Adora Cassidy

•Chapter 1•

     Run. It is what I have always done. Run. It is all I have known. Living alone in The Skids was hard. There is little freedom, no hope. Everyone there was forced into subordination, so resigned to what their fate is. I lived recklessly, I still do, but when I get caught; I run. Yet, now I can't run. I am trapped. I was too reckless, and now there is nowhere to run. My auburn hair lays flat on my head as I try and forget. I try to forget where I am, I try to run away from this god-forsaken reality. I am stuck though, and tomorrow it will be certain. I can't run anymore, I will have to finally face everything. The nightmares I have had since I was a child will come true.

     I saw my reflection on a piece of shattered mirror that was left in my cell. I looked into it and saw something strange, I saw someone else. My once bright green eyes seemed to be many shades darker. The once bouncy auburn curls now cascade down my head in long waves. Yet, these changes are minor and barely noticeable, there is one that truly stands out. The most notable change was my skin. It was visibly paler and made me look like a breathing corpse. I thought of who I used to be, hopeful and unafraid of what lies ahead of me. Now I am broken. I am utterly and truly broken.

     I feel something pierce my skin, and before I know it, darkness engulfs me. It feels like hours until I wake to the sound of my metal prison cell's door opening, and I know the time has come. Rays of sunshine come through my small window and I realize how much time I have lost in my slumber. Lost in my own thoughts, I don't notice that I am not the only person in my cell anymore. I hear someone's ragged breath and I slowly turn around. I see I enormous man with colossal muscles. His dark hair reminds me of a raven's feathers, but his eyes are joyless and cold. By his uniform, I realize he is an officer. I am quickly afraid, for I know they are not usually nice people. But he seems different, he is just gives off vibes that tell me so. He is oddly comforting in this horrible circumstance.

     He slowly shifts his body so he is facing me, his cold expression never faltering. I read his name tag which clearly states "ALARIC" in a bold font. His eyes scan my body and he truly sees the awful state I am in. I swear I could see a flash of sympathy in his eyes, but it is gone as soon as it came. The sliver of emotion is replaced by a now familiar cold stare. I now know that I must truly look awful to get an emotion out of a soldier who must see countless people being tortured a day. That is what all soldiers from The Skids see daily, so this should be nothing to him. He hands me an expensive- looking gray jumpsuit with black zippers and buttons.

     I can now tell that Alaric isn't supposed to be here with me. He is an imposter. How could I not see this before. His skin is too delicate and his posture is too calm. He is someone else. I do not know what he is here for, but i have an idea. He may be a member of the revolutionaries. He may be here to do what needs to be done, overthrow the government. All of my thoughts are confirmed when I find a small piece of paper inside the jumpsuit, and it clearly says.....

    Dear Miss Adora Cassidy,

   I did not have much time to write to you, so i will assume you know of the threats you will be facing. I am part of an elite group of people who are against our current system of government and are trying to create a new fair form of government. We have been watching you for a while and have noticed your skills, so we have conducted a plan that will have you surviving after this monstrosity. You must fend for yourself for now before we can help you. We only ask one thing, that you join us and become a member of The Revolutionaries. Together we will start the flame needed for us o achieve equality in The skids and eventually the entire world. If you accept our offer, simply knock on your cell door three times. May you have the strength of one-thousand flames, Adora.

                                                                                                      -Alaric Riverworth

     When I finish reading the letter, I immediately do what Alaric asked. I will survive. They can help me, so i just need to survive as long as possible. The letter somehow disappears into nothing and i am left alone, yet again. I put on my jumpsuit only to be taken aback by the shift in material. The cloth morphs into a suit of armor and i realize that I have less time than I thought. The time is near.

     Alaric re enters my cell and roughly grabs me. I feel him stab something into my neck and I think back to what they taught us in school. It is a miniature bomb that our leaders implant in js to be sure that we will die. No prisoner has ever been successful, but they have these as a backup plan. This can't be, Alaric said i would live. How could he do this. He notices this and quietly whisper, "It's fake" into me ear. If what he is saying is true, than the Revolutionaries have even more power than I thought. They may actually pose a threat to the . They are so much stronger than the Superiors know. 

    I can no longer think abou the hope that i had seconds ago for where I am going will destroy everything. Every fiber of me will be destroyed, whether literally or figuratively. I am currently being dragged to my worst nightmare, the arena, the colosseum of fire, the place where i must survive. I will face murderous prisoners and gladiators who have prepared for this their entire lives. Here running cannot save me, it will only kill me.  As of right now I must prepare for the worst, I will prepare to die.

     Yet, I made a deal, so I must at least make an effort to survive, though that is clearly impossible. This is destined to end the same as all of the others, I will die like all of the others. I am not sure even all of the Revolutionaries help could save me. I am still trapped in the end, and I hate it. I am being forced to pledge my loyalty to strangers or die. I hate the colosseum, all of it. I hate the fact that I will be forced to massacre innocent and guilty people alike, some just like me. Some forced into this life, but haven't been given the same deal. I am the one the Revolutionaries chose. They choose me too survive, and them to die. All of this is horrible, every single fragment, but now I have become entangled in its web with no way out. This will become a part of me, and I am not sure that I will be able to forgive myself of what I must do in the future.

     In my rush of thoughts, I do not notice my surroundings. Everyone stops a huge, white marble archway, and someone pushes me through while i am the midst of my trance. A barrier forms around me, and now I can only wait until the announcers call for me to be released into the maze. About ten minutes go by until he calls my name. I slowly walk forwards and hear the crowds cheering for my death. They are celebrating murders at the stand. They are celebrating my murder. I am the last person to be called, so after the announcers are finished, a bright light immerses my vision and the entire scenery turns into the real arena. The cheers are silenced and the only noise for miles is a gong signaling for the start of the massacres. I start running into the forest in front of me like a headless chicken. I am prepared for this now, and I only have one thought in my head. I am not going down without a hell of a fight.