Making their way down, they sat between the shaking second group and the violent first group. Visibly disturbed, Leo didn’t say a word to them, staying to himself. Meanwhile the first group was disturbingly comfortable, as if they finished a good day's work.

  Turning to Leo, Patrick expressed his amazement, saying, “Great kicks, man. You’ve got balls, and I like that. Running at them unarmed, only a crazy man would do that in this situation. Let me introduce myself, my name’s Patrick Lin.” Smiling, he raised his hand for a shake.

  Internally disgusted, Leo said, “Oh I couldn’t, I wouldn’t want to get your hands dirty.”

  “Nonsense! A man’s greeting is through their handshake! That’ll show your character!” Maintaining his extended hand, he insisted.

  “It’s useless to change his mind, just shake his hand so he’ll shut up…” Patrick’s groupmate said, obviously annoyed by his antics.

  “Don’t listen to her, she’s just tired. So?” he waved his hand a little to insist Leo shake his hand.

  Giving in, Leo reached out to Patrick’s hand, giving him a firm handshake. Patrick, returning the favor, added more strength, causing Leo’s hand to feel slight pain, but he endured until they released hands.

  With a wide grid and a giant nod, Patrick cheerfully said, “Just as I expected. What is your name, sir?”

  Drained mentally, and physically, Leo weakly answered, “My name’s Leo.” Then he weakly waved towards Anthony, “And that’s Anthony. Say hi Anthony.”

  “...”

  “...”

  An awkward silence followed as Anthony didn’t even acknowledge my calling.

  “Um, he’s not usually like this, but he’s glad to meet you too.” Leo said with an awkward laugh. Why did he have to deal with this…

  With a tear, Patrick brought Leo into a hug.

  “What th-”

  “You’re just like me…”

  Confused, Leo looked at him weirdly. Surely his new acquaintance wasn’t thinking anything strange, was he?

  “It’s okay, man… I get it… It’s just, sometimes I think I’m talking to myself whenever I even try starting a conversation. Like look at her!” Pointing at his teammate, who was staring at a wall, directly opposite of Patrick. Patrick exclaimed, “What is she even looking at!? We’re a team, yet she’s spoken two sentences to me! God, can’t you switch with her? They can be silent alone on their own!”

  Baffled, Leo tried to rescue Anthony’s reputation, “Hold on now, Anthony isn’t…” Looking to the side, Anthony was also blankly staring at the same exact wall as her.

  ‘Wow…’

  Giving up, Leo nodded in acceptance at Patrick’s cries, bringing him in for another hug. Making his shoulder a wet mess as Patrick buried his face into Leo’s shoulder, tears streaming down his face as snot stuck onto his shoulder.

  ‘What the. I didn’t bring you in for a hug just so you’d make a mess like this! Release me!’

  But despite his thoughts, Leo knew he couldn’t hold a candle to Patrick’s strength. The hug, or rather the bear hug, left Leo stuck with him, unable to escape his grip.

  ‘God let this end…’

  Surprisingly, Patrick continued this spectacle for a solid 10 minutes. Bringing weird glances to the duo, even a murmur here and there.

  Looking around, Leo cried inside. ‘Please, somebody help. Connie! Help me!’ Looking for Connie, Leo realized she had seemingly disappeared from her original spot. Scanning the area, he found her at the back corner, staring at the duo, struggling to hold back her laugh. But spotting Leo’s gaze, she quickly turned in her seat, her shoulders shaking.

  ‘I’ll remember this…Anthony! Anthony my friend!’

  Barely turning his head, he looked for his loyal friend. Yet, in the corner of his eye, he was nowhere to be found.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  ‘...’

  “Now, let our final contestants come up please!”

  ‘Thank the stars, we’re almost done.’

  Seeing a new opening, Leo excitedly said, “Patrick, it’s the final match, we can’t miss the finale, can we, look properly!”

  Eyes widening, Patrick released Leo from the constricting hug. “My friend, you’re absolutely right. Let us witness the spectacle of a trial this is.”

  Rolling his eyes, Leo looked to the stage. The group consisted of all female fighters, one armed with a hoe with blond hair and the opposing one with a pickaxe wearing messy brunette hair. But upon closer inspection, to his utter dismay, he saw one of the fighters being Amanda.

  ‘Oh god.’

  He almost got up, but remembered where he was. Collecting his thoughts, he took a deep breath and sat back down. ‘Trust her, Leo.’

  On the stage, Amanda, unarmed, stood next to her partner, Leilah. She had tried conversing with her but Leilah was too much of a nervous wreck to speak clearly. Ultimately giving up, Amanda began planning.

  The plan was simple: disarm the opponent with Leilah and subdue the other. Luckily, the other group seemed just as a wreck as Leilah was, so Amanda wasn’t too worried about the situation.

  On the opposite side, the blonde and brunette were prepared, neither shivering like her teammate was. The blonde held the hoe in a crouched position, ready for the charge.

  “Alright, you lot are the last of the participants. Rules remain the same! May the loser find peace within the stars. Begin!”

  With the official start, Leilah and Amanda moved. But Amanda noticed something a bit off. Leilah wasn’t trembling as much as she was before, nor was she breathing so heavily as before. The same could be said for the opposing team, as they moved in unison.

  Following her instincts, Amanda slowed down a bit, distancing herself from Leilah and the other group, praying her feelings were wrong.

  Unfortunately, she was right on the mark as Leilah tossed the pickaxe to the brunette haired girl, hiding behind them as they slowly walked to Amanda.

  Stuttering, Leilah explained, “I-I’m sorry, but...but I was with them before see…”

  ‘That bitch…’

  Biting her lip, Amanda took a deep breath and focused on the situation at hand. A three-on-one with no weapon in hand. Absolutely horrendous odds.

  Utterly amused, the Lieutenant exclaimed, “Well isn’t this a surprise! I haven’t seen this in a while! Yes, absolutely fitting for the final fight. I must say though, Leilah, you are quite the parasite!” His voice held a hint of disgust. “With that mindset, you’d fit right into our paradise!”

  Turning to Amanda, the Lieutenant thought, ‘What’ll you do now? Concede right? Ah…it’s saddening…’

  Meanwhile, Amanda had been cornered at the edge of the arena. With both the opposing group’s armed members surrounding her, the hoe on the left and the pickaxe on the right.

  ‘This isn’t how it’s supposed to be! Concede Amanda!’ Leo thought, frustrated with the situation. Even Anthony beside him had focused on the arena again, with a look of not just anger, but of concern too.

  “That your friend, bud?” Patrick asked, pointing at the cornered woman.

  Leo nodded, not looking at him, his eyes glued onto the fight. If he had to, he’d break the rules right here and now. But how would they get out after? Breaking the rules would mean ultimate death, but how could he bear to see another one of his friends die, let alone the wife of his deceased best friend.

  ‘I made a promise… if things go awry for her, I’ll step in…’

  Looking at Anthony, they made eye contact, silently agreeing on the next course of actions if it came to it.

  Leo tensed his legs, ready to jump up at a moment's notice.

  Patrick, noticing this, smiled. “Just as you should do when protecting your woman!”

  “She’s not my woman, she’s a promise to my friend.” Leo corrected him.

  “Ah, a guardian. I see now.” Nodding, Patrick seemed somehow convinced. Alright, I’ll help you out if it comes down to it, don’t you worry!

  “What..?” With a blank stare, he looked at Patrick, thinking he was hearing things. “You just met me…”

  “And? So far you’re better than the rest of the people in this shithole, if you’re lost, what’s the point of staying?” Patrick argued.

  ‘That was…actually kind of touching.’

  “Just follow our lead then.”

  With arms folded, Patrick prepared himself.

  Leo, witnessing the bloodbath, grew weary as his vision became shaky.

  He’s lost Sophia. He’s lost Chris. He won’t lose Amanda too.

  The pressure of all the events that had unfolded today were close to unraveling in one big bang.

  But suddenly, a miracle unfolded.

  Leo, Anthony, Patrick , even the Lieutenant all stood up in shock, their mouths agape as they couldn’t believe their eyes.

  With wide eyes, the Lieutenant took his cap off, looking at what was presented to him in sheer amazement, unable to look away from the art that was placed before him.

  ‘Beautiful.’