Ty sighed, his thoughts trailing off into the ether of sleep. "I still can’t figure out what that third person inside of me meant by having to choose a side though?" His question hung in the air, unanswered as he drifted into unconsciousness.
As Ty’s eyes closed, he envisioned a pair of white clouds hovering above what seemed to him like Earth. There, he saw a version of himself painted in black, gazing back at him with calm, red eyes and a still smile.
"Are you the monster or creature inside of me?" Ty inquired.
"Something like that," the creature responded vaguely.
Looking around, Ty asked, "And what are you doing exactly?"
"Just enjoying the view of some old memories," the creature answered as Ty peered down over the edge, observing a large gathering of people. Men dressed in black and women in white mingled together, their laughter echoing, embodying a sense of freedom and joy.
"These are your memories? Who exactly are you?" Ty pressed, seeking clarity.
The creature’s smile faded. Before it could answer Ty’s question, a bomb detonated below, and screams tore through the quiet.
Ty woke to the sound of a baton slamming against the cell bars, yanked back into the grim reality of his confinement.
Ty, fueled by frustration, slammed his fist down on the ground, muttering curses under his breath. "As soon as I feel like I’m understanding something, I get more lost than where I began... why the hell--" His rant was cut short by the guard’s sharp call.
"Hey, Demon Boy! Please don’t make me ask twice!"
Ty blinked himself into focus. "Oh, don’t you mean the JJ chick from yesterday?"
His mind still tried to untangle the dream as another thought slipped out. "Hey, what time is it anyway?"
His stomach rumbled before the guard could answer, dragging him into a more immediate problem.
"I’m not used to being hungry," he thought, perplexed by the sensation.
"It’s almost 10:00 AM. I came to check on you in the night and brought you food around 7:00 AM, but it looks like your friend went ahead and ate for you.
Now get up and let’s get a move on," the guard informed him, showing a rare moment of concern mixed with urgency.
Turning his gaze to the corner of the cell, Ty noticed the old man grinning, contentedly chewing on a sandwich filled with meat and cheese, its details obscured in the low light.
The old man, mischief in his voice, thanked Ty for the unintended meal. "Thanks for the food. You were sleeping so peacefully I helped myself."
Ty decided to leave it alone. He stood, sighed, and walked to the gate. "Sure, let’s get today over with," he said to the guard, resignation and readiness sharing his voice.
The guard unlocked the door and led Ty through shadowed corridors toward the prison’s main entrance, where the Lieutenant read a thick book with a dark leather back cover.
"Ah, thank you, Regalius 1st Class," the Lieutenant acknowledged as he noticed their approach, causing the guard to offer a salute. Ty noted the exchange with curiosity, wondering, "I guess this is some type of military system?"
"Anytime, sir. Thank you. How has he been, by the way?" the guard inquired, momentarily stumbling over his words before adding, "He’s less scary than I expected, but he has a way of demanding what he wants.
All in all, I don’t understand why he’s considered evil, but I’m not paid to think about stuff like that, sir."
"I see. Thank you. I will have him back by 5 PM for the Show Giver to get him in for an interview before the other contestants do," the Lieutenant stated, planning Ty’s schedule with precision.
"Yes, sir, but aren’t the other participants people who actually desire to be in it versus being forced?"
Ty observed as the Lieutenant elaborated on the competition’s stakes, highlighting the dual nature of its participants--those seeking redemption and those with wishes to be fulfilled.
"Of course, at the end of the day, whoever wins earns pardon of all crimes and guilty pleas. Someone on death row can even lead a good life if they win.
But those who have not committed any sins also aim for wishes to be fulfilled, so I don’t think the watchers will care too much. But we will see."
"R-right," the guard agreed, a hint of uncertainty in his voice. "Well, I look forward to you bringing him back, and, Demon Boy, please don’t give the Lieutenant any problems." With a bow, he exited, leaving Ty no opportunity to respond.
The Lieutenant then turned his attention to Ty, proposing a move to a more action-oriented setting. "Let’s get you into a sparring zone. I want to see you use that sword. I did some studying on it and found nothing about it.
Even trying to use it myself, it was nothing more than a fine-looking blade that sliced well."
He continued, addressing the uncertainties surrounding the sword’s origins and capabilities. "You mentioned this man who brought it can’t be trusted, but until we know what the sword can do, it’s hard to piece together points of where we can take this."
"Sure, I don’t mind trying anything at this point, whatever helps bring him down and win this tournament," Ty expressed, showing his willingness to confront whatever challenges lay ahead to achieve his goals.
The Lieutenant gave Ty a confused look and asked, "A what?"
Ty elaborated, "A tournament. Like where a bunch of people fight, and only one or two end up as winners? Usually, you see it in sports like basketball or football after a long season.
The best teams go into a tournament style where, over time, only two teams remain, and then you have a winner for the year."
Still puzzled, the Lieutenant admitted, "Half of that went over my head. What does that have to do with anything? Though, it seems you mean the Arena of Life but less cool."