What Next?

Chapter 3

Haley came and picked me up an hour ago. “So, where are we going and what are we picking up?” I give her the directions on the way out of the door, shouting back that I’ll be back soon. Sera is the garden running an obstacle course I laid out for her. I remained quiet the whole way here, lost in my thoughts.

Nearing our destination I start to come alive again. “The apartment block is just over there” I point to the building, “there’s an underground car park round the back.” Was I last here only yesterday? It feels a lot longer for some reason.

Pulling into the car park I spot my pride and joy, “park over there by the bike, it will be fine.” Getting out of the car I stare at the bike. 1000cc of pure power. Leading the way back out and into the building I take us right to my door. “You will be the first person to be allowed inside since I bought this place” I say, “just try to keep an open mind okay?” Leading her in I hear the gasp of shock.

It’s only a two room open planned apartment, but the only conventional things in here are in the kitchen and bathroom. The walls are covered in weapons, and Cantonese symbols. Most of the floor space is taken up with free weights and freestanding punching bags. “Make yourself at home, I’ll only be a couple of minutes.” Going into the bedroom area I locate what I’m here for immediately, the training weapons they will need at the dojo. I grab three Bo staffs, four kendo sticks, a setsukon and a pair of nun chucks. Walking back into the main area, I see Haley just looking amazed at what she’s seeing, like she can’t believe one man can be this devoted to anything. “Okay these should do for now, wait almost forgot…” reaching up I take my pair of tonfa down of the wall, “these will come in handy. Want a drink?” at least I’m trying to be a good host.

Heading into the kitchen area I look at what I have in the fridge. I grab two bottles of water and head back to the ‘living’ area. She’s still standing there trying to take it all in, I try not to laugh. “The weights and punch bags I got from a gym that was going out of business. The symbols all have a meaning behind them.” Pointing the one over the front door, “home, so I never forget where I should go but don’t”, the one over the bathroom door, “pain, self explanatory”, and pointing to the one by the window, “freedom, I’m not trapped in a cage all the time.” I don’t explain the others as I think she’s caught on.

I notice her staring at the one that took me ages to find the right symbol for, “what does this one mean? It’s… different to the others.”

“That one is Japanese for bushido, the code of honour that all warriors should live by. I searched a lot of old texts to find the original symbol.” Pulling my old holdall out of the cupboard, I start to put all the weapons in it. Remembering a few things I would need at the house I grab a load of containers, all containing a different colour powder, from the bathroom and kitchen and put them in as well. Coming out of the bathroom with my final container, I notice Haley has gone round the wall separator in to my bedroom. I walk in behind her and see what caught her attention, the sword on the shelf above my bed. “That sword is over four hundred years old,” she jumps a little. I have to stop sneaking up on people. “It has been handed down sensei to student, for as long as it’ s been made. My master handed it to me when I mastered all that he taught me, as I will hand it to Sera when her training is complete.”

Not taking her eyes off the sword she asks, “how do you know old it is? Carbon dating of the blade? Or is that just what you were told?” I walk over to the shelf and lift the sword off its stand. Pulling it out of its scabbard so she can see better, I show her the symbols on the blade. Putting it back I grab a book from beside the bed and show her the translated symbols, . “Okay that means it’s worth a fortune. Why did you show me that?”

“You were looking around, I didn’t want you thinking it was the same as what is on display out there,” I indicate to the other room. “Well I’ve got what we’re going to need from here, thanks for coming and taking it back in your car. Race you back to the house? I just need to change into my bike leathers first.”

She looks at me again, “you’re on. Can I ask why you asked me to come here with you instead of Rachel? It just seems weird you know, asking someone you don’t really know over your sister or whatever she is to you.”

“You can ask,” I reply, “but the answer is for me to know. We’re just getting to know each other again, it’s been three years since we were close and I want to rebuild that. Now out, I need to change and I wont do it in front of a lady.”

“Who says I’m a lady?” she cheekily replies before leaving me to get my leathers on.

Having changed we leave the apartment, me carrying the holdall, Haley carrying my helmet. When we get to her car I put the bag in the boot and start my bike up. “Remember, we’re racing back. Your Subaru versus my 1000cc ninja, try and keep up if you think you can.” She gets in her car and drives off; I put my helmet on, get on the bike and chase after her.

…………………

I beat her back by a good twenty minutes and ordered three large pizzas with everything but anchovies, when I walked through the door. I went in to the garden to see Sera still doing the course I laid out for her and told her she could stop now. She came in and fell onto one of the sofas in the living room while I got her a bottle of water from the fridge. I asked how many times she ran the course and she said only four times. Haley makes it back before the pizzas arrive and I tell her dinner will be arriving soon.

“What did you order? I’ll eat anything but sushi, raw fish no thanks.” That gets a laugh out of all of us.

When the pizzas arrive I pay for them and take them to the kitchen table, “dinner is served,” I yell through to them.

Sera walks past the table and puts the kettle on. “Anybody else want a hot drink? I’m doing green tea.”

“Hold on a se,” I say, “I’ve got a personal blend in the holdall that you would like. It helps to loosen you up after a vigorous training session, I’ll just go grab it.” Leaving the table I make my way to the sitting room where Haley put my bag, and get the right container out of it. Making my way back I can hear them talking quietly.

“… Never been to his place. It’s like a mini gym, with symbols all over the walls. What happened between you two anyway? You’ve never mentioned him till today and he only talks about what he’s doing.”

“I’ll talk to you later when he’s not around. You would be surprised how good his hearing is.” Sera then shouts, “kettles boiled, have you found it yet?” I walk in and hand the jar over to her. She makes the drinks and we eat dinner in quiet.

After we finish eating we clean up and make our way in to the sitting area, where Sera puts a rubbish horror film on. As the two girls get into the film I make my way up stairs to change into my joggers and white top. Making my way back down stairs I let them know I’ll be in the garden and head out straight for the ropes. Making sure my legs are wrapped tightly I lean back and start my ritual exercise after a hard day, fifty stomach crunches while hanging upside down, then unwrap my legs and do fifty pull ups. With the sun nearly set I make my way over to the circle of fire and look at it.

Flashback

My master has me standing in circle with an outer ring dug into the ground.

“This my student,” he says, “is the circle of fire. The point of this exercise is to perform a kata in a high-pressured environment. Mu Thai is traditionally fought in a circle of fire.”

I look at him like he’s not telling me something.

“At some point, I expect you will find yourself having to fight in this environment. Don’t panic and try to stay in the middle of the circle and the fire wont bother you too much. Good luck student.”

End Flashback

Walking away I head back into the house and go straight for a shower.

After the shower I get dressed and go make up the bed in the spare room and head downstairs. The girls are now watching a cheesy chick flick. “I’m popping out for a few hours,” I say, “Haley if Sera wants you to stay the night, I’ve made the bed in the spare room.”

Sera looks up at me, “where are you going? You know I can’t sleep if your not here.” Haley is looking at me now

“I’m going to acquire you a new teacher for your classes, unless you want to do it yourselves.” It’s the truth; they just don’t need to know where I’m going to get him. “I’ll be back soon, don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Besides, there’s plenty of things in the bag to play with while I’m gone,” I say cheekily.

I make my way outside, start up my bike and I’m off.

…………………

It takes me just over an hour to reach my destination. The old industrial estate has a lot of old warehouses long since abandoned and taken over by gangs, but the one I’m heading for is in the middle. As I ride through the estate I know there are eyes on me, watching my every move. It doesn’t bother me anymore, as I’ve made this journey many times. Pulling up to the warehouse in question, the doors start to slide open and I just ride straight in. Turning off the engine and putting the stand out, I get off the bike to hear his voice.

“I thought I told you to stop riding that thing up to my front door. This is a place of business that I would prefer the police didn’t put on their list of places to pock their noses around.”

Turning around I spot the owner of the voice. A man in his late thirty’s with a black suit is walking over to me. “You did, but I don’t trust the people in this area not to steal it. I need a word with you Paul, and Damon if he’s around.” Every time I see him he looks older, but running this area I’m not surprised. Every gangland has an overall boss, the guy who runs everything. He just happens to run every gang in the city, as well as run a weekly tournament for the gangbanger’s amusement.

He looks at me puzzled, “and what would you need from me AND Damon? Tsk tsk, you think I’ll give you what you want? It must be important, fight night isn’t for another three days.”

I knew it. If I’m to get a new teacher for the dojo I’m going to have to fight for it. At least Paul makes everyone fight under his code of honour. “A local dojo I know needs a teacher that can teach kids aged nine through twelve years old, the ways of martial arts. I think it would do Damon some good to teach again; he’s the best guy I know for the job that won’t hurt them. What do you say?”

He hasn’t tried to lead me away from my bike yet so he knows I want to leave as soon as I can. “On one condition. Agree and Damon will teach these kids of yours.”

“Name it.” He wants me to fight someone.

“A new group is trying to flex muscle in the area. They have no respect for the order of things. Teach them the pecking order, and I will release Damon from his contract.”

“If Damon agrees to teach again, I’ll take care of this nuisance for you. If he doesn’t WANT to do it, I wont take care of your problem. It’s HIS decision not yours or mine.”

Paul starts to chuckle at this, “fine, fine.” He looks behind himself and yells, “DAMON GET YOUR ASS OUT HERE, SOMEONE WANTS TO TALK TO YOU.”

I hate this place. If it’s illegal, this is the place to come to for information. If there were such things as crime lords, Paul Sinclair would be head of the organisation. He alone runs every fight club in the country. He finds the fighters, arranges where the fights will be held and when, sends out the invitations to the people he wants there and when he’s not doing all that, he controls the prostitution and theft rackets in this half of the country. He also made his reputation as a sadist by skinning whoever pisses him off alive, then sending the body parts to sausage factories. The only thing that keeps me safe is that he hasn’t found the person who can beat me, yet. In the public eye, he just happens to run the biggest engineering company on the planet.

Through an open door walks the man I’ve come here for. He’s kept his head shaved bald, has a blackened right eye and is limping on his left leg. Must have just come from ‘teaching’ some fool a lesson. “WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING HERE?” He yells in his gruff voice, “WE AREN’T DUE TO FIGHT TO TILL FRIDAY NIGHT.”

He walks over to us, I still haven’t got off the bike yet. “A dojo I know needs a teacher for its learner class. You’re the best teacher I know, being a former police martial arts instructor.” I really need him. “If I do a favour for Mr Sinclair here, he will release you from your contract with him, you’ll be a free man again. What do you say?”

He looks me square in the eyes, it can be a little unnerving “your on. But I control what I teach.” That can be sorted out later.

I look back at Paul, “where do these fools hang out? I’ll only fight the head of the tribe, the rest walk away unharmed unless they try anything.” With that I put my helmet back on and am handed a piece of paper with the address. Time to clean up this mess.

They hang out in the far end of the estate, in the condemned warehouses. I hide my bike in an old bike repair shop and change into my combats and a plain black long sleeved t-shirt. Grabbing a sheet of tarpaulin, I cover the bike and my leathers and hide it with the wrecks by one of the walls. Sneaking my way back out I casually walk the pavement till I see my destination. The warehouse I once trained in as part of my urban combat experience. These fools have dishonoured my personal holy ground with graffiti and god knows what else. I’m going to beat their leader into submission when I get hold of them.

I slink into the shadows and make my up a rusted fire escape, to a balcony that over looks the main floor. All I can see are late teenagers drinking and having fun. I check the address again and realise I’m in the wrong warehouse; this can wait for another time. Making my way onto the roof, I run the support beams to the right one and find a sunlight window that has been broken. Making my way inside I stay on the support beams till I find a ladder that I make my way down. I can hear voices making their way up to me, “man this will be sweet, Friday we go in and raise hell on his own turf.”

Another one follows, “yeah, the old prick will never see it coming. It’s gonna be great.”

Making my way further down the ladder I see a meeting in progress involving three men. One of them must be the head of this tribe, “you think the boss will let us have anything we find?” WHAT, their leader isn’t one of them? I strain my ears and can’t hear any other noises; no need to play it quiet.

“Can one of you help me” I startle them, “I need to find your leader, and he’s been a naughty boy.” I’m still in the shadows but I’m throwing my voice, wish I was better at it. “Tell me where I can find him and I’ll let you walk out of here.”

They aren’t scared, “that’s what you think man” one of them yells.

“Can’t hide all night” another yells “we gonna find ya and fuck you up big time.”

I can’t help myself, I make my way into their line of sight and simply say, “someone better cut me a switch, there’s about to be a whuppin.” Still making my way calmly over to them they start to fall back, damn they’re cleverer than I would have given them credit for. That’s when I realize I’ve just walked happily into a trap.

“This guy does not leave this building! No weapons! Whoever kills him can have his bike.” Why am I not surprised that Paul has set me up. The lights are turned on all round the floor and I see at least fifty guys all hungry to kill me. Then I notice Paul standing there, smiling like the damn Cheshire cat. I’ll enjoy knocking those teeth down his throat when I’m done fighting this lot.

“What’s the matter Pauley,” I betray no fear as I speak, “got fed up off me beating your boys up in less than a minute. You put them before me I knock them out, that’s the way I fight.” I put my body on instinct, listening for any sound being made, noticing even the slightest movement around me. When outnumbered like this I let my body go autopilot and it goes to work, kicks and punches landing on different body parts of different bodies. When I come out of my ‘trance’ fifty bodies are on the floor but there all breathing, a good sign at least.

Making my way out the front door I almost forgot something. I walk over to Paul and get in his face, “Damon is now free of you and to make sure you don’t forget…” I plant a leaping roundhouse kick into his jaw, breaking it and knocking out at least four teeth. “Come near us again and I wont be so pleasant. I’ll still fight in the clubs but only when I feel like it. The truce WE had is now over, I’ll come for you when it suits me.” I start to walk off before remembering one more thing, “leave the street kids alone from now on. Just because I don’t kill, doesn’t mean I wont if you push me to it. See you around.”

I head back to my bike and go home.

…………………

I’m only two miles away from the estate when I notice the car sent to follow me. Who do they think I am, I knew all these tricks before I finished high school. I let them follow me for about twenty minutes before I decide to lose them. Sometimes a bike is so much than a car, especially when weaving in and out of traffic on the motorways. After ten minutes I’ve lost them and start to head for my apartment in case they find a way to track me down.

Shock horror, there’s a van parked up opposite my apartment building. I knew Paul wouldn’t take to the disrespect kindly, but now he is just asking for me to visit him at his house and put the fear of god into him. Looking at the van I realize I know the driver. Titan. I knew he sent me to that fight club to get beat up, good thing I’m a lot better than he thinks I am. Parking my bike up in the shadow of an old oak tree, I sneak past the van and into my apartment to get changed into my old ‘uniform’. When my master said that I’d need this ninja suit one day, I laughed, now I’m glad I have it.

Quickly changing into it and grabbing some tiny acupuncture needles from my underwear drawer, I sneak back outside towards the van. Staying low and making sure to tread as lightly as possible I’m at the drivers side door. This guy is a full-blown idiot, his window is down. Putting a needle into the side of his neck, at the right place, he blacks out. His passenger hasn’t even noticed, his attention is on the front door to the wrong building. Leaning in through the window I put a needle into his neck as well. Opening the door I move them both into the back of the van, then move my bike into the parking garage downstairs. Coming back up I decide to make a little visit to the ‘untouchable’ Mr Sinclair.

…………………

I pull the van up to a stop half a mile away from Sinclair’s gated house. Everyone knows where he lives, he hides his true dealings behind the cover of being a rich philanthropist, doing his part for nearly every children’s charity in the country. Looking around the perimeter, I see all his outside cameras, and his security on patrol of the grounds. Shame really, I expected a challenge. I make my way over the gate in silence and sticking to the shadows, find a trellis that goes all the way to the second floor. Staying in the shadows I let the patrol walk past me and in silence make my way up the trellis. It leads me up to a balcony with glass doors that are unlocked. He either fells completely safe or I’m walking, willingly, into a trap.

Without making a sound I open one of the doors, sneak in and close it behind me. Looking round this cant be one mans bedroom, it’s got a four poster bed against the left hand wall, a bedside table on either side, two huge wardrobes and chest of drawers and beams along the roof. Noticing a jug of water and empty glass on one of the bedside tables, I make way over and take a glass vial out of my suit. Pouring the small amount of white powder into the glass and rinse it out.

Making my way back out onto the balcony I wait for him to come to bed, I don’t have to wait long. Watching him fill the glass with water and downing it in one he gets ready for bed. Knows my time to move. Silently I make my way back inside and stay hidden behind the curtains listening to him get into bed. When he stops moving I sneak over to him and place one hand across his mouth, “if you wanted my student dead, you could have done a better job of it.” I whisper into his ear.

“Mumph, mumph”

“I’ll move my hand when I’m sure you wont call for help, not that you’ll live long enough to do so.” I whisper in his ear yet again. “You have no idea who you are dealing with, my student is a lot more resourceful than you could ever dream of.” I move my hand off his mouth now.

“I don’t know how you got in here,” he says in a low tone, “but I can promise you that you won’t be getting out.”

“Yes I will. If your security didn’t see me coming in, what makes you so sure they’ll see me leaving” I keep my voice low so he can’t tell it’s me.

“I’ll find you and make a trampoline out of your spinal cord, and then leave you with a bunch of gay rapists to have fun with. You’ll wish you never thought of me when I’m done with you and your fucking student.”

I can’t help but chuckle at this, “strong words even in death.”

He looks confused, “what the fuck have you done to me? I can’t feel my legs.” Good, he’s betraying fear now.

“I’ve given you a fast acting poison. It will kill you in ten minutes, but the agony of feeling your body shutting down, I’m told, is terrifying.” I can see the whites of his eyes now.

“You can’t have poisoned me, the jug held no clouds and the glass was clean. I would have felt a needle or tasted any powders being forced down my throat.” He is really scared now, it doesn’t faze me at all.

“The powder was in the glass. Personal creation. It sticks to the glass when rinsed out, and releases its toxins in the next amount of water that it touches. Took me years to perfect it without the resources scientists have at their disposal.” It’s working quickly, he can’t lift his arms now. “I never created an antidote, cause only I know how to make it. Enjoy your death, it wont be painful.”

With that I turn my back and let him die in peace. Making my way back outside, I trigger the alarms to hide my leaving.

Back at the van I change back into my normal clothes and drive the van away, with my two friends still unconscious in back. I drive to the local police station and park right outside. Looking in the glove box I find a gun! They were going to shoot me? Good thing I got them before they got me. I put them back into their seats, put the gun in clear view on the dashboard and honk the horn violently through the open window. Two police officers come out, see the gun, and rush back inside for back up. I pull the needles out of their necks and disappear into the night.

…………………

I ‘borrow’ a removal van I found parked half a mile away and head back to my apartment. While I’m here I remove everything, just in case my playmates decide to ever return. It takes me just under an hour, but then I don’t have much stuff, I also put my bike in there. I take it all to a storage unit I bought a year ago and deposit it all inside, I need to put the truck back so I drive to where I found it and leave £20 for the petrol I used.

Getting on the bike I make my way to the industrial estate, I need to erase any documents that he may have on Damon or me. Parking in the first warehouse, I hide my bike and make my way in. I stick to the shadows and the dark corners, there are still eyes everywhere, and in ten minutes I’m back at the warehouse. There is a lot of noise coming from inside, so I slide the door open a little and am surprised to see the cage assembled. As I look closer I don’t see a fight, I see an execution. Damon. Now I don’t need to sneak around.

“The next person to touch him faces me!” I need to scare these guys.

One of the spectators looks at me, “you survived! The boss said to kill both of you and we get the chance to do both? Someone up there likes me.” The arrogant prick decides to say while his boys lead me into the cage. I feel my right wrist and check the needles are still there, they are.

“Don’t worry,” I say, “you’ll all get a beating and some may even survive. Your boss is dead! Who wants to meet him?” I look around, “any volunteers?” One of them goes to check what I’ve said, I can wait. I take my leathers off to reveal my ninja suit underneath and start stretching; they’ll start attacking soon.

The one who went to check comes running back in, “THE BOSS IS DEAD!” he yells, “IN HIS BED. His security are saying heart attack, on account of the meds he was on.” I didn’t know he was on meds. He starts giving orders now, “beat these two to death and then we burn this place to the ground. Start over elsewhere.” He points at me, “this asshole dies first!”

I just stand in the middle of the cage, waiting. It seems that no one wants to enter first, so I lay out a simple challenge, “If you want to use weapons you can, they won’t help but you can use them. Come on I haven’t got all night.” I can feel the fear in the room.

“No one touches him, he’s all mine!” I look around to identify the growling voice and spot the owner. I should have known he would be here for this.

“What’s the matter,” I say, “didn’t like being knocked out last time you fought me? No one here to cheer you on this time, destruction.”

He makes his way into the light and I see how big he really is. Last time he was covered up, now he’s only in a pair of fighters shorts and an evil, murderous look on his face. “I was told to lose last time,” he growls, “this time I’m gonna shove your head up your ass.”

He makes his way into the cage with me and slams the door behind him. Looking at him I see at least twelve ways to knock him out and four to paralyse him for life. I want to see what he can do before I make my move. I must remember that this guy has killed in the cage, with a smile on his face. I duck and weave his first few punches and block his kicks. He has no talent at all, time to end this. I take him down with a back leg sweep and keep him there with a back heel to the gut that winds him. Keeping the pressure on I mount his chest and start elbowing his rib cage, I feel three ribs break under my assault. Quickly rolling off him I let him stand before moving to his side and flat foot kick his kneecaps, the sound of them breaking is like music to my ears. With him unable to stand I throw him through the door of the cage, “who’s next?” I ask.

The silence is deafening. Then as one they all made a break for the doors, it really resembles rats on a sinking ship. I walk over to where Damon is lifting himself off the floor, “you two are going to the hospital, you’re in a bad way and I know he’s in a critical condition.” I help Damon to a car left outside and go back in and carry out destruction. I’m glad he’s unconscious; I don’t have to hear the screams of pain.

After getting them to the hospital I go back and exchange the car for my bike. I head back to the hospital and check on their conditions, just cause I nearly killed him doesn’t mean I don’t care. Damon is fine, a couple of broken ribs and some internal bleeding that they’re keeping him in over night to keep an eye on. My playmate is in surgery; apparently the x-rays they took of his chest had them worried. They told me he’d never walk again, his kneecaps were destroyed. I didn’t think I kicked him that hard but then again my size doesn’t reveal the power in my body. I leave the hospital after finding out visiting times for the morning. Looking at a clock on my way out I see its 1:15am, I hope the girls are okay.

I ride around for a bit just trying to clear my head of the night’s events. I killed one evil and saved another, broke a mans kneecaps and got a new teacher for Sera’s dojo. I head back to the house and park my bike in the garage. Haley’s car is still here so she must of stayed over. I sneak in through the front door and make my way upstairs to my room, to find Sera asleep on my bed. Making my way to my wardrobe I change into my training jogging bottoms and an old t-shirt and grab a blanket off the top shelf. I walk over to the bed and drape it over her as she carries on sleeping. I make my way to her open door and see Haley asleep in her bed. I go back downstairs and fall asleep on the floor in the sitting room.