Barrow Games

Rated: T-M : violence/gore

Summary: Wetherton was once a peaceful Kingdom, now ruled by the Tyrant King Hans. Crimes in his rule are punished by sentence to the Barrow Games, where you fight to survive. Jack Frost sat in the crowds amongst another series of murders, trying to protect his sister from the horrors below, but caught attention to the ring when two sisters appear. In a moment of panic, something occurs that leaves the Kingdom in chaos.

Inspiration: Roman mythology, and the Hunger Games

Chapter One~


All around him, the pounding drummed against his temples and the roaring crowd erupted in bold chants of anticipation. The Colosseum echoed with the stomping of feet, the circular stone structure vibrating fervently beneath each bench that bent around the center.

"Welcome...to...the Barrow Games!"

The caller's voice boomed from the pillar in which he stood, a large cane in one hand as he banged the tip against the rock for theatrical effect. As the kingdom once again screamed approval, a tug at Jack's brown cloak made him turn from the view, and looked down to the little girl beside him.

His sister scooted closer to him with flooding brown eyes as she clawed at him in seek of comfort. "Jack..." Her voice was small, as was her figure as she pressed her face into him. "I don't want to watch anymore...why do they do this? Why do we have to sit by and watch this?"

The silver haired male furrowed his brow in a mixture of emotions, troubled by the innocent questions of the little girl...yet the answers remained unclear.

Wetherton had been this way since he was little, after the rule of the lovely Queen Tashjnae, she was killed in a crusade without any known children besides rumor of two daughter she kept locked away without known reasoning. This called for the Southern Isles, a distant cousin, Prince Hans to take claim to the throne.

However, ever since his rule began ten years ago, Wetherton turned into a cold place, with the poor and rich separated unfairly, with woman falling in ranks below that of men; as well as the start of the Barrow Games.

This source of entertainment was forced upon all in the lands, where any individuals or groups resisting the King's reign was sent for cruel punishment to be killed and slaughtered in a test of strength. No one survived in the end, and innocents were ordered to kill to survive. It was a bloody endeavor that Jack hated with his entire being.

Gently lacing his long arm around Jamie's small shoulders, he held her closely as he shook his head and looked down to the battle ring. "I don't know Mi, I don't know."

As the screams died lower, the Caller knocked his cane once again to gain attention. "Now! Our first contestant goes by the name of Grant Polvy, his crimes against the city are that of thievery, and disobedience to out King."

With the rattle of gates, a man was pushed from the dungeons dark, and into the blazing light and loud chants of the stone structure. Two soldiers armed with crossbows flanked his side, and as the weak prisoner stumbled, they yelled and kicked his ribs till obediently, he stood.

"And our Challenger today, will be three soldiers! Lets see if Mr. Polvy here is up to the test! Are you ready?!"

Jack winced, his blue eyes watching the worn and beaten man below be handed a sword and pushed to the center. The odds were never fair in the Games, for the prisoners were usually beaten and starving by the time they were placed for a fight.

As the trumpets sang, the battle began, and Jack watched as the criminal frailly defended himself again the oncoming trio of solders.

Audience's laughed, the soldier's jeered, and within two minutes, blood pooled on the rocky soil as Grant lay dead in the ring.

Jamie whimpered into his side, and Jack grasped her tightly, seeking to give and gain comfort from the embrace. Yes, King Hans reign was dark indeed. The ruler himself could be seen sitting in the royal's box near the front, red tarp around him and scantily dressed woman fanning him from the heat as he was entertained by the sight of murder before him.

Several more prisoners came and went in the same manner, and with each death that covered the ground, Jack became more enraged with his inability to help. How he wished he could take his staff and fly to the rescue, but what could would it do? His powers of the wind would be found out, and without delay his death would be next. Jamie would be sold to slavery, and he would be just another worthless corpse buried beneath rock.

Clenching his fists, he shook his head to rid of the tragedies.

"Is it almost done? Can we go home?" Jamie spoke timidly, just as any six year old upon the wicked scenery that surrounded them.

Her brother nodded, hopeful that his guess was right. Seven had now passed, and the usual numbers were eight. "Yes Jamie, just one more and we can go. Keep your eyes closed."

Tenderly, tucked her beneath his brown cloak, her warm little body pressing against his frosty blue shirt as he braced himself for the final kill.

"Oh ho ho! Look who we have up next folks!" The Caller goaded, revving up the suspension to please the crowd. He held up his parchment dramatically, reading off the names with an extent of flare and finesse. "Two woman will be coming to the ring here, sisters! My! Women have not been of entertainment for many a games, eh?"

Jack felt his chest clench. Women never lasted long, and to have them in the games was horrid to watch. Most girls were only sent if they absolutely refused to be used for pleasure purposes or slavery. He admired these ones really, for standing up for there freedom. But while the purpose was honorable in his eyes, their death still remained unfavorable.

"There names, Elsa Arendelle, her crime, killed two soldiers on the streets, entering the ring with her sister, Anna Arendelle!"

This churned the crowds in shock, for this was rarely heard of. All bodies leaned forward in anticipation as the gates clattered open, and two woman were pulled from the dark depths.

Jack gasped, as did the rest of the audience that filled all the seats of the Colosseum. These were not like most women brought out, for they were of great beauty and elegance, youth spread their features. No crooked teeth, nor wired hair and wrinkled chins.

One had strawberry blonde hair, with emerald green eyes that were wide in fright as she tried scampering away back to the dark, only to be roughly pushed by a soldier, beckoned to go forward. She wore tattered maroon skirts and white blouse that was partly ripped near her shoulder. Her fist clenched to her chest as she laced her left arm through that of her sister, pushing her face into the crook of the other's neck as they stepped to the center of the rink. Jack felt his heart pang with sympathy as his blue eyes began studying the other sister.

Immediately, he was aware that this was the older of the two. Taken from the fact that though she too looked nervous as they became overwhelmed by the noise, she didn't appear to fear for her own safety; instead she maintained her energy on comforting that of her sister. Flaxen hair was pinned up, and her pale jawbones were clenched, chin held high regally in an air that demanded respect. Sapphire eyes searched their surroundings as magenta lips pursed into a straight line, only moving when whispering soft comforts into her sibling's ear. Her garbs were deep toned turquoise and purple, and they too, were scratched and worn.

Two swords were thrown carelessly to their feet, as the instruments blared the beginnings of the game.

Jack held his breath, his lean hands gripping his sister hard as he watched with a thumping rib cage. Six soldiers were surrounding the sisters, who now stood back to back, each with a pitiful sword in hand. He could see their muscles were tense, limbs shaking in fright.

"Jack, what's going on?" Jamie cried, feeling her brother tighten as she remained clutched at his side.

The silver haired male quickly stroked her head and looked down to her leaking eyes. "Nothing Jamie. It's okay. It's almost over."

Jamie's chin trembled. The sounds of battle ringing in her ears and piercing nightmares into her head. "Then...then we go home?"

Jack nodded, gingerly wiping her tears with the pad of his thumb and gave a pitifully strained smile. "Then we go home."

Reassured by the small return of a hopeful grin on his sisters face, Jack whipped his head up when he heard a horror filled cry rip from a woman's throat.

"NO!"

In a flash of silver, just as a sword was falling down upon the younger sister, a bolt like blue lightning shot from the blonde's hands as she reached for her fallen sibling.

The arena fell silent with bated breath as bewilderment and fear ran down a series of spines.

The soldier that had taken aim now lay dead on the ground in a pool of crimson, a sharp icicle protruding from his heart. As the younger sister now lay unconscious on the soil, the older blonde stood over her with her arms out stretched, a fierce expression on her face.

"Nobody move!" Her smooth voice echoed like the trumpets across the stone walls, the shout edged with danger as she stood prepared.

Jack gaped, staring at this untamable woman who had suddenly bestowed the audience with the appearance of a cold power that ran in her veins.

'What...how? She...'

No one but him felt the shift of ozone in the air. The temperature dropped in degrees, as fluttering snowflakes fell from the summer sky.