VOICE: Hey, wake up or your food will get colder.

Shaking me with a stern but gentle nudge–the sound of Daxs’ voice was strict yet announcing. I squeezed my eyes tight then poked one out to see Daxs’ face in a stump.

DAX: Better get up or Alaine will eat it.

Turning around–he looked at Alaine who’s already munching on her food.

Slumberly getting off the ground, I walked across the room and sat where my bowl was.

Observing its pinkish contents, it gave me the off-sense of a certain..awareness which set me in the direction of hesitancy. Holding onto the base of my bowl, a sweat bead formed on my cheek.

LINDEN: So...where did we get the food?

I cautioned.

Dax looked at me as he chewed his fill.

DAX: Mm..we’ve been given it for a couple of days now, and..

Handing the rest of his ‘meal’ over to Alaine–he also gave her his woodware.

DAX: It also seems like the people that have captured us–are waiting for something.

Putting his arm up in question he continued to speak as Alaine enjoyed the rest of his food.

DAX: But that’s all I overheard; now…I’ll tell you what you’ve missed.

Speaking the day away–Dax explained what happened during the time Alaine and I escaped through the window, and how he too was captured.

DAX: After the both of you left, I was going to follow after you guys.

DAX: But then I was suddenly attacked. I tried my best to fight them off–but it was like they new what I was gonna do next.

Dax shook a breath.

DAX: It was after some time when I was unconscious.

DAX: I had this instinctual fear to run away–as if something deep told me to not engage with this..thing..

After learning the full story on his part–he soon turned to me and asked.

DAX: I wanted to ask what happened to you guys after you guys left.

DAX: I couldn’t ask Alaine since..well–you know..

I nodded my head, understanding what he meant.

I took a slight pause to gather my thoughts before talking. Explaining our end of the story–or from what I could remember, the reaction on Dax’s face grew discomfortable and soon enough Alaine willingly explained her side as well.

DAX: Damn, I mean–I knew you were a tough bastard but..to survive falling off a cliff is..something else..

I nodded my head while swishing the ‘food’ in my bowl–though with Alaine watching from the side.

DAX: To think you survived all that..

ALAINE: Tell me about it, he shouldn’t even be here right now..

Picking a chunk of food with my fork I lifted it towards my mouth before biting down on it.

ALAINE: Um no offense.

Chewing with a mouth full of–something.

I squinchingley said.

LINDEN: None taken.

Entering the back of my throat, it eventually traveled its route into the pit of my stomach.

Without feeling an inch a frequent calm–the sudden rise of energy burst within the roots of my veins as the heat within my gut burns with a destructive drive.

LINDEN: (W-What..is this energy!?)

I held my entire being to try and back away this sudden thrive narcotic chaos–which was warily noticed.

ALAINE: Hey, Linden–you...alright..?

Looking with complicated contempt along with every inch of composure I could muster–I gritted my teeth.

LINDEN: Y-Yeah..I...just ate a bad piece...that’s all..

LINDEN: I don’t think...you should eat this one…

Watching me with a discerning expression, she looked down at the bowl.

ALAINE: If you don’t even like it, I guess it’s really that bad huh?

There was a silent pause for a moment before the loud booming of the door alerted our attention.

THUM-TOOM–TOOM!

The voice on the other end of the door shouted a degrading tone.

VOICE: Hey meat bags!

VOICE: We're comin’ in so don’t try anything stupid!

As we each looked at each other–the three of us gathered and Dax silently positioned his fingers for us to follow; we nodded our heads and took up our stances.

Dax and Alaine both rushed at the doors entrance while I stood in the back–waiting for an opportunity.

As the door opened still–its light stretched across the hardened sandy floor. Breathing a sigh of anticipation–I waited my turn.

VOICE: What did I just say?-

Afore the man got a chance to act–the brunt of his face spouted blood as the quickened pace of Alaine’s fist battered the bridge of his nose.

POW!

VOICE: UGH..!

Groaning a distant appetite for pain, he yearned for another.

POW!

Delivering the lasting blow–Daxs’ fist rattled the base of his jaw–churning the rolls of his pupils into the back of his head. With one body comes another–his cat-like reflexes shone the outer rim of his fury.

Soon the second man who stood from behind–aimed for Dax.

Keeping on his toes, Dax shielded himself with the groaching door–taking the full impact of the man's hit

POW!

Flinching his eyes–the man irked a sounded,

MAN(TWO): ARGH!

Before noticing an incoming force he was unable to react to. Finding a futile attempt to block a swift overhead kick. Alaine’s forcing blow only landed him an injured wrist and an unconscious face.

KAPOW!

Then came the thump of his hefty body. Driving his face into the wall–Alaine made double sure the man would be unable to retain a confusing suspicion if he ever awoke. With dripping blood crawling the side of the man's face–there was soon another man, taller–wider.

Click

Was the sound of mechanical metal flipping back and forth before.

MAN(THREE): Unless you want your friends’ head splattered all over the floor.

MAN(THREE): I recommend you cooperate.

With a stuttered pause, I stood still in a crouched sprint, realizing that the barrel of a gun maliciously stared down my comrades forehead. Unable to do anything Alaine and I backed off before the man grabbed Dax by the orange bud of his collar and dragged him away–shutting the door with a thunderous.

CLAM!

We stood for what seemed like hours, and during that long silence I felt anger.

Guilt.

For not doing anything to help Dax. My comrade, my friend.

ALAINE: Well, I don’t think..we could have done anything…

ALAINE: Even if we had our weapons…

Hovering her words over my head–I also understood we didn’t even have a choice to begin with–as we could have been easily killed ourselves.

I signed with baited breath and looked up into the small window for clearance. With the passing of time–we stood in the dull room along with boredom, conversation was short as we both knew better than to become comfortable in our new environment.

Sitting in a darkened corner I soon heard signs of crowding and voices coming from the small opening near the ceiling. With Alaine taking a look out into the surrounding area first–her face rose into a state of unease.

ALAINE: T-There are-

But she cut herself off before she got to express her words, suddenly a loud booming voice pitched by an unseen audio echoed throughout the whole room.

No, the whole stadium.

[VOICE]: Ladies and gentlemen!

[VOICE]: We have a special event today! But before we dig into the meat and potatoes–we’re pleased to know that our side dishes have just arrived!

The voice, with an enthusiasm boosted once more.

[VOICE]: Welcome our hot headed champion! Dynamite Dominic!

With a titanous roar–the crowding people screamed and yelled in excitement.

CROWD: YEAH! LETS GO DYNAMITE! WOO LETS GO!

DOMINIC: Ah! You’re all too fucking loud!

Eyeing from the opening–Alaine and I stared at the fiery red head before we both looked at each other.

ALAINE: Who knew the guy we beat up was a champion?

Trying to make light conversation to lift the mood, I tried to play along.

LINDEN: Yeah, I guess so huh?..

Unable to match her tone with my monochrome act–I half heartedly left her hanging. With the red head walking back towards where he came–the booming voice once again announced an event.

[VOICE]: Alright ladies and gentlemen I hope you’ve brought your favorite treat because our first round is a special festa!

I squinted my brows in unsettlement as I kept staring out into the first crowd.

[VOICE]: Now let's get on with the show! On one side we have the feisty and brutish sack, Jaq Mac!

Roaring again, the people woo’d and cheered at the top of their lungs.

[VOICE]: On the other hand we have a very special treat–a coward! From the edges of Black Bridge Crater, the volunteering Aloof Alan!

The laughing and booing of the crowd was clear that the disapproval of his existence was a joke.

VOICE A: BOO!

VOICE B: HAHA! DID YOU COME BACK BECAUSE OF YOUR PRIDE?

Walking up to the arena he stood still–ignoring the rest of the audience's words.

VOICE C: GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM–EARLING!

Moving his head down he seemed to be contemplating something before raising his head up again.

Alan: Haha–you know how I am! I’m just here for the money!

Bashing an appearance, the boy looked with a two sided glance at the audience before shifting his focus onto the brute in front.

[VOICE]: Get ready! Get set!

With an anticipated breath the sands stood.

[VOICE]: Fight!

Then the brutish man with a shine to his thin-tight shirt rushed the guy. Before I knew what happened, blood splattered the sands. Tears of pain soaked their way into the walls of the arena and soon enough the boy laid still onto the ground–unmoving, only groaning ounces of pain bit by bit.

Alan: U-Ugh..

Skewed breaths from the smaller guy pieced together as he was quickly picked up by two larger men before being hauled away.

[VOICE]: Ladies and gentlemen, our winner–Jaq Mac!

MAN: Hahaha! I’ll kill anyone who has the balls to enter the arena!

As the crowds’ cheers died down, I looked back at Alaine to try and agree with a troubled understanding–yet her glance didn't even acknowledge my existing hints. Her focused eyes were on the sand–scanning the surrounding area, as if to find someone.

LINDEN: A-Alaine..?

She shook with a jump into reality.

ALAINE: Ah..! Uhm..yes?

Dripping a sweat droplet down the side of her cheek–her eyes were still focused on the sands as she turned her head–giving me half of her full attention.

LINDEN: Ah..nevermind..

She now looked at me with a full question but stopped before she and I became startled by the announcing voice once again.

[VOICE]: Audience! The fight we’ve been waiting for!

Cheering ever so loud, the crowd screamed as if they were to meet their end.

CROWD: WHOO! YEAH!

VOICE D: C’MON LET'S GO!

As the man from before turns up into the arena–people cheered and waved their arms in acknowledgement.

VOICE A: MURDER THIS BASTARD-JAQ!

Looking to the other side of the arena I quickly noticed Dax with his orange uniform, I widened my eyes before I realized the weighted reality of our situation.

VOICE B: FUCKING BUNKIE, I HOPE YOU DIE!

VOICE F: BETTER DIE SCREAMING YA BASTARD!

Dax–with an unreadable expression stood motionless, all the while the man–smiled with glee.

[VOICE]: On your marks! Get set! KILL-