My appointed healer entered the resting area and went straight to activating his magic. The only problem being the target of his magic. He began healing the downed bullies, rather than coming to my aid.
One by one they stood back up as if nothing happened. I gritted my teeth in anger, shouting at Arisa. "Why!"
Arisa stayed silent next as the kid I first attacked, kicked me in the side of my stomach. "Damn brat, that hurt!" The others joined in until one of them provided answers I didn't want to believe.
"She was never on your side. No one would ever be friends with scum like you!"
"That's not true..." Arisa finally spoke. "Even though you have no magic, you're extremely skilled in martial arts. You may be able to do well without magic but in the end, look at your pitiful state." I yelled in pain from the butt of her slippers jabbing down on my hand.
"I should be praised for removing a pest from society." Arisa crouched down lowering herself within whispering distance. "I needed to see that face of yours on the brink of death, for the last person you believed in to betray you. That face! The past three months acting as your friend made this very moment, unbelievably worth it!" The group of bullies laughed at her last remark and resumed their thrashing.
My consciousness faded and awakened by the same healer from earlier. Only my state of mind was recovered and not the multiple fractures, cuts and bruises.
The healer looked on, no longer interested and left the resting area. He juggled a gold coin in the air from a hefty pouch as he turned the corner, exiting past a now guarded door. Two guards that appeared to be employed by the bullies.
I didn't want to believe them and hoped they were forcing or even blackmailing Arisa. I couldn't come to terms with the fact that I was betrayed by my first and only friend while curled up into a state of helplessness.
"In the beginning, no matter the conditions, you accepted every degrading job I found for you without hesitation. Ones that were only ever forced on slaves. You thought I was helping when I was trying to make a fool out of you and that pissed me off." Arisa withdrew the angry tone after presenting everything that repulsed her about me.
"So now..., you will fight and die for my pleasure. Don't think about trying to escape. These guards will make sure you go to your death." She left with a wretched grin as she caught up to the other bullies.
That bag of gold given to that damn healer is likely tenfold what you would make from winning any bet off of me. You lied and faked every memory we had together, all for feeling good? I took those jobs without any complaints because you were the one who found them for me. A saddening mix of emotions churned at the thought of if there was even a reason, to continue living in this perverse world.
The audience shouted my name, pulling me back to reality and back to my current situation. The veteran warrior lost his fourth match but remained alive as the workers carried him off the arena to a healer. He stayed on the stage fighting as each number after chose him as an opponent, hoping he would be further weakened and exhausted enough to be beaten.
The next number instead of choosing to fight the present victor called out my name.
Seeing as I wasn't moving nor cared to, the guards posted by the door came and lifted me up, forcing me onto the arena. Out of anger and shaking my arm from their grasp, I walked forward without their guidance. The guards stayed then dismissed themselves once my body made it to the top of the arena floor.
My opponent no doubt handpicked to kill me in the most torturous way possible, acted as if he noticed nothing wrong with my condition and pulled out several throwing knives.
What's still keeping me standing upright? My struggle to survive? Survival for what...?