The Ace of Swords

Chapter 6

I step back into the concrete training room. I have countless new bruises and a sour mood. I didn't land one solid hit on Bas. Not that it would faze him if I did, but at least it would help my pride.

I apparently walked in at the wrong moment. Cade's face is drawn back in anger and there a large vein sticking out of his neck. Erin stands across from him. He pulls out a sharp carved rock. It would look harmless if it wasn't for the deadly spear-like point with blood splatters covering the rock. He passes the weapon over to Cade and looks to the ground in shame

"The Reds told me that if I stabbed this through your gut, I could be one of them. I don't want to be a monster so take this away. I have no use for it now and I don't know what to do with it. You should watch your back though. They are waiting for the right time to kill you. They really hate you," Erin walks towards the others with his head still dropped.

"I guess I should thank you for not sticking me through," he takes a deep calming breath," but if you ever try to kill me I will take you out. I won't take pleasure in your death, but I will not mourn it either. Callie go with Sanders, it's your turn with the Reds".

Callie pouts as she is escorted out. Her eyes meet mine and I see fear spiraling through them. She didn't miss my new bruises. Especially the finger shaped ones on my arms. Cade didn't either by the look of his scowl. The door closes behind Callie and the guard. I hope Bas goes easier on her than me. She always seems more fragile than the rest of us.

"All right. Today there will be no fighting in here. I've already told everyone else this but since you weren't here I'll repeat myself. The Reds are overseeing your fight training from now on. The boss wants to see if you guys fight better without blue interference. Now all the time you spend in here will be purely educational. I will explain the rules of the ring and the different kind of fights you may encounter. I will also answer any questions you have," Cade says as he sits down in front of us. I notice he sits farther away from Erin and sends a deadly glare at him.

We I sit between Cade and Dawn. Dawn smiles brightly when Erin slides closer to her to get away from both Cade and Deckers stares. He lost all trust when he sat with the Reds. I believe he can be trusted. He didn't stab Cade, that has to be a good sign.

"There are several kinds of fights that you will be asked to participate in. You have the pretty basic hand to hand combat. That's the kind you will usually do. They have the occasional weapons fight. Although shanks are commonly snuck in. Even the most innocent of fights can become deadly in seconds. They have grand fights where they throw around ten people in the ring with you and you fight," he sits there and stares at us for a few seconds before continuing," they like to come up with different kinds of fights. It's pretty much their hobby. It keeps fighters on their toes".

We stare at each other in awkward silence. It seems like a lot of information, but it helps very little. He only gave us three kinds of fights. Just saying they like to add new ones in doesn't give us much to work with. I can't fight anyone. Even if I know every single fight that will happen it won't make a difference. I'm going to die here and that's all there is. Dawn asks the first question thankfully.

"Do we have to become a fighter? You said they would test us in a month, but does that mean we all become fighter, a green. If that's true why do we have to take a test? This system is confusing. There are way to many colors," Dawn sighs and slouches like she's exhausted trying to keep up with what's going on.

"It is very confusing at first. Almost everyone starts out as a Green. That's how you learn the ropes. You have the occasional person that is either so good they become a Red or so bad they become a Yellow. The test is to weed out all the ones who have no purpose here. After a few weeks as a Green you will receive your permanent position," Cade says.