Scar Tissue

Ethan tossed his hair back from his face with a deft flick of his wrist. Wet from the rain it fell back untidily to frame his face. He pulled his jacket off and tossed it to the pavement, it was too bulky and would get in his way when the fight started. He braced himself for the beginning, raising his arms to help protect his face. The scars on his forearms stood out, a pale yellow underneath the sodium street lights. The most recent one stood out lividly, still sticky and wet from the pus. He grimaced as the cold rain fell on it, making it sting. He could feel his heart beginning to pound as adrenaline was released into his bloodstream. His pulse quickened and the raw cut began to throb, sending dull waves of pain up his arm. The few people who had lined the street looked at him oddly, disgust flashing in their eyes, some turning away so that they wouldn't have to see what he had done to himself. He ignored their condemning gazes and focused on Hammer Morton standing opposite him. He tried to ignore the look of hatred that was etched on his attacker's face, but all he could feel was the need to beat him into the ground. "Fucking bastard," he whispered to himself.
He couldn't bring his anger under control, he couldn't control the urge to beat him into the ground an kick his head in. "That bastard ruined my life," he murmured viciously under his breath, "I'm going to make him pay for that." "Hey Mr. Razorblade, have you gone schizo as well," Hammer shouted across to him, "You going to stand there all day and talk to yourself or what, come on and fight." Another wave of anger flashed through Ethan, so strong that when the feeling hit him it nearly knocked him over. "Fuck you Hammer," he called back, struggling to keep himself under control, "Just bring it on, I'm ready for you."
"Whatever you want, Knife Freak." He charged at Ethan his fist raised. Ethan stood firm, watching his charge from behind the strands of his hair that had fallen back over his eyes. He dodged to the side as Hammer swung in a fierce blow that would have broken his jaw, had he made contact. Ethan quickly swung one back in retaliation, catching Hammer in the ribs. Hammer grunted as the blow fell, ignoring the brief dart of pain that shot through his solar plexus. He spun around swinging another wild blow at Ethan. This time Ethan blocked the blow with his arm. Hammer's fist caught his fresh cut and a wave of pain shot through his body, releasing more adrenaline into his blood. His eyes widened as the adrenaline reached his brain and he grew light-headed. He swayed briefly before the pain shooting up his arm cleared his senses. He ducked as Hammer swung another blow at his head, and he struck back, slamming his fist in under Hammer's ribs. The tough muscle absorbed most of the blow, but Ethan wasn't weak and Hammer stepped back as a spasm of pain racked his lungs. "Why you," he stepped in again swinging his fist in low and catching Ethan in the stomach. The force of the blow knocked Ethan back and he fell to the ground, his whole upper body shaking from the force of the blow. He glanced up and saw Hammer coming at him through the thick veil of hair that had fallen on front of his eyes. He rolled to the side, dodging the blow and jumped to his feet. He tossed the hair back from his face again, as he dodged another vicious punch from Hammer.
He was still struggling to catch his breath as Hammer came after him again; he hopped to the side. Cries went up from the small crowd that was watching the fight; "Coward!" rolled through the crowd and incensed Ethan. He saw that Hammer had stopped his assault briefly as he listened to the crowd in satisfaction, a malicious grin spreading across his face, "Hear that Blade Junkie, I don't think that they like you too much, I can't say that I'd disagree with them either." He ran at Ethan again, first throwing a high punch with his right hand that Ethan easily dodged and then swinging his left in low with another blow that caught Ethan under the ribs; crushing the last bit of air in his lungs out of him. Ethan collapsed to his knees under the blow, coughing as pain filled his chest. "What! don't you like the pain? I thought that you'd be enjoying this," he swung another punch this time connecting with the side of Ethan's head. Ethan was thrown aside by the blow and lay sprawled, face down on the ground as he tried to regain his breath.
Pain was coursing through his body now; his head was foggy from the last blow. He struggled to keep his eyes opened as he dragged himself back to his feet. "Oh look who's coming back for more," Hammer taunted, the crowd cheering him on. "You bastard," Ethan spat as he ran at Hammer. Hammer stood firm as Ethan swung his fist in. Hammer blocked it with his arm and threw a punch back at Ethan. Ethan dropped to the ground and rolled to the side, swinging his leg around and catching Hammer behind his knee. Hammer fell to his knees as they buckled from Ethan's low. Ethan jumped back to his feet and swung his fist viciously at Hammer's face, making solid contact with his nose. He felt his nose collapse as blood gushed from his nostrils. He stepped back from Hammer, as he began to lash out violently with the hand that he didn't have clutched to his nose. "You little runt, you broke my nose." Hammer regained his feet and stepped back while he regained his composure. Cries of "Come on Hammer!" Broke from the crowd again.
Hammer grinned as he dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out a penknife. He flicked open the blade and tossed it from hand to hand as the crowd went silent. "Let's see you dodge this one," he shouted viciously, his voice a muffled, nasal whine, "No one does this to me and gets away with it." Fear gripped Ethan, he had no wish to die, even when he cut himself, he never would go too deep, just deep enough to clear his mind and get rid of the mental agony that he endured. Now he was staring death in the face, death from one of the thing's that had allowed him to hold his life together. He ignored the growing lump in his chest however and braced himself for Hammer's charge, hoping that he was only bluffing. Hammer smiled as if he had just read Ethan's mind, "This is no bluff," he grinned wider. He ran at Ethan, swinging the knife. Ethan jumped back and dodged the first slash, he ducked as Hammer threw in a second and he dived to the side to dodge a third. As he landed his foot caught the kerb and he crashed to the ground. He rolled as Hammer slashed at him again but this time he wasn't fast enough and the knife cut his forearm, re-opening the new wound. He cried out in pain as tears filled his eyes, another release of adrenaline slammed into his head as he staggered to his feet. He staggered backwards, hoping that someone would call an end to Hammer's madness, but the crowd had been stunned into silence; many had even left, not wanting to be called in as a witnesses when the police showed up. He staggered backwards at a half run as he tried to dodge Hammer's blade. "Shit what do I do?" he thought frantically to himself as he side-stepped another slash. He saw an opening as the knife's momentum carried it to the side. He jumped in and slammed his fist into Hammer's stomach again, feeling the breath gush out of him. He stepped back a bit and then swung for his head. His fist stopped in mid-swing as pain slammed into his stomach. He looked into Hammer' s eyes and saw him smiling as he gave the knife a quick twist.
Agony flooded into Ethan's mind as he fell back from Hammer. He saw the bloody knife still in Hammer's hand, as he staggered backwards, his hand clutching his stomach. His eyes were wide and his mouth fell open, as he let out a noiseless scream. The few people that had remained behind to watch the end of the fight were already running away from where himself and Hammer stood. He gazed up into Hammer's eyes as he fell to his knees, "How do you like that, not much fun now is it." Hammer stood leering down at him as a wave of pain knocked him from his knees and he fell forward until his forehead touched the ground. He coughed up blood as spasms racked his body. The hand that he held clutched to his stomach was wet with blood and he could feel it soaked his T-shirt, clinging it to his chest. "You bastard," Ethan coughed as pain exploded through his body once more. His vision was beginning to blur and already Hammer was obscured by the black spots that floated in front of his yes. The pain in his forearm was forgotten as he clasped both of his arms around his stomach, "You rotten, stinking, cheating bastard." Ethan slumped to the side and the last of his breath left his body in a bloody froth. Hammer stood over Ethan's dying body and watched as his eyes rolled back and glazed over. He delivered a swift kick to Ethan's body before he turned and fled from the approaching Police sirens.
When the first police car pulled up, the officer in the passenger seat jumped out and ran to Ethan's side. He flinched backwards as Ethan coughed violently, blood issuing from his mouth. He had to restrain the urge to vomit as he saw the horrific stab wound in Ethan's stomach. Ethan's arm came up and clutched for the officer's arm as his body shook in one final convulsion before his head lolled back and he slipped away. He felt his restraints go as he saw the scar tissue on Ethan's arm and realised why he had been killed. He turned to the side and threw up. His partner took his arm and led him back to the car, before he turned back to the body. The officer sat in the passenger seat absently rubbing his forearm as he felt the cut beginning to throb. "Oh my God," he whispered to himself before he stuck his head out the window and vomited again.
Keith O' Sullivan
25-10-04