“So.”
“You wanna be a player? A 10K-er?”
“Well.” A smug smile, “Welcome to the pits kid. You ready?”
Left blow to the face before you’ve had a moment to respond followed by laughter.
“Oh? You thought this was gunna be easy?!”
Uppercut received from an extending left arm followed by a swift elbow from the right. Blood gushes from the connecting mouth as you spin off balance. The left side of your face hits the dirt covered floor. Hard. You’ve barely had a second to breathe before doubt creeps in. You’re not cut out for this place.
“Don’t get up kid. We’ve been doing this for years. You don’t have what it takes.”
The 10k-er speaks proudly whilst you feel an omnipresent 100k-er nod from the judges stands.
You don’t want to get up.
Your better judgement tells you to listen and you know the pain you face if you don’t.
Why bother?
He’s right. They’re all right.
1k followers. 10k followers. 100k followers.
These guys are devoted bruisers. Medium titans. What chance do you have? You’re a 26?
Jeering laughs drum up in your mind.
You can hear the voices of everyone that’s ever told you you’re not good enough.
The crowd are already done with you.
“CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE.”
Not again.
“CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE. CHOKE.”
“Time to give up kid. Maybe next year…” Your brain confirms what your heart doesn’t want to admit.
“No.” The heart finally weighs in.
Uncompromising.
An unknown force compels you to move. Your forearms stretch out as they prepare to lift your limp body. The side of your face still hard up against the dirt as you cough out the blood compounding in your mouth.
You ignore the bruising and s-l-o-w-l-y rise.
You hear Michael Jackson’s Beat It start playing in your head.
You stand.
You look the 10K-er dead in the eyes.
You throw your best shot. He sidesteps it effortlessly, smashes you straight in the stomach so that you bend over winded, then he wraps his fist together and with all his force bashes down on your back.
*They’ll kick you and they’ll beat you and they’ll tell you it’s fair — so beat it.*
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