lyssa [https://imgur.com/VUePKrs.png]

As stomachs filled and conversations faded, the stone halls began clearing out. Lyssa walked slowly with Abel, heading down one of the ramps.

She could tell he was hurting. More than just the wound on his leg, pain was etched behind his eyes. He had grown close to the arena’s first victim, it seemed, in the short time since their meeting.

“I’m sorry we haven’t found Sarah,” Abel said again.

“It’s not your fault. There is nothing else we could do but walk and look for her.” He pointed to his leg and she hushed him, “Enough about that. We wouldn’t have been moving that much faster if you were all healed up. I’m just glad I was finally able to talk with one of you. And I’m glad she’s okay.”

There were a number of quick steps on the stone ramp behind them. An arm landed on Abel’s shoulder, too forceful to be friendly. “Hey!”

There was no way Abel could balance himself in time and was sent tumbling forward, several feet down the ramp until he could catch himself. Both arms went to his leg, cussing as blood began to pour from re-opened wound.

“Abel!” Lyssa screamed.

“Oh shit,” Bernard said, now standing beside her. There was a poor attempt at guilt on his face. The emotion was clearly an uncommon one. “Sorry.”

Lyssa pushed him with all her strength, sending him crashing onto his back. He began to slip down the ramp, caught himself, stared up at her.

“What the hell?” he asked. There was the smallest grin on his face. A smug little smile.

She didn’t respond, instead rushing down the ramp, kneeling at Abel’s side.

“Are you okay?”

He grunted, still holding his leg with both hands. Crimson flowed over the shirt which had been covering the wound, running down his shin and to the floor. She tried not to panic.

Bernard began taking steps closer. The few people who had been around them had made themselves scarce, not wanting to be involved. It was only the three of them.

She began to move away from Bernard’s approach, but halted. I’m the only one who can protect him right now. He’s completely vulnerable without me. If I don’t stand up for him...Her memories returned to the arena’s sole death. It had been Bernard. He didn’t have a weapon now, but she was certain he would find a way to do it again.

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“What do you want?” she demanded, interposing herself, Abel at her back.

“I just want to see if he’s okay,” Bernard said.

“Oh, stop bullshitting already. Do you really want to win this bad? You’re going to kill one of the only people you know in this city?”

He looked her up and down, eyes narrowing. “You should know better than Abel or your other friend. You have been out in the city every day, haven’t you? You’ve seen the kind of destruction that has been wrought within the city’s barrier. The total chaos that has reign over everyone.”

“That has nothing to do with you hurting him,” Lyssa said firmly.

“It has everything to do with my actions. I have no ties to anyone. Even if they think they have ties to me. Why are you defending him? Because he’s protecting your friend Sarah? Or because you sat in the same train car with him? If that’s the case, why favor him over me?”

“Because he’s not a piece of trash,” she spat at his feet.

Bernard raised his eyebrows. “Watch your words, girl. I know where your friends sleep at night. Remember that.”

She scowled at him, not moving from her position. Abel was trying to get to his feet, but was struggling with only one leg.

“Do you think he can win with his injuries?” Bernard flicked his hand to address Abel, giving a quiet laugh. “He might bleed out before the end of the competition.”

“What happened to you,” Lyssa asked fixing him with a stare. “You weren’t like this on the train. You even carried Annie on your back when she was having trouble breathing.”

“Look where she ended up,” Bernard shrugged.

She bit her lip, fists clenching beyond her control. She wanted to get up and slug him in the face, but he was taller, more muscled. And he still had death in his eyes. She had caught him off guard before, but he was ready for her now.

Lyssa froze as a figure began descending the ramp, beyond Bernard. A massive figure, legs like tree trunks. For the first time in her life, she was happy to see him. She was happy to see anyone else.

“Help!” she cried out to Zeal. “Please!”

By the unchanging look of determination across his face, it appeared that had been his intention all along. He must have overheard those who had fled the scene and come to investigate.

Bernard turned around with the same smug smile, until his eyes landed on the behemoth of a man. His smile fell away, face losing some color.

“What do you want?” he called to the giant, his voice having lost some of its confidence.

The large man’s gait continued toward them, unchanged. His gaze was fixed on Bernard.

“The hell, you mute?” he demanded, taking a step forward as though to threaten him, then quickly retraced his step.

“Know this,” Zeal’s deep voice shook the stones beneath her feet. “Within this city, justice prevails. I am justice and I punish the guilty.”

With the man’s gaze boring into him, Bernard took a step backward, then another. Then he was running down the ramp, leaving without another word.

Once he was gone, Lyssa found she was no longer glad to have Zeal around. He walked over to Abel’s side, helping him to his feet with a massive hand. Then the three stood, looking at one another.

“You fight well,” Zeal said. He patted the hand on Abel’s shoulder, gentle but firm. “A man who fights with everything he has should never be ashamed of losing.” And then he was walking away.

Abel watched the behemoth leave, then turned to Lyssa, who had been trying to ascertain the damage to his leg. It looked bad. She wanted to pull off the bloody cloth and inspect the damage, but was scared she would only make things worse.

“Do you think you can-” she began, but then Lyssa found herself sitting in the stands, in the exact seat she had taken earlier.

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