by Riley Tune
“What plan?” she asked. “Well, you know the cage. Fighters are a priority, but slaves are almost as important, and now I seem to have four to use for trade. Just enough to settle my debts I’d think.”
Before any of them could react to what Abel had said, he began to whistle. As his tones filled the air, Perkins opened her mouth to alert the others, but it was too late. Her voice was nowhere to be found and her body began to go limp. In seconds several thuds could be heard as bodies hit the floor. Perkins watched her friends fall into a deep sleep on the ground, as darkness began to consume her vision.
Danielle was the first to wake up. She was still groggy, but as she looked around her, everybody was passed out. Not only were they passed out, but like herself, they were standing against a wall with their hands shackled above them. She hadn't been doing this hero thing long, but she had learned enough to keep a level head in uncertain situations.
From what she could see, it was only herself and her team in the small room that was, without doubt, a cell. Everything from the dirt floor and shackles, to the barred- like door that locked them in. She gave a slight tug to the shackles. Nothing happened, of course. She didn’t have strength like that of Flex or Hunter, but what she did have was her shadow ability.
As soon as she made the decision to transform and break free, she thought better of it. Perkins had said no flashy powers, and until she woke up, Danielle thought it was better to stick to that plan. “Okay, first things first,” she said as she used her foot to kick Hunter. He was the closest hanging person to her.
She grunted as she performed a kick that should have done the job, and freed him from his slumber, but it didn’t. She rolled her eyes as she swung her hips once more to kick him, this time with more force. He didn’t wake up but he was coming to. “That’s it, boo. Come to momma.”
She smiled for a second as Hunter’s head began moving slowly as he groaned. Danielle twisted and delivered another kick for good measure. This time a yelp of pain was the response she received. “About time,” she said. Hunter’s head finally looked around. “Where?” he said as he searched around the room and realized he was pretty much a prisoner.
“Where are we?” Hunter asked. “Don’t know, boo. At least we’re together, though,” Danielle said. Hunter looked at her. “Your displays of affection, even in situations like these, are why you’re so easy to love.” Danielle wanted to laugh at what Hunter had just said. A laugh that was so intense that her body began to shake as she held it in. Hunter grimaced.
“We need to work on your response to compliments,” Hunter said. “I love you, but that was pretty mean to laugh at me like that. You cut me deep, woman.” “For Atlas’ sake,” Danielle said as she rolled her eyes, and laughed at him. “I mean us. All four of us are together. We’re lucky they didn’t separate us.” Hunter jerked his head and looked towards the cell door.
“You heard that right?” he asked Danielle. The loud noise that sounded like no less than one hundred different voices were cheering echoed into the room. “Yeah. Been going on since I woke up,” Danielle said. “No idea why, but they are out there, and we are in here. That’s all that matters for now.”
“Where is here is the question,” Hunter said as he took the cell in once more. It was clearly man-made. The dirt floor and roof with holes in it was a good indication of that. The shackles seemed to be the only thing about their cell that was created to be sufficient. From what Hunter could see, even the bars on their cell door were created from some thick, cream-colored wood.
He didn’t know how things were done on this world, but surely a door made out of the same metal as their shackles would have been a better option. “We’re in the cage.” Her sudden voice made Hunter and Danielle’s head jerk towards her. As Perkins lifted her head, she gave a slight smile to them. “Worst rescue mission ever,” then she paused as she shifted some.
“Nerf. He took my blasters,” Perkins said. “We’ve got bigger issues than that,” Hunter replied. “It doesn’t happen often, but I agree with Hunter,” Flex said as his head looked around. He actually had been up a few seconds after Danielle but kept up the ruse to access the situation entirely. His training was so drilled into his mind that Flex naturally assumed people would be listening and monitoring them. That was of course before he had seen their archaic prison.
“Nice of you to join us, last pretty boy,” Hunter said. Flex didn’t correct him. I assume we are keeping up the no flashy powers order?” Flex asked. “So, no shadow form, force fields, or Impact Blast.” “For now,” Perkins replied. “I think I know why we are here though,” She paused. “I never knew Abel could fall so far.”
“Tell me about Abel,” Flex said. “Not the time to be a jealous boyfriend,” Hunter replied. “I’m just gathering information before I act, intern,” Hunter grunted as he positioned his weight to get comfortable.
“Back when we founded Bravado, Abel wanted to join,” Perkins said. “At the time it was just Cord, me and a few others.” She inhaled some as her hands twitched in her shackles. “With his spell, we figured he could be a good addition to the-” “Am I the only one that doesn’t know what in Atlas’ name a spell is?” Danielle asked the room.
“Yes,” Flex replied at the same time that Hunter replied “No.” “It’s like, well no it’s not like that at all,” Perkins said to herself more so than Danielle. “You know how we are born with our powers, and studies pretty much tell us that it’s because of small differences in our genetic makeup that leads to large results?” Flex asked. “I follow so far,” Danielle replied.
“Well if I understand what Perkins has told me over these few months, in this dimension their explanation for powers revolves around magic,” Flex continued. “Or what your dimension calls a soul,” Perkins chimed in. “Short version is that here, we are all born with a slither of magic in us called a spell. Hence why our people are called Spellborn. Some of us are lucky enough to manifest that spell into minor abilities.”
Perkins paused to look at Danielle and Hunter who were hanging on to her every word. Danielle’s face remained passive as she listened. Hunter’s was different. He had almost a glare on his face. Inside his head, he was battling with being angry and disappointed. Angry that in all this time Perkins hadn’t told him this, and disappointed with himself for not bothering to ask her about his own heritage.
Last year Impervious had told him that magic was real when he first told him about the Spellborn people. Hunter exhaled some as he closed his eyes for a minute. You don’t even know who you truly are, he thought to himself.
“So, like when my eyes glow and allow me to see in the dark, that’s me using my spell. Same for Abel. His whistle can knock people out.” Perkins continued. “The flip side to this is those with elite blood.” She let her gaze fall to Hunter. “Impervious, his brother, Hunter, and many others. Their spells manifest in fantastically strong ways. There is no middle ground for the elites, though. They either get a ton of power or none at all.”
Hunter felt he had enough. The mention of his father, even in passing, was enough to make him want the subject changed. “History lesson aside, get to the point about Abel,” Hunter replied. His words came out stronger than he intended and made it seem like he was barking an order to Perkins. An action that earned him a strong glare from Flex, and a swift kick from Danielle.
“We eventually realized he wasn’t interested in liberating the people at all, and peacefully parted ways,” Perkins replied. Danielle shook her hands and clattered her shackles together. “I think he missed the peaceful part.” “The lady makes a valid point,” Hunter said.
“And this cage place?” Flex asked. “It’s a fighting arena. Funds are wagered, and fights take place. until a champion of the cage is…” her words faded out as her head jerked up. “I know how we are getting out without alerting the Wardens to our location. They likely know of your abilities since our fight with the Warden earlier. “Good because I was starting to think it was time t
o stop playing nice. These shackles are itchy,” Danielle said.
“Do you trust me?” Perkins asked as she looked at Flex. “Oh boy,” Hunter groaned. “I’ve seen movies. When a woman asks her man that question, she is about to do something borderline crazy.”
Flex ignored Hunter’s remarks and nodded to Perkins. “I do.” She smiled. “Then follow my lead, and you two keep your mouths shut.” “Zipped tight,” Hunter replied. “We just have to bide our time until the Warden patrols are done on this area,” Perkins added.
Without warning, she began to scream at the top of her lungs. “Abel! Abel!” her screams of his name were stretched out and went on for a few more minutes before Abel and the female from his team showed up.
“Perkins!” Abel hissed as he came to the cell door. “It’s hard to quietly get my team in position with your screaming my name, and alerting people I’m here. If I can’t sell you lot as slaves, it’s back to the original plan of a snatch and grab.” “Well, I figured you’d want to hear what I had to say,” Perkins replied. Abel looked at her as he exhaled and leaned on the bars. “And what exactly is that?” Abel asked.
“You don’t have to sell us, or rob anybody. I know how you can win all the funds back you lost, and more.” “How?” the woman with Abel asked. Abel glared at her, and she retracted back some. She took an additional two steps away from her leader as images of her friend being punched flashed in her mind.
“How,” Abel repeated. “By representing the next champion of the cage.” Abel snickered some. Hunter grimaced and held in his laughter at a man with Abel’s size letting out such a feminine sound.
“Are you saying you want to fight?” Abel asked between laughs. “You’re good, but not that good, and your spell isn’t gonna help you in the cage. Not with the likes of Cyn or the current Champion.” Perkins shook her head. “Not me, him.” She thrust her head towards Flex who remained calm and locked eyes with Abel.
Abel smiled and leaned in a little more as he licked his lips. “Him?” Perkins nodded. “I’d hate to see that face messed up. What’s his spell?” “Strength,” Perkins replied. “Strong muscles. Strong skin,” she replied as she looked at Flex. “Show em.” With her words, Flex snapped the metal shackles with less effort than a man snapping a toothpick.
Next, he removed the shackles from his wrist, balled them up, and casually flicked it across the room with enough force that left a hole in the wall. Abel’s eyes grew wide as he rubbed his chin. “How can I trust you? If he’s as strong as you say, what’s to stop him from turning on me, and doing his own thing?” Abel asked.
Hunter looked at Perkins. He didn’t like Abel or even know him well, but he clearly was smarter than he looked. In some instances, at any rate. “We need your connections and a small part of the profit. You know it’s hard living in Omega’s shadow.” Hunter narrowed his gaze as he remembered the distress message that Perkins played for them. Omega was mentioned there, too. Clearly, there was more that Perkins hadn’t told them.
Abel paused for a few minutes, and then leaned over to his female partner and whispered in her ear. She nodded and then ran off. “She’s going to tell them we have a new fighter. He’s going to have to beat a few guys to pay off what I owe, and then we can discuss giving you a fee for bringing him to me.” Perkins snorted. “You were going to sell us, Abel. Don’t make it as I sought you out with the opportunity.”
Abel shrugged. “What’s your name?” he asked, as he eyed Flex. As he wiped dirt from his hand, he casually replied. “Ryan.” For a moment Hunter and Danielle looked at each other. They both knew that Ryan was Flex’s real name, but hadn't heard it used in a long time. “Take your shirt off, Ryan,” Abel said as he opened the cell door. “We got work to do.” Flex took a few steps forward and then looked over his shoulder to Perkins. She gave him a slight nod as he removed his shirt and left the cell.
Abel shut the door behind Flex and locked it once more. Before they could leave, the man called Martel came into view. “What are you doing out of position?” Abel asked as he snarled at his underling. Martel took a step back. “Orena told me you had a fighter, and to come and check if you wanted the rest of them watched just in case something went wrong.”
Abel sucked his teeth and thought about it. It was a good idea, a damned good idea, and he knew it. What bothered Abel was that he hadn’t come up with it. Orena did. Not only did she come up with it, but she voiced it to one of his team. He exhaled some.
She was smart. Smart enough to run her own team if she wanted to, but also smart enough to be able to steal one just as easy. He made a mental note to do something about her, once they were finished here. Oddly enough, at the exact same moment, Flex was thinking how easily he could solve this entire situation.
In a matter of seconds, he could handle the two men before him, and his team could be free and heading to their original destination. As he made the decision to do just that, he balled his fist and shifted his shoulders slightly. Before he could act, a loud clearing of a throat came from inside the cell. Flex glanced inside and saw Perkins shake her head and silently mouth the words no.
Flex, against his own experience and judgment, decided to trust the woman that he had fallen for. He relaxed and remained silent beside Abel, who had casually put his arm around his shoulder. “Just keep an eye on them, especially Perkins. She’s,” Abel paused as he looked for the right words. “Unpredictable.”
“You got it,” Martel said as he sat down on the dirt ground in front of the cell door. Abel gave Perkins a slight wave, and then walked out of view with Flex. “So now what?” Hunter asked under his breath. “We just wait for Flex to figure out something?” Perkins didn’t answer at first. She took a few minutes to run over some plans in her head. “All he has to do is win,” Perkins finally said. “So, we really are just going to let all this unfold for a friend of yours?” Danielle asked.
Abel is no friend of mine,” Perkins shot back. “We just need to kill time, and not draw attention to us. The Warden’s rotations will be ending as the day comes. Then we leave without bringing attention to ourselves.” “Still, some heads will have to get cracked in the process,” Perkins said as she shot a smile to Danielle.
“Hey Martel,” Perkins shouted. “Shut up,” Martel replied. “I just want to know who the champion is,” Perkins continued. “My boy is the real deal, so don’t want you putting funds on the wrong guy.” “It’s Manis,” Martel said casually as he sat on the ground. “I think my money is fine where it is.”
The smile faded from Perkin’s face, as for the first time, she was afraid for Flex.
CHAPTER 11:
THE ARENA
F lex walked alongside Abel down the makeshift hall. He noticed that, just as with their cell, this hallway seemed to have been poorly constructed. There was no floor, just a dirt ground below their feet that was equal parts trash just as much as dirt. Then there were the walls which, much like the ceiling, was composed out of different materials and had holes in it so large that outside could easily be seen.
Flex kept calm as, from an unseen location, he heard the loud cheers of a roaring crowd. He glanced over to Abel who kept up the pace with him. If Flex slowed down, so did Abel. He noticed the same for if he picked up speed. Flex felt like the man didn’t trust him, and was too cautious to fall behind or walk too fast. No matter the speed Flex walked, Abel, matched it with little sign of effort. Despite his dingy appearance and attitude, Abel seemed like a smart man. It was likely the reason he was the man barking the orders in his group, and why he was able to attack them with no worry of retaliation.
“Well,” Flex said passively as they walked. “Well, what?” Abel responded. Flex moved his mouth to answer but the new passage they were walking through, had left him breathless. Not only was he left breathless, but he had to stop moving altogether. The makeshift walls around them had a large portion missing. Through it, Flex saw something outside resting in the sand.
He narrowed his eyes, surely h
e wasn’t seeing what he thought he was seeing. After a few seconds, he realized that it was indeed what it appeared to be. It was a skull. He couldn’t tell what sort of animal it was but it was a skull nonetheless, and a colossal one at that.
Cream- colored and broken, the skull had to belong to an animal larger than Flex could even imagine. He stepped closer to the hole, and Abel moved to restrain him but thought better of it. Flex stuck his head out into the night outside of the hall, and as the heat and sand swirled around him, he marveled at the creature that had been forgotten by time.
Had the skull been in one piece it would have been the size of a large house. “By the Great Beast,” Flex said under his breath to himself. A few seconds went by before he released the breath, he didn’t realize he was holding, as he finally got an idea of what this term meant. Not only that, but he suddenly had the feeling that the wood used as bars on their cell door, wasn’t actually wood at all. “Bone,” Flex said to himself as he continued to look on in awe at the skull.
“What?” Abel said as he looked at Flex from behind him. Abel didn’t show it, but he was ready to whistle as loud as he could should Flex try to run, or even worse, use this as an elaborate way to cause Abel to drop his guard. Flex shook his head and returned to the center of the hall. “I need to know how this cage stuff works.”
Abel continued to walk up the hall. “We’re almost there, so here is the quick version. You fight three guys. All of them are pretty tough, usually. Some even have spells like mine or yours.” Flex listened and had no intentions of correcting Abel or his assumptions of Flex having a spell. Perkins had told some things to Flex in their time together, and the mindset of the Spellborn people was a topic casually mentioned.
Many of them didn’t remember the old days of the elite families. The days where the Spellborn would go from dimension to dimension and wage war. He wasn’t totally sure, but from what he understood, the passage of time was faster on Mo’eizus.