Abigail Fredrickson

Sand.  Heat.  Blood.  Sweat.  Tears. 

It’s the same never-ending cycle.

Wood splinters.  My knuckles bleed.  I pick out the bits of wood and toss them away.  The wall is replaced, reinforced with iron.  I wrap my hands firmly and flex my fingers.  A powerful blow makes the wall shiver.  I crack my neck and get to work.  The iron dents.  My knuckles are bleeding again as it’s fixed.

I walk down the ornate halls.  Arched roofs, carved pillars, the walls and floors painted red and accented with gold.  I shoot one of my guards a glare.  He swallows and looks away.  His spear hand is trembling.  I smirk.

Silk brushes against the ground.  I contain a growl.  Dark eyes set in a pale face peer at me.  I know what he wants.

Sand.  Heat.  Blood.  Sweat.  Tears. 

The never-ending cycle.

I step inside the dark cell.  I see sand through the bars.  A man is thrown into the arena.  Hair falls over half my face.  I leave it, clenching my fists.  Silver metal points, the claws I wield, poke my palms.  Breathe in…out.

I glare through the red curtain of hair.

The bars swing out.  A warrior bellows the fatal words.  The order to fight.  To kill.  One more time.

For your family.  For your life.  I pounce.  A savage roar tears from my throat.  The monster inside me.

He runs.  I flip over and land before him.  He stops, eyes wide.  I smirk.

Heat rises from the reddened sand.  Sweat trickles into my eye.  I raise the red metal claws in victory.  I don’t bow the knee.

Dark eyes narrow.  You play a dangerous game.  I’m known for it.

I return to the iron room.  Tears pour down my face.  Broken bone.  The crunch when he fought back.  Him or me.  I set my own arm, gritting teeth against the pain.  Internal fire yearns to burst from my chest and throat, to heat my claws so I can fight back.

Sand.  Heat.  Blood.  Sweat.  Tears.

The cycle never ends.

The door opens.  Again.  Dark cell.  Bright sand.  Dictator’s enemy.  Kill for me.  You want to see your family again.

One more time.

The body falls to the ground.  He hadn’t even fought back.

Lies slide through tyrant’s teeth.  You’ll see your family again.  One more time.  I’m afraid of him.  He’s afraid of me.  They’re afraid of me.  The walls were built of fear.  One more time.

 I stalk my prey, a lion in the midst of wolves.

Cloudy, unseeing eyes.  You’ve done well, pet.  I raise my chin, defiant.  You’ll see your family again, just one more time.

Sand.  Heat.  Blood.  Sweat.  Tears. 

The cycle continues on.

The dent in the wall remains.  I strap on deadly claws.  No friends, family.  Alone.  I am a warrior.  I’m not afraid anymore.  They’re afraid of me.  No time for the past.

I step ahead, even before the order is given.  To the death.

Sand.  Heat.  Blood.  Sweat. 

That never-ending cycle.