Animal

by Paul Jones

  ‘Any problems, you know where I am,’ Will told him.

  Tapping his shoulder, Geoff thanked him again, and left.

  Just as Will flopped back on to his couch to try and absorb everything, his mobile rang – it was Stacey. In an irate tone, she told him that she had just had an extremely concerned Jan on her doorstep, with a very disturbing story about Geoff becoming involved with illegal bare- knuckle fighting. And if it wasn’t too much trouble could I get Will try to talk some sense into her incredibly stupid husband?

  A bit miffed that this had reached Stacey’s ears, Will explained that he had already convinced Geoff not to fight, and that was as far as he intended to get involved. Yet just to be sure, Stacey held him to his word, by making him swear on it. Reluctantly, Will made the promise.

  *

  Early evening, Geoff kept on trying to get hold of his wife, but she wouldn’t answer her phone. He cussed at her obstinacy.

  ‘Come on, Jan, for God’s sake. You can be a right stubborn cow sometimes.’

  He even sent her a text to let her know that the fight was off, yet still no reply.

  Becoming concerned by this unyielding silence, he decided to ring her parents just to make sure she was there. But before he had the chance to dial, his mobile rang. Relief flushed through his body, but it was short lived, as it turned out to be Mike.

  ‘Geoff mate, we’ve got a new problem.’

  Geoff’s stomach churned in anticipation – shit, what now, he thought?

  There was a momentary silence. ‘They’ve got Jan.’

  Geoff’s whole body went numb.

  ‘Geoff, they’re using her as insurance to make sure that you turn up for the fight. I’m sorry mate, this is all so messed up.’

  For a second, Geoff couldn’t even speak.

  ‘They said you need to be ready for eleven o’ clock tomorrow night, and an hour before they’ll tell us where to meet them for the pick up. They said they’ll release everyone after the fight is over. We’ll all be there for you, Geoff.’

  The call ended, but Geoff kept the phone pinned to his ear, nothing but silence pouring down his eardrum. Eventually, he peeled the mobile from his ear and somehow found a way through the fogginess in his head to call Will.

  Will answered him straight away.

  Geoff wheezed barely able to hold his voice together. ‘Will, they’ve got Jan. I don’t know how but they’ve got her, my wife. What the hell am I going to do?’

  ‘Shit, no,’ Will replied.

  ‘They’re holding her for insurance so I show up for the fight. Now I’ve got her involved in all this.’ Completely losing it now, Geoff began to take it out on his old pal. ‘Thanks for that, Will, why the hell did I listen to you? If I’d have just agreed to fight, at least she would have been safe. Cheers.’ He hung up on him.

  Immediately, Will tried to ring back, but Geoff ignored him, slung his phone on to the couch, and sulked off to another room.

  Ten minutes later, Will arrived at Stacey’s hotel, and when she answered the door she immediately saw the look on his face.

  ‘They’ve kidnapped Geoff’s wife to make sure that he fights.’

  Stacey’s head dropped in anguish. ‘Right, Will, I think it’s time to call the police, don’t you?’

  ‘No, I don’t Stace, it’s too risky now. These guys are not just petty criminals, they’re an organised racket, they’re the big boys.’

  ‘So what do you suggest?’

  Will took a deep breath. ‘There’s only one way out of this and that’s to do what they want and fight.’

  ‘No, Will, you can’t let Geoff go ahead with this madness and fight.’

  ‘No, I’m not going to. I’m going to have to fight for him.’

  ‘What?’ Stacey shrieked.

  Will was careful not to let on that it was actually a fight to the death and that it all revolved around drugs.

  ‘Stacey I have to. I’m the only one sufficiently trained to deal with a fight like this. I can’t sit back and let my old mate get seriously hurt’ – or killed, which he purposely left out – ‘and besides, it’s my fault they’ve got Jan because it was me who told Geoff not to fight, so I’m responsible.’

  Stacey’s alarm quickly turned into anger. ‘No way, Will, you promised me no more trouble, you swore to me that you wouldn’t get involved in this anymore. You promised me that you’ve changed. You promised.’

  ‘Stacey, I have to do this, I have to.’

  ‘No, you don’t, Will. Look I’m sorry for Jan and Geoff for the danger they’re in, but this is nothing to do with us. The only way we can help them is to contact the police and let them deal with it.’

  But Will was adamant. ‘No, Stacey, police involvement could be disastrous now. I’m afraid I underestimated them. In taking Geoff’s wife, they’ve let us know that they’re willing to go to any lengths to get what they want, and you don’t mess with people like that.’

  ‘Listen, Will, you’re still on probation you know. If you get caught up in this mess you could go back to prison and do your full term. That’s another two years. And if that happens that’s it between us, no more chances. You messed up our lives over Georgie, and I’m not going to let you do it again.’ She stood square on to him. ‘Now I’m going to give you a choice. At eight o’clock tomorrow night, I want you here all dressed up ready to celebrate the New Year. We’re going out remember? And if you’re not here by eight, then don’t ever bother coming here again, you will have lost me for the last time.’ Her ultimatum delivered, she slammed the door in his face.

  Will stood there looking at the thick double glazed window in the door, the frustration and volcanic anger swirling around inside him like a terrible beast trying to escape. But Will wouldn’t let it, nowadays it was he who was in control.

  That night, Geoff lay awake in his bed and looked across at the empty space where his wife Jan should have been. He ran his hand over the cold linen under the duvet, and called out to her in his grief. Jan, I’m so sorry for what has happened. The last thing in the world I would ever do is put you in any kind of danger. The thought of losing you is tearing me apart. I really need you right now, I can’t handle all this alone. I’m scared of losing you, and I’m afraid to die.

  I’m not fighting for my life anymore, I’m fighting for ours. I’m going to fight with everything I’ve got because now someone has threatened to take you away from me. And for that I’m willing to die. I hope you can forgive me for all of this, try and sleep for now and I’ll be there to pick you up tomorrow night I promise.

  Geoff closed his eyes and sobbed quietly in the dark, the loneliest place in the world.

  Likewise, Will, his old pal, was also lying awake in his flat facing an incredible dilemma of his own. Should he take on the fight for Geoff now that Stacey had given him this ultimatum? Paradoxically, he was now in a similar position as Geoff – how on earth did that happen? One minute he was enjoying a lovely afternoon at the cinema with his re-united girlfriend, and suddenly everything changed. Just as he was wet cementing the foundations to his brand new life, back with Stacey, someone had come along and sloshed right through it again. Will clasped his hands behind his head and cursed this unbelievable turn of events. What was he supposed to do? It was a no-win situation.

  If he doesn’t fight, he loses Geoff. If he fights, he loses Stacey for ever. And If he loses the fight itself, then he loses everything. Why did Stacey have to do this to him?

  For the past four years, all Will had thought about was getting back with Stacey. The years he spent in prison, the pain, the waiting, the sacrifices he had to make in order to win her back. And now it looks as though all that effort might have been for nothing.

  *

  The following day, Geoff seemed to drift around in a daze like a condemned man hours before his execution. In case the worst should happen tonight, he checked that his will, stowed away in the attic was up to date. Also, he wrote a very poi
gnant and loving letter to his wife, and left it on her pillow.

  During the rest of the day, Will continued to try and contact him, but didn’t get an answer. Geoff didn’t even read his text messages. In Geoff’s mind, Will had only made matters worse by trying to help. And without wishing to complicate the situation anymore, he thought it best to keep himself to himself. However, in the afternoon, Geoff had to pop out just clear his head a bit, and ironically that was when Will arrived in a taxi, to find him gone. Thwarted again, he thrust a short note through his letterbox basically telling him, sorry for sticking his nose in, and to contact him ASAP.

  Seven thirty that evening, Will lay on his bed, hands clasped behind his head still musing over the toughest decision of his life. Stacey or help Geoff? Stacey or help Geoff? Live or risk death? Live or risk death? Beside his bed, stood his backpack stuffed full of all his belongings.

  Seven-fifty-five, Stacey was dressed all ready for her New Year’s night out with Will. She sat in the lounge of her hotel gazing out over the illuminated North promenade. Her face was all made up, a thin layer of foundation, a lick of eye liner, and a smearing of glossy lipstick she looked like one of two brides waiting to find out who the groom was going to marry.

  Seven-fifty-eight, the front doorbell rang, and her heart leapt in anticipation. Standing up, and composing herself, she walked calmly to the front door. When she opened it, she found Will standing outside dressed in his heavy duffel coat, with his hair gelled back, and his face clean shaven. Stacey’s face softened and as her eyes met Will’s she waited for him to say it.

  Nine-fifty-five, Geoff sat in the living room wearing his grey hooded tracksuit. The TV was turned off, the house was tidied from top to bottom, and he was ready to go. On the easy chair beside him lay his seventies-retro leather bomber jacket, kept only for special occasions. A minute later, his mobile rang, it was Mike.

  ‘Geoff, we’re to meet them on Glanwyddan Lane on the turn off to the Queen’s Head in twenty minutes. Me, Brad, Guy and Phil are coming to pick you up. See you in about five minutes.’

  ‘OK,’ was all Geoff said, and he ended the call.

  Tentatively, he scrolled down to Will’s number and just looked at it. All things considered, Geoff would have given anything to have had Will in his corner, but by his own choice, he knew this wasn’t going to happen. Maybe I should have called him back? He thought. I suppose I can’t blame all this on him. Geoff’s head tottered with regret, a whole life-time of regret. Through the thin material of the polyester blinds, he saw two headlights pull up. Geoff’s dead eyes came back to life and he uttered to himself time to get my wife back.

  CHAPTER 24

  THE FIGHT

  On route to Glanwyddan lane, the remaining team, Geoff, Mike, Phil, Guy and Brad were all piled into Guy’s grey motor. The mood between them was extremely sombre. Even more so after Mike had informed everyone (prior to picking up Geoff) that Geoff’s opponent was indeed a very dangerous fighter by the name of ‘Razor’ who had already won two other death matches. Yet despite their hidden fears, the lads all had faith in their highly respected teacher.

  However, Phil, sitting next to Geoff in the back of the car couldn’t contain his anxiousness about this fight any longer. ‘Geoff mate, please reconsider this, give me and my colleagues a chance to sort all this out, don’t go through with it. All it takes is one phone call to stop it, that’s all?’

  But Geoff knew it was too late for any reprieve. ‘I appreciate that, Phil, but I won’t take any chances when it comes to Jan. I would rather die fighting for her than face a life living without her.’

  Guy looked up through the rear view mirror and with a bit of a nervous quake in his voice, said, ‘you can do this, Geoff! You can win this; you have to believe that.’

  Mike chipped in. ‘Geoff, remember you are not going there to die, this is not a death sentence, you’re going there to win. Do whatever you have to do, to survive, anything. The first chance you get, end it, then get your arse out of there.’

  Geoff was moved by their encouragement, but their words were only candle-lights in a dark grand canyon.

  Down Glanwyddan lane, the car’s headlights scythed through the pitch blackness, and soon they found the turn off to the Queen’s Head. There at the side of the road, parked in the dark was a transit van waiting for them. Everything from there on seemed to happen in fast forward motion. The team were told to pile into the back of the van and leave the car with the keys inside.

  Inside the van, they were all blindfolded and driven around for about quarter of an hour to try make them lose their bearings. Finally, the van stopped, and with their hearts thundering in their chests, they were led up some stone steps and along a flat gravelled footpath. When they reached the destination, their blindfolds were removed and they found themselves at the bottom of what looked like a disused quarry. Standing in front of them were about a dozen people forming a kind of human ring and they were surrounded by larger circle of fire torches. In the light breeze the fire torches’ flickering flames cast ghostly shadows against the jagged limestone cliffs above. From the air, the whole place must have looked like a lighted helipad.

  All the ring people stared back at the team with great anticipation. They were the betting folk, the businessmen, the crime lords, people in the know. Just as the team exchanged strange looks between them, they were greeted by the Boss Man, the chap with a single gold tooth and the leader of the Merseyside gang.

  ‘Glad you could make it. Right then, we’ll begin in a few minutes. Remember this is a skull and crossbones contest, hands must be taped.’ He thrust a roll of boxing hand wraps into Geoff’s chest. ‘No weapons, no referee, you get your mates back after the fight.’

  ‘What about my wife?’ Geoff cried.

  Boss Man stuck his face in Geoff’s. ‘After the fight!’

  ‘Can I see her before the fight?’ He pleaded.

  Boss Man didn’t answer, and swaggered off leaving them to it. Guy tapped Geoff’s arm.

  ‘Come on, Geoff, let’s get on with it.’

  Geoff slid off his leather jacket revealing his grey tracksuit underneath his whole body trembled with a mixture of fear and the cold. Immediately, Guy got on with wrapping Geoff’s hands, and talked quietly to him like a dutiful trainer. ‘Geoff, if I see you in serious trouble I’m not going to just stand there and watch.’

  ‘I know, I know,’ Geoff nodded, trying hard to keep his hands steady for Guy to bind them.

  Meanwhile, the rest of the team could do nothing else but stand there and watch. Phil, himself, was so wound up he looked like he was going to faint at any second. When his hands were done, Geoff began to limber up, stretching and pulling on his limbs. Suddenly Mike tapped his arm urgently, and Geoff stopped. Breezing past them was a squat, block-looking shape making its way towards the human ring. The man was Geoff’s opponent ‘Razor’ who was about five-ten with a tanned bald head, and draped over his boulder- like shoulders was a large black reefer jacket. Behind him, like a long tail, were his vocal entourage, about ten of them, all tanked up, gum-chewing cronies who gave Geoff and his team daggers as they passed by. One of them even drew his finger across his throat to signify Geoff’s fate.

  Geoff’s legs almost turned to liquid, and another spurt of adrenalin shot into his system. Right there and then, he felt like running for his life. However, the team were quick to stick up for their man by staring them out and rubbing Geoff’s back to show their support. Razor then entered the ring to a chorus of reverberating claps and whistles. Seemingly unmoved by the praise that was heaped upon him, he turned in the centre of the ring and shrugged off the heavy jacket and tossed it over to one of his men. Geoff was surprised not to see a steroid-pumped up freak, but instead his opponent was a flabby mass of flesh painted all over in tattoos. Time to start, Boss Man reappeared ready to usher Geoff over to the ring. Geoff stripped down to his white sports vest, and let the tracksuit top fall to the ground.

 
; ‘God bless you, Geoff.’ The team patted him, and Geoff attempted a weak, appreciative smile.

  As they made their way, Geoff could feel the cold bite into his bare arms.

  His mouth was like an ashtray and his legs felt wobbly, but he made it to the centre of the ring to face his foe. The rest of the team gathered ringside, and Guy shuddered. ‘This is crazy.’

  Mike, Brad and Phil just stood there in a paralysed daze.

  Geoff stood in the centre of the ring accompanied by Boss Man, both of them only a few feet away from Razor. The two combatants eyed each other. Geoff was perhaps a couple of inches taller, but was out weighted by about thirty pounds. Razor with evident scar tissue over his forehead and a boxer’s classic flattened nose stared back at Geoff with the calm confidence of a marksman who had his prey ready in his sights. Geoff, however, almost telepathically asked this man in front of him if he was really prepared to kill another man. He got nothing back in return.

  Boss Man stood between them like a referee giving them the last minute instructions.

  ‘OK, you both know the score, this is a not a straightener, it’s all in, no weapons, no submissions, give em a good show, best of luck to the both of you – touch hands.’

  Razor almost thumped Geoff’s wrapped knuckles, giving him a taste of his power and aggression. Both opponents stepped back ready to begin, and for a second Geoff thought he might have just pissed himself. Boss Man held up his hand ready to start, but before he had the chance, a balaclava member rushed up to him and uttered something in his ear. Razor growled in frustration, and limbered around to ease the delay. Geoff however, his chest pumping in and out with nervous tension wondered what was going on.

  Meanwhile the spectators began a low inpatient booing. After some clandestine discussions, Boss Man approached one of the spectators, a tall man with brilliantine shining hair and donning a long black woollen jacket. By now the booing had almost become a chant. The tall man gave the Boss a nod, and the word was quickly passed down.