"Are you ready Subject 811?"

I nod, only because I don't really have a choice in the matter. She smiles, writes something down already and begins to walk toward the treadmills. I trudge behind her, paying closer attention to this place.

The smells in this place, there's too many for me to figure out at once. Just an overpowering wave of sweat and the undeniable whiff of blood, and then a bunch of tiny different scents. Scents that seem so familiar but I can't really figure out with my heart beating frantically.

We stop at the treadmills, and the mad scientist gestures to it. Hissing under my breath, I step onto it while still try to figure out all these conflicting scents as various screeches and grunts fill the air. The scientist scribbles some more things, making me really feel like a subject, before messing with a panel.

That's when the treadmill starts, and I growl when I have to run. They'd probably take insult if I didn't and that leads to punishments for all of us. It's a really easy pace, not that I'm making that obvious. If they take my heavy breathing as a sign I'm weaker than what I am, I am completely fine with that.

Then it gets faster, and I huff as I match its speed. But since it's still quite slow, even Ivor and his bad knees would have a fine time handling this, I try to figure out the other scents again. Letting my eyes also flicker up over to the other human experiments being forced to run.

Only to cough and stumble when I see a girl with bunny ears sprinting not too far from me. I quickly look away and straighten myself, the scientist humming and scribbling more stuff down.

Once I'm good again and brace myself, I look at her again. Her dust colored hair sweaty and matted with the same color of ears shooting a foot high. A stripe of fur running up the side of her neck but thankfully stopping before it gets onto her face. Her face tight in fierce pain and determination.

The treadmill speeds up significantly, and my attention snaps back onto it. I quickly get into rhythm with it, and now it feels like a normal jogging pace. Shoot, I really hope they don't increase it to a sprint like the bunny-girl and force me to hold it.

I look back at her again, my heart burning with grief and rage. She's a person, a person with a life and a family that has been forced to endure this torture. A torture given by demons that I would really like to have some revenge on.

I feel myself speeding up and I readjust to get back into the same pace. I briefly glance at the mad scientist, who's staring directly at me. I decide not to examine the room, that might not earn me any of these so called 'points'.

Anger bubbles up inside, a hiss trying to work itself free. This is such a deceitful lure. Telling us that we can improve our lives if we work hard for their points, which is basically being used as a currency. That working hard for them is fruitful and the same as the outside world.

Which means there's also some lecture that will be given to us that's like: 'The world doesn't want you anymore, but we do.' Which is also a pile of rotten flesh. They want subjects, not humans. And even if other people didn't want me, that's fine. I want to feel the sun and breathe in fresh crisp air with my friends. We want out.

My breath hitches and the treadmill increases speed, leaving me shocked and disorientated for a few seconds. My mind circling around that last thought, a thought growing into a huge boulder of dread.

I have my friends, despite whatever I'm going through I have my friends. Friends that help me get through this, friends that I force myself through whatever torture so they're okay. Friends that support.

But no one else has that.

It makes sense, odd things that the devil said making sense. People here don't have the will to live, they have nothing beyond the pain. Nothing for them to fight through it. My friends aren't just hostages to make me behave, which they have clearly been doing too, but motivation for me to keep fighting.

And it's clearly been working. All of us have survived, and none of us are resisting as much as we would have if the others' safety wasn't on line. I probably would have nothing to stop the animal in me from breaking free and causing as much mayhem as it can if it was just my sake.

My feet pound quickly against the treadmill as my heart slams in dread against my chest. Because of our 'success', that stupid devil will be 'collecting' not just one person at a time, but whole groups. Groups that have a higher chance of surviving and becoming accursed subjects. So many more people will suffer by his hands.

I suddenly realize that I'm panting hard, the treadmill at a close sprinting pace. I concentrate on it harder, rage sending a wave of adrenaline into my legs. So even though at the hard pace I'm running at, I don't feel every tired at all.

Then again, I've had to sprint all out for my life for a long time. They might not be taking that into account with all the writing they're doing.

My ears flicker, reminding me of the other world again. They pinpoint a lack of pounding, panting, and grunting coming from where the bunny-girl is. I glance over there, and sure enough, her mad scientist is leading her off to some punching bags.

With my heart going out to her, my eyes dart all across the gym. Searching for my friends even as the speed increases yet again. It's definitely getting hard, my muscles becoming heavy with pain and joints moaning as if there's mud stopping them from moving quickly.

Olivia is being forced to run up and down a set of stairs, and even from here I can see her sway as she only has one arm to run with. Not good, hopefully they stop soon. And as much as I hate playing with their system, I would do it if I can help her out.

Then there's Petra, who's by the punching bags with bunny-girl. She doesn't look too bad, furious rather than exhausted. I wish I could hear her, but there's too many other noises to differentiate anything. 

Before I can spot Axel, the treadmill gets faster again. Dislodging my attention as it gets really rough to force myself faster too. My lungs and heart working overtime to supply the muscles rapidly starting to clench tight and become almost like bricks as I try to force them through this.

Still though, I let my eyes snap over to Axel for one really quick second before refocusing on running, sprinting now. He was at the metal pounding thingies, pushing against something really hard. He didn't look too bad, not as bad as I am when this treadmill gets faster again.

My legs now burning as match the treadmill's speed, and I blame starvation if I mess up. The air rushing powerfully in and out of my lungs, and a jolt of panic as the treadmill moves quicker beneath my feet.

I try to keep up with it, I really do try, and for a few agonizing moments I do. Then I trip, snapping my arms in front of my face before I slam against the treadmill, immediately getting thrown backwards. Where I collide with the cold hard ground and rolling into some metal thingy.

My body flops on the floor, and I don't even bother to move into something a comfortable position. I just breathe. Just breathe very fast to get more oxygen to my muscles that are crying out for more. Until that demented scientist forces me to do something else, I'm gonna stay right here.

"Subject 811, get up." Snarling quietly, I drag my feet underneath me and hoisting myself up. Despite the fresh new wave of anger running through my veins, I manage not to glare at the mad scientist.

"Follow."

I roll my eyes, my muscles gripping at me for being used again. I'm still taking in huge breaths and my heart is still beating hard to get that oxygen to the repairing muscles. Wherever we're going though, I'm already absolutely positively sure that I'm going to hate it.

We walk in front of one of those weird machines that I can't figure out the purpose of. It kinda looks like weight systems that work by having the person pull weights up as they pull some bar down. But it's sideways and the ground has changed into something much more suitable for running.

"Wrap your tail around the bar." Groaning mentally, I understand now. The mad scientist walks towards the weights as I tightly squeeze the inhuman limb around the bar. While part of me is also quite curious about the strength of my tail, I already know it can choke people. I don't really need to know anything else.

"Pull."

I pull, squealing faintly when all the muscles get stretched out. Something which has never happened to my tail before. I continue to pull forward though, quickly find that my tail is actually quite a bit stronger than what I first thought.

They don't get to know that though. I groan and really step into it, making it seem that it's really quite hard. I continue to pull like this until the bar doesn't go any further. Where I feign a panting as I quickly check to see if Olivia's gotten any better.

"Lower it."

I groan, not because this is hard, but because Olivia hasn't gotten off the stairs. What are then even expecting so much out of her? There's not going to be much of Olivia left to exploit if they keep pushing her at this rate.

"Pull."

Putting on a bit more of a dramatic show, I find that this isn't really that tiring either. It is a bit tiring, but my tail must be pretty strong. Or this is actually a light weight and I can't tell. But if it isn't, I wonder what real ocelots use these super strong limbs for. Doesn't seem like anything important or tool making wise.

It takes me a tad bit longer to get to the end, and I don't wait for her to say anything before I start lowering it. I want these demons to think I'm becoming well mannered, at least when I'm not acting like an ocelot. But I need them to lower their guard if we ever have a chance to escape out of here.

My ears tell me the moment she's done hooking up the more weights, but I don't do anything. I don't really want them to know about my buffed up hearing either.

"Pull."

I grunt this time, only partially faked. The muscles in my tail straining to pull this one, and I make sure to let the mad scientist to think that I'm about to pull a muscle or something. It's not as terrible as the running yet, actually it's not as terrible as 99% of the things I've had to endure here, so I could probably be better if I wanted to.

Again, I lower it once I get to the end. Next time, I think I'm not going to be able to go all the way. I mean, I can, but I'm not going to. I'll just keep the true strength of my tail all to myself. Maybe I'll let the others too. I hope they're also forging their tests.

"Pull."

I let some strained groan-ish noise burble out of my mouth as I take a step forward. Now panting extremely hard and fast with the next one, pretending to use all my body to pull the bar forward. And then when trying to take another step I let my tail unwind. Falling on my face yet again.

Again, I lay there until the mad scientist says something. Still panting really hard and moving my tail to my hand, softly massaging the fur laced limb. The massage actually feels kinda nice, I'll have to do this more often.

Although it would be better if I didn't have the tail at all to have these thoughts. It would feel amazing if I didn't even have the tail to begin with. But no, no more of that though, I'm trying to get rid of depressing thoughts. I can be in therapy after I get out of this, after. For many many years.

"Up, follow." I hiss under my breath as I get back up to my feet, my muscles tight from the work and being malnourished. The mad scientist leads me kinda close to the punching bag area where Petra and bunny-girl is, but instead I get barbells... yay.

The scientist looks at the weights, writes some more stuff down, points at a bench, and then gestures impatiently for me to start. I resist the urge to roll my eyes and does what she says, grumbling in my thoughts. It really is dehumanizing, everything I'm doing constantly being noted around and expected to act like a robot.

I grab the bar, sighing as I start. Immediately I figure two things before even a couple seconds pass. This is heaviest I've ever lifted when I was still completely human, or maybe I that's malnourished muscles talking, and I won't be able to get nearly as far with this one. I'm definitely not faking any grunts or pants this time around.

If I slacked with the last one though, I don't think I'm going to get any points for being lazy this time. They might become unsatisfactory with me and that is the last thing I want. They need to think I'm a nice little kitty cat they don't need to think about so I can slip under their radar and escape with all my friends.

My lungs wheeze as I continue to force it up and down, my arms quickly withering away. I know most my injuries have healed incredibly fast, but every spot they clubbed me throbs as my pulse goes haywire. I really don't know how long I can keep this up for.

"Stop."

With a sigh of relief I put the bar down, not thinking about using them for one thing so they have plenty of time to recover before I have to do it again. Metal clanging as the scientists puts on more weights, a wave of heat and dread flooding my body.

The she-demon backs off, always scribbling. "Continue."

Groaning, I force my arms to go through that misery again. That wasn't even a minute break, and it only takes two seconds for my arms to go right back to throbbing and cramping up. My heart hammers as I do another and another, every muscle being used quickly spiraling down into exhaustion.

Whenever we break out of this prison, I have to make sure Axel does all the upper body strength stuff.

My limbs tremble as I bring the bar back down, and they shake violently when I try to push it back up. Panicking, I push more energy and strength into it, eyes narrowed and panting really hard. It inches close to about halfway when it's like my arms snap, and I cry out as they fall dead and the bar hits my chest.

This time the mad scientist grunts in disapproval, and my claws snap out on that one. They force me to starve here against my will, warp me into some animal as I scream and thrash against them, make me do their bidding or else my friends will be punished, and they expect me to perform better. I really don't think these people have any sort of compassion or morals or consciousness at all.

"Follow."

Groaning, I manage to heave the bar to where it is suppose to be and I get up onto my feet, the muscles in my legs beginning to stiffen up at what they've already done. It's not too painful yet, but I have a but of a limp in my steps. I'll definitely have to do some stretches when I have the time. Even if that's waiting to whenever I get back to the cell.

She takes me over to some mats, but I doubt I'm going to be doing any sort of nice easy yoga. Again, she gestures onto the mats as if I'm being a snotty child. Using a lot of willpower to hold back the hiss, I begrudgingly get onto the mat.

"Sit-ups, now."

I huff silently, but do them without any complaint. Although could the little she-demon at least be a bit more... I dunno know, livelier? It's like she's the one held here against her will, talking with a tone that makes it seem that she doesn't care about absolutely nothing in this world.

Thankfully these are just sit-ups, and I do one after the other without any real problem at all. Giving me time to scan the room a bit more. Maybe pinpoint a few weaknesses, like a vent we can crawl through when we do ever break out.

The ceiling has some very nice pipes and beams that we can crawl on top of. Although I can't say what the pipes are for, but the high up ceiling is a bit fuzzy. I put my attention to my nose, the air filters must have some scent I can pin down if I try hard enough.

Only to gasp, quickly covering it as the sit-ups getting harder, when I smell something more human. Well, not completely human but I can't identify the forgein scent in the mixture. But I know a subject's up there. The human scent is stronger than the forgein one, but not by too much. It reminds me when I first smelt Axel, about the same amount of strange smell coming down from the ceiling.

So what could get up to the ceiling? My stomach manages to squeeze in its tight pain for a moment, before I push it away and look to the walls. Nothing to climb up to the ceiling, a sheer surface. Which doesn't leave a whole lot of creatures that can get up there.

Spiders can climb, although Olivia thankfully isn't spider enough to do that, but maybe this 'subject' is. But flying creatures could easily get up there if they had the wings, which I wouldn't be surprised seeing how much forgein scent I'm detecting. It's definitely not a blaze though, I would be able to smell the sulfer and fire and ash. So... bat? Parrot? Maybe that insomniac mob? That's rare though, I don't know if it can fly or not.

"Faster."

My lips tighten to suppress the growl, but I comply nonetheless. My gaze flickers back over to Olivia, only able to see her quivering on the ground trying to do something, and that really spurs my will for more speed. I hear the mad scientist scribble something down, and yet again I'm suppressing a growl.

I hope the md scientist doesn't ask me how many sit-ups I've been doing, since I have not been caring in the slightest. My core is really starting to hate me for that though, the faded injuries are everything expect faded now.

Still though, I ignore that. Completely ignore it as I shift my attention back up to the mysterious 'subject'. Maybe if I can get in some sort of contact with them, then they can help us escape. I have no clue how low we've been here, but someone who's been here longer can give us invaluable knowledge to get out.

My face scrunches up, I'll let the scientist believe that I'm getting tired, when I start to think of the reasons why 'subjects' were originally kept apart. It's probably for the exact reason so they can't pull together their abilities to escape. I doubt any subject has ever learned another subject's true name.   

Muscles in my core become very tight and cramped, pain that's nothing when compared to watching Olivia suffer. I'm not going to stop even if-

A piercing ring splits the air, tearing into my poor little sensitive ears with such a force I spring up to my feet. My fur standing on end as I bare my fangs, ears flatted to try and keep that noise out as much as possible. A weariness claiming my heart when all of the grunts and machine clanging come to a stop.  

The she-demon writes something as she starts to walk to the back. "Follow."

I was hoping that we would be using the strange metal devices that I have no clue are for. But no, we head straight pass that and towards the drop off. I gulp when we get closer, my eyes widen as I see its purpose.

I keep my head straight, trying not to show fear at the arena below, but my nose and ears are telling me that everyone is making their way over this area. But my nose also informs me of the blood, fear spreading rapidly.

Maybe we'll just be spectators though. Olivia will get a break, and I hope Axel and Petra use this as a time to look for a weaknesses. I'll be trying to learn more and more.  

Although I definitely underestimated how many people were in here. With everyone spread out, it was hard to tell exactly how many people were in here. But with everyone cramming into the benches above the ring, I see about a couple hundred, if not more, 'subjects'. The scientists all leaving once they sit down.

Mine is still with me, looking horrendously impatient as I slowly walk and take everything in. I spot the closest friend to me, Axel, and scurry over there. Immediately squeezing through other people, who all smell more human than not, and managing to get right next to him.

"Lukas! Glad you're not dead. Any clue what this thing is?" I shake my head, noticing the confused looks the people next to us give. Since they can talk together right now, but it's unusually silent for a crowd this large, and choosing not to. These poor people...

The arena floor opens up, a whirlwind of pistons going off. I also hear a faint whine in the silent gathering, my eyes flickering all the way over to the bunny-girl. Her hands holding her ears against her head, she must have really sensitive ears for this.

Then a demon-collector pops out, my claws snapping out again. I instantly get a grip on myself, I can't freak out when I come into contact with a demon. It's going to be really hard to escape if I keep wanting to break their arm every time I meat them.

"Welcome subjects to the ring." Liar, this is definitely an arena, the blood scent doesn't lie. Rings are for more harmless entertainment like a circus. "I know most of you have heard these rules a million times, but there are new subjects joining us today. So I have to give them the run down of things here."

Axel and I get a weird look from the person sitting next to us, one of confusion and anxiety. "So for you new subjects, this is the ring. After every exercise period, you will gather with your other subjects to this ring. Where a fight will be conducted to test your strength, speed, smarts, and all that stuff. Either against other subjects or wild animals."

My fur stands on end, this isn't good at all. Every instinct screaming at me that being here is the worst thing I could be doing right now.

"Winner gets extra points to spend on, loser has to endure the injuries." My heart drops, this is why subjects don't talk to each other. "You win by either making the other go unconsciousness, if they surrender, or if you pin them helpless for about ten seconds."

He claps his hands, not at all like the strict and precise scientists. "So without further ado, let's see what one of these new chaps got."

I instantly begin to pray that the others don't get chosen, I pray with all my heart. I pray that none of us will get chosen, and we'll all remain happy for today. At least for today.

"And our first competitor of the day is.... Subject 811!" A snake of dread and anxiety coils and squeezes around my heart, freezing me as the demon smirks right at me. "Let's get Subject 811 down here."

With numbed shocked muscles, I stagger down there. Hopefully I'll stay numbed, and whatever thing I'll have to have win against battle with will be groggy or sick. That way when it attacks I really don't have to worry about anything at all. That is, if I'm not fighting another subject.

I jump down into the dirt arena, no going back now. The demon definitely smirking at me. I probably did something to piss him off didn't I? He doesn't seem familiar, but all demons look the same to me.

"To start off today with the ring, we won't be having any of you test your strength against this one." Oh thank goodness, I couldn't bare hurting another subject. "Instead we'll be having the kitty cat go up against the dogs."

My tail flickers worriedly as I glare at the man, just wanting him to be done by now. "This subject here will be going against three, completely unmodified, wolves!"

I take a deep breath, it could be worse. It could be worse. I could be in Hadrian's games unable to do anything except hope that Jesse can do it. Instead I'm in a devil's prison, forced to endure his tortures without fighting back or one of my friends will get it.

Hmm, that didn't make me feel better. At all.

Pistons whirl all around me again, swallowing back up the demon. My claws slide out and I lower into a crouch, looking all around me to see where this threat will come from. My gaze snapping to Olivia, Petra, or Axel every once and awhile. All of them sending me silent encouragement.

From three different sections does the floor open up, and snarling wolves burst forth. My ears flatten completely while my nose wrinkles at their overpowering scent, and without thinking I hiss at all of them. Dropping lower into the crouch as my fur stands on end.

The wolves circle me, my tail snapping high in the air as I stand in the middle. An idea strikes me, much better than just sitting here waiting for them to pounce. I flex my claws, this will be the first time I'll be using them for fighting.

Yowling, the cat screech rising about the wolves' growls, I launch myself at one of them. It jumps to meet me, but I twist around. My tail flying out and coiling tightly around its neck as the rest of me hugs it from behind. Unable to get hit by its attack as it fights against my grab with everything it has.

I let go when it goes limp, keeping my tail on him, the body falling to the ground and whimpering breathlessly. I stand above it, starring down its two companions. I'm technically in biting range of the wolf below me, but since it can't breathe with my tail still wrapped around it I think it has other things it's concerned about.

But I don't want them to know that my tail is strong enough to actually choke, hopefully they'll right this off as just being stunned. Hissing warningly at the other two wolves, I quickly descend on the dying wolf. My tail unfurling and snapping back right before my claws slash its neck, it's blood spraying everywhere.

The wolf goes silent, and the one to my left snarls viciously at me. I look up at it right as it decides to charges me, my ears screaming at me that the other is as well.

With claws fully out and attacking purely on instinct, I veer to the left and launch at it. Adrenaline and primal rage blasting with every heartbeat.

We meet in the air, both of our claws slashing furiously at each other. Again I use my tail to my advantage and hold one of its paws still. Giving me the perfect opening to bite at the wolf's neck. It gives a strangled growl before I rip my head back. The wolf going limp with its blood flooded all inside my mouth.

The last wolf pounces onto me, driving my body into the dirt. It's claws manage to dig into my back before I roll and reach back. Screeching as I throw the animal off of me. It snarls and yaps, but when my claws sink into its ribs, just missing the stomach, it backs off.

I quickly jump onto my feet, starring down at the wolf as we just stare at each other. It's growling viciously, fangs fully bared as its body trembles. While I hiss back in return, my tail flickering above me as a reminder what deadly weapon I have at all times. All my thoughts sharpened and aimed at killing this threat.

Without giving any clue to it, I charge. Screeching my cat cry with no care as my feet dig up dirt beneath me. The wolf growls and jumps forward to me, it's claws and aimed at my stomach.

But my arms have a longer reach than its legs. Instead of going for the throat, I grab its front legs. Pushing it backwards despite it snapping at my throat. The wolf's hind legs come up from under it, and I choose that exact moment to let go.

As it falls I descend down onto it. When it hits the ground on its back, for the brief moment it is defenseless before it can squirm back onto its legs, I'm already there. My claws digging into the stomach, and the wolf tries to jerk away. Only furthering to let my claws tear more of its vital organs.

It gives a deranged dying howl, and I instantly leap back at it. Instinctively knowing that dying animal will try to take me with it. The wolf, true to my impulses, jerks around fervently. It's claws sweeping wildly and biting at the air with no target now that I'm out of reach.

Then it collapses, going limp on its side while panting desperately. The blood pooling out from its side though is fatal, I could just wait for it to die and have no further risk to myself. I'm now technically done.

But that primal energy is still inside of me, my muscles trembling for the thrill of the kill. My heart pounding at the sight of a threat wounded and weakened, my tail twitching and ready to permanently get rid of it.

So with a screech of triumph, I run at it. My claws eager to slice through its blood. I pounce on it, crying out victoriously with my fangs bared and claws ready to slice its throat.

When the wolf's dull dying eyes flicker too me in hopelessness, closing shut with a sigh right as I cut its neck.

I stagger back immediately, gut twisting when the blood sprays up onto me. With the threat dead and every primal energy and instinct now growling contently inside of me. Now I also find the means to ignore it, starring with wide eyes at the three dead bodies of the wolves.

Now I notice the heavy wrench of blood in the air, some of mine but mostly the wolves. I instantly start gagging, the blood in my mouth still everywhere. And I don't think I'll ever get this horrendous taste washed out of my mouth.

My eyes peel away from the dead bodies which I killed with not discipline or skills or any sort of honor, but as an animal. But now I see only the blood all over my claws, blood scattered over my arms and body when I sliced the necks. My blond fur speckled red.

The pistons go off again, that demon popping out again. I can't help but a low growl force itself out, my claws bursting out again. They did this to me, they made me kill like an animal. They're the ones to blame, not me. Not me. Not me. I'm not at fault here. It's them. Not me.

"It looks like we've got another natural! First fight and there were no inner conflicts, better beware all you seasoned fighters." I shake that rage out of me, I need to think. I need to be human.

"So 811, congratulations on the extra points." The demon smirks at me, gesturing to the wolves I slaughtered. "If you wanted to, you can spend those points to eat your every own kills."

I blanch, my gut twisting violently. I take a step back in disgust, wishing I could snap something back at him, but I'm sure anything I say will come out as a screech or cry. But no, even if one small part would be satisfied, that is absolutely horrid. I can't do that, I'm not eating those bodies raw and covered in fur just like that.

"Okay, just suggesting."

Pistons whirl and give me a staircase out of there, which I take no time to use. The demons says something else about cleaning or something but I don't care. I'm just getting out and back next to Axel.

"...811,-" I dead halt and my attention snaps back to the demon. "-812, 813, and 814 are dismissed for today."

A sigh of relief flutters through my body and I quickly scurry past the other subjects, slowing to a stop once I get back towards machines. My heart pounding restlessly as I stare back down at the blood covered all over me. My back finally burning at the claw marks that were dug into them.

"Lukas!" Quick light footsteps of Olivia, the heavy ones of Axel, and the almost urgent ones of Petra. I'm about to turn to them, when I hear a mad scientist walk up to us. With great reluctance, I keep my eyes on him.

He stops in front of us, humming as if evaluating us, before pivoting on his heel and strutting off. My ears don't miss Petra's soft growl, Olivia's soft hiss, and Axel's bitter grunt as we follow. I probably would have hissed too, but I feel so... strange right now.

And my heart drops back down into my stomach when the cries of human and animal blend horribly together in the air. The area must have another show, everyday they must have many. Everyday people forced to fight each other with the incentive of improving what little life they have.

We really have to get out of here.

Which drags back up what that demon said, 'beware seasoned fighters'. He said that because I guess I'm a natural, and it's not much of a stretch to say that I just got a lot of hate from other people. That demon is flat out saying I'm a threat so you better go all out when fighting me if you want those extra points.

That was probably their plan. If I want to get to know someone who can tell us inner knowledge of this place, I kinda need them not to hate me. But why would they help me if there's always that thought that they'll have to fight me. Stupid demons, they're worse than Hadrian.

I suppose Olivia could try, since she doesn't look as threatening as Axel or Petra she might have a chance. Of course people would still know that they might have to fight her too, there might not be much resentment or anything. Especially since she only has one arm.

My heart lurches and skips a beat, and I stumble forward. I fall back in step with the others, giving a reassuring smile I didn't feel to Olivia's look of concern. Dread dragging head and hope down with every second.

What if we'll have to fight each other one day? What will happen if I have to attack Axel? Or if Petra and Olivia are forced into the ring? I know the demon said we're allowed to surrender, but those demons control everything. They could change the rules or give exceptions.

The mad scientist stops before the doors, turning to us but reading some clipboard. "You have a totally of fifty points. Each of you ten through performance and an extra ten from 811's success in the ring."

The scientist reaches back into his coat and pulls out a paper, handing it to Petra. "That's the list of what you can do with your points. If you don't want to spend anything, simply tell me that you'll save them."

We all huddle around Petra, all trying to see what it has to say. When I manage to get me head in there to peek, I have to stop myself from letting my head reel back in shock. Instead my eyes just pop out as my brain doesn't want to comprehend what this paper says.

Since without even reading it and getting any fine numbers or facts, getting out of here has become that much more important.

****

Oof, these combined chapters are really long. Congrats on getting to the end!

I don't want make this note long, so I'm not really going to say anything. Just that the next one will be in another five days. See you then!