“Come on hit me!”

Through the blurry haze of a growing concussion, 5 missing teeth, jaw broken, and some bruised ribs, Gio tried to focus.

“Did you hear me numb-nuts? I said hit me!” Carlo goaded trying to get any reaction from Gio as he held onto the ropes. What, at first, was just a friendly sparring in the practice gym, turned into a blood for blood attempt at a knockout.

“Hello? Anyone home?!” Carlo screamed.

Gio slowly started to rise, his balance unsteady. He wiped underneath his nose with his glove to stop the annoying drip of blood. Gio focused his mind. His vision may have been blurred but he could still see Carlo favoring his left side.

“’Bout time!” Carlo shook his head from side to side. As soon as he saw Carlo’s right side fall Gio quickly BAM hit him on his right cheek sending Carlo to the mat.

“End Simulation!” Carlo spat out a bloody tooth as the gym turned back to the gray bare room. Carlo quickly got up and saw the small puddle of blood on the reflective floor. “Damnit.”