Kaden Vars

Here I was in the middle of a massive room, surrounded by a metal cage. Originally, the Arena was a giant storage room that slowly became vacant over time. It was remodeled with stands, and benches for spectators set up on all sides of the rectangular arena. The center of the room displayed the cage, while bright food lights shined above it.

I looked around to find the faces of my family, but I was of no luck. With the large crowd of people and the bright lights, it was hard to focus on anything outside of the arena. There was one spot in the room that stood out, though.

The Viewing Chamber.

I stood in the arena, gazing up at the rectangular room positioned above one of the long sides of the rectangular space. It was made of prestige metal, nothing too fancy, but still, it stood out from the rest of the utilitarian space station.

What a bunch of pompous assholes.

The so-called Great Families were overseers of the giant space vessels known as Castles. They were given their ruling position by a federation of leaders, which consisted of a bunch of wealthy elites and world leaders from Earth. These ‘leaders’ were the ones that directed the development of the Castle Project, which was planned to launch the giant space vessels we inhabit into Earth’s orbit to give humans a chance to survive without the constant threat of the Entrati.

Before launching into space, the federation of leaders came together and chose six notorious families to lead each Castle, thus forming The Council. The Council’s mission was to restore the human race and to return home with the power to defeat the Entrati for good. At least that's what we’ve learned in school.

With the Antaris, however, the Great Family that rules over is one that used to reside in one of the other Castles. After the explosion on the Antaris, the Corzon family was sent in to clean up and “fix” our situation. We had been in space for fifteen years, and they refused to make contact despite our efforts, but when the explosion happened they finally decided to talk. 

They marched onto our ship with a force I’d never seen, taking charge in an instant. They made the Antaris theirs within weeks, imprisoning and killing anyone who defied them. One of their ideas was The Arena itself. Their implementation of The Arena had reduced the population of the Anataris by ten percent in its two years of operation.

Even though I didn’t agree with the way they did things, the Corzons efforts did help.

There were fewer people, still a lot of people, but less. We had supplies, order was better established, and we were now a part of the ‘famous’ fleet of orbiting Castles. Or at least, that's what most of us thought. To only step in when something major goes wrong? I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but it is what it is and I accepted it.

I glanced around to see the faces of everyone outside the cage, reading as many faces as I could then back up to the Viewing Chamber. There was a mixture of smiles and worries on the faces of the audience. The Arena had become both a game and a sentence.

There were no rules once you stepped inside the cage. Only to survive the five minutes, or to beat your opponent. Some volunteered, hoping to gain food and resources for their families. Others –I guess like myself now–  were criminals sentenced to the arena. Those who stalled and survived were looked down upon because of the wages that started happening. Not winning meant you were weak. Even the criminals who won were looked at with some respect, acknowledging their strength. Or maybe it was because everyone placed their bets on them.

It was sad to think that using your brain and wanting to live was looked down upon. Most of them never even set foot in the ring, of course. That’s what they would think. 

But can I beat this man? I have to. That's my only option. I have to live.

For my family. Reyna, Regis, Mari.

For my mother and Laros.

Everyone who has given up everything for me to live, even in this hell in space.

"Wake up kid!!," a booming voice roared loud enough that forced everyone in the arena to get quieter.

It was my opponent. He glared daggers at me as if I was his prey, and he was about to hunt.

I faked a cocky look, attempting to ignore his taunt, but my body started to shake.

"For crimes against humanity; Daroug Shen of Sector Three, has been sentenced to three rounds in the Arena," the announcer, Baron Lique called out from outside the cage. “This is the second match of his sentence.”

My heart sank in disbelief. 

Why the hell is this man my opponent?

Daroug Shen?

As in the leader of the Sands gang?

I’ve only heard about the man and had never seen him. Rumor has it that he murdered three people two days ago and apparently, he just snapped and went crazy. 

Ever Since the Corzons arrived, crimes happened less often, however, it seemed Daroug Shen didn’t care. I'm sure he and his gang of followers were in on it too, but he was the only one sentenced to The Arena.

It was unfortunate that this man was my opponent.

Damnit.

“For crimes of theft, Kaden Vars of Sector Four has been sentenced to one round in the Arena.” he continued.

“The match will begin in thirty seconds.”