AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ticket?” Ceara asked quizzically.
There was that feeling again, the sense of being watched, that all was not as simple as it seemed.
As I approached the alien, my fingers instinctively reached into my pocket, brushing against the rough texture of the ticket.
The realization of what I was holding — and the potential it represented — made my pulse quicken.
Without hesitation, I pulled out the ticket and handed it to the elderly figure.
The wrinkled skin of his fingers brushed against mine, a sensation that was oddly comforting in the midst of chaos.
“My, my,” he commented, producing a hefty sack of credits with a wink. “A wise bet indeed.”
The glint of metal coins against the faint light caught my attention.
I was momentarily entranced by the sight, the scent of worn leather and cold metal filling my nostrils.
But the rapidly approaching sounds of guards refocused my mind.
Without pausing to think, I grabbed the sack and, with all the force I could muster, hurled it into the air.
The credits spilled out, shimmering like a cascade of stars against the dim backdrop.
Their metallic clinking sound was like music, ringing out clearly above the din.
The effect was instantaneous.
Like a magnetic force, prisoners from every direction lunged for the falling treasures.
The tunnels echoed with shouts, growls, and the thud of bodies colliding.
The intoxicating allure of the credits overpowered their senses, their focus shifting from the alarm to the potential fortune that lay scattered on the ground.
Ceara, quick to capitalize on the diversion, pulled me with renewed vigor.
As we weaved through the ensuing pandemonium, freedom had never felt so sweet.
The once-imposing guards now seemed flustered, trying to maintain order among the frenzied inmates.
Their authoritative shouts were drowned out by the clamor of prisoners, and they seemed to have forgotten — or at least distracted from — their original objective.
Us.
My skin tingled with the rush of cool air as we made our way up a staircase and out onto a balcony overlooking the fighting pits.
From this vantage point, I could see the whole arena, a sensory overload of colors, sounds, and emotions.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding, and my laughter mingled with Ceara’s.
It was a moment of pure elation, and as our eyes met, I could see the same exhilaration mirrored in his.
“We did it,” I whispered, squeezing his hand.
Ceara’s grin was infectious, his eyes sparkling with mischief and relief. “We did. But we’re not out yet.”
I nodded, taking in our surroundings.
We had the advantage of elevation, and for now, the chaos below served as a shield.
