Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
That night in the conference room of the P.R.A.’s headquarters lay a melancholy mood. The same day where they buried a fellow agent, the day that begun a new life for each and every one of them. Devin concentrated on the door until it finally opened, appearing Erin, who was the last to arrive “Did you catch him?”
Shaking her head, she answered “Traffic. He had a motorcycle.”
“What do you think he wants with them?” Leah asked.
“Use them to bring down the team.” Ryan guessed.
“He doesn’t have to, it’ll happen on it’s own.” Darren muttered.
Erin turned to her friend and back at Darren “Guys…”
“I don’t feel good.” Mia looked up with puffy red eyes.
“Suck it up. This weekend, we’ll have more to worry about.” Devin turned to a small desk behind him and pulled out a red envelope. The same kind that was used for a wedding, except inside was a rainbow colored card.
“Who sent us a wedding invitation?” Jenna reached out to open it. Her eyes widened in horror as she turned up to Devin.
“Read it.” Devin nodded.
She nodded slowly “To the Puffy-Rodent-Asses. You are all cordially invited to Hung Gor’s Circus of Freaks, where humans are treated like animals. An audience awaits for all of you to put on a show. Mark your calendars for December 25, Saturday. If you cannot make it, the animals will be killed and delivered to your homes. Hope to see you there.”
“Psychotic bastard.” Ryan muttered.
“What the hell does that mean? He’s going to torture them in front of us and make us watch?” Leah asked in disgust.
Erin turned to Devin “What do you think we should do?”
“If we don’t go, they’ll all die. If we go, there’s a chance he might pull a Roger Kwok on us. Bomb us all to death. He’s capable of doing that.” Devin shook his head “It’ll be walking into a bear trap. Are you guys in?”
“It’s been a while since I kicked ass. I’m in.” Leah smiled slowly putting her hand in the center of the table. She looked around waiting for the others.
“If we die, we die with pride.” Jenna grinned and imitated Leah’s hand.
Ryan laughed, “You can’t leave me out, can you?”
“It wouldn’t be the same without me.” Erin turned to Mia and Darren, eyebrows raised.
Mia looked around the table and slowly reached her hand on the collection of hands that were piling up “I’ll go too.”
All eyes turned to Darren as he sighed and reached over with his hand “I might as well take my anger out on someone else.” He glanced briefly at her but she refused to look at him in the eye.
Devin laughed as he nodded proudly “We are missing almost half of the team, but I’m confident that we’ll walk out of there with an accomplishment. Let’s make Joe proud and knock ‘em dead!”
Eventhough their spirits were down, the group still managed to give a decent holler “Yeah!!”
***********
It was Devin’s idea to go into a strict training process within the short time that they had. One week was not enough but they were short on time. He walked around the training room and helped out the younger teammates with their stances and perfected their punches. He found Darren by the punching bag, taking out his anger.
Approaching him, Devin held onto the bag for more control to help Darren get the best out of his workout “What are you trying to do, kill the bag?”
“No, I’m imagining his face on it.” Darren grunted as he punched the bag with his wrapped up hands.
“There are some things that look too easy to assume.” Devin said wisely.
Darren stopped as he wiped away the sweat on his forehead “It’s a little hard when the answer is right in front of your face.” He walked over to a small bench where his water bottle sat and took a few gulps.
“How long have you known Mia?” Devin began.
“Six years.” Darren answered without thinking twice.
“How many years have you loved her?” he questioned, Darren gave him an exasperated look “Just answer me.”
“Almost six years.” Darren replied “I think it was love at first sight for me.” A small smile appeared as he thought of the past but soon, it faded when reality hit him again “But what the hell did I know?” getting up, he began punching the bag again.
Devin shook his head “To be in love with someone for that long is not something everyone is blessed with. Don’t throw it away just because you thought you saw something different.”
Darren paused as he turned to Devin “Do you know something I don’t?”
“Possibly.” Devin nodded but didn’t want to give all his thoughts away “Just trust me on this.”
Mia and Erin were training together in the open room, where the ground was matted and mirrors surrounded them. They punched at each other and blocked until their arms were sore. When they grew tired, Mia raised her hands into a T position “Time out.”
Erin relaxed her stance with a smile “Tired already?”
“Like you’re not!” she laughed while throwing her a bottle water. She drank the water and poured some over her head “Aww…that feels good.”
Erin raised a brow and looked down at the mat “Just don’t let Devin see that, it’s a hazard.” She said with a hint of sarcasm.
“Still making nice?” Mia shook her head “What is going on with you two? Any chance?”
“I don’t know.” She looked down at the bottle in her hand “He has a girlfriend.”
“So I heard.” Mia shrugged “So what, you’re way better than that girl. If you like him, go for it. Guys like to be pursued, I guarantee it. How do you think I got Darren?” Erin turned to her friend while Mia’s face covered with guilt “Come on, let’s continue.”
She decided not to push Mia “Okay. You attack this time.” She rolled the bottle water away and used her t-shirt to wipe the water that Mia spilled. She stood up to Mia’s hands on her hips and look that she recognized with ease “What? It is a hazard!”
************
While the people celebrated the joyous holiday, the team walked through the streets of the small city. Solemn as they ignored the lights and festive songs that people sang together. It was ironic that on the happiest day of the year, they would be facing death. Possibly their own, but there was no turning back. It was going to happen whether they liked it or not.
It was no accident that Hung Gor chose Christmas day to battle with the P.R.A. He hated that holiday and wanted nothing more than to hide in his place until it was over. But it would be different that year, he was going to destroy the team once and for all. Those that tried in the past could not do it but he knew he could. He was positive and maybe a little too cocky. But that’s what made him powerful and successful in all that he did.
The manufacture storage room became a huge circus arena with high ceilings. The walls to the cage room was broken down and the cages were visible. Lights were exaggerated, hanging from wall to wall. Hung Gor was dressed like the ring master, with a whip in hand he felt giddy to start the torture chambers. Pointed iron clad walls were hung to the side, waiting to be used. The place looked look a fetish movie ready to be taped.
Devin led the group inside as they looked around and tried not to let the torture equipments intimidate them. They turned to each other with strange looks “What the fuck is wrong with this guy?” Darren managed to spit out after almost stepping onto a pile of nails on the ground.
“Welcome!!!” A booming voice called out from a speaker system that left an echo in the hollow room “I’m glad you all could make it!”
“We wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Devin smiled calmly.
Hung Gor appeared in a sequined tux, his bow matching to his bright gold outfit. The black whip in hand as he spun in around his neck and lit a cigar “That’s all you brought?”
“That’s all we need.” Erin said with confidence.
He laughed “Balls, you guys got balls. But don’t mind if I bring a few more of my people.” He raised a hand signaling to turn on the lights. It was blindingly bright as the group had to wince to block out the flow of lights that flooded the room “I like being in the spotlight.” Hung Gor explained.
“Freak.” Mia muttered.
He tilted his head towards her “Excuse me?”
“I said FREAK! Open your ears.” She dared to mock him.
A group of people dressed in black rolled out in long rows standing behind Hung Gor. The team spotted a few familiar faces “I thought you were stabbed and left in a ditch somewhere.” Leah snickered at Ah Bat.
“Baby, I aint going nowhere.” He challenged.
“We’ll see.” Mia threatened.
Hung Gor raised another hand “I don’t have the patience for word games, how about we start?” turning to Ah Gam, he nodded for him to begin.
Using a control, the cages began to shift and move high above the group from its original positions. Long bars ran across the ceiling holding the chains in place “What are the rules?” Devin asked knowingly.
The crazy man smiled wildly “My game, my rules. One fight at a time. One person from each team will step into the center ring and fight until death. If you guys win, we will release one person in the cage. If you lose, you die. Simple enough?” He tilted his head at the group exchanged looks “I was never a big fan of rules.” Frustration building up as he waited for their answers “People, it’s not rocket science. Yes or no. No, then we kill them all.” He pulled out a gun and pointed it at one of the cages.
“Patience is definitely not one of your virtues.” Devin smiled “We’ll take the challenge.” Turning to his team, the smile faded “Guys, this is it.”
“If I die, kill that bastard to avenge my death.” Erin looked around firmly.
“Likewise.” Mia smiled.
Jenna turned to her Uncle “Any last advice?”
“Yeah, kick their asses!” he growled with a laugh causing the others to laugh along.
“I’m bored people!” Hung Gor yawned.
The group turned to face him “Who’s first?” Devin asked.
Hung Gor nodded with a confident look, pulling out his cards, he read the first one “This fight is for the handsome Riley Kwok. Son of the late Roger Kwok and now president of Kwok Jewelers. Worth at least 50 million dollars. Anyone want to claim him?”
Leah didn’t have to think twice as she stepped up “I’ll fight this one.”
Snapping his fingers, Hung Gor commanded one of his assassins to come out. Before they were put into the ring, Jenna rushed over to her friend “Don’t weaken. I know you don’t want to kill anyone but think of Riley.”
Nodding, she agreed “I know.”
“Let the fights begin.” Hung Gor announced.
The two entered the ring and bowed politely, but the second the bell rang, the opponent attacked her with full force. Leah was not prepared for the vicious attack as she spent most of the time blocking and moving swiftly away. The team watched worriedly, praying that she would be okay, the guy was twice her size and appeared to be quicker “Come on, Leah…punch him in the balls.” Jenna muttered.
Erin turned to her with a smile “Just give her a little time.”
But Leah had another thing on her mind, she was trying to exhaust him by blocking but not attacking. Soon, when he was breathing heavier, she found her chance to begin her attacks. Whipping her arm in punching motions, she aimed for his face and eyes. Her ring cut him across the edge of his eye causing him to bleed and soon was blinded by the blood. She finished him with a leg spread across the floor, tripping him. She raised a foot to stomp over him when Devin’s voice stopped her “Leah!” she turned to him “We’re not here to kill anyone. We already won.” She nodded and jumped out of the ring.
Suddenly a gunshot rang out as they turned to the ring and watched the bullet wound began to spill out with blood “Now he lost.” Hung Gor replaced the gun in its socket.
“Damn, he’s crazier than we thought.” Jenna whispered.
“Release him.” Devin pointed to Riley’s cage.
Hung Gor shrugged as he nodded to Ah Gam, who did as he asked and lowered the cage. Leah grinned happily as she rushed towards him, he was bruised from head to toe “You bastards!” She cried while supporting him.
The group laughed at their misery. Ryan quickly rushed over to help his former teammates “Sorry, my boys were itching to hit something…or someone.” Hung Gor’s lame attempt of an apology.