Labyrinth: Into the Malignant Book 2

Let The Attraction Begin

                  

We were dressed in glorified work clothes. Material covered our chests and nets wrapped around us to form a dress of sorts to cover our bodies. Most of the girls were excited seeing as they weren't prisoners, but the rest of us were aggravated and moody. I stood next to the girl with wings. We helped each other prepare before walking with the women down the cave halls. People lined the walls and called out to us for good wishes. It all made me sick.

When we filed into the room, the men were shuffling in as well and both genders were eying the other. The room was tense and quite large. There were seats above the 'arena' to watch as we tried to impress potential partners. There was a section of seating on both sides of the arena on the floor for the boys and girls. Separating the two sections were racks of weapons.

The girls were taken to sit down and the instant whisper of admiring voices arose. I looked over the men and saw both handsome and unfortunate men. Some of the men were hidden and others were standing in the front much to the girl's pleasure. Most of the men looked over the girls and stopped on the girl beside me to see her spectacular wings. She subconsciously moved closer to me brought her wings closer together.

"First up are the two Jenlias brothers. The eldest," he pointed to the smaller boy with shaggy brown hair and awkward footing, "is the oldest of four. He is ranked number thirteen in the group of men of strength" Everyone watched the eldest before the announcer moved onto his brother.

"The younger Jenlias brother is ranked number seven in his strength" The younger brother was much more enticing than the elder brother, but I could never tell until the actual fight.

I watched as the brothers approached the middle of the arena to fight. The swung their sword skillfully and waited until the shrill ring of the starting bell. The two men lunged at each other and their weapons collided mercilessly. Their fight was intense, but bled into the next and the next. Their fighting was all different but too similar. I could tell they were taught by the same instructor.

It wasn't until the last two fights that I was captivated. The announcer called two men out and I noticed both of them were foreign. There were about three in total that were foreign. "These two men have no name besides their numbers. On the right side of the arena is number 60251 and on the left is 38905. 60251 is ranked number fifteen in strength and number 38905 is ranked number one" The number 38905 was definitely big and very handsome. I could hear giggling among the girls about both men for their foreign looks. I felt bad for the men, but I had little sympathy for others anyways so the feeling passed as quickly as it appeared. Just like the rankings suggested, the number one man was quick to beat the other. After he won, his eyes searched the girls for a moment and they caught mine. It was most likely the similarity of our difference, but I was unsure.

The last fight was between a large foreign man and a man of the Deep. He introduced the man of the Deep as being ranked number three while the foreigner was ranked number ten despite his bulky and rugged appearance. The foreigner waited until the man of the Deep was to lunge and after a long fight, the foreigner was actually able to pin the man of the Deep. I was very impressed, but something about the foreigner seemed slightly off. I didn't trust him because his fighting was a lie. He was hiding. I was aware of my hypocrisy, but to me, everyone was a threat and only my own self preservation was justified. I know what I'm hiding, but my secrets are simply threads in a closet full of masterfully made clothes.

The women were instructed to get up and take their swords. I had to take the sword from one of the cocky men and they winked at while brushing their hand against mine. I forced myself to restrain myself and just took the sword. I waited along the sides to be called last like the other foreigners, but my name was first and I was up against one of the blood sisters.