Gods of Arena
The Kang-Hound 2

** Earlier **

The door opened and everyone stiffened immediately, as though they were expecting King to show up. Well, he was there and he wasn't smiling. "There has been another explosion", he said, holding his hands behind his back. Kwei raised his hand slightly and slowly. "What's it?", Fred whispered.

"If he gives me a chance, I can get who the culprit is in just a few weeks", Kwei replied. "It'll be easier once the order comes from him"

"Looks like none of you have a thing to say. Well, I do", King continued. "I have chosen someone unusual to look into the explosions and find the enemy. He has earned my trust but you- you haven't.... being a lot freer than they are. It's the Blank. Respect him"

King turned his back immediately and walked to the door. "No objections", he said and walked out.

"He definitely ignored me", Kwei complained. "He-"

"You could have easily said you had something to say", Fred replied, indifferently. "I'm only worried about how quickly it is to earn the man's trust. I hope he doesn't forget we have to look into the ones he trusts the most"

"I'm pretty sure he saw my hand up, though.... Someone has to fill the gap he's leaving or he'll end up handing the arena to the one who burns it down"

**Present Day **

He held Hound's foot. "Not today"

Hound punched his face into the ground and pulled him up. "Come again"

Kang mouthed, weakly. He balled his fists but he couldn't feel anything. He had no Shin Zhu... Hound wasn't using any Shin Zhu, either; just machines.

"I said come again!", Hound howled at him, throwing a punch at his face again. The fighters walked out of their rooms slowly, wondering what was happening.

Kang dropped on his knees, slowly. The whole place turned blurry and loud, as he slammed his face on the ground. His eyelids closed.

"King was quick to trust", Hound said, walking about Kang's weak body. "I saw it coming; this whole favoritism. You trying to cover up the case because of your dumb machine feelings. I almost thought you could be the one... that is nearly impossible, truly, since you are restricted. I'm glad I didn't dwell on that doubt"

Hound kicked him by the side, forcing Kang's eyes back open. "Say something, dummy!", he continued. "You're weak now!?"

Kang groaned softly. There was very little strength in him. There was no way he was going to win the fight against the machine. He had no shin-zhu. He pushed his body up slowly.

Hound kicked him back on the ground. "I am not going to kill you... yet. It'll be the enemy first", Hound said. "You'll hear her last scream before you take your last breath" Kang's eyes opened. "No"

"What did you say?"

"I said no", He pushed himself up easily, feeling new strength in himself. "Ana is mine"

Hound chuckled. "Funny", he raised his left hand and shot another blast at Kang.

Confidently, Kang pushed his two hands against the blast, drifting back slightly. He pushed forward, throwing it back. Hound bent slightly, avoiding the hit. Kang dashed at him, vigorously, grabbing him by the neck. He clenched his fist, swiping a blow at Hound's head. The head detached from the neck immediately, thudding on the ground.

All eyes were on the fighters. No larger figure came around. They were probably aware of Ana's involvement already.... But he needed to see her. Kang limped out through the passage.

****

He found her in no time. There was no escape for her, anyway. He pushed the door open and she jerked back immediately. "You've realized, I guess?"

"Uh... realized what?", she asked, trying to keep her head straight. She was obviously nervous.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted. I should-"

"I'm sorry, Kang", she cut in. "It happened too fast and I couldn't control it anymore"

"I don't want to hear you, Ana. You've succeeded in deceiving me, multiple times. I'm delivering you to King, today"

"That's necessary", she muttered, staring down and fidgeting. "I just want you to know something... before you take me"

"I'll let you know something too"

They stared at each other for a few seconds, without saying a word. Every little sound from the outside made Kang uneasy but he had to speak, though the words weren't going to come out straight if he rushed. Ana smiled. "What's that about?"

"You're not talking already", Ana said. "You feel it too, don't you?... It was never fake"

Kang walked to a chair and sat down. "I doubt that though"

"I'm being honest, Kang", she sat beside him. "I don't need you to spare me. I messed up but... I don't regret it"

"Why d'you do it?"

"It was really a mistake. King has had carnal knowledge of me countless times against my will and I can do nothing about it", she said. "The Dergon Arena harbored my grandfather, after we got exiled from Addax." "How did you get the Grimms to work with you?"

"The Grimms were never involved", she turned and faced him. "I don't want to die, Kang. I'm sorry"

She pulled out a needle and injected Kang on the shoulder. "What's that?!", Kang jerked back.

She sprung away from him. "I'm sorry, Kang. You'll be okay!", she ran out.

Leila closed the door gently behind her. King was still engrossed with the news from the soldiers. He probably wouldn't have her time for the next few hours. She walked sneakily down the hallway, peeking into each lab. She chattered excitedly in her head, as she searched for Fred.

'Didn't think you'll seem so carefree to see me go?'

'Yea, I-'

She paused and hid herself, as she found Fred in a lab. Ana was with him.

"What have you done, Ana?"

"It was a mistake", she replied, quickly. "I was just playing with the device. I had no idea what it was and what it could do. I... I found out I was communicating with Addax and they offered to help"

"Oh, damn!", Fred held his head, unable to think. "So what happened next? You planted those bombs, didn't you?"

"Yes, I did", she replied. "We have to go, Fred. We've been through a lot in this place"

"This is home, Ana", Fred muttered, softly. "We... we can't survive out there"

"Come on!", she retorted. "I have been through a lot at King's hands. I told you of everything, didn't I? He RAPED me!... Not once, Fred! Not twice!... You did NOTHING"

Fred fell on a seat, fidgeting and breathing heavily. "We have no power to fight, Ana"

"We can go. We can just go, Fred", Ana sat by him, keeping her voice as calm as possible. "Addax is willing to help us and the plan is almost complete"

"Addax wants us dead, Ana... They also want Dergon down. Once the plan is completed, they will hold us captive till the execution and they will control the Dergon Arena", Fred replied. "If they have been cooperative with you, it's not without a prize"

"Why would they want us dead?", Ana asked. "They were- they were nice to me"

"Our grandfather committed a crime. According to the law in Addax, it was worthy of death and the punishment had to be meted out to the culprit or a relative. When he escaped, an order was given to wipe out the entire family... He told us the truth before he died. Addax wanted him dead because of the secret he had with him"

"What am I going to do?... King is going to have me killed"

"King doesn't suspect you. No one knows it's you... yet... unless you've told someone", Fred replied, staring at her with a bit more confidence. He had an idea that would probably solve the problem. "Have you?" "Yes... some people already know"

"You have to take care of them, Ana", Fred said, sternly. "I don't know how you are going to do it. You'll stop giving information to the Addax beasts and your accomplices must be kept mute, however way you can. You understand?" She nodded and walked out quickly.

Fred sighed and rested his back. Relaxing was going to take a lot more effort than usual. King would learn of the Addax connection and come for another investigation. As long as the Grimm involvements are not erased, it'd be hard to pin the attacks on Ana alone.

A clap jerked him up, almost shooting his heart out of his chest. He turned swiftly, as Kwei clapped, walking out of the dark. "I saw a lot of things coming, including the trusted ones stabbing us in the back. I didn't think you would try to hide your niece's crime, Fred"

"It's not what you think, Kwei", Fred said, standing up. "She didn't do it intentionally. Please, Kwei. You have to help me. We have to help her"

"Help? I didn't come here to help, Fred", Kwei said, bluntly, raising his gold strap. "I came here to kill"