Chapter Eight

“Rey you OK?” Rey heard as he opened his eyes.

Derrick held out a hand to help Rey back to his feet. He took the offered hand and stood.

“Was little Rey taking a nap? Did the baby get sleepy?” Connor cooed as if talking to a baby.

“Shut up bitch.” Rey said, his head still swimming from the punch or Leeb’s visit.

Connor acted outraged! This could not stand!

“How dare you! Derrick be a dear and take out the trash.” Connor said in a horrible posh British accent.

Connor and Rey were mean to each other, even though they were best friends. They enjoyed verbal sparring as much as normal sparring.

Rey thought they treated one another like that, because of the many years of fighting. You could say anything you wanted to if you were going to fight anyway.

“I’ll be right back,” Rey said as he walked to the bathroom.

Now would be as good a time as any to try it. He focused his thoughts on pulling the plate from the storage ring.

The snake ring on his finger warmed.

Right at the tips of his fingers. He could see a slight distortion like heat waves forming a tight circle.

He slowly reached his hand into the weird circle. As his fingertips disappeared into the swirls. He felt the cold, hard porcelain of the plate.

More of his hand disappeared into the storage. Grabbing the plate, he pulled. The distortion grew to surround the plate as it was removed.

As he was staring at the plate, he heard the door knob jiggle.

He now focused on putting the plate back into the storage and the circle formed, but in front of the plate now.

The plate vanished into thin air. As Rey lowered it in.

He wasn’t going crazy, unfortunately.

All he could hear now was the sound of his beating heart. His hands shaking while he slowly unwrapped his hands.

“Slow deep breaths Rey,” He told himself.

The signs of a panic attack were well known to him.

Splashing some water on his face. Before washing his hands wasn’t a good idea. The horrid smell of his boxing gloves lingered on his hands. It did help him focus a little.

He finished cleaning and left the bathroom.

“That knockdown has me feeling a little woozy. I’ll catch y’all later.” Rey said as he packed his gym bag.

“Don’t go to sleep, and if you puke go to the doctor Rey. If you come in Thursday you don’t need to spar.” Derrick said, that even though technically he was no longer Rey’s coach, he continued to act like he was.

To Derrick he would always be Rey’s coach, that was fine with him because he had taught Rey much of what he knew.

“Come on I’ll walk you out,” Connor said as he grabbed the bag from Rey.

They made it to Rey’s truck. Connor threw the smelly bag in the back and Rey sat in the driver’s seat.

When Connor opened the passenger door he said. “You alright? I hit you pretty hard and it didn’t help you decided to lean in and eat it like it was your last supper.”

“Yeah, my legs are still a little weak though. I’ll be fine with a little bit of rest.” Rey said.

“What are you doing this weekend?” Connor asked.

“Not sure. I’ll have to ask her when I get back home. Why have you got something you want to do?”

“No, I was just asking. I’ll text Nova later. You never know what’s going on.” Connor said and he was right.

Rey left most of the plans to Nova and he just went along for the ride. They had to come up with a plan.

Not only for themselves but for their friends and family too.

“Ok, I’ll see you later. I have some relaxing to do.” Rey said.

Rey drove the short drive back to his house.

When he walked in he was met with normal his greeting.

Darbie was jumping on the door and whining.

“Hey Darbs,” Rey said scratching the old wiener.

“Hey babe. How did it go at the gym? You’re home early.” Nova asked.

Rey told her about the night’s training session. He left out the part about the plate for now.

“I’m about to hop in the shower,” Rey said after they talked about him getting rocked.

“Please do,” Nova said.

“Hey bud you having a good nap,” Rey said to Neji.

Their youngest cat, Neji, had the bluest eyes they had ever seen.

While in the shower Rey squatted up and down to find out if his legs were still weak from the day’s workout. They felt fine, hopefully, the soreness wouldn’t set in at all.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Nova and Rey now sat on the couch watching some trash reality show.

He grabbed the remote and paused it. The situation with Leeb and the plate now somewhat settled he thought it time to talk to Nova about it.

“I talked to Leeb again,” Rey said

“Do you need to go see the doctor, Rey?” Nova said instantly worried.

“I hope so. I have one more test to see if I’m crazy.” He said

He stood and went to the middle of the living room., staring at something weird looking in front of his hand. Then his hand disappeared and reappeared with one of their dinner plates.

“Uhh Rey what was that?” she asked.

“Can you see it?” He asked waving around the plate.

“Yeah, I can see the plate. WHERE did it come from?” She appeared to be having the same realization Rey had earlier.

“From the storage ring thing Leeb gave me,” Rey said holding up his hand. “Can you see it?”

He held his hand in front of Nova pointing to where he could see the ring.

“No, only your finger.” She said.

Rey focused and put the plate back into storage.

“Do you think I’m going crazy? Because it’s really hard for me to rationalize this babe.” He said.

“If you’re crazy then I’m crazy too. What did you and Leeb talk about this time?” She asked.

Rey told her everything about Leeb’s visit, the massive deer, and Clyde’s will.

“Half a million?” She asked.

“Yeah I know,” he said.

“Babe that’s a lot. Everything is going to be chaos. What are we going to do?” She asked.

“I don’t know yet I’ll talk to Leeb tomorrow to get more details about what exactly we have to look forward to.”

Nova being the planner that she was said “We need to come up with a list of questions for you to ask.”

“I agree. Have you seen any papers? I have a pen in my lunch box.” Rey asked.

“I’ll get it your handwriting is terrible.” She was right about that.

She sat down at the dining table while Rey paced back and forth.

“When is it all supposed to start?” She asked

“Should be seven o’clock Monday evening, but I’ll double-check with Leeb.”

She wrote it down.

“We need to know how the integration will work. Will the people who are not chosen leave and come back to the same place? Or will they be dropped out in random locations?” He said and she wrote.

“You need to find out what this ‘boot camp’ is going to be like.” She said as it was written.

They talked for about an hour. Then got ready for bed.

Rey was going to be busy tomorrow.

His eyes opened. It was still dark in the room. No sign of sunlight coming through the windows.

The dim light of the bathroom’s night light was blinding. As he did his morning business.

He got dressed and decided to go ahead and get his day started.

Rey said his goodbyes and I love yous.

Realizing there wasn’t any soreness or joint pain in his legs, made him sad.

He wouldn’t admit it to anyone. But, he was terrified.

The heated leather seats of his brand-new Z71 caressed him to his shop.

A car parked on the side of the road nearly blocked the shop’s entrance.

The office computer read 5:13 as it booted up.

A few hours passed as he did research and designed things with his CAD software.

With a few things ready to be built he got up and started for the shop.

The clicking of the outside door handle drew his attention.

Adrenaline coursed through his veins when he felt the champion on the other side.

The man turned sideways to fit through the door. Every stitch in his clothes hung on for dear life.

Rey thought he recognized the man from the Mr. Olympia. He must have been a runner-up because Rey couldn’t remember his name.

Rey’s fake charming smile was plastered on his face.

“Good morning! How can I help you sir?” Rey swapped his laptop to his left hand and went in for a handshake with his right.

The arrogance was apparent in the man’s smiling brown eyes.

“Rey Walker,” Rey said.

“Ian Vazquez,” the man said.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Vazquez. What can I do for you?” Rey said.

Rey tried to release the handshake that was now getting awkward. But Ian didn’t let go.

“I was told to come here by my benefactor and get The Index. He said to do whatever I got to do to get it. So I suggest, just handing it over. And I’ll be on my way.” Ian said with a very thick New York accent.

“I don’t have an index. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rey said squinting up at the very large man.

Ian squeezed and the bones in the, weaker, pinky side of Rey’s hand started breaking.

Rey preferred talking, over violence. But, if it was necessary it would be met with enthusiasm.

“Just..” Ian started.

The pain of his family jewels being turned to paste by Rey’s knee interrupted him. And three left hooks to the side of his head made him take a seat.

Rey grabbed his, now busted, laptop from the floor. Then sat it on his desk. That pissed him off.

“Get up and get the fuck out!” Rey hissed.

Ian, struggling from his injury, stood and reached for his waistband.

Rey was shaking now. Not because of the brief tussle, but from the Glock 19 pointed at his head.

“Heracles’ Champion won’t be embarrassed like this!” Pain and shame are evident in Ian’s shrill whine.

“Whoa, man! I’m sorry! I’ll do whatever you want! Just please don’t kill me! Please! Please, man! I’m sorry!” Rey plead.

“Beg and I might make you my bitch!” Ian said.

That’s exactly what Rey would do.

“Hands up, palms out, keep them moving, and beg.” Rey thought.

Rey slowly closed the distance between him and Ian. All the while begging for his life.

“I’ll do anything I swear! I have a!” Rey said.

Ian didn’t recognize Rey’s posture as an offensive one. It became clear when Rey grabbed the gun-wielding hand and shoved it under his right arm.

With Ian’s gun hand locked down, Rey hit him with a couple of left jabs. After hooking onto the back of Ian’s head. He made a rookie mistake.

Trying to hurt the man, Rey tried the previously successful knee, again.

It must have left an impression on Ian because he was ready for it.

Ian grabbed Rey’s knee and picked him up without effort.

Rey was like the disc in the discus. He was spun in a circle at speeds no human should be capable of.

The door frame on the opposite side of the room broke in two. When Rey’s back slammed into it.

Shallow wheezing was all Rey could do. With pain overwhelming his mind, he could only think of one thing, the gun. He had to get the gun.

It was his only chance to make it out of this.

Ian must have let go of it. At the same time, he threw Rey, because it lay just a few feet away from him.

Those few feet felt like a thousand miles. Rey couldn’t feel his legs. He was thankful a moment later. When Ian stomped on his knee.

Ian, preoccupied with turning Rey’s leg bones dust, noticed too late.

Rey reached for the gun.

Noticing the gun in Rey’s grip, Ian panicked. He grabbed a handful of Rey’s clothes, lifted him overhead, then bounced him off the concrete floor.

Luck was on Rey’s side today. A moment later. After his high-velocity reunion with the floor, he came too.

Ian, grabbing his blood-covered leg, leaned against the busted door frame.

Rey must have tensed to prepare himself for the impact. Pulling the trigger and sending a bullet into Ian’s upper thigh.

As he lay on his stomach, in a pool of pain, the gun rose. Just enough for Rey to point and shoot.

The shin on Ian’s good leg folded underneath him. As the bone was bisected.

Rey didn’t notice the fear on Ian’s face. Squeezing the trigger required all of his willpower.

Each shot echoed in the metal building.

More bullets missed than hit.

Ian slumped against the door frame, not moving. The small hole leaking blood into his eye was a clear sign. Rey accomplished his goal.

Rey’s vision was getting darker. He fought to make his lungs take in just a little more air.

Giving up wasn’t something Rey would consider. As tempting as it was.

If he didn’t get some help fast, he would die.

His fingers scratched against the concrete. Slowly pulling himself, inch by dreadful inch, he made it to his desk.

Protruding from the edge of the desk, the corner of his phone revealed itself.

Reaching for salvation, the tips of his fingers grazed the phone and it fell.

Finding the right person to contact wasn’t hard at all. He was at the bottom of Rey’s contacts.

“Hey! What’s up bud.” Zeke said.

A coughing fit hit Rey when he tried to respond.

“Rey, what’s going on? Do you need help?” Zeke said.

“Help. At shop. No cops. Hurry!” Rey gargled out the words, between wheezing breaths and coughing.

The phone clattered on the tile.

“I’m on my way. Stay on the phone with me. Rey? Rey!”

The world faded away as the sound of a car cranking came from the phone speaker