"BleedingInTheEnd" by LeahDiane

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They cheered as I walked into the coliseum. I glanced at my weapon, thinking about all of the innocent lives I've taken. All of the men who begged for mercy. But I could not stop. This was my life. What they told me I was born to do. But I could do it no

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longer. I would no longer end the lives of many just for their entertainment. I would no longer be their slave, their pawn, their toy.
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"Get up Marcus. The people of Rome expect a lot of you today." Said a fully armored guard from the outside of my chamber. I nodded at him and he opened the cell door. He led me through a series of hallways and to a room which held all sorts of weapons and

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armor. I gathered my usual gear. Simpily a breastplate, greaves, a shield and a gladius. I looked down at the blade knowing what had to come. The guard rushed me out of the room and next to the gate. I've gone through the same routine for two years now.

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Which is much longer than most gladiators survive. I've battled some of the best and won. Everyone told me I should have pride to have won so many battles but each time I kill my opponent, it only makes me feel worse. Now here I stand outside of the gate

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which will be lifted any moment. For the past two years all I've ever known is this coliseum. Seeing the Emperor sit upon his thrown with an evil smile. Suddenly the gate lifted and the guard told me to step forward into the arena. I walked out, the sun

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blinding me for a moment for I only see natural sunlight when I come to battle. The crowd cheered as I came out. I glanced up at the Emperor who looked bored and ready for entertainment. Maybe, just maybe today would be the day I would become free. I

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heard stories, stories of gladiators who fought their way to freedom. A jolt of hope entered me as I thought of a life as a free man. Finally the gate on the other side of the arena opened and another man walked out. He wore the exact same armor I did and

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held the exact same weapon. The crowd did yelled insults at the poor man as he walked closer. He had blond hair and blue eyes. The emperor stood and welcomed the crowd. He then let the games officially begin. This was it. Another battle. I readied my

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sword and carefully approached my opponent. "Do not do this." He said with a warning tone. "We can fight them. We can become free." I was suprised by his determination but sad that he still had hope. "There is no freedom without victory here." I said.

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He grunted. The crowd began to yell at us undoubtedly about how long this was taking. I slashed my sword from the right but the man easily blocked it with his shield. He then pushed forward and attempted to knock me off my feet but I held my ground and

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hit his shield to the side with my sword. I then crashed my shield into his chest and he stumbled backwards. The crowd cheered for me to finish him. The emperor stood and stated, "Our favorite gladiator is about to win again and live to fight another

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day!" At this I felt dread. He expected me to fight again and again until I was finally dedeated. It was at that moment that I decided this was not my future. I whispered to the other gladiator that I'm open to any plans of escpae. He managed a small grin

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and told to me carry out the fight for as long as possible. I nodded and we sparred for a long while without causing the other any harm. The crowd grew angry and started yelling for more blood. Even the emperor became impatient at our friendly fighting.

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The fighting lasted another ten minutes before the emperor finally had enough. He ordered some guards to bring us back to our chambers for the torturer to deal with. A guard opened the gate back into the chambers and directed us to come. We both followed

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him into the chambers. Once we were out of view from the public, the other gladiator stabbed the guard and warned that we need to go fast. We ran through a few tunnels before coming across two guards coming in out direction. They were suprised for a few

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seconds which we used to charge at them. They were barely able to defend themselves when we both slammed our shield against their heads. They fell to the ground, laying there with no sign of motion. We continued even further, taking out guards as we went.

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Finally I saw the one exit in the distance. Two guards stood there with their backs turned to us. Before they could turn around we both threw our swords at both of the soldiers with all of our might. They both fell and we grabbed our weapons as we ran out

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into the city.

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We only made it a few roads before we reached a large market with many tents set up selling food, clothing and all sorts of other goods. We kept running until I almost literally ran into a guard. He turned and immediately took out his sword. He slashed

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downward but I blocked the strike with my shield. He backed up and got ready for another strike. Then more and more soldiers appeared from all sides of us. We were outnumbered. One brave soldier stepped forward and attacked me. I quickly parried his

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strike and sent his weapon to the ground. I the stabbed him and moved on to a soldier who was behind me. I barely had enough time to turn and block his strike with my shield. I then used my sword and stabbed him while he was focused on his attacks. I

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continued fighting soldier after soldier but I began to grow tired. I glanced to my right. The other gladiator was also overwhelmed by the large amounts of enemies. It became too much for him and he was caught by supprise when a soldier stabbed him from

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behind. I yelled out in anger and kicked aside a soldier who ran to attack me. I kneeled next to him. "I didn't even know your name." I said in shame. "He gave me a faint smile and began to say something that started with a "C" but he never got the chance

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to finish. I stood up, surrounded by soldiers and ran recklessly into the group and stabbed soldier on by one, blocking attacks and dodging swords until I felt a stabbing pain in my right arm. I continued fighting but not a moment later

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another blade enetered my leg. I fell to my knees and watched the last remaining soldiers gather around me. I put my head down as one pointed his blade to my neck. No longer would I be a slave. And no longer would I put up with these useless fights. The

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soldier readied his strike and as he slashed through me one last time, all I could think about was how I'd finally be free.