Gladiator of Rome (#1 in Gladiator Series)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

It had been over a week since Krista had been in, what she would call, a good fight. Her wounds had healed now which meant that Krista could enjoy killing these Romans entirely on her own, with no one nearby to steal the fight. That knowledge only made her heart pump faster.

Gripping the shaft of the arrow, the head pointing outwards, Krista charged at the soldiers, dodging the swipes of their swords with ease. Swinging beneath an arc of a sword, Krista quickly sprang back up and sank the arrowhead through the man's unguarded neck feeling the tip rub against muscle. His warm blood poured down the shaft and over her fingers as she heard his friend charge directly at her from behind.

Not letting the arrow go Krista twisted at the waist so that she was side on to the soldier and kicked her right leg out, her boot landing squarely against his armored chest. The soldier stumbled back whilst Krista tore the arrow from the soldier's throat, his blood spraying out through the  gaping hole as she did so. Two soldiers were approaching directly in front of her so, with a laugh, she bent her knees and vaulted off of the floor and into the air.  When she was level with their faces she kicked her legs out in a 'V' shape and kicked them both in the face, knocking them to the ground. 

Remembering to bend her knees as she landed she immediately turned towards the last two standing guards.Krista was still grasping the arrow in her hand as the first soldier stepped in front of her, providing a small theatrical spin of his sword beside him. 

Krista let out a small chuckle as the second soldier sneaked up on her from behind. Waiting until they were closer, Krista's heart pumped faster as her muscles tightened, preparing for flight.

She waited until they were close enough and just as they thrusted their swords at her, hoping to sink their blades into her flesh from either side, Krista sprang over the top of their heads. Their blades found only each other. 

Flipping in the air so that she landed beside them, Krista watched the two guards stare at the swords that penetrated their abdomens, blood dribbling from their lips before they collapsed to the ground sideways. 

Krista heard the soft crunch of boots upon leaf behind her when she suddenly heard her name being shouted through the forest, distracting her.

"Krista! Krista!"

"Whoa," Krista gasped when she turned too late and the flash of a sword narrowly missed her ear.

Glaring at the approaching gladiators, Krista turned on the soldiers with a vengeance.

This was her fight, Krista thought with a growl as ducked a swing at her neck.

Reaching forward, Krista grabbed the man's wrist, holding his sword out to the side, as she sent a sharp kick into the knee of the man approaching her from behind.

She saw the tension in his face, his skin growing red, as he tried his best to overthrow her but he was too weak.

Resorting to bare basics, he sent a flimsy punch towards her jaw but it was in futile attempt as Krista raised her arm and blocked his attack.

Not waiting another second as she heard the group approach, Krista sent the arrow that killed his friend straight up through his lower jaw and into the base of his skull.

He lived for a few seconds, trying to speak but the only thing that left his lips was blood.

Krista turned to face the last soldier only to find that he had vanished.

Looking through the trees, Krista tried to listen for his footsteps. She thought she had heard them when the approaching heard of gladiators suddenly drowned them out.