The Thrill was something I would never forget. Never. The blood dripping from the dagger was enough to wake me from my boring life. Interesting. When I woke up today, I never thought that I would end up going to the arena, and that I’d be beating a man in a honor duel. All in all, the worst day in my life, the one that woke up my true purpose.

The two soldiers told me to drop the dagger, noticing that the messenger was already dead.

“Come on Son, you’ve had your duel, now, put it down so that no one else has to die.” Said the Soldier.

“Well, if I’m going to the arena to get killed, why not fight here now that I have the chance?” I Asked what was, for me, an obvious question. Why would I succumb to fate if I could oppose it now? We don’t live in a free will based universe, we never have. Freedom of choice is something that has never existed, and never will. The Universe shall always condition or determine our choices for us, even if we think it hasn’t. This makes our freedom an illusion, doesn’t it? If that’s the case, then fighting right here seems like right choice.

“Kid. We don’t want to kill you. Don’t you think you’ll have a much more glorious death in the arena?” Asked the soldier.

“Glorious you say? What is there of Glory in dying like a pig for the entertainment of Stuck up fuckers who just let you starve in the end, even if you win? Is there Glory to be had in the arena? Thousands of people have lost their lives there. And I can guarantee that none of them wanted to be there. Forced by destiny… Or by their hand.” I said, pointing to Lady Elaine, still sitting on her carriage before continuing.

“Don’t you think that killing those who cause oppression would save the weak? Did you not make a vow to protect the weak? Is this how you do it? If so, you’ve failed as a soldier. And as a Knight.” I Said.

Maybe I pushed it a bit there, but it still needed saying. Whatever I could do to prevent going to that coliseum they called arena had to be done. I couldn’t go there. Honestly, I just don’t want to die a virgin. Lame reason right? Well, there’s no need to be afraid of death, after all, it’s a part of life. But for the love of god, don’t let me die as virgin…. PLEASE!

And now, I’m shouting in my own thoughts. Great, since when had I become so crazy?

“Kid. Stop being delusional, they are the ones who rule our country, they are absolute….”

“What if they were wrong?” I interrupted the soldier. “What If everything they said went for their own interests, and not of this country as a whole? Is it right to sacrifice thousands for personal entertainment? Tell me.”

“Enough. It seems like you won’t listen to reason. I’ll give you one last chance. Stand down, or I will kill you.” He said.

Suddenly, the fat woman left the carriage allowing her white hair to flow with the wind. I imagine she thinks that she looks stunning, but from where I stand, even the women from my village were better than her.

“You two have to stop. Come on, there’s no more reason for bloodshed is there? You….” She said while pointing at me. “Thou shall go to the arena, and perish for my amusement.” She said before soldiers put themselves in front of her, as if acting like meat shields.

Die for her entertainment? Interesting. I even thought for a moment that she wasn’t as bad as other people thought. Seems like I was wrong though. The Bitch’s NERVE!!!!!!

As soldiers quickly surrounded me as well, I decided to surrender. With this many, I wouldn’t be able to run away, but might just have a chance to guarantee freedom in the arena.

According to the Fluglal Household, as long as a slave fighting in the arena won One hundred battles to the death, he or she would be granted freedom once more, and some money to restart their lives.

And due to the fact that I’ve just killed a messenger and insulted the Lady of the Fluglal household, my head’s on the chopping block. FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! This can’t get any worse.

I guess I’ll take my chances in the arena. I quickly decided to drop my weapons on the spot before I was killed.

They all moved towards me, before grabbing my arms and arresting me to take to the arena.

“Rest well my dear. I shall personally make arrangements so that you shall die like the dog you are tomorrow.” She said before getting on her carriage and leaving.

Everyone who had watched what just happened didn’t even want to believe. They had all watched a murder, a political debate between a convict and a soldier, and the lady of Fluglal calling all the plebeians pigs. Incredible. She didn’t even make an effort to look good in public. She just acted like the stuck up bitch she is. Great.

That is all I could think as I was being taken to the arena. Even though the town was giant and colorful, I didn’t feel like looking around and enjoying my surroundings. Could you blame me?

                                                                                              ***

We had finally arrived in the Arena. As soon as they were taking me in, they had to register me in the list of combatants, to announce matches.

“Alright Kid, what’s your name?” Asked the Arena Manager, the one preparing the combats.

“Clayton. Shane Clayton, 17 years old.” I Said, not even knowing why I was throwing my age into the mix, it was maybe into hoping that someone would feel sorry someone as young as me had to die here.

“Oh, here’s a letter from the Fluglal Household. This one is to have a pre-arranged match for tomorrow on the morrow. Get it ready.” Said the soldier before freeing me and throwing me into the catacombs of the coliseum, where all the slaves lived.

I knew the Conditions for slaves were degrading, but I never imagined how poor they actually were. Geez, there are no beds, just rocks. There are no tables to eat. We eat on the ground. No windows, just the bars that separate the catacombs from the main area where the “Gladiators” would die…

These bars were everything that separated this miserable life, and a miserable death. Who the hell had been arranged to fight me tomorrow? I know it sucks, but I don’t intend on dying. Not yet. I’m still a virgin!

In any case, I decided to walk around and see if I could meet anyone, maybe that would ease everyone’s tension… or not. Everyone here looked as if their life had been sapped from them. Truly, most slaves here had already heard the whole stadium shouting “Kill” for them to finish the business.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Entertainment” she called it. Entertainment my ass. People die here. Things one day will change, I’ll change them. And when time comes, I’ll make that bitch die for MY ENTERTAINMENT. And for that, I’ll have to survive tomorrow’s duel.

Suddenly, a young girl started shouting about how she would live one more day.

“ONE MORE DAY! ONE MORE DAY!” She started shouting. If not for the place we were in, I would definitely have called her crazy. Who knows why she was saying it though. Decided to ask her.

“Hey there, why are you so happy? Did something happen?” I asked.

“Yeah, someone got moved to tomorrow in the morning, so my combat was delayed for one more day! I’ll get to live one more day! Thank you, god!” She said, as if it was all she had asked for.

What a measly god. Offering his people ‘one more day to live’ under these terrible conditions, instead of easing their suffering.

“I was the one who was moved to tomorrow morning.” I Said. “I came from out there. Killed a messenger that said he was going to increase the quota, and then insulted Lady Elaine from the Fluglal house. Of course she wants me dead tomorrow. No matter what. Great meeting you though.” I Said, with a weak smile.

I had given up on hope. A corrupt senate, ruled by corrupt households, all forcing the innocents to die in their behalf, all so that they could live happily. I Just couldn’t take it anymore.

Suddenly a hand lay down on my shoulder. The girl was probably trying to comfort me. Knowing that you would die the following morning didn’t give you anything to be proud of. Especially when I look at all I didn’t accomplish. Well, no wife, no kids, nothing to really be proud of. Nothing. Is there anything that may have given my life meaning?

I hadn’t noticed before, but her weak, but sweet voice tried to comfort me.

“You’re going to do well out there, I just know it.” She said, with a smile that could captivate any man.

The wind blowing from the racks in between the bars that separated our “homes” from the stage made her long and beautiful dark hair move with the wind. A moment that I would never forget. If I had to die know, I would die a happy man. I know, I’m a simple guy

Her looks weren’t something incredible. From living as a slave she had acquired some muscle, especially on her legs, but I still couldn’t bring myself to say anything.

She stared at me for a moment, trying to understand whatever was going on my mind, until I woke up from my trance.

“Sorry, should have presented myself. Shane Clayton. What’s yours?” I Asked.

She again, stared at me. “My what?” She asked, oblivious to my question.

“Your name… Don’t you have one?” I Asked. It sounded like a silly question, but slaves in our country weren’t granted any names, at least if they had never met their parents.

“Oh, my name’s Sophia.” She said, smiling again. Geez, if you keep smiling like that, I’ll fall for you right here. Or would, if my death wasn’t so close. And even if I survived my next battle, she would be the one to die. What a ridiculous life to live here.

“No last name though. I actually didn’t have a name. A good friend of mine gave it to me before she left.” She said. So, my guess was right. She didn’t have a name. But now that one was given by the person she admired, she must wield it with honor.

“It’s a beautiful name, just like her owner.” I said, trying to ease the atmosphere. I Couldn’t expect the reaction that came next though.

She took a step back, completely embarrassed. Well, as slave, not experiencing love was normal. Not that I could say anything, even as a “Free” citizen, I had never experienced it.

But I couldn’t think more about it. I had to rest. If I wanted to survive tomorrow, I knew I had to keep my strength up, and so, I decided to retire, knowing that it was getting dark.

She was still freaking out of the fact that I had called her beautiful. It’s not like she was bad looking, she could actually catch the eye of many guys, mine included of course, not that there weren’t any better looking women out there.

Her beautiful dark hair flying with the wind, somewhat curvaceous figure, damn it, what am I Thinking?

I decided to take a seat on a corner to see if I could fall asleep, after all, it’s not like there was anything to do around here. And since I arrived after “dinner” had been served for the remaining slaves, I would go to sleep with no food on the stomach. Not like I wasn’t used to it, life on the field was like that.

I didn’t really know what to do. I could hold my own in a fist fight; I’ve always been tall and bulky enough to withstand most impacts, without negating my speed. I might not be the as fast as a lightning bolt, but my endurance was still nothing to scoff at. But even so, this wasn’t a fist fight. Oh no. A fight to the death, using real blades.

Honestly, I am afraid of death. It’s not like you can see it coming. You know, your story is something that is written on a book as you progress. Until you meet your end of course. I felt as if my story was finally reaching its final pages. Didn’t even know how to feel about that. How was I supposed to come to terms with my own death? Even if I had today just killed a man, and revealed my psychotic nature, that still didn’t mean I could still look death in the eye and smile. No way, I still haven’t gone that far.

I Put back my head, trying to rest, as tomorrow would be a big day.

***

From turning around, my head hit a rock, which made me wake up with a jump. Damn it, that hurts! Still, it was hard to think it was already day… Or so I thought. It was still dark, the middle of the night. Did I actually sleep anything? I decided to get up and take a look around.

As soon as I got up, I heard a voice praying. It was a woman’s voice. One that I could easily recognize. Weak and soft voice could come from no one but Sophia. As I heard her praying, I decided to approach her.

Looking around, there are many more slaves here now than when I came in. All of them sleeping on the floor. To think that from now on, I’m one of them. Well, maybe not for that long.

As I approached her, she heard my footsteps and turned around. She quickly recognized me in the dark.

“Oh, Shane. It’s you. Nervous for your big combat today?” She asked.

“Yeah, too much. Can’t sleep.” I lied. I had just hit my head, but the more I thought about the subject, the less I could come to terms with it. When you have lived all your life , always trying to make the best out of everything you came across, to finally see it being taken from you… It was terrible.

“I can imagine. I haven’t been able to sleep for a while.” She said, noticeably holding back her tears.

“If you don’t mind me asking, may I know how you ended up here?” I Asked, foolishly, not knowing I was treading on prohibited grounds.

“I used to be a sex slave.” She said. This shocked me. How have I had the right to complain about my life? HOW? When she had lived like that, and still kept her beautiful smile?

“My best friend and I used to live on the Fluglal Household’s catacombs. Raped every night. Who knows how many men have had their way with us… Until one of the women in the household decided to free us. She was probably one of the maids. At least her outfit indicated so. As soon as she freed us while everyone was sleeping, we decided to make an escape. For a better life you know? If we ended up escaping to another Canton, our status as Slaves would be revoked, and that’s what we left our hopes on. Trying to run from that castle was infinitely hard however. We had never seen the outside of the catacombs, and so, we could not navigate in it properly. Ended up meeting one of the Household’s knights on our way out. When he said to surrender, my best friend decided push me away as we started running. Of course… That man… I’ll never forgive him…. He did… Everything to her… IN FRONT OF ME… Before finishing her with his lance. Her final words… ‘Live Sophia… For my sake as well’ And… That’s why… I have to smile!” She said tears flowing out of her face…. I didn’t even know what to say… How could have I been so selfish? To have only looked on my life because it was convenient? So many more people have had it much worse… And I… And I… Selfishly only thought of how I was about to die.

“And I don’t even know why I’m saying this to someone I just met… But… To think that everyone you cared about died before your own eyes….” She said.

As soon as she said that, I knew I had to comfort her… Somehow.

In a split second decision, I decided to hug her. “I won’t leave you.” I Said. As if it mattered the fact that a stranger she had just met tried to comfort her. I meant nothing to her.

She grabbed me as well, allowing her tears to flow down my clothing. Or what was left of it.

“Don’t die tomorrow. Promise?” She asked with teary eyes.

“I Won’t. You have my word.” I said, trying to convince not her, but me. That I would somehow be capable of surpassing this obstacle.  This battle would either be the end of my story, or be the beginning of a new act.

Which one will it be?