Half an hour after he had woken up Gabriel appeared at Wally's new door and led the way down the corridor.
"I'll introduce you to the other slaves." She said.
"Slaves?" Wally repeated.
"That's what we're called, those who didn't choose to fight." She explained.
He looked up at the large hall that they stepped into. There were at least twenty other people in the large room, a few were seated at the benches that were pulled up to square wooden tables. Weights lay in one corner where one man stood flexing his arm with a large dumb bell held in his fist. Off to the other corner was a small stretcher where a woman lay, groaning in pain and grasping at a wrapped stump where her arm should have been.
Gabriel led him over to one of the tables and sat down opposite a young man, a little older than Wally. The man stood to great Wally; he stood at least 6 and a half foot tall and had long blond hair that contrasted his green eyes.
"Marcus, Wally." She introduced.
"So you're the new lad?" He said, shaking Wally's hand.
"Yeah." Wally said, taking in the room and a seat.
"We wait here till our fight." Marcus said, watching Wally as he eyed up the woman behind him on the stretcher. "She just came back."
"I don't think she'll survive another fight." Gabriel sighed.
"How long have you both been here for?" Wally asked, turning back to them.
"Four month." Marcus told him, raising his hand slightly. "Gabriel's been here the longest."
"Just over a year." She added. "I've got three more kills and I'm done." She smiled, gazing off slightly.
"What are you both fighting for?" Wally frowned.
"For my brothers and sisters to be fed. My parents died when I was young, I had to look after them, but food was in short supply. Cobalt came to me and said I fight so many challenges and he'll keep them fed. Then he'll see to it we never go hungry when I finish the challenge." She sighed at the end.
"My wife and son were threatened to be killed." He glanced at Wally before continuing. "I am an expert hunter. Cobalt looks for fighters who will…" he trailed off, looking for the right word.
"Entertain his audience." Gabriel spat out sarcastically.
"Yeah." Marcus agreed. "What about you?" he turned to Wally with sceptical eyes.
"He threatened to kill my friends and their families and loved ones." He said, looking at his hands.
"What's your talent?"
Wally hesitated, but Gabriel answered for him. "He's The Flash."
"Justice League!" Marcus cried.
"Big mistake." Wally muttered. "They'll find me."
"Right." Gabriel said sceptically.
"Wally West!" a guard barked, appearing from down a large archway. "You're next!"
Wally stood unsure. "Good luck." Gabriel whispered, smiling kindly.
Wally nodded and followed the guard to the end of the archway and up to a ten foot tall oak door. It opened, blasting a sound of cheering and booing into Wally's face.
He stepped out into the sudden brightness and took in his surroundings.
A dusty floor was surrounded on all sides by a circular wall, taller than the door he stepped through. He walked past the open doors and looked up and around to see a sea of people on stands, stretching high above him, and ahead was a large seat where his uncle sat staring down at him.
Wally turned slightly and glanced over his shoulder as the doors behind him closed. He looked back at his uncle and then to the door under his seat, across the arena floor from him.
The doors opened and a roar emitted from with in.
Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman returned with the box and with heavy hearts. Many heroes were waiting for them for word on Flash. J'ohn tended to Diana's wounds while Batman looked at the glass box more closely. They had searched for three hours around the city and could find no trace of Wally or the man that took him.
"Who was it?" Superman finally asked, dreading the answer as he already guessed it was family to Wally.
"His uncle." Batman stated, stepping out of the box. "Malcom." He added. "I don't know the full story, but I know he killed the second Flash which caused our Flash to take up the title."
"And you don't know where he could be?" The Green Lantern asked.
"No idea." Batman shrugged; inside he felt completely helpless and angry for not stopping this.
"Well, stumped already?" The team of heroes looked up at the screen to see Cobalt Blue. "Don't worry." He said, "My dear nephew is safe in my arena. He will fight for your loved ones to live." He laughed.
"Where is he?" Lantern growled.
"Right there." He pointed down and allowed the camera to look down upon the arena where a scared young man stepped out of some huge doors. He stopped, looked around the arena, looked up at Cobalt and then at wall beneath him.
"Wally!" Shayera Hol gasped.
The young man took a half step back as a roar emitted across the arena. He shook some red hair out of his eyes and rolled his shoulders, taking a defensive stance. His eyes sharpened as his brain thought of a way to fight.
"Flash?" Hawk asked.
Wally took in the monster in the doorway. It had three heads and the body of a huge man, but had goat like feet. In it's hand was a large club.
"Feel free to use any weapons." Cobalt shouted. Wally looked back at the walls of the arena and noticed that they were lined with various weapons, hanging at different angles.
He turned back just in time to see the monster charging at him, raising its club above its head. Wally moved quickly to one side but didn't notice that the monster had changed direction and was bringing its club in an arch towards him. He stopped as he spotted the club but was unable to dodge it.
It smacked into him and sent him flying into the wall. He hit the wall and fell in a heap on the floor. Raising his head with a groan he realised how fast the monster was as it appeared before him and hit him into another wall.
He felt something land next to him and he hit the floor a second time. Glancing at it he scooped it up, jumped over the club as it came at him and he ran straight up it. Jumping again he landed on the monsters shoulder and brought down the mace in his hand. The mace impacted with the monsters head with a sickening thud, before Wally leapt off the monster, landed on the floor and rolled to his feet. He raised the bloody mace in both hands, swallowed down his sickness and yelled. "Come on then!"
Hope you like! I maight be able to add another chapter on Thursday, if not then it will have to wait the week as I'm on holiday to the Isle of Mull up in Scotland. So so you when I see you! and please review!
