Chain of Steel

Part 1

The Colosseum, Rome

"And now, ladies and gentlemen......" The announcer cries out above the thundering fanfare,          " ..... the main event!" The barred door starts creaking upwards.                                                                     " The GLADIATORS!!" 

The mob of spectators scream, the sound echoing around the ring. I step onto the blood-soaked sand and take a deep breath. My training rushes into my head:

" A weak link breaks the chain, but a ring forged from steel holds fast. You must be that steel!"

I heave a sigh. My trainer never did like me, probably because I'm a girl. The other gladiators love me though, and that's because I'm a girl. 

The other gladiators are on the sand now, I roll my shoulders and unsheathe my weapon. With a measly 10 pound sword and a double-sided battle-axe, I'm probably the least weaponized fighter in the ring tonight. The announcer starts calling our names to the crowd.  My friend John's name is called. He starts raising his arms, effectively riling up the crowd. He winks at me and gives me one of his ridiculous smiles. I roll my eyes and smirk at him. 

My name is called and the crowd goes chaotic, screaming so loud that even the walls shook. I looked forward, eyeing each one of my opponents, not acknowledging the crowd. The trumpets blare and the fight begins. I target a man to my left and lunge at him. He was unprepared for my attack and falls onto the golden sand. I hold him there with my foot and point my sword at his neck. I ignore the vicious cries to murder him and ask him a question;

" Why are you here?"

" I was attacked on the road while going home to my family."

" Do you have any children?"

" Yes, two daughters, Jenna and Ruth."

"How old are they?"

"One is seven and the other is two." He answered, the fear livid in his eyes.

I raise my sword above my head. He cowers in fear and closes his eyes. Without a word, I thrust my sword into the sand an inch from his ear. 

" They all want you to die, but you shall not die by my hand. You are free to live another day."

He didn't say anything, didn't need to. His eyes shouted his thanks. I silently walked away, completely unaware of the large figure running towards me. John slammed into me, knocking me over. He grabbed my arm and pulled me over and out of the ring. Once away from the piercing eyes of the audience he slammed me into the wall. 

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" He asked me furiously.

"What? Do you think that I could just murder him like the thousands of other people like us have? No way! He was INNOCENT!" I tore off my mask. " I will not be responsible for that man's death! I'm sick of all the killing! All the death and deceit and hatred, don't you ever wish we could be something else than the devils murdering henchmen? I hate it!!"

" I know, okay!? I hate it too! But it's not going to stop because two lowlifes like us want it to stop! I pulled you out of the ring because I wanted to warn you to stay away from Correus, he's not going to be happy that you defied the wishes of the people."

" Oh, John. I can handle him."

" No, you can't. I don't want him to hit you again. Last time that happened you were so banged up you couldn't even fight."

"Yeah, guess your right." 

" I always am. Now go home."

I glared at him, clenching my teeth.

" Sure. Meet you back at the barracks."

John walked back into the ring but was immediately downed but an overly weaponized man. He didn't stand a chance! I put my mask back on and rushed into the ring. The man was caught off guard and didn't get out of the way in time. I wildly bicycle kicked him in the jaw. He stumbled backwards and I hit him on the back of the head with the hilt of my axe. He tumbled to the ground unconscious. I looked at John. Satisfied with his surprised expression, I left for the barracks.