23. Ivy

Ihad never been into gore and I couldn't bear to watch the alien fall at Kren's feet. It was bloody and it was disgusting. Kren did it to stay alive and be with me. And so, I watched.

The Supervisor growled at the back of his throat and marched over to the control desk. He pressed a button on the console.

"Send in the best," he said.

"We're supposed to send in increasingly harder opponents, sir," the voice on the other end said. "The rules say—"

"I don't give a damn about the rules!" the Supervisor said, slamming a fist on the console. "Start sending in the best or you'll be next!"

"Yes, sir."

The Supervisor turned to face me with a grin on his face. He rubbed his hands together.

"There. That should make things more interesting."

"You're cheating. You changed the rules!"

"When you're in charge of the rules, you're a fool if you don't take advantage of them."

The Supervisor was many things, but he wasn't stupid. Still, Kren deserved to know the rules had changed.

"So, tell him you've changed the rules," I said. "He deserves that much."

"He's a prisoner under my control. He deserves whatever I decide to give him. Now—"

I was out of the chair faster than he could blink, spurred on by my desire to help Kren.

I sprinted to the console and reached it within two long strides. I slammed my fist on a bunch of the buttons around the communication button the Supervisor had pressed a moment ago.

If there was any logic to this thing, the communication controls would be around the same area to the button he'd just pushed.

Half a dozen communicators hissed as discussion channels opened. The speaker system outside whined electronically as it came on and I heard the feedback over the speakers. I didn't know which button did that and I didn't care.

"The fighters will be stronger now!" I bellowed at the console.

I couldn't speak into the microphone because I couldn't see it. But it had to be there somewhere because my voice echoed across the pit and entire prison.

One of the guards wrapped his arms around me and swung me back to the chair. I kicked and struggled to escape but it was no use.

The Supervisor flipped the other buttons and switches off and wagged a finger at me.

The guard pressed me into the chair and the Supervisor slammed his fist on the chair's controls.

A dozen cords extended from the armrests and lashed across my chest and legs. They pulled taut and locked me into place.

"You'll pay for that," the Supervisor said.

He grinned, and for a moment, I saw the harsh shadow of madness dance across his features.

"Or should I say, he'll pay for it?"

An icy sensation shivered across my body and made me feel cold to my core. Had I once again made things worse for my beloved Kren?