Gladiator (Part X)

GLADIATOR (PART X)

It has been many days
Weeks in fact
In all that time my place has remained here
Not once have I ventured outside the confines of my cell
The daily training expected of each slave
Something I’m deemed no longer worthy of
I have been left to rot

The only face seen
That of my Latista
Permitted only to deliver me the sustenance needed to survive
To protect his investment
Until the Emperor deems fit to attempt my death once more

Through the courage of my Latista
I have learned of Serena’s fate since her brutal ordeal
She does indeed live
A mighty risk he did take
For to speak to me would incur his death
Orders of the Emperor himself
For his bravery I will be eternally grateful
After all he was the only one who tried to warn me that day
Though before only my master
Perhaps now he proves a friend
For he is now truly the only one I trust

‘Go now we have not long’
These words disturb me from my thoughts
The commotion a break from the monotony
Of the lonely silence to which I’ve grown accustomed
From out of the darkness I hear footsteps
Then the shadows of figures
‘Servius, I have for you a visitor’
The voice of my Latista
Then the beautiful sight of Serena

‘Make the most of this my friends we have not long, I must aid the watch’
My Latista leaves us
For a moment we gaze in a stunned silence
Looking deep into the others eyes
So many thought’s still no words to be spoken

Serena approaches the cell grabbing the bars between us
Her hands covering my own
Our only touch in so long
It’s then I feel the intensity of her pain
‘Serena I’m sorry, I did this’

‘No, do not blame yourself
You’re the only one who ever saved me
You’re the reason I still live
My hope that keeps me breathing
What is to come I do not know
But they aim to kill you
Be brave for you must survive
You must survive for me
I have not long but know this
I love you Servius
I have always loved you’

Without chance to speak my Latista approaches at pace
‘Serena come quickly
We must leave
Now’

‘Good bye my love, may the Gods protect us both’
Serena turns hurriedly to leave neither waiting nor seemingly wanting a response
For a moment I pause
After all she’s endured
How is she still so brave?
With Serena lost to the shadows or the darkened tunnel
As my Latista turns to follow he speaks one last time
‘I’m sorry Servius I gave you all the time I could’
As he turns I reach out
Grabbing his shirt hard with a tear in my eye
‘Thank you’
He places his hand on mine
‘I will do all I can
For both of you’