The unstoppable vengeance of Micheal Krux.

6. Day One Beatdown

Chapter Six, Day One Beatdown

Michael Krux POV

The block stank of bleach, sweat, and my fresh blood, the smell was too much and my body was so uncomfortable that I could barely sit straight.

At this time, I was sure that two or my ribs were cracked already, lip split, left eye swelling shut.

Still, I stayed on the bench across from Elias Voss because falling off would mean Bear and his pack would drag me into a corner and finish what they had started but Voss didn’t offer sympathy.

He just watched me with those pale glacier eyes. I wanted to say something to release the awkward silence, to tell him that I would accept his offer if he promised to keep me safe.

But before I spoke, he first me to it, he spoke in a very low voice so only I could hear.

“Your father was a thief.” He shocked me. “1998 he took something from me that was worth more than every dollar you ever made. A ledge with names and accounts, proof that could drop governments and start wars. He promised to pay but he died before he delivered and now, the debts have been passed to the son.”

I spat blood onto the floor in shock, how could my father, who is a very calm and upright man do such a thing? And even if there was an element of truth to it, it has nothing to do with me.

“I’m not my father.” I said, matter of fact,

“No,” Voss replied, “You’re the interest on the debt, I just need five years from you to buy my freedom when you leave this place. In exchange, I will give you all the resources you need, from the offshore billions, private armies, satellites, blackmail files on every powerful man alive. You will own the shadows I built.” It was unbelievable.

“But there’s a catch” he said, and the first thing that came to my mind was ‘I knew it, there’s no way someone would want to give all that the man he claims owns him’.

I had my doubts, but didn’t say anything, he could take his time to explain, I am not in a r rush, after all, I had twenty years in this prison with him.

“All of it becomes yours, if you survive the training.” He concluded.

I could only laugh, what kind of training could I possibly pass? I am a broken man, “I have nothing left, old man.” I told him.

“They have frozen all my accounts, seized every share I had and made everyone turn against me.” I said, the need to make him understand that I was the wrong candidate if he was looking for someone to dube.

He leaned in until I smelled the prison coffee on his breath, “You still have a body, a brain and you still have five years. That’s more than most men here ever get.” He said simply as if that was all I needed to convince me.

I took my time to let everything sink in. I subconsciously looked around me to see the other inmates.

Bear was watching from twenty feet away, cracking his knuckles, waiting for Voss to lose interest.

Voss noticed too, he raised his voice just enough for the whole block. “You are now under my roof, if anyone should touch you, they’d better think of their death.

Bear’s face twisted, but he backed off a few step. Voss turned back to me.“Decision time, Krux, say yes and the pain starts tonight, on my terms, no and the pain starts tonight, on theirs.” He said, this time his voice reduced so only I heard him.

He slid a folded square of toilet paper across the table and gestured for me to open it, I did. Inside, I saw a single ibuprofen and half a stale protein bar.

As if on cue, my stomach growled loud enough for both of us to hear. I looked at the pill, then at Bear’s pack circling like hyenas.m, then at Voss.

I took the pill, swallowed it dry and said, “Teach me.”

Voss gave the smallest nod. “Good.

First rule, never show weakness twice.” He stood up. “Get up.” She gestured.

I tried, my legs shook, ribs cracked, I squealed, but I still stood up,

He waited until I made it to my feet. “Walk.” He said and lead methrough the block.

As we walked, men stared at us and parted without being asked, He led me to the bottom bunk in the corner cell, which I later found out was his cell.

“Tonight you sleep here, if anyone comes through that door, you wake me. Tomorrow at 0400 the real work begins.” He said.

I didn’t what what he was saying, but I am glad to see a bed I could rest on after all the ups and down of this life that suddenly fell on my feed.

I collapsed onto the thin mattress, though springs dug into my back like punishment, it was still better than the one I was on before.

Voss stood over me. “One more thing,” he said, pulled a homemade blade from his sleeve, just a sharpened spoon handle wrapped in tape, and pressed the flat against my throat.

At that moment the dreadest thought came to my mind.

‘This was the time he kills me, he probably saved me just to kill him, was he really who he was, was it because of the debt, did whoever framed me have something to do with this?’

So many thoughts clouded my mind, at the end, I concluded even if I die, at least it would be quiet and painless.

I closed my eyes ready to take it in, but then I noticed the the razor was not hard, and his next words confirmed that he was not going to kill me. Yet.

“I don’t give second chances. You quit, you steal, you lie, I end you myself, Understood?” The cold steel kissed my skin.I met his eyes.

“Understood.”He slid the blade away.“Sleep, rich boy, you’re going to need it.”

Lights-out came ten minutes later. The block went dark except for the red glow of the emergency strips. I lay on my back, ribs on fire, tasting blood, staring at the underside of Voss’s bunk.

I closed my eyes. And for the first time since the stadium lights went out, I wasn’t afraid.I was angry. Angry enough to burn the whole world down once I learned how.

Tomorrow the forging started. Tonight I have better things to do.