The flames surround him as he clutches onto the leather handle of his sword. Nowhere to go, and only enemies in the circle with him. The arena staff won’t douse the flames until there is only one man left standing in the ring of fire. Two men to his left charge at each other, clashing swords as the audience erupts in a volumous roar.

The first blood soaks the sands of the arena, a warrior raises his red coated blade in the air in pride, only to be stabbed in the back by another warrior mid celebration as the crowd laughs at his stupidity.

To the audience, we’re not even human. We’re just cattle bred to fight each other.

I draw my sword, i’ve been here before, many times. Seventeen victories and counting, I hope today is my eighteenth. The warrior in front of me inches towards me. In a split second, I roll under the sweeping slash he directed towards my head, jabbing my blade into his stomach as I come back up, the life in his eyes immediately dissapears.

Hearing another attacker’s footsteps charging behind me, I slam my blade into his, blocking it. Our swords still stuck together, metal to metal, I use the strength of my legs to push him back, until his body reaches the flames. He lets out a scream of pain as the fire touches him, utilizing this moment, our swords detangle, as I kick him into the fire, watching the flames devour his body.

Looking around, I see the only other warrior remaining finishing off his opponent, sliding his blade out of his enemy’s guts. He’s tall and bulky, even if I stick my sword into him, he may be able to keep fighting. I cautiously approach him, moving a bit laterally towards his left as I come forward. His left thigh is bleeding, a weak spot.

In the spur of the moment, I blitz towards him. Reactively he swings, his blade narrowly missing my head as he cuts part of my hair off. However before i’m able to strike, he uses his other hand to slam his fist into into my elbow. The pain is tremendous, my sword drops onto the sand as I immediately roll to avoid another potentially killer blow.

The giant man limps towards me, as i’m still on the ground, crawling backwards to create distance. Unfortunately the heat of the fire warms my back. There’s nowhere left to go, I look up as I see the man before me, raising his blade high up into the air, the crowd screaming in excitement.

Is this where I die?

As a last ditch effort, I bury my hands into the sand, then flinging them up, the sand hitting the eyes of the giant man, causing him to narrowly miss me again as I roll slightly towards my left. Seeing him still with sand in his eyes I quickly use my legs to sweep his, causing him to stumble forward into the fire.

Yet he comes out, his body in flames, swinging wildly as a last ditch effort to kill me. My ankles are sprained, i’m struggling to get back up. I close my eyes as he comes closer. But instead of tasting death, I hear a loud thud, he’s fallen, dead on the ground.

Eighteen victories, i’ve earned my freedom.