,

Origins

Issue: 1

I didn't choose this life… It chose me…

My name is Adrian Morris and this is where my new life begun…

Almere City

U.F.F.C. Area

September 2nd

11:31 P.M.

"My money's on the kid with jacked up muscles!" yelled a man in a dark trench coat. He was waving a handful of money in the air, betting on the fight behind a steel cage, illegal by the way.

The teenager who looked as if he lifted weights for a living was pounding the heck out of a larger kid with a more round figure. The buff kid was beating the blubbery one to a bloody pulp and didn't look like he planned on stopping anytime soon. With brown eyes filled with rage, the muscular young man with dreads continued to assault his victim until he was completely motionless.

"I told you Fetch's kid would win! Now where's my money!" the man from before was going around like a fool with his money all out, especially in a place like this. Now to be clearer, this Fetch was Gordan Fetch. Mr. Fetch is one of five major crime lords here in Almere City. Fetch, along with Tracy Jaks, James Nemeth, Simon Moore, and Vince Braxtonstechnically run this town with their iron fists.

The male with dreads walked out the cage with a large grin planted on his face. That's when two of the fight's guards walked in to carry out the loser. You couldn't help but feel sorry for the big guy, after all he wasn't a representative fighter of anyone from the crime ring, just some guy they wanted to teach a lesson to and make cash while doing it. Unfortunately I was in the same boat the fat guy was in. You see, I kind of stole from them. And by them I mean the Crime Lords...

"Bring in the boy with the shiny curly hair." a guard yelled as he approached me, looks like I was up. He grabbed me and pushed me pass the crowd of people and slung me through the open door to the cage. I hit the ground rolling until I hit the other side of the cage. I looked on as they sent in my opponent, he was large most likely slow, he barely had any muscle mass but his hits would be heavy, we were roughly the same height, he had a decent amount of fat on his body so my hits would most likely do nothing effective. This was indeed a problem that I doubt I could overcome.

In the back of the 'arena' was a room with mirror glass to see out the room, but not in. This was the room of the crime ring and this is where they placed their multi-million dollar bets while occasionally playing poker.

"Braxtons, ain't that your boy Flubber bout to fight the thief boy?" that was the voice of the man in the suit and top hat, the tall and mysterious Simon Moore. He owned a car dealer ship, but that wasn't the only thing he'd deal. He was the drug lord of the group.

The next guy to say something was actually a woman with crimson red hair. She was considered a vixen and vicious business woman. She ran a corporation involving science technology advancements, but she also conducted illegal experiments on the side. "I say he's losing his shine. May be time to put'em away... for good."

"If Jaks believes it to be true, I'd agree with her." Fetch agreed with Jaks, she did always know what she was talking about when it came to business. Although they were all rivals in Gordan Fetch's underground fighting empire, it wouldn't be interesting if it wasn't challenging and fun to watch. "What do you say? What will you do about Flubber?"

Braxtons glanced out the mirror glass and blankly starred at his fighter and coldly replied, "He's done after this... Fetch, do you mind employing the boy with dreads. Dreggs was it?"

The short and round Gordan Fetch chuckled, "It'd be my pleasure." Fetch used Dreggs as his hitman anyway; the eighteen year old was a monster before he found him anyway. It would be no problem considering he nearly beat his opponent to death previously.

Jaks smirked, she laughed to herself as well, "Braxtons, you'll need a new poster boy. But don't worry I'd be glad to help you." Her tone of voice was just as cold as Braxtons' and she meant every word which she spoke.

Braxtons simply looked out at the approaching fight; he was going to eliminate his son before the end of the night was over. And he didn't even care...

Someone off to the side of the crowd had ringed a bell and the large kid ran at me. He was moving fairly slow, but I assumed he was going to punch me which he didn't. This Flubber guy ran dead into me, pushing me against the wall and he started delivering various slow, but hard strikes to my head. He seemed to be playing with me, I could hear him laugh. I took one blow to the stomach and then he threw me across the cage. I could hear the audience yelling, they seemed angry I wasn't fighting back. I didn't really have a chance to, this big guy had every advantage... or so I thought. I watched him run back at me, he was slow and I was fast. He threw a punch and I felt time slow down as if for just a small second. I dodge to my left and threw myself around his neck. I then attempted to choke him out.

"You fool!" He seemed to become frustrated with me and started moving backwards. I struggled to keep my grip as he moved around like a wild bull; he was literally swinging me around. I had to act fast. I tugged at his nose and pushed my knees up against his back, forcing them to his shoulders. I then jumped off his shoulders into the air and on my way down I grabbed his head and slammed it to the ground. I looked at the boy bleed from his face as it made a very small puddle around his head. I guess the big do fall hard...

"Curly Top! Curly Top! Curly Top!" It seemed the crowd was cheering me on, well a select few. I suppose those who weren't had their money on Flubber.

I slowly stood up looking at the crowd of people outside the cage, the feeling was surreal. Flubber was at my feet, a bloody mess streaming from his nose. I couldn't hold back the smirk forming on my face; I felt a new sense of freedom, an adrenaline like no other.

Jaks could not help the grin that grew on her face, "It seems I was right. Your boy Al isn't up to play this game anymore." She closed her eyes, she knew this would be the outcome, but she didn't expect the fight to end as fast as it did. "I'll tell you right now, that boy has potential to put you up in our little games."

Braxtons starred at Tracy with a look of suspicion, he couldn't help but feel like she was up to something, but he wouldn't address it, at least not until he was sure. "How could I be positive this 'Curly Top' thief is someone I need on my roster? He isn't exactly big, how can I be sure he can contend with others."

Jaks sighed, "Call it my business intuition and you don't need to be the biggest guy to win a fight with the big boys." She was referring to herself as well with that statement. "If I am wrong you may take half the profit my company makes this year, which I remind you is huge."

"Hm, she's making a bet as simple yet as large as that. I cannot say she is a lie." Simon Moore tipped his hat towards Vince, "Braxtons, if she's weighing this much on this 'Curly Top' boy, you'd best take him and groom him into what she sees for him."

Braxtons looked at Fetch as he took a sip of his wine, "Bring 'Curly Top' to me. We'll see if he'll cooperate in an opportunity as grand and grim as this…"

Fetch smirked he figured he'd make more money off this kid if Jaks was right. He turned on his eye piece and gave orders for a guard to bring in the boy with the extremely curly afro.

Just a bit of time had passed since the kid's little skirmish with Flubber. Flubber had been dragged out recently to the side opposite of the crime lords' little room, which was basically a preparation room for the top and known fighters of the underground fighting club.

Guards arrived with the boy in cuffs to ensure he didn't try anything stupid while he stood in front of the big guns. The boy stood silently awaiting what they had to say to him, which he predicted would be bad. He knew he had cost them trouble and thought he wouldn't be seeing his family again after this.

"What's your name kid?" Braxtons was sipping wine in between his words, setting it down after asking the boy with hazel grey eyes a question.

The boy hesitated with his words until a body guard hit him in his back, which stung a little. "Kyle Belle…"

Jaks' smirk disappeared as her face got serious. She had read this kid like a book in an instance, "I knew he wouldn't tell us the truth. Why not give us your real name?" She crossed her arms as she looked the child directly in his cold grey eyes.

The boy sighed, "Adrian Morris…" the fourteen year old stated clearly as he then closed his eyes, not able to look at the intemidating king pins.

"Get a hold of yourself child. We do not wish to kill you, not yet." Simon said with a slightly irritated look.

"Adrian, thanks to that woman over there." Braxtons pointed to Tracy Jaks, "You are safe and I myself offer you with a deal you can't refuse."

Adrian raised an eyebrow to this statement, "And what if I do?" he said with slight resentment.

Jaks uncrossed her arms and frowned upon the child, "You either die or live long enough to see you father and sister murdered… It's as simple as that."

Adrian bit his lip wondering how this woman knew of his family, refraining himself from arguing with the crimson haired lady as he hung his head, "What's the deal?" he asked blankly as he starred at the ground.

Braxtons looked behind him through the one-way glass, "You fight for me and if you survive, simply put, I pay you. It will help you get your family back on its feet and you need to steal no longer. But hear me out… You lose even once and you're out and 'I' get rid of you."

Adrian couldn't refuse this offer; if he did he might as well say his goodbyes. But this was a great opportunity with the money and all; moreover he loved the thrill the fight brought him.

What else was I to do?

I accepted the offer with a smile on my face.

Almere City

Morris Household

September 3rd

3:04 A.M.

Adrian was just making it home as he closed the door upon entering his house. He was sweaty and beat. He just wanted to take a shower and go to sleep with no problems or interruptions. Hopefully his father didn't know he was just getting in. Adrian slowly took his time going up the steps trying not to wake anyone, but that didn't work. A light had turned on and Adrian came face to face with his dad, Rodger Morris. He was a thirty-three year old man with a face full of hairs that had not been groomed and a head losing hair from stress. With bags under his eyes he scolded his fourteen year old son.

"What have I told you about sneaking out at night? You're putting yourself in danger with these stunts of yours." Rodger told his son with a tired voice. "Your mother did not die for you to travel down this path."

Adrian had to clench his fist, "Listen, I can handle myself. I do what I do to help you and Melina out, okay. Mom isn't here anymore and I have to do what I can to keep this family together."

"Does Melina really need a brother that has no regard for the law? She can't handle you going back to Juvenile for stealing and such." His father told him, trying not to raise his voice, "It's my job to take care of this family and I will. You just stay in a child's place and be there for your sister. I can handle this." He let out a sigh of frustration, "Get out of my sight Adrian…"

Adrian had to bite his lip; he doesn't know what he's been through recently. He simply pushed pass his dad and proceeded to his room. Unknowing to both him and his father that Melina was standing by her door, silently listening to the two argue yet again. She watched her big brother, who was older than her by a year, storm off pass her door to his room which was at the end of the hall.

~Adrian P.O.V.~

I slammed the door behind myself as I fell onto my bed. I spread my limbs across the bed as they ached. I couldn't help but slam my fist on my bed just thinking about my selfish father. I get that he is so stubborn he won't accept any help, but I'm too stubborn to accept our life the way it is now… I'm putting my life on the line for him and he doesn't know it. Why do I care so much about things that are out of my hands…? You know what, screw it. My new life to improve my father and sister's begins now whether they like it or not.

...

"Wake up Adrian. We're going to be late." I could hear the voice of my sister calling my name as she woke me up. I covered my head under the cover trying to ignore her, I had a long night to say the least. "Come on. Who's going to help me get to school safetly?" Her voice was sincere, but I knew she was just trying to bait me.

All of a sudden the light from my window hit my face the moment my sister ripped the cover off my bed. I shielded my eyes from the blinding light, "Come on Melina. I'm up, I'm up..."

Melina had stepped in front of me as I lay in my bed, she was blocking the light as my eyes began to adjust to her appearance. She really did look just like my mother with her long wavy black hair and light-hazel eyes that would shine with kindness. "Now hurry up and get ready. We have about 15 minutes until we have to leave out." I watched her skip as she walked out my room, closing the door behind her. She really was a bundle of joy.

I had gotten up slowly due to the bruises I got from last night, they wore kind of sore. And not the good sore you get from working out. I walked in front of my mirror as I took my dirty shirt off. I rubbed the muscles on my stomach as I gentlely touched a few bruises. All of a sudden I hear my phone ring. With everthing that's been going on I forgot I even had a phone. I walk over to my bed to pick it up after seeing the id was blocked. Curiousity brought me the need to answer it, "Hello?"

"Meet me at the U.F.F.C. Area today after school, we still need to test you more. Don't ask how I got your number, I have my ways." the man on the other end of the phone hung up. My new employer was something else.

I looked at my phone, gripping it tighter to the point of breaking, "A new life huh..."

I didn't choose this life… It chose me…

My name is Adrian Morris and this is where my new life begun…