The artificial lights on the first floor of the Warpath begin to dim, a sign that the time is getting late. Jacky and the girls arrive at the stadium. Few people have already made their way to their seats; trash and litter gunk up the passageways. A massive television screen is suspended high above the center of the arena. Highlights from last night’s match play on loop in conjunction with highlights from the other team’s previous matches. Various stadium employees tend to the arena floor and other stadium parts. Camera operators adjust their equipment, important figures address many of the workers, delegating all kinds of tasks to them. Jacky notices Clair approaching them from the center of the arena. She waves them down. Jacky and the twins meet her halfway.

“It’s good you guys are early. We need to break down how tonight’s match is gonna go.”

Claire gestures for Jacky and the team to follow her. They arrive at an opening in the stadium. A long hallway with bright white lights extends deep into the stadium walls. They arrive at their personalized locker room.

“Welcome to your very own locker room here in stadium 1066. This is where over half of your matches will be held. Consider it your “home” stadium, for now, until you move on up or die, but we’re not gonna die tonight, right?! We’re gonna win! So let’s get down to business!” Clair opens up a binder and takes a seat in front of the team. “Ok, guys, so first of all, we need to go over a few things about the team. First off, the committee and your new fans across the net have given you a team name. The match you guys had last garnered the attention of thousands of people!”

Jacky and the twins look confused. Clair smiles. She takes out a flat rectangular device and pulls it apart. The two silver pieces on each end hold together a foldable touch screen. She taps her fingers on the screen a few times then turns it over to them.

“This is the net. It’s a place where everyone who has access can send messages instantly to one another and watch anything they like, from movies and cartoons to anything ever recorded and put up on the net. The committee’s social media department put up your fight to generate a following for you guys and, more importantly, to advertise your upcoming fight.”

Clair folds the device back up and puts it into her dress pocket. “Now. The name you were given is team Royalty. Jacky, the speech that your horror gave was amazing. An actual Prince, huh? It hit very well with your audience, so you’re now team Royalty. You’re fighting against team War Trench tonight. They are undefeated, mind you, so watch yourself out there; they are adamant opponents. Their team leader goes by Susan Rockefar. Her teammates are Ugrin Sachy and Father Gregory. The order in which you all will fight goes as follows.” Clair taps on the screen of her tablet.

“Lulu will fight against Ugrin in the first match. They decided to take the two-second strongest from each team to fight first to capture the audience’s attention! Next will be Lala and Father Gregory. We considered this one-” Jacky snaps his fingers at Claire.

“I don’t give a shit about all the fancy marketing reasons for the order. Just spit it out already; you’re giving me a headache.”

Taken aback, Clair thinks about saying something but decides to let it go. She nods her head and smiles. “Ok, Lulu fights first with Ugrin Sachy. Lala second with Father Gregory and you, Jacky, against Mrs.Rockefar. Team leaders always fight last. Jacky, this means you are the team leader for team Royalty. Other than that, we have about an hour left before the event. until then, we have a press meeting and a face-off between you guys and team War Trench.”

“What’s a face-off?” Asks Lulu.

“You get to meet your opposition! You’ll all be seated across from each other. Both sides will be interviewed simultaneously, and you’ll get to eye up your competition. It’ll be fun. Come on. We gotta get you guys looking nice for the net.”

Claire led the twins and Jacky to another room to be cleaned up and made to look suitable for television.

“I look fine as is. I’m sure the twins will love it, though. Just come get me whenever it’s time for this stupid interview.”

Jacky turns around and heads back to the locker room. Clair hollers at him to stop, but Jacky ignores her. She gives up and turns her attention to the twins, who are already picking out makeup and various accessories to try on.

This is ridiculous. We’re nothing but merchandise to them; A toy to earn money. We’re better than this.

Jacky lights a smoke and stares at the locker room ceiling.

We have to play along, for now, Jacky. We have no choice. The higher we get on the Warpath, the more options we’ll have available to us. The more I evolve, the better our chances of figuring out a plan to turn this whole thing on its head.

I know. Is there a way for you to get powerful enough to fight against those angels of death we saw last night?

Yes. But I need to evolve a lot, and it will prove challenging even then. When the time comes, we will have to gather more horrors to join that cause. For now, we should focus on playing this petty game until we hold more control. You’ll know when the time comes to act.

Right. I’ll focus on getting you stronger and rising high on the Warpath.

Jacky takes a big puff on his cigarette and sits up. Claire enters the locker room and takes a seat next to Jacky.

“I know this whole thing seems so silly to you, but neither of us has a choice.” Claire gestures for Jacky to let her take a puff on his cigarette. Jacky pulls out his pack and lights one for her instead.

“Thanks.” Clair takes a long drag. She looks up and lets out all the smoke.

“It was this or the slums for me. I chose to be a part of the managerial side of this whole blood sport over living in the slums again. Who wouldn’t? No matter how enslaved you feel, I’d rather have half the freedom but an all-you-can-eat buffet with safe walls and a home to live in. Maybe things will change in the future, but I have to play along like the rest of you for now, and I can’t do that if you make my life even more difficult than it already is. I’m not supposed to say this, but this is my last chance at this team manager thing. I lost five teams before you three came along. If you guys fail, I’m done for. This is officially my last chance.” Clair takes another long and stress-filled drag on her cigarette. Jacky sighs and looks to the ground putting out his cigarette.

“So that’s how the game is played, huh? Everybody’s trapped with no way out. The only solution seems to be taunting us from above. Look, I’m not trying to make your life more difficult; I run certain things my way. Who cares about the cameras and the views, Christ, screw the money too. What you need, what we need, are the wins, right? So just put me out there, and I’ll crush every singling fucking team you throw at me.” Jacky puts his hand on Claire’s shoulder and stands up. “Now we have an interview to catch, right? Let’s go then. I hate being late to anything.”

“Right.” Claire puts out her cigarette and follows Jacky.

Jacky is seated at a rectangular-shaped table. Next to him is Lulu, and next to her, Lala. A man in a suit, holding a microphone, fiddles with a pile of note cards. Camera lights and an audience stare up at the team below the stage—many other cameras from all angles of the room capture every detail. A set of doors swing open.

The cameras pan over to Team War Trench as they enter the stage; their footsteps sound hollow against the wooden stage floor. All three members sit across from their opposition, staring each other down.

Susan is a much older woman roughly in her fifties; wearing a brown coat with a red scarf, she runs her fingertips along a scar on her face. Ugrin Sachay is a huge and built man with broad shoulders and a frame designed for lifting. He’s bald with a full beard and mustache. He is wearing a black t-shirt tucked into green cargo pants, a bandolier strapped around his body. His hair is short but still long enough to cover his right eye. Father Gregory is a relatively young man. He is wearing priest clothing and holding a bible. Jacky leans back in his chair and kicks his feet up onto the table. The crowd, in disbelief of Jacky’s disrespect, murmur amongst themselves. The interviewer turns on the microphone and taps it on his hand a few times to hear if it’s working.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Ralph, tonight’s interviewer. We have a new team making their debut match here on the first floor of the Warpath! I would like each of you to introduce yourselves.” Ralph points the microphone to Jacky first.

“Jacky Heathridge.” There’s a silent pause; then, the interviewer does the same with Lulu and Lala. They both introduce themselves. Ralph situates himself and looks at one of his notecards.

So, Jacky. You’re the leader of team Royalty. Tell us how much time you spent in the chambers of oblivion? If your horror is a Prince, he must be pretty strong.

He makes it sound like I fib. Jacky, do I fib? Jacky?

Jacky takes a deep breath. “One week. It took a whole week of wandering oblivion before my horror took hold of me.”

Susan snaps her fingers. A group of people approaches Team War Trench, microphones in hand. The interviewer has a concerned look, and team War Trench all smirk; the audience mumbles to themselves.

“Let’s just skip to what everyone wants, Ralph. You’re a terrible interviewer, so why don’t you just sit back and listen.” Susan looks over to Jacky.

“You’re so full of shit. One week? I know better than that. I saw your last fight. That horror of yours is strong, alright. It couldn’t have been longer than three days tops. We all know the longer you’re in oblivion, the weaker of a horror you’ll attract, and yours is most certainly not that weak.”

Jacky sits up and laughs. “Ok, ok, you got me. But hours, days, weeks, why does it matter? You’ll be dead after tonight.”

Susan sneers at Jacky. Father Gregory picks up his mic. “That’s some talk coming from an inexperienced newcomer. If you underestimate your competition, it will be the death of you.” Father Gregory stares at Jacky.

“I don’t underestimate; I’m telling your team the truth. You’re all dead. Every single one of you dies here tonight.” Jacky shares a look at all three of them then over to the interviewer. “I want an arrangement for the match. I’ll give this entire Warpath an amazing spectacle! I’ll take on all three of these jokers at once. If I lose, then my whole team goes down with me.”

Lulu and Lala look at each other nervously while Team War Trench all begin to laugh. A person walks up to the interviewer and whispers something into his ear. Ralph scratches his head and takes in a deep breath.

“It appears this proposal entertains the committee.”

Team War Trench whispers. Ugrin Sachay sits up. “Young lad, I know you’re quite heated right now, but are you sure this is what you want?” Ugrin interlaces his fingers. His calm demeanor is a breath of fresh air for the room.

“It sure is, old man. I’m not just here to be some circus chimp; I’m here to send a message.” Jacky stands up and walks off the stage.

The twins follow him. Clair gets up from her chair, seated against the wall behind their side of the stage. She addresses a few cameras that run up in an attempt to intercept team Royalty. Jacky continues down past the locker room and into the arena. He takes a stand on his side of the arena floor, closes his eyes, and begins to meditate—the fans roar at the sight of him emerging onto the field. The time to fight has finally arrived. Three pillars rise from the ground roughly sixty feet in front of him. Team War Trench enters the arena from the side hallway and makes it over to the rising pillars; they climb onto them and position themselves for summoning.