Short Stories & Poetry

In The Ring (NaNo Day 23)

I can feel the heat
of the red lights
upon my clammy neck,
of the crowd's roars
baying for blood.

I'm baying for blood.

Can you feel the heat yet?

I can feel it:
in the dust in the air that
now dances within my choked lungs,
and in the tension of my muscles.
Predator, ready to pounce.

Can you feel it yet?

I can feel it
running through my blood
heart speeding up.
It's drawing nearer
I can feel the formidable
approach of my opponent.
Silhouette in the distance
getting closer and closer.

I'm ready to fight,
I'm ready to die.

Can you feel the heat yet?
The tension and fear?

A hiss from the crowd,
I'm backed up and
down on the ground.
A punch thrown from behind,
silent killer on the prowl.
Head ringing, chest stinging
hands hurting and covered in dust.

Arena goes wild,
the crowd is relishing my fall.

Back on my feet and swivelling,
but there's no one in sight
attacker gone like
black-cloaked figures in the night.
"Come and get me!" I scream,
angry at failing
and tired of waiting.
I can feel the heat.

Can you feel it?
Can you feel it yet?

Maybe this will make it sink in.

Punch to the face,
swallowing blood.
Wounds on the inside
ripping back open and
adding to exhaustion,
tired of this endless fight.

Punch after punch,
throw after throw,
day after day.
Block every few,
return one for five.
Invisible ring mate
impossible to beat.

Can you feel the heat?
Has it made you sweat yet?

Fire, in the pit of my stomach;
kindle, glimmer
spit and simmer
on the floor, broken and bloody.
Ripping me open,
blazing inferno
singed skin and ashes.
Can't cave yet though.

Back to my feet,
blood sweat and tears
someone stop this blood bath
before it's too late.

I will not.

Crowd screaming, someone's crying
does my fall bring them the
entertainment they came craving,
I wonder?

Breath on the back of my neck,
my own voice in my ear
"Have you given up yet?"

Rush upwards,
beaten back down.
Can you feel the heat yet?
Suffer my pain?

Blow to the chest,
heart flutters and falters
vision fading in
then fading back out.

Can you feel it?
Are you enjoying it yet?

Satisfaction forms a
smile on my gob,
ugly and twisted.

I've won.
I've lost.

Seeing stars,
flashes in the dark.

Can you feel the heat?
Are you happy now?

Yes.
No.

This is it.