"What's your prediction for the fight?"
"My prediction?"
"Yes, your prediction."
"Pain!"
Ok, that wasn't any ring advice I ever got from either of my parents, but was from an old movie about a boxer who fights Mr. T. This isn't boxing, but the words couldn't be more true.
Pain. The searing kind. The kind that seems to attack you on a cellular level and make you want to scratch your skin off. Whatever sort of red gunk Freakshow spit in my eyes, it's burning like a California wildfire. My eyes continue to water as I moan and flop on the canvas like i'm having an epileptic fit. I (obviously) can't see and the blood rushing to my head makes hearing anything that much harder. Of course my pain receptors are firing on all cylinders and my scalp feels like someone's using it for a pin cushion. I'm being pulled along by the hair and I compliantly roll up to my hands and knees, forced to abandon my attempts to get this crimson shit out of my eyes as I'm brought to the edge of the ring....I think. I'm sure the gathered crowd, some baying for the blood of the Dahl House Champion, is getting a nice view of my fishnet clad rear as my suit had steadily been sliding up between my toned ass cheeks. I shake my head, grimacing while sweat and red powder fall from my face and I feel the ropes. Edge of the ring confirmed. The pressure from your arm flattens me and you drag my chest and tummy over the bottom rope until only the toes of my boots remain hooked over the strand. My arms waving wildly as I groan..."No...wait.....please...." just before I get that sinking feeling, my arms flailing, and it's lights out.
Well, not quite 'lights out'...that would be too easy, you see. Instead, I'm treated to a lightshow of stars as they dance in my field of vision and my skull feels like it was just used for a pitching backstop. My head throbbing as I slowly roll and try to pull my legs in closer to my body. I still can't see and can still barely hear while I try to roll to my back and, again, dig the heels of my palms against my eyes, trying to get the red dust out of my eyes. I crawl along the dirty floor like a bum trying to score a free cigarette butt. Finally, getting to the guard rail, I grab the cold, steel, bars, and try to get to my knees. I feel a hand grab my chin and I know it's not yours because it just holds it, as if trying to hold my head still. I open my mouth to start to protest a fan touching me when I feel cool liquid start to run over my eyes and down my face. The burning stops and my vision starts to clear, albeit a bit blurrry. I blink rapidly as things go from a red haze to an out of focus arena with a bunch of slack jawed fans gaping at me. I squint and glance around, trying to find my mysterious benefactor (it could have been anyone, who knows?), but no luck. I need to focus on where -you're- at and I start to turn to face the ring, still on my knees, but doing a bit better than I was just a few minutes ago.
Unfortunately, I don't think that feeling is going to last.