3
So this was it, huh. This is what it felt like when someone was about to die. Sweaty palms, ferocious heartbeat, the past flashing by like a terrible movie trailer no one would ever want to see. When they had called her forward she’d tried to move, but it was no use. The other women in the cell had practically thrown her out into the dirt arena. Traitors.
The walk to the center of the ring felt like an hour, and every step felt like it could be her last. There were people sitting in the stands that circled upon the stage she must play. There was no talking though, no cheering, and not even excited looks. The people looked stoic and a bit curious. Like they were doctors getting ready to sit in on surgery. Ruby’s legs shook with every step, but she forced them to straighten. If this was her fate, she was not going to lose it in front of them. Traitors. The whole lot of them. Liars.
No good low down – Ok, focus, she sighed and gripped the dagger in her hand.
A shiny gold robe slithered into a standing position silently. It was eerily thin, and a strange iridescent mask obscured the face. The figure held up a hand, and spoke in a low voice.
“Let the challenge commence.” He gestured a hand directly towards Ruby. “And if you are found to be the match, you will then face trial according to Da’Nesh law.”
Ruby shook in anger and raised an accusing hand of her own pointed towards the speaker. “I am an innocent, abducted from planet Earth. Clearly in violation of the Da’Nesh Treaty! Just wait until I get back home and tell the government about this!”
She might as well have whispered it. They took no notice of her. No one seemed appalled or concerned in the slightest. Of course they’re not, she thought ruefully. They never had any intention of leaving Earth alone. They’re going to keep doing whatever they jolly well want to do.
An alarm echoed to signify the lifting of the gate. Ruby quickly threw off her gray suit jacket, leaving her only in a white shirt and gray trousers. She’d kicked her heels off in the cell, once the shock had worn off.
“I may be from Earth,” Ruby muttered, loosening her muscles. “But I won’t go down without a fight.”
Thank goodness she’d taken those self-defense classes after what happened to her parents. It might just save her life.
“Or…not…” Her voice trailed as the beast appeared. It had to crouch down just to get out of the cell. When it began walking towards her it stretched its legs and her neck hurt from looking up. She was short, but not that short. This thing was at least ten feet tall. And the smell? Let’s just say if you can smell something that is half a football field away from you it’s not a good thing.
The dagger slipped from her hand and she quickly picked it up. Her bravado was officially gone. Ice cold fear replaced it and she began backing up as the monster approached. This was it. If that thing even touched her she would be dead. Poof, gone in a flash, and nothing more than a memory. Just like her parents. Except no one would mourn for her. She had no other family. It would be like she never existed.
Ruby whirled around to face the gold man again. “Please,” she begged, tears forming in her eyes. “You have the wrong person. I’m not a soul match for anyone. I’m nobody. Please let me go! I promise I won’t tell anyone, just let me go!”
She felt a rush of air towards her and realized too late that she’d made a big mistake. There was no use begging for her life. To these people, she was already dead. It mattered not whether she was a soul match for this person they wanted dead so badly. She was a means to an end. She’d also turned her back upon the beast, and it was going in for the kill.
A hard hit to her side blew the air out of her lungs, and she was airborne. Ruby was flung across the arena towards the opposite wall, and just before impact she covered her hands over her head. Her shoulder smacked into the wall before solidly planting her face down in the dirt.
Pain radiated through her and she didn’t even know where it was coming from. It was everywhere. She tried to move her neck, but it felt too heavy. Was it broke? Her legs couldn’t move either, and she couldn’t take a deep breath. She was trapped, defenseless, and hopeless.
Get up, a voice rumbled. Get up now.
I can’t move, she argued with herself.
You must, the warm voice wafted across her mind like a caress. Just get near your cell again, Beloved. I will take care of you.
Ruby’s eyes snapped open. She really was far-gone now. Was she hearing God? There weren't any bright lights, so far anyway. She could see the beast walking smugly back to his cell, thinking her dead.
Get back to her cell? How was she supposed to do that when it was clear on the other side? As soon as that thing knew she was alive it would attack and finish her off.
She felt the dagger in her hand and tightened her grip on it. Slowly her head lifted off the ground, and she crouched to raise herself back up onto her feet. Her thoughts began to clear, and she looked over to where she needed to go. An odd sense of familiarity swept over her.
There was someone standing in the cell watching her, but it was definitely not one of her fellow cellmates. The beast blocked her vision, and reared its ugly teeth. Apparently her still being alive was a bit annoying. Go figure.
A sense of urgency revitalized her. The voice, the man in the cell. It had to mean something. Her mind didn’t know what, but her heart beat with a vitality she’d never felt before. Ruby narrowed her eyes at the beast, taunting it. This monster was the only thing standing in her way. To what, she did not know, but she knew what she had to do.
She ran toward it. Not her cell door, no, but towards the beast himself. The foul stench of death clung around him, but that did not matter. This must be what pure insanity feels like. When your most basic instincts are telling you to run away, but you keep running towards death. Saliva was dripping from its mouth and the hideous creature bent down to devour her.
But she was too quick. She ducked as he bit down then leapt with all her might, ripping the dagger across the joint of its legs. Slime and blue liquid splashed all over her, but she held on until it cut the monster clean across its middle. Ruby landed on her feet and swung around.
The beast stood still and, for one breathless moment, Ruby thought he was going to turn around and finish her in a rage. But he didn’t. With a great heaving sound the beast fell to the ground, his head slamming down just as her own had. His eyes were frozen wide in disbelief.
Her hand shook, but she kept hold of the dagger. Ruby looked up into the stands, and the gold robed man stood up, fluttering his dress about him. This was certainly a shock to him as well.
His arm rose up to her. “Seize her!”
Ruby turned towards the cell, but a loud explosion rocked the arena and knocked her to the ground once more. Dust filled the air, and the blow to her head was too much this time. Her eyes felt heavy and her lungs were contracting too quickly. She vaguely heard screaming and gunfire. Was that another explosion? Her eyes slid shut and the dark abyss reached out to welcome her.
She felt weightless, like someone was carrying her away from all this insanity. It was warm and comforting and solid and… wait, was that fresh air?
Ruby struggled to open her eyes; surely they were taking her to her execution now. She had killed the beast. But for the life of her she couldn’t remember just now what that all meant. It meant something, didn’t it? Something horrible happened after someone did that. But right now she didn’t care. She just wanted the warmth and peace to seep into her bones and never leave.
“You are safe,” a deep voice called to her from somewhere beyond the darkness. “You are safe now, Beloved.”
Ruby felt her lips pull into a small smile. Her muscles relaxed and she gave in to the sweet reprieve of sleep.