Chapter 105

The boxers danced around the ring, moving quickly on deceptively light feet. They weaved in and out, their huge muscular bodies never tiring as they reigned down blow after blow upon their opponent, knowing that victory was theirs. Then again, it always had been. It had been a one-sided match from the start. They knew it. Their opponent knew it. There could only ever have been one conclusion. The bell sounded, loud and trill, marking the end of the round and the boxers drew back to their corner, their broad chests heaving in and out, more through excitement than exhaustion. They huddled together, not through fear of course, but rather a natural instinct that always drew the clan together, their putrid bodies twisting and writhing, casting monstrous shadows on the blood-splattered walls. Each round had seemed sweeter than the last and it was that which drove them forward. Victory, it seemed, was addictive. With each triumph of their fists against bloodied flesh, the thrill