Boxed Into a Sports Ring

Bread learned more about the peculiar window display during his spare time… which happened to be most of his current days anyway. After a few tries, he became an expert, switching between moving images of grassy fields to channels of old, 21st century films. He knew they were old because of his inner records. Most were supposed to be pre-recordings. But a few more taps in, and he landed on a sports channel that seemed all too contemporary for it to have been from the 2000s—International Cybernetic Boxing.

At first, he was grossed out by the blood. It drenched the platform the two boxers were competing on. But the more he watched, the more he was pulled in and immersed.

A young woman half the size of her opponent—a hulking, metallic figure with arms as thick as her torso—was skillfully dodging between each and every swing he was throwing. It didn’t take long for Bread to be mesmerized. Her movements were smooth, and she flew across the ring like a swirling windstorm.

The woman swiftly dodged to the left. A weighty punch struck where she had just been a few seconds ago. The massive figure dashed towards her and threw another wide shot. She dodged under; a strong gust of wind blew past her hair. Then, when her opponent was still retracting his arm, she dashed in low and slammed her fist straight into the center of his stomach. A stream of air gushed out from around her wrist and elbow like some sort of steam engine. The deafening sound of her glove on his hard, iron abdomen immediately silenced the crowd’s cheering.

The mammoth of a man stood silent for a long while, but the woman didn’t continue her attacks. She bounced back to her corner with a smug smile, and the figure, as if his body had just registered the damage, finally crumbled to his knees and collapsed soon after. The referee almost immediately signaled the end of the fight. And with that, the wild crowd started to chant a name fiercely across the stadium—

“VALKYRIE… VALKYRIE… VALKYRIE…”

And suddenly, Bread felt ecstatic. He felt relieved too. For the first time, he was happy. Overjoyed for someone else’s victory. She danced across that battlefield with such grace and elegance, and effortlessly defeated her opponent. She was an amazing sight. And it showed Bread what it meant to fly. To be free. Like her… Valkyrie…

With renewed strength, he scrutinized the walls and searched again. He was going to escape. He’d promised this stranger on this screen that he would. Just like her, he would dance out in the open again. Just like her, he’d—

“Is that… boxing?” a familiar voice rang through.

Bread looked up. It was him. “M-mister?” Why did he look so angry?

The man’s brows tightened, furrowed like deep, jagged cliffs; he glared at the screen. Then he smashed his fist into the wall with such force, it immediately shut the entire screen down. The tray he was holding shook so violently, the food looked as if they were teetering on the edges, barely holding on for dear life.

Bread scrambled to the corner and tried his best to hide from the furious man. Those eyes… They didn't seem human.

“Why are you watching that?!” the man yelled. He slammed his fist into the wall with each word, changing the scenery of the room with every swing of his arm.

Bread’s hope shattered with each strike.

“I thought you’d watch movies! Something thought-provoking, heartfelt! What is this? Boxing? Absolute blasphemy!” He hurled the tray towards the floor; the food flung through the air. “Why boxing? It’s the most barbaric sport out there! What are you trying to learn? To fight? To kill somebody? Is it me? Am I the problem here?” He walked over to the distressed boy and crouched down. “Look at me. Talk to me. Do you hate me? Do you want to leave so badly?”

“N-no…” Bread answered.

“I’m the problem, aren’t I? I’m rushing it. I’m getting too emotional. Of course you don’t get it.” He laughed. “You’re afraid of me. You can’t even answer truthfully.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “Do you want to leave? Answer me honestly. I promise, I won’t get mad.”

Bread went silent. His breathing wasn’t easing, and his mind was still trying its best to catch up to the current situation.

“I’m being serious. Do you want to leave? Go out into the city and be chased away again? Starve out there with nothing to eat? Do you want to get kicked in the stomach? Stomped like some nobody?!” He paused. “Bread, I’ve seen what happened to you before. I’m trying to give you purpose. To make your life more meaningful. If you stay, I’ll give you food. I’ll teach you to be… something. And I won’t get angry. I’ll try my best. What do you think? Is that a deal?”

The man was obviously trying to undermine his thoughts of leaving the place. Bread could tell even without his common sense screaming out at him. But what the man said was also true. He did need a place to be safe, and he did need to eat. But was it worth it?

“C-can I… leave whenever I want to?” Bread cautiously asked.

“Ah, you’re thinking. Good,” he answered back. “Yes, you can leave anytime. I’m just trying to give you better options. I promise, it’ll be worth it. You’ll find value here.”

“Okay…” Bread started to feel more at ease. Maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad after all. If he could leave anytime, maybe this was a good deal. And the man said that he wouldn’t get angry…

“Just don’t watch boxing again.”

“I can’t watch boxing?”

“No! What is it with you and boxing?”

“I… like it?”

“You like it…” The man suddenly stood up, shaking his head in dismay. “Just don’t watch it.” Then he left and locked the door behind him.