He stared into the open mouth of the gun. It was hollow but wielded an energy other weapons lacked. Jett was aware of the danger in bullets and that a knife fight was a less certain death. The only trouble was, his legs didn’t move as fast as his mind. He had a terrible habit of freezing as opposed to fighting. However, he managed to find his own piece of good fortune in that Vedder was also shocked. The jeers and undulating mass of stink and alcoholism was what jarred him from this malaise. He gripped his tors and ran for the knife. This was like it’s own twisted Hunger Games, a fantasy that wasn’t altogether foreign to Jett.
The slender fingers of Vedder clawed at his face as his nails clawed at the stark plywood boards beneath. Though his opponent was skinny and awkward, he had wild nature that got lost on uselessness. Jett knew better than to trust a man’s exterior and grew accustomed to the caged animal within Vedder. He was preparing for this moment that he didn’t even know would occur, at least on some levels. There was fighting within the brotherhood, that he knew for sure, but this dangerous game was not altogether expected either.
The only way to get the other prospect off his back was elbow him in the groin and abdomen. Though Vedder managed to bite at his ear and tear his hair and shirt, Jett found himself stumbling into the ring. He was splayed out with his back to the wooden boards. They bent and dipped under the pressure and weight of his body. That’s when vedder finally followed his lead. His adversary was now standing above him and kicked his kidneys. The seering pain of a vital organ meeting unnecessary force made Jett sputter. He then leaned forward and gripped Vedder by the ankle and pulled him to the ground. The other prospects body collapsed into the ring with a large slap.
While his opponent was still stunned, Jett crawled toward the stool and yanked the knife from where it was lodged. He held the blade up for a moment of lapsed inspection, and then felt hands gripping his abdomen. His body was pushed toward the ropes and the precarious position of the knife managed to find flesh, only it was his own. The searing pain of a gash on his thigh was enough to unleash his inner rage. He was now fading into the abyss of his own raw emotions. Jett grunted and squealed like a stuck pig. With red faced and hot rage boiling beneath the surface of his skin he gripped Vedder and shoved him to the plywood boards with all his force. The following vibrations shook his feet and he fell to his knees. The other prospect had smeared blood on the wooden surface as his head burst open as a result of impact.
Jett loomed above and considered where he might do the least damage. He hoped this was some kind of sick joke, that he didn’t have to kill Vedder to get his colors, but this wasn’t the only amoral thing he ever did his life. he took a deep breath and the gouged the glinting blade into Vedder’s shoulder. He didn’t want to kill, he just wanted this moment to end, but at the same time, could struggle his way out of his own inner demons. He would do anything for his own success within this club.
Bo lowered the gun and grinned. His teeth shown beneath the glowing lamplight, proof of his inner mirth. The struggle between the two prospects amused his inner love of torture and mind games. He didn’t have a cause for concern until Jett was holding the knife above Vedder’s chest. He had a feeling this was the way things would end, but didn’t bet on Jett’s capabilities either. There was a part of him that wanted to see if he would go through with it, pierce the blade through the kids heart and then bury the evidence. This was not something Bo was looking forward to, but he held his breath as the kid lunged the blade into his victim. He missed the mark.
"Stop, you stupid piece of shit." Bo moved toward the ring and pushed Jett off of Vedder with heavy hands. He studied his presidents unwavering movements and then the nod of his head. He check Vedder’s pulse and found his heart was still beating and dragged him out of the ring and toward his cousin. "Fix this up, will you?" His voice was gruff and disappointed. Bo wasn’t sure if he wanted to watch a murder, or if he preferred to see that Jett wasn’t willing to kill a future brother. This was proof of a sick brand of loyalty, but Bo wasn’t in the mood to sort through his thoughts. He just knew the kid had earned his top rocker, finally.
"Go clean yourself up out back and then come in here." He hollered out to Jett and nodded toward Wilo. When the kid left the room, he turned his attention back to his youngest brother, "Woobs, get the cut, would you?" Tommy would have to present the leather, and now was the time for a melancholy celebration.
He studied the fight with an intensity that seemed to plague his present circumstances. When Jade walked toward him, he didn’t notice her presence until she spoke. Tommy rolled the unlit cigar in his fingers and the chewed at the tip. He spat out some of the brown leaves and then lit a match. he inhaled the putrid smoke and then exhaled without letting it enter his lungs. He then took a large swig of whiskey and placed the bottle on the ground. “It’s complicated sweetheart.” He didn’t want to ignor his old lady, but his mind was at work, piecing together the unfolding scene. He then dropped the stogie on the floor and picked up his own child. He had a hopes for this new addition to the Wickes family.
"Hey kid, look at this shit." He chuckled and held the baby out to see the action. Tommy then cradled the small bundle of malleable flesh in the vastness of his forearm. He never imagined that he would have child, and even when it came to fruition, the size of a baby was what fascinated him most. They were so small and vulnerable, like the inner recesses of his own being.
"Yeah, that’s enough." he nodded to Bo and then handed his child back to Jade. When Jett left the room he raised a bottle in the air and then to all his brothers. "We got some club business to handle." He kissed Jade on the cheek and made a circling motion with his index finger. "When that little shit comes in here, tell him we want to see him in church." He walked out into the cool night and then eventually into the familiar doors of the clubhouse. He was home again, and now time and business were marching forward. With one important member lost this year, they had just now gained another, at least if the vote remained unanimous.