(CHAPTER 12: UNDERGROUND WORLD)
I walk down the alley, it was still dawn, there are less pedestrians at the street. But yet I quicken up my pace, I didn't wanted more trouble. According to the address on the wrinkly old paper in my hand, I should be close enough.
I raises my head, and there it was, the gateway to the other world. I stare at the sign "GLORIOUS NIGHT", I mumbled under my breath before entering. It was a small cranky old bar, with an even old bartender in it. A few rotten chair and table were scattered across, with oil lamps that reek on each corner. "What you want young man?" The bartender ask, wiping the cup in his hand with a piece of cloth.
"Half a beast and half a man. Perfection." I spoke, just like what I thought. "Well it is served." He reached for a button underneath the counter and with a click, the mossy brick wall in front of me slide open alongside the gritting sound of gear moving against each other. I could hear the screams and hots coming from within. "Go on have it." The old man said as he gestured me to move, with that ever professional smile on his face. "Have it when it is fresh." I nodded towards him before taking a deep breath and entering the gasp. The moment I step in, the wall behind me closed shut once more with a click.
"Hey you really do come!?" A half anaconda on the bottom and half man on the top being welcomed me the moment I step foot into the arena. His name was Peter Slit, I met him one day during a shopping trip, he introduced me for a job that is "a money maker as long you can fight", and here I am. I take off my cloak, it a weird feeling, able to show my true self towards the others.
"Relax boy. I saw you nervous as fuck!" He patted my in the back, his hands were slimy wet, disgusting. "Here is our world alright, no shame no discriminate. Ain't it brother!" he shouted, a few of the men sitting beside some oil barrels drinking beer replied with a scream. "No shame! No discriminate!" "Yeah, lets see how you will do if I got five billion gold of bounty on my head, luckily no one recognize me at this form. He seemed to get used the fucked up world here, as people of all kind greeted while we walk. He seems to be in an easy spot, wearing yellow flower patterned shirt, alongside a pair of cool shades. Slithering out his fork tongue from time to time.
To be honest, the entire place was a messed up shit hole.
Imagine what would be if I didn't exist in the first place, with no one to held the balance of the universe. What you think that purple Than guy did that? No, it was us all the time. The place was a chaotic mess, basically a huge underground cave system linked together. With beer and all kind of things smeared to the wall, floor and some even to the celling. All kinds of half breed beings are there, weird ones too. Having sex on public, drinking like no tomorrows, gambling until they broke. It was a disgusting scene, telling me it was not only humans are ugly on the inside, or beasts are ugly on the outside. In fact, all of us are fucking ugly in both sides.
"Here is the fight zone boy." Peter Slit grab me by my shoulder, smearing slimy substance all over me as he pointed towards a gigantic battle arena. It was hexagon shaped, with six other smaller arena at each edge. The gigantic one is for the big fights, the show of the day. While the smaller ones are for heat up fights. A group of people were crowding around the counter station, stuffing all they got in their bets. Some stood beside and watch the fights nervously, fingers crossed. Some cursed and hooted, while some just didn't even care, as if money is just a breath of his.
"So watcha wanna fight homie?" He asked, as both of us stare at the event board, with a lot of event listed on it. "I need to get back before nightfall, you got any suggestions?" I asked back. "Whatever is fine. If you wanted to die, you can choose survival match." He smirked, I glare at him, he immediately pulled back that stupid smile. "The main event had some seats left, but I didn't encourage you to fight that freak." "Why?" I raised an eyebrow, I thought we are supposed to be those "freaks".
"Today is the unholy Sunday, test day we say here. That weird freak would come here and test out his freaky drugs. Drugs of all kind let me tell you, not the one that makes you fucking high! One turns into a mutant, one literally explodes!! Raven is a fucking psychopath!" "His name is Raven?" Upon hearing the word, a dozen of men turn their head towards us. "Shhhh!!" He place his finger on his mouth and hushed. "You have a death wish boy? Just pick a small fight, get some cash and get out here! I don't wanted to die with you!" He shove me towards the registration counter.
"Alright, alright." I rolled my eyes, pushing him away. He step backs a bit, losing balance before bumping into another passer by. "Hey you okay?" I immediately come to pull Peter back, I thought he is suppose to be stable without legs, looks like it was a hoax. "Argh man." Peter rubbed his head, "What the fuck dude." After helping him out, I approached the guy, or maybe girl he bumped in. I don't fucking know, he is covering his face all the time.
"Sorry." I reached out my hand, but instead he slap it away. "Ow!" I pulled it back, staring at this weirdo as he scramble on the ground, covering his face with one hand and searching for something with another. He finally got what she wanted, as she grabs on a fallen mask and wear it immediately. Upon seeing that he was okay, I turn around and decided to continue my registration, but a hand patted me by my back.
"Stop it Peter." I let out a gasp of frustration as I turn over, but I was met with a cold copper mask, right at my face. He was a bit shorter than me, wearing an olive green cloak with some stains on it, but it couldn't cover the deadly aurora floating around him. "You are?" I could hear a muffled sound through the mask, Peter was standing beside, or if I am going to precise, held hostage by him. With his hand locked onto his throat, Peter's face looks like he is going to die. "Call me Rey, I am truly sorry, I didn't me-" I tried my best to steer clear from problems.
"Rey huh." He fucking cut off my apology. "It seems like you wanted a fight, wanted to join the main event?" "Main event? I am just going to get some sma-" "Coward?" This little piece of shit. "Fine then. I will." I snapped, I could fell the veins popping within me, this sone of a bitch. I glare at him, he let out a chuckle, before finally letting go of Peter. He fell to the ground with a thud while the man walk towards the main arena. "If you dies, Your friend is going to hell with you!" I could hear the muffled screams beneath the mask. But who the hell cares, its already too late.
"You okay bud?" I approached Peter, who was still gasping for dear air. "You fucked up real bad homie." Upon pulling him back, he gasped those words under his breath. "Why?" I asked. "Cause that dude, is Raven goddamit." He burst out. "Look what you've done!!" He grab me by the collar. "And you blame me for that!?" I pushed him away, he fell to the ground once more "You are the one who bumped into him!"
"Oh we are so doom Rey." He mumbled, knocking the ground beneath him with his fist. I am pretty sure this pussy is crying right now "we are so, so dead…" He grab me by the sleeve and screamed, I turn my head around, still feeling him enrolling in all this mess kind of my fault.