0700

Tick-tock.

The morning sun yawned wearily and poked its head over the top of a cloud as it readied itself for yet another shift. An all powerful explosion of light filtered through the curtains and showered the lonesome individual that sat upright at his dressing table. The warm glow of the rays caressed the man’s arms, but he offered no reaction; he was no longer capable of feeling such pleasantries. Staring at the mirror in front of him motionlessly, he offered a vacant facial expression that personified despondency. He had so many questions... but the glass pane had so few answers.

Champion had been sat there with that very same look on his face for the past two hours.

The room was a wreck. Broken ornaments were scattered in all corners of the room and day old cigarette stubs had long since burrowed into the fibres of the once majestic red carpet that lined the floor.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

However, the most eye catching feature of the room was undoubtedly the bed.

Champion had turned it upside down and slashed the duvet in a fit of rage. His thinking behind such an act was that the real ‘big sleep’ was just around the corner and he was determined not to waste anymore vital time.

Tick-tock. Tick-tock. Tick-tock.

Finally, Champion roused from his trance like state and threw a glancing blow in the direction of the antique grandfather clock that continued to bark at him. The wooden instrument crashed against the wall with an almighty thud... and then...

Silence.

Champion soaked in the moment as he thought himself free of time itself. The insistent murmuring of the clock served only as a reminder to how much time he had left on the planet; in his head, the date had been set. He began to shake violently as his thoughts wandered of the one challenge left in front of him. He had never been placed in such a situation before.

Champion would have one shot at putting things right against Rick Majors. One shot. One chance.

One kill.

And when it was all over, he’d be able to die a free man with no regrets or doubts about his stature.