Raining Nitre

A Chance for Three

           It started out like any old day I was fed some bread and soup then we were given time to work out or converse in a small room with lines creating a track around the edges. There were punching bags slowly moving as they hung from the ceiling and everyone seemed depressed as usual. My friend Pam ran up to me and wrapped her arms around me; we talked about the usual things, how our meal today seemed smaller, that the new girls were getting bigger and tougher, and our plans to escape.

          No one has successfully escaped from the arena never mind the town. There have been stories and rumors of how girls have almost escaped by  everyone knows those are lies spread by the guards, just created so we don't lose hope. Normally by this time Everyone was back in their cells but for some odd reason we were still in "yard", as we called it.

          Two guards entered the room with a man dressed in fancy animal skins and another dressed in Draken commander colors. One of the guards yelled quieting us down and the other guard introduced the man with them, "This man ladies, is the governor of Nyshka. He is going to grant three of you your freedom. We are going to have a championship to narrow your numbers to six and the governor will then hand select three of you. The three of you selected will join the governor as his personal assistants. The matches will begin in one hour."

           A red light filled the room as the men walked away signaling for us to head back to our cells. Everyone walked back to their cell but now we all had a tiny smile on our faces. I entered my cell and began to figure out how many battles I would have to win. There are fourty eight competitors so I would have to fight four battles to make it to the final six and possibly get picked. We were all trying to win not for the chance to be his assistant  but for the chance to have a different life with different opportunities.

          After twenty three other battles it was my turn. I walked through the doorway for the first time with hope filling my eyes. The announcer started talking but I zoned out only noyticing when he said next week was the start of the men's league. I winced feeling pity for anyone else being taken but I quickly faded as he counted down, "1.......2......3 BEGIN!"

          I sprinted forward with my shoulder lowered and facing towards my opponent. I smashed my shoulder into her lifting her off the ground and throwing her on her back. I smashed my foot down onto her face. I heard a snap from her jaw and then a whistle.

           My first match was complete leaving only three more. I walked through the doorway feeling triumphed and hopeful. Heading back to my cell I realized how awful this actually was, half of the cells were now completely empty containing only an empty plate and in some, smart cloths. I looked for Pam hoping she survived the first round. She was not however in the cell to the right of mine. I waited hoping that she was possibly being stitched up so she wouldn't bleed out or she might have caused some trouble and was getting beat.

           Seeing a procession of guards carrying my opponents body I slowly realized that the body they were carrying was Pam! I killed my only friend in this hell and I didn't even realize it. My body shuddered with emotion and tears began to stream down my face soaking my blood stained t-shirt.

          With my head between my legs guards had to grab me an  throw me right behind the large doorway. This time I walked through feeling empty inside. "THIS I a VERY special match. Both competitors have over TEN wins in the arena. This will be a VERY good match. NOW 1......2.......3 BEGIN!"

          I forced tears down and tried not to think I just ran towards y opponent. Her name was Madison she was a ruthless fighter and probably one of the only girls who could kill me. She jumped up and stretched her leg out knocking me in the side. Although I was not down she ran behind me and rapidly punched my back. I managed to spin around and give her a roundhouse kick on her hip. I rebalanced and sent another kick at her feet knocking her off balance. I punched her chest as she tried to regain balance and chopped my fist down on top of her head. Now she looked dizzy so I spun her around and pushed her down with her chin landing on a tree stump. My foot came crashing down on the back of her neck killing her on impact and spraying blood everywhere as it popped off landing five feet away. I heard a whistle and threw up mixing the remnants of my lunch with a pool of her blood.

          I walked back through the large doorway with a mixture of sadness and relief. Awaiting my second to last round the man called the governor stood outside my cell and called my name, "Lina. That was a very impressive match just now. Don't you dare lose to your next two opponents, I want you to be one of my three." He smelled of herbs and spices producing an invisible cloud of scent causing me to throw up again due to my already upset stomach. Seeing this he walked away but not before going to the side of my cell where I was and whispering into my ear, "I want you to win so you can be free. All you need to do is win the next two battles."

           My third match was as easy as the first I just punched the side of her hear then kicked her stomach. She tried to get a punch off but I dodged to the right and she went flying onto the ground face first. I put all my weight on her back and grabbed her hair repeatedly slamming her head into the ground until the whistle sounded.

           Now I was nervous this was my final match. Apparently this could mean my freedom, I could wander the land fall in love and have children. I could raise my children with their father protecting them from all I've gone through.

           I looked past the door way and saw a crowd, th  crowd was full of sick twisted people enjoying this sport. From this angle I could see a viewing deck where the govenor was  standing and watching. He wasn't clapping or yelling he merely watched and observed. I was ready there's no way I could lose this battle.