Not a word was spoken to them when every guard left. The other teenagers that were left in the room looked at each other with a cold look. The losers from the previous engagement looked at each other in agreement.

  The big guy made the first move. It looked more like an adult than a child. His body nonchalantly walked over to the plates. The hoard of losers surrounded him and protected the table. It took half of them to topple him over and pin him down. One of them have in a chokehold. It was the same one that asked for my help earlier.

  The rest of the losers looked. At the other people as if they'd already won. Their smile bore malice. They could taste their victory even from so far away, even before they've won.

  The winners gave them a colder reality check. Their bodies did not have any serious wounds or serious bruises that weighed them down. They could move easily and quickly just as they could before. One punch was enough to put their opponents into the ground.

  "Was that all you had?" asked a boy who had hard scales covering some of his body.

  While the half of the half were fighting the boy with scales, the rest were tasked with handling two more. The next problem was a boy with tough fur lining his body. The other is a girl with similar soft scales, much like the other girl that got him whipped. She looked at him. Her eyes were slits instead of round circles. There was a brief flash of red that blinded me for a second.

  Anyways, unlike the other girl, this one has a kinder voice.

  ...

  Her voice was smooth like cream. The boy couldn't help but fantasize when he saw her. He pictured them alone together. He wanted to get closer to the girl like two foxes cuddled together for the winter. The world nearly seemed to revolve her beauty. The lights and violence seemed to illuminate her beauty. The table seem to beckon her to seat down, begging her to let it lavish her with the meals on top of it. The humble "dress" she wore was both revealing and modest. He could hardly believe they were wearing the same clothes. Describing such a scene would diminish the actual experience. Words could only express how he felt, but not the depth.

  Her smile filled him with so much adoration and love. His heartbeat was faster. He felt more nervous than he ever been. He felt himself gulp at the pressure. His body felt alive but felt like he was dying--being so close to her and yet so far. He wanted to touch her. He wanted to feel her warmth. His legs moved on their own. He wanted to hold her. He was convinced that she felt the same. He reached out his arms and... cut himself. He used his own fingernail. Clever.

  What's going on? Why did I feel that way? My mind feels a bit clearer, but it's still a bit cloudy. The cut was shallow, but it broke whatever trance I was in. Who did that? The girl? How? How is that even possible? My gaze focused on her and the pain. It seems that she can't do anything if I'm in constant pain. I'll remember this what you did...

  The girl sighed and raised up her hands, "Why can't we just share? You won't win if you have to face against me and him."

  The losers looked at the boy. Instead of spouting words of cooperation, the boy smiled, "I won't give you a choice."

  While the rest had to face the boy with tough fur, the girl quietly sat on the table an enjoyed the feast. She greedily scarfed down on the plates. Her face smile even brighter than before as if she found heaven.

  "She already ate like 5 plates! Stop her!"

  The losers scrammed to pin her, too. She wasn't strong in the slightest. In fact, it only took one of them to pin her. However, her charms were enough to confuse the boys and girls that tried to. It took just as many people to pin her as it took everyone else.

  While they successfully pinned the girl who was in the middle of eating another plate, they didn't have enough to stop the giant anymore. He rose and started his march towards the table once again.

  "Please! Stop him!" one of losers desperately called out.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  After a while, I just stopped paying attention. None of them went anywhere. They would all pin each other until they get tired or another team get overwhelmed. Then, they would yell, which would force some of them to divert other people to the free person, finally the cycle continues.

  It wasn't until one of them rode the giant like a horse and smashed a glass bottle into its eye. The giant grabbed the boy and slammed his body onto the wall, causing a loud thud. The boy screamed in pain. Rage filled his eyes.

  "He's almost done! Don't let up!"

  More people were thrown around all over the place. Even some of the winners who I think were on his side were being grabbed and thrown. It was an entertaining meal that I have forgotten that made the disgusting meal taste better going down.

  When eventually the giant fell for the last time, everyone eyed each other. Their brief truce was out of the window. They circled around each other. Each one of them trying to edge closer to the table. Not a single soul underestimated the other side. The losers, though weak individually, were strong from their numbers. The winners were more disorganized, but strong individually. It was a tie.

  Perhaps it was the guards who wanted this. I mean who didn't want to see children fight?! If I had some sort of money, I would pay for this kind of fight. Everyone fighting so desperately for something so easy to get up above us. It was comical to think of it that way.

  As every party made it to the table, both food, plates, and fists were thrown. Blood and syrup spilled onto the floor. The desperation on everyone's face when they tried to take what they wanted from the table. Somewhere along the way I started to cheer. I didn't know who I was rooting for, but I just couldn't help it. It was the energy in the room.

  When every plate was cleaned or on the floor, they all stopped. They stared daggers at each other, but not to taunt the other side. No one had the energy to fight anymore. They slowly backed to their own corner and sat down. The winners sat away from each other and the losers. The losers sat in the corner on the other side of me.

  As exciting as the fight was, I did not wish to fight. From this day forward, I swear against it if it means I won't fight. That's right I'll become a pacifist. I'll make few notable exceptions, but I'll stand firm. Call me a coward if you'd like. I just enjoy looking at fights rather than being in one.

  Even though all of the losers sat away from me, there was one who nervously walked towards me. It was the girl with soft scales. She slowly walked up to me. Her legs knocked onto each other. She was nervous, but more than that... It was clear that she wanted to say something to me. Was she here to ridicule me? Was she finding the words to curse me out?

  She had no right. Not after her question made my back split in half. The stinging is still painful and from time-to-time I still flinch from the pain. That older guard's face is still ingrained into my memory. So long as I remember, I will not let that go.

  She stops right in front of me, I was prepared for whatever that would come out of her mouth. I was ready to malicious by the tenfold, no hundredfold. The second we locked eyes, she flinched. The girl takes a deep breath and stutters, "W-Well... I-I just wanted t-to say... s-sorry."

  The girl extends her arm with the cup that I was enamored with. I snatch the cup from her hands. The slightly cold cup cools my hand. The smell was sweet with a spicey scent. The spicey scent was coming from this thin brown rolled-up stick that I've never seen before. I question if it's the same drink or dish. The taste was exactly as I thought it would be, but... why do I feel unsatisfied? This was maybe the one thing I wanted and yet... I feel nothing eating it. Why? This just doesn't make sense.

  She's still standing there, waiting for a response. I manage to say something after losing my patience of waiting for her to leave:

  "Thanks."

  Even though it wasn't as long as I think she'd hoped, she left to go back to her group. The girl gave a slight smile towards me. I won't lie and say it didn't move me, but... I don't know. I just think that just a cup makes us even. If and when I do have to fight, this will be a burden. What am I going to do if this injury encumbers me? Get smarter or be better? Better or smarter how?

  If it makes her stay away from me longer, then I'm okay with it.

  The door to my left swung open. The normal guards barge through and examined the room first then us. From the vein on their face bursting, they want us to clean it up and make us regret ever setting foot here. However, the black brick on their vest buzzes. To their dismay, they order us to follow them.

  They dragged us to a room. It was large but incredibly dark. One of the guards flicked something on the wall. A dim light illuminated the room. It was hard to make it out, but I could see rows and columns of beds. Everyone smiled faintly. Their eyes already grabbed dibs on where they would sleep.

  To the left and right of it, there were doors. The door on the left was white and looked polished. The door on the right could hardly be called a door. It was the bark of a tree and it was on its last legs.

  One of the guards pushed me, "You will go there that door," he points to the shabby wooden plank they call a door.

  Of course. Anyone could see that this was punishment for not participating, but if I'm punished, then who was rewarded? Everyone else? Who deserved the nice-looking door?

  From the corner of my eye, I saw a boy with nothing notable about him go through the door. I remembered him as the boy that kept screaming. Interesting. I wonder what they want from us. Was this to cultivate us? Was this for entertainment? I guess I'm not in the position to do anything but just watch.