Seracy

Chapter 2: Salvation?

When I awoke, I didn't move. Once I realized where I was, my instincts kicked in. Act dead. I opened my eyes just enough to see my surroundings. There was a prisoner, the one from my cell, coming towards me.

He had an iron-tipped spear in his right hand. As if he was going to make sure I was dead, he poked me with the spear. I noticeably flinched but he walked away anyways. I wonder if that was his intention or not. I decided to wait a few moments until I was positive he had walked away.

As soon as I was sure he was gone, I stood up to reveal that there were only nine other prisoners alive. When I went to grab a weapon, I realized the knife was still in my hand. Switching the knife to my left hand, I grabbed the nearest weapon, a spear.

The crowd began to quiet down, once they realized the ten remaining gladiators. Suddenly, with his booming voice, the Announcer spoke again, "NOW, that we have TEN remaining gladiators, let us unveil our PRIDE and GLORY, the one and only ARCHFIEND SLAYER!"

As if on cue, a loud booming noise started to sound. It became repetitive, and I finally realized it was drumming. It must be for the 'Archfiend Slayer's' big entrance. A humanoid, larger than 4 men put together began to come into focus as he walked out of the entrance we came through.

He looked human, except for the fact he was huge. He looked as though he was a giant from some old legend or folktale. The crowd began its chanting again, "CRUSH THEM! CRUSH THE GLADIATORS! CRUSH THOSE CRIMINALS!"

I realized that I was supposed to be one of those gladiators, I prepared myself to run. What is a spear and a knife going to do against some giant? I stood, and waited.

Finally, the drumming stopped. That signaled the other prisoners to attack. The first prisoner to make his move, was the one from my cell. He was also the first to be killed. The giant decapitated him just from one punch to his face. One of the remaining prisoners tried to stab his spear into the backside of the giant, the spear broke on impact.

The giant turned around and grabbed the prisoner, with one hand on his left leg and the other hand on the right arm, the giant ripped the man apart. Which forced me back into shock.

My thoughts began to stack. Why was this even happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? Why can't I remember?

After, he finished off the remaining prisoners in gory and indescribable ways, he spotted me. I couldn't get my body to move and I felt too weak and frightened to defend myself so I waited for death.

Once the giant reached me, he didn't waste time to pull back his fist. Thinking this was it, I tried to voice my pleads. But all that came out were the unfamiliar words, "Dies Irae."

Why wasn't I dead? I stayed frozen in fear for a few moments until I noticed blood dripping from his mouth as he grunted. I suddenly heard nothing from the crowds who were previously enjoying the spectacle.

Looking at my surroundings to find out why the giant had stopped, my eyes locked onto another humanoid in the open arena of the Colosseum. As it got closer, I was able to make out pitch black midnight hair, emerald eyes and pale skin. It was a she.

Staring at her, I finally noticed her right arm raised. Moments later she formed her hand into a fist. In sync with her hand, the giant became a bubble of a red thick velvety liquid. Blood. She then flung her arm in the direction of one of the walls, the blood followed, painting the wall red.

Quickly, she ran to me as though she knew me. "Atreyus!" She cried out. Still in awe I wondered aloud, "how did you do that?" She seemed confused, "Atreyus?" The Guards from earlier stormed into the open arena. "Atreyus, this isn't the time to play games. Summon Nero to get us out of here quickly!" Still dazed I asked, "huh? What do you mean?"

Just as the Guards surrounded us, she mumbled something under her breath that I couldn't make out. I then began to float, and so did she. It was very odd, not just the fact I was floating, but it felt as though my insides were floating and I was just along for the ride.

After a moment of floating upwards, I noticed an array of Guards with bows. I stated the obvious, 'they've got bows!" She nodded, "we'll be out of their range momentarily. Its fine." They began firing arrows upon arrows, but they all seemed to stall and fall back the way they came.

Thereafter, the floating began to shift due South. Soon, the Colosseum and the large town surrounding it became distant.