The Midnight Hour

It's midnight, it's October 31st, it's Halloween. A shirtless Dez Ali is in his boxers sitting on his bed, on his phone texting his mother. Dez Ali been putting extra work in the gym, and it's been unlike him not to message his mom for the past five days, but he's making it right, likely he just need someone like his mom to talk to after what happened earlier on the basketball court with his dad. His mom sends him hugs and kisses, before texting to her son to go to sleep, stay positive and respect his father. He returns the hugs and kisses before closing off Messenger. As he does this, he takes a deep sigh and places his phone down on his bed. He gets off his bed and outs on a black Under Armour sweat pants, sneakers and pulls on a Team Ali tshirt. He grabs his phone and exits his bedroom. He can hear loud music coming from Olly's room, he mumbles loser as he walks by. Moments later Dez enters the gym, there is no one present. He signs in, puts on his Beats and makes his way to the treadmill. The twenty year old works up a sweat for about fifteen minutes when suddenly the lights goes out. Dez quickly stops the threadmill and pulls off his Beats from over his ears, placing it around his neck. He grabs his phone and puts on the light torch.

Dez Ali: Hello?!

A door is slammed shut as he aims the light towards the entrance door.

Dez Ali: Yuh all better stop playing games.

"I Dont Live There Anymore" by Slash begins to play loud in the gym. Dez remember this is the same song he heard playing from Olly's room when he left his room a few minutes ago.

Dez Ali: Olly, ......you're a dead man. I know it's you.....

As Dez turns around shining the light on someone with their back turned to him. They are shirtless and has a several tattooes, but the most noticeable is the massive wings on his back. His phone light begins to flicker when someone puts a hood over his face. The light on Dez's phone goes off. Few seconds after the lights return, the music stops playing. The gym is once again empty.

At an undisclosed remote location, we see someone sitting and tied down to a chair with a hood over his head. The area is poorly lit, as a hand out of the darkness lifts the hood over the head. It's Dez Ali with his mouth gagged with duct tape.

Mystery Guy: What's up?

Dez Ali: Hmmmmm Hmmmmm.....

Mystery Guy: You do know why you're here, tied up, gagged and sitting in front of us.

The guy puts on the light. It's a shirtless Karib Trinidad (wearing blue jeans,low enough to see his black UA underwear, black Tactical gloves and black Tactical boots) and Nick Platinum (wearing a black hoodie, black Levi's jeans and black Tactical boots) . Dez eyes opens wide as he struggles in his well secured seat.

Karib Trinidad: Because of you, our plans were accelerated. You crossed The Masked Angel, you crossed The Bad Boyz bro.

Dez Ali: Hmmmmm....

Karib Trinidad: Your bad decisions, have consequences Dez.

Karib walks behind of Dez and gets close to his ear.

Karib Trinidad: You see I'm here to teach you a lesson, straighten you up and get you back onto the path of success.

The Tattooed Angel makes his way back in front of Dez.

Karib Trinidad: Disrespecting your father, your coach, my good friend, begging him to trade you for greener pastures will not be tolerated bro. And for that..... I'm going to hurt you a little bit.



Karib drives a right fist covered by the Tactical Glove into the abdominal of Dez, who's scream is limited thanks to the duck tape. Before Dez could catch himself a second and third fist is driven into the abdominal of Dez Ali.

Karib Trinidad: I told you Dez, I'll get my hands on you and introduce you to real exquisite pain, but you thought you were untouchable. Reason you made that threat in the first place.

Trinidad connects with another hard fist to Dez Ali's abs.

Karib Trinidad: You thought being the son of Michael Ali wouldn't get you where you at right now. But you kids are too darn stupid. You turned on the one reason you thought you wouldn't end up here because of your sins. Your dad.

Dez Ali: Hmmmmm......Hmmm.......

Karib Trinidad takes off the duct tape from the mouth of Dez. The two are face to face.

Dez Ali: F*ck you!!!!

He then spits on the face of Karib. The infuriates The Tattooed Angel who stands up straight and back up. This is when Nick Platinum steps forward and holds Dez by the throat.

Nick Platinum: Who the f*ck do you think you are little boy?!

Dez Ali: I'm Dez Ali, and that makes me, better than you two clowns. Bozo and Cookie.

Nick Platinum: You got jokes? You think you're funny, right? Alright.

Nick Platinum loosens the strand, Dez hurting from the punches gets up from the chair.

Nick Platinum: Put your hands up boy, you think you're man enough, let's go. Let's do this!!!

Dez is ready to fight, but what he doesn't know is that Karib is re-entered the room from s door behind him and is standing behind him. Karib locks in the Rare Naked Choke. Dez struggles, but the struggling quickly fades and so does Dez who passed out. Moments later Nick dashes a bucket of water on a shirtless Dez who is now hooked up, hands bounded in the air, Dez feet is barely touching the ground. The bruises from the shots delivered by Karib could clearly be seen.

Karib Trinidad: Glad you can join us again Dez. Are you comfortable?!

Dez Ali: What do you want man?

Karib Trinidad: Well you insulted me once too many times boy. I wasn't going to head down this road, was going to take it a little easy on yuh, because of who you are and all, but your actions clearly screamed for this.

Nick hands Karib a leather belt. Dez sees it and begins to struggle frantically.

Karib Trinidad: The problem with spoiled little brats like you, is that you dont know what a good ole ass whooping feel like. No!!! You get your phone's taken away from you, go to your room, go stand in a corner, or the best, you're grounded. Now here's the thing. The more you struggle, the more you going to suffer. So if I was you, I would try my best to stay still, do not move and accept the pain.

Dez Ali: Leave me go!!!!

This was met with a swift strike with the belt on Dez's bare back. He leaps and screams the loudest he could.

Karib Trinidad: You like that don't you? Feels good, doesn't it?

Dez Ali: F*ck you!!!!

Dez defiance only gets him more whipping from the leather belt, Karib swings the belt eight times, landing on his back and chest area before he pauses.

Karib Trinidad: Who the fuck you think you talking to boy? Your disrespectful rude ass, has a price. It will not be tolerated.

Another five lashes are landed, bringing the number to thirteen. The last swing of the leather belt stung the back of Dez, the twenty year old finally breaks down emotionally.

Karib Trinidad: There it is......

Nick Platinum: You're reaching to him.

Karib Trinidad: Oh we definitely getting there. Isn't that right Dez.

The Tattooed Angel swings the belt once more, landing on the back of Dez.

Dez Ali: Okay, .....sorry!!!! I'm sorry, alright. Please, stop.

Karib Trinidad: Oh now you're sorry. What you sorry for?

Dez breathing heavy still trying to register the beating he just received, took to long to answer Karib's question and once again is met with a couple stinging lashes.

Karib Trinidad: I asked you a god damn question.


Dez Ali: Everything!!!

Karib Trinidad hits Dez Ali once again with the belt.

Dez Ali: Ahhhh, I'm sorry for everything.

Karib Trinidad: Details bro. What are you sorry for Dez?

Dez Ali: Screwing up your agenda. Ummm, disrespecting you, my dad.

Karib Trinidad: Not going to lie, that's a start. But there's more.

Dez Ali: Please don't hit me!!!!

Karib Trinidad: Why?

Dez Ali: It hurts, okay. It hurts a lot.

Karib Trinidad: That's good, because if it didn't, we wouldn't have this breakthrough.

Nick Platinum: Progress would not have been successful right now.

Trinidad swings again and again, leaving Ali literally crying.

Dez Ali: Stop!!!! Please stop.

Karib Trinidad: What else are you sorry for Dez?

Dez Ali: Ummm, ......The Bad Boyz, I'm sorry to The Bad Boyz.

Karib Trinidad drops the belt walks up to Dez and slightly taps him on the face.

Karib Trinidad: We're going to have more of this, do you understand me.

Knowing if he does not agree, he'll probably get hit again with the strap. So he nods.

Karib Trinidad: Speak up or the belt will make you.

Dez Ali: I......I understand.

A loud click is heard and a half broken Dez drops to the ground in front of Karib feet. Karib extends his with his hand wide open. Dez grabs the hand covered by a black Tactical and Karib pulls him up to his feet. Karib places his hand behind the neck of Dez.

Karib Trinidad: This is what we call tough love. I need you to understand it and accept it.

Dez Ali: Yeah okay, I accept. Whatever you want. I'm cool with it. Just please don't hit me again.

Karib Trinidad: You're good for now. I see progress already.

Nick hands Dez his t-shirt as Karib slightly pushes Dez in front of him before placing the hoodie over the kids head. Dez was about to struggle, but was quickly held by Karib.

Karib Trinidad: Relax!!!!

Dez passed out, next thing he know he is in his bed, his alarm clock is sounding and there is daylight. Still sore and reeling from the beating he received from The Tattooed Angel. He doesn't remember how he got into his bed, but he's glad he's back in The Academy. He as rested his head back down on the pillow and closes his eyes.

Michael Ali: Hey son!

Dez jumps up and he sees his father Michael Ali (wearing a white v-neck t-shirt, black jeans and white & black sneakers) sitting down in the corner of his room.

Michael Ali: We need to talk.


TO BE CONTINUED........