The chronicles of Jasper Monroe

Chapter 2

A few hours later

Jasper had trekked the two miles down the mountainside into the small town. He had ventured into the only small café in this quint town. Jasper was standing before a notice board with flyers of all kinds all over it. He was most interested in the help wanted section. There were various job postings and one-time gigs. Jasper needed to make some quick cash so that he could sustain himself for the next ten days. Not to mention travelling around in search of a way out of his own personal hell. There was an add for a gladiators contest. They were searching for men and woman to compete. He memorized the address and left the café.

Over the years Jasper had become a rather masterful fighter. He was well versed in all types of combat technics from street fighting to martial arts, and all others in between. Jasper may not be able to remember each fighting style from memory, but his body could. It reacted accordingly with whomever Jasper was fighting at the time, without him having to think about it first.

Jasper reached his destination, and he entered the massive building. To Jasper it looked like it use to be a large theater hall. Its seats and stage gutted and removed long ago. In their place stood roughly ten fighting rings. The red paint on the walls was flaking on parts and completing missing in others. Large colorful banners of purples, oranges, reds, and blues, hung from the ceiling depicting images of their all-time top fighters. Every twenty feet or so stood giant marble sculptures of animals each holding a different type of weapon. The large pillars around the room had ancient carvings, their meanings long forgotten.

While Jasper observed the large hall, he was interrupted by a shrill voice. “Hey you! Yeah you. This is an arena for fighters if you aren’t one than beat it!” Jasper smirked at the rat looking man in front of him. “I came here to sign up for the gladiator fights this evening.” The man looked Japer up and down. “Names Bud. I don’t normally let newcomers join in the fights, but I am down one contestant at the present time. Tell you what, you beat one of my men in a short sparring session and you can fill the last gladiator spot in the contest. What do you say?”

Jasper humbly agreed. What choice did he have. Time was already running out and he needed to track down those werewolf packs. Assuming they still exist. The old book he found in the cave had to be three hundred years old at least. He followed Bud to the other end of the large theater hall. There was a man who was tall and muscular who was built like an ox. He had to weigh no less than three hundred and fifty pounds. “Skull, I need you to battle this man. When I ring the bell, you fight. If you are still standing after three minutes in the ring with Skull, I will consider that a win and you will have your spot. Ready yourselves!”

Jasper climbed into the ring with Skull and they each stood on opposite sides. Bud yelled “FIGHT” then he rang the bell. Skull started circling Jasper looking for some type of opening. Jasper just stood there with his eyes closed. Skull took a chance and started dashing for his opponent. As he reached Jasper and was about to throw a punch, he got the wind knocked out of him. Then something slammed into his face. One second Skull was standing up right, and the next he was unconscious on the ground. No more than ten seconds had passed, and the match was over.

Bud stared at Jasper, his mouth agape. He got ahold of himself and said in amazement, “Never in my thirty years of handling fights have I ever seen something so extraordinary. You not only knocked him out in record time, but you did it all with your eyes closed. You got the slot kid. What is your name?” Jasper gave bud his name and thanked him for the compliment. He knew he was a great fighter, but this was more than he ever could dream of. The wolf inside him was precise and swift. He felt as though he had always been destined to be a werewolf. Unlike the other creatures he has been this is the only one that has ever felt natural to him.  Jasper knew that he would win tonight without a doubt and he smiled from the thrill of it.