A large color photo hangs up on the wall behind the bar. It displays a large aerial view of Tyre that includes the Boroughs in the northeast and southeast corners, both outside the natural border of the city. Each Borough has its own shuttle rail entering into the main station, which seems to be the only entrance into the city; however from what I can tell, the rails don’t actually enter into the station. The Boroughs are perfectly circular, surrounded by high fences with razor wire on top. Small brown buildings crammed together. There are no roads, either, only dirt paths that map the way around the buildings. In the center is a large circular concrete structure. There aren’t any identifiable markings on the building to determine what exactly it is.
I move away from the Boroughs and exam the layout of the city itself.
The plan of the city is significant in scale. Each building is a high-rise, the smallest twenty stories high. The city is in the shape of an egg, oval, but elongated. The shuttle system outlines the border, encompassing the entire city. It also highlights the shape of the inner rings of the city, with an interchange at every crossing. Sidewalks hide all vegetation, no grass, and no trees except for those which have been planted by the city maintenance. Walking seems to be the only other mode of transportation, as the roads that I have traveled out in the Wasteland don’t exist here. To the west of the city lies the Great Sea.
I finish my drink, setting the glass on the counter before I leave. Wes is still asleep, snoring lightly. As I step into the hallway, I see the elevator rising to our floor, with Matt and Raven inside. They step out as I step back into the game room, not wanting to be seen.
Raven is clinging tightly around Matt’s waist, their lips pressed against each other’s as they drip water onto the floor, towels wrapped around their bodies. Matt walks towards his room, Raven stumbles trying to catch up to his hurried pace. His door opens and closes loudly behind them. I quickly hurry back to my room, closing my door and crawling back into bed, but sleep doesn’t come for me.
I finally decide to drag myself out of bed around five, dress in running shorts, a top, and my new shoes. The floor below us has a gym, indoor track, swimming pool, hot tub, and sauna. I first try to go down to the main floor, but it won’t go any lower than the gym without an access code.
I go and run on the track, but it doesn’t feel as refreshing as running on solid ground.
I do this for an hour then move to a slow jog for another half hour before returning upstairs. When I reach the top floor everyone is seated around the dining room table enjoying breakfast. I load my plate up with fresh fruit, eggs, buttered toast, and a large glass of orange juice.
“I need everyone dressed and ready at the elevator by eight o’clock,” Artemis says, as he finishes his coffee. “The first battle is to begin promptly at ten.”
“How many fighters will be competing this time?” Matt asks.
“There are forty this year. I think the High Ruler might enter his own this time, so the battles will go until every fighter has competed. I checked you five in this morning and have your times. Meg, you’ll be sitting with me in the Possessor’s box.”
“Why isn’t she fighting?” Matt demands, pointing his finger close to my face. “She’s good enough.”
“Don’t worry, Matt. I have plans for Meg and they are of no concern to you.”
I look at Artemis, trying to discern what he is planning, sensing Matt grinning and feeling a shudder come from Aidan. I lose my appetite, push my plate away, get up from the table, and go to my room. My head begins to pound and my right arm begins to tingle, but I’m not sure why.
The urge to destroy something surges through me. Taking deep breaths calms me down.
I find a new outfit hanging on the outside door of my closet. Red satin sleeveless blouse with a matching cover, charcoal colored twill pants, and red heels. I’m beginning to see the way Artemis thinks of me, and I’m not happy about it.
Going into the bathroom, I strip down and climb into the shower, then remove the covering on my arm to wash it as well. I hear Corinna and Raven move about in their room. One of them comes into the bathroom, rummages through some drawers, and leaves again. I rinse, dry off, and wring out excess water from the covering before I re-strap it onto my arm. I wrap the towel around me before stepping out onto the cold stone floor, step over to the vanity to brush my hair, and tie it up. Corinna walks in and promptly unties it, forcing me to sit down on the toilet seat so she can do my hair.
“Honey, you are in serious need of some style tips,” she says to me, as she works on getting out the knots I missed.
I dismiss her comment, but allow her to do whatever she wants.
She manages to smooth out all of the kinks, making my hair stick straight. She applies some gel, coating any strand that moves out of place. She next finds a small pair of nail scissors and slowly cuts a few dead ends from the hair that surrounds my face, feathering it ever so slightly.
“You have great coloring, so no make-up for you,” she says, as she applies a little hairspray.
I’m transformed before my own eyes, my hair perfectly framing my face. “How did you learn to do this?” I ask.
“I used to be a private beautician to one of the Tyre Superiors, until he
