The Arena by Michael Robertson

Author:Michael Robertson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Michael Robertson

After a minute or so, the final gargling breath left Isillit’s body. Bran sat back, opening and closing his mouth several times to relieve the ache in his jaw. The treacle like blood with its rich taste of oil, dripped from Bran’s chin. A large pool had formed around his knees.

Bran staggered as he got to his feet. With his heart pounding, he wiped his jowls, threw his arms in the air, and roared. The crowd screamed with him. Over one hundred thousand people yelled and shouted as they stamped their feet and clapped their hands. It sounded like thunder booming through the building.

The audience came alive with camera flashes, and television drones buzzed around Bran like flies. Each one beamed the footage to a different solar system. Billions of planets would have watched the fight. Everyone would know that Bran the Warrior wasn’t to be fucked with.

When one of the cameras got too close, Bran took a swing at it, his fist stinging when he connected with its hard metal body. The bot fluttered through the air and crashed to the ground a distance away from him, sparks splashing up from where it scraped across the metal floor.

Bran roared again and turned to the crowd. Then he saw them; his ex-wife and daughters.

Deflated in an instant, Bran’s entire being sank. They looked at him through scared eyes. Their skin had turned pale. Their mouths hung open. They were the only people in the arena not celebrating. And why should they praise a man who’s more monster than human? They’d only ever seen rage from him. Once a beast always a beast; but sometimes the world needed a beast. Sometimes somebody needed to fight. But a beast couldn’t be a dad and this beast wouldn’t be given the opportunity again.

The screams and cries from those around him meant nothing as he made eye contact with his youngest, Abigail. She trembled as she stared back at him.

When Moses stood up, the crowd fell silent. He clapped his hands and it was the only sound in the entire place. “Wow,” he said, “I think that was the quickest fight I’ve ever seen in here. So, it would seem your reputation is justified.”

Exhaustion ran through Bran’s legs and his head spun as he looked up at Moses. Sneering at the gangster on his self appointed throne, Bran said nothing.

“And without further ado,” Moses said. “I hereby free your family.”

There was a loud snap and the door to the cage lifted. The girls and his ex stepped out. Instead of staring at their captors, they stared at Bran like he was the one to be feared.

“But,” Moses said, a wicked grin cutting a jagged line across his face, “I never said you would get freedom for winning this fight.”

Bran shook his head. “No, you can’t. Those are the rules of the arena. When you win, you’re free.”

While wagging an admonishing finger at Bran, Moses said, “Firstly, they’re my rules, so I can change them whenever I like.

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