Dear readers,

As you undoubtedly noticed, I decided to make the "rest of the last chapter" a new chapter, considering it turned out to be a lot longer than anticipated. I swear this story has a mind of its own! :)

I also renamed the last two chapters, as part 1, 2, 3 was a bit uninspired. Alactel is now successfully called Atanel.

I hope all of you are doing well, considering the worldwide situation! These are tough times, but keep your chins up! If you need someone to talk, don't hesitate to write me!

IMPORTANT: Please don't send me messages through the fanfiction-app. I don't see them when I log into the desktop version, hence, I don't reply! (just found messages from 2017, so embarrassing!)

Special thanks, go, as always, to my most fabulous beta SindelV, the crazy bigwoof with his grand ideas and my lovely husband, who only wrote one of the fights in this chapter. You may guess, which one! ;)

As to my (scarce) reviewers: thank you! Your words are treasure!

Grocamol: Will they be getting out of it? I know, but I don't tell. ;) When does it take place? There are hints in the story to extrapolate that. One word: Bakka.
bigwoof: I assume you had a good read. :P

As to the rest of my not-so-small reader base: please, let me know what you think! Feedback is highly appreciated!

Anyways, enjoy!

Love,

Shâtî

Chapter 22

Carnival of Death - A close Call

"It's ours! We found it first!"
— Lucrezia deBor Zha; Archite/Wych Queen

"FOR FUCK'S SAKE…" I continued, cussing in a whispered tone.

I now knew what the tattoos had been for. There were five slots embedded in the door and all were fitted with dermal scanners, a thing, all of the competitors knew, as we had covered them in survival training. Beside them, another plaque, which said:

"Passage to the final Challenge"

It was written in both Low Gothic and Drukhari runes, so the meaning would be understandable even for those that were not able to read the Drukhari runes. Since I had read all those words on the shoulders of my fallen enemies, I now knew that it had been expected that I collected those patches of skin, to put them in those slots. Remembering the runes, as I had thought, had not been enough.

So fucking stupid. I should have known that it would be as gruesome as this!

I could have just walked in there and won this. But not like this. I was dead-sure that there was no other way in there. Besides…

Someone was coming. The teleporter activated behind me.

I ducked deeper into the shadows and breathed flatly. With a slight feeling of malicious glee I saw that the one that had come after me did not handle the effects of the teleporter much better than me. When he had regained his composure and sneaked towards the door, I recognised him.

Aszukh.

I was not surprised.

He was a ruthless, intelligent snake. It only fitted that he would come down the mind-path. He drew back into the shadows again, rummaging in his backpack. Again, it did not surprise me that he had indeed thought about taking the skin patches with him. And if all went well, he would open this door for me.

I watched him closely as he placed the patches, gripping my daggers more tightly. It soon would be over. Just this last kill I had to succeed in, and it would be over.

As Aszukh had placed the patches, the scanners came to life with blue lights and whirring sounds. It only took seconds until they stopped and the door opened with a hissing sound.

I coiled up to jump as Aszukh hurried inside.

I had gotten halfway up, as suddenly heavy steps came from my right side. I heard heavy breathing and with a roar, Titus dashed past me, into the dome and tackled Aszukh so hard that he got flung against the wall of the dome. I was sure he had only missed me because he was so loud himself. Lucky me.

I ducked again.

In the same second, the teleporter activated again and Rogal tumbled out of it. He seemed to realise the situation immediately and handled the backlash amazingly well, because he started running towards the dome.

Shit.

"And, lastly, if I were you, I would make sure that I am the first one to reach the prize, and if not, I would not let it be taken out of the room it is in by anyone else than me."

I had not forgotten what my master had told me. I would not let them take the prize out of this dome by any means. Still, there were too many of them. I had to wait and see how the situation unfolded, if leaving Titus alive would play out the way I had anticipated it.

In the meantime, Titus had reached the glowing orb. He grabbed it and with a hiss, the crystal ball opened. I could not see what was inside. But what I saw all too well, was that Titus started shaking.

Uncontrollable rage.

Good.

Wait a bit longer.

It took all my willpower and patience, but I had to wait. Again, I instinctively knew it.

"NO!" he cried out and smashed the ball onto the ground. It did not break, but bounced once and then rolled slowly to the side.

"IT HAS ALL BEEN FOR NAUGHT!" he continued screaming.

Rogal had halted, his spear beside him, and said, "What?"

"They have lied. It's just a hoax. Just a mocking message inside," Titus said with a trembling voice. He looked like he was about to cry or vomit.

"Told ya," I thought with a triumphant smile.

Rogal shrugged, gripping his weapon tighter. "Doesn't matter. I'd rather win this than not."

"You fool! Don't you see that this won't change anything?" Titus roared.

A hoarse laughter came from the side of the dome I could not see. "There might not be what they said inside, you moron, but winning still will bring you favour. You don't get it, do you? There is no getting out of here, but there is still something like quality of life improvements," Aszukh said, who now slowly stepped into my line of view. Titus had battered him pretty hard, judging from the way he swayed.

"Care to take on this idiot together?" Rogal offered. I knew that Rogal was not much of a fighter. It made sense that he teamed up with Aszukh against Titus.

Aszukh shrugged. "Might as well. I hate those guard types anyways."

"I agree," Rogal concurred.

"Very well, you madmen! I shall strike you down!" Titus shouted and assumed a defensive stance. An expected move from a seasoned fighter, as his position allowed him to have the pedestal, where the prize had been on, in his back and at the same time keep both of his enemies in front of him.

Even though Titus probably was the most combat-hardened and experienced of the three, he was in a tight spot. He used a longsword, Pychus sported a spear and Aszukh fought with a tri-edged dagger with a twisted blade and a short sword.

Defending against three weapons was no small feat, and I assumed that Aszukh had practised a profession in his past life that made him knowledgeable about deadly spots on the human body.

Rogal charged him, spear in both hands, jabbing the weapon forward. It was not an elegant move, but an effective one. Yet, Titus was too experienced to fall for it, he sidestepped Rogal's lunge.

Aszukh was not idle either. His timing was not perfect, as he charged Titus too, so the latter had time to react to his assault too. Titus deflected the shortsword with the flat of his blade and rammed his elbow into Aszukh's other arm, the sheer force of the hit almost knocking the dagger out of his hand.

In spite of his broad frame, Titus had shown with these moves that he was a lot quicker than one would expect from a heavy man like him. Also, he had moved away from the pedestal in his back, but still managed to keep them both on one side.

Rogal jabbed at him again, the simplicity of his attacks showed that he was not a good fighter, as Titus dodged his attack easily and used his momentum to make a quick attack against Aszukh, who had tried to move into his back. Aszukh evaded his sword, though, and got another hit from Titus's elbow, between his shoulder blades. That made Aszukh stumble and Titus used this chance for a potentially lethal assault, swinging his sword with both hands, aiming for his neck.

However, Aszukh was really fast. He let himself drop to the floor, the blade missing his head by mere millimeters, and he rolled around, bringing his dagger up to stab it into Titus's calf. Titus roared as the hit connected, and still could not finish Aszukh off, as Rogal jabbed after him with the spear once more. Angrily, he deflected Rogal's attack and leant into the swing, making Rogal stumble side- and backwards, as he hit his weapon aside with quite the impact.

Aszukh had drawn out his dagger in the meantime, and the tri-edged nature of it left a nasty wound, which bled heavily. However, Titus seemed to be so filled with adrenaline that he was able to ignore it. He went after Aszukh again, it made sense, he had realised that he was the more dangerous foe of the two.

Aszukh rolled away from the hewing Titus and tried to get to his feet again. He still swayed a bit as he fought his way up, the beatings he had received so far from Titus seemed to take effect. Since Rogal had fought for balance and was only now able to take up his spear again, Titus went after Aszukh, determined to finish him.

He was fast, closing the distance quicker than Aszukh could entirely get up, and all Aszukh could do was to block Titus's fell hit, which knocked him to his knees again. Titus kicked him in the chest, pushing him onto the floor again, knocking the air out of his lungs. Titus swung his sword again for the killing blow, as Aszukh clearly could not use his weapon. Instead of impaling him by his chest on the floor, he merely stabbed him in the side, as Rogal had come from behind again, this time quick enough so Titus could not dodge his jab entirely. The blade of the spear connected with Titus's waist, cutting it open.

One thing could be said for Rogal: even though his technique was not much, he knew when to strike.

"I've had enough of you!" Titus spat in Rogal's direction. He kicked Aszukh forcefully in the groin, which made him cry out in pain and clearly stunned him, then turned around and focused his attention onto Rogal. He stepped sideways and forwards, in a half turn, making Rogal's reach useless. Using the momentum, he swung his sword, aiming for his arms. Rogal tried to get his weapon between them. That was the wrong choice. He was not fast enough. This time, Titus's attack connected precisely where he wanted it. Rogal began to scream as his left hand got severed. His screams ended abruptly as Titus followed up with his attack and rammed his sword through his clavicle in a downward motion, rupturing his lungs and major arteries.

A crescent of blood framed Titus as he drew out his sword, and in the same motion swung it over his head and met Aszukh, who, in the meantime, had gotten up and tried to backstab him. Titus's blade connected this time, as he rammed it with all his might into Aszukh's calvaria. The sharp blade and the might of his swing cleft Aszukh's head in twain, showering Titus with even more blood.

As the fight drew to its close, I took off my backpack. I was sure that no one would have the time to go looting with the prize in front of their nose. It would hinder me with perfect balance and I needed every advantage I could get.

With a grunt, Titus drew his sword out of Aszukh's skull and wiped his face with the back of his left hand, breathing heavily.

He let his guard down, this was my chance to take this veteran on!

I wanted to get up, but a harsh command in my head made me sink back with a whimper of pain, as the sharpness of it indeed hurt.

Wait!

I knew why the voice had been right again, as I realised that I had been so fixated on the fight that I had completely missed Mashtra, who had snuck up on the door to the prize room. Apparently, she had been waiting for her chance to strike too, because now she charged the wounded Titus, swinging a heavy-bladed spear in an overhead jab. She was fast, really fast, and Titus noticed her too late. All he could do was bluntly block her blow, and he was wounded, and she was probably equally strong. He grunted in pain and with strain, the impact of the blow made him tumble a few steps backwards. Mashtra, the expert killer she was, pursued him immediately, hacking and jabbing after him, and Titus barely managed to fend off her assault.

"You animal!" he grunted at her, "Don't you see that you are just serving them what they want?"

"I don't give a fuck, posterboy!" she spat at him.

And that she did.

This time, I took care to also observe my surroundings. And once more, it was a wise choice. The teleporter behind me activated, I hid a bit deeper in the shadows.

Out came my most favourite enemy, Pychus. Even though his gaze betrayed slight panic because of the situation concerning the prize, he was cool-headed enough to look around first. Then, he snuck up unto the fighting couple, even into the dome, as Titus and Mashtra were so engaged with each other, and moved in real close. He was probably planning on backstabbing the survivor.

However, he had missed me. That would be good!

Then, I focused my attention on the fight again, to move closer when the time was appropriate to snipe Pychus.

Titus had no choice but to move backwards, as the hail of blows Mashtra showered him with did not stop. Slowly, he was driven towards the pedestal, and as soon as he would be having this in his back, he was probably done for.

However, Titus showed his cleverness once more. As the pedestal was dangerously close in his back, he let Mashtra come close, and then lunged to the side, having her jab her spear into the pedestal. It got stuck for a moment. Long enough for Titus. He tackled her from the side, pushing her away from the pedestal and her weapon, went after her and managed to push her to the floor. Swinging his sword, he aimed to kill.

But Mashtra was a true menace.

She reached upwards and caught his blade between her lower arms, twisting them quickly. She roared as she cut herself, but managed to wrestle the sword out of Titus's hands, flinging it away. Then, in an impressive display of strength and dexterity, she jumped to her feet and flung herself against him, her head hitting his solar plexus, her overdeveloped neck muscles protecting her against the impact. The air pressed out of his lungs, he fell onto his back, Masthra now over him. He tried to fend her off, hitting and kicking, but she let him hit her, breathing through the pain, pushing his arms aside and burrowing her face in his neck, biting him with her fangs.

With the head motion of a biting wolf, she ripped open his carotid artery and blood showered her face. This was a wound Titus could no longer ignore, and Mashtra capitalised on it, hitting him in the face until it was mashed. Within a minute or so, his strength failed him and he bled out on the floor.

Yes. This is it. Go.

My time had come.

Mashtra, the feral being she was, laughed at her fallen enemy and even drank of his blood. However, her laughter was silenced and ended abruptly, as Pychus had used her revelling in her victory to sneak up on her and drive a dagger through her, where the neck and head connected, destroying her brainstem. Effective and quick.

"You stupid cu…" he started to chuckle.

But that was it for him, because I was now behind him, backstabbing the backstabber. My dagger had pierced him perfectly between the 7th and 8th rib, from below, impaling his heart.

"Who's the stupid cunt now, Pychus?" I hissed into his ear, as I grabbed him around the neck, to see the life leaving his eyes.

His body shook once more in a chuckle and he pressed out, "Ironic…" Then, he went limp.

I got up and let him drop to the floor, feeling satisfied that I had killed him so sneakily. It was an end that suited that snake, I thought.

Smiling, I went to the prize and picked it up. It seemed as if I was done here soon.

Or so I thought.

I turned around as I heard someone say, "Well, well, well. Why am I not surprised to see you on top of things?"

I almost did not recognise him. His body language was so different, and the suit he wore, as it covered half of his face, made it hard to identify him.

"Cadriel?" I asked, unsure and utterly confused. I had been sure that he would just die in the Carnival, with no chance for the win.

He mockingly applauded me. "Perfect score, Temira!" He laughed, voice breaking. "Oh, the look on your face! You thought you were the only one that was a good actor, huh?" He shook his head. "Yeah, I know, who would have suspected that the…", he changed his body language and inflexion to the Cadriel I knew, "p… poor, i… innocent and blue-eyed Cadriel would be any menace." He laughed, assuming his confident stance.

"Damn fine display, I have to admit," I said. He really had me convinced of his 'alter ego'. But at the same moment, it dawned on me. I should have seen it coming. The goddamn narcissist Archon Khyrac was, would never allow for an inferior competitor. Khyrac wanted the best and finest display in everything and nothing less.

"Thank you," he said with a mocking bow. Sighing, and drawing his daggers, he continued, "Alas, your story ends here, Temira. I will win this and you will die."

I put down the prize, and kicked it behind me, assuming a defensive stance. "You can most certainly try," I said.

And try he did.

Immediately he lunged forward, his left dagger in a hammer grip, his right dagger in a reverse grip, making it harder to control both weapons equally from a defensive point of view. I used both daggers in a reverse grip.

That fucker was fast.

With his left, he cut across my chest, which I barely dodged. At the same time, he used his right with a step forward to try and pierce my neck. I shifted my weight, barely fast enough to dodge towards him instead of away, getting my neck out of the way. His attack was too quick to get out of his reach, so I had to play into it, only to be met by his left knee against my hip. The pain was marginal, or at least compared to my head meeting what I hoped was his chin.

Alas, I found out he had twisted his head out of the way. I ended up smashing my forehead onto his left collar bone, causing him pain, but no more. I ducked, as his reversed, right dagger came back the other way, again aiming for my head and neck. I also tried to jump out of his range, as I could also feel him turn his other hand downward and toward me, aiming between my collarbone and shoulder blade. But he was too fast. I felt the tip of his left dagger penetrating my upper right arm, pain shooting through me, even though I moved away from his attack.

He was faster than me, and he did not seem wounded. This engagement would not go my way, if I played for time.

I tumbled back, trying to breathe away the searing pain, noticing I could still move my arm, but how well it would do me in combat from here on in, I was doubtful of. I felt the prize at my heel while he closed the distance, slowly this time and carefully. That bastard knew he had the upper hand and now he was basking in it.

Capitalise on that.

"Precisely what I had in mind," I thought.

Now that my arm was compromised, grappling also was not my best chance, and he was just a bit taller than me, which made range also his forte. I had to get out, but he was standing right in between me and the door, the stupid pedestal was also hindering me.

Using my acting skills once more, I started laughing. "You are a cheeky wanker, you know that?" I spat at him.

He smiled, of course, he could not resist, gloating seemed to be his thing. "Why, thank you for noticing. At your service!" he said while nodding mockingly, implying another bow.

Just enough for me.

I stepped back, positioning the prize right before my left foot, using it to propel the orb like a soccer ball towards Cadriel, who genuinely seemed surprised. The orb hit him dead on the chin, his body shutting down for a split second, while the prize was deflected upwards and slightly behind Cadriel. I threw my dagger with my healthy left arm, but Cadriel was tough, and already standing up, the dagger missed his torso, but burrowed itself deep in his right upper leg. He let out a short scream while I charged him, with my now painfully pulsing right arm, I stabbed towards his brachial plexus, right in his armpit, while passing him, tearing the dagger out of him again. The pain was excruciating, my biceps felt like it was on fire or filled with acid, but as my scream mixed with Cadriel's, I knew I struck the pressure point just as I intended, remembering Ailith's favourite trick. With my healthy, but empty left arm, I fumbled at the flying orb, catching it barely and pressing it against my chest.

This was my only chance. I had to take it.

I performed a dive roll, to be a more difficult target, trying not to break my neck. I used the momentum the roll gave me to get back on my feet, took three powerful, sprinting steps and threw myself out of the prize room. Cadriel was on my heels, I felt it, he screamed something I could not understand, because of the air that was whiffing around my ears.

I looked back, only to see him lunge at me, one dagger raised, the arm I stabbed useless, nonetheless ready to kill. He really was one tough asshole. Cadriel had torn out my dagger and thrown it somewhere and now came for me.

I got saved by the bell.

I now saw what Vect had meant when he had said I should not let anyone else leave with the prize.

Cadriel started to convulse, the dagger slipping from his hand, foam in front of his mouth, and he dropped beside me, shaking silently with uncontrollable spasms, until he just… stopped.

Haunted, I looked around me, as I had heard some other arriving competitors around me, but as I looked, I saw that they shared the same fate.

"What the hell..." I squeaked, still panting and horrified. I only now realised how much in danger I had been. If I had not made it…

No time.

I got to my feet. Just in time. A shot rang through the darkness. I yelped and jumped back as a shot of a splinter rifle hit the floor in front of me.

"And once I did, I would make haste to the exit, which will be at the center point of the base of the pyramid and be quite wary of my surroundings."

What?

The bounty hunters would now hunt me? Was that what Vect had meant?

I dived for cover, as I had extrapolated where the shot had come from.

A second one missed me closely.

Damn. My suit was torn so much that it was useless. The stealth function was done for.

Aware of that, I tore off my mask. There was no use for it anyways anymore and it hindered breathing ever so slightly. I needed all the air I could get.

Also, I was aware that the bounty hunter was toying with me. After all, splinter rifles were extremely accurate and I figured that if he really had wanted to hit me, he would have. Still, that did not mean that I was safe. I wanted to get out of this without any kind of bullet wounds.

My heart sank even deeper as I heard a deep, portentous rumble coming from the ground. Only seconds later, the ground started shaking and with that, the buildings around me started to crumble.

"You've got to be kidding me!" I gasped.

No time for caution, as it seemed. Great.

I decided to go for it. Ducking low, I sprinted towards the teleporter, running for cover whenever.

Another shot missed me by mere centimeters. By now, I was absolutely sure that the assassin was playing.

Seconds before I dived into the teleporter, I heard the sound of another teleporter activating. So that was how the bounty hunters were able to control a whole arena while there were so few of them.

Again, my world exploded in light and nausea…

…and spat me out in a place I had never seen before.

Behind me, a hoarse voice, which I knew, said to me, the words dripping with mockery, "Hello, darling."

"You have earned a reprieve."

The Overlord's words still echoed in her head. Lisbeth still could not believe it. After all this time she had served and suffered, the Overlord finally gave her some rest.

She fled to the kitchen. Getting out of the Scrying Chamber always was good. The light in there did something vile to her senses.

There, she went right to the slaves, ignoring the other aliens around here, giving the overseer no chance to play his games with her.

The waiter-slaves were about to leave as she entered.

"Lisbeth!" Noiva happily exclaimed as she saw her. She came to her and hugged her - gently this time, remembering how she had hurt Lisbeth the last time.

"Novia," Lisbeth softly said.

"What are you doing here? Is there anything else we have to do today?" Noiva asked, a bit of dread in her voice.

Lisbeth smiled warmly and replied, "No, nothing of the sorts. The Overlord gave me a break and I want to spend it with you guys."

"Wow! That's a new one!" Novia replied.

"I know. I just hope it's not a trap," Lisbeth replied disheartened.

Novia took Lisbeth's head between her hands and said, "Hey. Don't let him get into your head. You're fine. Let's have a good time, yes?"

Lisbeth nodded. "You're right." She was not entirely convinced, but she felt better.

With that, the others took her to their common room, where they sat together and consoled each other. Stories were told, atrocities were shared, to make them easier to bear.

With a quivering voice, Lisbeth also told them about what had happened to her and what the Overlord had done to her - not all the grisly details, but she described her journey so far.

The wave of compassion and pity she got from the others warmed her heart and helped her deal with the situation. She so needed this. She had never realised how important belonging somewhere was. And she felt like she belonged with those slaves. With her kind.

She did not know how long she was with the others. It must have been quite a while, since they also shared a meal together. It was nothing fancy, not as exquisite as the things she usually got when she was with the Overlord, but still, it tasted so much better when it was shared with friends.

For the first time in months, she felt somewhat human again, not just like some toy. It was a breather that came just at the right time. Any more of the pressure and she was not sure whether she could have endured until Temira was back.

But now, she would.

Far too soon, she got called back to the Overlord.

With a heavy heart, she made her way back to his quarters. The nasty ones.

That the Overlord greeted her with a smile made her uneasy. But then again, what did not make her uneasy these days? "So, did you enjoy your little break?"

"Yes, Overlord. Thank you, Overlord," she replied dutifully.

"Good, good. I need you sane and useful, for once. There is much to do, still. I want things properly prepared," he gave back.

"If I may ask, for what do you need things prepared, Overlord?" she asked.
This time, his fangs shone through his smile. "You will see."

His words bode ill for her.

"Remember me, girl?" the figure clad in the vantablack bodyglove said to me.

Hell yes, I remembered him! How could I forget the monster that had torn me apart and almost killed me?

The place we stood in was a lonely square once more, debris lying around. However, the ground was not shaking or rumbling here, even though the surroundings looked a lot like the Sprawls. I could only hear some distant rumbling and thunder. Then again, each part of Commorragh was so massive that it was easily possible that the arena of the Carnival was only a miniscule area of the Sprawls.

But that meant that the teleporter was particularly manipulated so it would put me here, with him, in the middle of nowhere. And that meant that I not only had to look out for him, but for a million other things too. Most likely, this was not a sealed-off environment like the arena was.

I was in dire danger and if no one helped me, I was done for. If not the bounty hunter did it, something else would kill me around here.

With slow, cat-like movements he walked towards me. I backed away at the same rate. "What the hell is this about?" I asked him, my voice shaking.

"Well, someone wants you dead - again. What did you think?" he chuckled. Changing his tone into a sickeningly lascivious one, he continued, "You know, we had such a good time together. I loathe that it was so short. But now…" I did not have to see his face to know that he leered at me. "We have all the time in the universe. Which, of course, will be horrible for you."

"What makes you think that?" I asked him, my gaze sneakily checking my surroundings for a way to outmanoeuvre him - or to hide.

Don't fight. Play for time.

By now, I was sure as hell that those compelling and counselling thoughts came from somewhere else, not my own mind. Though the fact should have frightened me and should have made me worry heavily, considering the universe and its predators, it somehow did not. So far, this voice had guided me well. Without it, I was sure I would have failed.

So I would play for time.

I knew that I was no match for him in a direct confrontation. I was hurting and bleeding, my regeneration only starting to kick in. Even if I had been at the top of my game, it was an unfair match. I had been enhanced, yes, greatly so. But I still had to bow to a Dark Eldar warrior, no matter what.

"That I have all the time I want?" He scoffed. "I am done for. I won't get out of this. You really should have a closer look at politics." Another snorted laugh. "Oh, wait. Nobody gives enough fucks about you to tell you."

Something about his behaviour seemed off. His movements were somehow jittery and erratic. Was that what a Drukhari on combat drugs looked like? If he really had nothing to lose, it would make sense that he wanted to get the most out of killing me with a mixture that would enhance his experience.

But that also meant that I had even less of a chance against him.

Also… what was he talking about? Had High Commorragh been reworked? Was I in danger because of that? Who had hired him?

A million questions.

I would have to ask my master when I was back - and hope for answers.

But right now, I had other problems.

"Changes in politics?" I asked.

He laughed, his whole body shaking with it. Fluttery. Queer. While laughing, he drew off his mask and threw it aside.

Never before had I seen beauty and open madness combined so closely. Like most of his race, he looked young, handsome, a clear-cut face, like all Drukhari had it. However, his pale skin was marred by a big scar that ran across his entire face - he had seen his share of violence and battle, that much was clear. Also, the alabaster of his face was pierced by blue-blackish veins and his black eyes had a feverish sheen. He certainly was on something.

Ignoring my question and grinning widely, he said to me, "I want to see you with my own eyes while I tear you to pieces! Come here!"

He started towards me, but I had anticipated it.

I threw the prize at him but he was even faster than Cadriel, because he dodged it with a move I could barely follow. However, that was the millisecond I needed.

My sneakily looking around had revealed some debris and pipes, in which I probably could hide. I had to take my chances. I darted away, towards the place. I had to make it.

I heard his shrill laughter behind me, voice cracking, the laughter of a madman - and somebody who had indeed nothing to lose. "Yes, run! And you know what, I won't even use my gun for you! I'll give you a chance to run! This will make it so much more fun!" I heard that he drew some saliva back between his teeth.

I had seen a lot of facets of madness around here, but I was sure that he was crazed because of whatever he had taken. I did not want to be caught by him and find out what he would do to me!

I sidestepped and ran in a zig-zag manner away from him, so he would have a hard time getting a hold of me. I did not look back, but heard a high, humming sound.

That was when the pain hit.

He had cast a throwing star after me. I did not know whether I had dodged it that much, but it cut my left shank only for a few millimeters. Nonetheless, the wound hurt like hell, it burned like fire. Poison, of course. I just hoped it was not a deadly one.

I cried out, but kept on running. No time for weakness.

"Yes, suffer!" I heard him cry behind me. Very close behind me. Far closer than I wanted.

I only had one dagger left, therefore, I loathed to throw it at him. I would need it in case he caught me.
Another throw - another near-miss, this time at my other shank. Another cry.

No, he was toying with me. He wanted to cripple me, so I could not escape, and then have his way with me.
I did not know how I kept going. The agony was almost unbearable. But lying down and giving up was not an option. Not now. I was so close to getting out.

I tried to use cover as much as I could, but fleeing took priority. Cover would get me nothing if he caught up with me. I concentrated on running, ignoring the pain as much as I could. I realised that I got slower. He would get me anytime soon.

Suddenly, I stumbled and fell. It was bound to happen.

The floor was direly uneven and now the agony caught up with me, making it so very hard to lift my feet properly. However, I had not completely forgotten my training. I did not land ungainly on the floor, but used my momentum to roll to the side.

Not a second too early.

Where my right thigh had been a second ago, he now rammed a longer, serrated blade into the ground, splitting the stone with ease. He glared at me, panting, salivating and hissing at me, "Oh yes, play hard to get!"

The bounty hunter tried to grab me, but I slashed with my dagger at his hand. I missed as he drew it back in a split-second. But I used the time I created with that to shove myself backwards and jump to my feet…

…only to scream in pain, as the poison in my muscles reacted once more and made them cramp immediately.

He again cackled his insane laughter. "You're not getting away this time!" he spat at me, lithely jumping to his feet, coming at me.

With a howl that showed my distress, I made an equally desperate lunge towards the pipes, in which I hoped to hide. I was able to grab the rims of the pipe and mustering all my strength, I drew myself into it, shoving my smaller frame into the confined space, which would lock him out.

"No!" I yelled, as I felt that he grabbed me at my left ankle. I kicked at him, but again, he dodged the attack easily.

I squeaked desperately as he dragged me out of the pipe again, he was unbelievably strong. Even though I tried to anchor myself in the pipe, he pulled me out without much effort.

As he had me out, I tried to slash at his face with my dagger, tired and desperate, the blow badly aimed, but he again dodged the hit and hit my wrist so hard that the dagger was thrown out of my hand.
And with that, he was over me, shoving his knee into my solar plexus, robbing me of all my air and nausea immediately exploded in me. The bounty hunter leant in on me, his face only centimetres away from mine, which was distorted in pain, and he locked my wrists with his left hand.

In his right, he held another serrated blade, which he now ran down my belly, drawing a deep, painful cut and opening my suit completely. I squirmed and breathlessly moaned in pain.

Panting himself, he pushed out between clenched teeth, "Now, let's have some fun… I'll make some new holes to fuck y…"

He stopped with a pained grunt. I had headbutted him with the last ounce of strength that was left in my body. Right on the nose.

I got really lucky, because the drugs he was on did not seem to block out pain. I stunned him with the hit as his nose started to bleed. That short stun loosened his grip around my wrists, I freed myself and pushed my palms hard against his already injured nose.

Yipping, he backed away, holding his face with his left, the blade in his right useless right now. I struggled away from him.

"You fucking bitch! I'LL KILL YOU!" he howled at me, blood smeared on his face and teeth, which made him look even more menacing.

Knowing I could not get to my feet and seeing that he blocked the pipes from me, I could do nothing but crawl and shove myself away from him as quickly as I could.

He got up, gripped his blade tightly and came at me once more. This time, he would stab to kill, I was sure.

I was looking death in the eye once more. There was nothing I could do.

As he had almost reached me and I was sure that this was it, it happened.

A slight whooshing sound.

A black figure that dropped onto him.

And a split-second later his head and shoulders were crushed under raptor-like claws, bone and brains exploding like an overripe watermelon on the hard stone.

He died immediately and with a slight, gurgling sound.

I panted heavily and, with careful hope, looked up at the Scourge, who had crushed

the bounty hunter under his claws. "Sakh'ur'lath?"

He nodded.

I started to laugh, voice cracking. "I… I never thought I'd say this, but… boy am I happy to see you!"

Without acknowledging what I just said, he cawed, "Overlord's regards. Now get back into the arena and win this!"

"But… but how do I get back?" I asked, slowly calming down.

Sakh'ur'lath reached into one of the pockets of his suit, produced a small, metal cube and tossed it to me. I caught it with shaking hands. "This is a teleporter cube. It will get you back close to the entrance of the arena. Make haste, unless you want to race against falling, crumbling buildings again!" With these words, he beat his wings and quickly ascended into the crimson sky.

I needed a few moments to grasp everything that just happened.

I just had - barely and with help - survived a fight with a Drukhari. I had been very lucky. If Sakh'ur'lath had been here a second later…

I shook my head. No time to think about it, once more.

And, I also realised the other implication: the Overlord was indeed always watching me. I was sure that it had been him who had sent Sakh'ur'lath, it had not just been an empty phrase from the Scourge. He had to care for me, if he went through this effort to save me.

But what about the voice in my head? Was it something I imagined? Did I go insane, slowly, but surely? Was it the Overlord's?

It made sense that it was the latter, but I could not explain how it worked. Maybe it was my mind playing tricks on me. Then again, how could it know to play for time? I did not know that help was coming!

I could not tell.

Snarling angrily, I slowly got to my feet. It still hurt, but at least my shanks were not immediately cramping and I could walk. The backpack with the medical supplies I had long lost since now. I had completely forgotten to take it with me after the showdown in the prize room. Then again, I had not had much time for that…
I fetched my dagger and the prize (which had survived in one piece) and then looked at the cube in my hand. I saw that it had fine lines that parted it, so I guessed that I had to twist it to activate it. I did so, and after a soft clicking noise, the world again around me exploded in light and sound.

After the split-second the teleport took, I breathed heavily not to vomit. My stomach was still tormented from the knee hit it had taken earlier and the blood loss was getting to me. I had to hurry.

As I looked around, I saw that Sakh'ur'lath had been rather cryptic with his description. The exit was nowhere to be found.

And the ground was shaking.

I looked behind me and let out a desperate gasp. The arena was collapsing, rapidly so. I needed to get out fast. The incline I was standing on guided my way - to the prize I had walked slightly downwards all the time. It fitted that to get back out, I had to run upwards.

Pain coursing through my body with every step, I noticed with exasperation that the rumbling and tumbling of buildings grew louder. I would not outrun this. I needed a solution and I needed it fast.

For a while, I still had to tumble by myself, feeling my strength fading with each step. The crystal ball under my arm seemed so heavy all of a sudden and I had sheathed my dagger as my right hand was far too shaky to use it successfully.

My regeneration did not cut it this time. I was wounded too heavily.

My chance of cutting the way short came in the form of heavy galopp behind me.

I turned around, only to see a big, horse-esque creature stampede towards me. It was taller than a horse, but quadruped, yet far more spindly. It sported devil-like horns, sharp teeth, heavy bone plates that protruded on its back like vertebrae that had grown through the skin and its feet were not hooves, but small, dog-like paws. Its face and general physique reminded me of a horse, though.

Even though it stormed towards me, I was sure that it was not charging at me. It seemed as if it just ran from the noise.

This could work.

One more effort of strength.

I let it come at me. It really did not seem to notice me, which was unsurprising, considering its size. At the last second, I dodged it and clung to the protruding bone plates. Even though it moved, I did not have a too hard time climbing it, though my injuries were making this a lot harder than necessary.

I nudged myself between two of the vertebrae and let it run. That I knew how to ride really helped me here - I was actually rather comfortable on the back of the beast, its big galopp jumps made it easy to sit on it. It was a lot faster than me on foot and the distance between us and the debris widened.

Good.

However, now I had to find a way to somehow steer it. I looked closer at the animal and found that the protruding vertebrae-like bones were everywhere. If it also reacted like a horse, it should not be too hard to get it into a different direction.

I climbed a bit closer to its head - his body was so massive that it surely would not have felt anything in terms of steering I could have tried back at its belly. Sitting on its neck was a lot harder, as it was narrower and the movements under me pushed painfully against my tormented body.

Because I was so concentrated on not falling down, I almost missed it.

At the corner of my eye I saw that we passed a bigger street, on whose end a gigantic, iron-wrought door was, which was lodged into a sheer, probably 10 metres high wall. Utterly unclimbable.

This had to be it. This had to be the exit!
No time for gentleness.

Like I knew it from my equestrian experience, I shifted my weight towards the side I wanted to go, pushed my left foot against one of the bone nubs on its neck and rammed my dagger into the connection point of the bone nub of the other side, to forcefully draw its head to this side. Because I was pushing against the other side, it could not turn its shoulder and run straight ahead with its head turned. It had to go right. It let out a defiant screech that was somewhere between the howl of a wolf and the neigh of a horse and it bucked shortly, which I managed to outmanoeuvre, to not fall off. Never had I dreamt that my skills as an equestrian would come in handy in Commorragh.

And the beast turned!
"Yes!" I hissed triumphantly.

The big beast turned its course towards the gate!

Careful.

The warning came a second before it happened.

Of course, the way to the exit was trapped.

Apparently, the beast had triggered some sort of mechanism, because the buildings and walls around us started to crumble. Big blocks of stone and debris rained down on us. The beast dodged most of them, from some I manoeuvred it away.

However, again, certain things were bound to happen.

It was impossible to dodge this one. A particularly big stone fell down on us. The creature screeched. I did not think. I jumped off it.

I met the floor with a hard thud and a scream of agony, but I was able to roll most of the impact off. Still, falling onto fresh wounds was incredibly painful. I did not want to, but I had to look back to see what had happened to my steed.

It had not survived. The block had crushed half its body under it. Had I not jumped off, I would have died with it.

Also, I found that the debris trap had been finely calculated, because it stopped in a perfectly straight line about a metre in front of me.

I started to laugh hysterically. I could not take it anymore. I had almost died about three times in the last two hours. It was just too much, I needed to let it out. Tears mixed with my laughter. It felt good to no longer hold it back.

I did not know how long I sat there, laughing, crying, bleeding out. I only knew that I had to do it, otherwise I would go insane.

After this while, which had purged my mind of all the tension and had me relaxed a lot more than I had been in the last year, I got up. I was dizzy and shaking. I needed to get some medical care soon, or I was done for.

I turned around and smiled at the heavy portal. This had to be it!

I limped to it. Scraping all the remaining strength in my body back together, I pushed against the heavy portal. I had almost fallen with this, as it opened by itself once I had pushed against it. Crimson light fell through it.

After the darkness of the Sprawls, the light of High Commorragh blinded me as I stepped out of the arena.

I had done it.

It was over.

"I had done it. It was over." is also how I think about the Carnival. Jeez. A rollercoaster of emotions and creativity there. I am happy to go back to Temira's "normal" routine.

What do you guys think? Let me know, I take PMs or public reviews! :)

Stay safe and healthy out there!