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“Oh, you should know,” I said. “It was Erishia. She is working with Druin. You should watch her.”
“We know about the sfizzik in our midst,” the Prize said.
“You do? How?”
“Because she wasn’t the only one who saw you leaving last night. But she was the only one to leave and return shortly after.”
The Prize leaned forward and tapped me on the shoulder. “Have no fear. She will not have an easy time of it from now.”
“It’s been arranged,” another Prize with Medusa-like hair said.
The others chanted as one in response: “It’s been arranged.”
I’d been concerned about leaving the females behind, worried about who would take care of them after I was gone, but now I realized I needn’t have worried at all. They were fully capable of taking care of themselves — and each other.
They had to turn my cot ninety degrees sideways so I could fit through the doorway. Other Prizes had to hold my body in place or else the handcuffs would grow so tight they would restrict all the blood flow to my hands and feet completely.
We passed through the back room and entered the Viewing area. The other Prizes were already arranged in front of the glass, excitedly peering through the windows at the fighting pit below.
They put the bottom of my bed down and lifted it up so it was at a seventy-degree angle. I don’t know how they fixed it in place but it was firm and didn’t wobble or threaten to fall at all.
My feet slid to the bottom where I could brace my weight on the balls of my feet. My arms were stretched, with just enough room above my head so it was reasonably comfortable.
The Prize placed a cushion behind my head. I smiled over at her, nodding my thanks. Another held a straw for me to drink some water. I might have been Cleopatra surrounded by her loyal servants. Or with friends at home, watching a match on TV.
A match where the outcome would control my life.
When the fighters came out, the crowd cheered. When Druin appeared and raised his arms above his head triumphantly, turning to receive his adoration… he got silence. Some inmates folded their arms, others shook their heads, but no one cheered.
Druin took it as a personal insult. He unsheathed his sword and I felt sorry for whoever he was going to face first. It turned out to be an alien warrior with an impressive form. He wore a heavy shield and shining armor.
Just as I thought, Druin hacked at the warrior mercilessly. He defended himself with his shield until he couldn’t hold it up any longer. He made vague jabbing motions with his sword but they were half-hearted at best.
Once the fight was done, the warrior was smothered with slashes, blood, and bruises. He never stood a chance.
Druin raised his arms victoriously to the crowd, turning on the spot, and got a smattering of applause, no doubt from those he had paid. His shoulders slumped and he marched out of the pit.
When Ohara’s name was announced, electric murmurs buzzed among the crowd. Ohara stepped out and the applause gradually grew until it consumed the entire audience. The Prizes at my shoulders screamed with joy and rapped their knuckles on the wooden frame of my cot.
My heart was in my throat when I noticed Ohara was wearing a strange helmet that — no, not a helmet, but some kind of mask that covered his entire head. I couldn’t make out any eye or mouth holes that he might use to see or breathe through.
I couldn’t help but cry. I never thought I would see him again.
His opponent was a goliath. A single successful blow might have knocked Ohara out for good. But it never landed. He danced, too quick for the larger beast. I remembered this was the same tactic he used in his earlier fights too.
With every successful dodge and lunge of his sword, the entire prison cheered. It was only then that I realized Ohara wasn’t fighting alone. Ikmal was on his side. And unless the Supervisor was careful, he might end up creating what he was so desperate to avoid…
Another riot.
My eyes were fixed on Ohara and I saw nothing but him. I watched as he danced and moved, every gesture looking like it was choreographed.
Hope wasn’t dead yet.
38
OHARA
I still hadn’t managed to get the iron mask off my head. It might have been welded on for all the give it gave. But it did provide one advantage…
