47. Ivan

For the very final time, I wait in the holding cell. There are only two of us left as I am the second to last fight. The room stinks of men as I sit under a flickering strobe light examining my hand strapping for the thousandth time. The fighter after my match, Jackson is meditating away in the corner. Whatever helps I guess.

Vincent knows that by suggesting a target to get to freedom it will spur fighters on. I imagine every rookie thinks they can do this ten or fifteen times if they had to. However Vincent, being the sick bastard he is, knows realistically, a shifter's body can only heal so much.

Denton and I were probably fifty percent less powerful when we first arrived. My battle with Xavier sapped a lot of my inner strength, the whipping took Dentons. Now we are more vulnerable, fuelled not by muscle but primal emotions.

Mine is the desperation to get back to Cherish, whereas Denton, all flaring black eyes and wild back beard, is angry. Sheer hatred for killing his only fri