It wasn't a long march to the colosseum from the agora - though it wasn't a long march to the colosseum from anywhere in the city really. The acropolis was in the exact middle, of course, but the colosseum wasn't too far off the mark. The Caesar had ordered it to be built close to his home, so as to come and go from his box easily.
You didn't even try to fight as the guard walked you through the streets, one hand keeping a vice-like grip on your arm while the other rested on the hilt of his broadsword. He would not hesitate to draw it on you again, if the red line on your neck where the metal had bit into the first few layers of your flesh meant anything.
The image of the crushed apple in the mosaic Sofos' hand laughed at you from your memory.
You didn't even feel hungry anymore with all the adrenaline and fear pumping through you.
The guard had no qualms about manhandling you past the exterior walls of the building, moving right past the soldiers stationed at the east entrance, breezing past the tall supports that held the arches of the building into places. You were just along for the ride, tipping your head back to watch the sun flicker in and out of sight between the pillars and arches. It almost didn't feel like any of it was happening.
"Another one? It's not even an hour past lunch..."
"Caught 'em trying to steal an apple in the agora." The guard still holding onto you said, forcibly turning you to walk into the colosseum proper. "Damned thieves are everywhere these days."
You grinned to yourself, jerking in the guards hold, suddenly feeling ballsy. You were already in it down - you could only go deeper. "Would you have preferred to have had to carry my dead body out of the streets when I succumbed to starvation-"
You were cut off with a sharp slap across the face, as the guard holding your arm struck you. You jaw closed in reflex, and you bit down on your tongue, the metallic taste of blood filling your mouth.
"Quiet. No one gave you permission to speak."
You just smiled, licking the blood off your teeth as the guard forced you to continue along the way, heading out onto one of the many terraces that overlooked the sandy pit in the center of the building. The sun hit your face again as you stepped out from under the roof, and you caught a glimpse of the colosseum proper as the guard marched you past.
Tall white pillars lined the space, holding up the audience seats and creating the walls that held the underground prison, where all the contestants (you used the term loosely) who fought in the ring were held. The seats stretched up for stories above you, until the building opened up into the sky, the sun shining down into the white sand that filled the center.
It was beautiful - another reminder of what power the Caesar held - but you didn't get to stop and take in the view. The guard all but dragged you across the terrace to a little door built into the wall throwing it open and shoving you forward to start down the stairs.
You stumbled down the first few steps, throwing a hand out to catch yourself on the wall. Torches were spaced down the wall, lighting the rest of the steps down. Though the path was lit, you couldn't see the bottom of the stairs.
The guard shouldered your forward and you started down the stairs again, descending deeper below ground. You knew exactly where you were going - it was where anyone who got caught stealing ended up. With how abundant crime was these days, there was no such thing as a trial either. Any infringement, and you would wind up here, being hauled to the bowels of the colosseum.
In a grim sort of way, you could appreciate how efficient it was. What better way to try and curb an overpopulation problem than to throw anyone you found breaking even the smallest rule in prison and make them fight to the death? It certainly got rid of people fast.
You had never thought that you would have been one of them, but it wasn't like you could do much about it now.
The taste of blood in your mouth had lessened some by the time you reached the bottom of the stairs. You could hear the chatter of people, muffled through stone walls. The guard steered you towards the noise, moving quickly down narrow hallways, dimly lit by torches spaced out along the walls. The source of the noise came into view soon enough - a large cell, almost filled to the brim with people.
A holding cell.
The guard holding you stopped at the door to the cell, and one of the other members of the troupe standing post nearby unlocked the door. All it took was a simple shove to send you into the throng of people. The cell door closed as quickly as it had opened, and you leaned back against the bars, listening to the footsteps of the guard who had brought you down here retreating.
You sank to the ground, closing your eyes. The cold metal of the bars behind you dug into your skin, and the ground underneath you was hard and gritty. The adrenaline had faded now, and the pain from the guard slapping you was finally setting in. You tipped your head back to rest between the bars, clenching your jaw.
All you'd wanted was an apple.
But now, you could hear some woman crying a few feet away from you, and people were arguing over space near the sides of the cell, where it was less stuffy. You suddenly felt so drained, the reality of it all sinking in slowly as the twisted high from the haul here wore off.
A few tears slipped out of the corners of your eyes as you took a shaky breath.
YOU ARE READING
ARISTOS ACHAION // Awesamdude X Reader
FanfictionTHE FALL OF AN EMPIRE BOOK ONE --- Your eyes trailed up to the balcony, taking stock of the man who was perched there, hands resting on the railing as he peered down at the crowd that had just entered the room. Broad shoulders were only accentuated...