"Hello prisoners, this is your manager speaking. It seems like you're all getting acquainted with your new partners. I recommend that those in rooms 4, 7, 13, and 16 cease their fruitless fighting, and instead prepare. The first round will start soon and you'll need a healthy teammate if you wish to leave this place. That's all I can say, good luck!"
Click
"..."
the room was silent. Both the Barbarian and I stared each other down, waiting. After a few moments, he backed away, dropping his guard. Heading the words of our 'manager,' I did the same. It seemed we'd need each other to survive.
The barbarian steps forward, extending his hand.
"What's your name?"
I pause for a moment, constructing a backstory in my head.
"Im Achilles, what yours?"
"John." he says, his grip tightening around my hand.
I give him a nod, not even reacting to his tomfoolery.
He glances me up and down, checking out my physique, probably assessing me. "Where are you from, Achilles?" he asks, patting my back.
"I was a soldier on Desolux," I respond, trying to keep up my facade.
"Ah, a fellow Republic soldier!" the man lets out, grabbing my shoulders.
"I was on Thalassa, the water world! We heard rumors that Desolux fell... not that our superiors would confirm them."
"So, if you're here, does that mean that Thalassa fell too?" I ask, never hearing of the planet's name before.
"No, no, we were luckily able to hide in the underwater cities, keeping out of the Aeperium's sight. They were able to take air superiority, yet weren't able to capitalize on it, due to the planet be covered by a massive ocean. After months of ambushing their aircrafts and botching any attempt to create some sort of landing base, they were forced to exit our world's orbit."
"Then how are you here?" I ask confused. How was he taken as a prisoner if his planet was so easily defended?
"After driving out the Aeperium, we were sent out to help other besieged planets. I was sent with a small fleet to commandeer a separated flag ship, west of Thalassa. Yet when we got there, we quickly realized that it wasn't a flag ship, but the Chancellors Bannership..." he pauses. It was obvious what happened next.
"We were quickly surrounded by the Chancellors fleet, his men commandeering our ships, taking us prisoner."
He releases a sigh, walking toward the sink.
"Come wash your face, we gotta clean that wound." he said, pointing toward the large bloody scratch he left on my face.
I didn't complain. John seemed to know what he was doing. He was a soldier after all.
John seemed to be an awkward man. He'd very gently touch my head, cupping water into his hands, pouring it on my small wound. Caring and human touch seemed almost foreign to him.
I twitch and let out an awkward scream as the water touches my wound. It stung bad.
"How old are you?" he asks, cupping more water into his hands.
"Im twenty years old." I respond, wincing as more water cleanses my wounds.
"still young." He says quietly. "I'm nearing thirty myself. This is a dire situation we find ourselves in."
I nod, heading toward the bunk bed, still trying to gain this man's trust.
"Before we were brought here, we were told that only one of us would have the chance to escape this prison, and that the rest of us would die trying. I can only hope one of us becomes the victor of these wretched games."
…
The manager's voice cuts through my sleep, awakening me from my slumber.
"prisoners of rooms 13 and 14, are you ready? In a few moments, you and your partner will be taken to the arena. No items or weapons of any kind are allowed! If found on your person, we will be forced to kill you!" She giggles.
click
A cold shiver runs down my spine. Would Commodus actually kill me? Or would he let me die? Surely not... right?
Suddenly, the heavy titanium door opens, revealing 2 guards dressed in house Tiberius uniforms, both carrying an electric baton.
Before I'm able to stand, the guards rush in, dragging me off the bunk. One hits the side of my body with his baton, sending a strong shock throughout my body. My muscles spasm and convulse as I drop to the floor, gasping for air.
John leaps off the top bunk onto the guard, tackling him to the ground in an attempt to help me. The second guard is quick to jump in, unleashing a brutal series of hits, beating john to the ground. The pain of electric shock paves through my body. It is much different compared to the usual pain from metal or fists. The electrecity made my body react in ways I couldnt control. It made my whole body spasm uncontrollably.
John's blood stains the floors as the guards continue to beat him. After I finally recover, I attempt to pry them off of him, screaming at them, telling them to stop.
I was beat once again in response. They beat us relentlessly, but finaly after what feels like an hour of beatings, ordered us to our feet.
It seemed like we managed to land a few hits. The first guard's nose was broken, his blood dripping onto the steel floor.
The beating may have only lasted a few minutes, yet it caused some serious damage. Johns bruises and scars increased while flowed out of various opened wounds. I wouldn't be surprised if he also had a concussion. I myself did not look much better.
Long, deep gashes ran down my body while cuts and bruises cover my face.
They grab us by the arm, dragging us down the hall. I hear the sounds of cheering and clapping in the distance. We were not the first gladiators to step into the arena.
Various doors, much like ours lined the wall. Behind them was no doubt blood thirsty prisoners, all eager to fight for their freedom.
We are thrown into a dim, empty room. There was nothing inside. No weapons, no toold, no enemies. Just us and the cold silence.
It was clear that this was the place the Chancellor's gladiators were supposed to gear up, yet there was a problem.
Where were the weapons?
Both John and I stand still, confused, and unsure on what to do.
We watched as the guards close the doors behind us, locking us inside. I try to open it, but there was no handle. We were stuck.
It didn't take long for the female voice to once again bless our ears.
"Greetings, prisoners of rooms 13 and 14. This is the first round. Once you enter the arena, your goal will be to kill each other! Once again, no weapons or tools of any kind are allowed! Now make sure to put on a good show!"
she giggles. It was quite horrifying to hear. She sounded so sweet, so innocent, yet I cant help but feel the chills. How could someone with such a voice demand so much violence?
"Wait a minute." John screams. "You want us to fight without weapons?"
For a moment, silence. I no longer hear the chearing crowd. I have already tuned them out.
"Exactly!" the voice of the manager replies, filled with a creepy excitement.
Suddenly the room starts to shake. I hear the familiar hiss of steam filling pipes as hydraulics work their magic, shifting the walls. It felt like the room was rotating. I feel the gravity shifting ever so slightly, forming a knot in my stomach.
We were descending.
The elevator door opens, and crowd's cheers and roars crah into us like a wave. The arena was absolutely massive, much bigger than most on normal planets. It was hard to believe that we were still in space.
The arena seemed to be divided into many different rooms and boxes while the crowd had a perfect bird's-eye view, all waiting for the action to start.
I hear the chants. Their call for violence is loud, clear, and demanding.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"