. He put his hands in front of his face to signal he was ready. Valdes did the same with a smug glance to the crowd and a thumbs up just for the added flair. Valdes was a much larger man, and had many more wins on his side, along with a few more years of experience.

"Now don't go taking it easy on me," Brooks said calmly to his opponent

"Wasn't planning on." Valdes's smugness seemed to be rising with the second.

Valdes lunged at Cooper with incredible speed to be in the heavyweight class, but he dodged the attack with a slight twist and a quick movement of his shoulder. He raised his knee directly into his foes chest. As he returned his leg to the ground he drove his elbow into the back of his adversary hard. It sent the man onto the ground gasping for air. He crawled to the other side and looked at Cooper, visibly shaken by the attack, all traces of the smugness he exuded earlier had vanished.

He shakily rose to his feet, Cooper moved towards his foe and jabbed at the mans stomach. Valdes moved to block his midsection as Cooper's leg swung with inhuman speed at his head. The heel met its mark and struck hard enough to send Valdes reeling back against the chains of "The Pit" as it was called.

Cooper followed with three quick jabs to the man's chest and two knees to his stomach. Valdes fell, knocked completely out cold.

"I said not to go easy." Cooper's eyes flashed bright yellow as he walked from his opponent to his side of The Pit towards the door to his locker.

Cooper's eyes returned to their normal hazel colour as he started to calm down. His heartbeat returned to that of any other man. He had just changed from his shorts when his cell rang. He stopped wrapping his hand and picked it up. "Yeah, you got Brooks."

"Yes, mister Brooks, we are in need of your skill set." The voice on the phone was deep, almost musical. "If you would please meet with the driver I have arranged for you outside, all will be explained upon your arrival."

"Hey now, I don't even know you and you're saying you have arranged for transportation for me to meet you? I don-"

"Precisely the case, I will see you upon your arrival, bring anything you cannot live without. That pebble you keep in your locker would be a good item to bring for instance."

Cooper's face froze and the smugness from his victory vanished along with any trace of doubt as to whether he would listen to the voice on the phone. "So where and when am I meeting this car," his voice was strong and steady, but inside he filled with a feeling he hadn't felt in ages, fear.

"It will be right outside in fifteen minutes, do not be late."

*Click*

Cooper put the phone down and quietly began to pack his bag with all of his keepsakes and treasures from the locker. Lastly, he grabbed a small yellow rock and slid it into his pocket. And with that he made his way outside.