Gods of Arena
The Creeping Voice

"Hi, guys", Kang greeted, as he stepped into the lab. He must have missed his way. "Sorry for barging in. I believe we should be making progress already."

"This is the Blank guy", Kwei said, walking up to him. He surveyed Kang's appearance with his eyes, as if measuring his capability for the task he was given. He held out his hand. "it's nice to meet you" "Same here", Kang smiled, shaking his hand.

"You look familiar but I won't talk about that", Kwei said and laughed at himself. "We've definitely not met outside or inside so the question would be definitely stupid"

"You could have met in here, though.... Probably when he was created", another Larger Figure replied. "Or you might have created him"

"Nah. I have a list of my successful creation"

"Alright, guys. I need to see Ana", Kang said, staring at their faces.

They became silent, staring at one another. "Ana for what?", Fred asked.

"The investigation, alright? I need to see her and it has to be now", Kang said and glanced at Ana.

Ana stared back, brightly. "Alright", she said and stood up. "Have a great day, guys"

They walked out of the lab and closed the door behind them. "I thought you said no one stays in that lab", Kang said.

"You entered the wrong lab", Ana replied, leading him to the empty lab they were in. "And if you entered the right lab, you wouldn't have seen me.... So what's it? You wanted to see my face?" "What face? Let's be serious", Kang shunned.

"Are you kidding? This is something serious. My uncle said we had a moment yesterday"

Kang stared confusedly. "How did he know we even met?"

"Sorry. He was in the room. Turns out he also came to rest his head"

They walked into the lab and Kang closed the door. It looked a lot different than the previous day. More lights were on. "Oops. I no longer feel comfortable here", he said. "It feels a lot bigger" "Well, it's just the same. Say what you have to say"

"It feels like we are being watched"

"No one can watch us from anywhere. Just speak already, will you?", Ana said, chuckling. He looked like he was nervous. She was definitely nervous. She stood up and put out the lights. "You happy now?" "Come on. How am I going to see your face now?"

"You really love to see my face?"

"Really? Alright. How do I know if you are still in the room?"

"You can hear my voice... or you could just hold my hand till the conversation is over"

Kang closed his eyes and nodded. He wasn't going to let her get in his head again. He stood up, found his way to her and pulled her away from the switch, turning one of the lights back on. "Now, that's better", he said and smiled at her. "Now, let's be professional or we will fail at this"

"I really don't see what we are failing at 'cause the explosion left a hint that it was from the Grimms. We just have to prepare to defend ourselves and fight them"

"King believes there is someone working against us on the inside and so do I"

They stared at each other again. "You're not referring to me, are you?"

Kang chuckled and punched the wall, cutting his laugh short. "Let's be serious. I wasn't referring to you. There is either an infiltrator or someone working against us. You should watch Romeo very well" "Romeo?"

"The fighter who shared a room with Dan before Dan was executed"

Ana glanced at the ground. 'Dan must be hiding well enough', she thought.

"I don't think he's clean. Put your cameras on him every time he steps out of the room and watch him wherever he goes... when it's day and when it's dark"

"What makes you suspect him?", she asked. "I mean if you have a hint that he's the infiltrator, it might just be enough to nail him"

"No hint... it's just instincts", he replied. "Watch him and we might find something"

"Alright", she nodded as he turned his back.

He walked to the door and pulled it open. "The Grimm"

"Uh?"

"I remembered something... Were you there when Dea was killed?", Kang asked and turned. His eyelids pushed down, almost closing, like he was trying to see something. "I mean; do you have a proof that she's actually dead? Did you see her body?"

"I didn't. I wasn't there. King just said so", Ana replied. "You think she's still alive?"

"She's the only Grimm I know. She might have felt betrayed- which is totally your fault- and, believing King would eventually kill her for being an enemy, she decides to call for help.... Then she gives the Dergon Arena out to her people" "That's possible but, if King kills you once, you die three times before he confirms. He is too brutal for anyone to survive. They always end up in the oven❞

'Really?', Kang thought, laughing in his mind. 'Like Dan? She doesn't have to know that though'. He faced the door again. "You just agreed that it's possible. Let's make sure it's not what we are dealing with❞

****

"Hey, bitch!"

Romeo paused. His hand remained on the door handle but he didn't push it down. He was almost sure whoever was talking was referring to him. He wiped off water from his forehead. "You referring to me?" he asked, loudly, looking around. Now, he was sure he was the one being referred to.

The mid-tier threw a bottle at him, staggering backward drunkenly, as his roommate, Dylan pulled his cloth. "Come on. Stop being an Idiot, Craig", Dylan muttered, jerking his clothes. He glanced at Romeo. "Sorry, man. He didn't have enough sleep"

"Shut the fuck up!", Craig cut in, pulling himself away from Dylan's grip. "That idiot over there; I'm going to kill him"

Romeo picked up the bottle and took a step closer. "Leave him alone"

Dylan let go of Craig's cloth. Immediately, Craig jumped at Romeo. Romeo twirled the bottle for a second and swung his arm, striking Craig in the head and throwing him to the ground. Craig shot back up and ran mindlessly at Romeo. Romeo tilted sideways, as he grabbed Craig by the neck, and slammed his head into the wall.

Two soldiers ran into the hall, through the passage, with their guns in hand. "Let go of him!", they howled, pulling Craig away.

Romeo raised his arm behind his head. "I was defending myself"

The soldiers seized him and cuffed his hands immediately, pulling him roughly.

"What?", Romeo tugged wildly. "I was defending myself! He started the fight!"

"I was defending myself. Weren't you guys watching your cams?", Romeo asked, gently, as the soldiers left him in a room with Ana. His hands were tied behind his back.

"Hold on", Ana said, without turning back. She was busy working on a laptop.

His eyes moved around, quickly. Dan already told him of the lab. He had an unclear memory, though he was sure he had walked out of the lab with Finn on the first day of his life. His eyes fell back on Ana. Whatever she was doing; she was pretty engrossed with it. "Is that so important? Why am I the only one in here with you when it takes two to fight?"

"Well, they choose to pick only the stubborn one or the one that starts the fight-"

"Were you watching with your butt?"

"Excuse me?", she said, shooting an inquiring glare at him.

"Sorry. I understand I shouldn't be introducing a girl's butt but I'm pretty pissed"

"Alright. You weren't picked up because of the fight", Ana said, facing him completely. "The fight is a coincidence. Fate set a trap for you. You could have avoided that" "Who's Fate?", Romeo asked, staring down and listening attentively.

"I meant destiny", Ana replied, almost chuckling. "Don't bother thinking about that"

"I'm not thinking, idiot", Romeo muttered, silently. "I know you"

The door opened and Kang walked him. "Oh. You already have him"

"Kang? Why am I here?"

"Calm down, Romeo", Kang said and grabbed a seat. He held his head for a second. "I just have a few questions and we need honest answers from you before you can go anywhere" "What is all of this about? The investigation?"

"Yes. It's about the investigation. We have an enemy in our midst or there is someone giving out information to break through the defense of the Dergon Arena"

Romeo scoffed. "What is King promising to give you? What makes you turn your back against us?"

"Nothing, Romeo... my back is not turned on anyone. This is me protecting us from whatever we might have to face on the outside"

"This wasn't me, Kang... but, even if I found out who is behind all of this, I'm never going to give him up.... 'cause every fighter wants this place to burn to the ground. We want to see the outside"

"It's war and chaos!", Kang shouted back and held his head again. "I need to get some rest, Romeo. This shouldn't have been today at all so I'm sorry you have to wait here till it's over..... we don't know what is on the outside, Romeo. If this place burns to the ground, the fire won't spare us. The opposing Arenas will only show up to claim the land and the fighters... unless they don't find out about the smoke on the hill. That's a chance I'm not willing to take"

He walked out of the lab, immediately. Romeo leaned back on his chair, staring at the ground. "This really happens, doesn't it? One person sees salvation in the road, another one sees death in the road. It's one boat we are tied to. We have to fight for what we believe"

Ana stared at the ground too. "You are right. I guess that's what is happening"

"You seem to be understanding", Romeo said and looked up at her. "Do you think the fighters will survive outside here if you let them go?"

Ana hesitated. "I don't know. One thing that's surely waiting outside is a team of Grimms that want to take down the place"

Romeo listened to the voice again. 'I know you', he thought, staring at her. "Please, can you say that again? I didn't get that"

"I said there is a team of Grimms fighting to take down the Arena. Even if the fighters will get their freedom, we have to fight them off first or they will take down everything in sight... including the fighters that brought them in" "I know you", Romeo said.

"Uh?"

"You are the creeping voice. I know you"