PUGILIST

by Peter Hallett

  “Is the money I gave you not enough?”

  “It is... But only for one session.”

  “I’ll get more. Book the first session as soon as you can.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Don’t worry.”

  “Thank you, Lucas. I wish there was something I could do to repay you.”

  “You don’t need to do anything.”

  “I should... Do you have a lady?”

  “Why do you ask?” Maria placed her hand on my leg. I moved it from me.

  “Don’t you think I’m attractive?”

  “It’s not that, Maria. I do have a lady, but it’s even more than that. Don’t sell your body. If you sell that, you sell your soul too. That’s what happened when I joined the army. I just sold my body for a different purpose than you just tried.”

  Maria looked uncomfortable, embarrassed, and close to tears. It seemed like she wanted to stand, to run from the room, like she was fighting against the need to hide from me, and her embarrassment.

  “I’m sorry, Lucas... I can’t believe I just did that. I really am fucked up.”

  “You’re not.”

  “I just tried to whore myself out to my husband’s brother.”

  “Okay, you’re fucked up.” I smiled and she forced one.

  “I think I need a doctor of my own... Could we please forget I did that?”

  “Did what?” I winked at her and she was able to smile, this time not having to force the action.

  “Thank you... So who is she, the lady? You work fast, you haven’t been in town for long.”

  “I met her at the diner, she offered me the dishwasher job... I guess it is pretty fast.”

  “When you know, you know. Your brother and me moved quickly. Love doesn’t progress slowly when it’s strong enough... Do you love her?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Have you told her?”

  “Not really.”

  “Make sure you do... Tell her soon. Tell her everyday. You never know when it might be the last time you’ll be able to say it.” Maria swallowed the lump in her throat and managed to fight back the tears. “She must have been angry when you told her you couldn’t work at the diner anymore.”

  “She wasn’t too happy about it.”

  “Everything’s okay with you both, though?”

  “Yeah.”

  “I have some eggs, do you want some breakfast? Well, it really isn’t breakfast time anymore. Do you know how long you two have slept for? It’s early evening.”

  “You’re joking?”

  “Nope. You must have needed sleep as much as Stevie did.”

  I followed Maria to the kitchen. Stevie was sitting in front of the TV, his legs crossed, his teddy next to him. The show he was watching must have been the one he’d told me about. A very angry preacher was behind a desk, a bible in his hand, screaming fire and brimstone and other things too scary for a child to be listening to.

  I sat down next to him. “Is this the guy you told me about?”

  “Yeah.” Stevie didn’t even look at me; his eyes were glued to the TV.

  “What did I tell you about him? I said he’s full of shit. Isn’t there any cartoons you can watch?” I picked the remote up from the floor and found something animated. “Now that’s what kids should be watching... Remember Stevie, the easiest thing to sell is an invisible product.”

  He managed to turn from the TV for the first time. “The preacher says just because you can’t see something, doesn’t mean it isn’t real.”

  “True. But the invisible and the non-existent are easily mistaken by some people.”

  “Uncle Lucas, could you teach me how to fight?”

  “Why do you want to know how to fight? You’d be better learning how to read and write than how to throw a punch.”

  “I can already read and write. I’m pretty smart.”

  “You must get that from your mom’s side of the family.”

  “I want to know how to fight so I can protect my mommy. Daddy said when he left that I had to be the man of the house and look after her. Please teach me.”

  “I’ll teach you if you promise me something.”

  “Sure.” His smile was huge.

  “Don’t beat up the kids at your school.”

  “I won’t.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yep.”

  “What if they call you bad names?”

  “I’ll call them worse ones.”

  “Okay, that works for me.” I stood up. “On your feet, soldier.”

  Stevie jumped up and stood at attention. “What are you two doing in there?” Maria called from the kitchen.

  “Nothing, Mommy,” Stevie said as he shrugged at me, trying not to giggle.

  “It doesn’t look like nothing.” I turned to Maria and she smiled at me as she scrambled the eggs.

  “It is.” Stevie nodded his head repeatedly, a serious expression on his face.

  “My bad. I must have been mistaken.”

  “You were.” Stevie smiled at me.

  “Are you ready then, soldier?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s not how you answer a superior.”

  “It isn’t?”

  “Nope.”

  “How do I do it, Uncle Lucas?”

  “Sir precedes your response and follows it too.”

  “I have no idea what you mean.”

  “Never mind, we’ll work on that another time.” I stood in a boxing stance and raised my guard. “Copy me.” Stevie tried. “Raise your back heel.”

  “Like this?”

  “Just like that.”

  “I’m good at this.”

  “You are... Now this is called a jab cross.” I threw the punches out and Stevie instantly copied, almost losing his balance. When he was back in his boxing stance he laughed. “Careful there, soldier, you almost fell on your ass.”

  “You say so many bad words, Uncle Lucas.”

  “He does.” Maria placed the eggs on the plates she’d laid out on the countertop and waved her finger at me. My smile vanished when a knock came from her door.

  “Are you expecting anyone?” I asked her as I picked Stevie up and carried him into the kitchen. I placed him next to his mother and stared at the door as another knock sounded.

  “No,” Maria said as she hugged Stevie into her leg.

  “Wait here.” I moved from the kitchen, through the living room, and to the door. I looked through the peephole; shocked that is was Sophia outside. She seemed out of breath. Her cheeks were flushed, a few beads of sweat on her forehead. She had her arms folded and was tapping her foot on the ground.

  I opened the door and she pushed past me. I closed the door and turned to her. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  Maria came into the living room with Stevie in her arms. “You know her, Lucas? Is that her?”

  “I’m sorry about this,” Sophia said to Maria before she turned to me. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

  “Not really?” I said, so fucking confused.

  “Did you get the note that was with your payment?”

  “Shit!

  “Mummy said a bad word too.” Stevie waved his finger at Maria.

  “Your fight,” Maria said. “The one I told you about, the one on the note. It’s tonight, in... Oh shit!”

  “You’re late for the fight,” Sophia said, her expression succumbing to fear. “You know what my daddy is like when people are late. He’s trying to find a replacement for the fight now. He’s so pissed, Lucas. I rushed here as soon as I could. He wants his money back from the first fight as payment for your... I’m sorry about the bad language, kid... He wants the money back from the first fight as payment for your fuck up.”

  “He’s not getting it.”

  “Give him the money, Lucas. We don’t want any trouble.” That was Maria, her expression infected with as much fear as Sophia’s.

  “Just let him have the money. Say you’re sor
ry. Beg if you have to. Smooth things over and I’m sure he’ll let you fight again and give you the opportunity to make back what you’ve lost.” Sophia jumped when the door flew open.

  It was Colossus; he’d kicked it in. I gestured with my head for Sophia to move to Maria. She slowly walked to her, her eyes not leaving the big man. “Dennehy wants to see you. He wants his money back.” He pointed at me and then to Sophia. “You shouldn’t have come here. Your dad will be very angry.”

  “You need to leave. You’ll scare the kid. Dennehy isn’t getting his money back. Tell him to arrange another fight for me, he can take a bigger cut from that one to make up for today.”

  “You’re handing over the money to me and then you’re coming with me to The Circuit.”

  “Haven’t you been listening to what I said? Get the fuck out of this house.”

  Colossus took two steps forward and licked his teeth. “We’re going to have a problem here, aren’t we?”

  “Not if you leave now,” I said.

  “Sophia, get in the car.” Colossus didn’t take his eyes off me.

  “No.”

  Colossus turned to her. “You know what your dad will do to you if you don’t come back with me.”

  “Fuck him.” Sophia was almost crying but she stayed strong.

  “Who are the bitch and the kid?” Colossus said to me.

  “And fuck you,” Maria said.

  “That’s none of your business.” My hands had balled into fists.

  Colossus took another step forward. “It is. I have orders to bring back anyone who’s with you.”

  “Don’t you fucking touch them.” I moved to him. Stopped just in front of him.

  “I won’t hurt them... You on the other hand... Now hand over the money from the fight and we can get out of here.”

  “Make me.”

  Colossus smashed one of his big paws into my face, my vision flashed white, my hearing hushed, and I fell backward, the sound of my impact with the hard wood of the floor bouncing off the walls. My head was ringing, so were my ears, and the side of my body that took the impact ached a numb throb.

  “Give me the cash and this stops.”

  I slowly stood, the room spinning, the edges of my vision darkening, blood running from my nose and into my mouth, the metallic tinge raping my taste buds. I looked over at Sophia. She had her arm around Maria. Both of them were crying. Stevie was crying too but Maria was hiding his eyes with her hand so he couldn’t see the display of violence.

  I turned back to Colossus. “We need that money.” I was seeing double, his big frame was ghosting, like frames were missing from a film, similar to some damaged footage of Charlie Chaplin I’d seen once. The motion of his wavy figure made me feel sick. I felt like I was going to hurl.

  “So does the boss.”

  He hit me again and I crashed into the TV. I dropped onto my butt, my head pounding a more powerful thump, white blotches floating in front of me, the room almost kaleidoscopic and phantasmagoric, a strange LSD trip full of painful illuminations and disturbing hallucinations.

  I stood again, my legs struggling to keep me upright, but feeling like I was floating a few inches from the ground. I saw the troll over my head, dropping his magic dust from his satchel onto me.

  “What the hell are you doing, Lucas?” Sophia screamed. “Fight back.”

  “I can’t.” Colossus grabbed hold of my neck and began to squeeze.

  “Why the hell not?”

  Another fist hit me, this one in the side of my head. A white flash popped and illuminated my vision again, then more darkness, as my vision started to fade even more. I was feeling sleepy, struggling to remain conscious.

  “I can’t fight back,” I gargled, choking on blood, the thick red bubbling in the back of my throat. “I’ve not been given the order.” Colossus hit me with an elbow and I fell to the floor, my side taking the impact, an eruption of blood fired from my mouth like a gruesome version of a child’s science experiment.

  “Fuck Logan and his order. Now’s the time.” Sophia could hardly speak. She was choking on tears.

  “It’s not... I have a plan,” I said as I got to my hands and knees and started to crawl, not quite sure where I was going, not really able to see anymore, not even really able to feel the floor with my hands I was in that much pain.

  I didn’t get far. Colossus kicked his massive foot into my stomach and I was lifted onto my back, ribs broken for sure, the loud crack at the moment of impact more than just a clue. I retched, coughed up crimson, my lungs burning. I was drowning in my own hurt, the thickness of the blood making it difficult to take in air.

  “What plan’s that? To get your ass kicked? Fight back, please!”

  My vision was only a pinhole of light and smeared colors but I was able to make out Maria. She handed Colossus the envelope that contained the cash. “Stop hurting him,” she begged.

  “Get in the car. Your kid too... And you, Sophia.”

  “What about Lucas?” Maria asked as she looked down at me.

  “I’ll bring him in a moment. Now get in the fucking car, all of you.”

  “Come on, Stevie, we’re going for a ride is this asshat’s car.” Maria left my line of sight. I heard Stevie crying as they exited the apartment. It was like a knife in my heart hearing his gargled snotty wails.

  “Please don’t hurt him anymore.”

  “Don’t worry, Sophia,” I was able to say through groans full of anguish. “Just get in the car. I’ll be there soon. Won’t I, Colossus?”

  “Get in the car!” Colossus screamed.

  “Okay, I’m going.” I heard her move from me.

  “Sophia,” I called after her, and then coughed up more blood. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Christ, will you just go to the car, Sophia.” Colossus looked down at me when she was out of the house. “Okay, Romeo, your turn.” His boot filled my vision and my pinhole went black.

  VIII

  I woke up in the center of the cage at The Circuit, on my side, my head spinning, my vision blurred and a terrible headache pounding. It hurt to have my eyes open the pain inside my skull was that strong. I could taste blood in my mouth, and I could hardly breathe. I spat come red gob to the floor and tried to move.

  It was a painful effort just to get to my hands and knees. I tried to push upward, tried to fight through the horrible penetrative hurt, but I couldn’t. I fell back to the floor, rolled onto my back, groaned, and then sat upright, a sudden rush of dizziness instantly attacking me.

  Maria and Stevie were tied to chairs outside the cage, both of them gagged. Colossus was standing next to them, his arms folded, a massive smile on his face, enjoying my pain. The rest of the place was empty, a ghost town even bereft of the ghouls and phantasms.

  “Are you okay?” I managed to ask them, my voice raspy. I sounded like I’d used nails as mouthwash again. They nodded their heads, both were crying. Maria tried to pull herself from the rope that had her fixed to the chair but Colossus just placed his hand on her shoulder and held her fast.

  “Have they hurt you?” Each word that parted my lips caused more searing burn in my throat. I don’t know how Maria was even able to understand what I was saying, but she shook her head to answer my question.

  I swung my legs around and got on my hands and knees again to try and stand. It was while I was in that position that the cage door opened. I looked up from where I was and Dennehy pushed Sophia up the steps. She had her hands tied behind her back, but she wasn’t gagged.

  “Lucas, are you okay?” she asked as Dennehy walked into the cage behind her and grabbed hold of her arm.

  “Don’t worry about me.” I said, trying to push myself upward so I could stand. I didn’t have the strength to, and I was stopped from being able to anyway. Dennehy pushed Sophia into the side of the cage and walked to me. He smashed a foot into my stomach, forcing the air from my lungs, some blood too, and I flipped onto my back.

 
When I’d managed to sit upright again Dennehy had gagged Sophia and fixed her to the cage with handcuffs, her arms stretched out at either side of her. The poor girl was terrified, crying, and because of the position she’d been fixed to the cage, she looked as if she’d been crucified.

  “Lucas, I’m very disappointed in you, in you both,” Dennehy said as he paced back and forth in front of me. “You’ve lost me three things that I can’t lose. Not a man like me, anyway. You’ve lost me money by not showing for the fight. You’ve lost me time by not showing for the fight too. And you’ve lost me face because of what I’ve now discovered you’ve been doing with my daughter. That little slut is partly responsible for the third one though. She knows I have a very strict rule when it comes to her fraternizing with the meat.”

  “Don’t call her that,” I coughed up.

  “I’ll call her anything I fucking want to. She’s mine. She isn’t yours. You think just because you’ve had your cock in her that you have any kind of claim on her? If you do, you’re more stupid than you look... And at the moment you look very fucking stupid; pathetic, in fact.

  “What would Uncle Sam think if he saw one of his brave soldiers rolling around on the floor of a cage like some kind of butchered pig covered in blood, the cause of his distress one big guy with a bad knee and an old man in an expensive suit? I’d think he’d feel sorry for all the tax payers that’d paid for your training.”

  “I told your goon I’d fight for you again, that you could make back the money you’d lost that way. Why are you doing this? Let my family go. Let Sophia go, she’s your daughter for fuck’s sake.” I coughed and coughed and coughed after managing to string so many words together. It felt like I was going to pass out from the air I’d used.

  “That would only get me back one of the things you’ve cost me. This isn’t just about money, remember, this is about time and face too. How can I get time back? How can I save face?”

  I looked over at Sophia. She had her eyes locked to me. The jade-green looked less vibrant, like her soul was losing its glow. The only thing that had hurt me more was watching my brother burn.

  I don’t know how I managed it but I stood. I didn’t even feel any pain until I was on my feet and swaying slightly, my eyes small slits as I tried to not let my facial expression succumb to the weakness my agony was injecting into my heart on each destabilized beat.