As the announcer welcomed Jasper's opponent to the stage, Kait knew without a shadow of a doubt that Carl Santino couldn't be trusted and worse, that he was probably looking to ruin Jasper just like he had with all his other clients and his strange sports drinks were somehow a part of that.
Chapter 94
Jasper could feel the adrenaline running through his veins. He was pumped up and on fire. As the announcer called his name and the crowd roared, he knew he could do this; he knew that he could win. He couldn't even feel his bad knee which was wrapped with a supportive brace.
Knocking his hands together, Jasper was ready. He bounced from foot to foot, unable to keep still. The hum of the excited audience further fuelled his energy. This was his moment to reclaim his status, to prove to the world that he wasn't done yet, that Jasper Duboix still had something left to give.
"Fight!"
The first bell rung, and Jasper leapt at his opponent like a wild cat, throwing punches which landed with deadly accuracy. All the other fighter could do was try and remain standing while he took the blows. Jasper clamped his teeth against his mouth guard and kept punching. His arms felt like powerful springs which just kept releasing. He felt like he could go all night.
Another bell rung. The first round was over, and Jasper was ahead on points, but the way he was performing, his opponent would be knocked out before too long.
"That was amazing, Jasper, just brilliant," Carl approached his corner of the ring as Jasper dropped on to a waiting stool and used a towel to try and dry up some of the sweat which was running down him in rivers.
"Thanks," Jasper replied breathlessly.
"I knew you could do it," Carl was patting him on the way as though he'd already won. "He's basically all yours for the taking now."
Carl passed a plastic sports bottle up in to the ring. Jasper raised it to his mouth and drank heavily, too dehydrated to even glimpse at it. Once he was in a fight, he ran on auto-pilot. All of his behaviors were learned and tactical.
"That's it," Carl commended him, "you'll need all your energy to finish this guy off."
Chapter 95
"Jasper, no!" Kait was screaming to be heard over the roar of the crowd. Jasper was on the other side of the ring, drinking down the sports drink Carl had given him. Kait felt the knot in her stomach tighten with each sip he took. She kept screaming and waving at him, but it did no good; it was like he was completely spaced out and unaware of his surroundings.
"Dammit," Kait eventually had to admit as she sagged back down in her chair and the announcer declared the start of the second round. As she watched Jasper stand back up and approach the center of the ring, banging his fists together in an intimidating way, she felt sick. She sensed that something terrible was about to happen and there was nothing she could do to stop it; all she could do was watch.
Chapter 96
With each step he took, Jasper felt the energy seep out of his body like water down a drain. He suddenly felt exhausted. Gone was the excitement, the adrenaline. In its place was never ending fatigue. Jasper felt like he'd looked down a well and the limitless darkness he saw had somehow invaded his body.
"Come on," he urged himself with a brisk shake of the head. Was one round really all he had in him? He'd been training harder than ever. Surely he could last longer than this?
But as a punch connected with his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs, Jasper realized that one round was truly all he had to give. He did his best to avoid his opponent's punches and kicks but his own movements were slow and sluggish. Each time he saw a punch coming, he was unable to move out of the way in time. He heard his own bones crack as powerful blows connected with his cheeks, shoulders, and ribs. He was utterly powerless to do anything other than take a beating. Soon, even remaining standing was an effort.
"Just don't drop," Jasper thought to himself. Because if he dropped in the second round it really was all over. He'd go from being a has-been to a joke.
Gritting his teeth, Jasper weathered more blows, but his body was beginning to crumble beneath him, like a cake that hadn't been cooked long enough. His opponent delivered a sharp right hook, and Jasper went down. First he staggered back, noticing his own blood splattered across the mat. And then he dropped. His knees buckled, and he fell to the mat like a defeated giant. Before he closed his eyes, he saw the crowd on their feet, yelling and jeering. Were they happy or mad? He couldn't tell. As he slid into darkness, the arena became still and silent.
Chapter 97
"Jasper! Oh God, no!" Kait was crying, one hand hovering over her mouth in horror. Jasper lay on the mat of the ring, his eyes closed.
"I've never seen someone go down that hard," the person behind her noted sadly to their companion.
"Jasper!" Kait had to get to him. She pushed towards the burly security guard, and instead of holding her back, his stern face crinkled with pity. He let her pass and hurry towards Jasper's corner of the ring where Carl was already poised to help escort him back to the dressing room.
"What the hell happened to him?" Kait demanded shrilly.
"He lost, that's what happened," Carl replied tersely. He was on his phone and seemed distracted.
"It was that drink!" Kait reached for his shoulder and spun him around to face her.
"You're hysterical," Carl told her, his eyes narrowing.
"He's unconscious!" Kait gestured madly towards the ring where paramedics were now bent over Jasper.
"He'll be fine," Carl shrugged. "Fights get knocked out all the time. We'll give him a precautionary MRI, one night in hospital and he will be right as rain."
"You're a monster!" Kait spat through gritted teeth.
"How about you go and tend to your boyfriend instead of arguing with me?" Carl suggested in a sickly sweet voice. Kait wanted to tell him to go to hell and to slap the smug smile off his face, but she needed to be with Jasper. With a terse sigh, she left Carl and went to check on the man she loved.
Chapter 98
When Jasper opened his eyes, all he saw was blinding light. He squinted against it and tried to get his bearings. As he moved, he felt the sting of something restrictive in his arm. The more he looked, the more he recognized the white tiles on the ceiling and the beeping which provided an annoying soundtrack to his thoughts. He was in hospital. Which could mean only one thing – he'd lost. Regret powered through him like a blade. How could he have lost? He was primed to win. He went out hard and fast in the first round. Had he given too much too soon?
His head ached with all his questions, and the machines beeped shrilly in disapproval.
"Argh," he groaned. "Dammit."
"Jasper?" Kait's voice was welcome and sweet beside him. He felt her touch upon his hand before he was able to turn on his pillow and look at her.
"Kait," he coughed her name. His throat was so sore, as though he'd been swallowing razor blades all afternoon.
"I'm so glad you're awake," Kait told him, squeezing his hand harder.
"What?" Jasper swallowed nervously, not sure he truly wanted to know. "What happened?"
He saw the pained look on Kait's face which said it all.
"I lost, didn't I?"
She nodded, confirming his initial fears.
"Dammit!" he slumped back angrily against his pillows.
"But I think I know why," Kait moved closer to the bed, her voice low.
"Because I'm past it," Jasper replied bitterly. "Because I've had my time and now I'm going to go out as a loser. I'll never be back on top."
"No!" Kait's tone was insistent. "It's because Carl has been drugging you."
"What?" Jasper titled his head to gaze at her. She sounded crazy.
"It's those drinks," Kait continued, talking quickly. "Those damn drinks that Carl insists you drink. There must be something in them, something that sedates you and forces you to lose. You need to stop drinking the drinks, Jasper!"
"Kait," Jasper gave her a sad smile. She was sweet to try and make him feel better, but what he needed to be doing was addressing the facts. He was past his prime and needed to finally accept that. Kait's crazed theories weren't going to make anything better.