Gladiator | Harry Styles

VIII - Sand

Harry
2 Years ago

Kicking sand and wielding a dull sword I attacked my opponent. I looked up at Ramses on the balcony above. He was watching my every move with dark and observant eyes. While I was distracted, my opponent charged with a spear. I dodged just in time and flicked sand into his eyes. He stumbled backwards and squeezed his eyes shut with a groan. I held the dull training sword to his throat and he raised his fingers in surrender. I gazed up at Ramses whose wife had joined him on the balcony. She was whispering unknown sentences into his ear. Suddenly, he curled his finger towards me as a gesture to come forward. A servant of his quickly guided me through his house with all of his extra rooms and grand furniture. He was sitting in his common room on a plush seat with a table and seat across from him. I sat in the seat across from him, slowly.

"What is this about?" I questioned him.

"I think you're ready," he said simply with folded hands and perfect posture. I asked what I was ready for.

He responded, "Ready for the arena."

I didn't respond. He continued, "I think you have real potential but I need you to try harder. Tomorrow will be your first real fight in an arena. So, if you you want your freedom you will try harder."

The only thing that pushed me to try harder is the idea of freedom. The idea of earning my freedom, returning to my tribe, and seeing my family again was the only thing that kept me alive. I clung to the idea of them still being alive. Every night I thought about them being out there in the wilderness thriving. They were probably building a house and hoping for my arrival home. I never once thought the worst. I didn't want to put negative energy out into the universe. The next day I would fight for them.

I returned to my cell. Zafar sat across from me and we had grown closer as friends. We would share stories from our lives. He shared stories of his hometown. I asked hin how he ended up here which I had not had the boldness to ask until now. I thought that maybe it was a touchy subject for him

"I was a theif," he told me and I was taken aback. "I stole but not for myself. I stole food for my family. We were poor and desperate. So, now I pay the price this way."

Nimble fingers played with the rock he gave me that had a smiley face carved onto it. We named it Lucky.

• • •

I watched from the window carved into the door that seperated me from the arena. I watched my opponent hype up the crowd with strong arms and a voice roaring like a lion. The audience cheered for him as he paced around the sand with confidence and drive. The door opened and I stepped out. Boos errupted from the crowd. I was clearly not the favorite. However, I was determined. I raised my sword looked up into the bleachers at Ramses. My opponent charged with a trident and I ducked. My sword sliced into his knee. Suddenly, a second opponent charged into the arena like a bull and I backed away. The audience went wild with screams. The gladiators seemed to be on the same team as they stalked towards me. Like a flying saucer, a fisherman's net sailed through the air and enveloped me. His trident plunged through the netting and just missed. I thrusted my sword through the thickness of the netting and the metal plunged through his chest. I managed to rip through the netting. Raging, the second gladiator swung furiously. I blocked his blows until he backed me into a corner. I felt a fire coursing through my veins. Swiftly, I sweeped the net across the sand under his feet causing the gladiator to fall on his back. Finally, I raised my weapon over him. It was over.

Ramses approached me, slowly clapping. He nodded his head in approval and began coaching, "You could be my future champion. I just need you to entertain the crowd and-"

He wanted me to put in my maximum effort, but for what? This was my oppurtunity to negotiate.

"You want me to be your champion? Then, please find my family and I will be the most glorious gladiator Rome has ever seen, I will."

Considering, he hummed. "Deal."