The Colosseum

Three Days Until D-Day

Ezra

Muffled voices were distant in my slumber, but it was the jolt of Kova's shoulder beneath my head that woke me up. I feel like I've just been born again – rejuvenated after getting an actual period of rest. I can't remember the last time sleep came to me at all, let alone so easily. Nevertheless, I'm up now because of something startling Kova.

Sitting upright, I open my mouth to ask her what made her flinch when I hear voices. Their pitches are deep, and there seems to be two of them. I can't detect what they're saying to each other, nor can I detect if they're the traitors form last night.

Breathing slow and contained, Kova coils up like a spring, ready to pounce. The way she gets into a defensive position is so natural that I doubt she even realizes she's doing it. I could blame the Colosseum games for evolving her like this, but it also could have been life in the desert that did this to her. Dark blue eyes look through me with determination. "Whether they're the people from last night or people just trying to get in, you still shouldn't be seen here," she hisses. Then giving my shoulder a slight push. "Go hide."

"What are you going to do?" I snap back, watching the metal sheet between the catacombs and the hallway. Slowly, its center begins to glow orange...or is that just me?

"If it's just someone trying to enter, I'll tell them I came down here out of curiosity then got locked in," she reasons, eyes surveying the area. "If it's the people form last night..." She stops. "It won't be."

"How can you be so sure?"

"They put up this wall because they knew we were in here, and hardly anyone ventures down here for fun," Kova slowly justifies. "You wouldn't know what it feels like to be hungry, but I think starvation is the worst way to go because I've been so close to dying from it. After they killed that guy last night, I know they're not the type of people who want to keep others contained. You're either with them or against them, and if they don't like where you stand, then they want you dead."

The metal sheet is definitely starting to glow, and Kova notices it, too. "So, they're trying to make us suffer before we die for spying on them. But do you think they knew who we were?"

"It's possible," is her ominous answer. There looks like there's something on her mind, but there isn't time for her to explain and she bites her tongue. Taking that as my cue, I dart out of view and duck into the nearest aisle of corpses. Their hollowed sockets bore into my soul, silently cursing me for being the cause that they're stored down here. How many of these people would be alive and well if I didn't sentence them here? How many more will die if I don't weed out the weak?

Scraping of metal-against-metal bounces off the walls, the shelves of stone distorting the location of the noise. The voices from the other side of the wall gradually become clearer. Slightly, I peek my head around the bend to see what's happening. Either ready to confront or run, Kova stands to the side of the metal, which has been heated to malleability, only to be sawed away by a heavy iron sword.

A small opening is created as the cut metal falls to the floor. The first one to fit himself through the hole is my brother. Behind him is an unlikely companion: Ajax.

"Ten?" Kova pensively calls, unsure of whether to celebrate or dread their encounter.

"Kova," he returns.

Hogging all the attention in his normal life, like the one he has in the arena, Ajax steps in the middle. "Ajax," he announces. Then he shivers. "Bit too cold down here for a desert rat like you."

Shoving him aside, Ten steps forwards. "I think I owe you some favors." So...being the better person does have its benefits. "One for you not taking advantage of..." Nervously, he eyes Ajax. "...my situation. And one for that cut I gave you."