I laugh. A quiet laugh.
They undo the handcuffs and out of habit I rub my wrists. They take off my robe, and I am in simple prison garb, the gray shorts and tight tank-top, pale flesh breathing fresh air. Across the ring our eyes connect. Standing inside the ropes, Michael gives me one nod.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Richard was the winner of the ChiZine Publications 2009 “Enter the World of Filaria” contest. His short story “Maker of Flight” was chosen by Filaria author Brent Hayward and Bram Stoker Award-Winning editor Brett Alexander Savory. His debut novel, a neo-noir thriller entitled Transubstantiate (Otherworld Publications) was released in July of 2010. He has published dozens of stories online and in print, including Shivers VI (Cemetery Dance) with Stephen King and Peter Straub, Murky Depths, PANK, Pear Noir!, 3:AM Magazine, Word Riot, Dogmatika, Opium, and Vain. In his spare time he moderates at The Cult writer’s workshop where they are putting together an anthology with Chuck Palahniuk. He has been an Editor for Colored Chalk (Issue #6 – Waking Up Strange and Issue #9 – Heaven and Hell) and is Co-Editor and Designer at Sideshow Fables. He also writes book reviews and does interviews for The Nervous Breakdown. Visit his blog at What Does Not Kill Me or his book site Transubstantiate for more information.
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