Free *Editing*

Chapter 6

"All right warm-bodies, get up!"

A large clanging breaks everybody awake. Birdy and Barn shoot up immediately and Patra stays cowered on the floor. Birdy is a bit confused, forgetting for a moment that she was indeed in a cell. A large set of guards are outside, fully-armed and ready. Five black cloaked individuals stand behind them, and it's now that Birdy pieces together that they are Lord Adamants high servants. The servants carry more gifts, orange tops and bottoms. The cell is opened up. Alarmed, many people stand to their feet. Birdy and Barn stand side-by-side ready to put up a fight. One of the Servants, a woman with long black hair and disgustingly pale skin gives them a sickly twisted smile and hands them a set of clothes. Barn rips it from her and Birdy gently takes her own. Patra is curled up with her knees in front of her face. She gasps as the ghostly woman leans down and gives her the clothes. Patra takes it from her and the woman stands straight up again and walks out of the cell. Barn, now re-energized and feeling angry as ever. Looks down at his shirt and scoffs.

"Fuck, we really are going to the arena." His eyes dart over to Patra and Birdy. 'Just follow me, ok? I'll protect you guys." he sounds admirable, but Birdy can't buy it. She knows that when the time comes, they will be separated and forced to survive on their own. Birdy eyes quickly fall to Patra, who is to scared to look anybody in the eyes. If barn tries to protect her, it will be a waste. She goes to say this to her brother, but the steady look in his eyes shows he already knows what she is going to say. They each steady their breathes in turn. One or two other individuals have started to dress down and get changed. Patra looks away, shy and vulnerable.

A guard bangs on the metal next to their faces. "Get changed! The three of you, now!" Barn glares at the red masked guard, the man responds. "You want me to come in there and beat you boy?" Barn shakes his head in disgust and looks at Patra, disengaging from the guard. "It's ok Patra, we won't look."

Birdy and Barn go back to back so that they are facing opposite ends of the cell and get changed. Birdy feels uncomfortable, but that goes away when she notices all the other cell-mates are to busy being scared shitless to pay attention to them. Barn is the first to pull his pants on and he pulls on the cheap string so that the article of clothing does not fall off his malnourished frame. He glares at the guards one more time and puts his shirt on. He says to Birdy- "Did they have to give us XL? These idiots know we are homeless right?" Birdy laughs while tightening her own pant string into a bow and putting on her oversized orange t-shirt, made from cheap thin material. "Maybe they aren't as smart as they think they are."

A guard gives them a warning to keep it down. Both siblings are unfazed. Birdy looks over at Patra to see if she is done. She has just finished getting her shirt on and her pale porcelain skin is free of any bruises or marks. Birdy takes a risk and asks- "Patra?" She turns around and looks at the two of them behind her doe-like eyes. "Where are you from, exactly?" Patra swallows and tries to bite back a tear. "Uhm, Northside, I was kicked out of my parents' place a month ago." Birdy remains unfazed and Barn sucks in a breath of air.

"Can I give you a tip, Patra?" Birdy says respectfully. Patra nods with enthusiasm.

"Whatever happens up in the Colosseum, just run, and keep running. Don't stop for anything, not even us." Barn gives a solemn nod, showing the advice is well said. Patra nods slowly. "Ok...thank you." She goes back to staring off in the distance.

A sudden roar of a crowd erupts from above. All the cell-mates seem to jump out of their skin. Birdy and Barn look over at one another wide-eyed. They see that the guards are getting ready. Their handcuffs are in hand, and the cold cell is beginning to open.

Birdy jumps in and gives Barn a hefty hug. He immediately returns, squeezing her tight.

"I love you Bird." She responds. "Love you to man..."