The Carnage of War

Chapter Eight

I couldn't bear it. Feeling too much like a coward... I am a coward. I couldn't engage in a fight...Not until someone decided to do it first. 

I clash against my opponent. wearing a heavy suit of armor he kicks me back with a shielded foot. I yelp as I stumble and fall to the ground. I look up to him and grab my sword in defiance. I charge him and raise my shield. He stumbles from my sudden burst of speed. I clash against his armor over and over. He gasps and stumbles back. I use my energy to thrust and my sword slices through his armor. He looks down at the impaled stomach and shakily takes a breath. I gasp and the crowd cheers loudly. He coughs up blood and I cringe as I pull my blade out of his stomach. I watch as his being seems to implode leaving nothing but air. "ARIE!" Ash shoves me to the side and I fall onto my knees. I watch in pure horror as a long jagged blade slices right through Ash-

I turn my head not bearing to look. I hear the same sound as when I killed the blonde guy from before. I grab my sword filled with rage. I turn and the guy hits my blade. I hit against his armor and he thrust his sword forward. I yelp and dodge by a side jump. I continue to parry his ongoing attacks. 

'He's way too strong- I don't have a chance,' I think. I decide to go off of all defense. He grunts as he does a charge and I roll to the side. I yell as I swing the sharp end of my sword across his bare neck. I step back as his head, shielded behind his helmet, falls to his feet and his body tumbles forward. It disappears with a deep poof sound. I shakily drop my sword and step back. I feel a hand on my arm and see Ash looking down at me. 

"Relax-" She nods. "I'm alright," she says. "Regeneration...remember?" I give a nervous laugh and grab Ash's arm pull her next to me. I raise my shield as a large battle hammer slams into it. I stumble back from the force but Ash charges forward parry-ing the hammer. I look over my shoulder and see a black flag hanging over the other sides wall. I look back to Ash. "Go!" She calls holding off the guy. I nod and turn running through the crowd of people. I paint as I near the flag. There's motion beside me and I turn to see Iker now at my side. 

"What are yo?-"

"I've got your cover," He pants. A large gu steps in the way and Iker runs ahead of me. He raises his long sword and clashes with the man. I watch him shove the guy aside and I continue to run. I take heavy breaths and finally get to a platform. I climb up and grunt as I push myself to my feet. I hear movement behind me and look back. Iker, dressed in his all black armor, is wrestling at a guard near the bottom of the platform. I turn back only to be countered by a knife, flying at my head. I gasp and close my eyes, but nothing happens. I look over. 

"Jet?" I murmur. He coldly sighs and grabs my arm pulling me up onto his shoulder.

"The flag- grab it!" He yells. I reach up and tear it off of the rope it was hanging from. There's a large buzzer and I yelp as Jet shoves me off of his shoulders. A pair of warm hands catches me before I tumble to the ground. I look up to see Iker smiling down at me. 

"I didn't know you could tell us apart," He chuckles standing me back up. I shrug and brush off my arms. "Come on let's head back to the baseline," he says. I look at him.

"Wh-what why? Isn't it over?"

"Best out of three," He says simply. I tense. "Well- these are like... preparation, a practice almost," He says. "Not real....In a real one...it would be long. We would not fight in an arena like this...The war would be everywhere," He whispers the last part as we walk back. I nod. "We could end up fighting a war against lurkers and shadows...If Cof doesn't run these politics right." He murmurs. We get to the baseline and I sigh rubbing my forehead. 

"This is a disaster," I murmur.

"We know," I flinch and grab my sword whipping around. Cof raises his hands defensively but lowers them quickly. He clears his throat. "Nice work." He says brushing off his shoulders. I shoot him a glare and turn my back to him. He gives out a chuckle. "Let's hope you can do just as well in round two," He says walking off. The clouds from the simulated weather clear and I look up at the glowing moon and sigh. 

"Hey," I hear. I turn to see Ty and Ash approaching me. I walk to them. 

"Nice work," Ty says. "Listen- we only got a couple minutes to prep I gotta go get some more arrows," He murmurs walking past us. I look at Ash and she smiles holding up her hand. I giggle and give her a crisp high five. 

"Let's go Arie- Round number two!" 

In a matter of minutes, I am back in the field. Running beside Ty and Ash. Ty parts from us and heads to a pillar. Arrows shower over us and I step in front of Ash raising my shield. They bounce off. 

"SMOKE!" I hear someone shout. Seconds later, the entire arena is covered in dark grey smog. I cough and lower my shield. Ash grabs something from her suit and pulls a pair of goggles over her eyes. I look around and watch as people emerge from the smoke. I raise my sword and glare at my opponent. 

'Why do I have to be so short?' I think as I observe the tall girl with two battle hammers in each hand. She yells as she charges at me. I raise my shield and grab her wrist mid-attack. I punch her in the throat and kick the back of her legs. Her knees buckle and she tumbles to the ground. I raise my sword but stop as I feel something peirce throw my back. 

"Arie!" Ash calls. I feel my hands shake and muscles weaken as my sword tumbles to the ground. The blade pulls out of me and I cough. I grip my stomach and turn around. A man brings his sword to my arm and I yell in pain. I step back only to be tripped by the girl that I took down. She kicks me to the ground and Raises a hammer. Tears well in my eyes and I will myself to close them as she brings the metal to my skull.

Only to snap them open as I lay in the end zone. I cringe and lay on my back panting. I attempt to sit up but the pain still lingers over my body. I grip the grass near me and hear a loud buzzer. I grunt as I sit up. I watch as someone dressed in our colors holds a black flag above his head. I sigh in relief and pull myself to my knees. I shakily get on my feet and look down as I gain my balance. 

"Arie- there you are," I hear Ash say. I look up to her as she jogs up to me.

"I'm so glad I don't have to go through this again," I murmur.

"At least not for today," She murmurs. "You're lucky though," I glare at her.

"Lucky?!" I hiss.

"Yeah!" She says crossing her arms. "You're lucky that those two killed you quickly...I've been in enough battles to tell you that you got lucky." She says. "You were spared the pain- trust me." I sigh and look away.

"Sure doesn't feel like it," I mumble. Ash laughs and pats my back. "You'll get used to it," She says with a smile. I nod and groan.

"I'm tired," I whine. Ash nods and wraps an arm around my waist pulling me over her shoulder like a back of potatoes. I sigh and close my eyes.

"Dying takes a toll on you huh?" Ash jokes. I scoff.

"Yeah yeah," I mutter as Ash walks off. 

"So back to our chambers?" Ty asks jogging up to walk beside us. I nod and yawn. "Pipsqueak over here needs a nap already?" He teases with a smirk. I glare at him and glance to my other side. 

"Look!" I call pointing. Ty turns and looks over. 

"What what?!" He asks. I hold up my middle finger and turn to him. He scoffs. "Alright, Arlight you got me," He says. Ash walks to the dark door and continues to carry me up the long twisting stairs. Ty mutters something underneath his breath and Ash begins to bicker with him. I rest my head on her back and let myself fall asleep gaining some well-needed rest.