Preface

 

Julian woke up in a small hospital room, he shivered like he felt the cold.

“Name” some man dressed like a doctor said looking down at a clipboard

“Julian Gustavo” he said back that was when he noticed he was chained to the bed he was on, a line in his arm was feeding him blood.

“Welcome back to life, and welcome to the boat” the doctor said not even looking up.

“The what?” Julian asked

“The boat, it’s a new innovation in prison systems, you will have a choice, you can live work, eat, fight, or you can be locked in a room alone” The doctor said tapping his name into a computer “It says here you were meant to be down for a minimum 150 years” the doctor looked nervous.

Julian noticed a security looking guy come in he was ready for a fight, he sniffed the air…wolf

“I’m not causing any trouble, I am just confused” Julian said raising his hands as much as he could

“You are very lucky sir, you will have the chance to qualify to fight for your freedom, about 125 years early” the doctor said looking terrified

“What does the file say about me?” Julian asked

“Just that you are extremely dangerous and not to be under estimated sir” The doctor said “Please understand I am just doing my job”

“Yes, I understand, so I have only been frozen 25 years?” Julian asked

“Yes sir” The doctor said reaching over and undoing the restraints on the bed

“So, who runs this Prison boat?” Julian asked

“If the boss wants you to know who he is then he will let you know” The guard said “I will take you to your cell, when we get there I will give you one more bag of blood, clothes and everything else are already there for you”

“Ok then” Julian said trying to get up, he felt a bit wobbly

“You will need the wheelchair, everyone does” The guard said pushing the wheelchair near him over so Julian could get in it.

He got in and was immediately locked in round the waist with a steel belt

“What the…” he said still not really with it

“Hold out your hands” The guard said

Julian did as he was told

The doctor put a metal band on each wrist. Julian didn’t like the look of those

Then the doctor bent down and put some round his ankles.

“The ones around your ankles will cut off your foot, the ones on your wrist will send thousands of volts of electricity shooting through you, not enough to kill you, just enough to make you wish you were dead” the guard said smiling

“I will be a good boy then” Julian said

The guard got behind him and started pushing him out the doors he came through

“you will have an opportunity to join the fights in one week, you will have access to a gym if you behave in two days, you will get one bag of blood per 3 days, do not over exert yourself too much, if you disobey a guard, if you start trouble you will lose a foot or be electrocuted, either way it will take you time to heal, if you lose two feet, and get electrocuted as well, you will also not be waking up” The whole time they were going along a corridor that very much resembled a ship,

“Understood sir” Julian said smiling “Have any female prisoners been defrosted yet?” he asked

“Yes, but there is to be no fucking” the guard said smiling

“Yes sir” Julian said “So I take it there are separate quarters then?” As they came out into a huge open area, well there was glass walls overlooking a massive fight ring, opposite was a and lounge type area, with viewing seats, and a dining hall, they crossed a walkway over a gym area and entered the centre and went down, Julian could see that the part he walked through was the only windowed part that was not for guests to view the prisoners.

He noticed a lot of guards in the centre tower, every floor had armed guards.

The lift had to stop on every level, lucky it was only 7 levels. And it was not the same level as the gym

There were more floors above, but Julian couldn’t begin to guess how many.

There were not many people here at all, Julian thought they must be in their cells.

As they passed through a lounge and food area.

“This is for the winners” The guard said smiling “The rooms here have everything you could possibly want or need”

“Cool” Julian said

“You won’t be in here for a while” the guard laughed they got to another elevator and went down. 3 more floors.

“Here is where you will be” The guard said pushing Julian’s wheelchair to a big brute of a man

“This is the one his lordship asked for in particular?” the big man sniffed at Julian

Julian sniffed back, he knew the scent…but couldn’t quite remember

“Bet you have no clue what I am do you?” The big guy said

“I want to say some kind of cat” Julian said

“Not bad” the big guy snorted “Well you are a lucky son of a whore, being as you will be in the first round of the first qualifying fights, I will treat you like shit, I will do whatever I want to you, and if I deem it necessary I will not hesitate to cut you off” he smiled holding a remote with 2 buttons

“I will be good sir” Julian said not willing to tempt fate yet

“I don’t care” he said getting walking in front of them

They went through the gym and out the other side.

Here is where they had private cells, not much in them, a bed, a desk, a chair. That was it.

The big guy put a bag of blood on the table and turned around.

“This is your stop” the big guy said “If you need anything don’t even try to call anyone we won’t come”

Julian went to stand up, the big guy stepped forward and looked down into Julian’s eyes.

“I don’t like you” he said “But the boss wants to make an impression, so here you are”

“yes sir” Julian said looking down…he remembered that wet cat smell, he was sure this bulk was a tiger