It Rained Red Upon the Arena by Kenneth Champion

getting close with anyone in the arena, he would have surely died in his fight the day before. Phillip guided and trained him at a time when Nick felt he was the most alone in his entire life.
    The two continued their practice. Swing after swing at the hay. The dungeon became hot as the practice continued on. Sweaty bodies and heavy breathing in every direction heated the dungeon into a sauna. Grunts from the inmates synchronized in unison with the slashing of hay echoed through the dungeon. Nearly all the inmates would take advantage of the time to train in the dungeon.
    Nick had noticed that there was a Paplon male who cornered a Paplon girl with no Refect around to see. The Reza had pinned the girl against the wall with his right arm, and with his other he was feeling up the girl’s butt. She was struggling to get out of his hold.
    Nick tapped Phillip on the shoulder and said, “Look over there. We’ve got to do something. No one’s around to help her.” Nick took a step forward, only to be grabbed backwards by Phillip.
    “Easy there, kid. You don’t want to get involved in this. They’ll punish you, too, even if you’re trying to help. Give it a second, and the Refect will notice.”
    Within seconds a Refect noticed the act. He started to run over while he screamed, “Red, red, red!” Six Refect soon swarmed the man and started to beat him to the ground. While he was on the ground they continued to kick him. Everybody stopped their practice and stood in silence while they watched the man being beaten. Two Refect dragged the unconscious and bloody inmate out of the dungeon.
    “See, that would have been you if you had tried to help the girl,” said Phillip. “That man was Hammer Mills, and the girl’s name is Rose. The inmates all see Rose as the most attractive female here. And the lack of intimacy over a period of time will make some of these guys do stupid things such as that, thinking no one will see. The Refect always see. They’ll take him into a room and continue to beat him today. The worst of it comes on his fight day. They’ll injure him somehow. They usually break the hands. They do this so that using a weapon is nearly impossible. They give a death sentence to those who break the rules here. The worst part is that they never tell us the rules. We just learn from other’s mistakes. Learn from this, and don’t do anything stupid. Then chances are good that you won’t break a rule.”

Chapter Eight
    The days continued to fly by at the arena. Everyday Nick learned a little more of his new home, everyday he took in a new lesson. Nick learned from the idiot named Hammer Mills who returned from his beating with a new face, almost unrecognizable. On his fight day he did not return to his cell at night; the last thing he saw was the bloody sands of the arena.
    Nick didn’t know for sure on whether or not the Refect injured Hammer on his fight day; there was no proof. But he believed Phillip. Lessons such as that kept Nick quiet and out of the way of trouble. But no matter how much he would have loved to stay in the shadows, he knew he could only stay hidden from the inmates for so long.
    It was a week before Nick’s fight, and two days before his birthday, that Phillip had his fight in the arena. Phillip was paired up to fight against Max Strawberry. Phillip told Nick that all though his name made him seem like he had no fighting ability, he actually did have skill with archery. However, Phillip assured Nick that Strawberry had no chance in a fight against him, and that he would speak of his battle tomorrow over breakfast. Nick wished Phillip good luck after their time from training in the dungeon. Phillip was escorted out and began his venture into the arena.
    Nick stood alone with no friend to talk to. He wished to still be tucked away in the shadows; he didn’t want any attention.
    After the dungeon he returned to his cell. Soon after it was time for dinner. Nick made his way to the kitchen,