7/6 - Blackrock prison - morning

"He knows," Marie shrieks in my ear.

"Easy, easy! I'm standing right here." After eating breakfast, Chip told me to get Alex and Marie to our cell. And as soon as I broke the news, Marie shouted in my ear.

"How does he know? Did you tell him?" Why am I being yelled at? Not my fault he was listening in on us. I wonder if I can just leave the room? "Hey, are you listening to me!?”

"Yeah, I hear you loud and clear, so stop yelling in my freakin’ ear already? He was eavesdropping, not that surprising since he sleeps in here."

"So, I guess it's all our faults..." She was rubbing her forehead with a disgruntled look. I wouldn't say it's all our fault, but speaking in here was like begging for someone to eavesdrop.

"Can I interject for a sec?" Chip slips into the room, quick to close the door behind him. "Sup.”

"So, this is the guy?" Marie asks, placing a hand on her spear.

"You guys should've at least invited me since we’re gossiping about me."

“What do you want?”

"What do you think? I wanna talk about escaping this joint." You can take a kitchen knife and cut the tension in here. Marie is waiting for him to do anything worth skewering him over. "Now, I'm gonna go on a whim here and say you don't have a plan yet, don’t you?" Chip guessed.

"Pretty much."

"Proxy," Marie shouts into my ear for the umpteenth time.

"Okay, seriously, stop yelling in my ear!? It hurts. And besides, it doesn't matter at this point. Might as well say it."

Chip sits on the bottom bunk bed, locking his fingers into one-another. "I wanna make a deal. Wanna hear it?"

"Yes," Alex accepts, crossing his arms.

"Okay, this is the deal: you guys let me escape with you and I'll come up with the escape plan. That includes getting anything we need. Not a bad deal, if I say so myself."

Nothing wrong with it as far as I can tell. Besides, if he wants to help, why not? Two guitarists are better than one. That way, you get a rocking album!

"This deal is quite reasonable. Very well, let us collaborate."

Alex is the one to make the last shot. Dude said almost nothing during this whole snafu. Did he just want to sound cool by making the final decision? Not that I’m complaining.

"Alright, now that’s decided: the first thing we need to do is couple in our earnings. Proxy, how much CCP do you have?"

"I think I have over 40,000 CCP."

"That's good. Blondie, how much you got?"

"I currently have none in my possession."

Alex, you're killing us here, man.

"Bummer, but not the end of the world. The kid has more than enough money to cover us, but you should start racking in some CCP."

Earnings…work… I swear I’m forgetting something… Oh, shit, Gil!

"Sorry, guys, I have to go!" I swing open the door.

"Where are you going?" Chip asks.

"I gotta go. There's something I forgot to do today!"

"Proxy, when you coming back?" Marie asked.

"I'll be back later. Just make the plan without me!"

I closed the door, booking it as fast as I can. Gil and the comic totally slipped my mind. Hopefully, he isn't pissed.

Some ‌inmates greet me when I passed them by. I’m pretty famous for beating the Bison and other inmates, despite my age. It's like back in NewPort Island, except I'm not getting in trouble for it. This is just too awesome!

Almost at Gil’s room, I really hope he’s not angry. Hm, is that Gil down there? No, his figure is different, it’s bigger. He comes into view from the other side of the hall. Alarm bells go off in my head, screaming at me to stay away from him!

He’s being escorted by guards, restraining his hands and feet by the joints.

"Excuse me, little boy, are you lost?" His voice is soft but there was something dangerous about it, and his oddly muscular figure wasn't helping his case. "You're that boy, the little fighter. I was impressed with the Bison.” Every word he utters makes my muscles tense up, the alarm gets louder and louder, and my nerves are all tangled up. “...Why don't you fight me?"

No, stay away from me, you monster!

"You should leave, now!”

Gil, who’s behind me, pulls me away from the monster.

"Oh, I apologize. I suppose I should be on my way. Have a nice day, you two."

Right as the guards lead him away, he forces them to stop dead in their tracks.

"Gil, since you are here, why don’t fight?”

"I don’t need to, you old bastard.”

That’s new. I’ve never heard him curse before. Doesn’t even seem like the type.

"That is a shame. Then I'll have to ask another time when it's appropriate. As for you, little one. I changed my mind. A fighter who's so scared that he steps back in fear is not worth my time. Perhaps you are nothing more than a bottom feeder."

What? My right foot…? Why is it behind my left? Was I really afraid…? Me, afraid!? What the hell is this bullshit!? I dart off to the old bastard. Gil grabs my jumpsuit.

"Let me go!"

"Leave him, you wouldn't win against him."

"What?"

"Just let it go… You wouldn’t last a minute."

Bullshit, I’m not that weak! Who the hell does this old man think he is!?

“Screw that! Hey, you old bastard! Come here and fight me right now, you hear me!? I said come back here!” He can't get away with that! “I’m not a goddamn bottom feeder! No one's gonna call me a weakling, so get the hell back here! You hear me!”

BlackRock Prison - Gil's room - afternoon

Unfinished pages sprawled in front of me, coloring only 50% complete if I'm estimating this. Each of my fingers is numb with little to no strength in them… This sucks. I can't concentrate on any of this crap.

"I brought food."

Gil's voice catches my attention, though barely. He puts a tray in front of me, as well as a drink.

"Sorry, I ain't hungry."

"It's fine. Eat when you need to."

How can I? That old bastard…

"Who was that guy, Gil?"

As if I asked something taboo, he turns away from me. "...You can't fight him."

"Says who?"

"Me. Proxy, fighting him is suicide, I guarantee you that."

"Well, that's none of your business! I'll fight whoever I want."

“Don’t say that! I understand you won some fights in the ring, but that man is different, he’s…”

“What, you saying I’m weak?” He doesn’t give me an answer, but his silence is more than enough. So that’s how it is, huh? “...Whatever, I’m out of here.”

“Wha– Why?”

“I’m not gonna hang with people who look down on me.”

I walk out of his room. This unnerving anger persists, only getting hotter and hotter, practically running down the hall. In the spiral hall, I just keep running, running, and running. I don’t even know where I’m going, I just want to get away from here… Well shit, looks like it’s my lucky day. The source of all my anger is in front of me. What a lucky break.

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“Hey, you old son of a bitch.”

The guards suddenly lunge forward, halting their movement. Color me impressed, the dude stopped them with his own strength.

“Boy,” he calls, in that old raspy voice. “...you know it is not nice to call people such profane names?”

“Like I give a shit. Get rid of those guards and fight me.”

“Whatever do you–”

“Quit messing with me! A second ago, you stopped those guards with your own power! So get rid of them and let’s see who’s stronger!”

“Ah… I’m sorry.”

“After all the shit you said, sorry won’t–”

“I am sorry for implanting the idea we are of the same league. Allow me to rectify this mistake.” He drags the guards behind him, who’re practically dogs being dragged by their leashes. “...Just because you can defeat those weaker than you does not mean you are strong.” Weaker? That’s not right, those guys were. No, everyone I ever fought was… “It seems you are puzzled, then allow me to ask you this: were you ever bored with fighting?”

That’s bullshit, all of it. I’m not bored with fighting… I…I…

“I do not wish to speak to you anymore, le–” Impulse takes hold. My feet move with a mind of their own. I strike his jaw. A rock-hard impact dulls the front of my fist. “A meager bite…”

“Mea–”

The word failed to come out. A kick pushes into my ribs. My body crashes through a cell, the walls of the cell meet with my back. The sound of skin smacking against the paved stone walls is all I hear and feel. Footsteps echo inside this small room, louder than my heartbeat.

“Boy, in battles with the strong, losing means death...”

He leaves, letting that hang in the air inside this claustrophobic cell, ‌growing smaller as I sit on my ass.

That last bit, I get it. It was his way of saying I wasn’t even worth it, like I was a piece of trash under his shoe. This is bullshit! I’ve beaten people taller, older, and stronger than me! What the hell would he know...!? But were they stronger? Was I ever really challenged? Were any of them fun...? Shit!

Stumbling to my feet, the pain in my side isn’t dying down, though it doesn’t even bother me. I just…I don’t want to think about what that old bastard said.

“Looks like you didn’t listen to my warning.” I don’t even need to look up to see that it’s Gil. “I told you not to.”

“Wanna say you told me so? Just say it.”

“I did, but that doesn’t matter… All I just wanted to say is sorry.”

“Hm!?”

“What I said wasn’t a lie. You fighting him would be a bad idea, but I wasn’t looking down on you.”

“Really?”

“I…just didn’t want you to fight him.”

“Why do you even care if I do? I just wanna know.”

“Because we’re friends.”

“But we barely know each other.”

“You helped me with my novel, even before I said I was going to pay you, so that makes us friends.”

Friends, huh? No one is that quick to say someone is their friend unless they rarely had any. Kinda reminds me of myself.

“Listen," I mutter, biting back the building embarrassment I feel. "...Umm, I’m…sorry, for acting like an ass, and I won’t make any excuses. So, do you accept my apology?”

Gil is just giving me a million-mile stare. But then, out of nowhere, the dude busts a gut. His loud ass voice reverberates inside this spiral. Everyone’s staring and it ain’t the “look at those badasses” kind of stares!

“Wha-what’s so funny!?”

“Nothing, nothing… It’s funny. I came here to apologize to you. Life is funny that way, isn’t it?”

Why is everyone laughing at me these days? Not like I'm some damn stand-up comedian or something like that.

“I…I guess! But it ain’t that funny, damnit!” The bastard is still laughing! Come on, I’m trying to be serious here! He could at least take me seriously during all this. Eventually, he settles down, looking at me with a dead-serious expression.

“You still want to learn about him, Proxy?”

He probably means the old man. Everything about that old man is strange. It’s not just his strength but his presence… It was terrifying to be in the same space as him. Then there’s what he said, “Boy, in battles with the strong, losing means death”. No way he’s an ordinary fighter…

“Tell me everything.”

"For one, he's a death row inmate."

"Death Row!?"

Gil leans against the rail, letting out a breath.

"That old man is a death row inmate. They're kept in a separate part of the prison."

"Are they allowed to be here?"

"Not all of them are, only one of them is, and he just left."

"What’s with the VIP treatment? Actually, I don’t really care about that. Is he a fighter?"

"Yeah. In the death row part of the jail, their rings are different. In ours, you bite, claw, and jab someone’s eyes out, but we aren’t allowed to kill."

"Let me guess: killing in the Death Row arena is allowed, right?"

He nods, confirming my guess. “The fights in there are to the death. The winner of the fight will be scheduled to fight another battle soon after."

So they use matches as an execution method. That’s pretty freaking brutal.

“How many death matches has he been in?"

“Over 100 matches,” he answers with a solemn look.

“Over 100!”

"He’s more dangerous than any other fighter in this place, so I would suggest staying away from him.”

If that old man and I hadn’t fought earlier, I would’ve blown up at Gil, but that kick alone nearly broke a few of my ribs. Besides, the thought of fighting that old man seriously is a terrifying one.

"Proxy, I never got to ask, but why are you here?"

"Oh, you know, started a brawl in the middle of town."

“Why?”

“Just felt like it. What about you?”

He puts his hand below his chin. "Well, I wouldn’t say mine is anything special. I’m in for raiding the royal kitchen."

Royal kitchen, aye…? Man, I’d kill just to see what they got.

"I didn't take you for the natural trouble maker?"

"I guess, but if I was going to get locked up for anything, then why not grab a bite to eat from the best kitchen?"

“Too true. But wait, did you want to get locked up?”

Saying that makes him shy away from me. Touchy subject, got it.

“Ah, never mind, just ignore me.”

Smooth…

“Hey, I’m feeling kind of tired. Wanna work together tomorrow, or is that…”

“Nah, it’s cool, man. I’ll swing by tomorrow.”

"That’s great… And again, I am sorry for making it look like I was looking down on you.”

“Like I said, water under the bridge?”

“What bridge?”

“D-dude, it’s just a saying. Ya know, like, it’s all good man. That sort of thing.”

“Ah, sorry. Not exactly up to date with the kind lingo.”

Is it even lingo? You know what, whatever; it doesn’t even matter.

“Anyhow, I’ll see you later, man.”

“See you later, Proxy.”

We walk our own way, heading for our cells. Glad I made up with him, I guess I was the one in the wrong on all this. Man, I bet I looked like a real asshole. Still, that old bastard. Just thinking about him pisses me the hell off! I wanna kick the shit out of him, even if he begs for me to stop…! But would I be able to hurt him? That old man punt the crap out of me before I had time to move. Even if my guard is down, I’m normally able to move out of the way of an attack… When did I stop enjoying fighting? Don’t know, but I’m feeling freaking excited now!

Making it to my cell, I swing open the door to the three, or rather two, schemers inside.

Marie was close to throwing on her helmet until she saw me. “Don’t give me a heart attack.”

“Sorry, just thought I could have my cell to myself like I’m supposed to.”

“Stop whining. We’re already done."

“Who said I was whining, huh!?”

“I did, cause you are.”

“Huh, sorry, can’t hear ya! My hearing blows.”

“Why you little…!?”

Chip claps his hands, interrupting our little barking match. “Come on, are we gonna explain the plan, cause I wanna break out of this place.”

Marie shoots a glance at Chip, then sits back on the bed like some pouty princess.

"Okay, we got everything planned out, so you guys better listen up." Why is he giving me and Alex weird looks? "I thought about making guard uniforms, but the materials needed either cost too damn much or aren't on the catalog used for shopping. So this got me thinking of a couple of other ways of getting out of here. Course, most of them sucked ass, so they weren’t going to work. That’s because I never had a sure-fire way of knowing when the gondola would be at the dock, or how many guards were guarding both docks."

That is a problem. We would need to knock out the guards on the dock to get the hell out of here.

"We could knock them out, but that would be bad if the other end noticed what’s going on. From what I heard, they keep in contact with the other end.”

“So, how do we get them out of the way?” I ask. “...Wait, can we start a riot?”

At that moment, everyone, except Alex, stares at me, looking disappointed.

“Is he stupid?” Chip asks Marie, sharing an astonished look.

Marie nods. “Yeah, it’s pretty sad.”

“Kiss my ass!”

Didn't have to go that hard on me just cause I had an idea, like what the hell.

“No, man, we’re gonna drug them,"

"That's where I come in," Marie proudly said. I'm gonna be the one to drug the guards on the docks."

"Then, blondie and I are gonna hit the control room. That way, we can open the main door to the outside. Course, this part comes before your part."

Control room... Wait, are they thinking of doing what I think they’re doing?

"Dude, are going for a–”

"Nope."

And like that, my hopes and dreams shattered like glass.

"Then what? We just leave the prison, just like that?"

"Well, it's not as easy as walking out the front door. There's another crucial step, and you’re the only one who can do it, kid.”

Now we're talking! Was getting scared that they would leave me out of the action.

“What is it?”

“Simple, pick a fight.”

I smack my fist into my other hand. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. Just tell me what I gotta do?”

Whoever it is, I’ll beat them! No if, ands', or buts'! But the fight better be challenging.

“Well, to be frank, this ain’t gonna be easy." Hell yeah! "...Are you ready?"

“Yeah, yeah. Just give it to me straight. Who do you want me to mess up?”

BlackRock Prison - Gilhart's room - evening

I stand in front of Gil’s door, nervous to take my first steps into the room. You can cut the surrounding tension with a knife, I mean, for real. I know I said I would kick anyone’s ass, but I’m not too sure about this time. Wait, no, I can totally do it! But like… Shit, no sense in tip-toeing around this.

Knocking on his door, I prep myself. This is gonna be an awkward ass conversation, I’ll tell you that. Surprising enough, he opens the door. His hair is a mess, almost like he just got out of bed.

"Proxy? Don’t you know that it’s kinda late?"

I rub the back of my head, giving no eye contact. "Yo…Gil. We kinda need to talk."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just…" Yeah, I’ve never asked a friend to fight me, so this is a first for me. Come on, man, just think of it like he’s some punk from the streets. “...You and me, we’re gonna duke it out!”

Gil looks at me with the most clueless expression a guy could give you. “Huh?”

I totally feel like a dork now.