danger, but being in a basement with fifty or so drunken college boys
intent on bloodshed and capital, I wasn’t exactly confident of our
chances to leave unscathed.
After America met Shepley at freshman orientation, she frequently
accompanied him to the secret fights held in different basements of
Eastern University. Each event was held in a different spot, and kept
secret until just an hour before the fight.
Because I ran in somewhat tamer circles, I was surprised to learn
of an underground world at Eastern; but Shepley knew about it
before he had ever enrolled. Travis, Shepley’s roommate and cousin,
entered his first fight seven months before. As a freshman, he was
rumored to be the most lethal competitor Adam had seen in the three
years since creating The Circle. Beginning his sophomore year,
Travis was unbeatable. Together, Travis and Shepley easily paid
their rent and bills with the winnings.
Adam brought the bull horn to his mouth once again, and the
yelling and movement escalated to a feverish pace.
“Tonight we have a new challenger! Eastern’s star varsity wrestler,
Marek Young!”
Cheering ensued, and the crowd parted like the red sea when
Merek entered the room. A circular space cleared, and the mob
whistled, booed and taunted the contender. He bounced up and
down, and rocked his neck back and forth; his face severe and
focused. The crowd quieted to a dull roar, and then my hands shot to
my ears when music blared through the large speakers on the other
side of the room.
“Our next fighter doesn’t need an introduction, but because he
scares the shit outta me, I’ll give him one, anyway! Shake in your
boots, boys, and drop your panties, ladies! I give you: Travis ‘Mad
Dog’ Maddox!”
The volume exploded when Travis appeared in a doorway across
the room. He made his entrance, shirtless, relaxed and unaffected.
He strolled into the center of the circle as if he were showing up to
another day at work. The lean muscles stretched under his tattooed
skin as he popped his fists against Marek’s knuckles. Travis leaned
in and whispered something in Marek’s ear, and the wrestler
