There were ten prisoners stood in the middle of the massive Colosseum floor, clustered together. The Colosseum was even more massive than Greg had remembered, nearly a year ago. It rose above him nearly fifteen stories and it was filled with fifty thousand people and they were all cheering when he and the other men walked out. The ten men moved over to where the emperor stood alone, his Praetorian guard nearby. Emperor Domitian stood and Greg was surprised at how young the man was. Domitian was dressed lavishly, in robes that had deep purple bands that ran from shoulder to hem. There were also thick gold bracelets that cuffed his wrists and a heavy chain of gold around his neck with a large medallion.
There was a massive throne behind him, where he would sit in comfort to watch the games. There were several slaves that stood at the ready with large awnings to hold over him, so the sun would not bake the man. Everything about the emperor seemed cruel and Greg felt a rage in his heart along with the fear. He and the other Retiarius said the words and the crowd cheered, ready for the games to begin. The ten men spread out and then they hear a loud creaking and grinding of gears as several openings appeared on the Colosseum floor. Twenty lions and ten net men. If each could kill two, Greg thought that maybe they had a chance. The hair sprung up on his body when he saw the lions pour out of the holes, as though their asses were on fire.
Sextus had mentioned that the lions would have been starved and harassed the whole night before the games.
“They want the animals very aggressive,” he said.
Greg watched as the criminals screamed and began to run. Greg stayed put. Even he knew that running triggered the lion’s instinct to chase. The lions were everywhere and it was difficult to keep them in sight. Most went for the prisoners who were now spreading out and running for their lives. Greg watched in horror as a man nearest him was brought down by a large male. Greg couldn’t take his eyes off the animal as it went for the man’s groin and bit down. Greg felt vomit rise in his throat as he heard bone break and shatter as the man’s pelvis was broken. The horrific scream jolted through Greg like an electrical current and he watched as the lion shook the man like a ragdoll. The leg was nearly ripped off and blood spilled across the sand.
He was jolted out of his trance by a scream closer at hand and he realized that he hadn’t been watching the other lions. He lifted his trident and looked around. Another man had his arm nearly ripped off; the ribbons of flesh hung from the bloody bone and Greg swallowed. He found it hard to focus and wanted to run as well. The panic was beginning to overtake him and one of the Retiarius shouted at him.
“Validus, wake up or die,” the man called.
Greg turned and saw a female lion heading his way. He started for her, not running, but not walking. She came at him and he jabbed the trident at her face and the lethal edge cut along her face and hit an eye. She screamed and roared and pawed at the trident. When her massive paw hit the tip of the trident, Greg felt the power of that blow. He took a step back and she charged him and he rammed the trident into her rib. He felt it sink into her and she jerked and bucked away from him, nearly yanking the trident from his sweaty grasp.
The screaming of the prisoners fell away and he refused to watch them being torn apart. He heard the snapping of bone and the ripping of flesh and it sent shivers through his body, but he kept his eyes on the lions. From the corner of his eye, he caught movement and saw that one of the Retiarius was down and screaming. He looked away; he didn’t want to know who it was. He focused on the animals around him. To his count, four lions were down. That meant sixteen were still out there. He moved and kept his back to the wall, all the while the crowd was cheering. Some were calling his name, over and over, but he ignored them.
He was ashamed to admit that he was relieved that some of the lions were feasting on the recently dead. He saw a big male with a black mane heading toward him. He readied himself. The male was nearly twice the size of the female and he was coming fast at Greg. He lifted the trident just as the lion came within reach and jammed the points down the animal’s mouth. The lion
