Gods of Arena
Cameras

Fred exhaled and rolled on his back, facing up.

"I can hear you breathe", Leila mocked him, walking around the room. She was fully awake already and dressed up. "It's like you just fucked something or someone"

"Really? You came in looking innocent", Fred smiled. "And it felt like I was going to corrupt you"

"I feel like you already did", she replied. "For a while, Bane restricted me from speaking to anyone... I had my eyes on a fellow prisoner, then❞

"Fellow prisoner? What does that even mean?", Fred grunted, standing up. He staggered. "Uh. I think I actually fucked someone"

They laughed. "I was literally a prisoner, then. He tried to make my life worse, keeping more guards around me to make sure I don't say anything"

"Speak to anyone' or 'say anything'? I think that's two things"

"The punishment was to keep my mouth sealed till he gave me a permission to say anything", Leila said and sat down. "I can't say my life was worse than the prisoners there. They believed he would forgive me since I was royal." "Well, I'm lucky you are alive then"

"No, not so lucky... As I was saying, I had my eyes on a fellow prisoner then", she narrated. "The guards were lenient on me. They allowed us chatter as much as we wanted. Then, Bane showed up"

Fred tripped, turning back to face her quickly.

"What?", she howled, mocking him. "What was that for?!"

"Sorry. I thought I saw him, for a second. Continue"

"Bane showed up. He was so furious. His fat face squeezed in, like he was going to explode"

"That must have been funny"

"You weren't there. It was horrific.... For someone who had put me through so much hell without being half as angry as that, I wondered what he was going to do.... He ordered the guards to be executed publicly. He was used to this weird ritual whenever he killed people for the flimsiest excuses. He would gather the priests around each of the bodies and claim to offer them as sacrifices to postpone the Bad Moon Rising"

"What's the Bad Moon Rising?", Fred leaned on a table and folded his arms.

"No one knows. He made me watch the execution of the guards and the prisoner. He impaled them on a stick"

"What?!", Fred gasped. "What the fuck!"

"What?", she laughed at him. "You're a bitch"

"Your eyes were open through all of that?!"

She forced a smile. Her eyes glimmered, like the lenses would roll off. She turned around and slowly pulled her blouse down to her waist, revealing multiple healing cuts and scars on her back. "For every time I closed my eyes, I had a lash on my back", she said.

Fred swallowed. That was no longer a funny moment. He took a step closer but he held back. He wanted to put his hand on the scars but she wasn't wearing brassieres. She probably wouldn't want him running his hands on her bare back. She pulled her blouse back on and faced him. He caught a glimpse of her breast, before she could completely button up, and moved his eyes away quickly. "What do you think?", she asked, keeping her smile on. "I'm sorry about that", Fred muttered and stepped closer. "You've been through a lot"

"I know that", she said. "I need a change of clothes. I found these freshly packed clothes under the desk. Looks like someone's planning to travel"

"No one keeps clothes here", Fred stepped closer, as she pulled out the bag. "That is Terra's bag"

"Who's Terra?"

"She was one of us. She died in the first explosion", Fred answered, checking the clothes. They looked so familiar. "Ana?" "Uh?"

"These are Ana's clothes.... She's my niece", Fred muttered, staring at the cloth. 'Where are you going, Ana?'

******

"Where did you even get all of these clothes?"

Hound zipped up his jacket and wore his glasses, staring into the mirror. "You guys didn't get this? I guess I got the special treatment, after all"

"Alright. You done?", Kang straightened up, secretly admiring Hound's detective appearance. "You are only going a few meters from the room and you are dressed like you are going to pick up girls" "There are no girls there"

"The only girl there is technically mine"

"Yea, Ana", Hound smiled and turned. "Let's get going"

They walked out the door, majestically, with one hand in a pocket and a serious blank look on their faces. Kang had to play along with Hound's genteel style, as they walked along the hall. As expected, they had all eyes on them and Hound led the way. He had Kang's gold strap on his wrist so he confidently walked through the passage. Kang gallantly followed, leaving a shocking awe on the faces they had walked by. The fighters stared at one another, as if confused. They approached the passage slowly, still watching one another. "How did they get through?", Dicko asked, leading the way.

He dashed swiftly at the passage, slamming his face into the invisible barrier. He bounced back. The others bounced back with him. They couldn't walk out of there. They didn't have to try.

"Hi, Kang. I've been looking for you", Fred said, walking up to the two of them, with one eye focused on Hound.

"Good morning", Kang shook his hand. "This is Hound. He has the special ability of reading people"

"Oh. That's great", Fred said, with no hint of surprise. "Where are you off to? I think there is someone you have to get to"

"I was going to check on Romeo and Ana. What's the news?"

"I need you to interrogate Kwei", Fred said, stylishly watching Hound. He held out a camera. "He might not tell you many things. You will need to watch him"

Kang took the camera. "Is there a reason to do this? I think it might just be enough to nail him"

"No one should be exempted from your investigation, right? I'm just following the slightest hints", Fred said and leaned closer to whisper in his ear. "Does this new guy have to go with you?" "He will help with the investigation... I also can't tell him to go back now", Kang whispered back. "Do you have a problem with him?"

"No, Kang. You're good to go", Fred said.

"Looks like there's a new chick in town", Hound muttered, smiling at Leila who stood timidly behind Fred.

She blushed and held out her hand. "I'm L-"

"She's taken", Fred cut in, with a smile.

"Your name's Taken?", Hound replied. "I'm Hound, by the way"

Kang pulled him away and they walked past the empty lab.

****

"We don't have to do this first, do we?"

"We didn't", Kang replied, standing on his toes, as he tried to hook the camera somewhere on the ceiling. "But, now that we know he isn't here, we do" "Alright. Be quick with that"

"I'm almost done", Kang muttered.

Hound stood at the door, watching every possible way Kwei could show up from. "I'm getting nervous", he said and turned. "Whoa!"

Kwei was standing in front of him. "Do I know you?"

"Sorry, uh", Hound stammered, as Kwei dashed past him, pushing the door swiftly.

"Kang", he muttered. Kang was down already, seated in the right comportment. "What are you here for?"

"I have a few questions for you", Kang replied. "I'm hoping you will give us the time"

"Who's he?"

"He's going to tell if you are being truthful or not"

Kwei hid a smile. It sounded ridiculous but the smile was mostly because he was never going to get caught if he lied... at least, not by his own design. "Alright. I got nothing to hide so let's get this over with" "Tell me the truth, Ana", Fred asked, pulling Ana away.

Leila sat down in the room, staring at Romeo, who stared with a carefree angry look. Her smile remained on her face, as though someone had carefully carved it in. Romeo took a few glances at her, frequently staring at Fred and Ana. "They are just clothes. What do you think? That I'm planting a bomb in a travelling bag?"

"You have a wardrobe, Ana. Those clothes were recently packed", Fred replied, keeping his voice as low as possible. "If any other person comes across that, it could pass the wrong message"

"What wrong message?"

"Come on, Ana!", Fred retorted, almost howling, as he stamped his palm on the desk beside him. Leila and Fred glanced at them.

"Don't break the table", Romeo said, blankly. "It's not my business but don't break it"

Leila laughed. "You're funny"

"What do you want me to say?", Ana whispered back. "We are not making any progress. These walls will be down in no time. We only have two options; we either go down with Dergon Arena or we make it out while we can" "You sound like you already found a way out"

"No", Ana said and swallowed. "But it's better to be prepared"

Fred closed his eyes. "I know we don't want to fight for a place like this but.... There is no life out there, Ana... No life"

****

"What do you think about that Kwei guy?"

"You said he was being honest, right?"

"Yea, he was. You don't see any links to anything?"

"It looks like he's clean... if your prediction is true, then he is"

They both stared into the thick darkness, on their beds. It was late and the lights were out already. "Good night", Kang added and turned his head. There was no reply. Hound was already fast asleep. Kang sighed and rolled on his side, pulling up his blanket.

Toc! Toc! Kang raised his head slightly. He had heard a knock on the door. Toc! Toc! He reached for the torch and flicked it on, glancing at Hound. He was really asleep. Toc! Toc!

He stood up, slowly, and stood still, hesitating to move closer to the door. "Who's there?", Kang asked.

"Come on. It's Dan", the voice whispered back.

Kang walked to the door and pulled it open. A hand held it back from being open wide. "Fred?-"

"Shh!", Fred said and pulled Kang out, swiftly. "Come with me"

Kang closed the door gently, dashing after Fred, as they went up the stairs. "What is it? You found something?"

"I want us to find something", Fred said, holding out a small palmtop. "You see this?"

"What's that?"

"It's a monitor. I fixed another camera in Kwei's lab so you can watch with this"

"We already have a computer for the one we fixed. Is this another one?", Kang asked, staring confusedly.

"It's another one. Don't tell anyone about this. Not even Hound"

"Why?"

"Don't tell Hound", Fred insisted. "Just watch the other one with him. Watch this one alone. Alright?" "Alright"