CHAPTER 5 - The 'Game of Fangs and Death’

I

Fiel was brought back to his cell. His stomach was growling in hunger and his throat was dry because of thirst. He needed food and water to survive this hellish place.

“Please, could you give me some food and water? I am too hungry now,” he said to the two warriors before they pushed him inside the cell again. To his surprise, one of the warriors looked at him and then nodded.

Fiel could not help to smile at him. “Thank you,” he muttered before the man finally walked out of his cell.

A few minutes thereafter, the same warrior went back to Fiel’s cell with a plastic containing bread and bottles of water.

Without muttering any word, the warrior handed to Fiel the plastic bag with bread and bottles of water.

“Thank you so much,” Fiel said, grateful for this man, who still has a good heart despite the fact that he might have been surrounded by devilish people for a long time already.

He ate quickly and out of hunger he was able to finish the whole pack of bread and the two bottles of water. He kept the other bottle of water for his use the next day.

He settled himself and laid his back on the cold floor. Sleep is what he needed to revitalize his strength. Not long after laying his body on the cold floor and he dozed off already.

He was awakened because of the sound of his cell being opened drastically. He hastily stood up when he saw the same two warriors yesterday, standing in front of him. He could guess that they are here to drag him again out of this cell.

He put up his hands while trying to smile and be nice to the two warriors. “There is no need for you to drag me out of this place, please go ahead, walk and I will follow,” he said calmly but both of the men held his arms and guided him out of the cell. At least not dragging and pushing him this time.

They walked in a familiar path and Fiel remembered where this path will lead them too. This will lead back to that big arena where he landed when his body has been thrown out from that oubliette.

True enough, they entered the main door going to the big arena and he was ushered by the two warriors inside where he saw a stage and spectators around. Fiel further saw more than twenty men, mostly bigger than him inside the ring. All look robust, strong, and skilled. Fiel furrowed, realizing what kind of place he was thrown at. Yet, he wanted to be sure, so he side glanced at the warrior, who gave him food yesterday.

“What is this place?” he asked the warrior, in a murmuring way. The other warrior already turned his back the moment they reached the first stair going up the big arena.

The warrior looked at Fiel and finally muttered a reply. “Arena. Game of Death. Be careful and save your life.”

II

Fiel was astounded but before he could ask again, the warrior already turned his back and vanished like a flash, once again. He was left at the foot of the stairs, going up the big arena. He stood still, as he tried to gather all the courage he mustered all throughout his life especially when he started his Kung Fu and other martial arts training. He will be needing all the skills, strengths, and strategies that he knew to keep himself alive for long.

From his back, someone pushed him. “Walked upstairs now. The game will start soon.” And like he was hypnotized, Fiel started to move his feet up the stairs until he reached the top level and joined the other men of around twenty inside the ring.

Most of the men, eyed Fiel as he stepped inside the ring. They were looking at him with the same expression. They wanted to crash his bone and leave him dead inside the ring.

Fiel took a deep breath not wanting any kind of fear to envelop his senses. He did not need fear right now nor in the upcoming days. What he needed most is the strength of all his senses.

Suddenly, a loud voice has been heard, “Welcome everyone to the most-awaited, ‘Game of Fangs and Death’. Remember, this game is for five nights and only one among our twenty-two players will survive. The winner as a prize will be given a free pass and will be led to a secret passage, away from here, and at the end of that secret passage is the ocean where one of the submarines of the Alpha Pharoah is being docked and waiting for him.”

Fiel was stunned as he heard the announcement. “Game of Fangs and Death… Alpha Pharoah? What kind of place or the world I have been thrown from that oubliette?” he thought hastily. His life has been a total mess since the day that he was accused of raping and killing Clushia.

He then felt his arm being elbowed by the man beside him. “I am Elmer and I was promised wealth and money when I was brought here. I did not know that this will be my death place if ever,” he murmured.

Fiel made a quick side glance at the man and whispered back, “Fiel. I don’t know how I came here and what kind of place is this.”

Before the man beside Fiel could answer him, the loud voice of the announcer was heard again all over the arena.

“And now, ladies and gents, players and spectators, let us all welcome the head of this game, Alpha Pharoah, Kingtin together with his daughter, Princess Ameerah!” Everyone clapped their hands, except for Fiel whose attention was suddenly caught by the beautiful woman walking beside the man called, Alpha Pharoah Kingtin.

Fiel’s eyes followed the woman’s form until she and the Alpha Pharoah has been seated in front, on chairs-like-thrones especially prepared and reserved for them.

Fiel’s shock could not be hidden. “How could this Princess Ameerah looks so similar to Clushia?” he thought as his mind was screaming with confusion.

He was frozen while looking at the woman called Princess Ameerah, when the woman, all of a sudden glanced at him and looked into him with narrowed eyes.