Chapter 65: She Will Die in the Arena
Claire, driven to desperation, lunged at Frederick, begging for mercy. But before she could even rise, his henchmen pinned her to the ground. Frederick and Harrison, seemingly oblivious to her pleas, turned and walked away without a second glance.
An hour later, Claire found herself in the largest underground arena in Kingstown. Her eyes were covered throughout the journey, and she felt every turn and twist as she was transported in a car. Eventually, Claire was led through a maze of corridors by a group of people.
Suddenly, the noise of a roaring crowd hit her ears. It felt as though she was in a vast arena, with the clamor of the audience echoing all around her. But with her eyes still blindfolded, Claire could see nothing. The black cloth obscured every bit of light.
After what felt like an eternity of walking through the cacophony, Claire was shoved into a space. The blindfold was ripped away, and blinding light hit her eyes. As she squinted, Claire saw a massive, shadowy figure before her. As her vision adjusted, she realized it was a colossal, bloodthirsty bear.
The bear stood at least twice her height, its bloodshot eyes glaring menacingly. A long scar ran down its face, and its teeth were stained with blood, which dripped onto the floor. The ground and walls around her were smeared with fresh blood, still warm to the touch. The familiar, nauseating scent of blood and the chaos of the crowd pulled her back to the memories of the prison. The horrifying sound of bones snapping echoed in Claire’s ears, and she sat there, frozen, unable to move.
The people who had brought her there had already left, and those watching, hidden behind dark veils, were eagerly preparing for the spectacle. The announcer’s voice boomed through the arena. “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we have the most thrilling match at the Black Bull Underground Arena. Our killing bear has just devoured a warrior wielding a spear in its last fight.”
“Tonight, we’re not just watching a battle; it’s a survival challenge. This young woman’s goal is to last ten minutes against this bear’s relentless pursuit.”
“The longer she survives, the higher the odds. Ten minutes pays five to one, five minutes pays two to one, and three minutes pays even money. Alright, let’s get those bets in!”
The announcer, full of enthusiasm, waved the microphone as the crowd began placing their bets.
“I’m betting ten minutes!” “I’m on five minutes!” “Ten minutes for me!” “Three minutes!”
As bets were placed, cheers and shouts erupted from the crowd. A few minutes later, the announcer returned to the center of the ring. “Alright, betting is closed! Let’s start the showdown everyone’s been waiting for!”
“Oh! Oh! Oh!” “Look at this girl, so brave! She’s not even flinching in front of that giant bear, staring it down!” “Yeah, she’s something else. Maybe she’s tougher than she looks!” “I’m really looking forward to this! She’s so small; I wonder what kind of power she might unleash!”
“Come on, girl! Show us what you’ve got!” “Go, sweetheart! I’m rooting for you!”
As the bets were finalized, the arena erupted in cheers and roars, excitement palpable in the air.
Frederick and Harrison lounged in the VIP section, their eyes glued to the massive screen displaying Claire, who lay helplessly before the monstrous bear.
“Frederick, I told you ages ago that Claire has always been a pathological liar. You didn’t believe me! Just look at her, completely unfazed by that giant killing machine.”
“She’s not scared at all! Just a moment ago, she was begging for mercy, and now she’s sitting there, staring down the bear without a hint of panic,” Harrison remarked, his mind flooded with memories of always being the scapegoat for Claire’s misdeeds. No matter who was at fault, their parents and grandmother always blamed him. Even when Claire was in the wrong, they’d say he led her astray. If they ever had a spat, the family would rally around Claire, leaving him to bear the brunt of the punishment, regardless of the truth.
Frederick remained silent, his gaze fixed on Claire in the arena, fully agreeing with Harrison’s assessment. She appeared so calm, so composed in the face of the bear.
However, little did they know that Claire was frozen in terror, her limbs stiff, her blood running cold. She had been transported back to that horrific prison environment, where fear had become a second skin. She understood fear all too well, yet her body refused to respond. The memories etched deep within her bones screamed that any sign of resistance would only lead to more brutal torment.
In the VIP section, Frederick and Harrison waited, eager to see Claire fight and witness her facade crumble.
“Go! Go!” “Come on, baby!” “Let’s get this started!”
The atmosphere was electric, the crowd roaring with excitement. Finally, the bear lunged forward, but Claire remained motionless as if paralyzed by her own dread. As the bear charged closer, she still didn’t budge.
“What’s going on? Why isn’t she moving?” “Seriously, I put all my bets on her! She better not let me down!”
The crowd was growing restless, their anxiety palpable. Frederick felt his palms sweat, a frown creasing his brow.
“Don’t worry, it hasn’t started yet. I believe in her!” “Yeah, she’s got this! She’s just biding her time, waiting for the right moment!”
The audience, perhaps too invested in their bets, began to convince themselves that Claire was merely strategizing. Harrison, however, leaned back, legs crossed, waiting for Claire to fight back under pressure.
Then, in a flash, the bear lunged at Claire, sinking its teeth into her arm and flinging her across the arena. She crashed against the wall with a sickening thud, blood gushing from her arm and pooling on the ground while crimson trickled from her lips. Yet, she lay there, utterly still. Frederick’s eyes widened in shock, and he shot up from his seat, disbelief etched across his face.
Chapter 66: Get Up