Chalice

Chapter 7: Games

Chalice put on her modified flying for the games. She had been in solitary confinement and it had started to get to her. At least each player had been allowed to edit their suit a little bit- it was under a time limit. Her enemy was in for a big surprise.She grinned. It was going to be fun.

Dias couldn't wait for Chalice to die. He was a sicko that way. He announced to the rich audience,

"Enter-Chalice Abernolsky, with her flying suit!"

The crowd cheered.

Chalice entered with confidence. It was important now to portray herself with dignity and not grovel or beg for mercy.She faced her opponent in the bowl stadium, filled with dry sand, which she knew went down several meters. There would be no escaping that way. But she didn't need to escape.

"5........................................4..............................3..........................2...........................1...........................Fight!"

Chalice flew up gracefully into the air. She aimed a jet of water right under the gunner's feet as he raised his special rifle.He sank into the sand to his neck. She next froze the water with some mars-water,and then she sliced off his head. She had won! She didn't like killing, but it had to be done. She felt sickened now that her original fearlessness had vanished.Would she be finished off by Dias' body guards?

Dias was fuming, but she had followed the rules.He ordered her back to her cell, and as her captors led her away, the crowd cheered. Bets had been won.And she was spunky and confident and had won their hearts as well as the game. Dias would have trouble getting rid of her now.

Chalice collapsed in  her cell. She was exhausted. At dinner time, instead of being given her food, she was led to her friends, who cheered with enthusiasm.

"How did you do it? Tell us!"

So she explained the whole thing.

"It was exhausting, but I'm glad I'm not dead.Anyways, what's up with you guys?"

"Well,"answered Niko,"we were sick with worry, as we had no idea whether your plan would work or not. We've been sitting here trying to plan mini-revenges, but we're not as good at planning as you are. You are the one that glues us to hope, so if you had died, we probably would have given up all hope."

Chalice blushed. She had had no idea that they cared about her that much."Thank you, Niko. That means a lot to me." 

 "It's straight from the heart. I can probably testify for all of us here when I say this."

Everyone nodded in consent, and looked at her with respect.

Chalice now spoke,

"Now that this heart-to-heart stuff is officially over, we need to decide how we can adapt Lynna's car to the arena. It had a dry sand floor, making her invention completely useless."