What History Doesn't Know

When In Rome...

No way. I'm behind bars in a really crappy place. There was a small window opposite the bars. Looking outside, I saw people dressed in tunic, paved roads and what looks like a public speaking spot. It didn't take me long to figure out that I was in Ancient Rome. Being in Rome didn't seem so bad but what the heck was I doing behind bars?!

I grabbed the bars of my cell and started shaking them as I screamed "Let me out!" repeatedly. I don't think I was Menessus anymore because one, Menessus was alive during the Trojan War which was a long time ago and two, even if I was Menessus, he was a good person who had good relations with the royal family. Whoever I was now has to have a really screwed-up social status to end up in this place.

"Keep the noise down, Therus! I'm trying to sleep here. Don't let me trash you like I did the last time." someone shouted from down the hall.

"Hah! The last time you 'trashed' him, you ended up getting your backside kicked about by a mere boy." another person replied.

Their argument became even more intense causing people in other cells to see what the commotion was all about. It was then I noticed something. There were only muscular but scarred men in the cells. For the first time, I noticed that I too, was more muscular than when I was Casper. Whoa. Someone's been working out, I thought to myself.

Suddenly the were shouts as armored men entered the corridor and started whipping the cell bars. "Alright you lot! Quiet down or there will be no supper for anybody even for those who stayed quiet!" one of the armored men ordered.

As soon as they were gone, everything became quiet once more. I figured that the silence wouldn't last long seeing as these men seemed rather rowdy. I made use of the silence and decided to piece together my situation.

Sitting down, I thought long hard. Firstly, I was in Ancient Rome. Secondly, I'm in a cell with no way out. That meant that I, or Therus, was not a freeman. Thirdly, the other prisoners and I were all muscular and had what looked like battle scars on different parts of the body. Then I realized that I was gladiator.

Oh no, no, no. There is no way on earth am I a gladiator. Don't they die in the arena when everybody started thumbing down? I need to get out of here. Unfortunately, I didn't see any opportunities in the cell so I guess I would have to wait.

After some time, the armoured men came and began unlocking the cell doors. Everyone walked out of their cells in a slow similar fashion. I mimicked their actions so as to not attract any attention to myself. Outside, a large man stood in the centre of large, walled, square area. Despite the walls, there was no roof unlike the cells.

"Alright, ladies. I am your gladiator trainer and I will turn you into true gladiators. Anybody who has any ideas that are against me shall be punished severely. Any questions?" the large said in a firm tone. His tone meant he was serious and was not a big fan of jokes.

However, I was still worried about my situation so I lifted my hand to ask a question.

"I know this is a school, but this is school for men not children. You do not need to raise your hands if you need to ask a question." the large men said as he put his face into his palm. Some of the other men snickered.

"Ummm...I think I might have forgotten but where are we, sir?" I asked.

"You are in Capua, my boy. It is here that I shall determine your gladiator type, train you until you are all exhausted and when you are exhausted, I shall train you even more. Once the time is right, I will send you to gladiator fights." the large man started pacing left and right slowly as he continued speaking.

"The rules of a gladiator fight are simple. Your fate rests in both yours and the spectators' hands. Put on a good fight, and they will let you live." I sighed with relief. Looks like I might make it out alive after all. "However, put on a bad fight...let's just say you wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of a weapon." the large man ended his speech with a sinister smile.