The girl in the arena

The Ebner Estate

When I awoke, I was propped up in a chair, strapped down with leather bands. For the few seconds, that consciousness was imminent, I thrashed around weakly before a smooth voice broke through the silence. 

"Just a precaution babe, listen to what we have to say." My thrashing had become erratic, my erratic heart probably audible to those around me. 

"He said stay still, I don't plan to hurt you unless you get uncooperative." The woman with the sort hair from the arena sauntered towards me. Unexpectedly, she leaned down until her beath tingled my ear. An involuntary shudder rolled through my body. A small chuckle escaped her mouth before she began to untie my restraints. 

I rubbed my hands when my bonds were freed, trying to rid myself of the red marks. She gracefully sat in a chair across from me, crossing her legs and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 

"My name is Sophia Ebner. Currently, I am the richest woman, no, I am single-handedly the most wealthy person on the face of the Earth. Not to mention among the youngest. I find the mutation of humans particularly...interesting. Christian here is an example of my philanthropy. He and close to one hundred others are here because I offered them a refuge. People such as yourself, who were trained to fight and lay your lives on the line, now have a peaceful life and all the amenities that I have to offer." Her speech was flawless, and I could imagine one hundred others in my position as she spoke. 

"What do you get out of this? Nobody can be purely good." Her little declaration had flaws, and I had a newfound determination to figure out her angle. 

Just then, she reached for my remote in the middle of the table, earning an audible gasp from me. She pulled her hand back with a small smile on her face. 

"Christian, you know what to do with this." With a quick swipe, he picked it up from the table and dropped it to the ground before crushing it under his feet. I reached out towards it, knowing the consequences of breaking my remote.  Before I got the chance to lunge at the floor, Sophia stopped me. 

"There's no need for you to try to fix it, we have a technician that removed your destructive chip, so you'll be fine. Your sight, on the other hand, is regrettably irreversible. You have been left with your power, use it as you wish, but if you choose to do so destructively, remember one thing," she leaned into the table, close enough to where I could see freckles in her skin as she studied my reaction. "I am one of the rarest people alive, the type to do things out of pure kindness. Do not mistake my kindness for weakness."  

"I assume you would like me to protect you if such a time would come?" We were now both halfway across the table, so close we could almost touch. So close that I could smell the mint on her breath.

"If you feel so inclined, you may. If not, I will hold any resentment towards you. Even if you wish to leave now, I would not stop you, you are your own person and I have no control over you." I began to rise from my chair. "But, just know that establishing a life in the outside world would be next to impossible for someone like you. You have no records, so becoming independent may only be a dream for you. That is if you aren't arrested as a rouge test subject." I shrank back down in my seat. 

"I have not introduced the two of you formally, but this is Christian. He is my...personal assistant. He is responsible for particular affairs that I wish not to deal with, as well as other tasks. He will show you around the manor and get you settled into your room. I would sincerely like to offer as much freedom as possible for someone in your situation, so is there a problem?" 

"N-No, thank you very much Ms., I-I don't know what to say." I could begin to feel my eyes sting, the threat of tears imminent. 

"No thanks are needed, you deserve it. And call me Sophia, the term Ms. makes me feel much too old."