The Secret of the Stone

Oh, great I'm a prize - [Chapter 16]

"I don't think I like being considered as a prize."

"You deserve to be a shining trophy."

"But I don't WANT to be a shining trophy."

Des and I argue all the way to the beach.

At the front of the bush to the scarce path, I stood my ground.

"I am not going in."

Des looked over at Carolyn and gave her a goofy grin. "I guess I have to do the inevitable."

"Huh?" I looked over at him. He winked at me, and lifted me off the ground.

"Just like old times." 

"Yeah. Whatever."

As we walk along the undergrowth, Carolyn fills in circles on a piece of paper.

"What people don't realize is that these things require a lot of paperwork." she murmured. 

We walked out to the field and Griffin ran up to us.

"Thank you for bringing my girlfriend here."

"Hmph" ,said Des. "You won't ever win."

"What are you gonna do big guy? Heal me to death?"

"You don't know what I can do."

"Psh, what kind of healing power can deal with my FIRE?"

I see the jasper stone that Griffin wears as we walk. I start to feel a bit woozy. I CANNOT go on a date with Griffin. That cool, smooth, charming boy attitude made me wary.

Des squeezed my shoulder. "It's going to be all right."

I wish.

There, in the ground, is a huge carved circle with many symbols, which must be the symbols of the stones. Around it is a fence, so the crowd cannot enter. There are actually about twenty people here. I think there's about 30 young keepers.There, on the highest bench, which is made of gold, are the society. 

The arena.

A guy in a velvet suit(gosh, he must be sweaaaty!) directs us to a small compartment where the Arena Scorers sit, right at the very front. Carolyn explains the whole thing, technically.

"Well the guys are being taken to those little compartments in the fences. It's basically a fence dressing room, where they put on gloves and some simple armor. Then, they get taken out. The referee, Doc, lists the names of the fighters and the stakes. Then, they fight. It's like a simple strategy game. You'll see."

Carolyn joins some of the other Arena Scorers, and I sit next to her.

Oh, Des. Good luck.

Suddenly, I hear a chirpy voice call out my name. 

"AK ROSEEE!! YOU'RE HERE!!"

It can only be Mandy. She runs up to me and nearly squashes me with a hug. 

I laugh.

"Are you ready for the fight?! It's only going to last about fifteen minutes though. Lunch time fights can't last too long." She pouts, obviously disappointed.

"Are you an Arena Scorer?"

"YEAH! ISN'T IT GREAT?! BASICALLY, WE ADD POINTS ONTO DES AND GRIFFIN'S OVERALL POWER SCORE. THEN, DOC WILL GIVE THEM A LITTLE BONUS POWER WHEN THEY'RE DONE. THIS IS AN AWESOME EXERCISE TO INCREASE YOUR KEEPER

LEVEL. ONLY THE MOST POWERFUL KEEPERS CAN HELP THE AK!"

She beams.

"That's awesome." I reply. "Have you ever been in an arena fight?"

"Of course I have!"

"Did you win?"

All at once, Mandy's face darkens. "Oh yeah.I crushed her like a grasshopper."

I gulp. Mandy laughs. "My power level is way high. It's at 31." She smiles. 

A trumpet sounds. "It's starting!!! WOO HOO!" 

I see Doc rising on a platform.

Here we go.

Doc clears his throat, obviously from the dust in the arena.

"Keepers, I now present Healer Destiny and Fire Keeper Griffin."

Almost the whole crowd cheers.  Des and Griffin come out, with leather gloves and armor covering their bodies.

"Now, the stakes. If Des wins, Griffin must hand over one hundred dollars. If Griffin wins, he gets a" Doc reads the card handed to him "-an afternoon with All-Keeper Rose."

The crowd gasps, knowing me and Des are together.Apparently, gossip travels around fast here. Especially with the super speed kids. I groan. Mandy clutches my arm.

"Now men, you know the rules.No death. If the opponent does not rise after 20 seconds, victory to the other."

He takes a flag from the little bench he's on. He waves it.

"Let the fight begin!"