Page 57 of Down to One
Until the End?
Titan
Slavers ripped me from my family, made me live in harsh conditions, forced me to train and fight in burning heat and blowing sands. I’ve had to kill to save my own life. I’ve known hardship and misery. I’ve never experienced this feeling before.
It’s worse than that time in the arena on Aeon II when that Frain took a sledgehammer to my stomach. Worse than the slice to my belly where three feet of my intestines spooled to the arena floor. Seeing my female being pawed by these two gray males has turned my guts to ice.
As I run forward, I watch my next twenty moves play out in my mind’s eye.
When I’m certain of my plan of attack, I shrug out of my makeshift pack, tighten my grip on my sword and run full tilt toward the three people on the ground.
I want to scream, but I don’t. I’m not trying to be stealthy, though. I’m a male on a mission. They’re so consumed with what they’re doing, they don’t even hear me coming until I’m upon them.
I slice off the male’s head, the one between Blaze’s legs, the one whose cock is out of his pants, glistening in the suns. Striking with such force, I not only separate his head from his neck, but launch his skull on a trajectory over five feet away.
When I take a step toward the other, the one holding her shoulders flat to the ground, he pulls a six-inch knife from his boot and places it at her throat.
“Hold on, friend,” he says, his lips pulled into an angry grimace meant to approximate a smile. “We can share.”
I’ve killed many males in arenas around the galaxy. Bloodlust is something I’ve never experienced before. I want to kill this male more than I want to draw my next breath. He’s holding a sharp blade at Blaze’s throat, though. I can’t put her in danger.
I take a moment to glance at her for the first time this morning. Her eyes are flared wide, her body paralyzed.
My mind flies like the fastest computer as I run scenarios in my head. No matter how I imagine it, if I strike, he can cut her carotid faster than I can behead him. I need to plan this out.
“I had her already, although I wouldn’t refuse another turn,” I say smoothly, trying to sound casual. “You go first, friend.”
“After you.” He smirks. He doesn’t look familiar, but these males have to be contestants, just like the Halckons we killed yesterday.
“She snuck out on me this morning.” I sneer. “I guess she knew I was going to kill her before I ate my breakfast.” I grab her, place her chin in my palm and squeeze her cheeks until her mouth puckers. “Bitch! Don’t fucking move.”
I pull my cock out of my pants and hunker closer between her legs. I have to look like I’m about to rape her.
“No!” Blaze says as she kicks me with all her might. By the look on her face and the force of her kicks, she really thinks I’m going to rape her.
I laid my sword behind me, out of the Charthian’s reach. I’m going to kill this bastard up close and personal. I won’t need my sword.
“Hold the cunt’s shoulders,” I seethe as I spread her thighs wider.
The look of fear in Blaze’s eyes pierces my heart, but I don’t have time to calm her. I certainly can’t tell her what I’m about to do.
As soon as the Charthian shifts his posture and puts his weight on my female’s shoulders, I move forward, grab his throat, and squeeze with all the strength I possess.
“Run!” I tell Blaze as I keep squeezing even as my enemy grabs my throat. The spikes on his wrists would be slicing me to ribbons except they’re snagging on my thick plating.
He’s a huge male. By his build, he could be a gladiator.
Blaze is no longer between us. We’re both on our knees, our hands wrapped around each other’s necks. We’re evenly matched. Every time I tighten my grip, I feel him choking me even harder.
I haven’t been able to breathe for long moments. I’m going to pass out if I don’t get the upper hand. As I’m grunting, squeezing, trying to move my thumb to crush his windpipe, he groans, his eyes flaring wide.
Blaze is standing behind him, my sword’s blade red with his blood. She sliced his back.
Blaze
The moment I’m released, I scuttle away from their fight. It takes a few seconds to shift back to reality.
Luckily, the first thing I see is the sword glinting in the sunlight. After grabbing it, I run behind the Charthian, trying to figure out how to strike the killing blow.
