8. KONAN THE LEGEND

Micheal POV

Meeting Ryan is not a coincidence.

“Really, why are you here?” he asks.

“They framed me too,” I reply with sincerity in my eyes. “I’m really sorry for ever doubting you. I’m gonna get you outta here.”

“It’s impossible,” Ryan replies bitterly.

“Not if I have the blueprints of this place, it isn’t.”

As the words leave my mouth, I see the temporary glimpse of excitement in his eyes. I could kill to see that expression once more.

“Let’s go, Ryan! Keep moving!” a guard interrupts us as they drag him away to maximum security.

............

Returning from the chapel to my cell, all kinds of thoughts creep into my head, the words of the Linton brother, the threat from Jamal and his godfather O’riley, and most importantly, getting Ryan out of maximum security and away from Blackridge at large.

“I got a disturbing message, Micheal. They are gonna take her from me.” Oliver sits on his bed, trouble written all over his face. “She’s supposed to come over for a routine visit on Tuesday. She always calls beforehand to let me know she’s coming, but I’ve not heard from her all through the weekend.”

“Who’s that?”

“My daughter! Somehow, they’ve gotten to her. They say if I don’t spill the location of the diamond, she will disappear like my father.”

I stare at him, but before I can say a word, our cell bangs open.

“Micheal! Get it together, Bishop wants to see you!”

“Who the fuck is Bishop?” I turn to Oliver.

“It’s the Warden, Samuel Vale. This isn’t good, bruv. No one gets an audience with the Bishop for nothing, not unless he’s really interested in what you’ve got going on. Protect yourself, bruv. Rumour has it that he sticks his rod in men’s asses.”

My heart pounds loudly. I am just one out of at least thirty new inmates from days ago. What makes all these guys constantly pick on me? And why is Bishop suddenly interested in seeing me?

“Take a seat, Micheal. I’ve read through your file and you are one interesting person.”

He stands up and walks towards me, using his gaze to trace every angle of my skin.

“I see the scars on your skin. You are a fighter. You know who else here is a fighter?” he asks.

I do not respond, I just stare.

“Mr Linton Khan. And you, my friend, are the very person we’ve waited for. Out of curiosity, when was the last time you fought professionally?”

“It’s been a while. I lost my license.”

“What if I could help you…”

“Get my license back?” I ask, raising my eyebrows.

“No. A path to freedom, Michael.”

He sighs, then continues.

“You are familiar with the death match. A figure returning from the wings of Blackridge and stepping into the IFC to fight the world champion. Konan the Destroyer’s return is highly anticipated, and here lies my problem, no one knows yet, but poor Konan died on an operating table not long after his last match.”

“So what does that got to do with me?”

“Anyone can wear Konan’s mask, but not everyone can fight like him. We have Linton as a worthy opponent, but only Konan could truly face off with the current IFC champion. He has prison cred, and he has the physique and strength for it.”

He then observes, trying to read me through his glasses, but I give out nothing.

“Linton is strong but slim and skinny. He already has the illusion that he and a partner would be free from Blackridge after the death match, but your coming changes everything.”

“How is that?” I ask with hesitation.

“You have the skills I require to keep the legend of Konan alive. I want you to become Konan the Destroyer.”

“No thanks. He is dead. You just need to tell the truth.”

“The audience wants to see Konan again. He moves them, inspires them. And in a world like this, that’s a hard skill set to find. Bring this prison back to life, Micheal. Basketballs are boring.”

He sighs. “What makes you think I will break a sweat, risking my life to do this for you?”

“Win the death match and go straight into IFC, winning eight matches, and you walk away free. Powers that be want you dead, Micheal, you and a man named Lucas. I can get you a surgery, new passport and identity, fake your death, and you will leave here clean.”

“Impossible,” I smirk.

“Those are the rules. Konan has won seven, you have two more to win.”

“But you said eight?” I question in confusion.

“Yes, two because Konan won seven for you. You need to win against the current champion. Your last match is internal. You have taken Linton’s spot. You would have to kill him to replace him, not now but eventually.”

His words are hard to receive, like a bitter pill with no water.

“Call it intuition, but I don’t think you belong here with the rest of these animals,” he speaks.

I marvel at his words, but he does not blink.

“The match is Friday and I need your decision. Ten seconds from now I will retract this offer and extend it to prisoner 77815, James Logan, who clearly, not of your caliber, would be quite happy to take it up.” He adds, “And you unfortunately will be incarcerated in solitary, and even when you finally get out, you will be confined in maximum security with guards breathing down your neck twenty-four-seven.”

“Yeah, lock me up since now I know your dirty little secret.”

“Solitary and maximum security are far better compared to what Victor Hale and Mateo Cruz plan for you the moment you decline and step into the yard.”

“Wooooow!” I voice out in deep thought.

“Leave us!” he roars as the guards bounce the door behind me.

He walks up to me, using his fingers to graze my bare back and chiseled muscles. I stare at him in confusion, trying to figure out his intentions.

Was he actually here to discuss power and a chance at life again, or was he here to look for a new boy toy to play with? Was he into guys like me? My mind travels wide with each gentle touch from him.

His cologne scents mint and chocolate with a touch of something intoxicating.

I laugh in excitement, clearly startling him. I know he would be wondering what kind of lunatic he brought to his office.

His voice softens. “I’m offering you freedom, Micheal. If it’s not worth risking your life for, then what is?”

I seriously feel the weight of his words. On the contrary, I could go into solitary and maximum security just to be put in same conditions as Ryan, but at what cost?

If I refuse, I will be making an enemy of the warden and throwing away a chance to escape. If I fight, I could still look for a way of bringing Ryan aboard.

But I must kill Linton.

How do I even go about it?