"Punch him"
Rio's voice rang from the crowd, fueling the chaos inside the prison's makeshift wrestling ring.
Wednesdays were fight night - an ironclad tradition in San Leone Penitentiary, one of Italy's most notorious prisons. Every week, an inmate was chosen at random to pick one of three folded papers. Each paper contained a name. The name? Their opponent for the night.
Today luck was by my side .
I picked Zack. I have a feeling they did that deliberately.
Zack had been a thorn in my side since the day he was transferred here from Vercelli Maximum Security Prison after a failed escape attempt. That was four months into my sentence. He was placed in my cell, at first we got along - until he tried making me his errand boy.
Big mistake.
I was never the kind of guy to take orders. I gave them. But Zack? He always wanted to be in control, always wanted people beneath him. he thought I would bend, but I never did.
But I wasn't reckless either. I'd played it smart, keeping my hands clean. Good behavior meant early release. That was the system.
"The better you behave, the better your chances of getting out early."
That's what the warden told us when we first arrived. Leaving was one thing i was quite sure of. My old man will be out there pulling up some strings to get me out. I wasn't supposed to be here at the first place. But since i am, i have to try my best to leave … early. I had things to attend to. Things that can't be done from the prison. For seven months that i had been here, i played along, keeping my hands clean. No fights. No troubles. No stepping out of the line. But i never allowed anyone to mistreat me. I knew my ways. I never fought.
Until now.
Because today, i had a chance to shut Zack up.
I clenched my fists as i watched him from across the ring.
The prison yard was packed, the crowd buzzing with anticipation. Some inmates shouted names, placing bets. Others pounded against the rusted metal railings, hyping up the match.
Zack grinned,
"What's the matter, Asher? Having second thoughts?" His voice dripped with amusement.
People had one chance in the fight. To retreat before it started. I also had the chance to - but doing so meant one thing I lost. Zack won. He is the champion of the night, and i was the one left in dirt. To be his dog.
The bastard would carry the victory like a badge of honor, walking around with a smug satisfaction of knowing he made me back down. He will think he owned me, that i was just another name beneath his feet. I will never give him that satisfaction. Not him. Not anyone.
I, Asher Fernando, was born to make the world afraid. I was born to make people shiver with just my gaze. And soon Zack will learn that. That too the hard way.
I rolled my shoulder. "Just wondering how long to take before you hit the ground."
The referee - a bald muscular inmate known as Big Mace - raised a hand.
"Rules are simple. No weapons. No outside interference. First man down for a three count loses."
The whistle blew.
Zack lunged.
He swung fast, but i was faster. I stepped to the side dodging his fist with ease. I let him come at me again - analyzing his movements, searching for an opening. Zack was all brute force, no control.
The moment came when he overextended.
I slammed my fist into his ribs, feeling the impact vibrate through my knuckles. He stumbled back, gritting his teeth, but didn't fall.
Then he did something I didn't expect.
His next punch landed - right on my chest. Right on the tattoo.
Pain exploded against my skin, but it wasn't just the physical impact. It was the name etched there. Her name.
I saw red. Only I have the right to inflict pain on her. Even if it is a tattoo of her name.
"You hit the wrong place." I growled.
And then i struck.
I aimed for the side of his neck. Hitting the vulnerable spot with precision. His body stiffened. His eyes rolled back. Then he dropped.
Out cold.
The fucker was easy to take down.
"Good one, Asher." Rio shouted.
Big Mace knelt beside Zack, checking him. One second passed. Then two.
"One… two… three!"
The whistle blew.
I was the winner.
"Asshole"
I stepped over Zack's unconscious body, ignoring the crowd as they dispersed. I had proven my point. And for now, that was enough.