The Colosseum

Shift in the Status Quo

Ten

After Kova disappeared over the edge of the Colosseum wall, I booked it to the cafeteria, where there's a TV mounted on the wall of live arena footage. The drone recording the animal fight flew higher to cover the entirety of the scene – soldiers dashing in, Kova finding an exit at top speed, then being dragged out moments later beaten and bloodied. Of course, the damage was inflicted by none other than Annette Stryker, the woman who won the last games and left me in the restraining chair for an unknown reason. When she plopped Kova on the ground in front of the king, I expected him to appear indifferent and stoic, per usual. But maybe because she was his spy, he might give a bit of an expression, just for courtesy.

Instead, the color from his face drained, leaving him looking like a ghost. Something he said made Annette flash a look of disdain, but she quickly masked it. On either sides of the small group, soldiers barreled through gamblers and merchants to block them from a crowd who might want to jump in and join the fight. Annette bent down to pick up Kova, presumably to drag her to "the dungeon," which is the nickname for a room made of stone where players who practice foul play are physically punished for it.

Shocking me once more, I watched with a slack jaw as Ezra had none of that. He held his hand out to stop Annette, turning his head to the side to speak to his personal butler. I don't know who he is – I've never seen him in the palace or around my family, but then again, I was only looking at my brother all that time for a weakness. Anyways, the curly-headed man plucked Kova up like she weighs nothing, which is fitting, considering there's hardly any meat on her bones. I don't know where he took her, but if the king's personal stalker is carting her someplace instead of Annette, I know it won't be anywhere inside the Colosseum.

After that match ended, the rest of the animal rounds were extremely dull. I met up with Sammy, where I won the bet, as Kova never even nicked either animals with her whip. We agreed that tonight, after training class with Annette, I'd receive my five-star foot massage.

Right now, I'm hanging out with the Samster, watching the second to last lunchtime match. My head keeps wanting to depart from current happenings and journey to things that won't help me in the moment. Why is Ezra behaving erratically? Is Kova okay? Why didn't she tell me about her plan? Why did I have to guess her move rather than just having her explain it to me? And the buried memory that resurfaced in that room, what took place in the palace hall? Why did I black it out?

But as much as each question definitely deserves answers – and in essay form – they won't help me win the games. As nice as it would be to take a shortcut to the king via highlights' dinner, I need to focus on winning the Colosseum for good. That way, if I never get my chance to swipe the crown within 100 days, I'll always have the freedom of being a victor to wander into the palace grounds and make my move.

Refocusing my attention on the ring, I absorb every detail I can. Josephine works on a panther and crocodile using a sword. Her form is excellent for someone who grew up in the desert, with her muscles rippling with every step she takes. Before her turn in the ring, the sand was already bathed in blood from previous animals' demises. It's hard to see how much of the scarlet she has contributed to, but every spot she's slashed has resulted in a geyser of blood.

Josephine uses her right hand as the lead for her grip on the heavy sword, signaling that she's righthanded, just like most other people in the world. Her method of attack seems more aggressive than strategic. She's full of unpredictable fire, slashing wildly and with meaning, lunging and jabbing when she can. Never does she take a moment to rest and reassess her current standings and take note of the predators. I also notice that she doesn't use her environment, either. Kova seems to primarily analyze the world around her and use it to her liking – throwing sand in the Ripper's eyes, using the lion to jump higher, utilizing her whip to lodge it between the cracked Colosseum walls.