Dorian crawled to the fence unable to move or feel his legs. The base of his spine had been fractured, the nerves were crushed and destroyed.

“Show them what we’re capable of,” Bryn said from the audience. He looked over and saw only hate in her eyes. Every inch of her body was prepared to fight.

And why shouldn’t she feel that way? Look at this place. Filled with evil. Each of these spectators chanted and begged for death, so maybe Dorian should fulfill their wishes. Would the world be a lesser place if these Cretans were wiped from the planet?

“I’ll say it again, kid. Tell me what I want to know. Let me pull you out of there. I’ll keep all of you safe. You’re going to need to make a decision soon or you won’t live long enough to see that little girlfriend again. Then again, if you think your opponent is tough, you should see who I’ve got her up against. She’ll be tortured mercilessly, so maybe it is for the best you die here,” Jaylon said into Dorian’s earpiece.

He scratched and clawed at the embedded disc, tempted to rip the thing clean from his neck.

No more. No more talking. None of you deserve to live. None of you deserve to breathe.

Dorian could feel the air surrounding him, enveloping him. He pulled at it, hoarding it, from every corner and inch in the arena. No conscious thought was involved, just an overwhelming desire to end this.

Haitea cocked his head as he approached. When suddenly he ran his fingers over his chest and lungs. He seemed to recognize Dorian’s plan.

Then everyone in the arena clutched at their throats. Even Bryn.

Dorian’s tunnel vision only allowed him to see one thing. Hold one goal in his mind’s eye. He pulled the air from each of their lungs.

Many in the crowd began to pass out and collapse. Haitea tried to make a last-second dash, aiming for Dorian’s head; he was going to cut it right off.

But his muscles screamed in desperation, unable to function or move another inch. The mind can focus on little else when it’s deprived of oxygen, loses all sense of its surroundings, and no longer has any wants or needs. It only cares about survival.

Haitea dropped to the ground, clawing at the dirt, desperate to keep on living, with no solution in sight.

Someone fired a few rounds of errant bullets at Dorian. They were fired wildly. Unable to focus and aim at their target, each shot completely missed.

Perhaps it was the desperation that led to his understanding, to comprehend his capabilities.

Now he understood their power, the legends of old. The strength of his ancestors and of The Structure. While at first they may have been blindsided. Now they were unstoppable they were–

–Suddenly Dorian felt a powerful electric shock in his neck. The communicator Jaylon had installed also contained a shock feature for such an occasion.

His eyes fluttered before he passed out from the voltage, finally releasing his death grip on all those who surrounded him.

----------------------------------------

Skye had his ear pressed to the cell room floor, trying his best to make out what was going on below. Soon a hole in the ground opened up revealing a ladder that descended below.

As he worked his way down the ladder. Mid-climb he heard the announcer say:

“Well, well, well. You can’t say you’re not getting your money’s worth today! A bit too much excitement if you ask me!”

The crowd became furious and outraged. As Skye climbed lower, the negative attention seemed to be focused on Jaylon, or more appropriately, Dorian. Passed out lying by Jaylon’s side.

They wanted his head, to tear him limb from limb for attacking them like that. The crowd was on the verge of a riot.

“Settle down, settle down. If everyone behaves, they’ll be a free tankard of spiced Jimsi waiting for you.” the announcer said. This seemed to instantly lift the crowd’s spirit. Who doesn’t love free alcohol?

When Skye reached the bottom of the area he found himself right next to Myka.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Now if you hate The Structure as much as I do, OooOoo, I have a treat for you! A two versus one match, but not only that. All three of our contestants…Are from the Structure!” the crowd erupted. “So no matter what happens, you’ll get to see one of these cretzaz get what’s coming to them!”

The crowd loved it. From the Structure? Skye couldn’t believe it, he instinctively moved in front of Myka.

Their opponent entered the arena from above. An older woman stood in front of them. Heavily cloaked and covered, they could barely make out any features.

“Let’s work together, and maybe we can find a way out of here,” Skye whispered to their opponent, but the crowd heard every whisper.

“Oh. That’s not gonna work son, but good try!” the announcer laughed, mocking Skye.

“Long time no see Hurraka!” Jaylon shouted into the ring. She instantly tensed up and instinctively reached for under her ear.

Did she have the same discs embedded in their necks as they did? If she’s from the Structure, did Jaylon also capture her at one point? Skye thought to himself. Of course, it was possible. But why hadn’t her fellow recruits protected and defended her?

There were so many questions he wanted to ask her.

Hurraka removed her cloak and neatly folded it in the corner. She had long surgical scars running up and down her arms and legs. Her face also didn’t look quite right. It was like she was wearing a poorly constructed mask or had numerous botched plastic surgeries.

“I see they’re still teaching garbage at that place. Still getting their recruits massacred. Do you still believe in The Structure? Do you not know what we truly are? Why were we born on such a wretched planet?” Hurraka asked Skye and Myka.

They were at a loss, they had no clue what she was talking about. Hurraka sighed in disappointment.

“Because we are in a sense. Kin. Do not think for a second I will hold back. But I shall give you a swift death. How much you suffer, will be completely up to you.”

As they prepared to fight, Skye suddenly realized how utterly powerless they were at this moment.

Jaylon thought he was a Duud and Myka could only heal. This was on purpose. Putting them in an impossible position so that they would give in to his demands.

Jaylon must have noticed that look of doomed recognition.

“You now must have realized the futility of your situation. Say the word, I’ll pull you out,” his voice echoed in their heads, right on cue.

Hurraka didn’t hesitate to make the first move. She blew a fine crystalline powder into the air.

Skye’s senses were immediately altered, the ground seemed to move under his feet, like it was made of water. Hurraka began to grow multiple arms and Myka’s voice distorted.

A hallucinogen. What an odd power he thought to himself as he giggled. At least they’d die having a good time. His state of mind had been altered.

Skye tried to backpedal but tripped over his own feet. Crashing into the arena’s fence behind him. Laughing the whole time.

Myka pulled at his shirt, trying to get him to stand. The moment she placed her hands on his back, his mind cleared, and the effects of the powder disappeared. It didn’t seem to have an effect on her. Skye used the wall to steady himself.

Hurraka was almost immediately able to identify Myka’s power.

“You are the angel they predicted. Your poor, poor thing. Believe me when I say. I am doing you a favor, you will not have to experience and see the horrors to come.”

“Skye…” Dorian said weakly from the stands. He’d finally regained consciousness. “You have to protect her. I know you can do it… I know what you did outside the Structure. I don’t know how you did it. But whatever your ability may be. You need to do it now,” he pleaded.

Skye knew Dorian would unravel if something happened to Myka. They needed him, or rather, they needed each other. The four of them had to stick together. He could feel Bryn’s anger boiling over, but there was nothing she could do. If they made a single move, Jaylon would shock them.

But Skye hadn’t been able to manifest his power since then. He’d tried many times with little to no result. Hurraka sprinted between them, kicking Myka hard in the abdomen, she gasped and collapsed to the ground. A long blade protruded from one of her arms like it was attached to a mechanical track secured to her very bones.

If he didn’t do it now, she would certainly die. Let everything else go and save your friends.

The corners of the world darkened. The arena dimmed. People turned into outlines. The light was devoured. Just like that, the known world dropped away. Once again floating in the abyss.

Skye wondered. Is this what their souls looked like? What the universe looked like? Hurraka was no longer flesh and blood, but instead a static outline resembling a human shape with a small sun encased inside. Before he could make a move, he heard a voice.

“You… It’s you. You shall be my savior,” those were the last words he heard until his body seized with electricity.

----------------------------------------

Jaylon attached small black discs to the bodies of Bryn and Dorian. Causing them to levitate and float by his side. Like futuristic leashes, one might use on a dog. They were completely powerless in his clutches.

“What is this,” Bryn tried to break free, but it was like there was an invisible tether made of steel wrapped around her waist. Dragging and guiding her wherever he went.

When he stepped into the center of the arena, everyone went quiet.

“I’ll be taking my leave now. I hope you got enough entertainment,” he placed a similar disc on Skye’s unconscious body.

Then he stepped in front of Hurraka, who had nearly beaten Myka to death.

He placed a disc on Myka’s shoulder as she hacked up blood. However, the crowd was not satisfied. These were supposed to be fights to the death. Yet he kept pulling his competitors out of the arena and protecting them before the deciding blow.

“You’re the devil,” Hurraka said, spitting at his feet. Jaylon reached for her face, but she pulled away.

The crowd’s agitation only grew, and Jaylon threw his hands up.

“Fine! Fine. You got me. I have no desire to rob you of what you desire. You came here for a reason right?” he shouted all around the arena.

“You want some action! Some real consequences. Don’t worry. I get it, I get it,” then, he pressed a button on his utility belt, causing Hurraka’s heart and chest to explode. Her body slumped to the ground.

The arena went silent.

Jaylon guided the recruits toward the exit and not a soul in the building tried to stop him.