Humanity's Flame

Chapter two- Ebony

Chapter two- Ebony

Not again. Oh please not again. I can't live with the guilt of another person's blood on my hands.

I make eye contact with Jay wishing him a silent good luck. His brown eyes meet mine holding terror and fear. I hope this one makes it; he's the kindest person I've ever met. What a sorrowful thought. I stand up as the man instructs and defiantly stare him down with the most menacing glare I can muster. His piercing blue eyes seem to burn holes right through me. The man's defined jaw line clenches, he makes one swift step towards me. I shudder as he grabs my wrist, my blood runs cold. "It's your turn, little girl." He says with a hint of sarcasm like he's trying to get me to snap.

His right-hand clutches his gun and his left on my wrist. "Let go of her you bastard," Jay says in a low growl. His face turns from terror to immense anger. His kind eyes narrow in a fortifying glare that sends a dreadful chill down to my spine. He struggles to get up, his bruised and tired legs shaking. Don't; he'll only hurt you. The words get caught in my throat as terror overcomes me and before I know it Jay is on the ground laying on his back moaning in pain.

"That'll teach you" He spits out and kicks him one more time. His body shudders in pain curling up into a ball. My fist clenches in vexation I quickly struggle free from his painfully tight grip, anger running through my blood. Before I can stop myself, I impulsively swing a fist at his gut. He grabs my fist and twists it to the right quickly. Pain excruciates through my wrist, I unclench it and scream in pain. He lets go and shoves me outside the concrete square I've been trapped in for so long. I clutch my wrist to my chest instinctively. "I'll be glad when you're both dead." He says and pushes me down a cold concrete hallway before slamming the door on Jay locking it securely. The pulsing pain in my wrist intensifies with each turn we make. Our footsteps are echoing throughout the cold hallway as the man sighs then states "Oh my dear Ebony, I thought you were smarter than to pull crap like that!"

"I am not yours," I say with a disgusted glare.

"You won't be mine for long." He says with a grin that makes me want to bash his sly face in. "You'll soon be death's. Just another one of death's victims" He repeats in a sing-song voice.

"And so will you" I utter gritting my teeth to keep myself from snapping. I can't let myself get injured again. I let out a sad sigh dreading the moment the man will shove me through the menacing double doors. The moment they will make me kill another human. The only reason I'm still fighting for my life is for my sister. She's still out there with my dad; I can't leave her with him. Tears well up in my eyes thinking of my frightened younger sister with our violent, unpredictable father. I need to save her, and I can't save her if I'm dead.

"You're more trouble than you're worth. I should have let your dad kill you." He states with a smirk. I stare at the floor avoiding his burning eyes; my hands shake with anger and fear. The man stops at the double doors that make my stomach churn. "I'll be glad when you're dead my Ebony." He says tauntingly. Before I can respond, he shoves me through the double doors into the atrociously familiar arena. I tighten my grip around my injured wrist in absolute terror as the roaring crowds yell and shout.

The small dirt circle surrounded by bleachers filled will all types of sick, bloodthirsty people that scream and shout vulgar, aggressive words. I stare ahead of me to see a tall and thin redhead. We meet terrified glances; she seems so light that she could be blown away by the wind. I wonder who they threatened to kill if she didn't try to kill me. The redhead seems to be about four years older than me, around 17. Her freckled arms draped over her torso keeping her body from shaking.

The roar of the crowd fills my ears, and I clench my unwounded fist. This is so I can get back to my sister, this is, so they don't kill her. Tears well up in my eyes, my feet involuntarily move closer and closer to the redhead. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. She steals a quick glance at my one clenched fist then my wounded fist, and before I can make sense of what is happening, her hand is twisting mine I yelp in pain then bring my foot up connecting with her torso, she stumbles back, and I lunge on top of her. Her body lands on the dirt floor with a violent thud. The crowd's screams and shouts echo through my head. My small hand is repeatedly punching her in the face, over and over. She screams so loud it makes me shudder with regret. Blood begins to drip down her face as I silently curse at myself for being so cruel. I grit my teeth then start hitting the hard, dirt ground next to her.