Eden: The Eighth Day Part 1

Sera and Vita were in their dorm when Castus came bounding in. ‘Is it true? Is it true?’

Vita laughed as he jumped up on her. ‘Is what true?’

‘The colosseum?’ he said. ‘Are you and Sera going?’

‘Yes,’ she said with a smile.

‘Oh, please, Vi,’ Castus said, ‘can I come too?’

‘Oh, Castus,’ she said, her expression becoming serious. ‘I’m not sure I’d like you watching such brutality. I’m not sure I’ll last the duration myself.’

Castus’s face dropped. ‘But everyone goes, some younger than me. Oh, please take me.’

Sera chipped in, ‘He’s growing up, you can’t protect him forever, you know.’

Vita sighed. ‘Alright then, but just this once.’

The three of them stood in the sunburnt twilight, a hot breeze flowing around the entrance. The colosseum was an intimidating building. Its huge sandstone circular walls stood high enough to make a comfortable home for the gods. Protruding from the stone were weather-beaten cherubs, gods, angels and warriors, all of whom rested atop giant columns, which supported a flow of archways that rested on the sand.

These were perfect spots for the demon guards to maintain order in the crowd. Some carried heavy weapons while others were confident enough with the strength of their own two hands.

Vita watched with usual heartbreak as one of the foul beasts flailed its arms in the direction of a stray citizen from the queue. The man fell to the ground, bent double as he coughed with the blow to his stomach. Why had she agreed to this?

She had worn a cloak, the hood pulled up to cover her face from the townsfolks’ gaze. She looped her arm through her friend’s, seeking a sense of comfort as people in the queue began to look in her direction suspiciously.

Sera shrugged her arm away. ‘Ger’ off,’ she laughed and then looked at her hood as if seeing it for the first time. ‘And what the hell you wearing that thing for. You look like a sinner y’self.’ She grabbed it with a giggle and pulled it down. Vita snatched it back up and scanned the queue. Convinced nobody had noticed her, she returned her attention to Sera, somewhat irritated, and was met with a grin.

‘Honestly,’ said Sera. ‘You’re very strange. I think sometimes, maybe you are a witch.’

Vita passed Sera a wary look. Her friend seemed bitter of late, taking joy in Vita’s misery. She gritted her teeth and let the moment pass.

Vita felt her stomach tighten. ‘Perhaps it would be best if we skip this year,’ she said to Castus, but he was already following the crowd through the huge stone archway.

Vita could hear the buzz of excitement from all around her. She took her seat with Sera and Castus on the highest row and watched the rest of the city pile in. Castus was wriggling with excitement, unaware of the tragic origins of the fighters. Vita scanned the arena. An oval sand pit surrounding a glinting circle of rusted weapons.

The crowd became hushed as the emperor, the empress and the prince walked into their royal box. They came to the edge of the balcony and nodded towards the crowd.

‘Citizens,’ Malum began. ’We are here once again to celebrate our great empire. The sinners who have besmirched the great name Mendacia, are here in the pits, beneath our very seats, waiting to come forth and face our judgement. They are sinners, inmates of our dungeons. They have known the price of crime and have committed their sins regardless.

’In the desolate times we live in, we have only one way to freedom. One way in which our Lord Almighty will release us from our fiery trap. We must change Mendacia. We must grow. We must follow the rules.’ His jowls wobbled, his face turning pink, his arms flailing this way and that.

‘Honesty, discipline, respect, obedience and most importantly, hard work. These five rules are all that set us apart from the beasts.’ He stopped then, gesturing with a raise of his arms for the guards to lift the gates.

Sounds of sobbing could be heard from the darkness, protests and wails to stay alive. ‘Please!’ echoed a shattered female voice as her small, fragile, naked body was cast into the ring. She squatted, attempting to cover her dignity, as uncontrollable tears spilled on the sand. ‘Please!’ she begged, staring up at Malum.

He just smiled, his silence his means of control, as he watched her blonde hair glow golden as she shook her head in protest. The guard dragged her to her feet and turned back into the pit, letting the gate crash to the ground.

‘Good luck,’ he laughed, as he submerged into the safety of darkness.

One by one, a frightened face emerged from each of the remaining ten gates. Some cried, dragged out by the guards and thrown in the sand, while others bravely marched towards their fate, the heavy metal gates slamming behind them. A quiet hum of excitement reverberated around the stands as all the faces turned towards the one remaining door, still open in silent blackness.

‘Exit, sinner!’ Malum shouted from the balcony.

Nothing. The gate hook rattled in a gentle breeze and faces looked at one another with confusion. The sinners who were already in the arena were feeling a mixture of relief and frustration; the strong will of survival versus the desire to just get it done. A clattering noise emerged from the depths of the tunnel followed by something shiny, which flew out of the darkness like a ball and landed with a thud in the sand. The crowd gasped, seeing the guard’s head, helmet still attached, rolling across the arena.

A figure strode out of the darkness to a chorus of hisses and boos; blood still dripped from his hands, his chiselled torso covered in sweat and his damp hair flopped over his forehead. He walked on, oblivious to the commotion from the stands. He wiped his dripping hands on the naked flesh of his thighs and went to join the group. Even though he knew there was no escape, he would make damn sure their memory lived on.

Malum looked down from the balcony, a half smile on his lips. The guard meant nothing to him, but he would make sure this man suffered for his humiliation.

‘Calm down,’ he addressed the crowd. ‘Preparation is key in these types of fights,’ he laughed jovially at the man. ‘But, do let’s continue.’ With that, he gave a cough, producing a scroll from his clothing. ‘Let us meet our fighters: Accius Stephanos,’ he pointed to the first man in the group, ’showed dishonesty by hiding a basket of potatoes, which were to be claimed as back tax.

’Perseus Fortunatas was charged with a lack of respect by neglecting to attend this week’s Octavo celebration at the palace.

’Augusta Europa was caught stealing vegetables from the market.

‘Emilia Igerna,’ he paused, lowering the paper with a subtle dark smile, as his eyes gorged on the flesh of the fragile beauty, the first to be dragged on the sand, ‘is a whore of the devil.’ His mind wandered back to her fleeing from his clutches as he had tried to take her to his bed. Now she would pay. Nobody rejects the emperor.

‘Gaia Argus,’ he pointed to a grey-haired old man, bent double with pain, ’neglected his responsibilities to his family, becoming ill and lying down with sloth.

’Tacita Spesus, a trusted maid who stole an orange from my own tree.

’Eduardus Dorus, a stable boy who aided Tacita’s theft.

’Vesilius Beringar attempted to murder a demon guard who was performing his duties by arresting a citizen in the street.

’Callius Donatus spat on the same demon.

’Camilla Calisto stole food from the market

’Iola Pleione lied about being with infant to ensnare one of my guards.

‘Theo Duilius,’ he gazed down at the blood-spattered man, throwing the scroll to the balcony floor with a clunk. ’Well, Theo, I think the scroll’s irrelevant now, the whole kingdom has seen your nature.’

Theo ignored the torment, a look of stubborn defiance on his face. He heard a burst of laughter from the stands and looked towards it, snarling at the sight of Vulcan Bilo, acting cocky now he was out of Theo’s reach. He remembered his blubbering face when he had pulled him off the girl, before being dragged off by the guards to the cells.

‘The rules are simple,’ said Malum to the contestants. ‘The last one standing wins and if you survive this challenge you will be granted your freedom.’ He looked around at the mass of spectators. ‘Now enough chattering.’ He raised his fist in the air. ‘Fight!’

The ring froze, the dozen stunned faces staring in bewilderment at one another. They had shared the same cells, consoled each other, given up their food for the most in need. And now they were to kill each other too?

A silence spread throughout the crowd as they waited in anticipation.

‘I said, fight!’ said Malum.

Again, nobody moved. The twelve trembling bodies linked their arms.

Theo stepped forward from the human chain. ‘Is this what this city has come to?’ he shouted. ‘Forcing innocent men and women to fight to their deaths, wearing nothing but what we were born in? Our sins are none that anybody could say they haven’t, or wouldn’t, commit. I, for one, am proud to be standing here, able to die knowing my conscience is clear.’ He turned towards Malum. ’Perhaps you should explain the nature of my sin, after all?’ he challenged him.

Malum’s face reddened.

‘Let these kind citizens know your reaction to true sin?’ He pointed towards Vulcan who sunk back into his seat.

‘This is an outrage!’ Malum boomed. ‘You dare to disrespect your emperor?’

‘What can you possibly do to me now? Throw me in the pits?’

The crowd gasped at the man’s cheek, looking towards their emperor. Vita perched in her place. He really was standing up to Malum. He wasn’t scared of him! Vesta leant forward in her seat, eyes wide but gleaming. Kayin just glowered at his father.

The emperor’s mouth opened and shut like a fish. ‘I – I – I.’

Theo turned back, slowly, letting himself revel in the smooth sand beneath his feet, knowing he would never get the chance again. He pointed up towards Malum whose mouth was moving with silent speech. ’This is your emperor?’ he laughed. ‘Your great leader. The man who lets a rapist walk the streets,’ he pointed back towards Vulcan, ‘and imprisons the man who stopped him. That is Malum Dolus, the descendant of Meridian Dolus? Sent to save the world and guide us to betterment? You are worse than the blasted demons,’ he spat on the ground, ‘and you will rot like them too!’

He turned back to the crowd. ‘You stand here and judge us, each and every one of you, taking pleasure in our deaths.’ He turned around in a circle, watching all the faces in the crowd. ‘You cannot make us fight. You may take our dignity, you may take our freedom and even our lives.’ He paused. ’But you may never take our souls. While we still stand here,’ he punched his hand in the air with rage, ’we have the choice to let our hearts and minds decide. You may kill each and every one of us, but I. Will. Not. Kill another pure soul!’ he roared, then turned in a slow circle, pointing a finger around the whole colosseum. ‘Just pray that come next Octavo, it is not you, your sons or your daughters standing here, in our place of judgement.’ He stepped back into place and crossed his arms over his chest.

A moment of silence prevailed until Sera initiated a chorus of protest and foot stamping, which began to reverberate around the colosseum like an earthquake.

‘Enough!’ Malum shouted from the podium, raising both of his palms towards the crowd. ’This is the celebration of Octavo. Some of you attended the same fights on previous celebrations and cheered. You knew the price of sin, therefore you chose your own fate. If you won’t fight each other, then perhaps we can use some, well, let’s say, persuasion.’ He stared down, smiling at the contestants. ‘Release the demons!’

The emperor sat back down with Vesta and Kayin, a smug smile on his face. ‘There’s always one who thinks he can outsmart the system.’ He chuckled and had a slug of wine.

‘Have you made arrangements for your travels?’ Vesta asked hoping beyond hope for his absence. I need the time to plan.

‘I will leave after the fight,’ said Malum, but turned towards a rotting hand on his shoulder.

The demon grunted towards him.

‘Problems at the border river,’ Malum said. ‘It seems I must leave early.’ He rose to leave, passing an unreturned nod towards his wife and son.

With a cringing, rusty grind, a gate at the far end of the arena was raised to reveal four brutish demons who marched out of their pit. A cautious cheer escalated from the crowd, faces searching for the emperor, keen to keep him sedate, while all the time their minds looped over Theo’s revelations.

The demons carried huge weapons; a flail with a ball larger than a man’s head, a golden hasta, a Bipennis with each blade as sharp as a razor and the fourth demon carried a length of chain as wide as a man’s arm, which forked into four giant lead spikes. They strode towards the contestants who were now beginning to scatter, some dashing for the weapons, while others pelted to the furthest end of the arena. Theo darted to the centre, seeing the frail girl shaking as she stared at the beast.

‘Remember what I told you?’ he said. ‘When this is all over we won’t have to suffer anymore.’ He paused. ’But he will.’ He glanced up towards the emperor’s empty seat.

She nodded at him through tears and he kissed her lips. ‘I love you, Emilia.’

‘I love you too,’ she said.

‘Are you ready?’ He panted anxious breaths as the chaos began to erupt around him. He could hear the fruitless cries of rage followed by the sharp clang of metal on metal, replaced by a sickening cry or scream moments later.

‘Yes,’ Emilia said, pulling herself up and wiping the tears from her face.

All around him the chaos reigned; one man tripped over his own feet and the Bipennis swung down, taking off his head. The demons stalked through the arena, watching the predictability of the panic. No sense. No logic. It was a delight.

One monster impaled a hasta through a woman’s skull and freed the spear without pause, her body slumped to the floor. Two of the women looked desperately around at the hopelessness of the situation. They nodded to each other, raised their daggers and simultaneously forced them through the other’s heart. They collapsed against each other, arms embracing as their bodies fell to their place of rest.

The demon with the chain hunted down another frightened man. His huge feet stomped across the ground, the bodies of the embraced women crushed beneath his giant sole. The man ran from him, scrambling in the sand. He looked behind him as he sprinted and saw the metal spikes coming towards him. He tried to duck, but wasn’t fast enough and one of the spikes impaled his skull, stopping his flight abruptly. His body thudded to the ground. The demon strode across and kicked the man over, flicking the chain and pulling the spike back to his control. He turned and spotted Theo in the centre.

Theo knew that nobody would walk out of here alive. He knew the demons couldn’t be killed and knew the emperor would have enough ‘challenges’ in place to make sure each and every one of them died. So he had planned for the event, determined that their memories would outlive their bodies. He signalled to one of the other men, who was anxiously waiting in the wings for his cue. The man sprinted for Theo and Emilia.

‘Ready,’ Theo asked them and they nodded.

The three set off together, jumping, rolling and dodging weapons and body parts. The heavy chain in a demon’s grasp flew towards them, intent on taking them out with a single blow.

‘Jump,’ Theo said.

They did and the strength of the demon’s blow carried its stinking body forward, past them as the weapon continued on through the air.

‘Not yet,’ Theo said, as he glanced at his male accomplice getting ready to pounce. Theo had his target in sight.

The chaos was calming now the majority of the prisoners had been slain. The demons picked off the remaining two outside of Theo’s party. A strangled cry sliced through the twilight, as the flail pounded into a man’s skull. Theo turned to watch the last tragic death: a lady stretched between the demon’s two hands, her face a picture of silent, agonised dignity, as he tore her limb from limb.

This was it. They were the last ones. Three mere mortals against four huge monsters. Their breath became shallow and controlled as they focused on their task. Theo spotted another chain lying on the floor, still attached to the severed hand of a fellow comrade.

‘Quick,’ he said, pointing to the object.

Emilia dropped and rolled, grabbing the chain and the hand that still held it. He pointed up to the lanterns lined along the balcony area.

’We hook ’em and hang ’em,’ Theo said with a wink.

The trio bent into a fighting stance ready to spring. Theo pointed to the two nearest lanterns. ‘Wait until I say.’ He took a controlled breath and waited, watching the monsters stride towards them. They noticed the bull’s head of one, Taurus, with his signature ring piercing his nostrils and gave each other a knowing glance.

‘Now,’ Theo shouted and they pelted for the creatures, wrapping the chain around a bison’s head. It clutched at the chain, roaring with anger, flailing and spinning to be free but it was too tight. The other three demons were approaching so Theo sprinted for the bull and dexterously slipped the end of the chain through its ring, dodging its fist as it grabbed for him. The other man had squatted down beneath the lanterns and Theo sprinted to him, springing off his back with the chain and looping it over the torch hook. He rolled to the floor and heaved with all his might until the demons began to rise in the air and then he slipped the end of the chain through the gate and secured it to the handle.

The pair of demons was suspended in the air and flailed in anger at being outmanoeuvred. Theo turned and saw one of the remaining demons pulling his spear out of the side of the man, who was still in position as his springboard. He roared, then Theo and Emilia sprinted with the remaining chain for the beast, repeating the process and leaving it suspended in the air. He snatched the spear from its grip and turned towards the last demon.

There were gasps of awe from the crowd as they stalked the remaining tiger-headed demon. A deathly dance between the three of them as they circled, weapons occasionally meeting with the clink of steel. Emilia turned to a clunking noise but it was just the hanging demons, swaying against a rusted gate.

It was enough of a distraction, and with a single swing of the flail, Theo watched, mortified, as his lover’s body crashed to the floor, her fragile beauty destroyed by the piercing metal spikes. He growled, turning on the demon with blistering rage. He raised his spear and threw it towards the monster’s throat. Before the demon knew what was happening, his head had retracted. The demon looked down at the spear’s stem with smug satisfaction. A feeble man such as this had not a hope in taking him down. He raised his hands to remove it.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline or perhaps rage, perhaps his sheer heartbreak, but whatever it was, Theo found the world had left him at that moment. There was nothing, nobody else left in this world, only him and this vile creature. A creature who must die. It grunted as the sheer force of Theo fell onto its body, hands wrapped around the spear and it fell, bewildered, to the ground. Theo pushed the spear with all his might while the beast writhed on the floor. Theo felt the spear shift, cracking through the back of the demon’s neck and pinning it to the sand. He spun around, spying an axe on the floor.

The demon flailed, hands clutched over the stem of the spear and snapped it, only serving to force the spear further into the ground. The demon heard a roar and then felt the first axe’s blow as it stared up at this thing, no longer a mere mortal, but a being of fury, weapon to hand as he swung his next blow. The demon could already feel the toxic gasses beginning their course of decay and its head began to shake as it felt the burning sensation spread through its body. It was evident to all who could see that demon immortality was a myth.

Theo totalled five furious blows before the axe hit the sand, the tiger’s skull beginning to rock calmly on the earth. Not a whisper from anyone in the crowd, the whole city stunned by what they had seen. The demons could be killed.

Theo spat on its remains and turned, collapsing to his knees on the now tarnished sand. His teeth were bared and foam bubbled at the side of his mouth, while a desperate, frightening noise escaped from his throat. He stayed on the ground, shaking, as he looked at the devastation before him, the sight beginning to melt as his eyes filled up with tears. He swallowed and then roared, raising his hands to the sky.

‘Are you happy now?’ he shouted. ‘The sinners are all perished. Are. You. Happy?’ Theo doubled over and began to sob.

There was silence in the stalls except for a lone cough, which echoed off the walls and travelled through the devastation before them.

Vita gaped at the sight of the arena, her heart breaking for the poor man. How could any leader do this to his people? She thought about Castus’s prophecy of a saviour and as she gazed down upon Theo, she began to believe. She could never do what he had just done. He had the physical strength, the kindness of heart and, judging by the silence surrounding her, the respect of the people. Maybe there was hope for the world.

‘Will he be freed?’ she begged Sera.

‘They’ll send another demon out in a moment,’ Sera whispered. ‘Maybe a few with this one. He’ll die though, don’t worry.’

Vita looked at Sera in disgust. How had she never seen this side of her friend before today? She glanced across at the royal box and saw Empress Vesta and Kayin seeming to comfort one another. They hate this as much as everyone else. Just then she heard another gate rattling, the guards preparing to raise it.

‘No,’ Vita yelled before she could stop herself. ‘Please, somebody stop this!’ The crowd all stared at her.

‘Who speaks?’ a voice below shouted up.

Sera took the opportunity to pull off Vita’s hood.

When Vita glanced down the rows of spectators, she saw the voice belonged to Gallus Bilo who was accompanied by his two brothers. Vulcan looked up at her with a snarl.

‘He should be freed,’ she said, ignoring the brute. ‘Please,’ she tried again, leaning on the balcony towards the royal box. ‘Lady Emperor. Please, stop this cruelty.’

The empress rushed to the front of the box, pleased with such an invitation. Vita could see even from across the arena that her eyes shone with tears, yet she spoke with firm control. ‘I believe we have seen enough excitement for today. While nothing the emperor does is cruel, young madam, it is in fact getting quite late and I, for one, am tired of today’s celebrations.’ She looked down into the arena. ‘Guards, release this man.’

Vita watched with anticipation, expecting a guard to come and grant his freedom. Instead, she felt a rotting hand on her shoulder and was dragged up from her seat. She looked back across to the balcony before being dragged from the colosseum and saw the prince too was exiting the arena.

Vulcan’s frightened eyes darted to Theo. If he were freed he’d surely come for him. He glanced around at all the stunned faces, noting respect, even admiration, for this prisoner hovering in the atmosphere. Perhaps they’d turn on him too? Maybe he’d be wise to make a swift exit. Not that he was frightened, of course. No, that wasn’t it at all. He scrambled from his seat, darting for the exit.