The Arena Once More: Sequel to The Demigod Games

The Tenth Hour

Fire is all I see. My focus is on the red, orange, and yellow flames climbing down the indestructible wall that is the force field. "Annabeth...we're gonna die, right?" Percy asks, keeping his eyes on the descending flames. Percy's face and arms are still red from the acid in the last ring, but the fire makes his body practically glow red.

"Yeah, probably."

"This is no place for a Son of Poseidon," Percy says. "I wish Leo were here."

"Same. But we came here because we knew we'd die," I tell him.

"Yeah, but maybe it'll be like last time. We thought the acid would kill us, but it turned out to be mostly harmless," he reasons.

"I doubt the Gamemakers can genetically enhance fire, sweetie. This ring is meant to actually kill us, I'm certain of it." The fire crawls closer. Only 10 feet away from the ground.

"Do you think the Gamemakers  would leave the exits untouched? Do you think we could escape?"

"We can sure try. Let's go!" I say. I take his hand, and we start walking him toward the second exit. No one attacks us, and we make it to the exit safely. Or as safely as you can be when you're on the verge of being burned. I pull out one of the weapons from a backpack I stole while those Tributes were fighting in the Fourth Ring. I still can't believe Friend 3 had managed to start an all-out war. All 19 teens in that pack had died. I mean, yowzah.

I toss the nunchucks toward the exit, and, surprisingly, they don't bounce back. "It's safe!" I inform Percy. We enter the Second Ring, and look back. The huge fire is touching the floor now.

"Good thing we got out," Percy exclaims, relieved. "Let's find a place to rest." We walk around for another minute, and sit down. "That was really close."

"No kidding," I pant. "Come here." Percy scoots toward me, and I rest my head on his shoulder. We lay back, and stare at the ceiling.

"I'm glad we lived," he says, then pecks me on the cheek, "again."

"I am, too. Now, let's go to sleep. We need the energy," I exclaim. We close our eyes. It feels like we've only slept for not even a minute when the flames tickle our toes. My eyes whip open. "Percy! Run!" I shriek. We scramble to our feet.

"How'd the fire get here? I thought the obstacles stayed only in their rings!" Percy claims.

"This one apparently doesn't!" The fire starts chasing us--literally. There's nowhere we can go where the fire doesn't trail after us.

"Up the shelves!" Percy suggests. We sprint up the shelves. "Okay, I think we're safe up here."

He spoke too soon. The fire all of a sudden shrinks to the size of a candle light, and starts sliding up the shelf, leaving a trail of burned books in it's wake. Percy and I break out into a run again. I look back to see that the tiny flame has grown into a full-out wildfire. It burns toward us, gaining every second. Percy and I exchange glances, and nod.

We hold hands, and jump off the ledge. We land gracefully, and look up. The fire's suddenly disappeared. It's nowhere to be seen. "Where'd it go?" Percy wonders, regarding me quizzically.

"I dunno," I answer.

Percy kneels on the ground, and wipes the sweat off his brow tiredly. "Let's just get back to relaxing. We've barely had a break. One fight or obstacle after another."

"Good point," I respond. We get into the resting position we used last time, and drift off once more.