by Ryan Bendall

Created on: February 07, 2007   Last Updated: May 14, 2007

"I've never been a gambling man. You do understand that don't you?" I just nodded my head agreeably.

"You see, I'm a respected man, and you, well you're a respected fighter. This means we have a beautiful business relationship right here." I simply nodded again, ironic how he'd called me respected. He handed me a brown envelope.

"Tonight you retire. In the fifth round you hit the canvas, understood?" I nodded my head once again but looked at the floor this time.

"You do understand me don't you?" He repeated.

"Yes" I uttered. I half wanted to smile. He had a face that could move mountains.

"Good. We wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you now would I?" he said raising his eyebrow and glancing across at me.

He stood up and walked out of the door. I sighed and leaned against the sink. The water felt cool against my face and as always I let it dry on my skin as I peered into the mirror. This wasn't such a hard thing to do. And it's not like it was the wrong thing to do was it? Was it? After all, he'd given me more money tonight than I would ever make in my career. I wasn't going to let my conscience defeat me. I'm a good man!

"John, its time to go." The trainer pushed his face around the door. I'm sure he knew who'd visited me as he hadn't bothered finishing our warm ups. After all, there was no need to.

"I'll be right out!" I replied and stared into the mirror for the last time. I felt so numb, something you shouldn't be doing before a big fight like tonight but this was different altogether. My mind felt numb. I pulled my golden robe over my head and walked along the corridor alone. The cold floor echoed with each footstep I took and the shadows on the walls moved across the hallway as the headlights from the cars shone in from outside. My trainers had left me. Did they all know of my deceit? As I got closer to ringside I could hear the cheers and the music for the other man. He'd come out to fight tonight, and I already new the outcome, in a strange way I felt happy for him. He deserved it now anyway. I stood by the doors and lent on the wall waiting for the announcer to introduce me. I half expected him not to and let me walk in and throw myself onto the ground.

Suddenly the announcers voice broke into my thoughts: "All the way from Manchester, the undefeated champion, the man himself, Sid Vengeance! Lets give it up!" he spouted. Vengeance I thought, pushing through the doors, what a stupid name.

Flashes began to crack around the arena, two men came and ushered me

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