"Hey, dumbass! Get up before I beat you! Tch, going around sleeping on public property...."
Slowly, I open my eyes at the unpleasant and disdainful tone of the police officer infront of me. He was poking me with his baton, clearly itching for a chance to beat me. I mean, I can't really blame him. Nobody likes homeless fool's like me.
It was chilly tonight. Snowflakes was falling from the sky and I had to resist the urge to hug myself for warmth, or snuggle even further into the soft grass of the park in a futile attempt for warmth, but it was for naught.
As I tried to roll away, the unpleasant police officer grabbed my wrist and forcefully sat me up. I weakly stared up at him—
"You dirty...."
"Who gave you the right...."
"Nasty little...."
I couldn't really make out the insults. My mind was weak, my stomach was groaning and I felt lightheaded. I knew my death was near. Honestly, what have I accomplished in my life? The police officer was right. Im nasty, im dirty, im a failure. I would of loved to wallow in self-pity some more, but I was too exhausted to care. Too tired.
Ignoring the insults, I turned my head and faced the celebrations happening inside the park. Today was new years eve. I saw young couples, small families and little children running around. I also saw several homeless men, women and children like me, seeking shelter here, also being abused by police officers around the area.
And to make it worse.....today was also my birthday. Im turning twenty-four today and I'm also likely gonna die today. Isn't that ironic? The day I was born, will also be the day I die—December 31st. Oh well, it's not like I have anyone to celebrate my birthday with. My family have abandoned a failure like me. Im not even sure if they are even alive out there...
Eventually, I was snapped out of my wistful thoughts by a sharp pain on my cheek. The unpleasant police officer, unable to hold back his rage and resentment— perhaps a way of venting his own struggles of life —hit me square in the face using the baton. I stumbled back a little, but managed to hold myself together.
"Ah...."
I placed one hand over my swelling cheek, the pain stung, but I was used to it. Usually, I would timidly nod and just walk away. That was the best course of action. But right now, strangely, I didn't feel that way. Perhaps it's because I know I'm gonna die today, or perhaps this particular officer got on my last nerves.
I glared at the unpleasant officer with barely concealed resentment and smiled darkly.
"You know, you can beat me all you want— hell, kill me if you see fit. I hardly care anymore. What's the point in trying so hard to cling to life, when life itself made it so clear that im not supposed to survive? Go ahead! What are you waiting for?! Beat me! Break my arms! Strangle me! Get creative, asshole!"
That outburst was.....not planned. Everything I wanted to say just spilled out. It was safe to say that the unpleasant police officer wasn't pleased. In fact, he seemed even more outraged by the defiance of this particular homeless man.
"How dare you speak to me in that tone?!"
He lunged forward and easily managed to pin me down, which wasn't much of a surprise. I was weaker, shorter and suffering from hunger and thirst. I couldn't resist at all.
Not long after pinning me to the ground with his superior weight and strength, he was hitting me over and over again using that baton, painful groans and grunts escaped my lips, as my face grew more and more mangled. It was painful. So, so painful....
"Do you know who I am, fool?! Do you? You are nothing! A failure that lives off charity donations from hypocrites that pity you! Say those words again, i fucking dare you."
He stopped hitting me for a moment, atleast.
With my chest rising and falling with each heavy breath, I spat out a broken tooth and stared up at the unpleasant police officer with a terrifying, disgusting grin on my face.
"Why would I need to repeat myself? You heard me clearly."
A punch to the face. It seemed the unpleasant officer wasn't satisfied simply using the baton. He discarded it already.
"And I don't know you. Maybe it's for the better. We don't get along at all..."
Another punch.
At this point, I didn't even bother trying to understand what the police officer was saying. I simply looked up to the sky, seeing stars with each punch— quite literally— my face all battered and bruised. But worst of all....I was still alive. That just made enduring the pain worse.
Is that really so bad, though?
Now that I think about it.....I don't really wanna die. I want to live. Perhaps that's just a desire all humans have. Who knows what comes after death? I certainly don't wanna find out, but it seems I would. Today.
Will I?
I could rise and try to fight back. Even then, I will still get brutally beaten and suffer an even worse death. However, I could perhaps create an opportunity for me to escape. Then, maybe I could live to see the year 2034. But honestly, that's not even the real reason.
I just don't want to die because I'm prideful. I may be homeless, but I still have my pride. Dying here, so miserably beaten without even fighting back.....that's a fate worse than death, if you ask me. But maybe pride is what got me in this situation in the first place.
Ah, who am I kidding? Why am I pondering these thoughts, anyway? I should just follow my instincts. That's how our ancestors survived as caveman, after all....
With a sudden burst of determination and murderous intent, I reach up and wrapped both my hands around the unpleasant police officer's throat, attempting to squeeze it with all my strength.
The unpleasant police officer seemed startled for a moment, but as quickly as the surprise came, he regained his composure and did the same to me, squeezing my throat hard enough to turn my face blue, suffocating me.
It was a matter of who will die first.
"Dammit.....im taking you with me to the grave..."
My voice was hoarse, but I still managed a murderous grin.
The unpleasant officer was no different. Even he seemed hellbent on killing me, albiet less talkative, but certainly not without action. I can feel my grip weaken, my eyes turning blurry and fear gripping my heart— the unconscious desire to just desperately free myself is also there, that I had to fight against.
'Die....just die, you bastard...'
I can see it. He was struggling. His face was blue and his eyesockets seemed to be bulging out. The same can be said for me, as well. Though, i can't really see how I looked like in his perspective. It must be pathetic, though....without a doubt.
The struggle continued for minutes, but it felt like eternity. My grip on him was weakening, but his on me was weakening as well. But in the end....
I saw everything turn black.
Darkness as far as the eye could see.
'Am I dead?'
Strangely, i was pretty calm. Perhaps because i was already expecting it and the death itself hasn't been too much of a painful one either. Im only slightly disappointed that I didn't manage to take the unpleasant officer with me to the grave, it seemed....
Now, where am I?
I couldn't really see. It was dark. Really dark. There was no light whatsoever, no wind, no sound.....just nothing. Is this how death is like? Totally not how it's described in mythology, for sure.
As I took a step forward, I suddenly heard a voice.
[Player 40,345,678, Welcome to The Mulligan! Fight other participates to the death for a second chance at life! Become the last one standing, Warrior!]
'What?'
[Five minute preparation beginning....]