“Yeah. Welcome to the dungeon. I hope you don’t like sunlight.”
I laugh, but he’s not joking. The stone walls press in around us, no windows anywhere. The air tastes stale and recycled. My chest starts to tighten. “We’re not… trapped down here forever, are we? When do we get to leave?”
My heart starts to pound. I’ve spent my whole life in the open air, under the sky. The thought of being locked down here…
A blond man steps toward us. Tall, lean, with a horrible sneer twisting his features. He’s sizing me up, his gaze lingering on the fresh cut across my cheek.
“Leave?” He laughs. Nastily. “Boys, this new kid fancies a stroll around the city. Think they’ll let him?”
The room erupts into laughter. The way they all stare at him adoringly tells me this guy has serious clout down here. He’s high up in the pecking order. And I’m right down at the bottom.
I open my mouth to defend myself, to tell him to fuck off, but snap it shut. That got me knocked out last time. Silence is the best bet right now, until I figure out what this place is all about.
The man steps closer still, close enough that I can smell sweat on his clothes. “Are you used to people opening doors for you, pretty boy?” His eyes glitter with malice. “Well, you better get used to being down here with the rest of us. For as long as you last, anyway.”
He wanders back over to the table as if he’s lost interest in me. The others instantly part to make space for him, all shooting me and Caspian curious glances before turning their attention back to whatever conversation they were having.
“What’s his deal?” I hiss at Caspian.
Caspian shrugs. “All I know is that he’s called Jason, and he’s an asshole. Most of them seem to be, I’m afraid. That guy with the longish black hair, Elijah, seems alright. But obviously, we don’t want to trust anyone inthis place.”
“What? What is this place?” I glance up at the stone ceiling, thinking of ‘the arena’ above us. “What’s going on? Why are we here?”
“Oh,” he says. “Well, the stars were really shining down on us yesterday. Because as it turns out, we’ve been selected for Deathball. Lucky us.” He forces out this weird laugh.
Deathball. I still don’t know what that is. The admission sits heavy in my throat. I hate showing weakness, but I need to understand what we’re facing.
“What’s Deathball?” The words come out as a whisper.
Caspian stares at me. “Seriously? Never? Where are you from? The moon?”
I remain silent.
He sighs and rubs his face with both hands. “It’s Victora’s main sporting event. Our suffering for their entertainment.”
“But whatisit?”
He tsks his tongue sharply. “Let me break it down for you. One of these guys, in this room, is going to beat you to death with a very spiky ball in an arena. Unless you kill him first.”
Pieces start to click into place. The way Marco examined us like livestock. The casual execution of those men who didn’t make the cut. The way that doctor wanted me fit and healthy.
I stare at him. “They make us fight… to the death… so they can watch?”
“There’s a bit more to it than that, but that’s my understanding, yes. It’s a massive thing here. You’ve really never heard any of the rumors?”
I kick at the stone floor. “Sick bastards,” I mutter.
Caspian lets out another one of those hollow laughs. “Might be better than the mines, though. Death could be quicker. Less painful. Maybe we could snap each other’s necks, make it clean.”
I don’t react, and his laughter dies quickly.
“Sorry, mate. Truly, it’s shit luck.” He looks down at his hands. “But hey, let’s look out for each other, yeah? New kids together? We’re sharing a cell.Because you decided to sleep all morning, you’re top bunk, sorry. Hope you don’t mind snoring.”
Look out for each other until we’re forced to beat each other to death.
The thought consumes me. I want to say yes, want desperately to believe I could have allies in this strange place. But I can’t trust anything. Anyone.
“Robin?” Caspian’s voice pulls me back. “You still with me?”
