Chapter 214

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Note: Nadine is from the recent mini-series version of "the Stand." The two gladiators are from the same universe as my novel "Slouching towards Bethlehem."

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The two gladiator sisters were told they could leave, they were free. They decided to get out of Rome before Caesar changed his mind and had them killed. Besides, others were resentful of the mercy that had been showed to them, best not to be around them. The sisters set off for another kingdom, one that wouldn't care who they were, or what they had once done. There was a rumor that general Gardner, the same hardliner from their own world, ruled over one kingdom. He let in anyone, an things were better here than other kingdoms. More comfortable, more orderly, better than a lot of their options. They had told the heroes all that they knew about this new Rome, whether Gabrielle could use this to save Hope was very much up for debate. The heroes understood why these two sisters had to leave, even gave them some food and other provisions for what was likely to be a long trek. They parted ways and the sisters left for Gardner's kingdom. They were making their way to this kingdom, when they came across someone in need. A woman on the side of the road, greatly injured. All around this woman were parts of what had once been a motorcycle. This woman, Nadine, had a gun in her hand, and she seemed ready to put this gun in her own mouth. The gladiators decided to help this woman, if they could.

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Gladiator; Can we help you?

Nadine: No. I don't have much food, but I won't need it much longer. Take it, and leave me to do this.

Gladiator 2: Not to judge, but if you commit suicide in Hell, won't you just go to the Lake of fire?

Nadine: Probably. But at least that b... won't get the satisfaction of killing me. Besides, I deserve it.

Gladiator: I thought I deserved that too. I killed my sister here, but she has forgiven me. Whatever you did, maybe you can make amends.

Nadine: I doubt that. When I was in the foster system, I was with this one family that made us watch televangelists. I remember one was talking about the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard has this thing, the point of no return. Those rescue choppers, they need at least as much fuel to get back as they use to get to the people in need of rescue. So, if the fuel is halfway gone, even if they can see the person drowning, they won't go save them. I think I reached the point of no return long ago.

Gladiator 2: How'd you get here anyway?

Nadine: In my world, I was destined to be the bride of the devil, or at least a version of the devil, Randall Flagg. Truth is I had free will, I could have rejected him, I didn't have to murder all those people. I chose Evil, became his queen. But he never intended me to live through childbirth, so I killed myself, and our unborn child. Flagg is here in Hell, and I've been demoted from queen to concubine. I tried to escape, along with another concubine. But she was betraying me, setting me up. She stayed on his good side by getting me into this crash. The irony is I betrayed someone this way, let him crash his motorcycle, let him have his gun. I told him he culd end it early, if he had the guts. Now, I'm the one who needs the guts to blow my brains out.

Gladiator 2: We have our own sins to atone for, how about we take you to general Gardner's kingdom?

Nadine: I know him. When Flagg made some kind of deal with Gardner, I bonded with his, I'm not sure if she was his wife or mistress.

Gladiator: So why not come with us, we can help you.

Nadine: Maybe I don't deserve another chance.

Gladiator: Maybe none of us do, but it's better than the Lake of fire.

Nadine: Why not If it doesn't work out I can always resort to plan A. I'm Nadine by the way.

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The gladiators hesitated to tell this woman their original names. Nadine would have a hard time believing that their mother named them Gladiator and Gladiator 2. They had become gladiators, it somehow made it easier. Their old names just reminded them that they used to be better than this. A part of them wanted to be their old selves again. That was impossible, but maybe they could try to be good people again. Maybe a good start was to begin using their original names again.

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Gladiator: I'm Rebecca.

Gladiator 2: I'm Leah.