Chapter 2

He slowly started to wake up when heard someone talking. Squeezing his eyes shut he tried to tune out the incessant ringing in his skull and focus on what was being said.

“How long do you think he will be unconscious for?”

“I’ve already told you, Null. Humans are built differently than us. He could be out for a few minutes, or it could be hours. He would be lucky if he never woke up at all, in my opinion.”

In his surprise he almost sat up to find out what the hell was going on.

“He accepted the summoning, Tritch! If he doesn’t get up soon, he will not be ready to compete. The Lord won’t care if he loses.” The voice that matched Null pleaded with the other guy. “Don’t you have anything you can use to wake him up?”

“We could poke him a few times with a knife. It might be just enough to get him to snap to.” Tritch suggested as he walked closer to Robert. The joy and eagerness quite evident

Robert tensed his whole body as the voice got closer to him. He was ready to spring up and knock the knife out of the man’s hand at a moment’s notice. He was never the athletic type but with adrenaline anything was possible. He had already died once he wasn’t keen on doing it a second time. For all he knew this was just another twisted dream.

“Now, now Tritch we both know while they may be an acceptable wake up call for some of the others, we do not want to damage him too much.”

More grumbling came from the grouchy person standing next to him. He felt pressure as he leaned onto the bed with Robert. Robert terrified he was about to be knifed jumped up and across the bed away from the man. Hands held out in front of him in a placating manner. “Whoa, whoa I’m awake there is no need to stab me.”

Robert blinked as he finally took the people who had been talking. Tritch the one beside the bed was standing about four and half feet tall, dark green skin and a pair of jagged broken horns sticking up from his greasy black hair. Robert noticed the little man smile showing off his yellow and black teeth that looked like they came straight from the mouth of a shark. They were all pointed and vicious.

“See Null, sometimes you just must provide the right kind of motivation to wake them up. Shame though I would have loved to give this one here a few pokes.” He laughed as he eyed the panicking man standing across from him.

“Tritch, please stop you are going to give the poor human a heart attack.” Null admonished. She walked closer to the bed her arms open and hands out showing she didn’t have any weapons. “Please calm down sir. We are here to help you prepare and impart some information to help you adjust.”

Robert turned to address Null, but his words caught in his throat. She was easily his height of five foot seven inches. That’s where the similarities ended, however. Her skin was the color of a burnished orange, and her hair was a vibrant crimson. She wore only a simple dress that clung to her body like a fitted glove. He was instantly taken with this new person trying to placate him.

“Where have you taken me? What are you both?” Robert questioned the pair trying to keep the quivering fear from his voice.

Null looked at him with sympathy. “Please have a seat and I will do the best I can to answer your questions. We have little time and a lot to do.”

Robert’s gaze darted back to Tritch who grinned at him again and brandished his knife. He stepped backward afraid the little crazy man would jump across the cot.

“Tritch, will you stop that already!”

“I was just having a bit of fun Null. Look how freaked out he is. We never get a chance to play with the humans.” Tritch groused.

“Well you won’t get a chance to play with this one. Can you please go get the gear from the armory so we can get him ready.”

Tritch grumbled as he slide his knife into a tattered cloth band around his waist before walking from the room. Robert only caught the tail end of his grumbling, but it sounded something like soft hearted demon bitch.

Once the door firmly closed Robert turned his attention back to Null. “You claimed you would provide answers? What did you mean go get the gear?”

Null smiled at him in what he assumed was a reassuring manner but he couldn’t take his eyes off her own set of sharp teeth or the long black nails tipping each finger.

“I did say that didn’t I? Please have a seat. What I am about to tell you will not go over so well.” Null pulled a sturdy looking wood chair out from the small table and sat down with a pleasurable sigh. The chair groaned a bit as she adjusted herself.

Thinking he didn’t have much else to lose he crossed the room with trepidation and sat down in a matching chair. “Alright, Null. It is Null, correct?”

“Yes, it is” She laughed and clapped her hands. “The assimilation process has worked quickly with you. I would wager it was because you were unconscious, so you didn’t fight all the changes.”

Robert must have looked confused as all hell because her smile slowly faded.

“Seems like that’s a good place to start.” She began, adopting a tone he remembered his college professors taking on before a lecture. “The assimilation process is initiated upon transplanting a new soul to this world. It assists you in learning and growing. Take right now for example. You are speaking our tongue instead of your own language.”

Robert shook his head. “No that can’t be right I was talking to you both in English. Shit, yall were even responding in English.”

“No, you were speaking High Daemon, it is the language of this Realm.”

“High Demon?” he all but shouted at her. “Is this some kind of prank? You mean to tell me that there is some kind of mystical Babylon fish like in the Hitchhiker’s Guide that allows me to speak and understand the language?”

Null looked at him confused by the weird and random reference. “I do not know what a Babylon fish is but the assimilation process does do just that for you. It’s also called High Daemon, not demon. If you say that to the wrong sort here you will end up with more trouble than you are currently in.”

Stolen novel; please report.

“So where exactly is here?”

“We are in the city of Jericho, which is the capital in the Lands of Solomon. Lord Beyrith rules over this land and it is his turn to host the games. He has a lot riding on this to increase his power base and under favor from Lord Morningstar himself.”

Robert could feel his jaw drop and he immediately had about a million more questions for Null. “Did you say Lord Morningstar? The Devil? Am I in Hell, then?”

Null flinched when he said the Devil. “Please do not ever say that where anyone can hear you. Lord Morningstar has followers everywhere. He has despised that title ever since the church saddled him with it. To answer your last question yes this is the realms your church calls Hell.”

“Ok so not the Devil, got it!” Robert laughed at her discomfort. “What are the games and how does that apply to me?”

“First off, I will not keep answering your questions until you give me your name. It has been quite rude of you since you know my own.”

Robert looked at null ashamed, his mother taught him better than that. “My apologies Null, you can call me Robert.”

“Very well Robert. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She said with a bit of a purr to her voice. It caused his pants to get uncomfortably tight. He always did like the adventurous women. Shaking the random thoughts away from his head. “So, the games?” he coaxed.

“The games are held once every millennium to increase one’s societal standings. Those that do well could be named a General, or Heir apparent. In the past a participant even managed to claim a lordship for themselves. Everyone here looks forward to this day to prove their worthiness to the Lords. Lord Beyrith wanted to make it extra special so he sent out several hundred thousand invites to humans to pad these fights and make his own people look good.”

He closed his eyes trying to take in all the information being thrown at him. This was turning out to be an especially vivid dream he decided. “So let me get this straight. I was some how chosen as one of the participants by a random lottery. Now I am in the literal Hell and have to fight against what I am going to just assume are other humans and demons to continue living? What are the chances I can win any of this and be allowed to go back to my already miserable life?”

“I’ll be honest with you Robert. The chances are not that very good. No one expects the humans to survive past your first fights. In fact they are up top betting heavily against each and every one of you as we speak.” She looked at him with pity.

He stood up abruptly kicking his chair to fall and clatter loudly onto the floor. Robert paced the room clutching the bridge of his nose as he tried to take everything in. No matter what was about to happen it sounded like he was well and truly fucked at this point. His migraine was starting to resurface. The pounding in his head matched the tempo of his heartbeat.

“I know this is a lot to take in right now Robert, and I truly hate it that you have been forced into this situation. You need to find your resolve and determination. This not some weird dream you are having, this is your new reality.”

Robert spun to look questioning at Null. “Are you a mind reader as well?”

Null laughed at him. “I am not a mind reader, but your thoughts are showing clearly across your face. I do have a strong empath ability, however. Your emotions are all over the place. Between the two I can make an educated guess. This is no dream that you are having. This is very real and very serious. The sooner you accept this the better off you will be.”

Robert walked back to Null and picked up his chair. Sitting heavily, he finally looked up into her violet eyes. “What else can you tell me about these games?”

“The first round is always an obstacle course. It is designed to push your dexterity and problem-solving skills to make it through. The most dangerous part of this game isn’t the course itself but everyone that participates. You have to be quick and aware of your surroundings to get away from those that want to thin the competition when the bell sounds. My suggestion is to distance yourself from everyone and move quickly.”

“Be smart, be fast and get the hell out of dodge. I can do that. What happens if I manage to make through this one?” He asked with false confidence.

“If you somehow manage to survive and finish the obstacle course you will be allowed to come back to a room and rest for the evening. The following day you will take part in a bracket style tournament where you fight another to the death. This tournament will last the rest of the week as we expect a large number to complete the obstacle course. You will only be required to fight in a single match a day, they made this concession to your weak human nature.”

“So even if somehow manage to win the first game I am all but fucked in the follow up game. I am going to just assume demons are much stronger and harder to kill than the average human?” Robert asked already guessing the answer.

“Unfortunately, Robert you are absolutely right on that one. You will have to fight with no hesitation and take risks for you to succeed. “

Robert frowned and looked down at the table. His hands were clenched so tightly they were turning white from the lack of blood flow. “You sent Tritch away to get gear? Will it even be worth having at this point?”

“That is entirely up to you and how you adapt to any given situation. It might prevent some minor injuries, but I would not be overly reliant upon it.” Null offered sadly.

There was a quick rapt on the door before it swung open and slammed into the wall behind it with a resounding thud. Tritch had returned and he had a bag clutched in one green clawed hand and a sword in the other. “Best I can do.” He grunted as he tossed it all down onto the cot in front of him. “Put it on quick human, they are starting to sound the call.”

“Let me assist you, Robert.” Null jumped up from her chair knocking it over as well as she went to the dropped pile. “Thank you, Tritch. I can take it from here.”

Tritch looked hard at Null and then Robert before going back to Null. “I will see you up top then. Human may you die a most slow and agonizing death.” He laughed as he left the room.

Null grabbed the coarse burlap sack and upended it onto the cot. A collection of worn and bloody leather fell out. She grabbed a wide flat piece and held it up to show him as she walked around the bed. It looked like one of those chest pieces he used to see in video games all the time when he played. Robert tensed up a bit as Null moved closer to him. He knew she wouldn’t hurt him but his instincts were telling him to knock her out and make a run for it.

Null was extremely efficient as she strapped the armor onto him. She would place it and began adjusting various straps and buckles until he could move freely without being pinched. He knows he should have been paying attention to the entire process but he was distracted by her being so close to him. He could smell her, and it reminded him of the ocean. Light, refreshing with a hint of salt. It didn’t hurt that despite her demon nature she had a killer body and got caught staring at her ass when she bent over to pick up a fallen piece of armor. She just smiled and went about things business as usual.

He hastily adjusted himself when her back was turned as he mentally admonished himself. “Is there a problem Robert?” She asked when she saw the red flush of his face.

“No, just trying to adjust to all of this, you know.” He said quickly averting his gaze again. He missed the hint of a smile forming on her lips as she turned to grab the sword off the cot. “This isn’t much but at least you will not have to face your trials unarmed.”

He took the sword gingerly pulling it from the scabbard with a tug. The blade was chipped and rusted from years of neglect. Frowning he slammed it home harder than he wanted accidentally cutting his hand. “Sonofabitch”

Null tsked at him as she grabbed his hand firmly in her own. Her hand was softer than he imagined it would be. She closed her eyes and recited something he didn’t quite catch. Pain immediately shot through his hand like he was being burned. The wound glowed red like a fire before disappearing entirely leaving him with a small white scar. She let out a little moan and release his hand. Her violet eyes staring into his own blue ones. “There that should fix you right up.”

Robert cleared his throat. His body humming with nervous energy. He hadn’t felt this way since Laura back in high school. He shuffled from foot to foot looking around the room trying to avoid embarrassing himself further.

“Right then we should head up to the arena.” Null took his hand again and pulled him through the door. The corridor was comprised of stone with evenly spaced brackets holding torches. The flickering light and dancing shadows did not ease his discomfort in the slightest.

She navigated him through what felt like miles of hallway where he didn’t’ see a single living soul. As their journey moved deeper into the building, he could begin to make out a dull thundering sound that gradually began to evolve into raucous cheering and foot stomping. They were getting closer to the end of his life he thought glumly.