(worstfailure)
The Pit in the warehouse basement was actually two pits. Each had packed stands and a set of stairs leading down. The first pit contained a wrestling ring for the one-on-one fights between regular-sized women. It was like professional wrestling except here none of the violence was faked and the only rule was "don't kill anyone." The second pit was larger and more elaborate. It was where the Tiny Trials were held and it was currently closed except for workers who were preparing the first trial. The way the Pit worked was there were six events total each night. It started at midnight with a fight that went on for thirty minutes or until there was a victor. After a fifteen minute intermission, the first Tiny Trial would start. These also lasted half an hour. Once it was over, the second fight of the night would take place, this time with two new fighters, while the workers prepared the second trial. Once the second trial was over, the third fight of the night would begin and it would be between the winners of the first fight and the second. Whoever won that fight would be the one who "fought" the tiny in the Squash Match that comprised the third trial.
Normally the tiny who competed in the Squash Match was the one who won the first two trials, but in cases where there was no winner, the audience would vote on which tiny competed. Apparently they had a habit of choosing the one who failed the most spectacularly in the previous trials. Hell, even if by some miracle that tiny managed to win the Squash Match they wouldn't win the jackpot. The least enviable position a tiny could have here was as a fan favorite jobber.
The holding area Stan was taken to was a translucent, plastic bin where nearly 30 other men were kept, each wearing nothing but their underwear. Except none of them were wearing a flesh-colored speedo. "Stupid, Izzy." The most distinguishing feature on each man was a colored number on their back that went from 1 to 10. When Yama gave him to security, the woman marked him with a blue 9. Most of the men locked inside looked scared. Many others looked confused. Likely they had no idea what was going on, probably abducted off the street and sold to participate in the Tiny Trials without even knowing what it was. A few had looks of shock on their face as veteran competitors told them where they were and what was in store.
"This place is sick," Stan thought. "It needs to be shut down so we can return these people back to their lives and the people behind it can go behind bars. Hopefully Izzy's on the case and isn't doing something like ordering a chili dog now."
Meanwhile, at a concession stand in the Pit...
"Can I get three chili dogs?"
Back in the pen...
Stan was trying to formulate strategies for the trial to come, but without knowing what it was, it was impossible. He wasn't even sure if he should stretch or if that would just lead to him pulling a muscle.
Not knowing what else to do, and to take his mind off of his nerves, he started watching the fight happening below. From the holding pen, Stan had an overhead view of the fight going on in the ring. One of the fighters was a short, lithe woman with a long yellow braid. She was as quick as a frog, hopping from side to side of the ring, avoiding her opponent's attacks and then using the opening to close the distance and deliver a swift punch or kick.
It was really the woman's only option as her opponent was a behemoth, dressed in a camouflage patterned tank top and brown leggings with black combat boots and boxing gloves. For some reason, she was wearing a camouflage mask over the top half of her face with eyeholes cut out. The mask extended over the back of her head and red strands of familiar looking hair were poking out. Hair that was the same shade of red as Stan's own. And now that Stan was thinking about it, the woman's seemingly fatty but really muscular build was almost identical to that of his mother's... Could it be?
"No!" Stan immediately discarded the possibility. "My mom wouldn't be here. If she knew about a place like this, she would've told me so we could investigate. Sure she'd been pissed off when they forced her to retire from kickboxing, but she's no criminal. You're thinking crazy, Stan, and if you don't start focusing on overcoming these trials and getting your head on straight--"
Suddenly the masked fighter struck, feigning a wide punch, she lured the skinnier woman in and grabbed her by her braid, yanking her in like a fish she'd caught. She winded the girl with a knee to the stomach, and knocked her out cold with a combat booted kick to the head. Even women who'd been betting on the masked fighter winced in sympathy for her opponent.
"--you'll end up like that," Stan thought.
"And the Drill Instructor takes the win!" the announcer cried out triumphantly, as the masked woman raised her gloved hands in victory, basking in the cheers of the crowd. "This is her tenth straight win since her debut! This mysterious newcomer has risen through the ranks at an astronomical rate! If Squasher wins her fight tonight, and I have a sneaking suspicion she will," the announcer paused as the crowd laughed knowingly, "then we're sure to be in for an incredible final fight tonight! But first, to tide you over until then, if you make your way over to the second pit, the Tiny Trials are about to begin!"
Even more cheers erupted at this. Women who hadn't already gotten early seats for the trials began rushing over now. Once the intermission was over and the majority of women were seated, a path was cleared and the two security women guarding the pen picked up the plastic bin containing the competitors, one on each side, and began hauling it down to the pit. As the pen was set down, Stan could make out the challenge that had been set up.
What is the first trial?
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