6 – FARZER’S GLADIATOR

"Lord Farzer," the soldier besides me bows, and so I do too. "This person should meet you."

As the soldier and I look up from our bow again… I see his face. Lord Farzer. Sitting on his throne. There were no soldiers around him – which is different than the typical emperors you'd hear of. He was an immortal.

"I see. Gladly. But why would that be?"

"It is my Father, my lord," I speak before the soldier could.

"I didn't permit you to speak," Lord Farzer tells me, and grabs a shiny glass sitting upon the table by the throne. "But go on."

"My Father is a gladiator… sir."

Lord Farzer looks at me with ever so little shock. He sips whatever's in the cup, and then looks at me.

"My gladiators do not have a family. They are here… because they don't have one."

"But this one clearly is the child of a gladiator, sire," the soldier speaks. "I can say that with having seen it with my own two eyes. The lad doesn't lie."

"But it has been a rule… an unwritten one. We do not… that's impossible. People with a family, are not for entertainment!" He shouts – tossing the cup to the floor.

The soldier looks down to the floor.

"He…" I say – with too much effort put into looking at Lord Farzer, and the two of them look to me – almost instantly. "Did it for us. We are sorry. He only brought to us food and clothes, without ever telling us… how."

Lord Farzer gets up from his throne, and takes slow steps towards me. Then he places his hand upon my shoulder.

"I'm glad that you told me," he tells me. "But you need to understand that what your Father did… is doing… is a crime."

"I understand."

Lord Farzer just looks at me for a moment. "But he will pay in a different way. He has to. I cannot allow such crimes… it will only piled up."

"I am aware."

"Then will you help me?"

I just look directly into his eyes… looking down at me with a strictness and… such godly nature. And I nod to the lord.

I don't get to ask more details about it, and just lay on my bed, wondering… what did it mean? What would be happening? I don't really want my Father to… get hurt. He was a nice… and strong person.

I twist and turn around my bed, but don't get the peace of sleep. And also… I feel a bit… eerie… as if there is something upon the wall. But I try ignore it. It couldn't be nothing… but it couldn't be something either. The feeling… is just fear. Real world was… different.

I feel something flutter away as I close my eyes, and I don't care for it. Could be some bug. It didn't matter. I should probably just get sleep.

I sleep it off somehow and find myself near the coliseum… after a couple days, alongside a different soldier – who explains to the guards that I can be let in.

As I follow him into the place I had never been before, I wonder… spectators were allowed through another gate, but I was never even a spectator here, yet, just at my first time… I was taking the royal entrance. That could mean a good sign.

"There you are," Lord Farzer, joined by other royals… speaks to me. I feel flattered, and just simply bow to all of them – especially Lord Farzer.

"You asked for me, my lord?"

"You sure seem to have changed quite a bit since the last time. It's like… I can feel something else blooming in you now."

"What do you think it might be?" one of the other royals ask.

Lord Farzer chuckles. "Could be anything. But something different is what I feel."

Another soldier enter the room, and goes to Lord Farzer to whisper something into his ears – Lord Farzer gives a pleased smile.

"Your Father is ready… are you?"

"Ready for what, my lord?"

"You have to face him in the arena," Lord Farzer smiles. "Remind him that he owns a family. And he has to be gained back to consciousness in there."

"That would be…"

"The right thing to do. A bit of humility. He needs to find it," Lord Farzer says and searches on my face. "Or do you doubt my choice?"

"No sir!" I say. "I'm just contemplating."

"It is a big decision… but think of your mother," Lord Farzer says. "You mortals don't have years… your mother could be gone – waiting for her husband to return. And his reckless behaviour could shatter her heart."

"But facing my own Father…"

"He is your Father… you're the only one who can do it."

I give into following these theatrics and move towards the entrance where I need to enter the arena from.

"What is this for?" I ask, as I'm handed over a sword and a shield.

"You're supposed to fight in there, you know," the guard tells me. "Unless you're a sheep."

"No that-"

I hear shouts of cheers which shakes me. I just grab the sword, the shield, and a helmet just lying there… there is a lot more here. But I didn't really need them.

The guard nods to me, and I nod back. The huge doors open and reveal me the dusty arena. The sand rises as the large doors swiftly open wide. Dust hits my face to greet me, so I lower my gaze.

"Good luck," the guard tells me.

I put my hand forward and walk a little deeper into the deeper. The arena feels a lot bigger than I had imagined. The doors behind me close. I see a figure through the dust… that must be Father. The glow from his attire feels too unfamiliar. What has become of him?

"Today," Lord Farzer's voice silences everything – putting everyone to a rest. "Is a very new… day. Another day of BELOVED fights."

I look around to my sides… there were others… more than me and my Father… a lot more. I see something familiar on their faces. Fear. Looking towards the man far ahead of all of us. Farzer's Gladiator – my Father.

"We have an interesting challenge to our gladiator… our beloved gladiator… Romairam. Join us, and cheer… as he who doesn't die, and only shows wrath and blood not his own – fight the people whose deaths… I have written into the pages of fate."

What?

I walk forward in a hurried but slow manner. I feel… I see… it really was Father. In that SHINING armour of a gladiator. Ones I haven't seen before. Maroon and black tightly wrapping around his form. Showing off his MARVELOUS body.

This man doesn't look towards me. He only seems to be looking down to the ground – with his eyes closed. I stop at a reasonable distance… my gut feeling asking me to run.

"Look straight ahead, my gladiator, Romairam," Lord Farzer commands.

Father does so… and I see his face turn to a shock as he finds me. His eyes flutter without his control. His lips gape in a way… but with no words to tell me – at least an attempt which I couldn't quite understand.

"GLADIATORS… have no family. You are a mere piece of entertainment and… a symbol. Of godly powers. Wrath. Chaos… blood. Power… power. It is a hard thing to own, right, Romairam?"

Father just shakes his head, speechlessly. "Is there nothing I can do?" his voice shakes.

"And when I say that… it means you shouldn't have a family. But you do… so you shouldn't. Right, Romairam?"

"Please. I will leave them," Father speaks up.

"And have your kid think… I gave them a life of misery? Of pointless and wrong mercy? No. You are killing your son… and your wife. You will repent. I promise you'll be correcting your mistakes. I'll make sure."

"In the name of the all things holy and divine. May the light from above guide me unto painless death and afterlife where this all is a mere nightmare," I hear somebody a far behind me – chant.

"It is time we begin, Romairam," Lord Farzer says.

"May my blade show quick death. May there be one slash, may it not break until each one of you dies the fastest death," Father closes his eyes tightly to say, making me breathe hard.

"So then…" Lord Farzer says.

"Please make sure not to run or mock death. It is eternal. It is painful – I hope you don't allow to toy with it and make it worse. Stay still and don't scream any Lowly Screams. It is pointless and tempting to demons. Don't panic. Have patience."

"I bestow…"

"Your turn shall come too."

"…my wrath on you BUGS. Play to chaos' tune, Romairam. Yin in your Yang."

"OH MY F-" I see Father – Romairam, disappear from in front of me. I get pushed to my side, with the shuddering breeze passing me. I look at Romairam's blade having struck into the guy's chest.

Romairam moves his hand to the guy's neck and lifts him up, while chanting. "May you bleed, rot, cut, burn, drown, and still only laugh at your own pain… may my sword put you at that part of the afterlife you crave. Misery and pain – for defying the only god. Lord Farzer."

The sword slowly is taken out of the guy's body. But I see life in him… life staring right into Romairam's eyes… which look at his own hands choking onto the dying guy. The hands shudders… as if my Father is watching all this.

"Father?" I call out.

Romairam lifts his sword again – aimed at the guy's throat… but I see it move towards the gaping mouth of the guy… and the head above his mouth is sliced away and pushed to the ground. Slowly. As he tries to scream into the sword.

"-run!" somebody comes from behind me, and I push my shield to his face, and slash my sword at him, cut his cloth – revealing a new cut.

The guy puts his hand to his chest, and looking at his own blood – he looks at me with tears. I get pushed to my side and see a slash on the man's chest… one crossing over my sword's cut – but deeper. Clearly the sword… was stronger. So was this person.

"Escape…" Romairam says, the man's falling body is caught by one of Father's hand. "Wherever you run, may blades find your neck. But mine shall only dig into your chest."

"And I hope it shatters there," the man says, glaring into Father's eyes. "Into a million pieces which scrape at my heart. And may your hands holding the stain for forevermore. Itching between your fingers – until you cut your own fingers, holding that blade."

Romairam drops the man, and stares down at him. "So be it," he says, lifting his leg. "So may my legs." In one thud he beats the man's head. With the another his chest. "See if I rot in the same hell as you."

Father stops… even when I see the guy still alive. Barely still breathing… staring right into the sky.

"Run… kid. Romairam… it isn't the person either of us know outside. Just climb the fence… it is your only way out," he says, lifting his sword. "Escape isn't for me." He stabs into his own neck, and his hands stay gripping on the sword – even after he has gone.

"Pain would be mercy to ones who are to die. But they yet choose death as if they can heal from the pain. Consider this a gift… consider me a god while I wish for you to never find the escape. May you find your afterlife of lies, and feel ten folds pain there. May only my spur words soothe you then."

Romairam goes to another man, who shivers and has already peed at his spot. Yet Romairam hands his own blade to the man. The man barely holds up the sword, and looks at Romairam with a confusion.

"I don't know your name. Carve it upon your chest," Romairam says.

The man seems to get an unknown motivation in his eyes – his hands hurriedly holds up the blade and carves symbols on his own chest. But he looks down and slashes them while groaning in pain. Then he carves on his stomach, only to scratch it off again, with more pain.

"May eternity be to you to stand at the face of fear, and carve names upon yourself because you are mute in fear. May you hope you carve a name which let's death give you yet another moment to live… but you get closer to your death, and away from yourself – as you carve more names."

The man carves the devil's name upon his chest, and shudders while letting go of the sword. His body engulfs in flames, as he cries hoping his tears put off the flame. But even Romairam takes few steps back, to get away from the flames.

"The devil deserves love, and not you. May he feel there is love inside you, which he wishes to reach and grab. And may be itch to cut you out to gain it. May he break through your flesh in madness and lay you waste, hoping to find the deserveless love you gained in your life, in your insides. May with your torn feet and pinched out eyes you get the illusion that you may be in heaven… but never know if you aren't."

He moves to the remaining three men, kneeling down this way.

"We will do anything. Please spare us," they beg.

Romairam moves to one guy and puts his hand upon the guy's head, tilting it up – making him look at the gladiator. "May everybody who knows you, take a bit of you. Bit by bit, part by part."

At this, the other two guys lift their daggers and slice pieces of the guy. The guy tries to scream and push them away, but they stuff his mouth with his own pieces – until the guy only gives muffled screams.

"Don't fear. Now you will have nothing to lose."

The two guys dig through the sand and put bits of the guy they are cutting, into the ground, and cover it up with sand. As if it was his pain they were hiding.

"And may each inch of you feel different pain that you are confused of what to feel and what to ignore," the guy's eyes bleed as he gulps down his own flesh. "And may you know no pain in the end… and no end to your pain."

He just lays there… alive, letting the two still piece him apart. His lips only smile – as his body shakes until it stops. He had passed. But the two don't stop.

Romairam goes to one of the guys and pulls him away towards the ground. The guy begs and screams as Romairam grabs his hand and cuts out his skin, to pull his veins out. The guy dies quite quickly, but Romairam pulls out each every vein of him, and lays it out on the ground.

"Art… someone will appreciate this one day. I'm sorry you didn't live until you could witness your own body forming such beautiful patterns. I hope you wish on the stars… that your such sadness doesn't repeat. May people have the blessing to see their own veins, in the future."

Romairam looks at the last guy, just wishing he had already died. He tries to put his own dagger to himself… he slices at his hands… but makes no cuts. He desperately looks at Romairam.

Romairam silently goes to the guy, who doesn't budge or fear Romairam's presence. He takes the guy's dagger and starts slicing at the guy's face. I look away, but I feel like Romairam would be instantly near me, if I do… I watch until the guy becomes faceless… a red blob.

He was still alive, somehow. His eyes look at Romairam, with anticipation… as if Romairam would say something. But Romairam silently chops the guy's toes and fingers. Which he tries to escape… but he is forced to lose them. And he gives in with pain. Romairam let's the guy scream and cry upon his red flesh. But the guy doesn't speak any word. Neither of them do.

Romairam finally stares at the guy. "You can die now." And the guy instantly falls to the floor.

Finally… Romairam sits besides me. Close enough to end me in so many ways… but the methods he had for the others… what would I have? What other twisted way would I find my end in?

He doesn't answer my questions. But in his eyes looking into the distance… I knew he knew about the questions I had.

The far doors open, and I look away to see what it was – a lady gets pushed inside.

Even with fear for Romairam… I find myself running towards the lady, and collecting her from the ground.

"Mother, mother! Are you alright? Why are you…"

I hear a clink around the ground near us… and find Romairam's sword there. I look back at him.

"You should never have been born. Go back in, the way you came from," Romairam says, sitting down while looking this way.

I just stare for a while, while mother does too. "H-how?" I ask, and mother stares at me while shivering.

"Cut open her womb. You will fit. You should. You better do. Or even the devil would show his wrath here to stop me and show you mercy, for the things I'd have to do, just to satisfy Lord Farzer. He expects great things, and I cannot disappoint."

"H-he," mother says. "Love me too much. He cannot kill me. Son… wear my skin. Wear my skin after I die, and he might let you go."

"Do it," Romairam says. "See if I care. See if anyone here cares. But you better do it, or your Father will. Someone will. And the crowd will only cheer to it."

"Lord Farzer should be impressed," Mother says. "You might be spared. Clear out my entire flesh. And wear my skin as armour."

I pick the blade… I wanted to live… I insert the sword into her womb. Circle it to make space. She screams and slaps me. She begs me that she has changed her mind, but I shut her mouth. Her wretched mouth which had permitted me.

"Stop whining mother! It is too late! There is no point in your Lowly SCREAMS. Be stronger for a moment, will you? It's your turn. This too shall pass. Be stronger. Be stronger. Be stronger. Be stronger…"

I chant and chant, even after she stops fighting. I take her flesh out and place it upon the ground. I make sure any part of her skin isn't affected. I make sure to take my time and clear out her insides, with patience – even when I feel tired.

I see the crowd through the scorching sun… they don't make a sound. They only state. Their eyes don't blink. Nor does Father's, he closely observes as his wife turns into a thin piece of… flesh, skin. Only skin. With barely any flesh.

Her hairs stay, but not her eyes. I even take off the flesh from her breast. I shouldn't be looking at my own mother's breasts. I make sure I put it down in the pile. She is only a thin sheet of skin… armour.

I start wearing her skin. I squeeze myself inside her. Her blood and wet flesh softly grazed my entirety, but I don't stop. I was long gone from the person I was this morning. Or I was always my father's son.

I lift Romairam's sword, after having worn Mother's skin. I walk to him, in her legs… or however one can speak about this. Her hands behead her long gone husband, putting him out of his misery. And not even Lord Farzer says anything.

"Today," Lord Farzer says, bringing me back to this reality… it was real. I had done it. What had I done? "I have a new gladiator."

And so I had become… Lord Farzer's Gladiator.

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The previous update was too light. So here is the updated version. This is Lowly SCREAMS. Thanks for a dear reader to motivate me into updating it!