Artemis seizes my arm and walks me over to the elevators for our trip to the surface. When we are in front of the Tyre Press Corp, Artemis encourages everyone to choose number eight today… Matt. He squeezes me playfully in front of the crowd, but I try to ignore the attention. They ask me how I’m enjoying the battles so far, and though I’d love to say exactly what I think, but I don’t want to put Artemis on guard, so I lie and tell them it’s absolutely thrilling and that I’m enjoying every moment of it, all with a fake smile plastered across my face. We wave goodbye to the crowd and make our way to the seats we occupied the day before.
While Artemis is talking with Matt over the monitor, I check out the stadium again to see if there is any possible escape route that I might have missed yesterday, but it’s of no use; the place is packed to the brim and Regulators are everywhere. The roof is still closed as the lights begin to dim, and the spotlights engulf the arena as the announcer from yesterday begins to speak.
“Welcome, Tyreans, to the second day of competition. I hope you are all prepared for this most exciting day of events. As we promised you yesterday, there is a special opening act before beginning our second round of battles. Please help me welcome one of our most beloved and victorious past winners, Munera!”
The center tile of the arena rises. On top stands a very tall, dark woman wearing brown leather shorts and a matching single strapped shirt that barely covers her midriff. At a quick glance, I could’ve mistaken her for Raven until I spot the markings that cover her right arm and leg: winner’s tattoos of all different colors and styles. Her frame is thin, but strong, and her hair is cut so short it curls up right against her scalp. The crowd is screaming louder than yesterday. She throws her arms up into the air and everyone loses control. The weapon she is carrying in her hand is one that I have only seen in photos Devlan has shown me.
The Dimachaerus is a dangerous weapon, a double-bladed sword able to cut a man in half without the user even really trying. Munera is wielding it like it’s an old friend; her moves are graceful and soft, which is in stark contrast to the sharp and heavy blade.
“Munera will be battling ten brave souls at one time today,” the announcer states as the crowd begins to settle down. “Men and women who have been selected to try and defeat this champion…a battle to the death.”
The crowd erupts again as the far right section of the arena floor gives way, a platform rising in its place. Eight men and two women huddle together on the platform, shaking, eyes squinting in the harsh light that falls upon their faces. Their clothing consists of rags, torn pieces of brown cloth dangling from some of their thin frames. One woman sinks to the floor of the platform and begins to weep, while one of the others tries to pull her back onto her feet. They each carry various weapons, but it is clear they won’t help…none of them have combat training.
I look hard at the faces and I know instantly that these people have been taken from the Wasteland. I lean over to Artemis and ask him if I’m right.
“Yes, they’re the rejects the Collectors can’t sell and the cities don’t want. Some may have even been citizens at one time, but once you leave you are considered a law-breaker for life and there is no coming back.” He kisses my lips and turns back to his monitor, not interested in the bloodbath that is about to begin as he’s too focused on talking to his fighters.
The group is huddled together, afraid to move forward. Munera is thinking; I see the intense concentration in her eyes. She is looking for the weakest one to go after first. She crouches down, having chosen her target. I follow her line of sight and see her prey…and a shock of recognition runs through me. I can only hope Artemis doesn’t notice.
Terrance is hiding in the center of the huddle, his clothes baggy and hanging off of his frame. His skin is pale and his eyes have sunken in slightly. He’s thinner than before. I wonder how he could have gotten caught when Rena’s words echo in my ears.
“He’s never left, except once. To go look for my brother after he was taken by the Collectors.”
He must have left to go look for me. I’m the reason he is here to die today.
I want to scream out his name, tell him to fight, but he can’t hear me over the noise from the crowd. The electric barrier is not up, the arena is unprotected.
I know what I must do.
I don’t even think…I just go.
I tear off my jacket as Artemis grabs for my leg, but I’m too fast. I hurdle over seats as if they were stairs. People yell at me as I fly past them, but I must get to Terrance. Munera starts to lunge forward towards the group. They begin to scatter, moving away from her. She ignores the others. Terrance is her target.
Munera pulls the Dimachaerus back, readying to plunge it into Terrance as I jump over the wall
