The Spectre

Chapter Ten

The rainy day of school started the next day, and Jez was already sitting in class, feeling like he would not see Zara again. Of course, she would tell her father, and of course, they would leave. So he was more than surprised when she stepped into the room and took a shaky seat next to Jez at the back of the room. "You didn't tell the General or the Kernel." She said quietly, turning to look at Jez before asking, "How come?" Jez turned back to face her, a sad look in his eyes as he replied, "I think you're right about my mother. I have no time to explain now. But, I think the Kernel killed her." Zara's mouth fell open, and the classroom door opened, the General stepping smoothly inside. "Jez, it is time to head to the Arena," he said loudly, and Jez reluctantly stood from his seat, shooting a glance at Zara before hurrying from the room, following his father.

The ride to the Arena was, for Jez at least, dull. His father was quiet as the two sat opposite each other in the Zodiac Army truck, which bounced over the rough terrain before coming to a sharp stop. The General was first out, and Jez followed. He was in awe of the Arena. It was more of a colosseum from the outside, its tall walls painted a blood-like colour and the stairs leading to each level on the outside painted grey. They headed to the top floor, where the General's two Elite Guards stood guarding the door. They let him pass, and Jez found himself staring at the back of a silver throne, overlooking the entire, packed Arena, the hundreds of voices shouting with glee. There was no delay in waiting for people to calm down, because the General held a microphone and said, "Welcome to our annual Spectre Games!"

The crowd went wild, roaring and trying to be heard over one another, and the General said, "These games are here to demonstrate the power, sheer will and minds of the Zodiac Empire! To show that we are the superior race and to show that we will not be put to the dark so easily!" The crowd grew even louder, and the General seemed to be enjoying it, whereas Jez kept silent by his side. "To let the rest of the world know that Zodiacs should be feared!" The crowd went wilder. "There are now three Spectres remaining in the world! And we will stop at nothing to make sure they too are either captured or killed!" The crowd jeered and booed at the mention of Spectres, even surprising Jez that the Zodiac people were this violent. "Two Spectres will enter the Arena! Only one will survive and go back to prison! If both refuse, they will be executed!"

The crowd were screaming and raging, and the two Spectres entered the Arena, both holding a sword in their hand. It was a man and a woman as they approached the middle of the Arena and looked into each other's eyes. Jez realised, with a pang in his heart, that the man was the Spectre who had been talking to Zara yesterday. "Fight or you will be killed!" The General screamed, and the two Spectres made their decision. They both threw their swords away and turned to look up at the General. The crowd watched with bated breath. This had not happened for years. "Very well then!" The General yelled. BANG! The man dropped to one knee and then fell to the side, blood pouring from a wound in his stomach. BANG! The woman fell backwards, blood squirting from her chest as she hit the sandy floor. Jez looked across at his father, who was seen holding a smoking, silver pistol.

On cue, two Zodiacs ran into the Arena and moved the bodies to the side of the large Arena, not bothering to cover the corpses, and then two male Spectres entered the Arena, holding swords, and charged towards each other. They met in the middle, both knowing what they had to do. Swords clashed through the air, the sound ringing around the Arena before being drowned out by the sound of much clapping and yelling. The two Spectres blocked and swiped at each other until finally one parried a blow from the other, drew their sword back, and then thrust it through their turned back. Blood squirted, and the Spectre collapsed. Jez tried to have a neutral expression remain on his face, but inside he was horrified. The body was removed, the remaining Spectre sent back to their prison, and two girls ran out to meet each other. Fight after fight, and Jez was shocked by it all. The Spectres killed one another until it was a man and woman remaining.