Page 95 of A Kiss From Death
There’s no way out of his life ending.
Blood drips from Tank’s arms from deep gouges Catwell makes with his nails. Reaching back, Tank slams his fist into Cartwell’s face with a loudcrunchwith an explosion of blood. Throwing him to the sand, Tank pounces on top of Cartwell, straddling his chest and holding him tightly between his large thighs.
Like a rabid animal, Tank’s fists fly through the air, pummeling into Cartwell’s face in a fury of lethal punches. Each punch makes his face a little less recognizable as blood coats his fists, his knuckles gliding across Cartwell’s slick face with each jab.
Cartwell’s body has long since stopped moving, but Tank continues his pursuit until one last, sickening crunch rings out, and Cartwell’s skull finally fractures, caving his face into a flatten pile of bones and gore in the sand.
A silent sob escapes my throat at the same time as Jade hollers excitedly next to me, like this is all some fun game and not one human taking a life.
And just like that, it’s over.
That painful realization has my reality sitting heavily in my chest.
Now, it’s my turn.
“TANK! TANK! TANK! TANK!” the crowd chants in time to the beat of my racing heart. I’m sickened by their lack of compassion and humanity for this poor, lost soul.
Did Cartwell know this could very well be the outcome when entering the Crucible?
Yes.
Does that mean this gruesome and inhumane mutilation of his life should be celebrated?
No.
Gritting my teeth, I dig deep within myself to calm my racing thoughts. I block out the crowd. I wash away the pressure of staying alive for those I’ve met up here counting on my survival. I clear my mind of every life altering moment I’ve shared with Hade, because none of those matter if I lose today.
If Idie.
I open my eyes when all the weight of the world is finally lifted from my shoulders, until all that’s left is a deadly weapon forged from an unjust life. Now I’m a disease, planning on infecting anything in my path of seeking the justice not owed to me, but I will take forcefully anyways.
Because life is unfair, but…
I willnotdie today.
Today, I will berebornin the blood of my enemies. May the gods send them right to Hade’s doorstep in the afterlife so the ruining may continue for an eternity.
“Your first winner of today’s game is…Tank from Sweat Sector.”
The Empress strides over, grabbing his giant arm in her small grasp and raising it above her head, marking his victory. I spot an Illuminist walking around Cartwell’s butchered and bloodied body, getting a closer look at all the gore to commit to memory and replay for the masses later.
Turning to face us, the Empress announces, “Jade. Nyxi. You’re up. Give us your worst and try to make it longer than thirty seconds this time, for our sake.” She gestures to a second circle marked in the sand next to the one Cartwell’s dead body still lies in.
I step over the line of the ring, and instantly, my mind goes blissfully blank. There’s nothing left inside but a blinding will to fight for my life. Squaring my shoulders, I lock eyes with Jade, and she laughs maniacally while swinging her hammer in a figure eight.
Taunting me.
Playing with her prey.
She will soon learn I’m no one’s prey, least of all hers. Today, I’m the monster lurking below her bed in the shadows, ready to trap her in my jaws of death.
“Two Vagrants, fighting for the final spot in the final round of the Crucible. I have no doubt they will provide us with anything short of a vicious bloodbath.” She laughs to herself wickedly, clapping her hands in enjoyment.
“Jade’s weapon of choice, a spiked maul. Nyxi has chosen to wield a dagger,” she recites plainly. “Ladies, as a reminder, there are no rules. Only one of you will step out of this ring.”
The Empress’ words are abruptly cut off by raging flames licking up from the sand, rising to just above my waist. The flames warm my skin through the black diamond bodysuit Des designed for me when I first arrived in Lunaria. It allows me to move around seamlessly like a second skin, providing extra protection against deep gashes on my limbs and lower torso, but my chest and head remain exposed for deadly blows.
Theo’s dagger necklace burns blissfully in the secret pocket Des created, giving me the extra strength to get through today.
