The Neon Pit

The sun was casting shadows of the decaying buildings out onto the warm water front. The sound of crickets and frogs already singing their melody in the tall, dancing grass as the city slept silently. Each sky scraper was covered with moss and their windows either broken or were gone. Some had fallen over, some slumped against one another, or some were just standing skeletons of aged steel or thinning wood. There was a gentle whistle when the breeze passed through hollowed cars and cooed over street signs. The streets had flourished into a tall, waving grassy field. It turned from bright, healthy green to near black the sun hid behind the buildings. The car’s silhouettes stretched down the streets till they swallowed the entire street. Darkness had now awoken now that night has arrived. A street lights flickered to life, glowing florescent purple down over a bus stop. The next block, the next street light flickering on, being a dull green. The next light was crimson red. As the next light flickered on to be neon blue, the blaring noise of a storm siren rose obnoxiously louder. The noise echoed through the streets, closer; it vibrated broken glass and trembled water in the streets. The eerie, ear bleeding noise had awoken the city.

A loud thoom! erupted from the north side of the crumbling city. There was a plume of debris a mile high, which gradually combed through the streets and into the open square of downtown. Just then, a distorted, blood-curdling screech rattled glass. Down in the ancient city’s bones, a figure casually walked through the fields. Combat boots that flopped their tongue within each step, chains danced loosely around their waist while a climbing axe dangled along their right thigh and a climbing hook attached to a robe bounced against their left. The figure listening to the jingling in their messenger bag as it bobbed off their rear. They tugged at the hood of their half cloak, tilting their head down so only the freshly healed scar on their masculine chin showed under the red light. Grass and rocks shook as the ground trembled as if in steps. The shaking grew more violent each time; the figure peeking up to see the street next street light flicker on. It bobbled from the tremors; the man pulling his climbing axe out and walked. The air rippled at his hood, jerking it back and revealing tonight’s contestant.

His sheen aqua-to-white hair was held back by a black-and-blue bandana, his eyes were icy blue and were cold with determination as he whipped around and slid backwards. A plume of smoke erupted sideways as an explosion from down a dark street a couple of blocks down. The siren continued to wail as neon lights began to flash throughout windows of the surrounding skyscraper. The man’s heart battered against his chest as more lights flickered on, some moving in beams over the building like it was once called Las Vegas again—like it was hundreds of years ago. The grip on the climbing axe tightened as a low, rapid clicking noise hit his ears. This was it, this was actually it. His anticipation near dropped when a colossal figure emerged from the debris. Skin leathery yet rocky as an ebony moving mountain, it easily towered over human size. Intimidated, he couldn’t help but gawk at the tall and bony shoulder. His eyes trailed over its enormously stocky, short neck. The beast’s head was scrunched up in its nostrils, teeth curled out to show off its jagged yellowness. It flared its nostrils and snorted, sending up dirt from the grass in a gust as it stamped its large paw. A deep groan rumbled from the beast’s deep chest as it turned its head to look straight at the man. Just then a large speaker obnoxiously squealed, then crackled, a cheerful voice echoing over it the emptiness square.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the Neon Pit!”

Cheering and shouting came from the vacant building, sending chills down the man’s spine. He unclasped the collar of his cloak as he watched the Kampfer gradually come out into the open. Its posture replicated a big cat as it was calm and read to pounce, yet looked like a more mutated reptile. It was a long and appeared extremely skinny from nearly every rib and hip bones show. From the stocky neck and shoulders, it carried its strength like a Bison. From the shoulder blades to the tip of its short nub tail was covered in jagged spikes. It could be amongst them. His mind thought as the announcer’s voice rattled off the rules to crowd. But at this point, he already knew them by heart:

Get the heart locket from the opponent.

Anything goes.

The Neon Pit was his last resort. To get more medicine for his sisters and his family out of the slums. With the locket, it was a ticket into a better life. With the locket, he would be considered a Pit Champion. All he had to do was find the locket on the beast and get it off of it. “Kampfer,” He exhaled and pulled his cloak off, “Creatures that scientist genetically created through the mix of varied animal DNA.” He walked over and looped the cloaked over a bench under the light, watching beast lip twitch. The man’s arms were toned and had straps over his chest, holding a baton-looking club to his back. A deep groan lured in the monster’s chest. “They survived the World War Four or known as the Nuclear War. Now they rule over us.” He bounced the axe in his hand a few times as he walked back over to the middle of the covered street. He parted his feet and narrowed his eyes. “Today, we call them Kampfers.”

The beast snorted at the ground and turned to face him, lowered its head to the point it nearly touched the ground. A smooth, low male voice came from its mouth. “Do you know why we rule over your race?”

The man flipped his axe over his arm them clapped it back against his forearm, raising it in defense mode. “You’re an intelligent one. Only a hand full can speak, let alone mimic voices and sounds.”

“I am one of the oldest.” The Kampfer stomped forward. “You think you’re better than the rest of your kind?”

The man’s voice lowered. Was I really having a conversation with a monster? “I never said that.”

The Kampfer turned its head to the side, he groaned then snuffed. “Then why are you down here? Surely not for glory like the others.” he blinked its beady black eye.

“Tonight’s entertainment is the great Molduk vs contender Levi Stryzier.”

“Levi.” the Kampfer gave a clicking noise and took another step.

Levi took a long step back, reaching its left hand into the messenger bag. The name Molduk rang a bell to him. More or less, it sent his heart to skip a beat. He looked the Kampfer up and down again if it just stepped into presence for the first time. So this was the great Molduk. The undefeatable Molduk. He swallowed nervously behind his defensive arm. He squeezed the axe tighter to hide his growing nerves. Frustration and doubt flooded his mind. Why the hell did they throw a rookie in with a veteran opponent? This was defiantly rigged, they did this on purpose! His left hand found the gun then. His eyelids involuntarily fluttered from the twinge of excitement that tugged at his heart. He took another step back when Molduk raised his head and calmly arched his thick neck, making Levi stiffen. His legs locked up as his stared at the white case strapped around a rock spike on his throat. His heart jumped into his throat that his hears were muffled from the blood pumping in them and the sound of the announcer still talking. The beady black eyes of Molduk suddenly lit up with glowing orange irises. Let’s hope this works. He sucked a short breath and in ripped his left hand out and aimed at the nearest building; he pulled the trigger. There was a loud pop and small puff of smoke, watching the swirling rope soar and the end soaring into the empty depths. He pulled the trigger again. His body whisked off the ground, the Kampfer idly watching the human fly off the ground then tuck and rolled through a broken window. The Kampfer curled its lips for a second then spun around, pickings it back leg up.

Levi’s mind was rambling off the next ten options to do next as he listened to the utter silence of the building.He was crouched behind a slopped desk, leaning on his fingertips as he glanced around the corner. I have to do something before he already finishes me off. He didn’t spot the Kampfer anywhere but heard it breathe in. I gotta do something. Then something caught his glimpse, turning more to him. He gasped, watching a large paw about to crash course straight for him. He pushed off his left foot and bolted for the windows, watching his horrid face grow closer. He threw his arms and leapt just as glass shattered, feeling himself crash through window. His heart was racing as he saw the ground coming at him, threw his left arm back and pull the trigger. Once, then twice. A sharp pain shot into his shoulder as his body jerked into the opposite direction, biting his tongue as he swung around the corner and towards the Kampfer. Out of the corner of his eye, debris shot out like a cannon out the side he exited. He gulped as he swung up, pulling the trigger again. The cable retracted as he soared higher then slowed a stop, glaring down at the Kampfer. What do I do next now, Levi? Do something!

He watched Molduk pull its leg out, collapsing the entire level of the building. It slammed down on its base and instantly crumbled from impact. It rained down, making Lee snap back into action. He aimed to the next building and shot, swinging just past the creature. Do something! I can’t run away all the time. His left shoulder throbbed as he reached over and pulled his hook off his side. His eyes found the white box, picturing the black heart-shaped locket. I have to do this. He swung it around a few times then did a sideways toss, same time releasing the cable. The hook struck and latched onto a spike, grabbing with both hands, Levi around and back towards the Kampfer. The Kampfer snorted and stood up on its rear legs, being the near height of the surrounding buildings. Its eyes were set dead on the human as he pulled his axe out and shouted out his war cry, “So be it.” The beast groaned. He snapped at the air with incredible speed, breaking the sound barrier. It sent a gust at Levi, sending him back. The Kampfer then took a side step, jerking the tiny human back like a ball on a string. “Goodbye, Levi Stryzier.” In agony, Levi shouted as he felt his body rag doll from sheer force, watching him fly right back at Molduk as he opened his mouth. It pried open and there Levi could only stare at thousands of teeth covering the inside of his mouth. Then his eyes fell to the white box, feeling his hope fly out his soul. How many people have died over this stupid locket? Just to have a better life in this dark world? Levi let go of the hook then shouted, he began to twirl his body in the air. The glint of the tiny blade on the axe as it swirled amused Molduk, leaning into the falling projectile. Levi closed his eyes.

Then they opened to the sound of his alarm.