Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 24 - The 'Rena

Chapter 24 – The 'Rena.

“I’m going to kill him!” Joel growled for the hundredth time.  “I’m going to break every bone in his body and make him scream...”

“Joel,” I interrupted, “Did you hear what they said.  They are going to sell you tomorrow and your performance today in this Rena will dictate your price.  Gavin asked questions around this.  He was trying to tell us something.  He has paper Joel.  He can buy you.”

“What?  No!”

“For whatever reason, Gavin has managed to be accepted by them and has acquired some of their currency, which he is using to bet on us.   I must win this, whatever it is, and you must appear weak.”

“What? Cissy, you can’t seriously expect me to...”

“Yes Joel. It is the only way.”

“No he was just saying that to humiliate me further!”

“But it makes sense Joel.  If you go out there and show yourself to be a strong man you will be in great demand when Bear comes to selling us.”

“Cissy, we can’t lose this.  I won’t let them hurt you.  I can’t lose this!”

“I know that.  We have to win because I won’t let them hurt you either.  If we lose they might kill you.  But there is also more to this.  Thanks to Gavin this could be our ticket out of here.  Gavin is betting on us to win.  If we win there is a chance we will both be free.”

“True, if I can win this you will be free and Gavin will get you to safety.  Then you jump and you get yourself home.”

“No Joel.  I won’t leave without you.  Listen to the alternative Joel.  If I fight and I win, Bear looses me already to Gavin and because of what they see, demand for you should be less which will allow Gavin to buy you.  It makes sense.”

“No!  I won’t let you do this!  I will protect you.”

“Trust me on this Joel.  Trust me that I can do this.  This is the only way.  You must do this for me.”

“Cissy you can’t expect me to stand by while you get hurt?”

“No, I don’t.  If things get out of control then you can step in.  But you can’t take the lead on this.  You have to let me be the one seen to win.”

“Cissy, please, I can’t.”

“Yes you can Joel and yes you will.  I know that I am asking you to be less of a man yet again.  But know that I respect you.  I have to be with you.  I won’t let us be parted.  This is the only way.”

“Will you still love me?  If I play the fool again will you still want me?”

“Yes Joel.  You are my man.  The fact that you trust me enough to do this only strengthens our bond.”

He signed deeply.  “How do I get in these situations?”

We were chained facing each other seated on wooden benches.  Above us we could hear the thumping of many feet and the collective voice of a large crowd.  We were underneath some sort of stadium.  So I could only guess that Rena was shortened from Arena.  There was a rack with a small selection of weapons on it next to some large double doors. 

“Did we travel back in time Joel?”

Joel laughed softly, “No, But it is Bread and Circus’ Cissy.  This was how the Roman’s kept the population placid and happy.  They gave free bread and free entertainment.  This reality must be structured around the same technique.  The fights, the slaves, even the Caesar title, it all points back to ancient Rome.  I expect when government and law fell here the one person they followed must have used this model to provide stability.  And so, here we are about to be feed to the lions to entertain the plebeians.”