Fight to Kill, Fight to Live==Part Four: Welcome, To The Arena!

Once more, I wake to the sound of knocking, but this time it's more urgent. Slowly, I open my eyes, walk to the door, and open it. I'm surprised to see Valentine, a slightly scared look on her face. She stands there.

"Yes? You look worried." I say, trying to avoid the topic of last night. She continues to look scared.

"Vince, you don't have much time. Look." She says handing me a folded piece of paper. I look at it, and read aloud.

"Dear Valentine, we are pleased to announce your student's entry into the Arena today. Please show up at the Viewing Room at sixteen hundred hours." I say. I realize what this means, and a horrifying feeling washes over me.

"Yeah, you're being entered today. Get your armor on. Now."

I rush around, pulling on my armor, then grab the scythes. We run towards the Viewing Room. When we arrive, the room appears to be packed. I start to sweat. I'm supposed to kill these people, or last through the time limit. I can't help but shudder at the thought. I look at Valentine for support, but she seems to be preoccupied with getting near the front of the room. I try to reach the front of the room as well. I push through the people in the front just as a man walks up to a podium placed near the window. His brown unruly hair seems slick. He's wearing the kind of glasses you'd expect to see someone from the twentieth century to be wearing, with thick black edges. He clears his throat.

"Many of you have been in the arena before, but for those of you new, I am Mandrake, leader of Unit six-six-six. These games are meant to create new, stronger, smarter, and better soldiers. So without further ado, please head to the indicated starting gates. If you are here to watch, I would request that you stay here." He finishes with a flourish of his white suit, before turning to the window. Valentine grabs my arm.

"Vince, listen to me. You need to head to starting gate seven. After that I want you to immediately be aware of your surroundings. If anything looks of punch at it, kick it, slash it, anything. It'll keep you alive longer. The more people you kill the more precious you become and the more money you earn. I understand, you don't want to kill, but you have to or else you will be killed. Understood?" She looks me dead in the eye while saying all of this. I look at her, take in her serious face.

"I got it Valentine. You don't have to worry about me." I steel my heart, and head towards the staircase leading to the gates. I spare one last look at Valentine, and it wrenches my heart as I watch a single gleaming tear run down her cheek.

I walk down the stone hallway, wondering why it hurt so bad to see her cry. Did I love her, or was it something else, like seeing a friend cry? I once again steeled my heart and nerves, trying to feel as detached as possible. I didn't have time to feel like this at the moment. I finally reached the starting gate which has two lights over it, one green and one red. I can hear my heartbeat in my ears. I can hear a countdown in a feminine voice.

"Three."

I ready my scythes with the click of a button, and pull my hood up.

'Two."

My grip tightens on the handles.

"One."

The door swings open with a clang. I bolt out, twisting and turning through the giant maze. Already I can hear the dying screams of the others. I hear laboured breathing around the next corner and slide to a stop, my back to the wall. I peek around and see a hulking male in black. I'm surprised. I know that green Mohawk style haircut way too well. It can only be him. He dissapeared with Desmond and her. I whip around the corner.

"Kor!" I yell.

He whips around surprised. And then he grins viciously.

"Well well, look what the cat dragged in. I would have thought you were still in the labs."