Another Day - Chapter 18

Coming to his senses, Daniel couldn't believe what was going on around him. The group had been dragged to an arena of some kind. Looking around, he realised where the arena was. It was on a patch of land that had been reduced to dry dirt behind some of the houses. He remembered sometimes playing football with his friends on it when he was young. Daniel then also remembered that the raider had said he was up after the ginger kid. Looking over to him, it seemed that Shaun was being readied to be thrown into a fight until something happened in the ring. Turning towards the fencing that served as a gate, Daniel saw Natalie covered in cuts holding the broken remains of a glass bottle in her hand.

"I'LL FUCKING MURDER YOU!!!" she screamed at the raider in the ring. It was then that Daniel realised that the body that had been thrown onto the pile was Darren's, Natalie's boyfriend. What he hadn't seen however was Natalie climbing over the barbed wired fencing that separated the crowd from the combatants to avenge Darren's death. As she ran towards the raider, she was hit by a barrage of bullets from raiders on the other side of the fencing. A voice then spoke out from outside.

"Reminder to all slaves, step out of line and we will kill you."

Looking out of the fences, Daniel then saw Kassi crying next to the one of the poles that held them all up. He then felt a hand on his shoulder.

"I wish I was there to comfort her."

Spinning around, Daniel saw Matt with a pale face. He had obviously seen the fight too. Whatever had happened, it had frightened two of the bravest people Daniel knew.

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As Natalie's body was thrown on to the pile that Darren's was on, an announcer barked orders to the gatemaster.

"Bring out the next fighter."

Shaun was then pushed into the ring; he had been armed with only a small knife, which when compared to his opponent's machete, looked like a potato peeler. A roar of cheers then rose as the teen was thrust into battle with a fierce looking man. His face was covered in scars, his chest in tattoos and his arms in the blood of his victims. The two stared each other in the eyes, Shaun still shaking in fear of the man he was doing battle with. The man then swung his blade at an unready Shaun who narrowly missed it by rolling to the side. The man didn't give up though; he kept swinging at him until he had him backed against the fencing. A voice then called out from the crowd.

"WATCH OUT SHAUN!"

Turning their heads, Matt and Daniel saw Chloe shouting at Shaun. It seemed she and Kassi were slaves, serving drinks to crowd around the arena. It seemed that the brute had also been distracted as Shaun was able to land a hit on the man. Slashing at the man's arm, it seemed to have no effect on him. Though he had drawn blood the man only let out a grunt, shaking off any pain that he had previously felt. Whoever the man was, it was clear he had been in a fair few violent situations before this.

It wasn't long until the raider had Shaun on the defensive again. Each swing seemed to be filled with more aggression than the previous, each getting closer to hitting Shaun. He then swung underneath Shaun's leg with the back of the blade. Toppling to the ground, Shaun dropped the knife, only for it to be kicked further across the arena by the brute that now stood over Shaun. He raised his knife high, aiming to hit Shaun's chest. Shaun quickly tried to dodge the attack but was too late. As he rolled, the blade caught the little finger on his left hand, cutting it clean off.

Shaun howled in pain, blood now running down his hand. He quickly tore off the bottom on his shirt, wrapping it around the stump to stop the blood loss. He then ran over to the knife he dropped. Sliding across the floor, he picked up the knife and ran towards the man. Somehow, the man was caught off guard by Shaun's unpredictable movements, Shaun landing the knife into the man's chest. The brute then slumped to the ground, his body still.

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There was shock in the audience. The brute that had killed many captives had been brought down by a teenager who had lost a finger in the process. Shaun was then led out of the arena by a couple of guards. He was then escorted to the medical tent under orders to have his wound cauterised.

It was now Daniel's turn to fight. Whilst Shaun's battle was going on, Daniel had been checking his pockets for weapons. Though his gun had been taken, the large blade that he had obtained from the murderous freak during their trails in Ikea however was still there. Daniel had wrapped it in bandage against his leg whilst they were in the flat so he wouldn't lose it. It seemed that the trousers had concealed it well enough for the raiders not to notice it.

As he entered the arena, a new opponent entered the ring. The cheers were however interrupted by the sound of smashing bottles. A familiar voice then cried out a name.

"Daniel!?"

He then turned around to the crowd, his eyes widening.

"Shannon!?!?"