Butch opened his eyes slowly he felt like he had been crushed by an elephant. He looked around he was in a tent or sorts made of red linen. There were flaps held open by twine every 6 feet or so a bed tablewas next to him with a bowl of water with a rag in it. He noticed a nurse on the other side of the room in a chair reading a book. He was in a cot with the sheets made up over his chest it too was made of red linen. It smelled of roses and rosemary. He tried to sit up. His head suddenly was on fire with pain.
"Sir, please sit back down you are not fully recovered." the nurse said suddenly standing up and walking over to him
"I will get up and walk around. It will go away." Butch said forcefully
"Sir i'm going to have to ask-"
Butch hit her across the face with the back of his hand he saw her mouth bleed
"I will walk around!" Butch said angrily
"Yes sir" she said whimpering
"I'm sorry." Butch said shaking his head, "I don't know what came over me."
"Thank you sir." the nurse said relaxing
"Can I just walk around i'm just a bit knocked up." Butch said calmly
"Well....ok it might help." the nurce saud timidly
"Can i walk about the training grounds? I want to pick up some tactics from the other fighters."Butch asked
"Very well sir." the nurse said more confident
Butch walked out of the tent through a linen flap at the door. He emerged just left of the training grounds. There in the middle of them Optis and Dartis were talking. He suddenly felt an overwhelming rage. He ran at Dartis on his way he punched a gladiator and stole a wooden axe from him. Still running he tackled Dartis, Optis cried out in fear and guards rushed to separate them. Butch was already done though he had hit Dartis four times. Twice in the head, Once in the chest, and once in the arm. By the way it moved Butch knew he had broken Dartis' arm. The guards restrained him.
Optis suddenly yelled, "Stop! Let him go."
The guards hesitated then let him go
"Boy! you have proved your words and possibly killed a gladiator of mine for that I grant the chace to fight in the opening games next year." he said watch Dartis being hauled to the infirmary tent
"Thank you, master dominus Optis." He said respecfully
YOU ARE READING
The Gate
Historical FictionA story of a man stripped of his life and led forced into the arena
